Thursday December 13
(ART/BOOK SIGNING)
What better place to learn about the current state of street art than the East Village? No, it’s not an impromptu street-corner symposium, but a book-signing by photographer and filmmaker Cheryl Dunn. Her recent book Some Kinda Vacation follows fellow street artists like Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen and Chris Johanson across the country. In doing so, Dunn combines documentary and portrait photographs of the other artists at work, all the while compiling her own body of images that chronicle the similarities and disparities of urban America’s streetscapes. Giant Robot, 437 E. 9th St (betw 1st Ave. & Ave. A), 212-674-4769, grny.net; 6, free.
(COMEDY)
Thursdays @ 10: Happy Sunshine Kung-Fu Flower depicts a group of “not-so-good” outsourced Japanese ninjas hired by China to infiltrate American life in a show that blends political satire with sketch comedy and music. They claim that “if the ‘Electric Company,’ ‘Colbert Report’ and ‘South Park’ were to have a baby, this would be their afterbirth.” Ars Nova, 511 W 54th St. (at 10th Ave.), 212-868-4444; 10, $15.
Friday, December 14
(EROTIC FICTION READING)
Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg is hosting Sex and Candy, where Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel will team up with a variety of local erotic fiction writers to read from their upcoming book, Sex and Candy: 22 Succulent Stories. Free candy is on hand, as well as giveaways and copies of the book. Pete’s Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St. (at Richardson St.), Williamsburg, B’klyn718-302-3770; 7:30, Free.
(BOOK SIGNING)
In a very different kind of Friday night book-related event, Marjane Satrapi will be signing recently released Pantheon copies of her critically acclaimed graphic novel, The Complete Persepolis. The book documents her upbringing in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution, and she’ll be around for the evening to discuss it with fans. Her novel has been adapted into a film to be released by Sony Pictures on Christmas Day. McNally Robinson Bookstore, 52 Prince St., 212-274-1160; 7, FREE.
(ART)
Tired of trite condo developments and conventional public spaces turning the cityscape into a boredom factory? What would you say if a giant whale took the place of the Museum of Natural History, a volcano sprouted in Midtown, and a Loch Ness-style monster took up residence in the East River? Such is the fantasy depicted in New York, New York, New York, an installation and interactive art exhibition featuring contributions from over 100 artists, opening tonight at Queens’s Flux Factory with live performances by artists Miwa Koizumi and Marie Losier. Taking the concept of the scale city model as its point of departure, New York, New York, New York calls into question our assumptions about our city and our reality. Flux Factory, 38-38 43rd St. (betw. 37th Ave. & Northern Blvd.), Queens, 646-226-8611, fluxfactory.org; 7, free.
(MUSIC)
If you’ve always wanted to be a singer, but lacked the talent or drive to see that dream come to fruition, you might want to attend Unsilent Night on Saturday, when composer Phil Kline asks the New York City public to dig up their analog boom boxes from the 1980s and gather at Washington Square Park. He’ll equip you with your own cassette that will play a unique voice, melding together with the voices of the other participants as you parade around the park, for a pretty awesome twist on a carol. Washington Square Park, 5th St. & Washington Square N; 6:45, free.
Saturday, December 15
(FILM)
This is the last weekend to catch The Cinema of Max Ophuls, BAM’s screening series of the acclaimed German director’s work. Known for his kinetic camera that never seems to stand still, Ophuls specialized in conveying women’s confinement throughout his career. Like his frame, Ophuls moved ceaselessly, making films in five different countries. Today and tomorrow, BAM screens The Earrings of Madame De… from his second stint in France. Considered by many critics to be one of the best films ever made, it follows a pair of earrings as it is exchanged between spouses and lovers, all the way back to its point of origin. The series continues until Tuesday. BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave. (betw. St. Felix & Ashland), 718-636-4100, bam.org; 5, 7:15, 9:30 (with a 2:30 matinee Sunday), $11/$7.50.
(EXHIBITION OPENING)
Stop feeling guilty about your dusty collections of marbles and Trolls, and come check out a real pack rat’s work. Kansas-born, Oslo-based artist Charlie Roberts creates paintings, sculptures and installations that are obsessed with counting and cataloguing. At the same time, his saturated and infinitely detailed works challenge the viewer with the impossible task of tabulating their component parts, which seem to multiply the more you look into each individual element. Get your first glimpse of those infinite details at tonight’s opening reception. Kravets/Wehby Gallery, 521 W. 21st St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-352-2238, kravetswehbygallery.com; 6-8, free.
Sunday, December 16
(FILM)
A Christmas Story and Best Indie Shorts: If you want to spice up your regular holiday viewing of A Christmas Story with a little indie cred, check out this event at the Galapagos Art Space. The evening will start with three independent shorts depicting the childhood of three local filmmakers, before launching into the main film. Dress as a character from A Christmas Story and you’ll get $2 off admission. Galapagos Art Space, 70 N 6th St. (betw. Kent and Wythe), Williamsburg, 718-782-5188; 8, $5.
Monday, December 17
(FILM)
Lincoln Center’s Film Society 16th annual Spanish Cinema Now reaches its halfway point today (continuing until the 27th). This is the last opportunity to see Shortmetraje, the festival’s showcase of contemporary short films from Spain (today at 1 and 7:15). Freed from the narrative demands of feature-length work, these shorts go all out, unleashing their creator’s imagination in full force. Other films from the festival showing today are Julio Medem’s Chaotic Ana (2:45, 9), the story of a young artist coping with incomprehensible visions, and Lola (5), Miguel Hermoso’s intimate chronicle of the famous flamenco dancer Lola Flores. Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theatre, 165 W. 65th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.), 212-496-3809, filmlinc.com; $11/$7.
Tuesday, December 18
(THEATRE)
Part dark comedy, part variety show, the 52nd Annual Davenport Clan Yearly Family X-mas Spectacular follows the attempts of siblings Dickie, Stanley and Violet Davenport to put on the family’s annual show on their own. In preceding years, we are told, their recently deceased parents did most of the gruntwork. Now, after mom and dad Davenport’s parasailing deaths, the next generation comes to terms with their losses and anxieties, all the while indulging in songs, slideshows, dancing and cabaret. It’s theatre of the absurd meets musical theatre, and a perfect cathartic outlet for our holiday doldrums. Ars Nova, 511 W. 54th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 218-868-4444, arsnovanyc.com; today and tomorrow at 8, $10.
(MUSIC)
26 year old Chicago-native rapper Lupe Fiasco flies in to the city to perform tracks from his breakthrough album, Food and Liquor. The appeal of this young artist lies in his earnestness as he winds complex rhymes around everything from his love of skateboarding to his mom to the evils of the Bush administration. He’s everything commercial rap traditionally is not, and it’s refreshing to see. The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Plaza (at E 15th St.), 212-777-6800; 7, $30.
Wednesday, December 19
(DISCUSSION & PERFORMANCE)
Why not join independent filmmaker John Sayles tonight, and spend An Evening with Danny Glover talking about movies and listening to music. Glover and Sayles will discuss the formers extensive career – which includes Dreamgirls, The Royal Tenenbaums, Beloved and the Lethal Weapon series – as well as their collaboration on this years Honeydripper, a film about the impact of rock n’ roll in 1950 rural Alabama. The evening, organized by the Museum of the Moving Image, will also feature music by Gary Clark Jr., blues guitarist and Glover’s co-star in Honeydripper. At The Times Center, 242 W. 41st St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 718-784-4520, movingimage.us; 7, $25.
(ART/BOOK SIGNING)
What better place to learn about the current state of street art than the East Village? No, it’s not an impromptu street-corner symposium, but a book-signing by photographer and filmmaker Cheryl Dunn. Her recent book Some Kinda Vacation follows fellow street artists like Barry McGee, Margaret Kilgallen and Chris Johanson across the country. In doing so, Dunn combines documentary and portrait photographs of the other artists at work, all the while compiling her own body of images that chronicle the similarities and disparities of urban America’s streetscapes. Giant Robot, 437 E. 9th St (betw 1st Ave. & Ave. A), 212-674-4769, grny.net; 6, free.
(COMEDY)
Thursdays @ 10: Happy Sunshine Kung-Fu Flower depicts a group of “not-so-good” outsourced Japanese ninjas hired by China to infiltrate American life in a show that blends political satire with sketch comedy and music. They claim that “if the ‘Electric Company,’ ‘Colbert Report’ and ‘South Park’ were to have a baby, this would be their afterbirth.” Ars Nova, 511 W 54th St. (at 10th Ave.), 212-868-4444; 10, $15.
Friday, December 14
(EROTIC FICTION READING)
Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg is hosting Sex and Candy, where Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel will team up with a variety of local erotic fiction writers to read from their upcoming book, Sex and Candy: 22 Succulent Stories. Free candy is on hand, as well as giveaways and copies of the book. Pete’s Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St. (at Richardson St.), Williamsburg, B’klyn718-302-3770; 7:30, Free.
(BOOK SIGNING)
In a very different kind of Friday night book-related event, Marjane Satrapi will be signing recently released Pantheon copies of her critically acclaimed graphic novel, The Complete Persepolis. The book documents her upbringing in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution, and she’ll be around for the evening to discuss it with fans. Her novel has been adapted into a film to be released by Sony Pictures on Christmas Day. McNally Robinson Bookstore, 52 Prince St., 212-274-1160; 7, FREE.
(ART)
Tired of trite condo developments and conventional public spaces turning the cityscape into a boredom factory? What would you say if a giant whale took the place of the Museum of Natural History, a volcano sprouted in Midtown, and a Loch Ness-style monster took up residence in the East River? Such is the fantasy depicted in New York, New York, New York, an installation and interactive art exhibition featuring contributions from over 100 artists, opening tonight at Queens’s Flux Factory with live performances by artists Miwa Koizumi and Marie Losier. Taking the concept of the scale city model as its point of departure, New York, New York, New York calls into question our assumptions about our city and our reality. Flux Factory, 38-38 43rd St. (betw. 37th Ave. & Northern Blvd.), Queens, 646-226-8611, fluxfactory.org; 7, free.
(MUSIC)
If you’ve always wanted to be a singer, but lacked the talent or drive to see that dream come to fruition, you might want to attend Unsilent Night on Saturday, when composer Phil Kline asks the New York City public to dig up their analog boom boxes from the 1980s and gather at Washington Square Park. He’ll equip you with your own cassette that will play a unique voice, melding together with the voices of the other participants as you parade around the park, for a pretty awesome twist on a carol. Washington Square Park, 5th St. & Washington Square N; 6:45, free.
Saturday, December 15
(FILM)
This is the last weekend to catch The Cinema of Max Ophuls, BAM’s screening series of the acclaimed German director’s work. Known for his kinetic camera that never seems to stand still, Ophuls specialized in conveying women’s confinement throughout his career. Like his frame, Ophuls moved ceaselessly, making films in five different countries. Today and tomorrow, BAM screens The Earrings of Madame De… from his second stint in France. Considered by many critics to be one of the best films ever made, it follows a pair of earrings as it is exchanged between spouses and lovers, all the way back to its point of origin. The series continues until Tuesday. BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave. (betw. St. Felix & Ashland), 718-636-4100, bam.org; 5, 7:15, 9:30 (with a 2:30 matinee Sunday), $11/$7.50.
(EXHIBITION OPENING)
Stop feeling guilty about your dusty collections of marbles and Trolls, and come check out a real pack rat’s work. Kansas-born, Oslo-based artist Charlie Roberts creates paintings, sculptures and installations that are obsessed with counting and cataloguing. At the same time, his saturated and infinitely detailed works challenge the viewer with the impossible task of tabulating their component parts, which seem to multiply the more you look into each individual element. Get your first glimpse of those infinite details at tonight’s opening reception. Kravets/Wehby Gallery, 521 W. 21st St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-352-2238, kravetswehbygallery.com; 6-8, free.
Sunday, December 16
(FILM)
A Christmas Story and Best Indie Shorts: If you want to spice up your regular holiday viewing of A Christmas Story with a little indie cred, check out this event at the Galapagos Art Space. The evening will start with three independent shorts depicting the childhood of three local filmmakers, before launching into the main film. Dress as a character from A Christmas Story and you’ll get $2 off admission. Galapagos Art Space, 70 N 6th St. (betw. Kent and Wythe), Williamsburg, 718-782-5188; 8, $5.
Monday, December 17
(FILM)
Lincoln Center’s Film Society 16th annual Spanish Cinema Now reaches its halfway point today (continuing until the 27th). This is the last opportunity to see Shortmetraje, the festival’s showcase of contemporary short films from Spain (today at 1 and 7:15). Freed from the narrative demands of feature-length work, these shorts go all out, unleashing their creator’s imagination in full force. Other films from the festival showing today are Julio Medem’s Chaotic Ana (2:45, 9), the story of a young artist coping with incomprehensible visions, and Lola (5), Miguel Hermoso’s intimate chronicle of the famous flamenco dancer Lola Flores. Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theatre, 165 W. 65th St. (at Amsterdam Ave.), 212-496-3809, filmlinc.com; $11/$7.
Tuesday, December 18
(THEATRE)
Part dark comedy, part variety show, the 52nd Annual Davenport Clan Yearly Family X-mas Spectacular follows the attempts of siblings Dickie, Stanley and Violet Davenport to put on the family’s annual show on their own. In preceding years, we are told, their recently deceased parents did most of the gruntwork. Now, after mom and dad Davenport’s parasailing deaths, the next generation comes to terms with their losses and anxieties, all the while indulging in songs, slideshows, dancing and cabaret. It’s theatre of the absurd meets musical theatre, and a perfect cathartic outlet for our holiday doldrums. Ars Nova, 511 W. 54th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 218-868-4444, arsnovanyc.com; today and tomorrow at 8, $10.
(MUSIC)
26 year old Chicago-native rapper Lupe Fiasco flies in to the city to perform tracks from his breakthrough album, Food and Liquor. The appeal of this young artist lies in his earnestness as he winds complex rhymes around everything from his love of skateboarding to his mom to the evils of the Bush administration. He’s everything commercial rap traditionally is not, and it’s refreshing to see. The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Plaza (at E 15th St.), 212-777-6800; 7, $30.
Wednesday, December 19
(DISCUSSION & PERFORMANCE)
Why not join independent filmmaker John Sayles tonight, and spend An Evening with Danny Glover talking about movies and listening to music. Glover and Sayles will discuss the formers extensive career – which includes Dreamgirls, The Royal Tenenbaums, Beloved and the Lethal Weapon series – as well as their collaboration on this years Honeydripper, a film about the impact of rock n’ roll in 1950 rural Alabama. The evening, organized by the Museum of the Moving Image, will also feature music by Gary Clark Jr., blues guitarist and Glover’s co-star in Honeydripper. At The Times Center, 242 W. 41st St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 718-784-4520, movingimage.us; 7, $25.
