Skip to main content

Kicking Off Summer With House of Vans

There are 100s of reasons to be crazy about summer. From the beach to ballgames, the list of things to do is never-ending. And if you appreciate live music as much as us, you know it’s also the season for free shows across the country. Which is why we’re super excited the Vans House Parties have started once again.

If you’re in the NYC-area and have never been to Vans’ annual concert series, this is the year to go. Presented by FYF, all shows are held at the House of Vans in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood. Along with an indoor concrete bowl and outdoor skate plaza, the massive warehouse space will turn into a live music venue for six Thursdays this summer, and the lineups are killer. With acts like Chrome Sparks, The Black Lips, The Bouncing Souls, Future Islands and Holy Ghost!, these shows are definitely not ones to miss.

Recommended Videos

We attended the kickoff last Thursday featuring Charles Bradley, Mac DeMarco and Benjamin Booker, and it was a fantastic night of music. Sound filled the indoor space as people watched the show while others gathered with their drinks in the huge outdoor courtyard. Mac DeMarco even crowd surfed because he’s amazing like that.

All shows are free with RSVP and open to the public of all ages. Doors open at 7, but admission is first come first serve, so we suggest arriving early. To learn more about the Vans House Parties and to RSVP for the next show, visit vans.com.

Amanda Gabriele
Amanda Gabriele is a food and travel writer at The Manual and the former senior editor at Supercall. She can’t live without…
Beginner’s guide to cigar shapes and sizes — and why they matter
Why your cigar choice says more about you than your watch (and how to pick the perfect one)
A collection of cigars

Walking into a cigar shop and facing what seems like a million options is enough to make anyone panic. Cigars stacked everywhere, each with a strange name, size, and a slightly different shape from the last one. If you haven't done this before, it's tempting to just grab something, anything, and run!But hold on a second. Those shapes actually matter. They aren't just there to look fancy or make things confusing. The size and shape change the whole experience of smoking that cigar – how it tastes, burns, and feels. It's kind of like how driving a tiny sports car is way different than driving a big truck. Both get you where you're going, but the experience along the way is not the same.

What are cigar vitolas?

Read more
The writer of one of Netflix’s biggest drama is taking on James Bond next
We still don't know who will star in this new installment.
James Bond at a casino

The news that Denis Villeneuve would be taking on the next James Bond film was certainly exciting for many, and as we continue to speculate about who might take over as 007, we're also learning more about who else will be working behind the scenes on the film.

We now know that Steven Knight, the writer behind Peaky Blinders, will be writing the next Bond movie. While Knight is best known for his work on TV, which includes Peaky Blinders and the recent Stephen Graham series A Thousand Blows, he's also the writer behind Spencer and Maria.

Read more
Every new Game of Thrones spinoff explained
George R.R. Martin's television world continues to grow
Matt Smith starring in House of the Dragon

When it first aired on HBO in the early 2010s, Game of Thrones dazzled audiences with revolutionary special effects and terrific acting in a unique fantasy world. Based on author George R.R. Martin's series of novels, the universe depicts the battles between several different noble families as they try to climb to the top of the continent of Westeros, both politically and figuratively. The war scenes, family drama, and massive number of characters helped make the story feel fresh and new every time a new episode aired.

As Martin's attention shifted to television and away from his books, fans have looked to the TV series to finish some of the stories he couldn't finish on the page. Game of Thrones left fans wanting more, despite its poorly received finale, and a plethora of spinoffs are on the way. House of the Dragon already has two seasons completed, and there are several others in the coming years to look forward to.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon finished its second season in 2024. The show chronicles the heated family dynamics of the Targaryen empire almost two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones. The third season should pick up the civil war between Queen Rhaenyra's forces and King Aegon's after a slow-building conflict throughout the second act.

Read more