What at first blush seems like a reach doesn’t seem that unfeasible when you consider the Historical Society’s métier really is just the dead, grateful or not.This exhibit, drawn from materials housed at UC-Santa Cruz’ Grateful Dead archives, illuminates the trippy aesthetic subculture to which the band gave birth, from posters to fan art. Bottom Line: LSD isn’t included. Bring your own. Read more Read it in print

The white snail of art turns 50 and to celebrate, Animal Collective has teamed up with Danny Perez to create one-night-only of sensory bukkake.There’ll be lights, music and action, and guests are invited to wander aimlessly around the entire museum experiencing the far outness of it all. Bottom Line:You won’t know if the kids making out are fucked-up arteests or Tino Sehgal’s foot soldiers. Read more Read it in print

SOMETHING SHINY HAS caught Rosson Crows eye. This is amazing! the artist exclaims, holding up a sparkly dress in the Patricia Field store on the Bowery. Lured in by a Keith Haring print dress, shes found another that doesnt skimp on the sequins. I like to play up the ideas of feminine glamour, she says, almost so much that Im like a tranny. Read more Read it in print

Two gallery shows in wildly disparate locations end 2009 on an interesting note. The first, on the outer edges of Red Hook, shows a diverse cross section of young Brooklynites. The second, in the hear Read more

THIS CRAMPED CHELSEA office could be mistaken for a telemarketing operation, except for the small bookshelf lined with titles like Delirious New York and Women Artists of Italian Futurism. Read more Read it in print

Honor Among Thieves Nov. 9, The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard St. (at Stanton St.), 212-253-7246; 7 and 9, $10 We’ve seen some logic-defying acts at here, but things promise to get extra bizarre Read more

Moon Mass Party Oct. 22, 123 Baxter St. (betw. Canal & Hester Sts.), no phone; 6, Free Since the lunar landing was a conspiracy hoax anyway, this art party and group show might as well substitute Read more

Already an accomplished artist, actor, musician, composer, director and cult television master, one wonders what’s left for John Lurie to do. He seems to indicate as much by opening the door to his Soho loft on a damp Monday night wearing an open dress shirt that exposes his bare chest. He’s just finishing dinner—a straight steak, no side, plus a glass of whiskey—yet looks like a man who has worked too much, received too little recognition and is ready to air out the posers who’ve taken over the City he used to run. Read more

When most large white things turn 50, they celebrate with a trip to Sandals, or if they are daring, to Hedonism.The Guggenheim, however, is taking a different approach by opening its doors to all art lovers for the low price of nothing.There are a slew of events to draw you close into its snail like center plus, of course, its wonderful collection, a Kandinsky exhibition and free cookies. Read more

The Esopus Creek is a renowned troutfishing stream that flows through the Catskill Mountains into the Ashokan Reservoir, a principle water source for New York City. It is also the name of a non-profit foundation, a magazine and now a gallery that all celebrate the quirky, literate and inspired vision of its founder, Tod Lippy. Read more Read it in print