Monday, August 27, 2007

Happenings for Week of August 27th, 2007

Monday, August 27th, 2007

Reading: Veronica A. Shaffer "I Hear Your Cry" (C, E, L)
In "I Hear Your Cry: Women in Prison," Veronica A. Shaffer takes readers into the heart of a women's prison, where she taught prisoners skills that released them from their emotional and physical jails. Her belief that the benefits of yoga and meditation empowers women who experience powerlessness and trauma pushed her to establish a fit and wellness program despite a number of obstacles. Shaffer currently teaches creative writing to men in prison.
@ Blue Stockings
172 Allen Street (between Stanton and Rivington Streets)
7p
Free
For more information: bluestockings

Monday Night Magic (C)
Featuring: David Oliver (Classic Doves, Exquisite Silent Manipulation), Harley Newman (Wild, Crazy and On The Edge Miracles) and Rocco (Magic Master & Sleight-of-Hand Champion)
Come and spend the most magical night New York City has to offer at “Monday Night Magic.” We’ve got a seat with your name on it prepare to be amazed. It’s a night of magic you will never forget.
@ St. Cement's Theatre
423 West 46th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues)
8p
Tickets: $32.50, day of show: $37.50
For more information and to buy tickets: magic



La India (A, C, M)
Come join the sizzling sensation the “Princess of Salsa” La India as she heats up Lincoln Center with “salsaton,” her term for a sound fusion of salsa and reggaeton music designed to keep your hips shaking and your feet moving. An integral part of growth of dance music in discos in the 1980s, La India crossed markets in the 1990s, becoming salsa’s darling diva and the heir apparent to continuing the genre’s legacy. Her songs are infectious, her voice passionate, and the beats compelling a perfect combination for a hot summer night.
@ Lincoln Center - Damrosch Park Bandshell
Amsterdam (between West 62nd and West 65th Streets)
8p
Free
For more information: lincolncenter

Tuesday, August 28th, 2007

Piano in the Park with Sheldon Forrest (A, C, M)
Tap your toes to the music of Scott Joplin, the Gershwins, James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, Jelly Roll Morton, and more.
@ Bryant Park - Upper Fountain Terrace
Between 5 and 6 Avenues and West 40th and West 42nd Streets
12 - 1:45p
Free
For more information: bryantpark



Coney Island Takes over 43rd Street (C, D/F)
The thrill and tantalizing tastes of Coney Island come to NYC.
Brooklyn Diner USA is introducing their new Coney Island Seafood bar tonight. There will also be talent straight from the side show, Fire eaters, jugglers, mermaids and more. For those city dwellers who couldn’t make it to the Mermaid Parade this past June, this is the time to catch a glimpse of those elusive sea-creatures.
@ Brooklyn Diner USA
155 West 43rd Street (between Broadway and Sixth Avenue)
6 - 8p
Free
For more information call Jules: 212.584.4284



Book Launch Party for Chris Rose with his latest book, 1 Dead in Attic: After Katrina (C, L, P)
Rose, a New Orleans author and columnist for the Times-Picayune (the local New Orleans newspaper) who has written an incredibly touching and accurate portrayal of the aftermath of Katrina. Katrina is present in the mind of every New Orleanian and for those that still live there, daily reminders exist on every street corner. As we approach the 2-year anniversary of Katrina, it's our privilege to welcome Chris Rose for this very special event. The Washington Post Book World calls his columns: "impressionistic cries of pain and mordant humor... they so aptly mirrored the sense of surreal dislocation experienced by New Orleanians that they turned Rose into a voice of the tortured city."
@ Vestry Wines
65 Vestry Street (@ Washington Street)
6:30 - 8:30p
Free
For more information: wines

Wednesday, August 29th, 2007

Charli Persip +5 (A, C, M)
Charli Persip's nearly forty year mission includes distinguished residencies with the big bands of Dizzy Gillespie and Billy Eckstine, as well as gigs and record dates with Tadd Dameron, Frank Foster, Eric Dolphy, Roland Kirk, John Coltrane, among many others. Persip was the drummer on the legendary, "Eternal Triangle" recording, featuring Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt.
@ Grant's Tomb
122nd Street and Riverside Drive
7p
Free
For more information: jazz and profile

Book Discussion and Signing: Actors at Work (A, C, L)
by Rosemarie Tichler, Barry Jay Kaplan, Mike Nichols
It’s extremely difficult to be an actor, for many reasons: It’s mostly unrewarding financially. It takes a lot of hard work before an actor even gets a part. A career is apt to be short-lived. The field is incredibly competitive. Cream does not always rise to the top. And yet actors young and old line up by the thousands wanting to do it. What fuels this desire? What is it that drives actors to withstand the frustration of not getting parts, of getting bad parts in bad plays, of being mistreated by directors, misundertood by audiences, misinterpreted by critics? In a collection of interviews with a dozen artists, including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Patti LuPone, and Billy Crudup, the book explores not only the impetus to perform but also key topics about the process and profession, including the way actors approach a role, what techniques they use to deal with directors and other cast members, the ways in which they use their own personal lives in their work, and their influences, idols, and insecurities. The result is a book that actors will find indispensable and fans will find irresistible.
@ Barnes and Noble
1972 Broadway (@ 66th Street)
7:30p
Free
For more information: barnesandnoble



Meat Puppets and Guests come to NYC (M)
Rise to Your Knees recorded in the band’s adopted home base of Austin, Texas finds the Kirkwoods and new drummer Ted Marcus tapping into the same adventurous spirit that first put Meat Puppets on the map, recapturing the transcendent highs of their most celebrated work. The resulting music adds an inspired new chapter to the already massive legacy of a band whose body of music is an indispensable cornerstone of contemporary alternative rock.
@ The Knitting Factory
74 Leonard Street (between Church Street and Broadway)
8p
$20
For more information and to buy tickets: knitting

Thursday, August 30th, 2007


Singles Wine Tasting (D/F, E)
@ Bottle Rocket
5 West 19th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
6 - 8p
Free
For more information: www.bottlerocketwine.com

Movie Screening: Wait until Dark and Cry Terror (A, C, F)
Wait until Dark: At 27B St. Luke’s Place (actually, No. 4, a minute away from Film Forum), multi-disguised Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) and cohorts Richard Crenna and Jack Weston terrorize blind lady Audrey Hepburn to find that drug stash. With one of the all-time jump-in-your-seat sequences.
Cry Terror: Psycho airline bomber Rod Steiger, on his way to a half-mill payoff, keeps James Mason hostage in an East Side apartment (albeit with riv vu) and Mason’s wife Inger Stevens captive at 6 Barrow Street (in Film Forum’s vicinity). With a suspenseful West Side Highway drive and a chase into a PATH station.
@ Film Forum
209 West Houston Street (between Bedford Street and 7th Avenue South)
First film starts at 7:15p
$10.50 (2 films for 1 admission)
For more information: cryterror



Jenifer Jackson Returns to NYC (A, M)
Nothing slick, nothing fancy, nothing overdone or overblown. In other words: Just Jenifer's songs, Jenifer's voice and Jenifer's band. A truly in-the-moment recording, Jenifer's band knows these songs and each other so well, their ease and camaraderie provide a lived-in authenticity to this mellow-dramatic set of reflections.
@ Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen Street (between East Houston and Stanton Streets)
7p
Free with 2 drink minimum
For more information: Jenifer

Friday, August 31st, 2007

Battles comes to the Seaport (A, M)
New York’s own Battles currently produce some of the most intense and hypnotic experimental music around.
@ South Street Seaport, Pier 17
FDR between Fulton and Beekman Streets
7p
Free
For more information: rivertoriver

Tambourines to Glory (A, C, M)
Tambourines to Glory is a spirited, tragic-comedy that follows the lives of Laura Reed and Essie Bell Johnson who decide to start their own gospel church on a street corner in Harlem. Laura dreams of becoming rich and famous while Essie genuinely desires to serve the lord and her community. When the Devil (not a symbol or metaphor, but Beelzebub himself!) enters the picture, the conflict intensifies between the two women, their community and their faith. As these powerful forces collide and the conflict between the characters spiral out of control, Laura and Essie fight to find their way back from the ravages of Hell.
@ City College - Aaron Davis Hall
150 Convent Avenue (at West 135th Street)
7 - 9:30p
$1 - 10
For more information and to buy tickets: harlem



Movie Screening: Kamp Katrina (D, E, F)
Kamp Katrina follows New Orleans native Ms. Pearl, who spontaneously converts her backyard into a tent-village for 14 displaced people for six months in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent flooding of her beloved city. Ms. Pearl explodes off the screen, one of those flamboyantly larger-than-life personalities who, were this a fictional film, would seem too outrageous to be real. Kamp Katrina delivers a sometimes-shattering verité exploration of the very personal daily struggles imposed by this national tragedy on a small group of troubled survivors.
@ Pioneer Theater
155 East 3rd Street (between Avenue A and B)
9p
$6.50 - 10
For more information and to buy tickets: kampkatrina

Saturday, September 1st, 2007


Tai Chi (E, S)
Central Park is the perfect urban oasis in which to learn the basics of ‘yang’ style Tai Chi Chuan, an ancient martial art form with instructor Derrick Trent.
10 - 11a
$7
For more information call: 212.348.4867 x10

Walking Tour: Wall Street (D, S)
This tour will weave together the history, events, architecture and people of Lower Manhattan.
@ Meet at the front steps of the US Custom House
1 Bowling Green (between State and Whitehall Streets)
12p
Free
For more information: river

13th Annual Labor Day Bash (P)
Our Labor Day Bash is always a favorite because there's no work the next day and because we are able to reserve a top-of-the-line venue exclusively for Jewish professionals 21-39 all night long. Opia will be closed to the public for our event and we will have the entire space including the Main Lounge, Bar and Den to ourselves. Arrive early (9 - 10p) for 1/2 price Apple Martinis and Cosmopolitans, too.
@ Opia
130 East 57th Street (btwn Lexington and Park Aves)
9 - 2a
$20 with RSVP or in advance, $25 at the door
For more information and to RSVP: letmypeoplego

Sunday, September 2nd 2007




Museum Exhibit: Sensation and Sentiment: Cinema Posters 1912 - 14 (A, C, F)
In the tradition of early-twentieth-century circus and theater advertising, the first film posters are distinguished by their vivid color lithography, range of oversized formats, emphasis on spectacle in design, and direct address of such themes as domestic strife, romance, and patriotism. This exhibition includes posters selected from a recent acquisition from the renowned collection of Dutch film distributor Jean Desmet (1875 - 1956) for American, British, Danish, French, and Italian films dating from 1912 to 1914, along with rare photographs documenting the earliest sites of film exhibition in the United States.
@ Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53 Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues)
$20
For more information: moma

Bike Tour: The Brooklyn Bridge and Skyline at Twilight (E, S)
The Big Apple is justifiably famous for its night life and night lights. Here is a unique opportunity to see the city’s brightness at twilight. This is an ideal time to pedal around lower Manhattan as there is considerably less street traffic. This unique tour begins while it is still daylight, with a pedal through the historic and charming West Village. As we ride along charming streets and by quaint houses, we’ll pass by a famous restaurant that was once a classic “speakeasy.” We’ll then head to the new Hudson River Greenway, a splendid bike path with truly magnificent views of the New York Harbor. Passing nearby Ground Zero, we will visit yet another monument to human despair. We then ride through the nearly-deserted Wall Street area. Here, the spectacular Stock Exchange building is especially impressive at twilight. The highlight of our tour is of course a truly amazing pedal up the Brooklyn Bridge, on its own bike path, as daylight slowly dissipates and the lights of the city emerge. Twilight on the Brooklyn Bridge is an “only in the Big Apple awesome experience.” This unique tour is not over yet. As we leisurely pedal back to our starting point, we’ll pass by Foley Square, home to another prime-time TV program set. This tour is truly a special opportunity to experience a very different side of the Big Apple.
Meeting location: Greenwich Village, location to be revealed upon signing up
2:30 - 5:30p
$65, $10 less with your own bike
For more information and to sign up: bike

Movie Screening: Mean Streets with local short films (Sloth and June Weddings) (A, C, F)
See where it all started for Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Harvey Kietel in the seminal New York character drama Mean Streets
Sloth by Peter D'Addeo: a short study of one of the seven deadly sins. one that's a little more easy going than some of the other six.
June Weddings by Barbara Hammond: On the way to his son's wedding, a man stops in for a drink and talks about the past and the future with a lady who drinks champagne at noon.
As always there's free popcorn for everyone and free drinks for the winner of the Johnny Boy vs. Michael trivia contest.
@ Galapagos Arts Space
70 North 6th Street, Brooklyn
(between Kent and Wythe Avenues)
8p
Free
For more information: galapagos

Monday, September 3rd, 2007 (Labor Day)




Singles Hike: Raccoon Brook (S)
9 moderate-challenging miles over rugged terrain.
Raccoon Brook Hill hike is notable for the marvelous diversity of its terrain and scenery. Join us as we climb to several high vantage points for fine views of the countryside and changing leaves. After a lake shore lunch & swim, pass alongside the rolling waters of Pine Meadow and Stony Brooks.
Meeting location: 73rd Street and Broadway
9a (arrive at 8:45a to sign in) - 6p
$49
For more information and to sign up:outdoorbound
Save $5 - after signing up email: info@outdoorbound.com and let them know you found out about trip from Laura’s List.

Key to Activities

A Art
C Cultural
D Dance
D/F Drink/Food
E Education
F Film
L Literature
M Music
NP Non-Profit
P Party
S Sport

Monday, August 20, 2007

Happenings for Week of August 20th, 2007

Week of August 20th, 2007



2007 Pro Beach Volleyball Crocs Tour (S)
The AVP swings to New York for the Brooklyn Open on Coney Island, where Mike Lambert-Stein Metzger seek to defend their title and Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh look to get back on track in Brooklyn.
August 23rd - 26th, 2007
@ Coney Island Beach
19th and Surf Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11224
Tickets: $20 - $60
For more information and to buy tickets: avp

Monday, August 20th, 2007


The 26th Annual Downtown Dance Festival (A, C, D)
Battery Dance Company presents a wide range of styles and companies from New York and around the world for the city's longest running free dance festival.
@ Chase Plaza, Nassau Street (between Liberty and Pine Streets)
12p
Free
For more information: river

Sex Sells (A, C)
An Evening to Benefit the Hysteria Festival (1st Annual Female Comedy Festival) Performances and videos by some of NYC's most talented performers.
With Performances and Videos by: Desiree Burch, Ann Carr, Livia Scott, Sara Schaefer, Eliza Skinner, Becky Yamamoto, Julie Klausner and Jackie Clarke
@ Galapagos Art Space
70 North 6th Street (between Kent and Wythe Avenues)
Free
8p
For more information: galapagos

Tuesday, August 21st, 2007



Jewish Candymakers of New York: 100 Years of Joyva (C, D/F, E)
A halvah and candy company, Joyva is one of Brooklyn’s treasures. Family owned and run for 100 years this year, Richard Radutsky now spearheads the legacy of his grandfather who emigrated from Kiev Russia and founded Joyva in 1907. In the exhibition, the company’s staff, product development, employee interviews and historic and contemporary photographs present one of the gems in New York’s wealth of immigrant history. The candymaking process features an underground tahini main, 50 pound pillows of sesame seeds and honey, perfect oh’s of chocolate and jelly, and the story of “Miss Joyva, 1951”.
@ Mark Miller Gallery
92 Orchard Street (between Grand and Broome Streets)
Free
For more information: food

Lecture: City Cycling for Adults (E, S)
Martin Nichols teaches how to safely use this fast, efficient transportation, NYC's rules of the road and basic roadside maintenance. Bicycle/helmet required.
@ North Esplanade at Chambers Street, Battery Park City
6:30p
Free
For more information: bikes

Wine Tasting: Island Hopping (D/F, E)
So many islands…so little time. Sicily, Sardinia, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and of course Long Island
@ Best Cellars
2246 Broadway (between 80th and 81st Streets)
8p
$7
For more information call: 212.362.8730

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007




Photography Exhibit: Visual Griots of Mali (A, C, E)
Visual Griots of Mali combines the importance of storytelling with the power of the camera, engaging Malian youth (ages 10-16) to use images instead of words in a revealing process of self-exploration and expression. Forty-nine black and white photographs, resulting from a series of workshops organized by the Academy for Educational Development, tell stories of life in Mali from the perspective of a new generation of visual griots.
@ World Financial Center Courtyard Gallery
Complex is bordered by Vesey Street along the north, West Street to the east, Liberty Street on the south and the Hudson River to the west
Free
For more information: mali

We Love Chick-Lit (C, L)
Writers chat about the hip and chic in-and-outside world of “Chick-Lit” and “Lad-Lit.” The country's most celebrated authors speak about recent successes and their thoughts on being a writer. Featuring: Jennifer Belle, Little Stalker, Caprice Crane, Forget About It, Megan Crane, Frenemies, Carrie Karasyov, The Infidelity Pact
@ Bryant Park - Reading Room
(between 40th/42nd Streets and Fifth/Sixth Avenues)
12:30 - 1:45p
Free
For more information: bryantpark

Come test your game of luck and skill (S)
Play backgammon while eating dinner and/or enjoying a cocktail or two. Players will get a 20% discount off of their check. Boards provided.
@ Brasserie Julien
1422 Third Avenue (between 80th and 81st Streets)
All day and night
For more information: brasserie

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007




Music by Marta Topferova (M)
Vocalist Marta Topferova composes and performs beautifully lyrical music rooted in Latin rhythms including Venezuelan vals, merengue, and gaita, Cuban son and Argentinian zamba merging it all with her background in classical music and the folklore of her native Czechoslovakia. She accompanies herself on the four-string cuatro and will be joined by Roland Satterwhite, violin and guitar; Pedro Giraudo, bass; and Franco Pinna, percussion.
@ Museum of Modern Art - Sculpture Garden
11 West 53rd Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
5:30p
Free with museum admission, $20
For more information: moma



Book Discussion and Signing: Game Over by Azie Faison
A cautionary tale about the life of former kingpin Azie Faison, who has become the fabric of street legend Faison was a ninth grade dropout who earned more than $100,000 a week selling cocaine in Harlem. His legacy has been noted in hip-hop's lyrics, and his life was the basis for the urban cult classic film "Paid in Full" starring Mekhi Phifer, Wood Harris, and rapper Cam'ron and produced by Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Films.
@ Hue Man Bookstore
2319 Frederick Douglass Boulevard (between 124th and 125th Streets)
6p
Free
For more information: hueman

Movie Screening: West Side Story (C, F)
The Sharks and the Jets replay "Romeo and Juliet" in 1950's New York City with a gorgeous score and choreography. Also featuring a short: Slip Of The Tongue by Karen Lum
Careful what you ask a stranger at the bus stop you might just get an answer! A look at perceptions of beauty, ethnicity and body image. And DJ: Doug Gomez and DJ Drilla (Drrtyhaze) bring their collection of Latin boogie down to the bridge.
@ Brooklyn Bridge Park - Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, Lawn
1 Main Street, Brooklyn
Music starts at 6p, movie starts at sunset (between 8 - 9p)
For more information: brooklyn

Friday, August 24th, 2007



Movie Screening: Dirty Dancing (Exclusive Engagement) (C, F)
Its the summer of 1963 and Baby is stuck at the Catskills with her parents. Attempting to make the best of the situation, Baby attends the organized classes on merengue dancing and wig demonstration. Suddenly, all of that changes when she meets Johnny Castle, the resort’s dance instructor. With Johnny, Baby learns the steps to a new dance a dirty dance that allows her to discover new strengths and new talents in order to define her place in a rapidly changing world. Under the influence of Rhythm and Blues, Baby can now express herself and her love for Johnny.
@ Clearview's Ziegfeld
141 West 54th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues)
7:30p
$9 (plus service charges)
For more information and to buy tickets: movie

Speed Dating Event (S)
Men Ages: 40 - 51, Women Ages: 37 - 47
(women are sold out, but you can join waiting list)
@ Mustang Harrys
352 7th Avenue (between 29th and 30th Streets)
7:30p
Cost: $44.75, (Save - Use the name Laura in the discount code and pay $34.75). No discount is applied on day of event.
For more information and to sign up: dating

Draw - A - Thon (A, D)
Draw, paint, sculpt, write and create with a wide variety of talented models in a marathon 8 hour format. Models as performance artists, performance artists as models, dancers and actors as models, doing dramatic and intense gestures, 15's and long poses in a theatrical fun setting. Our mission is to provide artists with an affordable alternative to the conventional drawing workshop. We encourage and promote our models as artists.
@ ReBar
147 Front Street (between Maiden Lane and Pine Street)
8 - 4a
$13 per session
For more information: drawathon

Saturday, August 25th, 2007


Art Exhibit: 21 Positions (A)
More than a mere assembly of 21 artistic positions, this exhibition is about looking at the 21st century from different angles. Rather than celebrating speed, ubiquity, and unlimited growth, the new state of the art is to make us reflect on what we are about to lose.
@ Austrian Cultural Forum
11 East 52nd Street (between Madison and Fifth Avenues)
Free
For more information: acfny



Movie Screening: Stormy Weather (A, C, F)
Starring New York’s own Lena Horne with Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway, Katherine Dunham and some of the greatest African American talent of the 1940’s. The story is lightly based on Bill Robinson’s life. A black newspaper headlined this fine effort, no Bandannas in “Stormy Weather”.
@ Casa Frela Gallery
47 West 119th Street (between Malcolm X Boulevard and Fifth Avenue)
12p
$5 per movie
For more information: casafrela

Lecture: The Rising Tide: Urban Population and Climate Change (C, E, L)
Human settlement has long been drawn to resource-rich coastal areas. But coastal regions also experience seaward hazards, including sea level rise and extreme weather events that are expected to increase as a result of climate change. Coastal zones exhibit higher population densities, in both urban and rural areas than any other major ecologically defined zone. In this study, we show that about one person in ten globally lives in the most vulnerable low elevation portions of coastal zones. This presentation will review findings in a global context, and for the five boroughs of New York City, and discusses implications for policy at both scales.
@ Governors Island - Pershing Hall
Free
12:30p
For more information and directions: govisland



Lecture: Chew on This (E, L)
Learn about the history of chewing gum, Adams NY Gum #1 and make a pack of chewing gum from scratch.
@ South Street Seaport Museum
12 Fulton Street (@ FDR Drive)
1p
Free with Museum Admission, $8
For more information: gum

Shemekia Copeland returns to NYC (A, C, M)
When singing sensation Shemekia Copeland first appeared on the scene in 1997 with her groundbreaking debut CD, Turn the Heat Up, she quickly became, at 18 years old, a roots music superstar. Critics from around the country celebrated Shemekia's music as fans of all ages agreed that an unstoppable new talent had arrived. Shemekia released two more CDs: 2000's Grammy© nominated Wicked and 2002's Taling to Strangers (produced by Dr. John), and in that short period of time, collected five Blues Music Awards, a Grammy© nomination, five Living Blues Awards, and was honored with the coveted "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" Award by the DownBeat Critics' Poll. Rock legend Robert Plant called her "the next Tina Turner." Shemekia has already had a lifetime's worth of career highlights, including performances on national television, appearances in films, and sharing stages with some of the biggest names in the music world.
@ BB King Blues
237 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)
Doors open at 6p, show starts at 8p
$25
For more information and to buy tickets: shemekia

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

Sculpture Exhibit: Number 72 by Louise Bourgeois (A, C)
This exhibit comprises a group of works that demonstrate Ms. Bourgeois’s use of clustered forms. Works in bronze, marble, latex and fiberglass, aluminum, and steel, ranging in date from the late 1940s to 1996, highlight Ms. Bourgeois’ focus on the psychological and emotional effects of human relations. Grouping anthropomorphic and tactile forms, she emphasizes their relation to one another and to the space around them, and explores the themes of intimacy and anxiety. Deeply symbolic, the works are charged with both sexuality and innocence, mined from Ms. Bourgeois’ childhood and family life in order to understand and remake that history.
@ Storm King
Old Pleasant Hill Road, Mountainville, NY
$10
For more information and directions (there is public transport avail)stormking

Walking Tour: The Cool, Green Edge of the City: Central Park West (S)
Another opportunity to enjoy the cool of the evening on an architectural tour that takes advantage of unique qualities of light and microclimate, this time along Central Park West. The distinctive skyline of Central Park West tells a story of changing fashions and attitudes in architecture and planning over a 150-year period. Uncover the layers of architectural and landscape history from the Dakota to Columbus Circle. The tour ends in a location that will provide a choice of dining options.
Location: Meet at the N.E. corner of Central Park West and West 72nd Street
6p
$15
For more information and to sign up: mas

Revenge of the Book Eaters (C, L, M)
A show that reminds you of the eternal question: words or music - which is better?
Featuring: Britt Daniel, AC Newman, Feist, Jim James, Sarah Vowell and Demetri Martin
@ Beacon Theatre
2124 Broadway (between 74th and 75th Streets)
7p
$35 - $50
For more information and to buy tickets: book

Yoga Class (S)
Stretch your Sunday nite blues away with Paula Lynch from Yoga Works.
@ Lululemon Athletica
1928 Broadway (@ 64th Street)
8 - 9p
Free
For more information: lululemon

Monday, August 27th, 2007




Monday Night Magic (C)
Featuring: David Oliver (Classic Doves, Exquisite Silent Manipulation), Harley Newman (Wild, Crazy and On The Edge Miracles) and Rocco (Magic Master & Sleight-of-Hand Champion)
Come and spend the most magical night New York City has to offer at “Monday Night Magic.” We’ve got a seat with your name on it prepare to be amazed. It’s a night of magic you will never forget.
@ St. Cement's Theatre
423 West 46th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues)
8p
Tickets: $32.50, day of show: $37.50
For more information and to buy tickets: magic

Key to Activities


A Art
C Cultural
D Dance
D/F Drink/Food
E Education
F Film
L Literature
M Music
NP Non-Profit
P Party
S Sport

Monday, August 13, 2007

Happenings for Week of August 13th

Week of August 13th, 2007

4th Annual 2008 NYC Downtown Short Film Festival - Audience Choice Screenings (C, F)
We will be featuring some of the best short films being produced internationally as well as the work of established actors and directors.We believe these changes will better serve the needs of short film makers and the NYC audiences who want to see these new innovative, challenging and exciting films made by the freshest talent working in film today.
@ Duo Theatre
62 East 4th Street (between Bowery and 2nd Avenue)
August 13th - 15th, 2007
For more information and to buy tickets: downtown



Elvis 30th Anniversary Commemorative Celebration and Exhibition (A, C, M)
As the world celebrates Elvis' legacy on the 30th anniversary of his passing and Jelvis, The Jewish Elvis will present an evening of live performances of the King's music in styles ranging from rock to jazz, from alternative to world. Following will be a three-day exhibition featuring Elvis memorabilia in a collaborative multimedia installation by visual artists, musicians, dancers, poets and Elvis impersonators expressing their 'Inner Elvis'.
@ Ideal Glass Gallery
22 East 2nd Street (between Bowery and 2nd Avenue)
August 16th - 19th
For more information: elvis and ideal

Monday, August 13th, 2007


HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival presents: Casablanca (C, F)
This timeless masterpiece of film takes place at Rick's Cafe Americaine, the gin joint where intrigue, romance, valor and compassion collide at the edge of Europe during WWII. Humphrey Bogart sticks his neck out for nobody, except beautiful Ingrid Bergman, the love who left him years ago in Paris.
@ Bryant Park Lawn
6th Avenue between 40th - 42nd Streets
5 - 11p
The films begin at sunset (between 8-9p)
Free
For more information: film



A Public Conversation with Congressman Weiner Concerning Energy (C, E)
Join Congressman Weiner about energy independence, climate change, traffic and a host of other pertinent green subjects of local, national and global significance. Since 1998, former City Council member Anthony Weiner has represented New York's 9th District (Brooklyn and Queens) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Over the course of his tenure, Congressman Weiner has distinguished himself as an aggressive proponent of progressive energy and environmental legislation, earning a 100% League of Conservation. This year, the Congressman broke with many prominent local transportation and environmental activists by opposing the Mayor's controversial congestion pricing plan and favoring alternative approaches.
@ Stuyvesant Cove Park
FDR between East 22nd and 14th Street and Avenue C
7p
Free
For more information go to: events

Tuesday, August 14th, 2007



Times Square Kiss In (C, S)
Pucker up for peace. Join hundreds in the middle of Times Square to celebrate peace, love and hope and salute the men and women of our Armed Forces. On the anniversary of the end of World War II, the Times Square Alliance invites couples from all generations and of all types to celebrate again in Times Square, in honor of the US Armed Forces and in celebration of the universal ideals of peace, love and hope. A special invitation is extended to couples whose kisses bridge boundaries, be they religious, political, racial, national or otherwise, as well as veterans of WWII, returning veterans from the Iraq War, and couples in costumes commemorating the original 1945 kiss.
@ Times Square/Military Island
at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue (between 43rd and 44th Streets)
@ 1p
Free
For more information: timessquare

Walking Tour: Turtle Bay, Kip's Bay and Beekman Place (C, E, S)
Turtle Bay, the East Side neighborhood north of 42nd Street, is an often-quirky mixture of hotels, tenements, luxury housing, and governmental and institutional buildings. Among the landmarks we'll view will be the United Nations, the Beaux Arts Institute and Apartments, Greenacre Park, luxurious River House, and the homes of Beekman Place. We'll also view the historic Turtle Bay Gardens Houses, a house by modernist architect William Lescaze, and the recreated "historic" Amster Yard. Along the byways, we will run into the names of noted local residents such as Stephen Sondheim, Efrem Zimbalist, Batman, E. B. White, Katharine Hepburn, Walter Cronkite, Pearl Bailey, and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.
Meeting Location: Outside the Chrysler Building at the NE Corner of Lexington Avenue and East 42nd Street
6:30 - 8:30p
$15, Payable on Site
For more information: newyork



Baseball Panel Discussion: The Glory Days: New York Baseball 1947 - 1957 (C, E, S)
What do we remember about baseball, and why? What preserves our memories even as the events that spurred them grow more distant? Three notable authors novelist Kevin Baker, biographer Lee Lowenfish, and New York Times sportswriter Alan Schwarz will convene with Glory Days editor and baseball historian John Thorn on the intertwined subjects of memory, history, and nostalgia. What do we remember about baseball, and why? What preserves our memories even as the events that spurred them grow more distant or we come to view them more incisively? Why does this mid-century era supply such fertile soil for literary invention?
@ Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue (@ 103rd Street)
6:30p
$9
For more information and to make reservations: mcny

Smashed Grapes: A Night of Fine Wines, Food and Art (A, D/F, E)
You are invited to a tasting of desperate house wines. Find out what happens when grapes that do not normally grow together get down together. While many of the world's classic wines are blends, these wines stand out for their daring to break rules and cross genres.
No traditions, no limits; just lots of interesting combos of grapes.
@ The Sage Theater
711 7th Avenue (@ 48th Street), 2nd floor
7 - 9p
$45 on line, $50 at the door
For more information and to buy tickets: event

Wednesday, August 15th, 2007




A Tribute to Madonna (A, C, D, M)
Dance + Sing, Get up + Do your thing. Celebrate Madonna's birthday! Madonnathon
Featuring: Madonna Classics Performed Live By: Militia, The Dazzle Dancers,Felicia Collins, Corn Mo, Cathy Cervenka, Kiki Hawkins, La'Shelle and more. Backed by The Material Boys: David Matos, Mike Pieck, Trifon Dimitrov, Guy Finley, Jim Spengler & Claudia Chopek Wear your best Madonna look + sing a song live onstage with the band.
@ BB King Blues
237 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)
Doors open at 6p, show starts at 8p
$12 advance, $17 day of show
For more information and to buy tickets: bbking

Wine Seminar and Tasting: How Wine Evolves (C, D/F, E)
When fine wine matures it goes through a remarkable transformation increasing its complexity and depth. However, only a miniscule proportion of the wines produced are capable of benefiting from extended bottle age, so what is in the bottle that allows this extraordinary change to take place? In this seminar we will compare mature bottles with recently released bottles of the same wine, to develop an understanding of how wine successfully evolves in the bottle.
@ Le Du Wines
600 Washington Street (@ LeRoy Street)
$90
6:30 - 8p
For more information and to sign up: leduwine



Lecture: Robert Hammonds speaks about the new high line and it's history (C, E)
How did a pair of Chelsea residents with no government experience line up the City, the State, the von Furstenberg-Dillers, and a huge cast of characters to help turn the West Side's mammoth High Line railroad into a spectacular public space? You've no doubt heard about Hammond and other FHL co-founder Joshua David. Their incredible journey starts with Friends of the High Line's birth in 1999 and takes them through 100 civic and community groups, the New York State Supreme Court, former Mayor Giuliani, the Federal government, and many more allies and adversaries.
@ LGBT Community Center
208 West 13th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)
Social Hour 6:30 - 7:30p, program 7:30 - 9p
$10
For more information: highline

Thursday, August 16th, 2007

Gallery Opening and Artists Reception: (A, C, D/F)
Shaftway - Windows and Doors of the Neighborhood
Photographs by Megan Burke
@ Vintage Wine
482 Broome Street (@ Wooster Street)
6 - 8p
Free
For more information: vintage



Dancing on the Plaza: (A, C, D, M)
Salsa Night with Chino Nunez & Friends Orchestra, Salute to Hector Lavoe (C, D, E, M)
Bring a friend, or find one here, for dance instruction followed by dancing to live music under the stars.
@ The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center
Inside the Park at 110th Street (between Fifth and Lenox Avenues)
6 - 8p
Free
For more information: centralpark

Movie Screening: Through the Lens Series: "We Will Not Die Like Dogs" (D, E, F)
Lisa Russell's documentary "We Will Not Die Like Dogs" profiles AIDS activists from four African countries. Providing intimately honest and provocative testimonies from individuals who are living face-to-face with the epidemic on a daily basis, the film is a unique and poignant look at how Africans are responding to one of the continent's deadliest epidemics.
@ Bluestockings
172 Allen Street (between Stanton and Rivington Streets)
7p
$5 to $10 Suggested donation
For more information: bluestockings

Friday, August 17th, 2007


Photo Exhibit: Let Your Motto Be Resistance - African American Portraits (A, C, E)
Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits explores the history of African American achievement from the mid-nineteenth century to the present through the changing roles of photographic portraiture. The photographs, many by noted photographers and portraying distinguished subjects, establish a sense of place and identity and explore both aesthetic and vernacular styles. Among the subjects are such luminaries as actor, singer, and activist Paul Robeson; trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis; legendary singer Nat "King" Cole; performing artist Eartha Kitt; opera legend Marian Anderson; jazz pioneer Louis Armstrong; vocalist Sarah Vaughn; choreographer and dancer Judith Jamison; and Harlem Renaissance poet and writer Langston Hughes. The exhibition includes portraits produced by both well-known photographers such as Berenice Abbott, James VanDerZee, Edward Weston, Gordon Parks, Irving Penn, Carl Van Vechten, and lesser-known or anonymous photographers.
@ International Center of Photography
1133 Avenue of the Americas (at 43rd Street)
$12
For more information: icp

The National with The Forms & Takka Takka perform in NYC (A, M)
Taking cues from artists like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, even Johnny Cash, these Brooklyn-based Ohians bring their Americana, bar-soaked gems to the pier for this amazing night. With The Forms and Takka Takka.
7p
Free
@ South Street Seaport, Pier 17
FDR between Beekman and Fulton Streets
For more information: river



Book Discussion and Signing: (C, E, L)
Jessica Bruder with Burning Book: A Visual History of Burning Man
It all began in when a pair of friends burned an eight-foot-tall effigy on Baker Beach in San Francisco in front of an impromptu audience of twenty. Two decades later Burning Man has evolved intoa dazzling annual extravaganza dedicated to radical self-reliance and radical self-expression, attracting nearly forty thousand people. These revelers an eclectic mix of punks, geeks, families, ravers, grad students, gearheads, hippies, and tourists turn the ancient lakebed of Nevada's Black Rock Desert into a bustling city that exists for one glorious week before disappearing in a cloud of ashes and dust. Bruder explores the unique ethos and breathtaking art installations that have shaped the event, along with Black Rock City's distinctive landmarks, pranks, lore, and gift-based economy. Burning Book is a striking tribute to an extraordinary cultural phenomenon for the legions who participate in Burning Man every year, and for those who haven't become part of this unforgettable celebration yet.
@ Barnes and Noble
4 Astor Place (between Broadway and Lafayette)
7p
Free
For more information: bn

Saturday, August 18th, 2007


Texas Exes Whitewater Dam Release Trip (S)
Join us on a ride down the thrill-packed Lehigh River Gorge during dam release. The Army Corps of Engineers frees thousands of gallons of water, and we're going to ride it. Surrounded by state park protected woodlands and mountains, you will enjoy 12 miles and 5 hours of Class III whitewater rafting and outstanding scenery.
Meeting location: 73rd Street and Broadway
9:30 (arrive at 9a to sign in) - 6:30p
$135
For more information and to sign up: outdoorbound
Save $5 - after signing up email: info@outdoorbound.com and let them know you found out about trip from Laura’s List.

Champagne Tasting Class: Gourmet Champagnes (D/F, E)
Many champagne houses offer a wine in their range that falls somewhere between their Brut non-vintage andtheir top of the line Prestife cuvee. While this is not an official designation, we have to come classify these champagnes as ‘gourmet’
@ Flute Gramercy
40 East 20th Street (between Broadway and Park Avenue South)
6 - 7p
$40
For more information and to sign up: flutebar

Home Movies (A, F)
Fragile memories, preserved (and distorted) in motion pictures. Fun, fascinating, personal and profound. Sometimes you've just got to show it like it is. Sometimes you don't want Hollywood or the TV media to filter your experiences. You want real life, straight up. You want Rooftop Films' Home Movies. Rooftop Films' Home Movies show is all about the direct approach, the personal story, the raw humor, humiliation and humanity of real life, captured on video.
@ The Yard
400 Carroll Street (Bond and Nevins Streets) - Brooklyn
8p
$8
For more information and to buy tickets: rooftopfilms

Israeli Folk Dance: Summer Marathon (Code: T-BD5FD55-01) (C, D, S)
Usher in the delights of summer with an Israeli dance marathon.
@ 92nd Street Y
1395 Lexington Avenue (at 92nd Street), May Center Gym
$15
8:45pm
For more information call the Israeli Folk Dance Hotline at 212.415.5737

Sunday, August 19th, 2007

Mountaintop Yoga, Hike and Swim (S)
Enjoy a day of hiking, yoga, and swimming. Warm breezes, sunshine, green leaves, trees, fresh oxygen imagine the benefits to your body and spirit. Start with a hike to our yoga spot where we are greeted by calming views. After practice, we hike to the lake for a leisurely lunch and refreshing swim in the lake. Return to the city a new you.
Meeting location: 8:15a Union Square, 8:30a Upper West Side
Returning: 5:00 pm
$75 per day
For more information and to sign up: yoga



Annual Singapore Chili Crab Festival (C, D, D/F, M)
chili crabs and other southeast asian festival foods headline.
Festivities include: Chinatown Young Lion Dancers, Asian Cultural Dancers, Shaolin Martial Artists, Chinese Folk Dancers, Thai Dancers
Riverview
(between 48th and 50th Avenues), Long Island City
12 - 6p
Free admission
For more information:tiger

8th Annual Blues Festival (D/F, M)
Promises to be better than ever featuring the hottest blues artists. while you enjoy the music, amazing local bbq restaurants including brother jimmy's bbq, dallas jones bar-b-que, dinosaur bar b que, hill country and mara's homemade will sell their specialties. come on down and enjoy the sights and sounds. There will be music playing starting at 230p.
@ Hudson River Park's Pier 54 (at West 14th Street)
2 - 9p
Free admission
For more information: hudson


Girlyman (M)
This band creates a rich, poignant, playful sound something like Nickel Creek meets the B-52’s that crosses genres and genders. With its mix of sincerity and humor, and its soaring three-part harmonies, the trio is charming audiences nationwide. After spending the last six years living, cooking meals, writing songs, and even attending therapy together in a cramped New York City apartment, the members of Girlyman are ready to make a change. Perhaps the title track off their new CD, Joyful Sign, says it best: Sometimes leaving is a joyful sign/Like a little child singing, “This little light of mine, gonna let it shine.” The members of Girlyman, all classically trained, trade off songwriting duties and a slew of instruments including acoustic guitar, banjo, baritone guitar, djembe and mandolin.
@ Joes Pub
425 Lafayette Street
(between Astor Place and East 4th Street)
9:30p
$18
For more information and to buy tickets: joespub

Monday, August 20th, 2007

The 26th Annual Downtown Dance Festival (A, C, D)
Battery Dance Company presents a wide range of styles and companies from New York and around the world for the city's longest running free dance festival.
@ Chase Plaza, Nassau Street (between Liberty and Pine Streets)
12p
Free
For more information: river


Key to Activities

A Art
C Cultural
D Dance
D/F Drink/Food
E Education
F Film
L Literature
M Music
NP Non-Profit
P Party
S Sport

Monday, August 06, 2007

Happenings for Week of August 6th, 2007

Monday, August 6th, 2007

Travel Exhibit: Tourisme Montreal (C, E)
Lose the routine and find your Montréal getaway.
Imagine entering a space that plunges you into the sites and sounds of one of the world’s great cities, where you can escape your daily routine and live a virtual vacation. Through state-of-the-art technology, you’ll have an opportunity to explore this unique North American metropolis that mixes European flair with a North American vibe. The Montréal experience revolves around six distinct themes spotlighting the city’s creativity and effervescence in cuisine, arts & culture, architecture, shopping, outdoor activities, and nightlife. And visitors can also enter a contest for a chance to win one of three fabulous Montréal getaways!
@ Grand Central Terminal - Vanderbilt Hall
42nd Street (between Park Avenue and Vanderbilt)
Free
For more information: grandcentral




Lauryn Hill performs with Sean Kingston (A, C, M)
Her 1998 solo debut The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill showed this Fugee was a major vocal and lyrical force, blending rap, soul, reggae, and R&B into an undeniably powerful, and deeply personal style. Sean Kingston, a 17-year-old native of Jamaica, is not just a new face in popular music; he's accomplished the rare task of creating a new genre where rap, reggae, dancehall, pop, a touch of doo-wop and remarkable songwriting combine into something totally fresh.
@ Wingate Field
(between Winthrop Street and Brooklyn Avenue)
7:30p
Free
For more information: lauryn

Tuesday, August 7th, 2007


Book Discussion and Reading (L)
Waking with Enemies by Eric Jerome Dickey
Ten-time "New York Times" bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey sizzles in this rapid-fire sequel to "Sleeping with Strangers," which finds international hit man Gideon waking up with his past haunting him and danger knocking at his door. A heated encounter inside a London hotel room (where he was pursued by three very different women) leaves Gideon waking up to a world where theres no one to trust. Someone has taken out a hit on the hit man but who? The clock is ticking as Gideon tries to pin down the man who was sent to kill him a mysterious man with a broken nose who shadows his every move while also finding out who from his past might have ordered the hit. Could it be the man he left alive in Tampa, the woman who taught him to kill, the scorned woman he still desires, or some other unseen enemy? As the hunter becomes the hunted, Gideon will need to find his friends and his enemies to get out of the game alive.
@ Hue-Man Bookstore
2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd (between 124th and 125th Streets)
6p
Free
For more information: books



The Manhattans (A, C, M)
This group has had a remarkable 40-year career on the R&B scene. They evolved from a doo-wop group to soulful balladeers to smooth “quiet storm” singers, never losing their passionate, down-home feel. Perhaps most famous for their 1976 smash hit “Kiss and Say Goodbye,” The Manhattans have continued to record as recently as 2003, they heated things up with the beautiful ballad “Turn Out The Stars.”
Queensbridge Park
21st Street and Bridge Plaza at the East River
7 - 8:30p
Free
For more information: cityparks

Wine Tasting: South of the Border (D/F, E)
We’ll be tasting new wines from Chile and Argentina
@ Best Cellars
2246 Broadway (between 80th and 81st Streets)
$7
8p
For more information and to sign up call: 212.362.8730



Movie Screening: Gladiator (A, F)
In the final days of Marcus Aurelius' reign, the aging emperor angers his son Commodus by making it known that he wants Maximus, a fearsome and respected Roman general, to be his successor. Power-hungry Commodus kills his father and orders the death of Maximus. But the latter flees, only to discover that his wife and child have been murdered by Commodus. Captured, Maximus is forced into slavery, where he is sold to Proximo, a former gladiator who serves as both mentor and slavemaster. Maximus trains as a gladiator in the arena, where his fame grows. He goes to Rome, intent on avenging the murder of his wife and son by killing the new emperor Commodus. Maximus has learned that the one power stronger than that of the emperor is the will of the people, and he knows he can only attain his revenge by becoming the greatest hero in all the empire.
@ Pier 54 (between 14th Street and Hudson River)
Dusk (usually 8:30p)
Free
For more information: movies and hudsonriver

Wednesday, August 8th, 2007




Museum Exhibit: It Happened in Brooklyn (A, C, E)
This exhibit highlights key moments in our nation's history and how they played out in Brooklyn. Through artifacts from the Brooklyn Historical Society's permanent collection such as photographs, artworks, and documents, visitors will meet a diverse range of residents from Brooklyn's earliest Native American settlements, to the men and women who fought in the Revolutionary War on Brooklyn's shores, to the Brooklynites who worked to abolish slavery, immigrants from all over the world who made Brooklyn home, and the women who kept America going by working in the Brooklyn Navy Yard during World War II.
@ Brooklyn Historical Society
128 Pierrepont Street (at Clinton Street)
$6
For more information: brooklyn

Gallery Opening and Artists Reception: Alain Dister, Elegy For the Summer of Love (A, C, E)
"When I first took some pictures in America, during the summer of 1966, I had no proper photographic education. After spending some time in Madagascar, I had bought an SLR Canon camera on my way back, with the intention of shooting landscapes. I was still drawing and painting, probably thinking I would photograph what I couldn't paint. When I landed in New York, I tried to focus more on people. The street action in the Village blew my mind. It was the beginning of a new era, with proto-hippies and older beatniks all over the place.
@ Envoy Gallery
131 Chrystie Street (between Delancey and Broome Streets)
6 - 8p
Free
For more information: envoy

Quizz Off (S)
Come on Down. Bring your friends and wrack your brains with six rounds of twenty questions. Test your mental mettle in areas of general knowledge, music, top tens, and visual identification. Give it a try, Smart Guy.
@ Petes Candy Store
709 Lorimer Street (@ Richardson Street)
7:30p
Free
For more information: petes

Thursday, August 9th, 2007



Happy Hour Cruise Around Manhattan (P, S)
Meet attractive and interesting Jewish singles as we enjoy the breathtaking sights of the Manhattan Skyline. We'll be cruising around this gorgeous harbor enjoying the sights and sounds of Manhattan by night. The cruise will take place on a luxurious 143 Foot Yacht. There will be a live DJ entertainment, 2 cash bars, dance floor, half-price snacks and more.
For Jewish singles in their 20s - 40s
South Street Seaport
6 - 8p, set sail at 6:30p
$27, Pre-Payment Required
For more information and to sign up: reallive

Black Crowes and North Mississippi Allstars come to Central Park (C, M)
Carrying on the glorious blues and boogie-based tradition of the Rolling Stones and The Faces, Black Crowes have been making raunchy rock and roll for the last 17 years. Front man Chris Robinson soulful shout evokes Rod Stewart and Steve Marriot, while the musicians led by Robinson’s guitarist brother Rich tear it up like it’s 1969. In true rock fashion, the band has had its share of “musical differences,” solo career attempts and tabloid drama (such as Robinson’s recent divorce from actress Kate Hudson), but at the end of the day Black Crowes still create one of the most exciting live shows in all pop music. The band is currently working on their first set of new material in six years. Founded in 1996, a musically and culturally rich time for modern Mississippi country blues, the North Mississippi Allstars are well known for their hill country blues-infused rock & roll sound.
@ Central Park Summerstage
Located at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Enter the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue on the east side or at 72nd Street and Central Park West on the west side.
6 - 10p
$45
For more information and to buy tickets: summer

Gallery Panel Discussion (A, C, D/F, E)
Theater of Cruelty: Towards an Aesthetics of Transgression
Analogously, contemporary art and its public seem to be suffering from their own particular strains of political and social indifference. This acquiescence undermines contemporary art's radical potential and is one of the many points of contention that the exhibition entitled Theater of Cruelty rubs up against.
@ White Box
525 West 26th Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues)
Discussion 6:30 - 8p, followed by reception, 8 - 9:30p
Free
For more information: whitebox

Crowded House (C, M)
Crowded House formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1985 and first tasted global success with their massive 1987 hit "Don’t Dream It’s Over." They continued to have hits for a decade, including "Something So Strong," "Weather With You" and "It’s Only Natural."
@ Beacon Theatre
2124 Broadway (between 74th and 75th Streets)
8p
$50 - 92
For more information and to buy tickets: beacon

Friday, August 10th, 2007

Concert: Kartik Seshadri Ensemble (C, M)
The 1960s were marked by an infusion of Eastern music, and the craze for World Music was born. Indian Ragas were especially influential. Sitar Virtuoso Kartik Seshadri is internationally acclaimed as one of India's outstanding musicians and the foremost disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar. He will be accompanied by accomplished tabla artist Abhijit Banerjee
@ Lincoln Center - South Plaza
Columbus Avenue (between 64th and 65th Streets)
6:30p
Free
For more information: lincolncenter



Out of My Mind (A)
Witness Marvin Novogrodksi and hypno-therapist, Doug Vogel in this soul-bearing and optimistic physchological-memoir. This show explores life’s struggles, the trappings of the mind and the methods used for personal growth. By exposing his own personal and family frailties, Marvin strikes a universal chord among his audience. One that shares in their struggles and realizations. With Doug on board, Marvin's actual therapist, the audience gets to observe the hypnosis in action. Scripted scenes are played out directly from therapy sessions. But there is no couch in this show. The performers are on their feet. Mixing in circus arts, magic, an oversized family photo album and a little song and dance, Out of my Mind surprises, enlightens, inspires and entertains. An overdose of honesty and bravery.
@ Cherry Lane Theater
38 Commerce Street (@ Bedford Street)
9:30p
$15
For more information and to buy tickets: marvin



Dance Performance: Pilobolus (D)
The ever-inventive Pilobolus always finds new ways to explore movement and human relationships, and they are just as curious as ever, in three dynamic programs.
Program: Borderless Innovation
For this summer, Co-Artistic Director Robby Barnett teams up with the world-renowned dance-theatre makers Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak from Israel to create a new full-company work. Who knows what new terrain this hybrid of Pilobolus/Pinto/Pollak will discover, what new ingenious images they will create, and what previously untold human connections will unfold?
@The Joyce Theater
175 8th Avenue (@ 19th Street)
8p
$44
For more information and to buy tickets: joyce

Saturday, August 11th, 2007



Skydiving (S)
Need we say more? It has been said that deliberately stepping out of a perfectly good plane while it is thousands of miles in the air is insanity. We beg to differ. Who wouldn’t want to plummet through the air at speeds up to 200 mph? We will take you for a thorough and safety-filled training before going up, up, up into the earth’s atmosphere. Divided into groups, each person will be secured to a certified skydiving instructor and fly high above the ground, attempting various maneuvers in the air as you feel comfortable. While waiting your turn on the ground, join others in a rousing game of volleyball, basketball, Frisbee, or dodgeball. You will dive from 14,000 feet, higher than any other skydiving group in the area. First, you will learn the essentials: safety and orientation video, gear fitting, and learn the positions you will take in the air, and safe landing position.
Meeting locatin: 73rd Street and Broadway
7:30am (arrive at 7:15am to sign in) - 6p
$225
For more information and to sign up: outdoorbound
Save $5 - after signing up email: info@outdoorbound.com and let them know you found out about trip from Laura’s List.



Sweet Mickey come to Governors Island (A, C, E, M)
A musical marvel born in Port-au-Prince, Sweet Micky has brought incredible energy, passion and sensitivity to the world of Haitian compas music, layering satire and sharp commentary over pulsating, infectious beats. Micky first began performing as a one man band in 1988 in the Casinoes in Haiti. He released his first hit "Ou La La" in 1988. Two years later Micky expanded the band to include a bass player and a percussionist and by the release of the album "I Don't Care" in 1994 Sweet Micky was a household name in Haitian communities at home and abroad. Sweet Micky is often referred to as the "Bad Boy" of Haitian music, but this description is music more appropriate in its American slang definition where "bad" means really, really good.
@ Governors Island
Colonels Row
1p
Free
For more information and ferry schedule: micky and govisland



Celebrate New Orleans: Soul to Soul III (A, C, M)
Galactic & special guests Donald Harrison Jr., Jon Cleary, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & The Golden Eagle Mardi Gras Indians & Soul Rebel Brass Band
Our annual celebration of the Big Easy is a hot one this year, with jam band sounds and deep second-line voodoo. Hardcore punk veterans who fell in love with the music of New Orleans, guitarist Jeff Raines and bassist Robert Mercurio formed Galactic to express their newfound appreciation of Professor Longhair, The Meters, the Neville Brothers and Dr. John. The instrumentalists of Galactic have developed a meaty, bass-heavy mix of swamp funk, bluesy hard rock, electronics and improvisation which New York Times critic Jon Pareles praised as “some of the most danceable music on earth.” Galactic is currently finishing its next album, which includes a guest appearance by New Orleans legend Monk Boudreaux. For the members of the Soul Rebel Brass Band, “second line” jazz music is part of their make-up, almost as important as blood. But the band also likes modern hip-hop, and has managed to combine the two styles into an original sound that is contemporary while true to New Orleans traditions.
@ Central Park Summerstage
Located at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Enter the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue on the east side or at 72nd Street and Central Park West on the west side.
3 - 7p
Free
For more information: summer



Come…Bowling (Code: T-MM5RT01-04) (S)
Hit the lanes for a night of bowling and mingling. Lane-side food and drink service available. Advance registration required.
@ Leisure Time Bowling (inside Port Authority)
625 8th Avenue (between 41st and 42nd)
9p
$25 (fee includes bowling and shoe rental)
For more information and to sign up: 92y

Sunday, August 12th, 2007

Nostalgia Train Excursions: Coney Island Caper (C, E, S)
This excursions offer a one-of-a kind opportunity to experience subway travel onboard the vintage rail fleet, usually on static display in the Transit Museum. Not to be missed are the bouncy wicker seating of yesteryear, sharing your experiences with fellow passengers, the Nostalgia Train 'wave' to bemused people on subway platforms as the vintage trains rolls by and the mid-trip destination. We will spend a summer day enjoying Coney Island's best. Take a guided tour through Stillwell Avenue Terminal and learn how solar power lights and cools the station. Stroll to the beach for a bite on the boardwalk, enjoy the classic Coney Island amusements or stay onboard for bonus train rides.
10 - 4p
$30
For more information, make reservations and find out meeting location call: 718.694.1867

Walking Tour: Central Park: The Big Back Yard of the City (E, S)
Olmsted and Vaux's first masterpiece of urban landscape design great cool lawns, densely-wooded ramble, and stirring vistas an impressive work of art.
Meeting Location: Fifth Avenue and 59th Street (at the General Sherman statue)
1p
$15
For more information and to sign up: tours

Bourbon Class (D/F, E)
Learn all about bourbon and a few bourbon cocktails.
@ LeNell’s
416 Van Brunt Street (between Coffey and Van Dyke Streets)
3 - 5p
$50, pre-registration required
For more information and to sign up call: 718.360.0838

Finian’s Rainbow (A, C)
Set against Harburg’s gospel, blues and Broadway songs, the plot of Finian’s Rainbow uncompromisingly explores contemporary themes of race and class. The more serious, politically inspired plot devices are juxtaposed against situations that are filled with fantasy and charm that will surely appeal to audiences of all ages. The eclectic cast of characters include: a racist white senator who is turned black so he can experience the pain he has inflicted on others, a mischievous, misguided leprechaun named Og, a woman who “speaks” through dances, a pair of lovers, Woody and Sharon, and Finian, the hopeless dreamer, who is responsible for setting this fantastical, entertaining and magnificent tale in motion.
@ City College of New York - Aaron Davis Hall
150 Convent Avenue (at West 135th Street)
3p
$10
For more information: harlem

Monday, August 13th, 2007


HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival presents: Casablanca (C, F)
This timeless masterpiece of film takes place at Rick's Cafe Americaine, the gin joint where intrigue, romance, valor and compassion collide at the edge of Europe during WWII. Humphrey Bogart sticks his neck out for nobody, except beautiful Ingrid Bergman, the love who left him years ago in Paris.
@ Bryant Park Lawn
6th Avenue between 40th - 42nd Streets
5 - 11p
The films begin at sunset (between 8-9p)
Free
For more information: film

Key to Activities

A Art
C Cultural
D Dance
D/F Drink/Food
E Education
F Film
L Literature
M Music
NP Non-Profit
P Party
S Sport