Here are the highlighted events from our May events calendar, coming out in the latest edition of The Lo-Down’s print magazine next week:
May 1–17 — GUERRILLA GIRLS: NOT READY TO MAKE NICE, 30 YEARS AND STILL COUNTING! at Abrons Arts Center
Our favorite feminist masked avengers are popping up at the Abrons Arts Center to celebrate 30 years of subversive (and anonymous) antics, fighting discrimination and corruption in art, film, politics and pop culture. Their exhibition (May 1–May 15) features posters, stickers and billboards from 1985 to the present, along with video of past projects and clips of “hot-shot gallery owners making totally embarrassing statements.”
Exhibition walk-throughs with the Guerrilla Girls are scheduled for May 3, 10, and 17 at 3 p.m. A blowout party Friday, May 15, from 8–10 p.m., will feature music, DJs and cake. Check for updates here. 466 Grand St., Tue.–Sat. 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 12–6 p.m.
Fri. 1 – Lower East Side History Month
More than 80 cultural and community groups are collaborating for the second annual Lower East Side History Month, a celebration of the diverse history of the neighborhood. Public events include a kick-off from “LES Stories,” an interactive chalked trivia exhibit at sites around the neighborhood, plus live performances, exhibits, gallery and walking tours, talks, film screenings, festivals and more.
For a full list of happenings throughout the month, visit the website here.
Mon. 4 – Natalie Prass at Bowery Ballroom
This radiant-voiced songstress made a splash with her recent self-titled debut album and has been garnering rave review ever since. Citing such composers as Stephen Sondheim, Irving Berlin and Burt Bacharach’s work with Dionne Warwick as touchstones, she sings sweetly about dark emotions, weaves complex stories and pays tribute to her current home of Nashville. Catch her now before she moves on to “bigger and better.”
6 Delancey St., 9 p.m., $17.
Thurs. 7 – Klezmer Violin with Deborah Strauss and Jake Shulman-Ment at the Museum at Eldridge Street
The highly regarded duo finds inspiration from traditional klezmer, cantorial music and Hasidic nigunim, as well as Romanian, Roma, Ukrainian, Polish, Russian and Hungarian folk music.
7 p.m. at 12 Eldridge Street, between Canal and Division streets, $20 adults; $15 stu/sen, includes a wine reception following the performance.
Sat. 9 – Nuyorican Poets 2nd Annual Block Party
Bring the whole family and celebrate 41 years of talent with the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Block-wide festivities include live music on Avenue B, live poetry in front of the Nuyorican, open mic for upcoming talent on Avenue C, hip-hop performances, food, carnival games for kids, obstacle courses and more.
11 a.m.–5 p.m. East 3rd Street between Avenue B&C.
Thurs. 14 – NADA at Pier 36
The fourth edition of the New Art Dealers Association’s NYC fair pops up for four days featuring rising talent and new art from around the globe. This year’s fair includes more than 85 exhibitors, live music, food trucks and cocktails on the waterfront.
Through May 17, Basketball City at 299 South St., Thurs. 6 p.m.–8 p.m., Fri./Sat. 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., free.
Thurs. 14 – Tyrus Wong at the Disney Studio (1938–1941) at MOCATALKS
Academy Award-winning filmmaker and animation historian John Canemaker presents profusely illustrated analysis of Tyrus Wong’s influential and unique contributions to the art direction of the animated feature film Bambi (1942), and his personal experiences working at the Walt Disney studio.
215 Centre St., 7 p.m., $15 adult; $5 stu/sen, mocanyc.org.
Fri. May 15 – THE FLATIRON HEX By James Goodwin at Dixon Place
Jim Henson Award-winning puppeteer, performance and visual artist James Godwin (founder of the Elementals) has been an official Muppet performer and puppeteer for The Daily Show and Chappelle’s Show. He’s worked with Julie Taymor, David Bowie and even Aerosmith. He’s currently workshopping his latest solo puppet performance which concerns a contract shaman who works for a city in the middle of a swamp.
Fridays and Saturdays through May 30th. 161A Chrystie St., 7:30 p.m., $16 advance, $20 door.
Mon. 18 — Penny Arcade – Longing Lasts Longer at Joe’s Pub
Downtown diva Penny Arcade and her longtime collaborator Steve Zehentner continue their development of this passionate rumination on love, longing and the loss of New York’s cultural identity. Equal parts memoir, manifesto and hilarious cultural critique; you have four chances to catch this cri de coeur before it heads to the Edinburgh Festival in August and then to London for a month-long run in November.
Mondays through 425 Lafayette St., 7 p.m., $20, joespub.publictheater.org.
Thurs. May 28
IDEAS CITY 2015 – The Invisible City at the New Museum: The theme of this year’s IDEAS CITY Festival pays homage to Italo Calvino’s literary masterpiece of 1972. Each of the festival’s platforms invites visitors to explore questions of transparency and surveillance, citizenship and representation, and the enduring quest for visibility in the city.
Over 100 free events are taking place over three days (through May 30) throughout lower Manhattan. Visit the website for more info here.
