THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
Many of this week’s events beginning May 16th, 2021, can be done from the comfort of your own home unless otherwise noted. Check them out below, and email us at “info at westsiderag dot com” to tell us about any upcoming events or those we might have missed.
Ongoing
The 29th New York African Film Festival This year’s festival, taking place at the FLC theaters with select virtual screenings, explores a host of themes under the banner Visions of Freedom, presenting diverse and interconnected notions of freedom pertinent to Africa, the diaspora, and the world at large while recalling activism of the past and ushering in new anthems of the future to embrace a united front for liberation and expression. An interactive digital art exhibition, featuring work by the artist Zainab Aliyu, which celebrates the festival theme will run in the Amphitheater. See full schedule here. Through May 17. In-Theater ticket prices: $15 general public; $12 students, seniors, and persons with disabilities; $10 FLC members; $59 All-Access Pass; $25 Student All-Access Pass. Virtual Cinema prices: $10 general public; $8 FLC members; 4-Film Bundle $20.
Celebrate Spring with CMOM! See May programs here. Reserve tickets. Children’s Museum
of Manhattan, The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd St (between Amsterdam and Broadway).
JCC: UNMASKED Gallery Art Exhibit The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan (MMJCCM) announces UNMASKED, a multidisciplinary art exhibit about the concept of masks related to culture and identity. The group exhibit, curated by MMJCCM Director of the Lambert Center for Arts + Ideas Udi Urman, features photography, painting, ceramic, and video installations by international artists Guy Aon, Elinor Carucci, Omri Goren, Marie Hudelot, Iddo Markus, Michal Pollack, Gideon Rubin, and Julie Weitz. Through June 5. Laurie M. Tisch Gallery at the MMJCCM, 334 Amsterdam Ave (at 76th St).
Monday, May 16th
7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. JCC Daily Facilitated Meditation Join via Zoom
5 p.m. until 6 p.m. Building New York in the Gilded Age Join Alexander Wood, Robert and Helen Appel Fellow in History and Technology at the New-York Historical Society, in conversation with Elizabeth Blackmar, Mary and David Boies Professor of American History at Columbia University, as they discuss New York’s development in the Gilded Age and the labor and union struggles that have come to define the era. Register here. Online. FREE.
6:30 p.m. B Loves MSC Join us for a rousingly fun, family friendly evening full of great music, laughter, inspiration, and, of course, fundraising! Hosted by Megan Sikora (Broadway Veteran and MSC Mom) & Sebastian Ortiz (MSC Student). Featuring Performances by Creative Stage & Broadway Loves MSC Kids. With Special Guests from Broadway and Beyond. MSC Auditorium, 154 W 93rd St (between Columbus and Amsterdam). $30 adults; $15 children and students (under 18 years of age).
7:30 p.m. Juilliard Dance Senior Graduation Concert As the Class of 2022’s final performance at Juilliard, each student performs a solo or duet of his or her choosing. Peter Jay Sharp Theater
The Juilliard School, 155 W. 65th St. $10.
Tuesday, May 17th
11 a.m. The Senior Men’s Group Weekly meetings have resumed. Participants must now show proof of vaccination and sign up for annual membership. Masks will be worn. New members are welcome to apply. Contact Denise at denise@ncjwny.org. National Council of Jewish Women, 241 West 72nd St (between Broadway and West End Ave).
3:30 p.m. Little New-Yorkers @ Home: Drawn Together Join us via Zoom for storytime and crafts! Each class includes a special Little New-Yorkers hello song, silly dances and games, a storybook reading, and a craft. It’s Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Sometimes it can be hard to talk to someone who does not speak the same language that you do. In Drawn Together, written by Minh Lê and illustrated by Dan Santat, a little boy and his grandfather have a difficult time connecting – the boy speaks English and the grandfather speaks Thai. But as the two begin to draw together, they discover that they share a love of storytelling and art! After the book, create your own artwork using two different styles, just like the boy and his grandfather! Ages 3 to 6. Register here. Online. FREE.
6 p.m. Manhattan Adult ADD Support Group Virtual Meetings To participate in our forum, and to get links to our ongoing Zoom Meetings, please subscribe here.
8 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. The Gilded Age: Fact, Fiction, and Fantasy HBO’s miniseries The Gilded Age fascinated audiences with its depiction of the late 19th century, when industrialization spurred modernization, robber barons made and lost fortunes, and New York City came of age on the world stage. But how much of what you saw on the show is true? Join historian James Nevius for the third and last program in our remote series about this engaging moment in American history. Explore details from not only the HBO series, but also the novels of Edith Wharton and their film adaptations, the novel and TNT series The Alienist and other depictions of Gilded Age New York on stage and screen. Toast the uber-rich with a gin sling (recipe included) and test your trivia knowledge throughout the program. Online. $10 ($8 Members).
Wednesday, May 18th
12 p.m. until 4 p.m. Book Sale Check out our amazing book sale. Great prices and selection! All materials are donations from friends and neighbors of the library. St. Agnes Library. FREE.
1 p.m. until 2 p.m. Jazz+Wednesdays Join us as jazz guitarist Bill Wurtzel and guests play standards from the American Songbook. Limited seating is available and advance registration for museum admission is required. Capacity for this program is limited. To ensure your space, we strongly recommend you arrive early. Please note that there is no standing room for this concert. American Folk Art Museum (Columbus Ave at 66th St). FREE.
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The W Connection Widows Helping Widows Rebuild Their Lives – UWS Chapter Meeting Join us on Zoom to discuss topics and issues to help widows rebuild their lives after the loss of a spouse. These groups are for widows and run by widows. Please RSVP to dawn@wconnection.org if you are interested in attending. Membership in The W Connection is $40 annually which gives you access to our programs and services, but everyone is welcome to a free trial meeting.
7:30 p.m. In Conversation: Disability Artistry Actor Gregg Mozgala moderates an illuminating conversation between disabled theater artists, who bring their expertise to discuss creative process, approach to their work, and the presentation of disability within the artistic form. Joining the panel is playwright and dramaturg A.A. Brenner; actor and playwright Ryan Haddad; and Ben Ranaan, Artistic Director of Phamaly Theatre Company, the country’s longest-running theater company that exclusively features actors with disabilities. Brenner, Haddad, and Phamaly each present excerpts of their current work, rounding out a full evening of art and dialogue. David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center (Broadway between 62nd and 63rd St). FREE.
Thursday, May 19th
8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tucker Greenmarket Local farmers sell a wide range of items including: seasonal vegetables, berries, stone fruit, over 80 varieties of apples, farmstead cheeses, fresh seafood, grass fed beef, duck, eggs, baked goods and New York’s only sorghum and maple syrup. West 66th Street and Columbus Avenue.
8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Columbia Greenmarket Shoppers will find milk and yogurt, fruit and cider, baked goods, preserved fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheese, smoked meats, pickled vegetables, maple syrup, honey, fish, and focaccia topped with locally sourced fruit vegetables, herbs and cheeses, a lunch time favorite. Located in front of the gates of Columbia University; Broadway between 114th and 116th Streets.
10:30 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. Summer on the Hudson: Locomotive Lawn Live Moosiki Kids Musical Storytime fosters a love of reading at a young age with musical stories, interactive musical storyboard, and danceable original Moosiki music on our comfy turf lawn right by the big locomotive. Locomotive Lawn in Riverside Park South. FREE.
12 p.m. until 2 p.m. NYC Landmarks50+ Alliance | Spring Convening In 2012, Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel—chair and founder of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Institute for New York City History, Politics, and Community Activism at the New-York Historical Society—established the NYC Landmarks50+ Alliance to commemorate the landmarks of New York and significant anniversaries of the NYC Landmarks Preservation law. As part of the Institute’s initiatives, the Alliance presents a series of special virtual discussions featuring knowledgeable speakers on the past, present, and future of New York City. Register here. Online. FREE.
2 p.m. until 3 p.m. Emotional Aspects of Aging A weekly discussion of topics pertaining to how it feels to age. Topics include coping with physical and mental disabilities, financial concerns, loss of loved ones, etc. For adults over 65 years of age. Participants must now show proof of vaccination and sign up for annual membership. Masks will be worn. New members are welcome to apply. Contact Denise at denise@ncjwny.org. National Council of Jewish Women, 241 West 72nd St (between Broadway and West End Ave).
3 p.m. B&N: Jack Carr discusses IN THE BLOOD #MiddayMystery Join Barnes & Noble as we welcome #1New York Times bestselling author of Terminal List series, Jack Carr, for a live, virtual discussion of IN THE BLOOD, as part of our B&N Midday Mystery Virtual Event series. In this new thriller, James Reece embarks on a global journey of vengeance. Register here. Online. FREE.
5 p.m. Variations on a Blueprint This spring, the six Kenan Fellows – Ana Evans, Tramaine Gray, Jalen Hicks, Sam Sherman, Lauren Smith, and Marissa Truitt – have gathered to create a unique hybrid performance designed to probe the past and imagine the future for arts institutions. The highly collaborative new work turns to music, dance, and puppetry to explore the contemporary history of the arts and what a more equitable and inclusive future could look like. Clark Studio Theater on the 7th Floor of the Rose Building. FREE.
6 p.m. Theater in Quarantine First live in-person performance by the creators of Theater in Quarantine, making digital magic and a tiny closet into an expansive stage. New York Public Library for the Performing Arts -Bruno Walter Auditorium, 111 Amsterdam Ave. (between West 64th and 65th St). FREE.
7 p.m. Festival of New Musicals Join us for three evenings of new musicals by six songwriting teams: Lisa DeSpain & David Simpatico; Jamie Erekson; Charis Bean Duke; Ted Bushman; Matthew Greene; and John Tarbet. The Center Gallery, 135 Columbus Ave (at 66th St). FREE.
7:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Kaoru Watanabe’s INCENSE Kaoru Watanabe, the New York-based composer and musician specializing in Japanese flutes and percussion, has worked with such groundbreaking artists as Laurie Anderson, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Yo-Yo Ma, and Jason Moran. Watanabe is best known for his artful merging of traditional Eastern music and theater elements with contemporary Western styles. His newest work INCENSE, developed while isolated during the pandemic, premieres this May, in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center (Broadway between 62nd and 63rd St). FREE.
7:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. Movies Under the Stars: The Riverside Bench Grab a blanket and come enjoy a movie in a neighborhood park or playground! This spring, NYC Parks and The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment will host movie showings across the five boroughs. The Riverside Bench, drawn from the personal experiences of writer/director Austin Tsung Fu Chang, interweaves a series of small moments in the lives of a diversity of New Yorkers, captured over time at a single park bench in Riverside Park. The bench bears silent witness as a family returns to it for sanctuary, solace, and restoration. Program: 7:30 p.m. | Q&A with Director, Cast & Crew; 8:30 p.m. | Movie Screening. 72nd Track and Lawn in Riverside Park. FREE.
Friday, May 20th
8 a.m. until 2 p.m. 97th Street Greenmarket This year-round market features produce from southern New Jersey, Orange County, NY, and the Hudson Valley, as well as eggs, grass-fed meat, fish, cheese, and more. 97th St between Columbus & Amsterdam. FREE.
11 am; 1 pm Wake Up, Daisy! by Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre This original take on “Sleeping Beauty” is set on New York City’s Upper West Side and is perfect for today’s modern age. Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, W 79th St. and West Drive, Central Park. (Enter at w 81st St. and Central Park West). $8-$12.
5 p.m. until 6 p.m. Picturing the Self: Black Women Photographers and the Art of Visibility The current exhibition Black Dolls features photographs of Black women and girls, both candid and staged in studios. But what about women behind the camera? What parts of their lives did Black women portray through this art form? Drawing on their work as photographers and curators, our panelists discuss how Black women have embraced the self-portrait to capture and share ideas about beauty, family, labor, and politics. Register here. Online. FREE.
7 p.m. Festival of New Musicals Join us for three evenings of new musicals by six songwriting teams: Lisa DeSpain & David Simpatico; Jamie Erekson; Charis Bean Duke; Ted Bushman; Matthew Greene; and John Tarbet. The Center Gallery, 135 Columbus Ave (at 66th St). FREE.
7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. The Dance Floor: NYC Club Life & Hip Hop The Universal Hip Hop Museum, scheduled to open a permanent home in the Bronx in 2024, strives to celebrate, preserve, and educate the public on the local and global phenomenon of hip hop. Scheduled during Hip Hop Appreciation Week with guest DJs from UHHM, this event also stars NYPL Artists-in-Residence Brahms “Bravo” LaFortune, revered club dance legend, and Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie, Bessie Award-winning choreographer and dancer. They preview UnderScored, a reflection on the intergenerational movement conversations integral to NYC’s underground dance community. After the show, make your way to the dance floor for an unforgettable hip hop jam. David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center (Broadway between 62nd and 63rd St). FREE.
7:30 p.m. Variations on a Blueprint This spring, the six Kenan Fellows – Ana Evans, Tramaine Gray, Jalen Hicks, Sam Sherman, Lauren Smith, and Marissa Truitt – have gathered to create a unique hybrid performance designed to probe the past and imagine the future for arts institutions. The highly collaborative new work turns to music, dance, and puppetry to explore the contemporary history of the arts and what a more equitable and inclusive future could look like. Clark Studio Theater on the 7th Floor of the Rose Building. FREE.
Saturday, May 21st
8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tucker Greenmarket Local farmers sell a wide range of items including: seasonal vegetables, berries, stone fruit, over 80 varieties of apples, farmstead cheeses, fresh seafood, grass fed beef, duck, eggs, baked goods and New York’s only sorghum and maple syrup. West 66th Street and Columbus Avenue.
9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Morningside Park’s Down to Earth Farmer’s Market Local farmers sell a wide range of items including: seasonal vegetables, fruits, plants and flowers, baked goods, fresh fish and seafood, beef, poultry, eggs, cheese, yogurt, honey, pickles and pantry staples such as cornmeal polenta, wheat flour, roasted nuts and dried pasta. Corner of 110th St. & Manhattan Ave.
11 am; 1 pm Wake Up, Daisy! by Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre This original take on “Sleeping Beauty” is set on New York City’s Upper West Side and is perfect for today’s modern age. Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, W 79th St. and West Drive, Central Park. (Enter at w 81st St. and Central Park West). $8-$12.
11 a.m. until 12 p.m. Mil’s Trills Brooklyn-based Mil’s Trills brings their high-energy, participatory performance to the Atrium this spring in celebration of their new family album, Let It Out!, which helps all ages identify, accept, and process emotions in positive and affirming ways. Sing, move, and dance with neighbors, family, and friends to restore connection, nourish self-love, and build empathy towards a peaceful global community. David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center (Broadway between 62nd and 63rd St). FREE.
1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Hablemos: Historias de muñecos / The Stories of our Dolls Hablemos de… ¡historia y arte! Únete a este programa familiar bilingüe que se llevará a cabo en modalidad presencial dentro del museo. Cada programa incluye un recorrido guiado por una de nuestras exposiciones, seguido por una divertida actividad creative. Let’s talk about…history and art! Join us for this bilingual family program in person at the Museum. Each program includes a guided tour of one of our exhibitions, followed by a fun studio activity. Ages 6-11. Register here. New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street). FREE.
4 p.m. until 5 p.m. Seeds of Hope This installation is a tribute to hope, drawing inspiration from Thai culture, where wishes and prayers are often tied to trees, an acknowledgement that an individual has asked something of the universe. Seeds of Hope encourages participants to share a vision for the future on shades of gold ribbon—which are then tied around the rows of plane trees on Hearst Plaza. In essence, we seed hopes and dreams, planting a flag of aspirations that may serve as bright beacons of change. It has often been said that hope is a “thing with feathers.” In this installation, we see the hope of thousands flutter softly in the wind. Hearst Plaza. FREE.
7 p.m. Festival of New Musicals Join us for three evenings of new musicals by six songwriting teams: Lisa DeSpain & David Simpatico; Jamie Erekson; Charis Bean Duke; Ted Bushman; Matthew Greene; and John Tarbet. The Center Gallery, 135 Columbus Ave (at 66th St). FREE.
7:30 p.m. Variations on a Blueprint This spring, the six Kenan Fellows – Ana Evans, Tramaine Gray, Jalen Hicks, Sam Sherman, Lauren Smith, and Marissa Truitt – have gathered to create a unique hybrid performance designed to probe the past and imagine the future for arts institutions. The highly collaborative new work turns to music, dance, and puppetry to explore the contemporary history of the arts and what a more equitable and inclusive future could look like. Clark Studio Theater on the 7th Floor of the Rose Building. FREE.
8 p.m. until 11 p.m. Summer on the Hudson: Star Gazing A summer evening in Manhattan is made complete with a great skyline and the stars, planets, and moon in full view. Manhattan provides a great backdrop as we peer heavenward to see celestial wonders with the help of the Amateur Astronomer’s Association. Pier I in Riverside Park South, West 70th St. FREE.
8 p.m. New York Virtuoso Singers Performing All Choral Movements from Bach Cantatas Program info: Canticum Novum Singers – Cantatas 98-106, Huizi Zhang, piano. St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Amsterdam Ave, between 99 and 100 Sts. In-person: $30 general admission, $40 prime seating; $20 seniors; $10 students. Online: $15.
Sunday, May 22nd
8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Tai Chi Join Silvana Pizzuti to learn and practice Tai Chi, a slow moving martial art with health benefits for all fitness levels. Wear comfortable clothes and sunscreen. Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Riverside Park, West 89th Street and Riverside Dr. FREE.
8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Columbia Greenmarket Shoppers will find milk and yogurt, fruit and cider, baked goods, preserved fruits and vegetables, eggs, cheese, smoked meats, pickled vegetables, maple syrup, honey, fish, and focaccia topped with locally sourced fruit vegetables, herbs and cheeses, a lunch time favorite. Located in front of the gates of Columbia University; Broadway between 114th and 116th Streets.
9 a.m. until 4 p.m. 77th/79th Street Greenmarket Located on beautiful, tree-lined Columbus Avenue, this year-round market stretches from 77th St. each Sunday. Just behind the American Museum of Natural History, shoppers will find grass-fed beef, goat cheese, fresh flowers, eggs, honey, baked goods, apple cider, and a large variety of fruit and vegetables. Columbus Ave between 77th St and 81st St (farmers selling at both ends of the construction wall).
10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Grand Bazaar: Home Decor & Accessories Pop-Up Today, Grand Bazaar NYC is the oldest, largest, and most diverse curated weekly market in New York City. It’s purpose-driven providing much-needed affordable retail space to local independent artists, designers, craft-makers, vintage and antique dealers, and artisanal food entrepreneurs, while passing on 100% of its profits to four local public schools, benefitting over 2,000 children. 100 West 77th Street (Columbus & Amsterdam).
11 am; 1 pm Wake Up, Daisy! by Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre This original take on “Sleeping Beauty” is set on New York City’s Upper West Side and is perfect for today’s modern age. Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, W 79th St. and West Drive, Central Park. (Enter at w 81st St. and Central Park West). $8-$12.
11 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Richard Koral: A Remedy for Raging Inequality? In-person or online: Click to join at start | ID 863 0430 0961 | Passcode 609424. New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W 64th St. FREE.
12 p.m. until 1 p.m. Seeds of Hope This installation is a tribute to hope, drawing inspiration from Thai culture, where wishes and prayers are often tied to trees, an acknowledgement that an individual has asked something of the universe. Seeds of Hope encourages participants to share a vision for the future on shades of gold ribbon—which are then tied around the rows of plane trees on Hearst Plaza. In essence, we seed hopes and dreams, planting a flag of aspirations that may serve as bright beacons of change. It has often been said that hope is a “thing with feathers.” In this installation, we see the hope of thousands flutter softly in the wind. Hearst Plaza. FREE.
12 p.m. until 5 p.m. Summer on the Hudson: Mamapalooza! Fierce feminist families celebrate all Mamas and the people who love them at our annual festival featuring music, vendors, art, and play:groundNYC pop-up. Pier I in Riverside Park South, West 70th Street. FREE.
1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Objects of Inquiry: New Perspectives on American Folk Art What comprises the field and study of “American folk art”? In the early twentieth century, scholars, curators, artists, and dealers developed the concept of folk art as an expansive and sometimes contradictory framework to characterize a vast array of works from paintings and sculptures to samplers, quilts, and furniture. This virtual symposium will present new research exploring the many perspectives through which the study of folk art is currently approached, looking in particular at historically overlooked or understudied relationships between themes of identity, nationalism, and American folk art. Register here. Online. FREE. American Folk Art Museum (Columbus Ave at 66th St). FREE.
1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. Living History: Stepping into the “China Trade” Would you like to learn about the world that people of the past lived in and how it continues to impact us today? Join our historical interpreters in the Museum and experience the past through the material culture left behind by leaders, activists, soldiers, and craftspeople from across history. New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street). FREE with Museum admission.
3 p.m. Variations on a Blueprint This spring, the six Kenan Fellows – Ana Evans, Tramaine Gray, Jalen Hicks, Sam Sherman, Lauren Smith, and Marissa Truitt – have gathered to create a unique hybrid performance designed to probe the past and imagine the future for arts institutions. The highly collaborative new work turns to music, dance, and puppetry to explore the contemporary history of the arts and what a more equitable and inclusive future could look like. Clark Studio Theater on the 7th Floor of the Rose Building. FREE.
6 p.m. Music in a Garden Join us for a series of outdoor concerts. This week’s featured performance: Sabu Adeyola (Reunion Band/Jazz quintet). West Side Community Garden, 123 W 89th St (between Amsterdam and Columbus). FREE.
