New York, NY

Nothing in the world is scarier than clowns. They’re back. For an extended period of time. I’ll be avoiding Lincoln Center for the next few months.

However, I’ve heard that some people actually like clowns. So this is for them:

The Big Apple Circus is celebrating 30 years in grand style. New York City, your circus is back and better than ever. From October 19 to January 13, Lincoln Center will host clowns and other circus-like things.

I guess this is good for the kids, right? Or for grown ups who like clowns.

New York, NYC, The Big Apple, circus

Theatre for a New Audience was established in 1979 by Jeffrey Horowitz. The goal? To keep Shakespeare alive! Figuratively, of course; otherwise, this would be a whole other post.

TFANA presents Shakespeare and other Classic dramas off-Broadway and on tour internationally and nationally. In the city, some performances are at The Duke on West 42nd Street between 6th and 7th Aves. Also, Cherry Lane Theatre on Commerce Street and 7th Ave hosts performances.

The 2007-8 season is: Africa, Europe, America: Exploring the Connections. This season present three main plays:

Ohio State Murders, by Adrienne Kennedy, October 27-November 18 2007

Oroonoko, by Aphra Behn, adapted by Biyi Bendele, February 2-March 9 2008

Antony and Cleopatra, by William Shakespeare, March 22-May 2 2008

TFANA also hosts a reading series called Literary Supplement:

Tower of Evil, by Michael Feingold, January 28 2008

The Self-Tormentor, by Terence, March 10, 2008

The Swamp Dwellers, by Wole Soyinka, April 14, 2008

The season starts soon. Become part of the Classics.

The New York Times has a bunch of events for smart people who have money and dress nicely. I consider myself a smart person; however, I am lacking in funds. Yet, when I go to these Times shindigs, people who have money THINK I have money because I’m there and they treat me nicely.

All that being said….

The New York Times is hosting The Great Literary Brunch. See? It’s a brunch. Hip, cool people go to brunch. Hip, cool people with money spend $130 on brunch. It’s worth it though. Here’s why: Alan Alda.

I love Alan Alda. I’ve been about three feet away from Alan Alda several times (at a writers’ conference and at a supermarket) and haven’t said a dang thing to him because I’m so in awe. What would I say, anyway? “Hey, Mr. Alda, I’ve loved you since the day I first watched M*A*S*H with my grandmother.”? I don’t think that’d go over too well.

Anyway, Alan Alda is going to be at The Great Literary Brunch along with some other people whom I’ve never heard of so who cares. It’s Alan Friggin Alda. The brunch is on October 14 from 11 AM to 2 PM. A book signing will follow.

Remember that scene from Moonstruck with Cher at the opera and how she’s near tears? And then later on when she’s outside in the dark dress with the dark make-up and the big poofy hair?

You, too, can have big poofy hair and be just like Cher!

The New York City Opera is a BIG DEAL. According to them, you’ll see Big Drama and Big Divas if you take advantage of the Big Deal.

If you’re 21 to 39, you can become a Big Deal member. The opera is trying to find a younger crowd to fill their houses. The advantage to becoming a member is that you get stuff for cheap and you get access to exclusive parties.

They offer two packages of different prices for memberships. If the opera is your thing or you’ve always been curious to see if it’s your thing, this Big Deal may be for you.

NYMF stands for New York Musical Theatre Festival. I don’t know what happened to the T so don’t ask. It’s really not important anyway. What is important is this: NYMF runs for three weeks only, and we’re in the last week!

The festival features over 30 new musicals throughout the midtown Theatre District. New playwrights present their works, chosen by leading industry people.

Tickets are on sale now. Plus there’s a closing party you may want to check out on October 7. So many choices, so little time.

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

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

Times Square is the place to be for lights and lunacy. This past year brought us an unparalleled karaoke party to add to the crazy scene. Spotlight Live is the place for dinner, drinks, and a bit of singing. Supposedly, the likes of Tyra Banks and other superstars have taken the stage to sing. However, anyone sings. Everyone sings. With multiple floors and dark corners, you can hang out in the background or be in the spotlight. It’s all up to you.

Oh, and have I mentioned that you can be seen outside on their Times Square screen? Yeah, it’s that kind of karaoke.

They want you to be famous. Maybe you will be.

When you think of NYC, you probably do not think of farmland. You probably think of skyscrapers and taxis. That makes sense because that’s what the city is. Still, NYC does not ignore our rural neighbors. We embrace them.

On Sunday Sept. 9, Farm Aid 2007 comes to town. Enjoy music by Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, The Allman Brothers Band, and Counting Crows. Other acts will be there and these guys will switch it up and perform together and make great music.

Randall’s Island will be rockin. Get your tickets soon.

The U. S. Open comes to town this week. From now until September 9, professional tennis players will flock to Corona–that’s Queens–and duke it out with rackets and balls. Heh. I said “rackets and balls.” Ha. I’m so twelve.

Flushing Meadows Park will be the home of 2007’s last Grand Slam tournament.

For more info about tennis, click here.

For more info about Flushing Meadows, click here.

River To River is still going strong as it has all summer long. Now it’s time for movies. Surely, you’ve been taking advantage of Bryant Park’s flick fest. But now, there’s even more. 55 Water Street is the place to be in August to catch some movie classics.

August 7 presents The Fountainhead circa 1949.

August 14 is all about Breakfast at Tiffany’s from 1960

August 21 offers On The Waterfront filmed in 1954.

August 28 brings it all to an end with The Apartment, a throwback to 1960 once more.

nyc, new york city, movies, festivals

That just sounds cool. Spiegelworld! It’s kitschy. What is it? Well, I’m not sure really. It has something to do with the seaport and absinthe. I’m getting ahead of myself.

July 2 through September 30, Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport hosts live bands, Wednesday Night Fever, Turntables on the Hudson on Fridays, Raindance NYC.org on Saturdays, Absinthe The World’s Hottest Live Show, and the world premiere of La Vie, Montreal’s circus company.

That’s a whole lot happening at Pier 17.

Back to the question at hand. Spiegelworld is a traveling arts festival and fair. Two large tents filled with fun. It includes The Green Room Restaurant for dining delight. It’s a little bit clubby. It’s a little bit loungy. It’s a little bit beer gardeny.

It’s something you have to see to understand.

NYC, New York City, South Street Seaport, art, festival, entertainment