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Farewell to Munchaba
- 9/13
Earlier this month I lost a part of me when I found out
Levittown's Munchaba Lounge was sold and closed its doors
indefinitely. This news came unannounced and cut very deep as no
venue did more for my development than Munchaba.
I remember going there before I took the stage for the first time.
In August 2002, I heard their ad on the now defunct WLIR 92.7. I
always wanted to try comedy and they had a night for it. I
remember writing that first set list in my car. I had no material,
just a set list. I was still taking my first comedy class at
The Comic Strip, and chose to take the plunge early.
Like many comics, my first performance had few if any laughs. I
had no idea what I was doing. All the other performers
there, mostly poets, just stared thinking, "You know? I think this
guy is trying to do comedy."
The amazing thing was that everyone there was supportive. There
was a group of great poets there called D-Live (Clarity, Alex,
Tommy, KJW). Guy Kush hosted the night with his ponytail and
pleasantly inappropriate humor. People had a place and community
on a Thursday night in the middle of Long Island where they could
express themselves.
Munchaba had two great, young owners who were hip and supported
artists. Taryn coddled my stand-up and the spoken word on Thursday
nights, and Tuesdays I discovered Bobby's kickass music night.
With WLIR radio promotion, a great turnout (worthy of two
bouncers) and a kickass host in Ed Ryan, this was where my songs
grew to be my gimmick. "Dick Evan Dyke" was inspired by Munchaba
after I found this great girl... that liked other great girls.
Darren worked hard behind the scenes, Danielle was a sweetheart
waitress and Cindy the bartender made me my own drink called a
"Wecksell." The ingredients varied, but it was always a fruity
color that was more Ocean Spray than alcohol. Munchaba was
like that best friend you couldn't wait to see each week.
Unfortunately, people and places evolve, and I knew once Bobby
sold his share to Taryn, things would change. And they did, but
don't get me wrong. The post Bobby era still had plenty of magic.
Taryn brought a lot of peace, love and expression into the
building. Miles and Jimmy bounced with the best of them, I met my
first girlfriend, Lucas made awesome chicken nipples and I met the
ridiculously insane Gangsta Rabbi.
However, as staff turned over, clientele (how do I say this
nicely) matured, turnout dropped, the music night moved to
Wednesday showing that they let the other Tuesday open mics
dictate their schedule rather than the other way around. The
Munchaba magic was fading. When Ed Ryan left, I tried to fill his
shoes as the music night host. I knew it wasn't the same, but the
opportunity was invaluable. Mammacat's John, who bought Bobby's
share, became a big fan of mine. They also paid me to host which
was nice.
When I heard the summer was hurting for Munchaba I thought they
would rebound in the fall, but when I wanted to swing by on
September 1 to do some stand-up only to find a closed venue, I
knew something was wrong, but honestly I wasn't surprised.
Seeing Munchaba's decline was like watching a friend who was ill
only getting worse. You want to say something, but you don't want
to upset them. If I knew my calling was Munchaba, I would have
stayed in New York and fought the good fight with them. But to me,
Munchaba was my launching pad, my minor league farm system. It got
me ready for the big time. I don't know what will happen to the
space on 58 Gardiners Avenue, but I hope it becomes a space that
will help someone as much as Munchaba helped me.
If they ever make an E! True Hollywood Story on me I'll make sure
Munchaba is in the first segment. The second segment will be my
downward spiral into drugs and alcohol, obviously, but that first
segment - that's where we ate, drank and relaxed - at Munchaba
Lounge.
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Blog
Archive
8/28 - Bon Jovi: A Movie Theater Concert
5/21 - California Weather
5/1 - New York Ramblings
4/8 - Temp Within a Temp
3/18 - The House Husband
2/8 - Playing With House
Money No More
1/22 - Get Out of School Free Card
1/21 - Shoveling Dad
1/6 - Vegas Baby Vegas
12/26 - The Rock n' Roll
Rabbi
12/14 - Making the
Working Class Laugh
12/7 - Lucky Seven
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