That’s right folks, its that time of the month again. First Friday. As you may or may not be aware, the first Friday of every month transforms into Art After Dark at the Guggenheim. It’s basically a rawkus party. The museum stays open into the wee hours, full of bars and drinking and art and DJ’s bumping tunes that float up the winding ramp and fill the entire place with sound. If you’ve never experienced Art After Dark at the Guggenheim, go. However, we recommend getting there especially early tonight, because a star DJ-duo is in town, and long lines may be in order. World-class CHROMEO will be spinning tonight at the Guggenheim. So get your high-society museum-mile suite on, and match it with some dancing shoes.

Photo by  Ian Meyers used under a Creative Commons License.

As I type this 24 performers are creating human sculpture based on the lives of 24 new yorkers living downtown.  Meanwhile, a man is backstage reviewing his lines before he takes stage at The Public Theater to deliver a one-man show that recounts the Apollo 11 moon landing.  Later in the evening, the stage will transform into an ode to the American Dance Legand, Martha Graham, with a multi-media tribute, using materials from her actual choreography, past documentaries and actual notes from her personal journals.

Quite the cultural buffet to say the least.  In its 6th year, the Under The Radar Festival has returned and transformed the citie’s theaters into a hotbed of new-found theater from around the world.  Going on through January 17th, see the festival’s sites for scheduling, performance synopsis and location information.  While its cold outside, why not undergo some cultural stimulus?

photo courtesy of Creative Commons License

Starting today is a festival I look forward to every year. Perhaps because there are memories involved. I can still remember myself wide-eyed and bushy tailed, wandering the cold streets of chelsea at night, solo, looking for an art opening to crash, or two or three. Instead of art, the gods of old school nintendo and game boys swooped in and lead me into a gallery-turned-discotheque. The DJs were not spinning records however.  Instead, music was all made using former video gaming devices, like the Commodore 64 and Amiga, the Atari ST and 2600 and Game Boys.  Topping it off, artists created hypnotic visuals matching the music, employing similar devices and experimentation.

If you have no plans yet. GO! If you already have plans, cancel.  The Blip Festival lasts through the weekend.  It is for the geeky gamer, the disco raver and everything in between.  ALL INFO HERE.

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons License

If’ you’ve been out and about the past few days, you know it… winter has officially arrived. While frigid temps keep most of us indoors, making for ripe climate to knit by the furness, finish that book you started eons ago or catch up on Hitchcock flicks, to some, the cold means one thing: SWIMMING!

This Sunday, December 13th marks the Polar Plunge at the shores of Coney Island.  The frigid dippers are collectively known as The Polar Club, which is actually the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States. Bring hot cocoa, wear warm clothes and sit back as looney New Yorkers strip down and take a dip. Be there at 1pm sharp!

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons License

Trick or treat Metrotwinners. Aye! The most betwixting of days is this Saturday (and we all know how long we have been waiting for Halloween to land on a Saturday). So where will you be for this night of fooling and trickery?

The most notorious of places to wind up is at the world famous Village Halloween Parade, where the most theatrical displays of costume and masquerade paint downtown streets. I always say, get there early or very late (and feel free to jump into the actual parading…it’s always more fun to be in it, then merely standby).

If you’re looking for less crowds, and would rather sit back and behold beautiful circus ladies swallowing fire, I highly recommend the Circus Ladies of The House of Yes…a troupe of the most talented artists, girls who embody burlesque in its hey-day, who will take you on a Halloween adventure not to write home to mom about…

And finally, if you are looking for a party where no one knows just who you are, and masking is a part of this years costume, join the frighting crew at Brooklyn Wonderland for a 12 hour spooky dance spectacular that will please the senses till the sun comes up…

Photos thanks to cloneofsnake and larimdame under Creative Commons License