For Brooklyn lovers: watch out for Bill Murray random appearance

For Brooklyn lovers: watch out for Bill Murray random appearance
13 Amazing Things From 2013 (from DoNYC)


1. Mister Sunday

These parties combined everything we love about the summer: music, dancing, sangria, tacos, being outside with friends. Each week, Justin and Eamon did a masterful job of digging deep into the vinyl to gradually transition the atmosphere from afternoon hang to evening dance party. There were plenty of highlights — Dan Snaith’s takeover and the All My Friends grand finale come to mind immediately — but our favorite part was always the collective cheer that erupted when the lights came on, signaling the beginning of the night and the final chapter of another summer week in the city.

2. Deerhunter



Every time we see Deerhunter, we can’t believe that they’ve pulled off the seemingly impossible feat of actually getting better live —and 2013 was another huge year for the band. They dropped an incredible new album, played a standout set at Governors Ball, and graced the city with 3 superb shows in September. On the final night of the run, Bradford Cox expressed his love and gratitude for New York, explaining that listeners in their hometown of Atlanta never really paid attention to the band until people in NYC started taking notice.

Bradford also mentioned that their new record, Monomania, was written and recorded in Greenpoint — and largely inspired by Let There Be Neon, the signage supply store in Tribeca. So, yeah - Go New York.

3. Free Evening Shows at Radegast



All year long, Radegast was our go-to weekday concert destination — and it never failed to disappoint. Jazz is the name of the game here, with post-war, New Orleans and gypsy-inspired groups throwing down multiple no-cover sets every weeknight at 9. We loved to sit back with a palm ale and a delicious sausage from the grill, though we’ve also been known to join in for some swing-dancing from time-to-time. The environment is always quite welcoming, even for modest amateur dancers like ourselves.

4. Output


Output opened in January and everything changed immediately. A dance club designed for music lovers? Why didn’t this exist before? Friends who never went dancing were suddenly seeing the sun rise on the regular. The moment we read the “Output isn’t for everyone…” warnings, we knew it was going to be special. We just didn’t know to what extent. First of all, the sound quality is unparalleled. It’s not loud - it’s just clear. And it’s oddly cool inside. And it’s nice. And the roof has an incredible view of the city. And Giorgio Moroder played there. Giorgio Moroder!

5. Motorino Pizza



Ah, food. We had to talk about food. Guys, this is, in our opinion, the best pizza in New York City. By far. Even the delivery is superb; always early and always delicious. With locations in East Village and Williamsburg you have no excuse not to try it. Just look at the photo!

6. Baby’s All Right


It just so happens that right across the street from our favorite pizza is one of our favorite new venues, Baby’s All Right. For all of us Brooklyners who complained that there were no good concerts right off the J, this feels like a magnificent hallelujah to our cold-weather prayers. Baby’s kicked off in grand fashion with BrooklynVegan’s CMJ day parties - and the programming has continued to be nothing short of stellar since, with last-minute performances by Real Estate and this stacked 5-band NYE bill on the horizon.

7.Breakfast Wraps from Jessi’s Bakery


Right off the Montrose L stop, Jessi’s Bakery does everything that normal breakfast places do, just better. With low prices, speedy service, fantastic food and addictive iced coffee, it’s reallyhard to stay away. If you don’t believe us, check out these passionate reviews on Yelp.

8. Lamb Pizza from The Bedawi Cafe



We found this awesome Middle Eastern cafe on Prospect Park West before going to a Celebrate Brooklyn! event one night. It’s a cute little hole in the wall with the most delicious tapas-style dishes. The backyard is decked out in tapestries and lights, making it the perfect spot to hang on a warm evening. Plus, it’s B.Y.O.B.

9. Hilarious Twitter Feuds



Everyone loves a good social media feud — and Twitter might just be the perfect battleground for these short exchanges. This year, we saw back and forth battles between Justin Bieber vs. Patrick Carney (The Black Keys), Kanye West vs. Jimmy Kimmel, and most recently, HAIM vs. Los Campesinos.

We’re not surprised when we see someone like Kanye West making absurd outbursts on his Twitter account but we did not expect HAIM to follow a similar suit — And we were especially impressed when they stuck it to the man by bringing their entire audience into this pay-back selfie directed at the lead singer of Los…we dig it though, HAIM can do no wrong this year.

10. Gregory’s Coffee



doNYC simply would not exist without Gregory’s. These folks keep us going all year long. Their brewed coffee is sensational and the evening pastry specials have been totally making us fat. But that’s OK.

11. The Oval Lawn Series at Madison Square Park



This was the sneak attack show series of the summer. These Wednesday evening concerts offered a great chance to lay down in the grass and catch a much-needed respite from the frantic pace of the city. We treated ourselves to plenty of pulled pork sandwiches and summer ales to start the nights, then settled in for free performances by artists like Ben Sollee and The Dafnis Prieto Sextet. There were plenty of highlights, but this particular tune seemed to especially embody all of the atmosphere that this series brought about.

12. Foxygen, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down + The Aves at Hudson River Park


This was a doNYC staff favorite. After all the hype about Foxygen’s live shows we had been hearing throughout the first half of the year, we couldn’t NOT go. It was probably one of the most entertaining shows we’ve ever been to - everyone in the band was super into it, and the crowd (us included) were completely captivated through every moment. To top it all off, it was free! Definitely a high point of the summer.

13. Song For Zula



Brooklyn’s Matthew Houck had to go all the way to Tulum, Mexico to find this song, but we’ll gladly fund any future travel expenses if they catalyze more music this closely in touch with the core of human emotion.

We heard this washed-up-on-the-shore ballad all over NYC — in BAM, at McCarren Park, outside coffee shops, on the subway — and it has slowly become an anthem for our year, regularly surfacing amidst the clamor of the city, lifting our spirits and providing a moment of honest reflection on everywhere we’ve been — and everywhere we’re capable of going.

We’re thrilled and honored to have been a part of it all this year — and we are STOKED for 2014 and everything that it will bring. Stay tuned y’all — we’re just getting warmed up.