Hi all,

For anyone that might be interested, here are upcoming shows that I am interested in and/or already have bought tickets for (anything with a star next to, I have a ticket). Scroll all the way down the list because near the end I have a surprise extra ticket that I am hoping someone would be interesting in buying and joining me!

Frank London Brass Quartet + Skeleton$ Big Band

Wed 2/16, Issue Project Room, 8pm, $11advance, $12dos

http://www.issueprojectroom.org/music/frank-london-brass-quartet-skeleton/

Superhuman Happiness, Yellowbird, Invisible Familiars

Fri 2/25, Zebulon, 9pm, $10 (Zeb charges for some shows now??!!)

http://www.superhumanhappiness.com/

-OR-

Nat Baldwin, Liturgy, Cavex, Talk Normal

Fri 2/25, 285 Kent Ave, 8pm, $?

Gregory and the Hawk

Sat 2/26, Littlefield, 8pm, $8

http://www.myspace.com/gregoryandthehawk

Nat Baldwin, Julie Kent, Elfin Saddle

Fri 3/4, Littlefield, 8pm, $8

http://www.myspace.com/natbaldwin

Signal performs Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" w/ special guests Third Coast Percussion

**Sun 3/13, (le) poisson rouge, 6:30pm, $25 (Denny and I already have tix)

http://lepoissonrouge.com/events/view/1704

Mount Kimbie, Jamie Woon, Muramic, Com Truise

**Thu 3/24, (le) poisson rouge, 11pm, $10advance, $12dos

http://lepoissonrouge.com/events/view/1979

http://www.myspace.com/mountkimbie

The Residents

Thu 3/31, Highline Ballroom, 9pm, $35

Misstallica (female Metallica tribute band, if anything it could be entertaining)

Sat 4/2, Union Hall, 8pm, $12

Peter Evans Quartet & Quintet

Thu 4/7, Littlefield, 8pm, $10

AXIOM performing Reich's "Drumming" (complete)

**Sun 5/8, (le) poisson rouge, 7pm, $25

http://lepoissonrouge.com/events/view/1724

SIGNAL & THE WORDLESS MUSIC ORCHESTRA

**Fri 5/20, The Concert Hall, 8pm $40 (I have an extra ticket for whoever would want to go!)

Performing Gyorgy Ligeti’s Chamber Concerto, the New York City premiere of Philip Glass / David Bowie / Brian Eno’s Symphony No. 4 (“‘Heroes,’” based on music of Bowie and Eno), and the U.S. premiere of Jonny Greenwood’s Doghouse for large orchestra and string trio, the Radiohead guitarist’s longest orchestral work to date.

Tune-Yards & Afuche

**Sat 5/21, Music Hall of Williamsburg, 8pm, $13advance, $15dos

http://www.myspace.com/tuneyards

http://www.myspace.com/afuche

Elvis Costello & the Imposters

Sun 5/22, Beacon Theatre, 8pm, $?? (go on sale 2/18 at 12pm)

http://www.beacontheatre.com/tickets/#leftcolumn

-Mindy

Week of 3/8: Music Events Galore!

This week is packed with great music. Take advantage and hit up some of these shows!

Mon (03/08): Girls in Trouble @ Zebulon (Williamsburg) 8pm FREE

Tue (03/09): Gutbucket, Suite Unraveling, Afuche @ Zebulon (Williamsburg) 8pm FREE

Wed (03/10): Spinal Tap Covers featuring La Otracina @ Otto's Shrunken Head (East Village) 10pm FREE
Wed (03/10): Jason Anthony Harris, Glass Ghost, Flotilla @ Cake Shop (LES) $5 cover

Thu (03/11): Akwarian Sea Rebel @ Public Assembly (Williamsburg)

Fri (03/12): Papacookie #5 Classical Music Night @ Undisclosed Location

Sat (03/13): Major Stark, Legitimate Sons @ Psychedelic Dungeon #2 (undisclosed location)

Sun (03/14): ACME (6:30), Hauschka (9:30) @ Le Poisson Rouge (Manhattan) $20 for both shows

-mindy

"What's going on tonight?"

Q: How many times have Mindy and myself gotten the question, "What's going on tonight?"
The answer is countless.

Why do you think we made a blog with information, reviews and CALENDAR WITH EVENTS COMING OUT OF ITS BEHIND?!

Now, no one I know can use, "I didn't know about that show/event?" as an excuse. It's on the calendar!

So let me now share some tips on how to stay connected to the NYC To-Do List. Firstly, sign up for a Google calendar! It's quick simple and kicks Outlook's ass. You can have email reminders for events sent to yourself, handy right?

Secondly, there is the crazy invention since the dawning of the blogosphere called RSS feeds? If you use Google Reader, Bloglines, My Yahoo!, any feed reader or have a bookmark tab on your web browser (they all have that right?) you can subscribe to the NYC To-Do List blog posts. It will provide you with the most up to date information and rants Mindy and myself have blogged. Just go to the bottom of this page and select "Subscribe: Posts (atom)". But don't get to addicted to RSS feeds or else you may not be able to enjoy all the amazing shit going on in the outerwebs (a.k.a. the place beyond your computer screen or "reality").

Speaking of which, here are some ways to spend your weekend and feed yourself at the same time!

Friday July 10th, TODAY!
The charming and talented Jason Anthony Harris will be playing a FREE show at Goodbye Blue Monday this evening at 9pm. Hungry too? Order some of the sandwiches and cafe eatery Goodbye Blue Monday provides and enjoy the show!

Saturday July 11th, Tomorrow.
Afuche, who we know and love (and not just because we know them) is playing with Rimsky and Hungry Hands in Ryan's Basement. To enter this show you'll need to know someone else who is attending, if you know Mindy or myself personally give us a ring! The show is FREE but donations are always accepted (donations in the form of cash or beer are especially appreciated). Cheap eats right around the corner at Fresco Tortillas, I'm sure members of Afuche will join me in giving Fresco their stamp of approval.

You don't know us personally?
Check out Huggabroomstock at Goodbye Blue Monday, there is a huge BBQ and music festival from 2pm to late night! Bring something to throw on the grill.

Sunday July 12th, The Day After Tomorrow (is a horrible movie).
Moviehouse @ 3rd Ward is BACK! And they are doing a FREE screening of two raunchy sketch comedies; Titsburg and Who Died? - The Frank Zip Story. Before the screening grab some more than "just a slice" of pizza at Roberta's (it's a little pricey but so delicious) and right near the Morgan L stop.

You are a broke hipster?
Your solution is at the Bushwick Country Club, from 2pm to 4pm FREE Ice Cream.Net and Bushwick Country Club have teamed up to provide you with FREE BBQ and FREE Maker's Mark Milkshakes while it lasts. Shoot some putt putt after stuffing yourself with some grilling and milkshakes. You'll still have time to make it over to the Moviehouse Screening, too!

And we would like to thank Heidi for her lovely posting about us on Skirts and Tights! This a shout out in response to a shout out. Hell yes! Even old school MTV didn't have that many shout outs at once!

-Alyssa

Free Stuff for last week of July

I have been a terrible little blogger as of recently. I am DOING fun things, just not blogging about what is to come.

Here are the remainder of my July FREE activities that I have planned for myself:

Thursday, July 24th
Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit, Movies with a View @ Brooklyn Bridge: FREE
Synopsis:

"The annual Giant Vegetable Competition is days away and Wallace & Gromit’s humane pest control service, “Anti-Pesto,” is doing big business. But who exactly is changing into the mysterious Were-Rabbit, trashing and eating all the prized veggies? Find out in this 2005 Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature."

Friday, July 25th (in the wee-morning hours)
Feist performing for Good Morning America @ Bryant Park: FREE

Sunday, July 27th
MGMT and the Ting Tings @ McCarren Park Pool: FREE

Wednesday, July 30th (also other dates available)
12 Ophelia's @ McCarren Park Pool: FREE
Synopsis:

"Twelve Ophelias centers on Hamlet's Ophelia coming back to life, out of the water, to try to overcome her history and forge a new destiny for herself. She finds herself in an Appalachian Elsinore, Denmark by way of Deliverance—where Gertrude runs a brothel, Hamlet and Horatio slum it, and nothing is what it seems. In this squarely American and gritty interpretation of the Hamlet myth, Twelve Ophelias asks how it is possible to break old cycles and start afresh when the past so completely permeates your life."

BrooklynVegan and I totally think alike

I have been working on my own excel-version of a Free Events Calendar for NYC, but today BrooklynVegan released their own online-version (http://www.brooklynvegan.com/events.html) which totally kicks my ass.

Bookmark it and live by it for the summer.

Bryant Park events announced!

Bryant Park announced their Monday movies for the summer, which makes me look forward to June even more than before! Also they announced their GMA concerts line-up, if I can get my ass outta bed early enough. Though I think Feist on July 25th might be a good enough reason for me to head to Bryant Park early on a Friday! =)

2008 HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival

The lawn opens at 5:00pm for blankets (no plastic tarps please) and picnicking. The films begin at dusk (typically between 8pm and 9pm).

June

Mon 16: Dr. No

Mon 23: Bride of Frankenstein

Mon 30: Hud

July

Mon 7: The Man Who Came to Dinner

Mon 14: Fail Safe

Mon 21: Arsenic and Old Lace

Mon 28: The Apartment

August

Mon 4: Lifeboat

Mon 11: The Candidate

Mon 18: Superman

http://bryantpark.org/

Karaoke Marathon: The Sequel

As quoted on my Facebook Event Invite:


Event Info

Name:			Karaoke Marathon: The Sequel
Tagline:			Because we didn't finish our karaoke queue last time...
Host:			Arminda
Type:			Music/Arts - Jam Session

Time and Place

Date:		Sunday, April 27, 2008
Time:		3:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:		Duet 35
Street:		53 W 35th Street (between 5th and 6th Ave)
City/Town:		New York, NY

Description
On that fateful Sunday afternoon in March when Jesse, Heidi, Bob, Billy-Bob and I went to Duet, magic happened. Party lights flashed, tambourines rang, and microphones melted. Songs have forever been altered in history due to our amazing renditions and sweet, passionate crooning. Sadly, 8pm came before we knew it and were forced to leave behind an amazing queue of songs still crying out to be sung.

If you miss out the second time around, you are just plain dumb.

$12 All You Can Sing Karaoke Marathon from 3-8pm. We will have a private room, so you will only be embarrassing yourself in front of those that love you dearly. Besides, what happens in Duet stays in Duet.

Please RSVP on this invite by APRIL 23th so that I can reserve a room big enough to hold everyone!

And so did Heidi's.

Heidi knows what this girl likes!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Heidi Vanderlee '**************@gmail.com'
Date: Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Subject: please tell me you love both of these things
To: Arminda Klier '************@gmail.com'


http://nymag.com/nyxny
--
Heidi Vanderlee(/slice)
Tiny Mix Tapes
www.tinymixtapes.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is the gist of the link Heidi sent, if you are too lazy to hover your mouse and click:
New York mag brings to you this summer,

• Indie Rock Trivia Night (with host Zach Galifianakis and musical guest Les Savy Fav, Highline Ballroom on May 21st @ 8pm, tix on sale now)
• Best Rooftop Party Ever (tix on sale June 2008)
  
• Highbrow Backyard Barbeque (tix on sale July 2008)
  
• Bad Art Auction (tix on sale November 2008)
  
• Indie Rock Karaoke Returns Again (tix on sale January 2009)
  

Free: 'Wordless Music' at the Whitney

My oh my, I really dropped the ball this month. My email inbox is to the brim with my daily newsletters that I have left unopened and I have bookmarked a few things that I wanted to do, but never posted. Let's catch up, shall we?

Fridays in June are looking pretty good, thanks to the Wordless Music series being put on at the Whitney.

This is what Brooklyn Vegan told me:

At the Whitney's invitation, we asked four of our favorite groups-The Berg Sans Nipple, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Prefuse 73, and Times New Viking -to do one Friday-night set apiece at the museum's indoor/outdoor Lower Gallery space. We then invited another of our favorite groups-ACME, the American Contemporary Music Ensemble-to choose music from a broad and representative range of contemporary composers, and to come up with four complementary "classical" programs. What did they end up choosing? Chamber music, ranging from solo percussion to seven strings, by Ingram Marshall, Kevin Volans, John Adams, Chen Yi, and Jefferson Friedman.

Total cost to you, the consumer? $0.00.

About getting into these: museum admission is pay-what-you-wish during Whitney After Hours, Fridays 6-9 pm. Shows begin promptly at 7.
Space is *extremely* limited. Seating and admission for Whitney Live is on a first-come, first-served basis; reservations are not accepted.

June 06 - The berg sans nipple
June 13 - A sunny Day in Glasgow
June 20 - Prefuse 73
June 27 - Times New Viking
July 18 - Deerhoof (@ Prospect Park)

The Whitney Museum
Madison Avenue
& East 75th Street

Quitzow at Rehab (formerly Club Midway)

I love it when I can promote an event related to a friend! My friend, Heidi, plays cello occasionally for the group, Quitzow. According to their Myspace page, they Sound like "getting lost in a Japanese strip mall while slightly intoxicated from love and otherwise..." I agree. This Thursday they are playing at Rehab (the venue formerly known as Club Midway), going on at 10pm. You can download a free MP3 of "On TV!" and possibly swing by on Thursday for more. Seeing a moog and cellos all rocking on the same stage is worth it!


Rehab, 25 Ave B (between 2nd and 3rd)

GATH at Union Pool on Tuesday

Gregory and the Hawk will be playing at Union Pool this coming Tuesday (4/01). Oh, and other bands are playing too: Silje Nes, Curtis Harvey, My Favorite Things.



Did I mention that I love love love GATH? Let's go sing along.


Union Pool (Lorimer L Stop); $ TBD

Let's get Down & Derby!

I wanna get my swerve on! Just hand me some skates and a strong drink!

Unfortunately, prior engagements might prevent me from attending this AMAZING event, but I really, really, really wish I could go. Get more info here (official site), here (Myspace page), and here (Studio B).

Holy Fuck, it's M.I.A.!

M.I.A. is playing McCarren Pool on June 6th with Holy Fuck as the opening act. To quote a snippet of gchat conversation with Jesse:

me: duuuuude, i just found out M.I.A. is gonna be at McCarren Pool on June 6th with Holy Fuck opening

jesse: holy jesus! hipster hellllll!

You may be right, Jesse, but it will be worth it. Tickets go on sale this saturday (3/29) at 11am. I will set my alarm to wake up from whatever hungover stupor I may be in so that I can secure my spot in the deep end of the pool.

BBQ, Bourbon, Brews, & Blues in Brooklyn

Those are arguably the five best possible "B" words ever, and they all come together at one spot in Brooklyn (obviously). The Daily Specials information below is pulled directly from the Bar BQ homepage:

Daily Specials
Monday Nights: Blue Monday. Live Blues. Free bourbon of the week fron 7-9:00 and $2 Blue Point pints. Music starts around 7:00.
Tuesday: $2 Yuengling Kegger and live music. Starts at 8:00
Wednesday: Brooklyn Fire Eaters meet for a hot sauce hootenanny. Live Bluegrass starts around 9:00.
Thursday: Kids eat free from the kid menu
Friday: $3 Happy Hour Drafts
Saturday/Sunday: All day happy hour 12:00-6:00

Any day but Thursday (kids? they don't drink bourbon!) sounds like a sure-fire good time.

Nitty Gritty Details:
Kitchen open: M-F 3-11PM. Sat/Sun Noon-11PM. Bar stays open later.
Weekday Happy Hour 3:00-8:00.
689 6th Avenue (Corner of 20th St.)
The location might seem a little daunting to get to, but HopStop seems to think the R train from Atlantic would do just fine.

Nick Cave Melted My Face

I saw Nick Cave seriously rock Terminal 5 at the 2008 PLUG Awards. I mean, seriously. Also saw Jose Gonzalez perform maybe 15 feet from me, which got me really giddy for this coming Wednesday's show at Brooklyn Masonic Temple (I still have an extra ticket, so I better find someone to go with me!).

Also in PLUG Award news, Jesse and I got caught by the Dell Lounge camera crew:

Wow, Jesse is way taller than me.

The Plug Awards are fast approaching...

...and it is sold out! I guess you will just have to check out the live stream on DellLounge.com on the 6th while I see it LIVE at Terminal 5.

Part 1



Part 2

Absolut Quartet

Pretty neat, huh?

This week's Urban Daddy Weekender newsletter made a very vague reference to this Absolut Quartet that is on display at 186 Orchard Street. I investigated further and found an article on CoolHunting that gave a bit more info. It is on display starting tonight until the end of April.

"Absolut Machines is Absolut's promotional initiative that explores where technology meets design in the form of two "machines." Last night we got to check out one, the Absolut Quartet, an interactive multi-instrumental robotic machine. It consists of a marimba played by rubber balls precisely shot from a robotic cannon, a series of spinning wineglasses dampened by robotic fingers and an array of percussive instruments."
-- CoolHunting.com

You can check out Absolut's microsite on the machines, but surfer's beware - the site kept crashing my browser.

Surely someone will be interested in checking this out, if not merely for curiosity's sake.

186 Orchard Street and Stanton Street
February 28th - April 30th

All Points West Fest

I think I have died and gone to a melodious heaven. All Points West Festival kicks off its first year at Liberty State Park this August. Three days of amazement and wonder, but the $260 price tag is a bit too steep. I am going to go with a One-Day Pass for $90. Friday is my personal day of choice. Check out the line-up below and be prepared to weep sweet tears of joy:

Friday, August 8th

• Radiohead !!!!
• Underworld
• The New Pornographers !!!
• Michael Franti & Spearhead
  
• The Go! Team !!

• Girl Talk !!!
• CSS
  
• Forro in the Dark
• Juana Molina
  
• Little Brother

• Andrew Bird !!!!
• Mates of State
• Duffy

The presale sold-out in 4 hours, so I am a bit nervous though I am sure it wouldn't sell out once tickets officially go on sale this Friday...would it?
*Mindy has an extremely nervous facial expression*

August 8th, 9th, and 10th at Liberty State Park in Jersey City

I feel a Rick Astley "Never Gonna Give You Up" Moment fast approaching!

Yesterday was a drunken affair with a microphone at Duet, Kyle's I-am-temporarily-back-in-Manhattan bash in Midtown. It was an amazingly fun time and Jesse and I both agree we need to do Round 2 with the Brooklyn crew. So Sunday, March 2nd it shall be. Why not waste away another Sunday afternoon in a small room with about 10 of your closest friends? Sidenote: the establishment does not take kindly to patrons that bring their own alcoholic substances. Solution: just be even sneakier about it the second time around.

Duet's Website makes me want to laugh, but then I feel like I am laughing at someone, and not with someone:

Everyone can be "Britney Spears"
and everyone can be "John Toravolta."

Aww, Duet. Please don't kick us out again.


*** *** *** RECAP *** *** ***
This was the most fun I have had in a long time. Having the chance to be a complete (drunken) goofball in the privacy of friends was just what I needed. Plus, Jesse and I's heartbreaking rendition of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" was a show-stopper. I suspect we shall be doing this again very soon!

The 2008 Show Round-Up Post

I feel like I post about shows all the time, so here is in its most current state:

Previous
January:

• Kimya Dawson, 1/16, Europa Club: Write-up by Heidi Vanderlee
  
• Quitzow, 1/27, Mercury Lounge (proud Heidi supporter)
  
• Joanna Newsom, 1/31, Brooklyn Academy of Music: Pictures
  

Upcoming
February:

• I am the Heat, 2/13, Lit Lounge (to support Mike)
• The Magnetic Fields, 2/21, Town Hall *SOLD OUT*
  

March:

• 2008 PLUG Awards (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds/Dizzee Rascal/St. Vincent/Jose Gonzalez), 3/06, Terminal 5
• Jose Gonzalez, 3/12, Brooklyn Masonic Temple *have extra ticket*
  

April:

• Paul Simon, April, Brooklyn Academy of Music *purchasing ticket soon*
• French Kicks, April, Mercury Lounge *purchasing ticket soon*

May:

• The Black Keys, 5/15, Terminal 5

Wish List:

• Colin Meloy, 4/16-4/17, Music Hall of Williamsburg
• Feist, 4/28-4/29, Hammerstein Ballroom
• La Vita-Williams Guitar Duo, 4/28, St. Paul's Chapel