Pencil This In

THEATER: Temporary Distortion’s Welcome to Nowhere (bullet hole road) juxtaposes lushly photographed cinema with hypnotic live performance. Positioned within a small but elaborately designed boxlike installation, the actors draw the audience into their blood-stained world with a stillness that approaches meditation. When fused with the rich film projection above their heads – which furthers the abstract plot of the road movie/love story – the show draws you into an intimate embrace, as if the characters are whispering in your ear while you watch their dreams. (Read a feature article about Temporary Distortion in the current Brooklyn Rail.) – John Del Signore

Friday // 8pm // The Chocolate Factory [5-49 49th Ave, Long Island City] // Tickets cost $15.

COMEDY: "The Steve Miller Band and Other Annoying Monsters, Or: Oceanquake!" may be a long title for a comedy show - but at least you know what you're in store for. Or do you? They tell us it's "a sketch show where children deal with mortality, loaves of bread break out in song and a monster drunkenly hit on bridesmaids. And, as the title hints at, the Steve Miller Band is indirectly responsible for several deaths." We're sold. And as if we needed more convincing, two of the performers are also writers for The Colbert Report. More info here.

Friday // 8pm // UCB Theater [307 W 26th St] // $8

MUSIC: The Raveonettes, Nicole Atkins & the Sea and Gliss are at Bowery Ballroom tonight. Ms. Atkins played our SXSW show earlier this year (with a different Sea - video here) and has now turned up in an AMEX commercial! We highly recommend her, and for that matter - the rest of the bands on this lineup. Tickets are still on sale!

Friday // 8:30pm // Bowery Ballroom [6 Delancey St] // $15

SHOP: Housing Works warehouse is opening its doors so you can stuff your shopping bags full of their designer clothes, housewares and furniture. A bag 'o clothes will cost you $20, and the rest of the wares will be reduced in price.

Saturday // Housing Works Warehouse [48-49 35th St, LIC] // $20

EVENTS: The 7th annual CultureFest is happening this weekend. The free celebration recognizes the "magnificent and diverse cultural offerings" the city beholds. More than 125 cultural organizations will represent in Battery Park for a festival of music, art, dance, hands-on activities, entertainment and food. More details here.

Saturday and Sunday // 11am to 5:30pm // Battery Park [State St @ Battery Place] // Free

The Strand Literary & Arts Festival is this weekend and will allow you to meet the authors whose books you usually browse through at the store. This year marks the Strand's 80th, so it's sure to be even more festive (with a toast at 5pm). Attend some readings and win some books...more details here.

Saturday // 11am to 6pm // The Strand [828 Broadway] // Free

THEATER: Radiotheatre uses original orchestral music and an array of strange sound effects to make imaginative sci-fi shows for the aurally inclined. In time for Halloween, they’re presenting a four-show cycle of H.G. Wells classics: The War Of The Worlds, The Island Of Dr. Moreau, The Time Machine and The Invisible Man, which can be seen/heard tonight. “A scientist has invented a way to render himself invisible. The problem is that he's also quite insane. Now he can go anywhere, menace, or kill, anyone who stands in his way.” – John Del Signore

Sunday // 5:30pm & 7:30pm // 59E59 [59 E 59th St] // Tickets cost $25.

Photo of the Strand in the mid-80s via ShellyS's Flickr.