SURREAL ESTATE
An old-fashioned salon for modern artists and writers
Ever think you would have done well among the artists and writers of Midnight in Paris? Ever long for a hangout that mimics the feel of an 18th-century literary salon? We've got good news--all it requires is a trip to Long Island City.
The Oracle Club, which opened in December and now boasts close to 40 members, is a new haven for artists looking for a place to work and a community to belong to. Think of it as the city's most creative co-working space: For a monthly membership (starts at $50), you get a key to the two-story building and unlimited access to the club's cool perks (library, ballet barre, piano, art studio, weekly classes) and even cooler vibe.
Owned and operated by writer Julian Tepper and painter Jenna Gribbon, the Oracle Club's look and feel is inspired by their respective heroes, Saul Bellow and Jean Cocteau. And it's easy to see the old-New-York-meets-European-surrealist influences--from the library's dusty leather tomes to the salon's Dalí-like sofas to the Mad Hatter-appropriate hallways. In other words, it's fun and it's creatively conducive.
Not an artist yourself? Fear not. Many of the club's readings, concerts and exhibits will be open to the art-appreciating public.
The Oracle Club, 10-41 47th Ave., Long Island City; 917-519-2594 or theoracleclub.com
