Capitol Theatre Opens Lobby Bar As "Garcia's" In Honor Of Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia

Bar To Feature Rare Garcia Photos And Artwork, Live Music, And Local Craft Beers

 
"There's only two theaters that are set up pretty groovy all around for music - The Fillmore and the Capitol Theatre." – Jerry Garcia

In partnership with the family of Jerry Garcia, The Capitol Theatre is christening its lobby bar as Garcia's in honor of the late Grateful Dead guitarist and singer, who counted the Port Chester, NY, rock palace among his favorite venues in the country. The bar, which will be open seven days a week and host live music, will formally open May 16-18 with three nights of performances by Reid Genauer (Strangefolk/Assembly of Dust) and Friends. Garcia's will feature rare photos, artwork, and equipment, including vintage never-before-seen shots from famed music/fashion photographer Roberto Rabanne, who met Garcia in 1966 and had unlimited access to Garcia and the Dead. Noted philanthropist and Grateful Dead fan Scott Brittingham has also loaned an 18" bronze sculpture of Garcia's hand to the bar (one was donated to the Grateful Dead Archive at UC Santa Cruz and another exact version is displayed in Garcia's honor at The Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara).

Garcia's daughter Trixie was on-hand for the final night of the historic 9-show run by Furthur (featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir) to announce the opening of the bar, the first to be officially associated with the family. "We chose to launch this idea at the Capitol because of its long and illustrious history with the Grateful Dead and the jam scene," says Trixie. "We hope that it becomes a hub for the community to share stories and continue to build lifelong memories and friendships. Pete Shapiro and the Capitol Theatre staff were the appropriate partners to do this with because of our shared goals and his continued love and support of the Grateful Dead community. Just as important to note is the fact that Jerry's parents supported our family by owning and operating a bar in San Francisco in the 1940's and so it seemed right to reconnect with our family tradition."

"More than any one artist, Jerry Garcia evokes the spirit of The Cap," says theatre owner Peter Shapiro. "We're thrilled that we were able to collaborate with his family to enable visitors to feel his presence every night."

"It's no secret that the Grateful Dead loved playing at the Capitol Theatre," says the band's archivist David Lemieux. They performed there 18 times in 1970-71 alone. Jerry Garcia once said, "There's only two theaters that are set up pretty groovy all around for music - The Fillmore and the Capitol Theatre." In a rave review of Furthur's performance at the Cap last week, Rolling Stone called the theatre "one of the best music halls in the country" and said "it feels like it was designed specifically to host the Dead."

Garcia's will offer craft beers and wines & spirits with a focus on local producers, and host concerts from emerging artists on nights when the theatre is closed. Tickets for Reid Genauer and Friends are on sale now via http://www.thecapitoltheatre.com or http://www.ticketfly.com. Stay tuned for more show announcements. 

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For more information, please contact Anthony D'Amato (adamato@shorefire.com), Carrie Tolles (ctolles@shorefire.com), or Matt Hanks (mhanks@shorefire.com) at Shore Fire Media, 718.522.7171