Astor Place Haircutters, a historic institution in New York, has been hosting an exclusive underground poker game for city luminaries, according to reports. The monthly event, known as the “Astor Place Game,” has been attended by famous personalities such as Ira Glass, John Hodgman, and Danny Strong. The underground poker games are hosted by Jonathan Trichter, a financier who helped save the shop from closing in 2020. The poker game and the shop only accept cash payments.
The Astor Place Game hosted a group that included Trichter, singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton, podcaster PJ Vogt, journalist Anne Marie Cruz, ex-hedge fund manager David Ganek, and social media maven Nick Heller, also known as New York Nico. Trichter, who serves as the gatekeeper and host of the after-hours game, was shocked to learn that an underground poker game for New York luminaries existed. He assured everyone that the poker is all above board, describing it as a “friendly game” where “New York greats… test their mettle and wits, as the action is fast, but the quips are faster.”
To be part of the exclusive poker night, Trichter explained that one only needs to be “one of the great New Yorkers.” He took the chance to plug his haircut business by adding, “You can get the best haircut in town!” Astor Place has been frequented by famous customers such as Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon, Andy Warhol, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and even the late, disgraced former state assembly speaker Sheldon Silver.
Describing the ambiance, Glass called it “a very unfussy game” with a “‘Guys and Dolls’ feeling to it.” The table sits in the middle of the black-and-white tile floor, surrounded by barber chairs, and mirrors everywhere, but not close enough to see anyone’s hand. Glass added, “Probably the best room for poker in New York. A suite at the Plaza wouldn’t be as good.” The game reportedly has a fast pace, but the witty banter is even faster.
Astor Place Haircutters in New York has been hosting an exclusive underground poker game for city luminaries, including Ira Glass, John Hodgman, and Danny Strong. The monthly event, known as the “Astor Place Game,” is hosted by Jonathan Trichter, who helped save the shop from closing in 2020. The poker game and the shop only accept cash payments. The Astor Place Game is a friendly game where New York greats test their mettle and wits, as the action is fast, but the quips are faster. To be part of the exclusive poker night, one only needs to be “one of the great New Yorkers.” Famous personalities such as Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon, Andy Warhol, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and even the late, disgraced former state assembly speaker Sheldon Silver have frequented Astor Place. The ambiance at the game is described as “a very unfussy game” with a “‘Guys and Dolls’ feeling to it.”