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Issue 443 |
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Your cultural event guide
Here's a snapshot of our favorite things to do in New York this week. |
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Gluttony's the name of the game this week, New York. (What? You thought you were through with the overindulgences once you polished off the last of the leftovers?) Don't worry, this should actually help you burn off some of that pumpkin pie: the third-annual Blip Festival hits Bell House this weekend for a marathon of chiptune giddiness. Lest you think videogames are only for your tweeny nephews and slacker roommate, the fest proves that more good can come from an old-school console than just your saved Frogger high score. I dare you not to dance to the electronic assault waged by the army of nerds that has spent years hacking Nintendos, Ataris, and PSPs for music-making ends. Besides the technological-marvel aspect, bands like Anamanaguchi, Bit Shifter, and Paris' Sidabitball actually create supremely fun tunes. I think it's pretty much what a sugar high sounds like — and I'm all about finding calorie-free ways to pig out.
- Leah Taylor, Managing Editor
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SPECIAL FEATURE
Wholphin's Brent Hoff
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Quarterly DVD magazine Wholphin is the brainchild of Dave Eggers and Brent Hoff; it features short films, documentaries, animation, and instructional videos that have not, for whatever reason, found wide release. Hoff tells Flavorwire about the origins of the magazine, the short film he'd love to track down, and Spike Jonze's upcoming Where the Wild Things Are.
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ART
Nayland Blake: Behavior
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Tuesday Dec 2 (noon–6pm)
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Location One (26 Greene St, 212.334.3347)
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FREE
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Location One presents a survey of Nayland Blake's provocative mixed-media work, drawing from nearly every facet of Blake's 25-year career. Blake, a New York native, addresses issues of sexuality and race with a dark sense of humor, provoking both thought and laughter. This retrospective includes major early works such as Magic (1991), a conjurer's valise-cum-shrine, and his glittering Heavenly Bunny Suit (1994), alongside more recent sculptures, videos, and installation pieces. The gallery show is supplemented by a series of performance nights curated by Blake, featuring a re-staging of Gorge (1998), the artist's infamous epic of eating.
- Eli Dvorkin
[Info Source]
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PERFORMING ARTS: Theatre
Opening Night
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Tuesday Dec 2 (7:30pm)
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BAM Harvey Theater (651 Fulton St, 718.636.4100)
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$20 - 45
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The Swedish dramatist August Strindberg once resolved that, "On a flimsy framework of reality, the imagination spins, weaving new patterns." John Cassavettes' 1977 film Opening Night stacks realities like figures in a Russian doll to ingeniously tell the story of an aging, method-acting thespian facing her mortality through a role that melds life and art. For his BAM debut, theatre's latest enfant terrible Ivo van Hove transfers the self-reflexive tale to the stage, erecting an all-in-one set (stage, backstage, and hotel room) and channeling live film and video. Famous for his raw reinterpretations, van Hove strips down art's artifice through the unpredictable maze that is the human psyche.
- Jason Jude Chan
[Info Source]
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PERFORMING ARTS: Dance
Shen Wei Dance Arts: Connect Transfer II
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Wednesday Dec 3 (7:30pm)
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Judson Memorial Church (55 Washington Square S, 212.868.4444)
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$18 - 500
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Even if you're not a contemporary-dance buff, you're probably familiar with '07 MacArthur Genius Shen Wei and just don't realize it: he choreographed a segment of this year's Olympic Opening Ceremonies, inspired by his own Connect Transfer. You remember, that part with the dancers acting as human Spin-Art styluses, painting with their bodies on a huge white canvas? This week, Shen Wei Dance Arts presents Connect Transfer II, another riff on the original, this time staged with a tour of modern-art museums in mind. For this very limited gala (read: potentially pretty pricey) engagement at Judson Church, the troupe performs with live accompaniment from the FLUX Quartet and Stephen Gosling on piano.
- Leah Taylor
[Info Source]
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MORE FLAVOR: Benefit
NextAid presents ROOTS w/ Louie Vega, Tony Humphries, and Kevin Hedge
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Wednesday Dec 3 (10pm)
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Cielo (18 Little W 12th St, 212.645.5700)
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$20
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OK, so they're a few days late for World AIDS Day (December 1), but the folks at NextAid undoubtedly have their hearts in the right place: on the dance floor. The LA-based org funds research and aid for African orphans afflicted with HIV/AIDS, through grassroots programs here in the states — mostly partnerships with musicians, promoters, and DJs. So pat yourself on the back (all ticket proceeds tonight benefit NextAid), and then spend the night grooving to house-music star Louie Vega, soul impresario (and remix legend) Tony Humphries, and a score of live performers.
- Leah Taylor
[Info Source]
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MUSIC: Electronic
Blip Festival 2008
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Thursday Dec 4 (8pm)
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The Bell House (149 7th St, 718.643.6510)
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$50 festival pass / $15 per night
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For the past two years, Christmas has come early for old-school videogame lovers in the form of Blip Festival. Curated by 8bitpeoples and the Tank, Blip is a showcase for musicians who use hacked game consoles to create thoroughly modern sounds that can reduce even the most discerning listener to a giddy puddle. The third-annual fest boasts an international lineup, including Stu from Switzerland, who crafts crunchy electro with an Atari; Parisian Sidabitball, who uses Commodore 64s to cover the Fraggle Rock theme song and 2 Unlimited's "Get Ready for This"; and NYC locals Graffiti Monsters, who make chip-punk on PSPs and Game Boys. Stock up on infinite lives to survive dancing your ass off.
- Ali Gitlow
[Info Source]
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MORE FLAVOR: Benefit
Red Hot + Rio 2
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Thursday Dec 4 (8pm)
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BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave, 718.636.4100)
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$25 - 65
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BAM's 2008 Next Wave Festival salutes the sultry rhythms of samba soul with a reprise of 1996's Red Hot + Rio all-star benefit concert. This year's celebration brings together a new generation of musical talent from Brazil and beyond, including New York-based bossa singer Bebel Gilberto and Swedish finger-picking crooner José González. São Paolo's vibrant music scene offers two of the evening's most hotly tipped up-and-comers: honey-voiced R&B diva CéU and eclectic samba-funk songwriter Curumin. A portion of the proceeds from both evenings' concerts benefit the Brazil Foundation's AIDS-related relief projects.
- Eli Dvorkin
[Info Source]
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PERFORMING ARTS: Spoken Word
The Moth Uncorked: Stories About Wine
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Friday Dec 5 (7:30pm)
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The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park S, 212.475.6116)
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$20
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The last main-stage Moth show of the year is all about wine. Tonight's storytellers include chef and wine expert Tamara Reynolds, author and wine lover Jay McInerney, and Josh Wesson, the founder of Best Cellars. Jonathan Ames, a Moth regular, author of the recent graphic novel The Alcoholic, and a lover of all things grain and grape, is a natural choice to host. Over the years, we've enjoyed his stories of wild benders around the world, and are confident he has an equally good vino-inspired tale in store for us this evening.
- Chris Kompanek
[Info Source]
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PERFORMING ARTS: Comedy
Brian Posehn
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Friday Dec 5 (8 & 10:30pm)
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Comix (353 W 14th St, 212.524.2500)
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$30 / $25 advance
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Seasoned standup comic and self-proclaimed metal nerd Brian Posehn hits Comix's stage for four shows of geeky comic-book humor, pot jokes, and yes: very serious heavy-metal defenses. Besides a mainstream career-boosting role as the creepy mail clerk in Just Shoot Me way back when, you'll likely recognize Posehn in much edgier fare: as the second-best part of 2005's The Comedians of Comedy: The Movie (after Zach Galifianakis), arguably the best part of The Sarah Silverman Program, and a key figure on both Human Giant and about a dozen Adult Swim programs.
- Leah Taylor
[Info Source]
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MUSIC: Rock/Pop
Owen w/ Caithlin de Marrais and El May
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Saturday Dec 6 (6:30pm)
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Mercury Lounge (217 E Houston St, 212.260.4700)
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$12 / $10 advance
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Mike Kinsella has been on quite a journey: in addition to playing alongside his brother Tim in indie stalwarts like Cap'n Jazz and Joan of Arc, the younger singer/songwriter has staked out his own territory, both with post-emo instrumentalists American Football and as a solo artist. Under the name Owen, he offers a slight variation on soft indie/emo rock, showing off his compositional prowess by adding a bit of Elliott Smith edge to arrangements rife with inspired acoustic guitar, drum, piano, and string flourishes. He plays tonight alongside former Rainer Maria songstress Caithlin de Marrais.
- Bill Chenevert
[Info Source]
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MORE FLAVOR: Party
BowieBall
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Saturday Dec 6 (10pm)
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Santos Party House (100 Lafayette St, 212.584.5492)
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$20 / $15 advance
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In NYC, it often seems that some residents live the BowieBall every day. Spandex? Check. Fabulous makeup? Check. Platforms? Definitely; just another Wednesday. But just think of how insanely over-the-top those folks will be for tonight's bash. Michael T (of Motherf*cker fame), Jake D, and Rok One from the Bangers spin plenty of Bowie and glam-rock jams; Dirty Martini and Tigger strip down to their facepaint and sequins; and five live bands round out the bill with their reinventions of Ziggy Stardust tunes. So if you think, "Oh God, I could do better than that," come prove it at Santos, Queen Bitch.
- Leah Taylor
[Info Source]
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MUSIC: Punk/Metal
Show No Mercy feat. Nachtmystium w/ Javelina, Velnias, Bloody Panda, and Malkuth
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Sunday Dec 7 (7pm)
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Public Assembly (70 N 6th St, 718.384.4586)
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$20
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The bleak months of winter are upon us, and while we may have some residual tryptophan afterglow, Brandon Stosuy (the man behind Pitchfork's Show No Mercy column) has assembled a bill to stamp out all remaining light. NYC's Malkuth unleash a messy, anti-human, black-metal attack, while Illinois' Velnias bring down the mood with soul-destroying, blackened, gutteral, downtempo heaviness tinged with folk elements. Philly's Javelina assail audiences with thrashy, driving stoner doom, before headliners Nachtmystium prepare us for the afterworld with their epic, coldly luminous, psychedelic black metal.
- Gerry Mak
[Info Source]
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MUSIC: Rock/Pop
Constantines w/ Tim Fite and the End of the World
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Sunday Dec 7 (9pm)
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Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 N 6th St, 718.486.5400)
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$14 / $12 advance
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At a time when many bands are moving away from direct rock influences and attempting to "go electronic," typically with dubious results, Toronto's Constantines keep things simple with their fist-pumping rock 'n roll. Unabashed Neil Young fanatics, the Cons also channel the everyman bar rock of Bruce Springsteen and the post-hardcore DC sound of Fugazi on their latest release for Arts & Crafts, Kensington Heights. But the boys have also got a soft side, as evidenced by their cover of "Islands in the Stream," which features vocals by fellow Canuck Feist.
- Axel Anderson
[Info Source]
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MORE FLAVOR: Lecture
Artists on Artists feat. Mark Dion on Robert Smithson
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Monday Dec 8 (6:30pm)
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Dia Art Foundation (535 West 22nd St, 212.293.5583)
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$6
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Dia's long-running lecture series (founded back in '01 with funds from the city and Art for Art's sake), Artists on Artists, returns this month with a look at earth artist Robert Smithson. Best known for his Spiral Jetty (1970), which extends into Utah's Great Salt Lake, as well as Floating Island — which made a few laps around Manhattan in 2005 — Smithson was also a prolific art critic and theorist. Pennsylvania-based artist Mark Dion illuminates Smithson's projects and works tonight. The winner of the Smithsonian Art Musuem's Lucelia Artist Award earlier this fall, Dion explores art's relationship with nature, science, and dominant ideologies through his vast multimedia installations and video works.
- Leah Taylor
[Info Source]
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MORE FLAVOR: Benefit
Ladies Lotto Benefit for charity: water
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Monday Dec 8 (7pm)
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The Event Space (122 W 26th St)
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$50
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It's a fairly straightforward proposition: without clean water, there can be no life. Although the focusing of international efforts has made some progress, great swathes of the African continent still struggle to provide their people and farms with safe water sources. Enter charity: water, an organization of deep conscience that raises funds for constructing new wells in the neediest regions. Tonight's NYC/LA set of benefit parties is hosted by progressive social network Ladies Lotto, and holds it down on both coasts with rosters of musicians and DJs inspired by the rich musical influences of Ethiopia (here, DJ Lindsey and Star Eyes hold it down), plus a juicy silent auction featuring music, art, literature, and urban couture.
- Shana Nys Dambrot
[Info Source]
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PERFORMING ARTS: Theatre
Taking Over
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Tuesday Dec 2 (7pm)
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The Public Theater (425 Lafayette St, 212.539.8500)
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$60
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Danny Hoch's one-man extravaganza Taking Over gives a good name to theatre with a social conscious, using scathing humor to make the audience howl and squirm while skewering urban gentrification. Reminiscent of Sarah Jones' Bridge & Tunnel — also directed by Tony Taccone — Taking Over channels a series of Brooklyn characters, ranging from a real estate mogul and a Midwestern transplant to long-time residents being displaced. Some of these portraits are more complex than others, and there is an occasional whiff of soapbox moralizing, but the authenticity of Hoch's connection to the material he wrote and performs is never in question.
- Alyssa Alpine
[Info Source]
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ART
Robert Morris: Deflationary Objects
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Tuesday Dec 2 (10am–6pm)
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Leo Castelli Gallery (18 E 77th St, 212.249.4470)
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FREE
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Like Paris between the Wars, '60s New York was the epicenter of the art world — whether in theory, tectonic creativity, or the army of look-at-me artists on its banks. A Kansas City transplant, the young, art-history-conscious Robert Morris arrived on the scene and began making sculptures that responded to Parisian Dadaist Marcel Duchamp. Deflationary Objects is a rare exhibition of Morris' small-scale pieces, all made during the versatile artist's iconic and increasingly anti-formulaic period. Included are his Duchamp prompt-and-responses, such as the reflective, red-green structure Pharmacy, and unorthodox self-portraits, such as I-box — metal-sheathed box with an I-lettered pink door that opens to Morris' nude photograph.
- Jason Jude Chan
[Info Source]
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About Us |
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Cultural Partner
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