August 20, 2008

Bryant Park Reading Room

Word for Word: Samantha Hunt

12:30 PM

42nd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, Manhattan

Samantha Hunt takes us back in time with a magical historical-novel bridging history, electromagnetism, and a special pigeon in Bryant Park. "The Invention of Everything Else" luminously resurrects one of the greatest scientists of all time, Nikola Tesla, while magically transporting us to an early twentieth-century New York City.

FREE

212-768-4242

www.bryantpark.org/calendar/wordforword.php

*City University of New York

Learning About Infants: Promoting Health and Development

1:00 PM

Hunter College, North Building, 695 Park Avenue, Manhattan

A lecture presenting associate professor of psychology Tricia Striano, who will discuss the essential needs that young developing infants require to live a healthy life. A question and answer session will follow Dr. Striano’s presentation.

FREE For more information, please call

(212) 650-3878 or visit

www.CUNY.edu/Events

New York Society for Ethical Culture

Sir! No Sir! – A Film by David Zeiger

7:00 PM

2 West 64th Street at Central Park West, Manhattan

The Public Issues Committee (PIC) invites you to a cabaret-style showing of Sir! No Sir! The film tells the long suppressed story of the GI movement to end the war in Vietnam. This is the story of one of the most vibrant and widespread upheavals of the 1960’s. The film will be followed by a discussion.

Admission is a $10 contribution PIC and includes popcorn and two beverages.

212-874-5210x144

www.nysec.org

The Jewish Week

Family Secrets Unveiled: Literary Journeys to India and Iraq

7:00 PM

Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 7 West 83rd Street, Manhattan

a conversation with Ariel Sabar, author of My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq, and Sadia Shepard, author of The Girl from Foreign: A Search for Shipwrecked Ancestors, Forgotten Histories, and a Sense of Home. Moderated by Sandee Brawarsky, book critic for The Jewish Week.

FREE Reception and book signing to follow. Reservations strongly suggested. Email events@jewishweek.org.

212-362-8800

*Socrates Sculpture Park

10th Annual Outdoor International Film Festival

7:00 PM

32-01 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, Queens

Each evening of the festival focuses on a different country or culture, and visitors are invited to sample regional cuisine from neighborhood restaurants, picnic on the grass, listen to performances by local musicians, and watch international films on an outdoor screen. Tonight’s pre-screening performance features live music by Mexican quintet, Bachelor Sound Machín. Screenings include “Duck Season” (2006, Mexico). Sample Mexican cuisine by Mojave restaurant in Astoria.

FREE For more information, please visit

www.socratessculpturepark.org

August 21, 2008

Madison Square Park Conservancy

Mad. Sq. Kids: John Flynn

10:30 AM

Madison Square Park; between Madison and Fifth Avenues from 23rd to 26th Streets, Manhattan

The stories and songs of this award-winning entertainer will warm the hearts of every age. Laughter, sing-a-longs, and just plain fun will be had by all with songs like "My Brother Ricky's for Sale."

FREE

(212) 538-6667

www.madisonsquarepark.org

*The Noguchi Museum

“Highlights from the Collection”

2:00 PM

32-37 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, Queens

A survey of over 50 works drawn from its collection, including a number of rarely seen sculptures, studies and models. Objects representing all aspects of Isamu Noguchi’s career are displayed, ranging from polished metal sculptures inspired by Noguchi’s stay in Paris in the 1920s to works from the last two decades of his life when he was increasingly dedicated to working with the natural properties of a variety of stones.

Admission: $10; $5 for seniors and students; free for members, New York City high school students and children under 12. For more information, please call

(718) 204-7088 or visit

www.Noguchi.org

Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum

Fireside Feasts: Gone Fishin’

5:00 PM

5816 Clarendon Road at Ralph Avenue, Brooklyn

Fireside Feasts by Carolina Capehart feature Colonial recipes cooked at our outdoor fire pit. Join our Senior Docent for a look at the cellars and attic of NYC’s oldest house, not usually included in regular tours. Take home tips you can use to brighten your home with summer plants and spend an evening being entertained by our community’s local talent.

FREE

718.629.5400

www.wyckoffassociation.org

*Queens Public Library

The Art of Belly Dance with Shoshana

6:00 PM

Flushing Library, 158-21 Jewel Avenue, Queens

Shoshana, a legendary artist of Middle Eastern dance, brings belly dance to a level of art through years of training, love and reverence for this ancient dance form. Learn about its history and influence on hip-hop as well. Joining Shoshana will be classically trained dancer Indian, and students from the Shoshana Dance Theater Company.

FREE For more information, please call

(718) 591-4343 or visit

www.QueensLibrary.org

August 22, 2008

*The Bronx Museum of the Arts

Green Streets: A Bronx Museum Mural Project Design and Painting Session

4:00 PM

Carroll Place, between 165th and 166th Streets, Bronx

Kids ages 8-12 are invited to participate in a mural project with Lady K Fever. Help design and paint a mural about making your neighborhood a greener community.

FREE For more information, please call

(718) 681-6000, x151 or visit

www.BronxMuseum.org

Columbia University, Astronomy Dept.

Star-Gazing Night and Public Lecture

8:00 PM

Pupin Hall, Columbia University, Broadway and 116th Street, Manhattan

Large Scale Structure in the Universe: Walls, Voids, Filaments and the End of Greatness.

FREE

(212) 854-6864

www.astro.columbia.edu/outreach/

The Riverside Theatre

African Diaspora Film Series

8:30 PM

91 Claremont Avenue, Manhattan

Filmed over a course of nine years "Zoned In" shows the remarkable real life journey of 16 year old Daniel who goes from a Bronx high school to an Ivy league university. The movie celebrates the accomplishments of this extraordinary young man, but does not shy away from depicting his struggles to fit in at school.

Admission: Adults $15, Students and Seniors $10

212-870-6784

www.theriversidetheatre.org

August 23, 2008

City Parks Kids

Cinderella Samba

6:00 AM

Highbridge Park, West 155 and Dyckman Streets, Edgecombe and Amsterdam Avenues, Manhattan

Escape to the luscious land of Brazil and experience this timeless fairytale as you never have before! A unique twist to the classic story, Cinderella and her Prince now find themselves in a Samba Contest at the Carnival Ball. Catch the one and only Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre puppeteers perform and be sure to stick around for an exciting puppet-making workshop to follow.

FREE

212.829.0002

www.CityParksFoundation.org

*Harlem Week 2008

Harlem: 5K Health Walk-A-Thon

9:00 AM

114th Street and Morningside Avenue, Manhattan

Join thousands to help support Harlem’s Healthy Eating and Living Initiative (HEAL). Activities include free health screenings, career opportunities and entertainment in Morningside Park, St. Nicholas Park and Jackie Robinson Park. Please note that this event is a two-mile walk. No running will be permitted. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Registration: $20. For additional information, please visit

www.harlemhealthyliving.com

*Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve

Illuminating Lanterns

10:30 AM

83 Nielsen Avenue, Staten Island

Create a soft glow to your yard, or walkway. Learn how to make a decorative lantern from recyclable items in your kitchen cabinets. For children ages 12 and up. Pre-registration is required.

FREE For more information and to register,

please call (718) 967-1976 or visit

www.NYSParks.State.ny.us.

CityParks Foundation

Charlie Parker Jazz Festival

3:00 PM

Marcus Garvey Park, 124th Street and Mt. Morris Park, Manhattan

Now in its 16th year, the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival kicks off August 23rd featuring jazz greats such as The Barry Harris Trio, Charles McPherson, Rashied Ali, Robert Glasper, and Gretchen Parlato. The festival is a two-day event (Aug. 23-24) that celebrates the life and work of Charlie Parker. Events will take place at two different parks.

FREE

212-360-8290

www.cityparksfoundation.org

*New York Writer’s Coalition

2008 Fort Greene Park Summer Literary Festival

3:00 PM

Myrtle Avenue and Washington Park, Brooklyn

The Fort Greene Park Summer Literary Festival provides a means for self-expression and creativity for area young people, and builds community through arts and literature. Poet laureates past and present including Amiri Baraka, Quincy Troupe, Louis Reyes Rivera and Hal Sirowitz share the stage with young writers from the literary festival’s free summer workshops.

FREE For more information, please call

(718) 398-2883 or visit

www.nywriterscoalition.org

The Riverside Theatre

African Diaspora Film Series

8:30 PM

91 Claremont Avenue, Manhattan

Made in Jamaica is a thrilling musical documentary that examines the role of Reggae music as a tool for social, political and even religious rebellion and its part in shaping and influencing social change and thought.

Admission: Adults $10, Students and Seniors $8

212-870-6784

www.theriversidetheatre.org

August 24, 2008

*African Day Parade

2nd Annual African Day Parade and Street Festival

12:00 PM

127th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, Manhattan

The parade and street festival will bring together art and culture representing Central, North, South, East and West Africa and all of the Diaspora. The breadth of the art and culture extends from music, fashion, design, art folklore, dance and live bands. This year’s theme celebrates “Family & Tradition.”

FREE For more information, please call

(646) 420-5199 or visit

www.AfricanDayParade.org

Louis Armstrong House Museum

Concert: The Red Hook Ramblers

1:00 PM

34-56 107 Street, Corona, Queens

The Red Hook Ramblers are dedicated to the preservation of America’s rich early music, from ragtime to marches to blues to jazz and more.

FREE

718-478-8274

www.louisarmstronghouse.org

The Riverside Theatre

The African Diaspora Film Series

4:00 PM

91 Claremont Avenue at 120th Street, Manhattan

"Sons of Benkos" is an entertaining documentary that explores the African culture of Colombia through music. The film presents the music of the Sons of Benkos, one of the most important Black leaders in the fight for freedom during the times of slavery in Colombia.

Admission: Adults $10, Children under 12 and Seniors $8

www.theriversidechurchny.org

212-870-6784

Summer on the Hudson: Acoustic Sundays

Los Soneros De Oriente

7:00 PM

Pier 1, West 70th Street, Riverside Park South, Manhattan

Composed primarily of former members of the great Cuban band, Son del la Loma, Los Soneros pay a tribute to that group and its founder, the late Armando Sanchez, who dedicated his life to the maintenance of Son.

FREE

212-408-0219

www.nyc.gov/parks/soh