Cedar Tavern

Cedar Tavern was a renowned gathering place for Abstract Expressionist artists, Beat Generation writers, and Jazz musicians, including Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Allen Ginsberg. The tavern was a hub for intellectual and artistic discussions, often featuring John Cage, Morton Feldman, and Earle Brown. It was also a popular spot for Frank O'Hara, John Ashbery, and other New York School poets. The tavern's atmosphere was often filled with the sounds of Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and other Bebop musicians.

● History

The Cedar Tavern was established in the 1940s and quickly became a central meeting point for the New York City art scene, attracting Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, and Franz Kline. The tavern's history is closely tied to the development of Action Painting, with artists like Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns frequently visiting the establishment. The tavern also hosted Happenings, a type of Performance Art pioneered by Allan Kaprow and Jim Dine. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Cedar Tavern was a popular spot for Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and other Pop Art artists, as well as writers like Norman Mailer and William S. Burroughs.

● Location

The Cedar Tavern was located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, near the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). The tavern's location made it an ideal spot for artists and writers to gather and discuss their work, with nearby institutions like the New School and New York University (NYU) providing a steady stream of creative talent. The tavern was also close to the Village Vanguard, a famous Jazz Club that hosted performers like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Other nearby landmarks included the Washington Square Park and the Cherry Lane Theatre, a popular venue for Off-Broadway productions.

● Notable_Patrons

The Cedar Tavern was frequented by a wide range of notable artists, writers, and musicians, including Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and René Magritte. The tavern was also a popular spot for Surrealist artists like Max Ernst and André Breton, as well as Dadaist artists like Marcel Duchamp and Hannah Höch. Writers like Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and T.S. Eliot were also known to visit the tavern, as were musicians like Duke Ellington and Count Basie. Other notable patrons included Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper, and Arshile Gorky.

● Cultural_Significance

The Cedar Tavern played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape of New York City during the mid-20th century, with its influence extending to the Art World, Literary Scene, and Music Scene. The tavern was a hub for Avant-Garde artists and writers, who would often gather to discuss their work and share ideas. The tavern's cultural significance is also reflected in its association with the New York School of poetry, which included poets like Frank O'Hara, John Ashbery, and Kenneth Koch. The tavern's legacy can be seen in the work of artists like Cy Twombly, Robert Morris, and Donald Judd, who were all influenced by the tavern's vibrant artistic community.

● Closure_and_Legacy

The Cedar Tavern closed its doors in 2006, after over 60 years of operation. The tavern's closure was met with sadness from the artistic community, who remembered it as a vibrant hub of creative activity. The tavern's legacy lives on, however, with its influence still felt in the Art World and Literary Scene. The tavern's memory is also preserved in the work of artists like Chuck Close and Kiki Smith, who have referenced the tavern in their work. The Cedar Tavern's impact on American Culture is also reflected in its association with the Beat Generation, which included writers like Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg. Today, the tavern's former location is a reminder of the important role it played in shaping the cultural landscape of New York City. Category:Defunct restaurants in New York City