[UPDATE BELOW] According to some people with Twitter accounts, Williamsburg's beloved Union Pool was shut down by the mean old Department of Health last night, a city agency that clearly can't appreciate life's more refined pleasures, like wine served in a cup and key bumps in a crowded bathroom. more ›

Last night, a team of iron-biceped ladies descended upon Union Pool to arm wrestle for fame, feminism, and charity, at the first-ever match of The Five Borough Ladies Arm Wrestling Organization. Eight competitors, with names like Jackie O'Nasty, Bitchy Strongstocking, and Momatron, decked out in full costume and backed by cheering entourages, hit the table to strong-arm each other to victory. more ›

A little over a year ago, a young gay man named Charlie was allegedly beaten by the bouncers at the Williamsburg bar/venue Union Pool, and it wasn't the first time the bar's employees have been accused of despicable acts. Now another complaint has come out against the bouncers at the establishment; a reader writes in about his friend, "the only black guy there," getting tossed out on Wednesday for seemingly no reason at all. When he mentions the incident to someone, they tell him: "Oh yeah I used to work here I'm not surprised. They're totally racist here, this shit happens all the time." Is it time to start boycotting Union Pool, hipsterati? [Photo cred.] more ›

READING: We originally thought this was going down yesterday, but you still have a chance to see it! Not in a million years would we have thought we'd be listing a reading by former Guns n' Roses guitarist, Slash. But it turns out old rockers love to dish on their sordid lives, and this mysterious musician is no different. Tonight he'll read from his book, called Slash, which apparently "redefines sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll." more ›

Just when you thought the Union Pool drama was lost in the archives...today we received an email that was forwarded on to us by a reader. It was a public email from Union Pool to, apparently, their mailing list. We were not included on the email, and when we asked for a statement earlier this week - after emailing with one of the managers there - we weren't given one. Instead we were asked to apologize and were told "we are a bar that supports our community and in turn it should support us." After seeing these photos, we can't help but wonder that if this is how they serve the community, how should the community support them? more ›

Recently, there has been a lot of "bouncer activity" at venues, bars and even directed at New York bands playing shows. We just received this disturbing report involving one gay man and a Union Pool bouncer: more ›

BBQ: Close out Popfest (and the long weekend) today with a BBQ at Union Pool. Served up with your burgers and beer are some bands, of course: The Orange Peels, Finish School, the Gazetteers, the Lil Hopsital, Surefire Broadcast and Titans of Filth. more ›

May 3: Cheezapolooza III: Naked vs Cooked more ›

READING: Have you thought about Rereading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë lately? Writers and Brontë enthusiasts Jennifer Egan, Siri Hustvedt and Margot Livesey have! Tonight they celebrate the "heart-searing story of a plain, orphaned governess who struggles at an oppressive boarding school before moving to Thornfield, eventually falling in love with her mysterious employer, Mr. Rochester." The event coincides with a new Masterpiece Theatre presentation of Jane Eyre. more ›

Even though the streets are covered with icy slush right now, soon enough we'll all be sweating again in the giant empty cement pool at McCarren. There's a group that wants to make sure we are able to enjoy the pool events for years to come, and they've started Pool-Aid. more ›

EVENT: The Academy presents Meet the Oscars. On top of learning fun facts about Oscar, you'll get to see the little gold guy (and tons of tourists) up close and personal, as the statuettes are on display in Times Square. We suggest you bring a fake acceptance speech with you. more ›

ART: Running through March 7th at Gavin Brown's enterprise at Passerby is "Radical Living Papers". Some of the passionate writers of forty years ago will have their words become a part of this exhibit, which serves as a snapshot of the Vietnam War era and a history of counter-culture and alt press. Publications (all from the 60s and 70s) include Rolling Stone, The Black Panther, Freep, The Seed and the Los Angeles Free Press. more ›

Yesterday was one of the first shows of the summer at McCarren Park Pool. We headed over there to check out the venue, and of course the show. We'll have a review up of Les Savy Fav later on, for now we wanted to give you a look at what the venue is like incase you didn't get over there. more ›

PARTY: Disorient & Kostume Kult invite you to The Black & Light Ball; a Black-Lit Burner Formal. It's like a rave, in your dorm room...but in a gallery, with a lot more blacklighting than you could afford in college. With lighting art on display and blacklight flooding the space - we think it's okay if, just this once, you wear your sunglasses at night. Much more art, craziness and music (er, of the "techno" and "house" variety) will be a backdrop to the ball, a summer fundraiser. There will also be a blacklight sensitive fashion show by PHil's PHads and Caitlin Stolley at 10 pm. more ›

The 2006 Bicycle Film Festival is here, kicking off in New York today, and then traveling to nine additional cities across the globe. more ›

," as part of the acclaimed 33 1/3 series. The book takes a look at the 1989 release of the Pixies sonic masterpiece of the same name, gaining insight from the band themselves. more ›

Kick-Off Party with DJ L’il Shalimar more ›

Now that you're finished pretending you care about football, it's time for the music version of Monday-morning quarterbacking: What are you going to do with your week? To the videotape.... more ›

Fashionistas and music snobs descend upon the city over the next week with both CMJ and Fashion Week starting. We'll most likely only be attending the former. Before it begins though, we'll ease into the hectic schedule with a few of the following events...even if we should be resting up for the week ahead. more ›

Other Passengers are Billy (vox/keys/guitar), James (drums), Kevin (guitar), Tobin (bass) and Travis (guitar). more ›

Morning Theft, fresh off the bus from Boston in 2003, have been desribed as Pearl Jam meets Travis, Nirvana meets the Cure, the Pixies meets Radiohead...you get the point. But these guys have their own sound. And it sounds good. They're the band who has been (not so) silently brooding in the corner of the indie rock scene. They're loud. They're catchy. They're pensive mood rock. Gothamist (and pretty much everyone below 14th St) loves Morning Theft, you should too. Go check them out for free at Luna Lounge tomorrow night. More details after the interview... more ›

CMJ is here. For New Yorkers, you've probably already seen many of these bands. Everybody plays here. But the number of shows and the number of people crammed into the clubs for these shows is greater than normal. Be careful out there. more ›

The Thrills have a great new album, Let's Bottle Bohemia (I hear a bit more pop and less California country), and are stopping by Irving Plaza tonight. The much-buzzed-about and Mercury Prize-nominated band The Zutons are opening the show. If your wallet is a little light these days, don't fret. The Thrills are playing at Tower Records at 4th and Broadway tonight at 6pm. more ›

Kyp Malone, Guitarist, TV on the Radio more ›

Lindsay Robertson more ›