Also, in terms of real dancing, this new party is amazing! - The Palms party in Long Island City, replete with pools, hula hoops, food trucks and incredible DJs!
Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dance. Show all posts
Monday, August 15, 2011
"Held Hostage in this Dance with Plagiarism" Poem Published!
A prose poem of mine, "Held Hostage in this Dance with Plagiarism" was published today in The Common Voice! I am steeling myself for another semester of plagiarism-fighting this Fall...
Also, in terms of real dancing, this new party is amazing! - The Palms party in Long Island City, replete with pools, hula hoops, food trucks and incredible DJs!
Also, in terms of real dancing, this new party is amazing! - The Palms party in Long Island City, replete with pools, hula hoops, food trucks and incredible DJs!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Men (with JD Samson of Le Tigre) Tonight! CMJ Show
So I am seeing my first CMJ show of this season tonight. Men, with JD Samson of Le Tigre, will be playing at Santos Party House, and tickets are only $12! (And it includes a 6-month subscription to New York Magazine, not so shabby a perk.)
Men will be playing as part of the IAMSOUND Showcase, an indie label that should be delivering some excellent acts tonight. Tickets can be purchased online or at Other Music.
Men will be playing as part of the IAMSOUND Showcase, an indie label that should be delivering some excellent acts tonight. Tickets can be purchased online or at Other Music.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Rhinestone Follies Burlesque Review
Okay, LivingSocial and Rhinestone Follies, you have exceeded my expectations.
R Bar, the venue where the Rhinestone Follies burlesque troupe performs every other Friday, was deliciously decadent. With two bars, several private rooms, fabulous lighting and, of course, a stage and several stripper poles, it was truly an ideal place to see a burlesque show.
The Rhinestone Follies show was prefaced with an enthusiastic performance by a go-go dancer and supplemented with acts by other performers. Below are a few pictures of the stunning evening.
Ooh-la-la!
R Bar, the venue where the Rhinestone Follies burlesque troupe performs every other Friday, was deliciously decadent. With two bars, several private rooms, fabulous lighting and, of course, a stage and several stripper poles, it was truly an ideal place to see a burlesque show.
The Rhinestone Follies show was prefaced with an enthusiastic performance by a go-go dancer and supplemented with acts by other performers. Below are a few pictures of the stunning evening.
Ooh-la-la!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Upcoming This Weekend: Bowie Ball, Click and Drag, Mister Saturday Night & More!
It's only Wednesday and I am already fantasizing about what the weekend holds in store.
So Saturday night is a mysterious indie throwdown dance party deep in Brooklyn, hosted by Mister Saturday Night. The party details have not yet been released, but you can take a peek at the space!
On Sunday is the infamous Bowie Ball, the "ultimate glam-rock revolution" at Santos Party House. Hello, long weekend!
I am posting the info below from the Santos Party house mailing list. It gives more details for Bowie Ball, as well as information on a fabulous-looking Saturday party:
So Saturday night is a mysterious indie throwdown dance party deep in Brooklyn, hosted by Mister Saturday Night. The party details have not yet been released, but you can take a peek at the space!
On Sunday is the infamous Bowie Ball, the "ultimate glam-rock revolution" at Santos Party House. Hello, long weekend!
I am posting the info below from the Santos Party house mailing list. It gives more details for Bowie Ball, as well as information on a fabulous-looking Saturday party:
Click and Drag 3.2: Age Of Aquarius
Save $5.00 on each advance ticket you purchase. Enter discount code: BrainDeath at checkout
Saturday, October 9, 11PM
21+ // $20.00 Adv. / $20.00 Door
The pioneering "Cyber/Fetish/Gender-Hacking" party CLICK + DRAG, which ushered out the 20th Century in style and was reborn in 2008, announces its third annual Future-Spectacle for October 9. Two of Click's founding producers - director and visual artist ROB ROTH and nightlife impresario CHI CHI VALENTI of http://www.jackie60.com/
The Age of Aquarius - the Utopian "New Age" of unity and love - has either begun or is beginning, depending on which astrological sages one believes. Regardless, the Aquarian themes of humanism, peace, rebellion, idealism and philanthropy are already ascending, by way of computer networks and other new tools and in the growing acceptance of non-traditional religions and belief systems. As the brutal, materialistic Age of Pisces draws to an end, values shift towards spiritual rebirth and planetary harmony. To the CLICK + DRAG producers, the Aquarian ideal compliments the neo-tribalism of many Click participants and the mixing of masculine and feminine traits into countless unique new genders, a recurring theme of this spectacular "gathering of the tribes".
With this Utopian brew as inspiration, CLICK + DRAG 3.2 will feature multimedia works directed by ROB ROTH with light shows by SETH KIRBY and BROCK MONROE of the JOSHUA LIGHT SHOW and the contributions of dozens of creative collaborators. Highlights will include performances by neo-burlesque performance artist NARCISSISTER, RUMI OF THE FABULOUS COCKETTES!, vocal she-goddesses AMBER MARTIN and LADY RIZO, neue cabaret troupe THE PIXIE HARLOTS, and Method Go-Go icons including bodybuilder (and Click 3.2 cover girl) ROXANNE EDWARDS and costume cultist FALON. The evening also features costume design by longtime Click couturier GARO SPARO and a futuristic soundtrack that runs the gamut from sixties psychedelia to electro house.
A STRICT CYBER/FETISH/TRIBAL DRESS CODE WILL BE COMPLETELY ENFORCED: WEAR AQUARIAN FLOURISHES, GLITTER BEARDS AND MERKINS, RESPLENDENT RAGS, PAGAN CHIC, WATERFALL HEADDRESSES, TURQUOISE PAINT, GODDESS OR TRANS-GODDESS, BODY-ADORNED or CYBER, FETISH, TRIBAL, GENDER-HACKING, FAERIE, GOTHIC OR BRILLIANT BLACK. ABSOLUTELY NO STREET CLOTHES OR MUNDANES - NO EXCEPTIONS.
|
 Bowieball: The Glam Rock RevolutionSunday, October 10, 8PM 21+ // $10.00 btwn 8-9PM with RSVP / $15.00 // TICKETSRSVP: bowieball@gmail.com An intricate production with a simple idea, Bowie Ball is “The Ultimate Glam Rock Revolution,” a tribute to Ziggy Stardust and to the era of space-age pan-sexual liberation. The event is assembled by Deryck Todd, ambassador of nightlife and fashion, has been throwing this legendary party yearly and it has been declared a “rousing success” by the Village Voice, and according to the New York Press, “resurrected old New York.” The line-up features nightlife’s most influential DJ’s, live music, cabaret performances, glam make-up and hair make overs, costume contest and a screening of The Hunger at 8pm. A portion of proceds donated to the Northern Westchester Shelter for survivors of domestic abuse. LIVE PERFORMANCES BY: Taylor Mac, Bridget Everett, Michael Cavadias, Reni Lane, David Riley (Mirror Mirror), Keanan Duffty (Slinky Vagabond), Carolyn Tauro, Michael T, Lady Rizo, Militia, The Ones VARIETY SHOWS: CHERYL, Little Brooklyn, The Daisy Spurs, T Wau and Vic Thrill MAIN FLOOR DJ's: Jake B, Michael T and Rich King. DOWNSTAIRS DJs: June D, Prince Terrence and Jess. HOSTS: Elllie Conant, Shien lee, Zachary David Palmer and Simcha Photos by Maro |
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Free Dance Show - ZOOM: ZviDance
Too bad I won't be out of class in time tonight for this:
ZOOM: ZviDance
CELEBRATE BROOKLYN! @ Prospect Park Bandshell
July 1, 2010
8:00 PM-10:00 PM
Gates open at 7:00pm
also Son Lux with Lottdance
ZviDance
Son Lux
Integrating cell phones, projections and live music, ZOOM, the latest of choreographer Zvi Gotheiner’s “heroically surging, exalting dances” (The New York Times), shatters the wall between audience and performers, with photos and text conversations from the crowd becoming an exhilarating, interactive real-time video collage of images and unscripted dialogue to which the dancers respond. The evening begins with a collaboration between the forward thinking classical/electronic/hip-hop composer Son Lux—whom NPR’s “All Things Considered” named Best New Artist in 2008—and Lottdance, an evolving group of cultural conspirators that draws together dancers, musicians and visual artists to create multimedia events.
zvidance.com
sonluxmusic.com
lottdance.tumblr.com
See the full Prospect Park event calendar here. YEAH free outdoor events!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Cut Copy Performance at Terminal 5
Cut Copy's sold-out performance last night at Terminal 5 delivered on its electropop, disco-worthy promise of addictively poppy new wave grooviness.
Below, "Hearts on Fire" clip from Youtube (not official video):
During the performance, the Australian electro-pop group verbally encouraged the audience to have a good time and fostered their desired dance party extravaganza through their catchy hooks, bright flashing visuals and the sheer energy emanating from both the band and the crowd.
While I at first wanted to be on the 1st floor of the venue and in the thick of it all, the claustrophobia of not even being able to stand without rubbing against someone's arms or purse was soon cause for exploration to other levels of the venue. Did you know Terminal 5 has an Empanada Mama inside of it? Well, now you do. It also has bars on every level, balconies to see from above, and most appealing of all to me: more space to not only breathe but to dance on the upper levels.
Here are some pictures and a video taken from my phone. (Unfortunately, but not unsurprisingly, videos taken from my phone don't have the best sound quality!) If you like 80's music, electro-pop, new wave or pop music at all, this is definitely music to check out and to even break into a sweat over!
Below, "Hearts on Fire" clip from Youtube (not official video):
During the performance, the Australian electro-pop group verbally encouraged the audience to have a good time and fostered their desired dance party extravaganza through their catchy hooks, bright flashing visuals and the sheer energy emanating from both the band and the crowd.
While I at first wanted to be on the 1st floor of the venue and in the thick of it all, the claustrophobia of not even being able to stand without rubbing against someone's arms or purse was soon cause for exploration to other levels of the venue. Did you know Terminal 5 has an Empanada Mama inside of it? Well, now you do. It also has bars on every level, balconies to see from above, and most appealing of all to me: more space to not only breathe but to dance on the upper levels.
Here are some pictures and a video taken from my phone. (Unfortunately, but not unsurprisingly, videos taken from my phone don't have the best sound quality!) If you like 80's music, electro-pop, new wave or pop music at all, this is definitely music to check out and to even break into a sweat over!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Free Things This Weekend
My thoughts are gravitating towards free or low-cost activities this weekend.
I am thinking perhaps a free show at the BAMcafé? This Friday, March 6, features the Dang-it Bobbys at 9 pm (with the bar opening at 8; and I presume it will pack a full crowd pretty quickly). The Dang-it Bobbys are a mix of blue-grass and folk, with other influences and a style all their own... And they hail from Brooklyn! Then on Saturday, March 7, at the BAMcafé is Sophia Ramos, McRad and The Dustbin Brothers. This also promises to be an eclectic evening, with punk-pop songs and edgy fun.
But I am also contemplating going to the dance party at Tribeca Grand on Saturday (March 7), promoted by GBH and free with RSVP. See the GBH flyer here. (The RSVP e-mail is tribecagrand@gbh.tv). This should be a fun night of dancing to electro-pop and checking out the scenesters... !
But finally, I think my priority is to have fun with my friends this weekend, when all is said and done. We'll see where that leads me!
I am thinking perhaps a free show at the BAMcafé? This Friday, March 6, features the Dang-it Bobbys at 9 pm (with the bar opening at 8; and I presume it will pack a full crowd pretty quickly). The Dang-it Bobbys are a mix of blue-grass and folk, with other influences and a style all their own... And they hail from Brooklyn! Then on Saturday, March 7, at the BAMcafé is Sophia Ramos, McRad and The Dustbin Brothers. This also promises to be an eclectic evening, with punk-pop songs and edgy fun.
But I am also contemplating going to the dance party at Tribeca Grand on Saturday (March 7), promoted by GBH and free with RSVP. See the GBH flyer here. (The RSVP e-mail is tribecagrand@gbh.tv). This should be a fun night of dancing to electro-pop and checking out the scenesters... !
But finally, I think my priority is to have fun with my friends this weekend, when all is said and done. We'll see where that leads me!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Upcoming Events This Week/Weekend
To help myself stay organized and invite friends, stalkers and others who have chanced upon my blog, I am going to list events I plan/hope to attend tonight and in the coming days...
Also, as listed on Myopenbar.com, this is happening tonight:
Kick inauguration week off right, with a boozy Brooklyn book launch party for Scout Tufankjian's Yes We Can. Tufankjian was the only independent photographer to cover Obama's entire campaign, including the
period before his run was announced.
1/15/09, Thursday. I am intrigued by yet another event listed on Myopenbar.com:
Handmade Music Night
Dorks, geeks and nerds (but not dweebs or doofuses) unite in this sprawling celebration of all things musical and electronic. 3rd Ward, crafty-bitch central Etsy.com, Make Magazine, and createdigitalmusic.com present this party-come-science fair featuring, among other things:
On Friday, 1/16/09, I am going to see The Raveonettes at Webster Hall.
And Sunday, 1/18/09, I am seeing the performance Eight at PS 122, a play about the intersecting lives of twenty-somethings in London.
Monday, 1/19/09, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day features a tribute to MLK, Jr. at BAM, starting at 10:30 am.
- Wed, 1/14/09, Soulgasm, Dance Party, Sin Sin Bar, East Village
- Wed, 1/14/09, Scout Tufankijan Book Launch Party for Yes We Can, a photo-book covering Obama's campaign, DUMBO
- Thurs, 1/15/09, Handmade Music Night, Music-Making Party/Spectacle, Bushwick
- Fri, 1/16/09, The Raveonettes, Music Show, East Village, Webster Hall
- Sun, 1/18/09, Eight, Theater, PS 122, East Village
- Monday, 1/19/09, 23rd Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., BAM, Brooklyn
Also, as listed on Myopenbar.com, this is happening tonight:
The Obama Campaign: Photos by Scout Tufankjian
artsy booze, no cover / 6pm-9pm
Kick inauguration week off right, with a boozy Brooklyn book launch party for Scout Tufankjian's Yes We Can. Tufankjian was the only independent photographer to cover Obama's entire campaign, including the
period before his run was announced.
1/15/09, Thursday. I am intrigued by yet another event listed on Myopenbar.com:
Handmade Music Night
PBR, no cover / 7:30pm-10:30pm
Dorks, geeks and nerds (but not dweebs or doofuses) unite in this sprawling celebration of all things musical and electronic. 3rd Ward, crafty-bitch central Etsy.com, Make Magazine, and createdigitalmusic.com present this party-come-science fair featuring, among other things:
- a theremin made from mannequin parts
- "gestural controllers made with wood and 3-D printers"
- "over-the-shoulder musical fashion with snakeskin and leather"
- a "prepared" (i.e. f--ed-with) Nintendo System
Handmade Music
7:30 - 10:30 pm & Every 3rd Thursday Going Forward!
Part party, part mixer, part Science Fair, and part performance, this is an informal chance for geeksters and the geek-curious to come together, relax, and discover new sounds. The evening is a gathering of inventors of new instruments & music technology. Featuring circuit-bent toys, custom software and patches, interactive digital & visual instruments, custom electronics, electricity-powered noisemakers, DIY robots and new acoustic instruments. And it's open to everyone from hard-core hackers & newcomers to music lovers who want to learn about the DIY music scene.
To sign up visit http://beepit.eventbrite.com/.On Friday, 1/16/09, I am going to see The Raveonettes at Webster Hall.
And Sunday, 1/18/09, I am seeing the performance Eight at PS 122, a play about the intersecting lives of twenty-somethings in London.
Monday, 1/19/09, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day features a tribute to MLK, Jr. at BAM, starting at 10:30 am.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Upcoming Dance Shows
I don't see dance performances enough, but I love them. Here are some highlights of upcoming dance performances.
The Joyce Theater at 175 8th Ave, at 19th St., is a convenient location to see reasonably-priced shows. Currently the performance there is Ballet Hispanico, which runs Tues-Sun evenings, 8 pm (Sun, 7:30 pm), and weekend matinees at 2 pm, until October 19. Tickets are available from $19 and up. Also, a suggestion to those looking to really see a show on the cheap: the Joyce is generally looking for ushers, an opportunity which simply requires wearing black, showing people their seats and giving out programs, and which allows you to see performances free of charge. I believe they generally require two weeks' notice for ushering interest.
Ballet Hispanico, above. You can also visit their website here.
Other upcoming shows at the Joyce are the ODC/Dance Company, an international contemporary dance company, performing from October 21-26, and Eiko & Koma, performing from October 28-November 2nd, with a special Halloween performance! And, for a more intimate and less costly show, I recommend heading to the Joyce Soho, a venue with only 74 seats and featuring emerging dancers and choreographers.
Finally, for a Brooklyn performance experience, I recommend the BAM Next Wave Festival. From October 23-25, at 7:30 pm, Awakenings, a performance by an Australian dance trope, promises to seamlessly intertwine Aboriginal politics with dance for a mesmerizing, mythical experience. The show is at the BAM Harvey Theater, at 651 Fulton Street. See NYTheatre.com for directions and other performance recommendations.
So go out already and see some art, catch a dance performance, and enjoy the city!
The Joyce Theater at 175 8th Ave, at 19th St., is a convenient location to see reasonably-priced shows. Currently the performance there is Ballet Hispanico, which runs Tues-Sun evenings, 8 pm (Sun, 7:30 pm), and weekend matinees at 2 pm, until October 19. Tickets are available from $19 and up. Also, a suggestion to those looking to really see a show on the cheap: the Joyce is generally looking for ushers, an opportunity which simply requires wearing black, showing people their seats and giving out programs, and which allows you to see performances free of charge. I believe they generally require two weeks' notice for ushering interest.
Ballet Hispanico, above. You can also visit their website here.
Other upcoming shows at the Joyce are the ODC/Dance Company, an international contemporary dance company, performing from October 21-26, and Eiko & Koma, performing from October 28-November 2nd, with a special Halloween performance! And, for a more intimate and less costly show, I recommend heading to the Joyce Soho, a venue with only 74 seats and featuring emerging dancers and choreographers.
Finally, for a Brooklyn performance experience, I recommend the BAM Next Wave Festival. From October 23-25, at 7:30 pm, Awakenings, a performance by an Australian dance trope, promises to seamlessly intertwine Aboriginal politics with dance for a mesmerizing, mythical experience. The show is at the BAM Harvey Theater, at 651 Fulton Street. See NYTheatre.com for directions and other performance recommendations.
So go out already and see some art, catch a dance performance, and enjoy the city!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Notable Art Happenings!
As always, there is an almost endless, inexhaustible amount of arts and entertainment in NYC. Below are some highlights!
Banksy, a well-known British street/graffiti artist, has an exhibit up in the West Village at The Village Pet Store Bar and Grill. It will stay up through Halloween, October 31, 2008. This is apparently Banksy's first show in NYC (apparently there have been many shows purportedly with Banksy's works previously, which have all been revealed as fakes... ), as well as his first time using animatronics. There is no graffiti or street art in the so-called "store," but rather a bizarre combination of "animals" to behold.
The gallery/store is open daily from 10 am-12 am., at No. 89, 7th Ave South, between W. 4th and Bleeker St. The entire store also is viewable through the storefront window.
Banksy's site can be seen here.
In other art happenings, the Williamsburg Gallery Association offers free events every second Friday of the month. I also recommend the Live With Animals gallery in Williamsburg, on the corner of Kent Ave (210 Kent Ave.) and Metropolitan Ave. The gallery is open 2 pm to 7 pm, Sat-Sun, and the current exhibit is Against Nature, by Sebastian Mlynarski. The exhibit, up until October 26, features photographs that examine and confront the difficult relationship between humans and nature. The evening of Sat October 18th features an evening of art and music, with Bill Bronson performing a piece inspired by the exhibition.
October 24-26 features the NY Art Book Fair free to the public, at Phillips de Pury & Company, at 450 W. 15th St. at 10th Ave, 3rd fl. A list of exhibitors can be seen here.
Banksy, a well-known British street/graffiti artist, has an exhibit up in the West Village at The Village Pet Store Bar and Grill. It will stay up through Halloween, October 31, 2008. This is apparently Banksy's first show in NYC (apparently there have been many shows purportedly with Banksy's works previously, which have all been revealed as fakes... ), as well as his first time using animatronics. There is no graffiti or street art in the so-called "store," but rather a bizarre combination of "animals" to behold.
The gallery/store is open daily from 10 am-12 am., at No. 89, 7th Ave South, between W. 4th and Bleeker St. The entire store also is viewable through the storefront window.
Banksy's site can be seen here.
In other art happenings, the Williamsburg Gallery Association offers free events every second Friday of the month. I also recommend the Live With Animals gallery in Williamsburg, on the corner of Kent Ave (210 Kent Ave.) and Metropolitan Ave. The gallery is open 2 pm to 7 pm, Sat-Sun, and the current exhibit is Against Nature, by Sebastian Mlynarski. The exhibit, up until October 26, features photographs that examine and confront the difficult relationship between humans and nature. The evening of Sat October 18th features an evening of art and music, with Bill Bronson performing a piece inspired by the exhibition.
October 24-26 features the NY Art Book Fair free to the public, at Phillips de Pury & Company, at 450 W. 15th St. at 10th Ave, 3rd fl. A list of exhibitors can be seen here.
Monday, September 29, 2008
DUMBO Arts Festival, Dance Parties and Ratatat
The title just about summarizes my weekend. Friday evening started with an exploration around the art "happenings" of DUMBO, where art, just as it was promoted, really was to be found under bridges, in elevators, and projecting off buildings (in addition to the standard gallery displays of art). I was so impressed with this array of artwork, this blurring of convention, and the general charm of the neighborhood, that I returned to DUMBO again Saturday afternoon to get a chance to see openings and happenings not yet open or going on the previos night. Below are some photos to give you the general idea of the festival.
(above: my friend standing next to a laser light with mohair string tied to it...)
(above: the new Galapagos space in DUMBO. The former one in Williamsburg is now called Public Assembly.)
Dumbo art happenings: definitely worth it. The area, DUMBO, in general is pretty adorable, from the panoramic views from the park to the cute galleries and cafes along the streets.
Friday night I attended the "No Big Deal" party at alphabeta, a warehouse space in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, after accidentally scoring a free taxi ride. (I got upset that the driver didn't know where Franklin Ave was, and he refused to take my money, telling me to get out of his cab. Upon my exit, a group of people immediately veered to take the cab, and he curtly replied that he was off duty, to which the girl in the group replied, "No, we're going to New York." Not able to help myself, I replied back, "Honey, this is New York," and walked the remaining three blocks to my destination (after they managed to convince the cabbie to take them and I was informed by friendly local kids that my destination was indeed only a few blocks away).
The "No Big Deal" party was part grafitti warehouse and store, and part totally hoppin' house party -- complete with free Sparks drinks -- with an expansive backyard Below are some pictures of the event.
And then, true Brookyln undergound party-style, it got shut down by the police.
We proceeded afterwards to a bar by the name of CoCo 66 (see their myspace profile here and the NY Mag write-up here), which was a fun dancing time to be had.
Luckily, though tired, I was not too exhausted to make it back to DUMBO the next day, OR go to the Ratatat show and have a blast there.
The show exceeded my expectations. Terminal 5 was packed, their performance had the crowd fully pumped, and their set was short but sweet. And that perfectly describes how my weekend felt: short but sweet.
(above: my friend standing next to a laser light with mohair string tied to it...)
(above: the new Galapagos space in DUMBO. The former one in Williamsburg is now called Public Assembly.)Dumbo art happenings: definitely worth it. The area, DUMBO, in general is pretty adorable, from the panoramic views from the park to the cute galleries and cafes along the streets.
Friday night I attended the "No Big Deal" party at alphabeta, a warehouse space in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, after accidentally scoring a free taxi ride. (I got upset that the driver didn't know where Franklin Ave was, and he refused to take my money, telling me to get out of his cab. Upon my exit, a group of people immediately veered to take the cab, and he curtly replied that he was off duty, to which the girl in the group replied, "No, we're going to New York." Not able to help myself, I replied back, "Honey, this is New York," and walked the remaining three blocks to my destination (after they managed to convince the cabbie to take them and I was informed by friendly local kids that my destination was indeed only a few blocks away).
The "No Big Deal" party was part grafitti warehouse and store, and part totally hoppin' house party -- complete with free Sparks drinks -- with an expansive backyard Below are some pictures of the event.
And then, true Brookyln undergound party-style, it got shut down by the police.
We proceeded afterwards to a bar by the name of CoCo 66 (see their myspace profile here and the NY Mag write-up here), which was a fun dancing time to be had.
Luckily, though tired, I was not too exhausted to make it back to DUMBO the next day, OR go to the Ratatat show and have a blast there.
The show exceeded my expectations. Terminal 5 was packed, their performance had the crowd fully pumped, and their set was short but sweet. And that perfectly describes how my weekend felt: short but sweet.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Absinthe and Beyond: Artistic and Physical Energy
The performance of Absinthe at Spiegelworld on Friday, at South Street Seaport, was an intimate, stunning tour-de-force. I sat with my date at the very front, literally just a foot or two away from the small circular stage. Knowing the show would be an erotically-charged cabaret performance, rather like a small-scale adult-version of Cirque de Soleil, we both expected that we would probably be involved in the theatrics of the evening. And we weren't disappointed.
Absinthe features a series of performances and theatrics, tied together by a slinky MC cabaret singer hostess and two comic, acrobatic performers. A 2006 review of the show on NY Times gives an adept synopsis of the show, but also reveals that the performers and their acts are varied with the show. The NY Times review features the act of a man in a bathtub, which was entirely absent from the performance I saw Friday. Regardless, the acts highlighted an unbelievable array of the acrobatically impressive and skilled to the comic and the bawdy. A more recent review of Absinthe, along with another Spiegelworld show, La Vie, from 2007, can be seen here. As the review states, be prepared for the intimacy of the show and possible audience participation.
The act which my date was called to participate in involved the "married couple" comic hosts who introduced their act as a demonstration on how to correctly make use of bananas in erotic play. Their performance consisted of shooting banana bites from their mouths across the stage into the mouth of their partner -- and also an attempt to shoot banana bites into the mouth of my date. As their act wound down, the bites became chewed up, processed banana sludge which they continued to switch back and forth.
This sort of jarring physical humor was balanced with acts purely gorgeous and breathtaking in their grace, from a hula-hooping gymnast/contortionist to a roller-skating couple whose finale included the woman attached to her partner by neck-braces and her whirling in the air, turning her entire body while only supported by her neck.
And the act which I was included in: an incredibly robotic, mechanical-styled dancer who lip-synced snippets of the song, and in a "low battery" pause, took my hand to have me "power him up" and stage-snuck a kiss on the lips with me.
Needless to say, it was a fun, fully captivating evening.
And, not to diminish my enjoyment of and satisfaction with the evening, the weekend continued in the same vein. Saturday I went dancing with a few friends of mine at Cattyshack, a ladies' club in Park Slope.
We stayed there, mostly dancing, until closing time at 4:00 am. The spirit of dancing camaraderie bordered on the libidinous. While there, we all donned creatures-of-the-night personas, temporarily paused in a collective dance trance, transported to a world apart from our daily cares.
And the next evening, Sunday, I found myself in a friend-of-a-friend's apartment in Harlem for a dinner party. In addition to my friend, I had only met one other person before. The evening felt like a throwback to a college dorm night, where a group of people sat discussing life and love and work. Having this sort of evening engaging in ponderous, meaningful and personal conversation was refreshing.
And so this weekend perfectly encapsulated my idealization of NYC culture at its height: a heady mix of the personal and anonymous, where we can both, and even simultaneously, lose ourselves and intimately connect, on emotional and physical levels.
Absinthe features a series of performances and theatrics, tied together by a slinky MC cabaret singer hostess and two comic, acrobatic performers. A 2006 review of the show on NY Times gives an adept synopsis of the show, but also reveals that the performers and their acts are varied with the show. The NY Times review features the act of a man in a bathtub, which was entirely absent from the performance I saw Friday. Regardless, the acts highlighted an unbelievable array of the acrobatically impressive and skilled to the comic and the bawdy. A more recent review of Absinthe, along with another Spiegelworld show, La Vie, from 2007, can be seen here. As the review states, be prepared for the intimacy of the show and possible audience participation.
The act which my date was called to participate in involved the "married couple" comic hosts who introduced their act as a demonstration on how to correctly make use of bananas in erotic play. Their performance consisted of shooting banana bites from their mouths across the stage into the mouth of their partner -- and also an attempt to shoot banana bites into the mouth of my date. As their act wound down, the bites became chewed up, processed banana sludge which they continued to switch back and forth.
This sort of jarring physical humor was balanced with acts purely gorgeous and breathtaking in their grace, from a hula-hooping gymnast/contortionist to a roller-skating couple whose finale included the woman attached to her partner by neck-braces and her whirling in the air, turning her entire body while only supported by her neck.
And the act which I was included in: an incredibly robotic, mechanical-styled dancer who lip-synced snippets of the song, and in a "low battery" pause, took my hand to have me "power him up" and stage-snuck a kiss on the lips with me.Needless to say, it was a fun, fully captivating evening.
And, not to diminish my enjoyment of and satisfaction with the evening, the weekend continued in the same vein. Saturday I went dancing with a few friends of mine at Cattyshack, a ladies' club in Park Slope.
We stayed there, mostly dancing, until closing time at 4:00 am. The spirit of dancing camaraderie bordered on the libidinous. While there, we all donned creatures-of-the-night personas, temporarily paused in a collective dance trance, transported to a world apart from our daily cares.And the next evening, Sunday, I found myself in a friend-of-a-friend's apartment in Harlem for a dinner party. In addition to my friend, I had only met one other person before. The evening felt like a throwback to a college dorm night, where a group of people sat discussing life and love and work. Having this sort of evening engaging in ponderous, meaningful and personal conversation was refreshing.
And so this weekend perfectly encapsulated my idealization of NYC culture at its height: a heady mix of the personal and anonymous, where we can both, and even simultaneously, lose ourselves and intimately connect, on emotional and physical levels.
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