The Shape of the Square Is Changing Again

Rock venue Irving Plaza is set to go quiet this summer for an eight-month renovation. The 150-year-old venue hosts its last scheduled show for the year on June 30—headlined by tropical band Guaco—before shutting down for work that is scheduled to last until next spring.

Live Nation, the concert hall’s operator, announced the planned renovations this week along with the Polish Army Veterans Association, which has owned the building since 1948.

The 3,300-square-foot hall was converted from a Polish-American community center into a concert venue in 1978. Since then, Irving Plaza’s marquee has listed big-name artists including Bob Dylan, the Foo Fighters, Radiohead and the Talking Heads. Paul McCartney played a surprise show there to a capacity crowd of about 1,000 on Valentine’s Day in 2015.

But, as some Yelp reviews document, concertgoers have complained about the venue’s narrow interior and a layout that makes it difficult to buy a drink or use the restroom without missing segments of the show.

Live Nation is promising that the venue will reopen with a revamped lobby, new bars, a downstairs VIP lounge and a remodeled mezzanine with a new configuration for box seats. A Live Nation spokesman said four new bathrooms are on the way as well.

Your reporter visited an open house at 15 Union Square West. The verdict: the ceilings are incredibly high and the windows are huge. Fixtures are fantastic although overdesigned for someone with more sedate tastes. The most interesting feature: an interior atrium complete with 19th century ironwork and a skylight that will be restored. Incredible to see it. The big problem: these apartments are insanely expensive.

A fire engine passes by the Star Theater, where today’s Regal 14 Cineplex is located.

Have you noticed that many dry cleaners, including the one on 13th closest to our building, are now billing themselves as “organic?” What does that really mean. Not much in reality. Click here to read an article and watch a video report.

Certified closed: Recess, the angular coffee and snack shop on the corner of University and 10th. It lasted only about six months.

This quarter, a new wave of sit-down restaurants and bars opened in Union Square, doubling the openings in this category for 2024 year-to-date compared to the same period last year. Notable newcomers include jazz club and Japanese whiskey bar Midnight Blue, from the team behind top cocktail bars Martiny’s and L’Americana, and Amo Seafood, a new favorite for Italian coastal cuisine. 17th Street has blossomed into a culinary destination. The newest arrivals are the highly acclaimed Peruvian restaurant Mission Ceviche and the Vietnamese gem
La Dong, which join the notable 2024 arrival Kanyakumari. Alongside beloved staples Lillie’s, Pasta Eater, and Laut, this vibrant street is your go-to spot for an unforgettable meal.