Last night, we attended the soft opening of Kung Fu Necktie, the new bar on Front and Thompson Sts. in Kensington we told you about back in July. Headed up by a group of Philly re-patriates and Lit Lounge NYC principals — Jimmy “Chickenhead” Herman, Erik Foss, and Dave Schwartz, artists one and all — the Fu was formerly a Kenzo dive called The Penalty Box. Bearing that in mind, we couldn’t have been more surprised when entering the Fu space, which has been gorgeously rehabbed and evokes a kind of 1930s charm with a long, wraparound bar, high ceilings, tables made from old bowling alley lanes, and loads of original touches — including a stage with a handmade wooden arch and a smoking garden in the rear. (The cameraphone pic at right doesn’t begin to do the place justice; we’ll have some real pics up soon.) And about that stage: It sits over about a 100-capacity back room, where longtime R5 Productions understudy Steven Ward James will be booking live music and DJs. Says James: “The owners are super dedicated to supporting local musicians, artists, skate rats, weirdos, and the like, as they themselves (and me) are all these things. I want to bring a wide range of musical acts with an emphasis on fostering the local scene.” A far cry from The Penalty Box, indeed. But really: Top marks on this spot. Be on the lookout for shows appearing in October, and in the meantime, claim firsties while The Fu is in soft-opening mode this week.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 11th, 2008 at 4:29 pm.