Despite previous reports, J.R. Smith will not opt in with the New York Knicks, declining his player option of $2.9 million.
J.R. will officially announce the decision before June 30th, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Knicks can re-sign him for $4.9 million using the Early Bird exception, with standard raises over four years.
12 small bars around the country may be forced to close up shop soon, as music licensing company BMI has slapped them all with a major lawsuit over licensing fees.
BMI says the 12 spots (which seem to have been picked at random) have been playing their songs without paying a licensing fee…and get this: for every BMI song that gets played there (whether by jukebox or DJ) without the proper fee being paid, BMI is entitled to $150,000 in damages. That could equate to millions upon millions of dollars owed per bar!
Some of the spots hit are The Fox Hole in West Jordan, UT, Mojo Main in Newark, DE, Whiskey River Ranch in Springfield, OR, Whiskey Bones Roadhouse in Rochester, MN, Kildare’s Irish Pub in Chapel Hill, NC and Pig ‘N’ Whistle here in Times Square.
SoHo’s Foot Locker will soon be leaving its 541 Broadway location…but it’s not going too far away. The sneaker retailer will move down the block to Thor Equities’ 440 Broadway, a 9,000-square-foot location with two above-ground levels and a lower level.
As usual, money was the motive in the move. “The rising rents and high demand for retail space on Broadway north of Broome has resulted in increased activity further south on Broadway towards Canal Street,” said Mark Tergesen, CEO of ABS Partners Real Estate, who represented them in the move.
Brisk® and Noisey present the launch of Brisk Bodega, a series of parties and events popping up in neighborhoods from Brooklyn to LA. For the NY launch, they’re taking over a warehouse for an all-day event featuring street artists, DJs, the Brisk Bodega truck, giveaway contests, and headliner JUST BLAZE!
Join us for this free event on Saturday, June 8th at 50 N. 3rd Street at Wythe, 2PM to 2AM. +21 after 9PM.
The Space at 50 North 3rd
50 N. 3rd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11249
The City Parks Foundation, in associated with the Soul of Brooklyn Initiative, Rakim is performing a free show tonight at Red Hook Park. Show starts at 7PM. Also performaning, Pumpkinhead. And a few 45″ DJ sets by Natasha Diggs & Operator Emz.
More Info: www.cityparksfoundation.org/
Offline Returns As A Weekly For First party Of 2013
Step away from your phone and computer as Grammy award-winning music icon Q-Tip will be spinning a selection of funk, jazz, hip hop, salsa, and Latin music for your dancing pleasure. Q-Tip has been throwing some of the best parties in New York and Giant Step is teaming up with him again.
Q-Tip Presents Offline,
A Weekly Party Powered By Giant Step
Thursday, June 6th
Stage 48
605 W. 48th St. @ 11th Avenue New York, NY 10PM – 21+ w/ID
At the end of this month, legendary dive bar Blarney Cove will shut their doors for good. Many of the small businesses in that area have closed recently to make way for a new development, so this could very much be the case with the E 14th St. spot.
Blarney Cove
510 E 14th St
New York, NY 10009
Jason Kidd Retires
Jason Kidd is a 10-time all-star and 19-year veteran of the NBA. Well, today he announced his retirement.
After spending his early years in Dallas, then moving on to Phoenix and New Jersey – Jason Kidd has ended his career and has retired as a New York Knick.He was instrumental to the Knicks having the season that they had and will surely be missed by Knicks fan.
Send him a shout via his Twitter @RealJasonKidd
Audrey Nicole
She’s just a Cali girl living in NYC while going to college, says her Twitter profile. She also says she’s a “Dermalogica trained skin therapist”. Not sure if that’s a make or break for you, but either way, two more photos below…
Bryant Dope – Road To New York – Episode 01
Bryant Dope has been on the road, promoting his recently released project, New New York. Bringing the camera along for the ride, Bryant has been compiling all the footage together for a series of “Road To New York” vlogs. In episode one, we watch as he performs alongside Kid Ink in Boston, opens up for Kendrick Lamar at Penn State, and his reaction to his track “NNY” getting played on Hot 97.
Brooklyn-based band Shinobi Ninja is back home from a very eventful tour, and what better way to celebrate their return than a free show right here in NYC? Head over to Hudson Common (356 W. 58th St. between 8th and 9th Avenues) for a night of upbeat music, fun times with great people, and also a full food and drink menu. No RSVP needed, doors at 8pm and show begins at 9pm.
Hudson Common
Midtown West
356 W. 58th St.
New York, NY 10019
212-554-6217
Much to the surprise of the Hot 97 staff last night, Papoose took the stage at Summer Jam XX at the end of Kendrick Lamar’s set (above). Apparently the move was not planned at all, and Hot PD Ebro Darden was quite vocal about it on Twitter following the show. Pap immediately reacted to Ebro’s tweets and a short exchange ensued, followed up with the Brooklyn rapper calling into the Hot 97 morning show today and explaining how it all went down. Check all the Twitter exchanges below…
