Results tagged “kurtvonnegut”

Dead authors and compost go together so poetically don't they? The Brooklyn Paper reports on one woman who thinks so, and she's been placing her unusual compost boxes all around her neighborhood. The first was a Kurt Vonnegut inspired chest on Sacket Street, and soon after the local, Noon Gourfain, announced to the paper that her next was an homage to Edgar Allan Poe—let's hope she buries a fake beating heart in the soil! She explained, “I like what he said about the descent into the maelstrom. I like the idea of linking a dead literary figure to composting.” While vandals knocked over the Vonnegut, other residents are invited to be more productive in their contributions, for example: "toss in shredded paper, banana peels, egg shells or other organic waste. The worms will do the rest." If you'd like to do some of your own indoor composting, here's a tip sheet on how—and if someone could convert dumpsters into gardens and swimming pools that would be super.

MOVIE: Delve into the mind and life of H.L. “Doc” Humes (pictured) in a documentary by his daughter. Titled Doc, the 96-minute film focuses in on the counterculture icon. "In the 1950s and early '60s, Doc co-founded The Paris Review, wrote two acclaimed novels, and was a gregarious fixture of the cultural scene in Paris, London and New York. Doc was a 1950s NYC intellectual, a 60s free speech militant, and a 70s visionary crazy genius. His story is the story of decades of cultural history, a poignant personal long-strange-trip, and a fount of ever-relevant ideas." Tonight Immy Humes (filmmaker) will be at the 8pm screening, and tomorrow night she will be joined by Paul Auster. More info here.

No more naming streets like Joey Ramone Place, Peter Jennings Way, Bob Marley Boulevard, or Jerry Orbach Way. If one City Council member gets his way, the commemorative naming of streets would stop because it's too much of a time waster for the council. James Oddo, the council's minority leader from Staten Island, wants to give the Department of Transportation the authority to approve new street names. Currently, the City Council has to approve the names after they are approved by local community boards. We find it shocking that a politician wants to give away power.

"Truly, this has been the most unusual job I’ve ever had, and I don’t know if I could ever have another 9-5 job, because what do I do for an encore? What would top this?" After years of serving as senior editor of Playgirl magazine, Coleen Kane is leaving her post and the big city for Baton Rouge. Gothamist caught up with Colleen as she prepared for move to find out about what it's like to work at a porn office, the sleaze, awesomeness, and ridiculousness she's encountered, and how Playgirl played a part in her meeting Kurt Vonnegut.

It's the longest day of the year, so you should be able to fit Shepard Fairey's exhibit and at least one of the following events in.

The NY Sun reports that members of Community Board 6 have spoken, and they want the late Kurt Vonnegut to have a street named after him. The Manhattan block where he spent most of his writing career (East 48th Street and Second Avenue) may be named "Kurt Vonnegut Way." A decision should be made by October. Why that block (which, incidentally, he shared with another famous writer, E.B. White)?:

American counterculture and literary idol, Kurt Vonnegut, died yesterday at the age of 84. He was in Manhattan, and his death was the result of brain injuries from a fall several weeks ago.

Craig Ferguson, host of CBS's The Late Late Show, is coming to Comix to perform stand up and, while he's in town, will make a Letterman appearance and will promote the paperback edition of his book, Between the Bridge and the River. Gothamist sat down to discuss his Scottish upbringing, his take on comedy, and why bullies seem to ruin everything.

Along a dark and lonely strip in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, underneath the El train - at 1087 Broadway, to be exact - sits a shop. What kind of shop it is is hard to say. There might be a guy at a table drinking a can of beer and reading a yellowed paperback. Another table could have a cat stretched across it. There's a small counter on your left, with a couple of people drinking coffee and hunched over computers. And in the back, there might be a local rock or jazz band playing. But the main thing you'll notice when you walk in is the stuff. Lots of it. Books and board games and records and figurines and toys and lamps and maybe a motorcycle. More than you could hope to go through in an afternoon. And it's all for sale.

Last night Gothamist waited an hour in the rain at Tribeca Film Festival, as only a few volunteers handled the long lines for ticket pick up. Although we were drenched and missed our movie, we did get to see Kermit the Frog dressed in a suit (hugging Robert Deniro) as well as Stella's Michael Showalter (we held back from screaming Wet Hot American Summer lines) before presenting his romantic comedy The Baxter, which you can preview here.

Involver (media and entertainment activist community) and PEN (national organization of writers) present this Wednesday, August 4 at 7:00pm. An incredible lineup of literary legends convene to address contemporary political threats to freedom of expression.

Brian Reisinger, Swandivedigital