The Weekend Shortlist April 24 to 26
Join Lee Fields as he belts out some amazing soul at The Five Spot this Saturday
Friday April 24
Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn
Event: Nerd Nite
Show time: 7 PM; arrive no later than 6:40 PM to register for speed dating
Venue: Galapagos Art Space
Food: RICE
Drink: Low Bar
Miscellaneous: Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
If you’re single, ready to mingle, and want to meet people that actually have something to say, then go to Nerd Nite at Galapagos where they will be hosting Speed Dating at 7, where 25 guys and 25 girls will get the chance to chat and find love with each other in three minute intervals. After this there will be artists talking about art and then The Love Show presents the Guide to Sex featuring provocative modern dance, cabaret, comedy, and magic! 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!
Friday April 24
Location: Park Slope, Brooklyn
Bands: Jeremy Jay
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Union Hall
Food: Press 195
Drink: Union Hall
Miscellaneous: O’Connor’s
The one thing I really like about Jeremy Jay is that there’s nothing cheesy or too ripped off about his synth heavy music (hey, who doesn’t take from those that influence them?), which makes him more endearing. Check out his new album Slow Dance for a taste of his groovy sound, or better yet, see him live tonight with Illuminations and James William Hindle. 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!
Saturday April 25
Location: Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Bands: Dig Deeper with Lee Fields Get Tickets Here
Show time: 10 PM
Venue: The Five Spot Soul Food Supper Club
Food: The Five Spot Soul Food Supper Club
Drink: Moe’s
Miscellaneous: Tillie’s
Old school funk fiends rejoice as soul legend Lee Fields stops by The Five Spot to perform as part of Dig Deeper, an ongoing showcase of amazing soul legends, run by DJ Honky and Mr. Robinson. Lee Fields, who is a Daptone and Truth & Soul recording artist will perform with the Sweet Divines and the Divine Soul Rhythm Band. While there are so many new and innovative restaurants in Fort Greene, you can’t escape tradition and The Five Spot offers great southern food. From New Orleans poboys to soul grub, the food here can’t be beat. Try the Charleston Low Country Smothered Chicken ($11.95), which is my fave and don’t forget the mac and cheese. One of the best in NYC. An eclectic bar in Ft. Greene that has absolutely nothing to do with The Simpsons, Moe’s offers a decent beer selection, a neighborhood vibe, and big windows to people watch. For coffee and a place to just sit and relax, Tillie’s serves a great cup of joe, while consistently having performances, and serving excellent baked goods and vegan food.
Saturday April 25
Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: Pterodactyl + Oneida
Show time: 8 PM
Venue: Secret Project Robot
Food: Bonita
Drink: Savalas
Miscellaneous: Fabiane’s Café and Pastry Shop
Join Pterodactyl as they celebrate the release of their new album Worldwild with a performance including plenty of new material. Also joining them is Brooklyn’s Oneida. There will also be videos by over 25 artists and some live cinema. If you’re in the zone for Mexican, Bonita is a great place. Serving the standard fare, try the mouth-watering chicken burrito and Mexican corn on the cob, wrapped in cheese with a hint of spice for that extra kick. If you’re looking to dance afterwards, Savalas has both great DJs and drink specials on top of delivering on the fun factor. Fabiane’s is a great little cafe in the heart of Williamsburg that’s great for not too late night people watching. Try one of their fantastic desserts or sip coffee and stare at the passing hipsters.
Sunday April 26
Location: Long Island City, NYC
Film: Kenneth Anger
Show time: Thurs to Mon: Noon to 6 PM; Through September 14, 2009
Venue: P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center
Food: Sripraphai
Drink: Saints and Sinners
Miscellaneous: Baruirs
P.S. 1 presents the first major survey of avant-garde filmmaker Kenneth Anger’s work in more than a decade, focusing on his early films which critique Hollywood, reference pop icons in occult settings, and depict the violent and erotic counterculture. Anger’s work has inspired fellow filmmakers including Martin Scorsese, Gus Van Sant, and Guy Maddin. 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.