The Weekend Shortlist Feb 29 – March 2

Get Personal with St. Vincent. Photo Credit: Tod Seelie

Friday Feb 29

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: Dean & Britta + Keren Ann
Venue: Warsaw
Food: SEA
Drink: Zablozki’s
Miscellaneous: Hugs

Former members of Luna, Dean & Britta together create 60s sounding pop music that is beautiful, intimate, and playful. On their latest album Back Numbers, expect more of the same. Just as much fun as any show and just as big a venue, SEA is one BIG Thai restaurant. Big enough to have a pool surrounded by tables as a giant Buddha stands above it. Luckily, the food is really great. Offering traditional Pad Thai ($7) to more involved dishes like the Mummy Fish ($14). On N6th, a street full of bars and restaurants, Zablozki’s is the local bar of the bunch, with a pool table and a friendly atmosphere and 12 beers on tap. What looks like some dark basement with tables and some couches, Hugs will end up being a dance party with an awkward blend of music genres that you will grow to love quickly.

Friday Feb 29

Location: Lower East Side, NYC
Bands: St. Vincent + Foreign Born + Basia Bulat
Venue: Bowery Ballroom
Food: Chickie Pig’s
Drink: Mason Dixon
Miscellaneous: 151

Since her solo album “Marry Me, St. Vincent A.K.A Annie Clark, has proven herself a great singer/songwriter as well as being able to help the Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens shine as side guitarist. Also playing are Foreign Born and Basia Bulat, a Canadian singer/songwriter making waves in music as of late. 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 urge 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 know that happy hour is 2 for 1 everyday from 6-10pm.

Saturday March 1

Location: Bushwick, Brooklyn
Event: Perfect from Now On Book Release Party with Times New Viking + Matthew Friedberger + Doug Gillard + Textbook Committee
Venue: Don Pedro’s Restaurant
Food: DuMont
Drink: Bushwick Country Club
Miscellaneous: Huckleberry Bar

Rock critic John Sellers celebrates his newly published memoir, Perfect From Now On: How Indie Rock Saved My Life with this release party. Joining him are Times New Viking, Matthew Friedberger (Fiery Furnaces), Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices), and the Guided By Voices cover band, Text Book Committee. This is an indie-rock fan’s wet dream! For dinner, DuMont boasts a revolving menu of new American cuisine, one thing that is constant is the fabulous Dumac & Cheese, made with cheddar, gruyere, parmesan, bacon, and radiatore. One of my favorite Brooklyn bars, Bushwick Country Club has a photo booth in the back, white trash mini-golf in the backyard, cheese doodles to snack on at the bar and cheap booze. Nearby, the newly opened Huckleberry Bar is way upscale for this neighborhood but has the charm of a local hang. Beautifully designed, it offers a great selection of alcoholic beverages.

Saturday March 1

Location: East Village, NYC
Bands: Roky Erickson and the Explosives + Thurston Moore and the New Wave Bandits
Venue: Webster Hall
Food: Hip Hop Chow
Drink: Decibel
Miscellaneous: Sundaes & Cones

Roky Erickson knows psychedelic music having been part of the 13th Floor Elevators and now with the Explosives. Thurston Moore is another musician who takes the spirit of psych and improv, and churns out audio landscapes. This show should be interesting. One place that takes two awesome things and makes them work is Hip Hop Chow. Serving Chinese and soul food, the fried chicken and waffles are fantastic, while the mac & cheese, with it’s hint of cinnamon, will karate kick your taste buds. For drinks that are not beer nor mixed, Decibel has a large menu of Junmai, Ginjo, and Honjozo types of sake’s along with shochu vodka’s. For those with a sweet tooth, Sundaes & Cones has a remarkable list of ice cream. Looking for something different? Try flavors like wasabi, chrysanthemum, honey ginseng, or durian. But don’t worry, they your faves!

Sunday March 2

Location: West Village, NYC
Bands: Ben E. King
Venue: Blue Note
Food: Koo Sushi
Drink: Blind Tiger Ale House
Miscellaneous: Peanut Butter & Co.

One of the greatest R&B singers that’s still alive today and performing, Ben E. King plays the Blue Note, a small and intimate place to see one of soul music’s legends sing “Stand By Me,” and more of his amazing catalog of songs. 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.

The Restaurant Review

Moto
394 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Tel: (718) 599-6895

Diminutive Moto, tucked under the cozy rattle of the JMZ, is a quaint, bubbly bistro frequented by local loft-dwellers and venturesome city-folk alike.With live nightly music, intimate seating arrangements and decent prices, it’s hard to focus on the static menu and the so-so service. Gas-lit ambience and antiqued mirrors do make all the difference. Menu standouts include the olives with pomegranates, herb-marinated mushrooms and yes, the oft-written about date cake, which pairs quite nicely with the Black Velvet cocktail.

–Deann Horack

The Daily Shortlist Feb 28

The Private Side of Petra Haden

Location: Tribeca, NYC
Bands: Fred Armisen + Petra Haden and the Sellouts
Venue: Knitting Factory
Food: Pakistani Tea house
Drink: Walker’s
Miscellaneous: J&R

Not just a “Not Ready for Prime-Time Player,” Fred Armisen is a brilliant comedian who started out as a drummer, while Petra Haden, daughter of Jazz bassist Charlie, has had a great career as a singer, even covering the complete album “The Who Sell Out” and Michael Jackson’s song “Thriller.” Tonight she plays with the Sellouts. Perhaps a pun on that Who album? 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.

The Daily Shortlist Feb 27

Still Punk, Henry Rollins Does Spoken Word at Warsaw Tonight

Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Bands: Provoked with Henry Rollins
Venue: Warsaw
Food: Wasabi
Drink: Bar Matchless
Miscellaneous: The original Soupman

Henry Rollins has effortlessly made the transition from musician to spoken word artist, having crafted a funny, opinionated, and highly entertaining way of telling his stories of life on the road and where America is right now. Expect ranting and laughs. There’s a lot of restaurants popping up in Greenpoint nowadays. The Japanese restaurant Wasabi has been there before many of them and serves up some of the best sushi in that hood. A good local bar, Bar Matchless is that low-key place where you can chill, get a drink and not have to scream at the top of your lungs to make conversation. He’s been called “The Soup Nazi” on Seinfeld, but Al Yeganeh knows how to make soup. Try the Lobster bisque, it’s the best I’ve ever had, and don’t forget to follow his rules or “No Soup for You!”

The Music Review

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – Oscar Acceptance Speeches

by: Amy Wagner

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the musical twosome at the center of the break-out indie film Once went from being the hopeful makers of a DIY movie to Oscar winners when the duo won Best Original Song for “Falling Slowly” at the 80th Annual Academy Awards. That would have been good enough right there but the best moment of the night was still to come. Hansard and Irglova took the stage to claim their statues where Hansard delivered a speech that ended with a shout to “Make art!” Irglova then stepped forward for her turn at the mic only to get the “time’s up” play-off music from the orchestra. Then, incredibly, after a commercial break host Jon Stewart invited Irglova back on stage to say her peace, which turned out to be one of the most moving awards show speeches that has ever been seen or will ever be seen for quite some time. It was both a rallying cry and a love letter to the artists who struggle, against all odds, to hold onto their dream and get their music out. You can watch the speech below and then, catch Hansard and Irglova live in NYC at Radio City Music Hall on May 19th where they will be playing under the moniker The Swell Season.

The Daily Shortlist Feb 26

Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow!

Location: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Bands: George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic
Venue: Warsaw
Food: La Locanda
Drink: Enid’s
Miscellaneous: Royal Oak

Long gone are the days when musicians could wear diapers on stage and still be cool, and while most of the original lineup have moved on, George Clinton still knows how to bring the cosmic funk like no other, and tonight he brings it to Greenpoint. 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!

Relax: Pure Spa and Salon

Pure Spa and Salon
40-15 Queens Boulevard
Sunnyside, NY 11104
Tel: (718) 784-6400

Like other European owned and operated spa’s, Pure seems to adhere to a higher standard. You’re greeted with an authentic smile and a warm cup of tea. The reception area leads to a separate and spacious manicure and pedicure area (no awkward elbow touching) then through a long, candle lit hallway, off of which are generously sized treatment rooms, locker rooms for men and women and the first of two relaxation areas with complimentary snacks and more tea…score. Walk downstairs and the exposed brick and dimly lit relaxation area creates a cozy, urban shelter before you enter a treatment room and fall into a drooling abyss. No issues with pushy sales, overly chatty therapists or scary burning flesh, just an effective variety of relaxing, quality facials (using tried and true Dermologica products) and massages (shiatsu too) from therapists and technicians who know what they’re doing.

–Sheehan McGuirk

The Daily Shortlist Feb 25

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Bands: Steve Winwood + Eric Clapton
Venue: Madison Square Garden
Food: Fat Annie’s Truck Stop
Drink: Stout
Miscellaneous: Jack’s 99 Cent Stores

While Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton evoke everything from heavy blues jams to sitting in a car with your parents singing along to their recent hits, the fact that these two were in Blind Faith is worth going to see if they’ll play “Can’t Find My Way Home.” 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.

The Weekend Daily Shortlist Feb 22-24

Black Mountain Play Glasslands Saturday

Friday Feb 22

Location: Upper West Side, NYC
Event: Purdie, Wilson and Green: The Godfathers of Groove
Venue: Smoke
Food: Symposium
Drink: Broadway Dive
Miscellaneous: Sip

More for the NYC musician and the avid jazz fan, get ready to be schooled by three of music’s groove greats. Catch legendary drummer Bernard Purdie, Reuben Wilson on the organ, and Grant Green, Jr. on the guitar perform together and prepare to take notes. Low priced anything near Columbia is getting harder to find, but at Symposium, you’ll get Greek food that won’t force you to take a mortgage out. The Pastitsio (baked macaroni with ground meat $9.95) is out of this world. Not the kind of dive bar you’re thinking, though Broadway Dive has a single malt scotch and bourbon menu big enough that you won’t even know where you are after a few. A coffee bar that also serves liquor, tapas, and baked goods all in one place? Sip sounds good to me.

Friday Feb 22

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Film: Slaughterhouse-Five
Venue: Rubin Museum of Art
Food: Cafeteria
Drink: The Trailer Park Lounge & Grill
Miscellaneous: Entertainment Outlet

Based on Kurt Vonnegut’s book, the film Slaughterhouse-Five follows Billy Pilgram (Michael Sacks) as he becomes “unstuck in time” revisiting his life in random order. The film will be introduced by philosopher David Velleman. Cafeteria ain’t your school cafeteria by any means, though the theme of comfort food continues here. The Buttermilk Fried Chicken with warm waffle and Vermont maple syrup ($15) is excellent while the revolving blue plate specials will have you coming back for more. For trailer park fare check out the Trailer Park Lounge & Grill. Offering chilli, burgers, and mac & cheese, grab a PBR and marvel at the tacky crap on the walls! A good place to buy new and used DVDs for a slightly cheaper price than Virgin, Entertainment Outlet is the go-to store to find plenty of movies under $10.

Saturday Feb 23

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Bands: Black Mountain + Bon Iver
Venue: Glasslands
Food: Viñas
Drink: Radegast
Miscellaneous: Roebling Tea Room

Psychedelic rock band Black Mountain play the Glasslands in support of their second album In The Future, with ten blistering tracks. Bon Iver, a folky and soulful singer opens and is not to be missed, so get there early! With great ambiance, the food also has great personality at Vinas. The menu offers Latin cuisine including faves like ceviche and empanadas, while upping the ante with the likes of Truffled Honey Glazed Pork Belly. Williamsburg’s first beer hall, Radegast has a number of German and Austrian beers on tap, and an even greater selection of bottled beers. There’s even a menu of German food to soak up all the booze! Get your tea fix at Roebling Tea Room, where the menu offers a vast array of teas and inexpensive food.

Saturday Feb 23

Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Event: Farewell: The Closing Party
Venue: Triple Crown
Food: My Moon
Drink: Mug’s Ale House
Miscellaneous: Ella Cafe

Looks like Triple Crown is the next club to close due to issues with the community. Going out with a bang, some amazing hip hop artists perform like Rob Swift, 9th Wonder, DJ Premier and Pete Rock, along with local DJs spinning here one last time. Gorgeously designed, My Moon offers Turkish cuisine. While the menu can be hit-or-miss, they smartly serve tapas like the delicious Tuna Stack, a tuna tartar with vanilla vinaigrette, topped with toasted beets and almonds ($12), while entrees include some standard Turkish fare and others that are out of this world. Mug’s Ale House looks like a divey sports bar from the outside, but the beer menu is surprisingly long, covering beer from all over the world, and having nearly 30 beers on tap. For coffee, the recently opened Ella Café also offers an organic heavy menu in a beautifully designed wood eco-friendly environment.

Sunday Feb 24

Location: Midtown West, NYC
Bands: The Magnetic Fields + The Interstellar Radio Company
Venue: The Town Hall
Food: Havana Central
Drink: The Campbell Apartment
Miscellaneous: Beatific Soul: Jack Kerouac on the road

Touring in support of their eighth studio album “Distortion,” The Magnetic Fields play The Town Hall with The Interstellar Radio Company, made up of four NY based producers of experiments in narrative sound. 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 you have the chance, stop by the New York Public Library and see the Kerouac exhibit. Get close to one of the twelve scrolls he used to write On the Road and a ton of other photos and hand writings from this mad genius before the exhibit closes on March 16.

The Daily Shortlist Feb 21

Daniel Johnston at Home and at Work

Location: Chelsea, NYC
Bands: Daniel Johnston + Spanish Prisoners
Venue: Highline Ballroom
Food: Better Burger
Drink: Passerby
Miscellaneous: ’sNice

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. Hormone and antibiotic free, Better Burger focuses on serving a fresh and healthier alternative to the grease burger you can get anywhere. With a tiled floor that lights up, other than that, Passerby is a non-descript bar, which is why it’s a place artists flock to for a cocktail without being disturbed. While not the best named coffee shop, ‘sNice is a nice and quiet coffee house offering vegetarian sandwiches and baked goods, while being a large enough space to spread your legs out and not worry about stealing another seat from someone.