LOT LIC FILM, MUSIC EVENT ON TAP

Jul. 22, 2014 - TimesLedger.com

Part of the downtown music scene will move from Manhattan to a spot of land in Long Island City starting next month.

Petrit Pula, founder of the Brasil Summerfest, is producing The LOT LIC Music & Film Series that kicks off Aug. 2, at 43-15 Crescent St., in the Court Square section.

Pula curated an eclectic lineup of musical talent for the series with concerts scheduled every Saturday between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. “It’s a nice mix of indy-rock, soul and jazz that is suitable for LIC,” he said.

The first show will feature Sinkane and Takuya Kuroda. while Street of Laredo, Taylor McFerrin and Sugarman 3 are slated for future shows.

In addition, Pula brought in Laurence Kardish to put together a companion film series that will run every Thursday between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. The senior curator of the Department of Film at the Museum of Modern Art selected “Chop Shop,” directed by Ramin Bahrani, to start the series Aug. 7 with films such as “Strictly Ballroom,” “The Triplets of Belleville” and “Lo Quattro Vito” to follow.

“It will be an after-work event with food and drink service from M. Wells, our exclusive catering partner,” Pula said. “And the movies will start at sunset, it will be a nice and relaxed atmosphere.”

Pula was born in New York City but spent his childhood in Kosovo before returning in 1991. He has produced a feature film and owned a restaurant.

He broke into the music scene as an executive at Nublu Records and got involved in the LOT LIC project after he was approached by Rockrose Developers, builders of the luxury high-rise Linc LIC that opened last fall.

Rockrose has plans for four major residential projects, totalling $1 billion, in Court Square.

“We’re just trying to bring some life to the neighborhood,” Rockrose Vice President Patricia Dunphy said. “We brought in dumpster pools a couple of years ago with food trucks one summer In in the fall we did art projection on the buildings. We’re always looking to entertain our residents, and if anyone has an idea, we’ll always listen.”

Although he is a fixture downtown, Pula is familiar with Long Island City since he lives just across the Pulaski Bridge in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

“I can just walk across the bridge,” he said. “I spent a lot of time in LIC, having lived in Astoria for eight years. My brother and sister still live there ,so I visit once a week. All my favorite shops and restaurants are there.”