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Jimmy’s No. 43 1 July 2009 |
Jimmy’s No. 43 is below street level, the better to present underground indie theater.
Which beers taste best with bacon, chocolate and cheese? If you’ve been lucky enough to have spent the past few years in Manhattan witnessing the renaissance of the indie theater scene, you’ve likely spent quality time in a particular restaurant with a back room that doubles as theater space and tasting stage. If you’re new in town you go to East 7th between 2nd and 3rd Aves and descended the steps of Jimmy’s No. 43. Owner, chef, foodie and raconteur Jimmy Carbone has been putting great food and drink together with great theater companies like the award-winning Rising Phoenix Rep since 2005, and he’s recently opened a new space called 1 Dominick. United Stages asked playwright and RPR artistic director Daniel Talbott to interview the East Side patron of the arts.
Daniel Talbott: Jimmy, what brought you into the restaurant biz?
Jimmy Carbone: Love of eating, drinking and socializing!
Rising Phoenix Rep’s production of Daniel Reitz’ Three Sisters, with Samantha Soule, Julie Kline and Addie Johnson, in the backroom performance space at Jimmy’s No. 43
How did you get the idea to go beyond just having amazing food and beer at Jimmy's and decide to incorporate artists, musicians, writers and theater into it all?
The space spoke to me! The back room was built out with an amazing small stage. There is such a dearth of small, affordable multi-use spaces in New York City. I know so many talented, interesting performance art people. They wouldn’t take no for an answer!
What’s the best part about having crazy theater people around all the time? The worst?
Best: lots of free back massages. Worst: lots of free back massages.
When are you finally going to make that Rising Phoenix cameo we’ve been talking about?
Write me in. I am always available for cameos; just can’t stomach rehearsals!
If you could be any type of beer what would you be and why?
Belgian triple. Delicious and dangerous.
What’s your favorite RPR show that you never got a chance to see?
The reading of Crystal Skillman’s The Telling Trilogy with Didi O’Connell. One night only…a year or so ago. She is such an amazing actress.
Your latest project is your new restaurant at HERE, 1 Dominick. How did that come to be and why can’t you seem to get away from theater folk?
Kristin Marting seduced me with free back massages. She wanted to do more than a simple theater concession; we collaborated on the design and vibe. Now that it is fully licensed, it will be everyone’s favorite hidden wine bar on that perfect old New York, West Soho side street, Dominick Street.
“We welcome performing artists,” says restaurateur Jimmy Carbone (left), pictured with his interviewer, artistic director of Rising Phoenix Rep Daniel Talbott
What should we know about what’s coming up next at Jimmy’s and/or 1 Dominick?
1 Dominick is now serving tasty sparkling wine cocktails and Italian-style aperitivos. It has that “hidden wine bar” feeling. Jimmy’s No. 43 is leader in the “good beer” movement, and will be hosting several events for the NYC July “good beer month.”
Everyone at Rising Phoenix has always felt like family at your restaurant on East 7th Street. What do you think it is about your philosophy and the environment of your restaurants that makes them so inspirational to theater artists and to artists in general?
We welcome performing artists. We want to associate with writers and performers—much more interesting than Wall Street types. Jimmy’s No. 43 is like an old-style salon: a place to meet, socialize, share your work with others…food and good drink is as much a part of this as the performances. This is my house, and I want certain kinds of guests…like Rising Phoenix Rep.
Jimmy’s No. 43: every day 12 noon–5 p.m. (drinks only); 5 p.m.–12 midnight, full menu, bar; drinks until 2 a.m. (4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday). http://www.jimmysno43.com/.
1 Dominick: weekdays, 8 a.m. (great coffee from Gorilla Coffee in Brooklyn!), lunch 11:30–all afternoon, aperitivo (Italian happy hour every day 6–8 p.m. w/comp snacks), until 2 a.m. Drinks and snacks all night. Weekends open at 11 a.m. http://www.1dominick.com/.
