Pool Parties at the Williambsburg Waterfront. Dirty Projectors do the 1st of Many.

Sunday I went to the Dirty Projector’s show at the Williamsburg waterfront’s “Pool Parties.” The name “Pool Party” may be minorly deceiving to those of us who came equipped wearing bathing suits and swimmies, but the party was defanatley on. There are so many great things about this thing. First- off it’s FREE! Secondly, they have an awesome lineup that includes Girl- Talk and Grizzly Bear (who’s playing on my birthday). After you get over the great free concerts, you also can factor in the fact that the bands play with a background of the Manhattan Skyline. It’s not only beautiful, but from a Brooklyn-er’s perspective it’s a wonderful slap in the face saying Manhattan could never touch this!

There’s also great places to relax and tan on the grass if you’re into that sort of thing, designated dogeball and baskctball courts that hold endless tournaments during the event and beer tents (pricey, but affordable given the fact that you didn’t have to pay for the show). Check out some photos from Sunday’s Concert of the Dirty Projectors:

 

The Dirty Projectors performing their opening song at the Pool Parties on the Williamsburg waterfront.

This was the first band that went on at the Williamsburg waterfront Pool Parties last weekend.

Glorious view of the Manhattan skyline. Perfect backdrop for awesome band performances.

Along with a view of the Manhattan skyline we got a view of some good ol' Williamsburg gentrification.

Pool Parties in Williamsburg is also a great place to enjoy the sun.

Me being silly and enjoying the sun in my bathing suit.

 

Dirty Projectors performing their hit song, Stillness is the Move at Pool Parties last weekend.

 

Converse stuck an interactive corporate hand in the Williamsburg waterfront Pool Parties. I wonder if all of the shoes ended up being colored in.

 

The official schedule for this summer's Pool Parties in Williamsburg.

Coney Island’s Siren Festival; How it hit me.

So Saturday was Coney Island’s Siren Festival. The Village Voice has been promoting the shit out of this thing. I think it’s their little baby every summer. And why wouldn’t you want to let it be known to New York that you were responsible for an all day free festival featuring hip bands like the Raveonettes and Built to Spill in Coney Island? Reason to brag, right?

I suppose so. I did have fun at Siren Festival. Believe me. And how couldn’t I? I got to watch Grand Duchy play on a beautiful day with the background of the Cyclone… all for free. But I found as time ran on I got tired of running back and forth, zig- zagging in and out of the masses of people who didn’t care about the festival at all from stage 1 to stage to to catch the band I wanted to see. By 6 p.m. I was exhausted, and I had only been there a couple of hours. I said adios to my friends pretending like I was going home and indulged in the Coney Island Freak show.

 

View of stage 2 at the Village Voice's 2009 Siren Festival in Coney Island

This scene and the knowledge that I was at a free festival made me think I was at a Grateful Dead show.

 

View of Stage 1 in front of the Cyclone, and the grand Grand Duchy's performance.

 

I left the Raveonettes to go see the MC for the freakshow bargin with the crowd. He lowered admission prices to $3.

Yes, I actually did pay 50 cents to see the Giant Rat, which in reality... is a gofer.

 

After the gofer- incident I knew better then to pay to see the Giant Snake.

 

I must admit I was tempted to see the Headless Woman, but I stayed strong and saved my 50 cents for a much- needed Capri Sun.

2009 Bastille Festival; Who Knew the French Partied in Brooklyn?

I had no idea what a Bastille Festival was, or that French people ever came to party in Brooklyn… but it’s New York and everything is not only possible, but probable. Here are some photos from Smith Street’s 2009 Bastille Festival which included:

– The World’s 2nd largest Pentanque Tournamen

– Fine wine

– Skateboarding exhbitionanists sponsored by Homage (Skate Shop on Smith Street)

– The Bar Tabac hosting a classic- rock coverband after the festival. The bar was packed with drunk people dancing to Free- bird and Lay- Down Sally! It was awesome. 

– and really loud Spanish Music emulating from Mexican Restaraunt Coco Rocco. (Don’t you love it when the Latin American’s and teen-age skateboarders take over the French Party)?

 

Never knew what Petanque was or that people in Brooklyn played it, but they cleared out a whole block on Smith Street for it so it must be important.

 

I wasn't there to see the band, but the aftermath seemed pretty sweet.

 

Some people conjuring up some fun and mischief outside the Bar Tabac.

 

This ended up just serving as a drink stand.

 

I hope they got the sand for Smith Street's Pentanque Tournament from Coney Island

 

Homage set up their skateboarding section right in front of the store I work at, We the Free... and we were happy to have an all day show!

 

A bunch of people crowded around a guy breakdancing wearin a V- for- Vendetta mask (who I think usually performs at the Union Square stop on the L).

 

Brooklyn Skaters enjoying the Bastille Festival. Not very french, but very Brooklyn!

 

Who said the G train never lead to nothin’! Supposed to be more festivities on Bastille’s actual celebration day, this Tuesday.

 

C.A.