Streetlevel: Former Galapagos Space Plays Naming Game
As previously reported, the former Galapagos space in Williamsburg is being taken over by some new folks. There was also talk that the venue’s fresh blood was going to call it “Natural Selection,” which, as it turns out, is not the case. “That name was just sort of a joke,” says Matt Roff, who is…
As previously reported, the former Galapagos space in Williamsburg is being taken over by some new folks. There was also talk that the venue’s fresh blood was going to call it “Natural Selection,” which, as it turns out, is not the case. “That name was just sort of a joke,” says Matt Roff, who is also one of the people who runs the show at Southpaw and Franklin Park. Roff says he and his investors, who include Mike Palms (also of Southpaw), Larry Hyland (one of the people behind Greenpoint’s Matchless), Ted Mann (of Smith Street’s Camp and the Slope’s Bar 4) and Mike Esposito (also of Camp and Bar 4), can’t decide on a name, so they’ve started a “Name Our Space” contest on the web. If you come up with the name that the new owners eventually go with, you’ll get a $1,000 bar tab and free admission to the space for a year. Roff says he and his partners intend to upgrade the venue’s sound system and “keep the programming that works,” like Galapagos’ burlesque nights. “We’re getting rid of stuff like the puppet shows,” says Roff. The venue’s transition is going to start taking place in the next couple of weeks, says Roff, who notes that the plan right now is to have free DJ parties in the front space most nights of the week and then to have additional programming that comes with a cover charge in the back room.
Name Our Space [70 N. 6th Street] GMAP
I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t like puppet shows. Maybe i’m just way too Post-post-post modern, but puppetry seems to be the hottest, most interesting, cutting edge genre around town these days. Seen Jollyship the Whizbang? Arias with a Twist? the TOy Theater festival? BRide? Nasty Canasta and Jonny Porkpie? Die HArd the puppet musical? Jonny Clockworks?
should i go on?
Yeah and why they’re at it fill in the Galap “pond” with some cement, set-up some nice stools on it and turn the Van Halen up to 11. There are no performance spaces left in Williamsburg. RIP Galap.
What’s wrong with puppet shows? I used to go to Punch at Galapagos every month and it was such a great time. There were always new acts and the crowd always loved it… come to think of it, it was always pretty packed.
Guess these guys hate Yoda.
No, that’s cool. Go ahead hate Yoda… Yoda haters!
Galapagos is alive and well – working on the new location as we speak. Once it opens its doors, it will thrive as a new and improved art space in Dumbo. And yes, it will be taking the puppet shows (along with other great new and original programing) with them, thank you very much.
There’s a difference between an art space and a venue. Southpaw is a venue. Galapagos was an art space. RIP Galapagos.
what is wrong with half- naked chicks?
4:25 – what are you talking about? think the owner of southpaw has a pretty good idea about how to book talent.
sure that this will be a success
How about “Le Frat Haus”, since it seems that taking a working venue and “refitting” it to suit new investors seems like a way of saying “Let’s get rid of what people like, but let’s keep the dancing half-naked chicks and have more rail drinks…”
Uggh, this city.
They should call it Runoff (seeing as Camp and Matchless wouldn’t exist if there weren’t already established bars next door or across the street, and how this music and performance venue is a stone’s throw from Music Hall of WB) … and yeah I know Northsix came after Galapagos, but that’s not really what’s at stake here.