The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
Friday September 26
Location: East Village, NYC
Bands: Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip + B. Dolan
Show time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Mercury Lounge
Food: Oyama
Drink: Grassroots Tavern
Miscellaneous: Mudd Cafe
Besides their name bringing giggles to my face for no good reason everytime I say Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip, this electro-hip hop group is one of the most interesting artists to come out of England in a long while. Joining them is B. Dolan, a performance artist, activist and emcee. With sushi that’s 50 percent off all the time, you might think, “Something’s wrong with that?†but the fish is good and the rolls are inventive, making this one of the best low-priced sushi joints in the city. Though St. Marks all of a sudden lost its charm, Grassroots Tavern hasn’t. This large dive bar has cheap drinks, darts in the back, and old men behind the bar, things a good dive bar should have. Excellent coffee served in a big mug and a healthy menu of food coupled with a year round enclosed outdoor backyard patio make this place a great little coffee shop in the area.
Friday September 26
Location: Tribeca, NYC
Bands: Black Moon + Smif N Wessun
Show time: 9 PM
Venue: Knitting Factory
Food: Pakistani Tea house
Drink: Walker’s
Miscellaneous: J&R
For old-school hip hop heads and lovers of lyrical verse, getting the chance to see legends like Black Moon and Smiff N Wessun on stage together performing their classic albums Enta da Stage and Da Shinin with a live band. For eats, the Pakistani Tea house is a great little discreet Indian restaurant serving five to six different types of Indian food that is way cheaper than this show. For a drink, try Walker’s. This local hang serves up inexpensive drinks and makes a great burger. Being in the financial district, there’s not a lot going on in Tribeca, but thank god for J&R. With music, electronics, and computer stores all in one area, you chances of getting bored are slim.
Saturday September 27
Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Talk: The Survivors: A Discussion with Four Creators Who Have Transformed Crisis into Art
Show time: 2 – 5 PM FREE
Venue: Corridor Gallery
Food: Sushi D
Drink: Moe’s
Miscellaneous: Café Lafayette
The Full Spectrum panel discussion series, which features cutting-edge artists and Danny Simmons’ Corridor Gallery team up to present The Survivors: A Discussion with Four Creators Who Have Transformed Crisis into Art. Panelists will include Playwright/Poet/Zen Master Jesse C. Alick, Painter Paul Jansen, Filmmaker Nancy Schwartzman, Musician/Transformational Counselor K. Neycha Herford, and Writer Garnette Cadogan who will moderate the event as all discuss their personal experiences with HIV, cancer, homicide, sexual assault, and Hurricane Katrina. An audience Q & A will follow. With all the new restaurants moving in on Dekalb Street of late, Sushi D stands tall offering a relaxed atmosphere, friendly waitstaff, and sushi rolls like the ‘D’ Roll with eel, tempura flakes, masago, and avocado. My favorite bar on Dekalb Street, Moe’s is an eclectic bar where you can chill out and watch the locals stroll around on their way to any of the great restaurants in this upcoming hood. Though small, Café Lafayette is a quaint looking café with French influenced cuisine that serves crepes, burgers, and entrees like Sauteed Rack of Lamb with tabbouleh and mint puree ($15.95).
Saturday September 27
Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Bands: Takeover with St. Vincent + The Budos Band + Naomi Shelton + Brooklyn Youth Chorus
Show time: 9 PM
Venue: BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
Food: Junior’s
Drink: O’Connor’s
Miscellaneous: Thomas Beisl
Sufjan Stevens hosts this insanely awesome nearly all-night multimedia party (ending at 4 AM) at BAM that will feature diverse musical acts including indie-queen St. Vincent, Brooklyn funk acts The Budos Band and Naomi Shelton, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Let’s not forget that there will also be DJs, movies and videogames. Known more for its cheesecake than anything else on its menu, Junior’s also offers fantastic diner and deli style eats from steak burgers to deli sandwiches. If you can make it through dinner, the cheesecake will be worth the wait! One of Brooklyn’s most interesting dive bars, O’Connor’s offers cheap drinks in a place where Park Slope hipsters meet old-time drinkers, making for one of the oddest pairings that works. An excellent place to get schnitzel and goulash and other Austrian delights, Thomas Beisl is right across the street from BAM.
Saturday September 27
Location: Tribeca, NYC
Bands: The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players + Pleaseeasaur + Anamanaguchi
Show time: 9 PM
Venue: Knitting Factory Tap Bar
Food: Ear Inn
Drink: Village Lantern
Miscellaneous: Jacques Torres
Writing funny satirical songs is an art and The Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players, are not just great at it, but use slides found at estate sales to tell the story. Pretty funny. Joining them are campy comedic musical group Pleaseeasaur and the Nintendo-beat loving group Anamanaguchi. 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.
Sunday September 28
Location: Chelsea, NYC
Band: Vieux Farka Toure
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Highline Ballroom
Food: Il Bastardo
Drink: Brite Bar
Miscellaneous: Café Grumpy
While Vieux Farka Toure’s name might sound familiar (his dad is legendary African musician Ali Farka Touré), he has a style all his own. Catch him at the Highline as he effortlessly blends African and blues music brilliantly. Not just a great name for a restaurant, Il Bastardo offers excellent Italian food, seafood, and steak in a large and beautifully designed space. With an interesting menu of cosmos and cocktails like the Fother Mucker, made with Zygo, a locally distilled energy vodka, Brite Bar is a gorgeously designed bar that looks like a lounge but is way more fun. One of my favorite coffee houses due to the fact that they are doing a great job of reinventing the wheel when it comes to making coffee, is Café Grumpy. Here, every cup is freshly pressed and the latte’s are thick and rich tasting.
