1.SummerStage returns to Central Park
2. Celebrating art in the Bronx
3. Herring returns to Grand Central
4. Strolling past street art on the Lower East Side
5. Tracking dinosaur biomechanics
7. Independent film in Brooklyn
8. Plus Riff's Rants & Raves (including Alice Wu's SAVING FACE, George
Lucas's REVENGE OF THE SITH, Allan Mindel's MILWAUKEE, MINNESOTA, and Paul
Auster's ORACLE NIGHT)
9. and twi-ny's weekly recommended events, including book readings, film
screenings, panel discussions, concerts, street fairs, parades, and such
special events as Francois Ozon in Queens, Indian dance at the Dahesh,
Michael Palin in Bryant Park, free SummerNights at the Jewish Museum with
Maurice Sendak and Rod Serling, Audra McDonald at Castle Clinton, Tan Dun at
the Seaport, Shakespeare in the Park, mass meditation on the Great Hill,
GARDEN STATE in the Garden State, Fleet Week all over town, Broadway in the
Alley, milking it in Prospect Park, searching for Josef Mengele, and Annie
Sprinkle and Candida Royalle giving free advice on Fifth Ave.
"I bumped into walls and trash bins, got tangled up in dog leashes and
scraps of floating paper, stumbled on the smoothest sidewalks. I had lived
in New York all my life, but I didn't understand the streets and crowds
anymore, and every time I went out on one of my little excursions, I felt
like a man who had lost his way in a foreign city." Sidney Orr, ORACLE
NIGHT, by Paul Auster
Os Gemeos, WK, and Banksy collaborate on the Lower East Side / photo by mdr
Summer Concert Series
of the Week
SUMMERSTAGE FREE PERFORMANCES
Rumsey Playfield
Central Park (enter at Fifth Ave. & 69th St.)
Admission: free unless otherwise noted
212-360-2777
http://www.cityparksfoundation.org
It's time to start planning that summer calendar, and a good place to begin
is with the free shows at SummerStage, now in its twentieth year of
presenting music, dance, and spoken word. Littered among the free
performances are several benefit concerts, by Elvis Costello, David Byrne,
the Killers, and others.
Saturday, June 4 The Killers and Louis XIV, sold out
Friday, June 17 Will Calhoun presents AZA, featuring Pharoah Sanders,
Graham Haynes, Buster Williams and Orrin Evans, Burnt Sugar, and Greg Tate,
conductor, 7:00
Saturday, June 18 John Legend, Lyfe Jennings, and DJ Reborn, 3:00
Monday, June 20 Modest Mouse, sold out
Tuesday, June 21 Marilynne Robinson and Joseph Lelyveld, 7:30
Friday, June 24 Cassandra Wilson and Tamar-Kali Pseudoacoustic, 7:00
Saturday, June 25 The Official Central Park SummerStage 20th Anniversary
Dance Party, with Tortured Soul, Lady Alma, and Rich Medina, hosted by Timmy
Regisford, 3:00
Sunday, June 26 Canada Day: Tegan and Sara, Ron Sexsmith, East Village
Opera Company, and Kyle Riabko, 3:00
Wednesday, June 29 David Byrne featuring the Tosca Strings, Pink Martini,
and
Brooklyn Steppers, $37, 6:00
Saturday, July 2 The Music of Nick Drake, 7:00
Sunday, July 3 Peace Through Music, Love to the People, and Khaled &
Friends, 3:00
Thursday, July 7 Dance: Ben Munisteri Dance Projects and Marta Renzi &
the Project Company, 8:30
Friday, July 8 Music and Film: Third Brazilian Art & Film Festival of
NYC, with
Gabriel O Pensador and MARIA'S PLACE (BENDITO FRUTO) (Sergio Goldenberg,
2004), 7:00
Saturday, July 9 Music and Film: Third Brazilian Art & Film Festival of
NYC, with
Nacao Zumbi and THE OWNER OF HISTORY (A DONA DA HISTORIA) (Daniel Filho,
2004), 7:00
Sunday, July 10 Blind Boys of Alabama, Citizen Cope, the Royal Wylds,
3:00
Thursday, July 14 Dinosaur Jr, Broken Social Scene, Magik Markers, and
Radio 4, $37.25, 6:00
Friday, July 15 Shelby Lynne and Alana Davis, 7:00
Saturday, July 16 Celebrate New Orleans: Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue
Swingers, Donald Harrison & New Mardi Gras Sound, Rebirth Brass Band, and
Lady Buckjumpers Social Aid & Pleasure Club, 3:00
Sunday, July 17 Giant Step 15th Anniversary, with Femi Kuti and Brazilian
Girls, 3:00
Monday, July 18 An Evening with Lyle Lovett, $39.50, 7:30
Tuesday, July 19 Elvis Costello & the Imposters, with Emmylou Harris,
$57.50, 7:00
Thursday, July 21 Word: Upright Citizens Brigade, 7:30
Friday, July 22 Dance: Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
presents Another Evening, 8:30
Saturday, July 23 Dance for Peace: Skazi, Astral Projection, and DJ Amir,
3:00
Sunday, July 24 Global Family Day: Dan Zanes & Friends and Batoto Yetu,
3:00
Wednesday, July 27 Word: Ha Jin, 7:30
Thursday, July 28
and
Friday, July 29 Dance: the Balanchine Legacy, 8:30
Saturday, July 30 MC5, the Sun Ra Arkestra, and Suphala, curated by
DJ Spooky, 3:00
Sunday, July 31 Lila Downs, Maria del Mar Bonet, and Las Ondas Marteles,
3:00
Thursday, August 4 Word & Music: Patti Smith and Janet Hamill & Moving
Star, 7:30
Friday, August 5 Pianos in the Park, with Brad Mehldau, Jason Moran and
the Bandwagon, and Eric Lewis, 7:00
Saturday, August 6 Coheed and Cambria, Aterciopelados, and Bebe, 3:00
Sunday, August 7 M.I.A. with Diplo & special guests, curated by DJ Rekha,
3:00
Thursday, August 11 Dance: Trisha Brown Dance Company, 8:30
Saturday, August 13 Yolanda Adams, A.R.C. Choir, and Nuttin' but
Stringz, 3:00 PM
Sunday, August 14 Barrington Levy, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, and
DJ Eddie Stats, 3:00
Thursday, August 18 Death Cab for Cutie, the Decemberists, and Stars,
sold out
BX1: BRONX ARTIST FESTIVAL 2005
Multiple venues, starting at 450 Grand Concourse at 149th St.
June 1-4
Admission: free
718-931-9500 ext33
http://www.longwoodarts.org/bx_festival
http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/culturearts
http://www.lehmanstages.org
http://www.bronxacademyofartsanddance.org
Wednesday, June 1 Bronx Culture Trolley, stopping at the Longwood Art
Gallery at Hostos (group show honoring 2005 BRIO winners, 5:00), the Hostos
Center for Arts and Culture (an Evening of Words & Music with Ray Vega,
Universes featuring Steve Sapp and Mildred Ruiz, and Baruch Israel, 6:00),
the Bronx Museum of the Arts (Jazz con BRIO and museum tour, 6:15), the
Pregones Theater (excerpts from Latina Theater Explosion, 6:35 & 7:35), and
the Downtown Bronx Bar & Cafe (poetry with Bonafide Rohas and others, 8:00)
Thursday, June 2 BRIO Short Film Fest, Lehman College's Lovinger Theatre,
7:00
Friday, June 3 Baad BRIO! Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, 8:00
Saturday, June 4 Collectors' Tour / BRIO Art Expo, Longwood Art Gallery,
2:00
HERRING FESTIVAL **** (out of four)
Grand Central Oyster Bar
Grand Central Terminal, lower level
June 1-18, approximately
212-490-6650
http://www.oysterbarny.com
http://www.grandcentralterminal.com
We can hardly wait every year for the new Dutch herring from the North Sea
to arrive on these shores. A Dutch friend of ours from Zaandam -- and a
charter twi-ny subscriber -- wrote in a few years ago to tell us: "The
catching and selling of herring played a very important part in the growth
of the Dutch economy, which may be why there are so many different names for
it in Dutch (Œsilver of the sea' being one of my favorites), and why it
appears in so many sayings. Also, new herring can be caught only between May
and June -- a very short window of opportunity. Of course, there are many
processes new herring can undergo that make it possible to enjoy the fish
throughout the year, but the first catch is always special. There's a race
to see which boat can bring in the very first catch, and there's the
traditional official handing over of so-called Queen's Herring to the
throne." Well, it appears that Queen Beatrix has had her ceremonial first
slippery guy, 'cause the "silver of the sea" is scheduled to show up next
week. Thus, you can find us there, downing the splendiferous creatures (the
fabulous Hollandse Nieuwe Haring from Scheveningen) with genever (Dutch gin,
also spelled jenever) at the special cart (marked De Haringkoning -- the
Herring King) set up in the Grand Central Oyster Bar lounge, all plates
served up with charm and good humor. The cart is open from 11:30 to 3:00 and
reopens from 5:00 until close, but you can also get the amazing herring --
served with chopped egg and diced raw onion -- off the regular menu. Herring
and gin will run you about 10 bills.
Lower East Side Art Walk
of the Week
Skewville's eponymous "barricade" on Allen St. / photo by mdr
THIRD ANNUAL WOOSTER WALKING TOUR
*** (out of four)
Saturday, May 21
Admission: free
http://www.woostercollective.com
Over the weekend we went on the third annual Wooster Walking Tour through
the Lower East Side, NoLiTa, and SoHo, led by Marc and Sara from the Wooster
Collective, focusing on street art. Check the above Web site for more
information on the next tours, or simply head out on your own. Beginning at
the Orchard St. Gallery and making our way down Rivington, Ludlow, Stanton,
Prince, Spring, Crosby, Grand, and Canal, we took in the ever-changing world
of graffiti, stickers, posters, and other unique installations that pop up
in these neighborhoods, sometimes only for a few days or hours until they're
painted over, removed, collected, or destroyed. These artists decorate the
streets of the city for the sheer enjoyment of it; there's no money
involved.
On the tour we were introduced to the work of such innovative and
groundbreaking street artists as phenomenologist Shepard Fairey and his
pervasive Andre the Giant stickers and stencils; WK, whose sprawling
black-and-white drawings are brash and overpowering; D*Face, who uses the
"Disney D" in signing his cityscapes; Flower Guy Michael De Feo and his
'60s-era flowers; Lepos's cute, futuristic figures; the London Police from
Amsterdam, whose charming Lads light up a few downtown locations; Skewville,
who makes wood posters, hanging sneakers, and fake barriers that spell out
his name; Space Invaders, who designs tiles based on the arcade game; Empty
Eyes' tiles of a hanging man; sticker artist Abe Lincoln, Jr.; Darius
Jones's brick installations and bicycle chain snake; cHRISTIAN pAINE's
large-sized posters; as well as pieces by Lister, Banksy, Swoon, Kelly
Burns, Infinity Man, Rambo, Magmo the Destroyer, Pigeon Man, and many
others.
In the Neighborhood
Honoring Joey's place in music history / photo by mdr
THE JOEY RAMONE BIRTHDAY BASH
ART EXTRAVAGANZA
CB's 313 Gallery
313 Bowery above Houston St.
Through June 3
Open 10:00 am 6:00 pm
Admission: free
212-677-0455
http://www.cbgb.com/gallery/jrbb.jpg
http://joeyramone.com/news.htm
This group art show pays tribute to the late Joey Ramone, with all proceeds
from the sale of the paintings, drawings, and sculptures going to the
Lymphoma Research Foundation. Many of the pieces are of Joey himself, by
Rebecca Jean Heroff, Anthony Zito, Samantha Fontana, James Rizzi, John
Holmstrom, and others. Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh contributes "Yellow Mindless
Bob Loves the Ramones." Joey himself is represented by childhood drawings of
turkeys and a raven, while Dee Dee takes a cartoonish look at the Sex
Pistols. Glenn Wernig's refrigerator magnets of the Ramones are ultracool.
John John Jesse shows that "Sheena" was indeed a punk rocker. Sean Pierce
will break your heart with his picture of Zippy the Pinhead sitting sadly on
the subway, missing Joey. Jim Lorey's "The Parts You Throw Away" and
"Intentions Are Fugitive" are the best works in the show, although their
connection to Joey and the boys is not immediately evident. The show was
organized by Mickey Leigh and Charlotte Lesher, Joey's mother, who also has
a piece in it. While you're there, grab a couple of drinks, some
special-edition Chocolate Bar chocolate, and a T-shirt or two to show your
support for CBGB's, which is in danger of having to close down because of a
massive rent increase. (Founder and owner Hilly Kristal is trying to
organize an all-star lineup of events this summer to raise much-needed
cash.) And be sure to pay homage to Joey at the corner of East Second St.
and the Bowery, which was renamed Joey Ramone Pl. in November 2003.
CB's LOUNGE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
313 Bowery above Houston St.
212-677-0455
http://www.cbgb.com/lounge_schedule.htm
Wednesday, May 25 Freestyle Avant Jazz and Other Musics presents Dave
Allen, Carlo DeRosa, Derrick Phillips, and Elaine & Her Kick Ass Band, $10,
Thursday, May 26 1000 Knives Productions presents Dear Tonight, Legs Up,
the Deadly, Reservoir, Bars, 5 Year Jacket, and Ocean, $8, 7:30
Friday, May 27 GNYC presents Adam Payne, Aradia, Pryority 7, Dealbreaker,
Timothy Dark, Rob Dova, Words Away, and Shade Away, $8, 7:15
Sunday, May 29 Freestyle Avant Jazz and Other Musics presents May
Halvorsen & Jessica Pavone; Bruce Eisenbeil, Brian Osborne, Scott Robinson &
Katsu Itakurs; and Darcy James Argue's Secret Society featuring Erica von
Kleist, Peter von Huffel, Joel Frahm, Sam Sadigursky, Ed Renz, Ingrid
Jensen, Dave Rezek, John Chudoba, Tom Goehring, Dave Smith, Marshall Gilkes,
Mike Fahie, Mark Patterson, Max Siegel, Sebastian Noelle, Mike Holober,
Fraser Hollins, John Wikan, $10, 7:00
Sunday, June 5 Freestyle Avant Jazz and Other Musics presents Joe
Giardullo & Dee Pop, $10, 8:00
CBGB SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
315 Bowery above Houston St.
212-677-0455
http://www.cbgb.com/club_front_page.htm
Wednesday, May 25 The Thieves, Hopes for Tragedy, Stiff Kittens, Life
Line, First Offense, Elysium, Chaos Theory, $7, 7:00
Thursday, May 26 Addison, Funky Captain, South Street, Dog Face, Kevin
Deans, $7, 7:00
Friday, May 27 The Basicks, Polyabuse, the Truents, Nihilistics, Cause
for Alarm, All or Nothing (California), $10
Saturday, May 28 Volunteers, Junkbox, the Shop Fronts, Bamboo Kids,
Little Killers, Demolition Doll Rods, $10, 8:00
Sunday May 29 Chaotic Alliance, the Ghouls, the Casualties, $12
Monday May 30 Audition showcase, $3
Tuesday May 31 Fairmont, Lyza Wilson, Majorette, Audio Fiction, No
Lindsay, One Day Left, Five Star Dive, $7, 7:15
Thursday, June 2 Unzane, 10:00
Saturday, June 4 Fixer, Torture, Sermon, Billionaire Boy$ Club, the
Pennyroyals, High Speed Chase, the Law of Fives
Sunday, June 5 No Redeeming Social Value, the Krays, Run Like Hell, Urban
Riot, the Dead End Boys, Norman Bates & the Showerheads, $10, 5:00
Thursday, June 9 Lower Class Brats
Sunday, June 12 Agnostic Front, Full Blown Chaos, Champion, Outbreak,
Step2Far, Fearless Vampire Killers
Mixing genres / photo copyright John Glassie, courtesy jen bekman
BICYCLES LOCKED TO POLES
jen bekman gallery
6 Spring St. off Bowery
Through June 11
Admission: free
212-219-0166
http://www.jenbekman.com
http://www.glassie.com
In conjunction with the publication of the McSweeney's book BICYCLES LOCKED
TO POLES, jen bekman is hosting writer/photographer John Glassie's debut
solo exhibition, featuring his shots of bicycles in the East Village. The
bikes Glassie captures with his 35mm Nikon are chained to poles, parking
meters, and trees, have flat tires and bent rims, and come alive with
interesting bursts of color; some, however, have been decimated, a few
skeletal parts fading away into a street grave. On Saturday, June 11,
Glassie will be present to sign copies of the book.
EGG ROLLS & EGG CREAMS BLOCK PARTY
Eldridge Street Project
Eldridge St. between Canal & Division Sts.
Admission: free
212-219-0888 ext302
http://www.eldridgestreet.org/programs_c.htm
Sunday, June 5 Street festival celebrating Chinese Americans and Eastern
European Jewish Americans, with storytelling, Chinese folk music and opera,
klezmer bands, paper-lantern makers, Yiddish and Chinese children's games,
demonstrations by a Torah scribe, kosher egg rolls and egg creams, and more,
12 noon 4:00
ORCHARD STREET GALLERY
139 Orchard St. between Delancey & Rivington Sts.
Open Saturday & Sunday
Admission: free
http://www.mrtandme.com/mrt/main
Through May 29 Doodle Down: A Transatlantic Scrawl UK/NY
Thursday, June 9
through
Saturday, July 9 I Pity the Dolls! A Collection of Contemporary and
Vintage Mr. T Dolls
OPEN AIR BOOK FAIR
Housing Works Used Book Café
126 Crosby St. between Houston & Prince Sts.
Admission: free
212-334-3324
http://www.housingworksubc.com
Saturday, June 4 Benefit featuring live bands, free coffee, and used
books, records, and CDs for sale, 10:00 am 7:00 pm
ALBERTO CASADO: TODO CLANDESTINO, TODO POPULAR *** (out of four)
Art in General
79 Walker St. between Broadway & Lafayette
Through June 25
Admission: free
212-219-0473
http://www.artingeneral.org
As part of the city's Cuban Arts Festival, Art in General is showing this
unique exhibit in its fourth-floor gallery space. Cuban artist Alberto
Casado makes colorful, kitschy pieces using found glass, serigraphic ink,
and crumpled aluminum foil, often with art, religion, and politics as his
subject matter. "Cuacara con cuacara" and "La Pipa (The Pipe)" deal with the
Cuban lottery known as Bolita (which plays off of Chinese charades), an
untitled work turns cans of Ballantine Ale and Hatuey Calidad Superior into
Pop art, and several portraits pay tribute to Jose Marti. You'll probably
want to avoid going to "El buen doctor (The Good Doctor)." You can't miss
the shimmering gold sun in "Easy Shopping, Duty Free." Check out the detail
in the houses in "S.O.S. Maine." Other pieces reflect on his secret Abakua
religion and "Historias del barrio." Oh, and don't be alarmed by the lilting
sounds in the elevator; it's only Paulo Vivacqua's audio installation "The
Legend of the Lake," which incorporates the actual rings of the elevator as
it passes each floor.
AMERICAN APPAREL
183 East Houston St. at Orchard St.
212-598-4600
http://americanapparel.net/storelocations/metroareas.asp?metroareaid=7
As you know, we hate shopping, and we rarely ever write about clothing.
However, we can't help but spread the word about this terrific organization
that is growing by leaps and bounds across the country and around the world.
This anti-chain chain sells T-shirts, shorts, yoga pants, jackets, shirts,
and more, all made in Downtown L.A. by men and women earning more than
minimum wage in good working conditions, not by abused people in sweatshops
in Malaysia. Founded by Montreal native Dov Charney, the chain claims, "We
pay the highest wages in the garment industry," and the prices are
reasonable as well. Among the materials American Apparel uses is organic
cotton, especially in its Sustainable Edition line of environmentally
friendly wear. There are also usually interesting photos lining the walls of
the Lower East Side location, from scantily clad young men and women to
offbeat photos of Charney himself.
Amazing Multimedia Apatosaurus / photo by Craig Chesek, copyright AMNH
DINOSAURS: ANCIENT FOSSILS, NEW DISCOVERIES **** (out of four)
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West & 79th St.
Through January 8, 2006
Timed tickets: $19 adults, $14 children, includes museum admission
212-769-5100
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/dinosaurs/?src=e_f
This exciting exhibit takes visitors behind the scenes, not only showing
plenty of awesome fossils and artifacts but also revealing the methods of
uncovering, examining, defining, and interpreting these remarkable finds.
Paleontology itself is the star of this display, with numerous short
documentaries discussing the details of the scientific process. Of course,
there are also lots of cool dinosaurs: Perhaps the most awe-inspiring is the
huge Apatosaurus made of fiberglass and aluminum; be sure to check out the
biomechanics of this creation on the computer screens and the accompanying
video. If you stand in front of the T. rex, whose movements are fabulously
re-created, it will look like he's coming right at you. Take a walk through
China's Jehol Forest, a marvelous diorama of the Liaoning Province in the
Mesozoic era, featuring dozens of creatures, including birds, dragonflies,
frogs, spiders, cockroaches, and feathered dinosaurs. And in several places,
you get to actually touch actual dinosaur bones. Among our favorites are the
130-million-year-old beaked psittacosaur; the trophy wall of dinosaur heads;
tiny frog fossils; and the nesting Mei long dinosaur. Log on to the above
Web site for lots of fascinating bonus information and photos about this
exhibit's background and development. Don't forget to check out the regular
dinosaur hall as well. And look for our interview with the curator of the
special exhibition in an upcoming edition of the New York Sun.
Also at AMNH
TOTEMS TO TURQOUISE: NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN JEWELRY ARTS OF THE NORTHWEST AND
SOUTHWEST ***1/2 (out of four)
American Museum of Natural History
Through July 10
Timed tickets: $19 adults, $14 children, includes museum admission
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/totems/?src=e_h#totems
As longtime twi-ny subscribers know, we are not particularly fond of
handicraft/jewelry exhibits, but this show rises way above most such
displays, examining the history and culture of the Southwest and Northwest
Coast Native Americans through more than five hundred objects, from Chilkat
blankets and bear dishes to belts and masks, from looks into the Potlatch
and Katsina ceremonies to the myths of Raven the Trickster and Spider Woman,
from historical pieces from 3000 BC to projections into the future of Native
American art. Along the way, don't miss Bill Reid's Dogfish Woman
transformation pendant, Charles Loloma's unique height bracelet, Preston
Monongye's Salako Mana, Charles Edenshaw's Myth House, Christian White's Man
Riding Killer Whale pendant, Ric Charlie's Yei over Monument Valley box,
Earl Muldon's Bird Box with Lid, and many other pins, sashes, boxes, totems,
and more from such tribes as the Hopi, Zuni, Haida, Tlingit, Santo Domingo,
Navajo, and Kwakwaka'wakw. The differences between the two geographic
regions are wholly in evidence, from use of color and balance to
functionality and relation to the harmonic natural world. Fascinatingly, the
Northwest Coast and the Southwest peoples learned much from each other while
putting together this show, leading to unforeseen influences on their future
work. "What we wear is who we are," says Jim Hart, hereditary chief of the
Haida Nation and an advising artist to the exhibit. "We wear our history."
The museum has taken such great care with the "Turquoise" exhibit that even
the shop was specially curated, offering original pieces acquired directly
from the artists, at various price levels. Be sure also to check out the
permanent Hall of Northwest Coast Indians, the museum's first exhibition
hall, designed by Franz Boas and opened in 1899.
DINERSAURUS CAFE
Fourth Floor
Through January 8, 2006
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/dinosaurs/info/dinersaurus.php
In conjunction with the "Dinosaurs" exhibit, Restaurant Associates has put
together a menu of Chinese-influenced cuisine in honor of the work the
museum's paleontologists have done there. The menu includes Mongolian noodle
soup, bok choy and pork, Asian chopped chicken salad, roasted duck with
Asian slaw and pomegranate relish, kids meals such as dino chicken nuggets
and a dino dog, as well as dino cupcakes and cookies.
IRMA AND PAUL MILSTEIN HALL OF OCEAN LIFE ***1/2 (out of four)
Permanent exhibition
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/ocean/?src=e_h
The Hall of Ocean Life has been wonderfully restored, with the
ninety-four-foot-long blue whale back at his beloved position hanging from
the ceiling, surveying the fascinating exhibits surrounding him. More than
750 sea creatures can be found in the fourteen renovated dioramas and the
eight sensational new ecosystems. Among the ecosystems, each of which
includes a flat-screen projection video, an interactive conservation panel
unit, and plenty of facts, are Coral Reefs, Kelp Forests, Polar Seas,
Mangrove Forests, Estuaries, Continental Shelves, Deep Sea Floor, and Deep
Sea. An eighteen-by-eight-foot video screen, the High-Definition Ocean Wall,
shows underwater animation and marine-life montages. Underwater sounds and
lighting are everywhere. Such familiar dioramas as Dolphin and Tuna, the
two-story Andros Coral Reef, Pacific Walrus, Sargasso Sea, War Indian
Manatee, and our favorite, Sperm Whale and Giant Squid, have been restored
as well. Keep your eyes out for the giant moray eel, the vanishing cod, sea
cucumbers, the Abyssal Plain, the northern elephant seal, trilobites and
ammonites, scallop jet propulsion, sea spiders, penguins, bats, jellyfish,
and much more while you get lost in the sounds of the sea and admire the
skylight that makes you feel like you're underwater.
THE SEARCH FOR LIFE: ARE WE ALONE?
***1/2 (out of four)
Frederick Phineas & Sandra Priest Rose Center for Earth and Space
Hayden Planetarium, Space Theater
Admission: $22, includes museum admission, $13 for children 2-12
212-769-5200
http://www.amnh.org/rose/searchforlife.html?src=h_f
The second show at the American Museum of Natural History's Rose Center,
which opened in February 2000, features Harrison Ford narrating an
investigation into the likelihood of life on other planets, with remarkable
digital effects and a script written by Steven Soter and longtime Carl Sagan
collaborator Ann Druyan. The film is projected onto the top half of the
87-feet-in-diameter Hayden Sphere; it will envelop you among the stars,
clouds, planets, and waves. As Ford discusses how hundreds of planets have
been recently discovered, Stephen Endelman's musical score will get you lost
in sea and space. Look closely at the clouds; we could swear the team behind
the film purposely placed faces in them. The view of the Mars surface as
seen by Pathfinder is remarkable.
SONICVISION: HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR MUSIC?
American Museum of Natural History
Hayden Planetarium, Space Theater
Friday & Saturday nights at 7:30, 8:30, 9:30
Tickets: $15 (does not include museum admission; two-for-one coupon
available at Web site)
212-769-5200
http://www.amnh.org/rose/dome/?src=h_h
You can now "bring a friend free" to this digitally animated music
presentation mixed by Moby, featuring songs by Radiohead, Fischerspooner,
White Zombie, David Byrne & Brian Eno, U2, David Bowie, Queens of the Stone
Age, Coldplay, the Flaming Lips, Spiritualized, Audioslave, Stereolab, and
others; it's a long way from Laser Floyd.
Last Chance at the AMNH
THE BUTTERFLY CONSERVATORY: TROPICAL BUTTERFLIES ALIVE IN WINTER **** (out of four)
American Museum of Natural History
Hall of Oceanic Birds, Second Floor
Through May 30
Timed tickets: $22 adults, $14 children, includes museum admission
212-769-5100
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/butterflies
More than five hundred butterflies from nearly ninety species are flying
free in the conservatory, using their amazing proboscis to suck up orange
juice, resting on leaves, doing the nasty (watch out for those Julia
Butterflies), and eating a sugar-and-water mixture from colorful hanging
disks. The butterflies will land on you, so don't make any sudden movements
or scratch that itch it might be a blue morpho resting on your head. Many
of these insects from the Order Lepidoptera live for only a few weeks, so
there is constantly an influx of new dudes. Don't miss the pupae case, where
butterflies burst out of their cocoon every day. For a taste of what you're
in for, visit the excellent Web site listed above; there you'll find a live
Web cam, prerecorded movie clips, a navigable virtual tour, and plenty of
reading material on the butterfly's anatomy, metamorphosis, evolution, and
defense mechanisms as well as current methods of ecology and conservation.
IMAX FILMS
American Museum of Natural History
LeFrak IMAX Theater
Admission: $19, includes museum admission, $11 for children 2-12
212-769-5100
http://www.amnh.org/museum/imax/?src=e_p
Daily at 11:30, 1:30, 5:30 JANE GOODALL'S WILD CHIMPANZEES
Daily at 10:30, 12:30, 2:30 VIKINGS: JOURNEY TO NEW WORLDS
PUBLIC PROGRAMS
American Museum of Natural History
Kaufmann Theater (KT)
Linder Theater (LT)
Hayden Planetarium Space Theater (HPST)
Calder Lab (CL)
Central Park West & 79th St.
212-769-5200
http://www.amnh.org/programs
Tuesday, May 31 Celestial Highlights: Planetary Triply Play, with Dan
Dennis and John Kaufmann, HPST, $14, 6:30
Thursday, June 2 Searching for Our Distant Ancestors in Asia, with Chris
Beard, $15, 6:00
Friday, June 3 Starry Nights: Ravi Coltrane Quartet, Rose Center,
free with museum admission, 6:00 & 7:30
Sunday, June 5
and
Sunday, July 10 Dinosaur Sundays: Dinosaur Trackways, workshop for
families and children, 11:00 am for children four to six, 1:30 for children
seven to ten, one adult per child, $25 per workshop, $65 for all three
Tuesday, June 7 Virtual Universe: At Home in the Milky Way, HPST, $12,
6:30
Saturday, June 11 THE DINOSAURS OF WATERHOUSE HAWKINS, performance by author Brian Selznick followed by book signing, free with museum admission, LT, 12 noon & 2:00
Sunday, June 12
and
Sunday, July 17 Dinosaur Sundays: Digging for Dinos, workshop for
families and children, 11:00 am for children four to six, 1:30 for children
seven to ten, one adult per child, $25 per workshop, $65 for all three
Saturday, June 18 Global Weekends: Summer Solstice The Science of the
Sun, Rose Terrace, Cullman Hall of the Universe, 11:00 am 1:30 pm
Saturday, June 18 Global Weekends: Summer Solstice The Music and Dance
of Rupai, KT, 2:00 & 400
Sunday, June 26
and
Sunday, July 24 Dinosaur Sundays: Build Your Own Dinosaur, workshop for
families and children, 11:00 am for children four to six, 1:30 for children
seven to ten, one adult per child, $25 per workshop, $65 for all three
Tuesday, June 28 Celestial Highlights: Star Hopping, HPST, $14, 6:30
Thursday, June 30 Earthquakes, Tsunamis, and a Modern Journey to the
Center of the Earth, with Michael E. Wysession and Charles Mandeville, free
with museum admission, KT, 6:30
Tuesday, July 5 Virtual Universe: The Grand Tour, HPST, $12, 6:30
Tuesday, July 12 Adventures in the Global Kitchen: Beer, with Garrett
Oliver, LT, $15, 7:00
Thursday, July 14 THE LADY AND THE PANDA, with Vicki Croke, LT, $15, 7:00
Thursday, July 21 THE APE IN THE TREE, with Alan Walker, LT, $15, 7:00
Tuesday, July 26 Celestial Highlights: The Dog Days of Summer, HPST, $14,
6:30
Tuesday, July 26 Art/Science Collision: The Coney Island Museum, with
Aaron Beebe, LT, $15, 7:00
Tuesday, August 2 Virtual Universe: Dynamic Processes in the Universe,
HPST, $12, 6:30
Manhattan Film Festival
of the Week
Chihiro searches for her family in SPIRITED AWAY
HAYAO MIYAZAKI AND ISAO TAKAHATA:
MASTERS OF ANIMATION **** (out of four)
Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd St. between Fifth & Sixth Aves.
Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters 1 and 2
June 3-30
Tickets: $10, in person only, may be applied to museum admission within
thirty days, same-day screenings free with museum admission, available at
Film and Media Desk
http://moma.org/exhibitions/film_media/2005/masters_animation.html
What a treat. Hayao Miyazaki is one of the world's greatest filmmakers, as
responsible as anyone for the recent surge in popularity of animated films,
especially among adults. Isao Takahata has also made some of the most
entertaining animated movies of the last thirty years. The two men, who
formed Studio Ghibli with Toshio Suzuki, are celebrated with these thirteen
films, including the unforgettable SPIRITED AWAY, PORCO ROSSO, and MY
NEIGHBOR TOTORO, as well as the premiere of Miyazaki's latest work, HOWL'S
MOVING CASTLE.
Friday, June 3 KAZE NO TANI NO NAUSICAÄ (NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND) (Hayao Miyazaki, 1984), 6:00, T1
Friday, June 3 HO-HOKKEYO TONARI NO YAMADA-KUN (MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS) (Isao Takahata, 1999), 8:30, T1
Saturday, June 4 HEISEI TANUKI GASSEN PONPOKO (POM POKO) (Isao Takahata, 1994), 2:00, T1
Saturday, June 4 TONARI NO TOTORO (MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO) (Hayao Miyazaki, 1988), 4:00, T1
Saturday, June 4 KURENAI NO BUTA (PORCO ROSSO) (Hayao Miyazaki, 1992), 8:15, T1
Sunday, June 5 MAJO NO TAKKYUBIN (KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE) (Hayao Miyazaki, 1989), 2:00, T1
KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE (Hayao Miyazaki, 1988)
**1/2 (out of four)
Also available on DVD
http://www.ntv.co.jp/ghibli
http://www.onlineghibli.com
http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki
http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/miyazaki
We love Miyazaki, but this tale of a thirteen-year-old witch who goes off on
a yearlong sojourn to explore and understand her power and her place in the
world is rather conventional. It is probably the most Disney-like of all of
Miyazaki's work, which is usually decidedly un-Disney-like. Kiki (voice of
Kirsten Dunst) and her black cat, Gigi (Phil Hartman), find a new home,
where Kiki uses her broomstick to start a delivery service. Other voices
include Janeane Garofalo, Debbie Reynolds, and Matthew Lawrence. The
two-disc DVD includes the Japanese trailers, a "behind the microphone" look
at dubbing in the English dialogue, the Japanese-language version, and the
entire storyboards accompanied by the mediocre soundtrack.
Monday, June 6 HOWL NO UGOKU SHIRO (HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE) (Hayao Miyazaki, 2004), 8:30, T1
HOWL NO UGOKU SHIRO (HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE) (Hayao Miyazaki, 2004) ** (out of
four)
Opens in theaters June 10
http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/castle
Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki, who has charmed the world with
such amazing delights as PORCO ROSSO, SPIRITED AWAY, LAPUTA CASTLE IN THE
SKY, and MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, has finally laid an egg. This adaptation of
Diana Wynne Jones's fantasy novel is filled with confusing, head-scratching
moments, ill-defined characters, and huge plot holes. We saw the
English-language dubbed version, featuring the voices of Billy Crystal,
Lauren Bacall, Emily Mortimer, and Christian Bale, which was supervised by
John TOY STORY Lasseter and Kirk BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Wise, the same guys
behind the marvelous SPIRITED AWAY translation. Miyazaki and his talented
Studio Ghibli team have created a terrific castle, a Rube Goldberg-like
contraption that staggers over the countryside, but that's about as
imaginative as this disappointing film gets. Miyazaki has been announcing
his retirement after each of his last projects; here's hoping this
less-than-mediocre mess is not his swan song.
Thursday, June 16 KAZE NO TANI NO NAUSICAA (NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND) (Hayao Miyazaki, 1984), 7:00, T2
Friday, June 17 MONONOKE HIME (PRINCESS MONONOKE) (Hayao Miyazaki, 1997), 7:00, T2
Sunday, June 19 HEIDI -- A GIRL OF THE ALPS (Isao Takahata, 1974), 1:00, T2
Thursday, June 23 HOTARU NO HAKA (GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES) (Isao Takahata, 1988), 5:00, T1
Thursday, June 23 KURENAI NO BUTA (PORCO ROSSO) (Hayao Miyazaki, 1992), 6:00, T1
Thursday, June 23 MAJO NO TAKKYUBIN (KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE) (Hayao Miyazaki, 1989), 8:15, T1
Friday, June 24 OMOIDE POROPORO (ONLY YESTERDAY) (Isao Takahata, 1991), 5:15, T1
Saturday, June 25 TENKU NO SHIRO LAPUTA (LAPUTA CASTLE IN THE SKY) (Hayao Miyazaki, 1986), 2:00, T2
CASTLE IN THE SKY (Hayao Miyazaki, 1986)
***1/2 (out of four)
Also available on DVD
http://www.ntv.co.jp/ghibli
http://www.onlineghibli.com
http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki
http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/miyazaki
The hunt is on for the mysterious land known as Laputa, an Atlantis-like
civilization in the sky. Pazu (voiced by James Van Der Beek) is looking for
it to prove his father wasn't crazy; Mooska (Mark Hamill) needs its power to
rule the world; Dola (Cloris Leachman) and her sons (who include Mandy
Patinkin) want its jewels; and little Sheeta (Anna Paquin) is searching for
her past. Miyazaki's gorgeous landscapes are at once Monet-like, then
Constable-esque. The story will delight the child in everyone who lets
themselves get spirited away by the magic. As with KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE,
the two-disc DVD includes the Japanese trailers, a "behind the microphone"
look at dubbing in the English dialogue, the Japanese-language version, and
the entire storyboards accompanied by the swirling soundtrack.
Saturday, June 25 SEN TO CHIHIRO NO KAMIKAKUSHI (SPIRITED AWAY) (Hayao Miyazaki, 2001), 2:45, T2
SPIRITED AWAY (SEN TO CHIHIRO NO KAMIKAKUSHI) (Hayao Miyazaki, 2001) **** (out of four)
Also available on DVD
http://bventertainment.go.com/movies/spiritedaway/index2.html?
http://www.sentochihiro.com
http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/sen
Prepare to have your spirits lifted up and away in this sensational animated
feature from Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki, who made one of our all-time
faves, 1992's PORCO ROSSO (KURENAI NO BUTA). Ten-year-old Chihiro is unhappy
about moving to a new home despite her parents' best efforts to convince her
otherwise. When her father takes a wrong turn on the road, the family ends
up in an oddly deserted village that Chihiro soon finds out is a lot more
than it seems. Chihiro's adventures through this dreamlike, surreal, magical
place filled with bizarre characters and evil beings are unforgettable, with
nuances and references from such diverse works as THE WIZARD OF OZ (Victor
Fleming, 1939) and THE SEVENTH SEAL (Ingmar Bergman, 1957). The sheer visual
beauty of the animation is staggering; many of the backgrounds are
reminiscent of Impressionist paintings. Joe Hisaishi's maudlin music is once
again way overpraised, but this Japanese box-office champ deservedly won the
Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival and was named Best
Asian Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Oh yeah, it won an Oscar for Best
Animated Feature as well. Don't miss it.
Saturday, June 25 TONARI NO TOTORO (MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO) (Hayao Miyazaki, 1988), 4:00, T2
Saturday, June 25 HEIDI -- A GIRL OF THE ALPS (Isao Takahata, 1974),
6:00, T2
Saturday, June 25 SEN TO CHIHIRO NO KAMIKAKUSHI (SPIRITED AWAY) (Hayao Miyazaki, 2001), 8:15, T2
Wednesday, June 29 HO-HOKKEYO TONARI NO YAMADA-KUN (MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS) (Isao Takahata, 1999), 8:15, T1
Wednesday, June 29 HEISEI TANUKI GASSEN PONPOKO (POM POKO) (Isao Takahata, 1994), 6:00, T1
Thursday, June 30 MONONOKE HIME (PRINCESS MONONOKE) (Hayao Miyazaki, 1997), 8:30, T1
Brooklyn Film Festival
of the Week
Annett Renneberg in DEVOT, screening June 11
BROOKLYN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL:
SELECT HIGHLIGHTS
Brooklyn Museum of Art
200 Eastern Parkway
June 3-12
Tickets: $10; 4 pack of any four films $25; full festival pass $150
718-388-4306/718-638-5000
http://wbff.org/overview/index.asp
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/event/60761
Dozens of international films will be competing for $65,000 in cash and
prizes and such awards as the Grand Chameleon, the Spirit Award, the
Audience Award, and others in the eighth annual edition of this festival in
the world's greatest borough. Previous winners have included Mike Figgis,
Asia Argento, and Larry Fessenden. This year 115 features, shorts,
documentaries, experimental works, and animated films will be shown, from
Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, England, Brazil, Israel, Canada,
Australia, Mexico, Slovakia, Spain, Colombia, the Netherlands, Bhutan,
Denmark, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, and the United States. There will also
be the first children's festival, held on June 5.
Friday, June 3 Opening Night: Opening Ceremony, 7:00; STEAL ME
(Melissa Painter, 2004), 7:30; Opening Night Concert with Romero, 9:30;
Opening Night Party with DJ Dolene, 9:30
Saturday, June 4 PURPLE HEARTS (Roel van Broekhoven, 2004), 6:00
Sunday, June 5 KidsFilmFest, featuring short animated films, and
documentaries, an outdoor carnival, music from the Dirty Sock Funtime Band,
and more, 1:00 5:00 pm
Sunday, June 5 LITTLE RABBIT IN A HOLE (Janna Doose, 2004) and CITY
LIMITS (Andrea Costantini, 2004), 7:30
Monday, June 6 MY PONTIAC (Michael Hamm, 2004) and FOUR EYED MONSTERS (Arin Crumley & Susan Buice, 2005), 8:00
Tuesday, June 7 ELECTRONIC PERFORMERS (A. Ganzerli, L. Bourdoiseau, J. Blanquet, 2004) and THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY (Robert Margolis & Frank Matter, 2005), 10:00
Wednesday, June 8 SUBWAY SCORE (Alexander Isert, 2004), THE CENSUS TAKER (Phil Dale, 2005), and THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN (Taggart Siegel, 2005), 6:00
Thursday, June 9 OLLI (Jack Rath, 2005) and ABSOLUT (Romed Wyder, 2004), 8:00
Friday, June 10 MANTRA (Arcadi Palerm, 2004) and EROSION (Ann Lu, 2005), 10:00
Saturday, June 11 LEO AND SANDRA (Alessandro Celli, 2004) and DEVOT (Igor Zaritzki, 2003), 9:00
Sunday, June 12 CHYENNE (Alexander Meier, 2004) and THE REVENGE OF THE
TEENAGE ZOMBIES (Matthias Dinter, 2004), 6:00
Also at the Brooklyn Museum
FIRST SATURDAYS
Brooklyn Museum of Art
200 Eastern Parkway
Admission: free after 5:00 pm
718-638-5000
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/first-saturdays
Saturday, June 4 Gallery Talk: Gallery tour of "Basquiat," Iris and B.
Gerald Cantor Gallery, fifth floor (free tickets available at the visitor
center in the grand lobby at 5:00), 6:00
Saturday, June 4 World Music: William Cepeda and Grupo Afro Boricua,
Sculpture Garden, first floor, 6:00 8:00
Saturday, June 4 Hands-On Art: Create your own animal sculptures,
Education Division, first floor (free tickets available in the education
gallery at 6:00), 6:30-8:30
Saturday, June 4 Curator Talk: Elizabeth Easton, "Monet's London" (free
tickets available at the visitor center in the grand lobby at 6:00), 7:00
Saturday, June 4 Performance: Roger Guenveur Smith on Basquiat, Iris and
B. Gerald Cantor Gallery, fifth floor (free tickets available at the visitor
center in the grand lobby at 6:00), 7:00
Saturday, June 4 Dance: Salsa lessons from Stepping Out Dance Studios,
Beaux-Arts Court, third floor, 8:00
Saturday, June 4 Gallery Talk: "Basquiat," with Alden Gewirtz (free
tickets available at the visitor center in the grand lobby at 7:00), 8:00
Saturday, June 4 Dance Party: Wille Villegas y Entre Amigos, Beaux-Arts
Court, third floor, 9:00 11:00
Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin (Hayden Christiansen) split apart in EPISODE III
STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH (George Lucas, 2005) *** (out of
four)
In theaters now
http://starwars.com
Is it any surprise that the best film in each part of the two STAR WARS
trilogies focused on Darth Vader and his lineage? The box-office blockbuster
REVENGE OF THE SITH finishes off George Lucas's intergalactic six-pack
serial with both a bang and a whimper as he delves into the dark mystery of
what turned young heroic Jedi knight Anakin Skywalker to the dark side and
become Lord Vader. The movie opens with Anakin (a remarkably wooden Hayden
Christensen) and his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi (a surprisingly wooden Ewan
McGregor), battling General Grievous and his droid army, but the real fight
is taking place within Anakin, whose wife, Senator Padme (Natalie Portman),
is pregnant, and who is being courted by the curiously diabolical Chancellor
Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Knowing what becomes of all of these characters
doesn't take the fun out of watching it unfold on the big screen, although
we would have preferred more action and less ridiculous romance and mediocre
melodrama. Also appearing are Christopher Lee, Jimmy Smits, Samuel L.
Jackson, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Kenny Baker as R2-D2, Frank Oz as
digitally rendered Yoda, and Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca. Even though REVENGE
OF THE SITH is better than the previous two flicks, however, it still falls
way short of all of the first three, although now we understand why Lucas
had to make episodes four, five, and six before one, two, and three. And did
he really have the gall to name a character Commander Cody?
Vivian (Lynn Chen) and Wil (Michelle Krusiec) try to break down barriers
SAVING FACE (Alice Wu, 2004) ***1/2 (out of four)
Opens May 27
http://www.sonyclassics.com
While much of this independent first feature, written and directed by Alice
Wu, is entertaining enough, the last scenes are so much fun, so
heartbreaking, and so charming that the film leaps to the next level, so
stay with it. The captivating Michelle Krusiec stars as Wilhelmina, a
twenty-eight-year-old doctor trying to balance her career with her family in
Flushing. Every Friday night she goes to the community dance, where her
mother (Joan Chen) and the other Chinese yentas try to fix her up with a
guy. Little do they know that she's gay and strongly attracted to the
boss's daughter, Vivian (Lynn Chen), a ballerina dabbling in modern dance.
Things get a little wacky when it turns out that Wil's mother is pregnant
and won't tell anyone who the father is, leading to her banishment from her
parents' home and her friends' inner circle. Suddenly Wil finds herself
struggling to take care of her mother while also exploring a blossoming
relationship that she hides from nearly everyone except her best friend, Jay
(Ato Essandoh). Tradition battles modern life, generation battles
generation, sexual preference battles gossip and scandal, and traditional
roles get turned upside down and inside out in this film-festival favorite
that will leave you smiling.
Tuey (Alison Folland) is after Albert's (Troy Garrity) ice-fishing money in MILWAUKEE
MILWAUKEE, MINNESOTA (Allan Mindel, 2002)
** (out of four)
Angelika Film Center
18 West Houston St. at Mercer St.
Opens Friday, June 3
Tickets: $10.50
212-995-2000
http://www.city-cinemas.com/angelika.html
http://www.milwaukee-minnesota.com
It's taken quite a while for this film-festival hit to get a theatrical
release, and we can see why. Agent and talent manager Allan Mindel's debut
feature wants to be a cross between the Coen brothers' BLOOD SIMPLE (1984)
and John Dahl's RED ROCK WEST (1992) but lacks either of those two genre
studies' originality, sense of humor, and overall charm. This wholly
derivative and predictable film centers on Albert Burroughs (Troy Garity,
son of Tom Hayden and Jane Fonda), a mentally challenged thirty-year-old who
lives with his cloying mother (Debra Monk) and works in a copy shop for the
grizzled Sean McNally (Bruce Dern). After the amateurish brother-and-sister
con team of Tuey the floozy (Alison Folland) and Stan the hypochondriac
(Hank Harris) shows up in town, as well as a suspicious traveling salesman
(Randy Quaid), Albert's mother is killed, and everyone goes immediately
after the small fortune Albert accumulated by winning ice-fishing contests.
Garity is excellent in the lead role, nearly making it worth seeing, but the
film is brought down by the substandard acting of the rest of the cast
(including a bizarre scene featuring Josh Brolin and Holly Woodlawn). The
well-meaning but dreary movie took the Audience Award at Deauville, the New
American Cinema & Modern Digital Award at Seattle, and the Young Critics
Award at Cannes while also playing the prestigious Karlovy Vary, Toronto,
Goteborg, Thessaloniki, and Slamdance fests, among others, so what do we
know?
ORACLE NIGHT by Paul Auster (Holt, 2003; Picador, 2004) *** (out of four)
http://www.paulauster.co.uk
http://www.henryholt.com/holt/oraclenight.htm
http://www.holtzbrinckpublishers.com/PICADOR/book/BookDisplay.asp?BookKey=18
14872
We struggled with this novel, putting it down numerous times before finally
just picking it up and plowing through to its conclusion, and are we ever
glad we didn't give up on it. Paul Auster is one of our favorite writers;
LEVIATHAN, the City of Glass trilogy, and THE MUSIC OF CHANCE are awesome
tales. But for much of ORACLE NIGHT, it is yet another self-reflexive book
about writers and writing, only this one comes with huge footnotes that are
cumbersome and annoying, sometimes extending across several spreads. But
stay with it. As Sidney Orr deals with his wife's mood swings, her best
friend's illness, and his inability to write because of his own health
problems, he takes a long look at his Brooklyn life after meeting an odd
Chinese man who sells him an alluring blue Portuguese notebook. The last few
dozen pages are everything that makes Auster such a splendid storyteller,
mixing in bizarre coincidences, offering stunning surprises, and tying up
the loose ends in a thrilling manner that will force you to look carefully
at your own life and forgive him from boring you in the earlier parts.
twi-ny top 2 dozen (or so) weekly reminders & special events
FLEET WEEK 2005
Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum
West 46th St. & 12th Ave.
Pier 86
May 25 - June 1
212-245-0072
Admission to museum: $16.50 for adults; children free to $11.50
depending on age.
Everything else: free
http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/pages/fleetweek
http://www.fleetweek.navy.mil
Fleet Week takes place at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum as well as such
other sites as New York harbor, the Hudson River, Staten Island Stapleton
Pier, Riverbank Park at 679 Riverside Dr., Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park
in the Bronx, the Central Park Bandshell, Fort Totten and Cunningham Park in
Queens, with daily tours of ships from all over the world. In addition to
the below listings, every day features such special events as the Navy
Recruiting District Simulator, environmental exhibits, and displays and
demonstrations by the Navy, the Marines, and the Coast Guard.
Wednesday, May 25 Parade of Ships, New York harbor and Hudson River,
11:00 am 5:00 pm
Thursday, May 26 Blessing of the Fleet, 455 Front St., Staten Island,
11:00 am
Friday, May 27 Stem to Stern Relay Race, 1:00
Saturday, May 28 Tug of War Competition, Pier 86, 1:00
Sunday, May 29 Best Chow Competition, 2:00
Monday, May 30 Memorial Day Ceremony, Flight Deck/MAF Hall, 11:00 am
Monday, May 30 National Moment of Remembrance, Flight Deck, 3:00
---
FINE ART MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY
Morrison Hotel
124 Prince St. between Greene & Wooster Sts.
Admission: free
212-941-8770
http://www.morrisonhotel.us/showschedule.html
Wednesday, May 25
through
Sunday, June 8 Swamps of Jersey, featuring late 1970s photos by Frank
Stefanko of Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny, and Patti Smith
---
SUNSHINE AT MIDNIGHT
Landmark Sunshine Cinema
143 E. Houston St. between First & Second Aves.
Friday and Saturday nights at midnight
212-330-8182
http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/NewYork/NewYork_frameset.htm
Friday, May 27
and
Saturday, May 28 MANHATTAN (Woody Allen, 1979)
Friday, June 3
and
Saturday, June 4 ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (Sergio Leone, 1968)
---
TENTH ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE
FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
Theater for the New City
155 First Ave. at Tenth St.
Admission: free
212-254-1109
http://theaterforthenewcity.org
Friday, May 27
through
Sunday, May 29 This year's LES festival, using the Theater for the New
City as its base of operations and dedicated to Mel Gussow and Arthur
Miller, will include indoor and outdoor events, with special musical and
theatrical performances, a crafts fair, and food stands; among the scheduled
participants are Judith Malina performing ANTIGONE, Joe Franklin, Jonathan
Ames, Carmen Mofongo, Crystal Field, Audio Fiction, Rosie Mendez, Hilly
Kristal, Reno, Penny Arcade, Billionaires for Bush, Lei Zhou, John Grimaldi
and the New York Lyric Circus, Taylor Mead, and many more, from dance and
poetry to theater excerpts and lobby attractions courtesy of the Slipper
Room, Joe's Pub, Collective Unconscious, and other Downtown venues
---
WEEKEND STREET FAIRS/FESTIVALS/PARADES/CARNIVALS
All events approximately 11:00 am - 6:00 pm unless otherwise noted
Admission: free
http://www.nyctourist.com/st_fairs_calendar.htm
http://nycstreetfairs.com/sched.html
http://www.clearviewfestival.com
Saturday, May 28 Lower Third Avenue Spring Festival: Third Ave. between
Sixth & Fourteenth Sts.
Sunday, May 29 Eighteenth Annual Livable West Side Festival: Broadway
between 72nd & 86th Sts.
Sunday, May 29 Times Square Fair: Seventh Ave. between 47th & 57th Sts.
Monday, May 30 Madison Avenue Community Expo: Madison Ave. between 42nd& 57th Sts.
Monday, May 30 Broadway Astoria Memorial Day Festival: Broadway between Steinway & Crescent Sts.
Saturday, June 4 Times Square Summer Fair: Seventh Ave. between 47th &
57th Sts.
Saturday, June 4
and
Sunday, June 5 Fiestas Patronales de Yonkers: Waterfront, Downtown
Yonkers, Larkin Plaza
Sunday, June 5 Twenty-sixth annual Yonkers Puerto Rican Day Parade &
Festival: Mclean Ave. & South Broadway, 1:30
Sunday, June 5 Twenty-eighth Annual Plantathon & Crafts Fair: Broadway
between 73rd & 86th Sts.
Sunday, June 5 Second Ave. Spring Jubilee: Second Ave. between 23rd &
34th Sts.
Sunday, June 5 Murray Hill Block Party: 35th St. between Lexington &
Madison Aves.
Sunday, June 5 Salute to Israel Parade: Fifth Ave. from 44th to 79th Sts.
Sunday, June 5 Philippine Independence Day Parade & Festival: Madison
Ave. from 40th to 23rd Sts.
Sunday, June 5 Queens Pride 2005: 37th Rd. between 74th & 77th Sts.
Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi in Ozon's latest, 5X2, screening June 5
FRANCOIS OZON
American Museum of the Moving Image
35th Ave. at 36th St., Astoria
Through June 5
Tickets: $10
718-784-4520
http://www.ammi.org/site/screenings/index.html
http://www.francois-ozon.com/english/index.html
Saturday, May 28 SEA THE SEA (Francois Ozon, 1997), 2:00
Saturday, May 28 UNDER THE SAND (Francois Ozon, 2000), 4:00
UNDER THE SAND (François Ozon, 2000)
***1/2 (out of four)
Unlikely duo Marie (Charlotte Rampling) and Jean Drillon (Bruno Cremer) are
hopelessly in love with each other. But when Jean suddenly disappears into
the ocean, Marie refuses to believe he might be dead and instead continues
to speak with him and think he's actually with her. Rampling is outstanding
in a very difficult role made even more challenging by Francois Ozon's
relentless uneasy directing.
Sunday, May 29 WATER DROPS ON BURNING ROCKS (Francois Ozon, 2000), 2:00
WATER DROPS ON BURNING ROCKS
(François Ozon, 2000) ***3/4 (out of four)
Based on a play by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Francois Ozon's French bedroom
farce stars Bernard Giradeau as fiftysomething Leopold, a slick,
mean-spirited salesman who knows how to get just about anyone into bed. His
innate ability to control people lures in cute little redhead Franz (Malik
Zidi), who immediately leaves his fiancee, Anna (Ludivine Sagnier), to play
househusband. But life with Leopold is not easy, as you'll discover when you
meet Vera (Anna Levine). The ending is wonderfully wacky and horribly
depressing. WATER DROPS was named best feature film at the 1999 Berlin
International Film Festival.
Sunday, May 29 Selected by Francois Ozon: IMITATION OF LIFE (Douglas
Sirk, 1958), 4:00
Saturday, June 4 EIGHT WOMEN (Francois Ozon, 2002), 2:00
8 FEMMES (8 WOMEN) (Francois Ozon, 2002)
**1/2 (out of four)
http://www.8femmes-lefilm.com
This should have been a great one, but controversial director Francois Ozon
couldn't leave well enough alone. Somewhere in 8 WOMEN is a fabulously
entertaining murder mystery set in a mansion in which the title characters
are trapped and any one of the eight could be guilty of the murder of the
dude in the bedroom who has a knife in his back. The eight women embody much
of the history of French cinema of the last fifty years: Danielle Darrieux
(who began making films in the early 1930s), Catherine Deneuve (who is
nearly sixty!), Fanny Ardant (who recently turned fifty), a nearly
unrecognizable Isabelle Huppert (who is approaching fifty), the beguiling
Emmanuelle Beart (who is nearing forty), twentysomethings Virginie Ledoyen
and Ludivine Sagnier, and Firmine Richard. Inexplicably, Ozon has each of
the characters perform a silly song-and-dance number that neither furthers
the plot nor expands on the characters' motives or mental state. He has bit
off more than he can chew; he made a compelling takeoff of the British
drawing-room mystery and blew it by deciding to play off the Hollywood
Technicolor musical as well. But Ardant's lips, Deneuve's eyelashes, and
Beart's curves are nearly worth the price of admission nonetheless.
Saturday, June 4 SWIMMING POOL (Francois Ozon, 2003), 4:00
SWIMMING POOL (Francois Ozon, 2003)
***1/2 (out of four)
Available on DVD in R-rated and unrated versions
Charlotte Rampling is divine in Francois Ozon's playful mystery about a
British crime novelist taking a break from the big city to recapture her
muse at her publisher's French villa, only to be interrupted by the
publisher's hot-to-trot teenage daughter, Ludivine Sagnier. Rampling holds
her own as the primpy old maid, tossing in plenty of sexuality and even a
little nudity to show that fifty-four-year-olds still have it.
Sunday, June 5 Short Films by Francois Ozon, 2:00
Sunday, June 5 5 X 2 (Francois Ozon, 2004), followed by a Pinewood
Dialogue with Francois Ozon, $18, 4:00
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LIVE AT THE SEAPORT
South Street Seaport Pier 16
Fulton & South Sts.
Admission: free
866-894-1812
http://www.southstreetseaport.com
Sunday, May 29 Memorial Day Weekend Concert, with the Mix & Soul Sound
Revue, 4:00 8:00
Tuesday, May 31 Caribbean Fair, with arts and crafts, tastings,
demonstrations, and more, 10:00 am 7:00 pm
---
THINGS TO DO IN CENTRAL PARK
Various locations
Admission: free unless otherwise noted
212-794-6564
http://www.centralparknyc.org/thingstodo
Sunday, May 29 Harlem Meer Performance Festival: African Blue Note,
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, inside Central Park at 110th St. & Lenox
Ave., 4:00
Saturday, June 4 Almost ALL ANDERSEN: Storytelling 2005, Laura Simms,
"The Nightingale," and Diane Wolkstein, "Hans Clodhopper," west of
Conservatory Water, 74th St. near Fifth Ave., 11:00 am
Saturday, June 4 Family Workshop: Plant Parts We Munch for Lunch, Dairy
Visitor Center & Gift Shop, midpark at 65th St., $15 per family, 1:00
Sunday, June 5 Harlem Meer Performance Festival: Los Soneros de Oriente,
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, inside Central Park at 110th St. & Lenox
Ave., 4:00
---
STARS IN THE ALLEY
Shubert Alley
Between 44th & 45th Sts. & Broadway & Eighth Ave.
Admission: free
http://www.starsinthealley.com/event.html
Wednesday, June 1 Broadway celebrates itself with performances from
numerous current shows featuring stars galore, including John Lithgow,
Norbert Leo Butz, and Joanna Gleason (DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS), Harvey
Fierstein and Andrea Martin (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF), Tom Wopat and Frederick
Weller (GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS), Christopher Sieber and Sara Ramirez (MONTY
PYTHON'S SPAMALOT), Richard Kind and Roger Bart (THE PRODUCERS), Ben Vereen
and Rue McLanahan (WICKED), Bruce Vilanch (HAIRSPAY), Frenchie Davis (RENT),
Leslie Uggams (ON GOLDEN POND), and others from LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, CHITTY
CHITTY BANG BANG, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, LITTLE WOMEN, SWEET CHARITY, ALL
SHOOK UP, AVENUE Q, CHICAGO, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and more, 11:00 am
---
SITES UNSEEN: A FREE THREE-DAY CELEBRATION
River to River Festival
Rockefeller Park in Battery Park City (RP)
World Financial Center Plaza (WFC)
Wagner Park in Battery Park City (WP)
Historic Battery Park Lawn (BPL)
Castle Clinton in Battery Park (CC)
South Street Seaport, Pier 17 (SSS)
Admission: free
212-528-2733/212-267-9700
http://www.rivertorivernyc.org
http://www.worldfinancialcenter.com/calendar/default.html
http://www.bpcparks.org
Wednesday, June 1 UnParade, with Grand Marshal Leonard Lopate, Oval Lawn, Battery Park City, 12 noon
Wednesday, June 1 Tan Dun's WATER PASSION AFTER ST. MATTHEW, SSS, 8:00
Thursday, June 2
and
Friday, June 3 Art on the Beach Revisited, ninety-minute journey of
site-specific installations, including new works by David Van Tieghem, Jane
Comfort, Butch Morris, Marta Renzi, and Yoshiko Chuma, Battery Park City's
Esplanade, 7:30
Friday, June 3 An Ode to Jenny Lind, with Audra McDonald, Iva
Bittova, and Rachelle Garniez, free but tickets required, available starting
at 5:00, CC, 7:00
---
MOVIES UNDER THE STARS
Pier A Park (First & Sinatra Dr.)
Hoboken
June and July films start at 9:00
August films start at 8:15
Admission: free
Blankets & lawn chairs encouraged
201-420-2207
http://www.hobokeni.com/film.asp#mus
Wednesday, June 1 GARDEN STATE (Zach Braff, 2004)
GARDEN STATE (Zach Braff, 2004) ***1/3 (out of four)
http://www.foxsearchlight.com/gardenstate
SCRUBS star Zach Braff wrote, directed, and stars in this charming sleeper
about Andrew Largeman (Braff), a young man so pumped up on prescription
medication that life keeps swirling by him until he meets the wild and
wacky Sam (the wonderful Natalie Portman). As Largeman deals with returning
home to New Jersey to face his mother's death, a part of his past keeps
threatening to come out. Meanwhile, he hangs with a bunch of offbeat local
losers (including the great Peter Sarsgaard) who like getting high, having
sex, and not doing much of anything else. The film tries for too much
poignancy in the end, but the first two-thirds are an absolutely fresh and
original joy.
Wednesday, June 8 BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON (Beeban Kidron, 2004)
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FIRST THURSDAYS
Dahesh Museum of Art
580 Madison Ave. at 57th St.
Admission: free from 6:00 9:00
212-759-0606
http://www.daheshmuseum.org/publicprograms_events/index.html#thursdays
Thursday, June 2 Performance of "A Window on India's Classical Dance,"
with Raja Rajeswari, in addition to gallery talks and other events, 6:30
Shakespeare runs amok in Central Park
NEW YORK CLASSICAL THEATRE IN THE PARK
Central Park
Enter at 103rd St. & Central Park West
Scenes move throughout the park
Thursdays through Sundays through June 26 at 7:00 pm
Admission: free, but voluntary donations accepted after show
212-252-4531
http://www.newyorkclassical.org
Thursday, June 2
through
Sunday, June 6 Shakespeare on the Run: AS YOU LIKE IT
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SUMMERNIGHTS AT THE JEWISH MUSEUM
The Jewish Museum
1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd St.
Thursday nights through September 1
Admission: pay what you wish from 5:00 to 9:00
212-423-3200
http://www.jewishmuseum.org
Thursday, June 2 Sendak on Film, Program 1 (AMERICAN MASTERS: MAURICE SENDAK: MON CHER PAPA, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN, REALLY ROSIE), music by the Ali Bello Trio, and admission to "The Power of Conversation: Jewish Women and Their Salons" and "Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak"
Thursday, June 9 Science Fiction and Fantasy ("Death's-Head Revisited"
from THE TWILIGHT ZONE, "Patterns of Force" from STAR TREK, "The Messiah on
Mott Street" from NIGHT GALLERY, "Thou Shalt Not" from QUANTUM LEAP, and"Kaddish" from THE X-FILES), music by Judy Handler and Mark Levesque, and
admission to "The Power of Conversation: Jewish Women and Their Salons" and"Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak"
---
SPRING PLAYGROUND FESTIVAL 2005
Madison Square Park
Intersection of 23rd St., Broadway & Fifth Ave.
Admission: free
212-538-5058
http://www.madisonsquarepark.org/recap.asp
Friday, June 3 Third annual event, with face painting, a balloon
artist, live music, arts & crafts, the Dirty Sock Funtime Band, food, and
more, 2:00 5:00
---
CHANGE YOUR MIND DAY
The Great Hill in Central Park
West Side from 103rd to 107th Sts.
Admission: free
1-800-950-7008
http://www.centralparknyc.org/thingstodo
http://www.tricycle.com/foundation/change.html
http://www.meditatenyc.org/events_June05.php
Saturday, June 4 Meditation and inspiration, poetry, Buddhist teachings,
archery demonstrations, contemplative exercises, and more, with Philip
Glass, Jill Satterfield, Brother Phap Dang, Loch Kelly, Tokokyudojo, and
others, 11:30 am 4:30 pm
---
EXTRAORDINARY DAIRY WEEKEND
Prospect Park Zoo
450 Flatbush Ave. by Grand Army Plaza
Admission: $5 adults, $1 children three to twelve
718-399-7339
http://nyzoosandaquarium.com/ppz_news/12923659
Saturday, June 4
and
Sunday, June 5 Featuring milking races, barnyard games, live
performances, animal encounters, keeper chats, cow baths, Dear Aggie, and
more, 10:30 am 4:00 pm
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THE FIFTH BIANNUAL MAKOR
MARATHON: WANDERING
Makor
Steinhardt Building
35 West 67th St. between Central Park West & Columbus Ave.
Tickets: $20
212-601-1000
http://www.makor.org
Sunday, June 5 One-day arts festival featuring music by the Oren Neiman
Quartet, Maury Epstein, and Jennifer Hopper; video art by Daniel Housman and
Mica Scalin; art installations by Jeremy Nadel, Chana Holder, Karen Marston,
and others; poetry from Veronica Golos; a theatrical performance from Basmat
Hazan Arnoff; and more, 12 noon 6:00 pm
---
FANGORIA PRESENTS MONSTER MONDAYS
The Two Boots Pioneer Theater
155 East Third St. at Ave. A
First Monday of every month at 7:00
Tickets: $9
212-254-3300
http://www.twoboots.com/pioneer
Monday, June 6 DEAD MEAT (Conor McMahon, 2004)
---
BROADWAY CLOSE UP -- BOUND FOR BROADWAY V
Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center
129 West 67th St. between Broadway & Amsterdam Ave.
212-501-3330
http://www.kaufman-center.org
Monday, June 6 A sneak peek at seven new shows being written for
Broadway, including MARTY, THE FROG PRINCE, DOCTOR SEX, THE STORY OF MY
LIFE, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE, HEAVEN KNOWS, and THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS,
hosted by Liz Callaway, $30, 8:00
---
WORD FOR WORD
Bryant Park Reading Room
42nd St. by Fifth Ave. side of Bryant Park
Admission: free
http://www.bryantpark.org/calendar/wordforword.php
http://www.palinstravels.co.uk
Monday, June 6 Michael Palin, HIMALAYA, 6:00
---
POST PORN LOVE
Museum of Sex
233 Fifth Ave. at 27th St.
212-689-6337 ext115
http://museumofsex.com/inside/events.asp
Monday, June 6 Presentation by former porn star and performance artist
Annie Sprinkle and her girlfriend, experimental artist and professor
Elizabeth M. Stephens, seating is limited; reservations strongly
recommended, $12, 7:30
Tuesday, June 7 Sidewalk Sex Clinic with Annie Sprinkle & friends,
including Candida Royalle, Veronica Vera, Barbara Carrellas, and Elizabeth
M. Stephens, free, 12 noon 4:00
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THE SEARCH FOR JOSEF MENGELE
Museum of Jewish Heritage A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
Safra Hall
18 First Pl.
Free with suggested donation
212-509-6130
http://www.mjhnyc.org/visit_safra_hall.htm
Wednesday, June 8 Dr. David Marwell goes behind the scenes of the
investigation of the whereabouts of the Auschwitz doctor, 7:00
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