Enter the newly transformed club fostering vibrant queer communityThe door swings open to reveal a familiar flood of red and purple light, an expansive in-set bar lining the wall near the entryway. Traveling back to the dance floor, splashes of fog kiss the legs of attendees as they bob toward the decks, where a DJ mercilessly throws down a slew of high-octane tracks once more. This is Rash’s re-opening after all, and the resurgence has arrived.
At the center of the reverie is Rash’s owner Jen Sillen, proudly sauntering through the space in a decadent subversion of the power suit – tasteful cut-outs lining the sides – the perfect ensemble for the victory the night represents. “Andis the conversation pit,” she tells V, gesturing toward a supersized seating fixture with prime views of the dance floor. More clubs may need this type of transition piece, a space to lounge, drink, steal a kiss, and run back toward the dancing.
“Rash is where I really came into my own as a DJ—they’ve allowed me to experiment with both DJing and throwing my own events in such an open and risk-free space,” umru shared via email. , a certifiable club kid and a regular party host at Market Hotel and Trans Pecos: “I’m excited for the community to come back together here. Rash was such a staple, and I can’t wait to see what they have to offer in the future.
“For around two weeks after the fire, we were afraid someone was targeting us,” Sillen said. As the team settled into an Airbnb in the Rockaways and stood by for information, Brooklyn lost a marquee space for nightlife experimentation, and the lore of Rash – loud, radically welcoming, and plain bass-thumping, sweat-dripping fun – seemed to be snuffed out.
“It’s one of those venues that connects the community, and when it was gone, we really felt that blow,” photographer and club kidThe first murmurs of Rash’s return arrived a few months ago via—where else—Instagram Stories. A quick DM to the account led me to Sillen, who explained over coffee in the East Village just where the trajectory of Rash would be heading in a few short weeks.