Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with York and music

I want to do all of the cool things

pazazygeek — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:18:50 -0800

I have a plan to visit NYC with my best friend next weekend. I've been to NYC about six or seven times now, and I have a few things in mind. Can you help me find some other cool things to do based on what I'm already thinking about checking out? So far, I'm thinking I'd like to hit The Armoury on Park Ave, Eyebeam Gallery, and check out this bookstore in Williamsburg I've heard about called Book Thug Nation. Manhattan and Brooklyn are both on the docket. Can you recommend any cool galleries to check out?

I've actually never been to The Cloisters, so we might check that out - but I would love to see some cool contemporary exhibits or openings, particularly at smaller galleries.

Also I'm interested in cool places to see music in Brooklyn. I went to The Rock Lottery at The Knitting Factory last November and saw a ton of great local musicians play. What are some good venues to look at to check out who's playing?

Finally - my grandmother grew up in what is now called Flatbush. I have never ventured out there to explore because I had no idea where to go. Is there a good restaurant or cool thing to check out in that area to give me an excuse to really get out there this time?

Thank you for any advice you can provide, New Yorkers of mefi.

"I've got a gun let's go to a Broadway show"

drjimmy11 — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:23:41 -0800

What should I see/eat/do in New York City this week? I'm going to New York this Wed. - Sunday for a film festival. Outside of the screening Thursday night, I don't have any plans at all. Hopefully you can help with that.

I'll be staying in the midtown/Broadway/Times Square area (not really by choice; it's close to my screening.) I have been to New York a few times and seen the very basic tourist things but not much else.

What I like:
Museums and arty stuff
Music- rockish, indieish, alt-country-ish
Literary-related stuff (bonus points for "Gatsby" tie-ins!)
coffee shops
Good food
Stuff I can do by myself without feeling awkward- for me that means I will sit in a cool bar where I can read a book or just chill, but I'm less likely to go to some big dance club. I'm not a huge fan of eating alone at "fancy" restaurants but love good food in a casual setting. I'm a vegetarian, but eat fish, love Indian and other spicy foods.

For lack of a better word, "hipstery" is a pretty good stereotype of what I like. If you know L.A., I live in Silver Lake. I'm interested in exploring Brooklyn/Williamsburg too- specific recommendations are great, but if there's a certain subway stop where I should just get off and poke around, I can do that too. Jonathan and Ray's world in "Bored to Death" kind of appeals to me.

This is kind of lame and embarrassing but I wouldn't mind visiting the famous view by the Brooklyn(??) Bridge. You know, the one from "Manhattan" among other movies.

Not interested in:
Broadway shows
Times Square touristy stuff
Anything that costs a fortune

Maybe:
There is some boat trip that you can take just to see the sites I think? Want to say Staten Island ferry but maybe not? This is embarrassing.

I'm leaving this pretty open-ended; I am well aware there are tens of thousands of bars and restaurants in New York City- just hoping to hear about some hidden treasures I wouldn't otherwise.

Have you ever been to a National Chorale Sing-in of Handel's Messiah?

cymru_j — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:38:40 -0800

Have you ever been to a Sing-in of Handel's Messiah? I'm looking into attending the National Chorale sing-in event at Lincoln Center (http://www.nationalchorale.org/) and gather that you need sheet music to participate. I love the idea of singing along, but how formal is the audience participation? I'm a huge fan of the music and I enjoy singing, but I can't sight read well, and I'm not familiar with the various choral parts.

any suggestions for what this record/band might be

iamnotateenagegirl — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:52:48 -0800

sorry if this is just so insanely obscure it is impossible. I heard this record that was apparantly a new york band. It was pretty obscure (probably the kind of thing reviewed in the Wire or a similar magazine) and may be classed under such genres as 'new weird america' or freak folk. Musically it was sort of a mishmash of electronica and some feedback and acousticy stuff with a male vocalist, and (this is the key thing) was a double album and probably quite recent (2007 or 08). May have been considered suitable for a late night mood. Any suggestions?

I'm a little bit country, but New York's not.

supercoollady — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 07:45:26 -0800

I'm not a pro (and I don't play an instrument...) Where can I go to sing early country music in New York City? I used to take a great singing/music class ("early country ensemble") at the Old Town School of Folk Music, in Chicago--everyone got together and they'd put together little groups and people played various instruments and sang, etc. and it was just a delight. I've since moved to New York City, and I haven't had a lot of luck finding something like that. The closest meetup I can find is the New York City folk music group, and they tend to sing things more like Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, whereas I'm more of a Jimmie Rodgers and Carter Family kind of gal.

Does anyone have any thoughts about this? I'm not really interested in choral singing, I'm not prepared/inclined to go up and do an open mic thing, and I would pay. Thanks for any suggestions!

Mixtape Filter: Songs about NYC

sprocket87 — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 06:55:50 -0800

Indie songs about New York? I'm looking for songs about or making reference to New York, as in the City. Not looking for classic songs like "New York, New York", but stuff more in the modern & indie realm.

A few I already have in mind:

- LCD Soundsystem - New York I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down
- Interpol - NYC
- NOFX - Olympia, WA
- Beastie Boys - An Open Letter to NYC

What else ya got? Thanks :)

Jesse

How do I find live music by up-and-coming bands in my area (NYC)?

kenzi23 — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 22:40:57 -0800

How do I find live music by up-and-coming bands in my area (NYC)? I'm getting interested in some indie bands and want to see them play, but they have already gotten big and are playing only in bigger venues. How do I find bands before they get big in small venues for not much money? And specifically how can I find bands of a particular type and where they are playing locally?

More specifically I'm interested in bands like the Arctic Monkeys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Maximo Park, Editors, Kaiser Chiefs etc. The are bands that don't really fit any particular category so it's hard to search by category, but if I can find a website that can help me find similar bands playing locally, that would be great! I am in the NYC area.