THU. APR 21
Heroes and Legends
From 6-11 p.m. at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers, “Heroes and Legends… a Night at the Fights” will match the NYFD Boxing Team against boxers from the Garda—the police force of the Republic of Ireland. Tuesday’s Children, a nonprofit organization committed to assisting children who lost a parent on 9/11, will host the special gala fund-raising dinner and silent auction. Such greats as Gerry Cooney, Vito Antuorfermo, Emile Griffith, Junior Jones and Carlos Ortiz will attend. All proceeds will benefit Tuesday’s Children’s wide-range of programs and services including mentoring, counseling, next-step life skills and leadership training. Individual tickets are $350 at 212-319-3988, ext. 22.
Wine and Networking
O.W.Bar & North Fork Bank host a special LGBT networking event, giving attendees the opportunity to meet, mingle and savor fine wines from around the world and view art work by John Hendriks while listening to live jazz. North Fork Bank 1017 Third Ave., btwn. 60th & 61st Sts., second fl., 6:30-8:30 pm.
Author2author Mitch Cullin and Mary Gaitskill
Housing Works Bookstore Café continues its popular author2author series with Mitch Cullin (“A Slight Trick of the Mind,” “Tideland”) and Mary Gaitskill (“Bad Behavior,” “Two Girls,” “Fat and Thin”). They will be discussing Cullin’s new novel, “A Slight Trick of the Mind” (Doubleday), an original portrait of literature’s most beloved detective, Sherlock Holmes, in the twilight of his illustrious life. Both authors will be available to sign books and answer questions after the reading. Admission is free, but donated books are welcome and encouraged. 7 p.m. at 126 Crosby St., one block off Houston St. 212-334-3324.
FRI. APR 22
Mi Tito, Mi Celia
This evening of contemporary dance set to classic Tito Puente and Celia Cruz music from the 1950s begins a four-night run tonight (running through next weekend) at BAAD!, the Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance, 841 Barretto St., in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. $15 tickets and information available at 718-842-5223 or at BronxAcademyofArtsandDance.org. For theses new works, Arthur Aviles, the Bessie Award-winning dancer and choreographer who The New York Times hailed “one of the great living modern dancers,” goes to his Bronx roots for six new works.
New, New, New Order
New Order fans won’t be waiting any longer for their favorite band. Hear all of New Order’s ‘80s hits on the dance floor tonight at Pyramid, 101 Ave. A at E. Sixth St. $8.
SAT. APR 23
Lavender and Green Celebration
The Lavender and Green Alliance, the Irish LGBT organization, is hosting its 10th “Oiche Aerach” (Gay Night ) annual awards dinner tonight. Among this year’s honorees is John McNeill, noted theologian and Roman Catholic priest. $35, with a sliding scale available and reduced rates for children. The evening begins with a 6 p.m. screening of a documentary telling McNeill’s story followed at 7 p.m. by dinner, awards and Irish dancing. Community Church of New York, 40 E. 35th St., btwn. Park and Madison Aves. Call 718-721-2780 or e-mail Brendan@Stpatsforall.com for tickets.
Gender-Switching Peking Opera
Master Song Chang-Rong is considered one of the four greatest Peking Opera performers of the 20th century and one of the last remaining practitioners of Nan-Dan, a Peking Opera style where males play the female roles. In a brief visit to New York City from China, Song will lead a demonstration the technique at the Museum of Chinese in the Americas, 70 Mulberry St. at Bayard, today from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The program will include an introduction about the art form; four excerpts performed by the master and his students; and a Q&A session. The program is co-presented by the Little Pear Garden Collective, a Chinese performing arts organization based out of Toronto. The event is open on a first come-first serve basis, with limited seating. It is free with museum admission. For more information, call 212-619-4785.
SUN. APR 24
Desperate Sundays
Join the beer blast from 4-9 p.m. at XES, Chelsea’s coolest bar. Then, watch another new episode of “Desperate Housewives” (the popcorn is free) followed by Star Jones look-alike Flotilla DeBarge. Flotilla’s guest this week is the amazing signer Sade Pendarvis at 10 p.m. No cover, bring your friends. XES is at 157 W. 24th St.
Unstuck in Time
Matt Sigl has appeared on various stages around New York for five years. He was seen in the Gallery Players production of “The Student Prince” as well as the first ever revival of Rodgers and Hart’s “Dearest Enemy” with the Village Light Opera Group. A personal highlight was Sigl’s performance as Charles Guiteau in “Assassins” with the RASH! Theatre Company. Tonight at 8 p.m. and again on Monday, May 9 & 16 at 9:30 p.m., Sigl makes his cabaret deubt at Don’t Tell Mama’s, 343 W. 46th St. Tickets are $10, with a two-drink minimum at 212-757-0788.
MON. APR 25
Bruce Levingston
This noted gay pianist returns to Lincoln Center tonight at 8 p.m. in Alice Tully Hall. He will premiere a new solo work by Philip Glass and also play the music of Brahms, Debussy, Liszt, Messiaen and Schumann. Tickets are $25-50, available at the Alice Tully Hall box office, at 212-721-6500 and online at lincolncenter.org.
Out On Stage
The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus presents Out On Stage, its 25th anniversary benefit auction at Avalon. Comedian Jim David, of Comedy Central’s “Out on the Edge,” hosts an evening that includes special performances by Debbie Harry, the cast of “Altar Boyz” and the chorus’ own Uptown Express. Out on Stage will include both silent and live auctions, fabulous food and open bar. Tickets begin at $75 ($60 of which is tax-deductible contribution. Tickets may be purchased by calling 212-242-1777, ext. 13 or visiting nycgmc.org. 20th St at 6th Ave., 6:30 p.m.
Make a Splash
New York City kids and families are invited to learn how to swim—for free—at the YMCA Splash program, April 25-29. The program helps people of all ages learn basic swimming and water safety skills. Free and open to the public, though pre-registration is required at a local YMCA branch or at ymcanyc.org.
WED. APR 27
Suddenly, Stand-Up
Poppi Kramer, a veteran of E-Channel and Comedy Central hosts an evening of comedy every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. The Duplex, 61 Christopher St. at Seventh Ave. S. No reservations needed. No cover charge, two-for-one drinks. For more information, visit poppikramer.com.
Leaves of Grass
The New York Historical Society sponsors a reading of the complete 1855 edition of gay Brooklynite Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” at 6:30 p.m. at 170 Central Park W. $10, $5 for NYHS members, seniors, teachers and students. For reservations, call 212-817-8215 or e-mail continuinged@gc.cuny.edu. Poet/ readers will include Electa Arenal, Frank Bidart, Donna Brook, Bea Gates, Elena Georgiou, Bob Hershon, Michael Klein, Wayne Koestenbaum, Dennis Nurkse, Marie Ponsot, Sapphire, Vijay Seshadhi, Gerald Stein, Jean Valentine, Robert Viscusi and others.
FRI. APR 29
Kool-Aid Memories
BAX/ Brooklyn Arts Exchange presents Allison Farrow and Fernando Maneca in mixed-discipline solo performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m. Farrow’s “tiny life (a conversion)” is a response to the somewhat paranoid yet compelling writing of French theorist Paul Virilio, whose concerns include the urbanization of time and the passivity of spectatorship. Performed as a mixed-discipline solo, the piece grapples with intimacy, biomass, quarantine/ghetto, fake interactivity and issues of consent. Maneca’s “Drinking The Kool-Aid” is a work in progress solo performance piece featuring multi-channel, closed-circuit television, pre-recorded video and live performance set in a world of round-the-clock news, search engine and instant communication. BAX is located at 421Fifth Ave. at Eighth St. in Park Slope. Tickets are $15, $10 for members at 718-832-0018 or bax.org.
SAT. APR 30
Too Cool for Shul
Writer, performer, and diva Jewess Raven Snook has appeared all over downtown New York stages. She is currently one of the hosts of “Divine” on the HDTV channel and performed in the original downtown cast of “Urinetown.” Snook will be joined at BAMCafé at 9 p.m. (as part of the Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Festival) by co-cabaret conspirator Allison Tilsen, also a queen of the downtown performance circuit. Tilsen wowed audiences as a knockout “Cha-Cha” in stage productions of “Grease,” Matron “Mama” Morton in “Chicago,” and Mrs. Lovett in “Sweeney Todd.” Imagine two Bette Midlers onstage without the self-congratulatory patois and you’ve got a good picture of what to expect in this wonderful night of performances. BAMcafé is located at 30 Lafayette Ave., near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. There is no cover charge.
Melodia Women’s Choir
The choir presents “Sirens-Songs of the Sea,” haunting tales of the deep for women’s voices, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Church, 346 W. 20th St., $15. Call 212-757-2945 for more information.
SUN. MAY 1
Uncharted
Janice Lowe sings pieces from her musical “This Esther,” an r & b take on the biblical Book of Esther, as well as other musical stories. “This Esther” is told as a funky Purim Carnival of Life about the young Jewish queen who risked her life and throne for her people. Lowe will be performing with Sean Cazades, The Jones Twins, Anika Larsen, Jonathan Portera, Sheri Sanders, Aurelia Williams and Cid Williams. Arts Nova, 511 W. 54th St., 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 at 212-868-4444.
TUE. MAY 3
Opus 21
An ensemble of virtuoso classical and jazz musicians, Opus 21 returns to New York for the third season with a genre-jumping program of contemporary works influenced by American popular music. A discussion with the commissioned composers and musicians will follow. The Knitting Factory at 74 Leonard St., btwn. Church St. & Bdway., 8 p.m. Tickets are $8-18 at 212-219-3132.
WED MAY 4
Adoption in the LGBT Community
Spence-Chapin Services to Families & Children hosts a workshop reviewing options and considerations for gay and lesbian couples and parents who wish to adopt or to enter into a second parent adoption, in which one member of a couple adopts the children of his or her partner. Ronny Diamond, CSW, director of the Adoption Resource Center, and Susan Watson, CSW, director of Birth Parent Services, will focus on issues unique to the gay and lesbian community. Pre-registration is recommended by contacting Jamila Cleary at 212-360-0259 or at jcleary@spence-chapin.org. 6 E. 94th St., 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, visit spence-chapin.org.
THU MAY 5
Homo Comicus
Celebrate Cinco de Gayo with the gay Bob Montgomery has rounded up for the latest installment of his laugh show at Gotham Comedy Club. Guest comics include Kate Clinton, Marga Gomez, Michele Balan. Guest host is Marion Grodin. 34 W. 22nd St., 8:30 p.m. There’s a $12 cover, with a two-drink minimum. For reservations, call 212-367-9000.
She’s So Androgynous
Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Gina Young is throwing a show today to celebrate the release of her new album, “she’s so androgynous,” on Exotic Fever Records. Young will embark from the party on a five-week national tour with her band. Performing friends including Sini Anderson, Justin Tranter, Rachel Jacobs, Cheese on Bread and God-Des will join Young for the party. Expect food, free chocolate and a raffle, along with good dancing. WOW Café Theater, 59-61 E. Fourth St., btwn. Second & Third Aves., 7 p.m.
FRI. MAY 6
Honoring Latino Leaders
The New Jersey Hispanic Research and Information Center at the Newark Public Library will honor three distinguished Latino Leaders tonight at a dinner-dance at the Robert Treat Hotel, 50 Park Place, in Newark’s downtown arts district. The honorees are: Juan Cartagena, Esq., a civil rights attorney and founder of the “Segunda Quimbamba,” a percussion dance ensemble; Esperanza Porras-Field, a community developer, producer and host of the bilingual television show “Mi Casa Es Su Casa;” and Miguel “Mike” Rodriguez, former deputy mayor of Newark, president and founder of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Essex County. The honorees will receive the María De Castro Blake Community Service Award, in recognition of their professional achievements and their generous volunteer work in their communities. For ticket information, contact the Newark Public Library at 973- 733-7772 or visit npl.org.
Sweet Chastity
This debut solo album by Dan Fishback, from the anti-folk collective, Luv-a-Lot Records, portrays a “young queer boy’s search for meaning in a vapid, narcissistic gay culture.” Come to the release party at Pete’s Candy Store, at 11 p.m. at 709 Lorimer St., btwn. Richardson & Frost Sts., Williamsburg. For more information, call 718-302-3770.
SAT MAY 7
Ari Gold’s Jewish Roots Are Showing
The sexy songster Ari Gold appears as part of BAMCafé’s “Too Cool for Schul: Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Festival” at 9 p.m. BAMcafé is located at 30 Lafayette Ave., near Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. There is no cover charge.
TOSOS2 Play Reading
The fabulous TOSOS2 Theater (www.tosos2.org) has selected a play by Gay City News contributor Kathleen Warnock, “The Audience” for a reading as part of its Robert Chesley/Jane Chambers Playwrights Project. The play takes place in the parking lot of a club in a Rust Belt town, where a group of people meets to renew their faith in rock and roll, and its patron saint, Patti Roxx. Before the doors open, the fans will test the levels of their hierarchy, fight and bond, threaten and back off. The cast for the reading includes Meghan Cary, Jamie Heinlein, Marlon Hurt, Mary Louise Mooney, Alyson Palmer, Holly Sheppard and others. Peter Bloch directs. The Eagles Dare Theater, 247 W. 36th St., first fl., 2 p.m.
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