Latest news with #Episcopalian
New York Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Is NYC's infamous Limelight club facing a new future?
Huge for-sale and for-lease signs have appeared outside an infamous New York City church. The striking Gothic Revival building at the corner of 20th Street and Sixth Avenue is one of Manhattan's most legendary shape-shifters — it has hosted a groundbreaking nightclub, a trendy shopping space, an edgy gym and a myriad of pop-ups over the decades. Now, it appears the deconsecrated church stands to sell or find a new tenant. Advertisement The Instagram account @newyorklocals shared photos of the advertisements earlier this week. 'Can someone please make this the Limelight again?' the caption asked, referring to the fabled turn-of-the-century nightclub. 11 The massive signage outside of the Sixth Avenue structure. Emily Davis/ Advertisement 11 The interior of the church under the tenancy of the Limelight, pictured in 1984. AP 11 Clubgoers enjoy a 'foam party' at the Limelight in 1995. Getty Images Before the site became an icon of '80s nightlife — or a den of drug-fueled iniquity, depending on who you ask — the Church of the Holy Communion was your typical Episcopalian place of worship, catering to Sixth Avenue's well-heeled WASPs 100 years before before the term even existed. The sprawling and asymmetrical stone facade was initially built in the mid-19th century. It was made a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1966. Advertisement The church emptied out as the neighborhood declined in the '60s and '70s, Curbed reported in 2016, leasing on the cheap to an academic research group and a rehabilitation center before it fell into the hands of a visionary nightclub owner, Peter Gatien. Gatien's Limelight — one of several clubs the Canadian businessman operated in the city — launched with a bang in 1983. Andy Warhol hosted opening night and the church's chapel space was used for foam parties, according to Curbed. 11 An archival image of the property. AP 11 Peter Gatien, the owner of the Limelight, poses next to its stained glass windows. Bettmann Archive Advertisement 11 Whitney Houston performs with Jermaine Jackson at the Limelight. Getty Images 11 A Club Kid dances at the nightclub in 1994. Getty Images 11 The facade of the church in 1984, at the outset of the Limelight's troubled tenure there. AP 11 Madonna pictured attending a birthday party at the club in 1984. Patrick McMullan The Limelight's debaucherous atmosphere defined the most famous era of NYC rave culture, but it is widely reported that the business devolved into a drug-dealing hotspot. The club had close ties to the countercultural Club Kids, and the brutal murder and dismemberment of drug dealer Angel Melendez for which the club's promoter, the late Michael Alig, was convicted. Repeated crackdowns by the city proved too much for Gatien, who was plagued by his own legal issues. The final iteration of the Limelight shut its doors for good in 2010, and the club's gothic home went on to new but unlucky chapters in retail and fitness. In 2010, the site became a three-story boutique shopping destination for artisanal brands, but that endeavor lasted just a few years. Then it became a nightclub-themed gym, a French bistro and successive pop-ups. More recent plans sought to turn the church into a performance space. 11 A coal fired pizzeria inside the old church takes its name from the former club. Emily Davis/ Advertisement 11 Outdoor seating at the property's dim sum restaurant. Emily Davis/ Today, the giant red doors of the Church of the Holy Communion's main sanctuary are securely locked. The extremities of the once-sacred property are occupied by the Limelight Pizza NYC and Jue Lan Club, a dim sum restaurant. Employees of both establishments told The Post that their properties are separately operated from the main sanctuary. Two employees who spoke with The Post were unaware of any details regarding the sanctuary's current ownership or plans to find a new occupant. They confirmed that the sanctuary is currently vacant. City records indicate the entire parcel is owned by Mansion Realty LLC. The LLC is connected to Ben Ashkenazy's real estate firm, Ashkenazy Acquisition Corporation. Advertisement Despite the flashy adverts, no public listings for the enigmatic property have materialized. A representative for the company confirmed it owns the building, but parties privy to additional details on the potential sale/lease could not be reached by press time.
7 days ago
- Politics
Purdue University student freed from ICE detention after outcry from faith leaders
A Purdue University student from South Korea has been freed from federal detention, tearfully reuniting with her family and religious community in Manhattan following days of outcry from faith leaders in New York and abroad. Yeonsoo Go, 20, was taken into custody on Thursday during a routine immigration hearing in Manhattan, according to her attorneys and family. She was then transferred to a federal detention facility in Monroe, Louisiana, where she was held for three nights before being released without bail on Monday. Mary Rothwell Davis, an attorney for the Episcopal Diocese of New York, where Go's mother works as a priest, said the family had not received an explanation for the arrest or abrupt reversal. 'We don't know why it happened, but we're very happy that it did,' Davis said. 'We were moving heaven and earth to make it known that we thought this was a mistake.' A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Go had been placed in expedited removal proceedings for overstaying an expired visa. The agency did not respond to questions about what prompted Go's release. 'The fact of the matter is those who are in our country illegally have a choice — they can leave the country voluntarily or be arrested and deported," agency spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. But Davis disputed the contention that Go was here illegally. She said Go has maintained a valid visa since arriving in the U.S. in 2021, along with her mother, Rev. Kyrie Kim, who leads a Korean congregation in the New York area. A graduate of Scarsdale High School in the suburbs of New York City, Go studies at Purdue's College of Pharmacy and remains active in the Episcopalian church, according to Davis. In recent days, clergy members, including Bishop Matthew Heyd, as well as the church leaders in Korea, have called on the Trump administration to release Go, insisting that her arrest was a mistake. 'Whether it was our outcry or some other factor that persuaded DHS to send her home, we don't know, but we're so grateful,' Davis said, adding that Go's experience in detention was 'unbelievably traumatic.' New York State Assemblymember Amy Paulin, a Democrat, said she had spoken by phone with Go, who she described as 'relieved' to be home. 'She is home, she is safe, and she is so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from this incredible community,' Paulin said.
San Francisco Chronicle
7 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Purdue University student freed from ICE detention after outcry from faith leaders
A Purdue University student from South Korea has been freed from federal detention, tearfully reuniting with her family and religious community in Manhattan following days of outcry from faith leaders in New York and abroad. Yeonsoo Go, 20, was taken into custody on Thursday during a routine immigration hearing in Manhattan, according to her attorneys and family. She was then transferred to a federal detention facility in Monroe, Louisiana, where she was held for three nights before being released without bail on Monday. Mary Rothwell Davis, an attorney for the Episcopal Diocese of New York, where Go's mother works as a priest, said the family had not received an explanation for the arrest or abrupt reversal. 'We don't know why it happened, but we're very happy that it did,' Davis said. 'We were moving heaven and earth to make it known that we thought this was a mistake.' A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Go had been placed in expedited removal proceedings for overstaying an expired visa. The agency did not respond to questions about what prompted Go's release. 'The fact of the matter is those who are in our country illegally have a choice — they can leave the country voluntarily or be arrested and deported," agency spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. But Davis disputed the contention that Go was here illegally. She said Go has maintained a valid visa since arriving in the U.S. in 2021, along with her mother, Rev. Kyrie Kim, who leads a Korean congregation in the New York area. A graduate of Scarsdale High School in the suburbs of New York City, Go studies at Purdue's College of Pharmacy and remains active in the Episcopalian church, according to Davis. In recent days, clergy members, including Bishop Matthew Heyd, as well as the church leaders in Korea, have called on the Trump administration to release Go, insisting that her arrest was a mistake. 'Whether it was our outcry or some other factor that persuaded DHS to send her home, we don't know, but we're so grateful,' Davis said, adding that Go's experience in detention was 'unbelievably traumatic.' New York State Assemblymember Amy Paulin, a Democrat, said she had spoken by phone with Go, who she described as 'relieved' to be home. 'She is home, she is safe, and she is so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from this incredible community,' Paulin said.
Winnipeg Free Press
7 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Purdue University student freed from ICE detention after outcry from faith leaders
A Purdue University student from South Korea has been freed from federal detention, tearfully reuniting with her family and religious community in Manhattan following days of outcry from faith leaders in New York and abroad. Yeonsoo Go, 20, was taken into custody on Thursday during a routine immigration hearing in Manhattan, according to her attorneys and family. She was then transferred to a federal detention facility in Monroe, Louisiana, where she was held for three nights before being released without bail on Monday. Mary Rothwell Davis, an attorney for the Episcopal Diocese of New York, where Go's mother works as a priest, said the family had not received an explanation for the arrest or abrupt reversal. 'We don't know why it happened, but we're very happy that it did,' Davis said. 'We were moving heaven and earth to make it known that we thought this was a mistake.' A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said Go had been placed in expedited removal proceedings for overstaying an expired visa. The agency did not respond to questions about what prompted Go's release. 'The fact of the matter is those who are in our country illegally have a choice — they can leave the country voluntarily or be arrested and deported,' agency spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. But Davis disputed the contention that Go was here illegally. She said Go has maintained a valid visa since arriving in the U.S. in 2021, along with her mother, Rev. Kyrie Kim, who leads a Korean congregation in the New York area. Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. A graduate of Scarsdale High School in the suburbs of New York City, Go studies at Purdue's College of Pharmacy and remains active in the Episcopalian church, according to Davis. In recent days, clergy members, including Bishop Matthew Heyd, as well as the church leaders in Korea, have called on the Trump administration to release Go, insisting that her arrest was a mistake. 'Whether it was our outcry or some other factor that persuaded DHS to send her home, we don't know, but we're so grateful,' Davis said, adding that Go's experience in detention was 'unbelievably traumatic.' New York State Assemblymember Amy Paulin, a Democrat, said she had spoken by phone with Go, who she described as 'relieved' to be home. 'She is home, she is safe, and she is so grateful for the outpouring of love and support from this incredible community,' Paulin said.
New York Post
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Forget hot girl summer — Gen Z women instead want to stay at convents and monasteries with nuns: ‘Vow of silence summer is in'
Bye, Hamptons shared houses — this summer, it's all about the convents. Gen Z women are opting for a peaceful summer — with nuns this year. Summer is usually a time when singles look to book shared houses by the beach, bar hop until the wee hours of the morning or drink fun cocktails on sunny rooftops. That's not the case for Gen Z. Young women are not only giving up swiping on dating apps, they're now looking to protect their peace even further by taking a vow of silence and booking stays at Catholic convents and monasteries for the summer. 3 It's all about having a peaceful summer for the Gen Z girls. Anneke – Yes, you read that correctly. In case you're unfamiliar: a vow of silence is the act of being verbally silent, only communicating through writing or sign language. Considering a quarter of a million Americans experience burnout by 30 — spending a summer getting in touch with one's spiritual side sounds like the ideal peaceful escape. 3 People are raving about their experience staying at convents and monasteries. New Africa – This quiet trend has become so popular that guests are being put on a waitlist for these holy stays, as pointed out in one woman's viral TikTok video. '…I booked a vow of silence at a Catholic monastery late last year and the booking process is reallly straightforward — you just email the nuns, they give you some dates. Overall, they're really flexible,' @mc667868 said in her post that has garnered over 700,000 views. 3 The content creator was shocked at how popular the vow of silence trend has become. TikTok/@mc667868 Explaining she had a great experience her first time around, when the content creator went to book her stay this summer — she was shocked to learn that the monastery was fully booked 'for the next three months.' 'Maybe we can start a resy app for vows of silence,' she ended her video, saying. Her video racked up thousands of comments from other women, wholeheartedly supporting this unexpected trend. 'the call to be a nun is too strong rn.' 'brat summer is out, vow of silence summer is IN.' 'i lived with nuns last summer (they're Episcopalian). legit the best three months of my life, they are so cool and fun. i worked in their garden and lived in a cottage for free.' 'I tried to apply in FEBRUARY to live in an italian monestary with the nuns this summer and they were already fully booked.' 'The girlies are FED TF UPPPPPPP and this is the proof.' 'I feel the nuns have been expecting us. They knew our last nerve would disappear at some point.'
