Siberia

After working security at the exclusive Studio 54 and later reigning over his own unruly crowd at the legendarily lawless dive bar Siberia, Tracy Westmoreland isn’t the kind of guy to be intimidated by a few little raindrops.

And he expects the same waterproof attitude from his real estate partners.

“Right now, I’m dealing with this friend of mine who’s a very serious motherfucker,” said the imposing 6-foot, 250-pound nightlife impresario, as he headed out from his midtown apartment one stormy Friday afternoon last month. “The guy’s hard-core. He’s like me. So we’re going walking. In the rain, we’re going to go walking around Brooklyn.  read more »

Tracy Westmoreland, the actor and former operator of shuttered Hell’s Kitchen watering hole Siberia, called us to chat about his rumored return to Fox’s Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld on Thursday, Feb. 14. (Today, Page Six printed the possible reunion in their “We Hear…” item.)

As Mr. Westmoreland explained it, he recently ran into Red Eye's Greg Gutfeld, panelist Bill Schultz and ombudsman Andy Levy. “We were talking about how I sorta fell through the cracks,” said the bar guru, who was once a regular fixture on the show as its official Nightlife Contributor. “I explained it to them like this: ‘It’s Valentine’s Day; I’m going to send out some love.’ So I’m sending love and happiness out to the people. It’s going to be good,” he said, before adding: “Everything is groovy and it’s all good.”

Though apparently excited about the return visit, Mr. Westmoreland did not seem to know in what capacity he would be appearing. “I don’t know exactly why I’m going back, but I hope it’s the nightlife [beat], because that’s what I do best,” he told us.

We had not forgotten that he called us back in November to announce that Siberia would be reopening soon. And when asked for an update, Mr. Westmoreland would say only that Siberia’s reincarnation was “imminent.

“Here’s the story with that: we’re talking to four different landlords—we got the money—we’re dancing around the whole thing,” he said. “As soon as we hand him the check and we sign the papers, it could happen very soon.”

 

Our fellow Observer blog The Daily Transom breaks the news this afternoon that Siberia, the dive bar favored by Manhattan's finest media, will re-open, probably in the same subterranean space on 40th Street near Ninth Avenue.

Tracy Westmoreland, the boisterous actor and owner of recently-shuttered New York dive bar Siberia, just told us, exclusively, that he is going to reopen the beloved watering hole.

“Siberia has been the engine of all my good luck, so we’re going to restart the engine,” said Mr. Westmoreland today. He also told us that he thinks the club will remain in the same dank, subterranean space on 40th Street and Ninth Ave., but whatever happens, it will definitely be in Hell’s Kitchen. “We’re not straying from our roots. Siberia’s always been in Hell’s Kitchen and it works. There have been some shit holes in Hell’s Kitchen, and that’s basically what we’re looking for.”

 

Continue reading after the jump.  read more »

Presented without further comment: the four-minute preview of Jack Bryan's documentary about erstwhile media hangout Siberia.

Whether you're a bitter media blogger, or a celebrity private intellectual, or a noted 43rd Street plagiarist, or an ex of Parker Posey, or an employee of Salon who is questioning the meaning of feminism, or even Village Voice nightlife sex dwarf Tricia Romano, the time of the Yule can only mean one thing. It is a time when we celebrate the crucified death and rebirth of our favorite vending places of alcohol. And so now please enjoy this Christmas message of cheer from the owner of Siberia, Mr. Tracy Westmoreland.

The soul of Siberia raised its swollen, beautiful head in alarmed satisfaction this weekend, happy to see all the Siberians who came by to drink. The bar will stay open another week thanks to your thirsts. Where are you drinking tonight? Good.

I am not even going to start about the landlord because I shouldn't. At least not here. Or yet. But there's a battle for Siberia to win.

Once again the proprietor of the building wants us out, just like one did six years ago in the subway. During that fight, I took the toilet from that bar as carry-on luggage to chain it to the doors of the landlord's headquarters in Tokyo. We don't lose, Comrades, not in these battles.

Now we fight to keep Siberia from becoming a chain steakhouse. There will not be a down and dirty rock venue in the basement of the steakhouse--that will be a kitchen. Now that can't be good.

The people who have come out to pledge their support are kinder and sweeter than I ever imagined. One neighborhood woman walking by extended a ten dollar bill, which she likely needed, in a gesture that, I have to tell you, made me cry a little. Midtown business people, neighborhood folks, chefs, bartenders, and the writers--we'll never forget the writers--have been by, wishing to see the bar stay. Thanks to the twelve rugged dock-workers who came by over the weekend and offered me a job down on the docks. It's a sweet gesture, guys, thanks.

The way it's working out is that we're fighting a war every week to stay alive. This Wednesday Thursday, Friday and Saturday we will definitely be open. Each week is a new battle. The best thing people can do to save Siberia is simply come here and drink. that's the best way they can show their support.

Even if the phone doesn't work, we'll be there. If you'd like to help, but can't come to the bar, have a drink and dial in our website at Siberia3. The 3 signifies the third life of Siberia.

We all thought Siberia was going to close last weekend. Last weekend was the best weekend in the history of Siberia. To keep it open, bring your friends and drink at the bar. And have a good time. That's why we're here, after all.

Rock on, Comrades!  read more »

Tracy Westmoreland Minister of Propaganda

Around noon, the Transom received word from an unusually lucid--that is to say, awake!--Tracy Westmoreland. His beloved bar Siberia is not yet dead.

"My demise has been greatly exaggerated," quoted the barman. "We are still open. We will be open tomorrow."

Tomorrow, yes. But. Mr. Westmoreland confirmed that the situation between tenant and landlord--blogged yesterday by Transom drinking pal Ben Smith--is dire. "I have a landlord who uses four separate names and has five signatures," he said. "The fight is ongoing."

Mr. Westmoreland said he's calling on friends high (Jim McManus, Hillary Clinton) and low (the list is endless) for support. "I want all the people who've been rockin' it with us for the last 10 years to come down this week," he said. "Come help in the fight against the evil landlord and help Siberia stay alive." — Spencer Morgan

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