For our (unconscionably high) rent money, the best thing about living in New York City is its endless supply of fun, odd, and inspired cultural events. But with so many options, it can be hard to know where to even begin planning your week. To help you make sense of it all, Flavorpill has launched a new social discovery engine where users can create and share events with friends, as well as follow Flavorpill editors’ and plugged-in local curators’ picks. Below, you’ll find the very best of what’s on offer this week, recommended by Flavorpill NYC’s very own Managing Editor, Leah Taylor. It’s just a taste of what you can find on the new Flavorpill, so if you like what you see, be sure to sign up.
Monday, February 18th
FILM: Film Comment Selects: A mecca for lovers of rare and underrated cinema, Film Comment Selects returns with another carefully curated slate of new works by old masters, recent discoveries and classics that merit reinvestigation. This year the editors arrived on 22 feature films ranging from thrillers to family dramas. Worth mention among works by rising filmmakers are Kill List director Ben Wheatley’s latest, Sightseers; Antonio Campos’ follow-up to Afterschool, Simon Killer; and Ashim Ahluwalia’s quirky look at Bollywood’s underbelly, Miss Lovely. In terms of old hands, you’ll find new films from James Benning, Marco Bellocchio, Takashi Miike, and 104-year-old Portuguese master Manoel de Oliveira. Closing out the essential indie pageant is Michel Gondry’s The We and the I, set on a moving bus, the film craftily observes and celebrates a gaggle of high school students from the Bronx. — Mindy Bond
PARTY: Dre Day
Tuesday, February 19th
CONFERENCE: Social Media Week
Wednesday, February 20th
MUSIC: Ecstatic Music Festival: Deerhoof and Dal Niente with Marcos Balter: Imagine what kind of mind-blowing masterpieces might have resulted if Beethoven had jammed with the Beatles or Mahler had made music with Frank Zappa. These are the sort of musical mash-ups the founders of the Ecstatic Music Festival are going for at their annual event, which is modeled after the Bang on a Can Marathon. Curated by Judd Greenstein of New Amsterdam Records, this year’s series of harmonic collisions spans 11 concerts and features over 120 composers. Tonight’s musical accord brings together the wild stylings of Deerhoof and the contemporary artist-driven ensemble Dal Niente with Brazilian-born composer Marcos Balter. This rare sonic adventure is not be missed. We’re giving away two tickets to this performance — follow the event on Flavorpill to win. — Mindy Bond
FOOD/WINE: Brisket King of New York
Thursday, February 21st
MUSIC: Tibet House 23rd Annual Benefit Concert: This spiritually uplifting musical extravaganza falls in that “something to tell your grandkids about” category. Famed for sparking collaborations among an impressive and unlikely assortment of characters, the 23rd installment is again curated by American composer Philip Glass and features tUnE-yArDs, beatboxer Rahzel, Patti Smith and her band, endearing LA-based lo-fi pop artist, Ariel Pink, Tenzin Choegyal, Ira “This American Life” Glass, and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, who is sure to play songs off his debut solo LP, Regions of Light and Sound of God. We can’t wait to see the musical permutations that result from this eclectic mix. The proceeds of the night support the efforts of the Tibet House US, as well as the Hurricane Sandy Relief Foundation and the Tibetan Community of New York & New Jersey. Follow the event on Flavorpill for a chance to win tickets. — Mindy Bond
Friday, February 22nd
COMEDY: John Mulaney
Saturday, February 23rd
BOOKS: 826NYC Presents Poker With Jokers
Sunday, February 24th
PARTY: Alt.Oscar 2013: Now this is our kind of Oscar party. There’s nothing particularly refined about Kostume Kult’s annual Alt.Oscar, but it sure is fun. Dress to the nines, dahling, because everyone else will! Then prepare for a very special red carpet and costume contest (with celebrity judges and cash prizes), followed by a rowdy screening of Tinsel Town’s tiny trophy handout and a dance party. Proceeds from the evening go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. — Leah Taylor
Ongoing