around town today (friday)
various times (thru 8/27): summer shorts 3 = 4 1-act new plays, incl. neil labute’s ‘a  second of pleasure.’ 59e59 theater, $18 for all 4 >>
12:30pm: uke-filled hawaiian swing: the moonlighters perform, sign their new cd ‘enchanted’ @  j+r, free >>
1-10pm: sobe summer fridays: free mani-pedis, sobe lifewater, swag. rsvp@ blocgroup.com for location >>
4-8pm: free admission fridays @ moma + 'night nurse' (4pm) 'the lord of the rings: the two towers' (7pm) >>
also at moma (thru 10/5): merce cunningham tribute installation incl. works by cage, johns, warhol, more. >>
5:30-7pm: period-dress troupe recites william cullen bryant ‘while playing croquet and sipping tea.’ bryant park, free >>
6pm: maine lobster/corn/coleslaw + dj + gowanuside view: lobster bake @ bklyn yard, $22 >>
6pm: moshi moshi records day w. casiokids, the wave pictures + slow club @ south street seaport, free >>
6:30-10pm: qma’s passport fridays’ jordan night, incl. sundance award winner ‘captain abu raed,’ free >>
7pm: met opera summer recitals bring soprano joyce el-khoury to tappan park (s.i.) >>
7pm: porch-rocker-bluesy grace potter + the nocturnals play prospect park w. deer tick, london souls, $3 >>
7pm: haunty-voiced singer-songwriter sydney wayser performs @ cameo (bk) $8/door ($5 rsvp) >>
7pm: ethics in film series presents 'gattaca' screening + discussion. $5 incl. popcorn, drinks >>
7pm (thru 8/9): asphalt orchestra play free marching concerts w. music by bjork, mingus, zappa. various locales, free >>
7pm: opening reception for 'cobra-lalilulelo,' artistic tributes to evil animated characters @ show room nyc (e.v.), free >>
7-10pm: rutkowski trio do an evening of classic jazz compositions from miles, dexter, parker, more. stuy cove park, free >>
7:30pm (8/7-9): documentary ‘second skin’ profiles hardcore computer gamers @ the tank, $10 >>
8pm: cary grant, kate hepburn, a leopard: ‘bringing up baby’ @ brooklyn lyceum, $5 >>
8pm: neo-noir dance of dayton contempo dance co. draws on african-american roots. summerstage, free >>
8pm: ‘flow: for love of water:’ the big business of selling h20. greene acres garden (clinton hill), free >>
8pm (thru 8/8): big rodent's production of willy s' 'measure for measure.' $10 w. code 'nycblog' + $1 beer >>
8:30pm: in case you missed it at bam: ‘muppet movie’ screens @ pier 54/14th 46/charles st, free (incl.  popcorn) >>
9:30pm (every friday thru summer): fireworks on the beach @ coney island >>
10pm: go for a guided moonlight bike ride through central park after dark, free >>
midnight (8/7-8): wwiii what-if flick ‘red dawn’ (swayze, sheen) was first ever to get a pg-13 rating >>

coming up
8/12 5-9:30pm: virgil's fêtes woodstock's 40th w. ribstock, a night of 'cue/cocktails/music incl. free baby back ribs 5:30-7:30pm >>

sales, deals, freebies
4-7 daily: order a cocktail ($7), get free bites (parmesan-prosciutto beignets, arancini, homemade 'tato chips) @ gusto ristorante (g'wich/perry) >>
jamba juice: buy one get one free smoothie coupon (valid thru 8/9) >>
thru 8/31: nathan's buy-one-get-one-free hot dog coupon (valid at coney!) >>
summer card sale @ park slope papery scaredy kat ($2 cards, box sets) + free moon pie with purchase >>
ben sherman eames jacket for $89.50 (reg. $299) >>
thru 8/10: take an extra 25% off one item at ebags (use code 'emextra25') >>
groupon alert: $40 swedish massage @ any of rani spa's 14 locations ($80 value) >>
on sale today: half-price tickets for fall previews of neil simon's 'brighton beach memoirs' + 'broadway bound' >>
win 2 tix to see the b-52's beach party @ governors island on 8/18 >>
indie dvd sale at amazon ($5.99 and up) includes sideways, lost in translation, eat drink man woman, more. >>
free audiobook download: ‘oscar wilde: his life and confessions’ by frank harris >>
free mp3 download: radiohead's 'all i need' >>
free mp3 download: the mountain goats’ 'genesis 3:23' >>
free mp3 download: patrick wolf’s ‘the bachelor’ >>
free mp3 download: poptarts suck toasted's top 10 tribute songs ever (u2, commodores) >>
free mp3 download: urban outfitters 23-track itunes playlist (bachelorette, jay reatard, fool’s gold) >>