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Forbes
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How An Out-Of-The-Way West Village Bar Became A Late-Night Haunt
In the far West Village of Greenwich Village on Washington Street, a block from the Hudson River and located across from Westbeth's subsidized artists' housing, is Automatic Slim's, which debuted in 1986. When this reporter stopped by on a Tuesday afternoon at 5 p.m. several months ago, the bar/restaurant was deserted. 'We're a late-night bar,' the bartender Vanessa (who no longer works there) explained. 'You have to get here later like after the concert or after a late dinner,' she said. As the night draws on, it has a doorman to regulate the crowds, which on weekends can twist around the block on Bank Street. Automatic Slim's has garnered the reputation as one of the city's late-night bars, the place to go to meet friends after the concert or the event. Its name Automatic Slim's derives from an old Willie Dixon's blues song 'Wang Dang Doodle,' about attending a party late into the evening, fitting lyrics for this bar. Indeed it's open until 2 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, when the joint is really jumping. David Zinsser, the original owner who has steered it for 39 years now, attributes some of its reputation to having David Johansen as one of his original partners. Johansen, leader of the New York Dolls and native of Staten Island who died in late February 2025, was a dynamic performer who drew a crowd, and that also brought in Joe Strummer, the British musician who co-founded the Clash. Automatic Slim's in the far West Village has been one place to go in NYC in the wee hours for food, music or seeing friends. When it debuted, 7 guys, who were former bartenders, including Zinsser, joined together to open Automatic Slim's. The strategy was each bartender had his own following, chose a night, and brought in their clientele. 'There was no advertising; it was all word of mouth,' Zinsser explains. Gradually, however, Zinsser bought out all the partners, and then acquired the restaurant space so he didn't have to contend with rising rents or landlords. When it first opened, way before the nearby Meatpacking district became hip, drag queens ruled the far West Village when the neighborhood was grittier and tougher. Gruen's Photo Helped Create the Atmosphere And it was also frequented in the early days by famed rock and roll photographer Bob Gruen, who has lived across the street in Westbeth for years. Zinsser added that, 'We thought we knew the best music and shared it with the crowd along with Gruen's long-term pics of Led Zeppelin, Sex Pistols, Debbie Harry and Johansen.' 'When you live on the other side of the clock, it's often hard to find some place to go,' Zinsser says, in his understated way. The Secrets of a Late-Night Bar's Success Asked the secrets of its success as one of the West Village's late-night bars, Zinsser replies, 'We train our bartenders to make great drinks, our in-house DJ keeps the tunes playing and the crowd jumping, a formula which has helped us stay open for 39 years,' he explains. But There's Food Too Since its chef hails from Puebla, Mexico, its food specialties include small Mexican plates—tacos, nachos, quesadillas, along with sandwiches, salads and burgers. Its drink menu highlights small batch tequilas and mezcals, and it's close to introducing its own mezcal brand. At night, it has 2 guys (sometimes 3) who do security, one on the onside and one checks id's outside and tries to keep the people on the line quiet so neighborhood residents aren't disturbed. It attracts a local crowd for happy hour and some who come for a quiet dinner, before the late- night action starts. Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman who lived in proximity used to be one such regular before he died at age 46 in 2014. About 70% of its revenue stems from drinks, 30% from food, with another secret ingredient: private parties. 'We book about 140-170 parties per years; most of them 50 people (75 is capacity) at $50 a head plus gratuity from 8 p.m. to 11 and some weekend afternoons 4 to 7 p.m.,' Zinsser says, which produces about 25% of its overall revenue. These parties include birthday and wedding parties, graduations, engagement parties, business celebrations. Take Ryan Ambler, a professional lacrosse player who lives in the West Village, and is marrying Diana Pinello at the U.S. Courthouse in early May. But their after-wedding party for 75 family and friends is taking place at Automatic Slim's in late September. Ambler says they've spent countless weekend afternoons with friends there because the 'vibe' at Automatic Slim's fits them. 'We're simple folks who love to dance, listen to music and have fun,' he explains. Asked how he discovered it, Ambler replies, 'Everybody knows about Automatic Slim's. It's truly hard to go out in our area without stumbling there on a Saturday, either day or night.' The space is cramped, but Ambler expects that dancing will still go on. Zinsser recently brought in John Murphy as a partner, who has worked hard to re-build the bar and brand and who complements Zinsser's skills. Reaction on Yelp tended to be very positive. Rosie from Brooklyn said she and her husband stumbled upon Automatic Slim's after walking the High Line. She called it a 'pre-gentrification bar, no designer flourishes, with a mix of customers of all ages, ethnicities and gender preferences.' Asked what to expect in Automatic Slim's future, Zinsser replies, 'Continue doing what we've been doing all along, making good drinks, playing good music, sending our bartenders to bartending school. We're a third-generation bar now. We have people who met here 20 years ago, who bring in their children.'
Black America Web
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Ryan Coogler Thanks Fans for ‘Sinners' Box Office Win
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: The Washington Post / Getty Ryan Coogler is feeling the love. The Sinners director penned a heartfelt open letter after the film's stunning box office debut. Read more and check out his post inside. Sinners raked in $48 million domestically and $63 million globally during its opening weekend. In the letter, Coogler expressed his 'eternal gratitude' to fans, crediting their support for reigniting his passion for filmmaking. 'My heart is bursting,' Coogler wrote. 'Your response to the film has re-invigorated me and many others who believe in this art form.' Sinners is a supernatural thriller starring Michael B. Jordan as the Smokestack twins, blending family legacy, Black Southern culture, and horror with deep emotional resonance. The film was inspired by Coogler's own ancestry and family memories, particularly his late Uncle James, whose love of the blues shaped the film's tone and story. One song, 'Wang Dang Doodle,' became the seed for the movie's concept: a juke joint party gone dangerously wrong when vampires descend on a community already filled with danger. Alongside the open letter, Ryan posted a photo of his family including his Uncle James and Aunt Sammie, for whom a central character is named. In his letter, Coogler praised the audience for making the film a cultural event. 'Those who bought a ticket,' Coolger shared. 'Who changed their work schedules. Watched more than once. Made a friend in the theater lobby. You all made this possible.' He also emphasized his belief in the theatrical experience, calling cinema 'a necessary pillar of society.' Coogler hopes the success of Sinners will empower filmmakers to take bold creative swings, writing, 'Together maybe we can expand the definition of what a blockbuster is, what a horror movie is, and what an IMAX audience looks like.' Beyond fans, Coogler paid tribute to his longtime collaborators — Michael B. Jordan, his composer Ludwig Göransson, wife and producing partner Zinzi Coogler, and editor Michael Shawver, who missed the press tour to be with his child. He also listed a wide range of cinematic influences, from Spike Lee and Ava DuVernay to Wes Craven and Jordan Peele. For Coogler, Sinners is more than a film. It's a deeply personal offering and a celebration of communal storytelling. And thanks to the audience, it's a reminder that cinema is still alive and kicking — or, in this case, biting. 'I'll see you at the movies,' Coogler closed. 'Popcorn bucket in hand.' Be sure to catch Sinners in theaters now. SEE ALSO Ryan Coogler Thanks Fans for 'Sinners' Box Office Win was originally published on
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Sinners' Ending Explained: Smoke and Stack's Fates After the Vampire Brawl and That Post-Credits Cameo
SPOILER ALERT: This story contains plot details, including the ending, of Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners,' now playing in theaters. Who survived their dance with the devil in Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners'? More from Variety Box Office: 'Sinners' Makes $4.7 Million in Previews Ryan Coogler Dissects 'Sinners': How the Blockbuster Filmmaker Reinvented the Vampire Movie on a Near-Impossible Timeline New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week The period thriller takes place over one hog-wild, then harrowing day and night in October 1932, as the Smokestack twins — Smoke and Stack, played by Michael B. Jordan — return to their hometown in the Mississippi Delta to open a juke joint. The first half of Coogler's 2 hour and 17-minute sultry and scary opus is largely dedicated to Smoke and Stack's preparations for the party, beginning with securing a venue. The twins, who've made some cash working in Chicago for Al Capone, buy an old sawmill from a condescending white man named Hogwood (David Maldonado), who promises the KKK is no longer around these parts, so they won't be bothered. Then, they recruit their cousin Sammie (newcomer Miles Caton), the son of a preacher and sharecropper who yearns to become a blues musician, for the evening's entertainment, as well as a cast of local characters to work the party. Among them are Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), who is Smoke's estranged love and a Hoodoo conjurer; Delta Slim, a local pianist with a penchant for boozing; shopkeepers Grace and Bo Chow (Li Jun Li and Yao); Pearline (Jayme Lawson), a singer whom Sammie takes a liking to; and Cornbread (Omar Miller), who works the door. Mary (Hailee Steinfeld) is Stack's ex and a multiracial woman who can pass as white; she's not explicitly invited, but this is her community too, so she shows up anyway. The movie was inspired by his late Uncle James' love of the blues, Coogler told Variety, and he got the idea for the premise from an famous old tune called 'Wang Dang Doodle.' 'The song is the story of a group of people in a small community throwing a party. They all have nicknames that imply that they're gangsters,' Coogler explained. 'I was like, 'Oh, wouldn't it be cool if I made a one-day movie — which is more my favorite type of movie — where it's this group of people, and everybody who they get together is dangerous, but they meet something that's more dangerous than they could ever imagine.' Indeed, the twins' party is rockin', but there's danger lurking in the form of Remmick, an Irish-immigrant vampire who is attracted to Sammie's otherworldly talent. In a series of unfortunate events, first Mary, then Stack and most of the attendees at the party are converted to Remmick's horde of vampires and the survivors — Smoke, Sammie, Annie, Delta Slim, Pearline and Grace — must fight to survive the night. After arming themselves with wooden stakes, cloves of garlic and a few other anti-vampire protections, they're prepared for a bloody final battle. It's a gory sequence with lots of staking and blood spurts, and by the end, it's Smoke and Sammie against Remmick and the remaining mob. They're saved by the rising sun, with a fortuitous assist by Sammie's trusty guitar. But there's no time to revel in their victory — Smoke sends Sammie home, because Remmick warned them that the Klan is coming. When Hogwood and his merry band of racists arrive at the sawmill at dawn, they expect to catch the twins unaware. But they were prepared for trouble, with a stash of heavy artillery just in case things got hairy. Smoke picks his attackers off one by one, with military precision. If nothing else, he'll go out in a blaze of glory. Smoke is ultimately successful in the mission, but he's also been struck by a bullet. It's still a happy ending, though, as he has a vision where he's reunited with Annie in the afterlife and gets to hold their baby daughter in his arms again. Meanwhile, a bloodied Sammie drives the twins' car back to his father's church and limps inside. There, he's faced with a choice: After all that's happened, is he ready to give up these secular pursuits once and for all? Not a chance. The film's final scenes chronicle what happens over the next 60 years, up until October 16, 1992, with Sammie now played by legendary Blues musician Buddy Guy. Sammie has lived a long life, and most importantly, has realized his dream of becoming a traveling musician. (His band is named Pearline's after his first love.) But that's not where Sammie's story ends. As Sammie enjoys a drink at the bar after that night's show, he's visited by ghosts of the past: Stack and Mary. The ageless couple waltz in, dressed in their '90s finest, and the audience learns that they also survived the night. Smoke spared Stack's life after making him promise to let Sammie live out his and the couple fled to safety before the rest of the town was scorched by the sunrise. Now, they've returned with an offer. Stack can sense that death is coming for the old man. 'I can make it so you can stick around,' he says. But Sammie is content with the time he's had and declines. Stack has another request: to hear Sammie perform some old-school blues for them, one more time. Sammie obliges, then confesses he still has nightmares about what happened in 1932. But, he says, before the sun went down, it was the best day of his life. Stack agrees wholeheartedly because it was the last time he saw his brother and because, for a few hours, they were all free. Then the couple vanish into the night. Coogler told Entertainment Weekly that the credits scene was particularly emotional to shoot because it reminded him of his Uncle James. 'I broke down crying in tears because I realized that this whole movie was about that,' the filmmaker said. 'It was about me not having a chance to say goodbye to my uncle.' This sequence, which comes at the very end of the reel, is short and sentimental. It features a young Sammie singing 'This Little Light of Mine' and strumming that old guitar, innocent before that fateful night. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
