(N6) image via NY Mag

Pinkerton Wine Bar is officially open, taking over the old N.6 spot.  While the winebar might look the same, Pinkerton is only serving Wine and Beer with hopes to have small plates in the future. The interior and layout looks pretty similar except for new window treatments – which makes the place feel a lot more open – and emphasis on mood lighting.    The spot is quite romantic and off the beaten path so if you are looking for a mini-escape of the chaotic Bedford Ave. with your beau, this might the place for you.

I’ll be interested to see how this place does.  N6 was open for six years but never really took off in the way I hoped it would- and they served wine, beer, and food (although their hours were a little weird.)  I might be bias because the Bamonte’s are good family friends of mine, but I am still at a loss for a new brunch spot.  N6 Brunch was the BEST. Anyways – best of luck to Pinkerton.

On a side note: the landlord of 52 Havemeyer, the building Pâtés et Traditions is located, passed away last week.  No word on if her family will take over the building or not – if the building gets sold, Pâtés et Traditions’ rent could skyrocket – or the new owners could even decide to tear down the building.   You never know with the ever changing neighborhood of Williamsburg.

Pinkerton Wine Bar
263 N6th Street

This is the most upsetting news I’ve heard since the closing of Black Betty.   Williamsburg legend, The Bagel Shop, known for making every flavor of cream cheese possible, has been replaced for a Starbucks.  Williamsburg DOES NOT NEED A STARBUCKS.   We have Oslo.  Oslo > Starbucks anytime. The heartbreaking news delivered via John Del Signore/Gothamist.

Hip-ster olde tymers may recall the big Williamsburg Starbucks scare of Aught One, when anti-chain activist Reverend Billy rallied his troops to protest outside a rumored location at the corner of North 5th and Bedford. Funny enough, during the rally, the new tenants suddenly appeared to explain away the rumor—it was “Fabiane’s Pastry and Cafe, an Independent Pastry Experience,” on the way, not Starbucks. Nine years later, the ubiquitous coffee corp. has yet to find a foothold in the neighborhood, but all that may be about to change.

The owner of the popular Bagel Store on the corner of Bedford and North Third has confirmed rumors, first fanned on Eater, that he’s being pushed out for a Starbucks. Owner Scott Rossillo says his landlord, Yehuda Backer, first tried to double his rent, which Rossillo couldn’t afford. According to Rossillo, Backer told him that when the lease expires in November 2011, Starbucks will take over. (Backer denies this.) In an angry phone conversation, Rossillo explained the situation:

I talked with the landlord two weeks ago. He asked me if I wanted to stay and I said of course! Right now I’m paying $7,300 a month. He told me, okay, I’ll give you a break and only raise the rent to $14,500 a month. We can’t afford that, but he says that’s what Starbucks can pay. Right now I have to borrow money from my other store to cover the rent on this one! You can’t squeeze blood from a rock. He said I had until this Tuesday to decide. That day came and went, and then I heard one of his sons told the owner of the cell phone store down the street, “The deal is done. You should have expected this. It’s Williamsburg, you know.”Well, we’re not going to be raped. It’s like organized crime. Our landlord, Yehuda Backer, essentially said, “You’ve been here a long time, you’ve always payed your rent on time, and for that we’re going to double your rent.” When we moved in here in 2001 it was a dead man’s zone. Everybody wanted North 7th Street, as they still do, but nobody wanted to move in here; it was just a big empty warehouse. We were the first to move in, after that came King’s Pharmacy and Millennium Market. Now Duane Reade is going to open across the street from the pharmacy, and I’m scared for them! I know the owners, I know their families. They’re from around here, I’m from Bensonhurst. Starbucks isn’t from here.

Rossillo continued:

I’m the first one in this warehouse to have my lease up for renewal, and the others are going to face the same situation. The landlord said to me, “Scott, this property is going to be all big businesses who can pay me the price I want.” It’s very sad. You know, I’m the first on the plumbing line, so over all these years we’ve had lots of problems, and when things get backed up, it all comes into my space. You know what I’m talking about? And when this happens on the weekends, and Yehuda is upstate or having religious observances, I’ve always taken care of all this stuff by myself. Had plumbers working through the night. My wife always said to me, “Why don’t you bill him.” And I told her, “It’ll come back to us.” That’s the way I am; you take care of me, I take care of you.We’re upset, but we’re not leaving the neighborhood. We have another location, and we’ll reopen this one somewhere nearby. I’ve got a couple spaces I’m considering on the southside, where it’s a little more reasonable.

But Backer insists he has no deal with Starbucks at this time. When asked if he is negotiating with Starbucks, he told us, “I myself haven’t been in touch with anybody [about taking over the space].” Backer confirmed that he wanted to double The Bagel Store’s rent, telling us, “We gave him an offer and he refused. Taxes have gone up 20 times on this building.”

We’re waiting to hear back from Starbucks, but naturally, this wouldn’t be complete without a word from Rev. Billy, who says, “The definition of Williamsburg is that it is the birth of culture. The definition of Starbucks is that it is the death of culture. The definition of Billyburg is that it is the defiant, complex, always surprising birth of new culture. The definition of Starbucks is that it imitates cultures that are original and uses images of cafe society back when it was dangerous, i. e. Cabaret Voltaire, Paris, the beats… to sell its non-Fair Trade bad coffee. Williamsburg should break the windows every morning and surround the landlord with shame. Bring back the Bagel Store!”

I am going to go cry now.

If you haven’t heard of Brooklyn’s own, The Canon Logic yet, I recommend you check them out. Their record release is TONIGHT at Mercury Lounge.    $10 buys you entry into the show and your very own copy of FM ARCADE, a whole four days before its actual release.

Congratulations guys!

“The Canon Logic plays 1960s-style shameless pop fused with latter-day production sensibilities on its new EP, White Balloon.
- Time Out New York

The Philadelphia – via Delaware – based band Canon Logic make a funky brand of power-pop that mixes 60s sounds, like the beach-pop melodies of The Beach Boys and the brit-rock bounce of the early Beatles, with contemporary beats and lyrics. The retro power-pop/indie-rock sound this creates is unique in today’s mainstream musical soundscape.
- BlogCritics

Nights at Amour Mansion // The Canon Logic

Avenue of Criminals // The Canon Logic

The Mercury Lounge
217 East Houston St @ Essex
7:30PM
$10

Come see how I get down in person.

Sorry this is the best quality video they had.

I could go for some boot knockin right about now.

I was obsessed with this song when I was little.  Semi embarrassing now.

First up was Yula Be’eri and the Extended Family.  Yula is part folky, part sexy, and an all around talented artist; she sings and plays the piano, bass and guitar. A popular Israeli musician, Be’eri is best known for her involvement in World Inferno Friendship Society, Star Fucking Hipsters, and NaNunchka and just recently completed a  month long residency at The Knitting Factory.  Beyond Race Magazine reviewed her performances and said, “From the moment she steps onto the stage, oozing intensity and barefooted, it becomes clear, that at the very least, she won’t be boring. Yula opened with a few soulful, melodic songs that proved her extraordinary vocal talent and song-writing craftsmanship. The intertwining of a bass, played by Yula, and an accompanying trombonist, produced rich, layered sounds. As the set progressed, she switched to the keyboard, and at various points, was joined by musicians on the drums and synthesizer. Yula’s theatrical flair brings her more cabaret-infused songs to life. Her grandiose gestures and eccentric, self-assured, movements exude a charismatic, edgy aura. Towards the end of her set, after on turning a black light and smearing glowing body paint on her face, Yula transitioned into an experimental-electronic, “mini-soundtrack.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!   Although her set was only about 20 minutes long and she was  accompanied by just a drummer, Isaac Gardner formerly of the Blue Man Group– it was clear the girl could sing and was truly a one-of-a-kind.  You can check her music and up coming tour dates out here: http://www.myspace.com/yulabeeri

Next up was Smoota.  Ohhhh where to begin.  Jonathan Goldman of Gigmaven really described it best when he saw Smoota’s first performance at Union Hall last week.  Pronadellic Soul is right. “Smoota is the dirty psychedelic soul alter-ego of local semi-legend Dave Smith, a much in-demand trombonist known for his work with Burnt Sugar, the Red Baraat Festival, Chin Chin, the Reverend Vince Anderson, amongst others.  Two years ago, alone in his bedroom, Smith (Smoota) recorded Fetishes, a suite of raunchy, unironic, unapologetic songs about sex and idiosyncratic desire.”  Smoota is now a foursome with Kevin Blackler on Keyboard, my good friend Mike ‘MiWi’ Williams on Bass Guitar and Evan Howard on the coolest, most baddest instrument I have ever seen, the Electro Drums.  While Smith is not the best singer in the world, it doesn’t even matter.  The lyrics are just as ridiculous as they are catchy, yet almost poetic in a way with repeating hooks and melodies.  You only need hear their songs once and you will know all the words, hence why half of the crowd was singing along.    I definitely foresee this act becoming bigger, more theatrical, and vulgar as time goes on *They would be a perfect fit for The Box.* Smith opened up his act last night… wearing a straight up 70’s style brown suit with an orange ruffled shirt, mind you *the same exact outfit my Dad’s groomsmen wore for his wedding*… groaning “Pink Braaaaa Playing Guitarrrrrr” -  A song about a hot, blond, sweaty, guitar player smoking a cig.  Each song is so sexy (instrumentals), yet weird (lyrics) at the same time…you almost feel wrong for digging it so much.  I guess that’s the attraction.   You can check out Smoota here: http://www.myspace.com/smoota.

The show ended with country-blues singer, Greg Garing.  Man oh man can this guy sing -  you can feel it down in your soul – goosebumps.   According to his website bio, Garing has been a Nashville insider legend for a long time – I am not sure how he is not already famous- he should be.   Garing takes the stage with just a guitar in hand, one which he plays so fast his hands are just a blur, belting heartfelt lyrics.  As soon as he opened his mouth, my friend and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows, almost speechless.   While I am not a huge country/bluegrass fan, I do appreciate a good Rhythm and Blues every no wand again. I felt southern just listening to him!   Garing is the only performer of the night who will maintain a residency at The Delancey so you can check him out online: http://www.myspace.com/greggaring and every Monday night for the rest of the month.

The Small Beast Musical Series
Monday Nights at The Delancey
168 Delancey St [LES]

Monday night, Thrillist and Tasting Table kicked off Martini Week with a happy hour at Madam Geneva featuring Bombay Sapphire and Grey Goose martini cocktails. Martini Week is a two-week-long promotion, during hand selected bars/restaurants in Manhattan offer $10 martinis from 5:30pm to 8:30pm nightly – each featuring a specialty cocktail curated by the venues mixologist. Some of these places include: Delmonico’s, Tabla, Peacock Alley, Tao and 10 Downing, among others.  To what venues are participating and which cocktails they are offering you can check out the site: http://ManhattanMartiniWeek.com and tell the bartender you’re there for Martini Week and get your $10 cocktails.

Madam Geneva is attached to Double Crown – if you walk through the restaurant you will fall upon a backroom speakeasy that specializes in Gin cocktails – Madam Geneva. I have never been to either spot before and was pleasantly surprised when I walked in.  What an amazing space – very cozy and intimate.  I am curious to see what it’s like on a nightly basis- or even on a Saturday night (Gasp!)  Only time will tell if Martini Week will be the next Restaurant Week but the forecast is looking pretty good.  I must tip the hat to Thrillist and Tasting Table for developing this unique experience for Grey Goose and Bombay Sapphire. Nice to see brands and publishers thinking outside the box (you know I have to add my ad speak nonsense in every once in a blue.)

Last night’s gathering was overall good drinks, good people, and good times.  I got to meet a lot of bloggers I have not met face-to-face before – so it’s always nice to put a face to a site. Shout outs to Kat from http://www.nycrecessiondiary.com/, Yvonne from http://www.sociallysuperlative.com/, and Nick from http://randomnightout.com/.

My fave of the night was the Green Angel Martini… here is the recipe:

1 1/2 oz Grey Goose la Poire
1 1/2 oz Pistachio Sweet Milk Syrup ( I don’t even know what this is – but it is DELICIOUS)
1 oz Apple Juice
Garnish with crushed pistachios in center mint leaf

The other martini was a huge hit- it was also a but stronger – funny how that happens.
Europa Martini
2 oz Bombay Sapphire
1/2 oz Grapefruit Juice
1/2 oz Aperol
1/2 oz Lavender Water
Top with Champagne
Spritz of Creme de Violette Over Surface
Garnish with a lemon twist

The full gallery can be found [HERE]

Martini Week
Now until March 14th, 5:30 to 8:30pm nightly at participating restaurants and bars.

Madam Geneva
4 Bleecker St [LES]

I need an intern!  If you are interested or know anyone that might be hit me up! Send an email to (kristina@thedowntowndiaries.com) with a short description of your experience and why you are interested in the position.  Must live in NYC but this is a WFH position.  Going out and attending cool parties is apart of the job, duh.  Having a good camera is a plus!

Thanks!

Little did I know they are actually a pretty big band and they performed at Williamsburg Hall of Music last night opening up for the Shout Out Louds.

Brooklyn Vegan quotes,

Freelance Whales played last night at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Shout Out Louds. Pictures from that are on the way. Tonight (3/2) you can catch the Whales busking on the Bedford Avenue L train platform, where they plan to go on at 6pm.

Freelance Whales also have plenty of tour dates coming up, including SXSW, where one of their shows will be the Mom+Pop/Frenchkiss Records showcase (with Local Natives, Antlers and others) at Galaxy Room on Friday, March 19th.

They come back from the road for an April 13th show at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets to that are still on sale.

Check them out!