Katie Zepf

A new concert venue, Brooklyn Made, opens tonight in Bushwick. The 500-person venue kicks off its shows with two sold-out performances from Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and will continue to host rock concerts throughout the year. Here are a few things you should know about Brooklyn’s hottest new music venue.  1. As you first enter the venue, you'll be greeted by a restaurant and lounge in the front. While Brooklyn Made is centered around the music, there's a lot more than just that on offer. During the week, visitors can stop by to enjoy a bite at the lounge, which serves burgers, flatbreads and various vegetarian and vegan options. You may even be lucky enough to catch some keys from inside of the venue! The restaurant and lounge is open to the public even during concerts.  2. The dressing rooms are elite. For artists who decide to add a Brooklyn Made stop on their tour, they’re in for a real treat. Performers really receive the VIP treatment here, receiving their own boho-style lounge, complete with a vintage jukebox, fireplaces and a full kitchen. The artist lounge leads to the rooftop, which features spectacular views of both Bushwick’s street art and Manhattan’s skyline, as well as a private outdoor pool for a late-night swim after a long set.  Photograph: Courtesy Justin Borucki 3. DJs will rule the weekends. When an artist isn’t booked for a set Friday or Saturday night, there will still be a lot happening. Brooklyn Made will be hosting regular DJs each weekend to continue t

This past Tuesday, I had the pleasure of seeing Machine Gun Kelly perform at the Pier 17 Rooftop in Manhattan. Aside from the show, there were also a lot of new requirements and protocols when it comes to seeing music live in the city right now. As concerts are coming back to the city this fall, here are five things you should know before attending a concert.  1. Most venues require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test for entry. After picking up my passes at will call, I was immediately asked for proof of vaccination, along with an ID to match. I showed a picture of my vaccine card, but mobile versions (such as New York’s Excelsior Pass) and physical copies were accepted as well. While I did not personally see anyone in line showing a negative COVID test (taken within 72 hours of the show) over proof of vaccination, the concert did accept that as part of their Health Check. According to the Pier 17 website, ticket refunds will not be reissued if a guest is unable to provide evidence of vaccination or a negative test.  2. The concert appeared to be at a reduced capacity. Going into the sold-out concert, I expected the crowd to be packed in, similar to pre-COVID shows. However, I was pleasantly surprised to be able to easily walk through the general admission crowd without feeling claustrophobic. As Pier 17 is an outdoor venue on the water, it was nice to feel a breeze and not be stuck in a mosh pit. The VIP area that we briefly watched the show from was located near

If you find yourself walking around downtown Manhattan, there's a good chance you may come across street art of an adorable and stylish cartoon character, possibly donning large sunglasses and accompanied by a sassy or motivating caption. These prints are the works of artist Libby Schoettle, better known as her alter ego character PhoebeNewYork. While based in New York, Schoettle’s work has been taken outside of the city and can be found on the streets of LA and Philadelphia, as well as internationally in London, Berlin and in her solo show in Denmark next month. In addition to her street artwork, Schoettle also creates limited edition prints, posters and original artwork that can be found for sale on her website. We sat down to talk with Schoettle about her inspirations for her artwork, and why PhoebeNewYork calls downtown New York her home.  Could you tell me a little bit about the beginnings of PhoebeNewYork? Where did the name come from? Where did you source inspiration for the classic “Phoebe” girl we see all around downtown New York?Before I started making Phoebe, I started writing about Phoebe—about myself as Phoebe. I [had been] using my real name, and that wasn't working for me, and I was trying to find a name. I wanted a name that had a story behind it. And I loved the book, Catcher in the Rye. It's like one of my favorite books in the world. I loved the Phoebe character in that book, Holden’s sister. Where did she go? Like, what happened? She is such a strong chara