The New City Winery at Pier 57

City Winery is an ever-growing chain of venues that entrepreneur Michael Dorf started in New York in 2008. With each new construction, every City Winery improves upon its predecessor. After a six month-delay due to COVID-related governmental restrictions, the new flagship City Winery in New York City quietly debuted on October 10, situated on Pier 57 in Hudson River Park by West 15th Street. Following more than a year of construction and a $20M investment, the new City Winery immediately became the standard by which all future music venues will be compared. Dorf is correct when he states that "this is possibly the best intimate live music venue ever built in New York or in the country."

Teddy Thompson at City Winery, October 22

At 32,000 square feet, the new City Winery is the largest wine bar in New York, and also one of the city's largest restaurants. It is a complex of numerous wining and dining spaces, both indoors and outdoors, plus a wine cellar, winemaking facility, storage tanks and barrels. Articles elsewhere will explore further these many other rooms and private reception areas, as well as the expansive menu and wine list. On this blog we are interested primarily in the presentation of live music.

Dina Regine at City Winery, October 25

Diane Gentile at City Winery, October 23

The new facility's main space is roomy, has a large stage, and boasts a view of the river and New Jersey skyline. The sightlines to the stage are spectacular; unlike the first City Winery, which operated in TriBeCa from 2008 to 2019, the new venue has no pillars, there is no staircase occupying space in the middle of the floor, the sound and light boards have been moved to a mezzanine, and additional seats will overlook the stage from a semi-circular balcony. As expected, the sound and lighting are state of the art. Once musicians can tour without travel restrictions, City Winery will book the best live acts.

Kelsey Warren at City Winery, October 23

Alonso Velez at City Winery, October 25

What about safety? Even outside the venue, a traffic officer stands by the bike lanes to get the guests across safely. Inside the building entrance, masked staff takes the temperature and screens for COVID-exposure information of all customers. City Winery installed MERV-13 air filters with higher efficiency filtration capabilities to capture more particles. With the large venue presently limited to 25% capacity, all tables are very safely distanced from each other and from the stage. Order food by a contactless electronic menu. A slide show on two large screens repeatedly reminds customers to wear masks when the staff approaches and when moving to and from their table. Waiters, servers, and bussers wear masks at all times. Even the house bands perform wearing masks. Presently, the main room seats about 100 music lovers, down from the approximately 400 that were planned before COVID.

Seating is spread very far apart

A slide show reminds customers of safety protocols

Jill Hennessey and David Broza performed unadvertised sets on the first two opening nights. From Thursdays to Sundays, a house band led by Ethan Eubanks performs from about 4 to 7 p.m. or 5 to 8 p.m., followed by 20-minute sets by local singer-songwriters. For the time being, all performances will remain unannounced and unticketed. In future days, a separate space called the Loft also will host smaller concerts and seat 150 people.

Pete Mancini at City Winery, October 22

Caroline Kuhn at City Winery, October 25

Dida Pelled at City Winery, October 25

The originally envisioned plan for live music at the new City Winery will launch when governmental regulations are lifted regarding the advertising and ticketing of live entertainment. The first ticketed concerts at City Winery are scheduled tentatively for the winter, with Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes in December and the Mountain Goats in January. The Sweet Remains are scheduled for the Loft in late January. In the meantime, however, the public can come for a meal and fine wine and enjoy incidental music by many of New York's finest musicians.

The Milkman & Sons at City Winery, October 23

The Detroit Grease at City Winery, October 25