Volume 75, Number 35 | September 1 – 7, 2005
THU.SEP.1
Half-Price Laughs for Students
Homo Comicus, a periodic ensemble of top gay and gay-vague comics, class clowns, cut-up, and detention hall cheese- and beefcake, hosts a special back-to-school evening, offering students with valid I.D. half off the admission price of $12 (you’re the student; do the math). Laughmeister Michael hosts Shecky Beagleman, Jessica Kirson, Danny McWilliams, and others. There’s a two-drink minimum. Gotham Comedy Club, 34 W. 22nd St., 8:30 p.m. Call 212-367-9000 for reservations.
James Turrell’s Meeting
This long-term installation at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center is back! The 1986 work is one of the highlights of P.S.1 and people travel for miles just to see this room. Open only at dusk, the artist intended for the public to witness the slow change in the color of the setting sun. The ceiling opens to reveal the sky, and as one sits in the room, one experiences a visual that gradually changes from a luminous blue to a calming black. Every Saturday at nightfall, at 22-25 Jackson Ave. at 46th Ave. in Long Island City, a short subway ride from Manhattan. Take the No. 7 train to 45th St. Courthouse Square or E train to 23 St./Ely Ave. Call 718-784-2084 for more information.
FRI.SEP.2
Male Desire Two
Mary Ryan Gallery exhibits a series of artists in celebration of Jonathan Weinberg’s book “Male Desire: The Homoerotic in American Art,” published by Harry N. Abrams, through Sep. 10. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 212-397-0669. Proceeds from the book sales will go to the Manuscripts and Archives Division of the New York Public Library.
Circus Amok in Fort Greene
New York City’s renowned Obie and Bessie Award-winning circus theater spectacle kicks off three weeks of mayhem in parks across the city with its new extravaganza “Princess: The Tail of a Lost City.” The piece traces the madcap search for the mystery pussy Princess, a quest that untangles the history of eminent domain, gentrification, and even rent control. The schedule includes 16 free performances in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Tonight’s performance is at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn, uphill from South Portland and DeKalb Aves. in the center of the park, 6 p.m. The series winds up at Tompkins Square Park at E. Seventh St. and Ave. A on Sun., Sep. 25 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. For a complete schedule of all dates and venues visit circusamok.org.
SAT.SEP.3
Cherry Grove Art Show
Barbara Ann Levy Gallery presents a month-long show of drawings by Jason Seder and paintings, including “Missing Snow,” seen here, by David Spiher, Fri. 6-11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. An opening reception will be held today from 6-8 p.m. 631-597-4054.
SUN.SEP.4
Labor Day Picnic Barbeque
XES Lounge hosts a chow down day on its patio, with free food until 8 p.m. At 9 p.m. “Blue Collar Music & Madness” breaks out with videos, shot specials, go-go boys, and $3 Buds and Michelobs. 124 W. 24th St. at Seventh Ave.
Pride in the Borscht Belt
The Day to Be Gay Foundation of Sullivan County hosts the fifth annual Day to Be Gay in the Catskills, a celebration of lesbian and gay music and culture for everyone. There will be music, entertainment, food, vendors of all types, and even a dog contest (sorry no cats…) Delaware Community Center in Callicoon, New York, on the Delaware River, about 22 northwest of Monticello on Route 17B, noon to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is $15 that benefits the Foundation, which works to improve visibility and social opportunities for gay folks in the Catskills. For more information, visit daytobegay.org or call 845-295-8721.
MON.SEP.5
First Mondays Galore
Deryck Todd curates a celebration of local art and music the first Monday of every month at XES Lounge. This month, Ahmond presents a special music performance. DJ Jimmy Beats spins. There is no cover charge. 124 W. 24th St. at Seventh Ave., from 8 p.m.
The ONE Campaign
In Uganda, young people who make it to secondary school are three times less likely to get AIDS, and experts say that worldwide, access to a good basic education could even prevent 700,000 HIV cases every year. Yet, over 100 million children are not in school around the world. Can you believe that 46 million children are out of school in Africa alone—more than all the children in primary school in the entire United States—and that more than half are girls? Investment in one area pays off in others. Just sending a child to school helps boys and girls live longer, have healthier families, prevent diseases like HIV/AIDS, get better jobs and earn more money – lifting up their families, their communities and eventually their countries. All kids have dreams; they just need the tools to make them real. We all know that when children thrive, families succeed and countries prosper. Visit ONE.org for more information.
TUE.SEP.6
Robert Smithson
The Whitney Museum of American Art is proud to present the work of this artist—who died in 1973 at 35—which includes the well-known “Spiral Jetty” and films, photographs, writings, sculptures and more. Exhibit runs through Oct., 5 Madison Ave. at 75th St. Open Wed.-Sun. 212-570-3633; $12.
Monologue Slam
The Galinsky Bros present Manhattan’s only monologue slam. Robert Galinsky hosts “The Championship Set” and brother Phillip does the honors with “The 30-Second Slam.” At stake is nothing less than the title of Manhattan Monologue Slam Champion. Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, btwn. Bleecker and Houston Sts., 8 p.m. Admission is $6. For more information, call 212-614-0505.
WED.SEP.7
Supporting Norma J. Jennings
The executive committee of the Lambda Independent Democrats, Brooklyn’s LGBT political voice, hosts a fundraiser for Norma J. Jennings—lesbian who has worked for the Legal AID Society of Brooklyn and the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and is a graduate of the Columbia University School of Law—who is running for the Civil Court. Jennings currently works as a court attorney in the Civil Court, where she provides expert assistance to the judges on the court. The event takes place at the home of Jonathan Lovett and Harley Diamond, 363 Washington Ave., btwn. Lafayette and Greene Aves. in Fort Greene, 7:30-9:30 p.m. RSVP to Juliet at 917-741-8419.
Robert Giard’s Nudes
An exhibition of the famed photographer’s male nudes is up at Daniel Cooney Fine Art from today through Oct. 15. Opening reception is this evening from 6-8 p.m. 511 W. 25th St., #506. Call 212-255-8158 for gallery hours.
Midnights With Moonshine
Moonshine, who holds the title of Ms. Downtown Ingénue 2004, reigns over an outrageous open mic every Wed. until the last poet goes home. There is no cover, but a one-drink minimum, with specials until dawn. Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, btwn. Bleecker and Houston Sts., 11:59 p.m. For more information, call 212-614-0505.
THU.SEP.8
Bindlestiff at Union Square
The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus presents “Buckaroo Bindlestiff Wild West Spectacle,” an evening of hair-raising rope spinning, whip cracking tricks, implausible feats of juggling, live music, and a man who swallows an 1860 cavalry bayonet—Oh my! Tonight, the Cirkus appears in a free performance at Union Square Park at 6 p.m. The Cirkus tours Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx parks until it closes up with two free performances at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn, uphill from South Portland and DeKalb Aves. in the center of the park. For a complete list of dates and venues for the Cirkus’ 12 performances, visit bindlestiff.org/.
FRI.SEP.9
Heritage of Pride at Six Flags
The sponsor of the annual LGBT pride celebrations in Manhattan, Heritage of Pride, hosts an LGBT evening at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. For transportation from Manhattan, call 212.80.PRIDE or visit hopinc.org/events/fairgrounds.cfm. Park admission plus bus transportation costs total $58. For transportation from Staten Island (at 56 Bay St.), leaving at 4:30 p.m. and returning at 2:30 a.m., call the LGBT Health and Wellness Program of the Community Health Action of Staten Island at 718-273-5833. The full price from Staten Island is $60.
SAT.SEP.10
Monstrous Variety Show
The Monster in Sheridan goes back to its roots with the re-introduction of theater and cabaret downstairs, in the space once occupied by El Chico, the premier Spanish flamenco cabaret in the U.S. when it opened in 1929. The evenings will include comedy, cabaret, light snacks, raffles, and even “strange auction items.” Admission price of $12 get you one drink and snacks. Limited number of $15 tickets at the door. For reservations, call 212-352-3101 or visit theatermania.com. 80 Grove St., btwn. Seventh and Sixth Aves., right off Sheridan Square. Doors open at 6 p.m.
SUN.SEP.11
At Peace With the World
David Schildkret presents “tree(son),” an environmental installation that explores the possibilities of initiation in the lives of contemporary gay men. Set in the forest aside a wetland under the protection of a massive oak, this quarter-mile-long art installation is a result of this summer’s Artist in Residence program at Easton Mountain, in the Hudson Valley approximately 30 miles north of Albany. Drinks and snacks will be available and the artist will conduct tours of the installation, from 2 to 6 p.m. This event is free, but also part of a program entitled “Rites of Passage—a Weekend of Art, Initiation and Ritual” from Sep. 9 until today. Schildkret and special guest facilitator Joe Monkman will lead the group in shamanic journeying, breathwork, drumming, and co-created rituals of passage in the forest. There is a fee for this weekend retreat, which includes meals and accommodations. For more information, including directions to Easton Mountain, visit eastonmountain.com or call 518-692-8023.
MON.SEP.12
Klezmer Heralds A New Spot
Mo Pitkin’s House of Satisfaction, a night spot featuring Judeo-Latino cuisine and brought to you by the same people who made Two Boots happen, has an opening night party with performances by the gay-inclusive Metropolitan Klezmer, at 9 p.m., and Los Mas Valientes, at 10:30 p.m., in a special double-bill. The two bands will jam together with klezmer cumbia and “Dominican Girl on the Kosher Aisle.” 34 Ave. A., btwn. Second and Third Sts.
TUE.SEP.13
Indiscreet: Candid Views
The Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation Stephen Hale’s obsessive documentation of New York’s gay underground informs his one-man exhibition at The Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation. The exhibition features 20 large-scale works that explore the margins this largely unseen world. Hale’s labor intensive, photo-like drawings of men caught off-guard wearing only underwear or completely naked, stare back, as if the viewer were guilty of invading their treasured privacy. Late night forays into the underbelly of downtown night life led the artist to an unabashed portrayal of go-go boys, strippers, hustlers, one-night tricks, and fetishistic leather men. The exhibition opens tonight with a reception from 6-9 p.m. and continues through Oct. 15. Art dealer Paul Bridgewater hosts a conversation with Stephen Hale on Tue., Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.; $7 suggested donation. 127-B Prince St., btwn. West Broadway and Wooster St. For more information, call 212-673-7007.
THU.SEP.15
Passageway from Past to Present
“Tunnel” is an installation of crocheted shoelaces and nautical towline that artist Sheila Pepe, a Gay City News contributor, has installed in the sky lit Atrium Gallery of the Jersey City Museum. Like other of Pepe’s recent work, “Tunnel” is inspired by family history as well as physical and cultural location. The work begins as an homage to her maternal aunt and uncle, New Jersey residents Augustine Nigro who worked as a laborer digging the Holland Tunnel, and his wife Eleanor D’Amore Nigro, a garment worker who traveled daily to a factory in Manhattan. “Tunnel” commemorates the passing of a generation of men and women who built the tunnels that link New Jersey and Manhattan and used them to commute to work during the first half of the 20th century. 350 Montgomery St. at Monmouth St. Tonight, there is a public reception for this installation that continues through Oct. 23, 7-8:30 p.m. For directions to the museum, visit jerseycitymuseum.org/information/gettinghere.html or call 201-413-0303.
FRI.SEP.16-
SUN.SEP.18
Braking the Cycle
Only six slots are left for the bicycling fund-raiser for AIDS programs at the LGBT Community Center—a 275-mile ride from the Chesapeake Bay to the canyons of Manhattan. It is a once in a lifetime sort of bonding experience for everyone involved and contributes needed dollars to important community work provided by the Center. You must raise at least $3,500 in sponsorships and you must register. For complete information, visit brakingthecycle.org. If you wish to cheer on the successful riders, turn out at the Center at 4:30 p.m. for the Closing Ceremony and Victory Party.
gaycitynews.com
