The Safe Session

New Start Time: 8:30PM at Rocky Sullivan's

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:46:52 -0500

We’ll be trying a new start time for the Safe Session at Rocky Sullivan’s, putting us right after Rocky’s fine live reading series. See you at Rocky’s at 8:30 this Wednesday, Feb. 24.

Here are directions to Rocky’s:

BY MTA:

F or G train to Smith & 9th Street Station: Exit station and walk to the right on 9th Street; the B77 bus stop is immediately in front of the grocery store. Board B77 bus in the direction of Red Hook, it runs every 15-20 minutes (every 30-40 minutes after midnight), 24/7 and stops at our front door. The ride only takes about 8 minutes so be ready to get off at the corner of Dwight Street & Van Dyke Street.

F, M or R to 4th Avenue and 9th Street: Exit station walk to the northeast corner of 9th Street and 4th Avenue, directly in front of St. Thomas Aquinas Church; B77 bus stop is immediately in front of the church. Board B77 bus in the direction of Red Hook, it runs every 15-20 minutes (every 30-40 minutes after midnight), 24/7 and stops at our front door. The ride only takes about 10 minutes so be ready to get off at the corner of Dwight Street & Van Dyke Street.

A, C, or F at Jay Street / Borough Hall: transfer to B61 Bus; stay on B61 bus past Ikea to the northwest corner of Van Dyke Street and Dwight Street in Red Hook. Running every 10-15 minutes (more after midnight), 24/7 and stops at our front door. The ride takes about 15-20 minutes.

4 or 5 to Borough Hall: Exit station, walk south to Joralemon, then east three blocks to Smith Street (the first street you will pass is Brooklyn Bridge Blvd.); transfer to B61 Bus; stay on B61 bus past Ikea to the northwest corner of Van Dyke Street and Dwight Street in Red Hook. Running every 10-15 minutes (more after midnight), 24/7 and stops at our front door. The ride takes about 15-20 minutes.

2 or 3 to Hoyt Street: Exit station, walk west along to Fulton Mall two blocks to Smith Street (the first street you will pass is Bridge Street, then Gallatin Pl./Hellen Keller Pl.); transfer to B61 Bus; stay on B61 bus past Ikea to the northwest corner of Van Dyke Street and Dwight Street in Red Hook. Running every 10-15 minutes (more after midnight), 24/7 and stops at our front door. The ride takes about 15-20 minutes.

BY CAR:

Driving Via BQE from Brooklyn & Manhattan Bridges: Exit BQE at Exit 26 Hamilton Avenue go to the first traffic light and turn right on to Clinton Street. Follow Clinton Street to the next traffic light and turn right on to Lorraine Street. Follow Lorraine Street to Dwight Street and turn left. Follow Dwight Street 3 blocks, Rocky Sullivan’s is on the corner of Dwight Street & Van Dyke Street.

Driving Via BQE from Bay Ridge/ Verrazzano Bridge: Exit BQE at Exit 26 Hamilton Avenue continue straight ahead passing Battery Tunnel entrance go to first traffic light and turn left on to Van Brunt Street. Follow Van Brunt Street 13 blocks and turn left on to Coffey Street. Follow Coffey St to 2nd stop sign and turn right on to Dwight Street. Rocky Sullivan’s is on the corner of Dwight Street & Van Dyke Street.

We're Back: The Safe Session is now at Rocky Sullivan's!

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:58:31 -0500

The Safe Session is moving to Rocky Sullivan’s in Red Hook. We’ll be doing a two-week trial. Still Wednesdays 9 to midnight.

Here are directions to Rocky’s:

http://www.rockysullivans.com/directions.html

Bad News: Safe Haven Bar & Grill is Closed

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:33:20 -0500

Sad to say, there will be no session Wednesday. Safe Haven Bar & Grill has closed effective immediately. We are very grateful to Noel Harnden for being such a generous host to our session all year.

The session is ON tonight.

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:47:31 -0500

The session is ON tonight.

Tests we made to prepare for our upcoming video shoot.

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:13:00 -0400

Tests we made to prepare for our upcoming video shoot.

An excerpt from Boys of Malin, recorded with a Zoom recorder...

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:11:00 -0400

An excerpt from Boys of Malin, recorded with a Zoom recorder flat on the tabletop.

Here’s an audio test of us playing “Tommy...

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:36:29 -0400

Here’s an audio test of us playing “Tommy Peoples.”

New Session Photos

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:48:00 -0400

Thanks to Patrick and Kathleen Bennett for their excellent photos of last week’s session. Click here to see the whole set. Some of our regular crew had to work late and missed the shoot (I know. Where are the priorities?), so we will just have to have the Bennetts back for another round.

Be sure to have a look at Patrick’s photos beyond Safe Haven, and if your desktop could use a little sprucing up, check out his site, mybestdesktops.com.

Happy Six-Month Anniversary to Us!

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:57:20 -0400

Thanks to our musicians, our listeners, and Safe Haven Bar & Grill, we have reached the half-year mark.

If you haven’t been down to the session, come join us every Wednesday night at Safe Haven Bar & Grill for pints and traditional Irish music.

(Photo: M. Diaz).

Avoiding confusion when calling key changes.

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:10:16 -0400

Has this happened to you? You’re playing guitar at a session when someone leans over to tell you the next tune is in G. You whack away in G expecting sweet harmony, but finding only dissonance and confused faces. Turns out your melody player actually said “D.” The fact that D and G rhyme has derailed too many sets. It’s time for the madness to stop.

I propose using the international radiotelephony spelling alphabet during sessions. It’s fun, easy to hear, and makes switching tunes feel like an FBI raid or an amphibious assault on a heavily armed enemy position!

A=Alpha

B=Bravo

C=Charlie

D=Delta

E=Echo

F=Foxtrot

G=Golf

Big Session Tomorrow—But first a few snaps from Irish Arts Week

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:39:49 -0400

Here’s a shot of Matt Cranitch, Jackie Daly and Paul DeGrae at the mind-boggling Furlong’s session I mentioned in an earlier post. (Sorry about the blur, but I didn’t want to annoy them with my flash.) I also saw them at McGrath’s the night before. That night I walked home along the highway in pitch darkness as SUVs plowed past, inches from my person. So you could say the evening went downhill from there. Click the photo to see some more shots from Irish Arts week with some of our Safe Haven pals.

What new tunes and songs should we learn?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:40:07 -0400

If you’d like to suggest a set or song for the Safe Haven Irish Music Session, respond below with the tune names and a link.

The Session's Back on Wednesday: Be There

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:38:38 -0400

We’re back from an inspiring (ok, more like intimidating) week of listening to the very best players playing night after night, hour after hour at Catskills Irish Arts Week in East Durham, New York.

To be at a pub session led by Matt Cranitch on fiddle and Jackie Daly on button accordion is almost an out-of-body experience. I will never forget it. Those guys could play “Three Blind Mice” and you’d have to get up and dance. If we can bring a little of that magic back to Brooklyn, we’re going to have a great session Wednesday.

No session Wednesday, July 15

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:19:13 -0400

Safe Haven Bar & Grill will still be serving up a great beer selection, critically-acclaimed pub fare, and a convivial atmosphere, but the session will take a week off. See you again July 22.

Photo from July 1st Session

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:39:00 -0400

Noel’s red light really adds to that hellish hue one wants in an Irish music session. Click the photo for more. Thanks to Catherine of Mexico’s friend for sharing these.

Lord, give us a sign!

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:39:45 -0400

Lord, give us a sign!

The History

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:00:43 -0400

When I first walked into Safe Haven, I was pleasantly surprised to see Noel, an old pal from the Gate, behind the bar. Noel and Patrick, the co-owners of Safe Haven, have been our gracious hosts ever since.

Our core crew of musicians has been rounded out by friends from the Dempsey’s Pub session and walk-ins who saw our spectacular, multi-colored sandwich board.

Before Safe Haven Bar & Grill opened for business, our corner was the home of Kitchen Bar. The neighborhood is called Greenwood Heights for the most part, but some consider it part of Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace or even Park Slope.

Irish Traditional Music, Wednesdays at 9PM

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:51:00 -0400

This is the blog of the traditional Irish music session at Safe Haven Bar & Grill in Brooklyn. Come out for drinks, music and a great bar menu. All players with a passion for Irish trad are welcome to sit in.

When: Wednesdays, 9PM-12AM and beyond

Where: Safe Haven Bar & Grill, 20th Street & 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

MTA: M/R to Prospect Avenue or F to 7th Ave