NYC Musicians Can Perform for 35% Indoor Capacity Beginning Next Weekend

Rob Mastrianni at Marshall Stack on February 14

New York City restaurants and bars can increase indoor seating to 35% beginning next Friday, February 26, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today during a news conference. This will be a 10% increase since the resumption of indoor dining at 25% on February 12, and will match the 35% allowed in neighboring New Jersey counties.

Cuomo justified the loosening of COVID-era restrictions by citing the declining number of new cases and hospitalizations in New York City since the peak of the post-holiday infection spread one month ago. Outside of the five boroughs, however, New York State continues to cap indoor dining at 50%. This includes the city's suburbs of Westchester and Long Island. Cuomo hinted that the capacity limits could be raised further to match the rest of the state if the trajectory continues to move in the right direction.

"Obviously we're more sensitive to New York City because of the density, the concentration, the history, but we're headed in the right direction," said the governor. "(If) the numbers continue to be good, we'll continue to make progress."

Chris Campion at the Corner Bistro on February 16

Silbin Sandovar at the Red Lion on February 16

The New York State Restaurant Association and the NYC Hospitality Alliance continue to lobby for the curfew to be pushed to midnight and for 50% indoor capacity. In a website statement, the NYC Hospitality Alliance posted, "We appreciate that the governor is following the data, listening to our voices, increasing occupancy, and we hope to continue this path and increase to at least 50% occupancy safely as soon as possible."

Today's announcement expands on earlier decisions to support the hospitality and entertainment industries in New York City. Beginning last weekend, Cuomo not only allowed restaurants to reopen for indoor dining at 25% capacity, but also extended the curfew from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. He also announced that certain arenas and stadiums, including Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center, could begin allowing 10% capacity under strict guidelines beginning February 23. Wedding receptions and similar events can resume with restrictions beginning March 15.

Jack Marcin Wisniewski at the Anyway Café on February 16

Miss Maybell & the Jazz Age Artistes at Rue-B on February 17

Restaurants and bars that feature live music are responding positively to the looser restrictions. The Juke Bar and the Flatiron Room are the latest venues to begin booking live acts again. As reported on this website on Sunday, Fine and Rare, the Red Lion and Sour Mouse NYC began showcasing talent this past weekend. The Anyway Café and Caravan of Dreams have shifted their staging areas so that musicians are playing more for indoor diners rather than outdoor diners. Baby Brasa, the Corner Bistro, Joey Bats Café, Marshall Stack, and Rue-B continue to program musicians as in the past, with an eye to expanding their audiences. Undoubtedly, each reprieve of governmental restrictions will open more venues for local musicians and audiences.

The Underground Harmony at Caravan of Dreams on February 17