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 Photograph by Roger Garbow
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What a difference a year makes. In 2012, Phil Ciganer, the founder/owner of the Towne Crier Cafe — the legendary live music venue in Pawling that helped launch the careers of the likes of Pete Seeger, Pat Metheny, and Richie Havens — celebrated 40 years of rock ’n roll. This milestone was marked by varied celebrations, but it soon became apparent that all the hoopla was going to serve as a goodbye party, too. Earlier in the year, Ciganer had made a sad announcement: They had lost their lease and would be closing their doors. But after an outpouring of support from the community, Ciganer started the search for a new home.
Last January, he announced that one had been found: a renovated building on Beacon’s Main Street. In October, the 8,000-square-foot, 250-seat, state-of-the-art club opened its doors, and a steady stream of performers and fans have rocked the house ever since. Four-dollar Open Mic Nights on Mondays and Wednesdays have already become a popular, according to Ciganer. And the new farm-fresh fine dining menu is a big draw (you can eat without seeing a show), and the much-ballyhooed desserts served in Pawling (and created by Mary Ciganer, Phil’s wife and a pastry chef) have also made the move. Open six nights a week for dinner and for brunch on weekends, the reinvented club proves there is nothing to cry about in Dutchess County after all.
» Towne Crier Cafe celebrates 40 years, closes in Pawling
» Towne Crier Cafe reopens in Beacon, NY
» Visit the Towne Crier Cafe in Beacon, NY
» Return to Year in Review 2013
