East Village Arts

The summer solstice has passed, the fireworks have exploded, and summer is in full swing. For those of us needing to cool down, it’s time to turn off the ovens, hide in the shade, take cold sips, and eat something delicious. Thankfully, Mayor Bloomberg has already designated July the month of Good Beer.

(more…)

Thursday: Take someone you love to see New Portraits by Austin Power and Augustus Thompson at the Ed. Varie gallery. Austin Power’s abstract watercolors are “rough, emotional, and incomplete” ArtCat, exploring ways to reflect and clarify the loves in his life. (more…)

Memorial Day weekend, a weekend of BBQ, beer and good company, is right around the corner! And this year, you don’t need to worry about planning the perfect backyard party. Let the Governor’s Island be your host to a great Memorial Day weekend celebration!

“Brought to you by Food Karma Projects (producers of Pig Island, Meatopia 2010 and Brewers 4 Brewers), Brewers’ PicNyc is a two-day celebration (May 29-30/11am-5pm) of everything that makes NYC great: street food, craft beer and music on Governors Island’s historic Colonels’ Row.”

There will be over 15 different food vendors, among them are Jimmy’s No. 43, Luke’s Lobster and the Kimchi Taco Truck, just to name a few. As for drinks, Brooklyn Brewery,Goose Island, Sixpoint and Two Brother’s will be serving up beer and other drinks and of course, there will be great music to accompany the festivities. (more…)

Bar 82 named its event “Hard to Love” but I think there is a big chance that we will love it! To be honest, who wouldn’t love live music like polka, nerdcore (okay, I admit, I haven’t heard of that until now) and existential folk. And additionally, you will see performances by Jillian Sweeney (who also hosts the events), Tara O’Con, members of the New York Neo-Futurists and many more!!!

Check out their homepage to get more info and above all, get your tickets, only $8 if you buy them online! Well, See you there then!

Hard to Love, Bar 82, 136 2nd Ave, May 16 – starting @ 7:00PM

Is there a better time to celebrate when it’s finally getting warm and sunny again?!

These are the top 5 galas, parties and anniversaries happening soon at the East Village’s theater companies:

• Performance Space 122 has every reason to party! You celebrate your 30^th Anniversary Season Gala just once! And look at the performer’s list, it’s something like the crème-de-la-crème of artists: Rufus Wainwright, Nilaja Sun, Ann Carlson*, Moe Angelos, Peggy Shaw, Lois Weaver, (*with Chet Kerr, Tom Moore, Scott Rosenberg, and John Sloss)! April 25, Abrons Art Center, starting @ 6pm! Tickets!

• Mabou Mines is looking forward to celebrate even 10 years more! Its 40^th Anniversary Gala will be held on April 18 and they return to the place where everything began – at the Paula Cooper Gallery! Great live performances and a rockin’ party from 8pm ‘til midnight are waiting for you! Tickets!

• La MaMa Moves! La MaMa honors Joan Finkelstein for her visionary support of dance artists and her passionate dedication to future generations of dancers and choreographers. On May 24, starting at 7:30PM!

• The Anthology Film Archives also celebrates its 40^th anniversary with a benefit concert and dinner! April 27 @ 7:00PM, the City Winery, you can find tickets here. Tickets!

• FAB Turns 10! Clearly the youngest one in this row but definitely one of the most exciting ones! We turn 10 this year and hey, we will throw a great party! All starts June 8 @ 7:00PM at the Cooper Square Hotel Penthouse. Don’t miss the chance to spend an evening with FAB while enjoying THIS panoramic view of New York City (see the pic above). Tickets will go on sale May 1! (more…)

Introducing to you the Purple Rep’s first mini series: “Gay Plays for Straight People (And Also Gay People).”  One of the productions featured in this series is “The Un-Marrying Project” by Larry Kunofsky and Mariah MacCarthy. In an act of defiance,  married couples around the United States are divorcing and remaining so until marriage becomes legal for all citizens. Watch Orthodox Jews, elderly WASPs, old hippies, wealthy immigrants, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon as they engage in this act of civil disobedience and learn the hard lesson: When you try to change the world, the world changes you. Basically, this is a show definitely worth seeing not only for the entertainment value, but because the issues are relevant.

The show runs throughout April and lucky for you, we have a promo code for tickets! Type PRIDE to get $5 OFF tickets.

For exact show times and other deals, visit the Purple Rep website: http://www.purplerep.com/

Also make sure to check out their video on youtube here: http://www.youtube.com/purplereptheatre

May 1st marks the start of the Six to Celebrate tour series running throughout 2011. This first tour will focus upon the dynamic Bowery, one of Manhattan’s oldest thoroughfares. This area has always been bustling with activity and is today home to numerous shops, restaurants and cultural sites. More recently, high-rise developers have set their sites on this area, threatening to do-away with the structures that make the Bowery what it is. The Historic Districts Council has identified the Bowery as one of the “Six to Celebrate” neighborhoods that neighborhood groups and individuals feel are worth preserving.

The tour will take place Sunday, May 1 @ 11 AM.

To learn more about “Six to Celebrate” click here.

Every girl deserves to go to their high school prom and not having a dress should never be a reason why they couldn’t go… The Lower East Side Girl’s Club is asking for you donations of formal gowns to help a girl go to her prom. Shoes and accessories are also accepted! This is such a wonderful cause and all donations are sure to be greatly appreciated.Think of it this way, not only are you helping a girl go to her high school prom, you are helping her save money. You are helping her enjoy an experience she is sure to never forget!

Drop-offs can be made Monday -Friday from 11-6PM.

For more information visit the LES Girl’s Club website here.

With a bar practically on every corner, the East Village has been named the top spot in NYC for liquor. According to a survey by the New York Post, there is a total 474 establishments that have a liquor license beating out the Financial District and the tourist hot-spot Time Square. While this “accomplishment” may sound alluring to the party go-ers in and around the area, it is viewed as more of a nuisance to the residents. As a result, the Community Board 3 has rejected several liquor license applicants. I guess this news should come as no great surprise that the East Village also has the 5th highest number of AA groups. So overall, I think the moral of this story is if you do drink, drink responsible!!

Click here for the full New York Post article.