Thanks for sticking with us this Summer. In our own haste, I know we didn’t come through everyday and that not every party we came across was the best event of the year. But we appreciate all of our readers for being so faithful, and we hope you will keep coming back this Fall! It was a great Summer of 2010, our viewership and email lists grew tremendously, and we expect the same from you and more from us in the months that follow.
There’s so much to do this weekend that it’s almost unfathomable to think I can give you the entire nightlife rundown for the three-day weekend. But I will give it a chance anyway. Here are Labor Day Weekend’s parties and events for young, black professionals in New York City.
Friday, September 3, 2010
The BEATdown – 11:55pm
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (307 W. 26th Street)
If you thought finding an actual freestyle battle was impossible, think again. The people at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre are putting on a freestyle rap-face off that features some of New York City’s best-unknown talent. That’s right—I said that! So if you’re looking for a few local lyricists, this is the place to be. Even if they’re not good, you have something to keep you laughing for the rest of the night!
Pop Life Fridays – 10pm
Providence Nightclub (311 West 57th Street, NYC)
The only thing better than a Friday night is a Friday night at Providence Nightclub! Nothing says sexy like a bunch of latino and black people getting together to dance the night away during what has been one of the hottest streaks of weather this summer. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of air conditioning at Providence—although it comes at a price. Ladies are free until midnight while the fellas are reduced. To help ease your cash flow though, there are 2-for-1 drinks from 10pm to 11pm and big birthday parties are free! As for the party itself, there are two floors, so you can get your fill of reggaeton upstairs and your hip-hop music downstairs. Of course, if you’re smart, you will peruse both floors in search of diversity—and I’m talking about diversity in music, of course!
Friday Night at K Lounge – 10pm
K Lounge (30 W. 52nd Street, NYC)
K Lounge is a great place to spend any night, but on Friday, it’s that much better. If you’re looking to avoid the typical New York City nightclub experience and want to chill, relax and sip on a few drinks, K Lounge is your best option this Friday. Not only is the atmosphere chill and professional, but also so are the patrons. The 2-for-1 drink special last to 11:30pm and should loosen everybody up for what ought to be a fun, entertaining night at K Lounge, yet again!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Unlimited Labor Day Weekend Cocktail Brunch – 11am
Paradou (8 Little 12th Street, NYC)
The best way to relive Friday night is to do it over breakfast and drinks! Well, for one of the best brunch experiences in New York City, you need to head over to Paradou, where they are serving unlimited cocktails and entrees for $29. The caveat is that the cost of an entrée and cocktails is $29, but given that you can have all you can drink, that’s a pretty damn good deal! Belinis and mimosas make for one hell of a combination when you combating the slight hangover from Friday Night’s Talib Kweli concert. Unfortunately, you aren’t the only one who reads Black Oak Nights or knows about this party, so you will have to RSVP as soon as possible if you plan on taking advantage of this Labor Day Weekend special!
Heads Art Fair – 11am to 6pm
Governor’s Island – Landmark Barracks
With good weather in the forecast, why wouldn’t you make your way outside this Labor Day Weekend? Chances are that you don’t have anything to do on a Saturday afternoon. But if you catch the ferry to Governor’s Island, you can run into all kinds of things, including the 4Heads Collective Art Fair, which will feature of some of the New York City’s area most appetizing artists. Artists will be allowed to design an entire room, which will then be viewed by patrons like yourself. After you have negotiated your painting’s price, you can then enjoy the park and the other 20,000 weekend visitors that make it out to Governor’s Island every weekend.
Music Release Party – 11:25pm
Brooklyn Bowl (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
If you haven’t been to Brooklyn Bowl, you are missing one hell of an experience. While an awesome night will probably run you $60 to $75 per person, the fun is you have is undeniable. While I won’t go so far as to say that that amount of money is worth the amount of fun you will have, I will admit that the $75 includes two-hours of bowling. Saturday night you have extra reason to go, because there is a music release party going. While the album and the performers that will take the stage aren’t exactly of the Black Oak Nights demographic, such nights are usually pretty fun and plenty of celebrities and hot shots come through here on a nightly basis, so you never know who might spruce up your Saturday night!
Afrokinetic – 11pm
Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker Street, NYC)
If you want music straight from the motherland and don’t want to pay the five at Brooklyn Bowl, then perhaps this out of the way event and venue will make your Saturday night. At Poisson Rouge, Chris Annibell is having his annual party devoted to Afro and Latin-laced sounds. Most of the music fits within the genres of disco and house, but it’s an interesting twist on some of the more natural music you will here this side of the Atlantic.
Melting Pot Global – 6pm
Water Taxi Beach South Street Seaport
From timeout.com: “Veteran spinner Kervyn Mark, his fellow Melting Pot resident Kamala and Johnny Toto Rivera take to the decks at the beach-themed north side of Pier 17 to spin soulful house, classics and more. Top guests regularly pop by.”
Godfrey the Comedian – 10pm, 11:45pm
Gotham Comedy Club (208 W. 23rd Street, NYC)
Godfrey has been in this business for a long time now, and his ability to continue booking gigs in New York City is only a testament to this black man’s hustle! It’s hard to stay on the circuit this long when you’re not getting nearly the national attention you used to get. Not to mention, he does well with people outside of the black race, which is pretty impressive for a guy without the stature of a Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle. Anyway, Saturday night Godfrey will be at Gotham Comedy nightclub, doing his thing and making folks laugh. The cover charge is unusually high because he is the house, so be ready to shell out $25 plus the 2-drink minimum. Having been to one of Godfrey’s shows, it should be a good time. And if you don’t ask him about being the 7-Up pitchman in his past life, I’m sure he won’t completely hate you either!
Centerfold Saturday Party – 11pm
Room Service (35 E. 21st Street, NYC)
There shouldn’t be any problems with the weather on Saturday, making a trip outside quite mandatory. However, you should definitely end your night at Room Service, where many young, black professionals will embark upon this New York City nightclub in full party mode. To get the party started, everyone is free before midnight, which gives you the opportunity to spend more money Grey Goose bottle package, which is just $200 a bottle. Or you could use the extra funds on their top shelf open bar packages to get more for your money. That said, you might not even need a drink to feel loose in here. With so many effervescent, buoyant, dancing individuals in the house, you should have no trouble breaking down and getting crazy sans alcohol.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Three Kings Labor Day Eve Party – 10pm
Providence Nightclub (311 W. 57th Street, NYC)
The ThreeKings are at it again, doing their best to bring another Sunday night into the young, black professional world. Since you have Monday off (most of you anyway), this is a great chance to be around the black community, dance, drink and get a little tipsy on a school night! Ladies are free before 11pm and there are 2-for-1 drink specials ALL THE WAY until 11pm.
Brooklyn Yards Presents: Parked – 1pm
Governor’s Island (Battery Maritime Building Slip 7)
This Sunday, somehow, somebody is getting a food truck over to Governor’s Island! I don’t know what kind of magic that entails, but I certainly welcome the challenge of eating food out of a truck. In May, this same event drew over 3,000 people, and with this being Labor Day Weekend, I am certainly going over that precedent. If you make it out to the island, you will get to enjoy soul food, bb1, ice cream, pizza and even key lime pies! Oh yea, it’s going down, acid-reflex style this Sunday on Governor’s Island.
Empire State of Mind at Party – 10pm
Webster Hall (125 E. 11th Street, NYC)
Okay, so I’m not sure how Webster Hall thinks they are getting away with $40 tickets, but if you want to pay the five, we’ll tell you about it! This Sunday night, Webster Hall is pulling out all of the tricks with one of their biggest bashes of the year. The first 355 people get in for free, and there are $5 drinks from 10pm to 11pm. The music will be off the chain with guys like DJ Spynfo, Young Chow and DJ Kaos in the building. So if you’re looking for an expensive, fun, dance-filled night on Labor Day Weekend, this is the spot for you and all of the other young, black professionals not feeling the effects of the recession.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Labor Day Rooftop BBQ – 5pm
Empire Rooftop Hotel (44 West 63rd Street, NYC)
Who says you need to have friends in order to enjoy an outdoor BBQ? In case you’re one of those young, black professionals that works so hard that you don’t have time to waste your time talking and drinking with a regular cast of people, I have an event that allows you to have some BBQ on one of your few days away from work. At the Empire Hotel Rooftop, you can get all of your favorite BBQ entrees as you enjoy being out in the sun for what could be the last time this summer! Admission is free, the food is not, but the prices are reasonable. Since nightclubs make their money off drinks anyway, Empire Hotel is only charging $6 to $15 for multi-course meals, so you can get full without breaking the proverbial bank. So come through if you don’t have any other place to be, because the food, drinks and the people will all be flowing at Empire Hotel Rooftop this Labor Day!
Central Park Summer Stage – 12pm
Rumsey Playfield in Central Park
It’s the 25th anniversary of Central Park’s summer stage. There will be all kinds of performers this Labor Day, and they won’t all be at Central Park. To mark this anniversary, 16 New York City parks are hosting their own musical festivities and parties throughout the five boroughs. So check out a park calendar near you and find the musical destination of your choice. Of course, if you’re feeling lazy, there will be thousands of people at Rumsey Playfield this Monday afternoon.
Big Boi Performance – 9pm
Brooklyn Bowl (61 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
He’s no Andre 3000, but he was the better actor in “Idlewild.” At Brooklyn Bowl this Monday night, Big Boi (formerly of Outkast) will be performing at Brooklyn Bowl on what should be one of the best night’s this place has ever seen. Tickets to Brooklyn Bowl will run you $40 for this performance, so don’t expect this night to be a cheap one. But if you loved Outkast, you will love Big Boi’s new music, and I have heard that he is one heck of an on-stage perform. Check him out and end your Labor Day Weekend in style!
Related Posts
- Black Nightlife, Events & Parties, NYC: September 18, 2010
- Black Events, Parties & Nightlife, NYC: September 17, 2010
- Black Events, Nightlife & Parties, NYC: September 13, 2010
- Black Events, Parties and Nightclubs, NYC: September 10, 2010
- Black Events, Parties and Nightclubs, NYC: September 8, 2010
- Black Nightlife, Events & Parties, NYC: August 27, 2010
- Black Nightlife, Events & Parties, NYC: August 23, 2010
- Black Nightlife, Events & Parties, NYC: August 20, 2010
