SceneTracker New York

EDC NY After Party Roundup

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:01:00 -0400

EDC is just around the corner and raging fans from all over the United States will be invading CitiField to partake in the festivities. To accommodate all the EDM fans in the area, there will be EDC after parties at various locations all around NYC. Whether you’re going to EDC and want to keep the party going, or you weren’t able to make the festival, here is your guide to the EDC NY after parties.*

Friday, May 17th:

Pacha will have an official EDC after party with Steve Angello headlining. Tickets can be purchased, here.

FINALE will have an official EDC after party with Nicky Romero headlining.

Marquee will have an official EDC after party with Richie Hawtin headling. Tickets can be purchased, here.

Saturday, May 18th:

Pacha will have an official EDC after party with Gareth Emery headlining. Tickets can be purchased, here.

Marquee will have an official EDC after party with Dash Berlin headlining. Tickets are available, here.

4Sixty6 will have New Jersey’s only official EDC after party with R3hab & Quintino headlining.

Stage 48 will have an EDC after party with Hard Rock Sofa and Bambi headlining. Tickets can be purchased, here.

Webster Hall will have an EDC after party with Tyler Sherritt headlining their Brite Nites party. There will be reduced admission with an EDC bracelet. Tickets are available, here.

**Note to those attending EDC: most, if not all clubs on this list will have dress codes so you will need to change out of your festival clothes before attending.

Insomniac and EMM Group Partner for EDC NY VIP Experience

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:37:00 -0400

It's down to just a day away and just like that, Electric Daisy Carnival New York is here. As it's the first to kick off the summer festival season in NYC, EDC NY will top last year's event and the festival's producer, Insomniac made sure of that. They have teamed up with nightlife gurus EMM Group, the team behind FINALE in NYC, where the two powerhouses will create the ultimate VIP experience for fans on May 17th and 18th at Citi Field.

“The VIP experience is a special part of the festival which allows fans to enjoy the sights and sounds of the event in the comfort of high-end surroundings with excellent service provided by our partner, FINALE,” said Insomniac, founder and CEO Pasquale Rotella. “If you’re looking for an exclusive club experience at prime locations within EDC New York our VIP packages are the best way to go.”

So if you're ready to get the party started, the VIP table packages will be pretty legit. Fans will be able to experience everything from an exclusive VIP viewing deck overlooking the fest's main stages, Kinetic Field and Circuit Grounds, along with a private bar and lounge area in the midst of a trendy, upscale nightclub atmosphere.

Reservations begin at $1,500 and include access to a full bottle service menu with attentive wait staff on-hand from the nightlife venue. Guests will also receive gift bags including limited edition FINALE branded merchandise. For more information and to purchase VIP packages, please contact info@finalenyc.com, call 212-627-1235, or visit here.

Get Ready to Rage with Brunch Bounce!

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:02:00 -0400

Memorial Day Weekend is the big kick off to summer and everyone is looking for the best places to party. Some people decide to spend it at big resort destinations such as Vegas, Atlantic City or Miami but if you’re staying in the Tri-State area, there is no better place to be Saturday, May 25th than Brunch Bounce at La Marina Beach.

Started by Irvin Benitez and later joined by his partner, Jose Espinal, Brunch Bounce has been rocking parties for almost a year now. Recently they have teamed up with Apt. 78 owner, Jose Morales to hold parties at the super dope, art gallery inspired cafe and lounge. The music at Brunch Bounce is an eclectic, open format orgy of genres that sets the tone for a wild day party unlike any found in NYC. Brunch Bounce distinguishes itself from other NYC parties by staying away from the pretentious, bottle popping, arrogant crowd that has permeated NY nightlife recently. The good people at Brunch Bounce only concern is that guests have fun, dance, take off their cool and let loose. At Brunch Bounce it is not uncommon to see beautiful women having a great time, crowdsurfing, raging and dancing with the fellas. Everyone bounces to the sounds of the music together, simply enjoying the moment. For Memorial Day Weekend there will be a special twist to the party.

With its stunning river views and “out of city” experience, La Marina Beach will offer party-goers one of the most unique, spectacular settings in NYC. Rocking from noon all the way to 8pm, guests will enjoy thumping mixes from talented DJs such as DJ Arq, Mixal8r, The Spies, Adamboy, Twitaworldpeace, Schoolboy, and Sav & Mystereo (formerly of Sazon Booya). To get an audio and video taste of what you can expect at Brunch Bounce check out these links video below.

Can’t make it to the event because you’re having a family party in the backyard or park? Fire up your smartphone or tablet and listen to Brunch Bounce Radio’s monthly mixes here.

If you’re in NYC Memorial Day Weekend and want to actually let loose, drink, listen to great music, dance, interact with new, exciting people and party like you don’t give a damn who’s watching then Brunch Bounce at La Marina Beach is definitely the party for you.

For more information on the party, check out @brunchbounce and @apt78 on Twitter.

Brews & Boomsticks

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:23:00 -0400

For many going to see a movie is a default acvitvity meant only for when there seems to be nothing else going on. Why fill up on overly buttered popcorn and drugstore candy varieties when you could enjoy a delicious three-course beer pairing dinner? Most of us would take the latter option over stale popcorn any day of the week. Thanks to Williamsburg’s Nitehawk Cinema's Beer Dinner program you can catch a screening of Army of Darkness on Wednesday, May 15th at 7:15 pm, while drinking five pints of Founders Brewing Co.'s craft brew and chowing down on dinner courses inspired by the film. With the premiere of the Evil Dead reboot being a recent box office smash, Evil Dead, and its subsequent sequels, will top everyone’s film list for the foreseeable future.

The Army of Darkness menu includes a first round of Founders’ Pale Ale during the opening scene of the movie to get you ready for the medieval action Ash is about to experience when he’s sucked into a time-travel vortex, sans hand, but with his Oldsmobile along for the ride, all the way back to 1300 AD. The three courses served during the meal are designed to enhance the viewer’s experience both visually, as they watch the oftentimes hilarious, gory, and comic book-style special effects-filled horror flick, as well as creating edible sensations. Courses include Ash’s Hand: Claws & Hands (lobster with Buddha’s hand vinaigrette) served with Founders’ Dirty Bastard, Ash vs. Evil Ash: Duo of Beef (short rib and hanger steak served with pomme and carrot puree) paired with a pint of Founders’ Double Trouble, and Darkness Approaches, a dark chocolate cheesecake served with a pint of Founders’ Curmudgeon Old Ale to wash it down. During the finale, moviegoers will enjoy a final pint of Founders’ Doom.

Tickets are $65 and includes tickets to the movie, a three course Army of Darkness-inspired dinner menu, and five pints of beer provided by Founders Brewing Co. To reserve your spot, head to the Nitehawk Cinema website for tickets and more details.

Must be 21+

Girls’ Weekend: 10 Fun Getaways to Take with the Girls This Spring

Mon, 06 May 2013 12:32:00 -0400

Quality time with the girls is something we all need. Our schedules may be incredibly tight leading up to the summer months, but with warmer weather and spring in the air, a girls' weekend getaway is a great opportunity to relax, unwind, and sip a cocktail or two. Here are ten affordable and fun for everyone ideas for planning your next girls’ trip.

Catch Rays at the Shore: Pack your bathing suit and head down the shore for some R&R with the girls. Sip a cocktail on the sand and catch some rays, while dishing the dirt. At night, hit up a nightclub or local bar for some socializing and dancing.

Book a Spa Treatment: Book a luxe spa retreat or spa day full of massages, facials, manis, and pedis. Treat your body and mind, while clocking quality girl time.

Visit a Winery: Tour a vineyard and explore a wide array of wines. The experience of being in the outdoors and sampling new wines with your girlfriends is great bonding, not to mention you’ll be able to expand your repertoire of wines.

Take an Outdoor Adventure: Whether it’s hiking, yoga, whitewater rafting, or some other type of outdoor activity, doing something physical with the girls is great for bonding (and for exercise). Pack a sleeping bag and a tent and plan on staying overnight if there’s a camping spot nearby.

Explore a Nearby City: Shopping, dining, theater, parks, and museums; the options for things to do in a city are endless. Find out what your group is into and plan your activity in advance (especially if it involves reserving tickets or making a reservation).

Check-in to a Casino: Gambling, dining, nightlife, concerts, pools, and spas; casinos offer a wide array of fun for everyone. Casinos also offer many incentives for previous visitors, so check ahead of time to see if anyone in the group has comps available to cut down on costs.

Rage at an Outdoor Music Festival: Great for catching your favorite bands, not great for socializing. These festivals tend to get a bit crazy, but what better way to share the experience than with your girls?

Enjoy Brunch & Dancing: Mimosas, omelets, and socializing are one of the best ways to spend a Sunday, in my opinion. Many brunches now offer sit-down dining, pre-set menus, and unlimited drinks. They also may feature DJs, dancing, and other entertainment.

Book a Bed & Breakfast and go Site-Seeing: Take a tour of a quaint town rich in history and book a B&B to complete the experience. Many historic towns offer ghost tours, horse and buggy rides, and other theme-inspired tours. Look into options pre-trip since these probably require a reservation.

Good Old Fashioned Sleepovers: Chances are since middle school, you haven’t been to a sleepover party hosted at someone’s home. Order some pizza and plan a girl’s night in (the adult version) with alcohol and adult games to make the experience unforgettable.

Everyone seems to have a jam-packed schedule with work, school, families, hobbies, and other responsibilities devouring our time, so oftentimes coordinating plans with our group of girlfriends is difficult to nearly impossible. Make your plans far in advance, say, at least a month. The more girls in your group, the more difficult it will be to accommodate everyone’s schedule, so send out invites four to six weeks in advance to give everyone a heads up on all the fun that is to come.

Cinco de Mayo Survival Guide

Fri, 03 May 2013 12:43:00 -0400

On St. Patty’s Day we’re all Irish and on Cinco de Mayo we’re all Mexican. It’s that time of year to be Mexican again. Are you ready for tequilas, cervezas, fish tacos, and sombreros? Joonbug loves a well-made tequila cocktail and also loves sipping on some good tequilas. You can't beat a day of Mexican food, drinks, and culture as I’m sure many of you embrace on this festive day. Cinco de Mayo started with Mexican-Americans on the west coast celebrating democracy and freedom at the start of the American Civil War. So how do we survive celebrating the holiday? Well Joonbug doesn’t want you to just survive. We want you to relish. So here are some tips on what to include in your celebrations:

Margaritas, obviously, but not just any. Try some of the bangin’ recipes from Sauza Tequila for a delicious combination of flavors from pineapple lime cilantro to kumquat.

Fish tacos are the best kind of tacos. We don’t know why but fish tacos over any other type of taco seems fitting for Cinco de Mayo. Perhaps because the warm weather elicits a desire for seafood? Throw in some jalapenos and cilantro to add some sassy Mexican flavor to your day. Want even more Mexican flavor, try out these recipes!

Wear a sombrero. Not only will you protect your skin from sun, but you’ll be festive! Besides, we find that props are excellent conversation starters when you make new friends at bars so throw in a fake mustache or some maracas if you feel so inclined.

Most of all…enjoy you, enjoy the weather, and enjoy the company.

First Thursday’s at The Setai

Wed, 01 May 2013 17:04:44 -0400

Thursday, May 2nd is shaping up to be one heck of a night as The Sindicate Entertainment Group presents First Thursday’s at Setai Wall Street, sponsored by FastMatch. From 6 pm to midnight, guests will enjoy a unique all-inclusive Wall Street entertainment experience. There will be unlimited chef inspired passed canapés, top shelf open bar for the entire event and VIP Table Service rivaling the top lounges in NYC.

As entertainment for the night there will be an exclusive private performance by 8-time Grammy nominated group Symphony Crack Orchestra and an exclusive album release performance by DJ Francisco Lozano. Along with the musical entertainment, there will be live aerial artists performing and serving champagne from silk ropes. You can purchase tickets for the event here. Joonbug readers can use exclusive promo code: wheretoparty for a 33% off discount. All tickets include open bar, food, entertainment, taxes and gratuities for the entire evening.

With tickets going quickly for this event and the high quality entertainment set for the night, this is the party to get your weekend kick started right.

All That Jazz

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:11:00 -0400

The New York jazz scene is alive and well in locations all over the city. Escape the usual club atmosphere for something more sophisticated-cool by heading to any of these four jazzy eateries that either specialize in showcasing jazz performances or have a designated night dedicated to the sweet, soothing sounds of live jazz. Enjoy craft cocktails, uniquely American cuisine, and dance to the beat supplied by the rhythm and horn sections of premiere jazz ensembles. You’ll be crooning like a trumpet in no time!

L’Amant

When you step into L’Amant you're instantly transported directly to 1940’s Vietnam. With its vintage décor and smooth jazz this West Village French-Colonial-inspired cocktail lounge specializes in irresistible cocktails made with house made syrups, fresh juices, and exotic spirits. For example, for this weekend’s Cinco de Mayo fiesta they’ll be serving a Danza de los Viejitos made with Tequila Reposado, Gran Classico, Oloroso, and Organic Mezcal. But the real highlight of this hidden gem is their live jazz nights happening weekly on Wednesday and Thursday nights starting at 7pm. Enjoy as live French jazz band, Rie and her Musicians on Wednesdays and Rie with surprise world renowned jazz musicians on Thursdays while you drink refreshing cocktails and nosh on dishes inspired by French and Asian cuisines.

L'Amant is located in the West Village at 235 West 12th Street.

Jazz Standard

Attached to Danny Meyer’s Blue Smoke barbeque joint in the Flatiron District, Jazz Standard features two sets of live jazz nightly. Sets start at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm with a third set at 11:30 pm happening only on Friday and Saturday nights. At Jazz Standard there is always an extraordinary lineup of world-class jazz musicians. Guests will expect to hear classic jazz performances as well as funk, R&B, blues, and loads more. Serving Blue Smoke’s award-winning barbeque and specialty cocktails, Jazz Standard is ideal for jazz aficionados or a budding fan.

Jazz Standard is located in the Flatiron District at 116 East 27th Street.

Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola

Serving down-home flavors served with New York flair, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola is the classic jazz club reinvented. With views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, the Dizzy's hosts both young up-and-coming acts and a variety of established acts right at Lincoln Center. The intimate setting is designed to showcase this uniquely American art form with live performances every night. Lincoln Center Managing and Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis refers to Dizzy’s as a “hall of integration” that “bring[s] everything together.” For a well-rounded jazz experience opt for the Southern Excursion 5-course prix fixe menu ($65) which includes unlimited sangria and starters such as Hushpuppies and main course like Shrimp and Grits, Miss Mamie’s Fried Chicken, and of course, a red velvet cake for dessert.

Dizzy's is located on the Upper West Side at Lincoln Center—33 West 60th Street, 5th Floor.

Smoke Jazz & Super Club-Lounge

With seating for only about 50, Smoke Jazz & Supper Club-Lounge is an intimate venue to listen to soothing jazz right in the neighborhood that helped make the genre famous—Harlem. Formerly the legendary Augie’s Jazz Bar, Smoke has some of the best acoustics in the jazz room scene and is considered by many to be the best jazz club in the world. With delicious foods on their Jazz Dinner Menu such as Lobster, Shrimp & Sausage Jambalaya, a Savory Bread Pudding, and Blackened Catfish created by renowned Chef Patricia Williams served nightly from 5:30 pm until 2 am, Smoke is sure to please. Due to Smoke’s small size it is recommended to purchase tickets for the dinner shows (7pm, 9pm, and 10:30pm) in advance on their website, as seating is based on arrival.

Smoke is located in South Harlem at 2751 Broadway between 105th & 106th Streets.

Celeb-Studded Film-Lover Expierences

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:30:00 -0400

The Tribeca Film Festival wrapped up over the weekend after another successful year of premiere films, many of which will generate buzz once again during awards season. While the entire city was swarmed by A-list actors, the after-parties post film screenings were without a doubt one of the hottest places to be during the TFF. On Friday evening, deep below the crowded Ace Hotel lobby bar movie buffs, beer drinkers, and party-goers alike gathered in the green-lit Liberty Hall space to celebrate director David M. Rosenthal’s film A Single Shot. The film stars Sam Rockwell, Jeffery Wright, William H. Macy, Kelly Reilly, Jason Isaacs, and Joe Anderson and tells “a personally driven father-daughter fable” that is “an engaging and suspenseful piece of work that is indie genre at its most spirited.”

Sponsored by Heineken, revelers mingled and chatted on leather couches with personalized Heineken pillows in the intimate space washed in kelly green lighting along with large, 3D Heineken signs. Those in attendance enjoyed ice cold bottles of beer, provided by Heineken, as well as mixed well drinks at the two open bars at opposite ends of Liberty Hall while DJ Goldie Gareza spun classic ‘90s rewinds. Celebs spotted at the after-party included Justin Long, Sam Rockwell, director David M. Rosenthal, NY1's resident film critic Neil Rosen, and others.

Over the course of the two week film festival Heineken also sponsored private Green Room Sessions at select venues throughout Manhattan. The events gave ticket holders the opportunity to get to know the creative minds behind five select films featured at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. The films that participated in the intimate Q&A forum were Flex is Kings, Lenny Cooke, The Moment, Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia, Alias Ruby Blade: A Story of Love and Revolution. Meant to bring film lovers closer to filmmakers, the Green Room Sessions featured passed hor d’oeuvres presented by the host venue.

Missed out on the Green Room Sessions? Check out the videos on Heineken’s YouTube channel.

Below is the Q&A with the director of Flex is Kings.

Speakeasies Never Go Out of Style

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:49:00 -0400

If you thought time travel was only possible via a hot tub time machine, think again. Patrons of this past weekend's Prohibition NYC found themselves in the 1920s and all they had to go was travel to the Lower East Side. Brought to you by the chefs that hosted last year's Dine Titanic, Chef Rob McCue and Adam C. Banks payed homage to the roaring '20s and the birth of the cocktail party. Dressed to the nines in flapper attire or flap hats and suspenders, revelers approached the speakeasy and were welcomed (or unwelcomed) by both flapper girls and Prohibition picketers.

Once you made it past the mob, you entered into a dimly lit speakeasy, where everyone looked and acted the part. Bathtub gin was being mixed in the entryway, all cocktails were served in coffee mugs (discretion is the name of the game), and hidden behind a mysterious bookshelf VIPs could taste fresh concocted absinthe and watch old black n' white flicks.

While party goers downed specialty cocktails like the Sidecar and Blood & Sand, they were welcome to help themselves to charcuterie and passed hors d'oeuvres made by the celebrity chefs, including fried olives, asparagus soup, and more tasty treats inspired by the era. As if all that wasn't enough to convince everyone they were actually in the 1920s, there was also a fantastic jazz band turning out song after song, inspiring revelers to do the Charleston and get funky on the impromptu dance floor. With two amazing events in their pocket, we can't wait to see what McCue and Banks have in store for us next year!