Crooklyn Dodgers 2008. Buckshot, Masta Ace & Special Ed Come Back to their Roots
Friday June 27
Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Bands: Delta Spirit + AA Bondy + Two Dark Birds
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Union Hall
Food: Press 195
Drink: Union Hall
Miscellaneous: O’Connor’s
This show boasts an excellent lineup of similarly influenced artists in Delta Spirit who make a mix of rock and soul with an interesting mix of instruments, while AA Bondy’s solo act is pure folk, and Two Dark Birds round out the bill of this all Americana influenced show. The theme at Press 195 is pressed comfort food. A sandwich shop with quite the menu, they offer 30 types of delicious sandwiches like the turkey and fontina cheese sandwich with a cranberry and roasted pear chutney on ciabatta ($7.75). While Union Hall looks like a cabin at a ski resort with a fireplace, stone walls, comfy couches, and inexpensive drinks, you may want to stick around rather than barhop. A low-key bar in this hood, O’Connor’s is a hole in the wall where you can grab a cheap drink and watch the game on their TV, just like your grandpa sitting next to you!
Friday June 27
Location: Financial District, NYC
Band: A Place to Bury Strangers + King Khan and the Shrines
Show time: 7:00 PM FREE
Venue: South Street Seaport, Pier 17
Food: Ear Inn
Drink: Village Lantern
Miscellaneous: Jacques Torres
Noise rock act, A Place to Bury Strangers may get you dancing and their wall of sound will have no boundaries at the South Street Seaport. Joining them are psychedelic funk act King Khan and the Shrines. Did I mention that it’s FREE? One of my favorite places for food, Ear Inn is a 200-year-old bar with a small menu featuring burgers, sandwiches, and a chalkboard with specials including Jerk Chicken that’s under $10. With $3 pints Monday thru Friday 12pm to 7pm along with comedy and music performances, the Village Lantern is a great bar to chill at after work, especially now that it’s finally getting warm outside. Watch some of the best chocolate in the world made right in front of your eyes or browse through the store and sample for yourself the fruits of this master chocolatier’s labor.
Saturday June 28
Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Bands: The Black Angels + The Warlocks
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Southpaw
Food: Press 195
Drink: The Gate
Miscellaneous: The Chocolate Room
Straight out of Austin, Texas, The Black Angels keep droning fashionable, being heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground and bringing it with fury. Also with them are L.A.’s The Warlocks, bringing their psychedelic fused rock, making this show a possible must see! Taking the pressed sandwich to the gourmet level, Press 195 offers 30 kinds of hot pressed sandwiches that make this place hard to get tired of. One of the more social bars in Park Slope, The Gate is a great bar with a wide selection of local beers on tap and an outdoor patio overlooking the park. A great little dessert and coffee shop, The Chocolate Room has a menu filled with everything made with some form of chocolate. Try the hot chocolate, you won’t regret it.
Saturday June 28
Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Bands: Crooklyn Dodgers Reunion with O.C., Jeru the Damaja, Chubb Rock and EMC + Masta Ace + DJ Premier + Ali Shaheed Muhammad + Buckshot + Special Ed
Show time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell
Food: Los Pollitos II
Drink: Pacific Standard
Accessory: Gorilla Coffee
The pioneers of Lyricists Lounge and the MC’s who created the tracks Crooklyn Dodgers and The Return of the Crooklyn Dodgers from Spike Lee’s movies Crooklyn and Clockers come together for this memorable occasion, back in Brooklyn. This should no doubt be amazing! While Mexican restaurants may be everywhere, one that stands out, in that hood, is Los Pollitos II. What makes me come back for more are the Chilaquiles for brunch and the gorditas for dinner. The guacamole is damn good too. Did you say you like beer? I like beer! Hooray for puppies! At Pacific Standard, the front bar has 16 beers on tap and the back room looks like a high school library. I think this is my new favorite bar. Don’t forget to ask about the frequent drinker card program! I’m totally serious. If you like your coffee black, Gorilla Coffee specializes in deep roasted flavors and provides it through fair-trade.
Sunday June 29
Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: JellyNYC Pool Parties with The Hold Steady + The Loved Ones + J Roddy Walston and the Business
Show time: 2:00 PM FREE
Venue: McCarren Park Pool
Food: Chimu
Drink: Union Pool
Miscellaneous: Eks
Brooklyn based indie-rockers, The Hold Steady will release their fourth album, Stay Positive this July, so expect some new material from this much-loved band. Joining them are The Loved Ones and J Roddy Walston and the Business. With so much good food in Williamsburg, you should not forget about Chimu. A Peruvian steakhouse right next to Union Pool, the rotisserie chicken and every other dish I’ve had here is amazing, and it won’t break the bank! For drinks, Union Pool is still one of the best bars in town. If you’re single, it’s a goldmine for ass, the drinks aren’t pricey, and the DJs play an eclectic mix of ridiculously good music. Not exactly Pinkberry, yet just as expensive, Eks is Williamsburg’s answer to the yogurt fad currently popping up.
