Andy Cohen Pens Support For Alan Cumming's Bar

EAST VILLAGE, NY — Fans of Alan Cumming's East Village bar, Club Cumming, are rallying to support the watering hole as it seeks the proper state licensing to allow for live performances at the venue.

East Village residents and supporters including television personality and executive Andy Cohen have written letters in support of Club Cumming, which opened in 2017 but has already generated a dedicated fan base.

The bar, located at 505 E. Sixth St., is modeled after Cumming's famous pop-up clubs that he first started hosting in his dressing rooms. Club Cumming opened in the space previously occupied by Easternbloc, the popular local gay bar. Cumming, a Broadway actor and star of shows including "The Good Wife," partnered with Easternbloc's current owners, Benjamin Maisani and Darren Dryden, and club promoter Daniel Nardicio to launch the bar's newest iteration.

In March, the New York state liquor authority opened an investigation into Club Cumming after receiving complaints that it was hosting live shows and performances, which the bar is not permitted to do under its original license. Now, Club Cumming is applying for an amended liquor license, to allow for live performances, and is rallying its supporters around them.

"In pursuing their passion for both eclectic entertainment and social activism, I feel that they continue a rich East Village tradition of queer performance and community gathering that have marked the colorful history of nightlife in the neighborhood," Andy Cohen, the Bravo executive and frequent TV personality, wrote in support of the bar.

Other fans praised Club Cumming's atmosphere, with one supporter dubbing it an "essential cultural hub of the East Village."

Owners of the club will present their amended application on April 9.

Image credit: Mike Coppola / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images