7 Days and Nights

THU. JULY 7

Kicking Ash

There’s new help for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the Bronx who want to quit smoking, thanks to a series of bold new initiatives. The American Legacy Foundation has funded a series of programs run by the Bronx Lesbian & Gay Health Resource Consortium to educate LGBT people about their health and encourage them to participate in local smoking cessation and prevention programs. “Queer and Healthy in the Bronx: Smoking Cessation for LGBT Persons and their Families” involves several smoking cessation projects, including the innovative Gurlz Kick Ash! and the Spot Next Door programs. Information on all of these smoking cessation programs can be found at blghrc.org or at 718-292-4368 or 844-4GAYCARE.

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Jackie Does Jersey

The Theater Project, Union County College’s professional theater company, presents “Jackie, An American Life,” playwright and satirist Gip Hoppe’s comedy directed by the company’s artistic director Mark Spina, that follows the late former first lady as she comments on the roller coaster events of her life. “The story of America’s obsession with Mrs. Kennedy may tell us more about ourselves than about the object of our fascination,” director Spina said. 1033 Springfield Ave., Cranford, New Jersey. Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. through Jul 31. $20, except $12 on Thu. Reservations at 908-659-5189 or TheTheaterProject.com.

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Giglio Feast

The parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg sponsors its annual giglio street festival, starting tonight. The giglio, which means lily, is a soaring, flower-laden steeple carried through the streets by up to 150 men in commemoration of southern Italy’s St. Paulinus. The giglio is carried on two consecutive Sundays, July 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. Through July 17, the streets outside the church host a variety of events and cultural activities, including traditional Italian food and entertainment. Take the L train to Bedford Street and walk several blocks to 275 N. Eighth St. Visit olmcfeast.com for more information or to make a donation.

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Andy Friedman & The Other Failures

Brooklyn-based maverick visual artist Andy Friedman projects his paintings, drawings, and photographs onstage to accompany his country-blues styled songs about devotion and wanderlust. With music from his backing band, The Other Failures, all the elements come together onstage in a voice and manner that comes off like a more serious Lord Buckley or a beatnik version of Hank Williams’ alter-ego Luke The Drifter. Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery between Bleecker and Houston Sts., 8 pm. $10 cover. 212 614 0505

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FRI. JUL 8

Values Horrors Show

Butch, political, performance artist Susana Cook returns to “HOT! the NYC Celebration of Queer Culture,” with “The Values Horror Show,”a new play that deftly combines political satire and dark humor to question the horrors unleashed under the discourse of morality. In this biting social commentary, Cook conjures up the troubled historical ghosts of her native Argentina and compares the rhetoric used by the repressive military regime of Rafael Videla (mid-1970s) with some of American politicians’ current discourse. Come see the real story behind bigotry and terrorism. Fridays and Saturdays, through Jul. 30 at 10 p.m. $10-$15 sliding scale at door; $12 advance at theatermania.com; 212.219.0736 x110 or dixonplace.org. 258 Bowery, 2nd fl., between Prince & Houston Sts.

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Poems For Andy

“The Taylor Mead Show” is performance piece by Andy Warhol’s favorite movie star, the man who was poet laureate of The Factory. Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery between Bleecker and Houston Sts., 6:30 p.m. $6 cover. 212 614 0505.

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SAT. JULY 9

Clampart Exhibits

“What I did on my summer vacation…” is a collection of autobiographical photographs and the “snapshot aesthetic” presented by Clampart, 531 W. 25 St., Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.. 646-230-0020. Pictured above is “Howard Beach, New York,” 1955, by Armand Agresti.

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Moti Hassan Gallery

This summer, Moti Hasson Gallery presents a group exhibition that examines a traveler’s shifting point of view and relationship to place, entitled “Viewfinder.” The show features works by Carina Randløv, Anna Shteynshleyger, Lucas Kelly, Madeline Djerejian, Joanne Rosen, Dahlia Elsayed, Kathe Burkhart, Frank Benson, and Miriam Cabessa. Mon –Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 330 West 38th St., Suite 211. 212-675-1800.

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SUN. JUL 10

Robert Smithson

The Whitney Museum of American Art is proud to present the work of this artist—who died in 1973 at 35—which includes the well-known “Spiral Jetty” and films, photographs, writings, sculptures and more. Exhibit runs through October. 945 Madison Ave. at 75th St. Open Wed.-Sun. 212-570-3633; $12.

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Homomuseum

What do Alexander the Great, J. Edgar Hoover, Gertrude Stein and Andy Warhol all have in common? Exit Art continues a two-month exhibition structured around the idea of an imaginary national art museum dedicated to LGBT artists. From the West Side Piers to Sal Mineo to Mercedes McCambridge to Quentin Crisp. 475 Tenth Ave. at 36th St. For more information, call 212-966-7745.

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MON. JUL 11

Catch A Rising Star

Maor performs at xl at 357 W. 16 St. at 10 p.m. A recording artist in Britain, the singer celebrates the release of his latest CD.

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Starting Your Own Business?

Out Professionals presents “Start-Up Success Strategies,” a summer roundtable for present and potential entrepreneurs. What are you counting on to make your business unique? Should you be shopping for a business coach? What makes a business plan viable now? Hosted by Gil Neary, president of D.G. Neary Real Estate, has been involved in the purchase or sale of over 500 homes. Tonight Gil’s has a panel of experts ready to assist you become a small-business owner. 8 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13 St. $9-12.

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TUE. JUL 12

Dave King Reads

The award-winning novelist of “The Ha-Ha” is back in town for “Stable Talks on the Arts: The Powers and Perils of Abstraction” at 7 p.m. at The Stable, 16 Main Street, Brooklyn. King joins choreographer Mark Jarecke, painter Giles Lyon, journalist and editor Abby Ranger, choreographer Liz Sargent, pianist Kathy Supove and members of the Stable’s resident performing troupes for a panel discussion moderated by Stephen Greco.

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William Medina

“Medina Citi” is an independent art event and solo exhibition of artist William Medina. The show launches tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Penthouse Suite of 944 8th Ave., Columbus Circle, displaying modern artistic expression intended to carve a path through conventional avenues of presenting artwork in a non-traditional way. The aim is to exhibit Medina’s work—both painting and sculpture—his way.

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Summer Photography

The Community Center’s National Museum of LGBT History hosts two summer shows, one highlighting the work of the New York Gay and Lesbian Photography Club, which celebrates the diversity of contemporary photography, with nudes, still lives and landscapes executed in media including traditional black and white, “straight” and manipulated digital work and alternative processes. For more information on the club, e-mail eieio@nyc.rr.com. Photographer Christine Blackburn displays images of LGBT life in Cuba, which she has found is one of moderate acceptance, with the occasional repressive backlash. 208 W. 13th St., 212-620-7310. Through Aug. 12.

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WED. JUL 13

Sponsored by Nobody

Soho Think Tank’s 12th annual Ice Factory Festival, a summer series of new work, is one of the strongest ever. Sponsored by Nobody “The Position,” written and directed by Kevin Doyle and choreographed by Nicole Colbert.  Six men wait to be interviewed for a job opening at a major corporation. Are they deranged, or is it the inverted logic of the American job market? A comic vision that strips away the veneer of reflexive gestures and coded corporate conversation in today’s dog-eat-dog business culture. Jul 13-16, 7 p.m. The Ohio Theatre, 66 Wooster St. between Spring and Broome Sts. Tickets are $15/ $10 for students and seniors at Smarttix at 212-868-4444 or at smarttix.com.

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Free Movie in the Park

Every Wednesday through August 17, Riverside Park hosts “Movies Under the Stars.” Tonight, it is “Chicago,” the 2002 film starring Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere, directed by Rob Marshall. A starry-eyed, would-be star discovers just how far the notion that “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” can go in this screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. 8:30 p.m. weather permitting at Riverside Park South, at the end of Pier I at 68th St. Free admission, food and drink will be on sale. Call 212- 408-0219 or visit nyc.gov/parks for complete summer movie listings.

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Liberal Arts

Housing Works Bookstore Café is proud to host another live taping of “Liberal Arts,” for Air America Radio. Join Katherine Lanpher, co-host of “The Al Franken Show” on Air America Radio, as she entertains a variety of authors, singer-songwriters and other artists in an evening of conversation and performance. This week, the hour-long taped event will feature Chuck Klosterman and musical guest Dar Williams. $10, 8 p.m. at 126 Crosby Street one block east of Broadway between Houston and Prince Sts. 212-334-3324

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THU. JULY 14

Williamsburg Party

“Get Het” is changing its name to “This Moment in Gay History.” Come hang out, chat and enjoy the obscure eclectic sounds of deejays Brock Monroe and Nicklcat. Southside Lounge, 41 Broadway between Wythe and Kent Sts. In Brooklyn. 10 p.m. Free

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FRI. JULY 15

“Male Desire Two”

Mary Ryan Gallery exhibits a series of artists in celebration of Jonathan Weinberg’s book, “Male Desire: The Homoerotic in American Art,” published by Harry N. Abrams, through September 10. Tue.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5p.m. 212-397-0669. Proceeds from the book sales will go to the Manuscripts and Archives Division of the New York Public Library.

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SAT. JUL 16

Dance 208

It’s summertime and Dance 208’s Garage Classics and hot summer nights go perfectly together. “Hot In The City” with DJ Billy Carroll spinning garage classics to cool you down! Jack your body or chill out under the stars in our garden or lounge. Sure to become a summer class. 9 p.m.-1a.m. at the LGBT Center, 208 West 13th St., $10/$6 for Center members,or before 9:45 p.m.

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WED. JULY 20

“Professionally Out”

Are there particular satisfactions or challenges in being “out” in your profession? Meet Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright (“I Am My Own Wife,” “Quills”). Clarence Patton, acting executive director of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. Cathy McElrath Renna, director of media relations for Fenton Communications, psychoanalyst Bertram Schaffner, MD, a founder of the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists and Melissa Sklarz, president of the Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats. Christopher Murray moderates. Networking mixer, 6:30 p.m. Roundtable, Q&A, 7:30 p.m. Non-members $10, Out Professional members $7. LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13 St.

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THU. JULY 21

Public Art

Each summer, The Kitchen presents public talks by internationally renowned artists working at the crossroads of contemporary art, performance, and new media as part of its Sidney Kahn Summer Institute.  Past talks have included those by Vito Acconci, Laurie Anderson, Christo and Jeanne Claude, Carl Hancock Rux, and Carolee Schneemann. Tonight it’s Matthew Ritchie at 7 p.m. at 512 W. 19th St.

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TUE. JULY 26

Dance Event

The Jewish Community center in Manhattan presents “Birth of the Phoenix” by the Vertigo Dance Company of Israel in three evenings of outdoor performances in Riverside Park through Thursday. Free at 8:30 p.m. near the 73rd St. track, adjacent to the Hudson River. (Enter the park at 72nd Street and go down towards the river.) Call 646- 505-5708 for tickets.

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WED. JULY 27

Favored Nations Present

Soho Think Tank’s 12th annual Ice Factory Festival, a summer series of new work, is one of the strongest ever. Favored Nation Theatre presents “Psyche,” written by Deborah Wallace and directed by Leon Ingulrud. James Barry was born in 1796 and was a surgeon and a soldier who fought duels and treated lepers. He was tried for sodomy and acquitted. He was also a woman. An epic musical about war, medicine, sexuality and love, told through the life of a flamboyant and fascinating human being who chooses to love only in the dark. “Psyche” uses unique physical work that director Ingulrud pioneered at SITI Company. The Ohio Theatre, 66 Wooster St. between Spring and Broome St. Tickets are $15/ $10 for students and seniors at Smarttix at 212-868-4444 or at smarttix.com.

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Jason Mraz

This native Virginian started playing guitar and writing songs when he was 18.  His style is solely his own, combining country and rock with elements of folk, jazz, and even hip-hop. In 2004, he released a live CD, “Tonight, Not Again” on Atlantic Records and is currently on tour with Alanis Morrisette. His newest effort, “Mr. A-Z,” (Atlantic Records) hit the street on July 26. Tonight, he is at Housing Works Used Book Café at 8:30 p.m. All proceeds support this not-for-profit organization that provides housing, healthcare, advocacy and other services to homeless people living with HIV and AIDS. 212-334-3324, 126 Crosby St., one block east of Broadway between Houston and Prince Sts.

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Services

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