The Grand Victory is closing this weekend so I’m going to use this week’s post to highlight final shows there, for your last hurrah (or oi-oi rebel shout).
Last, we clue you in to some shows beyond this weekend that you should ticket up now before a sellout, like for Erykah Badu and Angel Olsen. Continue reading →
It could be easy to dismiss Wye Oak as another band for the denim shirt crowd—mellow, buttery dream-folk churned to the point of blandness. But the Baltimore duo, who played at Warsaw in Greenpoint Tuesday night, have some seriously un-bland musical chops—they’re kind of a reverse White Stripes, and that’s a good thing. Where The White Stripes had grit and a lack of polish, Wye Oak sound and look totally put together, as if they’ve walked out of a J Crew catalogue, if J Crew was trying to lean into the indie musician angle this season.
Andy Stack and Jenn Wasner have been making music together for 10 years, so their on stage collaboration is truly comfortable. Musically, they finish each others’ sentences. Andy keeps the rhythm rolling, simultaneously playing synths with one hand and drumming with the other, while Jenn is the mouthpiece for the band (Andy isn’t even mic’d) and shreds on the guitar. The pair are truly making gender-balanced rock: even though the vocals are female, their music isn’t feminine. Most of the time Jenn’s voice is melting into the back of the soundscape, creating a lush, oceany resonance. And when her voice isn’t buried back there, she sounds like a nymph-like ghost. It’s haunting, romantic and powerful music. Continue reading →
WEDNESDAY 2/17 ☺ The Black Swan Featuring Chicago @ Annoyance Theater (367 Bedford Ave) 8pm, $10, A staged version of Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan combined with showstopping numbers from the Broadway hit Chicago, More info * PussyPower Presents Yas Kweens @ Kinfolk (94 Wythe Ave) 9pm, FREE, Watch the premiere of the new season of Broad City with music, DJs, surprise guests, swag bags, and more, RSVP
THURSDAY 2/18 ♦ Working Rhythms @ Reverse (28 Frost St) 7pm, FREE, An interactive music installation in which visitors play and mix rhythm bases and sound loops, More info * RAW Artists Brooklyn Presents Futures @ Warsaw (261 Driggs Ave) 7pm, $20, Independent film screenings, pop-up galleries, fashion shows, live performance art, and more, Buy tix
Sure, you may have been a regular at Lomzynianka before they closed inexplicably “for renovations” a few months ago. And, sure, you’re always at Cafe Riviera in the mornings for a coffee and a pączek. But, did you know that there’s a way to dive deeper into Polish culture right here in Greenpoint?
For the past year a half, Greenpoint: The Transition has been bringing a little slice of Polish culture to our neighborhood by way of workshops, food tastings, musical performances, fun activities, and street fairs. Recently, we caught up with Marta Pawlaczek, who helms The Transition, to talk about the ‘hood, the food, and, of course, the changes. Continue reading →
Some of you may be old enough to remember the Reagan-era “this is your brain on drugs” TV ad, the one that shows an egg frying in a pan.
I can now personally report to you the effect on the brain of three straight days and nights of manic sun-baked body-slamming and the occasional 3 AM audio epiphany that you will encounter at the Northside Festival music series. To continue the frying egg analogy, my brain at this point, is kind of like a ridiculously tasty three-egg omelette oozing melted cheddar and mushrooms. It’s a happy sensation.
OK, before I go jump a school bus and drive that thing to Tampico to go hurl empty beer cans at a ranchera band playing on a chicken wire-protected stage, I have a final obligation to you my readers to guide you to the best bands playing on this, the final day of music. Continue reading →
El Toro Ironworks (formerly El Toro Taqueria) is my most local of local Mexican joints. Their tacos were the first takeout I ordered after moving into my apartment (flashback to the days I used to diligently illustrate my meals(!)) and I still pop in whenever I want something super-quick for dinner.
In January, long time Greenpoint resident Sebouh Yegparian took over ownership of the restaurant, seeking a change from the many years he’d spent working in the music industry. Whilst he’s kept the overall feel of the place the same, he’s gradually implementing new elements to make the eat-in dining experience even more enjoyable. Continue reading →
Did someone say Super Bowl Party? (Image courtesy of cartoondollemporium.com)
So it turns out that there is some kind of massive sports game going on this weekend. Yep, according to the internet, Sunday’s Super Bowl will see the New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks in an epic battle to become the, um, winners.
Katy Perry will be chipping in with some half time entertainment, in a performance that show director Hamish Hamilton describes as ‘a triumph of bringing lots of people, technology, ideas, creative, scientific and logical minds together’. With any luck this amazing melting pot will result in a solution for world peace…but failing that let’s hope Perry’s outfit at least trends on twitter for a few minutes.
Here’s our round up of where to go in Greenpoint to watch the game…as well as some places you can definitely avoid it…
WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME:
Warsaw (261 Driggs Avenue at Eckford))
The Polish National Home is throwing an Epic Super Bowl Party, with three giant cinemascreens, and stadium sound from their ‘gagillion watt’ rock concert PA.
They’ll be serving up a banquet of pierogies, vodka shots, beer towers, wings, spicy kielbasa, paprika relish hoagies, smothered nachos and savory chili. Tables should be booked in advance here.
Riverstyx(21 Greenpoint Avenue)
The folks at Riverstyx are pulling out all the stops for the occasion and bringing in smoke machines, lasers and LED lights, as well as two big screen TV screens. Cocktails will be served in trophies, alongside buckets of beer. Meanwhile their ‘Game Day’ menu ($6-$12) will include Nachos, Sliders, Jalapeno Poppers, Chicken Fingers, Buffalo Wings, Pizza Shooters, as well as regional specialties representative of the competing teams’ hometowns. Continue reading →
Last summer, a vibrant new mural went up in Greenpoint at 261 Driggs Avenue, the location of the Polish National Home and the popular music venue, The Warsaw. Created by Polish-American artist Rafal Pisarczyk, the artwork commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising (not to be confused with the earlier Warsaw Ghetto Uprising). Continue reading →
(sponsored) Holloween Bash Sky Bar & Grill, 804 Grand St October 31 & November 1, 10pm, $10–$20, Buy tix
For two nights, you’re allowed to party with no rules. No club dress code. No small, packed space. Just GOOD vibes (and even better music).
Costume contest, music from DJ X5Rob and DJ Danny, plus half price on selected draft beers from 9–10pm.
What are you waiting for? Get your tickets now and come join us in the night!
WEDNESDAY 10/22 * Weird Tales & Scary Stories @ Word (126 Franklin St) 7pm, FREE, With Christopher Buehlman / Tobias Carroll / Michael Cisco / Katherine Howe, RSVP ♦ Lone Stars @ 7 Dunham (7 Dunham Pl) 7pm, FREE, An exhibition highlighting four unique perspectives from young artists born and raised in Texas who have recently relocated to New York, plus free beer & wine all night, RSVP ♫ Rhythms of Africa @ Golden Drum (97 Green St, #G1) 7:30pm, FREE, Explore the rhythms of Africa through traditional music and dance, RSVP Continue reading →
(sponsored) Youngman Grand @ The Grand Victory (245 Grand St) 7pm, $10
The five members of Youngman Grand all live and work in Greenpoint (Variety Cafe, Cafe Grumpy, Achilles Heel, and Budin). They will be bringing their colossal rock sound to a headlining show at The Grand Victory featuring a line-up of great local bands: Forts, Dead Letters, and Sand Mansions. Buy tickets here.
WEDNESDAY 8/20 * Crochet Metal Jewelry @ Brooklyn Craft Co. (61 Greenpoint Ave) 6:30pm, $55, Make mixed-media statement pieces that combine chunky metal with simple crochet trimming, More info
* Outdoor Gallery @ Word (126 Franklin St) 7pm, FREE, Learn about the vibrant outdoor art culture of NYC with an interactive presentation from author and photographer Yoav Litvin and artist Jilly Ballistic, RSVP
The Grand Victory is closing this weekend so I’m going to use this week’s post to highlight final shows there, for your last hurrah (or oi-oi rebel shout).
But we also have Peach Kings and puppies at the Knitting Factory, and St. Vitus hosts electronica it likes.
Outdoor Gallery @ Word (126 Franklin St) 7pm, FREE, Learn about the vibrant outdoor art culture of NYC with an interactive presentation from author and photographer Yoav Litvin and artist Jilly Ballistic, 
