I met Laura Lane at the entrance of the Rad Studio Space at 521 Warren Street, right across from City Hall, and as we walked up the stairway, she said to me, “This space used to be a puppet theater and a drag queen party.”
I said, “I know, I was one of the drag queens.”
She stopped, looked directly at me and said, “You HAVE to send me pictures!”
In the early 2000’s, Dini Lamot and Windle Davis opened the Hudson Puppet Theater and after a while, the space became the Hudson River Theater, a dance and drag performance venue hosted by drag queen Musty Chiffon (Dini). Musty hosted drag acts from New York City, such as Hedda Lettuce and Lady Bunny. After the Hudson River Theater, Peggy Anderson opened STRAY BAR (a word combination of STRaight and gAY) and by 2008, it was Jason’s (Wyckoff) Upstairs Bar with fabulous Indian food nights and a monthly party with DJ Gio called “Trixie’s Whorehouse.”
This summer, Laura Lane, author, and her husband, a painter, reopen the space. They are planning community-related events such author readings, live music nights, and summer dinner parties.
Laura used to live above Coyote Ugly in the East Village. “I’ve always loved having people over. I once had a ping-pong table set up in my small living room, which took up way too much space, but people loved it.”
Laura and her young family of two small boys, chose a quieter life in Hudson and live above the Rad Studio Space. “My son and I spent a half hour watching a bird on the window ledge. It was beautiful.”
Sensory: Meditation and Tasting – Saturday, July 13th – 6-9pm
Nicole Atkins: Live Performance and Summer Dinner Party in Hudson – Saturday, August 10th – 6-9pm
Genres: Author Readings + Summer Dinner Party in Hudson – Saturday, August 17th – 6-9pm
Laura cannot wait for people to rediscover the space. Under the bookcase in the back room, Laura excitedly opens a cupboard filled with board games. “I want there to be late night laughter in this room.”
Upon leaving, I thought to myself, ‘Laura is the perfect owner of 521 Warren. She understands the spirit of the space. She gets it.’
Best of luck to you, Laura Lane!
And here are those pictures I promised you:
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