PRESSED FOR TIME
Its like American Idol this week, except with people we actually idolize, not weird Midwesterners who can sort of sing OK. Weve got a bit of the Beats, a slew of amazing authors, a punk rock dream come true, crushworthy public art and more. Call to lock in your votes now. Barbara Kruger Sept. 10 through Oct. 17, 820 Washington St. (at Gansevoort St.), www.whitney.org. Itll be a while before The Whitney opens its Downtown branch, but at least you can enjoy art while you wait. Kicking off today, work by Barbara Kruger featuring statements that address the changing Meatpacking District will be wrapped around the site, visible from the street and The High Line. Bottom Line: Krugers classic Dont Be A Jerk might be an appropriate message to the folks who loiter near the corner of Washington and Gansevoort streets, but the brand-new work is worth checking out anyway.
Apostles of Park Slope Sept. 15, Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave. (at E. 2nd St.), 212-505-5181; 8:15, $9. Director Jason Cusatos story is about a Sloper who loses his mother but comes to understand the meaning of friendship during a long night at a Park Slope restaurant. Fingers crossed that friendship doesnt mean strong-arming an eatery into featuring a kids menu by spending your day posting nasty things on a mommy message board. Bottom Line: Released by Park Slope Films, this movie promises to be a super-local take on life in F-train Brooklyn even if it is screening in Manhattan.
Forgetters Sept. 10, Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-253-0036; 8, $8. Forgetters, the band made up of Blake Schwarzenbach, Caroline Paquita and Kevin Mahon, wont release its hotly anticipated (at least by us) debut double 7-inch until later this month, but plays tonight at Cake Shop with Pregnant and Bells. Bottom Line: Diehard Jawbreaker and Jawbox fans will probably pack this show, since two of the bands feature ex members of, but even if youre not obsessive like that, all of the acts are totally worth checking out.
Howl! Festival Sept. 10 through 12, Tompkins Square Park, enter park at E. 8th St. & Ave. A. Kicking off Friday night at 5 with a reading of its namesake poem, the 7th annual festival celebrating the weird shit that still clings to the East Village no matter how many nasty high-rises go up will feature poetry, theater, music, yoga, art and more. Bottom Line: Before you shell out $12 to see James Franco channel Allen Ginsberg, check out another homage to the patron saint of Downtown freaks.
Brooklyn Book Festival Sept. 12, various locations. For information, visit www.brooklynbookfestival.org. Whether youre interested in hearing Paul Krugman talk about the economic crisis, watching Jancee Dunn grill Rosanne Cash or listening to a conversation between Kings County food writers, todays free festival has pretty much everything you could want if you like Brooklyn, books or brainy types with artsinstitution tote bags. Bottom Line: Theres tons you should do Sunday (hello, Kristin Hersh), but dont skip the weekends other events, like the literary trivia night at St. Anns Warehouse and the John Waters party at Word, both Friday night.