Dia Art Foundation's director, Philippe Vergne, announced today that Dia would construct a new space in Chelsea and finally have a more visible NYC presence. The new site in West Chelsea will be located at 545 W. 22nd Street. The address is currently the location of the large, versatile Pace Wildenstein space. Galleries such as D'Amelio Terras are across the street. This is the first time in the organization's 35 year history that it has elected to construct a new building.

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In the paper today, Kurt Gottschalk uncovers what's happening at this year's Performa. To kick things off, the performance art biennial had a party at MoMA on Sunday night where Fischerspooner, clad in wacky silver outfits and sneakers—and kneepads!—from sponsor Asics, played its hits, including  Electroclash anthem "Emerge," to a crowd gearing up for a few weeks of off the wall performance spectacle. Check out the performance after the jump.

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Nearly 50 years after founding La MaMa E.T.C., the experimental theater that has become synonymous with the avant-garde, Ellen Stewart was honored this past Sunday on Nov. 1 with a gala benefit to rename La MaMa’s Annex Theater the Ellen Stewart Theatre.

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There has been plenty of animal sex happening lately; just this weekend we saw countless bodies wriggling out of their creature costumes to better grope. Now BuzzFeed passes along the news that bats love blowjobs. That isn't one we spotted happening in our travels on Halloween night, but the science sounds convincing...

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With the closing of divisive Avenue B nightclub Le Souk, the thoroughfare, according to EV Grieve, is now down to one hookah bar. Paired with the recent ban on flavored tobacco (a trip to the Nat Sherman store on 42nd Street this weekend revealed that many of the brand's flavors are no longer for sale under their former names—"Hint of Mint" cigarettes are now sold as "Hint" menthols), things are looking grim for recreational smokers in New York.

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Leave it to Merce Cunningham to make a cavernous drill hall in the Park Avenue Armory feel almost like a cathedral. About 2,500 came to worship, so to speak, and pay homage, on Wednesday as the Cunningham Dance Foundation offered an expansive, absolutely appropriate and comprehensive memorial to this unique and groundbreaking choreographer, who died at the age of 90 on July 26.

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Last night the Guggenheim hosted its First Annual Art Awards show, bestowing glory upon Mary Heilmann (artist of the year), Connie Butler (top curator) and featuring a set by the Fiery Furnaces. While we're all for fancy art folks congratulating one another, we're having more fun here, with HyperAllergic's list of the 20 Most Powerless People in the Art World.

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Otto Penzler’s new The Vampire Archives is a 900-page tome overflowing with stories of blood-sucking horror. The collection of tales is expansive, ranging from pre-Dracula 19th century legends to vampire stories told by modern masters. With teen-friendly vampires popping up everywhere these days, this collection of seriously terrifying stories, including contributions from Stephen King, Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, comes along just in time.  New York Press caught up with Mr. Penzler to ask him a few questions about the walking dead.

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Take a long drag of your Warm Mocha Mint Cigar - it might be the last you buy in the city. Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed the ban on flavored tobacco into law yesterday. But before you hyperventilate, read the fine print: the ban doesn’t include clove or menthol cigarettes or even flavored hookah.

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The innovators behind Ace Hotel know nothing says full service like a good gay porn selection, which is why the hipster hotel turned to BUTT magazine to curate its new gay porn on demand service, and the editors at BUTT were more than happy to put their talents as connoisseurs of vintage porn to use.

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