WEDNESDAY Wednesday Jews and Radicalism Tonight, the Free History ...
Wednesday
Jews and Radicalism
Tonight, the Free History Project presents a panel discussion on Jews and radicalism following a 7:30 screening of The Weather Underground. The panelists will tackle questions such as the place of radicalism in Jewish community life, what brings Jews to radicalism and how many Jewish radicals it takes to screw in a light bulb. Makor, 35 W. 67th St. (betw. Central Park W. & Columbus Ave.), 212-601-1000, $15 (incl. film).
Tapedeck Times Square Duets
Fuck the Naked Cowboy. The Tapedeck is inviting everyone and anyone to sing with its guitarist while he plays dramatic guitar synthesizer in a storefront window on 42nd St. A microphone on the sidewalk will be open to anyone who wants to sing, tell a story, bitch about their landlord-whatever. The singalong fun begins around noon and will go until 8 or so. Chashama, 135 W. 42nd St. (betw. B'way & 6th Ave.), 646-728-0227, 12p.m., free.
Thursday
Canstruction
Last night, 36 teams competed to build structures entirely composed of full cans of food. Today, see the results. Can sculptures in years past have taken the form of trees, champagne bottles and a jack-o-lantern pun-tastically titled "The pumpCAN man." Cost of admission is a single can of food, which will be donated to the Food Bank for New York City. Can you dig it? New York Design Center, 200 Lexington Ave. (32nd St.), 212-679-9500, 9-5.
Paper, Paper, Scissors
New York Press gangsta fo' life Jonathan Ames reads and displays "evidence of his lack of manual dexterity" at Housing Works tonight-but that's not all. He'll be joined onstage by Shelley Jackson and Frances Richard, who will in turn be joined onstage by a bunch of paper sculptures. The event is sponsored by Cabinet magazine. Housing Works Used Book Cafe, 126 Crosby St. (betw. Houston & Prince Sts.), 212-334-3324, 7, free.
Napier & Jeudy
Lovers of soul music unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains of fools. Napier & Jeudy unleash their chops tonight at their demo-release performance, which'll be full of soulful grooves and soaring vocals. Downtime, 251 W. 30th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-695-2747, 8, $5.
Soviet-Era Films
Like a Kids in the Hall haircut, the Cold War is never over. Celebrate the glorious eventual destruction of the Western forces tonight at the people's gourmet pizza shop/arthouse, Two Boots, as they screen CCCP-era classics like Elbert Tuganov's Pedestrians, Rein Raamat's Nail and Heino Pars' Hell. 155 E. 3rd (Ave. A) 212-254-7107, 7, $9.
It's the play that will make you rethink substance abuse-or just make you hate your mother. The Worth Street Theater Company's The Moonlight Room concerns two New York City teens waiting in a hospital emergency room for their friend who has ODed on K. The small cast, which features the nurse from Doogie Howser, M.D. as the eccentric, overprotective mother, proves that awkward silences sometimes tell the story better than spoken words. The performance will be the Tribeca Playhouse's final curtain call before its slumlord evicts them. 111 Reade St. (W. B'way), 212-868-4444, 8, $15.
Friday
I Vitelloni
Federico Fellini's third film, I Vitelloni, is not as celebrated as Film Studies 101 fodder like La Dolce Vita or 8 1/2. But while it lacks the epic sprawl of those obvious masterworks, it has its share of stunning moments of rare beauty. Many consider it to be his best work, and they might be right. It opens at Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. (betw. Varick St. & 6th Ave.), 212-727-8110, call for times, $10.
John Waters
The man with the sharpest pencil-thin moustache in the world, John Waters, is back in town, having crawled out from under whatever pink chiffon-laced rock he hides in Baltimore. He's here to promote his latest foray into deviant literature, titled simply Art: A Sex Book. Billed as a "provocative and personal interpretation of sex and sexuality," it's intriguing if for no other reason than it was written by a man whose conception of sexy includes a transvestite eating dog shit. Barnes & Noble, 675 6th Ave. (21st St.), 212-727-1227, 7, free.
New Jersey Metal Fest & Hardcore
Metal and Jersey are like jelly and sugar sandwiches: a perfect combo that revolts snobs. Which side are you on? The side of Biohazard, Type O Negative and Danzig, or the side of evil? Asbury Park's Convention Hall/Paramount Theater, 1300 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park, NJ, 732-502-8361, 12 p.m., $40-$45, $75 two-day pass [repeats Sat.].
Cats Can See The Devil
Tom X. Chao is one of our favorite local playwrights because he's like a Chinese-American Dennis Potter: hopelessly morbid and bitter, with a very sharp and very dry wit. Cats Can See The Devil is his latest brainiac piece in which the actresses rebel halfway thru and loathe Tom because he listens to too much alternative rock. Under St. Marks, 94 St. Marks Pl. (betw. Ave. A & 1st Ave.), 212-868-4444, Fri.-Sat., 10:30; Sun., 5:30, $12.
The Moonlight Room
It's the play that will make you rethink substance abuse-or just make you hate your mother. The Worth Street Theater Company's The Moonlight Room concerns two New York City teens waiting in a hospital emergency room for their friend who has ODed on K. The small cast, which features the nurse from Doogie Howser, M.D. as the eccentric, overprotective mother, proves that awkward silences sometimes tell the story better than spoken words. The performance will be the Tribeca Playhouse's final curtain call before its slumlord evicts them. 111 Reade St. (W. B'way), 212-868-4444, 8, $15.
Hop Fu: Hiphop meets Kung Fu
Just how did kung fu and rap become bedfellows? No one's answering that question tonight, so don't get your hopes up. Instead, head uptown to chill to some chopsocky and nice beats. See p. 54 for more info.
Saturday
Kids' Superhero Caricatures
Comic book artist Mike Zagari will draw pictures of kids in the guise of their favorite comic book superheroes. We're just wondering how he'll keep calm 50 sugar-high kids made to look like the same spider man. New York City Police Museum, 100 Old Slip St. (betw. Water & South Sts.), 212-480-3100 x119; 1, free.
New York City Record & CD Collectors Expo
Despite what those fools at the Guinness Book of World Records may tell you, records are not made to be broken. They are made to be cherished, maintained and traded. Though not nearly as cool and compelling as last week's WFMU record fair, today's discount, geeked-out record mart offers a staggering selection of new, used, rare and collectible records and CDs. Holiday Inn, 440 W. 57th St. (betw. 9th & 10th Aves.), 973-773-6067, 10, $6.
Space Journey to Outer Space
You know, for the kids. "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight"-style title aside, this sounds like the best thing all weekend for that ingrate rugrat in your life. Kids build rockets, design space suits and play space games. All materials included with admission. Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, Pier 86, W. 46th St. (12th Ave.), 212-245-0072, 10, free w/adm.
3000th Anniversary of Zoroastrian Culture
Where does the time go? It's hard to believe it's already been three millennia. Well, thus spake Zarathustra: Let's Party! There aren't that many Zoroastrians left in the world (about 150,000 at last count, mostly in India and Iran), so come help 'em out, at the same time celebrating your own internal struggle between good and evil. There'll be lectures, prayers, book displays, multi-media exhibits-even some music and a Zoroastrian fashion show! Metropolitan Hotel, 569 Lexington Ave. (51st St.), 631-462-0763, 12:30, $25, $20 adv.
Cats Can See The Devil
Tom X. Chao is one of our favorite local playwrights because he's like a Chinese-American Dennis Potter: hopelessly morbid and bitter, with a very sharp and very dry wit. Cats Can See The Devil is his latest brainiac piece in which the actresses rebel halfway thru and loathe Tom because he listens to too much alternative rock. Under St. Marks, 94 St. Marks Pl. (betw. Ave. A & 1st Ave.), 212-868-4444, Fri.-Sat., 10:30; Sun., 5:30, $12.
The Moonlight Room
It's the play that will make you rethink substance abuse-or just make you hate your mother. The Worth Street Theater Company's The Moonlight Room concerns two New York City teens waiting in a hospital emergency room for their friend who has ODed on K. The small cast, which features the nurse from Doogie Howser, M.D. as the eccentric, overprotective mother, proves that awkward silences sometimes tell the story better than spoken words. The performance will be the Tribeca Playhouse's final curtain call before its slumlord evicts them. 111 Reade St. (W. B'way), 212-868-4444, 8, $15.
King Crimson
Unlike most Crimson fans, we prefer their mid-80s output to the early-70s fuzzy prog crock of In the Court of the Crimson King. One thing we'll give King Crimson is that they're always changing-and we don't just mean the band lineup. Their latest, The Power to Believe, is all over the place, from clangy Middle Eastern rhythms to straight-ahead metal. So get mightily toked, sit back and enjoy the ride. Oh, and we almost forgot the best part: They're playing with the former "future of music" itself: Living Colour. Yes, Living Colour. Beacon Theater, 2124 B'way (74th St.), 212-307-7171, 8, $38.50-$78.50.
Crooked Fingers
Fronted by former Archers of Loaf frontman Eric Bachmann, Crooked Fingers returns to New York after a couple fantastic shows earlier this year. Expect a soulful, compelling set of songs from one of the only mid-90s indie darlings who's aging gracefully. Now, if only J Mascis and that Malkmus guy would follow Bachmann's lead and grow the fuck up. Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church St.), 212-219-3006, 9, $12.
Sunday
Rancid
The tragic death of Joe Strummer precluded hopes aging new wavers held for a Clash reunion, so the closest we're gonna get is this pack of screeching ska-inflected banshees. Show up early and start a "shave your mohawk" chant before the curtain rises. Roseland Ballroom, 239 W. 52nd St. (betw. B'way & 8th Ave.), 212-247-0200, 7, $18.
Cats Can See The Devil
Tom X. Chao is one of our favorite local playwrights because he's like a Chinese-American Dennis Potter: hopelessly morbid and bitter, with a very sharp and very dry wit. Cats Can See The Devil is his latest brainiac piece in which the actresses rebel halfway thru and loathe Tom because he listens to too much alternative rock. Under St. Marks, 94 St. Marks Pl. (betw. Ave. A & 1st Ave.), 212-868-4444, Fri.-Sat., 10:30; Sun., 5:30, $12.
The Moonlight Room
It's the play that will make you rethink substance abuse-or just make you hate your mother. The Worth Street Theater Company's The Moonlight Room concerns two New York City teens waiting in a hospital emergency room for their friend who has ODed on K. The small cast, which features the nurse from Doogie Howser, M.D. as the eccentric, overprotective mother, proves that awkward silences sometimes tell the story better than spoken words. The performance will be the Tribeca Playhouse's final curtain call before its slumlord evicts them. 111 Reade St. (W. B'way), 212-868-4444, 8, $15.
Denali
The Deftones' darlings, Denali, support their second album, The Instinct, at Maxwell's tonight. See p. 56 a little more.
Monday
Swedish Institute Open House
Swedish massage. Is there a more enticing phrase in the English language? Yeah, maybe "coked-up hooker," but "Swedish massage" is still pretty good. The Swedish Institute of Massage opens its doors to the public today, and the public will be treated to massage demonstrations, an introduction to the faculty and staff and information about the institute. 226 W. 26th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-924-5900 x35, 6:15, free.
Willy Porter
American Culture Overseas
Memo to neocons: Wars are unnecessary. America has already conquered the world. You want proof? Exhibit A: Japanese ducktail rockabilly greasers. Exhibit B: Eastern European hiphop. Exhibit C: The entire world is clad in denim. The lingering question is whether this is a good thing-for us and them. Tonight's panel discussion, "Entertaining the World: the Impact of American Culture Overseas," will try its darndest to get to the heart of the matter. Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6600, 6:30, $15.
Contributors: CXB, Adam Bulger, Kate Crane, Art Janik, Jim Knipfel, Jeff Koyen, Ned Vizzini