
I’ve been told that using various means, Cortelyou Rd’s liberal cafe Vox Pop has raised enough money to stay afloat; it should now be able to pay its outstanding fines and bills, and resume the sale of edibles and drinkables. Here are some pictures from a benefit show Kensington’s The Loom put together, along with their friends Holler, Wild Rose!, who came all the way from New Jersey, and whose song you should listen to after the jump if you haven’t already.
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Download “Song for the Winter Sun” by The Loom
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Owing to “lack of management” and some harsh health regulation fines, Cortelyou Rd’s liberal cafe, Vox Pop, has been unable to sell any food or beverages, and hence unable to make money for the outstanding bills and fines. From what I hear, there’s about $18,000 more they need to raise, and that if they don’t raise it by the midnight of Sunday, it’ll have to shut down (they’ve hired a proper manager since, though she remains unpaid).
The cafe was co-founded by Sander Hicks, who also started Soft Skull press as a guerrilla operation out of Kinko’s while working there in the early 90’s. If the fact of it being one of its kind in a neighborhood that was previously neglected from a cultural standpoint and the fact of it having luminaries of liberal thought in its logo aren’t enough, think about the coffee? Says Oliver Moné, a fan:
“This is aggravating,” he said. “I like the coffee. I like the place. Dunkin’ Donuts is O.K., but this is prime stuff. I mean, I hate Starbucks. God, I hate Starbucks.”
Money is being raised in two ways: a benefit show tonight featuring The Loom and Holler Wild Rose (tickets are $10 each but you should feel free to pay more); stocks are being sold at $50 each, which will be refundable if the required amount isn’t raised and the cafe is forced to close. To make donations directly, email Debi Ryan, current President & CEO of Vox Pop: debi.ryan101 [at] gmail [dot] com
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 6 or above) is required to play this audio clip. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download “Song for the Winter Sun” by The Loom
Download “Holler Wild Rose” by Holler Wild Rose
Where I list some of my favorite band names, based on the aesthetics of the words, the rhythm they create and the images they furnish. Bands for whom 2008 was a notable year in the advancement of their career were considered.

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