Monday Open Mic at Caffe Vivaldi

01/18/2019

I loved Vivaldi, and was proud to host this open mic... but I have to wonder..why is this page being maintained? I believe that if any of the family of the wonderful man who ran Vivaldi all those years took a bit of time, we could redirect people to other venues and so continue the tradition of supporting live music.

Nostalgia, no matter how well intended, does not help all the musicians looking for audiences.

This open mic moved just three blocks away to Cowgirl restaurant, 255 w. 10th street.Go there, support it. Be a positive force for musicians! Please.

10/30/2018

Vivaldi is no more. Come to Cowgirl, at 10th and Hudson for your open mic fun. Next shows Nov. 12th and 26th.

09/24/2018

HI folks, our new location is at Cowgirl Restaurant, 255 W. 10th Street. We are currently booked the 2nd and 4th monday of each month.

09/15/2018

Apparently there are people who have not yet received the following information.

There is no more Caffe Vivaldi.

It was destroyed by the greed of realtors.

However the open Mic on Monday nights, if I may say the heart and soul of the club, has survived and has moved to Cowgirl restaurant. Every 2nd and 4th monday each month for now, at 255 W. 10th Street.

Set up at 6:00 o"clock.

Please text me at 347-631-9907 for more information.

07/29/2018

24 hours and counting!

This time tomorrow, July 30th, I'll be putting the room together for our new open mic venue, at Cowgirl Restaurant, 519 Hudson. We're bringing in a piano, and pulling together the sound system to serve your music and performance needs.

I'm excited and confident that this is going to be a wonderful space for us to gather.

I have tried to reach out to everyone that left their email with me, but unfortunately some of those bounced (not everybody writes legibly...🤪 ) and so I'm doubling down on facebook announcements for the moment.

The main details are we will have the space the second and fourth monday every week. So after tomorrow our next gathering will be on the 13th. Set up time is 6 and I suggest you try to be there a little earlier so we can get the sign-up together quickly. Text me at that time and I'll let you know if a late walk-in is likely to get you a spot.

ONE IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION: SOME PEOPLE HAVE CONFUSED COWGIRL AT 519 HUDSON, OUR VENUE, WITH THEIR DOWNTOWN BAR/RESTAURANT, COWGIRL SEAHORSE. OUR LOCATION IS 519 HUDSON, A BLOCK FROM THE 1&2 TRAIN, CHRISTOPHER STREET STOP.

As always, I'm your host... my guitar there for you to use, and as always, I am so glad that we have this chance to continue with our friendly event.

See you there.

07/23/2018

Coming up, Monday July 30th. Our Open Mic moves to a wonderful new venue.

Great Tex-Mex food, a friendly management and staff and a comfortable listening space await you at Cowgirl Restaurant at 519 Hudson and 10th Street (just 2 blocks from the 1 and 2 Train, Christopher Street Station.) We'll be there the second and fourth monday each month.

Let's bring all that love and mutual support to this new space. You'll love the vibe and they will love what our open mic represents: a fun, supportive listening event open to music and spoken word.

The sign up is at 6:00. If you can't make sign-up, contact me at 347-631-9907 (text please) A little before or after 6:00 and I'll let you know how it's shaping up and if a late walk-in might land you a spot.

The ambience is cowboy, but the music is whatever you bring to it. Come join us for our Grand Opening.

Or come to Cowgirl any night to enjoy their wonderful food and whatever music they are offering in the back room. You will love this place.

Cowgirl features live music in the back room on weeknights. The music is free and full menu and bar are available. for booking: [email protected]

06/22/2018

The transition to our new venue is proceeding smoothly. In a short time I will be spilling the beans as to exact location, time and other such details. I wish to thank all the people who have expressed their eagerness to continue the good thing we have built.

Vivaldi will be missed, and bless them for putting such a sweet roof over our heads for the last several years. But we will endure and keep on keeping the good things alive.

Please, if you haven't already, message me contact information, take to time to like this page, which will serve in the transition as our messaging board.

Thanks so much.

06/22/2018

The transition to our new venue is proceeding very nicely, and soon the beans will be spilled, exact location, time and details.

I want to thank all the people who are so eagerly supporting this and who want to continue the good thing we have built. Vivaldi will be missed, but we, my friends, will endure.

If you haven't already, please like this page, contact me and message me how best you wish to be notified when te time comes for details.

06/15/2018

Last Night of Vivaldi Open Mic, this monday.
Well my dears, its been a wonderful 2 1/2 years. Vivaldi has been taken from us by the heartless real estate market. But what we have built here is far from over.
This is important and if you or your friends are coming monday please read this and share it. Thanks:

Last week was the run-up to what will happen this Monday. Before we even had a lottery for spots we had a full docket of people wanting to play, and we went to one song/five minutes from the outset.

In the past I've invited people to call in if they can't be there at set-up, and I'd find a spot for them. In the situation I anticipate this monday, that isn't going to happen. I'm not saying don't come in if you can't be there at lottery; I'm saying don't expect to perform if that's the case. Come in. Be with us. Share the vibe. Please do not plead with me to make room when I simply can't. Please don't make a hard thing harder for me. Thanks.

Meanwhile, don't despair. Our open mic has a new home, happening as soon as mid-July. A sweet space with lovely amenities is in the offering. It WILL happen. If you are a person who loves our open mic,and why wouldn't you?contact me by message here on facebook, give me some contact information so you can stay in the loop as we move the event.

I don't want to lose you, and I don't want you to lose the beauty of a truly open mic.

Thanks. I love you all.

06/10/2018

The sad news is, no more Caffe Vivaldi. The good news is: our open mic is going to find a new home, right in the very neighborhood, with better seating, more affordable food and drink for everyone and the same great listening and loving one another vibe!

Stay tuned. Follow me and I will lead you to a nice new zone!

06/06/2018

Yes it's true and confirmed that the wonderful Caffe Vivaldi is being shut down, another victim of the endless greed of the real estate industry. It is heartbreak for many people. Certainly for the owner Ishrat and his fine family, and the staff that has worked for years to make it the nicest musical venue in the Village.

When I was given the open mic to run 2 and a 1/2 years ago, it changed my life. I ended up having a place where I could present my own music for the first time in decades. And, much more importantly, where I could encourage other musicians and writers in the face of the discouraging creative atmosphere that our country has become.

However that sadness, I am pushing forward, and I am in the process of pulling together a new outlet for the writers and players that have found Community at Vivaldi. Please stay tuned as I tweak the process of moving. For now let me just say that the new potential venue is not far from Vivaldi, has a lovely listening room, and is part of a restaurant with great food and drink at reasonable prices.

Stay with me friends. We'll make this happen together.

05/07/2018

I propose that tonight's Open Mic be a thankful gathering, appreciative of the man, Ishrat, and his family who have created this space where we can share our music and words. Years of hard work and dedication on their part has given us one of New York's warmest performance venues, and long may it endure.

Newcomers be aware that we have a sign-up at 6:30, with the order of show determined by lottery. On nights where there are a significant number of spoken word artists, they will be lotteried separately, to alternate with musicians. Depending on how many participants, spoken word may be limited to five minutes.

If you can't make lottery, text me at 6:30 (347-631-9907) and I'll let you know if a late walk in is likely to get you a spot. Please text only.

Our last hour, 10-11 has been very quiet recently, so there's a good chance you can get a slot then. But please text me to confirm availability.