The Blind Barber

Head Barber Gogy shears reporter Adrien Cothier and removes his mullet (Courtney Stack)

People have been telling me about how great the Blind Barber is ever since it opened this past June. And since my hair style recently started looking more and more like a Kenny Powers mullet, I thought I might pay this local barber a visit, at least for my own my head’s sake.

Located in the heart of the East Village on 9th Street between Avenues A and B, the place is a combination of a traditional babershop and a hip lounge bar. When walking inside the barbershop you can’t help but notice the warmth and conviviality breezing around. People are actually bonding and cracking jokes while getting a cut and sipping a cold pint of beer. The head barber, Gogy, doesn’t look like the arrogant, stressed man that usually ruins your day with a snip. He looks more like your local Lower East Side artist, clad in a pair of chinos, a loose vintage shirt and a beanie on the top of his head. “[He] is also a very well accomplished photographer. A haircut isn’t the only thing we do here,” says Laub.

Taking a better look around the place I better understand what he means. I instantly notice the natural marriage of simple vintage design alongside what seems to be a small exhibition of contemporary art. "It was a collaboration amongst a group of us; we had a great architect, but we all had our input into it," Laub proudly adds.

Courtney Stack

Courtney Stack

"Okay," says Laub, "it’s time to get your cut." He then gives me the traditional pint that comes free with the cut. I’m in Gogy's hands waiting to be guillotined!

Less than 20 minutes later my cut (usually priced at $40) is close to being done and I know more about the barber's life and artistic career than I do about Picasso’s. And the result? Exactly what I hoped for: a great classic cut that makes me look more like a Don Draper than a gross baseball player.