(Le) Poisson Rouge (‘(the) red fish’) is located on 158 Bleecker Street, Manhattan, between Sullivan and Thompson Streets, two blocks south of Washington Square Park. A new venue, it had a quiet opening in June 2008. It is on the site of the former Village Gate, a famed venue that operated from the late fifties to 1993, and played host to acts ranging from Duke Ellington to The Velvet Underground. It lies directly south of the main New York University campus and the Union Square-area venues, including Webster Hall and Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, and directly west of Bowery-area venues, including Mercury Lounge and Rehab (or right where the B, D, F & V train lines bend from going north-south to east-west). When it opened, concerts were held through boomBOOM Presents (which throws the events at Brooklyn Masonic Temple), but (le) Poisson Rouge has since begun throwing events through other promoters as well.
The stage floor of (le) Poisson Rouge is located down a flight of stairs (with the walls painted red, just in case you didn’t know what ‘Rouge’ meant…). The stage is to the immediate right, but there’s a DJ booth to the upper left (with a lounge/VIP area to the immediate left), which can sometimes mean shifting the focus of attention. The bar is at the far end – there’s another bar/lounge around the corner of the stage, but only if they open it. Bathrooms are accessible from the far corner (with a really cool blow-dry hot air machine, where one puts your hands into it).
(Le) Poisson Rouge has inherited from The Village Gate an eclectic mix of acts, ranging from hip-hop to dance/electronica to classical to even ‘family friendly’ bands like They Might Be Giants – but that might have as much to do with the new venue wanting to book as many acts as possible. However, in look and layout, it much more resembles dance/nightclub places such as Highline Ballroom and especially the late Studio B, with an excellent sound system, over-intense light show (especially the smoke machine), weak house lights, prominent DJ booth, loud house music, dark wall paint (black around the stage floor, dark red everywhere else) and a club kid/bride & tunnel-heavy crowd (maybe not for the classical & family acts…). Unfortunately, it’s smaller than Studio B or the also newly opened Santo’s Party House, making all these elements seem more extreme, especially if the side bar/lounge area isn’t opened. The drink prices are average, with a wide selection and taps, but either the bars are understaffed or poorly managed (but the “Dude, you’re getting a Dell!” guy does work there…). A place that might be trying too hard, and bit off more than they can chew, but it will hopefully work things out.
Capacity: 800
Address:
158 Bleecker Street (Between Sullivan and Thompson Streets)
By Subway:
1 train to Houston Street – walk 3 blocks east on West Houston, 1 block north on Sullivan, turn right M train to Spring Street – walk 1 block east, 3 blocks north on Sullivan, turn right A, B, C, D, E, F & V trains to West 4th Street - walk 3 blocks south on 6th Avenue, 2 blocks east on South side of Bleecker R & W trains to Prince Street – walk 5 blocks west, 2 blocks north on Thompson, turn left B, D, F & V trains to Broadway-Lafayette Street - walk 6 blocks west on West Houston, 1 block north on Thompson, turn left 6 train to Bleecker Street – walk 7 blocks west on South side of Bleecker
