Recent Posts in venues

July 2, 2009

Brooklyn Bowl - open July 7

"After two years of development, we're happy to finally say... Brooklyn Bowl has arrived!"

Brooklyn Bowl, the highly anticipated 16-lane bowling alley, 600-capacity performance venue with food by Blue Ribbon in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood, is pleased to announce it will be open for business in a soft launch capacity beginning this Tuesday, July 7, at 6:00 p.m.

Operating hours will be scaled back during the soft launch: Sunday, Tuesday - Thursday, 6:00 pm - 2:00 am, and Friday and Saturdays 6:00pm - 4:00am. During this time Brooklyn Bowl will not be open on Mondays, and are serving only to a 21+ crowd. A small snack menu will be served from July 10 through the 20th. On the 21st, an expanded "preview" menu will be presented, with the full menu by Blue Ribbon debuting on August 4th. Live music performances, advance lane reservations, and extended hours (including child-friendly weekend days) will begin in late summer. Brooklyn Bowl is located at 61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211.

The venue, that's been in the works for a while, is finally opening. The first concert at the Brooklyn Bowl will be O'Death, Justin Carter, Eamon Harkin and Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt on Friday, July 10th.

The other event currently on the Brooklyn Bowl's schedule is the Lebowski Fest New York, which will hold one of its three nights at the space on Thursday, September 24th. Bowling and non-bowling tickets are on sale.

More info on the venue, below...

Continue reading "Brooklyn Bowl - open July 7"

Posted by brooklynvegan at 3:49 PM | Comments (22)

BMI suing NYC bar & music venue Pianos

Pianos (more by Tim Griffin)

"A bar or club isn't technically allowed to play a copy written song without first securing the appropriate licenses from the performance rights group--such as ASCAP or BMI--that represent songwriters. Enforcement has traditionally been pretty lax over the years, although every once in a while, the organizations file a lawsuit to remind venue owners that they exist. In 2007, for example, ASCAP filed suits against a handful of spots, including Jay-Z's 40/40 and Hiro at the Maritime Hotel. More recently, ASCAP and BMI slapped Cafe Wha? with a suit back in March.

This time around BMI is turning its attention to the Lower East Side and coming down on Pianos, claiming the venue caused "great and incalculable damage" for illegally playing such favorites as "Say It Ain't So" by Rivers Cuomo; the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black"; and your fave hit from 1986, "Final Countdown"." [Cityfile]

Kuroma, Acrylics, and Suckers all have shows coming up at Pianos. So do The Grates. Japandroids play there on July 11th.

Posted by brooklynvegan at 1:26 PM | Comments (80)

July 1, 2009

Studio B - Thunderheist played (pics), 5 more events to go

photos by Lori Baily

Canadian electronic duo Thunderheist played Studio B on June 19th as part of their summer North American tour. Wallpaper opened. Live, Thunderheist's Isis and Grahm Zilla added a drummer to round out the lineup. PaperMag was there...

The threesome didn't take the stage Friday night until well into the wee hours, 2 a.m. to be exact (so, Saturday), and they commanded the room for about an hour. Grahm expertly fiddled with buttons and dials as Isis stole the show, lead singer and hype woman combined. "I was nervous," she confessed. She admitted to having been worried that no one would know who they were, that they'd be this random act without a fanbase to rev them up and bring the evening full circle. If indeed she expected this sad display, she and her team must have been happily surprised, as seemingly no one was unfamiliar with their set. Based on their energetic performance, it's safe to say anyone who entered with no knowledge exited a schooled fool.

As of now, there are five more events until the Brooklyn venue closes for good. Those include a "Fourth of July Independence Day Blowout" and a show with punk band Tragedy. Tickets for four of the events are for sale at Ticketweb.

More pictures from Friday and the full, final Studio B schedule, below...

Continue reading "Studio B - Thunderheist played (pics), 5 more events to go "

Posted by brooklynvegan at 11:51 AM | Comments (8)

June 29, 2009

Morrison Hotel moving out of CBGB location

"Morrison Hotel, the legitimately rock-historical art gallery that shares the former home of CBGBs with John Varvatos, is moving out. The gallery has several other locations, but the Bowery one is their largest. When it moved in over a year ago, we rejoiced that it wasn't "something completely soul-crushing," but will the space get another chance? The broker for the site tells us he's talked to "a lot of retailers, restaurateurs and bar operators," but nothing's been concluded yet." [Racked]

Posted by brooklynvegan at 11:12 PM | Comments (20)

Pool Aid fighting against McCarren Pool name change

Patrick Henry McCarren

To: New York City Parks Department

We do not support the Parks Department's plan to sell the naming rights to McCarren Pool. Our pool was built and paid for by the taxpayers, not by a corporation. Patrick Henry McCarren is an important figure in local history, who helped build the Williamsburg Bridge and establish local parks. Both McCarren Pool and McCarren Park, named in his honor, should retain their historical names. We demand that the Parks Department take our landmark off the for-sale list.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned (via)

Posted by brooklynvegan at 1:55 PM | Comments (31)

ABC No Rio receives city money for new building

"Three years ago, when the collective that runs the community and cultural center ABC No Rio received the deed to the crumbling, graffiti-covered tenement that had housed them on the Lower East Side for nearly 30 years, members of the group and their supporters rejoiced.

Formed in 1980 after an art show on gentrification, ABC No Rio endured attempts by the Giuliani administration to evict it from its city-owned building on Rivington Street in the 1990s. So when the Department of Housing Preservation and Development decided in 2006 to turn the building over to the collective in exchange for $1 and an agreement that the group would make badly needed repairs, many saw the deal as a crucial step for the survival of a beloved local landmark.

Soon after the transfer, however, an architect determined that the building was beyond repair and would have to be replaced. The budget for the project soared to $2.4 million, from $700,000. And then fund-raising -- never easy for a small organization run mainly by volunteers -- became even more difficult as the economy declined. Housing officials became concerned that renovations did not begin as quickly as expected; others questioned the group's ability to finance the expensive task of a new structure.

But much of the uncertainty vanished last week when the Manhattan borough president, Scott M. Stringer, and City Councilman Alan J. Gerson allocated $1.65 million for a new building..." [NY Times]

Posted by brooklynvegan at 1:49 PM | Comments (41)

June 25, 2009

Studio B closing. (Really this time?)

Studio B (more by Ryan Muir)

After months (years?) of drama and numerous not-actually-closings, word is that Brooklyn mostly-dance club Studio B is really closing this time - by the end of July. No word on how that will affect each individual event scheduled there, like 2 Live Crew on July 25th which is not listed on the venue's website, but is still on sale. Last time this happened, things got moved.

UPDATE: It is confirmed that the 2 Live Crew is looking for a new home. Everything else listed above (and on Studio B's website) will happen as planned.

Speaking of what is listed by the venue, there are a total of eight more events advertised through July 12th. That includes 2 tonight and 1 tomorrow (that Showtrotta talks more about), a Tragedy show, Flosstradamus on July 10th, the Bikes in the Kitchen show on June 28th, and a July 4th Independence Day Blowout Spectacular with a huge lineup of DJs that include Mark Farina, Odi and Keoki. Flyer for that below...

Continue reading "Studio B closing. (Really this time?)"

Posted by brooklynvegan at 12:49 PM | Comments (51)

June 19, 2009

The Georgia Theatre in Athens burned down

sad news from Athens, Georgia...

It is with great emotion that we sadly report the Georgia Theatre burned down this morning. There are a lot more questions than answers right now and we will do our best to keep the public informed as we learn more.

We appreciate all of the support that the great folks of Athens have provided and the additional messages received from wonderful patrons from around the world.

THANK YOU!!!
The Georgia Theatre Staff

Posted by brooklynvegan at 12:49 PM | Comments (15)

June 16, 2009

Black Betty, RIP

"When I stopped into Black Betty last night [June 15th] around 8:30pm, there was an eerie sense of calm and night-like-every-other-nightliness in the air. The kitchen was smoky, the waitresses conferring about honoring reservations, and the tables populated, but not overly cluttered. It was hard to believe this place that embodied so much of Williamsburg's spirit would never again open its doors.

About two months ago, partners Bud Schmeling and Sandy Glover were given the sad news that they would not have the opportunity to renew their lease on Black Betty (366 Metropolitan Ave), the restaurant/music venue that has become a beloved neighborhood institution. Despite holding fundraisers in preparation to meet the rising rent of the neighborhood, and operating a business that, even in the worst of economic times, has flourished, Schmeling reports his landlord signed over the space to another restaurateur without notice or explanation, leaving Black Betty and her devoted patrons without a home." [Williamsburg Greenpoint News + Arts]

Rev. Vince Anderson and his Love Choir played the final show at the Brooklyn venue. Jonathan Toubin was in the house during that performance and tweeted that "Reverend vince and his love choir are breathing fire!" After the show, Chris said, "Closing night at Black Betty with the Rev was one of the most amazing musical experiences I've ever heard." Reverend Vince himself says, "Thanks to everyone that came to the show last night. I love you all."

According to Brooklyn Based, "Stephen Tanner, currently of Egg and formerly of Pies'n'Thighs, will take over the Black Betty space." The above picture is an actual screenshot of what Black Betty's website looks like today.

Video of the Rev performing in 2006, and other videos shot at the club, below...

Continue reading "Black Betty, RIP "

Posted by brooklynvegan at 6:30 PM | Comments (18)

June 15, 2009

Sound Fix Records is moving to Berry and N. 11th St

DOWNLOAD: Sound Fix Podcast #1 - April 10, 2009 (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sound Fix Podcast #2 - May 13, 2009 (MP3)

Five years ago, Sound Fix opened its doors with the aim of creating a new kind of record store, one that combined the finest in independent retail with food and drink and live music. The opening-night act in its adjoining bar were the Mountain Goats. Over the years, Sound Fix has hosted some of the biggest names in independent music, from Will Oldham to Beirut to Jens Lekman to the Sea and Cake and countless other acts. During that time, while record shops all over the nation big and small have closed their doors, Sound Fix has flourished, proving that the right kind of record store could still thrive in today's environment.

After five wonderful years on Bedford Ave., Sound Fix is packing up and moving to a new location - but not very far. In fact, only one block away, to the corner of Berry and N. 11th St. The new location, a beautifully renovated 90-year-old factory at 44 Berry Street, seeks to build on the store's success by offering more than ever - more titles in more formats, from CDs to vinyl to 7-inches to books to DVDs.

Together, with Beacon's Closet and Brooklyn Brewery and Brooklyn Bowl, this stretch of N. 11th promises to be one of Williamburg's more popular blocks. The store intends to continue its in-store tradition, but the days of selling booze and coffee and bagels are over. With several neighbors at 44 Berry offering those services, Sound Fix can focus on selling music.

The date for the reopening has not been established yet, but we are seeking to open sometime in September. Another press release will go out when the opening date has been determined.

Posted by brooklynvegan at 2:15 PM | Comments (22)