WEDNESDAY 9/4
Around Town
Wednesday Night Skate Avoid the crowds?skate after dark! NY recreational skate group moves in giant swarm through Central Park, Union Square, across Brooklyn Bridge & more; meet at Union Sq. N. (17th St.), 212-696-7247; 8, free. Family
Picture Book Hour Kids 6-12 are welcome for an hour of picture book fun; Aguilar Branch, New York Public Library, 174 E. 110th St. (betw. 7th Ave. & Malcolm X Blvd.), 212-534-2930; 4, free. Film/Video
"Depression Funnies: Comedies from the Early 30s" Trouble in Paradise, Ernst Lubitsch's tale of love & thievery, kicks off this month-long series at St. Agnes Library, 444 Amsterdam Ave. (betw. 81st & 82nd Sts.), 212-877-4380; 2, free [through 9/25]. I Am Trying to Break Your Heart Sam Jones' 16 mm b&w documentary on alt-country band Wilco, their ordeals during recording of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot & its rejection by Reprise Records. Geez, for a bunch of guys supposedly no longer making out w/mainstream media, they're sure overexposed lately; Cinema Village, 22 E. 12th St. (betw. 5th Ave. & University Pl.), 212-924-3363; call for sched., $9. The Man by the Shore (L'Homme sur le quais) Screening of 1993 film about surviving Haiti's dictatorship, followed by discussion w/filmmaker Dennis Leroy Moore; the Brecht Forum, 122 W. 27th St., 10th fl. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-242-4201; 7:30, $6-$10 sliding scale. "New Filmmakers Series" pres. Solid Entertainment Program of three shorts; video & 16 mm; Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave. (2nd St.), 212-505-5181; 7 & 7:30, $8, $5 st./s.c. Whispers in a Distant Corridor: The Cinema of Jacques Tourneur Sixteen-film retrospective of this B-Movie master incl. Cat People, The Leopard Man & I Walked with a Zombie; Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, 165 W. 65th St. (B'way), 212-875-5600; call for sched. [through 9/12]. Lectures
"Arts & Letters" High-wire artist/author Phillipe Petit retells story of his famous 1974 tightrope walk between the Twin Towers & signs copies of To Reach the Clouds, as part of lecture series at South Street Seaport Museum, Melville Gallery, 213 Water St. (betw. Fulton & Beekman Sts.), 212-748-8735; 6:30, $3 contrib. Readings
FDNY Hispanic Society Calendar of Fire Fighters & EMS Personnel Photos plus "featured guests" (hubba, hubba) sign at Midtown Barnes & Noble, 600 5th Ave. (48th St.), 212-765-0592; 1, free. Little Gray Book Lecture No. 12: Great Rivalries in American Spelling J.K. Hodgman, Gabe Hudson (forthcoming Dear Mr. President), Andrew Hearst & Neal Pollack read oral reports written by Hearst?which he wrote during elementary & high school?at the (newly air-conditioned) back room of Galapagos, 70 N. 6th St. (betw. Wythe & Kent Aves.), Williamsburg, 718-782-5188; 8, $2 contrib. The Mushroom Lover's Mushroom Cookbook & Primer Several confused, returning college sophomores converge on Lincoln Triangle Barnes & Noble, 1972 B'way (66th St.), 212-595-6859; 7, free. Workshops
Elements of Nature Drawing Free lunchtime instruction in pencil, charcoal, watercolor & pastel w/artist Enid Braun; Battery Park City, Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park, Battery Pl. (W. Side Hwy.), 212-267-9700; 11:30-1:30 [through 10/30]. Health Issues Anonymous Twelve-step program for those living w/health concerns; St. Luke's, Roosevelt Center, 324 W. 108th St. (betw. B'way & Riverside Dr.), 212-362-7214; 5:30, free. THURSDAY 9/5
Family
Afternoon Chess Teens who haven't succumbed to the allure of Grand Theft Auto 3 can learn strategy in a more constructive way Thursday afternoons through the remainder of the summer. Chess in the park is free & lessons are also available Mondays for a $56 fee; Nelson A. Rockefeller Park (Chambers St.), 212-267-9700; 3:30-5:30. Teacher Appreciation Week Certified or not, all educators are welcome to stop by for a free & well deserved slice of apple pie on the first day of classes; Scholastic Store, 557 B'way (betw. Prince & Spring Sts.), 212-343-6166; 4-6, free. Film/Video
Allemagne Neuf Zéro Jean-Luc Godard's political thriller; Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Ave. (2nd St.), 212-505-5181; 8:45, $8, $5 st./s.c. [repeats Fri.-Sun.]. "David Bowie: Sound + Vision" Five-part screening celebrates 30th anniversary of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars. We're currently on episode four, in which our hero records "China Girl" & forms Tin Machine. The last part, episode five begins Tues.; Museum of Television & Radio, 25 W. 52nd St. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-621-6800; 6, $6 [repeats Fri. at 7, Sat. & Sun. at 4, Tues. at 2, through 9/29]. "Eyes on the Rainbow: Assata Shakur and Oya" Forty-five min. short follows life of Black Panther & Black Liberation Army leader who escaped prison & now lives in Cuban political asylum; the Brecht Forum, 122 W. 27th St., 10th fl. (betw. 6th & 7th Aves.), 212-242-4201; 7:30, $6-$10 sliding scale. Seven Days in September Filmmaker Steven Rosenbaum's documentation of first person accounts surrounding the events of 9/11 & the weeks following, q&a follows screening; JCC, 334 Amsterdam Ave. (betw. 75th & 76th Sts.), 646-505-4404; 7:30, $12. Lectures
China's Capital Markets: Opening the Fund Industry to Foreign Participants at China Institute Corporate, 1301 6th Ave. (betw. 52nd & 53rd Sts.), 212-744-8181 x129; 12-2, $45. Readings
William Hedrington Trib. "Any reader whose senses have been even slightly dulled by the drone of much contemporary poetry shall be shaken into alertness by the vivid & fresh language of William Hedrington," says U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins about the late writer's first complete collection, On the Downhill Side; Housing Works Used Book Cafe, 126 Crosby St. (betw. Houston & Lafayette Sts.), 212-334-3324; 7, free. Urbana Poetry Slam National Championships feat. poet/Emily Dickinson University prof, Jeff McDaniel; Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery (betw. Bleecker & 1st Sts.), 212-614-3040; 7:30, $5. The Wasties: A Novel Professor reverts to infant-state when wife becomes pregnant & begins seeing dead heroes appear as hospital workers; Chelsea Barnes & Noble, 675 6th Ave. (21st St.), 212-727-1227; 7, free. FRIDAY 9/6
Around Town
Central Park Moonlight Ride Join Time's Up for a relaxing skate/bike through the park & all its amazing facets. With enough people, you might be able to fend off muggers!; meet at Columbus Circle, 59th St. (B'way), www.times-up.org; 10 p.m., free. DOGNY Forget cows, New York has gone to the dogs thanks to the American Kennel Club's public art program which is placing statues of Search & Rescue Dogs (decorated by artists incl. Vera Wand & Charles Fazzino) throughout the city to mark the one-year anniversary of 9/11; www.DOGNY.org & 866-DOGNY-911 [through November]. Paint Your Pet (on a banner of course!) for the upcoming Pet's On Parade phantasmagoria; 6th & B Garden, 6th St. (Ave. B), 212-982-5673; 7, free. Film/Video
"Kurosawa & Mifune" Festival feat. digitally restored 35 mm print of Seven Samurai w/new translation & subtitles; Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St. (Varick St.), 212-727-8110; 1, 4:50, 8:40, $9.75 [repeats daily, through 9/12]. "Rooftop Films" Weekly showcase of independent shorts screens atop Brooklyn building. Tonight, Imagenation pres. films from the African Diaspora?at print time this event was unconfirmed as there seems to be some legal matters, so call before jumping on the L train; 265 McKibbin St. (Bushwick Ave.), 877-786-1912, www.rooftopfilms.com for info, 8:30, $6 [through 9/13]. Readings
And the Winner Is? L.L. Cool J ain't going back to Cali tonight (unless it's on a red-eye)! Catch his ass live (and in person) for signing of his new book at Midtown Barnes & Noble, 600 5th Ave. (48th St.), 212-765-0592; 5:30, free. Workshops
Psychology Discussion Group Discuss gay life w/other men & women; LGBT Center, 208 W 13th St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 212-228-5153; 8, $5. Tai Chi Battery Park City hosts free weekly class at Esplanade Plaza, Liberty St. Bridge (Church St.), 212-267-9700; 8:30 a.m., free. SATURDAY 9/7
Around Town
4th Avenue Festival Sales from arts & crafts, merchandise & food vendors benefit Transportation Alternatives; 4th Ave. (betw. Astor Pl. & E. 5th St.), 646-230-0489; 11-6, free. Inner Peace The Wellness Center of the Riverside Church pres. day of healing activities incl. a music concert, meditations, dance performance/workshop & children friendly activities; Sakura Park, 122nd St. (betw. Riverside Dr. & Claremont Ave.), 212-870-6734; 12-6, free. Second-Annual Harlem Renaissance Farmers Market Harlem Renaissance Economic Development Corp. pres. flowers, handcrafted soaps & local farm-fresh produce?plus music to shop by; Lenox Ave. & Malcolm X. Blvd. (betw. 111th & 112th Sts.), 212-932-2141; 8 a.m.-4 p.m., free [through 12/20]. 36th Avenue Festival feat. arts & crafts, food & merchandise from more than 100 vendors & community groups selling their wares to benefit Dutch Kills Civic Association?plus pony rides & children's rides; 4th Ave. (betw. 8th & 14th Sts.), Astoria, 646-230-0489; 11-7, free. Family
Abstract the Seaport Children six & up, w/their parents, explore the history & beauty of seaport & lower Manhattan then create an abstract group masterpiece; Children's Center, Pier 16, South St. Seaport Museum, Fulton St. (South St.), 212-748-8758; 1-4, $5 for materials. Back to School Storytime Scholastic Story Teller reads favorite back-to-school tales to get youngsters psyched for fall; Scholastic Store, 557 B'way (betw. Prince & Spring Sts.), 212-343-6166; 11 & 3, free. "Family Art Project: Waterlily Wonders" Sketch & paint the flora in the aquatic garden; Kerlin Learning Center, Wave Hill, W. 249th St. (Independence Ave.), 718-549-3200; 1-4, $4, $2 st./s.c. [repeats Sun.]. "Folklore & Fairytales" Storytelling series feat. colorfully costumed performers; Everett Children's Adventure Garden, NY Botanical Garden, Bronx River Pkwy. (Fordham Rd.), Bronx, 718-817-8700; 2 & 3, $6, $4 st./s.c., $2.50 for child 12 & under. Storytelling in the Park Children of all ages encouraged to hear classics in idyllic setting?today, Bob Barton tells Russian tale "Katya and the Goat" & Kaye Lindauer tells Grimms' "The Rabbit and the Maiden"; Hans Christian Andersen statue, Central Park, 72nd St. (5th Ave.), www.centralparknyc.org; 11, free. Film/Video
Attack and Aftermath: Documenting September 11 Three-days of screenings & discussions examining the first anniversary. Today, Circling Zero: We See Absence by Tribeca resident Ken Jacobs (12:30 p.m.); HBO's touching elegy In Memoriam: New York City, 9/11 (3 p.m.) & filmmaker Steven Rosenbaum's first person accounts surrounding the events of 9/11, Seven Days in September (4:30); American Museum of the Moving Image, 35th Ave. (36th St.), Astoria, 718-784-0077; $8.50, $5.50 st./s.c. [continues Sun. & 9/11]. Readings
Enemy Glory Karen Michalson, who is nominated for something called the Prometheus Award from something called the Libertarian Futurist Society, breaks on through to the other side?fantasy fiction?w/this tale of supernatural creatures to the North & warring kingdoms & religions to the South. (But is there an outwardly unremarkable yet quick-witted heroine somewhere in the middle? A swarthy, unpredictable stable hand is always nice, too!); Bluestockings, 172 Allen St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.), 212-777-6028; 7, free. Workshops
Aggressive Inline Skating Grind your soul on the ramps & rails at Battery Park City?beginners & advanced skaters welcome; Battery Park City, North Esplanade (Chambers St.), 212-267-9700; 2:30, free [through 10/31]. Drawing In the Park Artist/educators Louise Johnson & Larry Dobens instruct & critique students working in pencil, pastel, charcoal & watercolor; Battery Park City, South Cove, W. Thames St. (Rector St. Bridge), 212-267-9700; 10:30-12, free [through 10/26]. SUNDAY 9/8
Around Town
Big Brother is Watching Surveillance Camera Outdoor Walking Tours reveal the frightening abundance of cameras that monitor public spaces. This week: keeping an eye on studly guys in Chelsea; meet on NE corner of 14th St. (8th Ave.), 212-561-0106; 2, free. Broadway Astoria Fall Festival Over 300 vendors & community groups pres. open air cafes, bargains, children's rides & pony rides to benefit the Broadway Astoria Merchants & Professional Association; B'way (betw. Steinway & Crescent Sts.), Astoria, 646-230-0489; 11-7, free. Fordham Road Renaissance Festival feat. children's rides & two stages of live entertainment?plus demos, food, merchandise & arts & crafts vendors selling their wares to benefit the Bronx Council for Economic Development; Fordham Rd. (betw. Kingsbridge & Webster Aves.), Bronx, 646-230-0489; 11-6, free. Jumbotron U.S. Open Tennis Pull out the Lacoste, lace up those loafers & get ready to enjoy tennis as close as peasants like you ever will! Beginning today, fresh sod is glamorously spread under seats at the (19x26 ft.) Jumbotron outside Rockefeller Center, 50th & 51st Sts. (betw. 5th & 6th Aves.), 212-632-3975; 11-11, free. New York Century Bicycle Tour w/the gay & lesbian Fast & Fabulous Cycling Club. Transportation Alternatives' 13th-annual ride travels from Central Park's Harlem Meer to Brooklyn, Queens & the Bronx for distances of 35, 55, 75 & 100 miles; 55 miles or longer meet at 110th (5th Ave.) at 6 or 7 a.m. for the 35 mile route; info at www.newcentury.com, www.fastnfab.org, 212-567-7160. World Trade Center Memorial Service honoring those lost on September 11th, feat. Upper West Side clerics, Boy Scouts of America, local FDNY & NYPD reps, a cappella hymns from Melissa Shippen & candle lighting; W. 104th St. Community Garden, 104th St. (betw. Manhattan Ave. & Central Park W.), 212-316-0558; 2, free. Film/Video
Portraits of Men Program of shorts following last month's "Portraits of Women" program incl. "The Smile of the Walrus," "Blaze Glory," "Slima the Dhowmaker" & "Sky Dive"; E. 7th St. Garden, 7th St. (betw. Aves. B & C), no #, 8, free. Lectures
Learning to Live with Courage and Candor in a Post- 9/11 World w/senior leader Khoren Arisian; Ethical Culture Aud., 2 W. 64th St. (Central Park W.), 212-874-5210; 11:30 a.m., free Readings
Fantastic Fiction pres. Neal Pollack (The Neal Pollock Anthology of American Literature, Never Mind the Pollacks), meanwhile the people wail the same lament, "where art thou, Claude La Badarian?"; KGB, 85 E. 4th St. (betw. 2nd & 3rd Aves.), 212-505-3360; 7, free. Unorganicized Reading Oh, the always-appropriate allusion to Taxi Diver?high school seniors will smile in smug self-satisfaction during this open reading at ABC No Rio, 156 Rivington St. (betw. Suffolk & Clinton Sts.), 212-254-3697; 3, free. Workshops
Aggressive Inline Skating Grind your soul on the ramps & rails at Battery Park City?beginners & advanced skaters welcome; Battery Park City, North Esplanade (Chambers St.), 212-267-9700; 2:30, free [through 10/31]. Autumn Garden Maintenance Better your green thumb & learn how to ready your garden for upcoming winter w/Jeffrey Hewitt; Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave. (Eastern Pkwy.), Bklyn, 718-623-7220; 10-2, $33. G Spotting Learn what it is, where it is & how to find it w/Toys' co-founder Clair Cavanah & sex educator Felice Shays; Toys in Babeland, 94 Rivington St. (betw. Orchard & Ludlow Sts.), 212-375-1701; 8, $30. MONDAY 9/9
Around Town
Yoga With free classes popping up everywhere, incl. this one for early birds taught by Joan Coddington, there's no excuse for being yoga-phobic (unless it's really just the guys in leotards who scare you). Comfy clothes & a towel are a must; 6th & B Garden, 6th St. (Ave. B), 212-982-5673; 7 a.m., free. Family
Advanced Art Instructor Miki Iwamura teaches free weekly course in Battery Park City for "skilled artists" (ages 10-18). Participants apply drawing & painting techniques to still-lifes & landscapes, practice sculpting skills & participate in projects such as printmaking & t-shirt design?BYO Bedazzler; Nelson A. Rockefeller Park (Chambers St.), 212-267-9700; 4-5:30, free. "Carousel Concerts: Scraping, Shaking & Striking" The Lyric Chamber Music Society's monthly series opens kids' minds to classical music & lets them try out instruments too. This week, journey into the world of percussion w/the New York Percussion Quartet; Little Theatre at the West Side YMCA, 5 W. 63rd St. (betw. Central Park W. & B'way), 212-496-9927; 4, free. Film/Video
"Fear and Fury: The American Cinema of Fritz Lang" After a successful series last winter, BAM offers yet another retrospective on this German turned Hollywood filmmaker, focusing this time on the latter portion of his career. Today, 1950 film noir thriller, House by the River, in which a writer kills an enticing blonde & tires to cover up the murder; BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave. (Ashland Pl.), Ft. Greene, 718-636-4100; 4:30, 6:50, 9:10, $9 [continues Tues., through 10/1]. Lectures
Explorers Club Clare Flemming, curator of archives, delivers "A Sampling of Gems: Highlights from the Explorers Club Archives" lecture, along w/an overview of the club's history & sampling of its unique manuscripts, maps, photographs & memorabilia; 46 E 70th St. (betw. Park & Madison Aves.), 212-628-8383; 7, $12. $5 st. Herpes Dr. McMeeking offers insight on this STD & discusses treatment & management?q&a follows; Church of Advent Hope, 11 E. 87th St. (betw. Park & Lexington Aves.), 212-628-9154; 7:30, free. Readings
The Heart of Islam , When Religion Becomes Evil Seyyed Hossein Nasr & Charles Kimball, respectively, read at Barnes & Noble, 2289 B'way (82nd St.), 212-362-8835; 7:30, free. A.M. Homes Author of In a Country of Mothers & Music for Torching reads from new short story collection, Things You Should Know; the Half King, 505 W. 23rd St. (10th Ave.), 212-462-4300; 7, free. Hotel Kid: A Times Square Memoir Publisher's Weekly pronounces "this literary memoir, ideal for chuckling at with a glass of port near a roaring fireplace while surrounded by sleepy grandchildren and old photos, is perfect for those who long for the way things were" about Stephen Lewis' ode to a childhood spent in the Taft from the 30s until post-WWII as the general manager's son, where one may expect to find, among other general truths, that "if power corrupts, hot fudge corrupts absolutely"; Astor Pl. Barnes & Noble, 4 Astor Pl. (betw. Lafayette St. & B'way), 212-420-1322; 7:30, free. The Killing Kind John Connolly reads & signs his latest Charlie "Bird" Parker thriller at Partners & Crime, 44 Greenwich Ave. (Charles St.), 212-243-0440; 7, free. So Others Might Live: A History of New York's Bravest?The FDNY from 1700 to Present The possibly Irish Terry Golway appears for discussion & signing at Union Sq. Barnes & Noble, 33 E. 17th St. (betw. B'way & Park Ave. S.), 212-253-0810; 7, free. Workshops
Swordsmanship Tadashige Watanabe demonstrates & discusses Kenjutsu, the classical art of Japanese swordsmanship, reception follows; Japan Society, 333 E 47th St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.), 212-832-1155; 6:30, $10, $8 s.c., $5 st. TUESDAY 9/10
Around Town
Alzheimer's Association Annual Meeting The New York City Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association welcomes keynote speaker Rose Dobrof?preceded by cocktail reception at 5; Weiss Hall, Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave., 17th fl. (66th St.), 212-983-0700; 6, free. Days of Awe & the Harvest Holidays The Israeli America Foundation's celebration w/guitarist Rabbi Paul Levenson & singer Minna Brott?plus complimentary kosher refreshments; Workman's Circle, 45 E. 33rd St. (betw. Park & Madison Aves.), 212-869-9477; 2-4, free. Evening of Hope & Reflection Join the Jewish Community Center, parents, children, poets & business leaders as they share their personal stories & experiences; Symphony Space, 2537 B'way (95th St.), 646-505-5700; 6:30, free. Interfaith Service & All Night Vigil for Peace Peaceful Tomorrows pres. anniversary vigil promoting alternatives to military intervention w/guests Colleen Kelly, Michael Moore, Father Daniel Berrigan & Afghan-American Masuda Sultan, who lost 19 family members in the U.S. attacks near Kandahar; Washington Sq. Park, Washington Sq. S. (betw. Washington Sq. E & Washington Sq. W.), call the War Resistance League for info: 212-228-0450; 7 p.m.-10 a.m., free. Miracle on Wheels provides free power wheelchairs to qualified seniors 65 & up & permanently disabled persons of all ages; for more information contact 800-749-8778 or visit www.durablemedical.com. Pure Country NYC Weekly country stomp & music night w/DJ Alan Kohn, line dance lessons courtesy of Rona Kaye; Jack Rose, 771 8th Ave. (47th St.), 212-247-7518; 6:30, $13. Tuesday Night Trivia It's probably not as fun as Comedy Central's Beat the Geeks, but prizes do incl. $10-$25 bar tabs; Baggot Inn, 82 W. 3rd St. (betw. Thompson & Sullivan Sts.), 212-477-0622; 7:30, free. Film/Video
"Neo-Noir: Another Shade of Darkness" Fifteen features by French filmmakers, incl. Julien Duvivier, Michel Deville & Claude Chabrol. Series continues w/1956 thriller, Voici le temps des assassins (Deadlier than the Male); French Institute's Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th St. (betw. Madison & Park Aves.), 212-355-6160; 12:30, 3:30, 6:30 & 9, $8 [through 12/17]. Lectures
Rebuilding New York City After 9/11 Discuss post-9/11 redevelopment & other changes in the city w/Imagine New York & Team Twin Towers; Columbia University, Alfred Lerner Hall, W. 305 Cinema, W. 115th St. (B'way), 212-853-8248; 7-9, free. Workshops
Using Relaxation Techniques to Cope with the Stress of Cancer Learn how to use focused breathing & muscle relaxation techniques to deal w/the discomforts of cancer; Cancer Care, 275 7th Ave. (betw. 25th & 26th Sts.), 212-712-8359; 12-1, free. Women's Basketball Tuesday is Ladies' Night?referee & balls provided; Nelson A. Rockefeller Park, Chambers St., 212-267-9700; 6-7:30, free [through 10/29].