Last we spoke to JellyNYC's jack-of-all-trades Chris Goldstein, he had high hopes for the agency's second go of Rock Beach, a free series of concerts at the Aviator Sports Complex adjacent to the Rockaways. At the first date on July 9, Goldstein said "around 500 or so people" showed up, which may have been considerably less than their Pool Parties, but around what they were seeing at their Rock Yard events in Williamsburg. But according to the Brooklyn Paper, Rock Beach's second effort on July 24 was a "beach-blanket bomb" after "little more than 150 people showed up." more ›

[Update Below] Well, we can finally stop crying about those Jelly NYC Williamsburg Waterfront parties ending: Jelly's new Rock Beach endeavor will bring as many as 8,000 fans to Floyd Bennett Field in deep southern Brooklyn for 6 weeks this summer, beginning on July 9th. Oh, and you'll be able to camp out (at the Saturday shows) just like those dirty hippies at Camp Bisco, Bonnaroo, and all those other festivals that are enhanced by tent-living. Mark another "free awesome event" up on the Summer Outdoor Concerts list. more ›

Just days after the Open Space Alliance (OSA) sent out a finger-pointing press release announcing the final Pool Parties show was canceled, thanks to JellyNYC's inability to pay the bills, another press release has been sent out. This time it's from Chuck Schumer's camp, and declares that the Senator "has brought the two sides together to resolve the dispute that threatened the final concert." Thanks, Dad! more ›

Time to towel off! The Open Space Alliance (OSA) and JellyNYC have been sparring all season over the Pool Parties held on the Williamsburg waterfront, and now the last show of the summer has been canceled. JellyNYC started the parties five years ago at McCarren Park Pool, and more recently the OSA (which has a lot of influential board members) has been taking control. Following the publication of an interview that Jelly co-founder Sarah Hooper did with NPR, the OSA folk released a fightin' words filled press release through their lawyer (also an OSA board member) last night. It says, in part: more ›

Since the Open Space Alliance has stepped in, there's been a lot of whispering about what's going on with the Pool Parties—the summer concert series created by JellyNYC. It began five years ago at McCarren Park Pool, and has since moved to the East River State Park. The concerts have remained free to the public during each transition, but they aren't free to put on, and NPR recently found out from Sarah Hooper—the co-owner of JellyNYC—that they come with a pricetag of around half a million bucks. more ›

The Pool Parties officially kicked off their 5th annual free concert series yesterday—with Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof performing Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures following performances by openers Why?, Fang Island, and Pictureplane. The JellyNYC organizers got pushed out of their former home at the McCarren Park Pool after the summer of 2008, and last year wasn't looking too promising when they set up shop in Williamsburg's East River Police State Park. This year there are some differences worth noting, however: more ›

JellyNYC—perhaps fed up with the politics and their "fake non-profit" overlords hassling them at their home-away-from pool, AKA the East River Park Police State—are on the cusp of announcing a new summer concert series. (Yes, the Big Show will still go on at the state park.) There aren't a lot of details yet, but it sounds like they're trying to get back to their roots of laid-back semi-DIY free shows. more ›

The Pool Parties are just about a week away, and the lineup has finally been announced... maybe. Here's what the schedule allegedly looks like; it was posted yesterday but the organizers at Jelly then wrote something about "the person posing as one of us, the elusive non-existent 'hacker' and the fake line up." What? Anyway, we happened to see a confirmed lineup earlier this week that looked very similar to this, so there's a pretty good shot it's what you'll be hearing at the Williamsburg waterfront this summer: more ›

Senator Schumer has saved the Brooklyn Pool Parties! We just received a press release announcing the news that will surely put a smile on disaffected hipster's faces borough-wide. more ›

After Senator Schumer spearheaded a movement to save JellyNYC's Pool Parties, word is that they will indeed keep their head above water this year. more ›

Senator Schumer sent out a press release today regarding the future of the Jelly Pool Parties, which has been looking pretty dark as of late. Over the summer Schumer attended two of the parties, which he totally happened upon by accident whilst riding his bike down Kent Avenue on a scorching hot day in pants, a long-sleeve button-up, and not a drop of sweat on him! Now he will attempt to bring that sort of magic to the parties. more ›

Yesterday afternoon the Pool Parties made their debut off the McCarren Pool grounds and on the Williamsburg waterfront, at East River State Park (Mission of Burma, Fucked Up, Ponytail and Jemina Pearl all played). This new home is even more temporary than the last—which is currently undergoing a $50 million makeover—only one summer of shows will be held here before it's time to find a new home. In the meantime, the crowds from yesterday were aTwitter with thoughts on the new space. Most of the reviews have been positive, and for the most part the same elements are there, with some slight changes. more ›

Last year as the the McCarren Park Pool parties were coming to an end forever (not forever), we talked to JellyNYC organizer Sarah Hooper about where they might revive their series this summer. At the time she told us that they were working closely with the Open Space Alliance, Parks Department and Marty Markowitz’s office to find a new space, but no matter what, the show will remain free and they'll always have a Slip n' Slide. Well, it's all happening people. more ›

Well, that's that. McCarren Pool – the giant Robert Moses-era landmark that's been revived as a music, theater, dance and film venue after decades of neglect – hosted its last free 'pool party' yesterday. The Bloomberg administration has allocated $50 million to renovate the pool for swimming, restore the historic bathhouse building, and build a year-round recreation center that is to include a skate park and an ice rink. more ›

The NY Times takes a preemptive look back at McCarren Park Pool, on the cusp of its closing, saying "Like every sweet summer fling...this one is destined to end." The empty pool has given some locals fond memories of the Slip n' Slide, dodgeball, this guy, the music. Sure, the beer lines were long at times, and the entry line even longer, but before the pool gets refilled with water, some are shedding tears over it, because let's face facts: the Sunday Pool Parties just won't be the same when they're not held in a quadruple-Olympic-size swimming pool. As for what the future holds, next year JellyNYC will take the Pool Parties to Austin, Portland, San Francisco, and Nashville--but there currently isn't a site secured for New York. In July, however, they told us "The Open Space Alliance, Parks Department and even Marty Markowitz’s office has been very clear that there will be a space for concerts no matter what in Williamsburg" As for an opposition, Phyllis Yampolsky, founder of the McCarren Park Conservancy, says the pools "basic needs are not for the fashionistas of Williamsburg.” more ›

Along with Doug DeFalco, Sarah Hooper co-runs JellyNYC -- the company that brings free concerts to McCarren Park Pool each Sunday of the summer. With the space undergoing some changes in the future, we checked in with Hooper on the status of the parties and where they may go when the empty pool gets filled with water again. Good news: Marty Markowitz promises they'll be sticking around..and could possibly have a water view. more ›

Photo by Elizabeth Weinberg. more ›

The fate of McCarren Park Pool turned around after being landmarked and given a $50 million gift from Bloomberg, yet its future look is still up in the air. Following the February 4th meeting, last night another Community Board meeting was held to discuss The Pool. This time architects Rogers Marvel and The Parks Department were on hand to present conceptual plans. Curbed has the reveal, but they note the renderings are merely "draft images and, of course, the redesign has to be approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission." more ›