Here are some highlights from our October events calendar, first published in the latest edition of The Lo-Down’s print magazine:
Fri. 3 – Creatures of Habit at Dixon Place: Back by popular demand, the Moving Men series features seven dancers who find themselves in an absurd, yet strangely familiar universe. Choreographed to an original score by Daniel Kazemi, this piece draws inspiration from slapstick comedy, children’s stories, game shows and existential drama. Each evening begins with new works in progress by a diverse roster of contemporary choreographers. Friday and Saturday through Oct. 18, 161 Chrystie St., 7:30 p.m., $16/advance, $20/door.
Sat. 4 – Nightmare New York at Clemente Soto Velez: The renowned haunted house team tackles a new theme, delving into New York City’s legendary horror stories and urban legends, from Cropsey to gargoyles, alligators in the subways and new legends of the super rats created by Hurricane Sandy. Note: this experience is designed for adults; it’s gory! Children under 10 are not admitted and parents are strongly cautioned about bringing children under 16. Through Saturday, Nov. 2, 107 Suffolk St., ticket prices range from $20 for students to $60 for VIP entry (see website for details).
Tues. 7 – All This Has Come Upon Us at the Museum at Eldridge Street: Czech Television’s second documentary film on artist Mark Podwal offers a portrait of the creative process behind his recent Terezin Ghetto Museum exhibition of 42 archival pigment prints of acrylic, gouache and colored pencil works on paper. Filmed in Prague, Terezin, Auschwitz, Krakow and in New York at the Eldridge Street Synagogue, the documentary includes interviews with leading personalities discussing Podwal’s art.
12 Eldridge St., 7 p.m., free.
Thurs. 9 – Miranda July at the New Museum: Prolific artist and filmmaker Miranda July describes and demonstrates her new text-messaging service, Somebody. The service, an iOS application available for free download, continues July’s longstanding exploration of ways to humanize interactions with technology.
She describes the operation of the application in the following way: “When you send your friend a message through Somebody, it goes not to your friend, but to the Somebody user nearest your friend. This person (probably a stranger) delivers the message verbally, acting as your stand-in.”
The New Museum is acting as a hotspot for Somebody as part of a distributed launch that also includes the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco; Portland Institute of Contemporary Art; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; and Museo Jumex, Mexico City.
235 Bowery, 7 p.m., $10, newmuseum.org.
Sat. 11 – 12th Annual OpenhouseNewYork Weekend: America’s largest architecture and design event offers free tours of some of the city’s most intriguing spaces that you might not ordinarily be able to access. Highlights in the neighborhood include tours of the Henry Street Settlement’s historic headquarters, the Eldridge Street Synagogue and highly designed private residences curated by Interior Design magazine.
Also on Sunday, Oct. 12, free, but some sites require reservations.
Wed. 15 – Dead Centre’s Lippy at Abrons: Widely regarded as one of the most extraordinary works to come out of Ireland last year, up-and-coming experimental theater company Dead Centre comes to Abrons for its U.S. debut. Inspired by a true story of an aunt and three nieces who boarded themselves into their home and entered a suicide pact/hunger strike that lasted 40 days, Lippy is an investigation into why we tell stories in the face of tragedy.
466 Grand St., Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m., $20.
Sun. 19 – Lower East Side Pickle Day: The annual fun-filled day of pickle mania returns, including more than 20 picklers, over 30 local food and fashion vendors, games, DJs and live music, plus face-painting and a kids’ costume contest. The festival is part of the DayLife neighborhood event series hosted by the Lower East Side Business Improvement District.
Orchard Street, from Delancey to East Houston, noon to 5 p.m., free.
Tues. 21 – CMJ Music Marathon 2014: This below-the-radar festival is 34 years in. Each fall, thousands of artists, music fans and industry insiders descend on the city for live shows, exclusive parties, conference events, seminars and mixers, all in the hopes of being discovered and discovering new music.
Many LES venues are participating; see individual websites for specific show schedules and cover charges. Through Sat., Oct. 25.
Sat. 25 – 24th Annual Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade: Dress up the pooch and enter to win over $4,000 worth of prizes, including an iPad Mini for Best in Show, in this all-out event that has come to rival the official Village Halloween parade. Grateful Greyhounds, Bide-A-Wee, Friends of Animal Rescue and the Mayor’s Alliance for New York City Animals will also be on hand with canines that need loving homes.
Tompkins Square Park, noon to 3 p.m., free.
