Snug Harbor Bar and Grill at 38 Main Street has been holding ArtNight at the self-proclaimed “best little dive bar in New Paltz” for a while now, says bartender Emily Lubicich, but it’s taken on a new twist these days. Stand-up comedy has been added to the mix, thanks to comedian Paul Schembri. A veteran of the local stand-up scene, he recently got in touch with Lubicich to talk to her about making the event a monthly venue for comedy, too, and the unique collaboration has slowly been coming together for a few months now.
ArtNight happens on the last Wednesday of every month starting at 9 p.m. Local artists and craftspeople set up tables and sell their wares, and a few of them make it interactive, creating their art on the spot. Admission is free, there’s no drink minimum and drawing a picture for the bartender gets you a free drink. (Also known as “drink-n-draw.”) Crayons and paper are provided.
The whole thing started a few years back with then-bartender Dylan McManus, who was an art professor at SUNY New Paltz during the day. After he moved away, Lubicich decided she would take over running ArtNight. She invited some friends to put their art on display during the event and asked them to participate in the interactive part of it. “I decided to continue the tradition and build upon it,” she says. “People get to see what the artists are doing, and get to see what their process is.”
Some of the local artists who might be found at ArtNight include Joe Morse, a New Paltz-based painter who does originals and prints, and Jessa Marie, who takes the children’s art toy “Perler” that involves fusing beads into designs and elevates it to a new level. Another frequent contributor to the night is REP 845 (like the area code) screen-printed clothing company.
Lubicich isn’t an artist herself — she earned a geology degree at SUNY New Paltz — but says she’s doing this because she is “a fan of the arts.” And now she wants to bring in more artists to participate, including a wider variety of people from the community at large, not just the college.
The comedy portion of the night is going to feature four or five different acts throughout the night. It’s not an open mic, though. There’s room for more artists and comedians, says Lubicich, but you need to give her a call at Snug’s or come in on a Wednesday or Friday night to talk to her about booking a set. Up-to-date info can also be found on Snug Harbor’s Facebook page.
Some of the comedians who might show up at ArtNight, in addition to Paul Schembri, include Buddy Sturek, David Bystrynski, Kevin A. Smith and Duval Culpepper.
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