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Address: 204 Varick Street at West Hous, New York NY
20 years ago, June 1982 to be exact, something began to bubble on Varick Street in lower Manhattan. Fueled by a total commitment to exposing the musical wealth and heritage of the Afro-Latino Diaspora to as many people as possible, Larry Gold opened the doors to what would become New York City's premier venue for world music; Sounds Of Brazil, commonly known as S.O.B.'S.
At the time, Varick Street wasn't exactly a hub of culture in Manhattan. The area South of Houston wasn't yet known as the trendy, cutting-edge community of "SoHo" that has since developed. It was simply a strip of asphalt that led to the Holland Tunnel marked by non-descript warehouses and a squat, grey post office. Needless to say, it wasn't exactly inviting. But true to his can-do New York spirit, Larry Gold forged ahead with his dream and due to his dedication, the corner of West Houston and Varick Streets was transformed from a family diner in the middle of a harsh commercial landscape to an internationally known, highly respected oasis of world music and fine cuisine in the heart of SoHo. The venue instant..