Travel Reference
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from experimental jazz and acoustic folk to spoken word and poetry
readings to out-there multimedia works. Regulars who use the Knit-
ting Factory as their lab of choice include former Lounge Lizard
John Lurie; around-the-bend experimentalist John Zorn; guitar gods
Vernon Reid, Eliot Sharp, and David Torn; innovative sideman (to
Tom Waits and Elvis Costello, among others) Marc Ribot; and Tele-
vision's Richard Lloyd. The schedule is peppered with edgy star turns
from the likes of Yoko Ono, Taj Mahal, Faith No More's Mike Pat-
ton, and Lou Reed. There are often two showtimes a night in the
pleasing main performance space, so it's easy to work a show around
other activities. The Old Office Lounge offers an extensive list of
microbrews and free live entertainment. 74 Leonard St. (btwn Broadway &
Church St.). & 212/219-3132. www.knittingfactory.com. Subway: 1 to Franklin St.
Mercury Lounge The Merc is everything a top-notch live-music
venue should be: unpretentious, civilized, and outfitted with a killer
sound system. The rooms themselves are nothing special: a front bar
and an intimate back-room performance space with a low stage and
a few tables along the wall. The calendar is filled with a mix of
accomplished local rockers and such national acts as Fat Possum, the
Mekons, and Sleepy Jackson. The crowd is grown-up and easygoing.
The only downside is that it's consistently packed thanks to the high
quality of the entertainment and all-around pleasing nature of the
experience. 217 E. Houston St. (at Essex St./Ave. A). & 212/260-4700. www.
mercuryloungenyc.com. Subway: F to Second Ave.
Smoke A superstar in the New York jazz scene and the
best place to hear it on the Upper West Side, Smoke is a welcome
throwback to the informal, intimate clubs of the past—the kind of
place that on most nights you can just walk in and experience solid
jazz. And though it seats only 65, for no more than a $30 cover,
Smoke still manages to attract such big names as the Steve Turre
Quartet, Ron Carter, Eddie Henderson, and John Hicks. Sunday
through Thursday there is no cover. On Sundays, the club features
Latin jazz; every Tuesday it's B3 grooves and soul jazz, and Wednes-
days features world jazz. There are three sets nightly, an affordable
menu, and a very popular happy hour. 2751 Broadway (btwn 105th and
106th sts.). & 212/864-6662. www.smokejazz.com. Subway: 1 to 103rd St.
S.O.B.'s If you like your music hot, hot, hot, visit S.O.B.'s, the
city's top world-music venue, specializing in Brazilian, Caribbean,
and Latin sounds. The packed house dances and sings along nightly
to calypso, samba, mambo, African drums, reggae, or other global
Value
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