Neighborhood Threat

This sign is displayed at a noted nightspot in downtown Manhattan. I would like to call your attention to the last line:

“Exit the bar briskly and silently. People are trying to sleep upstairs. Please make all travel plans and say all farewells before exiting the bar.”

This is clearly an establishment that wishes to stay in business. This is clearly an establishment that wishes to have as little impact on its neighbors as possible. In short, this is a responsible bar owner.

Now, no, I don’t know how well this is enforced or if this is all just window dressing. But at least it’s there.

And they’re worse than ever. Last night’s grand reopening party made noise that kept me awake from just after 1am until 5:15 THIS MORNING. The trucks that drive up Franklin at that hour were quieter.

1. The music was louder. I know because I could hear it clearly from the building. It wasn’t just a dull thump. So they’ve done nothing to ameliorate it. There is no double door. And I bet they had a dj on the roof, despite insisting that they don’t.
2. The people were stupider. Someone drover around the block SIX TIMES IN A ROW blasting that horrific Haddaway song. They yelled more, they yelled louder, they yelled later. People were yelling at 3:15, 4:30, 5:15. (Linda, I hope you finally caught up with your friends.)
3. The horn blowing was insane, and it wasn’t cabs. It was people waiting for their friends. I think that some of these people actually worked at the club, based on the tenor of the conversation. “Hey, it’s 3 in the morning, and I want my friends to hurry up. Let me keep blowing my horn, alternating with yelling. I mean, I don’t have to go to work tomorrow so no one else does. There are no families with children or babies in this area, what difference does it make if I make noise?”
4. Nothing actually started to be noisy until about 1am, which explains why I didn’t go outside and try to see what was going on. Because I’m one of those people who had to work today. I also did not file a complaint with 311 for that reason. I am a bad neighbor.

Basically, they didn’t learn anything. It’s business as usual. They never had any intention of being a good neighbor until they got busted, and now that they are back in business (although no one is sure how, given that none of the statues of their permits have changed), they’re just going to continue to be the blatantly inconsiderate assholes about running their club that they always have been.

I cannot wait for their liquor license to come up for renewal. And I will never again not phone a complaint into 311, no matter how late it is.

Can anyone recommend a good white noise machine?