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Colbert Wags a Finger at Barnes & Noble
Last night, Stephen Colbert had a reading for his book I Am America (And So Can You) that was full of fans of truthiness and enemies of bears. The Washington Square News reported that the erstwhile maybe-presidential candidate said, "It's time to impregnate this country with my mind."
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EVENT: We're sponsoring, and our publisher is hosting, the NYC Photobloggers event tonight. Come over to the Apple Store to see a dazzling display of digital images and the faces behind the photos: Eliot Shepard, Jay Parkinson (yes, that Jay Parkinson) and a whole lot more will be on hand. There will also be a special presentation by Jen Bekman of 20x200, Hey Hot Shot, and the Jen Bekman Gallery and an after party at Merc Bar.
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MUSIC: Courtney Love makes her return to the New York stage tonight for a little birthday celebration show at Hiro Ballroom. The rocker turned 43 on Monday of this week, and there's only one way to see if she's acting her age! Last time she got a little crazy at a suprise show at Plaid, and when she turned 40 she took a trip to Bellevue.
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MOVIE: By now you've all seen, memorized and lived your own version of neurotic New York love story Annie Hall, the classic Woody Allen film that's stood the test of time. But have you seen it under the open night sky? Didn't think so. Get there early for a seat. Get there even earlier for knitting lessons!
Some Food Talk At 92Y
Last week at the 92nd Street Y some people took time to hear the fantastic Mike Colameco host the legendary chef Jacques Pepin, critic Gael Greene (now of the Insatiable Critic blog), food maven Arthur Schwartz, and old-school restaurant mogul Michael Whiteman hash out whether NYC dining scene was better then ever. Pretty cut and dry, no? Schwartz and Greene mostly argued that it is not a better scene today, lamenting the arrival of the $44 lamb chop and the teardown it apparently heralded for their beloved old neighborhood joints with solid value, good food and owned by a chef who cooked.
On the Plate: Upcoming Food and Wine Events
The gang at Flatbush Farm hosts a barbecue the last weekend of every month, including this one. Feast on grilled clams, barbecued chicken legs and ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, veggie chili and more. 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 76 Saint Marks Avenue, Brooklyn. Call 718-622-3276 for details.
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THEATER: Biography is a largely forgotten 1932 comedy by S. N. Behrman, who wrote witty and flattering plays for high society. In the Pearl Theatre’s current revival, Carolyn McCormick (Law & Order) plays Marion Froude, a free-spirited, liberated lady in her 40s who draws heat when she decides to write a tell-all about her eccentric life. One of the colorful characters from her past who dreads the exposure is a U.S. Senate hopeful; sparks fly when Ms. Froude refuses to self-edit. Martin Denton calls it “a delightful, giddy, smart screwball comedy of ideas.” - John Del Signore
On the Plate: Upcoming Food and Wine Events
As we've mentioned before, today is World Water Day. Over 290 local restaurants are participating in the Tap Project -- just fork up $1 for the tap water that's usually gratis and UNICEF will donate that money to help provide clean drinking water to children around the world.
On the Plate: Upcoming Food and Wine Events
The good folks at The Spotted Pig are ringing in the Year of the Pig with, you guessed it, a pig roast. 314 W. 11th Street at Greenwich. Call 212-620-0393 for details.
Idle Time For Drivers of Rich Toddlers
We thought of one thing after reading the NY Times article about 92nd Street Y nursery school students' drivers clogging up the streets outside the school: Home schooling. Actually, we also thought "congestion tax," but reading about chauffeured SUVs for tiny children would drive most anyone crazy.
On the Plate: Upcoming Food and Wine Events
It may be cold outside, but it's perfect fondue weather. Riverdale Garden will be serving up classic cheese, hearty herb flavored oil with beef and chicken and, of course, bittersweet chocolate. Complete dinner is $29 including house wine and draft beer, or just drinks and music for $15. Dinner starting at 7PM, music at 8:30PM. Reservations are recommended and can be made on Open Table or by calling 718-884-5232. 4576 Manhattan College Parkway, Bronx.
Map of the Day: Beat NYC
To correspond with its 50th anniversary celebration reading tonight, the 92nd Street Y Blog created this map of Beat Generation spots. The map is based on a Post article from Saturday that mentions addresses and events in the history of "all those crazy hepcats who turned postwar America on its head."
The Glaser Conundrum, Continued
Earlier this week, we reported on the 92nd Street Y event where New York magazine co-founder Milton Glaser attributed the low number of high-profile female designers to the fact that women who have children and stay at home with them are less visible professionally.
Elder Heckler and the Ghost of Larry Summers Live from the 92nd Street Y
Graphic designers tend to be an even-keeled lot, unless you mess with their precious Futura typeface plans. So at Monday night’s The Art of the Book: Covers With Dave Eggers, Chip Kidd and Milton Glaser, moderated by designer Michael Bierut at the 92nd Street Y, we weren’t surprised that book jacket designer and author Kidd made nice with Panelist Four – a man well into his senior years who boosted the show from the first row.
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THEATER: A new multimedia opera called Violet Fire centers on legendary inventor Nikola Tesla, who not only claimed over 700 patents but also inspired basically the most wicked band ever. Part of the BAM Next Wave Festival, the show conceptualizes the inner life of the man whose famous “waking hallucinations” led to great breakthroughs in electricity (alternating current, hydroelectric power), wireless broadcasting (radio transmission), robotics (remote control), and mind-blowing guitar riffs. (Ends Saturday!) - John Del Signore
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READINGS: Another double-bill this week at the 92nd Street Y - Janet Fitch () are reading from new work tonight, introduced respectively to the stage by Will Allison and Ben Marcus. Plus, the under-35 gets a limited number of tickets for just ten dollars. - Krissa Corbett Cavouras
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THEATER: P.S. 122’s Fall Season opens tonight with the U.S. premiere of “Tower of Babel” by Dutch artists Lidy Six and Robert Steijn. Running four nights only - for only 25 audience members at a time – the event is described as “a one-of-a kind, full immersion theatre experience”. Each audience member will be personally welcomed with tea and tucked into one of twenty-five individual beds (complete with nightstands). A live VJ and DJ will invoke a dreamlike atmosphere as twenty-five storytellers from around the world share their stories – from personal histories and secrets to myths and folktales – in their native tongues. The stated intent of “Tower of Babel” is to transcend language and “overcome barriers of ‘us and them’ while inventing a new vocabulary for understanding in real time.” The NYC cast includes graduate students, translators, tutors, writers, dancers, a spiritual healer, physical therapist, and a grandmother aged 78. Perhaps the best part is that for once you don’t have to feel guilty for dozing off at the theater.
Hot Sake - Food News You Can Use
- Yes! Let the discussion on medium rare pork begin. At the very least the dining populous may end up ordering fewer well done pork chops. Hopefully a conversation will follow in the near future about the acceptable light pink hue that properly cooked chicken and turkey breast can have. Get yourself a meat thermometer so you can nail the right temperatures.
On the Plate: Upcoming Food and Wine Events
Join Tuscan native Chef Cesare Casella and his team at Maremma as they make special dishes featuring the traditional Tuscan beef -- Chianina (pronounced kee-a-nee-na). Chef Casella raises his herd of Chianina at Thanksgiving Farm in the Catskills regions of upstate New York. 228 West 10th Street, 212.645.0200.
Link Block!
- Enter the Phat Index: How do the values of New York politicos compare with the median home values in their district. Interesting...
Literati Roundup: the Almighty Albright and Other Readings
We've got a packed week of awesome events for you, so start tonight (5/10) at McNally Robinson NYC to catch Welsh author Niall Griffiths in a rare U.S. appearance, reading from his latest, Wreckage, starting at 7PM.
Extra, Extra
- And it's the first night of Passover! There are some community seders from the 14th Street Y...and if you want to go all out, we recommend this matzoh-style yarmulke - hello, afikomen!
Explore Roosevelt Island
Cool stuff: The 92nd Street Y/ Makor has a Roosevelt Island Hike this Sunday. As per the 92nd Street Blog, Roosevelt Island is more than just the decaying old hospital, the Island once had the "city’s main prison, a smallpox hospital, a disease research laboratory, an insane asylum, a fort and a lighthouse." There are some new development planned for Roosevelt Island (great midtown views!) but the movie Dark Water took the depressing approach to living there.
Watch Your Back, Matisyahu!
If we ever left the house, we'd definitely check out the Israeli Hip-Hop night at the 92nd Street Y's Steinhart Building on March 11th. In the clip above, Y-Love explains his cross-cultural rapping style-- it's pretty impressive to see someone lay down rhymes in English, Aramaic, and Hebrew all at the same time. [Related: hundreds of Matisyahu clips at YouTube.]

