Citing the declining COVID infection rates in New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on January 29 that restaurants could resume indoor dining at 25% capacity beginning on February 14, one of the biggest days of the year in the hospitality industry. He cautioned, however, that this is pending on the local infection rate continuing its downturn.
Explaining the time frame, Cuomo said the two-week waiting
period "doesn't only give us more time to stamp out the virus even
further, but also gives restaurants ample notice to begin preparing for a
reopening."
The hospitality industry, which had been applying pressure to speed the clock on restaurant re-openings in New York, did not get the concessions it requested. It had lobbied the governor for 50% indoor capacity, arguing that most of the state has this limit and so the city is being treated unfairly. Cuomo vowed that increasing capacity would happen at a later time if the numbers continue improving.
"Twenty-five percent is better than zero," he said.
Restaurant owners also petitioned Cuomo to extend the state-wide curfew from the current 10 p.m. to midnight. The governor would not budge.
"We're trying to keep it to just actual eating as opposed to the restaurant turning into a bar," he said.
Cuomo also said the state is developing a plan for the return of large public events at which all attendees must pre-test negative for COVID. The pilot launches on March 15 with weddings and their receptions. These events can have up to 50% of the capacity of the venue, with a maximum of 150 attendees, as long as everyone is pre-tested for the coronavirus and admission is granted only to those whose results are negative. This shift in policy originated in the success of two Buffalo Bills home playoff games earlier this month, where the limited number of spectators had to commit to strict testing and contact tracing. The governor suggested that the normalization of rapid pre-testing at events may be the key to reopening more venues, from theaters to stadiums, before mass vaccination achieves herd immunity.
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| Miss Maybell & the Jazz Age Artistes performs ragtime indoors for diners seated outdoors at Rue-B on Wednesday nights |
Cuomo mandated the closure of all restaurants and many other businesses at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. In late September, he permitted restaurants to serve indoor dining at 25% capacity. City Winery was among the restaurants that reopened during this time. The venue provided a robust live music program for its diners five nights each week, and twice a week provided a COVID-free zone, whereby all staff and guests were required to take the rapid test. Less than two months later, in early December, Cuomo again prohibited indoor dining. City Winery was among the venues that closed again.
"I would guess two things based on the trends and trying to read the tea leaves in what he is saying," speculated Dorf. "By March 15, we could have 50% indoor dinning and by May we could be at 75% capacity. By March 15, music and other entertainment could be allowed with rapid testing and capacity restrictions. With the Department of Heath examining a location for good capacity and ventilation, combined with a strong rapid testing program, like we did in our dining trial, there will be live music, comedy, and theater, in approved locations. This is an exciting opening."
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| Information projected onto screens at City Winery in autumn 2020 |
Live Music at Restaurants and Bars
The Anyway Café was among the few music venues that stayed open after the second shutdown on indoor dining in December. Every night, musicians perform inside the restaurant by an open door and window, performing for the diners seated outdoors. They have remained faithful, even on the coldest nights.
"I've heard the good news, we'll have indoor diners on Valentine's day!" says Natasha Stolichnaya, who books the musicians at The Anyway Café. "We certainly are excited about this, and in general that COVID positivity rates are dropping. We'll do the same thing as we did before the indoor dining ban. We'll have musicians play by the window on one side of the room and customers on the other, so everyone will be safe. I cannot thank enough all of our wonderful musicians who stuck around through all of our challenges and brought us and our patrons joy with their beautiful music. They are amazing!"
Marshall Stack was one of the first venues to offer live music, beginning in June. The venue continues to have musicians play inside by open windows to audiences seated outside. It will close temporarily for renovations on February 1 and will re-open in time for February 14.
"One thing I learned during the pandemic," observed John Mato, who books live musicians at Marshall Stack, "is not to allow any government or state restrictions or obstacles to interrupt a simple philosophy -- keep going, be patient, put your heart in the right place -- and all will work out. If it's inside dining, no dining, 25%, 50%... whatever it is, there will be a way. There is always a way."
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| The Underground Harmony performs classic rock indoors to diners seated outdoors at Caravan of Dreams on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. |
Live Music at the Clubs
Some of New York's most venerable live music clubs that closed in March 2020 cannot take advantage of the newly relaxed restrictions, however. They will remain closed until the reopening laws apply to clubs that do not double as restaurants. Webster Hall, Irving Plaza, the Bowery Ballroom, and le Poisson Rouge are among the larger clubs, and the Bitter End, the Village Vanguard, Arlene's Grocery and Rockwood Music Hall are among the smaller ones.
"We have discussed with the state to have venues like ours classified as a restaurant but we have not been successful as of yet," said Paul Rizzo, who owns The Bitter End, the longest continuously-operating live music club in New York City. "We can't open yet. Nevertheless, the governor's announcement today is a good first step to help with getting back open."
"It’s good to hear that the numbers are going down in New York City and that indoor dining is going to come back at 25% next month," Jesse Malin told The Manhattan Beat. Malin is a musician who leads his own band, but is also part owner of three East Village music clubs, the Bowery Electric, Lola and Niagara. "I wish that Governor Cuomo would let live music venues have 25% as well if they are seated and distanced with the same health guidelines as restaurants. It makes no sense to me.
"Music is not just entertainment," he continued. "It’s a medicinal energy that can lift our spirits and heal. Musicians are essential workers for the soul of the public. We are out of work. I want to do this and get on the other side of this by being safe, but it seems unfair. Live music is a church, a place of healing, faith and human worship. It is a religion. If people can go to church, fly on airplanes, and gamble at casinos, then we should be able to see live shows at a safe and limited capacity."
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