New York, NY

Today, tomorrow, and the next day, the Dalai Lama is in New York. He will be teaching from the Diamond Cutter Sutra and the 70 Verses on Emptiness. You need to buy a pack to go–no individual sessions are available. But why wouldn’t you go to all three. I mean, come on. It’s the friggin Dalai Lama!

Radio City Music Hall will be the site of the divine teachings of the Buddha. This event is hosted by the Tibetan Center and Healing The Divide.

Tickets range from 80 to 330 bucks so check out Ticketmaster and figure out what’s best for you. This is something different and something special.

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

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

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

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