Date: Saturday, August 1st Time: 1:00pm Location: Lispenard between Church Street and Broadway Cost: Free
"On Saturday, August 1st, come out to Solefood in the Tribeca area of downtown New York City for Kiante The Sneaker Mann's Back 2 School Block Party. Located between Church Street and Broadway, and starting at 12pm, this promises to be a family friendly event for people of all ages. The Source Magazine will be in the house this Saturday and will be sponsoring the fashion show for the event, showcasing the dopest styles for the Fall season. There will also be live tributes to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, in the form of several talented artists painting canvas to honor the late superstar. This free event will have giveaways from companies like Sprite Green, Wise Popcorn, and Foot Locker."
"Plant Music founder mans the decks this Saturday at Governor's Island Water Taxi getaway. Enjoy disco, synth and house beats while sipping cocktails in the sun and munching on their variety of food choices. Dominique is joined by Plant music artist Eli Escobar, who has been playing killer disco sets recently. Eli's new track 'Glass House' comes out on Plant Music in August. To date Eli has remixed official releases by Diplo, M.I.A., Britney Spears, Chromeo, Nacho Lovers, Pase Rock, Amanda Blank & The Glass."
Date: Saturday, August 1st Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm Location: Roosevelt Island (455 Main Street) Cost: Free
Don't miss 15 weeks of free live performances this summer on Roosevelt Island! Roosevelt Live continues this week the pioneers of New York’s underground country music scene. The Flanks will kick of the night with their rugged country-folk style described by one listener as “all spit and no polish,” and by others as “garage country.” Then, Hawke & Owl will showcase the unique musicianship that captures the styles of music most associated with Americana, oldtime, alt-bluegrass, and rock. As the music unfolds during a show, it is clear that these friends truly enjoy the music they are making together.
Date: Saturday, August 1st Time: class 4:00pm, performance 5:00pm Location: Queensbridge Park (21 St., Bridge Plaza, Vernon Blvd, East River) Cost: Free
Founded over four decades ago by the great African drummer, Baba Robert Crowder, Kulu Mele African American Dance & Drum Ensemble is the longest running African dance company in Philadelphia. Performances include an exotic blend of music and dance of Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, Brazil, Haiti, Cuba and African American heritage. Soul Steps specializes in the live performance, artistic instruction, and educational outreach of African-based step dance. Under the direction of Maxine Lyle, Soul Steps delivers spirited performance steeped in the personal and cultural stories of the Soul Steps artists and the generations of ancestors they represent. Masters class before the show is for all ages, and is free."
Date: Saturday, August 1st Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm Location: Charmingwall (191 West 4th Street between 6th and 7th Ave.) Cost: Free
Canadian artist, Jordan Bent, spins tales with his intricate and whimsical paintings in his show, "The Hidden World Wakes" at Charmingwall. This opening will be accompanied by live music by Kira Sheppard and free snacks!
Date: Saturday, August 1st Time: 6:30pm Location: Prospect Park Bandshell (Prospect Park West at 9th Street, P'Slope) Cost: Free
Dean & Britta, who are beloved as one of the sexiest duo’s in rock, in addition to being alumni of the groundbreaking alt-rock band Luna, perform original scores to Warhol's rarely seen short silent film portraits, which captured Factory superstars, celebrities, and anonymous teenagers in mesmerizing four-minute shots. The New York Times says, “The music unabashedly translates the ominous drone of early Velvet Underground songs like I’m Waiting for the Man and Venus in Furs into a more modern electronic mode reminiscent of Giorgio Moroder’s chic torture-chamber disco.” Commissioned by the Andy Warhol Museum, the project is like an archeological dig unearthing NYC’s 1960s art scene, complete with an unforgettable soundtrack. Brooklyn’s Crystal Stilts, whom Pitchfork describes as “moody-sounding f*ckers who make fabulous stripped-down garage-pop,” will set the tone for the night.
Date: Saturday, August 1st Time: 10:00pm - 3:00am Location: Tribeca Grand (2 6th Avenue) Cost: Free with RSVP
"House of Dangerkat, the acclaimed fashion/dance/performance group, is in New York city ready to blow our minds away. They are collaborating with Sauvage Studio ready to launch their international tour ADDICTED… right in our own NYC backyard. If you want something fresh, exuding pure creativity, then you can’t miss this event. Addicted… is a multimedia, multi-sensory event featuring fashion/dance performance by House of Dangerkat, multimedia installation by Fauxcialite and beats by DJ Teddy Celebration, XXX Change, and Alex English."
Date: Sundays through August 30th Time: gates at 2pm Location: Kent St btw. N 8th and N 9th Sts on the East River, W'burg) Cost: Free
With the McCarren Pool under renovations, the Williamsburg Pool Parties move to the waterfront this summer with seven weeks of free shows. In edition to the free music there will be "DODGEBALL, basketball, DJ’s, bands, burgers the works!" for you to enjoy. Afterparties at Public Assembly. This week features a Round Robin show w/ Deerhunter, No Age and Dan Deacon. Full line-up below. All ages!
Sunday, July 19 — Dirty Projectors, Magnolia Electric Co., Crystal Antlers*
Sunday, July 26 — And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, The Black Lips, Health, Grupo Fantasmo*
Sunday, Aug 02 — Round Robin show w/ Deerhunter, No Age and Dan Deacon*
Sunday, Aug 09 — Simian Mobile Disco (DJ set), Fiery Furnaces, Dark Meat, The Netherlands*
Sunday, Aug 16 — Del tha Funky Homosapien, Gravytrain!!!, DD/MM/YYYY, Kenan Bell*
Sunday, Aug 23 — Girl Talk, Max Tundra, Wiz Khalifa*
Sunday, Aug 30 — Beach House & Grizzly Bear*
* A free Pool Party: Gates open at 2pm for all shows. For eight consecutive Sundays in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (July 12th — August 30th), party-goers will be regaled with on-site dodgeball, three-on-three basketball, and, oh yeah, rip-roarin' live performances on the main stage.
Date: Sunday, August 2nd Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Location: Nuyorican Poets Cafe (236 E. 3rd St. between Ave B and Avenue C) Cost: Free
" This is a feature film event being filmed live featuring comics: D.C. Benny, Jay Oakerson, Vic Henley, Dean Edwards, Ben Bailey & Judy Gold! About the show: Sex, drugs, crime, love, hate, life,death, comedy! Come laugh your ass off as New York's best comedians tell their funniest true stories in front of a live audience. Real stories. Real underground. Real funny. Urban Myth. The original comedy story-telling show." More info on the Nuyorican here.
Date: Saturday, March 7th Time: 5:00pm - 11:00pm Location: Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway) Cost: Free
I know at this point we have really pounded the idea of First Saturday at the Brooklyn Museum into your heads, but here is a refresher course. If you cross over the East River, living in the shadows of the Manhattan museums, and with way less foot traffic from city tourists, you will find the Brooklyn Museum. Every first Saturday of the month admission is free (thanks to big name corporate sponsorship) beginning at 5pm and there are a slew of events for the whole family. This month is a celebration of feminist art with a dance party, film screenings, and discussions. Full schedule below. The October Target First Saturday, in collaboration with the Hungarian Cultural Center and its Extremely Hungary festival, brings you art and culture that take the magic and fantasy world of opera back to its roots and to the hearts of the people. Schedule below.
5–7 p.m.
Dallam-Dougou blends the lively tradition of Hungarian Gypsy music with the melodic sounds of West Africa.
Performance
5:30–6:30 p.m.
Vertical Player Repertory performs act one of William Bolcom and Arthur Miller’s collaborative operatic adaptation of Miller’s play A View from the Bridge. Free tickets are available at the Visitor Center at 5 p.m.
Artist Talk: Patricia Cronin
6 p.m.
Patricia Cronin speaks about Harriet Hosmer, Lost and Found, the exhibition of her luminous, unearthly watercolors representing the work of nineteenth-century American sculptor Harriet Hosmer. A book signing of the catalogue raisonné Cronin created for Hosmer follows. Free tickets are available at the Visitor Center at 5 p.m.
Common Ground Meetup
6–9:30 p.m.
Meet staff members from the Brooklyn Museum and the New York Public Library and learn about the historical photographs being uploaded to The Commons on Flickr. This meetup is part of the world-wide event Common Ground.
Interactive Cell Phone Concert
6–10 p.m.
Play with Opera Looper, a cell phone–controlled interactive collaboration that helps you create spontaneous loop-based compositions with music videos to match.
Young Voices Gallery Talk
6:30 p.m.
Student Guide Hilary Thompson leads a lively conversation about the connections between Hungarian and French art movements.
Hands-On Art
6:30–8:30 p.m.
Get dramatically decked out for the opera: create your own theatrical mustache inspired by classic Hungarian historical figures. “The Mustache Sisters,” Nina Frenkel and Aya Kakeda, designers of an award-winning two-person mustache, show you how. Free timed tickets are available at the Visitor Center at 5:30 p.m.
Film
7 p.m.
Cremaster 5 (Matthew Barney, 1997, 55 min., parental discretion advised). Ursula Andress stars as a Hungarian diva in this tragic love story made in the style of a lyric opera and set in the romantic dreamscape of late nineteenth-century Budapest. Free tickets are available at the Visitor Center at 6 p.m.
Music
7–9 p.m.
Jeans-wearing, beer-drinking, fun-loving singers from Opera on Tap and promenading, beautifully costumed players from Vertical Player Repertory perform favorite opera melodies.
Music
7:30–8:30 p.m.
Frank Oteri from the American Music Center and VJ Benton-C Bainbridge host a multimedia presentation on prolific Hungarian-American composer Gabriel von Wayditch (1888–1969), including the New York premiere of passages from his lush operatic works, video projections, and excerpts from a documentary about the composer.
Opera Open Mic
8:30–10 p.m.
Opera singers and multidisciplinary performers are encouraged to get on stage and entertain the Brooklyn crowd. The program includes short collaborations with actress, singer, and former Rent cast member Anika Larsen, choreographer and dancer Jamie Philbert, and members of Opera on Tap.
Target First Saturdays Book Club
9–10 p.m.
Brooklyn-based author Arthur Phillips leads a discussion of his novel Prague, about five American expats seeking financial, romantic, and spiritual fortune in early-1990s Budapest. Order the book from the Brooklyn Museum Shop.
Dance Party
9–11 p.m.
Brooklyn’s DJ Reborn and Hungarian DJ Yonderboi play a mélange of soul, house, and electronic with traces of the world’s most famous operas.
Date: Monday, August 3rd Time: 7:00pm Location: Ars Nova (511 West 54th St) Cost: Free with RSVP
In Ski Dubai - the latest production from non-profit theatre group Ars Nova, "Rachel begins a job as the environmental friendliness consultant on a new development project in Dubai: a perfectly circular island awash in hotels, luxury shopping centers, and enormous homes. In a land filled with startling contradictions, Rachel attempts to make her new life “nice." But being an American abroad has always meant complications, and home can be a difficult thing to define."
Date: First Monday of each month Time: 7:00pm Location: Arlene's Grocery (95 Stanton St. btw. Ludlow and Orchard St.) Cost: Free
On the first Monday of every month, Ross Hyzer and Jared Logan welcome stand-ups to Arlene's stage at Country Fair. "August features Ted Alexandro (Letterman, Conan, Comedy Central), Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords), Andy Ross (Melancomedy) and Mike Lawrence (New York Comic-Con). Powerpoint? Yes! Happy hour drinks + Rock and Roll Karaoke after the show." Old Flyer.
Tonight's film, Throw Down Your Heart, follows American banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck on his journey to Africa to explore the little known African roots of the banjo and to record a new album. Béla’s boundary-breaking musical adventure takes him to Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Mali, and provides a glimpse of the beauty and complexity of Africa and its music." Fleck performs along with Malian kora musician Toumani Diabaté tonight prior to the screening.
Date: Monday, August 3rd Time: Films begin at Dusk (about 8ish) Location: Bryant Park (40th and 42nd Sts & Fifth and Sixth Aves) Cost: Free
Bring your picnic baskets and pull up some lawn for an evening under the stars with the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival. Every Monday throughout the summer HBO dusts off some classic movies and plays them on a big screen in Bryant Park. Tonight, they screen Kramer vs. Kramer. "Dustin Hoffman won an Oscar for his role as a father who will go to any length (even making French toast) to keep custody of his son. Meryl Streep is unmatched as his icy wife who walks out on him and returns to claim the boy, who is played by Oscar nominee Justin Henry. Robert Benton directs one of best acted films of the decade."
Date: Tuesday, August 4th Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm Location: The Art of Living Center (127 W 25th St., 3rd Floor) Cost: Free
"Come and do some Yoga, learn two simple yet powerful breathing-techniques, experience a guided meditation, and learn about the ancient science of your mind – all of which will dissolve your stress and leave you with a smile! The workshop will explore the elegant Mind-Body connection, and how our breath can bring us more energy and focus, peace of mind, and a happier life."
Date: Tuesday, August 4th Time: 7:00pm & 8:00pm Location: Nola Studios (250 W 54TH St.) Cost: Free
I almost didn't post this because there was virtually no information included in Nola Studio's submission, but you should all know by now how i feel about free dance classes. So head up to Nola this evening for free a Afro Cuban class at 7pm and a salsa class at 8pm.
"Join Minibar for the opening reception of Unconsciously Vivid by Brooklyn artist Dana Crossan, curated by Katie Morabito. Unconsciously Vivid is a collection of Crossan’s most recent paintings inspired by her everyday experiences. Crossan’s non-representational abstractions offer a vast palette of color, line and erratic text. Whether stimulated by subway rides, fancy dinners, or struggling to find food at the corner bodega, Crossan creates a dialog with these experiences through her use of mixed media and formal elements of design. Her signature layering process allows the canvas to be engrossed by her swollen color fields, Cy Twombly-esque markings and ambiguous text that undulates between turbulent designs and a more clear textual representation of her thoughts. Crossan's work stays true over time to her inner dialogue, allowing us to see an undisclosed fraction of our infinite responses to the complex world around us. Or perhaps this is simply a portrait of a life in Brooklyn."
Date: Wednesday, August 5th Time: 7:00pm (6:00pm doors) Location: Le Poisson Rouge, Gallery (158 Bleeker St.) Cost: Free
At their monthly reading series, online literary magazine InDigest takes it's mission of creating a dialogue between and about the arts of the screen and into the bar. The series steps apart from other readings in it's efforts to bring in musicians, artists, fiction and poetry into a literary cabaret where authors read their own work as well as the work of other influential authors. With drink specials, great readings, and a free party following every reading. Tonight's edition features John Wray, author of Lowboy, Marlon James, author of The Book of Night Women, and Ronaldo V. Wilson, author of Narrative of the Life of the Brown Boy and the White Man. Bios below. 21+
John Wray is the author of two critically acclaimed novels, The Right Hand of Sleep and Canaan's Tongue. He was named one of Granta magazine’s Best of Young American Novelists in 2007. The recipient of a Whiting Award, he lives in Brooklyn, New York.
****
Marlon James was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1970. His first novel, John Crow's Devil (Akashic Books, 2005) was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the Commonwealth Writers Prize and was a New York Times Editors' Choice. His new novel, The Book of Night Women was be published by Riverhead Books.
He graduated from The University of the West Indies in 1991 with a B.A in Literature, and Wilkes University in 2006 with an M.A. in Creative Writing. At Wilkes he was awarded Norman Mailer's Norris Church Mailer Scholarship for Creative Writing. His short fiction has appeared in the anthologies Iron Balloons (2006), Bronx Noir (2007) and Silent Voices (2007) for which he received a Pushcart Prize nomination. His non-fiction has appeared in the Caribbean Review of Books.
He has taught at the Calabash International Literary Festival Workshop in Kingston Jamaica for two years. More recently he has taught at the Gotham Writers Workshop in New York City and was a judge for the PEN Beyond Margins Award.
****
Ronaldo V. Wilson is the author of Narrative of the Life of the Brown Boy and the White Man, winner of the 2007 Cave Canem Poetry Prize (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2008) and Poems of the Black Object (Futurepoem Books, 2009). He is a graduate of NYU's Graduate Creative Writing Program, and received a Ph.D. in English from the CUNY Graduate Center. Wilson held a National Research Council Ford Foundation fellowship, a winter residency with the Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center, and summer residencies with Djerassi, and Yaddo. He teaches creative writing and African American poetics at Mount Holyoke College.
Date: Wednesday, August 5th Time: 7:00pm Location: Madison Square Park (Broadway and 23rd St) Cost: Free
Ever since joining the Miles Davis Band in 1982, Grammy-nominated guitarist and composer John Scofield has been blazing a path across genres from straight ahead jazz to funk, and gospel to R&B. His most recent release is a collection of "old time Gospel" tunes done Scofield-style called "Piety Street." Joining Scofield are long-time collaborators Steve Swallow (bass) and Bill Stewart (drums).
Date: Wednesday, August 5th Time: 7:30pm Location: McCarren Park (Bedford Ave and N 12 St) Cost: Free
Tonight is another installment of Summerscreen, the L Magazine's summer movie series. Pull up a chair at the bottom of the pool with the cool kids to catch the high school dance classic 24 Hour Party People.
Date: Wednesday, August 5th Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm Location: Pier 54 (14th St. and the Hudson River) Cost: Free
Iraqi-American trumpeter Amir ElSaffar’s expanded jazz-cum-Arabic music ensemble unveils a hauntingly beautiful avant-blend that infuses ancient Iraqi maqams with a contemporary intensity. Legendary pianist Dave Brubeck, who has incorporated Middle Eastern influences for a half century, returns to Out of Doors to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his landmark album Time Out, plus debuts a first-time collaboration with famed oud virtuoso Simon Shaheen.
Date: Wednesday, August 5th Time: Dusk (around 8:30pm) Location: Pier 54 (14th St. and the Hudson River) Cost: Free
On top of getting to watch movies overlooking Hudson River on beautiful summer nights, the other thing I like about River Flicks is that every year they pick a central theme for their screenings. This year's they "know what you did last summer" and screen films released in 2008. Tonight's film is the Ben Stiller comedy Tropic Thunder.
Date: Monday, October 5th Time: 8:00pm Location: The Studio at Webster Hall (125 E 11th St.) Cost: Free
No Cover Mondays continues at Webster hall with live perfomances by Home Video, Arpline, Naked Hearts, and Darlings. Its a mix-up of melancholic pop, post rock and even a bit of retro 80s to kick off your week.
Date: Thursday, August 6th Time: 12:00pm Location: Metrotech, Brooklyn (click for directions) Cost: Free
Zap Mama is the Grammy-award winning group founded and fronted by Marie Daulne. Since the early 1990’s, Marie has spent her life crossing continents and winning the hearts of thousands of fans, while introducing her Afropean musical heritage to the world. Zap Mama has collaborated with Erykah Badu, Sergio Mendes, Tony Allen, Common, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and their most recent album, ReCreation, features a guest list of high-profile vocalists including Bilal, G. Love, and actor Vincent Cassel (La Haine, Ocean’s Twelve).
Date: Thursday, August 6th Time: 7:30pm Location: Asser Levy/Seaside Park (W 5th S and Surf Ave) Cost: Free
Hall and Oats need no introduction (but here's one anyway). "Starting out as two devoted disciples of earlier soul greats, Daryl Hall & John Oates are soul survivors in their own right. They have become such musical influences on some of today's popular artists that the September 2006 cover of Spin Magazine's headline read: 'Why Hall and Oates are the New Velvet Underground.'" Come out to Coney tonight as they play classics like "Maneater" and "Out of Touch."
Date: Thursday, August 6th Time: 7:30pm (doors: 6:30) Location: Prospect Park Bandshell (9th St & Prospect Park West) Cost: Free
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of history’s greatest pop albums, and the extravagantly, hilariously whacky and over-the-top film it inspired (the apotheosis of both the purple one’s genius and self caricature), Celebrate Brooklyn! invites audiences to don something lacey and ruffled and come out for a night of participatory Prince. There will be lyric subtitles on-screen, although everyone probably knows all the words already. Joy Dragland, lead singer of Brooklyn’s live disco orchestra Escort certainly does; Purple Rain was the first cassette she ever owned. Her group will lead the sing-along, after warming up the crowd with an opening set. 17+
Date: Thursday, August 6th Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm Location: Damrosch Park (Amsterdam Avenue & West 62 St) Cost: Free
From New York City and Chicago to South Korea and Sierra Leone, five crews from three continents reinvent hip hop dancing with breathtaking virtuosity, jawdropping kineticism, and explosive rhythms. Sierra Leone’s rap superstars the Dry Eye Crew bring their deeply political, empowering, and explosively celebratory blend of hip hop and dancehall while big names like Full Circle, FootworKINGz, Chinese American Arts Council Martial Arts Society, Last For One and Lee In Soo Dance Project (U.S. debut) perform.
Date: Thursday, August 6th Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm Location: Happy Ending (302 Broome St bet Forsyth and Eldridge) Cost: Free
Best-selling author David Henry Sterry and sexuality rights activist Audacia Ray, both former workers in the sex industry, are proud to announce Sex Worker Literati, a new free monthly reading series that features sex workers, former sex workers, and people with stories about the sex industry who will read, monologue, perform, and shimmy their ways into your hearts, minds, and naughty bits.
Date: Friday, August 7th Time: gates 6:00pm; show 7:00pm Location: Prospect Park Bandshell (Prospect Park West and 9th Street, P'Slope) Cost: $3 Suggested Donation
"Fronted by the Joplin-like vocals and the Hammond B-3 playing of the group’s fearless frontwoman, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals play 'blues-based rock with glorious passion.' The music of Deer Tick is hard to categorize—folk? indie rock? alt-country? Americana?—but easy to love. They 'write and play some of the most soulful, inspired music around, littered with lyrics as sharp as a shot of whiskey and rapid-fire guitar solos strong enough to blow the dust off your boots.'" From Celebrate Brooklyn.
Date: Friday, August 7th Time: Dusk (around 8:30pm) Location: Pier 54 (14th St. and the Hudson River) Cost: Free
The folks over at Hudson River Park keep calling this RiverFlicks for Kids, but we're really into a bunch of these movies, so either the films are also for grown ups, or we just like kid stuff. Tonight's kid flick is the puppet masterpiece The Muppet Movie. "Kermit the Frog heads to Hollywood to make it big! Along the way he meets up with new friends Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Miss Piggy, and rock band Electric Mayhem. All the while avoiding the nefarious Doc Hopper who wants to use Kermit’s legs as an entrée at his French-fried frog legs restaurants!"
Date: Friday, August 7th Time: 9:00pm Location: Crash Mansion (199 Bowery at Spring St) Open Bar: ???, 9:00pm - 10:00pm Cost: Free before 11 RSVP
The NY Underbelly weekly Rock and a Hard Place party teams up with Brooklyn Ski Club tonight for "a brilliant rock lineup: Hank & Cupcakes, Cinema Cinema, Gunfight, and Young Lords,. Get there early for open bar, stick around for some great live rock."
Date: Friday, August 7th Time: 10:00pm Location: Hugs (106 N 6th St bet Berry & Wythe, W'burg) Cost: Free Open Bar: Vodka, 11pm-11:30pm, 2:30am-3am
"Michael T is like the little dude in red on your shoulder. He knows what it is that you really want. Cases in point: Boots and Beards, Rated X and now... Pornography. With DJs Matt Safer (the Rapture), Michael T himself and Ole Koretsky peddling rock, disco, new wave, electro and dance classics." (via MyOpenBar)
Date: Friday, August 7th Time: 10:00pm Location: Sullivan Room (218 Sullivan Street btw. Bleecker and W 3rd) Cost: Free before 11pm ($20 after)
NYC House music legend Jellybean Benitez bring his feel good vibes to the Sullivan Room's top notch sound system tonight. This is a great, rare chance to catch one of NYC's classic jocks for free spinning a marathon 7hr set of the best in New York House. Just make sure you get there early as the price goes way up after 11. Old Flyer.
Date: Friday, August 7th Time: 10:00pm Location: Royale (506 5th St, Park Slope) Cost: Free
Sharegroove's Steve Shakewell brings his deep/italo/balaeric/etc. disco vibes to the Royale this evening for one of Park Slope's few dance parties. Deep 4/4 beats all night long. 21+
Need a bit more jam in your evening after the Celebrate Brooklyn show? Head over to Brooklyn Bowl for a free afterparty with Blues and Lasers. "The band is the electric sonic brainchild of Scott Tournet, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. Tournet, currently one of Grace Potter’s Nocturnals, recruited four other players to complete the lineup and flesh out the band’s sound – forceful, swampy, blues, heavy on rhythm (courtesy of the two-drummer combo) and slide guitar. Blues and Lasers incites obvious comparisons to the Black Keys and the Allman Brothers Band, while songs such as '22 Times' evoke classic Robert Johnson blues imagery about selling ones soul." 21+
Date: Saturday, August 8th Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Location: Flushing Meadow Corona Park, Queens (directions) Cost: Free
More then just a Dragon Boat race (but oh what a dragon boat race it is) the the 18th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is a multicultural celebration and sporting event featuring "two exciting days of Dragon Boat Racing, wonderful performances and an ethnic food court." Check below for today's festivities.
10:00 am
Lion Dancers open the festival and greet all.
10:30 am
Queens Symphony Orchestra. A brass ensemble plays some of the great American classics.
11:30 am
Dragon Dancing Team and percussions welcomes all and, together with invited dignitaries and the team parade, officially kick-off the 19th annual HKDBF in NY.
1:00 pm
Lyrus Hung and her band "MEOW". Some of New York's top female musicians, plus two guys, play a mix of fun rock and R&&B mixed with hits from the '70's. Good for rockin', dancin' and groovin'.
2:00 pm
Shaolin Kung Fu. Warrior monks from the Shaolin Temple perform martial arts. In the history of the Shaolin Temple, founded in 495 AD, generation after generation of monk generals and soldiers protected the temples from wars and riots of society.
3:00 - 4:30 pm
Jack Hsu leads his band Hsu-Nami. Jack is most well-known for playing the Er-Hu, a Chinese violin. He has played in the classical halls, clubs and festivals. His current project is called Hsu-nami, an "ethnical fusion instrumental rock band".
Date: Saturday, August 8th Time: 1:00pm - 6:00pm Location: Fort Greene Park (Myrtle Ave & N. Portland, BK) Cost: Free
F.O.K.U.S. presents The Stoop '09 hosted by PattyDukes and Rephstar of Circa '95 and with music by DJ Synapse in Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn. A free arts celebration featuring bands, vocalists and artists from a range of genres. This annual community gathering brings together talented artists, community organizations, and the people of New York City in a space that serves as a physical crossroads between individuals and their unique artistic expressions. With a headline performance from the highly energetic, live remix band Keys N Krates, and supporting sets from emerging talents such as Caleb Curtis, Gist aka The Essence, The Kid Daytona, Fascious, and The Approaching Storm, and The Astronomical Kid. Download the mixtape here.
The plural in the artist’s name is a little misleading, as Boys Noize is actually a solo project from producer Alexander Ridha. Feted by artists such as Tiga, Erol Alkan, and Soulwax, the youthful Berlin-based producer creates a brash, maximalist music, sometimes recalling Daft Punk at their most boisterous moments. This afternoon he brings the club vibe to Summerstage along with the amazing Drop the Lime live band and Modular Records rising stars Canyons.
Date: Saturday, August 8th Time: gates 6:00pm; show 7:00pm Location: Prospect Park Bandshell (Prospect Park West and 9th Street, P'Slope) Cost: $3 Suggested Donation
"Celebrate Brooklyn! with a momentous night of hip-hop featuring Brooklyn legend Big Daddy Kane, who will perform with his live band. The show will be preceded by a screening of the short documentary BDK: The Big Daddy Kane Story, directed by Lyricist Lounge’s own Anthony Marshall." Full line up after the jump.
7:30 Retro Kidz
7:45 Emilio Rojas
8:10 Blitz the Ambassador
8:35 Rahzel
9:00 Ralph McDaniels’ Video Music Box
9:25 Big Daddy Kane film
9:40 Big Daddy Kane
Date: Saturday, August 8th Time: 6:00pm Location: The Creek (10-93 Jackson Ave, Long Island City) Cost: Free
Join Gën (Samantha Gurewitz), a small town girl from Slovenia, and her Long Island bred DJ, Derrick (Matthew Horton), as they storm NYC and try to dance, sing, dream and lightshow their way out of his Mother's basement and into Pop stardom. Hilarious new adventures each month featuring: Bikini Girls, bubbles, and hot new guest groups and comedians each month! Come shake your bootie, get your bootie shaking now!
Date: Saturday, August 8th Time: 9:00pm Location: The Petri Space (114 Forrest Street, Apt. 4C, ring Buzzer #15) Cost: Free
"Bushwick's favorite variety show hosts B-Cat and C-Town have returned to their home in Brooklyn with all new music, guests, and most importantly outfits. And are they ready to put on a show just for you... This month's guests: Sidecar (sketch comedy: NYC Sketchfest, Seattle Sketchfest), Gabe Pachecco (stand-up: host of JOY and Haiku), Shane Webb (MAGIC), Dreadnought (improv laughter fun) and Corn Mo (music: accordian amazingness)... Also as always: Dance party afterwards with The Czech, DJ Perfect Pich and DJ Marrying Everyone."
Date: Sunday August 9th Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm Location: Flushing Meadow Corona Park, Queens (directions) Cost: Free
More then just a Dragon Boat race (but oh what a dragon boat race it is) the the 18th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival is a multicultural celebration and sporting event featuring "two exciting days of Dragon Boat Racing, wonderful performances and an ethnic food court." Check below for today's festivities.
10:30 am
Chinese Music Ensemble of New York. Founded in 1961, it is the oldest and only full-scale Chinese orchestra in the United States and the Americas. Its present membership of nearly fifty musicians play practically every type of Chinese music on Chinese instruments, both ancient and modern. For the HKDBF-NY performance a small ensemble from the orchestra performs in repertory on traditional string, wind and percussions instruments.
11:00 am
MIKE BLOCK BAND. Hailed by Yo-Yo Ma as the "ideal musician of the 21st Century", Mike Block is a pioneering multi-genre cello player living in New York City. While studying at the Juilliard School, Mike joined The Silk Road Ensemble as its youngest member, and upon graduation in 2006, also joined Grammy Award winner Mark O'Connor in his Appalachia Waltz Trio. Since then, Mike has become an internationally in-demand player in many musical genres as broad as American folk, contemporary & traditional old-time, jazz, Asian/American crossover, Classical and contemporary Arabic crossover and much more. Mike writes extensively for the Mike Block Band, and has also had his pieces performed at the Tribeca New Music Festival, and the MATA Festival.
http://www.mikeblock.netp
Noon
Edge. Fresh from the Vancouver International Jazz festival, this quartet , lead by composer and violinist Jason Hwan offers a rich blend of jazz and chamber music that seamlessly merges Eastern and Western traditions into a singular, global hybrid. Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet/flugehorn), Andrew Drury (drum kit), Ken Filiano (string bass), Jason Kao Hwang (composer, violin/viola).
1:00 pm
Shaolin Kung Fu. monks from the Shaolin Temple perform martial arts. In the history of the Shaolin Temple, founded in 495 AD, generation after generation of monk generals and soldiers protected the temples from wars and riots of society.
2:00 pm
Queens Theater in the Park Hours ( 2 - 5 PM) presented by "Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York". Guitarist, composer and arranger, Hong Kong musician Simon Yu uses the influences of his traditional Chinese Musician family in his playing and compositions. His micro-tonal music mixers Chinese/Indian/Turkish micro-tonal systems with Western modern groove music.
Abdou Mboup. African Music
xalam percussion,kora, and vocal
http://www.myspace.com/abdoumboup
Abdou Mboup was born in the small town of Kebemer, Senegal to a family of oral historians and musicians. Having studied traditional drumming under the tutelage of his family, Abdou soon became a key figure in the development of the Mbalax style (Senegalese dance music).
3:00 pm
Luca Mundaca. Original Songwriter/ Brazil
http://www.myspace.com/lucamundaca
Luca Mundaca is a gifted singer/songwriter whose sultry voice and memorable bossa nova and samba-fused melodies will take you to the heart of Brazil.
4:00 pm
Vintaje DJ
http://www.vintagedj.com
DJ Johnathan Jacobs' Time Machine show covers forgotten gems from the 30's through the early 70's.
Date: Sundays through August 30th Time: gates at 2pm Location: Kent St btw. N 8th and N 9th Sts on the East River, W'burg) Cost: Free
With the McCarren Pool under renovations, the Williamsburg Pool Parties move to the waterfront this summer with seven weeks of free shows. In edition to the free music there will be "DODGEBALL, basketball, DJ’s, bands, burgers the works!" for you to enjoy. Afterparties at Public Assembly. This week features Simian Mobile Disco (DJ set), Fiery Furnaces, Dark Meat, and The Netherlands. Full line-up below. All ages!
Sunday, July 19 — Dirty Projectors, Magnolia Electric Co., Crystal Antlers*
Sunday, July 26 — And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, The Black Lips, Health, Grupo Fantasmo*
Sunday, Aug 02 — Round Robin show w/ Deerhunter, No Age and Dan Deacon*
Sunday, Aug 09 — Simian Mobile Disco (DJ set), Fiery Furnaces, Dark Meat, The Netherlands*
Sunday, Aug 16 — Del tha Funky Homosapien, Gravytrain!!!, DD/MM/YYYY, Kenan Bell*
Sunday, Aug 23 — Girl Talk, Max Tundra, Wiz Khalifa*
Sunday, Aug 30 — Beach House & Grizzly Bear*
* A free Pool Party: Gates open at 2pm for all shows. For eight consecutive Sundays in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (July 12th — August 30th), party-goers will be regaled with on-site dodgeball, three-on-three basketball, and, oh yeah, rip-roarin' live performances on the main stage.
Date: Sunday, August 9th Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm Location: Thompson Square Park (Old Bandshell Lawn between Avenue A & B, entrance on E 7th St.) Cost: Free
"NYLaughs announces a sizzling line-up of comedy’s hottest rising stars for its 'Laughter in the Park'... Headliner Dan Ahdoot graduated with honors as a premed student from Johns Hopkins University and, shortly thereafter, decided to ditch medicine for comedy. Dan, an Iranian Jew, bases his standup act on his hilarious observations about everyday life as a young, hip kid fresh out of college, coupled with his upbringing as a 1st generation American... Joining Dan will be MTV host and MTV Tr3s VJ, comedian Carlos Santos... West coast based comedian, Mo Mandel...Additionally, Claudia Cogan [who was] recently featured in NY Magazine..." Full details here.
DJ Skinny Friedman (Philadelphyinz) continues his Sunday BBQ special for the good folks of Cawonus Slope (or Parkwonus Gardens) tonight with special guest Cousin Cole of Flagrant Fowl and Panty Raid fame. They'll be playing sunshine party jams and disco edits all evening while you drink $5 bloodys and eat sausages from the grill (veggie options available). 21+
Date: Sunday, August 9th Time: Doors 7:00pm, Films 8:00pm Location: 3rd Ward (195 Morgan Ave., BK) Cost: Free with RSVP
Moviehouse continues this evening with a night of interactive fun and fellowship. You become the show as two talented performers invite you into their playful video world to create images directly from your consciousness. First Min Oh lets you “choose your own adventure”! Watch as Min Oh, the video maker/performer and another Min Oh who is projected on the screen dance, fight, and play tricks on each other all based on the audiences’ collective choice. Then using the latest drawing tablet technologies, VJ Shantell Martin illustrates the music that she hears, mesmerizing crowds with art that’s drawn in time with the beat. She projects her unique real-time illustrations onto walls, screens and sometimes the dancers themselves. This is a Moviehouse not to be missed!
Date: Sunday, August 9th Time: 10:00pm Location: Public Assembly (70 N 6th St btw Wythe and Berry, W'burg) Cost: Free
"Let the freebies roll. After the Jelly NYC Pool Party this Sunday, mosey on down to Public Assembly for some free beer and dirty dancing thanks to Colt 45 and The Ohio Party. Open bar from 8-9 and two-for-one vodka drinks all night." 21+
Every second Sunday of the month, Piano's resident performers Deity of BadAss Burlesque and Mademoiselle Lena of False Aristocracy curate a night of Curious burlesque and variety. The dance party continues throughout the night with music provided by Mike Dextro of False Aristocracy. This New Orleans styled event integrates live burlesque shows with a dance party, and while the themes for each night will differ, the general aesthetic will remain the same. Photobooth will be provided by Adrian Buckmaster, and tarot card readings by Courtney. Midnight raffle include kinky prizes provided by Toys In Babeland and Demask. Naughty contests, various debauchery and comedic improv by the MC lasts all night.
Date: Monday, August 10th Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm Location: Opal Bar ad Restaurant (251 E 52nd St bet 1st Ave and 2nd Ave) Cost: 88¢
Our friends at Ocho Loco are celebrating their 1 year anniversary with a bunch of great deals throughout the city. This Monday we're teaming up with them to get you over that back-to-work hump with three drafts for less than a $1! Just click here to get yourself the coupon and enjoy that tasty midtown happy hour goodness
Date: Monday, August 10th Time: Films begin at Dusk (about 8ish) Location: Bryant Park (40th and 42nd Sts & Fifth and Sixth Aves) Cost: Free
Bring your picnic baskets and pull up some lawn for an evening under the stars with the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival. Every Monday throughout the summer HBO dusts off some classic movies and plays them on a big screen in Bryant Park. Tonight, get a look at The Magnificent Seven. "One of the most beloved Westerns of all time with one of the greatest scores of all time (by Elmer Bernstein). Seven mercenaries, including Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, and Charles Bronson are hired to protect a Mexican village under siege by large group of bandits led by Eli Wallach."
Date: Monday, August 10th Time: 8:30pm Location: Pete's Candy Store (709 Lorimer Street, W'burg) Cost: Free
"Houston-native, singer/songwriter Sarah Elizabeth Foster and band, made up of Caleigh Drane, cello, Nancy Gort, viola, and Kenji Shinagawa, guitar, introduced their authentic sound to the NYC music scene with the release of "Gardening from the Ground Up Part 1," a blend of 60‘s-inspired pop, fresh folk and classical motifs, overlaid by Foster’s rich, melodic voice and honest lyrics. While crediting Dusty Springfield, The Beatles and Stevie Wonder as major influences and sources of inspiration, Foster’s music aligns more with contemporary artists such as Jewel, Norah Jones and Ingrid Michaelson." She plays for free at Pete's Candy Store tonight.
Date: Tuesday, August 11th Time: 4:30pm - 8:00pm Location: St. Nicholas Park Plaza (135th Street and St. Nicholas Park Plaza) Cost: Free
Tools of War presents "Salsa Hop at St. Nicholas Park! This Tues. Aug. 11 look forward to the rarest funkiest tracks from DJs Chairman Mao (Grand Groove), JBX (Big City Records) and one of our favorite b-boy DJs: Lean Rock (Horse Power/Floor Lords)."
Date: Tuesday, August 11th Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm Location: Bryant Park Reading Room (42nd St and 6th Ave) Cost: Free
Classic Kids is a part of Bryant Park After Work, perfectly timed concerts for an early evening visit to the park. Featuring an eclectic selection of music, from jazz pianists to string quartets and more, performed by talented New York area artists. This week's performance features JoSunJari, a sibling string trio of classical musicians.
Date: Tuesdays through August Time: 6:30pm Location: Pier 45 at Christopher St on the Hudson Cost: Free
Tuesdays hit a high note with jazz and classical performances from Mannes College The New School for Music and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music on one of Hudson River Park's most beautiful piers by star students from around the city. Tonight enjoy an evening of jazz with the Erika Kapin Trio.
Date: Tuesday, August 11th Time: 7:00pm - 8:30 Location: Red Hook Park (Bay St bet Henry St & Clinton St) - map Cost: Free
For most of the late eighties, Lisa Velez (Lisa Lisa) and her band Cult Jam was a household name, releasing a string of hits, including, “I Wonder If I Take You Home,” “Head to Toe,” and “Lost in Emotion.” Tonight you get to relive those freestyle classics in the park. All Ages.
Date: Tuesday, August 11th Time: 8:00pm Location: Bell House (149 7th St bet 2nd and 3rd Aves, Gowanus) Cost: Free
Brooklyn's Secret Science Club is back with more mind-blowing lectures, ever-evolving cocktails, and fossil-friendly sounds. The Secret Science Club is a lecture and performance series that addresses all manner of scientific inquiry. Astronomers, physicists, marine biologists, neurobiologists, zoologists, mathematicians and more. Each night features a spirited investigation of science through lecture, experimentation, screenings, music, and readings followed by an often heated Q & A. This months installment "Jungle Love!" is lead by Dr. Susan Pell and focuses on the Louisiade Archipelago "a volcanic island chain stretching away from the southeastern extremity of Papua New Guinea’s mainland. These tropical islands are home to rare plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth."
Date: Tuesday, August 11th Time: 8:00pm Location: Delacorte Theater, Central Park Cost: Free with Tickets
"JoAnne Akalaitis returns to The Public Theater to present Greek tragedy as it was always meant to be seen – in the open air of the city. This visionary interpretation, featuring a lush choral score by Philip Glass, re-imagines the classic story about what happens when a government attempts to outlaw desire." Admission is free but you must have a ticket. "The Public Theater will be distributing tickets to The Bacchae in all five boroughs! Tickets will be available at 1pm on each date and location. Limit two tickets per person and your entire party must be on line to receive tickets together." Tickets available on virtual line as well. Shows run through August 30th.
Date: Tuesday, August 11th Time: 9:00pm Location: t.b.d. Brooklyn (244 Franklin St., Greenpoint) Cost: Free
"Join Cody Utzman at t.b.d. Brooklyn to celebrate his appearance on Food Network’s dynamic series Chopped. On Tuesday, August 11th at 9 pm Utzman will treat guests to examples of his culinary prowess and drink specials in preparation for the 10pm airing of the episode 'A Wish Upon a Starfruit' where Utzman, along with 3 other New York City chefs, competed for $10,000. As an added bonus, the world premiere screening of the 10 minute short film 'The Chef, Part 1' will be presented directly after the closing credits. Cody Utzman is the founder and owner of Greenpoint, Brooklyn's successful Mexican street food restaurant, Papacitos."
Date: Wednesday, August 12th Time: Dusk (around 8:30pm) Location: Pier 54 (14th St. and the Hudson River) Cost: Free
On top of getting to watch movies overlooking Hudson River on beautiful summer nights, the other thing I like about River Flicks is that every year they pick a central theme for their screenings. This year's they "know what you did last summer" and screen films released in 2008. Tonight Carrie comes to the big screen in the Sex and The City movie.
Date: Wednesday, August 12th Time: 8:00pm - 9:00pm Location: Black Bear Lodge (274 3rd Ave) and Whisky River (575 2nd Ave) Cost: Free with RSVP, see below
What better way to wind down after work with 9 of your closest friends than with a nice hour of free bud and bud light drafts (not the coincidental Budweiser theme on the site this week... and why no Bud Ale?) Anyway, just RSVP here with 10 names and then swing by either Black Bear Lodge or Whiskey River for a free happy hour. This is going down every Wednesday from 8-9 and again on Saturdays from 8:30-9:30.
Date: Thursday, August 13th Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Location: 3rd Ward 195 Morgan Ave, Bushwick) Cost: Free with RSVP
The folks from WWKSF are back to wow us again with their brilliant renderings of memes, pop culture and the internet! They will present an evening of works including The Hannah Complex (Yes. Hannah as is in Montana), a shorter, updated, but still awesome MemeFactory and the premiere of two brand spanking new video pieces. This is the one event capable of bringing belly laughs AND increased brain capacity. More info here.
The Hannah Complex
A hillarious performance piece about reality, and the ways in which we, as members of it, are able to interact with and even control it. It sounds complicated, we know, but don’t worry - it involves Hannah Montana. The Hannah Complex explains why it is certain images seek to replicate themselves endlessly, and why some of us are capable of being at once ourselves and also … well … anyone else.
MemeFactory
In true 3-dudes-3-projectors fashion, WWKSF present a shortened but by no means less complete MemeFactory Lecture, covering all the internet culture you may have missed in the last 4 and a half months. And we promise - there's been alot.
Videos
New News, a video piece for an ensemble of vocalists, constructs a caricature of modern mainstream media by using the content of spam emails as leading news stories. Loan Words, a video piece for infographics with voice over, offers suggestions for words that might replace all those in English which are borrowed from other languages.
Date: Thursday, August 13th Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm Location:Marcus Garvey Park (Madison Ave & E120th St) Cost: Free
R&B singer Joe has had a remarkable career, having sold over eleven million albums worldwide. The son of two preachers, Joe grew up in the church playing guitar and eventually directing the choir. Citing early influences such as gospel stars Winans, Commissioned, and Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Joe grew up to love secular styles of music too, including Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Bobby Brown, and Keith Sweat. In 2000, Joe released his break-out, multi-platinum album My Name is Joe, forever securing his place among the finest in R&B history.
Date: Thursday, August 13th Time: 7:00pm Location: Idlewild Books (12 West 19th St., near 5th Avenue) Cost: Free
"This captivating evening will showcase a short reading by author Thomas Hollowell from his new book 'Allah's Garden,' a riveting true story focusing on a Moroccan doctor's 25-year detainment by militants in the Sahara Desert. The story is interwoven with the author's own Moroccan adventures. Complimentary wine provided by Shark Trust Wines, along with Moroccan tea and cookies, will be served. Meet and mingle with the author along with members of the NYC Arabic Language & Culture Club. Plus, guests have the chance to win signed copies of the book, Idlewild gift cards, and can also buy a signed copy of "Allah's Garden" to enter the grand prize drawing: a "Morocco Trip Sweepstakes" (awarded on January 1, 2010) for a private 10-night trip for two to Morocco!"
Date: Thursday, August 13th Time: 7:30pm Location: Asser Levy/Seaside Park (West 5th Street and Surf Avenue, Coney Island/Brighton Beach) Cost: Free
The girls are rocking the tonight at Seaside Summer Concert Series in Coney Island. Check out Blondie, Pat Benatar and The Donnas all take to the stage tonight. The public is encouraged to bring their own chairs. A limited amount of $5 rental chairs are available on a first-come first-served basis.
Date: Thursday, August 13th Time: 7:30pm Location: The Change you want to See (84 Havemeyer St, at Metropolitan Ave, W'burg) Cost: Free
"The number of mobile phone users is expected to exceed the 4 billion mark by the end of this year – that’s more than two thirds of the world’s population. And the number of text messages is expected to reach a whopping 1.8 trillion in 2010. From the U.S. to Moldova to Iran to Uganda cell phones have facilitated all kinds of activism. While mobile phones bring many benefits to social movements, it is important to be aware of the digital data trails they leave behind." Join Oli from cryptoSMS tonight to learn about text message encrpytion and paticipate in a hands on workshop to install the encryption software on your cell phones, initialize it, exchange keys, and send encrypted SMS messages.
ABOUT CryptoSMS
CryptoSMS.org is a GPL (general public license) open source application for cell phones running J2ME (Java for mobiles). It runs on a lot of phones. CryptoSMS provides public/private key encryption, key generation and key management. It sends and receives encrypted SMS and public keys, encrypts and de-encrypts files, offers key verification via fingerprints and provides a secure login.
CryptoSMS is based on encryption with elliptic curves, which is a modern solution for encryption with small and/or embedded devices. Elliptic curve encryption provides good performance and has low memory requirements. It encrypts only the contents of the messages, but does not in any way encrypt or scramble the identities of the sender or recipients. It is not an anonymizer -- it does not hide the device's id/number from where the SMS comes and where it goes to.
http://cryptosms.org
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Oli has been involved with the CryptoSMS.org project since its inception, and mainly keeps the project organized, does the communication work and strongly enforces the support of many languages in the CryptoSMS.org user interface. At the moment he is traveling to a couple of global cities to conduct research on mobile media and dataveillance, interviewing participants in social movements, hackers and artists about their use of mobile media. He is based in Hamburg, where he suffers from bad weather but enjoys people and culture.
Date: Friday, August 14th - 16th Time: 3:00pm - 7:00pm (August 15 and 16; 11:00am – 7:00pm) Location: Brooklyn Bridge Park, (Pier 5 at Furman and Joralemon Sts) Cost: Free
"Brooklyn Bridge Park welcomes the Waterpod to Pier 5! For the next two weeks, the Waterpod will be docked at the pier, hosting events to further the artistic, ecological, scientific, and cultural richness of New York. The Waterpod is a floating sculptural living space designed as a new eco-residence for community and artist activity, including eco-initiatives such as increasing public awareness of water and fresh water consumption." The pod is open to the public all weekend long. More info here.
Date: Friday, August 14th Time: 6:30pm - 9:30pm Location: Astoria Park (take the N,W to Ditmars Blvd.) Cost: Free
We Are Not For Sale hosts a free film screening of Not For Sale, a documentary on child trafficing, in Astoria Park tonight. The movie will begin at dusk and prior to the movie there will be live music, art displays, and local nonprofits that are at the forefront of combating human trafficking in the U.S. and abroad. There is an optional RSVP here
Two exceptional evenings of dance are on hand as the critically acclaimed ballet company Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company premieres a new work commissioned by City Parks Foundation. Performing alongside the dancers will be popular singer/songwriter Martha Wainwright, who has written an original, fifteen minute score for these two special performances that close out the SummerStage series. More info below.
Internationally acclaimed choreographer Christopher Wheeldon is Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company. A former dancer with The Royal Ballet and soloist with New York City Ballet (where he served as Resident Choreographer from 2001 to 2008), Wheeldon founded Morphoses in 2007 with the goal of introducing a new spirit of innovation to classical ballet by fostering collaboration among choreographers, dancers, visual artists, designers, composers, and others who can bring new life and perspective to the dance. The company has since gone on to receive rave reviews, making Christopher Wheeldon one of the most in-demand choreographers working in dance today.
Since Martha Wainwright’s eponymous debut, the sharp-witted songbird has been keeping busy through international touring, earning numerous accolades and awards. She has made music with Pete Townshend, Damon Albarn’s Africa Express, Antony Hegarty, and Snow Patrol, with whom she scored a Top 20 hit. She’s covered Leonard Cohen songs for the film I’m Your Man, performed Bertold Brecht and Kurt Weill’s “Seven Deadly Sins” with the Royal Ballet Company, and sang Pink Floyd’s “See Emily Play,” with her mother at a Syd Barrett tribute.
Date: Friday, August 14th Time: 9:00pm Location: The Phillip Coltoff Center of The Children's Aid Society (219 Sullivan St) Cost: Free
PigSpigot.com, a user-generated greeting card site that caters to the hip and edgy tastes of 18-34 year olds is hosting a free launch party in the West Village. There is going to be live music by Derek James, DJ Angola will also be spinning. There is going to be an open bar and free fro-yo thanks to Eskimix. Click here for all the details and to register.
Date: Friday, August 14th Time: 10:00pm - 4:00 am Location: Otto's Shrunken Head (538 East 14th St. btw. Ave A & B) Cost: Free
2 Dj's, 3 Bands, and alot of Tiki Drinks.... RockEM SockEM DJ UltraV and Omega's monthly mix of Indie, Electro, New Wave celebrates 6 years of going strong. The party will be at their mainstay, Otto's Shrunken Head, and feature live music by Josey, Uncle Monsterface and Ruffian Arms. Plus, guest DJ Reybee throwing down a great mix of indie, pop, rock. There will be rockem sockem gift bags and musical giveaways by Reybee productions. He reps some great band so be prepared for yummy swag. Super old flyer.
Date: Saturdays, August 15th & 22nd Time: 7:00am - 1:00pm Location: Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park along 4th/Park Ave Cost: Free
Summer Streets is back! Enjoy 6.9 miles of car-free streets connecting the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park right through the heart of Manhattan. These are your streets, and this is your chance to play. Summer Streets gives everyone a chance to partake in summertime fun and merriment without having to spend a single penny. So whether you’re Cycling, Walking, Running, Hopping, Skipping, or just resting and relaxing with friends and families, come out and enjoy Summer Streets and see your streets in a whole new way. The organizing agency for Summer Streets is the New York City Department of Transportation. There's a map and a whole list of events on the official site.
Date: Saturdays, August 15th Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm Location: Open Source Gallery (255 17th St., btw 5th and 6th Ave.) Cost: Free
Urban Plant Research is a collaboration between Brooklyn-based artist Sara Bouchard and Berlin-based artist Leslie Kuo dedicated to investigating the lives of plants in urban areas. The artists will work in residence, collecting and presenting their field notes in the form of photographs, text and drawings and inviting all to participate in a series of informal events in and around the gallery. Visit Open Source Gallery’s website for the complete event listing.
Date: Sundays through August 30th Time: gates at 2pm Location: Kent St btw. N 8th and N 9th Sts on the East River, W'burg) Cost: Free
With the McCarren Pool under renovations, the Williamsburg Pool Parties move to the waterfront this summer with seven weeks of free shows. In edition to the free music there will be "DODGEBALL, basketball, DJ’s, bands, burgers the works!" for you to enjoy. Afterparties at Public Assembly. This week features Del tha Funky Homosapien, Gravytrain!!!, DD/MM/YYYY, and Kenan Bell. Full line-up below. All ages!
Sunday, July 19 — Dirty Projectors, Magnolia Electric Co., Crystal Antlers*
Sunday, July 26 — And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, The Black Lips, Health, Grupo Fantasmo*
Sunday, Aug 02 — Round Robin show w/ Deerhunter, No Age and Dan Deacon*
Sunday, Aug 09 — Simian Mobile Disco (DJ set), Fiery Furnaces, Dark Meat, The Netherlands*
Sunday, Aug 16 — Del tha Funky Homosapien, Gravytrain!!!, DD/MM/YYYY, Kenan Bell*
Sunday, Aug 23 — Girl Talk, Max Tundra, Wiz Khalifa*
Sunday, Aug 30 — Beach House & Grizzly Bear*
* A free Pool Party: Gates open at 2pm for all shows. For eight consecutive Sundays in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (July 12th — August 30th), party-goers will be regaled with on-site dodgeball, three-on-three basketball, and, oh yeah, rip-roarin' live performances on the main stage.
Date: Monday, August 17th - Saturday, August 23rd Time: Mon - Fri 12:00pm - 2:00pm; Sat & Sun 1:00pm - 4:00pm Location: Mon - Fri Chase Plaza; Sat & Sun The Lawn at Battery Park Cost: Free
"Battery Dance Company presents the 28th Annual Downtown Dance Festival, a free seven day celebration of ethnic, classical, and contemporary dance performances from around the world. The festival will take place from August 17th - 22nd at two sites in Lower Manhattan: Chase Plaza and Battery Park. This year we are welcoming the return of the popular audience participation program, Everybody Dance Now!, now in its third year. At the end of each festival day, audiences will be invited to get up on stage with a company to learn and perform choreography. Battery Dance is also proud to announce our second year partnering with the Indo-American Arts Council, who will be curating a full day of Indian Dance at Chase Plaza as part of their Erasing Borders festival." More info here.
Date: Mondays Time: 6:00pm - close Location: Ding Dong Lounge (929 Columbus Ave at 106th St.) Cost: Free
"DJ Mayonnaise Hands and Johnny Xacto spin vinyl every Monday. Dropping punk, new wave, dubstep, funk and house and making it work. We also improvise comedy over the PA with the customers and people who make requests." More info.
Date: Monday, August 17th Time: 6:30pm Location: Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker St.) Cost: Free with RSVP Open Bar: Vodka 6:30pm - 7:30pm
"Jay Reatard's ascent to music blog fame has been spurred on by his Matador deal, hilarious stream of tweet insults, and occasional on-stage punches. This listening party for Jay's latest release, "Watch Me Fall," also features a screening of 'Waiting For Something,' a documentary about Reatardness. Other Music will be there selling pre-release CDs and LPs. RSVP or die." (From My Open Bar)
Date: Monday, August 17th Time: Films begin at Dusk (about 8ish) Location: Bryant Park (40th and 42nd Sts & Fifth and Sixth Aves) Cost: Free
Bring your picnic baskets and pull up some lawn for an evening under the stars with the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival. Every Monday throughout the summer HBO dusts off some classic movies and plays them on a big screen in Bryant Park. Tonight is the film of the season at they will showing Close Encounters of the Third Kind. "Steven Spielberg’s scifi blockbuster stars Richard Dreyfuss as a regular guy whose strange obsessions and journey turn fantastically clear at Devil’s Tower. Co-stars Teri Garr as his frustrated wife, and Francois Truffaut, the legendary French director, as a scientist seeking communication with extraterrestrials."
Date: Monday, August 17th Time: 8:30pm Location: India Street Mural (West Street and India Street, Greenpoint) Cost: Free
Join the North Brooklyn Public Art Coalition as they present Moviehouse on India Street beginning on Monday, August 17 and continuing Mondays through September 21st. ver four nights the India Street mural will feature projections by filmmakers, animators, and documentarians. Over four nights the India Street mural will feature projections by filmmakers, animators, and documentarians. The new-painted mural will literally come alive on September 8 when six local filmmakers present the movies they created to capture the artists as they spent the month of June turning a common white wall into a master work of public art. Today, NYC’s funniest and finest animators will make animals talk, dolls love, and buildings walk. It’s all projected on the mural at the end of India Street in a free interactive environment with a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline.
Date: Monday, August 17th Time: 9:30pm Location: Kenny's Trattoria, back garden (7 Withers St and Union St, Williamsburg) Cost: Free with RSVP
"Neighborhood Watch is a monthly outdoor screening series featuring the works of talented individuals in film/video and comedy. The show primarily focuses on shorter works and local Brooklyn artists culture - It's smart, subtle, not so subtle, and at times dangerously insane!"
Date: Tuesday, August 18th Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm Location: The Art of Living Center (127 W 25th St. btwn 7th and 6th Ave, 3rd Fl.) Cost: Free
"This Mind-Body Wellness Program is a free community service initiative by the non-profit Art of Living Foundation that provides practical tools that participants can use to live healthy and stress-free lives... Come and do some Yoga, learn two simple yet powerful breathing-techniques, experience a guided meditation, and learn about the ancient science of your mind – all of which will dissolve your stress and leave you with a smile!"
Date: Tuesday, August 18th - Sept. 5th Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Location: AES Gallery (44-02 23rd St, Long Island City) Cost: Free with RSVP
Photographer Julian Goldstein and sculptor Kat Kohl express a shared interest in interpreting their immediate surroundings through their works. Both employ light and shadow forms through different mediums while introducing the viewer to their fresh understanding of the world. Tonight they open a group show at the AES Gallery.
Concentrating on the use of 35mm film, Julian presents to the public the surroundings of his New York. His photographs have a dynamic range that reach from the streets all the way to the personal interactions we have on and off them. While presenting New York's grittiness, he aims to show the viewer the city in a new light. Kat Kohl explores the shaping of light and shadow through the use of architectonic forms. As morning slowly turns to dusk, the viewer witnesses the gradual transformation of the sculpture over the course of a day, and again in the evening as artificial light progressively illuminates the work. As shapes are reflected in the piece and as its shadows are distorted on the sculpture and its surroundings, the physical boundaries of the piece become blurred.
Date: Tuesdays starting August 18th Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Location: Country Club (248 W 14th St bet 7th ave and 8th ave) Cost: Free with RSVP
Next Generation Spotlight (NGS) is an exclusive weekly event that features a blend of cutting edge artists who are carving their own entity in the world of entertainment. As the music industry continues to evolve wit the search for new talent, NGS embraces and salutes the needs of the music culture demands. (NOTE: Country Club can be a bit on the fashionable side so fix up and check the not-so-bad dress code below).
If you love music Come listen to the electrifying keyboard melodies. The hard rhythms of a double bass and drum.Enjoy unique performances for the industry's next big star.
Come network with singers, rappers, record labels executives , socialistas, songwriters, fashion designers, business owners, bloggers, publicists, A&RS , producers, enetertainers and many more.
Live Taping!!! Live music from World Famous Jazz Band. Music by Rotatings djs and Hot 97 djs. Doors open at 7PM. Drink specials All night. Food menu available
Dress code Ladies: Fashionable and Chic. For guys: No Fitted hats, Boots, hoodies, Overly Baggy Clothing or Athletic wear
Date: Tuesday, August 18th Time: 7:00pm Location: Union Square Barnes & Noble (33 East 17th Street) Cost: Free
Barnes & Noble’s acclaimed “Upstairs at the Square” series continues its celebration of three years of innovative and eclectic events with Regina Spektor and Kurt Andersen. Regina Spektor is a Soviet-born American singer-songwriter and pianist. Her last album Begin to Hope was a huge success and she released her latest album Far in June. Kurt Andersen is the author of the bestselling novels Heyday and Turn of the Century. He is also the host and co-creator of the public radio program Studio 360 and a contributor to Vanity Fair. He is here today to discuss his new book, Reset.
Date: Tuesday, August 18th Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm Location: Ben Sherman Store (95 Spring St) Cost: Free with RSVP
To celebrate the release of long time music legends, Love and Rockets, and their new tribute album, the Musebox and Swing House have put together an official tribute show tonight. The party features a live performance by Frankenstein 3000, plus David Johansen (NY Dolls) and other surprise guests expected to jam!!! DJs Stabwalk (Sirius XM Radio) and Ultragrrl hold down the tables.
Date: Wednesday, August 19th Time: 6:00pm - 10:00pm Location: East River Bandshell (Cherry St and FDR Drive) Cost: Free
Join Rec Youth - A Teen Outreach and Media Arts Educational Program - in breaking out of the summer heat with Rec Youth - Breakout At the Bandshell. The Festivities include dance performances, A Michael Jackson Tribute, singers, spoken word, photography, and screenings of independent films created by young and aspiring film makers. All Ages.
Date: Wednesday, August 19th Time: 6:00pm Location: Peoples Improv Theater (154 West 29th Cost: Free
Join The Pit every Wednesday for their Recession Special comedy night. The Super Free Wednesday all-star lineup includes: Party Lights and Halfbear with Ali Farahnakian (6pm), Tomahawk and The Wilhelm (7pm), Mrs. Esterhouse and Big Black Car (8pm), Punch and The Baldwins (9pm) and Halfbear and The Faculty (10pm). Stay late and join them for Improdome, an open jam improv session where all are encouraged to take the stage.
Date: Wednesday, August 19th Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm Location: Hope Lounge (10 Hope St off Havemeyer, W'burg Cost: Free Entry
The Finger On The Pulse djs throw together a midweek BBQ for you today in lovely W'burg. They'll be spinning some sunset cosmic disco and assorted other electronic melodies alongside guests DJs Gabriel Roth (Dap Kings) & The Honeydripper (Daptone Records) while you chomp down on food ($5 plates). Its free to get in and the menu is below. 21+
Date: Wednesday, August 19th Time: 7:30pm Location: Bar A (see note) Cost: Free
Inner Monologues is a storytelling event in the East Village. Each show centers around an assigned theme, and the performers range from writers, comedians, to musicians. Check their site for more info. (NOTE: I've never heard of Bar A [except the one in Belmar NJ] so this is probably at Bar on A but I'm going with what we were sent).
Date: Wednesday, August 19th Time: Dusk (around 8:30pm) Location: Pier 54 (14th St. and the Hudson River) Cost: Free
On top of getting to watch movies overlooking Hudson River on beautiful summer nights, the other thing I like about River Flicks is that every year they pick a central theme for their screenings. This year's they "know what you did last summer" and screen films released in 2008. Tonight is the finale of this summer's series, and what better way to go out than with last year's stoner classic Pineapple Express.
Date: Wednesday, August 19th Time: 8:00pm Location: Glasslands Gallery (289 Kent Ave., W'burg) Cost: Free
Tonight at Glasslands, "'Radio Star', written and performed by Tanya O'Debra with original music by Andrew Mauriello, is a 1940's-style radio detective spoof. Miss O'Debra will lend her voice to roughly ten different characters while simultaneously staging silly sound effects. Watch (but mainly listen) as Nick McKittrick: Private Dick hilariously solves a murder in "The Case of the Long-Distance Lover". Miss O'Debra will be bringing this show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!!! Yay!!! Please come and give her your opinion."
Date: Wednesday, August 19th Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm Location: Dutch Kills Gallery (37-24 24th St. Suite 402, LIC) Cost: Free
"Join Dutch Kills Gallery for their inaugural monthly video jam open to all who show up with their own projector." Honestly that's all we know. But a bunch of people, with a bunch of projectors, sounds like it could be fun.
This week Kings County Cinema Society is back with a Coney Island Extravaganza. They've lined
up a slate of films about Coney Island, USA, a national treasure currently being threatened by rezoning plans, over-development, and 4 high-rise condos. There will be screenings of recent local work, a short film to get you up to speed on recent news from the battle to save local waterfront businesses, and an old-school Coney classic short - The Release of Jan by Jordan Roettele.
Date: Thursday, August 30th Time: 7:30pm Location: Asser Levy/Seaside Park (West 5th Street and Surf Avenue, Coney Island/Brighton Beach) Cost: Free
Tonight is Salsa by the Seas night at the Seaside Summer Concert Series in Coney Island. Check out Victor Mamuelle, Tego Calderone, Arcangel and The Maria Torres Dancers. The public is encouraged to bring their own chairs. A limited amount of $5 rental chairs are available on a first-come first-served basis. Full info here.
Date: Thursday, August 30th Time: 6:15pm (doors) Location: The ImaginAsian, 239 East 59th Street (Bet. 2nd & 3rd Ave.) Cost: Free with RSVP
"'Detroit Metal City' (DMC) is a cartoon series started in 2005 on Young Animal magazine. It soon earned a cult following for its eccentric setting, distinctive characters, radical story and the funniest jokes. As soon as it was released as a comic book, it quickly sold out at every bookstore, and those who couldn't get the comic were called 'DMC refugee' ... In the movie, Gene Simmons of KISS plays the 'legendary and world-renowned' Death Metal artist, 'Jack IL Dark' who competes with DMC on stage. The final live performance scene is not only the craziest spectacle and the climax of the story, but a collaboration any Death Metal music fan would crave to witness!" Full info here.
"Five of New York City's finest young comics perform for free. It will be an evening you will never forget. Featuring Kumail Nanjiani, Chesley Calloway, Jessie Geller, Matt Wittman, Zach Sims. Hosted by Sean Patton w/ tunes by DJ Whitey White White.
Date: Thursday, August 20th Time: 8:30pm Location: Gantry Plaza State Park (49th Avenue and Center Blvd, Long Island City) Cost: Free
Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City has found a way to beat the heat. Ok, well not really (its crazy hot out there!) But they are offering up movies with a chill. This week the ice skating classic, The Cutting Edge. On August 20th, Ice Station Zebra and on August 27th, Snow Dogs.
Date: Fridays, August 21st Time: 5:30pm - 7:00pm Location: Bryant Park (6th Avenue and 41st Street) Cost: Free
art.party.theater.company turns the lawn ofBryant Park into its canvas today for Bryant in the Park, a performance event inspired by the nature poems of William Cullen Bryant, the park’s namesake. It is a unique theatrical garden party in the middle of Manhattan—filled with magic and whimsy. The piece consists of a dozen members of the exclusive and imaginary Bryant Park Croquet Society, dressed in white, playing croquet on Bryant Park's main lawn. Sipping tea and gossiping, they amuse the crowd that gathers around. Suddenly, as if possessed by a spirit, they burst into William Cullen Bryant’s odes to nature. Slowly, they begin to transform into nature lovers, losing the urbane veneer of sophistication and civility. Finally, they surrender to summer and its wild power through dance, music, and movement. Suggested Dress Code: Your Most Sophisticated Croquet Whites
Date: Friday, August 21st (more datesd below Time: 6:00pm Location: "The Pit" in Sara D. Roosevelt Park (Broome St. bet Chrystie and Forsythe) Cost: Free to watch
Circle Rules Football has been getting quite a big of press lately. Created in 2006 as an experimental theater project at NYU, the sport has gone on to be played internationally and even through leagues here on its home turf. Come watch this growing new sport as the best Circle Rules players in the world compete for glory and recognition over the next two weeks as part of NYC Fringe AlFresco! Additional dates below.
With Performances and special guest artist appearances by:
Manhattan Samba
The Hey! & The Scott Riehs Alien Dance Team
Nepperhan Youth Corps
DJ Funktron
Jo Lampert
Akil Davis
and more!
Games will be played at "The Pit" in Sara D. Roosevelt Park @ Broome St. between Chystie and Forsyth, Manhattan, NY.
Friday, August 21st 6pm: Legends of Circle Rules vs Rookie All Stars
Sunday, August 23rd 2pm: World Cup Final. CANADA vs USA
Friday, August 28th 6pm: Regional All-Star match. East vs West
Saturday, August 29th 6pm: League Championship
Matches will last 90 minutes with halftime shows, play by play commentary, mascots, and fanfare.
Rockstar Theo Kogan of Theo and the Skyscrapers (and the Lunachicks!) spins her favorite Freestyle play list. Bring your sweetie to Babeland for a night of frugal flirting, dancing, and check out the Freestyle, our new wireless, music-responsive vibe. We’re serving free drinks and snacks, proper party-style. The first 25 couples receive a free gift bag with Babeland goodies, deals on purchases and discount tickets to this evening’s midnight movie at Sunshine Cinema. "
Date: Friday, August 21st & Saturday, August 22nd Time: 8:00pm - midnight Location: The Creek (10-93 Jackson Ave, LIC) Cost: Free
Sketch In The City is a completely free sketch comedy festival hosted by the
new sketch comedy site SketchInTheCity.com and features the top sketch acts in New York. The festival kicks off tonight with a solo sketch performance from Kevin Allison of
MTV's The State and continues tomorrow night. 21+
Date: Friday, August 21st Time: 9:30pm Location: Rubin Museum of Art (150 West 17th Street btw 6th and 7th Ave) Cost: Free with a $7 drink minimum
The The Rubin Museum of Art's longstanding Friday film series continues tonight with the classic Alice in Wonderland. "The imaginative and surreal Disney adaptation of the Lewis Carroll classic takes the viewer down the Rabbit Hole into the realm of Wonderland. Alice (voiced by Kathryn Beaumont) has all the anticipated experiences: shrinking and growing, meeting the White Rabbit, having tea with the Mad Hatter, and, of course, the Queen." It is free admission but there is a $7 drink minimum.
Date: Friday, August 21st Time: 10:00pm Location: Webster Hall (125 East 11th St bet 3rd and 4th Ave) Cost:$1 before midnight with RSVP
Girls & Boys continue their takeover of Webster Hall Fridays with another top night of indie-rock fueled electro. This week its Does it Offend You, Yeah? rockin a DJ set and France's Teenage Bad Girl playing, er, french electro. 19+
Date: Friday, August 21st Time: 10:00pm Location: Public Assembly (70 N 6th St, W'burg) Cost: Free with RSVP
"NLBKLYN presents the One-718 Jump off, an event that "celebrates the digital age by honoring bloggers, facebookers, E-blasters, myspace friends, Twitter heads and any other forms of digital communications and entertainment," tonight at Public Assembly. Disko D and Rlfnowhere host with DJs Tony Tantrum, DJ Brainchild and DJ Tara holding down the tables all night. There are photos by Rule4080, free giveaways and more. 21+
Date: Saturday, August 22nd Time: 12:00pm - 5:00pm Location: 1699 Lexington between 106 and 107 (Downstairs) Cost: Free
The Gentrification Film Festival goes down today. A series of engaging and thought-provoking documentary films exploring the effects of gentrification in modern day New York City. Presented as part of Art for Change's Hacia Afuera Arts Festival
Date: Sunday, August 23rd Time: 12:30pm Location: The Suffolk (107 Suffolk Street) Cost: Free Open Bar: PBR, 3-4
Held on a Man-made beach in back of the Suffolk (beach bar), this is a new weekly Saturday afternoon Brunch that offers: Free all you can eat BBQ from 3pm-6pm & an open PBR bar from 3pm-4pm. Its a great urban substitute where folks can lounge and enjoy some bbq without leaing the city during the summer. On the menu this week is hamburgers, hotdogs & Veggie burgers.
Date: Saturday, August 22nd Time: 3:00pm Location: Fort Green Park Cost: Free
"The New York Writers Coalition (NYWC) is proud to announce the return of its popular Fort Greene Park Summer Literary Festival. The 5th annual free outdoor reading will be held on August 22nd at 3:00 PM. This year features young writers, ages seven to eighteen reading alongside Colson Whitehead, Touré, and Nelson George. This exciting event brings several generations of writers together to build on the rich literary traditions of the neighborhoods surrounding beautiful Fort Greene Park. The Festival celebrates the end of a free summer-long series of creative writing workshops held in the historic Fort Greene Park..."
Date: Saturday, August 22nd - 23rd Time: 4:00pm Location: Fort Greene Park Cost: Free
The Curious Frog Theatre Company presents six weekends of shows in the park for your late-summer Shakespeare fix. They'll be touring Romeo and Juliet (Saturdays) along with Aristophanes' Plutus (Sundays) through all five boroughs with free outdoor performances. "With its Shakespeare in the Parks series, Curious Frog seeks to overcome cultural isolation and disconnect in today's world by bringing timeless drama to audiences unable to attend more traditional venues in the city. Adding an ancient Greek comedy to the mix evolves this mission. 'We wanted to offer a rarely done Greek comedy, done in the outdoors, to continue to bring classics to neighborhoods all around the city,' said Renee Rodriguez, Curious Frog's Executive Director."
8/15 & 8/16 @ Astoria Park, Queens -- 19th & Ditmars, N/W train to Ditmars
8/22 & 8/23 @ Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn -- off Myrtle Avenue, A/C to Lafayette; G to Fulton; D, M, N, Q, R to DeKalb; 2, 3, 4, 5 to Atlantic or Nevins
8/29 & 8/30 @ Pelham Bay Park, Bronx -- South Meadow Picnic Area, IRT No. 6 to Pelham Bay Park
9/5 & 9/6 @ Inwood Hill Park, Upper Manhattan -- 207th & Seaman, A to 207th
9/12 & 9/13 @ Prospect Park, Brooklyn -- 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza; F to 15th/Prospect Park West; B/Q to Prospect Park
9/19 @ Queensbridge Park, Queens -- just north of the 59th Street Bridge right on the river; F to 21st Street and then head west on 41st Avenue
9/20 @ Astoria Park, Queens -- 19th & Ditmars, N/W train to Ditmars
Date: Saturday, August 22nd & Sunday August 23rd Time: 12:00pm - 5:00pm Location: 104th Street and Lexington Cost: Free
"Art for Change presents Hacia Afuera, a weekend long festival in the vibrant streets of Spanish Harlem. Enjoy live music, art exhibitions, mural making, childrens activities, creative workshops, yoga, belly dancing, face painting, open mic, graffiti demo, great food and lots more! Live performance by The Rude Mechanical Orchestra, Ben Carroll, Exit She Calls, Lily Vasquez, DJ Cut Bird." (Note: Stricken arts no longer able to perform)
Date: Sunday, August 23rd Time: 12:00pm - 6:00pm Location:Littlefield (622 Degraw Street btwn 3rd and 4th Aves, BK) Cost: Free
"Hot Pot Brooklyn presents 7 Sundays, a multiform art and performance benefit series at Littlefield in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Headlining the performance today is Brooklyn-based delta blues-alt country-indie band, The Woes. Other acts include Indrajit Roy-Chowdhury performing a classical vocal + sitar set, musician and DJ Janine Deval Gay (Frenetik), and Phil Tambakis & Tara Baltazar. Former Top Chef contestant, Josie Smith-Malave (NYY Steak) again heats up Hot Pot’s all-you-can-eat brunch and re-introduces her new line of Global Soul Condiments. Like every event of the series, this Sunday is free and all received donations go towards building Hot Pot—a cubicle-free, communal work + play creation space for independents and freelancers in the downtown Brooklyn area. 7 Sundays is kid- and small dog-friendly.
Date: Sunday, August 23rd Time: 1:00pm - 10:00pm Location: Water Taxi Beach (2 Bordon Ave, LIC) Cost: Free
NYC House music legend Jellybean Benitez brings his feel vibes (a la their Ain't Nothin' But a House Party events) to the Water Taxi Beach today. This is a great, rare chance to catch a classic house spinner on the waterfront. 21+
Date: Sunday, August 23rd Time: 2:00pm - 9:00pm Location: Pier 54 (W.14th St. and the Hudson River) Cost: Free
New Yorkers have quite a love for their BBQ. Often times, however, the joy if overshadowed by sweltering summer heat while standing in long lines and then being carraled into little beer drinking areas (ahem, Big Apple BBQ). Hudson River Park's annual Blues and BBQ Festival solves all those problem. There may still be lines (note that food is NOT free) but with our nice pre-fall like weather, standing around with your friends and listening to some classic blues doesn't seem so bad. BBQ comes by the way of Brother Jimmy’s BBQ, Dallas Jones Bar-B-Que, Dinosaur Bar B Que and Mara’s Homemade. All ages and the music schedule is below.
Date: Sundays through August 30th Time: gates at 2pm Location: Kent St btw. N 8th and N 9th Sts on the East River, W'burg) Cost: Free
With the McCarren Pool under renovations, the Williamsburg Pool Parties move to the waterfront this summer with seven weeks of free shows. In edition to the free music there will be "DODGEBALL, basketball, DJ’s, bands, burgers the works!" for you to enjoy. Afterparties at Public Assembly. This week features Girl Talk, Max Tundra, and Wiz Khalifa. Full line-up below. All ages!
Sunday, July 19 — Dirty Projectors, Magnolia Electric Co., Crystal Antlers*
Sunday, July 26 — And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, The Black Lips, Health, Grupo Fantasmo*
Sunday, Aug 02 — Round Robin show w/ Deerhunter, No Age and Dan Deacon*
Sunday, Aug 09 — Simian Mobile Disco (DJ set), Fiery Furnaces, Dark Meat, The Netherlands*
Sunday, Aug 16 — Del tha Funky Homosapien, Gravytrain!!!, DD/MM/YYYY, Kenan Bell*
Sunday, Aug 23 — Girl Talk, Max Tundra, Wiz Khalifa*
Sunday, Aug 30 — Beach House & Grizzly Bear*
* A free Pool Party: Gates open at 2pm for all shows. For eight consecutive Sundays in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (July 12th — August 30th), party-goers will be regaled with on-site dodgeball, three-on-three basketball, and, oh yeah, rip-roarin' live performances on the main stage.
Date: Sunday, August 23rd Time: 4:00pm - 9:00pm Location: 3rd Ward (195 Morgan Ave., Bushwick) Cost: Free Entry with RSVP Open Bar: Colt 45, 4-5
Join the 3rd Ward crew for an afternoon of Bluegrass music and BBQ! Featuring cheap eats by Chef Jeremy Spector and local Bluegrass bands Melody Allegra & Friends, The Strung Out String Band, Jefferson Hamer & Stephanie Coleman and Free Advice. Bluegrass musicians come armed and ready to play! At 8 p the stage becomes an open blugrass jam hosted by Melody Allegra. They'll also have apple bobbing, horseshoes and everybody's favorite - the photobooth! Plus, Band of Bicycles will be on hand with bike blended libations and song.
Date: Sunday, August 23rd Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Location: Arlo & Esme (42 East 1st Street btwn 1st and 2nd Aves) Cost: Free
"Buns and Puns this week has an All Star Line Up featuring one of the Hottest Rising Comic Stars: Kumail Nanjiani, He has done SNL, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Montreal Comedy Festival, and is stopping by Arlo and Esme's for tonight's show before he does Letterman in October! As always free homemade buns by your Host Jonathan Powley and free jello shots!"
Date: Sunday August 23rd Time: 9:00pm Location: Black Bear Lodge (274 Third Avenue) Cost: Free
"Join us every Sunday at 9PM at Black Bear Lodge for Beer Bingo!! Get ready to laugh out loud and get your drink on while you win free drinks and shots! When certain numbers and letters are called, you take a drink of your beer! And, the first to get Bingo wins! Best, of all it’s FREE to play!!"
Date: Monday, August 24th Time: 7:30pm Location: Wingate Field (directions) Cost: Free
27 years ago, Brooklyn Borough president Marty Markowitz began the Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series to bring outdoor entertainment to the BK Masses. Tonight, the series concludes with Caribbean night featuring the Mighty Sparrow and dancehall king Sean Paul Machel Montano. All Ages. (NOTE: Sean Paul cancelled... see below)
Sean Paul was booked to appear and perform in Brooklyn, New York at the Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series on Monday, August 24. However, on the advise of his physician, he has been forced to cancel the scheduled appearance.
"I am really disappointed that I will not be able to appear", Sean Paul noted in a statement. Sean Paul has been on an extensive tour of the US in support of his forth album, Imperial Blaze. The promotional tour which has extended for several weeks has taken him across the country for several interviews and appearances. His extensive work scheduled is thought to contribute to the throat problem which led to the cancellation.
"I've been working very hard these last few weeks, to deliver the album to my fans. I was looking forward to performing the new tracks in Brooklyn," Sean Paul added. The artiste will be seeking further treatment in the hopes of resuming the promotional tour in short order.
Fellow Caribbean superstar and friend, Machel Montano and his band will be performing in Brooklyn in place of Sean Paul who is expected to return to the MLK Concert Series stage next year.
Date: Monday, August 24th Time: 10:00pm Location: Zebulon (258 Wythe Ave at Metropolitan Ave, W'burg) Cost: Free, passed hat
"[Eyal] Maoz is a guitarist, bandleader and composer of great intensity and vision. Produced by Shanir Blumenkranz... his band Edom pushes Radical Jewish Culture to exciting new places with the addition of keyboard maniac Brian Marsella and Israeli drummer Yuval Lion. Tight, driving and intense, Hope and Destruction presents powerful Jewish rock instrumentals from a cutting edge guitarist who combines the harmonic lyricism of Bill Frisell with the angst and skronk of Marc Ribot."
Date: Tuesday, August 25th Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm Location: The Rope (415 Myrtle bet. Vanderbilt/Clinton) Cost: Free
I know it's not just me, I know that some of you people are gettin' old too. And you know what happens to old people, they become responsible and do things like save money and buy houses. If you are really like me, then you also have no clue about buying houses. And apparently there are a enough of us to warrant a monthly event called "Home Buying For Hipsters." Licensed Real Estate agents, Mortgage Brokers and Real Estate Attorneys show up and teach you the ins and outs of home buying, all while having one or two or several drinks to make the shock of it all a bit easier.
Date: Tuesday, August 25th Time: 7:00pm to sign up; 7:30pm - 9:00pm Location: Nowhere Bar (322 E 14th St. btwn 1st & 2nd Ave) Cost: Free
"Ding, Ding, Ding!!! It's Time For Round 3!!! Big Gay Spelling Bee! Bring your spelling skillz and your gayness and come down to Nowhere Bar!!! It's FREE! And Everyone is Welcome! Gay, Straight, Bi, Try, All the Sexually Confused! Big Time Prizes!!! Toys in Babeland!!! DVD collections!!! HOMOSEXUALITY!!!"
Date: Tuesday, August 25th Time: 7:30pm Location: Ochi's Lounge (353 West 14th Street, downstairs Comix Comedy Club) Cost: Free (one item min food or drink)
And who says ladies aren't funny? Tonight at Comix check out Rosie the Irreverent - An All Female Comedy Review featuring Leah Bonnema (WeTv, Serius XM Radio), Maggie Champagne (Bikini Bloodbath Movies series), Claudia Cogan (Here Tv, Collegehumor.com and Time Out NY's "Joke of the Year"), Margie Kept (Host for "Now We're Talking" and "Hold for Laughs") and Sara Courtney (Host for Alibi and Friday Night Live).
Date: Tuesday, August 25th Time: 8:00pm Location: Urban Outfitters (374 Ave. of the Americas at Waverly Place) Cost: Free
Early last year we wrote "All Amanda [Blank] needs is that one sugar-coated crossover hit before she become ubiquitous in dorms all over the country so catch her now before you have to fight frat boys off to get tickets." Well, it looks ike that time is upon us as the Philly-bred, rising indie-club star rides the wave of her debut album, I Love You straight to an Urban Outfitters instore performance tonight.
Date: Wednesday, August 26th Time: 7:30pm - midnight Location: Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street bet 3rd & 4th Ave) Cost: Free with RSVP
Amstel brings a little bit of Amsterdam to NYC tonight as The Bravery and DJ Clinton Sparks join them for a "unique nightclub experience fusing art, live music, dance and DJ's in true Amsterdam style." 21+ and list closes 24hrs before the event so get on it!
"The Alternate Routes were formed as an outgrowth of a meeting between songwriting partners Eric Donnelly (lead guitar) and Tim Warren (lead vocals, guitar) at Fairfield University in Connecticut. Expanding to a five-piece... The Alternate Routes return with their rock and roll grit, ghostly balladry and seasoned guitar rock anthems on their new sophomore release, A Sucker's Dream. Loosely based around a handful of themes--fortifying faith through adversity, holding onto hope as the dark horse--A Sucker's Dream builds on the gorgeous, melodic compositional work of the band's earlier works by adding decibels, power, vision and substantive ornamentation." More info. 21+
Date: Wednesday, August 26th Time: 10:00pm Location: Sutra (16 1st Ave bet. 1st and 2nd St) Cost: Free with RSVP Open Bar: vodka, 10:00pm - 11:00pm
The concept for Mixtape Riot! came from many nights of going out and always hearing the same shit no matter where you go. Seems like most people nowadays are only satisfied when they can sing along to a familiar tune. Mixtape Riot says just say no to boundries. At... [their] party, you can expect to hear old school [hip hop], new school [hip hop], top 40 [hip hop] and utterly obscure [hip hop] all in the mix together. No genre-specifications or pretentious DJs, just good music all night."
Date: Sunday, September 27th Time: 10:00am Location: Meet at Momofuku Bakery (207 2nd Ave, East 13th St.) Cost: Free, see below
This may take the cake for NYC walking tours. This is the 11th consecutive monthly tour of the city's neighborhood sweet spots. This walk will explore East Village which has 5 delicious denizens of dessert. The first stop offers banana cream pie, followed by black sesame ice cream, then on to a fabulous chocolate pudding, next up chocolate cupcakes, and our last course is pretzel covered chocolate with caramel. Tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours and the walking distance is about 1 mile. The desserts are free to drool over, but affordably priced for consumption. For more info on the Walking Tours site and be on the look-out for a tour guide in a red ball cap.
Additionally, Walking Tours Manhattan has used these free sugary treks to help raise money for Food Bank NYC. So, if you're feeling it, they ask that you donate $5 via PayPal through sales@walkingtoursmanhattan.com.
Date: Thursday, August 27th Time: 5:30pm Location: Matsuri at The Maritime Hotel (369 West 16th St.) Cost: Free
"Matsuri's celebrates Obon, the Japanese festival which honors family and the celebration of life. Obon has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori. Matsuri will host a special Obon Night on Thursday, August 27th with a special Japanese drum and dance performance by Taiko Masala at 10 pm. The event is free and open to the public!"
Date: Thursday, August 27th Time: 6:00pm - 11:00pm Location: Brooklyn Bridge Park (Water and Dock Streets, DUMBO) Cost: Free
"This summer sidle up, nab a patch of grass, and walk off with a night of fabulous entertainment without paying a red cent. It's the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy's tenth anniversary of our Movies With A View film series! Come down to enjoy one of the city's premiere outdoor film series with an eclectic line-up of films and breathtaking views of the NYC waterfront... DJ Oneman kick off the evening, tonight's feature film is Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands, and the short is I Am Not Obsessed
Date: Thursday, August 27th Time: 7:30pm - 8:30pm Location: Barnes & Noble - Greenwich Village (369 6th Ave) Cost: Free
"Kimberlee Auerbach, author of The Devil, the Lover, & Me (Dutton) and instructor at Gotham Writers’ Workshop, shares tips on how to add humor to your writing at a free, introductory Humor Writing course... Through short lectures and readings Ms. Auerbach will reveal how to view the world with a humorist’s eye, and how to maximize the comedic potential in your writing. Participants are encouraged to bring pen and paper to complete a short writing exercise designed to help them start their own piece of writing."
Rani Spas, a full service Ayurvedic spa and salon invites you to their new product
line launch party. Come join the founders of Rani Spas, Dr. Rani and Mr. Anuj Rani, as they promote their newest editions to their organic and natural cosmetic line,
the Atina Aqua Mineral Line. Dr. Rani will be giving free consultations. There will be free complimentary spa services (massages, waxes, miniature facials, etc) offered during which refreshments will be served.
Date: Friday, August 28th Time: 5:30pm and 9:00pm Location: NYU Skirball Center (566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South) Cost: Free (but call 917-605-9023 for reservations)
"Musicians from around the world unite to perform classical and modern arrangements of Maestro Sri Chinmoy's soulful compositions. Special guests are Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, renowned Tagore singer, and Dr. Madan Shankar Mishra, one of India's finest sitarists. The Gandharva Loka Orchestra, led by one of Europe's most innovative musicians, Panchajanya Burri, with conductor Matthijs Jongepier will blend musical
genres to create a unique sound that has captivated audiences across America, Canada, Europe and Asia."
Date: Friday, August 28th Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm Location: BKLYN Yard (388-400 Carroll St btwn Bond and Nevins) Cost: Free Entry, Plates $10
"The last time we checked, we still had a few glorious weeks left in the summer and we going out with a bang. Finger On the Pulse and MeanRed are teaming up again with The Hapa Kitchen for another culinary blow out! We are taking it home with a Hawaiian-themed menu with a whole roast pig! Hawaiian favorites like macaroni salad will be given a seasonal and local twist with food from Garden of Eve Farm and Tamarack Hollow Farm. DJ Never Forget and Terry Diabolik will be spinning on the platters that matter, playing everyone’s favorite BBQ jams."
Date: Friday, August 28th Time: 6:00pm Location: RedSky (47 East 29th Street) Cost: Free with RSVP
"Free in New York will be celebrating its 9th anniversary and also re-launching free events information-sharing website with a lounge party/mixer. Music and entertainment will be provided by DJ Sabine. Extended happy hour, giveaways and free dessert will be served."
Date: Friday, August 28th Time: 7:00pm Location: Hope Lounge (10 Hope St, BK) Cost: Free with RSVP
Honestly this party is called "Rock Out With Your Guac Out", you cant go wrong! I mean who doesn't love guac? The party boasts two hours of free Colt 45 (7-9), 3 hours of free food from the delicious, Vendy award winning, Calexico carts, and free giveaways all night from Methods NYC, Laureluxe, & Red Tape. And of course any good party has DJs, so you got DJs Synapse, DJ Demize, and DJ Milkmoney on the decks. 21+
Date: Saturday, August 28th Time: 7:00pm Location: Parkside Lounge (317 E. Houston St @ Attorney) Cost: Free
"Oh my God! It's the last Delusions of Spandex show at the Parkside Lounge!" After tonight you'll need to find someplace else to get your sketch comedy and stand-up. But tonight you can catch six acts (below) for free. Really old flyer. 21+
Here are the comedy acts you can see at the low low price of only free!
Luke Thayer - What a bargain!
Abbi Crutchfield - You never thought you could afford it!
Jawnee Conroy - Comes with a novelty mug!
The Stuff - The best kind of Financial Aid!
Tyler Sonnichsen - International savings!
Aaron Glaser - CHEAP!
and
as always hosted by Phaea Crede andBecca Jones - (overpriced)
Date: Friday, August 28th Time: 8:00pm - midnight Location: Spin New York (304 Park Ave South, on 23rd st) Cost: Free with RSVP
This Friday night, an exhibition by the top 10 table tennis players in the country marks the inaugural evening of full bar service at the 9,000sqft subterranean pong-ri-la [that is Spin NYC], where the track-lit main room rocks Olympic-grade cushioned playing surfaces for 15 stylish tables, fold-out bleacher seating, and a panoramic window looking out onto beautiful...subway tracks" Come grab a seat to watch The Dirty Dozen in the most thrilling matches you ever seen, up close and personal.<(via Thrillist)
Date: Friday, August 28th Time: 8:45pm - 9:45pm Location: Triangulo (135 West 20th, #301 btw 6th and 7th Ave) Cost: Free with RSVP
What do I love more than a dance class? Tonight check out a free absolute beginner workshop in Argentine tango. "Featured in Vogue, the National Herald Tribune, and The Economist, TriANGulO specializes in Argentine tango, the original, more intimate predecessor to international ballroom-style tango. Founder Carina Moeller is a professional dancer with training in modern dance and ballet who has worked and studied with such tango greats as Fabian Salas, Pablo Veron, and Mingo Pugliese. Known for her engaging and precise teaching style, Carina creates a stress-free atmosphere that is particularly appealing to novice dancers."
Date: Sunday, August 29th Time: 12:00pm - 5:00pm Location:Fort Greene Park UPDATE: Prospect Park, Brooklyn Cost: Free
Anybody and everybody is invited to attend Michael Jackson’s 51st birthday party this afternoon in Fort Greene Park Prospect Park. The event, organized by Spike Lee, will feature Borough President Marty Markowitz on hand to proclaim the date "Michael Jackson Day." Afterwards, DJ Spinna will be spinning all things Jackson, from the Jackson 5 to the Jacksons to Michael Jackson. “At the end, we’ll all sing Happy Birthday to Michael,” Lee says. “We’re going to make sure he hears us, too. All over the world, people are going to be celebrating his birthday. But he’s going to hear Brooklyn; Brooklyn is going to be in the house. Deep.” All ages.
Date: Saturday, August 29th Time: 1:00pm Location: Sheep's Meadow, Central Park Cost: Free
The environmentally conscious part of me says that maybe a giant water fight in the middle of Central Park is a waste of precious natural resources. However, the 10 year old, silly little girl part of me thinks that a water fight on a hot summer day in the middle of Central Park, is like the best idea ever! To be honest, I am not sure who is organizing this event, it seems to be circulating on the internet via this Facebook event posting but it seems like a lot of people are into it. Participants are encouraged to bring buckets, water guns, water balloons, and just about anything else you can fill with water. Code of conduct below.
Code of Conduct:
1) This is a water fight - don't bring any other weapons apart from water pistols, supersoakers, bottles and stuff that doesn't litter. WATER BOMBS ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN - littering is a crime and we love out planet/Central park.
2) We are not going to be your parents, nor are we going to be the police, if you see some one doing something stupid tell them to stop - if your doing something stupid - don't, your going to ruin it and this has the potential to be a massive laugh
3) Dress to impress but not like a terrorist (your going to get wet just remember - hence why its happening in summer - its going to the the hottest ever recorded)
4) Don't terrorize the public - if they want to get involved let them . THIS IS AN OPEN INVITATION
5) Don't bring camera's. They're going to get wet and DON'T come complaining when they don't work. There will be plenty of other people involved devoted to taking pictures. There is might be a film made so don't sock the guys involved with that.
6) This is a LAUGH, don't take it too seriously, and don't beat each other up over it (close up shooting and all that).
7) Don't leave any mess behind!!! We come and then go (the place looks the same as it does when we came, except more wet).
8) DON'T GET THE ARMED POLICE DEPLOYED BY BRINGING WATER PISTOLS THAT LOOK LIKE REAL GUNS!!!!!!!!!
9) If anyone asks who organized it - we all happened to be in the same place at the same time. If you see any of the "organizers" DON'T SPEAK TO US cause we had nothing to do with it!!!!!
10) No one get naked - you'll be arrested
11) No dyed water - it stains cloths AND it could stain the pavements..... Not good its vandalism
12) SPREAD THE WORD by clicking share!!!
13) COME AT YOUR OWN RISK - we are taking no responsibility for your actions or any accidents which you may incur during your time at New York's Largest water Fight. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone this event without prior notice if we feel that people are attempting to cause either of the above.
Date: Saturday, August 29th Time: 2:00pm Location: Central Park, Dead Road (btwn the Bandshell at 72nd St. and the Sheep Meadow) Cost: Free
"Calling all Boy Scouts: Head to Central Park to watch city-slicker chefs (Tim Love, Melissa Perello and Chris Santos) get their badges in wilderness cooking at the Adventures NYC Campfire Cooking Challenge. Each chef will have one hour to create a dish using a camping stove, a cutting board, Swiss Army cutlery and limited ingredients. A panel of judges, including Eleven Madison Park chef Daniel Humm, will select the winner."
Check out "internationally acclaimed artist Jude Papaloko Thegenius' extraordinary exhibition 'Spirit of Haiti'. A collection of one of a kind, intensely personal, and passionate, representations of the artist's reverence for the culture and traditions of his native land. Jude Papaloko Thegenius' work has been exhibited in galleries all over the world and collected in private homes. 'Spirit of Haiti' will be featured in a special exhibition... in a celebration of art movement, featuring live performances. Part of the proceeds will benefit Papaloko4kids, non-profit org, to build a center for children in Haiti."
Date: Saturday, August 29th Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm Location: Location upon RSVP Cost: Free with RSVP
If you love interaction art and all things emergence-related then the artists over at Analogous Projects are perfect for you. "Analogous seeks to support complexity-driven
art and artists" enabling a philosophical crosstalk between media and genre. You'll be hearing a lot more from them this fall as they begin a residency at Williamsburg's Devotion Gallery. In the interim, head out to their gallery-warming party this evening to help them kick things off right.
Date: Saturday, August 29th Time: 8:30pm - 9:30pm Location: Triangulo (135 West 20th, #301 btw 6th and 7th Ave) Cost: Free with RSVP
What do I love more than a dance class? Tonight check out a free absolute beginner workshop in Argentine tango. "Featured in Vogue, the National Herald Tribune, and The Economist, TriANGulO specializes in Argentine tango, the original, more intimate predecessor to international ballroom-style tango. Founder Carina Moeller is a professional dancer with training in modern dance and ballet who has worked and studied with such tango greats as Fabian Salas, Pablo Veron, and Mingo Pugliese. Known for her engaging and precise teaching style, Carina creates a stress-free atmosphere that is particularly appealing to novice dancers."
Date: Sundays through August 30th Time: gates at 2pm Location: Kent St btw. N 8th and N 9th Sts on the East River, W'burg) Cost: Free
With the McCarren Pool under renovations, the Williamsburg Pool Parties move to the waterfront this summer with seven weeks of free shows. In edition to the free music there will be "DODGEBALL, basketball, DJ’s, bands, burgers the works!" for you to enjoy. Afterparties at Public Assembly. This week features Beach House & Grizzly Bear. Full line-up below. All ages!
Sunday, July 19 — Dirty Projectors, Magnolia Electric Co., Crystal Antlers*
Sunday, July 26 — And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, The Black Lips, Health, Grupo Fantasmo*
Sunday, Aug 02 — Round Robin show w/ Deerhunter, No Age and Dan Deacon*
Sunday, Aug 09 — Simian Mobile Disco (DJ set), Fiery Furnaces, Dark Meat, The Netherlands*
Sunday, Aug 16 — Del tha Funky Homosapien, Gravytrain!!!, DD/MM/YYYY, Kenan Bell*
Sunday, Aug 23 — Girl Talk, Max Tundra, Wiz Khalifa*
Sunday, Aug 30 — Beach House & Grizzly Bear*
* A free Pool Party: Gates open at 2pm for all shows. For eight consecutive Sundays in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (July 12th — August 30th), party-goers will be regaled with on-site dodgeball, three-on-three basketball, and, oh yeah, rip-roarin' live performances on the main stage.
Date: Sunday, August 30th Time: 3:00pm Location: Tompkins Square Park (Ave B & East 7th St) Cost: Free
The Charlie Parker Jazz Festival annually assembles some of the finest musicians in the world who reflect Parker’s musical individuality and genius, to promote appreciation for this highly influential and world-renowned artist. The two days of free concerts take place in neighborhoods where Charlie Parker lived and worked, in Harlem’s Marcus Garvey Park and the Lower East Side's Tompkins Square Park. Check below for today's line-up
Sunday, August 30 – Tompkins Square Park (E. 8th Street, between Aves. A and B)
Cedar Walton Quartet
Papo Vazquez Pirates Troubadors
Pyeng Threadgill
Dred Scott Trio
Cedar Walton Quartet
Cedar Walton is one of the most universally respected jazz pianists active today, having played in the bands of Lou Donaldson, Kenny Dorham, J.J. Johnson, Art Farmer, and Art Blakey, and recorded with Freddie Hubbard, John Coltrane, and Joe Henderson. As a player, Walton is a post-bopper whose solos can be pensive and exciting - often at the same time. In terms of consistency, lyricism, and tastefulness, he recalls Hank Jones and Tommy Flanagan. In addition to his abilities as an instrumentalist, Walton has amassed an impressive body of original compositions.
Papo Vazquez Pirates Troubadores
Papo Vazquez’s ability to fuse Afro-Caribbean rhythms, especially those from Puerto Rico and Cuba, with freer melodic and harmonic elements of progressive jazz has insured his popularity on many fronts. As a composer, Papo Vasquez showcased his talents on the soundtracks for the movies “Free Enterprise,” “Mo’ Better Blues,” and “The Mambo Kings,” as well as on recordings for Ruben Blades and Hilton Ruiz. Papo Vazquez Pirates Troubadours boasts a twisted variation on traditional themes and use terms like Jibaro Waltz, Plena Funk, Bomba Jazz, and Mapeye Jazz to help describe their music.
Pyeng Threadgill
Singer/composer Pyeng Threadgill is making waves with her sultry voice and vivid compositions. Her third album Portholes To A Love & Other Short Stories is a group of original songs all based on short stories by world-renowned authors. From the lulling sensation of locomotion, to the secrets of the sea, to the hopeless romantic, to the immigrant experience, Pyeng uses lyrics lush in metaphor to depict a wondrous universe.
Dred Scott Trio
Dred Scott first earned his reputation as an innovative and eclectic pianist and multi-instrumentalist in San Francisco. He has recorded seven self-produced albums and has performed on over thirty-five others. Now based in New York City, Scott regularly performs with his own Dred Scott Trio, Jay Collins, Rene Risque, Carol Lipnik, Sasha Dobson, and the Bari Koral Family Band. The San Francisco Examiner calls Scott, “a fine—in fact, magnificent—pianist.”
WBGO, Jazz 88.3 is the official radio sponsor of the 2009 Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. Additional support comes from: Bloomberg; ConEdison; Forest City Ratner Companies; JPMorgan Chase; NYU Community Fund; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; New York State Council on the Arts; National Endowment for the Arts; Hon. Inez E. Dickens, NYC Council, 9th District; Time Out New York; and Time Warner Cable.
Date: Sunday, August 30th Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm Location: Lolita Bar (266 Broome St at Allen St) Cost: Free
The Dr. Michelle Party Show is a "variety show that ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous with plenty of thoughtful bitter ranting hilarity in between hosted by the sick doctor Michelle Leona." This month's show features Rob Gorden, Daniella La Bocca, Joe Yoga, Jacob Jampel, Molly Knefel, and the quintessential songwriter from Hell Paul Alves…
and "the most glorious of all accordions Dino Baffetti!" Free snacks & drink specials.
Date: Monday, August 31st Time: 7:00pm to sign up, games begin at 7:30pm Location: Pete's Candy Store (709 Lorimer St, W'burg) Cost: Free
Any faithful FreeNYC readers know that we would fail miserably at this one but maybe you don't rely on spell check the way we do. If you've got your etymology and Latin roots in order then take a stab at the weekly Williamsburg Spelling Bee at Pete's. Tonight kicks off their 10th season and the winner's grab themselves some free booze to help work away some of those smarty pants brain cells and even the playing field for next week. 21+
Date: Monday, August 31st - Monday, September 7th Time: btwn 7:30pm and 8:00pm Location: Lincoln Center Plaza Cost: Free
"The Metropolitan Opera will present a free outdoor Summer HD Festival featuring ten of its award winning productions from the popular The Met: Live in HD series. The HD performances will be shown on a giant screen in front of the opera house in Lincoln Center Plaza for ten consecutive nights... The nightly screenings begin between 7:30pm and 8:00pm and are open to the public with no tickets required; 3,000 seats will be available in the Plaza each night on a first-come, first served basis."
"Join hardcore music enthusiasts tonight... for Feed Your Head Rock Trivia, a fun and challenging multi-round contest that tests your knowledge on a wide range of rock and roll topics. The winning teams receive free drinks and bragging rights!" 21+
