New York - February 27, 2001

No Name Bar

A Bar with No Name

Saturday night. We find ourselves at an impromptu birthday party at a bar in the East Village.

A bar with no name. What a genius concept.

But this one, now on its third night, has a special je ne sais quoi. It’s civilized (read: no screaming, over-boozed twentysomethings in mating frenzy), and it’s done up all sleek: part rave moderne, part Asian-inspired. Our sidekick particularly enjoyed the company of Brooke, a lovely bartender.

The space features light sculptures by artist Leo Villereal, and the hall is lined with flat-panel LCD screens that cycle through all sorts of brain candy (watch for the driving scene where you feel like you’re looking out the passenger side of a moving car), and the DJ spins ambient electronica.

Our favorite feature? A grid of tiny LCD panels showing live pictures from other rooms at the bar. A great way to keep tabs on your date … or find a new one. Although it has no name, it has an address: 121 St. Marks Place.