The Weekend Shortlist July 18 to 20

This Saturday is the Village Voice's Annual Siren Festival

Friday July 18

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Band: The Budos Band
Show time: 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Venue: Damrosch Park
Food: Josie’s
Drink: Candle Bar
Miscellaneous: Emack & Bolio’s

Part of Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing series, The Budos Band play what sound like old old-school soul from the 50s and 60s, but it’s actually original music that is heavily influenced by funk and Afrobeat. Dairy free, organic, and free-range are things that come up often on the menu at Josie’s, that include several tofu and seitan specialty dishes and the Freshly Ground Char-Grilled Brandt Natural Beef Cheeseburger ($15.75), so everyone here will walk away happy. Comfortable and dimly lit, the Candle Bar has a pool table in the back and drink specials daily. For some of the best and most interesting ice cream in the city, Emack & Bolio’s offers some eclectic flavors like Deep Purple Cow (Black Raspberry ice cream with white and dark chocolate chips and blueberries). This place takes their ice cream serious.

Friday July 18

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Band: Blktop Project + Bing Ji Ling + DJ Orb
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Union Pool
Food: Wild Ginger Pan-Asian Vegan Café
Drink: Teddy’s Bar & Grill
Miscellaneous: Verb Café

When you think of a bunch of skateboarders getting together to play soul music in a band, what do you think happens? I don’t know what your answer is, but when Tommy Guerrero, Ray Barbee, Matt Rodriguez and Chuck Treece get together, they actually make pretty sweet music. Who knew! For vegetarians and those not in the mood for meat, Wild Ginger 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 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.

Saturday July 19

Location: Coney Island, NYC
Band: Siren Music Festival
Show time: Noon FREE
Venue: Coney Island Boardwalk
Food: Nathan’s Famous
Drink: Ruby's Old Tyme Bar and Grill
Miscellaneous: Brooklyn Cyclones

The Village Voice’s Siren Festival takes place at Coney Island again. Wasn’t last year supposedly the last year? Who cares! This year’s performers include Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Broken Social Scene, Islands, The Helio Sequence, Beach House, Ra Ra Riot, Times New Viking, Jaguar Love, The Dodos, Annuals, Film School, Parts & Labor, and more. While you may not be Kobayashi, eating a hot dog, a corn dog, or even cheese fries at Nathan’s Famous goes back several generations. Expect long lines, but it’ll be worth it! Not just a tradition but an institution on the boardwalk, Ruby’s is a great dive bar for cheap drinks and watching local drunks belt out Rat Pack songs. Even if this minor league Mets team isn’t playing a baseball game, The Brooklyn Cyclones stadium is worth the short walk over on the boardwalk to check out it’s size and beauty.

Saturday July 19

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Band: Enter the Dragon with Karsh Kale + Soh Daiko
Show time: 7:30 PM FREE
Venue: Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell
Food: Press 195
Drink: The Gate
Miscellaneous: The Chocolate Room

Blending traditional Indian music with electronic sounds, Karsh Kale brings his talent to the silver screen, well sort of, as he scores Bruce Lee’s biggest kung fu flick, Enter the Dragon, live! Opening for him is Japanese taiko drummer Soh Daiko. 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.

Sunday July 20

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Band: Marshall Allen and friends
Show time: 10:00 PM FREE
Venue: Zebulon
Food: Bliss
Drink: Spike Hill
Miscellaneous: Ella Cafe

While there’s several amazing free shows around town today (Santogold, Diplo, and A-trak at Summerstage and The Liars at McCarren Pool), one worth going to is Marshall Allen at Zebulon. Having backed up Sun Ra and now leading his Arkestra from the beginning, getting the chance to see a jazz legend FREE is something that don’t come around too often. For veggie lover’s, Bliss Café is an excellent place for tempeh, tofu, and vegetables, with all menu items $10 and under. Right off the L train at Bedford, Spike Hill is a really nice Irish pub with a great selection of draft beers on tap and booths in the back to sit, drink, and even order off an Irish menu of food. While several new coffee shops have popped up in Williamsburg recently, Ella Café is not just the best designed, with it’s blond wood interior but the coffee is pretty good too.

Posted by Short and Sweet NYC at 7/18/2008 08:00:00 AM 1 comments

The Weekend Shortlist July 11 to 13

The Breeders Play for FREE at McCarren Park Pool This Sunday

Friday July 11

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Band: Brazilian Girls + Chicha Libre + Ticklah
Show time: 8:00 PM FREE
Venue: Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park Bandshell
Food: Press 195
Drink: The Gate
Miscellaneous: The Chocolate Room

Brazilian Girls headlines this FREE show in Prospect Park. Blending electronic and South American rhythms, this should be a booty shaking good time. Joining them are newly added Ticklah and Chicha Libre whose blend of South American and psychedelic styles are infectious and gorgeous. 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.

Friday July 11

Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn
Show: Brooklyn Keeps on Takin’ It
Show time: 6:00-9:00 PM FREE
Venue: powerHouse Arena
Food: RICE
Drink: Low Bar
Miscellaneous: Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

To help celebrate the 2008 Brooklyn Hip Hop festival, powerHouse Books plays host to the launch party at their bookstore in DUMBO. On the mic will be Fresh Daily, Sputnik Brown, Sucio Smash, and P.Casso. See the future all-stars of hip hop for FREE! RICE not surprisingly offers a pretty intense variety of rice, from brown to Bhutanese red. Most of the rice based dishes come in large and small sizes. Right below RICE is Low Bar, an extremely convenient place to grab a drink and catch some great DJs spin in a lounge environment. Right off the water, with a view of the South Street Seaport and the Brooklyn Bridge so close you can touch it, the only thing that could make this view better is ice cream. You’ll usually find a long line for Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, but the sweet flavors are worth it!

Saturday July 12

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Band: Damon Albarn and the Honest Jon’s Revue
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Avery Fisher Hall (at Lincoln Center)
Food: Josie’s
Drink: Candle Bar
Miscellaneous: Emack & Bolio’s

In recent years Blur’s frontman, Damon Albarn has gone in any musical direction he’s felt like, from Gorillaz to Malian music. He’s even started his own record label Honest Jon’s. Tonight, he plays with many of the artists who have recorded for his label including Tony Allen, Afel Bocoum, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Kokanko Sata, Candi Staton, Lobi Traore, Simone White and Victoria Williams. Dairy free, organic, and free-range are things that come up often on the menu at Josie’s, that include several tofu and seitan specialty dishes and the Freshly Ground Char-Grilled Brandt Natural Beef Cheeseburger ($15.75), so everyone here will walk away happy. Comfortable and dimly lit, the Candle Bar has a pool table in the back and drink specials daily. For some of the best and most interesting ice cream in the city, Emack & Bolio’s offers some eclectic flavors like Deep Purple Cow (Black Raspberry ice cream with white and dark chocolate chips and blueberries). This place takes their ice cream serious.

Saturday July 12

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: Cover Me Badd + The Black Tie Party
Show time: 9:00 PM
Venue: Parkside Lounge
Food: Chickie Pig’s
Drink: Mason Dixon
Miscellaneous: 151

Cover Me Badd are an awesome cover band that break the mold of what a cover band is supposed to be. Replace the bad lead singer with a badass trombone player and you get one kickass good time. Expect lot’s of classic rock, pop and a few surprise hits! What sounds like a vegetarian’s nightmare is actually a gourmet pizza restaurant. Chickie Pig’s offers some interesting brick oven thin-crust pies like The Pig’s Fig Pie with fig jam reduction, Gorgonzola, proscuitto, and chives ($15). If you have the desire to ride a bull when you order a pint, then you’re in luck! Mason Dixon offers both. Seriously, you can drink and ride a friggin’ mechanical bull here! For a good time or if your goal is to get trashed, hit up 151. There’s no sign outside, but inside, happy hour is 2 for 1 everyday from 6-10pm.

Sunday July 13

Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Bands: The Jelly NYC Pool Parties with The Breeders + Matt and Kim + The Whip
Show time: 2:00 PM FREE
Venue: McCarren Park Pool
Food: La Locanda
Drink: Enid’s
Miscellaneous: Royal Oak

Since when do the Breeders play a free show? Who cares, all I know is that I’ll be there enjoying their hits and cuts off their new album April’s Mountain Battles. Matt and Kim will be there too and this duo smiles a lot and we will too as they play their fun and quirky songs. One of the last vestige’s of real Brooklyn in this hipster neighborhood, La Locanda serves simple Italian dishes like Chicken Parmigiana and pasta, but don’t be fooled, the food here is excellent, affordable and the vibe is homey. A good place to drink and talk nearby, Enid’s has cheap beer, a friendly atmosphere, and even food. Another good place for drinks if you feel like bar-hopping, Royal Oak offers a dark and sexy vibe, where excellent DJs play old-school R&B and 80s metal all mixed up like Britney Spears!

Posted by Short and Sweet NYC at 7/11/2008 08:00:00 AM 0 comments

The Weekend Shortlist July 4 to 6

Sonic Youth Play Live and FREE on July 4th! Photo Credit: Anders Jensen-Urstad


Friday July 4

Location: Financial District, NYC
Band: Sonic Youth + The Feelies
Show time: 8:00 PM FREE
Venue: South Street Seaport, Pier 17
Food: Burritoville
Drink: Jeremy’s Ale House
Miscellaneous: Century 21

If you haven’t figured out if you want to party at a show or close to some fireworks display, then this show will solve both of those problems as Sonic Youth play at the Seaport for FREE. Expect long lines to get in, but in the end, it’ll be well worth the hassle. 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.

Friday July 4

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Band: Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos
Show time: 4:00 PM
Venue: Jalopy Theatre
Food: Los Pollitos II
Drink: Pacific Standard
Miscellaneous: Gorilla Coffee

For fans of Cuban music with a twist, Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos play the music of Cuban legend, Arsenio Rodriguez, while Ribot puts own exotic stamp on the songs, creating groovy rhythmic jams. While Mexican restaurants may be everywhere, not all are created equal. One that stands out, in that hood, is Los Pollitos II. Having gone several times, 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.

Saturday July 5

Location: Long Island City, Queens
Bands: Warm Up
Show time: 3:00 PM
Venue: P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center
Food: Sripraphai
Drink: Saints and Sinners
Miscellaneous: Baruirs

In its tenth year, the curated Warm Up series features live music and DJ’s. At this first show of the season, the Nublu club and label host, and feature the Nublu Orchestra conducted by Butch Morris, DJs Justin Carter & Probus (Nublu), Dex aka Nomadico (Underground Resistance), and So Percussion performing Steve Reich. Being that you’re in Queens anyways, you HAVE to take the 7 train to Sripraphai, one of New York’s top Thai restaurants. What makes it better than most is the fact that the ingredients are fresh, and instead of choosing your entree with a choice of meat, they offer a novel sized menu with pics of every dish, most under $10. Once a heavily Irish neighborhood, Saints and Sinners is one of the best looking Irish bars left. Grab a Guinness at the bar or traditional Irish food. If you can, head over to Baruir’s in Sunnyside for one of the best cups of coffee in Queens.

Saturday July 5

Location: East Village, NYC
Bands: RZA as Bobby Digital featuring Stone Mecca
Show time: 6:00 PM
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: China 1
Drink: Hi Fi
Miscellaneous: Second on Second Karaoke Bar & Lounge

Wu Tang Clan’s RZA returns with his Bobby Digital persona and his new album Digi Snacks. A master beatmaker, he’s had a lot of practice doing soundtracks since his last album, getting even better, and it shows on his album. He’s also fun to watch live. Part restaurant and part club, China 1 serves up more upscale Chinese food than you’re used to. With décor that’s more dungeon lounge than China, this is a fun place to hang. With an MP3 jukebox that has 3000 albums to choose from, nicknamed “El DJ,” Hi Fi is a rock lover’s wet dream. With daily drink specials, this place is cheap, and that’s a rare thing in NYC these days. If you’re still in the mood to party after this early reading, hit up Second on Second for some karaoke, where you can sing till your throat is sore!

Sunday July 6

Location: Murray Hill, NYC
Bands: Love Trio & U-Roy + Afrika Bambaataa + Seun Kuti & Egypt 80
Show time: 3:00 PM FREE
Venue: Central Park, SummerStage
Food: Seven’s Mediterranean Turkish Grill
Drink: Shalel Lounge
Miscellaneous: Boat Basin Cafe

A mix of hip-hop, dub, and Afro-beat, this FREE show puts on stage the legendary, new and second generation talents of dub group Love Trio with legendary Jamaican dub singer U-Roy, the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame inducted DJ Afrika Bambaataa, and Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, the son of Afrobeat father Fela. For good Mediterranean food on the UWS, Seven’s is an excellent choice. Specializing in Pides (stuffed dough), they also serve most of the staple Turkish dishes. Hidden, though well worth the hunt, Shalel Lounge is a romantic spot with a cave-like atmosphere, and an excellent though pricey beer and wine list. Overlooking the water in Riverside Park, the Boat Basin Café is a really beautiful outdoor café with one of the best views of the Hudson River and NJ. You heard me, NJ! The menu is mostly burgers and sandwiches and plenty of BBQ. Best of all, it’s affordable and fun.

Posted by Short and Sweet NYC at 7/04/2008 08:00:00 AM 0 comments

The Weekend Shortlist June 27 to 29

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.

Posted by Short and Sweet NYC at 6/27/2008 08:00:00 AM 1 comments

The Weekend Shortlist June 20 to 22

It Doesn't Matter How Old Blondie Get. They'll Always Be This Hot

Friday June 20

Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Band: Daniel Johnston
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Warsaw at the Polish National Home
Food: La Locanda
Drink: Enid’s
Miscellaneous: Royal Oak

Bipolar and autistic, Daniel Johnston is also a brilliant singer/songwriter and performer who combines music and art to create childlike songs inspired by comic books, love, and religion that have inspired many songwriters like David Bowie and the Flaming Lips. One of the last vestige’s of real Brooklyn in this hipster neighborhood, La Locanda serves simple Italian dishes like Chicken Parmigiana and pasta, but don’t be fooled, the food here is excellent, affordable and the vibe is homey. A good place to drink and talk nearby, Enid’s has cheap beer, a friendly atmosphere, and even food. Another good place for drinks if you feel like bar-hopping, Royal Oak offers a dark and sexy vibe, where excellent DJs play old-school R&B and 80s metal all mixed up like Britney Spears!

Friday June 20

Location: Upper East Side, NYC
Band: Wordless Music at the Whitney with Prefuse 73 + American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME)
Show time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Whitney Museum of American Art
Food: Jackson Hole
Drink: Metropolitan Museum of Art Balcony Bar and Roof Garden
Miscellaneous: Café Sabarsky

Prefuse 73’s cut-and-paste method of putting beats together is as original and faraway from hip-hop as classical music, which, though are in no way comparable in style, should make for an interesting evening of music with the American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME). If you like your burgers big, Jackson Hole is where you want to bring your appetite. Home of the 7oz. burger, you can get a beef, turkey, or the veggie kind prepared in a number of ways. Try the Eastside, a bacon cheeseburger topped with ham, mushrooms, tomato and fried onions ($12.50). For drinks on top of the world, the Metropolitan Museum of Art Balcony Bar and Roof Garden has an amazing view of the city and some delicious cocktails. Located in the Museum of German and Austrian Art, Café Sabarsky offers a menu of traditional Austrian delights like strudel and linzertorte while it’s design is straight out of Europe’s 1920’s.

Saturday June 21

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: Dan Maxwell & His Band
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Rehab
Food: Oyama
Drink: Grassroots Tavern
Miscellaneous: Mudd Cafe

Rock band with a country twang, Dan Maxwell & His Band stop by Rehab to perform. With a new EP available on iTunes and a new full-length album not too far behind, this looks like a fun show to check out. 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.

Saturday 21

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine + Linnzi Zaorski
Show time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: Momofuku
Drink: The Village Pourhouse
Miscellaneous: Sundaes and Cones

The first time I heard Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine, he was covering Nirvana’s “Rape Me” and doing it swing style. At first it was uncomfortable and slightly funny, and then became downright infectious. That in a nutshell is what you can expect at his live show. Joining the Cheese is torch singer Linnzi Zaorski. If you like ramen noodles and pork, then Momofuku is your spot for food. The Berkshire pork is the best I’ve had and it’s the only place I’ll eat pork period, which should tell you just how good Momofuku really is! What looks like a neighborhood bar to watch sports actually has three more rooms, where you can order food or find a quiet place to smooch! For dessert a little left of the dial, Sundaes & Cones offers eclectic flavors like wasabi and corn and many more flavors that are familiar.

Sunday June 22

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Band: Blondie + Miss Derringer
Show time: 6:00 PM
Venue: Nokia Theatre Times Square
Food: Island Burgers and Shakes
Drink: Smith’s Bar
Miscellaneous: Colony Music

Being the 30th anniversary of their hit album Parallel Lines, everybody’s favorite New York rock band, Blondie, play Webster Hall. Also on board for this show is LA based rockers Miss Derringer who had Blondie drummer Clem Burke play on their new album. For a kickass burger or chicken sandwich, Island Burgers and Shakes specializes in making great burgers like the Bourbon Street Burger that’s blackened, with bacon, Jack, bayou mayo, and onion on sourdough. One cheap bar in midtown, Smith’s is a dive bar with cheap booze, friendly locals, and live music daily in the next room. Though the place is way expensive, Colony Music is a fun music store that sells albums and sheet music. You can walk around and check out the entertainment memorabilia. Whether you’re looking for an autographed guitar signed by the Rolling Stones or an autographed 8x10 of Linda Carter, they’ve got it.

Posted by Short and Sweet NYC at 6/20/2008 08:00:00 AM 0 comments

The Weekend Shortlist June 13 to 15

You Don't Have to be a Loser to see The Loser's Lounge. Illustration by Mott

Friday June 13

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Band: Friday the 13th Zombie Party with Pterodactyl + Fiasco + Puttin’ on the Ritz + Bat Attack
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Death By Audio
Food: Dumont Burger
Drink: Radegast Hall & Biergarten
Miscellaneous: Verb Cafe

It’s Friday 13th, a day made famous by a hockey mask wearing psycho wielding a machete. (Don’t quote me on that!) At this show, dress up as a zombie and get in for the reduced admission of $2 and see Pteredactyl, Fiasco, Bat Attack, Puttin’ on the Ritz, and more. 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. 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 offers up excellent coffee and baked goods, a boho vibe, and big windows to watch the days pass while collecting unemployment!

Friday June 13

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Bands: Bang Camaro + The Giraffes + Demander
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Bowery Ballroom
Food: Sammy’s Roumanian Steak House
Drink: Sweet & Vicious
Miscellaneous: Pravda

With at least six band members and a choir of 10 to 15 lead singers, Bang Camaro is not your typical 80s inspired hard rocking metal band. Joining them are local favorites The Giraffes, whose live show is always explosive and Demander, a female led rock trio with great songs. At Sammy’s Roumanian Steakhouse, expect an atmosphere involving some sort of scene, dancing, and plenty of vodka. The eastern European menu comes down to steaks and chops, and Jewish delicacies like Kasha Varniskes and Kreplach. One of the hipper bars in Nolita, Sweet & Vicious has an all-wood interior featuring big round circular fixtures with lights that make Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” come to mind, and the prices won’t burn a hole in your wallet! Want a $12 martini that’s worth more? Pravda has an extensive selection of Russian vodkas, and who knows vodka better than the Russians?

Saturday June 14

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: The Loser’s Lounge Tribute to the Kinks
Show time: 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM
Venue: Joe’s Pub
Food: Oyama
Drink: Grassroots Tavern
Miscellaneous: Mudd Cafe

One of the top tribute bands in the city, The Loser’s Lounge pays respect to one of the greatest garage rock bands and songwriters in music history, The Kinks. Look out for special guest singers. 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.

Saturday and Sunday June 14 & 15

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: Mission of Burma
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Bowery Ballroom
Food: San Loco
Drink: Max Fish
Miscellaneous: Sugar Sweet Sunshine

Wow, on Saturday Mission of Burma are playing their complete first EP from 1981, Signals, Calls, and Marches from front to back and on Sunday they will play their complete first album, 1982s VS. For fans of the Boston band, this is one of those things that may never happen again. At San Loco, the Mexican food is inexpensive, you can get a heaping amount of nachos for as little as $3.75, and telling by the heavy traffic, the place is doing just fine. What I like about Max Fish is that it’s a local bar for local artists. It’s walls play host monthly for art exhibitions, there’s a pool table in the back, and drinks aren’t pricey, like many new bars springing up in this neighborhood. For one of the best cupcakes in the city, Sugar Sweet Sunshine has 10 varieties, on top of cakes. Try the Sexy Red Velvet or the Bob, a yellow cupcake with chocolate almond buttercream.

Posted by Short and Sweet NYC at 6/13/2008 08:00:00 AM 0 comments

The Weekend Shortlist June 6 to 8

M.I.A. Opens the McCarren Park Pool Concerts

Friday June 6

Location: Tribeca, NYC
Band: Gary Wilson
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Knitting Factory
Food: Pakistani Tea house
Drink: Walker’s
Miscellaneous: J&R

Gary Wilson recorded and self-released a quirky album called You Think You Really Know Me in 1977, which ended up as an obscurity. Today, the record would fit just fine in the freak-folk section. This show is totally worth checking out for adventurous music fans! 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.

Friday June 6

Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Band: M.I.A. + Holy Fuck
Show time: 7:00 PM
Venue: McCarren Park Pool
Food: Shanghai Lee
Drink: Black Rabbit
Miscellaneous: Peter Pan

M.I.A. opens this summer’s concert series at McCarren Pool bringing her high-energy world music sampling hip-hop to the stage. Joining her is Holy Fuck, a group blending electronic effects with live instrumentation. These guys are just as awesome as M.I.A. For dinner, get your Chinese food cravings under control at Shanghai Lee. Though serving your standard Chinese fare, the atmosphere here is fun and the cocktails drinks come in special tiki glasses. Black Rabbit, the newest bar in Greenpoint, with its dark wood and dark lighting make this place look like a pub transported from somewhere deep in England. With a great vibe and even better beer selection, grab a booth and hit a button when your cup is empty. Genius! If you like donuts, then Peter Pan will be your downfall. Making huge donuts stacked with creams and jellies, they are well-worth the stomach ache to come.

Saturday June 7

Location: Tribeca, NYC
Bands: The Cool Kids + HEAVy(BBE) + Mickey Factz + Egg Foo Young
Show time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Knitting Factory
Food: Pakistan Tea House
Drink: Mocca Lounge
Miscellaneous: Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Illinois hip hop duo The Cool Kids have been blowing up since 2007's hit Black Mags was featured in a Rhapsody commercial. On the heels of their new EP, The Bake Sale, they perform here with HEAVy, Mickey Factz, and Egg Foo Young. Nearby, Pakistan Tea House is a buffet style Indian restaurant where you can choose between chicken, meat, fish and vegetables. It’s affordable and very good. For drinks, check out Mocca Lounge. With a funky interior and a menu of Italian inspired fare, it’s also a bar with a large list of coffees with or without alcohol, beers, and frozen shots. Smack dab in the heart of Chinatown, the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory makes gourmet ice cream flavors like Black Sesame, Ginger, Durian, and more exotic flavors like Taro and Wasabi. Don’t worry, they have the go-to’s like Vanilla, fruits, and chocolate flavors too.

Saturday June 7

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Band: Mudhoney + Donita Sparks and the Stellar Moments + The Cynics
Show time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Highline Ballroom
Food: Better Burger
Drink: Turks & Frogs
Miscellaneous: City Bakery

Celebrating the reissue of their 1988 debut album Superfuzz Bigmuff and their new album The Lucky Ones, Seattle grunge rockers Mudhoney are back, and joining them are former L7 member Donita Sparks and the Stellar Moments, and The Cynics. The name says it all in it’s mission to serve a burger as Better Burger uses organic, antibiotic, hormone & nitrate free meat and poultry in its quest to offer up a healthier alternative to the classic patty. A great little wine bar in Chelsea, Turks & Frogs has a menu of wine and beer from all over the world, including Turkey, while having the ambiance of being in someone’s home. A must if you’re in Chelsea, City Bakery offers one of the best chocolate chip cookies and thickest and richest hot chocolates in the city. The food is a gourmand’s delight.

Sunday June 8

Location: Gramercy, NYC
Bands: Gnarls Barkley + Battles
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
Food: Souen
Drink: Revival
Miscellaneous: Trader Joes

Gnarls Barkley and Battles team up to help celebrate Myspace’s 150th secret show with a FREE performance at the Fillmore. How to get in? Go HERE and add them as your friend. For fans of the vegan lifestyle or if you want to try something new, Souen is one of the best places to go for macrobiotic food. With a menu offering mostly tofu and seitan, the closest you will get to any meat is fish if you can’t handle a meatless meal. Speaking of revivals, Revival is a two story bar nearby with a lounge up top and a cozy garden in the back open till midnight on weekends. If you’re feeling dangerous, step into Trader Joes. Once you get over the insane shoppers and lines, the very moderately priced gourmet goods will make you understand why the lines here are never-ending.

Posted by Short and Sweet NYC at 6/06/2008 08:00:00 AM 0 comments

The Weekend Shortlist May 30 to June 1

The Submarines are a Pretty Hot Band Right Now

Friday May 30

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Art: Henry Darger's Room: Photographs by Keizo Kitajima
Show time: Today thru Sat 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Venue: Andrew Edlin Gallery
Food: Cookshop
Drink: The Half King
Miscellaneous: Café Grumpy

In this exhibition, Japanese photographer Keizo Kitajima shows a selection of c-prints that document artist Henry Darger’s one-room apartment in Chicago that he lived and worked in for some 40 years. Cookshop offers American fare blending fresh and healthy ingredients. Try the Five Grain Risotto with Oregon black trumpet mushrooms, crème fraiche, and fried sage ($20). All wood and brick, The Half King is a great bar in Chelsea, minus the attitude its neighboring bars have. Grab a draft beer for $7 or a burger among other great menu items. If you’re fanatical about your coffee, Café Grumpy is your place to get some of the city’s best. The coffee’s are brewed to order and the espresso drinks are out of this world. I highly recommend this place.

Friday May 30

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: The Submarines + Headlights
Show time: 7:30 PM
Venue: Mercury Lounge
Food: Pukk
Drink: The Magician
Miscellaneous: Mason Dixon

Los Angeles indie pop band The Submarines have been getting their name out there by having their songs appear on cable shows like Nip/Tuck, Grey’s Anatomy, and Weeds. Check them out live before they blow-up. Pukk serves up some delicious vegetarian Thai food. With a futuristic design, plastic and green tint everywhere, the menu offers everything from Pad Thai to Spicy Watercress Duck, only the duck, like all meat here, is made of vegetarian soy. A chill bar to go for a drink and not be bothered with loud, annoying drunks is The Magician. This place, which has no visible name, is across the street from Welcome to the Johnsons. With a southern theme, the draw at Mason Dixon is being one of only two bars in NYC with a mechanical bull. For $10 you can ride it. Expect to be thrown off in 5 seconds, if you can stay on that long!

Saturday May 31

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: Clinic + BBQ
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Bowery Ballroom
Food: Inoteca
Drink: Loreley
Miscellaneous: Sugar Sweet Sunshine

With a new disc out called Do It!, Clinic stay glued to their eclectic indie rock sound infused with surf guitar, making a great new album. For the record, their doctor’s masks still remain on. Joining them is one-man-band BBQ. While equally known as a wine bar as it is an Italian eatery, Inoteca is one of the hipper places to eat on the L.E.S. offering a menu of small items like cheeses that are more about sharing with friends than walking away stuffed. An excellent German beer garden, Loreley offers 12 German beers on tap and a menu of German food items like potato pancakes with smoked salmon applesauce and lingonberries ($15). One of the best cupcakes in the city, Sugar Sweet Sunshine has a menu of 10 different cupcakes daily. Try the “Sassy Red Velvet,” you won’t be disappointed.

Saturday May 31

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: Langhorne Slim + Luke Temple + The Builders and the Butchers
Show time: 9:00 PM
Venue: Music Hall of Williamsburg
Food: My Moon
Drink: The Abbey
Miscellaneous: Fabiene’s

Folksinger Langhorne Slim is so much more, taking blues and rock and mixing in some punk swagger to create retro sounding songs with soul. Joining him are indie-folk singer Luke Temple and roots rockers The Builders and the Butchers. With one of the best-looking spaces in NYC, My Moon offers a delicious mostly American menu with food like the Tuna Tartar-Yellow fin tuna, tomato jelly, avocado, purple potato chips, chili oil and soy sauce ($12), which makes this place worth the trip. For a drink at a local hang, The Abbey is what you’re looking for. With a TV playing and a pool table in the back, settle in, get one of seven beers on tap and relax. One of my favorite coffee shops to sit by a window and stare out into the sea of Bedford Avenue, Fabiene’s offers exceptional desserts and sandwiches on top of beer and wine.

Sunday June 1

Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Bands: What Made Milwaukee Famous + Hymns
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Union Hall
Food: Press 195
Drink: The Gate
Miscellaneous: The Chocolate Room

Indie power pop sensation What Made Milwaukee Famous, who oddly enough are based out of Austin, Texas, stop by Union Hall to perform. Joining them are the NYC based Hymns. 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.

Posted by Short and Sweet NYC at 5/30/2008 08:00:00 AM 1 comments

The Weekend Shortlist May 23 to 25

Might as Well have a Reunion minus Bassist Michael Anthony, Tour, and then Jump!

Friday May 23

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: Bob Dylan’s 67th Birthday Bash
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Rehab
Food: China 1
Drink: Hi Fi
Miscellaneous: Second on Second Karaoke Bar & Lounge

What better way to celebrate the 67th birthday of one of folk music’s icons, than with New York’s local heavyweights of the music scene today? Those paying tribute include Adam Green, The Pierces, The Hymns, Tracy Bonham, Nikolai Fraiture, and more. Part restaurant and part club, China 1 serves up more upscale Chinese food than you’re used to. With décor that’s more dungeon lounge than China, this is a fun place to hang. With an MP3 jukebox that has 3000 albums to choose from, nicknamed “El DJ,” Hi Fi is a rock lover’s wet dream. With daily drink specials, this place is cheap, and that’s a rare thing in NYC these days. If you’re still in the mood to party after this early reading, hit up Second on Second for some karaoke, where you can sing till your throat is sore!

Friday May 23

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Band: Van Halen
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Madison Square Garden
Food: Island Burgers and Shakes
Drink: Smith’s Bar
Miscellaneous: Colony Music

Despite cancelled tour dates and rumors of Eddie Van Halen in-and-out of rehab, the reunion everyone’s been waiting for is on for tonight at least, with the original Van Halen lineup playing minus original member, bassist Michael Anthony, which is another story. For a kickass burger or chicken sandwich, Island Burgers and Shakes specializes in making great burgers like the Bourbon Street Burger that’s blackened, with bacon, Jack, bayou mayo, and onion on sourdough. One inexpensive bar in midtown, Smith’s is a dive with cheap booze, friendly locals, and live music daily in the next room. Though the place is way expensive, Colony Music is a fun music store that sells albums and sheet music. You can walk around and check out the entertainment memorabilia. Whether you’re looking for an autographed guitar signed by the Rolling Stones or an autographed 8x10 of Linda Carter, they’ve got it.

Saturday May 24

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: Islands
Show time: 6:00 PM
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: Momofuku
Drink: The Village Pourhouse
Miscellaneous: Sundaes and Cones

With their new album out Arm’s Way, The Islands, a Montreal based indie rock band with former members of The Unicorns, are fantastic live and their songs have plenty of hip hop and calypso influences among other genres, yet the new album is still more down to earth than their previous effort yet just as good. If you like ramen noodles and pork, then Momofuku is your spot for food. The Berkshire pork is the best I’ve had and it’s the only place I’ll eat pork period, which should tell you just how good Momofuku really is! What looks like a neighborhood bar to watch sports actually has three more rooms, where you can order food or find a quiet place to smooch! For dessert a little left of the dial, Sundaes & Cones offers eclectic flavors like wasabi and corn and many more flavors that are familiar.

Saturday May 24

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: The Second Annual Olive Juice All Day Independent Music Festival
Show time: noon
Venue: Cake Shop
Food: Pukk
Drink: The Magician
Miscellaneous: Mason Dixon

Home to such artists as Jeffrey Lewis and Schwervon!, Olive Juice is a label that many of the anti-folk scenes quirky artists call home. Cake Shop plays host to this all-day festival. Pukk serves up some delicious vegetarian Thai food. With a futuristic design, plastic, and green tint everywhere, the menu offers traditional Pad Thai to Spicy Watercress Duck, only the duck, like all meat here, is made of vegetarian soy. A chill bar where you can have a drink and not be bothered with loud, annoying drunks is The Magician. This place, which has no visible name, is across the street from Welcome to the Johnsons. With a southern theme, the big draw at Mason Dixon is being one of two bars in NYC with a mechanical bull. For $10 you can ride it. Expect to be thrown off in 5 seconds, if you can stay on that long!

Sunday May 25

Location: West Village, NYC
Band: The Sun Ra Arkestra
Show time: 9:00 PM
Venue: Sullivan Hall
Food: Koo Sushi
Drink: Blind Tiger Ale House
Miscellaneous: Peanut Butter & Co.

For those that don’t know of Sun Ra, he put the cool in avant-garde jazz and made sense of the ununiformed honks and beeps that free jazz was stuck in. Longtime original Arkestra member Marshall Allen leads this amazing group, showing audiences why some jazz is still great. A little known sushi joint, Koo Sushi offers affordable and fantastic fish with an impressive number of specialty rolls. For a bar that looks like any other, Blind Tiger Ale House offers an impressive number of beers including draught, bottled, cask and one called Louise’s Bloody Beer. Try it if you dare! If you’re in the mood for some comfort food, Peanut Butter & Co., offers some PB heavy hitters like the Elvis, a PB, banana, and bacon sandwich that tastes better than it sounds.

Posted by Short and Sweet NYC at 5/23/2008 08:00:00 AM 0 comments

The Weekend Shortlist May 16 to 18

Maverick Artist, Arthur Russell


Friday May 16

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Band: Pharoah Sanders Quartet
Show time: Today and tomorrow 8:30 and 11:00 PM
Venue: Birdland
Food: Fat Annie’s Truck Stop
Drink: Stout
Miscellaneous: Jack’s 99 Cent Stores

A Jazz titan who made the avant-garde cool, having developed his sound with the legendary John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders has played with most of the relevant free jazz players like Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra and more. In other words, if you love music, catch this show if you can. Fat Annie’s Truck Stop offers truck stop style food oddly positioned in Herald Square. Burgers, chilli, po boys and pie are some options in this fun restaurant. Right next store, Stout may look like a sports bar but it has one of the largest selections of dark stout beers in the city. Yeah, it’s a 99 cent store but Jack’s is more like watching a train wreck happen slowly. The place is packed with people trying to get by, yelling, and elbowing each other. True the deals are great, but you’ll either find it hysterical or swear you’ll never go back.

Friday May 16

Location: East Village, NYC
Band: Sunny Murray Trio
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Middle Collegiate Church
Food: Minca
Drink: Common Ground
Miscellaneous: Beard Papa Sweets Cafe

A godfather of free jazz, Sunny Murray is one of the best drummers ever. Don’t believe me? Check out his classic recordings with Cecil Taylor and Albert Ayler to see how good he was and still is. Tonight his trio consist of Michael Bisio on bass and Louie Belogenis on sax. If you’ve never been to Minca for dinner, go right now! This small noodle bar makes some amazing ramen noodles from scratch. Try the Minca Ramen, a mild broth with pork, chicken & dried seafood ($8.50). One of the newer bars in the East Village, Common Ground has a dark wood interior, a relaxed atmosphere, and excellent cocktails like the Blueberry Pie. If you like pastries filled with cream, check out Beard Papa Sweets Café. They offer cream fillings like earl grey, green tea, coffee, and the standard vanilla, chocolate, strawberry among others.

Saturday May 17

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Band: Baby Dayliner + Blockhead + MAX!
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Rehab
Food: Katz’s Deli
Drink: Nurse Bettie
Miscellaneous: Ludlow Guitars

Who doesn’t love singer and showman Baby Dayliner? He’s either crooning alone over hip-hop beats or with a live band and sounding like a cross between Sinatra and Morrissey! Joining him is beatmaker Blockhead who frequently collaborates with Aesop Rock. If you’re starving, I mean really starving, head over to Katz’s Deli. This old school deli packs on the pastrami a mile high. The portions are huge and the place is classic NY. For drinks, Nurse Bettie is a chic looking bar with exposed brick walls, paintings of 50s pinups, and offers an excellent cocktail menu. Stop by Ludlow Guitars if there’s time and peruse through some magnificent rare and new music equipment from inexpensive to guitars that you will have to save dearly to afford.

Saturday May 17

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Event: Let’s Go Swimming: A Tribute to Arthur Russell
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: The Kitchen
Food: Il Bastardo
Drink: Brite Bar
Miscellaneous: Café Grumpy

The Kitchen celebrates the life, music, and compositions of Arthur Russell, who was one of the NY downtown scene’s best artists from the 1970s till the time he died in 1992. Tonight his composition The Singing Tractors will be performed by a septet of downtown’s current finest musicians. 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 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.

Sunday May 18

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Bands: Los Campesinos!
Show time: 1:00 PM
Venue: The Living Room
Food: San Loco
Drink: Max Fish
Miscellaneous: Sugar Sweet Sunshine

Indie-pop band Los Campesinos! stop by The Living Room to play songs off their debut album Hold on Now, Youngster… and more. Joining them are Pela and Kidrockers/Madrockers for this kid-friendly show. San Loco may not serve the greatest Mexican food ever, but it certainly isn’t bad. The prices are inexpensive, you can get a heaping amount of nachos for as little as $3.75, and telling by the heavy traffic, the place is doing just fine. What I like about Max Fish is that it’s a local bar for local artists, who’s walls host monthly art exhibitions, there’s a pool table in the back, and drinks aren’t pricey, like many new bars springing up in this neighborhood. For one of the best cupcakes in the city, Sugar Sweet Sunshine has 10 varieties, on top of cakes. Try the Sexy Red Velvet or the Bob, a yellow cupcake with chocolate almond buttercream.

Posted by Short and Sweet NYC at 5/16/2008 08:00:00 AM 0 comments

The Weekend Shortlist May 9 to 11

Adam Green Plays The Town Hall Saturday

Friday May 9

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Bands: Erykah Badu + The Roots
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Radio City Music Hall
Food: Heartland Brewery
Drink: House of Brews
Miscellaneous: Entertainment Outlet

Known equally for her head wraps as for her distinctive and soulful voice, Erykah Badu hits the stage at Radio City with one of the most versatile group out there today, The Roots. While the Heartland Brewery is one of the last chain restaurants left in the city that makes their own beer on premises, it’s still not a bad spot in midtown for dinner, while the menu is American, it’s a pretty good place for a steak and a home-brewed pint. With more than 80 draft and bottled beers combined, it’s hard not to like House of Brews though with more than 20 screens playing sports, on game night, it can get packed. While CDs and DVDs have nearly been replaced by iPod’s and Tivo’s, the good news is that Entertainment Outlet sells new and old movies in all formats, cheaper than any megastore in midtown.

Friday May 9

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Bands: Midnight Juggernauts + Shy Child + Holy Ghost!
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Bowery Ballroom
Food: Three of Cups
Drink: Whiskey Ward
Miscellaneous: Sugar Sweet Sunshine

Prepare to dance as Melbourne, Australia’s Midnight Juggernauts bring their electronic/disco/dance music rock. Seriously, this band is one of my new faves. Joining them are two great electro rock bands, NYC’s Shy Child and Holy Ghost! What I like about Three of Cups 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.

Saturday May 10

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Bands: Adam Green + Tim Fite + Laura Marling
Show time: 8:00 PM
Venue: The Town Hall
Food: Havana Central
Drink: The Campbell Apartment
Miscellaneous: Vintage

Ex-Moldy Peaches singer whose underground success has recently surfaced to the main stream with help from the movie Juno, plays The Town Hall in support of his new album Sixes & Sevens along with local singer/songwriter Tim Fite who oddly blends country, hip hop, and indie-rock successfully, and folk singer Laura Marling from England. While Times Square is obviously an expensive mess of restaurants, Havana Central offers affordable Cuban food like Camarones con Coco - coconut dusted jumbo shrimp fried and breaded with pineapple ($12). The former office of 1920s mogul John W. Campbell, this utterly spectacular bar is in Grand Central Terminal. Who knew? If wine is your thing, Vintage has a wine list with over 200 kinds by the glass or bottle from most of the boutique wineries in Long Island and Upstate New York.

Saturday May 10

Location: East Village, NYC
Bands: Noise! 2008
Show time: 10:00 PM
Venue: Ontological Theater at St. Marks Church
Food: Supper
Drink: