54 Below

What's 54 below like? Has anyone been there ?

It's tucked away below street level, in the basement of Studio 54, and has a sort of speakeasy atmosphere. It's rectangular and relatively small, with a bar at one end. The stage is fairly low and surrounded by table seating, with booths along the walls. If I recall correctly, there's a food and beverage minimum. Some seats are reserved, while others are purchased by type with actual assignment by the house on the evening of the chosen date.

They have a lovely schedule of performers and a shoehorned little room that serves midgrade, dinner theater fare. The decor of the room itself is quite beautiful... And thankfully, they serve a strong (overpriced) cocktail.

As someone who could never afford a second mortgage to go to cabaret at the Cafe Carlyle, 54 Below has been a godsend. The performance space is small enough that the performance feels up close and personal (although I avoid the front tables as I have no interest in craning my neck to look up at someone for 45 minutes). I like the food, and the "overpriced" drinks are about what you can expect for liquor in the theater district. I have seen Paulo Szot there several times, and other individual performers, and also curiosities like a TABOO concert (attended by Boy George).