The Weekend Shortlist July 29 to 31

Friday July 29

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Bands: Black Lips Get Tickets Here
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Bowery Ballroom
Food: The Stanton Social
Drink: The Magician
Miscellaneous: The Pink Pony

They’ve been thrown out of India and like to get naked or close to it on stage, but it’s the Black Lips style of flower punk that makes them worth listening to over and over again. Nevertheless, see them live as it’s definitely a theatrical event. Joining them are Night Beats. For dinner, The Stanton Social has earned a reputation for being a beautifully designed restaurant/lounge while serving up some delicious multi-ethnic cuisine. For drinks, a favorite of mine is The Magician, this bar’s chill atmosphere just may be the cure for a well-earned night of rocking. A great way to end the night? Stop by The Pink Pony. This boho café has been serving French food and coffee since the 80s and has a relaxing vibe. It’s as punk as that neighborhood gets nowadays.

Friday July 29

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: Gary Wilson
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Glasslands
Food: Dumont Burger
Drink: Radegast Hall & Biergarten
Miscellaneous: Verb Cafe

An experimental musician, Gary Wilson makes sorta slow jams that don’t make sense but are addictively fun and interesting to listen to. He made a really interesting album called You Think You Really Know Me in 1976 and was recently rediscovered with the help of Beck. His live shows are kinda bizarre so he’s definitely worth seeing for that reason alone. Joining him is Slowdance and Bryant K. With one of the best burgers in Williamsburg, Dumont Burger offers theirs with gourmet toppings, sandwiches, salads, and their amazing mac & cheese. So you consider yourself a beer connoisseur and like to party. You can do all that and eat at Radegast Hall & Biergarten. The Austrian/German menu perfectly compliments the 12 beers on tap and more than 30 German and Austrian bottles at this large beer hall. One of the oldest and best hipster hangout coffee shops, The Verb Cafe offers up excellent coffee and baked goods, a boho vibe, and big windows to watch the days pass while collecting unemployment!

Saturday July 30

Location: South Street Seaport, NYC
Bands: Gang Gang Dance
Show time: noon – 9PM; FREE
Venue: South Street Seaport
Food: Burritoville
Drink: Jeremy’s Ale House
Miscellaneous: Century 21

The concerts at South Street Seaport seem to have locked down some of the best upcoming artists around with free shows galore this summer. Today, Gang Gang Dance heads up Mad Decent Block Party. Joining them include Zeds Dead, Claude VonStroke, BAIO (Chris Baio of Vampire Weekend) (DJ set), The Hood Internet, Bosco Delrey(Mad Decent Block Party). While most people buy hot dogs and grab a beer at expensive restaurants in the Seaport mall, you’ll be smart and head over to Burritoville for inexpensive and delicious California inspired burritos, all under $10. For drinks, Jeremy’s Ale House has a lively crowd and a beer list that will get you a pint for $5 and under. If you get down to the financial district early, check out Century 21. They won’t try to sell you some property, but they have some great designer clothing on the cheap, plus the place is huge to roam.

Saturday July 30

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: Sonny & The Sunsets
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Glasslands Gallery
Food: Wild Ginger Pan-Asian Vegan Café
Drink: Teddy’s Bar & Grill
Miscellaneous: Verb Café

Hailing from San Francisco and bringing a sunny 60s vibe, Sonny & The Sunsets make Velvet Underground proud. Joining them are The Sandwitches, Friends, and Carnivores. For vegetarians and those not in the mood for meat, Wild Ginger Pan-Asian Vegan Café offers Pan-Asian cuisine in a relaxed earth-toned environment with a menu featuring veggies, tofu, seitan, and soy. The best thing about Teddy’s Bar & Grill is that it’s just got this great neighborhood vibe that’s warm and friendly, while also having a great menu of drinks and American bar food favorites like burgers, salads, sandwiches, and steak. A great place to get good coffee, take a seat, and watch the passing hipsters stroll by, Verb Café even has excellent sandwiches and baked goods to snack on before the show.

Sunday July 31

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Art: Xaviar Cha: Body Drama
Show time: See website for schedule; Daily
Venue: Whitney Museum of American Art
Food: Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack
Drink: BB&R
Miscellaneous: Dylan’s Candy Bar

In Xaviar Cha: Body Drama, NY–based artist Xavier Cha incorporates video and installation in performances that play with multiple perspectives and deferred access, reflecting our fractured contemporary experience. For her new work Body Drama, Cha transforms the gallery into a mysterious setting in which an actor performs while wearing a body-mounted camera. In between performances the resulting footage is projected on the wall, offering viewers two versions of the same experience, both of which center on disorienting psychological and physical space. If you’ve got a craving for barbeque, check out Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack as the ribs, chicken, beef, and pork are all smothered in some amazing BBQ sauce. BB&R, which stands for Blonde, Brunette, and a Redhead is the brainchild of three best friends. What they’ve created is something between a neighborhood bar and a lounge with leather seats in the front and a pool table, photo booth, and video games in the back. Looking more like it came out of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Dylan’s Candy Bar is a colorful place to get lollipops, licorice, and all things sugary. Don’t go crazy though, or your sweet tooth might melt here!