From: "Jeff Stark" <jstark@nonsensenyc.com>
Subject: nonsensenyc: 11.6 to 11.12
Date: November 6th 2009

Friday, November 6
* Duchess in the Dark
* Books Through Bars Bingo, Manhattan
* Snowflake Mountain Hot Cruiser, Williamsburg * San Francisco's Bow and Sparrow With New York's Robot Church, Williamsburg * Crude Oil, Brooklyn

Saturday, November 7
* Floating Kabarette, Brooklyn
* KingCon, Brooklyn
* Multiverse Playground, Brooklyn
* Hey, I'm Walkin' Here! Staten Island
* Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, Manhattan * The Ping�Pong East Coast Launch Party, Manhattan * Zee, Manhattan
* Adopt-a-Jesus, Manhattan
* Cabaret Luxe, Manhattan
* The Elevator Reading Series Festival: The Impact of Change, Manhattan * Easy Lover Loft: Second Anniversary and A Farewell to Justin, Manhattan

Sunday, November 8
* BETA Spaces, Brooklyn
* Life Stories Curated by Chen Tamir, Williamsburg * No Parking on the Dancefloor, Brooklyn

Monday, November 9
* Clue, Williamsburg

Tuesday, November 10
* The November Samosa Crawl, Manhattan
* The End of Poverty? Manhattan
* The Unstandard Show, Brooklyn

Wednesday, November 11
* Corduroy Appreciation Club

Thursday, November 12
* Gauge, Manhattan
* Bunny Butterfly Kisses, Manhattan

Ongoing
* Last week of regular listings

Wishlist
* Apartments!

Learning
* Understanding Your Fertility Cycle

Help
* Three Kings

NOTE: For some navigation help, or an explanation for what this is all about, scroll all the way down to NONSENSE. You'll find snarky editorial comments and little bits of praise littered throughout this list. These nuggets are marked with all caps, like this: NOTE. Also, we make a lot of mistakes, especially with dates; you should always double check our work. And you can donate to this project at nonsensenyc.com/special.

XXXXX COVER ART XXXXX

Traffic cop practicing moves.

XXXXX FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6 XXXXX

Duchess in the Dark

As unexpectedly horrifying as submerging your hands in a bowl of peeled grapes at a Halloween party, Duchess in the Dark is our take on John Webster's Jacobean tragedy the Duchess of Malfi. Art.Party will give the audience flashlights with which to get in on the action, exploding Webster's themes of light and the nature of perception.

CSV Flamboyan Theater
107 Suffolk Street, Manhattan)
7:30 and 9:30p; $18
Continues SATURDAY
artpartytheatercompany.com
brownpapertickets.com/event/86273

***** Also on FRIDAY *****

Snowflake Mountain Hot Cruiser

Tonight expect nothing less than an epic poem rendition of your life. We'll go on a journey up Snowflake mountain and through the depths of it in your very own Hot Cruiser. Pair up with a poet tonight and tell him or her your life story in three quick easy steps. They will turn your life to song and verse and even interpretive dance and finger paint. Then watch as the lives unfold and Gilgamesh shudders, Lucan goes cold, and Rilke rejoices. It's the cure-all for the post-punk pre-breeder post-hipster bloboramma that we're swimming through, and then we do aerobics. Come as you are or dress the part, leotards and costumes provided by Leonardotard. A little interpretive dance is the way to start off the weekend right.

HiChristina!
632 Grand Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 10p; $10 BYOB
rxapparel@gmail.com
hichristina.com

***** Also on FRIDAY *****

Books Through Bars Bingo

Books Through Bars is out of money, so we're playing cheap/fun/awesome Bingo to pay for postage and keep sending packages full of books to folks incarcerated in America's broken prison system.

It's free to get in, cheap ($1!) to play, and we'll have beer for sale. Plus you'll be playing for totally rad prizes. Dope beats from DJ No Flag, color commentary from the loudest nun you know - basically, you should be there.

ABC No Rio
156 Rivington, Manhattan
8p; $1 cards

***** Also on FRIDAY *****

San Francisco's Bow and Sparrow With New York's Robot Church

Showcasing gravity defying aerial dance, smoking hot rhythmic tap, and comedy improv to tell the story of a modern girl's dating mishaps and her trip into an alternate reality where she gets swept, literally, off her feet. Bow and Sparrow creates an interactive experience for audiences. Featuring performances by Julianne Harper, Zoe Galvez, Chris Libby, and Kate Law and Alayna Stroud.

Along with Robot Church's After Never, a witty romanticization of ghost love and chaos in honor of the Day of the Dead. Featuring work by Austin Donohue and Robert Ramirez with Ian Merrigan and Jon Pratt.

Monkey Town
58 North Third Street, between Kent and Wythe, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 8 and 10p; $15 advance, $20 door, ticket doesn't include dinner kate@bowandsparrow.org
bowandsparrow.org

***** Also on FRIDAY *****

Crude Oil

Wang Bing�s monster documentaries about industrial Chinese life -- think hours of coal mines, belching factories, and broken families -- gets even more epic today, when Sunset Park�s Light Industry screens the 14-hour-long Crude Oil, about a work day on a Chinese oil field. The daily screenings in partnership with Triple Canopy are accompanied by other Bing films and talks and landscans from the researchers/artists at Center for Land Use Interpretation.

Accompanying Crude Oil in an adjacent room will be the American premiere of Wang Bing's Coal Money (4p) and a discussion to follow with NYU professors Rebecca Karl and Zhen Zhang. Sunday also features a screening of Wang's nine-hour West of the Tracks. A curated DVD library of related films will be available for viewing throughout the week.

Light Industry
220 36th Street, 5th floor, Brooklyn
9a-11p, running five times in its entirety; Continues through SUNDAY
canopycanopycanopy.com/static/pr/TripleCanopy_CrudeOil_110409-PR.pdf

XXXXX SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 XXXXX

Floating Kabarette

Galapagos Art Space presents the next installment of its flagship series Floating Kabarette. Part cabaret, part burlesque and part variety, each show features some of the best performers from New York City and beyond.

Starring: Lisa Natoli: aerial beauty; Miss Saturn: sexy hula hoopstress; Brian Newman: downtown crooner; Elie Venezky: trapeze Adonis; Max Darwin: magician extraordinaire; Jenny Rocha and Her Painted Ladies: bawdy dance troupe.

And a sexy late night Kabarette featuring: Peekaboo Pointe: fastest tassel twirler in the East; Julie Atlas Muz: international burlesque sensation; and Narcissister: mysterious masked seductress. Hosted by Olga and Bjorn. Music by armsofgandhi.

Galapagos
16 Main Street, Brooklyn
10p; $free
galapagosartpace.com

***** Also on SATURDAY *****

KingCon

A Brooklyn comic and animation convention. Featuring dozens of the borough's most talented independent artists, writers, animators and publishers, KingCon will include exhibitors, vendors, panelists and signers. Some featured guests will be Act-I-Vate's Dean Haspiel, Northlanders' Brian Wood, celebrated illustrator Molly Crabapple, and many others are being added. KingCon will also boast a host of contests and activities, and offer attendees the opportunity to interact with celebrities from the world of comics, film, television and sports.

Featured Guests: MAD Magazine illustrator Al Jaffee, Marvel Comics' Denny O' Neil, Jonathan Ames (HBO's 'Bored to Death'), American Splendor's Harvey Pekar, DC Comics Illustrator Neal Adams, Cliff Chiang (Human Target), Bob Fingerman (Minimum Wage), Fred Van Lente (Incredible Hercules), Artist Josh Adams, and Brian Wood .

Brooklyn Lyceum
227 4th Avenue, Brooklyn
11a-7p; $7 one day, $10 both days
Continues SUNDAY
718 857 4816
brooklynlyceum.com
KingConBrooklyn.com

***** Also on SATURDAY *****

Paper Garden Records presents:

Multiverse Playground

In conjunction with 3rd Ward, Paper Garden Records will shine a new light (literally) on your everyday perception of music and art. Challenging and exploring the relationship between the senses, conceptual art visionary Larry Mayorga will present a grandiose light installation that will illuminate and embody the atmosphere and sound of Paper Garden's blossoming artists - Emanuel and the Fear, Peasant, and Darla Farmer.

Plus photography by Heidi Greenwood and a must-see live conceptual art performance by New York art collective Art Battles, stand-up acts by Comedy Central's Kurt Metzger, and music from Brooklyn's Boy Crisis, with special guest appearance by Das Racist and a dance party.

3rd Ward
195 Morgan, Brooklyn
L train to Morgan
6p-2a; $15 advance, $20 door, free malt liquor from 6-7p papergardenrecords.com/multiverseplayground 3rdward.com/events

***** Also on SATURDAY *****

Hey, I'm Walkin' Here!

A series of exploratory perambulations through the five boroughs. Or, less pretentiously: Get off your butt and come walk around the city with us.

For the first time since September, it looks like we're going to have a rain-free walk. Come out on Saturday and enjoy the beautiful autumn weather on our annual South Shore Fall Crawl in Staten Island. Most of this 15-mile walk will be on the beach, and there will be a good amount of rock scrambling involved, so make sure you wear appropriate attire/shoes.

Meeting point: Underneath the first S in the big Staten Island Ferry sign outside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, Manhattan 8:45a; $free
matt.burnsomedustgmail.com
burnsomedust.com

***** Also on SATURDAY *****

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School

Dr. Sketchy's is a life drawing class turned cabaret extravaganza. Artists draw glamorous underground performers, compete in contests, and win booze and prizes. From its humble Brooklyn beginnings, it's spread to 100 cities on five continents- including London, Rome, Tokyo, Paris, Sao Paulo, and Melbourne.

On November 7, Dr. Sketchy's is teaming up with renowned comics scholar Craig Yoe, to celebrate his new book, Secret Identity: The Fetish Art of Superman Co-Creator Joe Shuster. Stunning fetish models will reenact the hidden art of Superman's creator, and Mr. Yoe will speak about his book and sign copies.

Slipper Room
167 Orchard Street, at Stanton, Manhattan 4-7p; $10 advance, $12 door
21 and over
drsketchy.com

***** Also on SATURDAY *****

The Ping�Pong East Coast Launch Party

The Henry Miller Library is pleased to announce the annual publication of Ping�Pong, a journal of the arts. The editors continue to serve up the best artists from the the global art and literary scene by publishing a vibrant group of poets, writers, artists, and photographers. This issue continues Ping�Pong�s commitment to a cultural dialogue between contemporary artists and the aesthetics set forth by Henry Miller and Anais Nin.

The 2009 issue of Ping�Pong features an international collection from Iraq, Ireland, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Japan. Tonight features readings by contributors Cheryl Burke, Erica Wright, Jennifer Firestone, Whitney Porter, Kate Hall, Erika Lutzner, and Joey Cannizzaro, as well as editors Maria Garcia Teutsch and Christine Hamm.

Happy Ending Bar
302 Broome Street, Manhattan
7p; $free
inktastesbitter@yahoo.com
henrymiller.org/ping_pong.html

***** Also on SATURDAY *****

Zee

A rigorous mindscape; a hallucinatory architecture of light; a dream machine. An enclosed space is filled with a dense, odorless fog that completely obscures the walls, floor and ceiling. Individuals freely roam this environment, while flickering light filters through the haze, inducing hallucinations and sensory distortions within each viewer. A droning soundscape intensifies this full-immersion experience, shifting dynamically according to changes in the color, frequency and intensity of the light.

Exhilarating and meditative, Hentschl�ger's pulsing, stroboscopic and mind-altering Zee pushes the boundaries of human perception and creates an intensely riveting audiovisual journey.

Important information: Anybody with the following conditions should not attend ZEE: photosensitive epilepsy; asthma, breathing and heart problems; abnormal blood pressure; migraine & headaches; all kinds of eye & ear diseases; claustrophobia or anxiety. Pregnant women are also advised to refrain from attending. Please note: The artificial fog being used is proven, even in extreme intensities, not to be of any health risk; the stroboscopes used in the show are standard theatrical units.

3LD Art and Technology Center
80 Greenwich Street, near Rector Street., Manhattan 2-9p, project begins on the hour and the half hour, approximately 20 minutes; $?, closed to the general public -- you must RSVP for entry Continues on SUNDAY
ps122.org/performances/zee.html

***** Also on SATURDAY *****

Adopt-a-Jesus

SALT artspace is hosting a screening of the documentary, Adopt a Jesus, a film made by Bob Wilkinson with Brandt Russo.

For 14 days, we traveled through the south in a bus that ran on used cooking oil. We picked up hitchhikers and listened to the stories of the homeless and those who devote their time caring for them. We survived on the street skills Brandt Russo acquired from the time he spent on the streets of Houston and hitchhiking throughout the USA. This is our story.

Featuring Brandt Russo (the ordinary radicals), Common Grounds Community (Shreveport, La), Sims Street Community (Bryan, Tx), and Lakewood Church Shannagans. Music by the Psalters.

Brandt will be at the screening to talk and answer questions afterward and will be selling copies of the film. Will be a great time to mingle with interesting folks and those with the desire to change the streets of NYC.

1160 Broadway, between 27th and 28th streets, fifth floor, Manhattan 7p; $5, come early for free wine and cheese

***** Also on SATURDAY *****

Cabaret Luxe

Emerging from the dark corners of New York City�s underground, Cabaret Luxe brings to the stage acts of sinister hedonism inspired by the nightclubs of Weimar Berlin, the advent of American punk, Dada, decadence, and art born from the liberating freefall of economic uncertainty.

Featuring the eclectic sounds of Amour Obscur and Dorothy Darker�s carnal sideshow of burlesque performers, Cabaret Luxe immerses you in a world of ferocious beauty and vintage vice.

Down with the rat race. Art triumphs. Our first installment we take over the back room at the most divine of dives

Parkside Lounge
317 East Houston Street, Manhattan
9p; $10
myspace.com/cabaretluxe
myspace.com/amourobscur

***** Also on SATURDAY *****

The Elevator Reading Series Festival: The Impact of Change

Showcasing three plays written by emerging playwrights. The plays, along with music, poetry, and visual art all come together to explore how a moment can change a life.

With Cassius Sargent's Chicken Bones by Asher Wyndham, Breathless by Stacy Osei-Kuffour, and Sistahs by Harrison David Rivers. Plus slam poetry all day in the poetry cafe and live musical performance at 8p. Visual art by Ismael E Cruz, Elizabeth Rossi, and Shani Richards, with food vendors all day.

Space on White
81 White Street, Manhattan
3-9p; $12
themovementtheatrecompany.org

***** Also on SATURDAY *****

Easy Lover Loft: Second Anniversary and A Farewell to Justin

We're excited to see you again after such a long time away. We've got a great new space for this Saturday, a restaurant normally reserved for Dim Sum service under the Manhattan Bridge in a Chinatown mini-mall. You'll take a ride on an escalator to get there, and the party will open up in front of you.

This party is a bittersweet one. It's our second anniversary, and it's also a farewell party for resident DJ Justin Carter, who's leaving DJ Probus as the sole bearer of the Easy Lover torch. No reason for tears, though, we're going to celebrate. We'll have a little sauce on the house to start things off; Probus and Justin will make the dancefloor nice, and there's a little surprise in store. Let's just say you shouldn't leave before 2a.

88 Palace
88 East Broadway, Manhattan
10p-4a; $15, $10 with RSVP, open beer and bubbly bar from 10-11p easyloverloft@gmail.com

XXXXX SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8 XXXXX

BETA Spaces

Arts in Bushwick is pleased to present BETA Spaces, a one-day festival of independently curated, collaborative group exhibitions. Now in its third year, BETA Spaces promotes and facilitates open dialogue among curators, artists, and visitors. The free, one-day festival features hundreds of artists in over 30 curated shows. The festival takes place in approximately 10 square blocks of industrial, post-industrial, commercial, and residential buildings, permitting a wide range of alternative exhibition spaces including lofts, studios, galleries, street corners, restaurants, retail stores, and radio stations.

BETA Spaces is a non-traditional art festival: its framework of presenting curated thematic group exhibitions is designed to encourage conceptual integrity and interdisciplinary elasticity. Artists and curators are challenged to recontextualize their efforts and envision art works outside the white box environment of the commercial art world, or the in-process setting of an open studio.

Special events include a panel on public art production at Lumenhouse at 1p, and the BETA Spaces After Party at Page Not Found, which will give visitors and artists a space to unwind and discuss the events.

For complete festival details check website.

Various locations
Noon-7p; $free
steve@artsinbushwick.org.
betaspaces.starkandnimo.com

***** Also on SUNDAY *****

Life Stories Curated by Chen Tamir

Chen Tamir is an independent curator and arts writer based in New York, Toronto, and Tel-Aviv. She is also the Executive Director of Flux Factory, a non-profit arts center in Queens, NY.

Tamir will discuss her work as a curator of experimental documentary video work in a gallery setting. She will screen works by Meiro Koizumi, Tova Mozard, Maayan Amir and Ruti Sela, Avi Mograbi, and Yossi and Itamar -- artists who use video to document the hardships of life during political or military distress and the difficulties of formulating one�s identity in the modern world. Tamir will be present for a discussion following the screening.

Union Docs
322 Union Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 7:30p; $7 suggested donation
infouniondocs.org
uniondocs.org

***** Also on SUNDAY *****

No Parking on the Dancefloor

Hey Kids, No Parking on ze Dancefloor rolls on and onward, now a Sunday early into slightly late evening thing, still at the House of Yes and their fab space.

Why is it that most of the time we want to simply want to dance we have to go to a club, deal with wack ass door policy, spend dough on overpriced drinks, and on top of that mofos are standing around on the floor while yer trying to move and/or worse grabbing your ass or some shit. Fuck that.

We're trying to have a dance party that caters to folks who can't stay up all night. We're not trying to ram drinks down your throat, or really at all. We will have a smoothie expert from the Wonderland space, Love Girl, who will assist you in making some wholesome drinks. Whatever unwholesomeness you want to add to that is on your accord. In other words, aside from spiked smoothies, BYOB.

We've got a stellar line up of pro-fessionals to destroy your derriere to. Ski Beats is the man. Why? Dude produced a number of tracks on Jay Z's first LP, produced Camp Lo's first record, and a number of other credits. Spinning alongside him is my man my mellow Brown Bum who's been doing stuff in the dirty Jersey for ages and has a wide spectrum of funk and classic hip hop.

Stylus is responsible for the Brooklyn Wonderland parties and recently smashed it at zzZion, the afterparty for Decom. Has beats and pieces for days.

Tinsletown is a man about town, helped put together a huge benefit for Flux Factory on the bushwick boat and many other under-underground tings. Get hip.

On top of all that my homegrrl and super stoopid dancer and dance instructor Cathy Richards will be around at 9pm showing folks various Bboy and hip hop moves. And on top of Love Grrl's fab smoothies we will have free refreshing beverages.

House of Yes
342 Maujer, near Morgan, Brooklyn
L train stop to Grand station
6p-midnight; $5-500 sliding scale

XXXXX MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 XXXXX

Supper Club Presents

Clue

An interactive screening and performance. Starring the burlesque troupe Babyskinglove. Feel free to come in costume and improvise with the actors. (Costume not required though).

Glasslands
289 Kent Avenue, between South 1st and 2nd streets, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 8p; $2, free beer 8-9p
All ages, 21 to drink
glasslands.blogspot.com/
myspace.com/theglasslands

XXXXX TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 XXXXX

The November Samosa Crawl

In India and Pakistan, they call it the samosa, in Ethiopia and the Middle East, it is the sambusak or the sanbusa, and even Cornish pastries and English meat pies are considered close relatives. At the end of the day, regardless of pronunciation, geography, or citizenship, everyone calls it delicious.

Please join us for the November Samosa Crawl. We will meet at the northeast corner of Madison Square Park near the Chester Alan Arthur monument. Look for the group of hungry strangers. Feel free to bring friends or make new ones.

Samosa scorecard and map will be provided. Pay as you go. Come hungry, leave happy.

Meet at the corner of East 26th Street and Madison Avenue, Manhattan 6:30p; $free
burningspatchgmail.com
bit.ly/Hj6K8
nycfoodcrawl.blogspot.com

***** Also on TUESDAY *****

The End of Poverty?

Global poverty did not just happen. It began with military conquest, slavery, and colonization that resulted in the seizure of land, minerals, and forced labor. Today, the problem persists because of unfair debt, trade and tax policies - in other words, wealthy countries taking advantage of poor, developing countries.

The Indypendent and Cinema Libre Studio invite you to a special 25-minute preview of The End of Poverty?, a feature-length documentary that explains how today's financial crisis is a direct consequence of these unchallenged policies that have lasted centuries. A discussion will follow led by award-winning director Philippe Diaz and Indypendent reporter Arun Gupta. Can we really end poverty within our current economic system? Think again.

Bluestockings Bookstore
172 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington streets, Manhattan 7p; $donation
212 777 6028
theendofpoverty.com

***** Also on TUESDAY ******

The Unstandard Show

Another show of talent, ideas and interesting people. With presenters David Bienenstock, Charley Crockett, Brian Aronson, and Alyson Greenfield.

Tea Lounge
837 Union Street, Brooklyn
6:30p; $free?
tealoungeny.com/

XXXXX WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 XXXXX

Corduroy Appreciation Club

Today is the date which most closely resembles Corduroy, 11|11.

While I have no doubt in mind you have cleared your calendar, please make plans to celebrate this most important day of the year.

Here at Corduroy Club Headquarters in Brooklyn, NY, feverish preparations for our Grand Meeting are underway. An official communiqu� will follow in the coming days; it will involve the following:

� A new, incredibly concealed, clandestine, wonderful meeting location � New Strange Rituals
� Revealing of a technological advance in Corduroy APPreciation � A Controversial Announcement
� Special Guests
� Corduroy Inspired Cuisine
� Considerable Amounts of Libation
� And� Hopefully, a wonderful keynote Speaker. Negotiations in progress.

If you are unable to attend due to some sort of ridiculous situation like an ocean being in the way, please make plans accordingly. Also, it�s completely crucial that everyone you know recognize the date which most closely resembles Corduroy, so spread the word.

Hail the Wale!

Most Cordially,

Miles Rohan
President, the Corduroy Appreciation Club Twitter: Corduroyclub
corduroyclub.com

XXXXX THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12 XXXXX

Gauge

I would like to introduce you to Artjail and its current art exhibition. Artjail is located in Barrio Chino, the border of the Lower East Side and Chinatown. The opening took place on October 22.

Gauge is a group exhibition curated by Joyce Manalo that includes sculptures, site-specific installations, paintings, and performances. Artjail functions as an incubator for creatives who prompt the jailbreak from the commercial world to an exploration in fine art sensibilities. The chosen artists who are remarkable at their craft and are not known in the fine art world because they are buried in the commercial world with full-time jobs or semi-permanent freelance positions is a curatorial consideration for Artjail. Some of the companies and organizations that the artists work for are Discovery Channel, Pace Prints, Patiolantern Productions, Sarah Laird, Teen Vogue, and X-Initiative. Tonight's private viewing includes a special performance by Left Coast.

Artjail
50 Eldridge Street, sixth floor, Manhattan 7-9p; $free with RSVP
graham@artjail.com
212 228 4670

***** Also on THURSDAY *****

Bunny Butterfly Kisses

Please join me, Blizzard the Bunny, for an intimate but innocent form of childhood affection that I'm hoping to reintroduce to the working masses. I am disabled in that my faux eyelashes don't blink on their own, but that doesn't stop me from coyly attracting people and giving them a tickling kiss to remember. With the right camera flash and angle, underneath my bunny head you can often catch a glimpse of a single human eye, a smiling cheek, or maybe even the smell of liquor; the oversize eyes make for good visibility, which goes both ways. Initially aghast by this awkward glitch, I now embrace it by giving people a reason to lean in close and notice my eyes. In the absence of a full bunny suit or the use of cottontail-like gestures, the head is all that creates the illusion of an animal, and yet it's not even an opaque front. Fortunately, you can put your imagination to use and play along with the game. All while you wait for your slow ass train.

L train platform
Union Square Station, Manhattan
8-9p; $free
clubanimalsnyc.blogspot.com

XXXXX UPCOMING XXXXX

• Mr. Lower East Side Pageant, November 12
• Cranksgiving 11, November 21
• Dances of Vice, Grand Shipwreck Ball, November 20-22
• Fluxgiving, November 26
• Santacon, , December 12

XXXXX ONGOING XXXXX

• Better Rock Shows. Nonsense does not straight list rock shows in New York unless they occur in tandem with puppet shows or jump rope tournaments or in subway tunnels or in graveyards. For listings of good shows, especially shows that feature independent bands at quality venues like Death by Audio and those booked by hard-working promoters like Todd P or Sleep When Dead, consult resources like ohmyrockness.com, brooklynvegan.com/, sleepwhendeadnyc.com/calendar/, or the lively New York Happenings listserve on Yahoo groups launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/nyhappenings/. For the most exhaustive list of underground shows at unusual venues, track down a copy of the extremely useful -- and handsome -- Showpaper.

***** ONGOING: FRIDAYS *****

• Neo Futurists present Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind. Thirty original plays in 60 minutes. Also on SATURDAYS. The Kraine Theater, 85 East 4th Street, Manhattan. 10:30p; $11 plus the roll of a six-sided die, $15 presale. nynf.org
• Manhattan Critical Mass. Union Square, 17th Street and Broadway, Manhattan. Last FRIDAY of the month. 7p; $free.
• Brooklyn Critical Mass. Grand Army Plaza entrance to Prospect Park, Brooklyn. Second FRIDAY of the month. 7p; $free.

***** ONGOING: SATURDAYS *****

• Floating Cabaret. Trapeze, burlesque, song, dance. Hosted by Olga and Bjorn. Galapagos Art Space, 16 Main Street, Brooklyn. 10p doors, $10. 718 222 8500. galapagosartspace.com.
• Barefoot Boogie: No shooze no booze. The Boogie is a not-for-profit alcohol-free event that happens every second and fourth Saturday of the month. Insight Meditation Center, 28 West 27th Street, 10th floor, buzzer No. 27. 8:30p-12:30a. barefootboogie.org

***** ONGOING: SUNDAYS *****

• Grub. A cheap, simple dinner for strangers and co-conspirators. Rubulad home base, 338 Flushing, at Classon, Brooklyn. G train to Flushing or Classon stations, J,M,Z to Marcy, B61 bus to Flushing. First and third SUNDAYS, 6:30p doors, 7p dinner; $pay what you want, and bring your own booze. suckapants.com/grub.html
• Church of Craft, group crafting. Etsy Labs, 325 Gold Street, third floor, Brooklyn. 2-6p; $free. churchofcraft.org/
• NYC Bike Polo. No experience needed. We'll show you how to play. We have mallets and balls; bring your bicycle. 1:30-5p-ish (or later if it's really nice out); $free. Sara D. Roosevelt Park, Broome between Chrystie and Forsyth, Manhattan. groups.myspace.com/NYCBIKEPOLO

***** ONGOING: MONDAYS *****

• The Big Quiz Thing. NYC's live trivia spectacular. Crash Mansion, 199 Bowery, at Spring, Manhattan. Two Mondays a month. 7p doors; $7, $200 grand prize.
• Demonstration of the Great Organ, there are five organs in the beautiful St. John the Divine church up on Amsterdam Avenue, but the most impressive is the Great Organ. The head organist is giving a demonstration on how the organ functions. 1p; $free. Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan.
• Glasslands Gallery Variety and Game Night. All ages, free sangria 8-8:30p, live music, video, and bingo. The Glasslands Gallery, 289 Kent Avenue, between South 1st and 2nd streets, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 8p; $free. glasslands.blogspot.com/ and myspace.com/theglasslands
• Aerial Open Work Out. Come play in 29 feet of vertical fun. Use our silks, lyras, and trapezes, or rig your own. 8-10p; $15, Sky Box, 342 Maujer Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, L train to Grand Street. 585 507 1770. RSVP to skybox.info@gmail.com
• Show and Tell. Each performer gets seven minutes. Writing contest and Beer Walk for free beer. Hosted by the O'Debra Twins. Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, Manhattan.

***** ONGOING: TUESDAYS *****

• Jugglers Anonymous: The Pratt Chapter. All ages and abilities welcome to practice juggling and related arts. Student Union, Pratt Institute (200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn) 7:30-11p $free jugglenyc.com/clubs.html

***** ONGOING: WEDNESDAYS *****

• Drink N Draw. Art. Nudity. Beer. We provide the beer and the model, you bring your drawing tools of choice. 3rd Ward, 195 Morgan, Brooklyn. Second and fourth WEDNESDAYS 8-10.30p; $15, or $20 for two. afenton3rdward.com, 3rdward.com/.

***** ONGOING: THURSDAYS *****

• Carmine Street Jugglers. All levels welcome to practice juggling and related arts. 7:30-9:30p. Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, corner Varick and Clarkson, Manhattan. Club is free, but building requires NYC Parks and Recreation membership ($free-$75 per year). jugglenyc.com/clubs.html
• The Lower East Side Community Choir, a non-auditioned choir that believes that everyone can sing and that singing together in harmony with others is essential for personal and community health and vitality. Our repertoire is eclectic. If you love a cappella music and want to be able to join a drop-in gathering of like minded people, then this is for you. Lower East Side Girls Club, 56 East 1st Street, Manhattan. 7-9p; $donations. ubuntuchoirs.net/locator_United_States.php
• $mall �hange and House of Yes present: No Parking on the Dancefloor. Next party: July 30. A party bringing it back to dancing. Basically we do not have any kind of dogma or judgment. Do what feels comfortable to you and be respectful to those around ya, that's basically all we ask. Different DJs every time. House of Yes, 342 Maujer, near Morgan, Brooklyn. Every third THURSDAY, 9ish-midnightish (starts/ends early); $5-10 suggested donation. NOTE: This event is every third Thursday, not every Thursday. Also, sometimes they cancel the event for some reason or another. You should check first: smallchange666@gmail.com

XXXXX WISHLIST XXXXX

What have you been wishing for? Collaborators, grant monies, a new home? Please send brief listings to Alita at alitanonsensenyc.com. We only list available apartments, lofts, studios, and one-off rentals -- not spaces wanted.

***** ARTY STUFF *****

• Announcing the most beastly event of the year. The fourth annual Carnivorous Nights Taxidermy Contest. Hosted by the Secret Science Club at the Bell House on Sunday, November 15. Calling all science geeks, nature freaks, and other rogue geniuses. Enter your taxidermy to win. Show off your beloved moose head, stuffed albino squirrel, sinuous snake skeletons, jarred sea slugs, and other specimens. Compete for prizes and glory. The contest will be judged by our panel of savage taxidermy enthusiasts, including Robert Marbury, co-founder of the Minnesota Association of Rogue Taxidermists, and Dorian Devins, WFMU DJ and Secret Science Club co-curator. Prizes for best stuffed creature, most interesting biological oddity, and more. The contest is open to taxidermy (homemade, purchased, found), preserved and jarred specimens, skeletons, skulls, gaffs � and beyond. (Note: Wet specimens must remain in their jars.) Entrants: Please contact secretscienceclub(at)gmail.com to pre-register , and arrive at 7p on the night of the contest to log in your beast or specimen. Share your taxidermy (and its tale) with the world. Spectators are invited to cheer their favorite specimens.
• Socrates Sculpture Park 2010 Application Guidelines: Artists can apply for one or more of the following exhibition categories. Spring Exhbition, Emerging Artist Fellowship Program, Open Space. Deadline is Monday, January 25th. See: Socratessculpturepark.org

*La Superette is 11. It will take place December 4-6. For our second decade we decided to focus on the things that really matter to La Superette. Maybe you've seen them, made them, or always wish you had: We are looking for things to use, things to make us smile, things we've never seen before and sometimes wish we hadn't ... This year's La Superette will take place in South Street Seaport in collaboration with General Growth Properties and LMCC. This year's installation will be by Secret Project Robot Crew! Performers will include: Nick Hallett, Anwar Pruitt, Maria Chavez, Carrie Dashow, Pixel Form, Todd Bailey, NAUM f/ Antoine Catala, and David Galbraith. In two weeks we will send a link with the official website where you can enter your products and load in some pictures. In the meanwhile you can gather your thoughts, make your creations, and take some pictures of them. All works and signed contracts will need to be in the space between December 1-3. Also, If you'd like to get involved behind the scenes, we are looking for volunteers to help with graphic design, animation, press, production. You'll make new friends and eat veggie dumplings. For more information about what La Superette is like and the kind of artist-made, crafty, useful, functional, inexpensive, awesome items it includes, see lasuperette.org for past year's items. This year's site will go live on November 10 and submissions will be accepted until November 15. Artists will then be notified and have two weeks to finish making and sending items and get them to us. Email your questions or comments to lasuperette(at)gmail.com and stay in touch.

• Two Actors Needed. I'm casting two actors for a large multimedia production that will be staged in an abandoned building in April 2010. Both actors should be in their early to mid 20s. Kevin Lee is an Asian-American newspaper reporter who develops an unusual drug problem. Serena is a flirtatious college girl who breaks his heart. This is a cold, dirty production that will take you far away from the black box theater and even further from Broadway. No prima donnas. Really. We are casting now in order to produce a photo shoot with a late autumn backdrop in Boston. Full rehearsals in mid March. Production in April. Very, very little money. Send a picture (doesn't have to be a headshot) and something about a recent production you were in to jstark@nonsensenyc.com.

XXXXX SPACES XXXXX

*Sublet/Long-term Rooms Available: Two rooms available as studio space or for living. East Williamsburg, Meserole and Leonard. My sister and I have two barren rooms in need of occupancy ASAP in our four-bedroom, extremely spacious and sun-drenched loft. The bedrooms are actual rooms with insulated walls. The kitchen and living room are essentially one huge open room with gorgeous old rustic wooden floors and beams. The bathroom is big enough to host a tea party in. Freight elevator across the hall and laundry machines literally outside the door. Amazing roof top with gazebo. We are both traveling artists, she a photographer getting her Masters at International Center for Photography, and I, a performance artist/vegan chef -- spend a lot of time to and from the EU performing). We are looking for easy-going people interested in community and the notion of potluck dinners. Hopefully you would have a wholesome attitude (and art enthusiasts a plus). If you are looking for just a s tudio space, we can also work that out. Room number 1 Sublet ASAP for November: This room is massive and sunny with three loft-sized windows filling up an entire wall. Has a loft bed built in to it already. Private separate entrance -- very key for people who need a bit more alone time or privacy. The walls were also built to be soundproof. By the way, the room is huge. Rent is $825. Room #2 ASAP short term/long term: This room is probably 10 by 10, it's on the smaller side, but perfect for someone who either needs studio space or cheap living (live/work or just work). The room has glass French doors, and you can basically do whatever you please in there. Rent is $525. Contact Adina, AdinaBier(at)gmail.com, 847 800 8678.

• Roomie wanted for an artistic/foodie Astoria household. Apartment is sunny and spacious with high ceilings, hardwood floors, full kitchen and bath; centrally located in Astoria, 15 minutes from Midtown, equidistant from the R, V, F, N, W and sometimes E lines (about seven minutes walk). Diverse neighborhood with great grocery stores, fish markets, and butchers. Room is large with two big windows, south-east facing, full closet, newly painted. $833 including heat, hot water and gas. Who we are: two folks enjoying scene-free Astoria; 26, female, grad student (yogini, sewing/embroidery enthusiast); 24, male, educator and soon-to-be masters student. You are: gay friendly, non-smoker, considerate, clean with general joie de vivre. Contact us with info about yourself. fall2009.astoriaroomie(at)gmail.com.
• One-Bedroom Sublet in a Three-Bedroom Carroll Gardens Apartment. $725 per month includes utilities and wireless. One-month deposit. Available November 15 or December 1. Sublet ends May 31, 2010. Share a bright, colorful Carroll Gardens apartment with three graduate students in our 30s. Wood floors and lots of windows. Good cooking kitchen. Great heat. Solid pre-war building a block from the Carroll stop on the F and G trains. We are bike riders and food eaters-- one boy-girl couple and another guy. We're neat without being overbearing, and we all get out a lot; in fact one of us only lives here part time. We are busy people who work hard; you should be busy too. Your room is smallish but not ridiculous and comes with a bed if you want it and built-in shelves and a clothes rack. Not much storage, so you'll be more comfortable if you don't have too much stuff. No pets unfortunately -- we're allergic. Cigarette smoking outside only. Women preferred for gender balance. Interest ed? Tell us a bit about yourself: jstark@nonsensenyc.com.
• One room available in a gorgeous loftspace in Fort Greene/Navy Yard, Brooklyn, December 1. Long term preferred. An industrial, super creative neighborhood, which had blended in nicely with already existing refreshingly diverse populace. High ceilings, beautiful wall of windows overlooking the one green section of the Navy Yard, rooftop access complete with unusual views of Brooklyn. Equidistant between both G train stations Classon and Clinton/Washington, although cycling/blades/skateboard are proven superior methods of transport for the area. Rent: $900 plus utilities. missdeborahyoon@gmail.com
• Beautiful Birdhouse Seeking Final Member of the Flock: Do you have house aspirations? We have a house. Gorgeous room in a Bed-Stuy brownstone, the rest of the house to share with a girl and a guy, both in our early 30s. Not a couple. We are looking for someone who wants to cook the occasional meal and share it, is not averse to dinner parties, composting, doing-it-yourself instead of hiring-someone-to-do-it-for-you; bike riders and world-savers preferred. There will be a piano in the living room but no TV. One of us is a musician/designer. The other is a law student/gardener/organizer. We belong to the Bed-Stuy CSA and the Park Slope Food Coop. We are looking for someone who pays attention to the impact they make on the world and is a good communicator. An easy laugh and a mean vegan pancake recipe are a bonus. No smoking indoors, no furry pets (we have birds, two parakeets and a canary). The house is the top two floors of a duplex with a lot of original details. It has two full bathrooms (one with a clawfoot tub), a washer/dryer, living room with a coat closet, a decent alcove kitchen, storage and attic workspace for your messy (but small) projects. Room to bring your bike inside in the winter, roof access, a front stoop and small outdoor front yard area for raised bed garden dreams in the springtime and a place to drink a coffee on the street year-round. The downstairs neighbors are a couple with a child (mayhem limited). It's on Lexington Ave between Bedford and Nostrand, three short blocks from the Bedford-Nostrand G station and a 10-minute walk from the A/C. Great coffee shop, newly renovated YMCA (with pool), lots of trees, murals, community gardens nearby. Your room would be on the second floor with two big windows facing the street (window boxes for flowers!) It's gigantic and has the original fireplace, floors etc. It also has a little nook with built-in closet and drawers. It's 12 feet by 15 feet. The other rooms on this floor are the kitchen, living room, a housemate's office and bathroom. It's a steal. Available November 1. $800 per month. First month & deposit to move in. We are just moving into this house - you would get the joy of making it a home with us. Rent and move-in are negotiable a little bit, depending on your situation. Includes heat and hot water. We split electric and internet. Email paulaznyc(at)gmail.com.
• More Love to Share -- downstairs bedroom available November 15. $850, all utilities included, furnished (or not). Large private bedroom available in our architecturally gorgeous loft space. Lots of light, air, casual -- comfortable -- friendly environment. The room is nine foot by twelve foot, seven foot ceiling, with large closet, built-in shelves. Bedroom has an interior, operable window and glass tiles which face an exterior window and the main interior space. This place has to be experienced in person. The architecture is inspiring, a tremendous sense of space, very relaxing. The kitchen is fully equipped and inviting for cooking or dinner parties. The common area has a large living room. Everyone who has ever lived here has loved being here and moved on for good reasons. One month security deposit due before move in. The loft is 1,100 square feet live/work loft space in northern Greenpoint, Brooklyn at Freeman and Manhattan Avenues. Hardwood floor, 16 foot ceiling, ful l bathroom, two factory windows, skylight, bicycle storage. Common area is available for project based work space. No cigarettes, no cigars. We are four people (three guys, one gal) working in various creative industries - late twenties to early forties. We are quiet at night, friendly and respectful. We keep the house tidy. Yes, four people sounds like a lot but we're not crowded, even with guests this house is spacious. We have three entertaining cats (sorry, no more pets). We are looking to share our welcoming house with a nice person. Contact Heather, beasthouseever(at)gmail.com.
• Available for sublet, starting November 7-January 15. Wonderful spacious bedroom with four windows overlooking Maria Hernandez Park on the corner of Knickerbocker and Suydam. 10 blocks from 3rd Ward, 12 blocks from the House of Yes. Share two-bedroom apartment with lovely 26-year-old roommate who works as an assistant to a literary agent, fat kitty, and 10,000 books. Closest subway stop is Jefferson or DeKalb on the L train. Wireless, utilities, hot water included in $800 per month rent. Contact Larken asap to view 917 548 4551.
• We are a group of 20 art students from the Gerrit Rietveld Academy (gerritrietveldacademie.nl/). We are in the Writing and Performance department and we will do a film project, Rietveld UnCut, in NY that will be playing in a theater in Amsterdam the end of November. We want to visit NY's Performa Festival, the performance art festival in November and try to get enough money together to be able to stay for 10 days to do some filming. We will arrive November 16 and we will leave November 26. Because of our limited budgets we are looking for a place, house, wherever, we could stay at night. It doesn't have to be fancy -- if we could only sleep there it would be great! Contact Alexandra Duvekot, mariegeronimo@gmail.com.

XXXXX SPECTRE PRIORITY XXXXX

Before we had a name, the Spectre Event Horizon Group used to meet at a bar to commiserate about the news and trade what our business friends call best practices. The group has expanded since then, but it remains premised on smartening the crowd mind. There are no subject limits; our favorite is our sci-fi present, and we like anything that goes toward a better understanding of human behavior and ecology. Our basic idea is to connect minds with mind-blowing information and create a space for the informal trade of specialized investigative research, presented for the non-specialist.

The Spectre email list, which is a separate group from this column, is a moderated open forum. People are encouraged to join and to post. This section is compiled for Nonsense by J. Sinopoli. Contact us at spectre.event.horizon.groupgmail.com or spectregroup.org. Some of what came in this week:

Previously on Spectre: Gravity Waves
http://spectregroup.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/gravity-waves/

XXXXX LEARNING XXXXX

We look for the sort of classes you circled in college course catalogs but never managed to fit into your schedule. And we also look for the kind of things that no college could teach. Cheap and eclectic is the rule, though all rules get broken occasionally, and we especially love workshops, round-tables, and teachers who won't take your work out of your hands and show you how to do it right. One-time listings are categorized, with general recurring classes at the end. We thrive on your suggestions, so make sure to tell us about upcoming classes that you think are nifty-keen.

Learning is compiled and edited weekly by Libby Sentz. Send listings, announcements, and corrections to her at libbysentz(at)me.com.

***** LEARNING: SATURDAY *****

Free Meditation Classes

In congruence with their 24-hour Meditation Marathon, which begins Friday evening, the Interdependence Project is offering free meditation classes on Saturday with some amazing teachers: Roshi O'Hara, Dr. Miles Neale, and Robert Chender.

ABC Carpet & Home
888 Broadway, Manhattan
noon, 2p, 4p, 5:30p; $free
theidproject.org

***** LEARNING: SUNDAY *****

Women's Ritual Dance Workshop

Nada Khodlova presents this workshop for women on traditional Balkan, Greek, Rom, Armenian, and near Eastern dances. Throughout all ages and cultures, traditional circle dances were used to honor the divine, to heal, to affirm connection to the earth and each other, to build community and celebrate rites of passages and life transitions. In this workshop we will use the traditional dances as a platform for heightening awareness of body/self, self to community, self to cosmos.

Bridge for Dance
2726 Broadway #3, Manhattan
11a-2p; $75
mokosh(at)nyc.rr.com

***** LEARNING: Also on SUNDAY *****

Intro to Computer Processors

Ever wonder what all those electrons in your computer are actually doing? This is a gentle intro to how computer processors work. This course covers the basics of programs, instructions, ram, and registers. You'll learn the difference between RISC and CISC, and some of the fun tricks that modern computers use like pipelining, super-scalar pipelines, and caches. No background necessary. Taught by Chris Fenton.

NYC Resistor
397 Bridge Street, 5th Floor, Brooklyn
1-3p; $50
888-881-2802
eventbrite.com/event/451161436

***** LEARNING: Also on SUNDAY *****

Understanding Your Fertility Cycle

For women, having an intimate understanding of your natural cycles facilitates a connection with your body and the earth it is made of. Fertility awareness is a beautiful and surprisingly simple way to observe and judge for yourself when you are healthy and when you are out of balance. Join the women of the Be Hive for a talk about hormones, ovulation, menstruation, and fertility�and the implications for your health and sex life. Understand the dance of hormones throughout your cycle and how it manifests as easily observed patterns in your body. Gain the confidence to know what is normal (for you) throughout your menstrual cycle. Learn how to chart your fertility signs to avoid or achieve pregnancy naturally. Herbal teas will be served. Bring a healthy snack to share.

The Be Hive
170 Norfolk Street, #11, Manhattan
3-6p; $10 recommended donation
RSVP to behivethrives(at)gmail.com
behivethrives.com

***** LEARNING: MONDAY *****

Secret Science Club Presents Anti-Aging Biologist Leonard Guarente

Molecular biologist Leonard Guarente pioneered the anti-aging field at MIT with his discovery of genes that control longevity. When activated, these longevity genes cause the body to conserve resources, and they�ve been found to �dramatically boost the life span of yeast, worms, mice, and potentially humans.� Specifically, Dr. Guarente studies proteins called sirtuins, which regulate longevity genes and show great promise for developing therapies that slow aging. In this discussion Dr. Guarente will address questions such as: Could future drugs decelerate the aging process and allow us to stay young longer? Could diseases of aging�cancer, Alzheimer�s, type-2 diabetes, and others�be prevented by prospective anti-aging medications? Could we extend not only our life spans, but our �health spans�? Q&A, drinks, and grooves to follow.

Bell House
149 7th Street, Brooklyn
8p; $free
thebellhouseny.com
secretscienceclub.blogspot.com

***** LEARNING: TUESDAY *****

Postcard Collage: Parts 1 & 2

In this two-part workshop, November 10 and 12, you'll learn how to make fabric postcards that can be sent through the U.S. mail. Fabric postcards allow you to try new patterns, techniques, color combinations, and materials without committing to a large project. Part 1 will explore several of the ways to create these miniature works of art, including minimal sewing and no-sew techniques. Part 2 is a continuation, focused on finishing the cards so they can be mailed. You'll also explore how the fabric postcard can be used as the basis for journals, 3-D works of art, and other projects. Registration is only accepted for both sessions. Led by Jane Broaddus, who has over 30 years' experience in quilting, embroidery, and fiber arts, and Deborah Jane Slavitt, a photographer, and travel writer, teacher, art therapist, and fiber artist.

Materials for the Arts
33-00 Northern Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Long Island City 11:30a-1:30p Tuesday and Thursday; $20 for both classes mfta.org/event/show/postcard_collage_parts_1_2_203

***** LEARNING: Also on TUESDAY *****

Confronting the Zero Hour: New Approaches to Fundraising and Community Building

EFA Project Space is pleased to announce this program in partnership with the CUE Art Foundation, an interactive panel discussion on new approaches to fundraising and community building. Distinctively effective art professionals will address how to face fiscally strained circumstances in creative ways. Conversation will be aimed at sharing inventive networking techniques and other resourceful platforms for fundraising and financial security. Participants will encourage artists to establish a clarity of needs, use alternative resources, as well as demonstrate how to approach organizations, communities, and collaborate with peers. Moderated by Christa Blatchford, Artist Support Director, Joan Mitchell Foundation. Participants include: Matthew Deleget, Artist and founder of Minus Space; Stephanie Diamond, artist; FEAST (Funding Emerging Art with Sustainable Tactics); Christopher Lee Kennedy, director of the Institute for Applied Aesthetics; Gavin Kroeber, artist; Miguel Luciano, artist; Mary Mattingly, founder and director of Waterpod; Yancey Strickler, co-founder of Kickstarter; and Kay Takeda, director of grants and services for the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

EFA Project Space
323 West 39th Street, 3rd Floor, Manhattan 6:30-8p; $5 suggested donation
RSVP to michelle@efa1.org
efanyc.org

***** LEARNING: Also on TUESDAY *****

Novel-Writing Workshop

Get your novel started with novelist and book editor Wendy Lee. She'll discuss the craft of writing�including elements such as voice, character, plot, structure, and pacing�and also address business issues that'll arise after you're done, such as how to write a query letter to an agent, what the myths about the publishing industry are, whether it's OK to send an unsolicited manuscript to a major publishing house. This class will help get you closer to your goal of seeing your novel in print, no matter what stage of the process you're at.

Asian American Writers' Workshop
16 West 32nd Street, Suite 10A, Manhattan Mondays, November 10 to December 15
7-9p; $225 (nonmembers), $200 (members) wendyleebooks.com
aaww.org/events_workshops.html

***** LEARNING: Also on TUESDAY *****

Screening and Discussion of Dust & Illusions: A Burning Man History

This documentary covers 30 years of Burning Man history. Director Olivier Bonin will be present after the screening for a discussion about the relevance of Burning Man today, and the meaning of evolution. If you can invite over 200 people from NYC area to this event on FB, you can get 1 free seat, but first visit dustandillusions.com/contact. "Dust & Illusions" looks at 30 years of history of Burning Man all the way back to the late 1970s deep into the origins of the event. Through 21 interviewees the film presents the philosophies that fueled the creation of the festival, and its evolution from a small gathering of friends to the largest �counter-cultural� event in North America. It offers a new perspective of the meaning of the event, and questions whether its organizers are more concerned about making sure the show is ready when the gate opens or if they still truly engage in building a community and fostering art.

Anthology Film Archives
32 2nd Avenue, Manhattan
9-11p; $12-$25
dustandillusions.com/blog/new-york-city-single-screening-nov-10th

***** LEARNING: WEDNESDAY *****

Basic Marketing Techniques: From Print to Web

If you have a product, message, or program that you want to tell the world about, this class provides a general overview of marketing practices and strategies to help you take it to the next level.

BRIC Arts at BCAT Media Center
647 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
6-8p; $free
718-855-7882
bricartsmedia.org/events/basic-marketing-techniqes-from-print-to-web

***** LEARNING: THURSDAY *****

Crowdsourcing Labor: Distributed Democracy or Centralized Sweatshop?

Within activist and creative practice there is a range of models for mobilizing the labor and creativity of the crowd (aka �crowdsourcing�). Both practices experiment with a spectrum of autonomy and control within those models. From distributed design to distributed fundraising, MoveOn to Mechanical Turk, a crowdsourcer issues a call and creates structure for participation. What role do individual motivations and collective goals play within these structures? What are the ethical, social and political implications of distributed labor? Panelists include: xtine, artist, educator and creator of the Mechanical Olympics; Jeff Crouse, Eyebeam senior fellow, artist, technologist and co-creator (with Stephanie Rothenberg) of the Invisible Threads virtual jeans factory; and Beka Economopoulos, online organizer, consultant and curator at The Change You Want to See Gallery.

The Change You Want to See
84 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn
7-9p; $free
upgrade.eyebeam.org/2009/10/crowdsourcing-labor-distributed-democracy-or-centralized-sweatshop/

***** LEARNING: Also on THURSDAY *****

Gardens Within the Garden Series: Strange Faces in Wooded Places

In this two-class session you'll study and sketch a collection of Brooklyn Botanic Garden's most mature trees, concentrating on lindens, horse chestnuts, hornbeams, and willows. BBG arborist Chris Roddick will discuss the work of an arborist in cultivating and maintaining trees throughout their long lives. The second class is a full day for drawing and painting, including demos of watercolor technique used to render bark. Bring a sketchbook and basic drawing supplies, or purchase them in class.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
November 12 and 19
10a�4p; $135 (nonmember), $120 (member) bbg.org/edu/adult

***** LEARNING: Also on THURSDAY *****

Transitioning to a Healthy Winter

Learn tips for transitioning and living in balance during the cold winter days with food, yoga, and herbs. The class covers natural cold and flu prevention and care, eating in balance with the seasons and with your Ayurvedic constitution. Learn how to eat well, fresh, cheaply, and local during the dreary winter months. Abby will teach yoga poses that keep your energy up and blood flowing, and Liz will enliven your spirits with great herbal teas and foods. Bring a mug for tea and stay after for optional potluck if you like.

The Be Hive
55 Bethune Street, Apt 215H
7-9p; $10-$15 suggested donation
RSVP to behivethrives(at)gmail.com
behivethrives.com

***** LEARNING: UPCOMING *****

Intro to Circuitry: iPod Pirate Radio, at Third Ward (Metropolitan Avenue campus), Williamsburg. Saturday, November 14, 2:30-5:30p. Mention Nonsense NYC when you register (deadline November 9) for a 10% discount. 3rdward.com/3rdwardclasses/intro-to-studio-recording.html

***** LEARNING: ONGOING *****

NOTE: The Ongoing section of LEARNING will now run only on the first Friday of each month, so be sure to mark all classes of interest in your calendar for the month.

BODY

• Free self-defense at St. Mark's Church. Manhattan. Wednesdays 7:30-8:30p; $free. mkdkarate.com/classes.html
• Power vinyasa with Hosh Yoga at Otom GYM. Greenpoint. Daily; $donation. hoshyoga.org/schedule.html
• Afro-Haitian dance with Mikerline Pierre at Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 Eighth Avenue, 16th floor. Manhattan. Saturdays 4-5:30p; $12. NOTE: Mikerline is also searching among students to add new dancers to her folkloric troupe. libbysentz(at)me.com
• Congolese dance with Funmilayo at Black River Dance, Harlem, Thursdays 7:30-9p, and at Alvin Ailey Extension, Manhattan, Sundays 3-4p. $varies. fushadance(at)aol.com
• Balkan folk dance at the Hungarian House. Manhattan. Wednesdays 6:30-8p; $12. nycfolkdance.org
• Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu at Triskelion Arts. Brooklyn. Training is centered on jissen gata combat fighting. Membership is selective, but you may attend the first class free. Saturdays 5-7p, Sundays 2�4p. triskelionarts.org/events.htm#classesoffered
• Introduction to House Dance with Linda La Naija at Black River Dance. Harlem. Fridays 6-7:30p; $14. blackriverdance.com
• The Art of the Samurai Sword with Raab Rashi at The Workman�s Circle/NYR Studios. Manhattan. Thursdays 6-7p, $free intro lesson, $15 beyond. swordclass.blogspot.com
• Jazzercise-Your-A$-Off Dance Workouts with Suspicious Package at Traif Bike Geschaft. Williamsburg. Pop star dance workout Saturdays 4-5:30p and coed bikini beach party Thursdays 7-8:30p (all through November 30). $15 if you say the word "buns," all classes include a cocktail. suspiciouspackage.info
• Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art and dance, with Capoeira Angola Quintal. Manhattan. Various days; $15. afrobrazilarts.org/newyorkcapoeira/index.htm
• Parkour workshops. Manhattan. Sundays 4p; $15+. nyparkour.com
• Aerial yoga. Manhattan and Williamsburg. Various days; $20. aerialyoga.com
• Group tightwire walking and foot juggling workshop at Trapeze Loft. Williamsburg. Sundays 5-6p; $25. thetrapezeloft.com
• Trampoline at Streb Lab for Action Mechanics. Brooklyn. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 7-8:30p; $25. streb.org/V2/school/adults.html
• Co-ed nonsexual naked yoga. Manhattan. Various days; $?. groups.yahoo.com/group/coyoga/

BRAIN

• Free open craft/hack nights at NYC Resistor. Brooklyn. Thursdays 6-9p; $free. nycresistor.com/2008/11/22/open-craft-hack-nights-on-thursdays/
• Free math studies at the School of Mathematics, which cultivates a natural, stress-free environment where everyone can explore, study, and discover mathematics. Prior knowledge is not assumed. Brooklyn. Various days; $free. thewe.net/math
• Writing with constraints at the Writhings Society. Practice writing with arbitrary, sometimes mathematical, rules invented by the French group Oulipo and others; no experience necessary. Brooklyn. Wednesdays 6:30-8:30p; $5+. proteusgowanus.com

HANDS

• Females-only African drum class at Oduduwa Cultural Arts Center. Jamaica, Queens. Sundays 11a-noon. $10. balletintlafricans.com
• Free knitting for beginners by Gotta Knit! in Bryant Park, Upper Terrace. Manhattan. Tuesdays 1:30-3p. $free. Pre-register: 212-989-3030.
• Free Craft-On (fun with yarn, thread, and more) with Church of Craft. Brooklyn. Various days; $free. churchofcraft.org/2008/10/01/welcome-nyc-crafters/
• Free Project Film School's film-theory freeschool with a weekly screening series and online resources. Brooklyn. Sunday nights; $free. projectfilmschool.org
• Free bicycle repair classes at Time's Up! Manhattan and Brooklyn. Various days. $free. times-up.org/index.php?page=bike-co-op
• Free home-improvement classes, from tiling to drywall repair, at Home Depot stores. Saturdays and Sundays; $free. homeimproverclub.com/workshops.aspx?Type=3
• The Fixers Collective is a social experiment in improvisational fixing and mending. Participants bring their broken objects and put them on a large, common fixing table and share ideas and techniques for repairing, mending, enhancing, or repurposing the objects. Brooklyn. Thursdays 6-9p; $5. proteusgowanus.com/main/fixers-collective
• Beading classes at Brooklyn Bead Box. Various days; $varies. brooklynbeadbox.com/classes.html
• Classes in the needle arts at Brooklyn General Store. Various days; $varies. brooklyngeneral.com/classes.htm
• Knitting and spinning classes at the Yarn Tree. Various days; $varies. theyarntree.com/studio/classes/
• Screenprinting at 123 Printshop. Brooklyn. Fridays 5-8p and Saturdays 3-5p; $3+. 123communityspace.org/program/screenprinting-workshop-50
• Figure drawing at Brooklyn Artists Gym. Mondays 6:30-9p and Saturdays 12-3p; $8+. brooklynartistsgym.com/events.html#workshops
• Mosaic workshops. Manhattan. Wednesdays 1-4p and 6-9p; $100 for four-class workshop. newyorkartworld.com/things/things-mosaic.html
• Wheel and handbuilding classes at La Mano Pottery. Manhattan. Various days; $300 for eight-week class. lamanopottery.com
• Fire the Lazzzor!, rapid prototype using the 35 Watt Epilog Laser. Brooklyn. Second Sunday of each month 2-5p; $75. nycresistor.com

GRAB BAG

• 3rd Ward offers multi- and interdisciplinary courses in visual art, technology, and fabrication. Various days; $varies. 3rdward.com/classes
• Didgeridoo classes in Prospect Park for music, meditation, and healing. Saturdays; $10. didgeproject.com
• Gearilla!, a street theater workshop (on bikes). Various locations. Tuesdays 2p; $10+. monicahunken.com/classes.html
• Aerial classes (silks, trapeze, lyra, pole dance, ballet) at the Sky Box at House of Yes. Brooklyn. Monday through Saturday; $15. theskybox.org/classes
• Creative arts classes at Spoke the Hub. Brooklyn. Various days; $varies. spokethehub.org
• First aid for cats and dogs. Manhattan. Saturdays 10-2p; $65 (if purchased online). nyredcross.org/viewclass.php/prmCID/32/month/08/year/2009

XXXXX HELP XXXXX

It is a wonderful thing, to help. Helping strengthens communities and allows you to meet new friends. With that in mind, we look for one-day volunteer opportunities with no long-term commitment required. We want to be open to fresh ideas and think of help in a broad way. These listings could include anything from a large-scale day-long service project to a local theatre company that needs volunteers for load-in; from an artist looking for film extras to a community garden that needs a few extra hands. Our goal is simply to help groups or individuals that serve the greater good in small but significant ways. Unique and interesting job opportunities are acceptable fare for this section as well. Looking for ways to help out? Need volunteers to get your own community project off the ground? Know of any existing opportunities? Send your requests to Rob Voigt at robpastyvoigt(at)gmail.com.

• November 7. El Museo del Barrio needs volunteers to construct 2500 ribbon sticks for the Three Kings Parade to be held on January 6, 2010. The workshop will be held on November 7, 2009 from 9:30am to 1:30pm and lunch will be provided by El Museo staff. bit.ly/5neJ1
• November 12. Help is needed for the NephCure Foundation's 2009 New York Countdown to a Cure!! 20 volunteers are needed to help with selling raffle tickets and programs during the event. Volunteers should arrive at 5:30pm. If volunteers would like to eat, they should arrive at 5pm. Countdown to a Cure will be held at the Citi Field Ceasars Club in Flushing, New York. Over 800 guests are expected. The reception-style dinner will begin at 6:30pm. We are expected to raise over $550,000 and the Mets Great Dwight Gooden is scheduled to attend!!! All proceeds benefit the NephCure Foundation, the only organization committed to finding a cause and cure for two devastating kidney diseases, Nephrotic Syndrome and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Please contact Miriam Long at mlong@nephcure.org for more information. bit.ly/3XsOG1
• November 14. Divabetic - Makeover Your Diabetes combines diabetes education with complimentary salon and spa services for women and men affected by diabetes. The event is free and open to the public. This will be our third year in New York City and a particularly exciting event, as it coincides with World Diabetes Day, when people and organizations across the globe raise awareness of diabetes. We are looking for 30-40 volunteers to assist with event flow and support needs throughout the day, including guest registration and event guides. The event is being held at Riverside Church (90 Claremont Drive, New York, NY 10027) on Saturday, November 14th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Volunteers will receive a free lunch, training and a T-shirt! Volunteers are expected to be available to participate at the event from 11:30 AM - 4:00 PM, in order to receive training and assist with set-up. bit.ly/1SR1tD

***** HELP: ONGOING (posted the first week of each month) *****

SOCIAL

• Street Project: Serve at the University Soup Kitchen, Saturdays from 11:45a - 3:30p. streetproject.org/eventarchive.php
• St. John's Bread and Life: Help with the Soup Kitchen, Mobile Soup Kitchen, or Food Pantry. breadandlife.org/volunteer.htm
• GiveGoodGet Project: Recognize people doing good for their community. facebook.com/givegoodget
• GALLOP: Therapeutic riding program for individuals with diabilities. gallopnyc.org
• RightRides and SafeWalk: Late night rides - help to increase safety in our communities. rightrides.org
• The Fortune Society: Volunteer to teach reading, writing and math to former prisoners and young people facing prison time. 212 691 7554 x250 or fortunesociety.org
• Samitarians: Volunteer for a suicide-prevention hotline. samaritansnyc.org/volunt.html
• The Rock Dove Project: Connects health care practitioners who offer cheap/free services with seekers of those services. rockdovecollective.org/project
• New York Cares: Attend an orientation to learn about volunteer opportunities. www.newyorkcares.org/volunteer
• Books Through Bars: Sends books to prisoners all over the country. Mondays and Thursdays 7:30-9:30p and Sundays 5-8p. abcnorio.org/affiliated/btb.html
• Food not Bombs: Serves vegan food in Tompkins Sq Park. Sundays 1p on. abcnorio.org/affiliated/fnb.html
• City Harvest: Help feed the homeless by volunteering at a special event. cityharvest.org *Housing Works: Provides housing for individuals affected by HIV and AIDS. Volunteers of all types needed. housingworks.org
• New York Road Runners: Work with kids, help out at a race, and more. volunteers.nyrr.org
• Computers for Youth: Help this organization increase the educational resources available to low-income youth. cfy.org

CREATIVE

• NY Street Opera: Non-profit musical theatre. Light administrative duties. cheron.g.cowan(at)gmail.com or nystreetopera.com
• NY Artists Unlimited: Brings theatre and art to under-served audiences. nyartists.org
• Stoked Mentoring: Mentor kids through skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. infostoked.org
• 826NYC: Volunteer as a writing tutor for. 826NYC.org
• Lit Drift: Storytelling blog. Creative people needed to blog, market, organize events. julia(at)litdrift.com or litdrift.com

POLITICAL

• Transportation Alternatives: Biking, walking, and public transit advocacy. Office volunteers needed. elena(at)transalt.org or transalt.org
• lowercased democrats: Design a citywide public meeting house, support a petition drive. lowercased.org
• Reverend Billy Talen, Green Party candidate for Mayor of NYC, seeks campaign volunteers. voterevbilly.org

ENVIRONMENTAL

• Project Safe Flight: Rescue disoriented and injured birds and help migratory birds. volunteernycaudubon.org
• Brooklyn Animal Rescue Coalition: Help with dog walking and cat petting. barcshelter.org
• Time's Up!: Direct-action environmental advocacy. times-up.org
• The New Jersey Tree Foundation: Help plant trees in Newark, events most Saturdays. newjerseytreefoundation.org

XXXXX NONSENSE XXXXX

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XXXXX END XXXXX

More dance parties than camera phones.