Public Assembly

WILLIAMSBURG, NEW YORK –

A warehouse-turned-arts/music venue, Public Assembly offers 4,000 square feet of industrial space brimming with the latest and (sometimes) greatest in everything from indie bands and down-with-the-man artists to queer tributes and esoteric lecture series.

The hordes of edgy, ironic, tattooed, and pierced partiers that show up looking to get a little wild must first funnel down a dark hallway, barren save for a small desk and the requisite stamp-wielding guard.

Those looking for a more intimate black box experience veer into the Back Room, where blood-red sconces and a single ornate chandelier douse the room in sultry hues as the DJ booth and small stage bring anything from hip-hop dance-offs one night to in-depth discussions about video games the next.

Larger extravaganzas take place in the Front Room, where hepped-up hipsters gather at the foot of the stage or at the long bar, while the rest of the crowd sticks to the exposed brick walls and metal girders that spider up to open rafters.

Those in the mood for a break can wander down to the basement living room area opposite the stage, which offers a few tables and vinyl couches to relax on between bouts of old-school Bhangra, ferocious rock, or whatever else is on the docket.

Public Assembly won’t appeal to the entire public, but its eclectic calendar serves up a spicy and sure-to-please gumbo of events for anyone on the prowl for something daringly different.