Pencil This In

MUSIC: During CMJ we finally had the pleasure of catching Motel Motel (pictured), who played their own brand of alt-country to a jam-packed room at Union Hall. Tonight they're at Mercury Lounge with the equally lovable lineup of AA Bondy, Gentle Guest and The Low Anthem. They're on 2nd, so get there early, folks.

7:30 p.m. // Mercury Lounge [217 E Houston St] // $10

MOVIE: Today the 5th Annual Big Apple Film Festival kicks off. The four-day event celebrates "achievement in independent filmmaking from the New York City film community, as well as specially selected films from across the country and around the world." More info on each day's programming can be found here.

6 to 10 p.m. // Tribeca Cinemas [54 Varick St] // Tickets

EVENT: NY3D is holding a 3D Comics night. They promise "3D projections by stellar cartoonists [including Kim Deitch] and illustrators, plus moral corruption, and a 3D Bake Sale."

7 p.m. // FIT's Haft Auditorium [27th St btwn 7th and 8th Avenues] // Free

THEATER: Shakespeare gets Noh respect in Shogun Macbeth, which sets the Bard's play in "the feudal military dictatorship of 12th century Japan (Kamakura Period), a time of warring clans. The three witches are Yojos, obaki creatures with spiritual and supernatural powers." Angela Ashman at the Village Voice calls it "a captivating take on Shakespeare's murderous tale of ambition and greed...The graceful Rosanne Ma is... memorable as Fujin Macbeth, a dainty powder-faced doll with a cruel heart." And Heather J. Violanti deems it "breathtaking." – John Del Signore

7:30 p.m. // Women's Project, Julia Miles Theater [424 W 55th St] // $50