SONNY Rollins, a highly acclaimed jazz saxophonist, passed away this week at the age of 95. I had the good fortune to catch him live at Summerstage back in 2002. Though I was unfamiliar with his music, I’m always up for listening to new sounds, and I knew that he had played with The Rolling Stones. Sealing the deal: it was a free show. So a friend and I made our way up from the East Village and settled in on a standing room patch about 50′ feet left of stage left.
By the time Sonny came on it was a packed house, despite the threat of rain. It did end up misting a touch, but that only added to the thrill of hearing live music in an iconic setting on an otherwise beautiful night. And despite being labeled jazz, that band had the crowd moving. It was truly a spellbinding experience.
Not all performances are of this caliber, but part of the fun of seeing music performed live is that you just never know where it’s going to go. Which is why we are so lucky to have so much of it at our fingertips right here in LIC. All free. Culture Lab has two series, the first is Sunset Jazz on Friday’s at 8pm. The second is ‘Live at The Lot’ on Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings. It’s not unusual I happen to be ambling by on a weekend afternoon, hear the sounds, and sometimes I stick around for ten minutes, others I pull up a seat and stay for an hour. At which point I usually get a pint from their well-appointed craft beer (and wine) bar. For $10 all-in there’s no better way to watch the sun set.
Unless there’s a good band playing at the Gantries, where there are also two series of concerts: ‘LIC Concerts’ and ‘Live at The Gantries.’ I’ve written about the latter almost every Spring, but I will recount one Tuesday evening a few summers ago. Out for a stroll, I arrived mid-performance by a dance and live music group named ‘Music From The Sole,’ where I was quickly captivated and stayed until the end. My biggest regret was not seeing the first half. Unlike Culture Lab, these two series are BYOB (surreptitiously). And/or BYOF. Heck, these days you can probably even smoke a joint non-surreptitiously from the western sidewalk adjacent to the Gantries while catching a show given
But access to free live music in the summer doesn’t end there for those living in Long Island City. In addition to the aforementioned Summerstage, and much easier to access, are the Picnic Performances at Bryant Park. Two subway stops from Vernon/Jackson, up the stairs, and you are there! Jazz, Classical, Opera, Show Tunes, World, Zydeco – you name, they got it, several nights a week. Some shows are a full house, others you can easily make your way to the front of the stage. It’s so easy to get to the biggest issue is ‘Mehh, I’ll go tomorrow …next week …next summer’ Make it there in 2026!
//IN addition to venturing west on the 7-train to hear live music at BP this summer, heading east to watch World Cup games should also be on your agenda. An article in Bloomberg this week titled “The Best World Cup Seat Is Thousands of Miles From the Game” argues that “The World Cup’s most electric atmosphere isn’t in the tournament’s host country, but among the fans whose teams are on the pitch.”
Agreed, but staying with the ‘easy to access’ theme, those here in LIC can experience a pretty close proxy that doesn’t require plane trips and hotel rooms. Or tickets! Instead, just head east to Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights for any matches that include Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador. Even Paraguay, where we have a restaurant just one town over from us (Sunnyside) called ‘I Love Paraguay.’ Another restaurant is called ‘Boca Juniors,’ named after a famous futbol team in Buenos Aires. Don’t tell me that place won’t be complete insanity on game day.
And if you want to root for a team whose native language is not Spanish, try Beija Flor right here in LIC to watch the Samba Kings. Oh, you thought I was going to throw a non-South American team at you? As for the USMNT, here’s a suggestion: a big screen playing them live on The Oval? C’mon Julie Won and Rob Basch, make it happen for the Summer of ’26. Your actions will forever be seared into the minds of all local residents (constituents?), just like Sonny Rollins is into mine.
//NEW restaurant alert: Canton Harbor is coming to 5-14 51st Avenue in Hunters Point, formerly the home of GameHaus, according to signage on the front.
Sunset Jazz at Culture Lab – Friday’s at 8pm
‘Live in The Lot’ at Culture Lab
Bryant Park Picnic Performances
The Best World Cup Seat Is Thousands of Miles From the Game – a non-host country, or proxy, I agree
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