City Shuts Down Casanova's Turntable
Bad news, folks. We're being told that city officials paid a visit to renowned happy hour hotspot Casanova a few weeks back, telling the bewildered staff they had to unplug their turntable perched at the end of the bar immediately, or they'd close the place up for good.
This is what Casanova DJ Jacob Guillermo Peña had to say about the situation:
Y'know, it's a bummer to think about all the little niches that are gonna go unfilled without Casanova Lounge having DJs. I mean, I understand the decision. But really, there were some great folks playing some nice records there. I know you can hear some of em over at Hemlock (Caroline plays some great records for happy hour, you should really hear em) but some of these other nights would NEVER go over well at a "club". I've been turned on to a ton of great records while hanging out there. Anyway, just wanted to throw that out there. I know Doyle's gonna have a killer jukebox (no, for real) but it's just not the same. Anyhow, I need to go there for a drink now. Cheers y'all.
Apparently, the city objected to the bar's lack of a cabaret license, and told them they had apply for a license ($1,600) and soundproof the joint ($8,000) if they ever wanted to do so much as plug an iPod in again. This, of course, seems particularly heavy-handed, given that Casanova is typically known for spinning slow jams at a reasonable volume--hardly a club, or even a rowdy dive bar. Alas, that's the situation.
DJ Sonny Phono has some thoughts on what's going on:
This summer has been one of the busiest on that area, and right after a kid got murdered on 16th the guillotine dropped hard. I know a lot of the Vice/ABC officers from my time at [111 Minna] and they tell me they work almost exclusively in the Mission this year. There's a much bigger picture [than NIMBYs] and a lot of it has to do with a basic liquor license being worth half a mil in that neighborhood, not just dudes with wicked record collections nerding out on each other.
I guess it's not just $15 burgers we have to worry about now...
Comments
this happened at the Attic too....mostly because a lawyer neighbor made it an issue.
Those situations seem different to me. In The Attic's case, they were undeniably much louder and had a lawyer harassing them. In Casanova's case, the city was just picking a fight.
Both suck, sure, but I'm not down with the city going out of its way to bother businesses.
I agree. Just pointing out that the cabaret license issue has hit other bars as well. This is strange that the City would target this without a complaint behind it, esp given the nature of the charge.
If a bartender were to play records or ipod on their shift in place of a dj, would that also require a permit?
These small bars are lucky the don't get busted for constantly being over capacity.
I don't understand, why do you need a cabaret license to play recorded music? I thought that cabaret licenses were for live music?
If you have amplification of any kind the Entertainment Commission will need to regulate it and you need to get permits from them.
What if I they hand everyone an iPod with a pair of headphones when they walk in?
That seems to be a pretty open definition as a stereo or iPod dock is technically amplification. Thinking about it across different uses, I know that I can't have a live band play in my apartment, but is playing my record player at home consider the same legally?
It's confusing. I have been told that if there is amplification they need to be involved. I assume that refers only to public spaces. What separates public from private is also confusing.
From their site:
Do I need a Place of Entertainment permit?
If you hire a disc jockey, and/or have live entertainment of any kind for your fixed place venue, you probably need a Place of Entertainment Permit. SEC. 1060.12. NOISE ABATEMENT.
[http://www.sfgov2.org/index.aspx?page=353]
They play good music at Iron and Gold.
A while back I had this idea of starting a "quiet" bar where nobody is allowed to speak and there's no music or TV. Not sure how the no talking rule would actually be enforced, but the idea is you'd have to write notes back and forth to communicate.
I bet the city would still have a beef with my bar, though.
this idea exists at various trappist bars. i've been to a couple in NYC, but i haven't seen any out here. works pretty well - you basically have quiet conversations with your friends. if it gets too loud, the bartender 'shushes' people. somewhat strange, but also nice to chill in a place where you can hear yourself think.
EW77 is right about other bars being hit too. It seems they just made a broad sweep through the mission pulling the plug on everyone without the cabaret license. Perhaps the complaint at the Attic os what started it all?
And yes, ipods count too. So either these bars are going to have to become "quiet bars" or just use a jukebox - which requires a license of its own.
The war on fun finally hits the mission?
If I stick an ipod up my bunghole while sitting in the forest when all of a sudden a tree falls down, does anyone hear it?
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