Steve Lewis
June 04, 2009
My intern Mary Wolff and I were on our way to a New York Nightlife board meeting being held at M2 on 28th Street when I noticed what looked like a protest outside of Marquee nightclub. I told the cabbie to stop, and we bolted out to see what the ruckus was about. A dozen people were holding up banners and posters about Laura Garza, a Brooklyn woman who was last seen leaving Marquee exactly six months before. I asked Awilda Cordero a few questions, and she told me it was important to keep people aware that Laura was "still missing and to come forth with any information they may have.” The high June sun washed out the light from the candlelight vigil underlined the washed-out hopes of the gathering. Laura's fate is, unfortunately, probably a foregone conclusion.


While most of us were trying to figure out if there will be a Christmas this year, there have been unsung heroes fighting to ensure that we have a great New Year’s Eve. Normally, venues apply for a late-night license that permits serving booze into the wee hours of the night, allowing them to get a much-needed revenue boost before winter sets in and business literally goes south. But it seems that the SLA snuck in a rule this year stating that clubs, restaurants, and bars, which normally file for the late-night extension by the first week of December, had to file by November 17. This new rule seemed sure to create havoc; however; no havoc was to be seen and no shouts of protest were heard, as very few people knew about it. The SLA decided not to announce this ruling save by posting it on their very popular website, where all of maybe ten people might have noticed it. When asked why they would do business in this way, they reportedly answered that people should check the website. We all know that everyone is too busy clicking in here, on