A few days ago, she informed me that the Cornelia Street Cafe would soon be shutting its doors. To be precise, it will close on January 2, 2019 after 41 years in business. Nestled between West 4th and Bleecker Streets, this viable commercial enterprise and gathering place is the latest victim of greedy landlords who think nothing of destroying a community if it makes them a few extra dollars.
The Cornelia Street Cafe has a restaurant on the ground level and a performing space downstairs. During my days as a poet, I performed my poetry downstairs on their Friday night open mikes when I would come here on long weekends. My Dad liked the ambience so much that he ended up making a video that he would title "Chatting & Scatting at the Cornelia Street Cafe". Included in this video was the late poet Thomas Lux. Dad would enter this video in the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival in 2006.
Needless to say, Dad and I wanted to make one last visit there before they shuttered their doors and went there this evening to take in some jazz. Our entry downstairs was delayed to a leak. More like a flood. There was water right in front of the stage which soaked the table where we usually sat. There was a bucket in front of the stage to capture the dripping water. Given the circumstances perhaps such an occurrence was fitting. A once beautiful place gone into decay. The tenants try to keep up appearances, but the landlord won't permit a proper goodbye.
In retrospect it may have been wisest not to have come after all. The scene in front of the stage wasn't helped by the fact that the music on stage wasn't very good. Sometimes it is best not to revisit the past because there is always the risk it will diminish good memories. I'm afraid this evening was one of those occurrences.
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