For Chita Fans in NYC

[orion59]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 1:35pm

FEINSTEIN'S at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue, NYC - 1-212-339-4095 - http://www.feinsteinsattheregency.com/ ) is proud to present the debut engagement of Tony Award winning Broadway legend Chita Rivera from February 22nd through March 12th. "And Now I Sing," her all-new show, is an intimate evening of song featuring works by Jerry Herman, Cy Coleman, Jacques Brel, Carol Hall, Jule Styne, and Kander & Ebb. She will be joined by a trio led by Musical Director Mark Hummel. The show will play the following schedule: Tuesday through Saturday at 8:30 pm with late shows on Friday and Saturday at 11:00 pm. All shows have a $60 cover. There is a $40 minimum for early shows and a $30 minimum for late shows.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 1:37pm

"All shows have a $60 cover. There is a $40 minimum for early shows and a $30 minimum for late shows."

Holy crap.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 1:58pm

No joke, Rathnait, and let me tell you, Feinstein’s is NOT a good dining experience. My Mom and I went to see Brian Stokes Mitchell last week (who was wonderful), and that place is a terrible rip-off to say the least. First of all, there are so many tables crammed in there that the wait staff and patrons literally cannot walk between the tables without bumping people’s chairs. I cannot believe that it does not violate the fire code. Secondly, because so many folks are squeezed in, the wait staff cannot pay good attention to anyone. The waiters were clearly working their butts off—they never stopped rushing back and forth from the kitchen—but that was just to get the menu items out. You could not get a waiter to stop if you just needed butter or a refill on coffee or water, for example. And to top it off, the food, which is incredibly expensive, is pretty bad. Remember when you had an awards banquet in high school at the Holiday Inn? That is the quality of the food—banquet food. Everything was both overcooked and dry and cold at the same time. None of this is to say that Chita won’t be wonderful, but just be prepared for a bad, overpriced meal with bad service. Michael Feinstein should absolutely be ashamed to have his name on a place that is managed so poorly. Just the pits.

[Jimmcf]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 2:11pm

I love Chita, but it is just way too expensive.

Was thinking the same thing last year at Betty Buckley at Cafe Carlyle. It is about $100 an hour.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 2:30pm

I am seeing her on Tues but u r right- it is a terrible premium. I expect to have a nosh b4 I go & just drink! I pay the same regardless of if i eat or no.

[Marquise]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 3:23pm

it seems to me that to go see quality entertainment in nyc nowadays one has to make upward of six figures.

[Marquise]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 3:27pm

let me re-phrase that. some would consider a mime juggling balls in the air in the park quality entertainment, so it's all really a matter of opinion. what i meant to say was it's very expensive nowadays to go see performers we know and love in any venue whether it be the broadway stage or an intimate cabaret setting.

seems to me if you're not rich or if you haven't saved up enough money ahead of time you might as well count yourself out of going to any of these shows.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 3:42pm

Yup... Feinsteins and the Cafe Carlyle are price prohibitive... but such great talent performs there... sigh....

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 3:49pm

Betty at Cafe Carlyle...I basically had to take out a loan to see that.

[Marquise]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 3:54pm

...going to the theatre or a show is a luxury nowadays

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 4:02pm

A sign of my age: I can actually remember when $20 could get you a good seat.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 4:07pm

I remember when Broadway standing room was $10.

[The Goat]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 4:15pm

Sad to hear about the downslide in food, service, and seating at Feinstein's. Last time I was there--which was, admittedly, a few years ago--Barbara Cook was performing, the tables were spread out, and the food and the service were very good. It seemed a far preferable experience to the ones I've had at Cafe Carlyle. In fact, I was trying to convince a couple of folks to go see Chita with me by telling them it would be a near-ideal experience and well worth the money, but, if the experience is now so trying, maybe it's not worth it.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 4:18pm

Me too, Rath. *feels old*

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 4:18pm

"Me too, Rath. *feels old*"

Why? Because you remember something Rath remembers? :P

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 4:20pm

I'm going tonight. Stop by, if you like. It'll be a table of 4 ladies. I'm brunette, the other ladies are: 1 red head, 1 light brown, & 1 blonde.

Milla, a little lighter in the pocketbook

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 4:20pm

No, I feel old because I am old.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 4:31pm

Milla, if u can, try to post a review! I'm sure the board will appreciate yr insight!

[Chip1012]

Posted: 2/22/05 at 11:26pm

Ok so can I buy a ticket to this? I will be in town for a few days in March and this sounds like a legendary evening (thanks Milla for your rave on ATC)...or do I just have to spend a lot on food?

edited-ok so now i realize, i buy a ticket AND spend a lot on food. gr. Updated On: 2/23/05 at 11:26 PM

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 8:58am

One of the worst nights of my life was seeing Montgomery, Plant and Stritch (remember them? Billy, not Elaine) at the Oak Room at the Algonquin. I'd saved up a LOT of money to take my hosts in New York as a thank you for their hospitality. We had such appalling food and service that they ended up writing an angry letter of complaint. Some thank-you THAT turned out to be!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/23/05 at 9:02am

Making Theatre so cost prohibitive is one of the things that is ruining this country. If the common masses aren't exposed to quality entertainment at affordable prices - how will they ever become a cultured, well rounded civilization? It is appalling (sp?) to me that this country has become so damned greedy and uncaring.