NYC - LIC and Brooklyn Areas

[em]

I'm going to be in NYC, Long Island City specifically, on a job for a few days next week. Working pretty much the whole time in LIC, staying there as well. But, I will make a bit of time for record browsing. I think there are two Academy Records locations in Brooklyn? Anyway, I hope to hit one at least. Any other suggestions for neat-o shops in the area? Probably won't get out of LIC and Brooklyn.

Gonna be with a metal freak, so any have particularly good metal sections?

Also, any good magazine or zine shops?

Thanks in advance.

[sweetmusk]

if you're in LIC, you'll be near ps1.  a recent exhibition is being deinstalled now, so there will be very little art up.  but their bookstores (there are 2) are fucking excellent.  art mags, foreign high-brow mags, zines, small press weirdo stuff, etc

[I Am Not Marty Feldman]

You'll want to take the G into Brooklyn and hit the new Academy location, Record Grouch and Co-Op 87.  I haven't been to the Captured Tracks store, but I'd guess it's worth visiting, too.  Take your metalhead friend for drinks at St. Vitus.  All of these are near the Manhattan Ave. and Nassau Ave. G stops.

[CollectorScum]

Harsh.

Really, any NYC store is only as good as the last collection(s) that came in.  Anything good, if not priced stupidly, will sell quickly, often meaured in hours not days.  Academy has a good rep for what they pay, so they tend to get good stuff with some regularity.  My 2 cents.

[I Am Not Marty Feldman]

I can't speak for how business is done at the Brooklyn store or the E. Village location, but I'll say that I've sold at those shops for years with no complaints and continue to shop at and find great records (new/used) at both -- and I never really shop for records anymore.  I've always considered those two joints to be the best in the city.  Before working at the 18th St. location, I never really paid it much mind unless I was in the area.  My obviously biased opinion is that our location is underrated and overlooked for rock/jazz/pop, so there's always something lingering in the bins that would've been scooped immediately at the other two.  As for the pricing on CDs, feel free to PM me and elaborate.  I don't buy or price CDs, but I appreciate feedback. 

Say what you will about Record Grouch, but he always has great, interesting records that I never see anywhere else.  Yes, you will pay the going rate -- maybe even slightly higher -- for wall records.  That's part of the deal at any store in this city.   

Re: "counterfeit" LPs, are you talking about Scorpio records?  They're basically in every store selling new or reissue LPs.  Pretty tough to avoid.  Not really in the mood to elaborate, but if "quality control" were an issue, I'd sell about four records a day. 

Permanent Records: I used to work across the street.  I briefly eBayed some stuff for them.  Nice folks, but I never found anything of note in the used bins, and it seemed surprisingly amateurish in terms of pricing.  And not a way that made sense for the customer.

Back to the original topic -- get some beers and wings at Habitat.  If Papacito's is still open, avoid it. 

[Arturo]

Not to besmirch the empire en toto but the new Academy location is underwhelming and Allah forbid you show up when its already diffident employees stink up the joint eating (speaking of Sunday fucking brunch)...

lol.

[I Am Not Marty Feldman]

Introduce yourself to me next time you're in and talk to me about prices and other shit.  I have no sway on classical CDs or LPs but am legitimately interested in your take.  Unless you're crazy.  Which is probably also fine.

[I Am Not Marty Feldman]

Are you speaking mostly about classical LPs/CDs?  Or just in general?  I'm opening myself up for some ridiculous dogshit here.

Also, PM me so we can take this off-thread and spare the person who started this thread of some egregious garbage.  Sorry, user: em.

[erickelric]

Taking all the fun away.

You know what's ridiculous? I haven't even been to the new Academy. That's ridiculous. No cash is the real culprit.

Permanent is weak, fuck that noise, maybe you'll get lucky. That's what she said.

Yeah, fuck the records, save yer money. Just get some quality brunch on Franklin Street. Throw a pebble, it's all so good.

[em]

No need to apologize. Thank you for all the info, it helps with the tight schedule. Any other recommendations - lps, reads, food, etc - is much appreciated.

I love and hate record stores. At this point in the game for me I fully expect to buy nothing in every record store I walk in to. I also get tired of flipping through the same shit again and again. But god damn if I still don't occasionally find shit that's cool AND reasonably priced, and that I want to have or check out. And I always like checking out the layout, decor, music playing, and the occasional good chats with the clerks/fellow nerds.

Thank again.

[DaveK]

Here are my worthless cents: I've always preferred the two Manhattan Academy's to Brooklyn. I used to work near 18th street and would agree that the rock section there in particular can be good-great in recent years/months. The overall experience is also more enjoyable (less crowded, low brunch).

Conversely, the condescending looks and snide remarks I received during a recent trip to Academy Brooklyn were fucking embarrassing for everyone involved - particularly myself. I guess - at least superficially - I'm slippin' on my Brunch lyfe. I know Cory (sp?) moved from 12th to Brooklyn and that's certainly a plus on re: staff.

[davemartin]

My two cents:

Don't really agree with Judge Harsh's opinions on each store, but I will say that all of the Greenpoint stores are worth a look and all relatively close to each other that you could hit them all in one or two afternoons depending on your stamina and/or finances.