PARTY: Nostalgic for the Blackout of 2003? Someone has put together an event that will recapture the night of no lights so we can all enjoy it once again (with reassuring knowledge that the contents of the fridge aren't melting back at home). Stain's blackout party will be complete with candles, canned goods, beer, a battery-run boombox, board games, grilling and other non-electricity-dependent activities. more ›

writer Chris Regan, writer Grant Stoddard, comedian Jon Friedman, animator Odd Todd, fellow photographer Ryan Brenizer, yours truly, as well as people whose titles range from "Smiler" to "7 days new" baby Maura Grace McDonnell. At the conclusion of the project, Wadman plans to make the entire set of photos available as a gallery exhibition. He recently emailed with Gothamist about his favorite camera equipment, his wish list of subjects, and why New York is a "perfect" place to scout for new faces to immortalize. more ›

THEATER: Should we be trying to protect our children from the man in red? That’s the premise of Jeff Goode’s much-performed The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, in which Santa’s vices are exposed by those on the receiving end of his lash. A scandal erupts when Vixen accuses Santa of sexual harassment; in the subsequent media frenzy, the other members of the sleigh team demand to share their perspectives, and a sordid tale of corruption comes to light. - John Del Signore more ›

Jon Bulette, Organizer, NYC Beard and Moustache Championships more ›

We usually associate reading with sleeping. When we were younger we were read to before going to bed, or taking a nap. Now, thanks to Lindsay Robertson, Alex Balk and Jon Friedman...we can associate reading with pills. more ›

Comedy Legends Live: The inimitable Carl Reiner speaks with Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Susie Essman. Reiner—comedian, actor, novelist and director— was a creator, writer and producer for The Dick Van Dyke Show. In 1999, he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the Kennedy Center and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. Come check out a legend. more ›

It's not a great week for the slim of pocketbook, as we've dug up some gems that will cost you. We hope they're worth it, though! There's funny, slightly arty, and just plain bookish. Take your pick. more ›

yamaholiday! more ›

Writing sketch comedy is not an easy skill. Appealing to a wide audience, writing a good ending for each sketch, and rehearsing your material are not always taken into consideration. Which is why Gothamist loved the new sketch show The Incorrigible Mr. J, now up at the PIT [154 w. 29th Street]. Matt Donnelly, Rebekka Johnson and Jim Festante of the improv group Possible Side Effects, have created a world where reclusive hermits, “dynamic choreography”, and Samuel L. Jackson all cleverly intersect. The Incorrigible Mr. J. - Fridays in October at 7pm - $5 more ›

Obviously Labor Day is the weekend to kick back and squeeze out the final drops of summer before retiring your Nantucket Reds in favor of muted browns and tweeds. Obviously. And obviously the last thing you ought to do on a weekend such as this is put any effort into anything. However, Gothamist highly recommends you take action as soon as possible to snag the now-on-sale tickets to see Elliot Kalan’s interview with Stephen Colbert at Juvie Hall. The show will take place on September 9th but tickets are available and selling quickly now at SmartTix. Long live Mr. Noblet! more ›

Everyone in New York, it seems, wants to make it big. But with so many people competing, work falls by the wayside, dreams get dashed and people get rejected. Which is the foundation for Jon Friedman’s Rejection Show, this Wednesday at P.S. 122. The show embraces the rejected material of professional and amateur writers, comedians, cartoonists, artists, and human beings, who display their creative “failures” live on stage. Of course many of the performers are contributors for The Daily Show, The New Yorker and even star on Arrested Development, so quit feeling sorry for yourself, even these guys have their critics. This week the show welcomes comedian Liam McEneany, cartoonist Matt Diffee, mayoral candidate Andy Horwitz and many more. more ›

Gothamist went to poetry slams in high school to feel artistic and deep. But then we realized we didn’t have what it takes to be a poet, all we wanted was to laugh at how serious some people took themselves. Granted that’s our own shortcoming and perhaps we need to work on getting in touch with our emotions, but tonight it is ok to laugh at the poets at Galapagos. At the Poetry Vs. Comedy Variety Show poets rage against comedians in a battle of wits. Featuring poets Scotty The Blue Bunny, Nathan Penlington and Thaddeus Rutkowski and comedians Carolyn Castiglia, Jon Friedman and Becky Yamamoto. more ›

Jon Friedman, Rejection Show Producer, Comedian and Writer more ›