Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Judy Gold comedy showcase

Judy Gold is hosting a comedy showcase (regrettably) titled, "Mom's Night Out", and you can enter for free tickets here. There will be three tapings, 12.6 6p-8:30p, 12.6- 8:15-10:30p, and 12.7 6-8:30p, and a complimentary cocktail hour before each. 

Hendrick's Enchanted Forest

So who hasn't been a fan of the recent string of whiskey tastings (for shame)? Hendrick's Gin is hosting the "Enchanted Forest of Curiosities" from 12.13-12.15 at 102 N. 6th St., Brooklyn. Part of me thinks their schtick is a bit precious, but dammit if I don't love the John Tenniel-like illustrations. And it's pretty good gin, too. RSVP here.


Thursday 12.1.11

And what a busy Thursday it is...
(* = recommended)

1) Check out the previous post for details on the Fresh Fanatic bakery opening party* and the Xylos, Xaphoon Jones*, etc. concert/party at Tammany Hall. If it's too late to RSVP for those...

2) To celebrate the successful campaign to keep the St. Marks Bookshop in business, a party with literary types will be going down 5:30-7:30p. 

3) Hope you already signed for the Glenlivet Scotch tastings* tonight and tomorrow at the Altman Building (W. 18th St.).

4) Dum Dum Girls*, Dive, and X-Ray Eyeballs at Brooklyn Bowl (61 Wythe Avenue). $10, 8p.

Dum Dum Girls- Bedroom Eyes
Dive- Sometime

5) Mark Sultan (King Khan and the BBQ), X-Ray Eyeballs (don't ask me how they're doing Brooklyn Bowl simultaneously), Bosco Delrey*, and Colleen Green at the Cake Shop (152 Ludlow St.). $10, 8p.

Bosco Delrey- Baby's Got a Blue Flame
Bosco Delrey- My My Racecar
Colleen Green- Rabid Love

6) Gauntlet Hair with Parenthetical Girls*, Dinowalrus, and Eraas at Glasslands (289 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn). $12d, 8:30p.

Gauntlet Hair- Keep Time
Parenthetical Girls- Evelyn McHale

7) Elizabeth & the Catapult, Sonya Kitchell, and Christina Courtin at Littlefield (622 Degraw, Brooklyn). $10, 8p.

Elizabeth & the Catapult- Taller Children

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Planning ahead for 12.1.11

There are a ton of great concerts on Thursday (see: Oh My Rockness), but there are two events that require RSVPs:

1) Fresh Fanatic Bakery grand opening at B3 Lounge (275 Park Avenue, Brooklyn). Free champagne and many desserts. Get free tickets and a breakdown of all the events at the Eventbrite page. 5-9p. [via My Free Concert]

2) Popshop at Tammany Hall (152 Orchard Street), 8p-4a. Performers this month include Xylos, Xaphoon Jones (Chiddy Bang), Teachers, Emil & Friends, and Ghost Beach. Absolut open bar 8-9p, RSVP to RSVP@Neongoldrecords.com.


Tuesday 11.29.11

Oh, holiday gluttony:

1) No Sombrero art party will feature Mexican artists, designers, and free tequila all night. 6-10p at The Poetry Club Artspace (317 Putnam Avenue, Brooklyn).


2) Movember Happy Hour at the Blind Barber (339 E. 10th Street), free Bushmills and a "moustache photobooth". Suggested $10 donation. RSVP here. 8-10p.


3) Major Arcana DJ Series at Night of Joy (667 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn). This event is ongoing; on Tuesdays through 12.13 members of MGMT, Chairlift, and Au Revoir Simone will be DJ-ing, and there will be a Reyka Vodka open bar from 10-10:30p. This week the DJ is Ben Goldwasser (MGMT). Night of Joy supposedly has a cool outdoor space, too. [via My Free Concert

4) Brief Thunder & Lightning solo set at the Sidewalk Cafe (6th St. and Avenue A) at 7:30, part of an album release party for another band. 

5) Little Scream, Rain Machine, and Akau at Pianos (158 Ludlow St.), $8. 8p.


6) Galactic Ping Pong at SPiN (glow in the dark!) (48 East 23rd Street), 10p-2a. Unclear if play is free. 

Royal Photographic Society

Check out the photos of a recent recipient of the "Licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society": 






Oh, and the recipient, Sam Kaye of Radlett, Hertfordshire, is only 12 years old. He anonymously submitted twelve photos, some taken on a family trip to South Africa, and is now the youngest member of the Royal Photographic Society.

Vincent Kohler's Turnaround

The Turnaround project by Vincent Kohler uses baseball bats as canvases.




Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Matt Braunger Comedy Taping

"Matt was recently a series regular on MADtv, his television credits also include The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, United States of Tara, Pushing Daisies, Carpoolers, Acceptable TV, Live At Gotham and John Oliver's New York Stand up Show. In 2009, he was named to Variety’s Top 10 Comics to Watch and Comedy Central’s Hot 9 in ’09 list, his debut album Soak Up The Night was released by Comedy Central Records and named to the iTunes REWIND Top 20 Albums of 2009. Matt is so funny Comedy Central has ordered a half-hour pilot project from him and The Office writer-producer Brent Forrester. Don't miss his one hour special before all his good jokes go into the show. Check out some of Matt's stand-up here"

Gramercy Theater (127 E. 23rd Street), Friday 12.2. Shows at 7:15 and 9:15. Enter for free tickets here.
Alt text: LET'S COUNT UP THE NUMBER OF BRAIN CELLS ACROSS EVERY LIVING THING WORLDWIDE DEDICATED TO FACEBOOK. THEN LET'S SLICE THEM OUT, CREATE A FACEBOOK BRAIN, AND IT IGNORES WHAT IT SAYS FOREVER.

Kelsey Oseid

This thing is like that thing and it scares me


Monday, November 21, 2011

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Ray Villafane's Pumpkins

I know Halloween is over, but we're still in gourd season, right? These carvings are amazing:





[via Flavorwire]

Parenthetical Girls


Also, "The Pornographer" (sort of NSFW--not graphic, but a remarkable homage to Andy Warhol's film Blow Job):


Turned on [to them] yet? Parenthetical Girls are playing a show at Glasslands (289 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn) on Thursday 12/1 (8:30p), along with Gauntlet Hair and Dinowalrus. $10a/$12d. Should be a really good show. Oh, and did I mention that the four part EP they released last year came in special edition vinyl signed with the frontman's blood?!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Glenlivet Scotch Tasting

Glenlivet Single Malt Whiskey is hosting a bunch of tastings in New York from 11.8-12.2. Most days have 6:30p and 9:30p events, and you can add one guest to your RSVP. I've yet to find out exactly where in the city these are, but hopefully a confirmation e-mail will arrive soon. For those not in NY, tastings are happening in Boston, Houston, Dallas, and LA in the near future.

You've got a face for radio?

Comic book artist Harvey James has begun a series of before and after drawings for podcast hosts. Here's the first:


Even though my "before" image of Marc Maron was not anything like James', I love this project. I'm an avid podcast-listener, and with the exception of Ira Glass, Mo Rocca, and Paula Poundstone, who I knew before I started listening, my ideas are generally way off. 

As for Marc Maron, I initially pictured him as Jeff Bridges-esque, but that came from WTF's black-and-white iTunes art, so I don't think it truly counts as a "before seen".

I also recently watched all of Explosion Bus (DO IT), and subsequently realized that people who lend their voices to animation have even less chance of being pictured as they are IRL.

Wisdom of the Ancients


Alt text: All long help threads should have a sticky globally-editable post at the top saying 'DEAR PEOPLE FROM THE FUTURE: Here's what we've figured out so far...'

[via xkcd]

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Full Hunger Games Trailer

Finally:


I know a lot of people are complaining about the white-washing Katniss (and Gale), but right now my biggest issue is how clean and pretty Jennifer Lawrence looks while still in District 12. I know it's hard to hide how f-ing gorgeous Lawrence is, but she's already hairless, etc. in the forest and Reaping shots that I fear her transformation in the Capital is going to be less impressive (even though it is mostly about the outfits). Well, I'm excited nonetheless--I had goosebumps from the moment Prim's name is called. Also, I'm hoping for music as haunting and inseparable from the movie as the Harry Potter theme, and the whistle at the end bodes well.

[via io9]

Typewriter Ribbon Tins









All images Janine Vangool [via Flavorwire]

Monday, November 14, 2011

Thirsty Thursday 11.17

1) Free cocktails at the Calligaris store opening (969 Third Avenue), 5:30-8:30p. RSVP to mgilbert@susanbecherpr.com. [via The Print Up]

2) Another Vitamin Water Presents concert at Santos Party House (96 Lafayette St.), 7:00-10:00p (or 7:30-10:30p; the e-mail is kind of unclear). Acts include Suckers, Javelin, and Lemonade. Free PBR and Vitamin Water. RSVP here.



3) I don't exactly know what this is, but: "Sam n' Jo" Open House Grand Opening at 244 E. Houston St. Free limo service for ladies (ugh) and free champagne for the first hour. RSVP here. Okay, I'm reading the write-up on that page, and this event looks skeezy, but someone might be into it. [via The Print Up]

Celebrate Nouveau Day benefit for Meals on Wheels

Another one on Wednesday 11.16:

Free food and wine at Stage 37 (508 W. 37th St.), 10p-1:30a. Get free tickets at the Eventbrite page.


One more for Tuesday

Some sort of Johnnie Walker Black event tomorrow at Teak on the Hudson (16 Hudson Pl, Hoboken), 8p-12a. Go to Guestcode.com, enter code 799 and your info. 


Wednesday: The Art of the Date

New York Magazine's The Art of the Date: A Gallery Walk on the LES, Wednesday 11.16, 6-9p at 54 Orchard St. Art, mingling, and free Becks beer at the very least. Get a free ticket on Eventbrite. [via The Print Up]

Free Belvedere Vodka, Perfume Bottle Party on Tuesday

1) If Tullamore Dew isn't your thing, Instinct's 2011 NY Leading Men event will be going on from 7-11p on Tuesday 11.15 at District36 (29 W. 36th St.). Four hour open bar with free Monster Energy and Belvedere Vodka. RSVP here.


2) A party to celebration the publication of a book about perfume bottles? Well...there will be free cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at Buck House (1318 Madison Avenue), 11.15 6-8p. RSVP to ricky@susangrantlewin.com. [via The Print Up]

Robot Oliver Twist and Zine Launch Party

1) All the Rats and Rags, performances at 8p Thursday 11.17-Sunday 11.20 at 3LD Art & Technology Center (80 Greenwich St.). From the Facebook page

Loosely based off of Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, “All the Rats and Rags” follows the creation and destruction of a robot named Twizt. This Sci-fi musical explores human evolution and the growing divide between the rich and poor. Our workshop production utilizes technology in order to create a futuristic society where people are powered by electricity and wear their battery lives on their sleeves. 

Adventure! I wonder what this is going to be like. To reserve free seats, email alltheratsandrags@gmail.com. 


2) Launch party for The World's First Perfect Zine at Other Music (15 E. 4th St.), Wednesday 11.16, 7-9p. Open bar of some sort and DJ sets by novelist Tao Lin, Victor Vazquez of Das Racist, and The NY Times' Jenna Wortham. No RSVP necessary, but arrive early cause Other Music is small. [via My Free Concert]

Wonder Woman KitchenAid Mixer

The baking I do isn't generally heavy-duty enough to warrant a standing mixer (I'm all about portables, baby), but dear God do I want this: 


Right now this design is only being sold in Brazil, which is probably good for my wallet in the long run.

[via Jezebel]

Friday, November 11, 2011

Bloody Marys and Comedy

1) Thrillist and Absolut are have a Bloody Mary throwdown on Monday 11.14 at Sons of Essex (133 Essex St.), 7-10p. This sounds great. RSVP here.


2) Enter for free tickets to Hannibal Buress' Comedy Central special taping on 12.3 at the Gramercy Theater (127 E. 23rd St.). Much like the John Mulaney and Todd Barry deals, there will be a show at 7:15p and a show at 9:15p. [via Living Free NYC]

Sexy times with Community

Ugh I know, People magazine. But it's Fangirl Friday, so deal with it:

Black Cat Auditions, Hollywood 1961






Ask a Mortician

It might be because I'm finally watching Six Feet Under, or it might be my morbid fascination with things that terrify me (i.e., death), but I am loving the "Ask a Mortician" series, hosted by California mortician Caitlin. Here's episode 2 (I recommend watching until the very end):

[via Jezebel]

Also, who does she look like? She reminds me of an actor or a person I once knew, and it's driving me crazy.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Great band names from misogynist insults

Proving that something good can come out of even vile human beings, Jezebel brings us great band names from (unfortunately) real misogynist insults slung at women on the internet.

A day or so ago, Anna North posted about the sexist abuse directed at women who write online, which is, unsurprisingly, much more common than in person verbal abuse. The post and the conversation in the comments was a bit of a "god-humans-are-awful" downer, but boy, do those insults make great band names. Here are some of my favorites (props to poster Erin Gloria Ryan for including descriptions):

Fuckpuddle DJ Fuckpuddle is well known around Ibiza hotspots, but relatively unheard of elsewhere. That will undoubtedly change now that his music has been selected to feature prominently in the next edition of Grand Theft Auto.


Babykiller Contrary to the violent sounding name, Babykiller is a homeschooled brother-sister duo from Eastern Washington named Brother and Sister Higgins. They discovered bluegrass when they were just children (their father is Thelonious Higgins, who is widely recognized as the grandfather of emo bluegrass) and have updated the genre to reflect their solitude and alienation. Their first EP is a 10 minute long recording of the duo playing banjo with kitchen utensils.


Frigid Chilling, atmospheric electronica created by an autistic Norwegian tween known only as Inge.


Big Girl Panties This cheeky brat-rock band has been together since the girls were high school sophomores in suburban Los Angeles. They grew up idolizing both Sleater-Kinney and The Ramones, and you can hear the influence of both bands in their music. What they lack in musical talent they make up for in onstage chemistry and enthusiasm.


Typical Little Jew Another rangy white dude with a laptop. A Pitchfork darling. Music consists of beeps and scratching. Giant headphones and ringer tees.


Victim Complex Twat I hope you're ready to have the windows of your car rattled to within an inch of their lives. This hard driving dubstep duo is making giant bass flavored waves in frat houses and raves around the world. One music journalist who attended a show called VCT live "the worst best acid trip I've ever experienced."


Dear Sandy Titties Surprisingly, a barbershop quartet comprised of octogenarians with a bawdy sense of humor.

Free Smirnoff and Free Mojitos

1) So, the RSVP may very well be full by now, but it's worth a shot. The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange is providing free drinks while you watch 11 people from around the world compete in front of Madonna. I can only assume they will be competing musically, but how great would it be if this were a juggling-only competition? Roseland Ballroom (239 W. 52nd St.), 11.12, doors at 9p. RSVP to Smirnoff@GTMCentral.com


2) This one sounds much more my speed: 2 hours of free mojitos and Cuban music on Sunday 11.13 at Thom Bar (60 Thompson St.), 8p. No RSVPs, no cover. Hop to it.