Archive of ‘Live Music’ category

Beat Street Restaurant: First Look

Finishing up the decor. Photos courtesy of Ivan Orama, designer of Beat Street.

Beat Street – a hot new restaurant occupying a portion of the v. cool Transmission space at 150 Bay St. – is gaining a lot of buzz in Jersey City.

 

If you haven’t read up on it yet, or just want to know more, here you go.

 

Let’s start with their pre-opening on Wednesday, June 14. Rather than just, say, have a soft-launch open, Beat Street’s “sneak peek” is a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters. The cocktail party will feature several musical acts, and there will be an open bar and passed hors d’oeuvres, as the full kitchen is not open yet.

 

Then, when the restaurant officially opens on Thursday, June 22, there will be a pay-what-you-want fundraiser, with all proceeds from the evening going to The Sharing Place Food Pantry at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. (Stay tuned for my recap!)

 

Here’s the story behind the conception: Howard Brunner, the man behind Transmission, the 5,000 sq.ft 2-yr.-old nightclub, wanted to evolve the environment into a “multi-sensory experience.” So he partnered with nightlife curator KC Macias and celebrated chef Darryl Harmon to open Beat Street, a 100-seat restaurant, bar, lounge and performance space within.

 

The name Beat Street is a tribute to the 1984 movie of the same name, so the entire inspo is breakdancing, DJ’ing and graffiti. Think: street art, street food, street music. But a little more upscale. Brunner explains, “It’s a juxtaposition of gritty street life with high-end touches that truly makes it a distinctive experience.” How Jersey City is that, for you?!

 

Decor is getting its final touches now by Ivan Orama, a New York City artist known not only for murals, but handmade furniture, like this Wu-Tang Clan table, which is a replica of an old-school cassette tape.

His client list is impressive, so I’ll let that speak for itself. And the work at the restaurant in progress…

 

Beat Street will feature a bar, a lounge (with a grand piano!), a dining room, and later, will have wrap-around outdoor seating space. Darryl Harmon, the chef (who also has an impressive list of clientele), is “excited to see guests’ reactions” to the menu. He’s using the street food theme to “get real funky,” which has resulted in the Rocka Falafel Waffle, a combination of pressed falafel and waffle with mint frozen yogurt, Harissa infused syrup, Raita and micro borage.

All of the menu foods are experimental takes on the familiar, and each dish has a very specific way of being presented: Nachos are Frito-based and served pouring out of a Frito chips bag,  A Sloppy Joe will arrive in a custom graffiti lunchbox (no two are alike) with other fun items like a liquid-nitrogen powered root beer float, and you may get a mini trash can or a street cart as your food’s delivery vessel depending on your order. The serving aspect “will be quite a show.” says Harmon.

As for the vibe, KC Macias, who has yet another impressive track record, will bring an eclectic mix of live music to Beat Street, encompassing all genres. “I’m talking about raw, street music, including salsa you would hear in the streets of Havana, and jazz that you’d hear off of Bourbon Street” he says, but emphasizes that Beat Street is welcoming, “like you’re in your living room being entertained in a cool way.”

Beat Street will be open from 5-11pm, Tuesday – Saturday, starting on June 22.

I can’t wait to check it out! Check back here after the opening for my experience at Beat Street.

Eat Drink Groove ~
JCG

 

Jersey City Craft Brew Fest [Saturday, June 3]

Jersey City Craft Brew Fest is back! If you missed the first one ever this past Fall, you may want to see what it’s all about.

Try over 150 craft beers from local breweries while overlooking the New York City skyline and listening to live music at Harborside Plaza Atrium (Exchange Place).

Find your new favorite summer brew from the eclectic offering of local beers and ciders, and have the chance to speak with brewery representatives.

And, of course, there will be plenty of food vendors to help soak up all that beer.

TICKETS

*General Admission $65, which includes unlimited tastings and a souvenir tasting glass

*SAVE $20 WITH JERSEY CITY GAL PROMO CODE: jerseycitygal

*Choose between two sessions: 12-4pm & 5:30-9:30pm

*(Non-drinking) Designated Driver $15

*Purchase at jcbrewfest.com

*Adults 21+ Only: No kids. No Dogs.

*Parking $5

 

Taste & Enjoy,
JCG

JC Fridays [Friday, June 2]

The quarterly culmination of extraordinary Jersey City art and music is back! JC FRIDAYS, hosted by Art House Productions, is a city-wide full day of free events here in Chilltown.

Local businesses collaborate with artists in a celebration of culture. Events include art openings and exhibits, live music, film/video screenings and performances.

Groove on Grove is also on Friday instead of Wednesday this week to honor the event. Check out the all of the events here.

To JC arts,
JCG

 

Riverview Jazz Festival 2017 [Saturday, June 3]

Riverview Jazz Festival used to be a one-day event, but now it spans an entire week, kicking off Saturday, June 3rd on the waterfront (3 2nd St.) at 12pm.

Here is the lineup of Saturday’s performers. Also, there will be food vendors, a flea market, a beer garden, children’s activities and more.

Throughout the week, hear live jazz in various Jersey City venues and parks like The CorkscrewFox and CrowMoore’s LoungeThe Brightside TavernMadame Claude Bis, The Archer, The Hutton, Grove St., Newark Ave., Pershing Field, Lincoln Park​, J. Owen Grundy Pier and  Audubon Park. Full schedule here with dates and times.

The Riverview Jazz Festival flagship event closes the whole program on Saturday, June 10 at 12pm in a day of music and festivity.

The year, there will be two stages off of Riverview-Fisk Park: Holland St. and Ogden Ave. Full line-up here.

Besides awesome music, there will be food and craft vendors, face-painting, and a performing arts workshop.

And if you’re still have not had enough jazz by 8pm, there is an after-party at Fox & Crow.

 

Jam on,
JCG

Central Avenue Auto & Music Show [Saturday, May 20th]

The Central Avenue Auto & Music Show returns for its 3rd year this Saturday, May 20 from 11am-5pm in Central Avenue’s municipal parking lot (b/t Lincoln and Bowers).

Display cars will be provided by Latino Automative Business Services, who is hosting the event in partnership with CASID, but anyone is allowed to enter their own classic and exotic cars for a chance to win a prize.

Local performers will be providing musical entertainment, while vendors will be selling goods and services

The event is free and open to all ages – kids’ activities include face paintings, balloons and giveaways.

Vroom vroom,
JCG

 

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