The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has called off plans to host the first weekend of a “lounge pop-up” from a popular D.C. nightclub on its rooftop terrace.
Two days after scene-y Dupont club Heist announced it had sold out tickets for an outdoor space with a 360-person capacity, the Kennedy Center decided it wasn’t ready to move forward with the opening night, set for Saturday, October 3. The weekly Saturday residency was supposed to include table reservations that cost up to $1,000, snack trays, and bottle service with single-serve mixers.
Kennedy Center’s decision appears to be based around Heist’s classification as a restaurant under Phase 2 of D.C.’s reopening protocols. Mass gatherings and open spaces are limited to 50 people, but restaurants have no explicit limit as long as they host customers at half capacity, create six feet of space between tables, and only serve seated customers who wear masks when they’re not eating or drinking. Heist planned to offer legally required food with alcohol, and its opening plans claimed to exclude dancing and live performance.
Heist’s announcement came days after D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a pilot program for six venues to experiment with live entertainment, including the Kennedy Center. The pilot program comes with a 50-person limit, which led to confusion about why Heist would be allowed to invite more than 300. Eileen Andrews, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, clarified in a statement sent to Eater that the performing arts center’s participation in the program is separate from its collaboration with Heist.
“The Kennedy Center has determined the opening of the Heist pop-up, an outdoor rental event, will not take place this weekend (October 3) to allow for further evaluation and to ensure such gatherings meet our building’s health and safety standards as well as respect the city’s latest reopening guidelines,” the Kennedy Center’s statement says. “The Center’s recent and successful return to hosting live performance at reduced capacity required months of rigorous planning. Likewise, we hold outside parties renting our spaces to the same high level of scrutiny and precautionary planning, and more time is needed to fully assess these plans.”
In addition to mentioning the Kennedy Center, Bowser’s statement says Heist Group at the Kennedy Center is one of eight entities the city has invited to apply for an outdoor entertainment license. Although the pilot program stipulates a 50-person limit, it also says it hopes to evaluate “a controlled environment that can be scaled up or down.” The seating plan Heist included on its reservations page included an area for a stage. The opening announcement for the rooftop lounge said “artists” would be screened for the COVID-19 symptoms along with guests.
Heist owner Vinoda Basnayake served on Bowser’s ReOpen DC advisory committee, which may have created the impression that his club was receiving preferential treatment. When reached by Eater today, Basnayake declined to comment on Kennedy Center’s decision to delay.
Bowser’s chief of staff, John J. Falcicchio, told Washington City Paper that Heist’s pop-up at the Kennedy Center retracted its live entertainment application through the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency over the weekend so it could classify as a restaurant.
"center" - Google News
September 30, 2020 at 11:14PM
https://ift.tt/2ScIKcr
Kennedy Center Calls Off Opening Weekend for Heist’s Rooftop Nightclub - Eater DC
"center" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3bUHym8
https://ift.tt/2zR6ugj
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Kennedy Center Calls Off Opening Weekend for Heist’s Rooftop Nightclub - Eater DC"
Post a Comment