New York, NY

I don’t know why this reminds me so much of home, but it does.

Emeril Lagasse ain’t got nothin on Brooklyn. BAM is the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Brooklyn is in constant renaissance mode, from Red Hook to Billyburg (Williamsburg for all you non-nicknamers). BAM supports art, theatre, music, film, dance, and literature.

Show your support as well during the BAM 25th Next Wave Festival. The festival begins on October 2 and ends December 16.

Expect innovative performances and exhibits by up-and-coming artists. Some events are already sold out, so get your tickets early. Students are in luck–studen rush tickets are available.

I cannot wait to read this book, a collection of up and coming writers who write their stories about New York City. The collection was edited by historians and critics Marshall Berman and Brian Berger.

If you want to check it out before you buy it, go to Barnes and Noble in Chelsea tonight at 7 PM. The editors will be there to chat about and maybe even read from their book, New York Calling, From Blackout to Bloomberg.

The collection includes snippets about rent controlled apartments, gay culture in the city, the art world, and drug-induced years.

What better way to learn about New York than to hear about it first-hand?

NYC, new york city, books

Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe is a hip, cool, awesome, trendy place to be if you love books. And New Yorkers do love their books. Also, if you love CDs, readings, and charity–Housing Works is the place for you. They depend upon donations so that they can sell merchandise to donate funds to organizations that assist homeless people who live with HIV and AIDS. How’s that for a cycle of good will?

On September 29, they bring their books outside. The Open Air Book Fair begins at 10 AM and winds down at 6 PM. Get there early to purchase books, CDs, and albums for as low as one dollar. That dollar can eventually help save a life. See how simple it is to be a modern day hero? If you don’t want to read or listen to music, they’re also selling clothes. There’s something for everyone. The rain date is Sept. 30.

If you’re interested in donating, this is what they have to say: “Donations can be brought into the store any time we’re open. All donations are fully tax-deductible and we will provide you with a tax receipt. At this time we are not offering a pick-up service for any donations.”

NYC, new york city, books, charity

For more information about times and tickets, click on the venue on the blogroll on the right.

9/25 Genesis at MSG
9/26 Scorpions at The Beacon
9/26-27 PLJ Presents Yelloward and Blue October at Nokia Theatre
9/27-28 ZZ Top at The Beacon
9/29-30 Disney’s High School Musical at MSG
9/30 Michael W. Smith at Nokia Theatre

9/24 Katha Pollitt at B&N Astor Place
9/24 Don DeLillo at 92nd Street Y 8 PM *
9/25 Augusten Burroughs at B&N Union Square
9/26 Joy Behar at B&N Union Square

9/29 Open Air Book Fair at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby Street between Broadway and Lafayette**
10/2 and ongoing BAM 25th Next Wave Festival

* denotes personal favorite

The theatre is the greatest place to reaffirm your faith. A close second is a boy band concert.

In a genius move, some theatre people put together Altar Boyz, the only musical that combines these two subjects in such a wonderfully entertaining way.

They’ve got a cute guy, a thug guy, an effiminate guy, a foreign guy, and a not-so-bright guy. They’ve got dance moves and fun lyrics. They’ve got faith and prayer.

One of the best parts about Altar Boyz is waiting in the lobby. That’s where you get to fill out a card to confess your latest sin. It’s kinda like going to confession without having to do any penance. Fantastic idea.

The show is always running specials on tickets so pick a fun time to go with friends. Amen.

NYC, New York City, off broadway, plays, musicals, Altar Boyz

The Tribeca Film Festival is a huge draw for film lovers. Tickets are hard to get for certain films. They’re about 26 bucks each. Crazy.

For the poorer or stingier film lovers, Tropfest at Tribeca 2007 may be just what you (we) need. Tropfest is the world’s largest short film festival. The main perks of the fest are that it’s outside (and who doesn’t love an outdoor flick?) and better yet, it’s FREE. Oh, yes, my friends, my favorite word appears yet again. Free, free, freeeeeeee.

If you want to make short short short films with your cell phone, you can enter the Slice of Life contest. Record 30 seconds of life on your phone to win a Nokia Nseries prize and have your clip aired at the fest.

Head to Battery Park on Sunday, September 23. Entertainment begins at 5 PM. Films begin at 8 PM.

NYC, New York City, Tribeca, film, movies

Carnegie Hall does it again. On Wednesday, October 10, a crapload of singers will be singing the tunes of Elton John. Who are these singers? Here are a few: Shawn Colvin, Aimee Mann, Phoebe Snow, Jill Sobule and Lloyd Cole, Brendan Benson, David Broza, Page McConnel from Phish, Ryan Shaw, Nikki Yanofsky, and Joshua Radin.

They’ll sing their hearts out to benefit Music for Youth. You can benefit this organization by singing along with them in the audience. Who knows–Elton may show up too.

NYC, New York City, concerts, music, Elton John

9/17—9/19 Yankees play Baltimore Orioles
9/21—9/23 Yankees play Toronto Blue Jays
9/23 Jets play Miami Dolphins

9/18 Dream Concert feat. Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Carlos Santana, Robin Thicke, BeBe and Cece Winans, and more to come along with Al Roker and Ben Affleck–lots of stuff going on here at Radio City Music Hall
9/18 & 9/20 Jimmy Buffet at MSG
9/19 Kings of Leon at Radio City Music Hall
9/21 The Chemical Brothers at Hammerstein Ballroom
9/22 McCarren Pool with Ladytron at Hammerstein Ballroom
9/23 The Cure at MSG

9/17 John Leland at B&N Astor Place **
9/17 Alan Greenspan at B&N Union Square
9/17 Nina Garcia of Project Runway at Borders Columbus Circle 7:00 PM
9/18 Garrison Keillor at B&N Union Square **
9/18 Alan Greenspan at Borders Wall Street 12 Noon
9/19 Dave Barry at B&N Union Square **
9/19 Yankee legend Don Mattingly at Borders Wall Street 10:00 AM
9/19 Lydia Davis and Wayne Koestenbaum at Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe 7:00PM **
9/21 Tiki Barber at B&N 5th Ave

9/23 Tropfest at Tribeca 2007

* denotes personal favorite

nyc, new york city, sports, Yankees, Jets, MSG, concerts, Jimmy Buffett

Feeling nostalgic for a time when I didn’t exist in a place I’ve never lived but still feel rooted to.

I’m all about Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been listing a lot of their events lately because I think that they’re an important and wonderful organization. Though they are in Manhattan, they are lending their support to the boroughs.

September 16 is the Brooklyn Book Festival. First off, you should know that you can get a bookmark that commemorates the festival at any branch of the Brooklyn Public Library System. For free. That’s why I listed it first–I love FREE stuff.

Secondly, about the festival. Housing Works is hosting George Saunders, Lynne Tillman, and Joshua Ferris. Additional writers include Ana Castillo, Pete Hamill, Katha Pollitt, Joe Meno, Jonathan Lethem (man, I LOVE me some Lethem), Phillip Lopate, and Kimiko Hahn.

This is just a smidgen of the talent. There are events all over Brooklyn at all different times between 10 AM and 6 PM. Brooklyn Borough Hall is the mainstage. Other venues include Borough Hall Plaza and Columbus Park.

Booksellers and publishers will be there as well. You can listen. You can buy. You can get free bookmarks.

Brooklyn, NYC, book festival, writers, authors

Time Out New York is one of the, if not THE, best mags around about New York. They sponsor tons of fun events. This past summer, I was on rooftops across town, getting drunk and meeting boys and having an all around good time. I went home with awesome goodie bags filled to the brim with new merch and the latest trends.

While the rooftop parties are gone until next summer, Time Out is still treating us all to more fun times. Eat Out 07, A Tasting Celebration, is on its way.

Monday, September 24

6:30–9:30 PM

Skylight 275 Hudson St

Get your tickets early so you can feast on samples from 40 of Time Out’s favorite restaurants. It’s a guaranteed good time.

Time Out, NYC, New York City, dining

Thank you to the FDNY, the NYPD, the Port Authority, the MTA, the anonymous good samaritans that walk the streets every day, making the city of New York New York City.

9/10—9/12 Mets play Atlanta Braves
9/14—9/16 Mets play Philadelphia Phillies
9/16 Giants play Green Bay Packers

9/15 The Fab Faux at The Beacon
9/17 An Evening with Rush at MSG

9/10 Kirk Douglas at Borders Columbus Circle 7:00 PM
9/11 Melissa Plaut at B&N Greenwich Village
9/13 Edmund White at B&N Chelsea
9/13 Barbara Hoffert, D.T. Max, Brigid Hughes, Jeffrey Lependorf, Scott McLemee, and Kevin Prufer at Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe 7:00 PM
9/14 Grub Street 2.0 Discussion with John Freeman, Emily Lazar, Melissa Egan, Erica Wagner, Jennifer Szalai, Steve Wasserman, and Dwight Garner at Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe 4:30 PM
9/14 John Freeman, Nan A. Talese, Sean McDonald, Eric Banks, David Kipen, and Dave Weich at Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe 5:45 PM

9/16 Brooklyn Book Festival at Brooklyn Borough Hall with George Saunders, Lynne Tillman, and Joshua Ferris beginning at noon

nyc, new york city, Mets, Giants, sports, readings, book signing, fairs