Tools

Print this story

Facebook this

Tweet this

Digg this

Del.icio.us

Email to a friend

Your name

Your email address

Recipients’ email addresses (Up to ten, separated by commas.)

Theatre & Dance

It’s been six years since the Sept. 11 attacks, and the lower Manhattan skyline seems as empty as ever. To help fill that dramatic gap (if only figuratively), the Silver-Brown Dance Company performs its program “OASIS 4” in the park at the foot of Washington Street (Sept. 7, 8, 9 and 11).

There’s almost no sense reporting that Ian McKellen (pictured) stars in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s “King Lear” at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (30 Lafayette Ave. at Ashland Place in Fort Greene) since the 15-performance run is sold out. There are, however, tickets remaining for the eight non-McKellen performances of Chekhov’s “The Seagull.” (“Lear,” Sept. 6–30; “Seagull,” Sept. 7-29).

To remind everyone where that “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” craze originated, the ever-adventurous Gallery Players begins its 41st season with John Guare’s seminal 1991 study of Manhattan high society, “Six Degrees of Separation,” (Sept. 15-30).

Autumn is becoming Mee Season onstage, as much-honored playwright Charles Mee has two New York premieres: off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre will present his Euripides reworking, “Iphigenia 2.0,” while the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s “Next Wave Festival” will premiere Mee’s new play based on the life of Queens-born artist Joseph Cornell, “Hotel Cassiopeia,” (Oct. 9-13).

For the opening night of the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts (Walt Whitman Theatre, one block from the junction of Flatbush and Nostrand avenues), the celebrated Ballet Folklorico de Mexico — 75 dancers and musicians strong — performs works by choreographer Amalia Hernandez (Oct. 13).

One week later, the Egyptian Folkloric Dance Troupe invades Brooklyn Center for the first time with its colorful pageantry and whirlwind of movement (Oct. 20).

With today’s heavy political climate, the Gallery Players are sending war up with “Yank!”, a musical about gay soldiers during World War II (Oct. 20–Nov. 4).

— Kevin Filipski

Cinema

Rooftop Films rolls to a close with a free screening of kooky documentary “Darkon” at Automotive High School (50 Bedford Ave., near Lorimer Street in Williamsburg) on Sept. 13.

The Brooklyn Independent Cinema Series, featuring the work of many Brooklyn residents, continues every first and third Monday of the month, 7 pm at Barbes (379 Ninth St., at Sixth Avenue in Park Slope). Upcoming highlights include “Fish Kill Flea,” a documentary about the demise of a favorite local flea market on Long Island.

Brooklyn poster boy Jonathan Lethem hand selects his favorite films at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (30 Lafayette Ave., at Ashland Place in Fort Greene) beginning Oct. 15 and running through November.

Fort Greene resident Keri Russell’s new film, “August Rush,” which filmed in Brooklyn Heights, opens Nov. 21.

Galapagos Art Space (70 N. Sixth St., at Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg) continues its “Reel Life Moviehouse” every first and third Sunday of the month. Don’t miss the classic “Rebel Without a Cause“ or cult favorite “The Big Lebowski” in November (including shorts by local filmmakers).

Boerum Hill darling Heath Ledger (pictured) will play Bob Dylan along with a host of other famous faces — including girlfriend Michelle Williams — in “I’m Not There,” (Nov. 21).

— Laura McDonald

Books

“Strange Skies” (pictured), the debut novel from Brooklyn author Matt Marinovich, tells the story of a man who pretends he has cancer to avoid starting a family. (Sept. 1).

Hop out to get Mo Willems’ latest children’s book, “Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity” (Sept. 4) and check out his reading at Word Bookstore (126 Franklin St., in Greenpoint) on Oct. 4.

Gowanus’s favorite publishing house, Akashic Books, is releasing “Silent Pictures,” a collection of photos by music shutterbug Pat Graham that document the ’90s underground rock scene (Sept. 10).

Head over to Borough Hall to check out the second Brooklyn Book Festival (Sept. 16).

If you’ve always wanted to join a book club but never found one that involved enough beer, go to Pete’s Candy Store (709 Lorimer St., at Richardson Street in Williamsburg) for the start of its reading series (Sept. 20).

Bliss Broyard’s second book, “One Drop,” is a memoir that reveals a family secret in Bedford-Stuyvesant (Sept. 27).

Baseball might be a summertime sport, but you can pick up Michael G. Long’s “First Class Citizenship: The Civil Rights Letters for Jackie Robinson,” which includes the Brooklyn Dodger’s never-before-published letters with high profile figures and emphasizes Robinson’s role as a civil rights advocate (Oct. 2).

BookCourt (163 Court St., near Dean Street in Cobble Hill) hosts live author events all year. Kicking off the season, Adrian Tomine will be talking about “Shortcomings,” his first long-form graphic novel (Oct. 3).

“Hair Wars,” a collection of photos of hairstyle competitions compiled by photographer David Yellen, comes out from DUMBO’s powerHouse Books (Nov. 15).

If you’ve got your appetite back after Thanksgiving, you’ll love Soft Skull Press’s “Lost in the Supermarket: The Indie Rock Cookbook,” which connects food to music with recipes from some of indie rock’s biggest acts like Belle and Sebastian and Sonic Youth (Dec. 2).

— Sarah McCormick

Music

Indie rock super group Sebadoh’s reunion tour hits Europa (98-104 Meserole Ave. at Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint) to show the whippersnappers how it’s really done (Sept. 2).

The fancy new Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 N. Sixth St. at Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg) opens with rock ’n’ roll grandma Patti Smith (Sept. 4).

Learn how to fake an accent for the Brooklyn Country Music Festival, happening at venues across the borough (Sept. 6-9).

Soak up the sounds of Talib Kweli, Lizz Fields and more, and enjoy the weather (enter near Washington Park and Willoughby Street) before it gets too cold at Fort Greene Fest (Sept. 8).

Or check out Modest Mouse, fresh off its latest record, “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank,” and an appearance in a Verizon commercial, as the band plays McCarren Park (Lorimer Street at Bayard Street in Williamsburg) with the underrated Love as Laughter (Sept. 8).

Though its members are scattered around the world, Animal Collective’s new record, “Strawberry Jam,” is coming out on DUMBO’s Domino Records (Sept. 11).

Pre-teen idols Care Bears on Fire are releasing their first full-length album, “I Stole Your Animal,” and we predict “Five Minute Boyfriend” ends up on your iPod (Sept. 28).

For this year’s “Next Wave Festival,” the Brooklyn Academy of Music (30 Lafayette Ave. at Ashland Place in Fort Greene) commissioned Erik Sanko to compose “Dear Mme.,” which will have it’s world premier and feature the Kronos Quartet and a 15-foot puppet (Oct. 3, 5, 6).

Brooklyn Center (Walt Whitman Theatre, one block from the junction of Flatbush and Nostrand avenues) brings back the matinee with “I Love a Piano,” a show that incorporates over 60 of Irving Berlin’s songs (Oct. 13).

It’s not quite like going to its namesake city, but you should still pick up the new record from Brooklyn’s own Beirut (pictured), “The Flying Club Cup,” which features ukuleles, mandolins and violins (Oct. 8).

Ever since we heard “Lip Gloss,” we’ve loved Lil’ Mama. So, we’ll definitely be lining up to buy “The Voice of the Young People,” her first full-length when it comes out (Oct. 23).

Sufjan Stevens will have all the hip kids swooning when his film, “The BQE,” has its world premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (Nov. 1-3).

The Brooklyn Philharmonic still has the details of their season under wraps, but musical director Michael Christie and the players will be accompanying Tan Dun’s show “The Gate” at BAM (Dec 5, 7, 8).

— Juliana Bunim and Katie Newingham

Art

Check out the Conflux Festival, where “people from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures collectively re-imagine the city as a playground,” said organizers of the festival, which is headquartered at The Change You Want to See Gallery (84 Havemeyer St. at Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg). (Sept. 13).

While artists are being priced out of plenty of neighborhoods, the DUMBO scene seems to be thriving. This year, the 11th Annual “DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival” will feature installations, performance art, projections and more (Sept. 28-30).

“Next Wave Art,” the visual arts portion of the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s “Next Wave Festival” kicks off with an opening reception and runs through December. Check out the brand new, electrified sculpture by art throb Leo Villareal (Oct. 4). …What the Fort Greene Greenmarket does for locally grown produce, the Artisan Market (DeKalb Avenue from Washington Park to South Oxford Street in Fort Greene), does for crafts. So pick up something to feed your mind (Oct. 20).

Celebrate the 21st year of the Micro Museum (123 Smith St. at Pacific Street in Cobble Hill) at a huge birthday bash featuring seven “Best of Show” artists, live music, local delicacies and prizes. (Nov. 3).

— Juliana Bunim

Sports

The first-place Brooklyn Cyclones start their drive for a second New York–Penn League title as the playoffs get underway. If the first-round opponent is the Staten Island Yankees, the first game will be on the Island (Sept. 9), followed by Game 2 at Keyspan Park (Surf Avenue at West 17th Street) in beautiful Coney Island (Sept. 10).

Get ready for the next round of Boot Camp Challenge, where drill instructor Tanya will whip you into shape in the park at the foot of Washington Street (Sept. 10).

Cheer for some of the borough’s toughest ladies when the Brooklyn Bombshells (pictured) take on the Bronx Gridlock in a roller derby showdown (Sept. 22).

Brooklyn’s first touch football league kicks off today at Brooklyn Tech High School (29 Fort Greene Pl. at DeKalb Avenue in Fort Greene), so stop spending Sundays watching football, and get outside to play it (Sept. 23).

Strap on your skates and go the distance — either 42 or, if you’re really up for it, 100 kilometers — for the NYC Skate Marathon in Prospect Park (Sept. 29).

Get yourself ready for that Halloween candy with Prospect Park’s “Haunted Walk” starting on Lookout Hill (enter park at Prospect Park Southwest and 16th Street) (Oct. 27).

Watch 10,000 runners strut their stuff from Fort Hamilton to Greenpoint in the Brooklyn portion of the New York Marathon (Nov. 4).

Clocks may fall back an hour on Nov. 4, but don’t sweat it. Play tennis under the lights at Prospect Park and then refresh yourself at the 40-Love Cafe (enter park at Coney Island and Parkside avenues).

Help kick off the St. Francis College Terriers’ basketball season and cheer at their first home game at Peter Aquilone Court (180 Remsen St. between Court and Clinton streets in Brooklyn Heights) against the University of Hartford (Nov. 9).

Gear up for an afternoon on the ice at Prospect Park’s Wollman Rink (Opens Nov. 22).

Or trot of some of that turkey and run with the Prospect Park Track Club’s annual five-mile Thanksgiving Day race (Nov. 29).

— Juliana Bunim

©2007 Community Newspaper Group