The proliferation of taxidermy-as-hipster decor in various downtown dens of iniquity may lead you to believe that a freeze-dried fox is something to take lightly. Think again. Taxidermy isn’t just a cute diversion, folks—it’s a science.
Tonight, head to the American Museum of Natural History’s Linder Theater (Central Park West at 77th St; 212-769-5100, amnh.org; 6:30pm; $15, members $13.50) for an evening with Melissa Milgrom, whose recent book, Still Life: Adventures in Taxidermy, explores the processes and personalities that have put taxidermy on the pop-cultural map (think Damien Hirst). Guests Bruce and David Schwendeman (former chief taxidermist at the museum) will join in the discussion. Book signing to follow. Before the event, complimentary wine, coffee and snacks will be available at the café from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Buy tickets at the door, or in advance here.
Eat Out Do What You Love
Find out if 2010 is the year to launch your food career at this inspirational panel discussion, featuring Top Chef star Tom Colicchio (pictured) and chocolatier Jacques Torres.
Drink Up Meet the Brewer
Beer nerds can schmooze with Wolaver’s/Otter Creek brewer Mike Gerhart when he brings 17 organic drafts and casks to the taps at Blind Tiger.
Lecture “Valentine’s Day 101: Why Humans Have Sex”
Psychologist David M. Buss(Why Women Have Sex) will shed some light on the strategies of human mating from a scientific standpoint, which may help you decipher urban dating codes. Here’s hoping.
Music Statik Selektah
A Massachusetts hip-hop producer hits S.O.B.’s with a posse of indie rappers, including Consequence and Freeway.
Books “Publishing in the Age of Blah Blah Blah…”
This is the second installment in a series of talks in which writers and editors discuss the state of the publishing industry.
Music Julian Casablancas
See the Strokes frontman present his first solo record.
Comedy Stripped Stories Three-Year Anniversary
Amateur sexologists Giulia Rozzi and Margot Leitman celebrate carnal candor in this anniversary edition of a monthly revue.
Talks Curry Economics
Find out how the food trade affects economic expansion.
Gay & Lesbian Queer Men’s Erotic Art Workshop
Draw some of the city’s most alluring male models in this workshop from Harvey Redding.
Michael Cera gone bad! 1. Youth in Revolt
Opening Friday, this cruel comedy sees Michael Cera offsetting his sweet, unassuming nerd-boy routine with a suave and raunchy alter ego. Catch a showing this weekend and see for yourself how well Cera pulls off “bad boy” at Regal Union Square. After the show, head to sceney Ippudo (65 Fourth Ave between 9th and 10th Sts, 212-388-0088) for one of the best bowls of ramen you’ve ever had. Munch on some Junior Mints at the theater if you’re starving because you may have to wait (it’s worth it). Akamaru Modern, the house special, is a smooth, buttery soup topped with scallions, cabbage, a slice of roasted pork and pleasantly elastic noodles. To die for.
A Night at the Museum! With hipsters! 2. Animal Collective at the Museum of Natural History
Animal Collective’s latest effort, Merriweather Post Pavillon, was lauded by many critics as one of the best album’s of the year. On Friday night, catch the band’s DJ set at monthly One Step Beyond dance party hosted by the American Museum of Natural History(Central Park West at 79th St; 212-769-5100, amnh.org; 9pm–1am, $20–$25). Could there be a better venue for such a mammal-loving band? (Maybe the Prospect Park Zoo.) Before dancing your butt off to the sweet electronic rhythms of hipsterdom, head over to Barbao(100 W 82nd St at Columbus Ave, 212-501-0776) to warm up with a hot bowl of pho and other delicious Vietnamese dishes from buzzed-about chef Michael “Bao” Huynh.
Music Nate Wooley
Trumpeter Nate Wooley’s music is full of experimentation and improvised flourishes.
Eat Up The Silk Road Through Spices
Spice merchant and author Nirmala Narine will discuss the intriguing (and at times brutal) story of the Silk Road spice trade.
Music The Music of John Lennon
Various local indie types unite to honor the late pop maestro. Performers include Nicole Atkins, as well as members of Amazing Baby, Here We Go Magic and Suckers.
Comedy Tell Your Friends: We’ll Kick Cancer’s Ass!
Not only is it for a good cause, but it’s got a great lineup: John Oliver, Caroline Rhea, Kristen Schaal and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
Lecture “Right Time, Right Place”
Journalist Richard Brookhiser talks about his mentor, National Review founder William F. Buckley, at tonight’s lecture.
Holiday Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
The lighting of this 72-foot-tall Norway spruce kicks off the holiday season with celebrity entertainment and a crush of onlookers.
Books Paul Goldberger and Michael Sorkin
Two architecture critics discuss the complex cycle of urban destruction and renewal in a talk titled “Building Up and Tearing Down.”
What could be a better way to celebrate the most American holiday of the year than checking out a local gospel choir belting out classics like “Oh Happy Day” and “God Bless America”? Today, get your hips swaying with The Late Show’s Gospel Choir, a Brooklyn a capella choir that got its start—as the name suggests—on the Late Show with David Letterman. Back in 1995, a rep for the Late Show called up Lady Peachena, the choir’s leader, and requested a video of the group performing; when sideshow maestro Paul Shaffer heard them live, he immediately got them a spot on the show. Since then, the Late Show’s Gospel Choir has been invited back 13 times.
To see them strut their stuff, head to the steps of the American Museum of Natural History(Central Park West at 77th St; 212-769-5100, amnh.org) this afternoon. Show up at 2pm for the special holiday performance, which runs until 5pm (“with breaks of course!” says Lady Peachena.) If you’ve got time, why not stop inside for a little holiday origami while you’re there?
Holidays Origami Holiday Tree
The American Museum of Natural History unveils its tree, with paper animals from A to Z.
Books Stuart Hample
The cartoonist behind Inside Woody Allen revisits his work. For your own dose of neurosis, take our Great Walk of the locations in Manhattan and Annie Hall.
Music Röyksopp + Nite Jewel
Norwegian duo Röyskopp is prepping its new album of enveloping electropop, Senior. It’s joined by heavily blog-buzzed L.A. indie-dance-music queen Ramona Gonzalez, a.k.a. Nite Jewel.
Gay & Lesbian Wednesgayz
DJ Tikka hosts this new weekly dance party with a rotating lineup of hand-selected guest DJs and down-to-earth Bed-Stuy queers.
Music Boy Crisis Pitchfork may have called this five-piece electro outfit “Williamsburg hipster douche bags,” but isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you have to admit they put on a pretty fun show.
Jobs Career Camp, Session 3: Digital Entrepreneurship
Movers and shakers in the tech world share insights on careers in the digital age. Come early: A two-for-one happy hour goes from 6 to 7pm, and Galapagos will have a resident hairstylist on hand for free, interview-ready haircuts.
Clubs Deep See
Catch the final Tuesday-night edition of this long-running dance party, which features deep house, techy sounds and plenty of classic cuts. (Starting in September, look for it every other Thursday.)
Gay & Lesbian GLAAD Manhattan
The price tag on this Venice Beach–themed soiree may be steep ($100), but it’s for a good cause—all proceeds benefit the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
cakeface puts on vice.(with Mary Kate) Photograph: Elle Chyun
Set your phasers for tonight, Star Trek is upon us! But that’s not all going on tonight. Boldly go to the first annual Urban Bear Weekend, or watch even bolder men bludgeon each other at Friday Night Fights.
Too scary? Catch Stones Throw DJs at the American Museum of Natural History, see indie-rocker Dean Wareham expose himself at a book reading or check out Billyburg’s neighborhood-wide art party.
For a more sedate evening, grab cupcakes at lovely girlsor consider the nature of your cupcake obsession with performance-art show vice.(with Mary Kate). Get all the deets and start planning your perfect Friday here.
Which is worse: the world being destroyed by gamma rays or by the polar ice caps melting?
Tonight, you can find out all the cool ways human existence will end with bona fide astronomer and author Phil Plait at the in-no-way-hysterical-sounding “Death from the Skies!” (also the title of Plait’s new book) at The American Museum of Natural History.
For instance, a gamma ray burst will, according to Plait, resemble “cosmic blowtorches—like if half of the planet was stuck in an oven set on broil, and the other side was a flaming hurricane.” Of course, as he explains, it’s very unlikely that will happen, but still, awesome.
But because he’s a respected scientist, attacking ignorance and debunking myths via his blog, Bad Astronomy, anything he dubs a genuine threat becomes superscary. Especially as his survival tip No. 478 is “Do not live in New York City, Paris or anywhere near the Golden Gate Bridge.” Cripes! If you want to survive, we recommend learning the ways of the cockroach now.
Space show at the Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History
Why is it that clubbing often makes us consider the mysteries of the universe? Y’know, the big questions: Are we alone in the universe? What are exoplanets? What is that tune?!?
Way to have your mind blown No 1: Flying Lotus’s unique tripped-out hip-hop.
Way to have your mind blown No. 2: dark, creeping, bass-wobbling dubstep from the U.K.’s Kode 9.
And the final way to have your mind blown is to enjoy a complimentary screening of “The Search for Life: Are We Alone?,” in which narrator Harrison Ford will make you feel less alone with his best “Morgan Freeman voice of God” voice.
Change up your typical Saturday night routine and do a good deed this weekend: Celebrate World Water Day at the American Museum of Natural History. There are exhibits for kiddies, but adults can check out a presentation on creepy crustaceans and a performance honoring the Hudson River by Arm-of-the-Sea Theater. From there, grab a sweet treat at Cafe Lalo, where you can also donate $1—which is enough to supply a child with safe drinking water for 40 days. The romance factor will certainly not be watered down. Zing!
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The proliferation of taxidermy-as-hipster decor in various downtown dens of iniquity may lead you to believe that a freeze-dried fox is something to take lightly. Think again. Taxidermy isn’t just a cute diversion, folks—it’s a science.
Comedy
Change up your typical Saturday night routine and do a good deed this weekend: Celebrate 