Volume 78 – Number 28 / December 10 – 16, 2008
West and East Village,
The A-list
Compiled by sarah norris
Reading
Lou Reed
Lou Reed will be making a special appearance to read from, discuss, and sign his book, “Pass Thru Fire: the Collected Lyrics.” Containing a body of work that spans more than three decades, “Pass Thru Fire” (Da Capo Books, December 2008) is a compilation of the lyrics of an American original. Beginning with his formative days in the Velvet Underground and continuing through his remarkable solo career—albums like Transformer, Berlin, New York, Magic and Loss, and Ecstasy–Pass Thru Fire is crucial to an appreciation of Lou Reed, not only as a consummate underground musician, but as one of the truly significant poets of our time. Wed., Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. Free. Housing Works Book Café. 126 Crosby St. (betw. Prince & Houston Sts.) 212-334-3324, housingworksbookstore.org.
David Sedaris
David Sedaris, author of previous bestsellers “Naked,” “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” and “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim,” and regular National Public Radio contributor will be appearing for one night only at Lincoln Center. Recently nominated for a Grammy award for Best Spoken Word album, Sedaris will read from “When You Are Engulfed in Flames,” published in June 2008. Sedaris is famous for mining comedy from his peculiar childhood in North Carolina, his bizarre career choices, and his move to France, and his observations of the ordinary-bizarre are consistently laugh-out-loud funny. Mon., Dec. 15. $30-75. Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. Northern end of the Lincoln Center Plaza, at the corner of Columbus Ave. and 65th St. 212-721-6500, lincolncenter.org.
Dance
Mama, a modern folktale
This premiere of “MAMA, a modern folktale,” by innovative dancemaker Mary Seidman, is performed by a company of 40 female dancers, including youngsters from the Mark Morris Dance Center and LaGuardia High School, along with distinguished guest dancers Robin Becker, Janis Brenner, Linda Kent, Elisa King, Amy Marshall, Amy Pivar, and Lisa Viola, and guest singers. In this grand-scale work, Seidman depicts current concerns about our endangered earth as well as the healing and rebuilding that can take place through the wisdom and strength of women. December 18-21 (Thurs.-Sat. at 7:30 p.m.; Sun. at 2:30 p.m.) $25. LaMaMa E.T.C. Annex, 74A East 4th St. 212-475-7710, lamama.org.
Music
Christmas Carols
On Christmas Eve, celebrate the holidays with carols at the Washington Square Arch. The Rob Susman Brass Quartet, song leader and revelers from all over the city will sing out familiar tunes. The lyrics are included in the free songbooks (courtesy of the Washington Square Association) but many will know them by heart. Joy to the world! Wed., Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. Washington Square Arch. Fifth Ave., one block south of Eighth St. 212-252-3621.
Film
Photo credit Eddie Saeta S.A.
Pilar Lopez de Ayala as la dama/the maid
EN LA CIUDAD DE SYLVIA
In documentarian José Luis Guerín’s feature, a young foreigner in Strasbourg (Xavier Lafitte) spends his days at an outdoor café, drawing the women who pass by. Haunted by the memory of Sylvia—a woman he met years earlier—he waits and waits for her to return. When a woman who may or may not be Sylvia shows up, he pursues her through the backstreets of the city in a montage that the Sydney Film Festival described as “a mesmerizing orchestration of repeating visual and aural motifs—footsepts, street signs and graffiti, street hawkers, passers-by, and a reappearing cast of women. As our artist sketches, so too does Guerín.” Fri., Dec. 12.-Thurs, Dec. 18 at 7 & 9 p.m. nightly with additional screenings on Sat. & Sun. at 5 p.m. Anthology Film Archives. 32 Second Ave. 212-505-5181, anthologyfilmarchives.org.
