tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post6251374698458969750..comments2023-08-14T11:44:27.299-04:00Comments on Jeremiah's<br> Vanishing New York: Stefan Lutak: 1920-2009Jeremiah Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11791516443125872364noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-9878101365045641962012-02-14T16:54:49.627-05:002012-02-14T16:54:49.627-05:00Would like thank everyone who attended, contribute...Would like thank everyone who attended, contributed,socialized, was over servered, lived or in anyway uplifted and made it the Holiday Cocktail Lounge. The last three years have been extremely difficult since my dad Stefan left[February 3, 2009]. This was not an easy decision or done out of haste. But the reality of the matter is the Holiday as everyone really knew[knows] was really Stefan. Once he passed, it was never going to be the same. No new employees or managing was going to change that. As I said in yesterday's NYTimes interview"I am going to finally get a chance to grieve" without the responsability of maintaining the "Holiday" legacy. As stated, I had no intention of leaving my mark on it since this was really my mother and father's legacy. And can rest knowing that they are the ones who will always be identified as the legitimate face and spirit of the Holiday. There will be no "new" Holiday since I would not allow[legally] to use any combination of the Holiday Cocktai Lounge. It ends with my dad as sole face to always be associated with "HIS" Holiday. Thank You for all the memories and some of the nightmares. The Lutak FamilyR.Lutaknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-66974654119597074432010-12-28T08:14:18.406-05:002010-12-28T08:14:18.406-05:00what an honest, big hearted guy he was. let me and...what an honest, big hearted guy he was. let me and a friend sleep at the bar till morning. I had gone away for a year and he'd saved my cd player under the bar and gave it to me when i reappeared. all the soul of manhattan seems to be draining away. I should have asked for 3 vodkas before you left the bar. peace stephan.john pnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-48984013389713702122009-02-24T20:41:00.000-05:002009-02-24T20:41:00.000-05:00A NYC Icon; a traditional and dedicated family man...A NYC Icon; a traditional and dedicated family man; a beautiful and nuturing soul to those who knew him well; a hardworking and honorable human being. Stefan will be truly missed and forever remembered; his beautiful Family will forever be blessed because they are cut from the same dedicated threads that bind them all together. Many lives have been touched by the sincerity and beautiful soul of Stefan. Rest your head in sweet peace Stefan, you have earned your wings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-91991568797651212042009-02-18T20:44:00.000-05:002009-02-18T20:44:00.000-05:00Hi. This is Al Mitchell. I saw Stephan last MAy wh...Hi. This is Al Mitchell. I saw Stephan last MAy when I was visiting NYC and his dry sense of humor was still intact. A wizard, a master, a silver tongued devil. Loved that guy, started drinking there in 1980. My condolences to Paul and Roman, also two great guys. Long live the good old days, they ruled.<BR/>ALAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-17405883555949343602009-02-09T14:33:00.000-05:002009-02-09T14:33:00.000-05:00thanks everyone for sharing your memories of stefa...thanks everyone for sharing your memories of stefan and the holiday. it's great to read them all together.Jeremiah Mosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11791516443125872364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-67733785015017193092009-02-09T13:12:00.000-05:002009-02-09T13:12:00.000-05:00What a great place. I miss the Holiday and Stefan ...What a great place. I miss the Holiday and Stefan will be missed by so many. Rest in Peace Stefan. Jeff LawrenceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-85529554986915880112009-02-09T12:46:00.000-05:002009-02-09T12:46:00.000-05:00I'm Chris. I used to wear a black porkpie hat and...I'm Chris. I used to wear a black porkpie hat and spent many hours, days, weeks sitting at the bar during the late 90's and enjoyed Stefan's "history lecrtures." Stefan told me many stories about his adventures in Europe, both as an athlete and as a soldier.<BR/>One thing I've noticed is that his posted birth-year (1920) was not what he repeatedly told me (1919). I assume that this was due to the chaos in Europe after WWII (i.e. Third Man). Although Stefan was certainly a proud Ukrainian from the village of Bukovina (not to be confused with the bar around the corner on 7th St), he referred many times to "that fuckin (Pres. Woodrow) Wilson," who redrew the European borders after the First War and placed his home village into Romania. Since after his service in the Red Army, he fought alongside his brother as an anti-Soviet Ukrainian Partisan. While the Russians were kind enough to kick the Nazis out of Ukraine they overstayed their welcome (as was their wont). Since the Soviets later sent Stefan's brother to Siberia, he clearly could not risk being repatriated to the wrong side of the Iron Curtain. That explanation for the discrepancy in birth dates makes sense to me. <BR/>All that aside, I'll miss the old man. Even his singing. Fuck it, especially his singing.<BR/>Good night Stefan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-21821249549096738072009-02-09T10:56:00.000-05:002009-02-09T10:56:00.000-05:00So sad,,Stefan was great, I loved when he used to ...So sad,,Stefan was great, I loved when he used to sing. What a surreal place it could be sometimes. Please don't remove the "ghosts" (worn into the walls at the booths by the tens of thousands of patrons over the years)when you do the "spit polish". Hey Johnny T, whatever happened to the tophat you were wearing in the painting? I think Daryl the guy who painted it has passed too. Makes me feel a little old to see New York as I knew it "vanishing" before my eyes. btw..great blog, but you forgot to mention one of the coolest things about Stefan, he played for the Ukraine in the 1936 Olympics!! How cool is that?! RIP Stefan.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-26303192832307511622009-02-09T10:06:00.001-05:002009-02-09T10:06:00.001-05:00Remember the little black dog that used to be ther...Remember the little black dog that used to be there? Poor thing must have really inhaled a lot of cigarette smoke in his brief life. Isn't he in the painting, too?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-86070467517046853412009-02-09T10:06:00.000-05:002009-02-09T10:06:00.000-05:00Rest In Peace Stepahn, cheers to a life well lived...Rest In Peace Stepahn, cheers to a life well lived. It was an honor to be your customer for over thirty years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-56491883269057836192009-02-09T02:47:00.000-05:002009-02-09T02:47:00.000-05:00I am Johnny Trash..the Holiday was my office from ...I am Johnny Trash..the Holiday was my office from the early 80's...the shadow ghost on the walls..endless Jack Daniels..I once ran a $300 bar tab...the "painting on the wall!!" I may be the last one in it Someone please find out its future!!<BR/>Soo sadden<BR/>my email mabnmex@yahoo.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-90890639964315472242009-02-08T11:55:00.000-05:002009-02-08T11:55:00.000-05:00Julie - I believe the guy you are referring to is/...Julie - I believe the guy you are referring to is/was named Walter. If I'm not mistaken.JamesChanceOfficialhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04517788409617221144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-35964007194534527002009-02-07T17:47:00.000-05:002009-02-07T17:47:00.000-05:00So sad. So many great memories in there for the pa...So sad. So many great memories in there for the past 20 or so years. Looking forward to making some more. Let's all hope they stay open.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-49444586390220181952009-02-07T09:37:00.000-05:002009-02-07T09:37:00.000-05:00I agree with shattered monacle. People like Stefan...I agree with shattered monacle. People like Stefan and Lux Interior made NYC great to me. Lux and Ivy left NYC a long time a go but to me they and The Fast are always playing at Maxs. And Stefan will always be pouring the drinks.Steve Metzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03628022727458179190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-13099557851400783942009-02-07T05:32:00.000-05:002009-02-07T05:32:00.000-05:00looking at the picture of Stefan again I realize I...looking at the picture of Stefan again I realize I see him in my mind as a robust 20 year younger man. I found the picture you have shocking. I have not stepped into the Holiday since , I think 2001. What about his right hand man that I used to call Lurch?julie wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04410026241201864506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-22303483056035229192009-02-07T02:51:00.000-05:002009-02-07T02:51:00.000-05:00First drink in the holiday, june 16th 1982, it was...First drink in the holiday, june 16th 1982, it was the night that john honeyman scott (pretenders guitarist) died. over the years i was there on various occasions. i never had a problem with Mr. Stephan as we were both Ukrainians and the native tongue could always coax a round when he didn't feel like serving anyone.<BR/>I have a good friend living in Sweden and whenever he comes into town we meet up at the Holiday, need to let him know that Stephan is gone.........Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-85156837706606556922009-02-06T23:06:00.000-05:002009-02-06T23:06:00.000-05:00I hope Stefan is throwing the chairs around in the...I hope Stefan is throwing the chairs around in the back room of some bar in heaven. RIP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-47076639449545859302009-02-06T21:34:00.000-05:002009-02-06T21:34:00.000-05:00Just a few days after we lost Lux Interior, Stefan...Just a few days after we lost Lux Interior, Stefan pops his clogs. I am fervently hoping we don't lose Holiday too. Too many interchangable crap wine bars and prissy restaurants and not enough Holidays.Tiny Banquet Committeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05653793395835337703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-49148156627707784592009-02-06T20:27:00.000-05:002009-02-06T20:27:00.000-05:00first bar i was ever thrown out of, 25 years ago! ...first bar i was ever thrown out of, 25 years ago! this is sad for ny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-60269366190436650212009-02-06T16:18:00.000-05:002009-02-06T16:18:00.000-05:00I am so sad to hear this. I never thought his heal...I am so sad to hear this. I never thought his health might be the reason they hadn't really been open as of late. He will definitely be missed in the neighborhood. In a city of lots of random bars, many turning over frequently, it's so sad to see part of the local character move on.<BR/><BR/>I hope they keep it open, even if it'll never be quite the same.Lara Ziobrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11095971411509664170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-37001158798398924292009-02-06T13:44:00.000-05:002009-02-06T13:44:00.000-05:00Stefan and his caustic remarks! He always had a co...Stefan and his caustic remarks! He always had a comeback, too. This is sad news, indeed. To me, he and the Holiday were a NY institution. And a big part of my life. My condolences to his loved ones. RIP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-46123881544414769322009-02-06T12:24:00.000-05:002009-02-06T12:24:00.000-05:00Bad couple of weeks, Peeler Man, Lux Interior, now...Bad couple of weeks, Peeler Man, Lux Interior, now this!<BR/><BR/>I can think of a few other NYC icons I'd rather see die.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-55972176015748006252009-02-06T11:15:00.000-05:002009-02-06T11:15:00.000-05:00I'm so sad to hear this news. The Holiday has been...I'm so sad to hear this news. The Holiday has been an integral part of my life for over 20 years. I never knew his name-- I was too intimidated to try to talk to him-- but he was always kind, in a gruff sort of way, and a fixture of E. Village life. He will be missed.Lilly Elihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05036141056974861031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-8772370911016853132009-02-06T09:34:00.000-05:002009-02-06T09:34:00.000-05:00Double Fuck and Shit."Now, with its captain gone, ...Double Fuck and Shit.<BR/><BR/><I>"Now, with its captain gone, who knows what will become of the place?"</I> --indeed.<BR/><BR/>I'm definitely stopping by tonight. See you guys there.esquared™https://www.blogger.com/profile/03535683572170541615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-683382864156505640.post-2440822342472065962009-02-06T07:20:00.000-05:002009-02-06T07:20:00.000-05:00Wow...I thought he'd outlast us all.My best to his...Wow...I thought he'd outlast us all.<BR/><BR/>My best to his family.<BR/><BR/>And I hope the Holiday will live on...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com