PLACE
Electric Circus
The Venue
In the 1960s, this 1830s building at 19-23 St. Mark’s Place turned into the high citadel of hippiedom. Under pop artist Andy Warhol’s tenancy it became a multi-media happening—the Exploding Plastic Inevitable—featuring Lou Reed and his Velvet Underground. Then as the high-flying, high-decibel Electric Circus, it combined theater, rock music, dance, lighting—and even had its own merry-go-round. Recently remodeled, the building now has shops and restaurants on its first two floors, with apartments above.
