By Scott Stiffler
FILM
UNESSENTIAL CINEMA
The folks at Anthology Film Archives must get tired of tirelessly advocating for the awareness and preservation of quality films. Why else would they slum it with their “Unessential Cinema” series? It’s dedicated to analyzing and perhaps even elevating forgettable flicks that are beautiful — but only in their own way. On July 22nd, host Movie Mike presents “Serials: First Things First.” You’ll thrill, laugh, and yawn your way through the first installment of a variety of Hollywood movie serials. Among the baffling offerings (which maybe should have stopped at Episode I) are 1939’s “The Phantom Creeps” and 1936’s “Undersea Kingdom.” Thurs., July 22nd, 7:30 p.m. at Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Ave.). Call 212-505-5181 or visit www.anthologyfilmarchives.com. Tickets are $8 — but maybe this time around, they should pay you?
THEATER
TALES FROM THE TUNNEL
It’s a great idea that probably plays better in a well-ventilated Off-Broadway theater than on a subway platform. Happily, that’s exactly where you’ll find “Tales From the Tunnel” — a comedy about the NYC Subway System helped along by some star power (Tony Award Winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia, who played Angel in the Broadway and film versions of “Rent”). Currently in previews, this straphanger-friendly tale opens on July 25th. At the Bleecker Street Theatre (45 Bleecker St.). For tickets ($51.50), call 212-239-6200.
TALKS
FOOD FUSION
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum’s innovative, imaginative, ambitious Tenement Talks series just keeps rolling along. The latest installment is “LES Food Fusion: A Panel Discussion.” Jenny 8. Lee, (author of “The Fortune Cookie Chronicles”) moderates a discussion about the East/West food fusion happening amongst a new generation of restaurateurs making their mark on the local culinary scene. Her trio of panelists are third generation Baozi/Mantou maker Evan Huang (of BaoHaus and Xiao Ye); second generation ice cream maker Christina Seid (of the decades-old Chinatown Ice Cream Factory; and Mark Israel (owner Grand Street’s Doughnut Plant bakery). By evening’s end, you’ll have worked up enough of an appetite to go out into the neighborhood and take what you’ve learned for a gastronomic test run. Free. Mon., July 26th, 6:30 p.m. at the Tenement Museum Shop (108 Orchard St.). Call 212-982-8420 or visit www.tenement.org.
ARTS
PHOTOS FROM THE OUTSIDE
The Carter Burden Center for the Aging is a non-profit dedicated to helping older people live independently, safely and with dignity. Their recently launched Gallery 307 gives a creative spin to CBC’s mission statement by showcasing artwork by people of, as they say, “a certain age.” Hopefully, over time, the space will prove effective in shining a light upon a segment of our population too-often rendered invisible. The current project — “Photos From the Outside” — exhibits the work of artists from New York Cerebral Palsy Associations (their photographs were taken with both regular cameras and an adaptive camera device). July 22nd through August 20th, Tues. through Sat. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Gallery 307 (307 Seventh Ave., Suite 1401). Call 646-400-5254 or visit www.burdencenter.org.
EVENTS
COLLABORATE
Poet and writer Iris N. Schwartz hosts “Collaborate” — a semi-regular series that brings together artists working in different genres and asks them to discuss a common theme. This time around, the subject matter is “family” — a charged topic that’s put its stamp on more than one damaged creative type! Schwartz guides the audience and her guests through four sets. First up, she’s joined by actor/director David B. McConeghey and actor/writer Mickey Pizzo — then, poet Jean Lehrman and cellist-composer Barry Kornhauser. The third set features poet Madeline Artenberg and guitarist/composer Nelson “that’s how he spells it” Alxndr. Finally, fiction writer and poet Thaddeus Rutkowski is joined by percussionist/composer Peter Catapano. You’ll either end up sending flowers to that estranged relative or drunk dialing them to vent your rage. Let The A List know what option you go with! Sun., July 18th, 6 p.m. ($7 cover includes one drink). Downstairs at The Cornelia Street Café (29 Cornelia St., btw. W. 4th & Bleecker). Call 212-989-9319 or visit www.corneliastreetcafe.com.
