This past summer, New Yorkers freely enjoyed sweet wafts of live music emanating from dozens of sidewalk cafes and parks. More than 100 local musicians performed live for tips, filling the air of an otherwise drab city with blues, folk, jazz, pop, ragtime, rhythm and blues, rock, and world music. Masked and socially-distant entertainment-starved music lovers partied to genres of music not normally favored simply because the rhythms were live, loud and present. As the winter approached, however, colder weather, infection spread, and increased governmental restrictions radically diminished these entertainment options. Many musicians began hibernations, and many venues lost their platforms for presenting live music.
In most cases, the few remaining downtown Manhattan restaurants that host musicians have them play indoors to diners seated outdoors. Kudos go to Marshall Stack (66 Rivington Street), Caravan of Dreams (405 East Sixth Street), and a handful of other venues for showcasing live incidental music often but on an irregular schedule. Rue-B (188 Avenue B) must be applauded for hosting live music on five nights, Tuesdays through Saturdays. Baby Brasa (173 Seventh Avenue South) draws large crowds with its live music on six nights, Tuesdays through Sundays. The Anyway Café (34 East Second Street), however, may be the only restaurant left in New York where live music is served every night of the week.
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| Frida Anuarbek sang Russian and American pop songs at the Anyway Café on January 5 |
The Anyway Café opened in its current location in 1995 and branched into three additional satellites over time. The East Village outpost remains the franchise's quaint little flagship, serving French and Russian cuisine along with the restaurant's ever-popular infused vodka specialties.
The Anyway Café never built a formal stage but rather made an informal space by the bar for musicians to sit on bar stools. Present regulations prevent diners from sitting inside, so two speakers by a window project the music to the diners outside. The public responded to a crowd-sourcing plea this fall and so a newly-covered and enhanced curbside area is almost completed. It soon will be equipped with electric heaters and speakers.
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| Sasha Drey sang Russian and American rock songs at the Anyway Café on January 10 |
Russian pop and jazz musicians gravitate naturally to the Anyway Café, but Natasha Stolichnaya, who books the schedule on a week-by-week basis, will book most any style of music. About once a month, she even books herself. Stolichnaya leads a gypsy music ensemble that she calls the Typsy Gypsy Girls.
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| Michael Riff sang classic rock hits at the Anyway Café on January 11 |
"Many people say the Anyway Café is supporting the musicians, but this is not entirely correct," Stolichnaya told The Manhattan Beat. "The relationship goes both ways. We support the musicians, but they also support us. If it were not for the musicians, we would be just another restaurant."
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| Arnt Arntzen sang vintage jazz and country songs at the Anyway Café on January 13 |
The following musicians are scheduled to perform at the Anyway Café this weekend and next week. Musicians perform from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The restaurant has no cover charge. Musicians perform for tips.
Saturday, January 16: Contemporary Adults w. Izaak Mills, pop jazz
Sunday, January 17: Rob Mastrianni, guitar instrumentals
Monday, January 18: Frida Anuarbek, Eastern European folk and pop
Tuesday, January 19: Assaf Salhov, singer/songwriter
Wednesday, January 20: Erica Mancini, accordion music
Thursday, January 20: Diana Gitesha Hernandez, jazz standards
Friday, January 21: Barynya, Russian folk
Saturday, January 22: Typsy Gypsy Girls, gypsy music
Sunday, January 23: Sashka Drey, Russian rock
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