The Weekend Shortlist Jan 11 thru 13

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Kimya Dawson – “The Smoothie Song”

Friday Jan. 11

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Band: Meshell Ndegeocello
Venue: Music Hall of Williamsburg
Food: Fornino
Bar: D.O.C. Wine Bar
Accessory: Verb Café

Part punk part R&B, Meshell Ndegeocello is a singer/songwriter not afraid to talk politics, race, feminism, or religion. She’s what is meant by “keeping it real,” while making it funky and rock. What also rocks is finding a decent pizza! Fornino offers just that, wrapped up in an original concept. Serving wood oven burning pizza, the menu is broken up into three generations, the first being your basic pizza ingredients while the second and third go off the gourmet deep end, giving you more than 20 options total. For drinks, the D.O.C. Wine Bar has a homey atmosphere and an excellent wine list of strictly Italian wines and small plates of food. If coffee is your thing, The Verb Café offers not only coffee but sandwiches, desserts, and soup. Chill at a table and write that novel, look for jobs online, or hang with a friend like everyone else there.

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: Sex Mob with mystery guests
Venue: The Stone
Food: Chubo
Bar: Motor City Bar
Accessory: San Loco

Not an actual mob of sex addicts or a sexaholics anonymous gathering, The Sex Mob are a band of some of NYCs best musicians led by Trumpeter Steven Bernstein. Not playing your typical jazz, this show promises to be worth checking out. Plus there are mystery guests. Who doesn’t like a mystery? For food, Chubo is an amazing place, mixing French, Asian, and Spanish influences into their food, they also offer a seasonal and a tasting menu. A bit loud and out of control, tonight the DJs spin rock and Anna Copacabana go-go dances in the window. Seriously awesome! If this sounds like a late-night, it is, so cheap eats is what you need to balance the alcohol out. San Loco is a favorite spot for cheap Mexican food. Try the catfish Guaco Loco ($4.20) or the bean and cheese ballpark nachos ($3.75). Eat now and regret it later!

Saturday Jan. 12

Location: Midtown, NYC
Artist: Feist
Venue: The Times Center
Food: Vinyl
Drink: Cellar Bar
Accessory: The Bryant Park Hotel

One of indie rock’s great lead singer’s today, Feist stops by midtown’s Times Center and gets interviewed by NY Times music critic Jon Pareles. A perfect compliment to a night of music, well sort of, is Vinyl. At this rock and roll themed restaurant, the menus are made of old album covers and the food is a mix of American and Thai. Don’t forget to check out the bathroom, each one has a music icon theme. With vaulted ceilings and a mostly red and cream interior, the Cellar Bar, located in the Bryant Park Hotel, is one gorgeous place, creating a sexy atmosphere. The drinks are pricey, but worth the stopover. For kicks, take a little walk through the Bryant Park Hotel. This chic boutique hotel, designed by British architect David Chipperfield, not only has the Cellar Bar but the Koi Restaurant, a fantastic Japanese spot.

Location: West Village, NYC
Event: The Rachel Trachtenburg Morning Show
Venue: The Green Room
Food: Babbo
Drink: The Dove
Accessory: Café Reggio

Rachel Trachtenberg, drummer and daughter of everyone’s favorite family band, The Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players, takes the lead in this variety show geared towards kids, with music of course! One of the six Italian eateries of celebrity chef Mario Battali, Babbo takes Italian American cooking to another level. While the food can be expensive and reservations would be the best way to get a table, this place is highly regarded among food connoisseurs. Disguised as a lounge The Dove is really a neighborhood bar dressed up in red, white, and gold décor with a nice selection of beers on tap and a very good mixed drink menu featuring delicious martini’s. One of my favorite coffee houses, Café Reggio has the most literate and West Village atmosphere I have been to. A real slice of New York, it was also in the movie Superfly. Go there or be square!

Sunday, Jan. 13

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Band: Kimya Dawson & Tiny Masters of Today
Venue: Southpaw
Food: Chiles & Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen
Drink: The Gate
Accessory: Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.

With her songs on the Juno movie soundtrack, Kimya Dawson, of The Moldy Peaches fame, performs with Tiny Masters of Today, a brother/sister combo about 10 and 12 years old. Speaking of interesting, ever have Oaxacan food? Chiles & Chocolate serves up some fantastic, not exactly Mexican food. Try the smoky flavored Mole Negro, one of the best mole sauces I’ve had in NYC. Before leaving, you must try one of the hot chocolates like the Chiles Y Chocolate. A hint of chipotle without too much heat is a nice kick start for the night. The Gate is a great Park Slope bar with excellent beers on tap and a outdoor courtyard to chill. If time permits, you must, and I mean MUST go to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co., a non-profit organization that helps kids with their writing, that’s fronted by a store selling super powers.

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