Pool Party
Pool Party is the surprising story of the largest swimming pool in New York City that transformed into the most unique music venue the world has seen. Both an eclectic music showcase and an urban history lesson, this documentary follows the pulse of McCarren Pool as it reflects the state of the neighborhood in which it lives -- Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Weaving stories of neighborhood locals, artists, famed politicians, community organizers and musicians we trace the process of gentrification of one of the most vibrant corners in the city through McCarren Pool.. McCarren opened in 1936 - one of eleven public pools to open that scorching summer in New York City and is the only one today no longer functioning. The size of a football field with a capacity to hold a staggering 6800 bathers, it quickly became a haven for gangs, graffiti artists and the homeless after its abrupt closing in 1983. Now in a gentrified neighborhood full of artists and a growing international music scene it was a natural progression for McCarren to become a beloved music venue. Featuring music and performances by Aesop Rock, the Beastie Boys, Black Lips, Deerhunter, the Breeders, The Hold Steady, the Liars, Les Savy Fav, Matt and Kim, M.I.A., Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Sonic Youth, Tall Firs, The Ting Tings, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Yo La Tengo, Pool Party celebrates McCarren Pool as a music venue for the very last time.