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Tue, Dec 28, 2021, 4:30 PM – Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 9:30 PM
Lightscape
PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – FRIDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28 – 31, 2021 & JANUARY 2, 2022 (continuing through JANUARY 9)
4:30 – 8:30 PM
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Avenue, across the street from Crown Heights, Brooklyn
$34 adults; $18 children 3-12; free babies 0-2
https://www.bbg.org/lightscape#tickets
Illuminated trails, site-specific lightworks by local artists, a soundtrack — in the one of the best places in New York City!
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: You don't see Burmese restaurants coming and going, let alone ones as nice as Rangoon.
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Tue, Dec 28, 2021, 2:00 PM – Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 3:00 PM
David Byrne: American Utopia
THEATER / DANCE / PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – THURSDAY & SATURDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28 – 30, 2021 & JANUARY 1 – 2, 2022 (ongoing)
8:00 PM TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
5:00 & 9:00 PM THURSDAY
5:00 PM SATURDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
St. James Theater
246 West 44th Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$59-$179
https://americanutopiabroadway.com/
If a collaboration between David Byrne and Annie-B Parson were put on at BAM, I wouldn't think twice about Listing it (although I'd still feel constrained to make a comment about Boomer Nostalgia moving on to the Pop Avant-Garde). So I'm not gonna demerit this cuz it's on Broadway. AM I?
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Maybe the sushi at Sushi Lab is overelaborate and tries too hard. But it's there.
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Tue, Dec 28, 2021, 10:00 AM – Fri, Dec 31, 2021, 4:30 PM
Gelsey Bell & Joseph White: Meander
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – FRIDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28 – 31, 2021 & JANUARY 2, 2022 (ongoing)
10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
150 Eastern Parkway, across the street from Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Advance ticket required: $18; $12 students and seniors; free children with attending adult; weekdays pay what you can
https://www.bbg.org/visit/event/gelsey_bell_and_joseph_white_meander
Having created a wonderful sound walk through Green-Wood Cemetery, the dream team of Gelsey Bell and Joe White do the same for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (one of my favorite places on earth, if you want to know). The soundtrack is available on the BBG website.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: New Orleans at Lowerline.
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Mon, Dec 27, 2021, 7:00 PM – Thu, Dec 30, 2021, 7:59 PM
Jeremy O. Harris: Slave Play
THEATER
MONDAY – THURSDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27 – 30, 2021 & JANUARY 2, 2022 (continuing through JANUARY 23)
7:00 PM MONDAY – THURSDAY
2:00 PM WEDNESDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
August Wilson Theatre
245 West 52nd Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$35-$99
https://slaveplaybroadway.com/
It would be silly to claim that Jeremy O. Harris's is the smartest, most audacious, most piercing play ever to be staged on Broadway. But that's what you'll think as you walk out, and as you continue to think about the play in the following days. (It would be safer to say it's the smartest, most audacious, most piercing treatment of race on Broadway — but let's face it, that category is neither huge nor, up to now, very distinguished.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: I've never had a bad time at Russian Samovar (even if, owing to overindulgence in their infused vodkas, I've had bad times the following mornings). ROMAN KAPLAN R.I.P.
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Mon, Dec 27, 2021, 2:00 PM – Sun, Jan 2, 2022, 3:00 PM
Gelsey Bell feat. Joseph White: Cairns
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2021 – JANUARY 2, 2022 (ongoing)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
#stillHERE IRL
Green-Wood Cemetery, Sunset Park Entrance
35th Street at 4th Avenue, Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn
$7 or more for soundtrack
https://here.org/shows/cairns/
One of the first shows during Quarantine that you could actually Go Out! to (although it's not quite "live"). Gelsey Bell, that vocal star of NYC Alt Classical, has conceived of a piece that walks you around Green-Wood Cemetery (starting at the Sunset Park Entrance). You download the soundtrack on your phone beforehand (the Times complains about how hard it is to download from Bandcamp to an iPhone — trust me: if I can figure out how to do it, anyone can). Bell wrote the text and narrates, with a co-composing assist from the inimitable Joe White (whose terrific new album you really ought to hear). The Cemetery itself will do the performing. (You can also listen to the soundtrack at home and pretend you're walking around the Cemetery.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: The Sunset Park entrance is only a short walk from Hometown BBQ Industry City (if you go over the weekend, you can get the fabulous pastrami — a Christmas MUST!) (not that they'll necessarily be open).
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Monday, December 27, 2021, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Assemble
THEATER / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27 – 31, 2021
5:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:20, 6:40 & 7:00 PM
Secret Location (disclosed upon ticket purchase), Brooklyn
$40; $30 students/artists/unemployed
https://www.projectassemble.org/
A return of the immersive theatrical experience in which audience members, having downloaded an app that will guide them and provide content, wander around a disused Brooklyn store experiencing an early middle age reconsideration of life choices (the creators of this piece couldn't have anticipated how reflective of the zeitgeist it would turn out to be).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: How would I know? The location's a SECRET!
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Mon, Dec 27, 2021, 6:00 AM – Sun, Jan 2, 2022, 1:00 AM
Ellen Reid: SOUNDWALK
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2021 – JANUARY 2, 2022 (ongoing)
6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
New York Philharmonic
Central Park
59th Street – 110th Street/Central Park West – 5th Avenue, Manhattan
Free (registration required)
https://www.ellenreidsoundwalk.com/new-york-philharmonic
The New York Phil hops aboard the walk-around-the-landscaped-space-with-soundtrack train (see below). The highly allusive soundtrack was put together by Ellen Reid, who is one of the more soundscapey (and certainly one of the best) of today's many excellent young composers. This walk isn't guided: you download an app that triggers sounds sent to your earphones from various cells around the Park as you wander. So you can do it over many times. (Speaking of wandering around Central Park, here's something that I, for one, never knew.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Delicious pan-African at Teranga.
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Sunday, December 26, 2021, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
David Byrne: American Utopia
THEATER / DANCE / PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – THURSDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 – 23 & 26, 2021 (ongoing)
8:00 PM TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
5:00 & 9:00 PM THURSDAY & SUNDAY
David Byrne: American Utopia
St. James Theater
246 West 44th Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$59-$179
https://americanutopiabroadway.com/
If a collaboration between David Byrne and Annie-B Parson were put on at BAM, I wouldn't think twice about Listing it (although I'd still feel constrained to make a comment about Boomer Nostalgia moving on to the Pop Avant-Garde). So I'm not gonna demerit this cuz it's on Broadway. AM I?
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Maybe the sushi at Sushi Lab is overelaborate and tries too hard. But it's there.
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Sunday, December 26, 2021, 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Lightscape
PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – FRIDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 – 24 & 26, 2021 (continuing through JANUARY 9)
4:30 – 8:30 PM
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Avenue, across the street from Crown Heights, Brooklyn
$34 adults; $18 children 3-12; free babies 0-2
https://www.bbg.org/lightscape#tickets
Illuminated trails, site-specific lightworks by local artists, a soundtrack — in the one of the best places in New York City!
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: You don't see Burmese restaurants coming and going, let alone ones as nice as Rangoon.
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Sunday, December 26, 2021, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Jeremy O. Harris: Slave Play
THEATER
TUESDAY – THURSDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 – 23 & 26, 2021 (continuing through JANUARY 23)
7:00 PM TUESDAY – THURSDAY
2:00 PM WEDNESDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
August Wilson Theatre
245 West 52nd Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$35-$99
https://slaveplaybroadway.com/
It would be silly to claim that Jeremy O. Harris's is the smartest, most audacious, most piercing play ever to be staged on Broadway. But that's what you'll think as you walk out, and as you continue to think about the play in the following days. (It would be safer to say it's the smartest, most audacious, most piercing treatment of race on Broadway — but let's face it, that category is neither huge nor, up to now, very distinguished.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: I've never had a bad time at Russian Samovar (even if, owing to overindulgence in their infused vodkas, I've had bad times the following mornings).
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Sunday, December 26, 2021, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
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Thursday, December 23, 2021, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Kathleen Supové: A Piano Lives in Brooklyn!
MUSIC
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021
6:00 PM
Areté at Mise-En_Place
341 Calyer Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Free (donations accepted)
https://www.aretevenue.com/
Exploding pianist Kathleen Supové plays pieces (often with poetry) by composers who live in Brooklyn, like Supové herself, this List's beloved Angélica Negrón, Erin Rogers, Guy Barash, and Randall Woolf (who not only lives in Brooklyn, but in Supové's home!).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: A six o'clock piano recital will leave you hungry. And Raizes Churrasccaria will leave you stuffed.
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Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Bill Frisell Five [CANCELLED]
PERFORMANCE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2021
8:00 PM
Roulette
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
$35 advance; $40 door
https://roulette.org/event/bill-frisell-five/
The great great guitarist Bill Frisell plays with a bunch of people he's played with in various combinations before — but never all together as a quintet.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Nice (slightly) tarted-up soul food at Kind of Soul.
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Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
-
Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 8:00 PM – Thu, Dec 23, 2021, 8:59 PM
David Byrne: American Utopia
THEATER / DANCE / PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – THURSDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 – 23 & 26, 2021 (ongoing)
8:00 PM TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
5:00 & 9:00 PM THURSDAY & SUNDAY
David Byrne: American Utopia
St. James Theater
246 West 44th Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$59-$179
https://americanutopiabroadway.com/
If a collaboration between David Byrne and Annie-B Parson were put on at BAM, I wouldn't think twice about Listing it (although I'd still feel constrained to make a comment about Boomer Nostalgia moving on to the Pop Avant-Garde). So I'm not gonna demerit this cuz it's on Broadway. AM I?
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Maybe the sushi at Sushi Lab is overelaborate and tries too hard. But it's there.
-
Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Argento Chamber Ensemble: Winter Solstice Concert [CANCELLED]
MUSIC
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021
7:30 PM
In Person & Live Stream
OPERA America's National Opera Center
330 7th Avenue, Chelsea, Manhattan
$20; $10 students/seniors
IN PERSON: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-solstice-concert-attend-in-person-tickets-207650517287
LIVE STREAM: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winter-solstice-concert-2021-livestream-tickets-207320971607
Cuz the moon gets a lot of exposure on the longest night of the year, , the Argento Chamber Ensemble will perform Schoenberg's genuinely magical (and historically über-significant) music-theater piece Pierrot Lunaire. Also, a world premiere by Yotam Haber, and some Tania León (setting Margaret Atwood) and List personal fave the rhythmically intense Donatoni!
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, I can't not send you around the corner to the sterling West African steam table at B&B Restaurant. Streaming at home, have a Bella Luna: pour 2 oz. Gin, 3/4 oz. St-Germain, 1/2 oz. Creme de Violette, 3/4 oz. lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon Simple Syrup into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake. Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass.
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Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 7:00 PM – Thu, Dec 23, 2021, 8:00 PM
Jeremy O. Harris: Slave Play
THEATER
TUESDAY – THURSDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 – 23 & 26, 2021 (continuing through JANUARY 23)
7:00 PM TUESDAY – THURSDAY
2:00 PM WEDNESDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
August Wilson Theatre
245 West 52nd Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$35-$99
https://slaveplaybroadway.com/
It would be silly to claim that Jeremy O. Harris's is the smartest, most audacious, most piercing play ever to be staged on Broadway. But that's what you'll think as you walk out, and as you continue to think about the play in the following days. (It would be safer to say it's the smartest, most audacious, most piercing treatment of race on Broadway — but let's face it, that category is neither huge nor, up to now, very distinguished.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: I've never had a bad time at Russian Samovar (even if, owing to overindulgence in their infused vodkas, I've had bad times the following mornings).
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Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Phill Niblock: 6 Hours of Music and Film
[LIVE STREAM ONLY]
MUSIC
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021
6:00 PM
Roulette In Person & Live Stream
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum HIll, Brooklyn
$20 advance; $25 door; free live stream
https://roulette.org/event/phill-niblock-6-hours-of-music-and-film-11/
On the longest night of the year, what else to do but a 6-hour multi-media show of slow-moving electroacoustic music (by a legend)?
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, still haven't tried the new Mexican spot El Zasón, but their Cochinita Chiapaneco continues to call my name. Streaming at home, have a Solstice (duh): pour 2 oz. Rye, 3/4 oz. Cointreau, and 1 tablespoon Allspice/Pimento dram into a rocks glass over ice. Stir.
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Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 4:30 PM – Fri, Dec 24, 2021, 8:30 PM
Lightscape
PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – FRIDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 – 24 & 26, 2021 (continuing through JANUARY 9)
4:30 – 8:30 PM
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Avenue, across the street from Crown Heights, Brooklyn
$34 adults; $18 children 3-12; free babies 0-2
https://www.bbg.org/lightscape#tickets
Illuminated trails, site-specific lightworks by local artists, a soundtrack — in the one of the best places in New York City!
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: You don't see Burmese restaurants coming and going, let alone ones as nice as Rangoon.
-
Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 10:00 AM – Fri, Dec 24, 2021, 5:00 PM
-
Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Make Music New York
MUSIC
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021
Various times starting at 9:00 AM
Various locations throughout the City
Free
https://makemusicny.org/
Make Music New York's Winter Solstice festival is like their joyously eclectic Summer one — except it's cold out!
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: It's all over the place! You're on your own.
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Monday, December 20, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
S.E.M. Ensemble: Holiday Concert
MUSIC
MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021
8:00 PM
Zürcher Gallery
33 Bleecker Street, NoHo, Manhattan
$15 advance; $20 door
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5311793
S.E.M. plays stuff ranging from famous flute fanatic Frederick the Great to John Cage to their own Petr Kotik (with lots in between).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Like almost all Old Skool Red Sauce places, Emilio's Ballato would be better if only if were a little better, if you know what I mean — but it's closer to really good than most, and it's open Mondays (and late, too).
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Monday, December 20, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Monday, December 20, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Federico Mostert: Tarrare; The Hungriest Man
THEATER
MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2021
7:00 PM
La MaMa Galleria
47 Great Jones Street, NoHo, Manhattan
Free (by R. S.V.P.)
https://www.lamama.org/shows/experiments-tarrare-the-hungriest-man
A man is born extremely hungry in France. An absurd tragicomedy ensues. One hesitates to call it "biting".
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: I've been skeptical of Enrique Olvera's New York restaurants since the departure of ace resident chef Daniela Soto-Innes, but people I trust have told me they're as good as ever. So down the street to Mexican café Atla.
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Monday, December 20, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
-
Monday, December 20, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
-
Mon, Dec 20, 2021, 5:00 PM – Sun, Dec 26, 2021, 10:00 PM
Assemble
THEATER / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 – 26, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 31)
5:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:20, 6:40 & 7:00 THURSDAY & FRIDAY
4:00, 4:20, 4:40, 5:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:20, 6:40 & 7:00 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Secret Location (disclosed upon ticket purchase), Brooklyn
$40; $30 students/artists/unemployed
https://www.projectassemble.org/
A return of the immersive theatrical experience in which audience members, having downloaded an app that will guide them and provide content, wander around a disused Brooklyn store experiencing an early middle age reconsideration of life choices (the creators of this piece couldn't have anticipated how reflective of the zeitgeist it would turn out to be).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: How would I know? The location's a SECRET!
-
Mon, Dec 20, 2021, 8:00 AM – Sun, Dec 26, 2021, 5:00 PM
Gelsey Bell feat. Joseph White: Cairns
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 – 26, 2021 (ongoing)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
#stillHERE IRL
Green-Wood Cemetery, Sunset Park Entrance
35th Street at 4th Avenue, Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn
$7 or more for soundtrack
https://here.org/shows/cairns/
One of the first shows during Quarantine that you could actually Go Out! to (although it's not quite "live"). Gelsey Bell, that vocal star of NYC Alt Classical, has conceived of a piece that walks you around Green-Wood Cemetery (starting at the Sunset Park Entrance). You download the soundtrack on your phone beforehand (the Times complains about how hard it is to download from Bandcamp to an iPhone — trust me: if I can figure out how to do it, anyone can). Bell wrote the text and narrates, with a co-composing assist from the inimitable Joe White (whose terrific new album you really ought to hear). The Cemetery itself will do the performing. (You can also listen to the soundtrack at home and pretend you're walking around the Cemetery.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: The Sunset Park entrance is only a short walk from Hometown BBQ Industry City (if you go over the weekend, you can get the fabulous pastrami — a Christmas MUST!) (not that they'll necessarily be open).
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Mon, Dec 20, 2021, 6:00 AM – Sun, Dec 26, 2021, 1:00 AM
Ellen Reid: SOUNDWALK
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 – 26, 2021 (ongoing)
6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
New York Philharmonic
Central Park
59th Street – 110th Street/Central Park West – 5th Avenue, Manhattan
Free (registration required)
https://www.ellenreidsoundwalk.com/new-york-philharmonic
The New York Phil hops aboard the walk-around-the-landscaped-space-with-soundtrack train (see below). The highly allusive soundtrack was put together by Ellen Reid, who is one of the more soundscapey (and certainly one of the best) of today's many excellent young composers. This walk isn't guided: you download an app that triggers sounds sent to your earphones from various cells around the Park as you wander. So you can do it over many times. (Speaking of wandering around Central Park, here's something that I, for one, never knew.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Delicious pan-African at Teranga.
-
Sunday, December 19, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
LCD Soundsystem
MUSIC
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 15 – 17 & 19, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 21)
8:00 PM
Brooklyn Steel
319 Frost Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$79.50 advance; $85 day of
MONDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413972/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
WEDNESDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413975/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
THURSDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413981/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
FRIDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413987/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
SUNDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413986/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
It shows you what a huge deal this is that it's a month-long stand. James Murphy's art-dance-rock project captured the moment when it emerged in the early Aughts, and it still sounds of the moment ("Losing My Edge" has been my own personal theme song for almost 20 years now). Is Murphy the cleverest person in Brooklyn, if not America? He just might be.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Let's make it an all-James Murphy night. Before the show, go to his great wine bar, The Four Horsemen (where, aside from the exceptionally well-selected range of Natural wines, the food is MUCH better than it needs to be). After, go back to his no-longer-secret club next door to Four Horsemen, Daymoves/Nightmoves (if you can get in).
-
Sunday, December 19, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Sunday, December 19, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Sunday, December 19, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Joel Ross: Winter Residency [CANCELLED]
MUSIC
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2021
8:00 PM
Baby's All Right
146 Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$20
https://www.seetickets.us/event/Joel-RossWinterResidency/451307
The current boss of jazz vibes, Joel Ross, continues his three-Sunday residency at Baby's All Right.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Mexico City-style streetish food at Aldama — and they understand that the wine to drink with Mexican food is Natural.
-
Sunday, December 19, 2021, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
-
Sunday, December 19, 2021, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
-
Sunday, December 19, 2021, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
-
Saturday, December 18, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Saturday, December 18, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Conrad Tao
MUSIC
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021
8:00 PM
92Y In Person & Live Stream
1395 Lexington Avenue, Upper East Side, Manhattan
$20-$45 in person; $20 live stream
https://www.92y.org/event/conrad-tao
Master pianist Conrad Tao mixes (great) old stuff — Beethoven's penultimate piano sonata, Schumann's wonderful Kinderszenen, Bach's mighty Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, that John Adams oldie China Gates — with new stuff, composed and improvised, including a brand new piece by himself.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, been a while since we've been to neighborhood Italian fave Sfoglia. Streaming at home, have a Red Hook: pour 32 oz. Rye and 1/2 oz. each of Punt e Mes and Maraschino Liqueur into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Stir. Strain into a chilled Martini glass or coupe. Garnish with a cocktail cherry.
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Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sun, Dec 19, 2021, 7:00 PM
-
Saturday, December 18, 2021, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Tony Malaby, Tom Rainey & Ben Monder
MUSIC
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021
3:30 PM
Los Kabayitos Theater, The Clemente In Person & Live Stream
107 Suffolk Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
$15 in person; aged 12 under free; $5 live stream
IN PERSON: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tony-malaby-tom-rainey-ben-monder-tickets-215781487237
LIVE STREAM: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tony-malaby-tom-rainey-ben-monder-tickets-215781487237
A trio comprising a saxophonist, a guitarist, and a drummer who are always interesting.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, Filipino, Thai, and whatever at Pig & Khao. Streaming at home, have a Meztiza: pour 1-3/4 oz. each of Lager beer and cola into a Collins glass over ice. Add 1 oz. amber Rum. Stir. You can garnish with a lemon twist if you want.
-
Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 9:00 PM
-
Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 7:30 PM – Sat, Dec 18, 2021, 10:30 PM
-
Thursday, December 16, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Gang Gang Dance
MUSIC
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
8:00 PM
First Unitarian Congregational Society
119 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
$20
https://issueprojectroom.org/event/gang-gang-dance-adjua-gargi-nzinga-greaves
Will Gang Gang Dance's art-dance music be as galvanic and surprising now as it was in the Aughts? This brand new production will let us know.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: I've been waiting for Issue Project Room — which is right around the corner — to reopen in order to recommend the fabulous new iteration of classic Brooklyn seafood/chophouse Gage & Tollner. But fuck it: it's not like there are tons of good recommendations in Brooklyn Heights, so walk over from there. (And don't forget the Sunken Harbor Club Tiki bar upstairs.)
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Thu, Dec 16, 2021, 8:00 PM – Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 10:00 PM
Heartbeat Opera: Messy Messiah
PERFORMANCE
THURSDAY & FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16 & 17, 2021
8:00 PM THURSDAY
7:00 & 9:30 PM FRIDAY
Roulette In Person & Thursday Live Stream
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum Hill, Brooklyn
$25-$500 in person; $10 live stream
https://www.heartbeatopera.org/messy-messiah
This Christmas show will be a drag.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Have a Christmas pita at Bedouin Tent.
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Thu, Dec 16, 2021, 7:30 PM – Sun, Dec 19, 2021, 4:00 PM
Fanny Sorian / Cie Libertivoire: Fractales
THEATER
THURSDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 – 19, 2021
7:30 PM THURSDAY & FRIDAY
8:00 PM SATURDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
Peak Performances
Alexander Kasser Theater, Montclair State University
1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey
$40
https://www.peakperfs.org/event/fractales/2021-12-16/
To my taste, Nouvelle Cirque — especially the French kind — is getting played out, choking on its own increasing preciosity. Let's hope Fanny Soriano and her troupe avoid this tendency.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: My friends in Montclair can't believe you can walk to hearty New American Turtle + The Wolf from Montclair State University, but they're Suburban Wimps. Urbanites will find it a pleasant and easy stroll.
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Thursday, December 16, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Matthew Aucoin: Eurydice
OPERA
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
7:00 PM
Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center
30 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side, Manhattan
$30-$445
https://www.metopera.org/season/2021-22-season/eurydice/
Sarah Ruhl's play Eurydice — telling the familiar Orpheus myth from the viewpoint of the deceased wife (and concluding that she might be better off in the Underworld with her beloved father than in the World married to a singing star) — was a stone delight. If in the past the appeal of lauded opera composer Matthew Aucoin has eluded me — Britten without the endless stream of invention, it seems to me — maybe THIS time I'll get it.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Distinctive Italian at The Leopard at des Artistes.
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Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Vitková, Parnmongkol, Porter & Ilgenfritz
MUSIC
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021
9:00 PM
Trans-Pecos
915 Wyckoff Avenue, Ridgewood, Queens
$10
https://qubitmusic.com/
The contemporary alt-improv equivalent of the 1970s supergroup their name sounds like: Lucie Vitková on accordion, exotic instruments, and voice; Teerapat Parnmongkol on E.guitar, oud, and voice; Katie Porter on bass clarinet and voice; and James Ilgenfritz on double bass and "objects".
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Nepalese-New York fusion at While in Kathmandu.
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Wed, Dec 15, 2021, 8:00 PM – Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 9:00 PM
LCD Soundsystem
MUSIC
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 15 – 17 & 19, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 21)
8:00 PM
Brooklyn Steel
319 Frost Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$79.50 advance; $85 day of
MONDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413972/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
WEDNESDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413975/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
THURSDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413981/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
FRIDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413987/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
SUNDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413986/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
It shows you what a huge deal this is that it's a month-long stand. James Murphy's art-dance-rock project captured the moment when it emerged in the early Aughts, and it still sounds of the moment ("Losing My Edge" has been my own personal theme song for almost 20 years now). Is Murphy the cleverest person in Brooklyn, if not America? He just might be.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Let's make it an all-James Murphy night. Before the show, go to his great wine bar, The Four Horsemen (where, aside from the exceptionally well-selected range of Natural wines, the food is MUCH better than it needs to be). After, go back to his no-longer-secret club next door to Four Horsemen, Daymoves/Nightmoves (if you can get in).
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Wed, Dec 15, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sun, Dec 19, 2021, 4:00 PM
David Byrne: American Utopia
THEATER / DANCE / PERFORMANCE
WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 – 19, 2021 (ongoing)
8:00 PM WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY
5:00 & 9:00 PM SATURDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
St. James Theater
246 West 44th Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$59-$179
https://americanutopiabroadway.com/
If a collaboration between David Byrne and Annie-B Parson were put on at BAM, I wouldn't think twice about Listing it (although I'd still feel constrained to make a comment about Boomer Nostalgia moving on to the Pop Avant-Garde). So I'm not gonna demerit this cuz it's on Broadway. AM I?
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Maybe the sushi at Sushi Lab is overelaborate and tries too hard. But it's there.
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Wed, Dec 15, 2021, 7:30 PM – Thu, Dec 16, 2021, 8:30 PM
21st Century Liederabend
MUSIC
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15 & 16, 2021
7:30 PM
National Sawdust
80 N. 6th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$83
https://ci.ovationtix.com/36490/production/1085099
Two evenings of song by an assemblage of composers who could have been chosen to represent what this List is about, among them Missy Mazzoli, Angélica Negrón, Du Yun, Molly Joyce, Paola Prestini, and Emma O'Halloran (and that's just some). The amazing thing to be said is that these two shows will almost certainly be worth the high ticket price.
MAKE A NOTE OF IT: Bolero is perhaps the most undersung gem of the current NYC Vietnamese wave.
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Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Booker Stardrum, Justin Frye & Arian Shafiee / Joanna Mattrey & Lester St. Louis / Jaime Brach
MUSIC
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021
7:30 PM
IRL Gallery
80 Franklin Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
$20
https://ra.co/events/1480946
Experimental pop percussionist Booker Stardrum is unfailingly interesting. (I'm not mentioning who his father is.) Violinist Joanna Mattrey and cellist+ Lester St. Louis make unbeautiful music together. Jaime Branch, a hip-hop-loving saxophonist, is a force of nature (well of art, actually).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Grab some tacos at the hottest taqueria in Brooklyn, Taqueria Ramirez.
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Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
-
Wed, Dec 15, 2021, 7:00 PM – Sun, Dec 19, 2021, 5:00 PM
ONEOFUS Panto Project: Dick Rivington & the Cat
THEATER / PERFORMANCE
WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 – 19, 2021
7:00 PM WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY
4:00 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Abrons Arts Center
466 Grand Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
$46-$126
https://www.abronsartscenter.org/program/dick-rivington/
Performance greats Julie Atlas Muz and Mat Fraser (a family, it seems appropriate to point out this time of year) continue their program of bringing the British Christmas Panto tradition, with its winking (and gender-fluid!) broad low-comedy treatment of traditional tales, to Downtown. Look, I don't know quite how to say this: I want you to go to this. If you want to talk about theory, this is precisely the kind of knowing artistic manipulation of popular culture this List focuses on. But forget that. What's important is, I can't imagine anyone who'd be reading this not having a great time. I saw Julie and Mat's previous Christmas Panto time and again over multiple years, and I sure had some.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: The place to go from the Abrons is Basque sensation Ernesto's, one of the best restaurants in New York.
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Wednesday, December 15, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Ryan Sawyer, Ka Baird & C. Spencer Yeh / gabby fluke mogul & Laura Ortman / Patrick Holmes
MUSIC
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021
7:00 PM
Union Pool
484 Union Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$20.71
https://dice.fm/event/728nb-sawyerbairdyehmogulortmanholmes-15th-dec-union-pool-new-york-tickets
A bunch of improvisers familiar to habitues of this List, in solo, duo, and trio format.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Before the show (nothing nearby open after), try some very Old Skool Red Sauce at Bamonte's (as with just about all Old Skool Red Sauce, don't expect the food to be non-disappointing).
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Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Caroline Davis's Portal: Mourning
MUSIC
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021
8:00 PM
Roulette In Person & Live Stream
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum HIll, Brooklyn
$20 advance; $25 door; free live stream
https://roulette.org/event/caroline-davis-portals-mourning/
Alto saxophonist Caroline Davis mourns with her father with an ensemble expanded beyond her usual quintet.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, still haven't tried the new Mexican spot El Zasón, but their Cochinita Chiapaneco continues to call my name. Streaming at home, have a Black Barrel: pour 2 oz. Rye and 1/2 oz. each of Averna Amaro and Amontillado Sheryy, with 2 dashes of Angostura bitters, into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Stir. Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
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Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Jess Tsang
MUSIC
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021
7:30 PM
IRL Gallery
80 Franklin Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
$20
https://ra.co/events/1482814
Percussionist Jess Tsang plays in a duo with electronic manipulator Jenn Nulsen, and then in an intriguing quartet with saxophonist Anna Meadors, pedal steel player Liz Faure, and drummer Amy Garapic (whom you might be able to see if you look elsewhere on this newsletter).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Nice Japanese in a stunning setting at Rule of Thirds.
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Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Erika Dohi & Lauren Cauley: Lavendar in Yellow
MUSIC
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2021
7:00 & 8:30 PM
1 Rivington Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
$20
https://metropolisensemble.org/all-events/lavenderinyellow
Two (different) sets of electro-acoustic music for keyboards and violin by two terrific musicians on the New York scene, pianist Erika Dohi and violinist Lauren Cauley.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Excellent Soba at Cocoron (now at a location closer to 1 Rivington than their old one).
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Tue, Dec 14, 2021, 7:00 PM – Sun, Dec 19, 2021, 4:00 PM
Jeremy O. Harris: Slave Play
THEATER
TUESDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 – 19, 2021 (continuing through JANUARY 23)
7:00 PM TUESDAY – THURSDAY
2:00 PM WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY
8:00 PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
August Wilson Theatre
245 West 52nd Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$29-$35
https://slaveplaybroadway.com/
It would be silly to claim that Jeremy O. Harris's is the smartest, most audacious, most piercing play ever to be staged on Broadway. But that's what you'll think as you walk out, and as you continue to think about the play in the following days. (It would be safer to say it's the smartest, most audacious, most piercing treatment of race — but let's face it, that category is neither huge nor, up to now, very distinguished.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: I've never had a bad time at Russian Samovar (even if, owing to overindulgence in their infused vodkas, I've had bad times the following mornings).
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Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
-
Tue, Dec 14, 2021, 4:30 PM – Sun, Dec 19, 2021, 8:30 PM
Lightscape
PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 – 19, 2021 (continuing through JANUARY 9)
4:30 – 8:30 PM
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Avenue, across the street from Crown Heights, Brooklyn
$34 adults; $18 children 3-12; free babies 0-2
https://www.bbg.org/lightscape#tickets
Illuminated trails, site-specific lightworks by local artists, a soundtrack — in the one of the best places in New York City!
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: You don't see Burmese restaurants coming and going, let alone ones as nice as Rangoon.
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Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Tyshawn Sorey & Adam Rudolph
MUSIC
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2021
8:00 PM
Zürcher Gallery
33 Bleecker Street, NoHo, Manhattan
$20
https://www.galeriezurcher.com/dec-16-2021-tyshawn-sorey-and-adam-rudolph
Percussionist/composer Tyshawn Sorey bestrides contemporary music like a colossus. Tonight he collaborates with a fascinating fellow percussionist, Adam Rudolph, who takes the whole world as his pool.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: It would be silly to go farther than down the block for delightful Japanese homestyle cooking at Bessou (whose owner and head chef made the place even homier by both using the Quarantine break to become pregnant and give birth).
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Tue, Dec 14, 2021, 10:00 AM – Sun, Dec 19, 2021, 5:00 PM
-
Monday, December 13, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
LCD Soundsystem
MUSIC
MONDAY, WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 15 – 17 & 19, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 21)
8:00 PM
Brooklyn Steel
319 Frost Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$79.50 advance; $85 day of
MONDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413972/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
WEDNESDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413975/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
THURSDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413981/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
FRIDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413987/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
SUNDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413986/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
It shows you what a huge deal this is that it's a month-long stand. James Murphy's art-dance-rock project captured the moment when it emerged in the early Aughts, and it still sounds of the moment ("Losing My Edge" has been my own personal theme song for almost 20 years now). Is Murphy the cleverest person in Brooklyn, if not America? He just might be.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Let's make it an all-James Murphy night. Before the show, go to his great wine bar, The Four Horsemen (where, aside from the exceptionally well-selected range of Natural wines, the food is MUCH better than it needs to be). After, go back to his no-longer-secret club next door to Four Horsemen, Daymoves/Nightmoves (if you can get in).
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Monday, December 13, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Bell Threads
MUSIC
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021
8:00 PM
1 Rivington Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
Free (by reservation)
https://metropolisensemble.org/all-events/bellthreads
Hannah Lash, one of the best composers around, is also one of the best harpists. She joins the andPlay violin-viola duo to play new music by Adam Roberts — and plays a solo piece composed by her very own self as well. Expect a lot of lush lyricism (but not the cloying kind).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Have you been to the Marc Forgione iteration of Peasant yet?
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Monday, December 13, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Nadia Pinder: Murder at the Christmas Pageant
THEATER
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021
8:00 PM
The Brick
579 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$20
https://www.bricktheater.com/event/murder-at-the-christmas-pageant/
The genuinely hilarious Nadia Pinder gives us an interactive murder mystery about (you'll never guess this) a murder at a High School Christmas Pageant. I'm biting my nails just thinking about it.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Peruvian sensation Llama Inn is actually open on Mondays!
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Monday, December 13, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Graham Haynes feat. Lucie Vitková & Shakoor Hakeem
MUSIC
MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2021
8:00 PM
Roulette In Person & Live Stream
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum HIll, Brooklyn
$20 advance in person; $25 door in person; free live stream
https://roulette.org/event/graham-haynes-with-lucie-vitkova-and-shakoor-hakeem-2/
Open-minded cornetist Graham Haynes has spent three years messing around, er, developing new work with the intriguing combination of accordionist/multi-instrumentalist/tap dancer Lucie Vitková and percussionist Shakoor Hakeem. Tonight they bring that new work out into the world.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, comfort food at Kind of Soul. Streaming at home, have a Kingston Negroni: pour 1 oz. each of overproof Jamaican Rum (like Smith and Cross), sweet Vermouth, and Campari into a rocks glass over ice. Stir. Garnish with an orange twist.
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Monday, December 13, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
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Mon, Dec 13, 2021, 5:00 PM – Sun, Dec 19, 2021, 8:00 PM
Assemble
THEATER / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 – 19, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 31)
5:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:20, 6:40 & 7:00 THURSDAY & FRIDAY
4:00, 4:20, 4:40, 5:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:20, 6:40 & 7:00 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Secret Location (disclosed upon ticket purchase), Brooklyn
$40; $30 students/artists/unemployed
https://www.projectassemble.org/
A return of the immersive theatrical experience in which audience members, having downloaded an app that will guide them and provide content, wander around a disused Brooklyn store experiencing an early middle age reconsideration of life choices (the creators of this piece couldn't have anticipated how reflective of the zeitgeist it would turn out to be).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: How would I know? The location's a SECRET!
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Mon, Dec 13, 2021, 8:00 AM – Sun, Dec 19, 2021, 6:00 PM
Gelsey Bell feat. Joseph White: Cairns
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 – 19, 2021 (ongoing)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
#stillHERE IRL
Green-Wood Cemetery, Sunset Park Entrance
35th Street at 4th Avenue, Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn
$7 or more for soundtrack
https://here.org/shows/cairns/
One of the first shows during Quarantine that you could actually Go Out! to (although it's not quite "live"). Gelsey Bell, that vocal star of NYC Alt Classical, has conceived of a piece that walks you around Green-Wood Cemetery (starting at the Sunset Park Entrance). You download the soundtrack on your phone beforehand (the Times complains about how hard it is to download from Bandcamp to an iPhone — trust me: if I can figure out how to do it, anyone can). Bell wrote the text and narrates, with a co-composing assist from the inimitable Joe White (whose terrific new album you really ought to hear). The Cemetery itself will do the performing. (You can also listen to the soundtrack at home and pretend you're walking around the Cemetery.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: The Sunset Park entrance is only a short walk from Hometown BBQ Industry City (if you go over the weekend, you can get the fabulous pastrami).
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Mon, Dec 13, 2021, 6:00 AM – Sun, Dec 19, 2021, 1:00 AM
Ellen Reid: SOUNDWALK
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 – 19, 2021 (ongoing)
6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
New York Philharmonic
Central Park
59th Street – 110th Street/Central Park West – 5th Avenue, Manhattan
Free (registration required)
https://www.ellenreidsoundwalk.com/new-york-philharmonic
The New York Phil hops aboard the walk-around-the-landscaped-space-with-soundtrack train (see below). The highly allusive soundtrack was put together by Ellen Reid, who is one of the more soundscapey (and certainly one of the best) of today's many excellent young composers. This walk isn't guided: you download an app that triggers sounds sent to your earphones from various cells around the Park as you wander. So you can do it over many times. (Speaking of wandering around Central Park, here's something that I, for one, never knew.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Delicious pan-African at Teranga.
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Sunday, December 12, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Joel Ross: Winter Residency
MUSIC
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2021
8:00 PM
Baby's All Right
146 Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$20
https://www.seetickets.us/event/Joel-RossWinterResidency/451307
The current boss of jazz vibes, Joel Ross, continues his three-Sunday residency at Baby's All Right.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Mexico City-style streetish food at Aldama — and they understand that the wine to drink with Mexican food is Natural.
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Sunday, December 12, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
-
Sunday, December 12, 2021, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Now Ensemble / Phong Tran / Charlotte Greve with KHORIKOS: NewAm's Triple Al3bum Holiday Release Show
MUSIC
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2021
6:00 PM
(Le) Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan
$20-$25
https://lpr.com/lpr_events/newam-holiday/
Remember when everybody fought over whether to call this stuff Indie Classical? Whatever it is, it's great.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Midwestern supper-club fare at Emmett's on Grove.
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Saturday, December 11, 2021, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM
-
Saturday, December 11, 2021, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Sō Percussion and Friends
MUSIC
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021
9:00 PM
Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall
881 7th Avenue, Midtown, Manhattan
$65-$80
https://www.carnegiehall.org/calendar/2021/12/11/s-percussion-and-friends-0900pm
The fuse for the current percussion-ensemble boom, Sō Percussion, is joined by friends like Dawn Upshaw, Nathalie Joachim, and beatboxer Dominic "Sodekeh" Talifero for a program that includes a new Joachim piece, a Sodekeh piece, some Caroline Shaw, and the piece that turned at least this one listener onto Sō these several years ago, member Jason Treuting's Amid the Noise.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: John Fraser's Greek-some-Turkish Iris is just excellent.
-
Saturday, December 11, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Saturday, December 11, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The Knights
MUSIC
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021
8:00 PM
92Y In Person & Live Stream
1395 Lexington Avenue, Upper East Side, Manhattan
$20-$45 in person; $20 live stream
https://www.92y.org/event/the-knights-play-schubert
The Knights ("known far beyond" Brooklyn, their website asserts) play something old (Schubert, Vaughan Williams), something new (Jessie Montgomery), and something to make you blue (well, Louis Moreau Gottschalk isn't that bad — but dumb late-19th Century music is dumb late-19th Century music, no matter how American, and African-American- and Afro-Caribbean-influenced, it is).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, been a while since we've been to neighborhood Italian fave Sfoglia. Streaming at home, Gottschalk would have wanted you to have an A La Louisiane: pour 3 oz. Rye, 3/4 oz. sweet Vermouth, 1/2 oz. Benedictine, and 3/4 teaspoon Absinthe, with 3 dashes of Peychaud's bitters, into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Stir. Strain into a chilled Martini glass or coupe. Garnish with a cocktail cherry.
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Saturday, December 11, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Ras Moshe Burnett
MUSIC
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021
8:00 PM
Soup and Sound
292 Lefferts Avenue, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn
Free? (I'm sure they'll take some money even if it is)
http://soupandsound.org/
Reeds player Ras Moshe Burnett is a Brooklyn free jazz legend — even if some of you might never have heard of him. Tonight he plays live and also on a video showing him playing outdoors in Vermont and East New York.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: They used to serve soup at these concerts in Before Time (and many guests brought potluck). Don't know if they do now. But in any event, you're close enough to the tasty Guatemalan-fusion stews and sandwiches at IX.
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Saturday, December 11, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Matthew Aucoin: Eurydice
OPERA
WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 & 11, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 16)
7:30 PM WEDNESDAY
8:00 PM SATURDAY
Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center
30 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side, Manhattan
$37-$460
https://www.metopera.org/season/2021-22-season/eurydice/
Sarah Ruhl's play Eurydice — telling the familiar Orpheus myth from the viewpoint of the deceased wife (and concluding that she might be better off in the Underworld with her beloved father than in the World married to a singing star) — was a stone delight. If in the past the appeal of lauded opera composer Matthew Aucoin has eluded me — Britten without the endless stream of invention, it seems to me — maybe THIS time I'll get it.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Distinctive Italian at The Leopard at des Artistes.
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Sat, Dec 11, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 9:00 PM
LCD Soundsystem
MUSIC
TUESDAY – THURSDAY & SATURDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 – 9 & DECEMBER 11 – 12, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 21)
8:00 PM
Brooklyn Steel
319 Frost Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$79.50 advance; $85 day of
TUESDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413963/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
WEDNESDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413964/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
THURSDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413965/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
SATURDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413966/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
SUNDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413968/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
It shows you what a huge deal this is that it's a month-long stand. James Murphy's art-dance-rock project captured the moment when it emerged in the early Aughts, and it still sounds of the moment ("Losing My Edge" has been my own personal theme song for almost 20 years now). Is Murphy the cleverest person in Brooklyn, if not America? He just might be.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Let's make it an all-James Murphy night. Before the show, go to his great wine bar, The Four Horsemen (where, aside from the exceptionally well-selected range of Natural wines, the food is MUCH better than it needs to be). After, go back to his no-longer-secret club next door to Four Horsemen, Daymoves/Nightmoves (if you can get in).
-
Saturday, December 11, 2021, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Talea Ensemble: Strange Tails
MUSIC
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2021
7:30 PM
DiMenna Center for Classical Music
450 West 37th Street, Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
Free (by R.S.V.P.)
http://taleaensemble.org/concerts/
Not sure whether this is the Human Torch/Dr. Strange or the Nick Fury/Dr. Strange iteration of Strange Tales (oops, nerding out there) (God the layers of irony emanating from the linking of that Nick Fury cover are almost stifling) or something else entirely, but whichever, it's worthwhile. The focus is on a brand new piece by Wang Lu, whose Urban Inventory made such a splash a few years ago with its deft blend of modern classical music, vernacular music, and field recordings. But the other pieces are by inti figgis-vizueta (master of the liminal) and the sadly now deceased Alvin Lucier, whose sonic experimentation might well have influenced Wang Lu (and maybe figgis-vizueta as well, for that matter).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Inspired by the one at Farida, I made a very satisfying version (if I may say so myself) of the Kazakh boiled meat dish Beshbarmak at home this week. Since I can't invite you all over for leftovers, I can only encourage you all to go to Farida and have some yourselves.
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Saturday, December 11, 2021, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
-
Sat, Dec 11, 2021, 4:00 PM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 7:00 PM
ETHEL: Young Composers Festival
MUSIC
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11 & 12, 2021
4:00 & 6:00 PM
Dweck Center, Central Library
Brooklyn Public Library
10 Grand Army Plaza, across the Street from Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Free (by R.S.V.P.)
SATURDAY 4:00 PM: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/calendar/young-composers-festival-central-library-dweck-20211211
SATURDAY 6:00 PM: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/calendar/young-composers-festival-central-library-dweck-20211211-0
SUNDAY 4:00 PM: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/calendar/young-composers-festival-central-library-dweck-20211212-0
SUNDAY 6:00 PM: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/bpl-presents/events
The redoubtable ETHEL string quartet presents work by four emerging composers. I'm favoring Saturday, when the band Goldfeather will perform work by their leader and namesake, Sarah Goldfeather, and we'll then, at the evening show, hear pieces by Sugar Vendil. But really, it's all worth a listen.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: If The Real Cubano food truck is parked outside the Library, it's definitely worth a stop. If not, great great beer, excusable snacks (sometimes) at Gold Star Beer Counter.
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Friday, December 10, 2021, 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Lauren Flax/Tygapaw
MUSIC
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021
10:00 PM
Good Room
98 Messerole Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
$15
https://ra.co/events/1475420
Lauren Flax always did good House/Techno-oriented stuff — but over Quarantine she spaced out and got even more interesting. Tygapaw is Trans, Jamaican, and fierce.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Japanese at Rule of Thirds.
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Fri, Dec 10, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sat, Dec 11, 2021, 9:00 PM
Radiohole: Isolation
THEATER / PERFORMANCE
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 & 11, 2021
8:00 PM
The Collapsable Hole
155 Bank Street, West Village, Manhattan
$5-25
http://www.radiohole.com/
A bunch of NYC alt theater, visual, and multimedia artists present work developed during Quarantine.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Ageless West Village Italian spot Malaparte.
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Friday, December 10, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Either/OR: Process and Potentiality
MUSIC
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021
8:00 PM
Tenri Cultural Institute
431A West 13th Street, Greenwich Village, Brooklyn
$20; $10 students/seniors
https://www.eitherormusic.org/current-season
Sometimes you're in the mood for Gnarly Modernism, and Either/OR excels at that. Tonight, they leaven the Gnarly Modernism with some funnish stuff.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Worthy cocktails at The Raines Law Room.
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Friday, December 10, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Tredici Bacci: Plays Their Secret New Album In Its Entirety Just For You!
MUSIC
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021
8:00 PM
Roulette In Person & Live Stream
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum HIll, Brooklyn
$20 advance in person; $25 door in person; free live stream
https://roulette.org/event/tredici-bacci-plays-their-secret-new-album-in-its-entirety-just-for-you/
When Simon Hanes's Tredici Bacci says it's playing its new album "just for you", they must mean just for me, cuz I love them to pieces. (That last sentence, like the title of this concert, shows the difficulty of deciding whether to refer to collective entities in the singular or plural.) As you might guess, prog finta Italo-popsters Tredici Bacci started as a 13-piece (with JG Thirlwell one of the pieces), but then expanded to a 20-piece — and tonight fields a whopping 25 members, including a chorus! If you like prog finta Italo-pop (and let's face it: who doesn't?), you can't go wrong.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, nice if indistinct eclectic food at As You Are. Streaming at home, have an Angelo Azzuro: pour 1 oz. each of Gin, Cointreau, and blue Curaçao into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. (You can also add 1/2 oz. of sweet Vermouth or, if this is seeming too sickly sweet to you, an amaro.) Stir. Strain into a chilled Martini glass or coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist.
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Friday, December 10, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Fri, Dec 10, 2021, 7:00 PM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 6:00 PM
Marguerite Hemmings & LaJuné McMillan: Antidote
MUSIC
FRIDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 – 12, 2021
7:00 PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY
5:00 PM SUNDAY
Abrons Arts Center
466 Grand Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
$21
https://www.abronsartscenter.org/program/antidote-pt-2/
A choreographer and a media artist spent time during Quarantine working on the interface of dance and motion capture. And now they take it to the stage!
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Sorta Portuguese, entirely delightful at Cervo's.
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Friday, December 10, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Faten Kanaan / Supruli Trio
MUSIC
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2021
7:00 PM
Public Records, Sound Room
233 Butler Street, Gowanus, Brooklyn
$18.40
https://dice.fm/event/7vmkp-faten-kanaan-supruli-trio-performing-georgian-polyphonic-choral-music-10th-dec-public-records-new-york-tickets
If you want to hear some enthralling and even moving electronic music, you can't do better than Faten Kanaan's, which is formally complex and fairly rigorous, but is at the same time emotional. What's more, opening is the Supruli Trio doing Georgian (the country, not the state) polyphonic choral music. If you've never heard those complex rough-hewn harmonies, you are in for a major treat.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Fresh vibrant Korean at Insa.
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Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 9:00 PM – Sat, Dec 11, 2021, 10:00 PM
Sean Devare: First Violin: darshan
THEATER
THURSDAY – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 – 11, 2021
9:00 PM
SUITE/Space
Mabou Mines, 122 CC
150 First Avenue, East Village, Manhattan
Free-$25
https://www.maboumines.org/production/suite-space-2021-sean-devare/
Sean Devare continues his musical-theatrical personal exploration of the story from The Ramayana where a king trapped under a mountain by a demon dismembers himself and uses his severed body part to create the first violin, which he then plays sweetly to try to induce the demon grant him liberation (whew: got that all in). This time, he's created an installation out of which a performance emerges.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Veeray da Dhaba serves the kind of Punjabi food you usually find on steam tables — but cooked really well.
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Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 8:30 PM – Sat, Dec 11, 2021, 9:30 PM
Ikue Mori Residency
MUSIC
THURSDAY – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 – 11, 2021
8:30 PM
The Stone
Glass Box Theater, The New School
55 West 13th Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan
$20 (registration recommended)
http://www.thestonenyc.com/calendar.php
A three-night stand featuring various contexts for Downtown electronics legend Ikue Mori. Special mention must be made of Friday's show, a duo with the brilliant jazz pianist Craig Taborn.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Georgian at Chama Mama.
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Thursday, December 9, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Luke Stewart & Leila Bordreuil: Feedback Ensemble – Breaking
MUSIC
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021
8:00 PM
Roulette In Person & Live Stream
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum HIll, Brooklyn
$20 advance; $25 door; free live stream
https://roulette.org/event/luke-stewart-leila-bordreuil-feedback-ensemble-breaking/
Bassist Luke Stewart and cellist Leila Bordreuil lead a feedback ensemble, themselves and each of the other musicians playing into feedback apparatus. And the other musicians are C. Spencer Yeh (violin),* Nate Wooley (trumpet), Julia Santoli (voice), and Chris Corsano (drums)!
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, still haven't tried the new Mexican spot El Zasón, but their Cochinita Chiapaneco is still calling my name. Streaming at home, have a Señor Martinez: pour 2 oz. Añejo Tequila, 1 oz. sweet Vermouth, and 1/4 oz. Maraschino liqueur, with 2 dashes of chocolate bitters, into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Stir. Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass. Garnish with an orange twist and a cocktail cherry.
-
Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 4:00 PM
-
Thursday, December 9, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Thursday, December 9, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sat, Dec 11, 2021, 3:00 PM
Claire Chase: Density 2036, part vii
MUSIC
THURSDAY – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 – 11, 2021
8:00 PM THURSDAY & FRIDAY
2:00 PM SATURDAY
The Kitchen
512 West 19th Street, Chelsea, Manhattan
$15-$35
https://thekitchen.org/event/claire-chase-density-2036-part-viii
Superflautist Claire Chase continues her project of expanding the repertoire for solo (or barely accompanied) flute by commissioning a spate of works leading up to the 100th anniversary of Varèse's epochal flute piece Density 21.5 in 2036. This installment presents new works by, among others, Liza Lim, Matana Roberts, and Ann Cleare — and ends, as always, with a performance of Density 21.5 itself.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: City-beating Thai at Ayada.
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Thursday, December 9, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Andrew R. Butler: Rags Parkland Album Celebration
MUSIC
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021
8:00 PM
Ars Nova In-Person & Live Stream
511 West 54th Street, Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
$15 in person; $10 live stream
https://arsnovanyc.com/rags-parkland-album-celebration/
The cast (or band, as they call themselves) of Andrew R. Butler's folk-rock-goes-sci-fi musical reunites to belatedly celebrate the release of the OCR.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, Korean fried chicken and street food at The Jin. Streaming at home, have a Rooster: using a lime wedge to dampen it, rim a double rocks glass with salt. Fill with ice. Pour in 1-1/2 oz. Bourbon and 1/2 oz. Goldschläger. Top with Sarsaparilla. Stir.
-
Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 9:00 PM
-
Thursday, December 9, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Thursday, December 9, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Composer Portraits: Kati Agócs
MUSIC
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021
8:00 PM
Miller Theatre at Columbia University
2960 Broadway, Morningside Heights, Manhattan
$10-$30
https://www.millertheatre.com/events/kati-agocs
Kati Agócs is another one of those composers perfect for convincing New Music Skeptics that contemporary classical can be (a) formally interesting, (b) formally inventive, (c) emotionally engaging, and (d) plain good to listen to. It doesn't hurt one bit that the performers here include the fabulous vocalist Lucy Dhegrae.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Little Neck Sichuan sensation Grain House has moved right near Miller Theater!
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Thursday, December 9, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Dana Lyn / Charles Burnham / Marika Hughes String Trio
MUSIC
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2021
8:00 PM
Barbès In Person & Live Stream
376 9th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn
$15 in person; free-$10 live stream
https://www.viewcy.com/e/dana_lyn__charlie_bu
Jazz/pop/contemporary classical chamber music from a trio of notable composers/improvisors/string players.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, there's much about Runner Up I object to: I think the admittedly exceedingly well-prepared food is boring; I hate eating outdoors in the street; and something that calls itself a wine bar really ought to more than just a few wines available by the glass. But everybody else I know just loves it, so see for yourself At home, have a Martinez: pour 1-1/2 oz. each of Old Tom Gin and sweet Vermouth, and 1 teaspoon of Maraschino liqueur, with 2 dashes of Angostura bitters, into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Stir. Strain into a chilled Martini glass or coupe. Garnish with an orange twist.
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Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 7:30 PM – Sat, Dec 11, 2021, 10:30 PM
-
Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 7:00 PM – Sat, Dec 11, 2021, 8:00 PM
Shenny de Los Angeles: What Happens to Brown Girls Who Never Learn to Love Themselves Brown?
THEATER
THURSDAY – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 – 11, 2021
7:00 PM
SUITE/Space
Mabou Mines, 122 CC
150 First Avenue, East Village, Manhattan
Free-$25
https://www.maboumines.org/production/suite-space-2021-shenny-de-los-angeles/
By breaking the generational curse of relaxing one’s hair, is it possible to forgive the women before you for what they didn’t know? One suspects that Shenny de Los Angeles's Dominican-American-focused ritualized drama will conclude that it is.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: You're obviously going to want to go to the East Village's premier all-day Dominican lunch counter, Gena's Grill, after this.
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Wed, Dec 8, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 4:00 PM
David Byrne: American Utopia
THEATER / DANCE / PERFORMANCE
WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 – 12, 2021 (ongoing)
8:00 PM WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY
5:00 & 9:00 PM SATURDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
St. James Theater
246 West 44th Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$59-$179
https://americanutopiabroadway.com/
If a collaboration between David Byrne and Annie-B Parson were put on at BAM, I wouldn't think twice about Listing it (although I'd still feel constrained to make a comment about Boomer Nostalgia moving on to the Pop Avant-Garde). So I'm not gonna demerit this cuz it's on Broadway. AM I?
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Maybe the sushi at Sushi Lab is overelaborate and tries too hard. But it's there.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Darius Jones
MUSIC
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021
8:00 PM
Zürcher Gallery
33 Bleecker Street, NoHo, Manhattan
$20
https://www.galeriezurcher.com/dec-8-2021-darius-jones
The brilliant alto saxophonist Darius Jones plays music from his great new solo album. Jones really puts the avant into avant-gutbucket — but he doesn't ignore the gutbucket, either.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: It would be silly to go farther than down the block for delightful Japanese homestyle cooking at Bessou (whose owner and head chef both used the Quarantine break to become pregnant and give birth — and now are back with, they say, a new perspective on the grind).
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Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Raja Feather Kelly/The Feath3r Theory: WEDNESDAY
DANCE / THEATER
WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 – 10, 2021
8:00 PM
New York Live Arts
219 West 19th Street, Chelsea, Manhattan
$15-$25
https://newyorklivearts.org/event/wednesday-dec-2021/
Dog Day Afternoon seemed at the time to be one of the first (relatively) sympathetic presentations of LGBTQ characters in mainstream American cinema (Glen or Glenda was rather outré) — but it was told by people hijacking other people's narrative. The thoughtfully outrageous choreographer/theatermaker Raja Feather Kelly investigates and reexamines the material from a queer perspective, resulting in a fantasia where psychological realism meets pop soap opera — and issues like representation, appropriation, and cultural marginalization and exclusion are explored, all the while interrogating the very (tortured) process by which this piece was made. But most important, this is much more fun than the foregoing rather dry recitation might lead you to expect: fun and thought-provoking.
MAKE A NOTE OF IT: Vietnamese fusion, not quite as good as at the best new Vietnamese Wave places but still worth trying, at Omai.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
-
Wed, Dec 8, 2021, 7:30 PM – Sat, Dec 11, 2021, 8:29 PM
Laura Peterson Choreography: Interglacial
DANCE
WEDNESDAY – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 – 11, 2021
7:30 PM
Dixon Place
161A Chrystie Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
$18 advance; $21 door; $15 students/seniors advance; $18 students/senior door
http://dixonplace.org/performances/interglacial/
A multidiscliplinary representation of the human impact on environment.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Good Haitian, great music, at Rebel. (Have a 1791 Cocktail!) (Have three!)
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Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Will Epstein / Carmen Rothwell / Ben Goldberg
MUSIC
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021
7:30 PM
IRL Gallery
80 Franklin Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
$20
https://ra.co/events/1482692
Will Epstein premieres some new material for sextet (anyone who's played with Nicolas Jaar is A-OK with this List). Solo sets by jazz/R&B/experimental double-bassist Carmen Rothwell and veteran clarinetist Ben Goldberg.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Grab some tacos at the hottest taqueria in Brooklyn, Taqueria Ramirez.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Matthew Aucoin: Eurydice
OPERA
WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 & 11, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 16)
7:30 PM WEDNESDAY
8:00 PM SATURDAY
Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center
30 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side, Manhattan
$37-$460
https://www.metopera.org/season/2021-22-season/eurydice/
Sarah Ruhl's play Eurydice — telling the familiar Orpheus myth from the viewpoint of the deceased wife (and concluding that she might be better off in the Underworld with her beloved father than in the World married to a singing star) — was a stone delight. If in the past the appeal of lauded opera composer Matthew Aucoin has eluded me — Britten without the endless stream of invention, it seems to me — maybe THIS time I'll get it.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Distinctive Italian at The Leopard at des Artistes.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Tim Berne
MUSIC
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021
7:00 & 8:30 PM
Barbès In Person & Live Stream
376 9th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn
$20 in person; free-$10 live stream
7:00 PM: https://www.viewcy.com/e/tim_berne__gregg_bel
8:30 PM: https://www.viewcy.com/e/tim_berne__gregg_bel_1
Alto sax player Tim Berne brings his personal combination of the abstract and the raunchy to a collaboration with guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, supra-neighborhood Mexican at Fonda. At home, have a Sazerac: soak a sugar cube in 3 dashes of Peychaud's bitters at the bottom of a cocktail shaker, and then muddle. Pour in 2 oz. Rye. Stir. Rinse a chilled Old Fashioned glass with Absinthe. Pour the drink into the rinsed glass. Express a lemon twist into the drink and discard the rind.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Wet Ink Ensemble: TargetMargin@7
MUSIC
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2021
7:00 PM
International Contemporary Ensemble Presentation, In Person & Live Stream
Target Margin Theater
232 52nd Street, Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Free (R.S.V.P. required for in person)
https://www.iceorg.org/events/2021/12/8/targetmargin7-december-8
The Wet Ink Ensemble uncharacteristically presents an evening of works entirely by outside composers (dealing with such usual Wet Ink concerns as text, language, and syntax, though). When the outside composers include Linda Caitlin Smith (NOT PLAYED ENOUGH IN NEW YORK!) and Anthony Braxton, though, you can't complain .
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, I think Coszcal de Allende is my current favorite NYC Mexican spot. The cooking has that extra level of precision; and this is the rare Mexican place with a (concise) (Natural) wine program that works. Streaming at home, have a Oaxaca Old Fashioned: pour 1-1/2 oz. Reposado Tequila, 1/2 oz. Mezcal, and 1 teaspoon Agave nectar, with 1 dash of Angostura bitters, into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Stir. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Flame a orange peel into the drink, and garnish with the flamed rind.
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Wed, Dec 8, 2021, 7:00 PM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 5:00 PM
ONEOFUS Panto Project: Dick Rivington & the Cat
THEATER / PERFORMANCE
WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 – 12, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 19)
7:00 PM WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY
4:00 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Abrons Arts Center
466 Grand Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
$36-$101
https://www.abronsartscenter.org/program/dick-rivington/
Performance greats Julie Atlas Muz and Mat Fraser (a family, it seems appropriate to point out this time of year) continue their program of bringing the British Christmas Panto tradition, with its winking (and gender-fluid!) broad low-comedy treatment of traditional tales, to Downtown. Look, I don't know quite how to say this: I want you to go to this. If you want to talk about theory, this is precisely the kind of knowing artistic manipulation of popular culture this List focuses on. But forget that. What's important is, I can't imagine anyone who'd be reading this not having a great time. I saw Julie and Mat's previous Christmas Panto time and again over multiple years, and I sure had some.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: The place to go from the Abrons is Basque sensation Ernesto's, one of the best restaurants in New York.
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Tue, Dec 7, 2021, 8:30 PM – Sat, Dec 11, 2021, 9:30 PM
Hillary Miller: Preparedness
THEATER
TUESDAY – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 – 11, 2021
8:30 PM
SubletSeries: Bushwick Starr Copresentation
HERE
145 Sixth Avenue (entrance on Dominick Street), Hudson Square, Manhattan
$25
https://here.org/shows/preparedness/
A sort of faux-thriller taking place in a moribund (duh) college arts department.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Basic (but good) Tuscan (and pizza) at Coco Pazzo Trattoria.
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Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
JG Thirlwell + Ensemble
MUSIC
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021
8:00 PM
Roulette In Person & Live Stream
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum HIll, Brooklyn
$20 advance in person; $25 door in person; free live stream
https://roulette.org/event/jg-thirlwell-ensemble/
This is JG Thirlwell/Simon Hanes* week at Roulette. Tonight Thirlwell's in the lead, singing in front of a sextet (including guitarist/bassist Hanes) doing chamber-rock arrangements of music by Thirlwell's doomy electronic post-punk/post-rock solo project Foetus.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, comfort food at Kind of Soul. Streaming at home, have a Kingston Negroni: pour 1 oz. each of overproof Jamaican Rum (like Smith and Cross), sweet Vermouth, and Campari into a rocks glass over ice. Stir. Garnish with an orange twist.
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Tue, Dec 7, 2021, 8:00 PM – Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 9:00 PM
LCD Soundsystem
MUSIC
TUESDAY – THURSDAY & SATURDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 – 9 & DECEMBER 11 – 12, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 21)
8:00 PM
Brooklyn Steel
319 Frost Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$79.50 advance; $85 day of
TUESDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413963/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
WEDNESDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413964/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
THURSDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413965/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
SATURDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413966/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
SUNDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413968/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
It shows you what a huge deal this is that it's a month-long stand. James Murphy's art-dance-rock project captured the moment when it emerged in the early Aughts, and it still sounds of the moment ("Losing My Edge" has been my own personal theme song for almost 20 years now). Is Murphy the cleverest person in Brooklyn, if not America? He just might be.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Let's make it an all-James Murphy night. Before the show, go to his great wine bar, The Four Horsemen (where, aside from the exceptionally well-selected range of Natural wines, the food is MUCH better than it needs to be). After, go back to his no-longer-secret club next door to Four Horsemen, Daymoves/Nightmoves (if you can get in).
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Tue, Dec 7, 2021, 7:30 PM – Sat, Dec 11, 2021, 8:30 PM
Radical Acts
THEATER / PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 – 11, 2021
7:30 PM
JACK
20 Putnam Avenue, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
$10-$20 per show; $45 festival pass
https://www.jackny.org/radical-acts
A bunch of performance and theater artists were given a brief to be radical (not that most of them need to be asked).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Neighborly Nigerian at Buka.
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Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Gyan Riley
MUSIC
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021
7:00 PM
Barbès In Person & Live Stream
376 9th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn
$20 in person; $0-$10 live stream
https://www.viewcy.com/e/gyan_riley
Gyan Riley can do whatever he wants on guitar. But what counts, as always, are his ideas: he's highy eclectic, with infuences ranging from Americana to Indian Classical to flamenco to baroque — but not superficially; his understanding is deep, and his blend seems organic. (See, I got through that entire write-up without mentioning who his father is!)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, back to Colombia in Park Slope, for Colombian. In Park Slope. At home, have a Paper Plane (God I love these): pour 3/4 oz. each of Bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and lemon juice into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake. Strain into a chilled Martini glass or coupe.
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Tue, Dec 7, 2021, 7:00 PM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 4:00 PM
Jeremy O. Harris: Slave Play
THEATER
TUESDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 – 12, 2021 (continuing through JANUARY 23)
7:00 PM TUESDAY – THURSDAY
2:00 PM WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY
8:00 PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
August Wilson Theatre
245 West 52nd Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$29-$35
https://slaveplaybroadway.com/
It would be silly to claim that Jeremy O. Harris's is the smartest, most audacious, most piercing play ever to be staged on Broadway. But that's what you'll think as you walk out, and as you continue to think about the play in the following days. (It would be safer to say it's the smartest, most audacious, most piercing treatment of race — but let's face it, that category is neither huge nor, up to now, very distinguished.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: I've never had a bad time at Russian Samovar (even if, owing to overindulgence in their infused vodkas, I've had bad times the following mornings).
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Tue, Dec 7, 2021, 4:30 PM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 8:30 PM
Lightscape
PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 – 12, 2021 (continuing through JANUARY 9)
4:30 – 8:30 PM
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Avenue, across the street from Crown Heights, Brooklyn
$34 adults; $18 children 3-12; free babies 0-2
https://www.bbg.org/lightscape#tickets
Illuminated trails, site-specific lightworks by local artists, a soundtrack — in the one of the best places in New York City!
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: You don't see Burmese restaurants coming and going, let alone ones as nice as Rangoon.
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Tue, Dec 7, 2021, 10:00 AM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 5:00 PM
-
Monday, December 6, 2021, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Jennifer Koh: Bridge to Beethoven
MUSIC
MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021
7:30 PM
Music Mondays
Advent Lutheran Church
2504 Broadway, Upper West Side, Manhattan
Free
https://www.musicmondays.org/december-2021
Violinist Jennifer Koh plays the standard rep as probingly as she plays new music. This is part of one of her projects where she mixes pieces by some standard-rep composer-god with contemporary pieces written in response. In this case, with pianist Thomas Sauer, she plays the three violin sonatas in Beethoven's Op. 30, with new responsive pieces by Daniel Bernard Roumain and Deanna Rusnock.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: The prospect of Kosher barbecue might not fill your heart with visions of moist, succulent meat. But the smoked brisket at Izzy's Smokehouse is gooooooood.
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Monday, December 6, 2021, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Shoko Matsumura: Cooking Up
THEATER
MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021
7:30 PM
Japan Society
333 East 47th Street, Turtle Bay, Manhattan
$15
https://www.japansociety.org/arts-and-culture/performances/cooking-up-play
A rare chance to experience (in a reading) the work of emerging Japanese playwright Shoko Matsumura, whose work reminds at least this gaijin of the gentle surrealism of Murakami (albeit wackier and also harder-edged).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Spurred on by Pete Wells, I recently revisited Pietro's for the first time since, probably, the Reagan Administration. Like most touted Old Skool Red Sauce places, it wasn't very good.
-
Monday, December 6, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
-
Mon, Dec 6, 2021, 5:00 PM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 8:00 PM
Assemble
THEATER / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 – 12, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 31)
5:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:20, 6:40 & 7:00 THURSDAY & FRIDAY
4:00, 4:20, 4:40, 5:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:20, 6:40 & 7:00 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Secret Location (disclosed upon ticket purchase), Brooklyn
$40; $30 students/artists/unemployed
https://www.projectassemble.org/
A return of the immersive theatrical experience in which audience members, having downloaded an app that will guide them and provide content, wander around a disused Brooklyn store experiencing an early middle age reconsideration of life choices (the creators of this piece couldn't have anticipated how reflective of the zeitgeist it would turn out to be).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: How would I know? The location's a SECRET!
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Monday, December 6, 2021, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Gelsey Bell feat. Joseph White: Cairns
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 – 12, 2021 (ongoing)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
#stillHERE IRL
Green-Wood Cemetery, Sunset Park Entrance
35th Street at 4th Avenue, Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn
$7 or more for soundtrack
https://here.org/shows/cairns/
One of the first shows during Quarantine that you could actually Go Out! to (although it's not quite "live"). Gelsey Bell, that vocal star of NYC Alt Classical, has conceived of a piece that walks you around Green-Wood Cemetery (starting at the Sunset Park Entrance). You download the soundtrack on your phone beforehand (the Times complains about how hard it is to download from Bandcamp to an iPhone — trust me: if I can figure out how to do it, anyone can). Bell wrote the text and narrates, with a co-composing assist from the inimitable Joe White. The Cemetery itself will do the performing. (You can also listen to the soundtrack at home and pretend you're walking around the Cemetery.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: The Sunset Park entrance is only a short walk from Hometown BBQ Industry City (if you go over the weekend, you can get the fabulous pastrami).
-
Monday, December 6, 2021, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
EXO-TECH: In the Round
MUSIC
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2021
7:30 PM
Public Records, Sound Room
233 Butler Street, Gowanus, Brooklyn
$20.70
https://dice.fm/event/7v9a9-exo-tech-ft-kimbra-sophia-brous-and-special-guests-7th-dec-public-records-new-york-tickets
EXO-TECH conjoins collective improvisations and pop songform — or, as they put it, "traverses fields between Talking Heads, Can, The Knife, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago". Oh, did I mention that its guiding forces are Kimbra and Sophia Brues? (You might spot C. Spencer Yeh and Simon Hanes [wait isn't he at Roulette tonight?] among the players.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Nice seafood (not, they promise, harvested from the Gowanus Canal) at Littleneck.
-
Mon, Dec 6, 2021, 6:00 AM – Sun, Dec 12, 2021, 1:00 AM
Ellen Reid: SOUNDWALK
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 – 12, 2021 (ongoing)
6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
New York Philharmonic
Central Park
59th Street – 110th Street/Central Park West – 5th Avenue, Manhattan
Free (registration required)
https://www.ellenreidsoundwalk.com/new-york-philharmonic
The New York Phil hops aboard the walk-around-the-landscaped-space-with-soundtrack train (see below). The highly allusive soundtrack was put together by Ellen Reid, who is one of the more soundscapey (and certainly one of the best) of today's many excellent young composers. This walk isn't guided: you download an app that triggers sounds sent to your earphones from various cells around the Park as you wander. So you can do it over many times. (Speaking of wandering around Central Park, here's something that I, for one, never knew.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Delicious pan-African at Teranga.
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Sunday, December 5, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Joel Ross: Winter Residency
MUSIC
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2021
8:00 PM
Baby's All Right
146 Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$20
https://www.seetickets.us/event/Joel-RossWinterResidency/451304
The current boss of jazz vibes, Joel Ross, starts a three-Sunday residency at Baby's All Right. Tonight's show features him with the excellent trumpet player Marquis Hill, who's not afraid of R&B and hip-hop.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Mexico City-style streetish food at Aldama — and they understand that the wine to drink with Mexican food is Natural.
-
Saturday, December 4, 2021, 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Kerri Chandler / Chez Damier
MUSIC
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2021
10:00 PM
Knockdown Center
52-19 Flushing Avenue, Maspeth, Queens
$15-$25
https://knockdown.center/event/kerri-chandler-chez-damier/
Kerri Chandler moved House music from Chicago to New Jersey, and made it even deeper. Chez Damier moved himself from Chicago (House City) to Detroit (Techno City) — but his music sounds more like New York. They are giants of electronic dance music.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: It's a bit of a walk, but this might be a good night for some beer and sausage at Gottscheer Hall before the show.
-
Saturday, December 4, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Kris Davis: Suite Charrière
MUSIC
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2021
8:00 PM
Roulette In Person & Live Stream
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum HIll, Brooklyn
$20 advance in person; $25 door in person; free live stream
https://roulette.org/event/kris-davis-sound-erasure/
The incisive pianist/composer Kris Davis, certainly one of the leading lights of contemporary jazz, performs six pieces responding to films by Julian Charrière — with an intriguing new ensemble.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, comforting bistro at Bacchus. Streaming at home, have a Fumata Bianca: pour 1/2 oz. Mezcal and 1 oz. each of Vermouth Blanc (actually, by preference, Carpano Bianco) and Suze into a Collins glass. Add ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with a grapefruit twist.
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Saturday, December 4, 2021, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Matthew Aucoin: Eurydice
OPERA
TUESDAY & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30 & DECEMBER 4, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 16)
7:00 PM TUESDAY
1:00 PM SATURDAY
Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center
30 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side, Manhattan
$37-$460
https://www.metopera.org/season/2021-22-season/eurydice/
Sarah Ruhl's play Eurydice — telling the familiar Orpheus myth from the viewpoint of the deceased wife (and concluding that she might be better off in the Underworld with her beloved father than in the World married to a singing star) — was a stone delight. If in the past the appeal of lauded opera composer Matthew Aucoin has eluded me — Britten without the endless stream of invention, it seems to me — maybe THIS time I'll get it.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Distinctive Italian at The Leopard at des Artistes.
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Friday, December 3, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Downtown Variety: Take 21
DANCE / PERFORMANCE / MUSIC
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021
8:00 PM
CultureHub In Person & Live Stream
CultureHub NYC
47 Great Jones Street, NoHo, Manhattan
$10 in person; free (donation requested) live stream (registration required)
https://www.lamama.org/shows/downtown-variety-take-21-2021
This wonderful Quarantine mainstay goes liveinperson (while staying online as well). You can't know what to expect.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, you might try the disappointingly limited (but what there is, is good) eclectic menu, and very good wine, at Jolene. Streaming at home, have a Zone Amarillo: pour 1 oz. each of Mezcal and Tequila, 3/4 oz. Punt e Mes, and 1/4 oz. yellow Chartreuse, with 2 dashes each of Angostura and Peychaud's bitters, into a rocks glass over ice. Stir. Garnish with an orange twist and a cocktail cherry.
-
Friday, December 3, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Immanuel Wilkins
MUSIC
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021
8:00 PM
Roulette In Person & Live Stream
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum HIll, Brooklyn
$20 advance in person; $25 door in person; free live stream
https://roulette.org/event/immanuel-wilkins/
Alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins is the Great Young Hope of mainstream jazz.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, nice if indistinct eclectic food at As You Are. Streaming at home, have an Old Pepper: pour 2-1/4 oz. Bourbon, 3/4 oz. lemon juice, and 1/2 oz. each of Cholula and Simple Syrup, with 1 dash of Worcestershire Sauce, into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake. Strain into a chilled Martini glass or coupe. Garnish with cracked black pepper.
-
Friday, December 3, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Fri, Dec 3, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 9:00 PM
LCD Soundsystem
MUSIC
MONDAY – WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 1 & DECEMBER 3 – 5, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 21)
8:00 PM
Brooklyn Steel
319 Frost Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$79.50 advance; $85 day of
MONDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413983/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
TUESDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413959/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
WEDNESDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413960/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
FRIDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413905/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
SATURDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413961/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
SUNDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413962/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
It shows you what a huge deal this is that it's a month-long stand. James Murphy's art-dance-rock project captured the moment when it emerged in the early Aughts, and it still sounds of the moment ("Losing My Edge" has been my own personal theme song for almost 20 years now). Is Murphy the cleverest person in Brooklyn, if not America? He just might be.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Let's make it an all-James Murphy night. Before the show, go to his great wine bar, The Four Horsemen (where, aside from the exceptionally well-selected range of Natural wines, the food is MUCH better than it needs to be). After, go back to his no-longer-secret club next door to Four Horsemen, Daymoves/Nightmoves.
-
Friday, December 3, 2021, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
-
Fri, Dec 3, 2021, 7:00 PM – Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 4:00 PM
Jeremy O. Harris: Slave Play
THEATER
TUESDAY – WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 1 & DECEMBER 3 – 5, 2021 (continuing through JANUARY 23)
7:00 PM TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
2:00 PM WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY
8:00 PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
August Wilson Theatre
245 West 52nd Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$29-$35
https://slaveplaybroadway.com/
It would be silly to claim that Jeremy O. Harris's is the smartest, most audacious, most piercing play ever to be staged on Broadway. But that's what you'll think as you walk out, and as you continue to think about the play in the following days. (It would be safer to say it's the smartest, most audacious, most piercing treatment of race — but let's face it, that category is neither huge nor, up to now, very distinguished.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: I've never had a bad time at Russian Samovar (even if, owing to overindulgence in their infused vodkas, I've had bad times the following mornings).
-
Thu, Dec 2, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 4:00 PM
-
Thursday, December 2, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Interpretations: Amina Claudia Myers Trio / Douglas Ewart
MUSIC
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2021
8:00 PM
Roulette
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum HIll, Brooklyn
$20
https://roulette.org/event/interpretations-amina-claudine-myers-trio-douglas-ewart/
Keyboardist Amina Claudia Myers plays in an organ trio: an intriguing prospect (although one doubts it'll have us thinking of Jimmy Smith). Douglas Ewart, meanwhile, takes the music of the Caribbean out to the furthest reaches of the known or unknown universe — including on instruments of his own devising.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Haven't tried the new Mexican spot El Zasón yet, but their Cochinita Chiapaneco is calling my name.
-
Thursday, December 2, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
Thu, Dec 2, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 5:00 PM
-
Thu, Dec 2, 2021, 7:30 PM – Sat, Dec 4, 2021, 8:29 PM
Radical Acts
THEATER / PERFORMANCE
THURSDAY – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 – 4, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 11)
7:30 PM
JACK
20 Putnam Avenue, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
$10-$20 per show; $45 festival pass
https://www.jackny.org/radical-acts
A bunch of performance and theater artists were given a brief to be radical (not that most of them need to be asked).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Neighborly Nigerian at Buka.
-
Thu, Dec 2, 2021, 7:00 PM – Sat, Dec 4, 2021, 8:00 PM
Christopher-Rashee Stevenson: VICTIMS
THEATER
THURSDAY – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 – 4, 2021
7:00 PM
SUITE/Space
Mabou Mines, 122 CC
150 First Avenue, East Village, Manhattan
A psychedelic horror take on Ionesco's Victims of Duty. Not so much the absurd courting the vulgar as the subversively over-the-top courting the absurd.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: It's getting cold, and I for one could really use one of Hearth's Variety Burgers.
-
Thursday, December 2, 2021, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Laura Ortman Residency
MUSIC
THURSDAY – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 – 5, 2021
8:30 PM
The Stone
Glass Box Theater, The New School
55 West 13th Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan
$20 (registration recommended)
http://www.thestonenyc.com/calendar.php
A three-night stand featuring various contexts for experimental violinist/composer/sound artist Laura Ortman. Ortman has said she conceives of her music visually, and you can hear what she means.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Georgian at Chama Mama.
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Wed, Dec 1, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 4:00 PM
David Byrne: American Utopia
THEATER / DANCE / PERFORMANCE
WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 – 5, 2021 (ongoing)
8:00 PM WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY
5:00 & 9:00 PM SATURDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
St. James Theater
246 West 44th Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$59-$179
https://americanutopiabroadway.com/
If a collaboration between David Byrne and Annie-B Parson were put on at BAM, I wouldn't think twice about Listing it (although I'd still feel constrained to make a comment about Boomer Nostalgia moving on to the Pop Avant-Garde). So I'm not gonna demerit this cuz it's on Broadway. AM I? (BTW, Annie-B Parson has a piece at BAM this week — be sure to make time for it!)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Maybe the sushi at Sushi Lab is overelaborate and tries too hard. But it's there.
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Wed, Dec 1, 2021, 8:00 PM – Sat, Dec 4, 2021, 9:00 PM
Raja Feather Kelly / The Feath3r Theory: WEDNESDAY
DANCE / THEATER
WEDNESDAY – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 – 4, 2021
8:00 PM
New York Live Arts
219 West 19th Street, Chelsea, Manhattan
$15-$25
https://newyorklivearts.org/event/wednesday-dec-2021/
Dog Day Afternoon was one of the first (relatively) sympathetic presentations of LGBTQ characters in mainstream American cinema (Glen or Glenda was rather outré) — but it was still told by people hijacking other people's narrative. The outrageous choreographer/theatermaker Raja Feather Kelly reexamines — indeed reimagines — the material from a queer perspective, resulting in a fantasia where the film's psychological realism meets pop soap opera — and issues like representation, appropriation, and cultural marginalization and exclusion are explored (do NOT expect a knee-jerk argument that only people like the subject are entitled to tell a story). But most important, this will be much more fun than the foregoing rather dry recitation might lead you to expect.
MAKE A NOTE OF IT: Vietnamese fusion, not quite as good as at the best new Vietnamese Wave places but still worth trying, at Omai.
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Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Andrew Lamb's Circadian Spheres of Light Project Ensemble
MUSIC / DANCE/ PERFORMANCE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
8:00 PM
Roulette In Person & Live Stream
509 Atlantic Avenue (entrance on 3rd Avenue), Boerum HIll, Brooklyn
$20 advance in person; $25 door in person; free live stream
https://roulette.org/event/andrew-lambs-circadian-spheres-of-light-project-ensemble/
A multimedia presentation, built around the compositions of reedman Andrew Lamb, intended to create brain stimulation for Altzheimer's, dementia, and PTSD.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: In person, comfort food at Kind of Soul. Streaming at home, have a Lion and the Lamb: pour 1-3/4 oz. Bourbon, 3/4 oz. lime juice, 1/2 oz. Orgeat, and 1/4 oz. Allspice/Pimento Dram, with 2 dashes of Peychaud's bitters, into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake. Strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a lime slice and a cocktail cherry.
-
Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Luke Stewart, Daniel Carter, Jamal Moore, Chris Williams & Tcheser Holmes / Gabby Fluke-Mogal
MUSIC
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021
7:00 PM
IRL Gallery
80 Franklin Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
$20
https://ra.co/events/1481241
Free/experimental jazz bassist Luke Stewart brings a bunch of his colleagues on the D.C. scene or from the great Irreversible Entanglements band for a session. Also along is our own Gabby Fluke-Mogol on violin.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Sorta-Middle Eastern "Mediterranean" Nura has been getting a lot of love (from people who aren't already bored with this syncretic cuisine that's now all over town).
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Wed, Dec 1, 2021, 7:00 PM – Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 4:00 PM
ONEOFUS Panto Project: Dick Rivington & the Cat
THEATER / PERFORMANCE
WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 – 5, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 19)
7:00 PM WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY
4:00 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Abrons Arts Center
466 Grand Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
$26 Wednesday-Friday
$26-$76 Saturday & Sunday
https://www.abronsartscenter.org/program/dick-rivington/
Performance greats Julie Atlas Muz and Mat Fraser (a family, it seems appropriate to point out this time of year) continue their program of bringing the British Christmas Panto tradition, with its winking (and gender-fluid!) broad low-comedy treatment of traditional tales, to Downtown. Look, I don't know quite how to say this: I want you to go to this. If you want to talk about theory, this is precisely the kind of knowing artistic manipulation of popular culture this List focuses on. But forget that. What's important is, I can't imagine anyone who'd be reading this not having a great time. I saw Julie and Mat's previous Christmas Panto time and again over multiple years, and I sure did.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: The place to go from the Abrons is Basque sensation Ernesto's, one of the best restaurants in New York.
-
Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 8:30 PM – Sat, Dec 4, 2021, 9:29 PM
Hillary Miller: Preparedness
THEATER
TUESDAY – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 4, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 11)
8:30 PM
SubletSeries: Bushwick Starr Copresentation
HERE
145 Sixth Avenue (entrance on Dominick Street), Hudson Square, Manhattan
$25
https://here.org/shows/preparedness/
A sort of faux-thriller taking place in a moribund (duh) college arts department.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Basic (but good) Tuscan (and pizza) at Coco Pazzo Trattoria.
-
Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 7:30 PM – Sat, Dec 4, 2021, 8:29 PM
Kiki & Herb: SLEIGHT at BAM
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 4, 2021
7:30 PM
Harvey Theater, BAM Strong
641 Fulton Street, Fort Greene, Brooklyn
$35-$155
https://www.bam.org/kiki
Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman don Kiki and Herb garb and personae for a Holiday camp spectacular. You will be very sorry if you miss this.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Bit of a stroll, but Chef Fidel Caballero's residency at Rhodora Wine Bar looks tempting.
-
Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 7:30 PM – Thu, Dec 2, 2021, 8:30 PM
-
Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 7:00 PM – Wed, Dec 1, 2021, 8:00 PM
Jeremy O. Harris: Slave Play
THEATER
TUESDAY – WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 1 & DECEMBER 3 – 5, 2021 (continuing through JANUARY 23)
7:00 PM TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
2:00 PM WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY
8:00 PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY
3:00 PM SUNDAY
August Wilson Theatre
245 West 52nd Street, Midtown, Manhattan
$29-$35
https://slaveplaybroadway.com/
It would be silly to claim that Jeremy O. Harris's is the smartest, most audacious, most piercing play ever to be staged on Broadway. But that's what you'll think as you walk out, and as you continue to think about the play in the following days. (It would be safer to say it's the smartest, most audacious, most piercing treatment of race — but let's face it, that category is neither huge nor, up to now, very distinguished.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: I've never had a bad time at Russian Samovar (even if, owing to overindulgence in their infused vodkas, I've had bad times the following mornings).
-
Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 4:30 PM – Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 8:30 PM
Lightscape
PERFORMANCE
TUESDAY – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30 – DECEMBER 5, 2021 (continuing through JANUARY 9)
4:30 – 8:30 PM
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Avenue, across the street from Crown Heights, Brooklyn
$34 adults; $18 children 3-12; free babies 0-2
https://www.bbg.org/lightscape#tickets
Illuminated trails, site-specific lightworks by local artists, a soundtrack — in the one of the best places in New York City!
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: You don't see Burmese restaurants coming and going, let alone ones as nice as Rangoon.
-
Tue, Nov 30, 2021, 10:00 AM – Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 5:00 PM
-
Mon, Nov 29, 2021, 8:00 PM – Wed, Dec 1, 2021, 9:00 PM
LCD Soundsystem
MUSIC
MONDAY – WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 1 & DECEMBER 3 – 5, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 21)
8:00 PM
Brooklyn Steel
319 Frost Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
$79.50 advance; $85 day of
MONDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413983/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
TUESDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413959/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
WEDNESDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413960/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
FRIDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413905/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
SATURDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413961/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
SUNDAY: https://www.axs.com/events/413962/lcd-soundsystem-tickets
It shows you what a huge deal this is that it's a month-long stand. James Murphy's art-dance-rock project captured the moment when it emerged in the early Aughts, and it still sounds of the moment ("Losing My Edge" has been my own personal theme song for almost 20 years now). Is Murphy the cleverest person in Brooklyn, if not America? He just might be.
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Let's make it an all-James Murphy night. Before the show, go to his great wine bar, The Four Horsemen (where, aside from the exceptionally well-selected range of Natural wines, the food is MUCH better than it needs to be). After, go back to his no-longer-secret club next door to Four Horsemen, Daymoves/Nightmoves.
-
Mon, Nov 29, 2021, 5:00 PM – Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 8:00 PM
Assemble
THEATER / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 5, 2021 (continuing through DECEMBER 31)
5:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:20, 6:40 & 7:00 THURSDAY & FRIDAY
4:00, 4:20, 4:40, 5:00, 5:20, 5:40, 6:00, 6:20, 6:40 & 7:00 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY
Secret Location (disclosed upon ticket purchase), Brooklyn
$40; $30 students/artists/unemployed
https://www.projectassemble.org/
A return of the immersive theatrical experience in which audience members, having downloaded an app that will guide them and provide content, wander around a disused Brooklyn store experiencing an early middle age reconsideration of life choices (the creators of this piece couldn't have anticipated how reflective of the zeitgeist it would turn out to be).
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: How would I know? The location's a SECRET!
-
Mon, Nov 29, 2021, 8:00 AM – Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 5:00 PM
Gelsey Bell feat. Joseph White: Cairns
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 5, 2021 (ongoing)
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
#stillHERE IRL
Green-Wood Cemetery, Sunset Park Entrance
35th Street at 4th Avenue, Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn
$7 or more for soundtrack
https://here.org/shows/cairns/
One of the first shows during Quarantine that you could actually Go Out! to (although it's not quite "live"). Gelsey Bell, that vocal star of NYC Alt Classical, has conceived of a piece that walks you around Green-Wood Cemetery (starting at the Sunset Park Entrance). You download the soundtrack on your phone beforehand (the Times complains about how hard it is to download from Bandcamp to an iPhone — trust me: if I can figure out how to do it, anyone can). Bell wrote the text and narrates, with a co-composing assist from the inimitable Joe White. The Cemetery itself will do the performing. (You can also listen to the soundtrack at home and pretend you're walking around the Cemetery.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: The Sunset Park entrance is only a short walk from Hometown BBQ Industry City (if you go over the weekend, you can get the fabulous pastrami).
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Mon, Nov 29, 2021, 6:00 AM – Sun, Dec 5, 2021, 1:00 AM
Ellen Reid: SOUNDWALK
MUSIC / PERFORMANCE
MONDAY – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 – DECEMBER 5, 2021 (ongoing)
6:00 AM – 1:00 AM
New York Philharmonic
Central Park
59th Street – 110th Street/Central Park West – 5th Avenue, Manhattan
Free (registration required)
https://www.ellenreidsoundwalk.com/new-york-philharmonic
The New York Phil hops aboard the walk-around-the-landscaped-space-with-soundtrack train (see below). The highly allusive soundtrack was put together by Ellen Reid, who is one of the more soundscapey (and certainly one of the best) of today's many excellent young composers. This walk isn't guided: you download an app that triggers sounds sent to your earphones from various cells around the Park as you wander. So you can do it over many times. (Speaking of wandering around Central Park, here's something that I, for one, never knew.)
MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Delicious pan-African at Teranga.
