Janeane Garofalo takes the stage for some stand-up comedy this weekend. I wonder if she’ll mention the economy? HHHmmmmm.
Friday April 17
Location: Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Bands: New Music Bake Sale
Show time: 7 PM
Venue: First Presbyterian Church
Food: Chip Shop
Drink: Last Exit Bar & Lounge
Miscellaneous: Victory
Is it possible to have your cake and eat it too? Generally no, but in this case YES! Featuring a fundraiser for various music organizations with delicious baked goods provided by each group, as well as merchandise and auctions, there will also be music by So Percussion, Lisa Moore & Martin Bresnick, Lukas Ligeti, Newspeak, ACME, JACK Quartet, Dither, loadbang ensemble, & Ensemble de Sade. Before the craziness begins, head over to the Chip Shop for English delights for dinner. Yeah, the British aren’t known for the best food, but this fish & chips restaurant serves up some of the best English treats in NYC. Try the Welsh Rarebit! Not too far away, hit Last Exit for drinks. This not too divey watering hole has local artists work hanging on the walls and specials like a Bucket of Six Miller High Life’s for $15. The Victory is good for a quick bite to eat or a cup of joe and is a great end or beginning to a zany night.
Friday April 17
Location: Upper East Side, NYC
Band: The Subterraneans
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Blondies Sports Bar
Food: Brother Jimmy’s Bait Shack
Drink: BB&R
Miscellaneous: Dylan’s Candy Bar
The Subterraneans effortlessly blend hip-hop, electro, and indie rock to make spoken word music that sounds original without sounding cliché. Join them for a free performance and a screening of their new animated video for their song “Test.†Best of all, it’s FREE. 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!
Saturday April 18
Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: Team Genius
Show time: 7 PM
Venue: Public Assembly
Food: SEA
Drink: Zablozki’s
Accessory: Academy Records
Team Genius is a pretty badass band who take pop music and make it as eclectic as they can to create great music. With a self-titled album out that is very solid, these guys are worth checking out if you’re into awesome new music. Joining them are Dani Mari Situation and the Donuts. Before that, a great restaurant on the same block is SEA. Asian inspired from the décor to the food, this huge and gorgeous space serves up a mostly Thai menu from massaman curries to house specialties like Red SEA Duck (Half duck in red vinaigrette-tomato gravy sauce served with stir-fried mixed veggies), SEA is inexpensive and visually impressive for Brooklyn. With an increasing amount of new bars on the block, Zablozki’s is a standout that’s cozy, mostly mahogany, and has great drinks specials. A great stop off if you’re early is Academy Records. One of the biggest vinyl shops in NYC, if you are a vinyl fan, you will be blown away.
Saturday April 18
Location: Meatpacking District, NYC
Bands: Janeane Garofalo
Show time: 8 & 10:30 PM
Venue: Comix
Food: Spice Market
Drink: Plunge
Miscellaneous: Little Pie Company (located at 407 W14th St.)
You remember Janeane Garofalo from that 90s film Reality Bites as well as a string of shows including 24 and Mr. Show, but this leftist comic will be on the stage with the lights all on her and I’m sure she’ll have plenty to say about the current state of the country, then again, when doesn’t she? For dinner, if you can get a table, check out Spice Market. Chef and owner Jean-Georges Vongerichten converted this HUGE space into one of the sexiest Asian restaurants in NYC. Serving up exquisite dishes like the onion and chili crusted short ribs with egg noodles and pea shoots ($22), Spice Market impresses. If you choose not to stay at APT for drinks, close by is Plunge. Located at the top of the Hotel Gansevoort, this rooftop lounge offers stunning views of the city. If dessert is your thing, stop over at Little Pie Company, where pies are baked on premises. Whether you’re in the mood for sour cream apple, southern pecan, or Mississippi mud pie, you can’t go wrong here.
Sunday April 19
Location: West Village, NYC
Bands: Toumani Diabate’s Symmetric Orchestra + Burkina Electric Get Tickets Here
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: (le) poisson rouge
Food: Koo Sushi
Drink: Blind Tiger Ale House
Miscellaneous: Peanut Butter & Co.
One of the most important musicians in Africa right now, Toumani Diabate plays the kora, a harp like instrument that he is helping gain worldwide attention. Born in Mali, and influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, he brings a virtuosity that everyone can appreciate. Joining him is Burkina Electric, the first electronic act from Burkina Faso in West Africa with members from the East and West. 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.
