Most New Yorkers, even famous ones, have cherished rituals and favorite places that connect them to their city in unique ways. They have their beloved restaurants, museums, parks, galleries, landmarks, haunts, and hideaways. It may be watching tango dancers on Saturday nights in Central Park. Or riding a bike over the Brooklyn Bridge for a slice of Grimaldi’s pepperoni pizza and a view of the Manhattan skyline from across the East River. Perhaps it entails choosing from the many varieties of bread at Rock Hill Bake House in the Union Square Greenmarket or simply walking across 46th Street and ending up at Joe Allen, the great Broadway hangout.
More than 300 NYC notables, including Woody Allen, Anthony Bourdain, Matthew Broderick, Tina Fey, Hugh Jackman, Fran Lebowitz, John Legend, Bette Midler, Edward Norton, Jon Stewart, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten share their favorites in Jeryl Brunner's new book, My City, My New York.
We have five copies to give away to lucky skint readers! For a chance to win, just drop us a line (subject: 'My City, My New York') by 11:59pm tonight. The winners will be picked randomly and notified tomorrow.
MY CITY, MY NEW YORK by Jeryl Brunner $12.95, Paperback 256 pages Globe Pequot Press
1, 3pm: see dawes and hacienda for free at 'park here' before they play maxwell's and terminal 5 later this week. rsvp required. >>
6-8pm: opening reception for here i am: bushwick in the 1980s, an exhibition of photos shot by meryl meisler when she was art teacher in the then-deserted neighborhood. soho gallery, free. >>
6:30pm: a panel of authors and activists discuss tie-ins between the persecution of communists and the persecution of environmental activists at community church of new york, free >>
6:30pm: explore the changing opinions of turn-of-the-century new york in novelist edith wharton's writing with a lecture by cuny english professor hildegard hoeller as part of carnegie hall's 120th anniversary. morgan library, $15. >>
7pm: hear how mit professor angela belche feels that bioengineering and nanotechnology can save the planet at this month's scicafe at amnh, free >>
7pm (space opens @ 5pm): broadway legend stephen sondheim (follies, sweeny todd, sunday in the park with george, lots more) talks with author-journalist anna quindlen to discuss his book look, i made a hat: collected lyrics (1981-2011). b+b union square, free. >>
7pm: watch the unwrapping of burlesque star darlinda just darlinda while you enjoy free champagne, treats, and gift wrapping at babeland soho's 'hip shakin' holiday party', free. >>
7pm: beth hoyt and trish nelson's 'a big effing deal' comedy/variety show features glennis mccarthy, dan wilbur, mary jane gibson, and nick vatterott. bonus: 2-4-1 happy hour drinks! 2a, free. >>
7:30pm: female musicians of the brooklyn indie and songwriter community including joy askew, amy merrill (sidecar), cat martino, courtney kaiser (kaisercartel), the bandana splits (dawn landes), and many others perform a wide range of holiday music to benefit the somaly mam foundation at the 'sirens of brooklyn' concert. plymouth church (brooklyn heights), $10 adv, $15 dos. >>
8pm: christmas carol sing-alongs, an operatic santa, songs about latkes, and a holiday sweater contest are what's in store at opera on tap's annual holiday bash. parkside lounge, free. >>
8pm (+12/8-11, 13-17): cabaret star justin 'vivian' bond's annual holiday concert, austerity measures: a snow job for the masses, promises interpretations of songs by kate bush, lcd soundsystem, sparklehorse, more, and 'to make you feel good about feeling bad'. abrons art center, $25. >>
8pm: spin a five-song set of your favorite holiday vinyl while enjoying special holiday cocktails and free cookies with the folks of the monday night vinyl club. double windsor, free. >>
thru 12/11: filmmaker david gordon green presents a series of '80s films that inspired his upcoming film the sitter, including risky business, after hours, and adventures in babysitting. bam, $12. >>
coming up
12/8 8pm: sing, dance, and quote your favorite lines at an interactive screening of 80s cult classic troop beverly hills at 92ytribeca, $12 >>
12/8 8pm: acrylics, citay, eytan + the embassy, here we go magic, psychic, miles benjamin anthony robinson, erika spring, teen, and many others pay tribute to the music of john lennon to benefit arts education international. knitting factory, $15. >>
12/8 8pm: 8pm: the shelter presents: fairy tale, five short plays inspired by the classic fairy tales of the brothers grimm, washington irving and charles perrault. 45th street theatre (354 w 45th street, 2nd floor), $10 with discount code 'skint' (reg $18). >>
12/9 8pm: enter your secret stuffedmounted beaver collection at the secret science club's most bonkers event of the year- the 6th annual carnivorous nights taxidermy contest. bell house, $7. >>
12/9 8pm: experimental musician joe drew presents 'cosmic pulses,' karlheinz stockhausen's final electronic composition, which utilizes an 8-channel sound system. issue project room, $10. >>
12/10 12-7pm: sneaker conoisseurs can buy, trade, and sell to their heart's content with 40 vendors at sneaker con. 151 sullivan stl, $12. >>
12/14 8pm: writer-comedian catie lazarus hosts 'employee of the month', a talk show featuring people who love their jobs. tonight: muppeteer eric jacobson (aka grover, miss piggy, fozzie bear), social activists the yes men, broadway's kerry butler (beauty and the beast, xanadu). ucb, $5 >>
sales, deals, freebies
2 amc gold experience tickets, 2 drink vouchers and one popcorn for $24 ($38 value) >>
thru 12/24: get 45% off tickets to bro-tastic musical parody, balls...the musical? when you enter code 'trhhcballs' at checkout >>
thru 12/24: all orchestra seats are $49-79 for 1/9-3/4 performances of mamma mia (reg $69.50-127.50) >>
free mp3s: new amsterdam presents is posting a free new music album each day this week as part of their fundraising campaign. today: william brittelle's television landscape and mohair time warp>>
free mp3: shonen knife 'we wish you a merry christmas' >>
group deals
$140 to spend on handbags from hayden-harnett for $70 >>
argentine tapas dinner including sangria or wine for two or four for $39 or $75 at alma 33 in greenwich village ($128 or $274 value) >>
craft beer and snacks or four-course duck dinner for two at pour george gastropub in greenwich village for up to 50% off >>
$40 worth of greek fare at athena mediterranean cuisine in park slope or cobble hill for $20 >>
hot stone or swedish massage, body scrub and brazilian body-sugaring at cwax in midtown for $35 ($110 value) >>
chose from 3 options at brooklyn boulders (up to 61% off) >>
Hansel and Gretel returns to The Metropolitan Opera 12/16-1/7! The Met’s wickedly funny production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s take on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale returns as this season’s English-language holiday presentation for families, with special prices and midweek matinees. Aleksandra Kurzak is Gretel, with Kate Lindsey and Alice Coote alternating as Hansel. Robert Brubaker is the Witch who plots to bake them into gingerbread.
We have a pair of orchestra seats for opening night to give to a lucky skint reader! To enter to win, just drop us a line (subject: "Hansel and Gretel") by 11:59pm tonight. The winner will picked at random and notified tomorrow.
Hanslel and Gretel Lincoln Center 65th and Broadway Info and tickets
12-6pm (thru 2/15): indoor pop-up park 'park here' returns to openhouse gallery with concerts, performances and special events to come (some rsvp req'd). free. >>
6pm: comedian colin quinn discusses his dvd, long story short at b+n tribeca, free >>
6:30pm: authors and historians ellen williams + steve radlauer give a presentation on their book, the historic shops + restaurants of greenwich village. hudson park branch library, free (rsvp). >>
7pm (+12/8 @ housing works): guest editor alex ross and series editor daphne carr present readings from their new book best music writing 2011. powerhouse arena, free. >>
7pm: women in music throws its annual holiday party with free beverages and snacks + performances by hesta prynn, star eyes, and gina turner. $10 with promo code 'skint' (reg $25) >>
7pm (thru 12/23): appease your inner nerd with she kills monsters, a humorous journey into the world of fantasy role-playing games + '90s pop culture. the flea theater, pay-what-you-can tuesdays and $10 saturday matinees and (reg. $25). >>
7:30pm: brush up on your russian history at the society for the advancement of social studies' (s.a.s.s.) lecture. public assembly, free. >>
8pm: srsly lol and grumpyfilms give you 'a srsly grumpy holiday,' a music/comedy/video/drag variety show featuring ben lerman, mona mour, garry hannon, sharon 'mama' spell, and host h. alan scott. the pit, $5. >>
8pm: monthly lecture series 'adult education' takes residence in union hall for the last time before moving to a new venue (tba) to give us 'style + usage,' an evening of fun and informative stories behind the words we use and why we don't all live in 'new-york.' $5. >>
9pm: kathryn calder (of the new pornographers) performs her expansive synthpop at knitting factory, $10 >>
thru 1/7 (every tues-sat): the museum at fit displays 100 garments and accessories from daphne guinness's personal collection. designers incl. mcqueen, lagerfeld, galliano, dior, valentino, more. 7th ave @ 27th st., free. >>
coming up
12/7 1, 3pm: dawes and hacienda play park here, free (rsvp req'd) >>
12/7 6:30pm: explore the changing opinions of turn-of-the-century new york in novelist edith wharton's writing with a lecture by cuny english professor hildegard hoeller as part of carnegie hall's 120th anniversary. morgan library, $15. >>
12/7-11: filmmaker david gordon green presents a series of '80s films that inspired his upcoming film the sitter, including risky business, after hours, and adventures in babysitting. bam, $12. >>
12/8 7pm: co-authors of i want my mtv craig marks and rob tannenbaum bring together guest commentators from billboard (rob sheffield), the village voice (maura johnston), and more for 'a celebration of wonderfully terrible music videos' at powerhouse arena. drinks will be served. free (rsvp). >>
12/9 7pm: humorist david sedaris signs copies of his collection of essays, squirrel seeks chipmunk: a modest bestiary. strand, free with purchase of the book or a $10 gift card. >>
12/18 8:30pm: renowned (and hilarious) badasstrophysicist neil de grasse tyson hosts a live version of his radio show 'startalk' with comedian eugene mirman and others tba. bell house, $17. >>
sales, deals, freebies
today: all items are just $2 at schnipper's quality kitchen's new 23rd + madison location, including double cheeseburgers (reg $8.50), fried shrimp and fries (reg $9.99), and fresh beet and goat cheese salad (reg $8.50) >>
every tues-fri (closed mon): the brooklyn botanic garden continues free weekday admission all winter long >>
thru 12/11: save 50% on dresses and jewelry at anne klein >>
racked has the deets on 34 sales happening between now and saturday >>
mug rounds up 21 gifts under $21, including a nifty retro canning set, shadow puppets, and a questionable macaroni + cheese air freshene >>
info on the barneys 40% off sale going on now and the upcoming bi-annual dvf sale >>
free mp3s: new amsterdam presents is posting a free new music album each day this week as part of their fundraising campaign. today: nadia sirota's first things first. >>
free mp3s: 30-track polyvinyl sampler (deerhoof, vivian girls, love is all, mates of state, casiokids, asobi seksu, more) >>
group deals
$50 to spend at diesel's 5th ave + 54th st location for $25 >>
12/7-12/31 (every wed-sun) 12:30pm: did you ever see the holiday specials from the carpenters, frank sinatra, or judy garland? how about dolly parton, neil diamond, or julie andrews? probably not, right? the paley center fixes that with a collection of clips spanning 60 years. free with $10 admission. >>
12/7 7:30pm: female musicians of the brooklyn indie and songwriter community including joy askew, amy merrill (sidecar), cat martino, courtney kaiser (kaisercartel), the bandana splits (dawn landes), and many others perform a wide range of holiday music to benefit the somaly mam foundation at the annual 'sirens of brooklyn' concert. plymouth church (brooklyn heights), $10 adv, $15 dos. >>
12/7 8pm: christmas carol sing-alongs, an operatic santa, songs about latkes, and a holiday sweater contest are what's in store at opera on tap's annual holiday bash. parkside lounge, free. >>
12/8 8pm: comediennes arden myrin and lisa delarios' 'party machine holiday spectacular' hosts colin quinn + ana gasteyer (snl), michael showalter, bobby tisdale, and seth herzog, plus music by eleanor friedberger (the firey furnaces), adira amram and the experience, and guest dj comedian pat healy. bell house, $10 adv, $15 dos benefits the stiller foundation to build schools in haiti. >>
12/9 6:30-8:30pm (+ 12/16): singers from mannes college the new school for music perform holiday music throughout the morgan library + museum. free on fridays 7-9pm (reg $15). >>
12/9 10pm: 'do they know it's christmas?' secret formula does, and they're throwing a xmas pop sing-along and santa con pre-party to prove it. the singing continues with guerilla caroling around the 'hood after. themed drinks, costume contests, free milk + cookies, more! union hall, $8 >>
12/9-11, 15-18 (various times): a charlie brown christmas - live accompanied by a jazz trio performing vince guaraldi’s classic score returns for the fourth year to brooklyn lyceum, $10/person, 4/$30. >>
12/9-11, 16-18 7pm: take a magical journey into the past (the 90s past, that is) at the house of yes xmas spectacular: aerial acrobatics, macabre theatrics, pop-and-lock reindeer, a notorious b.i.g. santa, the fresh prince of ballet, the little mermaid of fishmas, and the actual macaulay culkin and jerry springer(!). photos from last year's event here. $20-30. >>
12/9-11, 16-18, 23-24 (various times): the new york city gay men's chorus, cantinori new york, and the big apple chorus bring holiday cheer to the south street seaport, free >>
12/10: santacon! join the hundreds of santas and variations thereof barhopping and bringing cheer across manhattan. meet location announced 12/9. >>
12/11 3:30pm: hundreds of tuba players converge at the rink at rockefeller center for the 38th annual tuba christmas concert. want to perform? registration is at 11:30am. free. >>
12/11 7:30, 9pm: murray hill does the holiday as only he can - with moisty the snowman, dirty martini, and way more than a stocking full of mischief - at the 10th annual 'a murray little christmas'. knitting factory, $15+ ($5 off with code 'SNOWBIZ'). >>
12/15 7:30pm: no office holiday party? no problem! brooklyn based, brokelyn, fucked in park slope, and the skint combine seasonal forces to give you one: mistletoe, a sexy st. nick hot santa photobooth, optional secret santa, kurt braunohler, live-band karaoke, dj colleen crumbcake spinning soul/funk/80s new wave/90s hip hop, more. $3 punch 7:30-8:30pm, $5 after. littlefield, $5. >>
12/16 8-11pm: secret santa ukulele cabaret. what more do you need to know? jimmy's no. 43., free. >>
12/17 5pm: wear your best dress robes + knock back a few butterbeers at the harry potter yule ball with the potter puppet pals and live bands harry + the potters, draco + the malfoys, more. bell house, $18 >>
12/17 5:30pm: choral group cantinori new york perform traditional holiday favorites and classical pieces at their annual holiday concert. church of st. luke of the fields (487 hudson @ christopher), $15. >>
12/17 6:30pm: no gelt, no glory! get your twirling fingers in shape for the annual major league spin the dreidel tournament at the knitting factory. featuring hanukkah gone metal with gods of fire, the young new yorkers' chorus, more. knitting factory, $10 adv, $15 door. >>
12/17 7pm (arrive 15 mins early): get out your boombox + join hundreds of others on a walking sonic soundscape at the 20th annual ‘unsilent night'. meet at the washington square park arch, free. >>
12/17 8pm: celebrate hanukkah burlesque style with the schlep sisters and thirsty girl productions' 5th annual 'menorah horah' at highline ballrooom, $11.50 here, $15 adv, $20 dos. >>
12/18 1pm: dozens writers and performers (tba) read at the second annual a christmas carol marathon. housing works, free. >>
12/18 1-4pm: all are welcome for the annual participatory reading of israel horovitz’s adaptation of charles dickens’ a christmas carol at st. paul's chapel @ trinity wall street (b'way + fulton), free. >>
12/18 3:30pm: prep your best 'merry christmas, you wonderful old building and loan!' at metropolitan playhouse's annual audience + actors 'act-a-long' holiday performance of frank capra's it's a wonderful life. $5 sugg. don. (rsvp). >>
12/18 4-6pm: listen to the 101st annual reading of 'twas the night before christmas accompanied by jazz bassist ron carter, followed by a lantern procession to trinity cemetery and mausoleum to honor author clement c. moore. church of the intercession (b'way + w. 155th), free. >>
12/18-19 7pm (doors 6:30pm): the guggenheim's rotunda fills with the sound of holiday music during the vox vocal ensemble + the graham ashton brass ensemble's annual holiday concert. free. >>
12/19 8pm: 'the moon' fits a lot into their multi-denominational year-end holiday show: michael showalter, julie klausner (i don't care about your band), andrea rosen, comics reading from kate beaton, holiday videos from everything is terrible, and music from camille harris. 92ytribeca, $10 with discount code 'cbc fans', $12 without. >>
12/19 8pm: you can be sure it will be a very holiday 'hot tub' with kurt braunohler (and maybe kristen schaal) when guests hannibal buress, jon glaser, adam the real man, and others tba stop by littlefield. $8 adv, $10 door. >>
12/20 5:30pm: the first candle of the world's largest menorah (coming in at 32-feet-high and 4,000-pounds) lights up at manhattan's grand army plaza (fifth ave @ 59th st). free. >>
12/21 9pm: naked girls nasty canasta, legs malone, darlinda just darlinda and franny fluffer read a chirstmas carol at under st. marks, $20, 2/$35. >>
12/22 8pm: the new york burlesque festival presents 'martinis n' mistletoe', an evening of live jazz + burlesque with the brian newman quintet, michael + mardie, shelly 'the singing siren' watson, diamond redd, the world famous pontani sisters, dirty martini, the maine attraction, and harvest moon. lpr, $20. >>
12/22-23, 29-30: the love show puts their sex, drugs, burlesque and breakdancing spin on tschaikovsky's holiday classic in their annual production of the nutcracker: rated r. lpr, $20-30. >>
12/23 8-11pm: wear your mostest ugly holiday sweater to midtown sports bar turtle bay, drink for free 8-9pm and 1/2 price 9-11pm >>
12/24 8pm: liam mceneaney ('tell your friends) hosts 'hanikkomedy' at 92ytribeca with guest comedians janeane garofalo, todd barry, sandy marks, and mc mr. napkins. $13 adv, $15 door. >>
12/25: newyorkology rounds up the museums, restaurants, clubs, ice rinks, zoos and shows open on christmas day >>
movies
12/9-10 midnight: poor little kevin gets left home alone on christmas eve! shaving mishaps and attempted robbery ensue. landmark sunshine, $10. >>
12/16-17 midnight: 'santa's cool holiday film festival': retro holiday cartoons, howdy doody, ozzie and harriet, shari lewis and lambchop, plus - the tree topper - a digital restoration of 1964 b-movie santa claus conquers the martians. landmark sunshine, $10. >>
12/16-17 midnight: we love stop-motion animation holidays, especially when tim burton puts his signature on them. the nightmare before christmas screens at landmark sunshine, $10. >>
12/17-18, 24 1pm: michael caine as scrooge + kermit as bob cratchit + fozzie bear as fozziwig = brillant casting in the muppet christmas carol. museum of the moving image. free with $12 museum admission. >>
12/21-27 (times tba): zuzu's petals! mary owen (donna reed's daughter) in person at select screenings of it's a wonderful life (new 35mm print!). ifc, $tba. >>
12/23-29 2:45pm: lesson: if the post office recognizes you as being santa claus, then you are santa claus. miracle on 34th street (1947), new 35mm print. film forum, $12.50. >>
12/23-24 midnight: 'buddy the elf; what's your favorite color?' landmark sunshine, $10. >>
12/25 2pm: spend the holiday with steven spielberg (via raiders of the lost ark and jurassic park) at 92ytribeca's annual all-you-can-eat chinese buffet and a movie event. booze available for purchase at the bar. $25 adv, $30 door. >>
shopping
12/8 6-9pm: etsy helps you make your own holiday-photo card with three themes outfitted with merch from etsy holiday shops. bonus: free food + drink. $5. >>
12/10-11: authors michael showalter, emma straub, josh ritter, many more give book recommendations, sign, and help wrap and bag your purchases at brooklyn's word. bonus: free cider + donuts! >>
12/10-11: bust magazine's seventh annual holiday craftacular and food fair features 200 vendors, plus classes and demos. bonus: the first 300 folks get a free goodie bag. 82 mercer st bet. broome + spring, $3 admission. >>
12/15-17 5pm-1am: the brooklyn night bazaar returns with independent merchants and food vendors, plus performances by the hold steady, fucked up, midnight magic, titus andronicus, lcd soundsystem's james murphy (dj set), more. 149 kent ave (williamsburg), free admission, $10-22 for bands. >>
12/17-18 11am-7pm: 50+vendors fill the brooklyn lyceum's annual holiday marketplace. bonus: gift bags for the first 50 folks 11am-12pm and 6-7pm each day. free admission. >>
12/17-18 12-6pm: brooklyn craft central's fourth annual holiday craft market brings 65 designers to littlefield (100% different designers each day), plus food trucks and booze from the bar. free admission. >>
If you work in a coffee shop (aka your coffice), or your office is too broke to throw a party, or you’re not working right now--consider yourself invited to the No Office Holiday Party! Brooklyn Based, the skint, Fucked in Park Slope + Brokelyn are throwing a holiday party for everyone who hustled all year and is in need of some serious cheer.
Kurt Braunohler will kick things off with a stand-up set (using your nightmare work stories as fodder), then it’s live band karaoke with Bunnie England & The New Originals, followed by DJ Colleen Crumbcake spinning a soul/funk/80s new wave/90s hip hop dance party.
In between you can pose with Sexy St. Nicks in our Hot Santa Photobooth, pick up a Secret Santa gift (so long as you bring one too!), and hang out by the mistletoe.
Come early for the spiked holiday punch—$3 the first hour, $5 afterward—and stay up all night dancing. You don’t have to go into the office the next day, do you?
4:15, 5:15, 6:15, 7:15pm: learn how to make felted ornaments from roving, yarn and other scrap fabrics on needlefelting machines at etsy labs. all skill levels welcome, materials provided or byo. free (rsvp). >>
6:30pm: author kate ascher gives a graphic tour of the inner workings of skyscrapers at the tenement museum, free (rsvp) >>
7pm: composer-producer scott freiman presents a trip through strawberry fields, examining the creation of the beatles' 'strawberry fields', 'penny lane' and 'a day in the life' with rare audio and video clips from the studio sessions. ifc, $20. >>
7pm: folk/rock/blues singer-songwriter pieta brown performs at living room, $7 adv, $10 door. >>
7-10pm: $10 admission gets you all the freakin' cupcakes you can eat at cupcakes take the cake's seventh anniversary party at the soho gallery for digital art. reprezentin': magnolia, sugar sweet sunshine, butter lane, robicelli's, more. >>
7pm (mondays thru 2/16): film forum presents silent mgm films from 1924-29 with live piano accompaniment. tonight: the wind (1928) starring lillian gish. $12.50. >>
7, 9:30pm: number 5 is alive! 80's comedy staple steve guttenberg introduces and discusses his beloved movies short circuit and police academy as part of 92ytribeca's 'basic cable classics' series, $12 >>
8pm: get a sneak peak of eugene mirman’s new comedy central pilot with guests dave hill, bobby tisdale and todd barry in person. ucbeast, $5 (rsvp). >>
8pm: author stanley b. burns gives an illustrated lecture on photographing the dead: the history of postmortem photography from the burns collection and archive. observatory, $5. >>
8pm: tonight’s ‘hot tub’ with kurt braunohler and kristen schaal features phoebe robinson, dave thunder, and the bandana splits. litlefield, $5 adv, $8 door. >>
thru 12/20 (mon-sat): letters, photographs, and videos from the mikhail baryshnikov archive are on display at the library of the performing arts in advance of them being catalogued. highlights include notes from jackie o., sinatra and astaire, as well as rehearsal footage with balanchine. free. >>
thru 1/6: try not to drool over the gingerbread houses created by bakeries around town on display in the lobby atrium of the parker meridien hotel. free to look, and $1 gets you a vote for your favorite and a chance to win a five-night stay at the parker palm springs with all proceeds go to city harvest. w. 56st bet. 6th + 7th aves. >>
thru 1/12 (mon-fri): multimedia exhibition samizdat: the czech art of resistance showcases banned books, journals, and bootleg concert recordings that secretly circulated between the prague spring and the velvet revolution. czech center, free. >>
coming up
new classes at brooklyn brainery: the art of card counting, handmade recycled envelopes, garment maintenance for guys, more >>
12/6-2/14: indoor pop-up park 'park here' returns to openhouse gallery with concerts, performances and special events. free. >>
12/6 6:30pm: authors and historians ellen williams + steve radlauer give a presentation on their book, the historic shops + restaurants of greenwich village. hudson park branch library, free (rsvp). >>
12/7 7pm (space opens @ 5pm): broadway legend stephen sondheim (follies, sweeny todd, sunday in the park with george, lots more) talks with author-journalist anna quindlen to discuss his book look, i made a hat: collected lyrics (1981-2011). b+b union square, free. >>
12/8, 15 6-8pm: shopping + champagne at the new york botanical garden's holiday train show for $8 ($30 value) >>
12/9 7pm: enjoy hendrick's gin holiday cocktails, haircuts and trims from the blind barber, lite bites, and shoe shines at the 'gq at park + bond' pop-up shop, $25 >>
12/9-1/15 (various times): see company xiv's snow white at the bond street theatre for $18 (reg $35) >>
every sat thru 12/24: cheaper than building a jacked-up delorean, the vintage subway takes you back in time via the m line for the holiday season... all included in the price of a regular subway ride, $2.25. >>
10am-12:30pm (+ 12/10, 17): recently discovered photos of the beatles taken by british photographer/cinematogrpaher paul berriff in 1963-64 (around the time of their first u.s. tour) are on display at carnegie hall's zankel hall, free. >>
10am-6pm: 35+ local artisans, crafters and designers sell their wares at the holiday handmade cavalcade. public assembly, free admission. >>
10am-8pm (ends today): save up to 60% (possibly up to 90%) on fall and winter samples and overstock at the j. crew sample sale. 260 5th ave. >>
12-9pm: the brooklyn comics + graphics festival sets up shop in our lady of mt. carmel church in williamsburg (12-9pm) and union pool (1-8pm). free entry. >>
1pm (+ 12/9-1/1): the museum of the moving image's 'see it big' screening series continues with close encounters of the third kind. other upcoming films include raging bull, nashville, more. free with museum admission ($12). >>
2-6:30pm (+12/9-10, 16-17): family activities, plus watch penguins, snow and the polar bear unwrap presents during the central park zoo's 'winterfest'. $18 zoo admission ($16 online). >>
3pm (thru 12/23): appease your inner nerd with she kills monsters, a humorous journey into the world of fantasy role-playing games + '90s pop culture. the flea theater, pay-what-you-can tuesdays and $10 saturday matinees and (reg. $25). >>
3-4pm: greenpoint bar greenpoint heights (formerly onyx) reopens and gives you an hour of free food, beer and whisky. welcome back! 278 nassau @ morgan.>>
3-6pm: premiere faerie artists biran and wendy froud (they created the looks for the dark crystal and labyrinth), along with son toby, sign books, catalogues and posters purchased at their fantasy art exhibition visions for film + faerie at animazing gallery (54 greene st.) >>
5pm: hazmat modine mixes roots, jazz, calypso, ska, klezmer and a dash of balkan brass at the brooklyn museum, free >>
5:30pm: tappy hour = tap dance class in a bar! jimmy's no. 43. $20 admission ($3 off if you menton the skint) includes a drink. >>
7pm: two barbershop quartets harmonize to the death at arlene's grocery, $10 >>
7pm: bands pay tribute to guns + roses, pearl jam, tool, beastie boys and stone temple pilots at sullivan room, $10 adv and before 9pm, $15 after >>
7-11pm: wax on! real and fake hairies can compete at the nyc beard and moustache competition. europa (greenpoint), $15 admission benefits the keep-a-breast foundation. >>
7:15, 9:15pm: attend a free taping of a hannibal buress comedy central special at the gramercy theater (rsvp) >>
8pm: librarians to let down their hair for a night of trapeze performances, live music, djs, and film to benefit literacy for incarcerated teens at the desk set's fourth annual biblioball. bell house, $20+. >>
8pm (ends today): the fourth annual uncaged toy piano festival showcases the possibilities of the tiny instrument with premieres of new works from around the world. various venues, $20 festival pass. >>
9pm: tonight's 'if you build it' comedy show with hosts kara klenk and nick turner features dave hill, matt mccarthy, katina corrao, john f. o’donnell, ben lerman and jason saenz. ucbeast, $10. >>
9pm: amanda palmer, the suzan, savoir adore, and ambassadors lend their talents to fundraise for the restoration of the gowanus canal at the gowanus canal conservancy's winter festival. $15 for concert, $40 for concert + 3 course farm-to-table dinner and 2 beers. >>
9:30pm: performance artist jack ferver curates an evening of new works from queer choreographers and performance artists, with writer/performer joshua lubin-levy hosting as ferver. dna, 5 adv, $10 door. >>
10pm: it may be dark outside, but the sun will come out at the annie (1982) sing-along. 92ytribeca, $13 admission includes a beer. >>
10pm: glam-rock party throwers twig the wonderkid and michael t present 'glamdammit: last caress', with all-girl misfits tribute band ghouls night out, djs spinning punk + rock 'n' roll, cabaret, giveaways, more. bonus: free pbr midnight-1am. beauty bar brooklyn, $10. >>
11pm (thu-sat thru 12/17): vote for your favorite of five 10-minute episode plays to see the next installment the following week at #serials@theflea. free sixpoint brew, live music, and 75 original plays in all. the flea theater, $10. >>
midnight (ends today): nine years before bob clark directed a christmas story, he made black christmas (a.k.a. silent night, evil night), arguably the first holiday slasher film. landmark sunshine, $10. >>
11am (+12/17 4pm): michael scott did a good job, but we prefer gene wilder as the lead in willy wonka and the chocolate factory (1971). fslc, $6. >>
11am-4pm: cobble hill’s p.s. 39 hosts a pie social, pie contest and holiday artisan gift fair to benefit the school >>
12pm-5pm: the brooklyn flea's smorgasburg may be over for the season, but they're bringing back an assortment of five different vendors every week at brooklyn brewery >>
12-5pm: an all-vegan holiday popup market sprouts in bushwick's pine box rock shop. brooklyn brine fried pickles, eco-friendly fashion, organic soaps, candles and body care, more. >>
12pm-6pm: dig through rare vinyl albums, singles, imports and more at brooklyn bowl’s collect-i-bowl winter record show. free admission. >>
1pm (every first sun thru march): a licensed psychotherapist and garden guide leads a special 'chase away the winter blues' tour of the brooklyn botanic garden. free with $10 garden admission. >>
2pm: irish ensemble danú performs traditional celtic christmas songs at wfc, free >>
2pm: ten teams compete at drinking games at roberta's 2nd annual beerfest, free >>
3-12am: steampunk and dinosaurs clash at the one-year anniversary of steampunk anachronism at webster hall. music, burlesque, prizes. $15 admission. >>
5pm: ensemble acjw performs mozart, gallagher and loeffer at a free neighborhood concert at our saviour's atonement lutheran church (178 bennett ave @ 189th st) >>
7pm: featuring members who've worked with sufjan stevens, bon iver and the national, new music collective ymusic perform music from their debut album of commissioned works, beautiful mechanical (stream it here), featuring pieces written by st. vincent, my brightest diamond, son lux, more. rockwood's stage 2, $10. >>
7:30pm: pianist jarrett cherner and the mivos quartet play the douglass street music collective (gowanus), $10 sugg. don. >>
8:30pm: british neo soul singer jamie woon and erika spring (au revoir simone, dirty on purpose) play glasslands, $12 >>
+ all weekend
10am sat, 11am sun: rei soho grand opening: the first 200 folks get a camelbak water bottle with a $5, $10, $25, $50 or $100 rei gift card inside. the next 1,000 get a tote bag. third places is a set of steak knives. jk on that last one. 303 lafayette @ houston. >>
10am-4pm (+ 12/10-11): high line toy drive: donate new, unwrapped toys for kids aged 4-14 on the high line at 15th st and inside chelsea market >>
11, 3:30pm (weekends thru 12/25): red pandas, otters, meerkats and other animals unwrap holiday 'presents' filled with treats for our amusement. prospect park zoo, free with $8 zoo admission. >>
12-7pm sat, 12-5pm sun: up to 70% off fall/winter apparel at the rag + bone overstock/sample sale in chelsea market >>
ends sun: urban ballet theater's nutcracker in the lower reimagines tschaikovsky's holiday classic in a diverse manhattan setting. abron arts center, $20. >>
ends sun: sue de beer's art installation haunt room intentionally induces haunted feelings (and possibly also 'drowsiness, extreme sorrow, pressure in the ears, loss of concentration, and disorientation'. fun!) in high line visitors using infrasound, a tone below the threshold of human hearing. 14th street passage, free. >>
thru 12/5: save 25% (10% electrics) at the macy's friends and family sale. use promo code 'macysff' at checkout. >>
thru 12/18 (thu-sun): reid farrington's a christmas carol turns the classic story into a haunting multimedia event with live performers and projections from 35 of the tale's different firm versions. abrons arts center, $20. >>
thru 12/24 (weekends): meet and greet artists and purchase gifts at the 2nd annual clayfest ceramic open studios. various manhattan, brooklyn and queens locations. >>
thru 12/31: score $2 six-inch cold cut combos and meatball marinara subs at participating subways for customer appreciation month >>
thru 12/31: get a free admission ticket to the bronx zoo when you bring a new, unwrapped toy or 10 nonperishable food items to the bronx, central park, prospect park or queens zoo. or, bring the donation items to new york aquarium for free admission there. >>
thru 12/31: new netflix subscribers get a $10 papa john's gift card >>
thru 12/31: 'choes before hoes! take 45% off nachos ny t-shirts with discount code 'cho45' >>
thru 1/3: buy a 12 oz. bag of seasonal coffee at seattle's best coffee in the manhattan mall, get a free small beverage of your choice >>
thru 1/6: try not to drool over the gingerbread houses created by bakeries around town on display in the lobby atrium of the parker meridien hotel. free to look, and $1 gets you a vote for your favorite and a chance to win a five-night stay at the parker palm springs with all proceeds go to city harvest. w. 56st bet. 6th + 7th aves. >>
thru 1/8: $50 for an eye exam and stylish glasses with lenses for $95? yes, please! find this and more at the warby parker holiday spectacle bazaar. 45 grand bet. thompson + west broadway. >>
Established in 1971, The Bronx Museum of the Arts remains a haven for local artists, and the museum's home on the Grand Concourse is a distinctive contemporary landmark. To honor the museum's continued role in New York City’s arts scene, NYC & Company has named it its December Culture Spot. Take advantage of free admission for four at the museum through June 2012 by obtaining a special savings coupon available through December 31 at nycgo.com/culturespot.
In addition to maintaining a permanent collection of 20th and 21st-century works by artists of African, Asian, and Latin American ancestry, the Bronx Museum features contemporary artists like Antoni Muntadas and Emilio Sanchez, and hosts monthly family events.
Check out multimedia artist Antoni Muntadas’ Information>>Space>>Control, which features videos and images from sports and everyday to create new meanings about the way information is conveyed, interpreted, and manipulated. Or visit on First Fridays and bring the kids for an all-ages music workshop and performance on artist identity, self-expression, and improvisation with Maya Azucena.
To celebrate this month’s Culture Spot pick, Annie Bergen will host a special podcast with Executive Director Holly Block. They will discuss highlights of the museum’s exhibits as well as suggest things to see and do for a day in the Bronx. Trivia questions about the interview will be asked over Twitter (@nycgo) each week in December for a chance to win an individual one year membership to the museum. To listen to the podcast and learn more about the Culture Spot program, visit nycgo.com/culturespot.
9am-6pm: events from the tedxbrooklyn conference are streaming online and free at the knitting factory, 61 local, and brooklyn brainery >>
2-6:30pm (+12/3, 9-10, 16-17): family activities, plus watch penguins, snow and the polar bear unwrap presents during the central park zoo's 'winterfest'. $18 zoo admission ($16 online). >>
6pm: learn to turn materials (provided) into wearable narratives – think embroidering a message on a cloth brooch – at the center for book arts, $10. >>
6p (+ 1/20): brooklyn creative offers $1 art + photography friday evening classes. tonight: learn the photo composition techniques that the experts use, and apply those methods to your own photos. (cameras encouraged but not required). >>
6-8pm (thru 4/2): the neue galerie celebrates its 10th anniversary with an exhibition of pieces from the co-founder's private collection (cézanne, klimt, picasso, more). free first friday hours 6-8pm (reg $20). >>
6:30pm: brooklyn brewery brewmaster garrett oliver walks over to the brooklyn kitchen for a beer tasting and book signing, free (rsvp) >>
7pm: designsponge founder grace bonney and penguin books designer coralie bickford-smith chat about books and design at book court, free >>
7pm (+ 12/3-1/1): the museum of the moving image's 'see it big' screening series continues with close encounters of the third kind. other upcoming films include empire of the sun, raging bull, more. free with museum admission ($12). >>
7:30pm: mississippi indie trio young buffalo plays mercury lounge, $10 >>
7:30pm: the jingle punks hipster orchestra re-work rock songs for string ensemble at their record release show at rockwood's stage 2, $10 + 1 drink min. >>
7:30pm: no partner or experience necessary at the new york city barn dance. philip coltoff center (219 sullivan, bet. bleecker + 3rd), $15. >>
8pm: tonight's kings county comedy hour at bushwick's vaudeville park features bob powers, brooke van poppelen, elihu dietz, michelle wolf, erik bergstrom, and host matt koff (the onion news network). $5. >>
8pm: opera on tap turns game show for a public school benefit where panelists try to tell the ‘real’ composers from imposters. barbes, $10 sugg. don >>
8pm: canada’s little scream (laurel sprengelmeyer) plays rock shop, $10-12 >>
8pm: the shelter presents: fairy tale, five short plays inspired by the classic fairy tales of the brothers grimm, washington irving and charles perrault. 45th street theatre (354 w 45th street, 2nd floor), $10 (reg $18). >>
8pm: (ends today) musical mad men parody the mad world of miss hathaway takes on christmas with 'misogyny and mistletoe.' wild project, $20. >>
8pm (thu-sun thru 12/18): reid farrington's a christmas carol turns the classic story into a haunting multimedia event with live performers and projections from 35 of the tale's different firm versions. abrons arts center, $20. >>
8pm (every fri thru 12/30): who loves you baby? following successful runs at the fringe festival in ny and ca, tom dimenna brings 70s icon telly savalas (kojak!) back from the grave 'to give the cynical hipsters of today a good kick in the pants'. the huron club at the soho playhouse, $15 with promo code 'sweet' (reg $25). >>
8:30pm: owen (chicago's mike kinsella) and caithlin de marrais (formerly of indie band rainer maria) play glasslands, $15 >>
9:30pm (+ 12/3): performance artist jack ferver curates an evening of new works from queer choreographers and performance artists, with writer/performer joshua lubin-levy hosting as ferver. dna, 5 adv, $10 door. >>
10pm: all-women old timey country-blues quartet the roulette sisters play barbes, $10 sugg don >>
11pm (thu-sat thru 12/17): vote for your favorite of five 10-minute episode plays to see the next installment the following week at #serials@theflea. free sixpoint brew, live music, and 75 original plays in all. the flea theater, $10. >>
midnight (+12/3): nine years before bob clark directed a christmas story, he made black christmas (a.k.a. silent night, evil night), arguably the first holiday slasher film. landmark sunshine, $10. >>
thru 12/4: urban ballet theater's nutcracker in the lower reimagines tschaikovsky's holiday classic in a diverse manhattan setting. abron arts center, $20. >>
thru 12/4: sue de beer's art installation haunt room intentionally induces haunted feelings (and possibly also 'drowsiness, extreme sorrow, pressure in the ears, loss of concentration, and disorientation'. fun!) in high line visitors using infrasound, a tone below the threshold of human hearing. 14th street passage, free. >>
thru 1/6: try not to drool over the gingerbread houses created by bakeries around town on display in the lobby atrium of the parker meridien hotel. free to look, but $1 gets you a vote for your favorite and a chance to win a five-night stay at the parker palm springs with all proceeds go to city harvest. w. 56st bet. 6th + 7th aves. >>
coming up
12/8 5:30-8pm: red, white, and sparkling: sample 24 (!) of these kinda bubblies at crush wine's 5th annual tasting. free (rsvp). >>
12/14 6pm: singer/songwriter suzanne vega and author tao lynn are tonight's guests at at wfmu's 'seven second delay' live broadcast comedy + variety hour. ucb, $5. >>
sales, deals, freebies
10am-8pm (thru 12/3): save up to 60% (possibly up to 90%) on fall and winter samples and overstock at the j. crew sample sale. 260 5th ave >>
10am-9pm (thru 12/4): rei soho grand opening: the first 200 folks get a camelbak water bottle with a $5, $10, $25, $50 or $100 rei gift card inside. the next 1,000 get a tote bag. third places is a set of steak knives. jk on that last one. 303 lafayette @ houston. >>
10:30am-8pm (thru 12/4): up to 70% off fall/winter apparel at the rag + bone overstock/sample sale in chelsea market >>
thru 12/5: save 25% (10% electrics) at the macy's friends and family sale. use promo code 'macysff' at checkout. >>
thru 12/31: score $2 six-inch cold cut combos and meatball marinara subs at participating subways for customer appreciation month >>
thru 12/31: get a free admission ticket to the bronx zoo when you bring a new, unwrapped toy or 10 nonperishable food items to the bronx, central park, prospect park or queens zoo. or, bring the donation items to new york aquarium for free admission there. >>
thru 12/31: new netflix subscribers get a $10 papa john's gift card >>
thru 12/31: 'choes before hoes! take 45% off nachos ny t-shirts with discount code 'cho45' >>
thru 1/3: buy a 12 oz. bag of seasonal coffee at seattle's best coffee in the manhattan mall, get a free small beverage of your choice >>
thru 1/8: $50 for an eye exam and stylish glasses with lenses for $95? yes, please! find this and more at the warby parker holiday spectacle bazaar. 45 grand bet. thompson + west broadway. >>
group deals
70-minute body scrub packages at tribeca spa of tranquility in soho for $49-69 ($119-189 value) >>
admission to the green holiday festival 12/11 at the altman building for $10 (reg $20) >>
