Friday, June 21, 2013

Novak's nightclub in the Grove closing : Entertainment

Novak's nightclub in the Grove closing : Entertainment
Novak's, the long-running gay dance club/bar at 4121 Manchester Ave. in the heart of the Grove neighborhood, is closing.
The last day is June 30.
Rumors began swirling all day Thursday about the state of Novak's, and nothing was said on Novak's Facebook page or owner Nancy Novak's Facebook page until late in the day.
On the club's page was a message presumably from Novak that read "I'm retiring and I'm pretty excited about it. There are negotiations with the next owners so I'm not sure but it shouldn't be too long. Thanks for a great 17 years. You have made my life so great and full of love. See you soon. Going to try and be at the bar every night to say goodbye. No crying now."
Novak's employees were apparently informed the bar was closing via email on Wednesday.
Novak did not respond to a request for an interview.
Novak's is known for karaoke, drag queen and drag king shows, dancing, its Open Mic Mondays, Phone Tunes Tuesdays and more.
More information on Novak's is at novaksbar.com.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

East St. Louis considers extending nightclub hours : Stltoday

East St. Louis considers extending nightclub hours : Stltoday
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) — A decision by the mayor and leaders in East St. Louis to consider all-hours nightclubs in the crime-plagued city drew sharp criticism Thursday from U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and the St. Clair County prosecutor.
Durbin and Brendan Kelly wrote a letter to Mayor Alvin Parks after the Belleville News-Democrat reported (http://bit.ly/17pc6t2) that the southwestern Illinois city's council wants to create an entertainment district for 24-hour and late clubs.
The community cut the clubs' hours last year, requiring them to close at 2 a.m. during the week and 3 a.m. on weekends. The change came after pressure from police, prosecutors and even Durbin, who wanted to limit liquor sales. Clubs had been open until 6 a.m.
Durbin and Kelly said extending hours will increase the risk of violence and undermine federal law enforcement efforts. They called the proposal, which is set for a public hearing, "shocking and disappointing."
"We urge you to withdraw this proposal and should you press forward with it, we urge the City Council to vote it down," Durbin and Kelly wrote to the mayor. "The cost of this violent crime to East St. Louis' families far exceeds any economic benefit that extended club hours might bring."
The city also wants to double the cost of liquor licenses. City council supporters argue concentrating nightclubs in a single area would make it easier to control public safety.
Parks said the city has lost nightlife dollars to nearby communities since clubs started closing earlier. He said he wants that atmosphere to return to East St. Louis.
"In the '80's, East St. Louis was known as East Boogie," Parks said.