In January we exclusively reported that CBGB would be returning as a venue, but before that happens you can expect to hear more about the festival the owners are planning, which will likely take place in early July. more ›

First things first: it's very important to state up front that this year's Governors Ball will NOT be on Governors Island. Which is a shame because there's just something a little more special about attending a show on Governors Island (yes, even with the ferry clusterf*ck), over say... Randall's Island. Which is where the Governors Ball will be held this summer :( But let's focus on the positive. The fest is back for a 2nd year, and the organizers have just announced this summer's lineup, which is actually pretty great—and hey, maybe these guys could end up saving the festival scene in New York—which has been dying for quite some time. more ›

Well this is probably harshing some vibes out there. Thanks to Hurricane Irene, the Dave Matthews Band will have to move their 3-day-long festival to Randall's Island (sad didgeridoo), which was rescheduled for September 16th to 18th. Originally the festival was set to take place last weekend on the much more picturesque Governors Island. more ›

Do you want to craft a surfboard like they do on Staten Island? Or skateboard Bronx-style? Well the five boroughs are repping hardcore this October in... Australia. The Boroughs offers up a truly bizarro NYC Culture Festival that will happen down under from October 7th through the 15th. The city-centric shindig is sponsored by Bedford Avenue Media and a magazine "inspired by New York squatting culture," amongst others. more ›

This weekend marks the fifth annual Bushwick Open Studios festival, a three-day arts extravaganza that takes over the streets and galleries of Bushwick with gonzo performances, exhibits, and workshops celebrating the many spoils of the Bushwick art scene. And despite the L train being screwed this weekend, it's still worth taking an alternate route out to the neighborhood to catch some of the madness. There are 350 artists participating this year, and here's a small sampling of what you can find at the festival. For a full roster of all events and artists, see here. more ›

It's all good Dave Matthews Band fans, the musical troupe will be headed to Governor's Island this summer for a three day festival, which will include a full set from them each night, as well as other bands like The Roots, Gogol Bordello, and moe. The fest, booked by Bowery Presents, will take place from August 26th through the 28th, and tickets will go on sale to the general public this Friday at 10 a.m. Three-day passes are $195, and to supersize that to a VIP it'll cost $825—that hefty sum doesn't even include a bag of sweet cheeba, but it will get you reserved viewing, special restrooms, complimentary snacks, beer, water and a gourmet buffet dinner each night. more ›

Already sick of drinking Bud Light today? In need of something more crafty to cleanse your palate? Then you'll have your chance this weekend: Get RealNY have their annual Craft Beer & Food Festival, taking place at the Altman Building in Chelsea, on Saturday and Sunday. more ›

With the Pool Parties not happening this year (at least not as we knew them), what's a young creative from Brooklyn to do for some entertainment? Get thee to Governors Island! This summer marks the first, in what is hopefully an annual event dubbed the Governors Ball. The music festival will take place on June 18th and features Girl Talk, Pretty Lights, Empire of the Sun, Big Boi (of Outkast), Neon Indian, People Under The Stars, Mac Miller, Miami Horror, Passion Pit (DJ Set), Reptar, Outasight and more to be announced. The press release tells us it's going to be: "a massive mid-summer dance party of epic proportions." Surely, with an even more epic line for the ferry. more ›

Could a three-day adult contemporary music festival soil the rarefied Hamptons with light-rock riff-raff? According to the NY Post, just such a festival has been proposed for this coming August in Amagansett... and it has locals "seething." According to organizers, the (estimated 10,000-person) event could potentially be a "performance opportunity" for Billy Joel and Paul McCartney, two local struggling musicians in desperate need of exposure. more ›

This year's San Gennaro festival was offering up more than just zeppoles... it introduced real wild animals into Little Italy! Capital reports that on Mulberry Street, just south of Houston Street, there's "a set of three cages—one empty, one holding a caged baby lion, and a third with a box containing two tiger cubs" (looks like the empty one held a bear). And we're guessing these little guys have the same opinion on street fairs as Bloomberg. The site notes that "the lion's style was kinda cramped," and it appears that the people already spoke on their behalf, because yesterday the exhibit was being dismantled. Did you see them while they were there? more ›

The Truck America Festival is happening this weekend in the Catskills, and while its the first of its kind in the states, it's been happening for much longer over in the UK. In addition to a full lineup of great live music, there will also be workshops, activities for kids, campfire singalongs, and beautiful weather! Day tickets and full weekend long packages are still available if you want to escape to the mountains for a few days. Here's organizer Robin Bennett to tell you a little more about what to expect up there. more ›

The San Gennaro Festival, the Romania Day Festival and the 6th Avenue Summerfest could all fall under Bloomberg’s latest category of cuts. To save the considerable cost of manning city street fairs with NYPD officers (last year there were 321 fairs costing $4 million in overtime) the mayor wants to reduce their numbers. Bloomberg is a long-time fair opponent—he’s said that they’re too numerous and they they’re all the same—but others argue the festivals are integral to city life. “Festivals give people an opportunity to take back the streets so they can walk, listen to music, see their neighbors and buy something if they want," argued fair producer Mort Berkowitz. more ›

The summer music festivals are already being lined up (even September's ATP Festival has been announced), but in all the buzz there's a name missing: All Points West. The NY Times looks at the 3-day festival, which for the past two years has taken place at New Jersey's Liberty State Park—saying it may not return. more ›

Yesterday recreationists and Medieval revelers congregated at Fort Tryon Park for the annual Medieval Festival, which was centered around a "medieval market town decorated with bright banners and processional flags." Amongst the performers, music, minstrels and unicorns, there were even modern day offerings to be found; you can't fool us Master Buntings Hut of Ye Fried Dough! more ›

All Tomorrow's Parties (better known as ATP) got a New York home last year in the Catskills, and the old upstate resort Kutshers provided such a perfect space that it'll all be happening again this year. The fest is hands down the most enjoyable event we've ever personally attended, and the soundtrack provided isn't too shabby either. This year Animal Collective, Sufjan Stevens, Flaming Lips, Deerhoof and many many many more will be performing throughout the three days; there's also poker with Steve Albini (don't miss his band Shellac, either), and plenty of other distractions to keep you entertained (check out photos from last year here). If you're free this weekend, we highly recommend buying yourself a ticket—but first, get to know the organizer a little better. more ›

It only took the folks behind the All Points West Festival a few days to find a replacement for their Friday night headliners. Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys announced on Monday that the band would be canceling their upcoming tour, which included the festival date, while he undergoes treatment for throat cancer. So, upon hearing such somber news who does one get to replace the legendary trio? The fest booked another Brooklyn-born boy, of course, and his name is Jay-Z. The APW press release says this is, somewhat unbelievably, the U.S. festival debut for the rapper; choosing a fitting quote from one critic that declares: “his mouth is one of the most nimble in the genre's history, and he uses it to present thoughts that are sharp, funny and resonant." Sounds about as close to the Beasties as one can get, and hopefully he'll do a cover or two to fill the void. For those not interested in Jigga, single day Friday tickets are now refundable (the rest of the fest's lineup is here). more ›

Remember that festival over in Liberty State Park, NJ last summer featuring a little band called Radiohead? Well, it's back. All Points West is embarking on its second year and they've just announced their initial lineup (which now includes comedy). Looks like the East Coast may have officially gotten its Coachella, and you might be headed to Jerz for a few nights. more ›

As SXSW's music fest kicks off today, The L Magazine has announced the first annual Northside Festival. Taking place from June 11th through the 14th, think of it as our very own version of the Austin fest. All shows will take place in the venue-saturated area of Williamsburg and Greenpoint and is being touted as "a four-day celebration of the independent music and art scene that thrives here...with live music being held at nearly every venue in the area (including some that haven't even opened yet), and art events at some of the most relevant galleries in the neighborhood." Unlike CMJ, this will all be in two neighboring 'hoods, making nearly every event within walking distance from the other. more ›

Over 700 nerds achievers descended upon Lucky Strike Lanes over on 12th Avenue and 42nd Street last night for the 4th NYC Lebowski Fest. The extravaganza, which came on the heels of Saturday night's sold-out concert and The Big Lebowski screening at Irving Plaza, featured a costume contest, profligate consumption of White Russians, amateurish bowling, and incessant shouts of "Over the line!" Sort of a Star Trek convention for party people, the Lebowski Fest has become an international phenomenon since its humble beginnings in Louisville in 2002, when Will Russell and his pal Scott Shuffitt drew a spontaneous crowd of "Lebowski" quoters at a tattoo convention. Here's our interview with Russell from last week, and here's The F%#king Short Version of The Big Lebowski. Well, enjoy! more ›

Look, we're not trying to scam anybody here, man, but Will Russell and Scott Shuffitt, two urban achievers from Louisville, are throwing their fourth NYC Lebowski Fest this weekend and, well, they'd love it if you would come and give them notes. (Also, tomorrow's already the tenth.) If any of what you just read was confusing, don't worry, it just means you need to rent the Coen brothers' masterpiece The Big Lebowski again. Released ten years ago to general critical disdain, the astonishingly nuanced Chandleresque romp has gone on to become an incessantly quoted cult classic. more ›

It was a sight to warm the hearts of dialysis clinic owners citywide: The massive, football field-size space la.venue at The Waterfront in Chelsea was overrun by 43 of New York's top pastry chefs and confectioners last night for the Food & Wine Festival's most anticipated debauchery. The event sold out before the Wall Street crash, and with tickets going for $175 a pop it's no wonder people queued up well before the doors opened to make sure they got their dwindling dollar's worth. more ›

The Times tagged along with the New Yorker's Calvin Trillin for his "gastronomic walking tour" through Chinatown and Little Italy on Sunday, as part of the magazine's eponymous festival. The $100 tickets sell out instantly every year because the event is limited to just 35 nerds—er, gourmands—with money to burn. Trillin led participants on an erudite eating tour of his favorite little haunts on the two mile stroll. Among other revelations, he said he likes to eat standing up. And he doesn't care about restaurant reviewing: "If I couldn’t eat in a four-star restaurant again, it would mean nothing to me. But if someone said I couldn’t eat any more cilantro, I would be very upset." Also, the greatest development in American cuisine according to Trillin? No, not the Turducken; it's the Immigration Act of 1965, which allowed more third world immigrants. more ›

The organizers of the inaugural New York Craft Beer Week must have gotten started early, because their "week" of beer events actually adds up to ten days. No matter; the refined debauchery kicks off Friday with the third annual Brewfest at the South Street Seaport, stumbling all the way to a glassy-eyed climax on the 21st with the 2nd Annual Manhattan Cask Ale Festival at the Chelsea Brewing Company, which features 45 ‘firkins’ of cask-conditioned ale from noon to midnight! No, we don't know what a firkin is either, but it's what's inside that counts: cool, succulent ale that's "so good once it hits your lips," as the poet quipped. more ›

This weekend All Points West brings the summer festival circuit to our area (albeit to New Jersey), and if you plan on making the trek, here are some helpful tips. more ›

Hometown post-punk heroes Sonic Youth played a free show for approximately 7,000 fans in Battery Park on July 4th as part of the River to River Festival. The decades-old band started the set with a spellbinding, spacey rendition of “She is Not Alone,” followed by the Kim Gordon-led classic “Bull in the Heather.” By the third song, a blistering “Silver Rocket,” 50-year-old frontman Thurston Moore seemed to have had enough of the photographers separating his band from the frenzied crowd, so he climbed down into the photo pit to thrash through the scrum, before getting back onstage to finish the song. more ›

Not too long ago there was a heated debate over the upcoming Rock the Harbor festival, making it the city's most controversial festival to date! The only source of conflict was geographic location...the fest will take place on Staten Island this coming Saturday. For those who can get over the stigma attached to the borough, you're in for a treat. Pat Duffy, who also runs the blog Pop Tarts Suck Toasted, has helped organize a full day of sonic splendor from our SI band brethren -- and it's all taking place at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center. More details on the event can be found here, and if you buy your tickets before Saturday you'll save 5 bucks (bring the kids for free!). more ›

In a couple of weeks Staten Island will hold its very own music festival called Rock the Harbor, something Brooklyn Vegan posted about this week -- instantly sparking a lot of "discussion" about the borough ("Does everyone have to tan and work out before the show?" etc). With Manhattanites trying to pawn SI off on Jersey, and Jerseyites rejecting it, it was only a matter of time before Staten Island Advance caught wind of the fightin' words, noting that "battle lines were drawn." One of the promoters of the show also chimed in, saying, in part:

We actually have a lot more to offer on Staten Island aside from what you may have seen on True Life: I'm a Staten Island Girl. Not all of us say 'Bro', not all of us are mobbed up, and not all of us have no idea about the arts or culture. We actually have quite a few beautiful attractions, but I'll save the tourism chat for another time. The whole point of Rock the Harbor was to shine a light on a music scene that is slowly gaining some steam. There's all sorts of bands on this lineup from straight up indie, to shoegaze, to punk, to pop, to bluegrass, we have a bit of everything and are planning on hosting this event with a completely open mind.

The World Science Festival is coming to New York, and starting tomorrow we'll become the hub of all things scientific. The NY Times pondered the idea of the city as a national science center earlier this week, saying "there’s plenty of science getting done here — it just gets overshadowed by everything else." more ›

While moviegoers pack theaters for summer blockbusters like Iron Man and Indiana Jones, it’s refreshing to find big crowds flocking to an entirely different spectacle, one celebrating the Victorian-era phenomenon of do-it-yourself “toy theater” kits. The cavernous St. Ann’s Warehouse in DUMBO was packed on Saturday night for the eighth annual Toy Theater Festival, presented by Great Small Works, a company dedicated to coaxing big ideas out of tiny materials. more ›