Life Cafe

The Life Cafe is a restaurant in the Alphabet City district of New York City. Although primarily known for being referenced several times in Jonathan Larson's Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning musical, Rent, the restaurant has been anchoring the corner of 10th Street and Avenue B in some form since 1980. In Rent, the Cafe hosted the main characters and an ensemble for the musical scene featuring the song, La Vie Boheme, a high energy number about living the Bohemian life. Life Cafe was, and still is, a frequent hot spot for artists living in Alphabet City. It is located on the northeast corner of Tompkins Square Park. In 2002, Life Cafe opened Life Cafe NINE83 in the Bushwick/Williamsburg section of Brooklyn.

History of Life Cafe
In 1981, artist David Life (David Kirkpatrick) and Kathy Life (Kathleen Kirkpatrick) moved from Michigan to the East Village and started Life Cafe. David had graduated from Michigan State University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Kathy took time off from college to work to support them and David's art career. She finally graduated from Michigan State University with a B.A. in a pre-law program in 1978. Right after she graduated and prior to their moving to New York City, they made a two-year cross-country road trip around America with little money, a pop-up tent trailer and their three greyhound dogs. As Mid-Western transplants in New York City, they were among the first artists to settle in what later became known as the East Village. They struggled during the first few years living in the back of the Cafe. Kathy initially took a job in corporate sales in Midtown Manhattan to support them. Across Avenue B and all around them were graffitied abandoned buildings occupied by the homeless and squatters.

The restaurant decor featured pastiches of images from old Life magazines lacquered onto the tabletops. At the corner of "10th and B, NYC" -- Life Cafe became the social epicenter of the growing number of artists, musicians and writers living in the East Village in the 1980s. Life Cafe featured healthy Mexican cuisine (among other dishes) with vegetarian chili sold in paper cups and bowls.

By 1985, the East Village art scene was at its height -- the Semaphore Gallery anchored the opposite corner of 10th & B and Gracie Mansion and the Limbo Lounge were a few doors down. Being one of the few eateries in the vicinity, Life Cafe became a nexus for jazz musicians, writers, artists and punk rockers. During the mid-80s, the locals included artists Martin Wong, Keiko Bonk, David Wojnarowicz, Jim C, Joseph Nechvatal, Michael Roman, Greer Lankton, writers Amiri Baraka, Miguel Pinero, Sadiq, Jonathan Larson, gallery owners Sur Rodney Sur, Gracie Mansion, club owners Cornelius Conboy and Dennis Gattra (8BC), Denis Pruvot (Save the Robots), Free Jazz muzician , actor Rockets Redglare, poet Allen Ginsberg, local Billy Sleaze and art critic Carlo McCormick. There were outside tables, a drink/service counter and inside tables with local art hanging on the West and North walls. The bathroom had a red light to discourage junkies.

Life after Life Cafe
In 1984, David Life (Deva Das) created the Jivamukti Yoga Method with Sharon Gannon (Tripura Sundari). Although no longer active in Life Cafe, David continues to operate the world renowned and highly influential Jivamukti Yoga School in New York City. Kathy continues to operate the Life Cafe restaurants and is currently working on a book about the Life Cafe's history.

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