What's going on Saturday night?

Here are a few things I pulled off this week's Nonsense-NYC email digest. Some of them are daytime things but sound awfully cool. If I didn't already have plans I would SO go to the Madagascar Institute thing!
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New York Collective for the Arts presents:

The Third Annual Ten-Minute Play Festival

Featuring an outstanding collection of world-premiere 10-minute plays
by rising playwrights and established dramatists. This year's festival
headliners include Broadway playwright Stephen Belber (Match, McReele,
Tape) and Jonathan Karp (How to Save the World and Find Love in 90
Minutes).

These contemporary, thought provoking, and dynamic plays are to be
presented by up-and-coming writers, actors, and directors starting.
Out of over 450 submitted plays, NYCollective has assembled an evening
of hard hitting, laugh out loud comedy/dramas ready to entertain,
shake and shock your soul. For a complete list of playwrights and
participants visit the website.

The mission of the NYCollective 10-Minute Play Festival is to assist
contemporary playwrights in developing their plays and careers and to
provide theater professionals with the opportunity to engage in rich,
challenging material.

Urban Stages
259 West 30th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, Manhattan
SATURDAY at 2 and 8p and SUNDAY at 3p; $15
212 868 4444
http://www.smarttix.com.
http://www.nycollective.org.


XXXXX SATURDAY, JULY 22 XXXXX


Metropolis in Motion: Dance for Your Rights

Join us near Mayor Bloomberg's house in a mass outdoor participatory
dance event. New York, it's time to dance for your rights. This
open-air dance and participatory movement event will bring attention
to the antiquated and restrictive New York City cabaret laws.

You: artists, ravers, i-bankers, cheerleaders, lawyers, doctors,
hip-hoppers, street performers, ballroom, swing, Irish folk and
African dancers, jazz aficionados, waiters, actors, janitors, punk
rockers, politicians, and a slew of your fellow New Yorkers. Wear your
dancing/performance clothes, shoes, etc.

In 1926, New York City sought to limit interaction among the races and
control "public lewdness" by clamping down on the jazz scenes found in
Harlem and West 52nd Street (and later in the bohemian Greenwich
Village). To that end the city established Cabaret Laws that limited
dancing to specially licensed public spaces serving food or drink
where three or more persons congregated, and stipulated that only
musicians "of good character" could be licensed to play. Over the
years, musicians won the right to forgo licensing, but laws regulating
dancing remain on the books. As part of his "Quality of Life"
campaign, Mayor Rudolph Guiliani used the laws to crack down on bars
and clubs without a license that allowed people to dance. Venues were
fined, or worse, padlocked and closed forever. The laws continue to be
enforced under Mayor Bloomberg, while his Administration gives lip
service to repeal or reform. According to the Department of Consumer
Affairs, there are currently only 244 actively legal places to dance
in New York City, including strip joints and clubs. Why are these laws
still on the books? Some people say it's to enforce a vague notion of
the "quality of life." Other people know it's to keep property values
high, club owners with cabaret licenses rich, and ordinary people,
otherwise known as the citizens of New York, "in line." And we don't
mean a kick line. For more information, you can hear from our much
respected predecessors in this fight. Check out the website at the end
of this listing.

Mayor Bloomberg's House
East 79th Street and Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
2-4p; $free
646 365 3018
[email protected]
http://www.metropolisinmotion.blogspot.com
http://www.legalizedancingnyc.com/


***** Also on SATURDAY *****


The Madagascar Institute presents:

Dueling Re-Enactments

Presenting the wide and varied, and often complicated history of
Washington Square Park in easy to follow, bite-sized nuggets. A cast
of two dozen, marginally trained re-enactors, outfitted in period
attire that is close enough to accurate, will travel throughout the
park making history come alive.

The broad range of Washington Square Park's history will be covered,
including the pirate execution ground at the Hanging Tree, the
Surrealist declaration of an independent republic in 1917, filthy,
lazy 1950s Beatniks reciting poetry, the 1906 assassination of
Stanford White, the marauding Dead Rabbit gang of the Gilded Age, and
high school students from New Jersey drinking beer and getting sold
fake pot in the summer of 1990.

Over the course of the event the re-enactors will move closer and
closer together, until they are infringing on one another's space and
confusing the crowd as to what, if any, is the true history of the
park. Luckily, history is written by the victors, so the issue will be
settled by a maelstrom of violence: skateboarder against Victorian
gentry, Beatnik against bridge-and-tunnel teen, Surrealist against
Dead Rabbit, hangman against pirate, a flurry of baguettes,
skateboards, light sabers, and water balloons. Triumphant, the true
history of the park will emerge.

We acknowledge no distinction between history that actually happened
and things we just felt like making up.

Washington Square Park, Manhattan
3p; $free


***** Also on SATURDAY *****


Feed Your Head

Venture out to an island in New York City. Come artists and picnickers
to Governor's Island. Pack a lunch basket and take a free ferry ride.
Recreate famous picnics from art and literature. Invent new picnic
games or bring out the old standards. Tell a story, wear a costume,
recreate history, or reach into the future. Absurd pastoral behavior
encouraged.

Be part of the history of Governor's Island as we encourage artists
and art lovers to explore this historic setting recently opened to the
public. Participate. No spectators, only participants. Families with
children welcome and encouraged to come out and play.

Governors Island Ferry at the Battery Maritime Building
Adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry, Manhattan
Noon to 5p; $free
[email protected]
http://www.amyshapiro.com
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/parking/pidpsites.shtml


***** Also on SATURDAY *****


Rooftop Summer Sessions

The rooftop summer sessions are back, and this time the party is
jumping off in Manhattan. We have secured a clandestine midtown venue
with a wrap-around deck and panoramic city views -- be there for
sunset! -- and you should already know what to expect from the gourmet
dinner buffet, premium open bar, and deep and funky beats. Plus check
for canvases from local artists on display throughout the venue.

Menu: Sweet corn, poblano and avocado soup, black rice, tomato basil
salad, garlic shrimp, and mizuna filet of beef with seared peach
medallions. With gooseberry cheesecake.

High above midtown, Manhattan
7:30p-1a; $30 dinner buffet and open bar, $20 open bar all night rsvp
for address: [email protected]


***** Also on SATURDAY *****


BAPLab

A one-day festival of electronic music, new media art, DJs, and bands
celebrating digital culture. We have curated over 80 Artists into
seven separate diverse art and music programs.

BAPLab is being held in an amazing new art facility called Third Ward
and takes place on two floors covering 30,000 square feet of this new
art production complex.

Musical styles range from microsound and electro-acoustic through to
minimal techno and microhouse. We have chosen several of Bushwick's
finest emerging Bands to perform in BAPLab. Adjacent to the music
program we have curated video and new media programs featuring artists
who have shown at MoMA, PS1, and the Guggenheim side by side with new
artists pushing the boundaries of creative expression.

For the full roster of participants, performance times, directions to
the festival, artist names, and baplab radio, please visit the website.

Third Ward
195 Morgan Avenue, Manhattan
4p-6a; $10
http://bushwickartproject.org


***** Also on SATURDAY *****


Smyles and Fish Summer Olympiad

Come beat your friends at tug of war, the cake walk, or the puking
contest. Join our Summer Stage: perform a 2-5 minute play with team
mates (please prepare your script beforehand). And win the "Being
There" marathon.

Central Park's Sheep Meadow, North West Corner
11a-5p; $5 in advance, $7 at the event, all proceeds go toward
printing the Smyles and Fish Pocket Edition
http://www.smylesandfish.com/olympiad.php


***** Also on SATURDAY *****


Subway party

Prepare to partition doom from desire, delicious destiny from dismal
doldrums, blue skittles from red skittles. Leave the city behind and
let yourself be swallowed alive in spandex and joy at the third
semi-bi-annual-esque subway party. Join us dressed in your favorite
monocolor outfit (spandex attendees are pre-guaranteed ooooohs and
aHHHHHccolades) and stomp drink howl sing root toot and rattle all the
way from Union and Square to Brighton and Beach.

We'll begin by gathering our bodies, momentum and inebriation within
the spiral at the northern edge of Union Square (in front of Barnes
and Noble) and parade due south -- arranged by color -- and descend
into the earth at the subway stop at the bottom tip of Union Square.
We'll make some lovely music in the underground acoustic chamber and
then board the front car of the Q train and ride express direct to
Brighton Beach where everyone is invited to slip off their sweatpants
and into the ocean. Bring instruments, drums, noisemakers, kazoos,
friends, bathing suits, body paint, fine wine, cheap booze, unmarked
beverage containers, and, of course, your single color spandex elastic
fantastic outfit.

Union Square North
17th Street and Broadway, Manhattan
10:13p gather, 10:38p on to the subway; $free


***** Also on SATURDAY *****


Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls Showcase Concert

Come see girls ages 8 to 18 totally rock out. Sixteen bands, one good time.

New York Society for Ethical Culture
2 West 64th Street at Central Park West, Manhattan
6p; $5
http://www.williemaerockcamp.org


***** Also on SATURDAY *****


Emergency Communities benefit

For the non-profit organization formed in the wake of the Hurricane
Rita/Katrina disaster, which rebuilds community. With the Wrens and
other live music.

Emergency Art exhibition and auction supported by Lexington. Free beer
by a local brewer.

Supreme Trading
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
8p doors, 9p music, 9-10p free beer; $20 goes directly to rebuilding
the Gulf Coast
http://www.emergencycommunities.org
http://www.supremetradingnyc.com


***** Also on SATURDAY *****


Roller Derby

Gotham Girls Roller Derby rolls out the third game of the season
between the as yet unpaired Brooklyn Bombshells and the Bronx
Gridlock. At June's sold out game, Gotham's Brooklyn Bombshells sunk
the Queens of Pain (former undefeated 2005 Season Champions) in white
knuckle fight to the finish. At this next matchup, the rookie cabbies
from the Bronx are ready to take on the soggy sailorettes and show
them why they shouldn't play in traffic.

The infamous Schwartz Center offers bleacher seating, VIP seating and
as always the coveted trackside spots. All previous 2006 games have
sold out and hundreds have been turned away, so eager fans should buy
their tickets early online.

Schwartz Athletic Center at Long Island University
1 University Plaza
B,M,Q,R trains to DeKalb Avenue station, 2,3,4,5 trains to Nevins station
7:30p doors, 8:30p game; $12.50-25
646 405 9803
http://www.gothamgirlsrollerderby.com



***** Also on SATURDAY *****


D.C.s Tavern Record Swap and Barbecue

This coming weekend is our next D.C.'s Tavern Record Swap. Come one,
come all Back in Back to buy, sell and swap some vinyl discs (we do
allow CDs but we try to give the space open for vinyl). Space is
always limited so come early to get some tap front real estate. No fee
to sellers/dealers and it is free to get in. D.C.'s is going to feed
you as well.

This time out we have quite a lineup of entertainment, including
Brinkman Daly, DJs Inbetween and Chilly Freeze wowing with the most
obscure set of music from the outer solar system. Keep in mind, not
everyone is a hardcore collector. Just some guys and gals who want
some good tunes whether it is rare or not is not an issue. Condition
is not always everything when you are looking for records to listen
to! Of course rare gems and mint condition records are always welcome.

D.C.'s Tavern
505 8th Street, Between Jefferson and Madison, Hoboken, NJ
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail 8th Street station
2p-whenever; $free
201 792 5550
http://www.dcstavern.com
http://www.gigposters.com/posters.php?poster=66209


***** Also on SATURDAY *****


Exploration

We are going to have a final showing of Samm Cohen's multimedia
installation called the GlassBead Space, followed by AV sets with DJ
Firehorse and Vlad T, Rebecca B, Terri Ferrari, and Flux doing visuals.

4 White Street, 2A, between Church and West Broadway, Manhattan
7:30p-2a; $free and BYOB


ONGOING: SATURDAYS *****

* Rooftop Films, underground films outdoors. PMB 401, 285 Fifth
Avenue, Brooklyn. http://www.rooftopfilms.com


* Mr. Choade's Upstairs/Downstairs, longest running burlesque show in
New York, with rock n roll, go-go girls, and a yummy sprinkling of
burlesque and vaudeville acts. The Slipper Room, corner of Stanton and
Orchard, Manhattan. SATURDAYS, 8p doors, 11p show; $5 cover.
http://www.slipperroom.com.

pitu lillet wrote: wow, what awesome hilarity - great list apollonia!

anyone know about the Rooftop Summer Sessions people, in terms of music, and crowd demographics?

The email list is well worth signing up for -- one email a week full of stuff like this. You can sign up at www.nonsensenyc.com.

I haven't been to the Rooftop Summer Sessions, but maybe we could get a group of folks from the board to go sometime!

(Off topic: I just noticed that I've now been upgraded to Crabby Native! WOOO!)