New York: All Points West Music Fest Top Eats & Drinks

For the second year in a row, All Points West will take over Liberty State Park in Jersey City this weekend. For most Manhattan dwellers, the thought of crossing that river is daunting -- but with a location just across the Hudson River from lower Manhattan, the commute is surprisingly easy and filled with great pit stops. Meet your friends for a pint or a bite at one of these fantastic bars and restaurants near your departure point, and enjoy Jay-Z, Coldplay, Vampire Weekend, The Ting Tings, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs on a full stomach. With a seven-beer maximum and lengthy festival lines, you'll need the pre-party.

Ferry Service (Lower Manhattan)
Enjoy the sights and bites of lower Manhattan before catching the Ferry at Battery Park Pier, just south of Castle Clinton. The ferry is $20 if you buy this week; otherwise it's $25 on the day of the show. Prior to cruising by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, fill up at these lower Manhattan favorites.
● Burger Shoppe - So close to the bottom of Manhattan you can feel the mist off the river. Crowd is largely lunch-breakers and FiDi residents; near empty on the weekends, which means you can pack in you and your posse pre-Silversun Pickups. Nothing really under $10 as far as food fare, but you'll be spending the same on street meat and beer at the festival anyway. Best of all, it's just a hop, skip, and a jump from your ferry.

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● Gigino - Get into the outdoor mode at this overpriced picnic spot just north of the Castle Clinton National Monument. Rustic Italian food to OD on carbs for your all night dance-a-thon.
● Cordato’s Deli - Guessing that your festival garb borders on grunge, NYC’s most suspicious deli might be your best bet. Dark and dank—how the MI5 might run a deli, but a perfect meet-up spot, as it’s near all of the subways.
● John Street Bar & Grill - Just as grimy as your Nike Dunks will be after an extended MSTRKRFT dance set. Like parallel to an outdoor festival, the elements in this bar are saved by the music—in this case, a quality juke. Greasy bar bites are a great way to start off the day.
● Delmonico’s - For the refined concertgoer. Legendary steaks for the pinstripe set, though it should be fine for the plaid shorts set on any given festival afternoon. Get ready for the day by filling up on a classic steak lunch for $24 if you mention the code “SumSp1144.”

PATH Train (West Village)
The environs of the PATH Train at Christopher Street and Greenwich Street or 9th Street will certainly support your eating and drinking habits. PATH stations Hoboken, Pavonia-Newport, and Exchange Place all offer free connections for All Points West ticket holders to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail that will take you straight to the festival. Hop in here before you hop on the train.
● Rusty Knot - You’ll be on the water ... might as well get a jump start with this nautically themed bar. Ask bartender Griffin for his special pre-music festival shot: the lethal and yummy pickle backs. Then stumble on over to the PATH.
● White Horse Tavern - Since it’s an arts and music festival, may as well try impress your pals by taking them to the place where Dylan Thomas bit the dust after an eve of boozing, then join in with the rest of the frat party by downing beer by the pitcher.
● Blind Tiger Ale House - The old faithful beer haunt is always a great meet up place. Listing 28 drafts from homey to exotic, plus many more in bottles. There are about as many brews as there are APW festival bands.
● A Salt & Battery - Sure, APW isn’t Glastonbury, but get psyched just the same by plunking down with your mates for some perfect fish ‘n’ chips wrapped in London newspaper spotted with grease. Brilliant, innit?
● Corner Bistro - Wait, how much were those festival tickets again? Luckily there is this joint known for the incomparable Bistro Burger. With everything on the menu less than $6.50, and cheap McSorley’s to wash it down, we’ve hit the penny-pinching mother lode. See you soon, Neko Case!