Brooklyn Mirage ticket holders left in dark after rescheduled shows as status of venue is in limbo
The East Williamsburg open-air concert hall — which has been haunted by the deaths of two ravers — hasn't been given the OK from the city to reopen after it closed for extensive renovations and blew past its planned relaunch on May 1.
But the venue suddenly announced it had cancelled its summer reopening after failing to secure the proper city permits, even cancelling a sold-out show just before a DJ was set to hit the stage.
Advertisement
The last update the venue provided announced shows through Memorial Day weekend would be cancelled and rescheduled for July and August, according to an Instagram post.
5 Brooklyn Mirage ticket holders have grown frustrated at the venue's radio silence since its last Memorial Day announcement about cancelled shows.
NY Post
'We apologize to our incredible community of fans, artists, crew members, and staff for the delay. Though the Brooklyn Mirage is opening later than anticipated, we are making great progress towards opening our doors… We are working diligently with the City of New York to make sure we meet all regulations and requirements,' the May 20 announcement said.
Advertisement
'If you cannot attend rescheduled shows, you will be given a full refund,' the venue wrote.
A month later, ticket holders and rave-goers are still left without answers — even losing out on plane fare to make it to shows that were rescheduled last minute in June.
Commenters have flocked to the recent announcement to nag the venue for the reopening limbo.
5 There has been no official update from the Brooklyn Mirage since the venue announced shows through Memorial Day weekend would be cancelled.
Advertisement
'Did y'all die?' one commenter wrote.
Temple Barros, 47, from the Bronx, has been an 'avid concert goer' at Brooklyn Mirage since 2016 — but said his beloved venue's handling of the reopening has been a 'disappointment.'
'I'm not here to bash it because I've been going to Brooklyn Mirage since 2016. I'm an avid goer every other week … I've been going since they just had the white wall and the umbrella over the DJ booth,' Barros said.
'This year has probably been the biggest disappointment. I had a friend flying from Florida to go see Excision, which they said they would be open that week, and they were not. So he had tickets, flights, and hotels, and I felt bad,' he said.
Advertisement
Barros had also planned to attend a DJ set by Sara Landry, a Netherlands-based techno artist, on May 1 — which was rescheduled at Knockdown Center that evening.
5 The DJ set of Netherlands-based techno artist Sara Landry was also cancelled at the Brooklyn Mirage due to the failed reopening weekend.
instagram/saralandryd
'My friend still complains to this day that she had one eyelash on. We were getting ready to walk out the door, and we all got the text message an hour before we were supposed to go to the show, and that was crazy.'
Christina P, from Long Island, also had her cousin fly out from Georgia so they could attend a concert for the American DJ/producer duo 'Two Friends' on June 13 together.
After seeing the Memorial Day announcement, Christina grew skeptical that the show would go on.
'I called the venue and asked them what was up so my cousin could cancel her flights. They told me that they didn't have any information, though, that they'd post something on social media and to call back the next week,' she said.
5 A Temporary Place of Assembly certificate, which allows 75 or more people to gather indoors or 200 or more people to gather outdoors, has been requested for the venue's outdoor area.
Just three days before the show, the artist announced the event would be rescheduled for Sept. 12 at Summerstage in Central Park.
Advertisement
The Brooklyn Mirage eventually reposted the artist's announcement on their Instagram story, according to Christina.
'My cousin was not able to cancel her flight. We were still able to hang out, but now she was out the money for her plane ticket,' she said.
'We just want transparency. The venue could've been more open about what they were doing. They knew they had problems with permits. They could've been more explicit. They didn't have to waste anybody's time,' Christina said.
The venue is still undergoing permit problems despite shows on the calendar for the remainder of June.
Advertisement
5 The venue is still not permitted to operate, according to the Department of Buildings.
Gregory P. Mango
The Brooklyn Mirage 'is currently not permitted to operate as they submitted job filing applications that remain under audit,' the Department of Buildings said in a statement.
A Temporary Place of Assembly certificate, which allows 75 or more people to gather indoors or 200 or more people to gather outdoors, has been requested for the venue's outdoor area and is still under review, the DOB said.
The venue has been awarded the TPA certificate for The Great Hall, an eating and drinking establishment on The Brooklyn Mirage's property, according to the department.
Advertisement
The venue's operator, Avant Gardner, did not respond to requests for comment.
Avant Gardner's CEO, Josh Wyatt, was also fired amid the Memorial Day reopening snafu, BK Mag reported.
Wyatt had previously assured people the venue would be '100 percent' ready for the May 1 reopening in an interview with the outlet just days before.
Advertisement
'At the end of the day, you can't do that [cancel] to people that are coming from all miles out of the way,' Barros said.
'This [the Brooklyn Mirage] is our safe space, this is our out … What hurts the most is that the safe space that we thought we had is not here this year.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan's sex tape lawsuit had a lasting effect on cases involving celebrity privacy
Famous for his fearless bravado as a pro wrestler, Hulk Hogan won one of his most notable victories in a Florida courtroom by emphasizing his humiliation and emotional distress after a news and gossip website published a video of Hogan having sex with a friend's wife. A 2016 civil trial that pitted the First Amendment against the privacy rights of celebrities ended with a jury awarding Hogan a whopping $140 million in his lawsuit against Gawker Media. Though both parties later settled on $31 million to avoid protracted appeals, the case put Gawker out of business. It also ensured Hogan, who died Thursday at age 71, and his legal team would have a long-term impact on media law. The case showed that, in certain circumstances, celebrities could persuade a jury that their right to privacy outweighs the freedom of the press — even when the published material was true. The case put media outlets on notice that 'the public doesn't necessarily like the press,' especially when reporting intrudes into intimate details of even public figures' private lives, said Samantha Barbas, a University of Iowa law professor who writes about press freedoms and First Amendment issues. She said it also emboldened celebrities, politicians and others in the public spotlight to be more aggressive in suing over unflattering news coverage — as seen recently in President Donald Trump's pursuit of court cases against the Wall Street Journal, ABC and CBS. 'I think the lasting effect of the Hulk Hogan case was it really started this trend of libel and privacy lawsuits being weaponized to kind of take down these media organizations,' Barbas said. Hogan wept hearing the verdict in a case that was 'real personal' Hogan, whose given name was Terry Bollea, sued Gawker for invading his privacy after the website in 2012 posted an edited version of a video of Hogan having sex with the wife of his then-best friend, Florida-based radio DJ Bubba The Love Sponge Clem. Clem gave his blessing to the coupling and recorded the video that was later leaked to Gawker. Hogan insisted he was unaware the intimate encounter was being filmed. The former WWE champion testified that he was 'completely humiliated' when the sex video became public. Hogan's lead trial attorney, Ken Turkel, recalled Thursday how his muscular, mustachioed client cried in court as the jury verdict was read. 'To him the privacy part of it was integral. It was important,' Turkel said. 'Eight-year-old kids were googling 'Hulk Hogan' and 'Wrestlemania,' and they were getting a sex tape. That was hurtful to him in a real personal way.' The three-week trial was closely followed far beyond the courtroom in St. Petersburg, Florida, as thousands of wrestling fans, First Amendment watchers and others stayed glued to their screens as the trial was streamed live online. Salacious details emerged about Hogan's sex life as jurors and spectators viewed. images of him in thong underwear. Other testimony focused on how New York-based Gawker practiced journalism differently than traditional news outlets. And Hogan explained to the jury about the difference between his wrestling persona and his private life. Jury rejected that First Amendment protected publishing sex tape The jury ultimately rejected arguments by Gawker's attorneys that Hogan's sex tape was newsworthy and that publishing it, no matter how distasteful, was protected speech under the First Amendment. 'Now more people, including judges, understand that it's possible to sue someone for revealing something truthful, as long as that something is deeply personal and its publication is highly offensive,' said Amy Gajda, a Brooklyn Law School professor who followed and wrote about the case against Gawker. News outlets still have broad legal protection for publishing information about public figures, even things that would generally be considered private, Gajda said 'As long as there is news value in what is published and the media can argue that effectively, they can get a privacy case dismissed very early on,' she said. ___ Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia.
Business Wire
13 minutes ago
- Business Wire
Coushatta Casino Resort Unveils Newly Reimagined Big Sky Steakhouse
KINDER, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Coushatta Casino Resort announces the highly anticipated grand reopening of its Big Sky Steakhouse on Monday, August 4. Big Sky Steakhouse, a beloved regional favorite for over 30 years, reopens with a complete renovation inspired by the Acadian region of Southwest Louisiana. "Our goal was to bring the best of Louisiana to a steakhouse setting. Our custom cuts, dry-aging process and commitment to Louisiana flavors make every dish stand out." - Chef Matthew Beard Share 'Our goal was to bring the best of Louisiana to a steakhouse setting,' said Chef Matthew Beard. 'I grew up in this region and have a strong connection to the area, which is why leading the team at Big Sky Steakhouse is deeply personal to me. Our custom cuts, dry-aging process and commitment to Louisiana flavors make every dish stand out.' Chef Beard, a native of Oberlin, trained at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas, and at the Le Cordon Bleu in Scottsdale, Arizona. Known for introducing inventive food concepts across the Coushatta property, he brings both culinary artistry and hometown pride to Big Sky's kitchen. The updated menu, inspired by the storied culinary traditions of the surrounding parishes, features prime dry-aged cuts like the 24oz Cowboy Cut Bone-In Ribeye, Gulf seafood including pan-seared black drum and Red Snapper Calcasieu, and classic Louisiana dishes such as oxtail gravy over buttery mashed potatoes. Standout house favorites include fried green tomatoes with lump crabmeat and crawfish (harvested from Coushatta's own farms), and the Big Sky Burger, crafted from dry-aged beef. The reimagined restaurant space pays tribute to the region. Inside, guests will find a welcoming space rooted in Acadian design: repurposed 150-year-old doors, locally crafted woodwork, curated antiques and custom lighting. The new layout includes cozy booths for intimate dinners and a spacious dining room anchored by a grand fireplace. Much of the finish-out was completed by local tradespeople and artisans. The art throughout the space, was handpicked from the Louisiana area, including several pieces by New Orleans-based fine art photographer Frank Relle. The new Mirror Bar serves as a dazzling focal point in the new space. The back bar features over 40 antique mirrors, each carefully sourced from across the South. The Mirror Bar offers the full dining menu along with craft cocktails like the Smoked Old Fashioned (accented with oak smoke) and the dramatic Voodoo Smoked Tiki Dreams, featuring layered rums, smoked bubbles, and a flaming garnish. Local pastry chef Kellie Trimble-Deaire brings her own Louisiana flair to the dessert menu, incorporating flavors like chicory, praline and rum. Signature sweets include Salted Caramel Mini Beignets and Bananas Foster Bread Pudding. Big Sky's dining room seats 120 and the Mirror Bar seats 42. A private chef's table, featuring a 2,230-year-old Sinker Cypress antique table, offers a personalized experience for up to eight adventurous diners. The private dining room, accented with local art and custom millwork, seats larger groups up to 20. ABOUT COUSHATTA CASINO RESORT Coushatta Casino Resort, Louisiana's largest casino resort, is located in Kinder, Louisiana. It's expansive gaming floor, the largest in the Lake Charles area, offers nearly 2,000 slot and table games, including live poker, bingo and sports betting. The property also features three hotels, the Dream Pool and Lazy River, world-class entertainment and the #1 rated golf course in Louisiana. Coushatta Casino Resort is owned and operated by the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. For more information, call (800) 584-7263 or visit
CNBC
14 minutes ago
- CNBC
Astronomer HR chief Kristin Cabot resigns following Coldplay 'kiss-cam' incident
Days after Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigned from the tech startup, the HR exec who was with him at the infamous Coldplay concert has left as well. "Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer, she has resigned," a company spokesperson wrote in an email to CNBC Thursday. Cabot was the company's chief people officer. Cabot and Byron, who is married with children, were shown in an intimate moment on the 'kiss cam' at a recent Coldplay show in Boston, and immediately hid when they saw their faces on the big screen. Lead singer Chris Martin said, "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." An attendee's video of the incident went viral. Byron resigned from the company on Saturday. Both Cabot and Byron have been removed the company's leadership team webpage. Pete DeJoy, Astronomer's interim CEO, wrote in a post earlier this week that recent and unexpected national attention has turned the company into "a household name." In May, the New York-based company, which commercializes open source software, announced a $93 million investment round led by Bain Ventures and other investors, including Salesforce Ventures.
