THU.DEC.25
Celebrate Someone Else’s Christmas
Charles Phoenix has been collecting vintage amateur family slides for ten years and now has more than 350,000 images. In his show, “God Bless Americana: The Retro Holiday Slide Show” you can see how people decorated, dressed up, dined and drank their way through the holiday season from the 40s to the 70s. Check out everything from Disneyland Santa to a toilet paper Christmas tree. 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Pyramid Club Theater, located at 101 Ave. A (between 6th and 7th Sts.) $17 in advance and $20 at the door. Call 212 505 1700 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com for reservations.
Family Event
Yoga for kids, dreidel relay races, latke flipping, juggling, holiday snacks, arts and crafts and live Chanukah music by Award-winning singer and song-writer Brian Muni and percussionist Haruka Fujii. Songs will include Chanukah tunes, children’s classics and Brian’s own music. This musical jam session is for all ages. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sol Goldman 14th Street Y, located at 344 E. 14th St. between 1st and 2nd Aves. $5 Call 212 780 0800 ext. 227 for more information.
FRI.DEC.26
Gay Cabaret
Singer and songwriter, Michael Conley, host of NYC’s wildly popular Gay & Lesbian Comedy Fest, makes his solo debut in “Hello, Boys!” a completely original musical revue featuring 16 new songs written by him and Matthew Loren Cohen. 10:30 p.m. (and Sat. Dec. 27 at 7 p.m.) at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St. $10 cover, 2 drink minimum. Call 212 757 0788 for reservations.
SAT.DEC.27
Judy for the Holidays
Tommy Femia will be belting all of Miss Garland’s holiday hits, including “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” from “Meet Me In St. Louis.” And he sings them all live at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St. $20 + 2 drink minimum. Call 212 757 0788 for reservations.
Kwanzaa Celebration
Come to the community’s 16th Annual Kwanzaa celebration. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) is the principle of the day. The day long celebration of spirit, life and love include an African market, a cultural program and the Karumu (Communal Feast). 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Center, 208 W. 13th St. $8 suggested donation, call 212 741 9110, ext. 18 for more information.
WED.DEC.31
Music for 2004
Natalie Douglas returns for a New Year’s Eve celebration with the assistance of her musical director, “Avenue Q’s” Mark Hartman, and saxophonist Tony LaVorgna, to create her own cabaret sound. Seating begins at 10 p.m. and the performance begins at 10:30 p.m. at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre, 61 Christopher St. $45 and 2-drink minimum. Call 212 868 4444 or visit www.smarttix.com.
Gilbert & Sullivan Ring in the New Year
America’s foremost G & S repertory ensemble, the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players, revive a New Year’s Eve tradition. Albert Bergeret leads his merry company in famous G & S scenes, songs, parodies, and audience requests. The evening will include a 25-piece orchestra and champagne. Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2535 Broadway at 95th St., 8 p.m. $50–$65. 212 864 5400.
Stop Smoking Campaign
The Bronx Lesbian and Gay Health Consortium announces two new stop smoking efforts, “Boys Kick Ash!” and “Trans Kick Ash!” to help people stop smokinmg. The programs include support and medical research programs, including nicotine patches—all free to LGBT residents from the Bronx. Call 718 292 4368 or visit www.blghrc@aol.com for more information.
FRI.JAN.2
Queer Comedy Fest
Don’t miss the “Gay & Lesbian Comedy Fest” starring Seth Rudetsky, Erin Foley, Lisa Kaplan and others. Hosted by Michael Conley at 9 p.m. at
Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St. $10 + 2 drink minimum. 212 757 0788
SAT.JAN.3
Queer Bollywood Bash
Come to the weekly party for lesbian and gay desi, an affectionate term for those of South Asian descent.D.J. Ashu Rai will bang bhangra, Bollywood, pop, and deep house for gay and lesbian South Asian party people. Check out the desi-drag, impersonators of the most fabulous Bollywood stars. 10 p.m. at the Pyramid Club, 101 Ave. A at 6th St. $10 cover. 18 to enter and 21 to drink. Call 212 713 5111 for more information.
Surprise the Eyes
Le Scandal is a blend of burlesque and vaudeville with a downtown edge. Performances include striptease, sideshow, and performance art. Check out the sword-swallowing, lap-dancing, fire-breathing show. Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. (doors at 10 p.m.) at the Cutting Room, 19 W. 24th St. between Broadway and 6th Ave. $20, call 212 868 4444 or visit www.smarttix.com.
SUN.JAN.4
What Farewell Tour?
Does she love you? You oughta know! No, it isn’t really Cher at Fez tonight. It’s Devon Cass, who does such an incredible recreation of the beloved entertainer that he once fooled Cher herself! Come see him tonight at Fez inside Time Café at 380 Lafayette St. Tickets are $20. Please call 212 533 2680 to make reservations.
Joan in the Mud
This dance program presented by the all-female company led by Ellis Wood also includes a new solo, “A Spirit Serves a Small Breakfast,” at the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center at 3 p.m. at 1395 Lexington Ave. Tickets are $10. Call 212 415 5500 or visit www.92Y.org.
WED.JAN.7
John Fleck
As part of the “veterans series” with “Freaks And Fags,” a work in progress. John Fleck, the notorious (if you’re a Republican) performance artist returns to Dixon Place to perform the new work he describes as an absurdist song and dance salute from the red, white and blue underbelly. 7:30 p.m. at The Marquee, 356 Bowery (btw. Great Jones and E. 4th Sts.) Tickets are $10. Call 212 219 0736 x106.
Health and Fitness Open House
This ultimate post-holiday motivator offers funky classes, personal training, sports consultations, basketball shoot outs, gifts, spa treatments and more to help you keep those New Year’s resolutions from 5-10 p.m. at the 92nd St. Y at 139 Lexington Ave. Call 212 415 5729 for more information. Free.
THU.JAN.8
Laugh Riot
New York’s hottest gay and gay-friendly comics and performers, including Judy Gold, Julie Goldman (in photo), Marion Grodin and more, hosted by Michele Balan are at Homo Comicus at 8:30 p.m. at the Gotham Comedy Club, 34 West 22nd St. $12 + 2 drink minimum. Call 212 367 9000 for reservations.
FRI.JAN.9
GrippingWar Fiction
“If you want to understand what’s happening right now in Iraq, I recommend ‘The Battle Of Algiers,’” said former U.S. National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski. Algerian women—disguised as chic Europeans—depositing bombs at a sidewalk café, a teenagers’ hang-out and an Air France office; and massive, surging crowd scenes unfolding with such gripping realism that the original U.S. distributor had to insert the disclaimer, “Not one foot of newsreel or documentary film has been used.” Tonight a three-week engagement opens at the Film Forum, 309 W. Houston St. Call 212-727-8110 for show times.
TUE.JAN.13
AIDS Awareness Day
Today is the deadline to sign up for a free bus to Albany to lobby on behalf of AIDS funding on February 3. Participation in AIDS Awareness day has proven to be critical in the past, and remains so. Last year, during a particularly tight budget year, participants at AIDS Awareness Day and others who lobbied throughout the year were able to help buffer severe cuts to HIV/AIDS funding streams. Relative to other issues, AIDS programs did not suffer severe reductions. The Assembly restored 70% of their traditional items and the ADAP program victoriously received $96 million in new funding over the next two years. Registration is required for the Albany trip. Visit www.nyaidscoalition.org or call 212-629-3075 x104.
MON.JAN.19
Oresteia
The Aeschylus trilogy opens tonight at the American Theater for Actors. Each part of the trilogy is adapted and directed by three different directors creating a contemporary triptych. Each director pursues his own vision without knowledge of the other interpretations until the three fifty-minute versions collide in the same evening. Tickets are $15 available at 212 868 4444 or www. smarttix.com. Performances are Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at 314 W. 54th St.
