Of all the performing arts, theater has a tendency to be the most unbearable. You can easily walk out of most concerts, and with dance there's usually at least a certain technical proficiency to be admired. But particularly in small Off Broadway theaters—where, ironically, the potential for magnificence is greatest—it's almost impossible to escape without causing a major disruption. When theater stinks, which is often, you've usually got no choice but to suffer through it without anesthetic, as time slows to a crawl and your captors torment you with boredom. more ›

The Debate Society, arguably New York's most charming theater company, is adept at seducing their audience with the atmosphere of whatever locale they choose to evoke. Their latest work, called Cape Disappointment, meticulously conjures up Gothic worlds of lost highways, traveling salesmen, Eisenhower-era teens, and roadside bandits. Designer Karl Allen has done excellent work transforming the upstairs theater at P.S. 122 into a romantically decayed drive-in movie, even installing vintage speaker boxes throughout the audience. And to complete the scene, free bags of popcorn are distributed—noisy, crinkly bags that maddeningly break the spell just like at the cinema. more ›

If you're a chili fanatic, this is definitely a weekend to stay in town. There are at least two chili cookoffs planned that we know about, both in Brooklyn and both going down in bars, where the beer will flow freely (well, not literally freely) to extinguish any raging fires in your scorched mouth-hole. Up first on Saturday, there's the 2nd Annual Debate Society Chili Cookoff at Moonshine in Red Hook, where $10 gets you unlimited chili from all contestants. Or bring your own chili to compete and eat for free. Email stinky cheese-eating champion Oliver Butler (oliver AT thedebatesociety DOT org) for details, or just show up Saturday at 2 p.m. with $10 and an appetite. more ›