PRESSED FOR TIME
Now that all of your holiday shopping is doneit is done, isnt it?you can give gifts to the most important person in your life: you. So whether its the gift of learning about gangsters, seeing your favorite local rockers try something new, buying art or taking in some dumplings while vintage drag queens cavort, give yourself the gift of a good time this week. The Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular Opens Dec. 17, Ars Nova, 511 W. 54th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves), 212-489-9800; $20. You may have to hit Craigslist or bribe your way in the door to this wildly popular Christmas-fest, which boasts musical theater punks and a drunken Claus clan. Bottom Line: A Christmas musical youll actually enjoy. Wait, what?
New Prints 2009/10 Through Dec. 18, 508 W. 26th St., #5A (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.), 212-989-5090; 11-6, Free. New Yorkers represent about half of the diverse talent showcased at this benefit exhibition and silent auction featuring work by Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Terry Winters and Philip Pearlstein, and prices from the low hundreds on up. Bottom Line: Bring some yuletide joy to a great organization, and get some cool art in the process. The family is coming, and you wouldnt want your walls to be barren...
Lost Boys of the Bronx Dec. 16, Museum of the American Gangster, 80 St. Marks Pl. (at 1st Ave.), www.moagnyc.org; 6, $15. Author James Hannon reads from his recent book Lost Boys of the Bronx: The Oral History of the Ducky Boys Gang, which delves into the history of the notorious gang. The reading will be followed by a tour of the museum, and both are included in the admission price. Bottom Line: Up your gangster cred with this badass history lesson.
Rock Lottery Dec. 18, The Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Ave. (at Havemeyer St.), Brooklyn, 347-529- 6696; 9, $10. This morning, 25 musicians, including members of Suckers, Golden Triangle and Bear in Heaven, will be sorted into new bands and given Hesta Prynn. just a few hours to write three to five songs. Tonight, the newly formed bands will perform the songs to the best of their ability for a crowd of friends, fans and drunken revelers. Bottom Line: See some of New Yorks finest try their hands at something new and give some money to charity (the proceeds all go to do-gooders). This is a must see.
Bar dO Reunion Dec. 19, Indochine, 430 Lafayette St. (betw. E. 4th St. & Astor Pl.), 212-505- 5111; 10, $20. Everyone loves a good drag show, so haul your ass to Indochine for the sixth annual reunion of this cross-dressing cabaret featuring Joey Arias, Sherry Vine and Sade Pendavis. Call ahead to reserve a table or secure your standing room spotthis baby sells out every year, and itd be a real drag to miss it. Bottom Line: After all the wholesome holiday fun, youre going to need this breath of fresh air, or whatever that smell is.