Welcome to our weekly column, Staff Picks, in which we ask the staffers at our favorite book, music, and movie stores around to town to share with us what they're reading, listening to, and watching this week. We figure they're good people to ask. Today we're checking in with James Bradley, owner of Williamsburg's indie record store Sound Fix, to find out what he's been spinning lately. more ›

Click through the gallery for more on Shudder to Think, Sound Fix, TV on the Radio, and Jay-Z. more ›

Need your live music fix back on North 11th Street? Williamsburg's Sound Fix had to shut down their lounge earlier this year, which housed comedy and music events, as well as a cafe and bar. In order to bring back the events, owner James Bradley has announced he's moving out, and re-opening in September at a new location just about a block away on Berry Street. Hopefully the neighbors over there won't have any complaints; Bradley told the Brooklyn Paper, “Record stores all over the nation [have live music]. Why can’t we?'" more ›

What's this? Last week locals were joking that an Urban Outfitters would soon be moving into the closing Sound Fix Lounge, but now The Brooklyn Paper reports that the Lounge isn't closing after all. After a series of "last shows" were announced, Sound Fix owner James Bradley delcares “It is my fervent hope and desire to continue the tradition of live music in Williamsburg. Our business here is fine. We have no intention of going anywhere.” Of course, there's the problem of no longer holding a liquor license (which also doesn't allow them to be a BYOB establishment), but he hopes that music fans will come to the free shows even if they can't imbibe. Why not? He did add, however, that the comedy is officially out, since “You can’t listen to bad jokes without alcohol." As for the Big Terrific crew, who never have bad jokes, they're heading over to the Cameo for their weekly comedy night. more ›

It seems like just yesterday that Sound Fix Lounge (the bar/venue attached to the record store) in Williamsburg was being shut down, only to be joyously reopened soon after. Well kids, now your precious Sound Fix is being taken away again! Reportedly "the license to serve booze will go bye-bye a little over a month from now" (and we all know comedy, nor music, work without alcohol). Word is that "the owner simply didn't want to fight the neighbors on this any longer." One of whom is allegedly Teresa Polonski, who works for Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, and as speculated last time she may have brought the Mayor's task force down on the venue. more ›

ALERT: After their show at MSG with R.E.M. and The National, Modest Mouse will head to Brooklyn for a just-announced late show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets for "A Morning with Modest Mouse" are on sale now (but probably not for long)! If you miss out, there's a free (okay, $3 suggested donation) Medeski, Martin & Wood (pictured) performance in Prospect Park at 7p.m. -- you'll get to bed much earlier. more ›

HAPPY HOUR: MyOpenBar and (the recently re-opened) Sound Fix are teaming up to bring an open barathon to Brooklyn all week long. They'll be offering up PBR and well drinks for one hour each night, so fill up and be sure to do some tipsy record buying. more ›

The summertime free music options keep on rolling out. Not to be outdone by the recent Summerstage announcement or River to River's Wire kick-off, Brooklyn's answer to free in-park music stepped up this week to show what they've got. The Celebrate Brooklyn series runs all summer long at the Prospect Park Band Shell, and will kick off with a free Isaac Hayes show on June 12th. From there, they'll host a number of free (well, $3 recommended donation) shows, with everyone from Medeski Martin and Wood to Ghostland Observatory performing. Even if you're not in the mood to actually attend one of these shows, there are few better ways to spend a summer evening than setting up a picnic outside the gates and listen from afar. You can see the entire lineup here. more ›

On the evening of April 3rd it was announced that Sound Fix, the record shop/cafe fixture on the corner of Bedford Avenue and N 11th Street in Williamsburg, was shut down. Since first mention the Dept. of Health has been blamed with locking the doors, but noise complaints are generally at the root of every establishment's demise. more ›

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FOOD: Trestle on Tenth, the “homey joins hearty” Swiss-inflected restaurant that takes its name from its proximity to the High Line and the avenue where it’s found, kicks off a special five-night series called “metzgete.” The Swiss tradition loosely translates to “butchers affair” and arises from the practice of salvaging every scrap of pig after the winter slaughter – “especially those parts that would or could not be dried, smoked or pickled for later consumption.” The $24 Trestle plate will include everything from braised belly to homemade bratwurst to liver and blood sausages. – John Del Signore more ›

PARTY: Though we were sad to see former editor, Colleen Kane, depart the media mothership of maleness, Playgirl magazine...the show must go on. Tonight come celebrate their January issue and their 2008 centerfold calender...all at once. Free booze and gift bags for all! 7 to 10pm // Happy Ending [302 Broome St] // Free THEATER: For “sophisticated literate slapstick, big on laughs highbrow and low,” Culturebot recommends 500 Clown Frankenstein. Although the cast is 497... more ›

EVENT: White Castle is sponsoring an "over the top" (heh) event today at Port Authority...it's the 30th Annual White Castle Empire State Golden Arm Tournament of Champions. Over 100 ladies and gents will face off to become the arm wrestling champ! The event starts at 12:30 and the finals begin at 3:30pm. More info here. 12:30 and 3:30pm // Port Authority Bus Terminal [North Wing/Main Concourse at 625 8th Ave] // Free MUSIC: The Scotland... more ›

MOVIE: The monthly "Monday Nights with Oscar" screens teenage screamfest Carrie tonight. Was anything redacted from this Brian DePalma flick? Ask him yourself, he'll be on hand to discuss the 1976 classic he directed. more ›

EVENTS: Both Open House NY and The New Yorker Festival are upon us. You can check out more of OHNY's event here, and The New Yorker Festival here. Some picks: more ›

READING: It's the first Tuesday of the month, which means...there's a Sci-Fi reading! "Now In its 19th year, the New York Review of Science Fiction Reading Series has showcased some of the most prominent and upcoming authors in the genre. However, the series' commitment to providing a venue as an ongoing science fiction reading series in New York City, is open to all works of speculative fiction, whether they be works of fantasy, magical realism, horror, or science fiction." 40 years ago, Samuel R. Delany narrated a radio adaptation of his novella, The Star Pit, for The Mind's Eye Theatre, Baird Searles' ongoing series of radio dramas at New York's listener-sponsored WBAI-FM. Tonight the anniversary of the broadcast is celebrated with Delany himself. more ›

REMINDER: Don't forget about the Atlantic Antic Festival, which we wrote all about yesterday. more ›

EVENT: We're sponsoring, and our publisher is hosting, the NYC Photobloggers event tonight. Come over to the Apple Store to see a dazzling display of digital images and the faces behind the photos: Eliot Shepard, Jay Parkinson (yes, that Jay Parkinson) and a whole lot more will be on hand. There will also be a special presentation by Jen Bekman of 20x200, Hey Hot Shot, and the Jen Bekman Gallery and an after party at Merc Bar. more ›

THEATER: The fall theater season gets curiouser and curiouser with the start of The Alice in Wonderland Puppet Festival at HERE. (The festival, which is not recommended for children under twelve, will feature a tea party after every show.) Tonight curiouser & curiouser fuses text from Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll’s diary entries and his muse Alice Liddell’s memoirs to try to decipher what destroyed their unique friendship. - John Del Signore more ›

MUSIC: Ever wonder what former Weezer bassist Matt Sharp has been up to? Well, he's back fronting his other old band, The Rentals. With a long list of former members, amongst them Maya Rudolph and Petra Haden, the group is now six-strong, and playing Nokia Theater tonight in support of their new EP, The Last Little Life. more ›

MOVIE: Bryant Park ends their summer of big screen fun with the classic horror flick Psycho - the movie that made many afraid to shower (and probably scared to check-in to hotels). Bring your best scream...and a blanket. more ›

THEATER: With his zany imagination and distinctive bass-baritone voice, Joseph Keckler (myspace) has been generating buzz throughout the gooey honeycomb of the downtown performance art cabaret scene. Tonight he sprinkles his particular blend of whimsical catnip at Dixon Place with Cat Lady, in which a man re-enacts an ordinary day with his mother, who runs a community theater with cat actors out of her home. “Past lives are recalled, songs are sung, and finally a trip to the vet's is made in this comedic and dark exploration of the relationship between art and trauma.” Part of the HOT! Festival. – John Del Signore more ›

John Vanderslice's reputation as "the nicest guy in indie rock" couldn't be more spot on. Last night we enjoyed some time with him on the roof of the Hotel Chelsea where he sang us a 'lil song. You'll be seeing video of that later, but first - get to know the man behind the reputation. He'll be at Sound Fix tonight at 7pm for a free show, and he was also kind enough to provide some As to our Qs... more ›

EVENT: What do Bob Dylan and the Brooklyn Bridge have in common? They both get a year older today! Bob turns 66 and the Bridge turns 124. To help celebrate the latter, there's a bike ride across the structure. There will also be cake and historical stories to keep you physically and mentally satiated. more ›

MUSIC: Love is All takes over the Knitting Factory tonight with not one, but two shows. The early show is with Cause Co-Motion! and Devastations, the later one with Cause Co-Motion! and Tyvek. Choose wisely. Or you could always watch Jared Leo bring his emo wrath upon bloggers, his band plays Roseland tonight. more ›

This week, Sarah Michelle Gellar is back for more creepy girls hiding in her hair in the new sequel, out this weekend in the hopes that it will bolster rumors of a Stewart/Colbert ticket in '08. more ›

MUSIC: Doug Martsch of Built to Spill performs a stripped down acoustic set tonight before heading over to Irving to play with the band. This will be pretty amazing, so even if you missed out on tickets to the show at Irving, try to catch him solo. more ›

After getting yourselves a coffee or some brunch this morning, which we currently need...desperately, you may ponder what to do with the rest of your Saturday. Look no further, Gothamist is here to point you in the right direction. If you aren't into anything on this list, the city has more to offer. Really! For those of you who like awesome music, for free, we suggest heading over to Sound Fix in Brooklyn. They'll be having some amazing instore shows today. First up at 1pm is Bonnie Prince Billy. Then at 2:30 Marbles and Clem Snide take over. The latter two are playing at the Bowery Ballroom tonight, the show is now sold out so this will be your only chance to catch them in New York this time around. Sound Fix is located at 110 Beford Ave, Williamsburg. more ›

Clem Snide will be playing Bowery Ballroom this coming Saturday March 5th and Gothamist wants to hook you and a friend up with some tickets. If you would be interested in going to this show, which you should be, CLICK HERE TO ENTER! Check out some a/v action here if you aren't already familiar with the band. The winner will receive a pair of tickets to the show, so you can bring a friend or a luvah or whomever you want. more ›