Luxx
Williamsburg gets
its very own punk rock club.
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256
Grand St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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Phone
(718) 599-1000
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Cross
streets
Between Driggs Avenue and Roebling Street |
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The
Scene
Further proof that Bedford Avenue is exploding east into less
sexy areas of Williamsburg: rocker club Luxx, tucked away on a
lonely stretch of Grand Street. From the graffitied entrance to
the jail bars and sparkly vinyl booths inside, Luxx feels like a
place where the wrong-side-of-the-tracks kids hang out in
movies, only with a little less grime. As Ozzy Osbourne screams
from the turntables, 20-somethings kitted out with leather,
spiky hair and nerdy glasses knock back $4 drinks at the
rainbow-lit bar.
The Details
Run by the owners of the Abbey and the Backyard, Luxx hosts live
punk and rock acts three or four nights a week, with a weekly
appearance by the Afrobeat band Antibalas. Assorted DJs and Cult
Movie Mondays pick up the slack on other nights. The
cover--generally under $7--is cheap by Manhattan standards, but
the sound system needs improvement before it can really rock. |
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Clearview's
Ziegfeld Theater
One of the few
surviving single-screen moviehouses in the city, the Ziegfeld is the
place to see something big and special.
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141
W 54th St
New York, NY 10019-5302
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Phone
(212) 765-7600
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Cross
streets
Between 6th and 7th Avenues |
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The
Space
The Ziegfeld's got history (The current theater sits on the site
of the original "Ziegfeld Follies"), a massive screen,
elegant decor and impeccable projection quality on its side.
What it doesn't have is stadium seating or adequate restroom
facilities.
The Crowd
This is the best place in the city to see big event pictures
(like "The Phantom Menace"--which opened here), or any
ambitious work that demands booming surround sound, a huge
screen, and an applauding crowd of over a thousand. Be warned:
Big events attract big crowds--lines for shows often stretch for
several blocks.
The Munchies
Nothing new here: You know the drill. For variety, try the Au
Bon Pain next door. And of course, there are always the hot dog
stands along Broadway. |
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American
Museum of the Moving Image
This living
monument to the silver screen is one of Queens's starring
attractions.
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35
Ave at 36 St
Astoria, NY 11106
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Phone
(718) 784-0077
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The
Space
Located on the old Astoria Studios lot (in the '20s and
'30s, this was Paramount's East Coast production
facility), AMMI is a treasure house of movie and
television artifacts; it's also an active film venue.
The museum has several theaters for its film screenings,
including the Riklis Theatre and Tut's Fever, an
exuberant tribute to '20s movie palaces designed by Red
Grooms. The diverse screening schedule features major
retrospectives devoted to single actors or directors,
including some great series on independent filmmakers.
Motionless Alternatives
The museum's collection--photography, stills,
movie-making equipment, props, entire sets--is shown in
changing, themed shows in the first-floor gallery and in
a permanent exhibition entitled "Behind the
Screen," a multimedia exploration of the history of
movies and moviemaking. Special hands-on activities can
make interesting birthday party alternatives for kids. |
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Galapagos
Uses its
converted-factory digs to great effect.
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70
N 6th St
Brooklyn, NY 11211-3009
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Phone
(718) 782-5188
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Cross
streets
Between Wythe Avenue and Kent
Avenue |
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The
Scene
One must walk a metal grating over a reflecting pool,
moodily lit with floating and wall candles, just to get
inside Galapagos. Its exposed beams and grids running
along the top of the warmly lit interior subtly evoke
the environment's found, industrial beauty in a
spontaneous way. Beyond the moat-like entrance, the bar
maintains a welcoming vibe.
The Draw
Galapagos has successfully established itself as a
Williamsburg cultural center, hosting plays, DJs and
cabaret acts in addition to its now-famous Sunday night
movie series, Ocularis. The space also features a
gallery of paintings and installations by neighborhood
artists. |
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Guernica
It may not
possess the wild streak of predecessor Save the Robots, but it
has certainly inherited the spark.
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25
Ave B
New York, NY 10009
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Phone
(212) 674-0984
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Cross
streets
Between 2nd and 3rd Streets. |
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The
Scene
Guernica's small subterranean space fills up with an
eclectic weekend crowd--from hard-core club kids and
laid-back music lovers to no-frills downtowners seeking
something different. The mix of people bumping into one
another stirs up a pleasing kind of party friction.
Looks
Simple, yet subtly enchanting: a scrim of sheeting blue
water behind the bar (in an otherwise dark room), the
layer of cobalt glass adorning the bar's surface and low
seating upholstered in gold-sparkle vinyl. An intimate,
loungey dance floor keeps the mood both loose and
energized.
Music
The club tends to favor progressive, mood-oriented DJs
(like Qool Marv) who spin everything from atmospheric
house to Brazilian rhythms seven nights a week. Tunes
are piped into the upstairs restaurant and amber-toned
bar, where guests gather for dinner in a fluid,
down-tempo ambience.
The Menu
Just about everything upstairs is delish (and available
in tasting or entree portions): the Portuguese pork and
clams, the chicken satay or perfectly crisped vegetarian
gyoza. A half-dozen oysters are a surefire pick-me-up. |
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Liberty
Science Center
Engaging
interactive exhibits explore the environment, health and
invention.
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251
Phillip St
Jersey City, NJ 07305-4699
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Phone
(201) 200-1000
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Cross
streets
Liberty State Park |
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Please
Do Touch!
The outside of the Liberty Science Center looks like a
cross between an art deco skyscraper and a nuclear
reactor--and the inside is equally energetic. Hands-on
exhibits such as a miniature earthquake simulator and a
hall of mirrors that demonstrates optical illusions are
guaranteed to engage and delight even the most
attention-deficient child. Other highlights include the
world's largest IMAX screen, a huge kinetic sculpture
that seems to defy the laws of physics and the Bug Zoo
(if you think your apartment has the world's largest
cockroaches, think again).
A lot for a Little One
The museum is definitely geared toward children, but
even if you didn't win first prize at the science fair
there are plenty of things here to intrigue and amaze
you too. |
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