The Drifting Encyclopedia exhibition closes soon

I've been spending a lot of time poking around on Design*Sponge lately, initially for design research for my internship, but now because it's got so darn many awesome DIY ideas. And interesting artists. And views into beautiful homes that I'll never be able to afford. (Hey, it's free to look!) And, well, it's just a gorgeous blog. (Have I just unwittingly swayed your loyalty away from my humble blog? You have enough love in your heart for both of us, right?)

Anyhow, in the spirit of Design*Sponge, I was inspired to post today mainly because of how much I love this image:

...which is of a piece on display in the exhibition The Drifting Encyclopedia, on view now through September 3 as part of Third Rail Projects at the World Financial Center. Here's a little text from their website about the exhibit:

"The Drifting Encyclopedia is an assemblage of American oddities, scientific and historical ephemera, questionable accounts and implausible representations thereof. Part Victorian cabinet of curiosities, part roadside attraction, this immersive art installation houses exhibits that echo the themes of unlikely connections and contemplates the actual, illusory and anomalous nature of love."

Can't be all bad if they're showing something as lovely as Ryan Benyi's piece above. Check it out before it closes next week. They've also got a ton of other cool free stuff coming up this fall.

The Drifting Encyclopedia
July 12 - September 3, 2010
Monday - Friday, 12 - 4pm
World Financial Center Courtyard Gallery

Listen to the new Sufjan Stevens for free!

I am SUPER excited to see Sufjan Stevens for the first time when he comes to NYC in November (which is now sold out, but evil Ticketmaster has other tour dates). The tickets were a little bit of a splurge, but I'm chalking it up to an anniversary gift to myself and my music-loving man. Repeatedly clicking REFRESH REFRESH REFRESH on the Ticketmaster site at 9:59 a.m. last Friday took me back to the days when I had money to throw around and I was a pro at nabbing good tickets. Sigh. Those were the days.

Anyway, Sufjan just put out a new EP entitled "All Delighted People," now available online for your free listening pleasure. This is a great, cheap way for all you commitment-phobes out there (I am admittedly among you) to test the waters before you take the $5 plunge to buy it. Who likes to buy a new album only to discover it sucks? (This one doesn't.)

Big thanks to Kelly S for tipping me off on this one!

Cheer up. Summer's not over yet!

Just when you were starting to feel a little sad and a little lonely, thinking that summer was over...
More free outdoor movies!

This drizzly, gray, coolish weather has me thinking of fall and already feeling nostalgic for this summer, but it's a relief to know that there are still fun, free, warm weather things to do. Next week, the Central Park Conservancy (they of the fantastic free park tours) presents a teeny tiny "film festival" Tuesday through Saturday at 8 pm each night. Here's the lineup, with descriptions stolen from the Park Conservancy:



Tuesday, August 24: Fame (1980)
This classic ’80s musical flick follows students through their audition, training and graduation at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. 134 min. (And by the way, if you can't make it to see Fame next Tuesday, it's also showing tonight in Astoria Park!)

Wednesday, August 25: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)
A remake of the 1974 crime thriller, armed men hijack a New York City subway train and hold passengers hostage in return for a ransom. Dispatcher Walter Graber (Denzel Washington) is left to face off with the crime’s mastermind (John Travolta). 106 min.

Thursday, August 26: Saturday Night Fever (1977)
This disco classic follows Tony Manero (John Travolta), a Brooklyn youth who feels his only chance to make it in life is as king of the dance floor. 118 min.

Friday, August 27: King Kong (1933)
In this cult classic stop-animation film, a giant gorilla called Kong attempts to possess a beautiful blond actress. 100 min.

Saturday, August 28: Manhattan (1979)
A romantic comedy about a twice-divorced writer (Woody Allen) who is dating a high school girl, and eventually finds love with his best friend’s mistress. (Diane Keaton). 96 min.

Gates open at 6:30, movies start at 8. Picnics are welcome! Showings are at north of Sheep Meadow, behind Mineral Springs (mid-Park at 69th Street). Enter the Park at 72nd Street.

Kronos Quartet Tonight!

Oh, DAMN. We're going to miss this one. But you shouldn't. You know Kronos Quartet - they played the most beautiful music for the most depressing movie ever. I'm almost late for yoga, making this post, but I had to tell you about this (see how much I love you?):

Kronos Quartet with special guest
Gamelan Galak Tika
Kenge Kenge (New York Debut)
Friday, August 13 at 7:30
Damrosch Park Bandshell (62nd & Columbus)
FREE

From the Lincoln Center Outdoors website:
Visionary precision, fearless exploration, and unlimited scope have placed the Kronos Quartet at the forefront of contemporary music for nearly 40 years. Tonight’s far-reaching repertoire features works by Steve Reich, Café Tacuba, and the world premiere of Christine Southworth’s Super Collider. Performed by Kronos with the 14 musicians of Gamelan Galak Tika (Evan Ziporyn, artistic director) using the virtual Gamelan Elektrika, designed and developed by Harmonix’s Alex Rigopulos (of Guitar Hero and Rock Band), Super Collider juxtaposes two sound worlds and traditions, the string quartet and the ancient gamelan, through the unlimited sonic universe of electronics.

Mid-August Movie: Mid-August Lunch

After seeing West Side Story last night in Astoria Park, I am officially addicted to outdoor movies. After many failed, foggy, frigid attempts to watch movies outside in San Francisco in the summer, I am giving New York summers a big, sweaty embrace. Ice cream truck + fireflies + twinkly East River + homemade popcorn + warmcool breezes + Jerome Robbins' choreography on a big inflatable screen = a perfect evening. Enough said.

So on that theme, I present another free chance at outdoor film enjoyment this Wednesday, August 11, courtesy of Rooftop Films:

Mid-August Lunch
"Set during a sweltering holiday weekend in Rome, this utterly charming comedy is about a middle-aged man living with his mother who suddenly finds himself caring for four elderly women—a delightful movie about aging, family, friendship, food, and wine." (Gianni Di Gregorio. Italy. 75 min.)

Live music starts at 7 pm, film at 8:30. We'll be there with bug spray on.
Socrates Sculpture Park
32-01 Vernon Blvd
Long Island City

West Side Story (across the East River)

I am blessed (cursed?) with a bizarrely short memory, which means that I am able to read books and see movies over and over again for the first time - and unfortunately, to meet people and have zero recollection of having already done so. (This can be awkward. Not as bad as Memento, but sometimes close.) But tonight, my brain malfunction will come in handy: West Side Story is showing in Astoria Park at 8 pm, which I have surely seen before, but remember it not even a little bit.



My apartment is about as refreshing as the inside of a dryer (which reminds me that my laundry should be done any moment now) and I'm ready for some cooling East River breezes. I am Astoria Park's newest big fan. I've been hitting up the pool that Susanna reviewed a few weeks back most mornings to swim laps before the kiddies take over, and the setting is really quite magical. I'm thinking it sounds like a good spot to catch a musical on the big screen tonight. We're making one of our famous popcorn blends, perhaps with some of the maple sugar I brought back from Vermont, to snack on. See you there!

Credit where credit's due: I found this movie listing on Big Apple Small Wallet. They've put together an impressive collection of free summer film screenings. Just make sure to double check with the venue - tonight's showing of Fame was switched for next week (and I'll definitely be there for that too).

Reentering the stream

After ten days out of New York City, blog-neglect guilt has me scrambling to throw together a blog post to make sure you haven't forgotten all about me. I'm digging through old drafts I've created over the summer as new free events find their way onto my radar. I have literally dozens of blog post zygotes that I haven't yet shared with you (which needles me with just a pang or two of blog-stingyness guilt.) As I peruse one potential post after another, though, I'm finding that many events have already happened, and are no longer relevant, and I'm having the funniest reaction. Rather than dismay, I'm feeling incredible relief!

The sheer amount of amazing free events to participate in over the summer here can come to feel more like a burden than a gift, and I must admit that I am breathing a bit easier in the face of this joyful eventlessness. A good friend describes New York as a rushing river of traffic: when you're in the flow of it, the pace is totally manageable, but once you're out of it for even a moment, it takes an immense burst of energy to gain the speed to reenter the stream.

So while I pedal and pedal to get back up to speed, here's today's free offering: outdoor yoga tonight with one of my favorite teachers, Dana Flynn (here she is, above). The venue is admittedly not phenomenal, but her energy is, and she revives even the most exhausted among us. See you there. 

Laughing Lotus Yoga in the Park
Wednesday, August 4, 7-8 pm
10th Ave between 14th and 15th Street
BYO mat, no registration necessary
(p.s. there are no changing rooms - come ready to move)