Towne Crier Cafe

Towne Crier Cafe is a club and restaurant located in Beacon, NY, featuring live musicians. It seats 170 guests.[1] The cafe was founded in 1972, and after a period of decline, it has enjoyed increased popularity in early 2000s.[2]

History

Founder Phil Ciganer discovered the first location for the club while delivering a piece of art to a friend in the Town of Beekman, Dutchess County, NY.[3]

Paul Gershowitz owned the Towne Crier Cafe in the 1970's.[4] According to Gershowitz, "it was an interesting, charming little setting". Part of the building dated back to the 1600s and had once been a stagecoach stop and post office. By 1972 the new enterprise, appropriately called the Towne Crier Cafe, was up and running.[5]

After 16 years in Beekman, The Towne Crier moving to Pawling in 1988. Though not as historically interesting as its predecessor, the Pawling location accommodated more people in expanded dining facilities. Both exterior and interior had a Southwestern motif. The enclosed bar was decorated with photos of the many artists who performed at the Towne Crier.[6] Eventually, Ciganer's ambitions outgrew the Pawling location and the club relocated to Beacon, New York,[7] which has enjoyed a cultural "rebirth" in recent years.[8] Ciganer cites this cultural renaissance as the main factor in choosing to relocate the Towne Crier Cafe to Beacon.[8]

Notable performers

A number of musicians performed in the Towne Crier Cafe including Pete Seeger, John Renbourn, Richie Havens, Suzanne Vega, Jack Hardy, Richard Thompson, Jorma Kaukonen, Altan, The Flying Karamazov Brothers, Leo Kottke, Adrian Legg, Billy McLaughlin, Preston Reed, Clifton Chenier, Odetta, Dr. John, Southside Johnny, Ani DiFranco, Black Violin, Taj Mahal, John Hammond, Bela Fleck, Gandalf Murphy, Cherish the Ladies, Battlefield Band, Fairport Convention, Wishbone Ash, Bill Miller.

References

  1. ^ DeNitto, Emily (September 13, 2014). "A Review of Towne Crier Cafe in Beacon". The New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  2. ^ Goldsmith, Kate (May 2002). "The Towne Crier Café Turns 30, Standing Firm amid the Shifting Sands of Popular Music". Dutchess Magazine. pp. 46–52.
  3. ^ Ofgang, Erik (February 22, 2012). "Towne Crier Cafe to stay open, for now". NewsTimes.
  4. ^ "Mid-Century Baling Wire Bull Sculpture by Paul Gershowitz".
  5. ^ "The Towne Crier". paulguzzone.com.
  6. ^ Platt, Frances Marion (January 17, 2013). "Towne Crier Cafe to move to Beacon". Hudson Valley One.
  7. ^ "Towne Crier Cafe Relocates to Beacon". Hudson Valley Magazine. November 25, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Hixson, Sommer (October 7, 2013). "Towne Crier Café Re-Opens in Beacon". Highlands Current.

Further reading

41°30′13.8″N 73°58′4.8″W / 41.503833°N 73.968000°W / 41.503833; -73.968000

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