The Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, located in the historic former Kings County Savings Bank building, is an excellent artists' space. For receptions, it offers a relatively low site fee - $1,800 for one floor, $2,800 for two (both large open spaces), and a convenient location. Unfortunately, it is completely unsuitable as a wedding hall.
When Carrie and I arrived, there was a rummage sale going on. My eyes focused on the ratty 1984(?) NYC Marathon T-shirt on a hanger near the door. So much for first impressions.
Inside it got progressively more disappointing. Broken windows, warped floors and no air conditioning. No elevator. And it was dirty. Really dirty. Can't-touch-the-bannister dirty. I figured that the least I could salvage out of our trip to Williamsburg was a quick stop in the bathroom. If anyone needed any more convincing that the WAH Center just wasn't going to work, the bathroom did it.
That bathroom is a death trap: immediately behind an inward-swinging door were six steps leading down to two stalls, and no handrail. Even the warning sign didn't prepare me for the vertigo from the extreme dropoff. At the base of Machu Picchu was a sink and two stalls. Without doors. That are arranged like stadium seating. There is more, but I can't go on.
These problems could potentially be cured by next fall. But, alas, the people running the WAH Center have owned the building for 10 years and need $750,000 just to fix the exterior. I don't see a bathroom ending up high on the renovation list.
I would also point out that renting out spaces like this is of dubious legality. I talked to a DUMBO gallerist who said a number of large loft spaces can't be legally rented for parties, which isn't to say that people don't try. (I have no idea if WAH itself is legal, I'm just sayin'...)
Posted by: carrie | 09/27/2005 at 04:21 PM
Well, that's Williamsburg "charm" for you ... so charming it could kill you. By the way, I know I recommended Dumbor Arts Center earlier. What I saw of the space was clean and safe. Not air-conditioned, though.
Posted by: ken | 09/27/2005 at 05:32 PM
hey Ken, thanks. I looked into Dumbo but the space it's a hair too small. In order to seat 120 people (and we might end up having even more than that) with a dance floor, you usually want about 3200 square and their space is 3,000.
Posted by: carrie | 09/27/2005 at 10:19 PM
Have you looked at the Bohemian Hall in Queens? Other than the location part it fits your needs pretty well, more than big enough and, if I remember correctly, A/C as well. I went to a wedding there a few years ago and it was actually really nice (even for the old people).
Probably not what you're looking for (and I know Brooklynites hate to go to Queens) but maybe worth checking out in a pinch.
Posted by: kaz | 09/30/2005 at 12:00 AM
yeah, my friends Joe and Anita got married out in the beer gardens (at Bohemian Hall) and it was great -- plus that place is one of the best deals around. The problem for us is that it's aggressively non-kosher. (The menu is loaded with pork and chicken Kiev.)
Posted by: carrie | 09/30/2005 at 01:15 AM