Last Week to Say Goodbye to Astoria Staple RAR BAR

RAR BAR (or Rest-Au-Rant) was a little under the radar, tucked back from the subway tracks on 35th Ave at 30th St. We loved them for their budget brunch, broad happy hour menu and arts-based events. Sadly owner Tina Stipanovic announced earlier this month that they will be closing up permanently.

She didn’t provide specific details, only saying that “Rar Bar will close Friday, Sept. 27 with a glorious goodbye bash! Until then join me for a month-long celebration of music, friendship and the moments we shared over the years.”

The restaurant was open for 12 years, and was also known for its creative decor, local art displays, and live music and comedy. Stipanovic continued to cultivate that creativity with the opening of AlterWork Studios in 2017, an “open access art and community center” offering “affordable workspace, tools, classes, workshops and public exposure” to contemporary artists. The art studio appears to be staying open, with Stipanovic perhaps investing more of her time and efforts into that. It’s located practically next door to the RAR BAR space, at 30-09 35th St.

She lined up a full month of the events, and this is your last chance to take in all that RAR BAR has to offer until the goodbye bash THIS FRIDAY! Don’t miss out on celebrating the end of a (local) era.

9/23 – MON : 7:30pm – Virginia Marcs/Bill Grady/Jo Malbec/TRacey Horst

9/24 – TUE: 7pm – Jamie Thomas Band; 9:30pm – AyOh!

9/25 – WED: 7pm – Sister Monk; 9pm – Nelly DuBarry/Lost Amsterdam

9/26 – THUR: 9pm – Joe Lung & Friends

9/27 – FRI: 8pm DB Rielly – Closing Party