12 NYC day parties not to miss this summer

Brooklyn hotspot Good Room has expanded its reach to include the Good Roof, an outdoor venue located on a nearby rooftop.

The new partnership combines Good Room with Dobbin St., a newly renovated factory with a rooftop that provides a clear shot of the Manhattan skyline. Delivering all the amenities one could need, popular restaurant Roberta's will provide a gourmet menu in the courtyard. Musical curation for each event features international and local artists, including Galcher Lustwerk, Marcellus Pittman, Juan MacLean, Joey Anderson, Project Pablo, Psychemagik and more.

Good Roof is set to open on Memorial Day, May 29, with DFA Records' affiliates Holy Ghost! and support from FIXED local selectors JDH & Dave P.

View Good Roof's calendar of events here

A cookout in Brooklyn that’s dubbed Makossa, meaning "dance" in the Douala dialect of Cameroon, combines aspects of what makes day parties stand out during the summer months.

Makossa was already popular party in the Bay Area, but Wonway Posibul of the Latin Soul Brothers decided to launch the next iteration when on a summer visit to Brooklyn. He teamed up with local event promoters Rare Form to create the Makossa Brooklyn Cookout and eight seasons later they’ve grown from a BBQ in the backyard of a Williamsburg boutique to packing out premier summertime venues like The Roof and The Well.

The monthly affair showcases a variety of musical styles from classic soul, dancehall, salsa, Afrobeat, R&B, hip-hop, electronic and house. Derreck Johnson of Rare Form shares how they’ve garnered such a strong following: “I think our party brings a strong sense of togetherness and like-minded personalities. You're going to go home fulfilled and full of spirit.”

The season opener is Memorial Day weekend and they’ll finish out the season with a closing party Labor Day Weekend.

View Makossa Brooklyn Cookout's calendar of events here

When the NYC community got word of the return of Avant Gardener, including The Brooklyn Mirage, The Great Hall, The Kings Hall, many were elated to finally have the immersive location back in action. In 2015 the venue established itself as the premier destination for outdoor music, hosting events like All Day I Dream, and Cityfox’s legendary marathon parties.

The Brooklyn Mirage boasts KV2 Audio and projection mapping by Projektil. It’s a huge space, holding 6,000 people and with palm trees and large plants, it’s a musical oasis in the middle of Brooklyn. Needless to say, when it was shut down in 2016 due to various licensing issues, it was sorely missed. Earlier this year however, Cityfox received approval to reopen. So far the promoters have yet to make an official announcement about their summer plans, but most New Yorkers will agree it will have been worth the wait.

Look for a calendar of events to surface soon.

[Photos: Razberry Photography]

Shaquina Blake is a freelance journalist based in New York. Follow her on Twitter here