Before We Danced
I have wanted to open a dance and live music venue since my teenage years. I got sidetracked by a career in body piercing but always kept up w/ DJing and hosting parties. In 2010 I signed a lease to open my dream bar, a horror bar, a bar I and like minded people could meet, dance, drink, and grow. These pictures show what it was before I built it. I personally did 90% of the construction on The Lovecraft Bar working days at my day job and nights doing construction on the bar w/ virtually no savings, just hard work and some help from some friends.
the bar
bar interior
Following pics - before the dance floor
Following pics - building the stage
No one notices these details because it’s always dark.
Following pics- raised seating area
The walls of the raised seating area are recycled from a burned down book store, they still faintly bear the odor of charred wood.
Following pics- laying the floor.
The floor is recycled from a warehouse torn down in the 60s.
Following pics - the booths and mural
Following pic - Shauna Seligman, a very talented artists and tattooer, painting diligently away. (Thanks always, Shauna!)
Following pics - The bar getting built
The original bar I ripped out and moved upstairs for storage.
A ship builder gave me tips on burning the wood w/ a torch before staining and sealing it to bring out the natural wood grain.
Following pics - painting the walls red upstairs
The Lovecraft is a very old, wet structure. All of the red paint slid off the walls overnight.
It’s a shame the Fire Marshall does not allow the upstairs for public use, that was the original plan.
Following pic - Hallelujah for my little car.
When I pulled up w/ the water heater in my car, the plumber fell over laughing.
Following pics - The children’s coffins.
The delivery guy was relieved to be done with them, he was spooked! The coffins date from the late 1890s.
The neighbors had access to our fuse box and would steal the fuses before I was aware of it. They reported to the landlord that I was into witchcraft and a Satanist. I’m glad they were freaked out by me and I’m glad I have new neighbors!
Following pic - Lu in a coffin
Following pic- Billy dusting the coffins after mounting
I painted the star on NY’s Eve 2011, armed with a bottle of whiskey and good luck (because I suck at math). I drove a nail dead center and with a string attached drew the 15 foot diameter circle. And then with painter’s tape did the star. It’s not perfect, but who is?
Sandy!
I will never be finished with the growth of my bar, I change things constantly to keep it fresh and visually stimulating. I just wish I had a little more room for spooky video games!
When I see it packed like this I look back on what it was and how it’s evolved I’m glad I built it myself. It’s my art project.