Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
UCB's New East Village Neighbors Are Still Complaining
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 28, 2011
Modified Sep 28, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 28, 2011
Modified Sep 28, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Photo via EV Grieve
Even before the Upright Citizens Brigade opened up their new outpost in the East Village, the neighbors were complaining. First it was about the name—"Hot Chicks Room"—they gave their bar, then the red velvet curtains that reminded them of a brothel, and now that's it's opened, it's the noise. How generic. EV Grieve spotted this note outside of UCB, which is located at 3rd Street and Avenue A—it reads:
The noise from the people coming out of the comedy club last night at 11:55 p.m. was loud enough to wake me.
I called the police. If this happens again, I will call the police again. They get enough complaints and they will start giving out summons.
The people were just standing around blocking other people from walking by. I'm calling the fire department to find out if this is a violations.
Look around you. There are apartment buildings with people trying to get a few hours sleep. Start being a good neighbor and tell those people to keep their voices down and stop blocking the sidewalk.
We ran in to Amy Poehler earlier this year, and she addressed the previous complaints, saying, "We know it's important to be good neighbors so we want to do what we can to feel like we're part of the East Village, which we feel very connected to. Whoever wants to come in, we welcome them, and we'll show them a good time. That sounds sexual. There will be 24/7 stripping."
Regarding this latest "offense," we dug into some back logs at the library, and it actually turns out that people have been standing on the sidewalks in the East Village long before UCB opened, sometimes ever later than 11:55 p.m.!
Tagged
complaints
neighbors
NIMBYs
noise
note
ucb
ucb theater
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
What do you see when you record the whole of the boroughs?
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 5, 2026
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
It's a busy month at the branches.
By
Alec Hamilton
Arts & Entertainment
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
It's a busy month at the branches.
By
Alec Hamilton
NYC music in October: The Strokes, a Blink-182 cover band, and Polish experimentalism
By
Hank Shteamer
Are you a New Yorker? The Department of New Yorker Verification will now decide.
By
Hannah Frishberg
In the mood for a pastoral autumn experience? Try Queens.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .