213 Park Ave S

New York, NY 10003

One of, if not the, legendary hangouts for New York’s creative class during the ’60s and ’70s, this steakhouse/bar/club founded by Mickey Ruskin in 1965 was a haunt of Andy Warhol and those in the Factory orbit, a favorite spot of the Velvet Underground (who recorded an album during one of their many gigs in the back room), and supposedly the room where Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie met for the first time. Ruskin, an art-world impresario with a chipped gold tooth, transformed a run-down Southern Restaurant into a scenstery canteen and salon with red vinyl booths, attracting all manner of artists. The name was supposedly suggested by poet Joel Oppenheimer, since Kansas City and steaks seemed like a good match, and Max’s just seemed like a reputable name. Ruskin’s run with Max’s ended in 1974, but shortly thereafter, Tommy Dean Mills reopened the venue as a punk club and booked shows with the likes of Blondie and the Ramones until 1981. Last fall, it was reported that Scorsese had recreated Max’s for Vinyl, so expect a cameo this season.