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R.I.P. Ripple — Brooklynian

R.I.P. Ripple

alecorock
alecorock
edited November -1 in Prospect Heights
Went by Ripple on Saturday night and it was shuttered. I ran into a regular and he said that the place got flooded and might not reopen. Can't say I loved the spot, but it was one of the few places you could dance at in the neighborhood
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Comments

  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia

    Subject: Re: R.I.P. Ripple

    Alecorock wrote: Went by Ripple on Saturday night and it was shuttered. I ran into a regular and he said that the place got flooded and might not reopen. Can't say I loved the spot, but it was one of the few places you could dance at in the neighborhood
    and I heard fire. insurance scam?

    I hate to see businesses go, even if they were in no way my favorite place (especially with their whole racial profiling drink pricing - so not cute), but this is a little coincidental. I'd heard they were having trouble and had recently canned a bunch of their employees and were tending the bar themselves (them being the owners). if not insurance scam, it sucks - that's the death knell unless they had decent insurance and were motivated to continue. if it is an insurance scam, well, grody.

    in any case, there was dancing going on at soda on saturday night. can't say anything about the scene there friday - I was too busy dancing at the royale. indigo is allowing dancing and has a great dj setup.
  • pitu
    pitu
    Is the whole NYC cabaret law nonsense completely gone?
    Bars used to *have* to ban dancing. I have only a vague recollection that this might have officially gone away in the law.

    Anyone been paying better attention willing to refresh my memory?
  • ben
    ben
    I thought they changed the law a little while back. Something to the effect that if the space can only hold 75 people or so then you don't need the cabaret license.

    From what I understand the main reason for the license today is for safety reasons in clubs. For instance, fire alarms have to be wired into the PA system so the music automatically gets turned off, etc.

    I'm not sure of the specifics of the new law or even if it was passed. It may have just been talk.
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia
    not sure if there's a new law on the books. I do know that Bloomberg hasn't been as bad as his predecessor in terms of enforcement of the licensing. I think the most recent issues in this respect, aside from the safety standards mentioned above, is that it's dodgy advertising dancing if you don't have a cabaret license, so places that want to pimp dancing need to obtain the license, first. and since, because of the safety standards, the licenses are damn expensive to prep and obtain, most places just don't bother.
  • pitu
    pitu
    and on the general topic of hooch . . . months ago there was talk of box wine here . . .

    We've been nursing the DTour box wine with superior graphic design and chefy endorsement. The nozzle sprays the wine like gatorade in a cooler...

    It's a little large for a small fridge. On my back window sill it's been cold and not turning to bleech over the course of several weeks, as the promised. It doesn't taste exactly like when we opened it, but it's pretty good. And a great system for those of us that don't kill a bottle of wine in a sitting, and cook with wine 1/2 cup at a time.

    $40 for 3 liters at Red White and Bubbly on Fifth Ave at Pres/Union, and they will tell you repeatedly that *they* are the only suppliers in Bklyn. So far only the chardonnay is available.
  • pitu
    pitu
    Ben wrote: I thought they changed the law a little while back. Something to the effect that if the space can only hold 75 people or so then you don't need the cabaret license.

    From what I understand the main reason for the license today is for safety reasons in clubs. For instance, fire alarms have to be wired into the PA system so the music automatically gets turned off, etc.

    I'm not sure of the specifics of the new law or even if it was passed. It may have just been talk.
    thx folks

    it looks like the law is still on the books, but like you said not an enforcement priority...

    http://www.legalizedancingnyc.com/whoweare.html
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    There are several types of liquor licenses available depending on a few variables (wine & beer only, full [includes hard liquor], off-premises, short-term/catering/special event, food or no food, etc...), and the cabaret license is one of them. Not sure on restrictions/loopholes, but shouldn't be too hard to suss up...
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    pitu wrote:
    it looks like the law is still on the books, but like you said not an enforcement priority...

    http://www.legalizedancingnyc.com/whoweare.html
    ...or if there is three or more people moving in synchronized fashion...
    :lol:
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    http://abc.state.ny.us/JSP/content/classDefinitions.jsp
    CABARET LIQUOR: For consumption on the premises, liquor, wine and beer, but for premises specializing in musical entertainment. Must have a capacity for at least 600 persons.
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia
    nybt wrote: http://abc.state.ny.us/JSP/content/classDefinitions.jsp
    CABARET LIQUOR: For consumption on the premises, liquor, wine and beer, but for premises specializing in musical entertainment. Must have a capacity for at least 600 persons.
    holy shiznit. that's a lot of peeps.
  • pitu
    pitu
    nybt wrote: http://abc.state.ny.us/JSP/content/classDefinitions.jsp
    CABARET LIQUOR: For consumption on the premises, liquor, wine and beer, but for premises specializing in musical entertainment. Must have a capacity for at least 600 persons.
    That's state law. The cabaret law is a city thing.
    http://www.legalizedancingnyc.com/whoweare.html
    The permit process is long, costly and uncertain. Approval is required from the Department of Consumer Affairs, the NYC Planning Commission, the Fire Department, Buildings Departments and local community boards, among others, all of whom work independently from each other.
    ...
    Although there are currently over 5,000 liquor licenses in the five boroughs you can only dance in 296 places. You are not allowed to dance to the jukebox or DJ at your local bar. You are not allowed to move to the rock band or jazz act at your neighborhood club.

    Social dancing is not a safety issue. This does not mean we don't support strict compliance with all fire safety codes, capacity numbers, noise ordinances, alcohol and drug laws, only that the act of dancing never be restrained in any manner.
    I am sooo not getting anything done today.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    State doesn't supersede city? :?
  • captain m
    captain m
    I guess nobody here saw footloose?

    We can have a party over the state line.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    Not a very good 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon' movie :wink:
  • pitu
    pitu
    nybt wrote: State doesn't supersede city? :?
    city in addition to state. just like with taxes.

    and I didn't see Footloose
    :D
  • sarahb
    sarahb
    back to Ripple -- i met one of the owners(?) at a new year's eve party, and he told me that the place would be up and running again soonish. don't remember if he mentioned a flood, i was a couple of champagnes into it at that point.

    who knows though -- teany fired all its workers and closed last week, but then i walked by it last night and it was very much open.
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia
    sarahb wrote: back to Ripple -- i met one of the owners(?) at a new year's eve party, and he told me that the place would be up and running again soonish. don't remember if he mentioned a flood, i was a couple of champagnes into it at that point.

    who knows though -- teany fired all its workers and closed last week, but then i walked by it last night and it was very much open.
    yeah, there are multiple owners. I hope they do manage to make it back, mostly because it's an open business on my block that provides a level of safety that I don't have anymore.

    and teany -- thank god vegan tea is back! cripes. :)
  • oneasternparkway
    oneasternparkway
    nybt wrote: Not a very good 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon' movie :wink:
    Sure it is! You get to link KBac to John Lithgow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Chris Penn, and Dianne Wiest.
  • sandra dee
    sandra dee

    Subject: RIPPLE

    I happen to love Ripple (just for another perspective). It was the first bar I went to when I came to visit my bro and sis here in PH a few years ago. I encountered the friendliest/funnest/unpretentious people there. I felt welcome right away and especially was pleased to see a couple of newlyweds dancing on the bar. Upon moving here, I walked by and a couple people (one of the owners) remembered me, called me in, and welcomed me to the hood with a free shot. I have no idea what that person is talking about with the racial profiling drink price. I think that you may have mistaken a friend getting hooked up or something. I have never felt racial tensions there, just pure love :0)
    I really hope they open back up, its a cool bar that is distinctively different from any of the other bars in the hood. peace out!
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia

    Subject: Re: RIPPLE

    Sandra Dee wrote: I happen to love Ripple (just for another perspective). It was the first bar I went to when I came to visit my bro and sis here in PH a few years ago. I encountered the friendliest/funnest/unpretentious people there. I felt welcome right away and especially was pleased to see a couple of newlyweds dancing on the bar. Upon moving here, I walked by and a couple people (one of the owners) remembered me, called me in, and welcomed me to the hood with a free shot. I have no idea what that person is talking about with the racial profiling drink price. I think that you may have mistaken a friend getting hooked up or something. I have never felt racial tensions there, just pure love :0)
    I really hope they open back up, its a cool bar that is distinctively different from any of the other bars in the hood. peace out!
    nope, it wasn't a mistake. the bartenders were not owners (I know several of the owners) and my friend's drink price also fluctuated, and she didn't know the bartenders, either. trust me. pure game playing.

    and while the owners know me, and I have lots of friends who love that bar, I never have a good time there and rarely go, even though it is crawling distance from home. but I know a lot of people who dislike Soda and that joint is my living room. that's why it's nice to have a selection of bars in the 'hood.
  • sandra dee
    sandra dee
    [especially with their whole racial profiling drink pricing - so not cute]

    I guess I am just surprised at this. But are you sure it was a racial issue and not just a shizitty bartendar issue?
  • magnus martyr
    magnus martyr

    Subject: Re: RIPPLE

    alafairnadia wrote:
    nope, it wasn't a mistake. the bartenders were not owners (I know several of the owners) and my friend's drink price also fluctuated, and she didn't know the bartenders, either. trust me. pure game playing.

    and while the owners know me, and I have lots of friends who love that bar, I never have a good time there and rarely go, even though it is crawling distance from home. but I know a lot of people who dislike Soda and that joint is my living room. that's why it's nice to have a selection of bars in the 'hood.
    I highly doubt there is overt racial profiling. My drink prices fluctuate at Soda constantly depending on who is working. Some days I get guest stouts for like 4 bucks and other days some dude is charging me 6 bucks for a stella.
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia
    Sandra Dee wrote: [especially with their whole racial profiling drink pricing - so not cute]

    I guess I am just surprised at this. But are you sure it was a racial issue and not just a shizitty bartendar issue?
    I'm reasonably certain it was - my friend and I ordered the same drink from the same bartender and the price changed $2. in any case, it's fucking offensive on any level to be charged $8 in this nabe for a well whiskey and soda. I mentioned it to one of the owners and he was pretty upset and told me to come back. then they closed.
  • candicissima
    candicissima
    alafairnadia wrote: I'm reasonably certain it was - my friend and I ordered the same drink from the same bartender and the price changed $2. in any case, it's fucking offensive on any level to be charged $8 in this nabe for a well whiskey and soda. I mentioned it to one of the owners and he was pretty upset and told me to come back. then they closed.
    I think I am the friend in that story. I got a rum and coke for $5 from the guy bartender, $6 from the female bartender, and then Alafairnadia came along and she got charged $8. It was pretty ridiculous.
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia

    Subject: Re: RIPPLE

    magnus martyr wrote: I highly doubt there is overt racial profiling. My drink prices fluctuate at Soda constantly depending on who is working. Some days I get guest stouts for like 4 bucks and other days some dude is charging me 6 bucks for a stella.
    yeah, soda fluctuates wildly. I rarely know what I'm gonna pay, though $6 for stella is damn steep
  • qtrain
    qtrain
    Candicissima wrote: I think I am the friend in that story. I got a rum and coke for $5 from the guy bartender, $6 from the female bartender, and then Alafairnadia came along and she got charged $8. It was pretty ridiculous.
    That's pretty fucking obnoxious.
  • sandra dee
    sandra dee
    Wow, that really sucks.
    did you all say anything to the bartendar who did it? I would be pissed and have told her a thing or two about what I thought about her fluctuating drink prices. What a bee-otch!
  • vanilla
    vanilla
    i used to try to hook up non-friends at a coffee shop i used to work at but then i realized this was bad business b/c people started EXPECTING the hook-up. so, instead of just being stoked to get a free something, they also got pissed when the prices were normal, oooppss!
  • alafairnadia
    alafairnadia
    I forgot to post this update - I saw the Ripple gates up this weekend and folks in there working. for you Ripple-lovers, don't give up hope. then again, they coulda been raiding the liquor supply. :)
  • stevieshamrocks
    stevieshamrocks
    Just saw this post about price fluctuation at bars in PH. I own a bar in Brooklyn Heights and we continually have to check with our customers that they are getting drinks at the right prices. We also continually test our bartenders about prices and drink recipes. It is annoying to us that people would pay different prices at different times (except for happy hour). Some of the reasons this happens are that the bartender can not handle a busy bar and gets flustered and just charges the wrong price by accident. Another is that they may have inadvertently charged too much on the last drink and want to right the relationship and charge less (in those instances they should tell you that though). But these things should definitely not happen and I urge you to tell a manager or owner when it is not too busy for them (as we tend to be juggling too much when it is busy) so they can correct it immediately.

    The racial stuff is hard to hear. I know it goes on but I always hope that it doesn't happen at a bar you feel at home in. I definitely feel that way about Soda when I am in the neighborhood. And I hope people have similar experiences at my bar when they are in Brooklyn Heights.

    Now I only need to open another bar and add it to the neighborhood without the rent or insurance!
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