Heinz Society

Join Teresa Heinz, Noeleen Heyzer of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), and Jehmu Greene, president of Rock the Vote, for an afternoon dedicated to financial issues currently facing women in the workplace and in their homes. Organized by the National Council for Research on Women

Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Venue: NY Society for Ethical Culture (2 West 64th Street at Central Park West)
Cost: Free

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See Mom... All That Mario was Good for Me

On a certain floor, in a certain building at Parsons School of Design, there is a shiny silver door with a portal window. Behind that door is the mysterious Design and Technology department where, in our fantasies at least, art geeks and tech geeks get together to change the future. Tonight, the D+T department brings James Paul Gee in to lecture us about the importance of Nintendo, Atari, and Playstation on our learning processes. In his most recent work, Why Video Games Are Good for Your Soul, Gee "offers 36 reasons why good video games produce better learning conditions than many of today's schools."

I suggest that you continue your education at our latest bar obsession, Barcade, afterwards

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Venue: Parsons School of Design (65 West 11th Street 5th Floor)
Cost: Free

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Being Julian Schnabel

Julian Schnabel is kind of a jack-of-all-trades in the art/media world. He first broke into the art world in the 80's during the "neo-expressionist" movement which was an emotional reaction to the saturation of minimalism in the art world., Schnabel then went on to produce two full length feature films, "Basquiat" and "Before Night Falls." Tonight he lectures on what he knows best... himself.

Time: 6:30pm
Venue: New York Studio School (8 West 8th Street)
Cost: Free

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Hip Hop Not Hip Hot

Big names from "back in the day" gather in the park to educate on the days when hip-hop was about love, unity, and respect. "The heart of the Hip-Hop culture has always been the community and we feel Hot 97, the supposed place "Where Hip-Hop Lives", has lost its respect and responsibility to the community a long time ago and it is about time for the community to step forward and take it back." (full info here)

Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Venue: Union Square Park (14th Street side)
Cost: Free

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Voices of Latin American Leaders

Voices of Latin American Leaders is "a series of in-depth discussions with prominent Latin Americans on issues facing the Americas and the world. Moderated by Jorge Castañeda, Global Distinguished Professor of Political and Latin American and Caribbean Studies at NYU and the former Foreign Minister of Mexico, the series will probe economic, social, historical and political dimensions of Latin America's relations with the U.S. and the world community."

Tonight, former Foreign Minister of Mexico Jorge Castañeda talks with Leonel Fernández, President of the Dominican Republic , about Latin America's relations with the U.S. and its place within the global community.
RSVP Require

Time: 4:00pm
Venue: Silver Center for Arts and Sciences (100 Washington Square East between Washington and Waverly Pls, Hemmerdinger Hall)
Cost: Free

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Block Printing Workshop

Park Slope's answer to Kate's is Lion in the Sun. Today, this quaint paperie hosts a free one-hour class on the basics of block printing.

Date: Sunday, March 6th
Time: 6:00pm
Venue: Lion in the Sun (463 4th Street, b/t Seventh and Eighth, Park Slope)
Cost: Free

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The Future of the Planet is in Your Hands

“It is evident that many wars are fought over resources which are now becoming increasingly scarce. If we conserved our resources better, fighting over them would not then occur…so, protecting the global environment is directly related to securing peace…those of us who understand the complex concept of the environment have the burden to act. We must not tire, we must not give up, we must persist.”

Professor Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and founder of the Green Belt Movement, gives her first public lecture in New York City tonight. Copies will be available for sale and Maathai will be signing. Come early as space is limited

Date: Tuesday, March 8th
Time: 7:15pm
Venue: Cooper Union (7 East 7th Street at Cooper Square)
Cost: Free

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Planet of Slums

Sure you think your over priced hole-in-the-wall apartment in Brooklyn is kinda third world, and all your Manhattan friends think your "slumin' it", but truth of the matter is folks, we got it good. "According to the United Nations, more than one billion people now live in the slums...From the sprawling barricades of Lima to the garbage hills of Manila, urbanization has been disconnected from industrialization, even economic growth." Tonight, head up to City College to hear Mike Davis lecture on the shantytowns of the world, and how they have been "exiled from the formal world economy." The lecture is presented by the School of Architecture, Urban Design and Landscape Architecture but is open to the public.

Date: Wednesday, March 16th
Time: 6pm
Location: City College Great Hall, Convent Ave and 138th St
Cost: Free

**I apologize for the last minute warning on this one**

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Things you Missed in Scout Camp

Knot master Brian Matthews invades the Flux Factory to to teach you "how to tie knots like a sailor, like a pirate, like a mad husband, like a person who knows how to tie knots."

Date: Sunday, March 20th
Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Venue: Flux Factory (38-38 43rd Street, Long Island City)
Cost: Free

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Taking Back Hip Hop

Prominant hip-hop editors, reporters, and artist gather for a panel discussion on how women can "take back hip hop." Expected to speak are local heros such as Jean Grae and DJ Beverly Bond along with industry bigwigs like Karen Hunter and Akiba Solomon. Register online here.

Date: Tuesday, March 27th
Venue: FIT, Katie Murphy Amphitheatre (27th street and 7th Ave)
Time: 6:30 - 8:00pm
Cost: Free

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Corporate Media Ownership and Its Threat to Democracy

"The current climate of American journalism is fraught with incestuous relations between government and a handful of Fortune 500 corporations that own and operate news organizations. From News Corporation’s Fox News, General Electric’s NBC, Viacom’s CBS, Disney’s ABC, and Time Warner’s CNN to Clear Channel’s massive radio empire, what the mainstream media present as "news" has become largely a "paid political announcement" born of favor trading, conflict of interest, and self-serving, bottom-line corporate logic. As a result of such accommodationism, American viewers receive a homogenized, censored version of reality and the watchdog of American democracy, the press, has become a docile instrument of governmental authority and big money."

Arthur Kent, Danny Schechter, Pete Tridish, and Mark Cooper, contributors to Prometheus Book's newly-published News Incorporated, are joined by journalists Mark Crispin Miller, Greg Palast, and Kristina Borjesson, in a panel discussion on Corporate Media Ownership and Its Threat to Democracy, led by the editor of News Incorporated, Elliot Cohen.

Date: Thursday, March 24th
Time: 6:00pm
Venue: Small Press Center at The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen Library (22 West 44th Street)
Cost: Free

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Flux Live Media Series

Chiaki Wantanabe hosts the first of 3 lectures at Flux Factory dealing with the medium of video and how it is applied to artistic expression. This particular lecture deals with "visual music" and using video as an instument. With guest speakers Giles Hendrix, Chris Jordan, and Chiaki Wantanabe.

Date: Sunday, March 27th
Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Venue: Flux Factory (38-38 43rd Street)
Cost: $5 suggested donation

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Something Corporate

Fashion, Accessory, and Product designers teach us how to make money doing what we love at this Parsons lecture entitled Mind Your Own Business: Developing a Business Plan. Priority to alumni and students so if you are then RSVP here, else show up early.

Date: Monday, March 28th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Venue: Parsons (66 west 11th Street, Wollman Hall)
Cost: Free

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Noise from the Underground

"Streaming audio and MP3s are transforming pop music, from indie-rock to hip hop. But what about those newly minted Web zines, blogs, and alt glossies poking into every nook and cranny of the music world? While the mainstream seems content to leaf through Rolling Stone and channel surf from MTV to VH1, these do-it-yourself publishing channels are busy creating a bewildering amount of chatter about music and contemporary culture."

The National Arts Journalism program at Columbia host this panel discussion on the changing face of the music industry in the wake of blogs, ezines, bitTorrent, and all other online goodies. The panel is moderated by NY Times pop music critic Sasha Frere Jones, and features the likes of TV on The Radio's Tunde Adebimpe, Knox Robinson from the Fader, and fellow blogger Amy Phillips. Offical release after the fold.

Date: Tuesday, March 29th
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism Lecture Hall, Third Floor (116th Street and Broadway)
Cost: Free

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Urban Sprawl for All

"Robert Bruegmann, a professor of architecture at UIC, will discuss his soon to be published book on urban sprawl. Most writers on the topic of sprawl have described it as a relatively recent, peculiarly American phenomenon. They also believe that it is inefficient, environmentally damaging, socially inequitable and aesthetically ugly and that it can be arrested by reforming poor public policies. In contrast, Bruegmann argues that sprawl has been a feature of urban development since the beginning of urban history and that it has been largely beneficial for most people which is why it is the dominant mode of settlement for affluent urbanites almost everywhere in the world today. He further argues that efforts to stop it are likely to be ineffective or produce unintended consequences worse than the sprawl itself. Robert Bruegmann is an historian of architecture, landscape, and the built environment who teaches at the University of Illinois, Chicago."

Date: Monday, April 4th
Time: 6:15pm - 8:00pm
Venue: Parsons (25 East 13th, glass corner)
Cost: Free

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Document This!

"Get your creative juices flowing at the April 5th meeting of the New York Sony Vegas users group. Our Main Event will be our first-ever Creative Video Challenge Contest, a game that challenges you to construct a movie in only one hour from the media clips we'll supply. Bring your laptop running Vegas (or any editing program you like) and join the fun.

The meeting will also feature our first-ever Vegas Quickstart Tutorial for people who are new to Vegas (or to video editing) as well as a showcase for videos that you've created and a Tip Swap where you can get answers to your most pressing Vegas questions.

If you want to join the creative challenge, email Charles Dennis, info@charlesdennis.net just so we'll know how many people to expect. To submit work for the showcase portion of the meeting, contact Jay at jayvivid@yahoo.com. Please keep submissions to 5 minutes or less.

The pre-meeting will begin at 6:30 pm with the Quickstart Tutorial, then the main program begins at 7:00 pm. The new home for our meeting is B&H Photo at 33rd Street and 9th Avenue."

Date: Tuesday, April 5th
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: B & H Photo (33rd Street and 9th Ave)
Cost: Free

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Build your Own Video Projector

For those who are tired of waiting for video projector prices to drop to what you may consider "affordable". Sabastien Santamaria teaches you how to make your own high end video projector for less than a tenth of the cost a part of the Flux Factory Technology Initiative

Date: Sunday, April 10th
Time: 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Venue: Flux Factory (click for directions)
Cost: Free

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Laurie Anderson, Herself

Laurie Anderson is recognized worldwide for her innovative and groundbreaking work with technologically vanguard instruments in the arts. As an artist with a vast collection of work, she has published six books, produced numerous videos, films and radio pieces, and created orchestral work. She recently collaborated with Silicon Valley-based Interval Research Corporation to explore new creative tools including the Talking Stick, a wireless musical instrument that emits sound when touched.

Please join us for a very special evening of her work in retrospect, including a special screening of her latest media work, Hidden Inside Mountains.

Hidden Inside Mountains, commissioned by EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan, is a high definition film that debuted on March 25, 2005 in Japan at EXPO 2005 on the largest high definition Astrovision screen in the world. An original score has been created by Laurie Anderson and mastered in stereo in 5.1. Hidden Inside Mountains is a film of short stories about nature, artifice and dreams. Located in a fictitious world of theatrical spaces, the stories unfold through music, gesture, text and the poetry of visual images. The film’s haunting music features violins, bells, dog barks and melody as well as many electronic sounds. Both joy and loss are caught in this film in Japanese and English. Running time is 25 minutes.

Date: Tuesday, April 12th
Venue: New School University, Tishman Auditorium (66 West 12th Street)
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Cost: Free, first come first served

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Get Dorky with the Brazilian Girls

Usually I am not one for a geeked out tech lecture, but Brazilian Girls are going to swing by the Apple store in SoHo tonight to "discuss their use of Apple hardware and Mac OS X compatible software in both the recording process and in live performance."

Date: Tuesday, June 7
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Apple SoHo (103 Prince Street)
Cost: Free

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Policy and Design for Housing Discussion

As we enter a new phase of housing development in New York City, what will the role of community-based development organizations, private sector developers and government play in the production of low and moderate-income housing? What can we learn from the work of the New York State Urban Development Corporation (1968–1975) and City and community-based development initiatives (1974–2005)? What role can and should the City and community-based development groups play in new private sector-focused housing development initiatives? All this and more will be discussed.

Date: Thursday, August 4th
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm (reception at 5:45)
Venue: Center for Architecture (536 LaGuardia Place)
Cost: Free with RSVP

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Global Issues in Design & Visuality

Part 1: How We See Culture: "Impermanence may be the only permanent characteristic of the 21st century. New urban landscapes are rapidly evolving in response to tides of immigration; at the same time, new geographies are mapped everyday on the internet. How can we talk about these new cultures? This lecture considers what culture is, how it works, how we see it. Specifically, it will explore the ways in which objects and images take on value and negotiate between their social and aesthetic frameworks."

Date: Tuesday, September 13th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Parsons, Tishman Auditorium (66 W. 12th St.)
Cost: Free

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Wise Words From Wysmuller

While the president claims the jury is still out on global warming, the rest of us are actually concered about how humans have impacted the environment and the atmosphere. This evening, Thomas H. Wysmuller, retired meteorologist (weather scientist) formerly with NASA, tells us what the really effects of global warming are and answers some of our questions. How will global warming cause the next ice age to occur in this century? How does global warming increase hurricanes'power and what can we do to stop it?

Date: Thursday, September 15th
Time: 6:45 (pleasae arrive early)
Venue: Friends Meeting House, 15 Rutherford Place (on 15th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)
Cost: Free

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Lighting Awards Rountable Discussion

"In conjunction with the announcement of the second annual A/L Light & Architecture Design Awards, please join the New York area award winners for a roundtable discussion on current issues in lighting design. The participants will include Paul Gregory from Focus Lighting, Francesca Bettridge and Steven Bernstein from Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design in New York City, and Paul Zaferiou and Keith Yancey from Lam Partners in Cambridge MA."

Date: Thursday, September 15th
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Eugene Lang Student Center, New School (55 West 13th)
Cost: Free

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Global Issues in Design & Visuality (part 2)

"Impermanence may be the only permanent characteristic of the 21st century. New urban landscapes are rapidly evolving in response to tides of immigration; at the same time, new geographies are mapped everyday on the internet. Goods, services, and images have become their own culture, transforming designers and artists into culture authors. How can we talk about these new cultures? Lectures by anthropologists, historians, and critics will establish a critical framework for case studies drawn from design and visual media."

Date: Tuesday, December 20th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Parsons, Swayduck Auditorium (65 Fifth Ave.)
Cost: Free

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Apple Computers and Ancient Fossils

If you're into either of the aformentioned phenomenona, join David Harvey of the American Museum of Natural History as he and his exhibition team share the inspiration, insight, and Apple technology used to create the popular new exhibition Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries. Remember kids: even dinos are mac-friendly.

Date: Monday, September 26
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Apple store, SoHo
Cost: Free

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Global Issues in Design & Visuality (part 3)

This highly recommended lecture series on being a concious designer continues with a discussion on culture-centered web design. "Impermanence may be the only permanent characteristic of the 21st century. New urban landscapes are rapidly evolving in response to tides of immigration; at the same time, new geographies are mapped everyday on the internet. How can we talk about these new cultures? Lectures by anthropologists, historians, and critics will establish a critical framework for case studies drawn from design and visual media."

Date: Tuesday, September 27th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Parsons, Tishman Auditorium (66 W. 12th St.)
Cost: Free

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Treating Starvation in the 21st Century

Doctors Without Borders in Niger North Korea, and Sudan: John Hockenberry, former NBC "Dateline" correspondent and award winning journalist joins Dr. Jean-Hervé Bradol, President of MSF in France, and Dr. Pauline Horrill, MSF emergency physician in a discussion on why "despite early warnings by many organizations, thousands have died as a result of severe acute malnutrition in Niger. Why was the international response to this epidemic so slow and why does it remain largely inadequate? What are the obstacles in delivering medical care to people starving as a result of economic policies in Niger, under the North Korean regime, and in the ongoing conflict in Sudan?"

Date: Tuesday, September 27th
Time: Time: 6:00pm reception, 7:00pm discussion
Location: FIT, Katie Murphy Amphitheater, Building D (7th Ave at 27th)
Cost: Free. To reserve a seat call: (212) 847-3151

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Making Noise

(click to enlarge)

Paper Mag will house a roundtable discussion with panel of 25-and-under fashion designers, marketeers, promoters, and general "hipper than thou" participants. Cool if your into that thing.

Date: Thursday, September 29th
Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: SVA Student Center (217 East 23rd Street)
Cost: Free with RSVP

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War, Occupation, and Democracy: American Strategy In The Middle East

Palestinian Member of Israeli Knesset since 1996, Leader of National Democratic Assembly, and Celebrated Writer and Intellectual Azmi Bishara speaks on the current state of America in the Middle east this evening. Introduction by Rashid Khalidi

Date: Wednesday, October 5th
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Barnard College, 304 Barnard Hall (3009 Broadway at 117th)
Cost: Free (?)

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Social Justice and Entrepreneurship in 19th century New York

Join Barbara Balliet (Rutgers University), Peter Buckley (The Cooper Union), Kenneth Jackson (Columbia University), and Sean Wilentz (Princeton University) tonight for a roundtable discussion on social justice and entrepreneurship in 19th century New York. "For almost 150 years, The Great Hall of The Cooper Union has served as a popular stage for educational lectures, political movements, campaigns for social reform and the creative arts. These meetings have embodied what Peter Cooper meant by “civic culture.” The impact of The Great Hall on American society has been immeasurable."

Date: Thursday, October 6th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: The Great Hall at Cooper Union (7 East 7th at 3rd Ave)
Cost: Free

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Youth Culture: The Art and Currency of Globalization

"Impermanence may be the only permanent characteristic of the 21st century. New urban landscapes are rapidly evolving in response to tides of immigration; at the same time, new geographies are mapped everyday on the internet. How can we talk about these new cultures?" The Global Issues in Design & Visuality lecture series continues with a look at the works of serveral heavy hitters in the street art game including Jameel Shabazz (NYC), Ryan McGinness (NYC), Shepard Fairey (LA), Os Gemenos (Brazil), Miguel Calderon (Mexico), Los Carpenteros (Cuba), As Four (NYC), Takashi Murakami (Japan), Malik Sadibe (Mali), Larry Clark (NYC/LA), Nick Waplington (UK), Surface to Air (France) and Nicky S. Lee (NYC).

Date: Tuesday, October 11th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Parsons, Tishman Auditorium (66 West 12th Street)
Cost: Free

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Happy Ending Reading Series

At the Happy Ending Reading Series, "Raconteurs, poets, and other cultural phenoms present their work as they showcase their other talents. Each reader is required to take one public risk. Reading in public cannot be one of them. [This is the] only reading series of its kind to combine genres; this series has become the underground hotspot for writers and readers actively taking risks."

Date: Wednesday, October 12th
Time: 8:00pm (doors 7:30)
Location: Happy Ending (302 Broome Street)
Cost: Free (I assume)

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Who’s listening? Who’s talking? with Catherine McCoy

The Global Issues in Design & Visuality series continues with graphic design guru and personal hero Catherine McCoy. McCoy was one of t he founders of the American post-structuralism movement in the US as the head of the graphic design program at Cranbrook. "McCoy argues that designers need new strategies to navigate between their own culture and the heterogeneous audiences they serve. She examines the legacy of modernism in the context of corporate globalism and makes the case—not for abandoning the history and conventions of design—but for evolving what she calls “a more open architecture, to effectively incorporate cultural human factors that respond to diversity, multiplicity and flux.”

Date: Tuesday, October 18th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Parsons, Tishman Auditorium (66 West 12th St.)
Cost: Free

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The Imaginary Cultures of Online Multiplayer Video Games

The Global Issues in Design & Visuality lecture series continues. "This lecture will look at how video game players build imaginary cultures. Specially-selected examples will be analyzed as harbingers of new global communities in formation, offering new insights into the burgeoning world of virtual vernaculars."

Date: Tuesday, October 25th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Parsons, Tishman Auditorium (66 W. 12th St.)
Cost: Free

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No More Monkey Business

Ok people, lets talk monkeys. I love monkeys, my neighbor who has a chimp which sits in his window 24/7 loves monkeys, and the world renowned primatologist, Jane Goodall also loves monkeys. She is actually best known for her decades of work with chimpanzees and baboons, but today she is droppin knowlegde not about the state of the animal kingdom, but of human society and the way we produce and consume in hopes of achieving a more sustainable world. In her latest book, Harvet For Hope, she outlines some of where western society has gone wrong and how we can creat positive change.

Date: Wednesday, October 26th
Time: 12:30pm
Venue: Barnes and Noble, Union Square and 17th
Cost: Free

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Putting Your Passion Into Print

Ariele Eckstut and David Henry, authors of Putting Your Passion Into Print explain the ins and outs of pitching a conceise book idea at this Strand workshop. Select attendees will even get to pitch to real professionals and get critiqued. Some sort of party to follow.

Date: Wednesday, October 26th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm (party at 7:30)
Location: Strand Book Store (828 Broadway)
Cost: Free

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Lets Talk About The Green Fairy

Cooper Union teaches its students about the important things in life... like absinthe.

"Absinthe (the Green Fairy, la Fée Verte) has a romantic history like no other drink. This pale green alcoholic liqueur fueled and inspired the poets and artists of late 19th and early 20th century Europe. It is impossible to imagine painters like Toulouse Lautrec, Degas, Manet, and Van Gogh or writers like Verlaine, Rimbaud, Joyce, and Hemingway without the elaborate ritual that accompanied this beverage. No other drink has aroused such opposition as this wormwood-based beverage that was held responsible for all manner of crime, degeneration, sexual license and degeneracy. David Weir, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Comparative Literature at The Cooper Union."

Date: Tuesday, November 1st
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Wollman Auditorium, 51 Astor Place
Cost: Free

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The Conspiracy of Art

Reading and writing about this one makes my brain hurt like it used to during education days at New School. But lets try this... Today, Jean Baudrillard will read from and sign copies of his new book The Conspiracy of Art after a conversation with Sylver Lotringer, founding publisher of Semiotext(e).

"In The Conspiracy of Art, Baudrillard questions the privilege attached to art by its practitioners. Art has lost all desire for illusion: feeding back endlessly into itself, it has turned its own vanishment into an art unto itself. Far from lamenting the ‘end of art,’ Baudrillard celebrates art’s new function within the process of insider-trading. Spiralling from aesthetic nullity to commercial frenzy, art has become transaesthetic, like the rest of society as a whole.

Conceived and edited by life-long Baudrillard collaborator Sylvère Lotringer, The Conspiracy of Art presents his writings on art in a complicitous dance with politics, economy and media. Culminating with “War Porn,” a scathing analysis of the spectacular images of Abu Ghraib prison as a new genre of reality TV, the book folds back on itself to question the very nature of radical thought."

Date: Wednesday, November 2nd
Time: 7pm
Venue: The Tilton Gallery, 8 East 76th St (at 5th Ave)
Cost: Free with RSVP

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The Critics Rush Me Like Salman Rushdie

"Salman Rushdie will read from his book, 'Shalimar the Clown,' at Paula Cooper Gallery. Wish I knew more but Salman Rushdie rocks so go and hear him read because its a rare occurance.

Date: Friday, November 4th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Paula Cooper Gallery (521 W. 21st St. bet. 10th and 11th)
Cost: Free

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An Evening With The Ganzfeld

(click to enlarge)

The New York celebration of Ganzfeld four continues today with a conversation between Peter Saul, Jim Nutt, Dan Nadel, and David Sandlin. A special DJ performance by Paper Rad will follow.

Nutt and Saul will discuss their four-decade-long careers, influences, image-making, and the peculiar mix of humor, beauty and savagery that each calls their own. Friends and mutual admirers for decades, Nutt and Saul represent the satiric, wise-cracking, graphic side of contemporary art, making figurative work that is not afraid to go for the jugular. Between the two, Nutt and Saul have influenced scores of contemporary artists and illustrators, including Chris Ware, Mike Kelley, Gary Panter, Raymond Pettibon, and Carroll Dunham. This is the first time the two have spoken on the same stage. The conversation will be prefaced by a special musical performance by cult-favorite art collective Paper Rad.

Date: Sunday, October 6th
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Lang Student Center, New School (55 West 13th Street)
Cost: Free

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Lecture with Jonathan Lipkin

For 15 years, Jonathan Lipkin has observed the phenomenon of digital photography as a photographer, writer, and educator. He is coauthor of In the Realm of the Circuit and his newest book, Photography Reborn: Image-Making in the Digital Age will be released by Harry N. Abrams in November 2005. From the publisher: "In this important companion to a new art form, author Jonathan Lipkin chronicles the rise of digital technology and explores its impact as well as the limits of its possibilities. Every kind of digital image from MRI scans to fine art is highlighted here, from an obscure scientific application, through its adaptation by pioneer computer artists, to its acceptance by the mainstream of the art world. This seminal text—coupled with fascinating images and examples by contemporary artists Andreas Gursky, Thomas Ruff, Pedro Meyer, Nancy Burson, and Loretta Lux—is uniquely appropriate for anyone interested in visual communications, photography, and culture." This event is free but I recommend contacting the department to see if they would like an RSVP if you plan on attending.

Date: Tuesday, November 8th
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: 66 West 12th Street, Room 510
Cost: Free (suggested call ahead: 212.229.8923 xt 4246)

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Global Issues in Design & Visuality

This Week: Product Design as Cultural Critique.

This series fulfills the "I want to go back to school" urge that creeps up every few months. It's a sit in lecture as part of an amazing coarse taught at Parsons this year dealing with a variety of various social concerns applicable to facets of design. As for today's topic...

"The U.S. claims free-market capitalism as one of its main exports and consumer products often serve as the enticement to embrace its ideology. But as the worlds’ diverse cultures adopt and adapt this ideology, are we at risk of creating a corporate, global monoculture? This lecture presents critical product design practices that challenge market-driven orthodoxies and that re-frame design as a strategy for contesting a fully corporate future."

Date: Tuesday, November 8th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm (usually runs late, discussion to follow)
Location: New School, Swayduck Auditorium (65 Fifth Ave.)
Cost: Free

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State of Emergency II

"PEN American Center presents its second State of Emergency event, a special evening of readings in opposition to current United States policies on the treatment of detainees in this country and abroad. A stellar group of writers will come together to read and bring national attention to abusive government policies including torture, arbitrary detention, and extraordinary rendition. With Edward Albee, Paul Auster, Sandra Cisneros, Don DeLillo, Dave Eggers, Martin Espada, Philip Gourevitch, Jessica Hagedorn, Heidi Julavits, Nicole Krauss, Rick Moody, Walter Mosley, Grace Paley, Emma Reverter, Salman Rushdie, and Colson Whitehead."

Date: Tuesday, November 8th
Time: 7:00pm (doors at 6:30)
Location: Cooper Union Great Hall (7 East 7th Street)
Cost: Free (donations accepted)

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Uses and Abuses of Sacred Texts

Deidre Good, Qamar-al Huda, and Daniel Polish create an opportunity for religious examination by analyzing the role of the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Qur'an in the modern context. Specifically to interpret if the way religious texts are quoted is legitimate.

Participants will be allowed to learn the commonly held interpretations of these texts in a small group setting with an opportunity for discussion.

Date: Wednesday, November 9th
Time: 6:30
Location: Center for Religious Inquiry Park Avenue & 51st
Cost: Free

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Zulu Nation's Meeting of the Minds

"The Universal Zulu Nation returns to the Bronx Museum to celebrate the international culture of hip-hop. This marathon mix of panels, music, discussions, and martial arts from the founding fathers of hip-hop, is about information sharing, and learning more about hip-hop culture and the self empowerment. Please come early!" Click here to download the full program (pdf).

Date: Sunday, November 13th
Time: 2:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Bronx Museum (1040 Grand Concourse at 165th St., Bronx)
Cost: Free

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Game Day with Australian Inventors

Jack and Andrew Lawson, the wacky and entertaining inventors of the popular board games Imaginiff and Faces, will be at the Toys R Us in Times Square to talk about the growing trend of fun home based entertainment, describe what it takes to be a board game inventor, and, of course, play games with you!

Date: Monday, November 14th
Time: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Location: Toys R Us, Times Square (44th and Broadway, I think)
Cost: Free

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Creative Responses to Race, Violence and Community: A Call for Peace

"Please join us in an event addressing the spate of hate crimes that plagued New York City neighborhoods this summer. Over the course of three months, gangs of primarily white youths attacked two African American men in two separate incidents in Brooklyn, and an African American man killed a white woman in White Plains. In each case, the attackers cited the victim's race as the reason for their violent actions. As Italian Americans, we are particularly concerned with the fact that each of these attacks involved Italian Americans. Join us for an evening of readings and performance, featuring writers, rappers, musicians, performers, and community activists who are committed to finding creative and collaborative ways to combat racism. Participants: Manifest, rapper BR, rapper Rosette Capotorto, poet Ronnie Mae Painter, visual artist/writer Edvige Giunta, essayist/poet Hiram Perez, writer/activist Stephanie Romeo, writer George De Stefano, essayist/author Phyllis Capello, poet/musician Cristogianni Borsella, poet Bob Viscusi, poet/novelist Chiara Montalto, actress/associate producer Salvatore Lumetta, writer/filmmaker Michela Musolino, singer/musician Organized by Kym Ragusa (filmmaker/writer), Jennifer Guglielmo (historian/writer), and Joseph Sciorra (folklorist)"

Date: Monday, November 14th
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, NYU (24 West 12th Street)
Cost: Free

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Defragging The da Vinci Code

Years after its release, The da Vinci Code is still raising questions about great artworks, religion, and their relationship. Tonight's slide lecture will cover works from Giotto through the High Renaissance in an aims of confirming or denouncing the facts of Dan Brown's novel.

Date: Monday, November 14th
Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: Rockefeller University, Caspary Auditorium (1230 York Ave)
Cost: Free

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Can't We All Use Some Inner Peace?

"The holiday season can be a time of peace and happiness. By recognizing that happiness comes from within, the challenges of the holiday season become opportunities to develop peaceful states of mind. Come join us at the Greenpoint YMCA (in the pre-school room) for this free talk."

Date: Monday, November 14th
Time: 8:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Greenpoint YMCA (99 Meserole Street, Greenpoint)
Cost: Free

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Loyal and his Band... and his Book

Celebrate Loyal's 5 year anniversary and book release with some free music and free beers at this local Williamsburg bookseller. The book features work from over 20 artists, many of whom will be in attendance. Limited copies available tonight.

Date: Tuesday, November 15th
Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Spoonbill and Sugartown (218 Bedford Ave, Williamsburg)
Cost: Free

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Art Critic on Being Critcal About Art

"David Cohen is an art critic of the New York Sun, publisher and editor of the online magazine, artcritical.com, and gallery director at the New York Studio School. As a newspaper critic and magazine editor, Cohen will address the relationship of individual taste and critical responsibility."

Date: Wednesday, November 16th
Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Parsons Auditorium (66 Fifth Ave)
Cost: Free

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The Worst Noel

Okay, all my friends are hating on Christmas these days. Yeah, I think we get out of hand on spending for presents and yeah, it has been totally comodified by the Hallmarks of the world but I don't care. I get to eat lots of food, see my family, drink insane amount of egg nog (not store bought... gasp) and reflect on the year that past with a nice glass of port. Okay, maybe there is a lot of drinking involved as well but there is still food and family.

But if you are a hater, or know an Xmas hater, then this reading of The Worst Noel is for you. "With the holiday season fast approaching local New York authors help us to laugh, groan and commiserate about the horrible personal holiday stories that each of us has! Among them, Mike Albo (The Underminer) and his romantic Christmas-in-Paris dream, which turns into a nightmare after an accident leaves him with a bloodied cross on his forehead, and the festive car ride that Cynthia Kaplan (Why I'm Like This) takes, which goes astray when she hits a deer and “Donner is Dead” becomes her family’s holiday story. Also reading, Valeria Frankel (The Accidental Virgin) and John Marchese(Building the Magical Box)." Authors will personalize copies of The Worst Noel.

Date: Thursday, November 17th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Strand (828 Broadway)
Cost: Free

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Not One More Mother's Child - Cindy Sheehan Talk/Signing

"Cindy Sheehan lost her son, Army Specialist Casey Austin Sheehan, in an ambush in Sadr City, Baghdad, on April 4, 2004. As information became available that the war in Iraq was based on lies and 'cooked intelligence,' she began speaking out and testifying in the halls of Congress. In August 2005, she went to Crawford, Texas, to confront President Bush, and the floodgates of a renewed American peace movement were opened. Cindy Sheehan is a moving writer and vibrant storyteller. In Not One More Mother’s Child, she chronicles her thoughts and actions, reflections on war and peace, truth and accountability, sharing for the first time in book form the story of her journey from grieving mom to effective activist. With a Foreword by Congressman John Conyers, Jr."

Date: Wednesday, November 30th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Coliseum Books (11 West 42nd Street)
Cost: Free

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Sunday Salon Series

Sunday's are always the laziest day of the week for me. Getting up at one, wandering over to breakfast, wandering back home for a nap. Okay, that's in an ideal world but it sounded. Nice. If you are wandering the (Williamsburg/Bushwick) neighborhood today, however, you may want to swing by the Sunday Salon Series at Stain. Four New York City authors read stories and book excepts. Stained is a NY themed "arts lounge" that has a nice supply of local brews and wines, free internet, and a great vibe.

Date: Sunday, November 20th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Stain Bar (766 Grand Street, Williamsburg)
Cost: Free

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Global Issues in Design & Visuality

Lecture series continues... I have ranted enough about my love for this series so I won't bore you again. Tonight's topic... Zara:

"Zara, a retail company from Spain, is the world’s third largest clothing retailer with 638 stores in 47 countries around the world. They eschew conventional marketing strategies (based on buying patterns in different localities) for a consumer-based strategy mapped not by region but by technological/social networks. This lecture will use Zara as a case study to illustrate the changing paradigm of production and consumption, once mutually exclusive now interdependent."

Date: Tuesday, November 22nd
Time: 6:00pm (sharp)
Location: New School, Tishman Auditorium (66 West 12th Street)
Cost: Free

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Rubble: Unearthing The History of Demolition

"From the straight boulevards that "demolition artist" Haussmann smashed through rambling old Paris to the frenzied implosion of Las Vegas hotel towers, demolition has long played an ambiguous role in the architectural imagination. Author Jeff Byles surveys the evolution of unbuilding techniques, as old-school wreckers evolved into highly adept practitioners of "structural jujitsu." He covers pioneers like NYC’s Jacob Volk who crumbled skyscrapers in the Wall St area, the implosion of the Pruitt-Igoe housing complex in St Louis + the profound impact the "disappearance" of tall buildings makes on the skyline & the urban psyche."

Date: Tuesday, November 22nd
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: Center for Architecture (536 LaGuardia Place, between W 3rd and Bleecker Streets)
Cost: Free

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Rocky: The One And Only

Martin Kellerman is the creator of Rocky, a daily comic strip about lazy cartoon pals and their neurotic, indignent girlfriends. Tonight is a meet and greet with the author. Official release after the fold.

Date: Wednesday, November 30th
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Rocketship (208 Smith Street, Brooklyn)
Cost: Free

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Small Press Book Fair

"The Eighteenth Independent and Small Press Book Fair will take place on Saturday, December 3 (10am to 6pm) and Sunday, December 4 (11am to 5pm) at the Small Press Center, The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, at 20 West 44th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues) in Manhattan. Admission to the Book Fair is free and open to the public, and offers a great opportunity to purchase holiday gifts...Over 100 independent presses will be exhibiting in person, including The New Press, Akashic Books, Gingko Press, Soft Skull Press, Manic D Press, and Seven Stories Press. We are also hosting a diverse array of programs on topics such as graphic novels, crime fiction, and literary blogging." Full line up after the fold.

Date: Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th
Time: Sat. 10am - 6pm, Sun. 11am - 5pm
Venue: Small Press Center, The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, 20 West 44th Street
Cost:

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Small Press Book Fair

"The Eighteenth Independent and Small Press Book Fair will take place on Saturday, December 3 (10am to 6pm) and Sunday, December 4 (11am to 5pm) at the Small Press Center, The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, at 20 West 44th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues) in Manhattan. Admission to the Book Fair is free and open to the public, and offers a great opportunity to purchase holiday gifts...Over 100 independent presses will be exhibiting in person, including The New Press, Akashic Books, Gingko Press, Soft Skull Press, Manic D Press, and Seven Stories Press. We are also hosting a diverse array of programs on topics such as graphic novels, crime fiction, and literary blogging." Full line up after the fold.

Date: Saturday, December 3rd and Sunday, December 4th
Time: Sat. 10am - 6pm, Sun. 11am - 5pm
Venue: Small Press Center, The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, 20 West 44th Street
Cost:

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The Memory of John Belushi

Dan Aykroyd and widow Judy Belushi Pisano read tonight from Belushi, a tribute to the comic genius John Belushi.

Date: Monday, December 5th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble (1972 Broadway)
Cost: Free

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American Suburbs and Exurbs Lecture

Global Issues in Design & Visuality series continues today... "Impermanence may be the only permanent characteristic of the 21st century. New urban landscapes are rapidly evolving in response to tides of immigration; at the same time, new geographies are mapped everyday on the internet. How can we talk about these new cultures? This lecture examines the impulse toward sprawl as an aspect of American ideology, particularly in light of the new found political power of the exurbs whose votes were highly influential in the last Presidential election."

Date: Tuesday, December 6th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Parsons, Tishman Auditorium (66 West 12th Street)
Cost: Free

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powerHouse Holiday Book Signing

(click to enlarge)

All your favorite powerHouse book authors - including Martha Cooper, Jamel Shabazz, Tony Ward, and Peter Sutherland - will be on hand tonight signing copies of their books just in time for the perfect hipster holiday present. Free drinks on hand.

Date: Thursday, December 8th
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: powerHouse Bookstore & Gallery (68 Charlton Street between Varick and Hudson)
Cost: Free with RSVP

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Being Donald Trump Reading

Timothy O'Brien reads from his new book, "Trump Nation: The Art of Being Donald".

Date: Monday, December 12th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Coliseum Books (11 West 42nd St between 5th and 6th Ave)
Cost: Free

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Shoot in the Cornfield Reading

"Shoot Them in the Cornfields!, a drama set in 1958, is a first-person account on the most notorious, criminal prisons of the Soviet Union, Butirka, to which an aging, free-spirited Jewish woman and her husband, caught for employing the mentally retarded, under Nikita Krushchev’s oppressive, anti-intellectual reign, are banished for ten years. This reading of global resonance features Ina Rosenthal, Howard Atlee, Brett Dykes, Heather Massie and Alexei Kostalevsky. A reception and short Q&A will follow. [note: there is no mention of this event on the Drama site so you may want to call ahead - 212.944.0595 - to confirm.]

Date: Monday, December 12th
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Drama Book Shop (250 West 40th Street between 7th and 8th)
Cost: Free

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Gates Fever Continues

In an effort to never let us forget The Gates, Cristo and Jeanne-Claude return to Strand Bookstore to personalize copies of their newest book on the subject (limited run of 5000). "Christo & Jeanne-Claude will personalize books and give a short introduction to this newest work. Wine will be served. Christo & Jeanne-Claude will receive no income from the sale of the book." If you have an art lover, or a Gates lover, on your list then this may be the perfect present to pick up.

Date: Wednesday, December 14th
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: The Strand (828 Broadway at 12th St.)
Cost: Free

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Serenity Now

"Unfortunately, the Buddha never taught a sutra called 'How to Practice Compassion in The Age of Multinational Capitalism.' No ancient Indian meditator tried to be mindful while sending a text message. No nun in a Tibetan monastery had to learn loving-kindness while being bombarded 24/7 by ads constructed to undermine her self-esteem. But if we want to understand the relevance of Buddhism here and now, then we have to learn how to do all of these things. "

Date: Wednesday, December 14th (and every Wednesday after)
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Lila Yoga and Dharma Center(302 Bowery at Houston, Buzzer #2)
Cost: By donation

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Bob Gruen on the New York Dolls

Not to be missed by any punk fans, rock photographer Bob Gruen discusses his new DVD “The New York Dolls – All Dolled Up.” The DVD is a documentary capturing the band in their early years and includes performances, TV shows and interviews over a three year period. Should be interesting as Gruen followed the band from early performances in NY and then on their tour of the west coast.

Date: Wednesday, December 14th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Borders Bookstore (10 Columbus Circle - 57th St. & 8th Ave)
Cost: Free

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Lesbian Erotica Readings

Any way you approach it, you can't go wrong with a thursday evening listening to authors and poets read their finest lesbian erotica. The Drunken! Careening! Writers! series is back at KGB tonight featuring the works of Eleen Myles, Anna Bishop, Skian McGuire and Zaedryn Meade.

Date: Thursday, December 15th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street)
Cost: Free

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Film Blogging Discussion

indieWIRE present some of it’s favourite film bloggers they will discuss various aspects of film making and their blogging. Those confirmed so far include: Karina Longworth (Cinematical), Scott Macaulay (Filmmaker Magazine Blog) and Alison Willmore (IFC News). The event will be moderated by indieWIRE Editor in Chief (and blogger) Eugene Hernandez.

Date: Friday, Decmeber 16th
Time: 7.30pm – 9.00pm
Location: Apple Store Soho 103 Prince Street btw Mercer and Greene
Cost: Free

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"Bob Dylan All Night"

Bob Dylan's music and legacy are discussed by music writers Ben Hedin, Robert Polito, David Gates and Dylan archivist Mitch Blank.

Date: Saturday, December 17th
Time: 7pm
Location: KGB Bar, 85 East 4th Street 212 505 3360
Cost: Free

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100 Posters and 134 Squirrels!

Joe Ryan has made posters for rock acts such as Sonic Youth and TV on the Radio. Tonight he will be discussing his new book: "100 Posters, 134 Squirrels, a Decade of Hot Dogs, Large Mammals, and Independent Rock: The Handcrafted Art of Jay Ryan."

Date: Sunday, December 18th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Lit (93 Second Ave Between 9th and 10th)
Cost: Free

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Mary Gaitskill and Noria Jablonski Readings

Tonight Mary Gaitskill reads from her new novel ‘Veronica.’ A recommended NYT read and described as a ‘mesmerizingly dark novel.’ She is most well known for writing the short story the ‘Secretary’ that the 2002 film was based on. Noria Jablonski reads from her collection 'Human Oddities.'

Date: Sunday, December 18th
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street)
Cost: Free

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Espo Book Signing

From the aNYthing crew... "Walk, Skate, Bicycle, Flap Yer Wings, Or Take An Over-Priced Taxi.... Do Whatever You Have To Get Down To The LES & Get Yer Book Signed By Espo. Check The Website For The Exclusive Espo Drop! Plus, New Songs Added To Genre Now Radio! Check It, Check It! Official Tissue!"

Date: Thursday, December 22nd
Time: 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Locaton: aNYthing (51 Hester St. btwn Ludlow & Essex)
Cost: Free

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New Year’s Day Marathon Reading

Spend the first day of the year (if you can get out of bed after last night!) at the 32nd New Years Day Reading Marathon.

Over 130 artists and authors from all corners of the New York art world are coming together to celebrate the New Year with an assortment of poetry, performance, dance and music.
Artists include: Anne Waldman, Penny Arcade, Steve Earle, Philip Glass, Taylor Mead and Lenny Kaye to name a few.

Date: Sunday, January 1st 2006
Time: 3.00pm
Location: St. Mark's Church, 131 E. 10th St. and Third Ave
Cost: $7

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2006 Is Totally The Future

Dorkbot is "a monthly meeting of artists sound/image/movement/whatever), designers, engineers, students and other interested parties from the new york area who are involved in the creation of electronic art (in the broadest sense of the term.)" And today's topic of conversation is Mikey Sklar: Chipped. Basically to sum it up, this dude, Mikey Sklar, will explain the process he used to install a RFID tag in his hand. He will discuss why he did this, the necessary materials, different tag options, and what people have been doing with these tag implants. 2006 is totally the future.

Date: Wednesday, December 4th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: 26 Greene Street, SoHo
Cost: Free

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21st Century Buddhism

My relationship with religion is ever-changing and a little volitile. But one thing I know for sure is there is a ton to be learned on the subject and important concepts to be taken away from each. The Interdependence Project is working on educating the public on issues relvant to Buddism and meditation in the 21st century. "Unfortunately, the Buddha never taught a sutra called 'How to Practice Compassion in The Age of Multinational Capitalism.' No ancient Indian meditator tried to be mindful while sending a text message. No nun in a Tibetan monastery had to learn loving-kindness while being bombarded 24/7 by ads constructed to undermine her self-esteem." If these are things you ponder about as well, you may want to check out their lecture tonight.

Date: Wednesday, January 4th
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Lila Yoga and Dharma Center, 302 Bowery Buzzer #2
Cost: Free

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How the Rich get Thin

If you're like me, you ate way too much over the holidays. If you are not like me, you constantly wonder how the rich and famous stay stick thing. Well, tonight Dr. Jana Klauer, M.D., one of New York's premier weight control doctors, discusses the diet secrets of the high society at this Borders instore to hype her new book How The Rich Get Thin. It may just be the info you were looking for. I bet one of the tips is "do not to eat leftover Christmas cake for breakfast for 3 days straight..." Maybe that's why I will never make the high society.

Date: Thursday, January 5th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Borders (461 Park Avenue) - map it
Cost: Free

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Dog Days

Tonight stop by Barnes and Noble on Astor Place for Wonkette blogger, Ana Marie Cox, reading from her debut novel Dog Days. Dog Days is described as "is a wry and sexy story of the young movers and shakers in D.C." Sexy movers and shakers in D.C., I totally smell scandal in this one!

Date: Thursday, January 5th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble, 4 Astor Place
Cost: Free

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Elvis Reading

Jeff Scott reads from his book Elvis: Personal Archives.

Date: Monday, December 9th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble Chelsea, 675 Sixth Ave
Cost: Free

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Trump Signing

Donald Trump is trying to sell yet another new book and this afternoon will be signing copies of How To Build Wealth.

Date: Tuesday, December 10th
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble, 555 Fifth Avenue
Cost: Free

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Untitled

See written works come to life before your eyes tonight with up-and-coming actors performing ten pages of work by up-and-coming screenwriters.

Date: Thursday, January 12th
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Galapagos, 70 N. 6th St, Williamsburg,
Cost: Free

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Come Share The Dream

If you have turned on the news, read a newspaper, or walked to down the street lately, it is painfully obvious that neither in this country or the world at large have we reached Martin Luther King Jr's dream where people are "not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." I know most of us use today for an extra day of rest and relaxation, but if you are looking for a peice of the Dream today head over to BAM and join BK Borough Present Marty Markowitz as he welcomes Dr. Carolyn Goodwin and Fannie Lee Chaney - mothers of slain Missisippi civil rights activists Andrew Goodman and James Chaney - along with Gwen Ifill - Senior Correspondent for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer - to Brooklyn's iconic BAM Howard Gilman Opera House. Raul Midón and The Imani Singers of Medgar Evers College provide the soundtrack. Additionally, there is a screening of Standing on My Sister's Shoulders which will be preceded by a work-in-progress screening of the documentary Neshoba, introduced by director Tony Pagano (Micki Dickoff co-directed) at the BAM Rose Cinemas (1:30pm). Seating is first come, first served.

Date: Monday, January 16th
Time: 10:30am
Location: BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn
Cost: Free

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Honoring Dr. King and The Hip Hop Generation

Today stop in and honor DR. King, Civil Rights and The Hip Hop Generation. A celebration of the Life and Times of Dr. Martin Luther King, featuring a keynote address by writer and activist, Kevin Powell. Jacque Reid will be the Mistress of Ceremonies, with musical director DJ Reborn and a special performance by vocalist Shannone Holt.

Date: Monday, January 16th
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Hanson Place Central United Methodist Church, 15 Hanson Pl. btw. Ashland and St. Felix in downtown Brooklyn
Cost: Free

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Douglas Rushkoff Reads

Douglas Rushkoff, author of semial raver classics such as Ecstacy Club and Club Zero-G, reads from his latest novel, Get Back in the Box, tonight. This work is a far cry from the later, as it deals with business models and company/client relations.

Date: Tuesday January 17th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes and Noble (675 6th Avenue)
Cost: Free

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21st Century Buddism

My relationship with religion is ever-changing and a little volitile. But one thing I know for sure is there is a ton to be learned on the subject and important concepts to be taken away from each. The Interdependence Project is working on educating the public on issues relvant to Buddism and meditation in the 21st century. "Unfortunately, the Buddha never taught a sutra called 'How to Practice Compassion in The Age of Multinational Capitalism.' No ancient Indian meditator tried to be mindful while sending a text message. No nun in a Tibetan monastery had to learn loving-kindness while being bombarded 24/7 by ads constructed to undermine her self-esteem." If these are things you ponder about as well, you may want to check out their lecture tonight.

Date: Wednesday, January 18th
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Lila Yoga and Dharma Center, 302 Bowery Buzzer #2
Cost: Free

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At A Lust For Words

In the Flesh "is a new monthly reading series held the third Wednesday of every month at the appropriately named Happy Ending Lounge, and features the city's best erotic writers sharing stories to get you hot and bothered, hosted and curated by Village Voice sex columnist and acclaimed erotic writer and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. From erotic poetry to down and dirty smut, these authors get naked on the page and will make you lust after them and their words. Future themed nights include fetishes, GLBT stories, true confessions and erotic memoirs."

Tonight, listen to the lustfull words of romance novelist Edith Layton (Gypsy Lover), fiction writer Danyel Smith (Bliss), and erotic storytellers Iris N. Schwartz (Stirring Up a Storm) and Rob Stephenson (Best Gay Erotica), along with a naughty tale from host Rachel Kramer Bussel. Also, free candy and erotic book door prizes! Honestly, free candy and erotic reading material, I'm totally going!

Date: Wednesaday, January 18th
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Happy Ending, 302 Broome St
Cost: Free

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STRAPPED: Why America's 20- and 30-Somethings Can't Get Ahead

Usually I just dismiss book lectures because there are thousands of them every day but this one caught my attention because I think it really speaks to the FreeNYC reader... "As Tamara Draut [in her new book Strapped] explains, getting ahead is getting harder. A college degree is the new high school diploma--but it now costs a fortune to get that degree and students graduate with crippling debts. Good jobs are scarcer thanks to stagnant wages and disappearing benefits. And, the cost of everything--starter homes, health coverage, childcare--keeps going up and up. Budding families, even those with two incomes, struggle to pay the bills, while Visa and Mastercard have become the new safety net. Young adults are starting out behind the financial eight ball--borrowing their way into adulthood and wondering whatever happened to the American Dream."

Date: Thursday, January 19th
Time: 6:30pm - 8:05pm
Location: Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway, Second Floor
Cost: Free

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Mo Politics, Mo Problems at Mo Pitkins

Jason Flores-Williams wrote about this event, stating "I've gotten together this event because I wanted to feature writers of our generation who actually have engaged in this dark time. This is going to be an intense gig." If your looking to hear what some current political writters have to say on the current state of affiars in this not so easy of times, drop by the upstairs lounge tonight at Mo Pitkins. Jason Flores-Williams, RNC protest organizer, former High Times political writer, reads from At The Crossroads, his first novel since the cult hit LastStand of Mr. America. Ted Hamm, founding editor of the Brooklyn Rail reads some of his new work and Dave Enders, last American journalist to enter Fallujah unembedded, reads from his new book, Baghdad Bulletin.

Date: Thursday, January 19th
Time: 9:30pm
Location: Mo Pitkins, 34 Avenue A
Cost: Free

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Dealing with your Rowdy Dog

(click to enlarge)

"If you need help and advice for your rowdy, energetic dog come to this free training clinic at Eva's Play Pups in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Dog Trainer Denise Herman, of Empire of the Dog in Brooklyn will give you cutting edge strategies for creating a calm, relaxed and respectful companion dog. This clinic is free to the public, dog professionals and anyone with unanswered questions about training dogs to be polite companions. However, we ask that you leave the pooches at home. Please RSVP."

Date: Saturday, January 21st
Time: 11:00am
Location: Eva's Play Pups (52 North 11th, Williamsburg)
Cost: Free with RSVP

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Joyce Carol Oates on Mystery

Esteemed author, Princeton professor, and winner of the Common Wealth Award for Distinguished Service in Literature, Joyce Carol Oates discusses her latest release, The Female of the Species, at this mystery-centric book store. In this collection of nine short stories, Oates brings classic murder and macabre to the upstate New York backdrop. The result is both relative and disturbing all at once.

Read an excerpt from "Female of the Species"
Enter to win a copy

Date: Monday, January 23rd
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: The Mysterious Bookshop (58 Warren Street)
Cost: Free

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Promoting Yourself On-Line

Got a business that you are trying to jump off but slacked a bit on Microeconomics back in college, hit up this lecture to day at the New York Public Library as Ilise Benun, a marketing consultant to small business owners and author of 133 Tips for Presenting Yourself and Your Business and Marketing Online, gives a lecture on making it in the digital world.

Date: Tuesday, January 24th
Time: 5:30pm
Location: Science, Industry, and Business Library (188 Madison Avenue)
Cost: Free

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Surviving Justice: America’s Wrongfully Convicted and Exonerated

Housing Works Bookstore Café is proud to welcome Dave Eggers and Lola Vollen, editors of the new McSweeney’s publication entitled Surviving Justice: America’s Wrongfully Convicted and Exonerated. Eggers and Vollen will be joined by Beverly Monroe and Christopher Ochoa, two exonerees featured in the book. A book signing and audience Q&A will follow the discussion.

Surviving Justice is an attempt to expose a disgraceful situation that continues throughout our country—men and women sent to prison for someone else’s crime. It is a joint project of McSweeney’s and the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. The publication of Surviving Justice coincides with the New Yorker Films release of Jessica Sanders’s and Marc Simon’s After Innocence, the winner of the Sundance Jury Prize in 2005."

Date: Tuesday, January 24
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby, btw Houston and Prince
Cost: Free

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About Face: The Ethical Implications of Face Transplantations

So I think I can safely say that this is one of the strangest things I have ever written about. Apparently face transplants are now all the rage in the medical world and if this creeps anyone out, dont worry your not alone. Besides this seeming totally weird and sci-fi to me there are a whole crap load of people who think this Nick Cage procedure is totally uncalled for. Tonight medical experts from Mount Sinai, NYU, the Rogosin Institute and the Jewish Theological Seminary will discuss the ethical implications of face transplants.

Date: Monday, January 30th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Jewish Theological Seminary, 3080 Broadway
Cost: Free

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Inequality Matters: A Public Forum with Paul Krugman

"At least eight million people live in each of the American mega-cities—New York, L.A., and Chicago to name a few. These cities and their surrounding suburbs are characterized by political fragmentation and racial and income segregation, impeding the efforts of low-income families to rise out of poverty and educate their children. This lecture will review the disparities that exist within a metropolis and discuss how a city and its suburbs negotiate these disparities."

Date: Tuesday, January 31st
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: New School, Wollman Hall (64 West 11th St, 5th Floor)
Cost: Free

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Lou Reed Signing

Music legend Lou Reed signs copies of his book: Lou Reed’s New York. A photography book featuring images of New York City.

Date: Saturday, Febuary 4th
Time: 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: Hermes, 691 Madison Ave
Cost: Free

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I'm With the Band

The stylish, exuberant, and remarkably sweet confession of one of the most famous groupies of the 1960's and 70's is back in print in this new edition that includes an afterword on the author's last fifteen years of adventures. Event will feature celebrity guest readers, including actress Sandra Bernhard. Reading, Q&A, Signing, Reception.

Date: Saturday, January 4th
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Coliseum Books (11 W. 42nd St.)
Cost: Free

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Tales of the City: Design in Service of Cultural Mediation

A new semester means a new series of Global Issues in Design & Visuality lectures. This lectures series is part of the Parsons School of Design curriculum for new media students. Each week a different pressing global issues is addressed. The lectures are designed to span all facets of design (industrial, graphic, fashion, etc) and are a great way to keep the brain matter lit up now that you've graduated. Tonight's lecture, Tales of the City: Design in Service of Cultural Mediation, Brings Fred Dust of IDEO to the microphone. "IDEO, the largest design and engineering firm in the world, renowned for its multi-disciplinary design practice, has expanded the consulting service model to the realm of social organization. Dust will present case studies of IDEO’s work with clients ranging from Native American tribes to the Finnish government." IDEO also designed the first Apple mouse for the LISA computer.

Date: Tuesday, February 7th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm, Sharp
Location: New School, Swayduck Auditorium (65 5th Ave)
Cost: Free

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Meet Jackie Collins!!

Best selling author Jackie Collins, is reading from and signing her new book 'Lovers and Players.' Fans will be pleased to know the book meets her usual glamour-heavy Collins trashtastic style.

Date: Tuesday, 7th Febuary
Time: 7:00 PM.
Location: Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway
Cost: Free

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Patti Smith: Auguries of Innocence

Patti Smith, seminal LES artist and punk rock originator, reads and signs her latest book of poetry Auguries of Innocence. "Patti Smith is a poet, artist, and musician. Her band, the Patti Smith Group helped to open up the New York musical scene, centered on the iconic rock venue CBGBs in the early 70s. Together the band produced four influential albums: Horses, Radio Ethiopia, Easter, and Wave. Patti is the author of Witt, Babel, Wool Gathering, The Coral Sea, and Complete, a catalog of lyrics, photographs, and reflections. Her drawings have been exhibited at the Robert Miller Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Pompidou Center in Paris. Auguries of Innocence is her first collection of poems since 1979." As this event is open to the public but created for students, we suggest early arrive as seating may be limited.

Date: Wednesday, February 8th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Cooper Union, Great Hall (7 East 7th St at 3rd Ave)
Cost: Free

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Olympic Culture

The "Global Issues in Design and Visuality" lecture series continues to day with a discussion of national and post-national identities... "Modern Olympic Games are usually promoted as extravagant events that offer world-wide visibility to the host-city, while also strengthening the bonds of the local community. At the same time, the Olympics are often criticized as being representative of a rootless, ahistorical culture, 'a lexicon of deceit and self delusion' that takes the subject of 'shared humanity' as its pretext and distorts it to fit particular ideologies. This lecture examines the role of design in affirming established identities or configuring new ones. It questions whether the Olympic city and the design aspects involved, from the athletes’ uniforms to the stadia themselves, can be instrumental in the configuration of post-national identities in an era that nurtures social attachments that cut across national borders."

Date: Tuesday, February 14th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Parsons, Swwayduck Auditorium (65 Fifth Ave.
Cost: Free

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What Makes an Image Iconic?

(photo copyright by Dorothea Lange)

Aperture, Parsons and the Vera List Center for Art and Politics are teaming up for a panel discussion tonight exploring the qualities that make a photograph's impact last. In the end, we as if it is possible to predict which images will be deemed “great” or emblematic of our times. Moderated by Diana Edkins, Director of Exhibitions and Limited-Edition Photographs, Aperture.

Date: Wednesday, February 15h
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Parsons, Tishman Auditorium (66 West 12th St)
Cost: Free, first come first server

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Ian MacKaye on Storytelling

I grew up on punk rock, 7", bad VFW hall shows and all the other facets of punk pre-Blink182. Hell, I even saw Billy Joe play with Pinhead Gunpoweder before Green Day (hows that for "punker then you" arrogance). So tonight is a special treat as Ian MacKaye - lead singer of seminal bands Minor Threat and Fugazi - steps it up to discuss the art of storytelling at NYU tonight. This event is for NYU kids only but the public can grab tickets starting at 12:30.

Date: Wednesday, February 15th
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Location: NYU, Eisner & Lubin Auditorium @ NYU Kimmel Center (60 Washington Square South at Laguardia Place, 4th Floor)
COST: FREE - "Tickets are available for FREE at NYU Ticket Central (566 Laguardia Place). Must have an NYU ID to pickup tickets in advance (limit 2 per ID). Tickets will be available to the general public beginning at 12:30 pm on the day of show."

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In The Flesh Erotic Reading Series

"Bask in the post-Valentine’s Day afterglow with the hottest, sexiest words in the city! [...] From erotic poetry to down and dirty smut, these authors get naked on the page and will make you lust after them and their words." We here at FreeNYC really appreciate the written word, especially when they are dirty words! And seriously hot does this sound? Tonight's In The Flesh Erotic Reading Series features the work of M.J. Rose (Lip Service, The Delilah Complex), Carol Taylor(Wanderlust: Erotic Travel Tales, Brown Sugar series), Lauren Sanders (With or Without You, Kamikaze Lust), and two contributors to Wanderlust, Melvin E. Lewis and SekouWrites, along with a naughty tale from host Rachel Kramer Bussel. Plus there will be free candy!

Date: Wednesday, February 15th
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Happy Ending Lounge, 302 Broome
Cost: Free

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Advertising, Culture and Globalization: Producing the Indian Consumer

"William Mazzarella is the author of Shoveling Smoke. Mazzarella’s lecture will draw on his ethnographic research on the advertising and marketing world of Mumbai in order to explore the manner in which the globalization of markets puts a premium on the reinvention of cultural difference. Mazzarella is Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chicago. The Stephan Weiss Memorial Lecture Series was launched to commemorate the life of the late artist & sculptor, Stephan Weiss, husband and business partner of fashion designer Donna Karan."

Date: Thursday, February 16th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Loation: New School, Wollman Hall (65 West 11th St, 5th Fl)
Cost: Free, please RSVP

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Drunken! Careening! Writers!

I'll be honest, I love to read, but these days I have the attention span of Blink 182 fan when it comes to my prose. That, and its really hard to hold a book with a beer in one hand and a shot of Jack in the other. Thankfully, Drunken! Careening! Writers! is back again this month at KGB Bar (a place where I - oddly enough - popped my 21 year old drinkers cherry). The premise is simple, each month the writers must read a piece which well written, under 15 minutes in length, and make you laugh at some point. Tonights reader/writers are Anne Elliot, boni joi, and Clem Paulsen. Bios after the jump.

Date: Thursday, February 16th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street)
Cost: Free

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Raw Word Readings

Did you ever write something and wonder whether it was actually good or whether you just thought it was actually good. (Chances are if you read this website you have seen instances of both! Ha!) Well this is a great oppritunity for you to both judge and be judged. The Raw Word Readings are up-and-coming actors cold-reading original screenplay excerpts by up-and-coming screenwriters. Click here to submit your screenplay.

Date: Thursday, February 16th
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Rock Candy, 35 East 21st
Cost: Free

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The Self Versus the Fashion Industry

It takes quite a title for me to get excited about an event with no description. But that's exactly what this week's Global Issues in Design & Visuality lecture did when I learned the subject was "The Self versus the Fashion Industry." Something every designer deals with is trend, market, brand verses self, etc and having worked in fashion for years I can attest that compromises are made every day. It will be interesting to see how Van Dyk Lewis, Assistant Professor in the Department of Textiles and Apparel at Cornell University, approaches the subject. This is a college lecture but all are welcome (be on time or the teacher WILL yell at you).

Date: Tuesday, February 21st
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Swayduck Auditorium, Parsons (65 Fifth Ave.)
Cost: Free

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Dylan Thomas Bus Tour

To celebrate Wales week in New York 2006 two free Dylan Thomas bus tours are taking place today. The tour talks about the life of the Welsh literacy legend and we will pass places that he visited, read at, and stayed at. His famous poems include Under Milk Wood and The Hunchback in the Park. Thomas died in New York in 1953 while on his third lecture tour - most likely from excessive drinking and an injection of morphine so expect the tour to visit various famous Greenwich pubs like Chumleys.

Date: Saturday, February 25th
Time: First tour: 10.30am to 12.30pm Second tour: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Location: Meeting point (92nd Y Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street)
Cost: Free with RSVP

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Branding by Artists

"How have artists participated in their representation in the past? How do they work as co-curators and co-producers of their work today? This lecture examines how artists are participating in the production and the consumption of their work through the notion of branding. Historical examples, such as Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys, will be discussed as precedents to contemporary branded artists, such as Damien Hirst and Maurizio Cattelan who capitalize on the conflation of publishing, communications, art production and the market. Among the other artists to be discussed are: Takashi Murakami, Tracey Emin, Vanessa Beecroft, and Christian Philip Mueller." Part of the Global Issues in Design & Visuality series.

Date: Tuesday, February 28th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm, sharp
Location: Parsons, Swayduck Auditorium (65 Fifth Ave)
Cost: Free

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Political Cartooning

Tonight meet America's most kick ass radical cartoonist Stephanie McMillan and columnist Ted Rall as Stephanie reads from her new book Minimum Security.

Date: Wednesday, March 1st
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble (396 Sixth Ave)
Cost: Free

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The Deadly Politics of Industrial Pollution

Date: Monday, March 5th
Time: 6:00pm
Location: NYU, Bobst Library 10th floor (70 Washington Square South)
Cost: Free
Summary:Authors Gerald Markowitz and David Rosner discuss the effects of the chemical industry on our public health.

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The Pure Products of America go Crazy

Date: Tuesday, March 7th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm, sharp
Location: Parsons, Swayduck Auditorium
Cost: Free
Summary: Free-market capitalism and product design make for bedfellows at this week edition of the Global Issues in Design & Visuality lecture series.

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KLEPTO Reading

Date: Wednesday, March 8th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Coliseum Books (11 West 42nd Street, Btw 5th and 6th)
Cost: Free
Summary:Reading, KLEPTO is about two women's quest for fashion in 1980's New York

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Bukowski Forever And Ever

Date: Thursday, March 9th
Time: 10:00pm
Location: Bowery Poetry Club (308 Bowery)
Cost: Free
Summary:New York's literary underground celebrates the greatness that is Charles Bukowski.

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Macin on Macaulay Culkin

Date: Monday, March 13th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes and Noble, Union Square (33 E 17th)
Cost: Free
Summary: Macaulay Culkin puts in some face time for his new book, Junior.

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The Imaginary Cultures of Online Multiplayer Video Games

Date: Tuesday, March 15th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Parsons, Swayduck Auditorium (65 5th Ave)
Cost: Free
Summary: "Just as globalization has accelerated the mobility of people, images, and products, constantly reconfiguring the cultures associated with them, massively multiplayer online gaming has become a universe of identities (and geographies) constantly in the making..."

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Letters from New Orleans

Date: Tuesday, March 14th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Mo Pitkins (34 Avenue A)
Cost: Free
Summary: New York Times columnist Rob Walker reads from, discusses, and perhaps answers questions about his essay collection Letters From New Orleans, covering such topics as celebratory gunfire, urban decay, the relationship between people and places, and the pros and cons of masking. Free food at 6:30, reading at 7.

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The 2006 Marshall McLuhan Lecture with Andy Borowitz

Date: Tuesday, March 21st
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Cantor Film Center, NYU (36 East 8th St between University and Greene)
Cost: Free with RSVP
Summary: Comedian, Satirist, and parody news writer Andy Borowitz of the Borowitz Report will deliver the "2006 Marshall McLuhan Lecture" at NYU today. Your guess is as good as mine as to what Borowitz has to say about visionary media theorist McLuhan but the press release states that... "the Marshall McLuhan Lecture celebrates the intellectual heritage of the Canadian media visionary who declared 'the medium is the message.'"

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Photojournalism Lecture

Date: Wednesday, March 22nd
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Parsons, Tishman Auditorium (66 West 12th Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: Tonight different perspectives on photojournalism in the past 50 years are discussed in honor of the publication of They are: Photojournalism in Context Since 1955. Speakers include historian and author Mary Panzer, New York Times director of photography Michele McNally, photojournalists Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin and photographer Susan Meiselas.

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Feminism/Post-Feminism on Film: Is the Women's Movement Still Necessary?

Date: Thursday, March 23rd
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Donnell Library (20 W. 53 Street 212-621-0609)
Cost: Free
Summary: Brush up on your feminism film world knowledge tonight with this free lecture to celebrate Women's History Month.

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Can't Stop Won't Stop

Date: Thursday, March 23th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Housing Works Bookstore Cafe (126 Crosby beteen Houston and Prince)
Cost: Free (book donations welcome)
Summary: Touré and Jeff Change school you on the history of hip hop with a background soundtrack from Qool DJ Marv. Discussion followed by books signing and dancing.

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Dominant Divas!

Date: Thursday, March 23rd
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Babeland (94 Rivington Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: Tonight Babeland holds a party and book signing for Julie Taylor and Georgia Payne's book 'How To Be A Dominant Diva.' If you are one of the first 50 guests to show up tonight you recieve a free Dominant Diva paddle!

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Creating Illustrated Children's Books

Date: Friday, March 24th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes and Noble (675 Sixth Ave)
Cost: Free
Summary: In association with the School for Visual Arts tonight there is a panel discussion on making children's books.

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Manga Readings

Date: Thursday, March 30th
Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: Tonight the KGB Bar kicks off the Museum of Sex's March 16th art opening of Peeping, Probing & Porn: Four Centuries of Graphic Sex in Japan with a night of Manga and Anime.

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Freelancing Goes Mainstream

Date: Monday, April 3rd
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Mid-Manhattan Library (455 5th Ave)
Cost: Free
Summary: Sara Horowitz, founder of Working Today talks about the struggles and problems of the independant workforce at this library event. Something that hits home with FreeNYC.

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Dorkbot

Date: Wednesday, April 5th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Location One (26 Greene Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: Its time for another instalment of Dorkbot, the group of people that gather to discuss some of the weirder things people try to do with electricty. On the line up today is John Arroyo talking about Eingen Rhythm Software, Jeff Han on Multi-Touch Interaction Research and John Huntington discussing how to synchronize live performance with musical time.

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Music Scene Critic

Date: Wednesday, April 5th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Housing Works Used Book Cafe (126 Crosby Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: If you aspire to get into the music industry, tonight join music journos Chuck Klosterman (Spin), Elysa Garner (USA Today), Alan Light (Vibe, Spin, Tracks) and more of their contempories as they give the real story on breaking into the world of rock criticism.

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Cringe Reading Night

Date: Wednesday, April 5th
Time: 8:30pm
Location: Freddy's Bar & Backroom (Dean & 6th Ave., Brooklyn)
Cost: Free
Summary: When I was in middle school I used to keep a diary about boys I liked, girls I didn't and all around young girl sillyness. Now when my liltle sister was mad at me and would read it, it was sorta embarassing, now picture it being read in public to a room full of people. The Cringe Reading series is "Funny people reading from their old diaries, letters, songs, poems, and other general representations of the crushing misery of their humiliating adolescence, but it's okay because they're totally cool and well-adjusted and super attractive now." Today is their first b-day, so come out and cringe with the rest of us.

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Poetry, Prose & Anything Goes

Date: Friday, April 7th
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: The Mad Hatters' Review brings their innaugural "anything goes" reading series to KGB tonght. Expect the dark, twisted side of the NY literary scene. Reader's bios after the jump.

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Divining the Tea Leaves

Date: Monday, April 10th
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Theresa Lang Student and Community Center (55 West 13th St, 2nd Floor)
Cost: Free, Please RSVP
Summary: A panel of steemed speakers discuss a post-election analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. See presenter list below or on the site.

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High Lonesome Reading

Date: Monday, April 10th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: McNally-Robinson Booksellers (50 Prince St bet Lafayette and Mulberry)
Cost: Free
Summary: Joyce Carol Oates discusses High Lonesome, an unprecedented collection of the best of Joyce Carol Oates' short stories combined with eleven new stories.

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Do Away With Tax Day

Date: Tuesday, April 11th
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30p,
Location: The Graduate Center, The City University of New York (365 Fifth Avenue)
Cost: Free
Summary: In the midst of tax time the "IRS estimates 6 billion hours will be spent in tax compliance, at a cost of $265 billion. This amounts to 22 cents for every dollar collected." Tonight Neal Boortz of The Neal Boortz Radio Show and the author of The FairTax Book squares off against Michael J. Graetz of the Yale School of Law and author of The Decline (and Fall?) of the Income Tax. They take a look at what tax reform should look like.

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Behind The Book

Date: Thursday, April 13th
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 East Fourth Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: Behind the Book is literacy nonprofit working with
low-income students in New York City public schools. Tonight Angie Cruz (Let It Rain Coffee, Soledad), Sheila Maldonado (poetry published in Rattapallax, Meridians, and
Promethean), and Nelly Rosario (Song of the Water Saints; a
Village Voice 'Writer on the Verge') stop by to read their work. A good alternative for a not so rowdy, but still fun Wednesday night.

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Jane Fonda

Date: Monday, April 17th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble USQ (33 E. 17th St.)
Cost: Free
Summary: Tonight Jane Fonda, actress, activist, feminist, wife, and workout guru (and now philanthropist) reads from and signs copies of her book 'My Life So Far.' The book covers her very diverse career, three marriages, eating disorders, mothers suicide and apart from being slightly over self-analyzing could prove interesting.

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In the Flesh Reading Series

Date: Wednesday, April 19th
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Happy Ending (302 Broome St. at Eldridge)
Cost: Free
Summary: In April, New York’s hottest personalities share their 100% true sex confessions. From bad sex to porn obsessions to prostitutes and more, they’ll make you cringe, laugh, and turn you on (maybe even all three at once!). In the Flesh is a monthly reading series featuring the city's best erotic writers sharing stories to get you hot and bothered, hosted and curated by Village Voice sex columnist and acclaimed erotic writer/editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. From erotic poetry to down and dirty smut, these authors get naked on the page and will make you lust after them and their words.

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An Evening with National Book Authors

Date: Friday, April 21st
Time: 6:00pm
Location: CUNY Graduate Center Auditorium (365 Fifth Ave at 34th St)
Cost: Free
Summary: "The National Book Foundation and the Center for the Humanities, CUNY, invites New Yorkers to spend an evening with 2005 National Book Awards Winners Joan Didion (Nonfiction) and W.S. Merwin (Poetry) at the Graduate Center, CUNY." Bios after the jump.

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Raw Words at KGB

Date: Saturday, April 22nd
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 E. 4th)
Cost: Free
Summary: It suppossed to be rainiy this weekend, so step in a dry off at KGB Bar. Tonight catch some raw words from Contemporary Press. Enjoy "quick and dirty reads" from Carl Moore, Mike Segretto, Tony O'Neilland Jeff Somers with Jess Dukes as the emcee.

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Because The L Likes Drunk Writers

Date: Thursday, April 27th
Time: 8:30pm
Location: The Baggot Inn (82 W. 3rd St.)
Cost: Free
Summary: The L Magazine hosts the 2nd Annual Literary Upstart and has selected writers to come out and read their short fiction in front of some publishing bigwigs. The winners get published in The L's Summer Fiction Issue. And if literary excitment isn't stimulating enough for you, there is free Red Hook from 8:30 to 9:30.

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Cringe

Date: Wednesday, May 4th
Time: 8:30pm
Location: Freddy's Backroom (Dean Street & 6th Ave, BK)
Cost: Free
Summary: A few years back someone uncovered Cringe creator Liz's diary and thought it best to share her high school thoughts with all of her friends. She then made this idea into a monthly reading series. Come down to Freddy's Back room and share and hear readings from peoples "diaries, journals, notes, letters, poems, abandoned rock operas, and other general representations of the crushing misery of their humiliating adolescence."

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Narrating Race and Italianità

Date: Thursday, May 4th
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Catholic Newman Center at the Studen Union - Room 208, Queens College
Cost: Free (call 212.642.2094 to RSVP)
Summary: Join in this day long discussion of "Language and Text in the Construction of Race and Italian Americans" See below for long version and directions.

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SMUT

Date: Monday, May 9th
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Galapagos Art Space (70 North 6th St, Williamsburg)
Cost: Free
Summary: Smut is a weekly series dedicated to high frisk art, poetry, writing, and performance. Tonight's bill features Brooklyn poet Jessica Mercado, Short Fiction writes Roger Pinnell, comedian Cheryl B of Poetry Vs. Comedy, and a performance by Joseph Keckler and Erin Markey. Its all followed by hula-hooping burlesque at 10pm so make a night of it already!

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Take That Hill

Date: Friday, May 12th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: Anything that's described to me as "Craploads of revelry" I feel needs to be checked out. Tonight KGB Bar joins up with Barrelhouse to present Take that Hill, an evening of short movies and short stories.

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n+1

Date: Tuesday, May 16th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: The Kitchen (512 W. 19th St)
Cost: Free
Summary: "Semi-annual literature, culture and politics magazine du jour, n+1, celebrates its fourth issue tonight at The Kitchen. There will be readings, music and a panel discussion among authors Caleb Crain and Vivian Gornick with n+1 editors Keith Gessen and Benjamin Kunkel."

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Thinking Locally, Mapping Globally

Date: Monday, May 22nd
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: Healy Hall, Science, Industry and Business Library (188 Madison Avenue)
Cost: Free
Summary: "Yo where's the movie playing? Upper west side dude! / Let's hit up Yahoo Maps to find the dopest route. / I prefer MapQuest! that's a good one too. / Google Maps is the best! True that! Double true!" The technology of mapping has changed radically with the advent of computers and the Web. Drawing on his personal collection of over 150,000 historical maps, David Rumsey will examine the past, present, and future of mapping information, including his most recent work on the use of historic maps in three-dimensional spaces.

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Seven Intellectuals in Bamboo Forest

Date: Tuesday, May 23rd
Time: 8:00pm - 9:30pm
Location: China Institute (125 East 65th St)
Cost: Free with Registration
Summary: Filmmaker/video artist Yang Fudong draws on traditional Chinese art to render this work into a contemporary setting for an international audience. Part 1 is from a series of five films that are adaptations of the traditional Chinese story and art theme known as The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove and was filmed among the craggy and lush, mist-strewn environment of Yellow Mountain.

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2nd Annual Literary Upstart!

Date: Thursday, May 25th
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Baggot Inn (82 W. 3rd St. btwn. Sullivan & Thompson)
Cost: Free with RSVP
Open Bar: 8:30pm - 9:30pm Red Hook
Summary: The L Magazine is holding their second annual reading event for select writers to get up in front of some "publishing industry bigwigs," including Ben Greenman from the New Yorker, and read their short fiction. (sorry, but the submissions have already been selected, it's not an open mic). Cash prizes will be given away as well as a shot at getting published in L Magazine's Summer Fiction Issue. I'm not sure what happened last year, but I'll be very interested to see how this year's winners fair in their noble quest to attain some kind of recognition in the crowded world of short fiction writing.

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Andrea Robbins and Max Becher

Date: Thursday, May 25th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Aperture Foundation (547 West 27th St, 4th Fl)
Cost: Free
Summary: Husband and wife team, Andrea Robbins and Max Becher, will speak about their new book, The Transportation of Place, which focuses on "situations which one limited or isolated place strongly resembles another distant one." Examples include Germans dressing as Native Americans and the New York-New York casino's skyline in Las Vegas.

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Drunken! Careening! Writers!

Date: Thursday, May 25th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 East 4th St)
Cost: Free
Summary: In this all-female rendition of Drunken! Careening! Writers!, Janice Erlbaum, Tricia Pool, an dStaci Swedeen take to the stange to entertain you with excepts from their latest works. Drunken! Careening! Writers! is a monthly reading series dedicated to the proposition that readings should be: excellent, well-read pieces that have at least one thing in them that makes people laugh (nervous laughter counts), and don't run more than 15 minutes each.

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Looking Towards the Préval Presidency: A Reading and Discussion on Haiti's Future

Date: Thursday, June 1st
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Wollman Hall, The New School (65 W. 11th St., 5th Fl.)
Cost: Free with RSVP
Summary: We keep hearing about how things suck in Iraq (which they do!), but things have been sucking in other countries as well, particularly Haiti and it's been that way for a while. This reading and discussion, featuring journalist and author Michael Deibert, is being presented by The New School and The United Nations Association of New York’s Young Professionals for International Cooperation (how's that for a mouthful). Drinks & light appetizers will be served.

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Mad Hatters' Review

Date: Friday, Thursday, June 1st
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: The Mad Hatters' Review brings their innaugural "anything goes" reading series to KGB tonght. Expect the dark, twisted side of the NY literary scene. Reader's bios after the jump.

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The Good Dr. Melfi

Date: Tuesday, June 6th
Time: 1:00pm
Location: Barnes and Nobles (555 5th Ave at 46th St)
Cost: Free
Summary: A former Wilhelmina model, and Brooklyn Native, Lorraine Bracco a.k.a. Dr. Jennifer Melfi on The Sopranos stops by Barnes and Nobles to discuss her new tell-all autobiography, On the Couch.

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Chuck Palahniuk Reading @ The Strand

Date:Tuesday, June 6th
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: Strand Bookstore (828 Broadway at 12th St)
Cost: Free
Summary: The author of the infamous "Fight Club" Chuck Palahniuk will be reading from his new book "Haunted". I heard when his last book came out people were passing out and vomiting at the reading. In this new anthology themes include cannibalism, murder and corpse decay. Who said writers don't know how to party?

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An Inconvenient Truth

Date: Monday, June 12th
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble (2289 Broadway)
Cost: Free
Summary: While George Bush claims that the "jury is still out on Global Warming," you like the millions of other people across the globe may be slightly concerned about the severe climate changes that are occuring. Remember when it used to snow on the East Coast? Possibly one of the biggest defenders of the climate as of late, Al Gore stops by Barnes & Noble to discuss his book An Inconcevient Truth.

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A Brief History of Rapid Change

Date: Monday, June 19th
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: 136 Second Ave
Cost: Free with RSVP
Summary: Does anyone else remember when rent in Williamsburg was resonably priced? And when its residents were artists and old grandmas and grandpas, and not NYU trustfund babies? Well if you don't remember, I'm sure that The Foundry Theatre does. Today they lead a roundtable discussion entitled Rent, Real Estate & Neighborhoods: A Brief History of Rapid Change. Brad Lander of Pratt Institute will be on hand to explain changes in city planning, urban development, and the housing market.

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In The Flesh Reading Series

Date: Wednesday, June 21st
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Happy Ending (302 Broome Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: "This Gay Pride month, come celebrate queerness in all its rainbow of colors with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender erotica at In The Flesh, a monthly reading series featuring the city's best erotic writers sharing stories to get you hot and bothered."

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DJ Spooky: ”The Art of the Remix”

Date: Tuesday, June 27th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Apple Store Soho (103 Prince St.)
Cost: Free
Summary: "Join remix master Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky that Subliminal Kid, for a hands-on look at musical track building on the Mac... with an emphasis on the history of remixing, DJ Spooky will trace back today’s popular sounds to many jamaican dub influenced roots." [personal note... DJ Spooky's Necropolis changed the way I listened to music forever... pick that $#!# up. There are few artists that can both define a sound and defy it...]

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Sayonara Home Run! Book Signing

Date: Wednesday, June 28th
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: GRNY (437 East 9th St bet. 1st and A)
Cost: Free
Summary: "Giant Robot is proud to host a book signing by John Gall, the author and designer of Sayonara Home Run! The book chronicles the evolution of baseball in Japan through the art of its trading cards. In the process, it puts the spotlight on certain players (from Saduharu Oh to Ichiro Suzuki) and aspects of history (including relations with the U.S. during the postwar Occupation). As a result, the book will appeal will fans of the sport, Japanese culture, art, design, and history."

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Lewis Black

Date: Monday, July 10th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble (6th Ave at 21st St)
Cost: Free
Summary: In his new book, Nothin's Sacred, The Daily Show's classic satirist Lewis Black touches on topics of religion, politics, and is own upbringing. Tonight he discuss the work with a Q & A at B & N.

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Collectanea* Reading

Date: Thursday, July 13th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Mo Pitkin’s House of Satisfaction (31 Ave. A)
Cost: Free
Summary: Organized by nycollective this evening features readings from the Summer 06 issue of Collectanea* at "the coolest address in town."

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Upstairs at the Square

Date: Wednesday, July 19th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble USQ (33 East 17th Street at Union
Square)
Cost: Free
Summary: In their continuing series, B&N brings notable current authors and notable current songsmiths together in their upstairs café. Tonight's evening features Absurdistan author Gary Shteyngart, underground pop sensation Sondre Lerche, and journalist Katherine Lanpher. Bio's after the jump.

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In the Flesh Reading Series

Date: Wednesday, July 19th
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Happy Ending (302 Broome Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: "In the Flesh is a monthly reading... [featuring] the city's best erotic writers sharing stories to get you hot and bothered, hosted and curated by Village Voice sex columnist and acclaimed erotic writer and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. From erotic poetry to down and dirty smut, these authors get naked on the page and will make you lust after them and their words." This month's readers after the jump

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Middle East: Persepective

Date: Thursday, July 20th
Time: 4:30 - 6:00pm
Location: The B'nai Zion Building (136 E 39th Bet. Lex and 3rd Ave)
Cost: Free with RSVP (bring ID)
Summary: "Special briefing and discussion about the latest developments in the Middle East. Ambassador John Bolton, the U.S. Representative to the U.N; Ambassador Dan Gillerman, Israeli Representative to the U.N.; and Ambassador Arye Mekel, the Consul General of Israel in New York, will share with us their thoughts and perspectives on the situation and will answer questions from the audience."

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Ricky Powell Fan Club

Date: Thursday, July 20th
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: aNYthing (51 Hester St)
Cost: Free
Summary: People can't get enough of Ricky Powell. His iconic photographs of the 1980's NYC hip hop scene have basically defined the visual image of a time now past. Of course, having your name in a Beastie Boys song doesn't hurt either. Tonight he signs copies of his latest, Public Access, at LES hipster shop, aNYthing.

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Drunken! Careening! Writers!

Date: Thursday, July 20thth
Time: 7:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 East 4th St)
Cost: Free
Summary: "Drunken! Careening! Writers! is a reading series dedicated to the proposition that readings should be: excellent, well-read pieces that have at least one thing in them that makes people laugh (nervous laughter counts), and don't run more than 15 minutes each." Tonight is a special all-male edition (bios below)

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Nicky The Jazz Cat

Date: Saturday, July 29th
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: Big Apple Jazz (2236 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd bet. 131st and 132nd St)
Cost: Free
Summary: powerHouse books, publishers of most hipster must-read books, flips things this afternoon with a family friendly jazz celebration. "Carol Friedman, author of Nicky The Jazz Cat will read Nicky and host a jazzy sing-a-long with Nicky's Jazz For Kids CD, accompanied by very special guest jazz musicians."

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A Conversation on Aftican Hip-Hop, Youth, & Politics

Date: Wednesday, August 2nd
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Rotunda Gallery (33 Clinton St, Brooklyn)
Cost: Free
Summary: Acclaimed drummer and Nomadic Wax founder Ben Herson will moderate a discussion on African hip-hop, youth, and politics this evening which will feature pan-African hip-hop MCs Chosan of Sierre
Leone, Saaba Saaba of Uganda and Toni Blackman. The event is organized in conjunction with Celebrate Brooklyn’s annual African Music Festival. (full info PDF)

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Cringe

Date: Wednesday, August 2nd
Time: 8:30pm
Location: Freddy's Backroom (Dean Street & 6th Ave, BK)
Cost: Free
Summary: A few years back someone uncovered Cringe creator Liz's diary and thought it best to share her high school thoughts with all of her friends. She then made this idea into a monthly reading series. Come down to Freddy's Back room and share and hear readings from peoples "diaries, journals, notes, letters, poems, abandoned rock operas, and other general representations of the crushing misery of their humiliating adolescence."

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15 Minute Website

Date: Thursday, August 3rd
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Monkey Town (58 N 3rd St bet. Kent & Wythe)
Cost: Free
Summary: In this version of website 101, Erik Courson teaches the basics of setting up your own website: how to register a domain name, how to find and set up web hosting, basics of html, basics of images/graphics, how to upload your new site via FTP.

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MoCCA Mondays: Graphic Novels

Date: Monday, August 7th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (594 Broadway)
Cost: Free
Summary: Each Monday, the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art presents MoCCA Fool the World tells the Pixies' story in the words of those who lived it: from the band members to studio owners, from executives, producers and visual artists who worked with them to admirers of their music, such as Bono, PJ Harvey, Beck and Perry Farrell. Acoustic rocker Angry Lemon to celebrate the legend of Pixies with a live performance before and after the discussion."

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The Places In Between

Date: Tuesday, August 8th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Nobles (4 Astor Place)
Cost: Free
Summary: "In January 2002 Rory Stewart walked across Afghanistan-surviving by his wits, his knowledge of Persian dialects and Muslim customs, and the kindness of strangers. By day he passed through mountains covered in nine feet of snow, hamlets burned and emptied by the Taliban, and communities thriving amid the remains of medieval civilizations..."

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The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint

Date: Monday, August 14th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Nobles (6th Ave at 21st St)
Cost: Free
Summary: Back in 2003, Tommy Chong (of Cheech and Chong fame) was arrest at automatic weapon gunpoint in his California home under the DEA's Operation Pipe Dreams for running a glass pipe comoany known as Chong Glass. The the "'Pope of Pot' was sentenced to nine months in prison because his company shipped bongs to a head shop in Pennsylvania that was a front for the DEA." Well Tommy is back with a new book, The I Chong, that discusses his life long encounter with the war on drugs, the american politcal system and more. Tonight he discusses such matters at Barnes and Nobles.

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Duncan Sheik & Dennis Lehane - Upstairs at the Square

Date: Wednesday, August 16th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Nobles USQ (33 E 17th St)
Cost: Free
Summary: B&N continues their "Upstairs at the Square" series tonight with a reading by author Read More

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In the Flesh Reading Series

Date: Wednesday, August 16th
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Happy Ending (302 Broome Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: "In the Flesh is a monthly reading... [featuring] the city's best erotic writers sharing stories to get you hot and bothered, hosted and curated by Village Voice sex columnist and acclaimed erotic writer and editor Rachel Kramer Bussel. From erotic poetry to down and dirty smut, these authors get naked on the page and will make you lust after them and their words." This month's readers after the jump

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Michel Gondry at the Apple Store

Date: Tuesday, August 29th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Apple Store Soho (103 Prince St)
Cost: Free
Summary: Get the chance to peek into the mind of a one of today's hottest filmmakers as Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind Director and personal hero Michel Gondry pops by the Apple store. "Michel will discuss his narrative, documentary, and music video work, including his upcoming film, 'The Science of Sleep.'"

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Lonely Planet Party

Date: Wednesday, August 30th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Galapagos Art Space (70 N 6th St at Wythe, Williamsburg)
Cost: Free
Summary: "This evening will feature staffers from Lonely Planet, the leading global travel book company, and Roadtrip Nation, a cross country collegiate movement that empowers students to hit the road and define their own paths in life. The event will feature screenings of the forthcoming new PBS show season, Lonely Planet video clips, Q and A and a tour of the RTN touring RV which the students take out around the country."

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Bob Dylan Night

Date: Wednesday, August 30th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 E. 4th St)
Cost: Free
Summary: Bob Dylan's first new album in five years drops this month which means be on the look out for lots of Dylan-centric events. The first is this roundtable discussion at literary hang-out, KGB Bar. Join Ben Hedin, Bob Levinson, Mary Lee Kortes, Robert Polito, David Remnick and Alex Ross as they discuss the seminal songwriters life and times.

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Dylan-fest Continues!

Date: Tuesday, September 5th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: New School (66 W. 12th St, Rm 501)
Cost: Free with RSVP
Summary: NY's obsession with Bob Dylan continues tonight as Michael Gray discusses (or performs as the press release states) the great songwriter. Gray "uses a surprising selection of great records and rare video footage to show how hugely Dylan has been inspired by the blues and how much of its poetry has been smuggled inside his own, highly influential writing."

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Punishment of Virtue: Inside Afghanistan After the Taliban

Date: Wednesday, September 5th
Time: 7:00om
Location: The Half King (505 W. 23rd St btw. 10th & 11th)
Cost: Free
Summary: Former NPR correspondant Sarah Chayes reads from her latest "Punishment of Virtue: Inside Afghanistan After the Taliban" tonight. Book description after the jump

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Report from Israel: Arab and Israeli Citizens Face the Aftermath of War

Date: Thursday, September 7th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: JCC in Manhattan (334 Amerstdam Ave at 76th St)*
Cost: Free
Summary: "Close to half of the civilian casualties in the recent war were Israeli Arabs. Mohammed Darawshe, co-existence activist, political analyst and Israeli-Arab leader, will discuss the impact of the war on the Arab sector and its effect on the delicate relationship that exists between the Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel. Why is this issue central to Israel's long-term well-being, and why is it critical to repair and preserve the fabric of Arab and Jewish cooperation and dialogue? Mr. Darawshe brings a personal and professional view of both the promise and the challenge."

*Program room assignments will be available at the JCC Customer
Service Desk, in the lobby of the Samuel Priest Rose Building.

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PATRIOTIC: Dissent Readings and Town Hall on The 5th Anniversary of 9/11

Date: Monday, September 11th
Time: 9:00pm
Location: Mo Pitkins restaurant (34 Avenue A)
Cost: Free
Summary: This morning I told our dear publisher that on account of my personal beliefs and my disapproval of the way our government/media/country handled the events prior, of, and post September 11th that I refuse to post anything relative to its anniversary. And well, then I found this in my mailbox...

Tonight Mo Pitkins hosts PATRIOTIC: Dissent Readings and Town Hall on The 5th Anniversary of 9/11. "Bush is marking the 5th anniversary of 9-11. We are supposed to hang our heads, act like we believe in what he’s done for the last five years. We don’t, after all, want to be UNpatriotic. But dissent is the highest form of patriotism. So as an alternative to the administration’s agendizing of 9-11 there will be PATRIOTIC at Mo Pitkins..."

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Upcoming Tomorrow: The Sinner's Guide to The Evangelical Right

Here's a little head's up for tomorrow... Robert Lanham, author of the Hipster Handbook, is giving a reading tomorrow (Wednesday) in Greenpoint for his latest, The Sinner's Guide to The Evangelical Right. Tonight he reads and discusses such topics as "gayness," the Rapture, and - yes - Spongebob Squarepants. Check out all the information here.

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A Public Conversation with Newt Gingrich

Date: Wednesday, September 13th
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Tishman Auditorium, New School (66 West 12th St near 6th Ave)
Cost: Free with reservation
Summary: "An expert on healthcare, military issues, international affairs, and world history, [former Speaker of the US House of Representatives] Newt Gingrich will discuss how real change can help the poor, the powerless, and those left out of the American dream. He will draw heavily upon the argument of his best-selling 2005 book, Winning the Future: A 21st Century Contract With America.

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The Sinner's Guide to The Evangelical Right

Date: Wednesday, September 13th
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Greenpoint Reformed Church (138 Milton Street, Greenpoint)
Cost: Free
Summary: Robert Lanham, author of the Hipster Handbook, turns his pen towards the Evangelical right with his latest release, The Sinner's Guide to The Evangelical Right. Tonight he reads and discusses such topics as "gayness," the Rapture, and - yes - Spongebob Squarepants. Afterparty around the corner at The Pencil Factory. Full info here and much Longer diatribe below.

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Mad Hatter's Review

Date: Friday, September 15th
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street)
Cost: Free
Summary: The Mad Hatters' Review brings their innaugural "anything goes" reading series to KGB tonght. Expect the dark, twisted side of the NY literary scene. Reader's bios after the jump.

Posted by Lindsay at 7:00 PM | TrackBack | Email to a friend

Brooklyn Book Festival

Date: Saturday, September 16th
Time: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Location: Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza
Cost: Free
Summary: Ahhh books. Good for rainy days, subway rides, expanding the mind, and for fixing uneven table legs. Brooklyn celebrates its love for books and book writers at the annual Brooklyn Book Festival. Brooklynite writers such as Nicole Krauss, Colson Whitehead, Jhumpa Lahiri, Jonathan Lethem (!), Mo Willems (the Pigeon series!), Paula Fox, Philip Lopate and Darin Strauss - to name a few (of my favorites) - will be giving readings and lectures, having open discussions, and answering questions at different locations throughout the day.

Full list of writers, speakers, schedule and venues below.

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Free Creative Writing Workshops

Date: Tuesday, September 19th
Time: 7:00pm & 8:30pm
Location: Gotham Writer's Workshop (101 West 91st at Columbus Ave)
Cost: Free with enrollment
Summary: Looking to hone your creative writing skills a bit? Then check out these 12 free short creative writing classes tonight for a crash course in fiction, memoir, and even article writing. There will also be a brief intro to the Gotham Writer's Workshop for those who want to continue their pursuits further. It's all free you need to sign up on the site.

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Imagining New Public Space Panel Discussion

Date: Wednesday, September 20th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: 14th Street Y Theatre (344 E 14th St. @ 1st Ave.)
Cost: Free
Summary: Art in Odd Places, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
and The Public Space Research Group present this panel will be moderated by Alec Appelbaum, with panelists Bill Brown, Paul Carter, and Clarinda Mac Low.

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Gotham Writers Workshop Tonight

Date: Wednesday, September 20th
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center (1972 Broadway at 66th St.)
Cost: Free
Summary: Some where in my free time I'm supposed to be working on a screenplay... if only I had free time or uh knew how to write a screenplay. If you have time today though, Gotham Writers Workshop welcomes Alexander Steele, the author of Writing Movies. Steele who is also the dean at GWW will present a one-hour introductory workshop on the art of the screenwriting.

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Games + Animation

Date: Monday, September 25th
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: NYU’s Kimmel Center (60 Washington Sq. South)
Cost: Free, Reservation required: ac5@nyu.edu
Summary: A panel of digital artists, designers, developers and other relevant members of the digital industry will discuss topics relating to their field. All panel participants are members of a high-end animation house and game studio and will present one of their projects in a step-by-step walk-through to compare concept development and production workflow. Nerds, pull yourselves off ytmnd for a quick sec - this one’s for you.

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Art In General Residents Lecture

Date: Monday, September 25th
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Storefront for Art & Architecture
Cost: Free
Summary: Current Art in General residents Mona Marzouk and Rana El Nemr discuss their work this afternoon with Storefront Acting
Director Yasmeen M. Siddiqui. "The Artist Residency Program at Art in General gives national and international artists the opportunity to create art work in a new context, and to meet and interact with art communities and audiences in New York City."

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The Happy Ending Music and Reading Series

Date: Wednesday, September 27th
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Happy Ending (302 Broome St. btwn. Forsyth & Eldridge)
Cost: Free
Summary: This music and reading series takes place on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month. It's been dubbed the best reading series in NYC by New York mag and NY Press and host and curator Amanda Stern was recently featured in the NY Times Magazine as one of the "New Bohemians" who is keeping downtown alive. Indeed this series always features an exciting roster of contemporary literary talent. Tonight is the fourth season's premiere and includes readings from Kelly Kerney, Karen Russell and Lynne Tillman, with music from Marcellus Hall. Doors are at 7pm and getting there early is highly recommended. Click below for bios.

Posted by Kristopher at 8:20 PM | TrackBack | Email to a friend

Ekphrastic Evenings: Forgetting the F Word

Date: Thursday, September 28th
Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: 402 W. Broadway, 4th Fl. (W. Broadway and Spring)
Cost: Free with RSVP
Summary: Renée Vara is presenting what's described as "A new series of interviews, talks and open conversations to revive the classical poetic tradition of putting words together to describe and discuss art and visual culture in a non-partisan environment." Sounds great! Tonights panelists include Maura Reilly, Danielle Mysliwiec and Paddy Johnson. Click below for bios.

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"GI Resistance, Counter Recruitment and Getting Out of Iraq"

Date: Thursday, September 28th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Judson Memorial Church (55 Wash. Sq. at Thompson St.)
Cost: Free
Summary: Various antiwar writers and activists discuss what our government doesn't want us to - resistance to the war in Iraq found within the armed forces. Speakers include Veteran Jose Vasquez and author Anthony Arnoove. It's easy for us to have disdain for the war; come find out why some of the troops fighting in Iraq agree with us.

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Stephen Eisenman: The Abu Ghraib Effect: Images of Pathos from Pergamon to Picasso

Date: Tuesday, October 3rd
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Guggenheim (1071 5th Ave at 89th St)
Cost: Free
Summary: "From the ancient Pergamon Altar to the photographs of torture at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, images of conquered figures embracing their own deaths pervade visual culture. However, there also exists a tradition in modern art—including works by Pablo Picasso, Ben Shahn, Leon Golub, Gillo Pontecorvo, and others—that subverts this oppressive paradigm. This lecture addresses the nature of the opposition, and the political stakes for those involved."

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Sprawl: A Compact History

Date: Tuesday, October 3rd
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Location: The Urban Center (457 Madison Ave @ 51st St)
Cost: Free with RSVP
Summary: In this lecture, "controversial, best-selling author Robert Bruegmann, whose radical claims about urban history challenge conventional planning wisdom by highlighting the benefits of sprawl, will present his vision of the city to an expert panel of urban designers and historians who will debate their implications.

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KGB Bar's Riot Lit Collective

Date: Friday, October 6th
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 E. 4th st.)Cost: Free
Summary: Since it opened in 1993, KGB Bar has touted itself as a literary enclave in the big city. This installation of the KGB's Riot Lit Collective features N. Frank Daniels, Futureproof ("Really good shit," - James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces); Tony O'Neill, Digging the Vein ("Digging the Vein is mining diamonds for the crown of the king of hell." - John Giorno); and Jolene Siana, Go Ask Ogre ("Pure, lucid and engaging… more authentic for a new generation of young women than, say, the 1971 cautionary tale about drugs Go Ask Alice." - Susan Carpenter, L.A. Times).

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KGB Bar's Riot Lit Collective

Date: Sunday, October 8th
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: KGB Bar (85 E. 4th st.) Cost: Free
Summary: Since it opened in 1993, KGB Bar has touted itself as a literary enclave in the big city. This installation of the KGB's Riot Lit Collective features Fiction Writers Kelly Link and Shelley Jackson.

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Annie Leibovitz Book Signing

Date: Tuesday, October 10th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble, USQ (17th St. btw. Broadway and Park)
Cost: Free
Summary: Contemporary iconic photographer Annie Leibovitz discuss her life and her work today in honor of her new book. Over the last 30+ years Leibovitz has shot just about every celebrity you can think of and was recently invited to shoot the first photos of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes baby, Suri. Keep an eye out for her upcoming exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum of Art opening October 20th.

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The Happy Ending Music and Reading Series

Date: Wednesday, October 11th
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Happy Ending (302 Broome St. btwn. Forsyth & Eldridge)
Cost: Free
Summary: This music and reading series takes place on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month. It's been dubbed the best reading series in NYC by New York mag and NY Press and host and curator Amanda Stern was recently featured in the NY Times Magazine as one of the "New Bohemians" who is keeping downtown alive. Indeed this series always features an exciting roster of contemporary literary talent. Tonight includes readings from Michelle Wildgen, Ruth Ellen Kocher, and David Lehman, with music by Rebecca Moore. Doors are at 7pm and getting there early is highly recommended. Click below for author bios.

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Creative Commons Salon

Date: Friday, October 13th
Time: 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Nublu (62 Ave C btw. 4th & 5th St.)
Cost: Free
Summary: "A [Creative Commons] Salon is a free, casual monthly get-together focused on conversation, presentations, and performances from people or groups who are developing projects that relate to open content and/or software." While these events have been happening worldwide, this is the first one in NYC and will feature two performances by multimedia artists dedicated to the Open Source format. Performer bios below.

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NY Times Great Read in the Park

Date: Sunday, October 15th
Time: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Location: Bryant Park (Btwn. 5th & 6th Ave. & 40th & 42nd St.)
Cost: Free
Summary: The NY Times (you know the one) presents this 2nd annual literary festival for "book lovers of all ages." This event is jam packed with some pretty serious, heavy hitting literary talent. It includes readings, signings, discussions and a whole program for the kiddies (which includes Rhea Perlman. Yeah!) Click here for full schedule.

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It's a Sign

Date: Monday, October 16th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: The Kabbalah Centre (155 E 48th st)
Cost: Free
Summary: Now, this whole new Kabbalah-loving movement pisses me off to no end, but, I’m all for being educated about it and making up your own mind. This series of lectures will (hopefully) inform you on how you can join the one million people who are ‘improving their lives’ because of Kabbalah. While listening, please keep in mind that Kabbalah is a minor beliefs system within a much larger religion, and should really only be studied by men over the age of 40.

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A Conversation with Desmond Tutu

Date: Wednesday, October 18th
Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Trinity Church (Broadway at Wall St)
Cost: Free with Reservation
Summary: In his only scheduled New York appearance this year, Archbishop Desmond
Mpilo Tutu will join John Allen, author of Rabble-Rouser for Peace: The Authorized Biography of Desmond Tutu, in a conversation about South Africa's struggle with apartheid. Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his tireless efforts in ending apartheid in South Africa. He is still regarded as one of the most influential civil rights leaders in the world.

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Only Revolutions - Mark Z. Danielewski

Date: Sunday, October 23rd
Time: 5:00pm
Location: Strand Bookstore (828 Broadway at 12th St)
Cost: Free
Summary: Post my liberal arts education, it seems I am way too busy to come across phenomenal literary works. One such work, however, was Mark Z. Danielewski's deconstructivist fiction work "House of Leaves." This afternoon, Danielewski reads from his latest "Only Revolutions" which promises to be just as bizarre and gripping. The novel presents two separate narratives - one beginning in the front and one in the back - of the same story. Pop by the packed house this afternoon to find out more!

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An Evening With The Onion Writers

Date: Sunday, October 22nd
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Magnetic Field (97 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn)
Cost: Free
Summary: "Spend an evening in Brooklyn with three Onion writers talking and reading to you and offering other varities of fun to entertain you. The evening features Onion head writer Todd Hanson, contributor John Harris, and Onion features editor Joe Garden. Soundtrack accompaniment by Onion contributing writer and recent winner of the NY Press People's Choice award for Best DJ, the Meat Mistress!"

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Disco Years Book Signing

Date: Friday, October 24th
Time: 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Location: Rixxolli Bookstore (31 West 57th btw 5th & 6th)
Cost: Free
Summary: PowerHouse book signings are always as much about the party as they are about the book and this one promises to be no exception. Celebreate the release of photographer Ron Galella's Disco Years - "the definitive visual diary of the New York club scene in the seventies and eighties" - with this signing and celebration. More about the book after the jump.

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Upstairs at the Square

Date: Monday, October 30th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Barnes & Noble Union Square (E 17th st.)
Cost: Free
Summary: This month's installment of Barnes & Noble's new interview series called 'Upstairs at the Square' features writer Nell Freudenberger and muscian Howard Fishman. Freudenberger, a native New Yorker, has lived in Bangkok and New Delhi, and has written a short story collection entitled Lucky Girls, presumably based on her experiences abroad. She will be reading, discussing and signing her new novel The Dissident. Following the reading, Howard Fishman will be playing selections from his album, Look At All This!. The night will be hosted by journalist Katherine Lanpher.

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Darren Aronofsky Speaks

Date: Monday, November 5th
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Apple Store SoHo (103 Prince St)
Cost: Free
Summary: UPDATE: not sure if this is happening today, or next week or not at all. No one can confirm... "Darren Aronofsky is the director of the beautiful but disturbing "Requiem for a Dream." He's coming to the Apple Store to talk about his new movie, "The Fountain," which is about a man's thousand-year quest (first as a conquistador, then as a 20th century scientist, and finally as an astronaut in the distant future) to save the woman he loves." [via papermag]