Friday June 11
Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Band: Quintron and Miss Pussycat
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Death By Audio
Food: The Lodge
Drink: Hope Lounge
Miscellaneous: The City Reliquary
Who can resist a girl with a puppet? While Miss Pussycat is a puppeteer singing along with her puppets, Quintron, who usually sits with a keyboard and his drum buddy, a circuit bent box that emulates drums and otherworldly sounds drives the show. Together, Quintron and Miss Pussycat are an odd combo that are a must see. Joining them are Jeff the Brotherhood. For dinner, The Lodge, with décor reminiscent of a log cabin and a menu coming from the same forest, serves comfort food in a warm and inviting setting. For drinks, Hope Lounge is a great stop. Exposed brick and earth tones mingle and the outdoor patio is big. The drink list is deep with beers from all over the world and tonight, expect a DJ to spin classic party jams. You may or may not have noticed The City Reliquary, a small storefront museum that shows artifacts of NYC, including a flashlight collection, but this place is definitely interesting to check out.
Friday June 11
Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Bands: Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble Get Tickets Here
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Southpaw
Food: Chiles & Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen
Drink: The Gate
Miscellaneous: Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.
Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble is one of the most authentic afrobeat bands in North America. Led by Egypt 80 vet Kaleta, and boasting a 13 head deep lineup of musicians known across the Brooklyn scene, Akoya is the real deal. They’re joined by new-comers Ikebe Shakedown who released their first EP in December of 09 to critical acclaim. Also on board is Superhuman Happiness, the solo project of Stuart Bogie, tenor sax player of Antibalas, TV on the Radio, and lead soloist in FELA! on Broadway. His band explores multiple genres and ideas creating a uniquely original sound. DJ Afro-Marc spins afro-grooves all night and is best known for his widely respected blog (The Afrobeat Blog) and his podcast (The Afro-Marc Podcast). Ever have Oaxacan food? Chiles & Chocolate Oaxacan Kitchen 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.
Saturday June 12
Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Band: Phenomenal Handclap Band Get Tickets Here
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Music Hall of Williamsburg
Food: Fornino
Bar: D.O.C. Wine Bar
Miscellaneous: Verb Café
Part afrobeat dance party, part disco jam, and part old school soul revival, the Phenomenal Handclap Band make groove heavy music that is catchy and addictive. They are a must see live. Joining them are These Are Powers and The Stallions.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.
Saturday June 12
Location: Union Square, NYC
Event: The Awesome 80s Prom
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: Thai Me Up Sandwich Bar
Drink: McSorley’s Old Ale House
Miscellaneous: Mudd Cafe
Relive the best and worst of coming of age in high school at The Awesome 80s Prom. This interactive show is part musical and full-on party as the audience gets to drink, dance and vote for the Prom King and Queen. For eats, check out Thai Me Up Sandwich Bar, a sandwich shop offering Thai sandwiches with 7 Steamed Fried Vegetables and a choice of chicken, veggie, tofu or beef on a baguette with 3 types of sauces for $7. One of the city’s oldest bars, at McSorley’s Old Ale House you can feel the history when you enter as memorabilia, since its beginnings in 1854, are all over the walls. Aside from it being a frat hangout nowadays, it’s worth the trip. You’ve seen that orange Mudd coffee truck parked on Astor Place and on various other streets, but check out their Mudd Cafe on East 9th for coffee and a healthy, vegan, and vegetarian menu.
Sunday June 13
Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey
Event: The Great American Food & Music Festival Get Tickets Here
Show time: 12 PM
Venue: Town Hall
The Great American Food & Music Festival sees the culinary elite host this celebration of American food and music. Tom Colicchio, Paula Deen, The Neely’s, and Duff Goldman, and more pair up with music acts Buckwheat Zydeko, Bob Schneider, American Idol’s Melinda Doolittle, Smile Smile, Southside Johnny and the Jukes, The Stompers, and Duff Goldman playing bass in his band Soihadto.
