Last night’s community-board meeting about the controversial Central Park West Café didn’t turn up any neighborhood celebs (according to WCBS 2, the wine bar got the green light despite one resident’s concern it would lead to drug deals), but downtown, none other than Anna Wintour spoke against Serge Becker’s proposed Jamaican restaurant Miss Lily’s on Houston Street. What’s next, Chloë Sevigny joining a community board?
Wintour wore a black-and-white dress and sat in the front row (of course) with a five-person entourage. About 40 other locals joined the Vogue editor in opposition. Only three were pro-Serge. Miss Lily’s, represented by an attorney, chef, and two partners that were not Becker were asking for a 4 a.m. liquor license (reported applicants Genc Jakupi and Shkumbin “Binn” Jakupi, doormen at the Box and 1 Oak respectively, were also no-shows).
The brouhaha lasted 90 minutes.
“Is Serge Becker involved?” a CB2 member asked
The lawyer fumbled, “Um, he’s a designer.”
The board pushed back and was told, “He’s not a partner.”
The use of a backyard garden seems to be the major point of contention.
Wintour brought color photos of the block-long garden to pass around, including one of a child holding a shovel next to a sandbox (very Vogue Bambini). She said that if Becker is part of the project, there will be a nightclub element: “I know the kind of places he’s involved in and the kind of people that he brings.” Wintour briefly exchanged words with Miss Lily’s attorney, but was asked to address the board, not the attorney.
By the end of the debate, Miss Lily’s was asking to be licensed until midnight from Sunday through Wednesday and till 2 a.m. from Thursday through Saturday, with the garden space to be brought before the board again in six months.
In less chic news, the Smile had Eric Goode (of hotels Bowery, Maritime, Jane) place a call on their behalf to Noho community leader Zella Jones about getting a full liquor license. Absolutely not, she said. Not surprising given her previous opposition, but she did offer to help look for another spot.