For our (unconscionably high) rent money, the best thing about living in NYC 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 Deputy Editor Mindy Bond shares the very best of what’s on offer this week. 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, April 1
ART: F.A.T. Gold: Five Years of Free Art & Technology Stop in at Eyebeam for a crash course in the work of Free Art & Technology (F.A.T.) Lab, a renegade art organization that has been in the business of thug life, pop culture and R&D for the last five years. Founded by two Eyebeam Senior Fellows, the group has grown to comprise an award-winning crew of 25 artists, engineers, musicians, graffiti writers and hackers from all over the world. For the first week of F.A.T. Gold, the collective takes up residency in the gallery and has a full slate of activities planned, including panel discussions, midnight movies, performances, and a YouTube Open Mic Night. Be sure to catch the metallic-themed opening night soirée. It may give new meaning to the phrase “gold rush.” — Mindy Bond
COMEDY: The Friars Club Comedy Film Festival
Tuesday, April 2
FOOD/WINE: The Great Street Meet Delicious food and good vibes are to be had at this soirée benefiting the Street Vendor Project (SVP). Out fighting the good fight, SVP seeks to correct the social and economic injustice faced by hard-working vendors across the five boroughs. For tonight’s event, many of New York City’s best street merchants, including Solber Pupusas, The Cinnamon Snail, Melt Bakery, and Treats Truck, are contributing to the menu, and influential DJ Mike Levitt has signed on to spin dance tracks and international music. — Mindy Bond
Wednesday, April 3
FILM: Spectacle: The Music Video
Thursday, April 4
MUSIC: Clint Mansell Without Clint Mansell’s musical acumen, Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan could have been a dead duck, and Requiem for a Dream may have been a complete nightmare. Perhaps that’s exaggerating things, but those films definitely owe a debt of gratitude to the gifted British composer. With roots in England’s ’80s alternative rock scene, Mansell turned to scoring films after his band Pop Will Eat Itself broke up in 1996. In addition to Swan and Dream, Mansell has also created memorable backing tracks for The Fountain, Pi, and most recently, Park Chan-wook’s English-language debut, Stoker. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Mansell flies in with a string quartet and full band in tow to perform two rare, not-to-be-missed performances at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle. — Mindy Bond
Friday, April 5
PERFORMING ARTS: smokeforblues Festival In conjunction with Blues for Smoke, a terrific interdisciplinary exhibition that looks at contemporary art through a blues lens, the Whitney has put together this weekend-long festival showcasing emerging artists working in rap, hip-hop, and funk. Mykki Blanco headlines during the museum’s pay-what-you-wish Friday night hours, and other weekend performers include Le1f, Himanshu Suri (aka Heems), Prince Rama, and King Holiday. Head over to the museum’s website for the complete schedule. — Mindy Bond
Saturday, April 6
FILM: BBQ Films presents Patrick Bateman’s 27th Birthday Click through to win tickets to this immersive screening party!
BOOKS: 826NYC presents Scrabble For Cheaters 826NYC presents its annual Scrabble For Cheaters tournament. Join Peter Dinklage, John Hodgman, Jonathan Marc Sherman, and others as they compete for the coveted Cheater’s Cup. Basically you play Scrabble against celebrities, you pay to cheat, and local kids win. It’s really a pretty great deal if you think about it. — Jason Diamond
Sunday, April 7 FESTIVAL: MoCCa Arts Festival
Ongoing
PERFORMING ARTS: SAGA Unabashedly for grown-ups — cue explicit sex and some foul language along the way — SAGA is a delightful combination of avant-garde puppetry and irresistible storytelling. Produced by Obie Award-winning and Drama Desk-nominated company Wakka Wakka, SAGA is reminiscent of This American Life’s 2008 episodes on America’s financial and housing crisis, but instead filters Iceland’s economic collapse through the story of one man’s demise. Gunnar Oddmussen and his wife have taken out a series of “low risk loans” to build their dream Viking bed and breakfast, but when Iceland’s banks fail, their giddy, upwardly mobile life falls apart. — Alyssa Alpine