Please, moon, grant me a great weekend!
The nightmare before Thanksgiving
1. Tim Burton retrospective at MoMA
You’re first order of business for the weekend: Hit up MoMA (11 W 53rd St between Fifth and Sixth Aves; 212-708-940, moma.org) and get inside the creepy yet brilliant mind of Tim Burton at a just-opened exhibit exploring his filmography. You may feel a little gloomy on your way out of the museum—boost your spirits by hopping into the pool at the Grace Hotel (125 W 45th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves; 212-354-2323, room-matehotels.com) and sipping on a green-tea martini ($15) at the swim-up bar. Nonguests have to shell out $10 to get wet (includes towel rental), but you can always just perv out at the landlubber’s bar that looks out on the water.
Read more: Inside the head of the supergoth auteur
The man who dresses like a “gay Orville Redenbacher”
2. Devendra Banhart
After a hospital spell for nervous exhaustion and a much-talked-about relationship with Natalie Portman, the guitar-toting singer-songwriter seems to have found himself again. And unlike Mase’s move from the mike to the pulpit, Barnhart’s newfound self-awareness is resulting in some great music. Catch him live on Sunday at The Town Hall (123 W 43rd St between Sixth Ave and Broadway, 212-840-2824), then grab a Guinness at Jimmy’s Corner (140 W 44th St between Sixth Ave and Broadway, 212-221-9510), a haven of no-frills authenticity amid the glitz of Times Square. Just don’t get into a fight—owner Jimmy Glenn used to coach at a nearby boxing gym. (Relax, he’s friendly.)
Read more: This week’s top live shows
“I’m gonna kill all of you…to the break of dawn!”
3. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
Nic Cage is back on the big screen, and this time he’s doing a bang-up job as a corrupt New Orleans cop in Werner Herzog’s latest. Catch the film at the BAM Rose Cinemas (30 Lafayette Ave, 718-636-4100) on Saturday at 7pm, then stick around for a free performance by R&B and gospel singer Jeremiah at BAMcafé Live (10pm). You’ll want to make your way to the café as soon as the movie’s out—these Friday and Saturday night shows are understandably popular, so snagging a table before the hordes arrive is the obvious power move.
Read more: TONY’s review
Keep it classical, New York
4. Mode Records Benefit Marathon
The storied classical music label hosts two shows on Saturday (6, 7:30pm) at the Abrons Art Center at the Henry Street Settlement (466 Grand St at Pitt St; 212-598-0400, abronsartscenter.org). The term marathon might be used rather loosely, but the important thing is the music: In the first set you can catch Philip Glass, and later there’s a rare performance of Cage’s “Concert for Piano and Orchestra with Aria.” You’ll be so deep in the LES you might not even see any hipsters, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep it classy with a postshow drink. Head to East Side Company Bar (49 Essex St between Broome and Grand Sts, 212-614-7408), a cozy, old-fashioned speakeasy with classic cocktails.
Client–9 will ask the questions around here
5. “Alan Dershowitz vs. Jeremy Ben-Ami: American Foreign Policy and Israel”
This showdown between legal-world rock star Dershowitz and J Street founder Ben-Ami is moderated by none other than former New York governor Eliot Spitzer. Rather than asking, “How much for a BJ?,” he’ll be probing these two thinkers on America’s relationship with Israel and how it affects foreign policy in the Middle East. The debate kicks off at 8pm on Saturday at the 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Ave at 92nd St; 212-415-5500, 92y.org). Find dinner nearby at Taco Taco (1726 Second Ave between 89th and 90th Sts, 212-289-8226), where tacos are served the real way—soft corn tortillas stuffed with the classics and smothered with salsa fresca.
