COMPILED BY SCOTT STIFFLER
UG! COMEDY SHOW!!
Todd Montesi and Justin Murray have picked up stakes and moved their weekly comedy show to MUG Lounge. Unchanged is the unhinged nature of the hosts and their revolving rouges gallery of upcoming, established, and deeply troubled comedians. At 8 p.m., Tuesdays at MUG Lounge (448 E. 13th St. btw. 1st & Ave. A). No cover, 1-drink minimum ($3 drafts, $4 wells till 10 p.m.). For info & reservations: 646-746-1357. Check out www.youtube.com/MONTIKILLAVISION.
BOXING GYM
A very long time before Reality TV made stars out of simpletons willing to be their shallow selves as the cameras rolled, documentarian Frederick Wiseman was letting his camera roll — without coaching his subjects or manufacturing conflict. Although the footage that made it into his often epic-length films was highly subjective (according to his own likes, dislikes and the dictates of pacing), Wiseman’s output strived to be as objective as possible. His latest work, clocking in at a slim 90 minutes, is set inside the Austin, TX-based Lord’s Gym (run by professional boxer Richard Lord — www.lordsboxing.com). As days melt into weeks and months, we eavesdrop on the Lord’s regulars. What you don’t get much of, however, is the violent result of their growing skills (the only footage of two guys actually going at it in the ring happens very late in the game). Most of the film is devoted to repeat skill-building sessions punctuated by occasional conversations and interactions (only a few of which provide a window into what drives these people). It’s worth your time, though. Just immersing yourself momentarily into the world of Lord’s is enough to give you a profound appreciation of the boxer’s obsessive nature.
Not Rated. 90 minutes. USA, 2010. At IFC Center (323 Sixth Ave. at W. Third St.). For info, call 212-924-7771 or visit www.ifccenter.com. On Thurs., Oct. 28 (at the 7:50 p.m. showing), Michael Tully (“Hammer to Nail”) and Steve Lott (The Boxing Hall of Champions and former Assistant Manager of many champion boxers like Mike Tyson) will be on hand after the screening for a Q&A with the audience.
PANEL DISCUSSION & WALKING TOUR: JEWS & CHINESE FOOD:
Chinese food and the Chosen People go together like Christmas and Christians. Maybe that’s why Jews crowd Chinese restaurants on December 25. But their love of Asian cuisine doesn’t begin or end on that specific date. A trio of authors will discuss the chosen food of the chosen people. Those panelists are: Jennifer 8. Lee (author of “The Fortune Cookie Chronicles”), Professor Donald I. Siegel (author of “From Lokshen to LoMein: The Jewish Love Affair with Chinese Food”) and Andrew Coe (author of “Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States”). The culinary conversation takes place at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Following the discussion, the Museum of Chinese in America will lead a walking tour of Chinatown. Tickets for panel are $10 ($7 for seniors/students, $5 for Museum members) For tickets, visit www.mjhnyc.org or call 646-437-4202. For the walking tour, $15 ($12 students/seniors, $10 for Museum of Jewish Heritage and Museum of Chinese in America members). Pre-registration for the walking tour is required; space is limited to 50. To register, use the same phone/website info provided for the panel discussion. This event is co-sponsored by the Museum of Chinese in America.
FIRST MOROCCAN FILM FESTIVAL
Be among the first to sample films from the first U.S. Moroccan Film Festival. It’s a perfect introduction for those who have heard of Hollywood and Bollywood, but wish to learn more about Mollywood. Opening night, the film “Burned Hearts” makes its East Coast premiere. This drama chronicles the struggle of one Europeanized Moroccan to come to terms with his religious and ethnic identities. On Oct. 30, nine dramatic, documentary and comedic films will have their U.S. premiere (English subtitles). Proceeds from the Festival go to the High Atlas Foundation (HAF), a nonprofit dedicated to community development in rural Morocco. Oct. 29 & 30 at Tribeca Cinemas (54 Varick St., at Laight St. — one block below Canal). For a complete schedule and to purchase tickets, visit www.highatlasfoundation.org.
EAR TO THE EARTH
This year, the annual “Ear to Earth” festival of sound, music, and ecology takes on then theme of “Water and the World” by using compositions, installations and presentations to explore the current states of water and our social and cultural attitudes towards it. Melting ice and rising sea levels, access, privatization, pollution, storm intensity and salinity are just a few of the thorny issued dredged up by this ambitious fest. Oct. 29 at 8pm, it’s the world premiere of Kristin Norderval’s “Tattooed Ghosts” along with Matt Rogalsky’s “Memory Like Water.” Oct. 30 at 8pm, “New York Soundscapes” offers three world premieres: Miguel Frasconi’s “Inside-Out.” Aleksei Stevens’ “Standing Water: Sound Map of the Gowanus Canal, 2010” and Paula Matthuson’s “Navigable.” Nov. 1, it’s the world premiere of Charles Lindsay and David Rothenberg’ “Western Water” alongside Andrea Polli and TJ Martinez’s documentary “Dances with Waves.”
The festival runs through Nov. 1, at the Frederick Loewe Theater (35 West 4th St.), the Greenwich House Music School (46 Barrow St.), White Box (329 Broome St.) and Kleio Projects (153 1/2 Stanton St.). Tickets for events at Greenwich House and White Box are $15 ($10 for EMF Subscribers and seniors, $5 for students). Free admission to events at the Frederick Loewe Theater. A Festival pass is $30. For a full schedule and details on the abovementioned events, and for more info, visit www.emfproductions.org or call 888-749-9998.
