Bulges & Biceps
The Erotic Art Fair Weekend purports to provide an "opportunity for artists from around the world to display their work, no matter the gender, sexual orientation or medium of expression." Sure, but there does seem to be a significant proportion or bulges, biceps and bent over men represented in the displays. But that's to be expected for an event presented by the Tom of Finland Foundation, right? To get the erotic artphilia pumping, they also present a rough sketch (below) by the grandaddy of highbrow porn that has "never before been seen in public." Along with the two-day chance to peruse the framed eye candy for sale, lectures and panel discussions give a context for the art designed to get you hard. (Jerry Portwood)
May 19-21. The Center, 208 W. 13th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-620-7310; $10.
Hotwire Comix Party
There's nothing like a good, old-fashioned underground comics anthology to kick you out of those "artsy graphic novel" doldrums-especially when so many old NYPress alumni are involved. In the style of Snake Eyes and Raw, Hotwire (Fantagraphics, $19.95) is at turns funny and nasty and sad. Mostly funny, though. Or nasty. Edited by Glenn Head, with contributions from greats like Tony Millionaire, Mike Wartella, Danny Hellman, Michael Kupperman, and one of our all-time favorites, Sam Henderson. Plus a couple others who haven't been associated with the Press. A bunch of them will be at a book release party this Friday, should you care to say something. (Jim Knipfel)
May 19. Rocketship Comics, 208 Smith St. (betw. Butler & Baltic Sts.), B'klyn, 718-797-1348; 7, free.
Heaneybopper
Seamus Heaney has spent 40 years transforming words with beautiful lyricism, earthy imagery, musical phrasing, historical perspective and keen political insight in his poems about Ireland. Nobel laureate, autobiographical essayist, skillful translator and astute educator, he has won over fans dubbed "Heaneyboppers." Reading from his new book, District and Circle (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), he unveils newfound clarity, simplicity and hard-edged vigor while reflecting on his childhood in County Derry. It's a world of bare hands operating farm machinery that both destroys walls and builds protective shields. In the title poem, he examines his earthy allegiances while edgily descending into the "blasted weeping rock-walls" of the London Underground. He masterfully exhumes a corpse from his well-known bog poems in "The Tolland Man In Springtime." Interpreting Horacian odes, he ponders the world's tallest fallen towers, transporting our imagination to ancient Troy and the World Trade Center. (Robert Hicks)
May 18. 92nd St. Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (at 92nd St.), 212-415-5500; 8, $17/members free.
Kushner's Kiddie Opera
Tony Kushner's English adaptation of Hans Krasa's and Adolf Hoffmeister's 1938 children's opera, Brundibar, tells the story of two siblings, Pepicek (Aaron Simon Gross) and Aninku (Devynn Pedell), who venture into town to earn money to buy milk for their ailing mother but meet resistance from the bogeyman Brundibar, who makes his money grinding his organ loudly on the streets. Fearing the competition, he attempts to shoo the kiddies away, only to be stripped down to his red skivvies and chased off the stage. The most precious piece of the Brundibar pie is that the play was performed 55 times by the children of Terezin, one of the Nazis' "model ghettos," as an empowering protest against their oppressors. (Isa Goldberg)
Through May 21. New Victory Theater, 209 W. 42nd St. (betw. B'way & 8th Ave.), 646-223-3020; $10-$30.
Bloody Marys at brunch
Where do bad girls go for Bloody Marys, burlesque performances and retro designs on a Sunday afternoon? Merr's 2nd Annual Fashion Show Brunch. The brunch includes scrumptious grub, specialty cocktails and sexy teasers, such as the World Famous Pontani Sisters, Delirium Tremens, Dolly Esquire, the Manic Panic cosmetic crew and many Bettie Page reincarnations. Mode Merr captures the 1950s spirit of Hollywood glamour, minus evil girdles and waist-pinching corsets. Ranging in sizes XXS-XXXL, the line celebrates voluptuous, confident femmes who finally have a venue of clothes that no longer bulks nor constrains. (Stephanie Nolasco)
May 21. Marion's Continental Restaurant and Lounge, 354 Bowery (at E. 4th St.), 212-475-7621; 12:30, $19.95.
The Real Player
The Museum of the Moving Image's ongoing Robert Altman retrospective reaches the early 1990s and what many consider his last flash of brilliance before the sad slide into lazy hoo-hah like Gosford Park and Prêt-à-Porter. Tim Roth gives a heartbreaking performance as Van Gogh in Vincent & Theo (4), a film that concentrates on the artist's shaky relationship with his brother (Paul Rhys). And Tim Robbins stars along with everyone who was in Hollywood at the time in The Player (6:30), a razor-sharp, jet-black comedy about how movies are really made. (Jim Knipfel)
May 20. The Museum of the Moving Image, 35th Ave. (at 36th St.), Astoria, Queens, 718-784-4520; 4, $10.May 10-23. Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-727-8110; $10.
Think About Life
It's been a while since a band that can promise a truly spastic, sweaty lovefest has rolled into our wicked city, which is why the upcoming arrival of Canadian trio Think About Life has us salivating joyfully. If you haven't heard of them yet, you will-which is a bit sad, since they're the sort of well-kept secret that true believers want to keep hidden from uninitiated strangers. That said, there's plenty of room for everyone in Think About Life's friendship cove, provided that you like your pop music loud, deliciously bent and played with all the manic fervor of a small child snorting Ritalin. (Scott Indrisek)
May 17. Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (betw. B'way & Church St.), 212-219-3132; 9, $16.