(Left to right): BEN HOLLANDSWORTH, J.D. GOLDBLATT, KRISTINA VALADA-VIARS, and D.J. MENDEL
Location: East Village, NYC
Event: Monstrosity
Show times: Fri 7PM, & Sat 1PM, 7PM, & Sun 1PM; Through July 19
Venue: Connelly Theatre (220 East 4th Street btw Aves A and B)
Food: In Vino
Drink: Ace Bar
Lear deBessonet directs Monstrosity, a very ambitious 13P production, a 21-person epic by the subversive Lucy Thurber who describes her play as a dark, epic tale of singing teenage fascists, magic, war, and love — a disturbing retelling of the hero’s tale with a girl as the hero and an unheroic ending. For tickets visit: www.monstrositytheplay.com. Anyone need a drink? Start out at In Vino on the corner of East 4th and Avenue B that has such a stunning array of vino choices it lead the Wine Spectator to say, “One of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world.†Or the Village Voice to include it in the list of “Top 100 Italian Restaurants.†Not to mention the seductive allure of its cavernous décor. What else could you ask for? If you are more of a casual night owl then check out the Drink: Ace Bar just one block north. Here you can unwind with a plethora of imported beers, play pool, or throw darts during Saturday Night Fever happy hour. Sunday Bloody Sunday happy hour features an arguably perfect bloody marry. Sunday Nite Heart Attack invites some skeeball action. If you are more of a wallflower then you can stare at the hundred or so vintage lunch boxes displayed behind glass cabinets — East Village eclecticism at its most enjoyable.
Kila Packett
Bands: The Morning After Girls + Hopewell Get Tickets Here
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Mercury Lounge
Food: Three of Cups
Drink: Whiskey Ward
Miscellaneous: Sugar Sweet Sunshine
Melbourne, Australia band The Morning After Girls have been making quite a name for themselves after moving to New York last year having played with the likes of Perry Farrell at SXSW, A Place to Bury Strangers and Holy Fuck plus their recent debut album Alone is a rollicking great time. New York act Hopewell just keep surprising me. Their new album Good Good Desperation is full of sun drenched psychedelic anthems held together with great musicianship and amazing songs. What I like about Three of Cups the most is that the food is classic Italian fare like Pizza made in a wood-fired oven, risotto, pasta, while also offering more exciting dishes like lamb stew in a barolo wine reduction, served with potato gnocchi. The atmosphere is relaxing, bordering on romantic. With a name like Whiskey Ward, it’s expected that they deliver the goods, which lucky for this bar, they do. Whether it’s Scotch, Bourbon, Whiskey, or Single Malts, they got em’ along with a pool table and a damn good jukebox. Who doesn’t like cupcakes? Sugar Sweet Sunshine has one of the best in the city. With 10 different kinds, it’s hard to beat.
