How to get there without being shafted.
The All Points West’s website has detailed instructions on getting to the festival, but don’t believe their ferry heresy! If you’re coming from the City, steer clear of the $15- $20 ferry ride from Battery Park Pier. Opt for the $1.75 PATH train at the World Trade Center. Ride for about three minutes to Jersey City, which is where you’ll get off to catch the (free!) Light Rail to the festival site—better than the roughly 20 minutes it would take you on the 33rd Street line, which stops in Hoboken. Going home, especially, you do not want to subject yourself to the drunken white-hat convention that is the Hoboken PATH station on Friday and Saturday nights.Trust us.
Made it without taking out a mortgage for a ferry ride. Now what?
So you’ve hauled ass all the way to this mysterious land called New Jersey, and My Bloody Valentine doesn’t even go on until 8:15.What are you supposed to do with yourself? Drink, probably.
Hit the newly opened Zeppelin Beer Hall (88 Liberty View Dr., near Grand St., 201- 721-8888, www.zeppelinhall.com), which is right off a Light Rail stop en route to the concert grounds. It has an enormous beer garden where picnic tables, bratwurst and Weissbier abound. If you feel like a rooftop overlooking the Hudson, try the Iron Monkey (99 Greene St., 201-435-5756, ironmonkey.com), which is two blocks from the Exchange Place PATH/Light Rail stop. Hungry? You can order rich-person food like $23 Chilean Sea Bass or recession grub like $2.50 hot dogs.
So what if I’m drunk, bored and still waiting for Vampire Weekend?
Perhaps the best-kept secret in town is Iris Records (114 Brunswick St., betw. 1st & 2nd Sts., 609 468-0885, www.recordriots.com), about a five-minute walk from the Grove Street PATH. Housed in what was once a 1930s pharmacy, it’s the kind of record store where you have to knock to be let in.You’ll leave with your hands covered in grime, an original copy of Electric Warrior and five weird disco singles.
This summer, it’s only open on Fridays from 3 to 8, so plan your first day of the fest accordingly.There’s a consignment shop next door called Boomerangs (110 Brunswick St., 201-798-0300, very boomerangsjc.wordpress.com) that also has used records, as well as all the vintage kitsch your Brooklyn apartment could desire.
This “New Jersey” place is growing on me. What should I do after the show?
On the slim chance you feel compelled to hang around after the festival, head back downtown toward Grove Street and check out the nearby Lamp Post Bar & Grill (382 2nd St., betw. Monmouth & Brunswick Sts., 201-222-1331, www.myspace.com/lamppost).This is where you’re most likely to find people with tattoos singing along to Misfits songs. Disclaimer: the bar can be hit or miss, but there’s usually a better crowd on Fridays.
If they’re not there, they’ll probably be up the street at Lucky 7 (322 2nd St., at Coles St., 201-418-8585, www.lucky7tavern.com).
Speaking of tattoos, maybe you should get one while you’re in town! Jersey City Tattoo Co. (253 Newark Ave., betw. Monmouth & Coles Sts., 201-360-0139, www.jerseycitytattoo.com ) would be the place. In fact, “All Points West” might actually look pretty decent in a banner.
> All Points West
July 31, Aug.1 and Aug. 2, Liberty State Park, www.apwfestival.com; noon to 11:30 daily, $89 a day and up.
