An East Village bar known for its live music, vintage jukebox and $3 dollar beers is closing for good next week. The Lakeside Lounge on Avenue B, will be added to the growing list of the neighborhood's recently shuttered nightspots, such as the Mars Bar and Banjo Jim's.

From Tuesday through Sunday, more than 1,350 bands, DJs and comedians will perform at the annual CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival. Check out WNYC's trippy color-coded map to see our CMJ picks — from En Vogue to Mike Birbiglia to Dum Dum Girls — for each night of the festival.

The first episode in a new Food In Two Worlds podcast features Maharlika Filipino Moderno, a Filipino pop-up restaurant in Manhattan's East Village.

Even with over 300 galleries in Chelsea, many younger artists struggle to have their work seen and promoted. To that end, we've highlighted eight alternative arts destinations to explore in the city.

The Richard Hambleton retrospective at Phillips de Pury & Company is only on view through Tuesday. But there's still plenty of historic graffiti around town to cast your eye over. With the help of graffiti aficionada Katherine Lorimer (who snaps shots of street art as Luna Park), WNYC has created a tour of five of the coolest and oldest pieces of graffiti around town.

An air conditioning unit has lately been the hottest -- or coolest -- commodity around town. But to the dismay of many overheated residents looking to buy or replace a broken AC unit, they've all but sold out in area retail stores.

Thursday is Bastille Day. Here are some ways to celebrate in New York City.

From books to the big screen, J.K. Rowling's 'Harry Potter' franchise has permeated popular culture and transcended the boundaries of traditional entertainment. As American audiences prepare for the final Harry Potter film to open, we’ve compiled a short list of events around New York that celebrate the world of Harry Potter.

Diamonds may be forever, but this past weekend, the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum ended its 20-week run of “Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels.” Over 172,000 visitors passed through the exhibition, breaking the museum's record for previous attendance.

Pig roasts, improv marathons, Revolutionary War tours and urban foraging. There's no shortage of things to do in the city this Independence Day weekend. Here's our shortlist of happenings around NYC.

On Thursday, Joyce enthusiasts around the world will convene for Bloomsday, an annual celebration of the novelist and "Ulysses." Take a peek at a marathon at Symphony Space’s reading featuring more than 100 actors and all 18 episodes of Joyce's classic novel.

The Museum for African Art announced on Tuesday it would delay the opening of its new building at Fifth Ave. and 110th St. to late 2012. The museum was scheduled to open this September.

Tents have ben pitched at Lincoln Center Plaza for the American Crafts Festival, celebrating its 35 anniversary this weekend and next. Over 200,000 guests are expected to attend the event, sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts, which features the original, hand-crafted creations of 400 master artisans.

This weekend, pitmasters from across the country will take on New York one grill at a time for the ninth-annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. The event is intended to bring New Yorkers the best barbecue bites from across the country.

Although some city slickers head for the hills during the summer — to the Hamptons, to Fire Island, to the Shore or to the Catskills — most music fans agree that New York City's outdoor summer concert fare can not be beat. Here are some of the myriad musical happenings we'll be at this summer.

McQueen fans will now have till Aug. 7 to check out the show. Visitors can also buy $50 tickets to see the exhibition on Mondays, when the museum is usually closed.

The solstice may not officially ring in summer till June 21, but that's no reason to hold off on celebrating this week's warm weather with family and friends (and a nice pair of white pants, perhaps) in one of the city's free public parks. Here's our shortlist to the best.

It's time to stash the sleds and snowgear and dust off the boogie board: There's a beach in your borough in which you can lounge, slather on some sunblock and enjoy a good read. Don't forget to leave the cigarettes at home — city beaches are now smoke-free.

“Top Gun” on the roof of the Intrepid. "The Brother from Another Planet" on the banks of the East River. "Ghostbusters" in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge. Nothing says summer like outdoor movies — and this year the city has a rich, diverse offering of free and low-cost flicks. Choose one from WNYC's interactive map here, then grab a friend, pack a picnic dinner and check out a film under the city stars.

The Lower East Side returns to its swinging 1960's roots on Friday by hosting its 16th annual festival of music, poetry, puppets and dance. More than 100 artists will show work at the festival from Friday through Sunday. Check out images of festivals past here.