In Manhattan, they replaced CBGB with a luxury menswear shop, and The Palladium was turned into an NYU dorm. In Brooklyn, they turned an anonymous warehouse into Shea Stadium and turned Silent Barn into a better Silent Barn. Nostalgia humpers can have the past, we’re too busy enjoying the awesome venues (and disgusting bathrooms) of 2013.
Public Assembly (70 North 6th Street)
The two room Williamsburg venue plays host to banging dance parties and hip hop events and is an integral part of every year’s Northside festival.
In twenty years it will be: An Urban Outfitters, Jr.
Littlefield (622 Degraw Street)
A place to have a reliably good time, home to events as diverse as the MCA Day celebration, the Punderdome and touring musicians of all stripes.
In twenty years it will be: A Chipotle 2030
The Bell House (149 7th Street)
Has played home to bands like Wild Flag, The Thermals and The Scofflaws, and seems to be the place to be to have big parties with big names, like the upcoming Bust Magazine 20th Anniversary Spectacular
In twenty years it will be: A Pinkberry
Shea Stadium (20 Meadow Street)
One of the most well-known Brooklyn DIY spots in the borough, it’s the kind of place where you might go one night and find Patrick Stickles working the door, because he feels like it.
In twenty years it will be: The headquarters of the Brooklyn Republican party
Goodbye Blue Monday (1087 Broadway)
Will literally book anyone, but that’s why it’s great
In twenty years it will be: A Red Mango
Glasslands (289 Kent Avenue)
Big enough to get their listings in the New Yorker, not too big to book your local bands you’ve never heard of. We miss the clouds though.
In twenty years it will be: Condos that you can’t even look at if you don’t make six figures per year
285 Kent (285 Kent Avenue)
Being Glasslands’ less arty neighbor hasn’t stopped the Todd P-backed venue from booking acts like Fucked Up and Iceage
In twenty years it will be: A Pinkberry
The Warsaw (261 Driggs Avenue)
Both a Polish social club and venue full of pierogis
In twenty years it will be: A Red Mango, but the signs will be in Polish
Europa (98 Meserole Avenue)
One of Brooklyn’s more schizophrenic venues, home to both bass-heavy dance parties and sweaty smelly punk shows
In twenty years it will be: A high-end bike store
Brooklyn Bowl (61 Wythe Avenue)
Hey, you know what’s great? Bowling and looking over and seeing Deervana, instead of watching the people you went bowling with roll
In twenty years it will be: Playground for Michael Bloomberg’s bastard grandchild and his friends
The Silent Barn (603 Bushwick Avenue)
Communal living space/art gallery/music venue all in one, just in case you need to have the ultimate hipster street cred
In twenty years it will be: A Pinkberry
Union Pool (484 Union Avenue)
Home of the Reverend Vince Anderson and a banging taco truck. All you need to know
In twenty years it will be: A Pinkberry
Death By Audio (49 South 2nd Street)
Started as a place to make guitar effects pedals, now a place to listen to loud guitar music.
In twenty years it will be: The Andrew WK Center for Ear Drums Damaged by Partying