Andy Warhol’s 15 minutes aren’t up yet, what with the release of a new Basquiat documentary and John Cale’s recent 50th anniversary performance of The Velvet Underground and Nico. Now, this: Silver Factory, a Warhol-themed bar, has opened in South Williamsburg.
The bar describes itself as “a place for creative gatherings, which offers moderately-priced Korean fusion dishes and art pieces that are designed by local artists.” Its walls are painted silver, just like the Factory, or “Silver Factory,” that Andy kept from 1962 to 1967 at 231 East 47th Street.
Other nightspots, like the bygone 205 Club on the Lower East Side, have used this motif before, but Silver Factory is playing it to the hilt. The boite’s Facebook page shows portraits of Warhol and Basquiat on the walls, as well as a version of Warhol’s famed Marilyn Monroe print. It’s all lit by a Warholian chandelier, some filament bulbs, and neon art celebrating “girls girls girls.” (Shouldn’t that be “boys boys boys”?)
The coup de grace, of course, is the Velvet Underground’s signature banana. The bar, at 270 S. 5th St., had a private soft opening on Friday. Follow its Facebook and Instagram for more.