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The New York Times reported on Christie’s first-ever punk memorabilia auction, including a purchase by QB’s own Michael Waldman.
…Mr. Lipman’s prediction that the punk buyers would be driven by nostalgia rather than the market turned out to be true. Michael Waldman, 49, a real estate developer, bought a photo of David Bowie and Mick Ronson (“because he’s my favorite guitarist”), some Patti Smith poetry and several Clash posters ($2,200).
“I graduated high school in 1977, and I’m a huge Clash fan,” Mr. Waldman said. He came for one poster in particular — bright yellow with a red star, advertising the Clash’s “only American performance” at the Bond International Casino on West 45th Street in 1981 — because he had been there and bought that poster. “Mine, the yellow is all faded,” he said.
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Gothamist posts an extensive interview with QB founder Rob Prichard, asking some excellent questions on New York, its nightlife, and its future–as well as QB, of course.
What types of events do you have planned for the theater? Nightclub by night, dayclub by day. During the day we will be available for community events and after school programs. There will be Rock n’ Roll as well as every other form of music. Theater. Performances of all kinds both eclectic and mainstream. Everything from Circus to puppets to performance art to stand up comedy. We intend to let local producers have their slots as well. We will feature national headliners, NY headliners and local artists. We intend to be a resource for artists, promoters and the community at large.
How will it be different from other venues? Nightclub by night, dayclub by day is already a different model. We will have a restaurant and a cabaret license. How does the combination of dancing and breakfast sound to you? Do you enjoy fresh bread? Our walls will feature local artists work. Typical day: We will open at 6:30 am to serve and deliver breakfast to the local light industries. During the day we’ll be available for lunch, community events, classes and after school programs. Perhaps there will be a sound check or 2. Then dinner and some sort of light entertainment. After dinner, we’ll clear out the tables and chairs and start the live music. Then there will be headliner around 11pm followed by dancing and breakfast until 4am. Who else rocks a scene like that?
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Latest roundup: Brooklyn Vegan picked up on our existence back in August, setting off another flurry of blog activity, including The Village Voice, Limewire, and LICNYC. Are there any recent posts we missed?
Another writeup on our role as “firsts” in the borough. You will notice that we’ve decided to expand to two floors of our building, with a smaller performance space upstairs for more intimate performances, film showings, and developing new theatrical work.
The Queensbridge Theater, slated to open in October, will be the first of its kind in the borough, where locals can dance, dine and watch live performances, all in one place…The club’s creative team - led by [Michael] Waldman - plans to provide an affordable venue for the community and independent artists, said Prichard, who noted that Manhattan is becoming too expensive for most artists.
To attract Long Island and local residents, Queensbridge will embrace all genres of music and offer a wide array of entertainment - from concerts to art exhibits, Off-Broadway plays and vaudeville. The 5,000-square-foot club will run 21 hours a day - from 7 to 4 a.m.
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Here are our first sketches of the building’s signage. It will all likely change as we go through the research and approval process, but this is our dream vision.
 
(Renderings by Larisa Fuchs)
More details on our development as we work around the clock to get ready for opening.
Waldman runs a motorcycle shop out of the building’s basement. Its first floor and mezzanine will be the theatre’s main space, housing a stage, kitchen, restaurant and bar. The remaining floors will be rented out as loft space.Waldman hopes the theatre will serve a variety of functions for the community, from providing art shows and music performances to healthy food and a space for school and youth groups to gather during the day. He’s also hoping to keep costs moderate in comparison to Manhattan prices. The team is working to soundproof the building, and a parking facility will be available nearby. The theatre will also include security.
Construction will be ongoing at the venue this summer. Mauricio, Queensbridge Theatre’s head chef, is designing the kitchen and currently looking for bakers and caterers to partner with. Mauricio describes the menu as “an updated take on American comfort food.” It will combine modern American cuisine and French bistro baking, all with a healthy twist — the food will be all natural and organic. The restaurant will also provide delivery services and the venue will host catered events. The space can accommodate up to 250 people.
Waldman said the theatre looks to emulate similar venues like the old Fillmore and Studio 54. Queensbridge Theatre will be open 21 hours a day, and is located just a few minutes from the F train’s 21st Street/Queensbridge stop.
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Queensbridge Theater General Manager and former Pioneer Theater programmer Ray Privett was profiled in the New York Sun today for his lifelong commitment to independent film. His move to QB was highlighted in the following excerpt:
Speaking with The New York Sun recently, Mr. Privett confirmed the details of his two new projects. First, he is committing himself to the development of a new arts club known as the Queensbridge Theater, which will be headed by Robert Prichard (the former owner of Surf Reality Theater on the Lower East Side) and real estate developer Michael Waldman. As envisioned, Queensbridge will occupy an entire building in Long Island City housing a restaurant, a dance floor, and a space for concerts and performances. Mr. Privett said the venue, which is scheduled to open in the fall, will ideally remain open for 20 or 21 hours a day and cater to both Manhattanites and local residents.
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LIQCity blog has picked up the QB mention from The Observer article. While they mostly reproduced the article itself, Curbed had more of an opinion. Needless to say, we’re much more in favor of tattoo sleeves than concierge service. New York Mag blog also just learned of our existence via the same article, while Astoria Day got the tip from the Daily News writeup. And just the day before, The Gothamist ran its own QB story–and even managed not to call us “hipsters” in the process.
Again profiled for breathing creative life into an industrial neighborhood, Michael Waldman and Rob Prichard, founders of Queensbridge Theater, get a two-page spread in The New York Observer.
Robert Prichard hopes to illuminate Long Island City with some emphatic Times Square-style signage. “I’d like it to be visible from the 59th Street Bridge,” he said. “First, it flashes ‘Queens,’ then ‘Bridge,’ then ‘Theater,’ and then ‘Queensbridge Theater.’ And then maybe an arrow that lights up and points down to our loading dock.”
Mr. Prichard, 52, has long had a flair for the dramatic. This is the same guy, after all, who nearly a decade ago led a conga line up Avenue A in protest of the city’s antiquated cabaret laws.
Nowadays, he’s participating in a perhaps farther-reaching kind of procession—the ongoing exodus of artists, musicians and other creative types abandoning Manhattan in droves.
Adopting the slogan “Downtown Has Moved to Queens,” the former Lower East Side stalwart is partnering with developer Michael Waldman to open what he called a “rock ‘n’ roll supper club, similar to a Bowery Ballroom or a Mercury Lounge with a restaurant—a first for Long Island City, a first for Queens.”
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