MUSIC: An Evening with Black Francis at Symphony Space

This coming Friday, Symphony Space—2537 Broadway at 95th Street, NYC—presents an evening with Black Francis, aka Frank Black, aka Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV, founder and front man of the Pixies, one of the most influential alternative rock bands of the mid-80s and early-90s.

Fans who know Thompson mostly from the Pixies may be surprised to learn that as a solo artist he has released 19 albums since 1994. Most often recording as Frank Black, Thomspon has pursued a more melodic, country and western-influenced course, but while his music has been decidedly calmando compared to the often explosive electric guitar-based sound of the Pixies, Thompson has by no means forgotten how to rock, especially on those occasions when he has stepped out as Black Francis, either with or without the reunited Pixies.

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ART: Molly Crabapple's World Maker Faire New York 2012 Poster

Illustrator Molly Crabapple, previously featured in a video interview with stated, has created lively and intricate poster art for this weekend’s World Maker Faire 2012 in New York City, which she has posted to her Tumblr.

She describes it as having “Many things hidden within,” so clearly a closer look is required.

The World Maker Faire, part of “New York Maker Week,” will be held today and tomorrow, Sept. 29-30, at the New York Hall of Science in Queens, NY. 

Coney Island Mermaid Parade Celebrates 30th Anniversary

(2010 Mermaid Parade. Photo: Flickr user any.nyc)

This Saturday, June 23, the Coney Island Mermaid Parade celebrates its 30th anniversary with its annual parade down Surf Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. Led by Queen Mermaid Annabella Sciorra and King Neptune Jackie “The Jokeman” Martling, the parade is self-proclaimed the “nation’s largest art parade and one of New York City’s greatest summer events.” 

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"Sleep No More" Haunts New York Theatregoers' Dreams

Company member Sophie Bortolussi (Photo Courtesy SleepNoMoreNYC.com)

Earlier this week we attended a performance of Sleep No More here in New York. It’s not easy to describe the site-specific event, which UK performance troupe Punchdrunk has painstakingly installed in three adjoining buildings (formerly nightclubs and warehouses) on West 27th Street in Chelsea.

Upon arrival, Visitors to the “abandoned” McKittrick Hotel are instructed to don Venetian carnival masks to create a sense of anonymity and freedom. Over twenty actor/dancers—sans masks—then enact a “choose your own adventure” style performance that’s a bit of a mash-up of Shakespeare’s Macbeth and 1930’s film noire, with audience members enouraged to follow whichever actors they choose through 100 rooms. Every visitor is thus given an entirely unique experience that rewards curiosity and encourages repeat visits.

The show has grown enormously popular, extending multiple times since opening last Spring, aided in part by its vocal celebrity attendees—from Olivia Wilde [see quote above] to Neil Patrick Harris—who enthusiastically tweet its praises (and surely enjoy the anonymity it provides).

If you’re in New York and can snag a ticket, do it. And then plan to be dying to go back again for a completely different show.

Visit sleepnomorenyc.com

Andrew Clancy's "A Year in New York" Viral Video

If you haven’t seen filmmaker/photographer Andrew Clancy’s gorgeous love letter to New York City, it’s definitely worth a viewing. In just two weeks, it’s earned over 300K views, surely placing it on its way to the elusive, holy viral pantheon.