From: "Jeff Stark" <jstark@nonsensenyc.com>
Subject: nonsensenyc: 7.31 to 8.5
Date: July 31st 2009

Friday, July 31
* Lose Your Shit, Brooklyn
* Summer of Love Party, Brooklyn
* Zombie Survival Guide to Bushwick, Brooklyn * Full Service: Nozzle Tape Release Event, Manhattan * B.E.A. Rock Camp, Manhattan
* The Waking Universe Party, Queens
* Critical Mass: Manhattan

Saturday, August 1
* The Broke Country Club Party, Brooklyn * Necropolis, City of the Dead, Manhattan * Decend, Williamsburg
* Noah's Arc, RSVP
* City of Dreams Block Party, Manhattan * Refuge One Year, Brooklyn
* Ride on Til Dawn II: The Lion's Den, Brooklyn * Linux Installfest, Manhattan
* Hey, I'm Walkin' Here! Queens
* NYC Mixtape Exchange, Manhattan

Tuesday, August 3
* The Bushwick Book Club, Brooklyn
* Trashion-Dungeon, Manhattan
* Make Fun Open Studio, Brooklyn

Thursday, August 5
* New York(er) Shorts, Brooklyn
* Free Bouncy Rides, Manhattan

Ongoing
* Coney Island Experts

Wishlist
* Recession survey

Spectre Priority
* The Age of Jellyfish

Learning
* Archery Basics

Help
* Ultimate Block Party

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

Angry face, carved log.

XXXXX FRIDAY, JULY 31 XXXXX

Meanred presents:

Lose Your Shit

With King Britt, JDH and Dave P, Lost and Found, DJ Smallchange. In the spirit of summer, we are taking this loft party outside. This time we are taking over the Old American Can Factory, in the middle of the industrial Gowanus neighborhood.

Like always, the line-up is a total mishmash -- each DJ bringing sounds from different NYC party scenes. Come dance to stuff you like, and stuff you never knew you liked: wobbly dub, banger electro, vintage funk, sexy boom bap, deep techno, etc etc. We'll be there, getting dirty, getting sweaty, and generally losing our shit.

Old American Can Factory
232 Third Street, Brooklyn
11p-4a; $10 before midnight, $15 after
21 and over
loseyourshit.com

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

Summer of Love Party

With live music from electro-psych-rockers Dynasty Electric, and transcendental electro-Latin band Navegante, DJs, and dancing, video projections from Baiowolf and Edward Kasparek, and a light show by CR. It's going to be and off-the-hook peace and love party all night long.

Newsonic
76 Rutledge St.
10p; $5 suggested donation
cheap drinks

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

Zombie Survival Guide to Bushwick

Let's watch cult classics, discuss tactics and weapons of choice over blood orange martinis and one dollar cheap beer. The night's entertainment features fashion of evil, the So So Glos, and a special, special appearance from Zombie Karaoke Elvis-bot. The zombie DJ�s will ensure your descent into zombie-dancefloor hell. Come early to enjoy the free zombie blood and get special inside tips from an actual zombie survivalist. Party with the undead all night long.

Brooklyn Fireproof East aka the Ally
119 Ingraham, Brooklyn
8p; $free?

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

Full Service: Nozzle Tape Release Event

The Full Service crew is throwing their biggest party yet to celebrate the release of Knifeshow and Ducksworth's Nozzle Tape. Philadelphia pro DEV79 will be headlining, as well as Wreck Tech, Jack Inslee, and Herbert Spliffington spinning on Love's state of the art sound system. The club is being transformed into an interactive space station courtesy of the Milk Of Paradise, and you can expect a confetti bazooka from Team Rizzo and an appearance by The Underground Runway. Glowsticks will be provided; prepare to be shook.

Club Love
179 MacDougal Street, off 8th Avenue, Manhattan 21 and over
10p-4a; $5

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

B.E.A. Rock Camp

Brooklyn Emerging Artists Rock Camp is holding a benefit show. The show will be raising money for scholarships for campers whose families are unable to afford the $200 camp fee. We believe that no child should be turned away or denied the gift of music due to financial need. As a recently established non-profit organization with limited means, we are reaching out to the community through our summer benefit show series in order to raise the money to achieve this. With Alyson Greenfield, Frank Hoier, and Galapagos Now.

Sidewalk Cafe
94 Avenue A, Manhattan
9p-1a; $10 strongly encouraged donation 212 810 9877
bearockcampgmail.com

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

The Waking Universe Party

With the Chainsmokers DJing all night, plus the Albertans, Your 33 Black Angels, Worst Case Ontario, and Brilliant Sweaters.

Queens Palace
37-11 57th Street, Woodside, Queens
8p door, 9p-3a show; $10

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

Critical Mass: Manhattan

Critical Mass is a spontaneous celebration of what our streets could look like. This fun group ride encourages new cyclists and creates safer streets and new green infrastructure. Strap some music to your bike and make sure to bring appropriate lights and bells.

Union Square, North Side
17th Street and Broadway, Manhattan
7p; $free
critical-mass.org

XXXXX SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 XXXXX

The Broke Country Club Party

Plaztik Mag and Skewville invite you to a day of fun and games in the sun at the putting lot. Join us for all day discount miniature golf and enter to win the Skewville golf classic putting championship or compete in the Morgan Sheasby National Sail Car Regatta. Bring your own sail car or assemble one on site with recycled materials. Get custom screenprint tees while you wait, visit the bad advice booth and stay for the water balloon fight. Music, brownies, lemonade, art, and bad advice.

The Putting Lot
12 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn
L train to Jefferson Street station
2�6p; $?
plaztikmag.artlog.com/

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

Alternative Arts Association presents:

Necropolis, City of the Dead

A multimedia arts production. Over 30 artists from all backgrounds will come together to explore the metaphoric graveyard of modern life. The artist's perspectives range from the political to the satirical, the rhetorical to the spiritual. All of the pieces are presented with an unabashed sense of passion and honesty. Join us at Necropolis and discover what dancers, painters, poets, and many more of New York's finest creative minds have to say about the one city that we all inhabit, the city of the dead. It will by a night that will not soon to be forgotten.

The multimedia premier of Necropolis, City of the Dead, will be the second and most extravagant event in our tri-borough season long art series. This string of amazing multimedia events was kicked off at Brooklyn's world-famous Public Assembly with FUNK U!, a dance party for the ages. The Association will continue to roam it's way through this great city, with our gala event at historic Brecht Forum in Lower Manhattan. The tour will conclude with a glorious homecoming at Astoria's own Hellgate Social. This summer, New York belongs to Alternative Arts.

Every dollar earned is reinvested into the growing local arts community. In addition to the mind blowing lineup of performances there will we be cheap drinks, beautiful people and more art than your brain can handle. As an added bonus, attendees will be greeted by the righteous audio might of Alternative Art's resident DJs; the Two Bloody Tampons. In addition, Giggles the Nihilist (the legendary naughty clown of downtown) will be performing throughout the night, making a scene and causing a generally ruckus.

Founded in 2006, the Alternative Arts Association is a diverse arts collective dedicated to nurturing the rich artistic and cultural fabric of Queens, NY. More than a hundred local artists have come together to collaborate on multimedia exhibitions in a gallery setting. A guiding principle of the organization is to provide material and organizational support to young artists. To further this principle, the Association devotes a large portion of its budget towards directly funding artists and frequently hosts free workshops for artists to collaborate on their works. We provide economic and logistical support to under-represented local artists. We bring individuals from all artistic backgrounds together to encourage interdisciplinary artistic collaboration and exploration. We are creating a network that connects local artists to resources necessary to further their artistic future, as well as the implementation of educational and workshop programs. The Alternative Arts Associat ion is also a registered New York State charity.

The organization has been working for over three years to represent over a hundred local artists and support the burgeoning arts community. In that time the Association has hosted five large multimedia arts events, numerous art exhibitions, many media specific workshops, two large music oriented productions, and a benefit performance for one of our local artists. This will mark the organizations sixth large multimedia event and our second production at the Brecht Forum.

Brecht Forum
451 West Street between Bank and Bethune, Manhattan 6p gallery, 7p show; $10 suggested donation All ages

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

Decend

Phoenix Circle Burning Man Village fund-raiser and compression party. Lineup by Psybotik and friends. With Tremendous Gloom, Gavin, Electrik, Anya, Mayur, and Orbit. With futuristic fashion by Wheylan. Fire and dance by Luminisis with a special performance by Sandhi Ferreira. Live visual projections by VJ Plasmo, Nasha_Masha, and VJ Alchemism. Deco and art by Phoenix Circle Village and Psybotik.

Public Assembly
70 North 6th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 7p; $free between 7-9p, $10 advance or before midnight, $15 list, $20 door psybotik.com

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

Animus presents:

Noah's Arc

The official party fundraiser for the Burning Man Art Project the Buddha Bunny. Theme: Noah's Arc. Join us for a wayfaring odyssey of boat-bound misadventure. The flood is coming. The end is nigh. Take evolution into your own hands and come as your best hybrid mismatched animal as we all set sail for Burning Man. Mark your calendars and expect an Amazing DJ line up.

Noah's Arc Boat, rsvp for location
9p-5a; $donation
arts.animus@gmail.com for boat location. animusart.com

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

Figment, Global Funk Alliance, and HiveMind presents:

City of Dreams Block Party

Music: Malodorous, $mall Change, d_juice, Zemi17 and David Last. Take a break from the concrete and spend a beautiful summer day with us at Figment's City of Dreams, Governors Island, in New York Harbour. Pack a picnic, parasols, toys, bike, skateboard, beverages, polo sets, throw down challenges at the Figment's City of Dreams miniature golf, scrawl on the Temple of Truth, gaze upon Lady Liberty and dance to some of Brooklyn's finest. Rain date August 2.

Governor's Island
Ferry stop next to the Staten Island Ferry building noon to 6p; $free
govisland.com/Visit_the_Island/directions.asp figmentnyc.org/2009/figment-2009/city-of-dreams-season-long-interactive-sculpture/

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

Refuge One Year

One year ago, a dream was born to create the night as it was meant to be -- a refuge from the day. Over these last 12 months, we have become acquainted with this brick and mortar with our sweat and blood. Join us for a celebration as we mark one year of redrawing the battle map into deep Bushwick.

We are on the cusp of a massive expansion and this is our first fundraiser for the long-term plan, Refuge 2010, which will grow Refuge from a 5,000 square foot loft to a 15,000 square foot warehouse.

Musical stylings by Barletta, Star Eyes, Jubilee, Kink, and Joee Irwin. Come dressed as a winged creature as our dreams take flight for another year at Refuge. Enjoy rooftop fire spinning, LED hula hooping, face painting, and more.

Rsvp for location, Brooklyn
time?; $20 cover gets you free liquor all night oneyear@refugenyc.org

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

Ride on Til Dawn II: The Lion's Den

We are celebrating everyone's favorite zodiac sign ... Leo. Come celebrate those courageous, exuberant, and sometimes gratuitous friends who were born under the sign of the lion. It's a party for Leos, by Leos, like our friends and collaborators Jordann, Anya, Lena, and Aaron. For some reason, a lot of people involved in making the House of Yes possible and wonderful are Leos. Coincidence? No. Lets party.

But its not just any old birthday party, it's also a farewell party. After nine years and 360 days in New York, everyone's favorite bus-driving, music making, story telling sound-man, Aaron Goldsmith, is leaving our fair metropolis for the granola-covered eco-friendly hippie hills of the West Coast. Yes, his Circus Bus is going West too. Aaron has been the man responsible for bringing us live jams, funky beats, and soul-train dance-offs til dawn over the years. And we love him for it. This might be your last time to enjoy a party at the House of Yes that is brought to you by Aaron (at least until three months from now).

With awesome bands: Prez Powerz (Intergallactic Hip hop with breakdancers), Escarioka (Latin Ska and rock steady with horns), FreeBass. DJs Joro Boro and Barney Iller. VJs 0H10M1k3. BJs: Dennis. Costumes: Funky feline, Or dress as Anya, Aaron, Jordan, or Leo. Free to anyone wearing a life-sized lion costume.

House of Yes
342 Maujer Street, Brooklyn
L train to Grand station
10p; $10

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

Linux Installfest

What is a linux installfest you ask? Well back in the day it was about the only way a novice had a prayer of getting support for Linux. Nowadays with easy to install operating systems like Ubuntu, they've largely went away, but we are bringing them back.

Bring your Windows box you've always hated. Come to us with your Linux desktop that has never had sound working. Bring your old hardware to sell and trade.

This is a great opportunity to get help jumping into Linux, or to get expert help in tweaking your current install. Also there will be Freeduinos on sale, along with demos and goodies from the Bug team.

598 Broadway, at the corner of Houston, fourth floor, Manhattan noon-6p; $free
eventbrite.com/event/370317630

***** 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.

Tired of your pathetic, brunch-filled, air-conditioned existence? Break the chain, baby. Join us on a 20-mile adventure through the New York jungle summer: Corona, Rego Park, Glendale, Middle Village, Maspeth, Sunnyside, Astoria.

Meeting point: Northwest corner of Roosevelt Ave and 111th St, Queens 10a; $free
matt.burnsomedustgmail.com
burnsomedust.com

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

NYC Mixtape Exchange

This month's theme is Smoke. With that please get as ridiculously creative as you want. It's your own interpretation. Make a mix tape or CD and come join us. But make extra if you can. The more you make, the more you bring home. All is welcome.

Double Down Saloon
14 Avenue A, at Houston, Manhattan
8-9p; $free
nycmixtape@gmail.com
myspace.com/nycmixtapeexchange

XXXXX TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 XXXXX

The Bushwick Book Club

Original songs inspired by the Bible. This one is happening in the backyard so we can be closer to the ribs that will be grilling. Original Sin Sangria will also be served. You thought Miranda July was controversial.

Goodbye Blue Monday
1087 Broadway, Brooklyn
J,M,Z trains to Myrtle station or J train to Kosciusko station 8p; $donation

NOTE: Good show. Every month the host picks a book and several musicians write songs or performances about the story. Most of the folks in the audience have also read the book. It's kind of like an open mike, with a regular and supportive crowd, and everyone is on the same page. We saw a show about the Miranda July collection and there was actual debate and conversation from the stage. Casual and brainy. Cute and talented performers.

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

Trashion-Dungeon

This Tuesday night will be the official opening of the Trashion-Dungeon. (sorry i couldn't resist the rhyme). You will have to navigate through a labyrinth of trash curtains to see illuminated work in a dirty, dingy basement, with guided tours by candlelight only. Artists on display will be Tara McManus, Ben Devoe, Marcus Jefferson, Boneman, and Rolando Politi. Creepy saxophone, live painting, and free wine, cheese, and berries.

Trashion is a refuge for things underused, wasted, or under-appreciated to come together and form a larger work; one that is a unified high energy experience of urban grit. It is an interactive multi-media trash art inspired event series and gallery show which uses art from recycled materials, eclectic works from tape, nails, bones, graffiti inspired art, chemical paintings, clothing from trash bags and metro cards and furniture from neck ties, paint samples, and glitter.

Gallery 151
350 Bowery Street, between Great Jones and East 4th Street, Manhattan 7-11p; $free
Gallery151.com
trashionstatement.com

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

Make Fun Open Studio

Make Fun open studio is back and better than ever. The first Tuesday of every month, we open up our costume and clothing studio and invite you to come create. Make Fun is a fabric workshop and sewing studio that exists for anyone who wants to sew, glue, experiment and build with fabric. We provide sewing machines, thread, fabric, scissors and a variety of material to help you create customized costumes, clothes, curtains, puppets, pants, parasols, stuffed animals, capes, or anything else you can imagine. Please bring Food, Drink, any materials you wish to use or donate, half-finished projects and inspiration.

House of Yes
342 Maujer, between Morgan Avenue and Waterbury Street, Brooklyn L train to Grand Street station
$10-20 covers supplies and assistance
kaeburkegmail.com
makefunstudio.com

XXXXX THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 XXXXX

New York(er) Shorts

We will be hosting a shorts screening of work by Peter Buntaine and Lorenzo Gattorna of New York(er) Shorts. Usually held at Maysles Cinema in Harlem, we have secured a unique venue for a special summer event. Films will be projected on a rooftop with free beer provided by our sponsor. Please come enjoy some drinks, music, and art and show your support for these emerging NY filmmakers.

15 Lawton Street, Brooklyn
J,M,Z to Myrtle Ave station
7p doors, films at sunset; $10
newyorkershorts@gmail.com

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

Free Bouncy Rides

The plush, blue fish mascot is back tonight for another round of free bouncy rides. He's been called a pervert and a hero. Come and decide for yourself which is which.

L train platform
Union Square Station, Manhattan
10-11p; $free
clubanimalsnyc.blogspot.com

XXXXX UPCOMING XXXXX

• Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival, August 8
• Flux Factory Presents Going Places (Doing Stuff) Part II, June 20-September 5
• Overboard, August 15
• Food Justice Revival, August 28
• Stranded 2009, September 5

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 *****

• Burlesque at the Beach. July 31: This or That! 10p; $15. Sideshows by the Seashore, corner of Surf Avenue and West 12th Street, Brooklyn. coneyisland.com/
• Sal Principato Teaches You to Cook, at his apartment (the address of which we'll leave undisclosed at the moment), time depends on when you're available; $15. Just email Sal at salvatpaol.com to set up a time and a date. http://salvatp.com/ NOTE: This listing comes from the excellent New Release list. Sign up for it here: newreleasenewyork.net.
• 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.
• Coney Island Film Society. August 1: They Live. 8:30p; $3-5, free popcorn. Sideshows by the Seashore, corner of Surf Avenue and West 12th Street, Brooklyn. coneyisland.com/
• Night Kayaking Tours, Manhattan and Brooklyn. Explore: Coney Island submarine, creepy Governors Island, gross Gowanus Canal, and money-making Manhattan. Website: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddrw24x5_167dxdpf3d9
• Rock and Roll 101. Watch music documentaries projected on the wall. St. Jerome's, 155 Rivington, between Clinton and Suffolk, Manhattan. 4-9p; $free.
• 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 *****

• Coney Island Ask the Experts. August 2: Marci Reaven, Director of Place Matters. 4p; $5. Coney Island Museum, 1208 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn. coneyisland.com
• CrazyTown / Locoville. Odd open mike hosted by Steph Sabelli. Weirdoes welcome and encouraged. Under St. Marks Theater, 94 St. Marks, at First Avenue, Manhattan. 9p sign up-1a; $free.
• 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 *****

• Glasslands Gallery Game Night. All ages, free food, free beer 8-9p, live music, 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
• Free movie screenings. Double feature, with free popcorn. The Lovin Cup, 93 N. 6th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 9p; $free. myspace.com/movienightqueen
• 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
• Williamsburg Spelling Bee, compete for bar tab at a real adult spelling bee, every other MONDAY, 7:30p; free, Pete's Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn. petescandystore.com
• 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.
• 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. MONDAYS 10p; $3. Monday, January 31: The heavy and strange Thank You For Not Screaming open.

***** 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 *****

• 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
• Private Ear Audio Theatre: Radio Plays. 8:30p; $?. Brooklyn Lyceum. privateear.org
• $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
• Carmine Street Jugglers. All levels welcome to practice juggling and related arts. 7:30-9:45p. Club is free, but building requires NYC Parks and Recreation membership ($0-$75 per year). http://jugglenyc.com/clubs.html
• Rocky Sullivan's Pub Quiz, with Quizmaster Scott M.X. Turner. 8:30p; $free admission, potable prizes. Rocky Sulivan's, 34 Van Dyke Street, Brooklyn. rockysullivans.com/quiz.html

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 *****

• A national survey entitled Artists and the Economic Recession is being undertaken to assess conditions for working artists in the current economic climate. The goal is to generate a meaningful national census of the conditions that individual artists currently face, and to conduct a baseline assessment of this vital population, for use by funders, advocates, and other stakeholders. It will take about 15 minutes to complete, and is offered in both English and Spanish. Anyone wishing to participate should click on the link below, and enter the user name provided. Survey web site: survey.confirmit.com/wix/p938893825.aspx. User name: ART371. Technical questions should be addressed to techsupport(at)psra.com.
• The New York Civil Liberties Union, one of the nation's foremost defenders of civil liberties and social justice, is looking for New York City visual and multi-media artists. We are hosting our second annual art benefit � Just Art '09 - to showcase artists with a socially conscious focus and raise funds on September 29, 2009 at BAM Cafe. We are currently seeking completed and to-be-created works of art inspired by and representative of issues that reflect the NYCLU's mission. Pieces selected will be displayed for auction at the benefit and will be seen and bid on by 400-plus progressively minded New York professionals and art enthusiasts, plus receive coverage by several major media outlets. This is a perfect opportunity for the artist to align him/herself with one of New York's most vital and trusted institutions. Donated pieces are tax-deductible and proceeds generated from pieces sold will directly benefit the NYCLU's work defending and promoting the core civil liberties of all New Yorkers, such as liberty, equality, privacy, and freedom of speech and expression. Contact katherine.greenier(at)law.nyls.edu.
• Art projects need for a warehouse extravaganza on Saturday, September 5, 2009. Open Meeting: Tuesday, August 4, 8p-11p, at 135 Plymouth Street No. 208, Brooklyn, in Dumbo. F to York Street, A/C to High Street. Snacks and beverages will be served. Come with questions, ideas, and friends. Stranded is a night of escape from the grind of city life to a desert island paradise. For one night only, a raw warehouse in an industrial corner of Brooklyn will be a blank canvas to illustrate a vision of the perfect tropical wonderland. The event will run from 9p until morning, and we are expecting a legendary turnout. We are seeking art projects, activities and help of all kinds. We're happy to have anything fun along for the journey, but projects matching the desert island theme will be given priority for placement and stipends. Sculpture, installation, activities, games, theme camps, performances, decorators, carpenters, riggers, and general volunteers are all welcome. Please note tha t the DJ and band lineup is already booked, but we do have time for shorter stage performances. The latest date we can accept submissions is Monday, August 24. But if you're looking for a stipend or have a project with special needs, we need to know soon. Application Form: tinyurl.com/strandedform. Contact us at info(at)wandbnyc.com.

***** SPACES *****

• August Sublets at Flux Factory: an artists' collective, with two (out of 13) rooms available for live or work throughout the month of August. We are a charming motley crew of artists and art sympathizers. The rooms available are: 1) long, skinny, 207 square feet, downstairs. It will have two brick walls and two drywall walls, and window that gives ample natural light. It rents for $645 a month. It's next to our gallery. 2) 230 square foot room for $610. Natural light from small windows, situated above head level. Both rooms are beautiful in a sublime industrial kind of way. Prices do not include utilities, which depend on how much time you spend here. We expect utilities to run about $100 to $200 a month, including food (with veggies from a farm share) internet, heat, water, and access to common areas such as an open office, woodshop, living room, big kitchen, and soon to be printmaking studio. This is a collective. There will be about a dozen other people living together, sharing bathroom, kitchen, etc. It's a wonderful easy vibrant environment that is constantly changing and engaged. Rooms are empty. We might be able to arrange for a bed and desk for you, but otherwise it's bare. Both rooms are available only for August and must be vacated on September 1. Please don't hesitate to contact us directly by phone at 845 705 0740, or email info(at)fluxfactory.org.
• Art Studio Share Available: in 1168 square foot artist studio. 290 square feet for $335 per month, or 580 square feet for $660 per month. September 1 move-in date. 20 Grand Ave between Park Ave and Flushing, close to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. 24-hour access. This is a work space only. Contact Angie, (646) 373-3538, fourwallsinblue(at)yahoo.com.
• Nice room in lovely, chill Greenpoint apartment for beginning of September: Sunny lovely bedroom apt with sit-down kitchen, living room, full bathroom and roof access/mini urban garden. Laundry downstairs. No TV in common areas (though house movie watching encouraged!). No cigarettes inside. Share with creative, politically and culturally engaged, bike-riding, garden-growing female photographer. Great, lively neighborhood, lots around but still a relaxed corner of the world. Easy commute to the city. Bedroom available is private, with a big window, sunny, but also quite small, so best for someone who is away at work or school much of day, yet wants to return to a nice relaxed home. It's better if you don't have a ton of stuff. Looking for someone considerate, good communication skills and always pays bills on time ... but also interested in the world around you, with opinions about life and actively involved in things that make you feel alive. $750 (wifi and all utilities i ncluded)/ email a.rollefson (at) yahoo.com -- and tell me something about yourself -- or call: 718.344.0787. Photos available upon request.
• My awesome roommate of a few years is leaving, and I need to replace him. $850 per month, plus 1/2 of Con Ed bills, gets you a room right by the F train in the Lower East Side. The room is a bit small-ish (about 6 feet by 12 feet) and has a window that gets direct sunlight, but no closet. If you like, it can come partially furnished, that is, with a clothing rack and desk. The apartment is a converted one, so we share a kitchen/dining/living area, long hallway (with bookshelves) and a bathroom. You'll be sharing with one 25-year-old female college grad who is a part-time web design freelancer/part-time employed in academia. I don't care if you're gay, straight, male, female, or somewhere in between on either spectrum, just be reasonably tidy, able to pay your rent (one month rent plus one month deposit to move in) and not terrifying to live with. Preference for people who are creative or artistically inclined, vegetarian, or don't cook meat, and like punk music. Contact Mad eline, sisyphus.in.revolt(at)gmail.com.
• Roommate needed for apartment in Bed-Stuy/Bushwick. Two awesome girls and one cat are looking for a roommate for our place on Kosciusko Street. The rent on the room is currently $600, water included, but we are renewing our lease soon and may be getting it reduced. We are three blocks from the Bedford/Nostrand G train, and six blocks from the Flushing J/M train. Easy bike access to Williamsburg, Ft. Greene, Pratt, and Broadway. Pets allowed, please don't be allergic to cats. Please contact taliapshulze(at)gmail.com. Available August 22. We must find someone by September 1.

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:

***** The Age of Jellyfish *****

http://spectregroup.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/the-age-of-jellyfish/

The Jellyfish Effect
http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/news-can-jellyfish-predict-climate-change.html http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/07/jellyfish/ Jellyfish Are the Dark Energy of the Oceans "The fluid dynamics of swimming jellyfish have provided a plausible mechanism for a once-wild notion: that marine animals, hidden from sight and ignored by geophysicists, may stir Earth's oceans with as much force as its wind and tides. That the mere motion of animals could play a profound role in water-column commingling was once considered absurd. The sea would surely absorb the force of a flapping fin, to say nothing of a phytoplankton's flagellae. But in recent years, this consensus has sprung some leaks. When added up, winds and tides don't quite provide enough energy to account for the amount of water-mixing observed in the seas. In 2004, a study found that a school of fish could cause as much turbulence as a storm. Soon after that, ocean physicists measured enormous turbulence generated by a swarm of krill, a crustacean considered too small to have meaningful mixing effects. Missing from their equation, however, was a physical explanation for how tiny forces could avoi d being swallowed by the friction of the sea. One possibility, originally proposed by Charles Darwin's grandson, also named Charles, was that the act of swimming created pressure differentials that pulled water along with a body, an invisible suitcase to be unpacked along the way by cross-currents. "As a body moves in a fluid, a high-pressure field is created in front of the body, and a low-pressure field behind. Because fluid moves from high to low pressure, the fluid that's adjacent to the rear of the body moves along with it," said Katija. "You get a permanent displacement of the water." Katija and CalTech bioengineer John Dabiri have provided the first direct observation of this phenomenon. Using fluorescent dyes and underwater video cameras, they've made visible the invisible, producing videos of swimming jellyfish trailed by the water they came from. If the video seems like an infinitesimal drop in the bucket compared to winds or tides, consider that most of the ocean � excepting the top 300 feet or so � is so placid that a couple hand-held kitchen mixers could stir a cubic mile of it."

Earth's Immune System?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111346982 Jellyfish May Help Keep Planet Cool - Changing The Carbon Balance "Jellyfish and other related creatures may be helping to reduce the effects of climate change by stirring up the oceans, according to a new study in this week's issue of the journal Nature. The finding is the latest in a decades-old debate over whether swimming animals can contribute significantly to ocean mixing, the process by which warm water on the surface combines with the cold water far below. Mixing plays a role in global climate change because carbon dioxide in the air above oceans dissolves in the surface water. Through mixing, it can get pulled into the depths and stored there for long periods. If the work is correct, then it could mean that they're ferrying cold water to the surface and warm water into the depths of the sea with each feeding cycle. In the process, they may be taking dissolved carbon dioxide with them far beneath the sea, changing the overall carbon balance in the atmosphere."

Krill Migration
http://www.livescience.com/animals/060921_critter_mix.html

Earth's Immortals
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/07/the-earths-immortal-species-thriving-in-oceans.html "The Hydrozoan, a small predatory sea creature like a jellyfish but without all their well known exciting higher functions, can achieve the dream of millions and become a child again. When adverse environmental conditions threaten death it can collapse into a rugged blob of cells to survive. When it re-emerges, it does so as a child - literally building itself up all over again. Since this isn't just a shell to hide in, but a complete structural restart, it seems possible that it could keep this up forever."

6 Feet Across
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqfCm58SB6Y http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/07/photogalleries/giant-jellyfish-invasion-japan-pictures/index.html http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/07/giant-jellyfish.php "The world--and especially the world's oceans--are full of strange animals, but the weirdest may be the Nomura jellyfish. It can measure up to 6 feet in diameter and weigh more than 450 pounds. Last time the situation got so bad, the salmon boats in northern Japan stopped going out, and it's reported that in some places fishermen lost 80 percent of their income. The nuclear power plants along the Japan Sea coast even sucked the jellyfish into their water pumps used to cool the reactors."

The Age Of Jellyfish
http://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/jellyfish.htm http://dsc.discovery.com/news/slideshows/monster-jellyfish.html "They say climate change could also cause jellyfish populations to grow. The team believes that for the first time, water conditions could lead to what they call a "jellyfish stable state," in which jellyfish rule the oceans. The combination of overfishing and high levels of nutrients in the water has been linked to jellyfish blooms. Nitrogen and phosphorous in run-off cause red phytoplankton blooms, which create low-oxygen dead zones where jellyfish survive, but fish can't, researchers said. Richardson said jellyfish numbers are increasing in Southeast Asia, the Black Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea."

Jelly Swarms
http://www.livescience.com/animals/081219-bts-jellyfish.html Q. How may climate change promote population explosions of jellies? A. Higher water temperatures may speed jelly reproduction as well as extend the growing season for jellies; a longer reproduction season could result in more jellies. Climate change may also increase the amount of food available for jellies. Also, climate change may change ocean currents. Changed currents may transport jellies � which drift with currents � into new habitats. Because climate change appears to be a world-wide phenomenon, climate change may have worldwide impacts on jellies. But we really don't know yet what the details regarding interactions between climate change and jelly populations. Q. As long-lived, hardy and often abundant creatures, are jellies "the cockroaches of the sea?" A. Absolutely not! Jellies are much better than cockroaches! Jellies represent among the oldest living animals on Earth and if the past is prologue, these highly successful creatures will continue to thrive even under the changing conditions of today's oceans. I have said before that most likely cockroaches will be long gone when the last jelly swims in a lonely sea.

Bad Indicator
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/06/18/jellyfish-ecosystems.html Jellyfish Booms Signal Ecosystems Out of Whack "Two centuries worth of data shows that jellyfish populations naturally swell every 12 years, remain stable four or six years, and then subside. 2008, however, will be the eighth consecutive year that medusae, as they are also known, will be present in massive numbers. Climate change has also been a boon to these domed gelatinous creatures in so far as warmer waters prolong their reproductive cycles."

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.

NOTE: Special thanks to Avital Oliver, who edited this section for a year. Avital is moving to Israel to have a baby and explain why math is important to curious people. We wish him all the luck in the world.

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

Archery Basics

Learn the proper way to draw a bow and shoot an arrow. Bows, arrows, and targets provided.

Willowbrook Park, Staten Island
10-11:30a; $free
nycparks.org/parks/willowbrookpark/events/172600

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

A Sewing Marathon: All About the Pamphlet

A five-day course in the pamphlet. Students will make over a dozen models, all sewn into handmade paper wrappers, and boxed in sets defined by their embroidery patterns.

The Center for Book Arts
28 West 27th Street, third floor, Manhattan August 3-7, 10a-4p
http://www.centerforbookarts.org/classes/classdetail.asp?classeventID=939

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

Lampify

The Fixers Collective presents John Tarzian of Tarzian Hardware, leading a special class on how to fix or make a lamp.

Proteus Gowanus
543 Union Street, Brooklyn
6-9p; $10
info@proteusgowanus.com

***** LEARNING: ALSO ON TUESDAY *****

Sensual Strength Training

A special workshop for women focused on supporting the sexual organs and overall fitness using Afro-roots dance and strength training. Led by Makeda Voletta, a fitness trainer, nutritionist, dancer, and body science nerd. Must purchase a jade egg before class.

Makeda Voletta
Six sessions: Tuesdays and Thursdays, August 4�20 Midtown Manhattan
sekhmet@queenlionesss.com
facebook.com/makeda.voletta

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

Movement Improv Workshop

This week at Night School, participants will explore new ways to move their body through space through blindfold exercises, partner work, free-form dance, and more to get them out of their mind and into their bodies. A fun and supportive place to go insane for a couple hours. Facilitated by Lopi LaRoe.

House of Yes
342 Maujer Street, Brooklyn
Grand St. stop on the L train
9p; $5 to $15, sliding scale (no one turned away for lack of funds) houseofyes.org

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

Triple Threat Workshop: tribal bellydance, samba, and Congolese. August 16; http://www.alvinailey.org/page.php?p=arti&v=541

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

• Night School at House of Yes. A different workshop each week on everything from comedic acting to tap dancing and whistling to wine tasting. Email Kaeburke@gmail.com if you are interested in hosting your own workshop. Wednesdays 9p. houseofyes.org/events/
• Free African, Brazilian, Haitian, or Samba dance classes for first-time students with online coupon. djoniba.com/free_coupon_julyaug2009.html
• Craft-On (fun with yarn and thread) with Church of Craft at Etsy Labs. Sundays 2-6p. churchofcraft.org/2008/10/01/welcome-nyc-crafters/
• Free outdoor yoga care of Laughing Lotus in the park at 10th Avenue and 15th Street. Wednesdays (through Sept. 2) 7-8p. laughinglotus.com
• Trampoline classes at Streb Lab for Action Mechanics. Mondays and Tuesdays 7-8:30. streb.org
• Power Vinyasa with Hosh Yoga in McCarren Park. Pay what you wish. Saturdays 3p. hoshyoga.org/schedule.html
• Freegan Bike Workshop. Learn how to turn found bike parts into working bicycles and build your own bike. To get more involved, come to the open meetings Wednesdays 5p (an hour before the bikeshop opens). 123communityspace.org/event
• Didgeridoo classes in Prospect Park for music, meditation, and healing. Saturdays. didgeproject.com
• 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. Thursdays 6-9p. proteusgowanus.com/main/fixers-collective
• Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn. Developed by a legendary ninja and samurai of feudal Japan, Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu comprises ancient Japanese kobudo martial arts. Training is centered on jissen gata combat fighting. Membership is selective, but you may attend the first class without paying dues. Saturdays 5-7p, Sundays 2�4p. triskelionarts.org/events.htm#classesoffered
• Project Film School is film-theory freeschool with a weekly screening series and online resources. Sunday nights. projectfilmschool.org
• 3rd Ward offers multi- and interdisciplinary courses in visual art, technology and fabrication for artists (both amateur and career) and creative professionals looking to expand their skill set or just have fun. Mention Nonsense NYC when you sign up for the member rates! 3rdward.com/classes
• Free self-defense classes. Wednesdays. mkdkarate.com/classes.html
• An assortment of creative arts classes at Spoke the Hub. Various days. spokethehub.org
• Group tightwire walking class and foot juggling workshop at Trapeze Loft in Williamsburg. Sundays 5-6:30p and various days. thetrapezeloft.com
• Screenprinting at 123 Printshop. Fridays 5-8p and Saturdays 3-5p. 123communityspace.org/program/screenprinting-workshop-50
• Gearilla! a Street Theater Workshop (on bikes). Tuesdays 2p. monicahunken.com/classes.html
• Bicycle repair classes at Time's Up! Various days. times-up.org/index.php?page=bike-co-op
• Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art and dance. Various days. afrobrazilarts.org/newyorkcapoeira/index.htm
• Co-ed nonsexual naked yoga classes. Various days. groups.yahoo.com/group/coyoga/
• The School of Mathematics cultivates a natural and stress-free environment where everyone can explore, study, and discover mathematics. Prior knowledge is not assumed. Various days. thewe.net/math
• Beading classes at Brooklyn Bead Box. Various days. brooklynbeadbox.com/classes.html
• Balkan folk dance classes. Wednesdays and Fridays. nycfolkdance.org
• Classes in the needle arts at Brooklyn General Store. Various days. brooklyngeneral.com/classes.htm
• Classes in knitting and spinning at The Yarn Tree. Various days. theyarntree.com/studio/classes/
• Mosaic workshops. Wednesdays 1-4p and 6-9p. newyorkartworld.com/things/things-mosaic.html
• Open craft/hack nights at NYC Resistor. Thursdays 6-9p. nycresistor.com/2008/11/22/open-craft-hack-nights-on-thursdays/
• Figure drawing at Brooklyn Artists Gym. Mondays 6:30-9p and Saturdays 12-3p. brooklynartistsgym.com/events.html#workshops
• Free kayaking on the Hudson River. Slots are 20 minutes, but kayakers may go more than once. Weather permitting, Saturdays and Sundays (through Oct. 11) 10a-5p.
• Wing Chun Kung Fu lessons in small class environment. Sundays 4-6p. louisoscarwingchunkungfu.com
• Parkour workshops. Sundays. nyparkour.com
• First Aid for Cats and Dogs. Various days. http://www.nyredcross.org/viewclass.php/prmCID/32/month/08/year/2009

XXXXX HELP XXXXX

Ever taken part in an old-fashioned barn raising? We never have, but we think it would be kind of cool -- all those neighbors in funny hats and overalls coming together to pound nails, stand up walls, and raise the collective roof. In that spirit, we look for one-day volunteer opportunities with no long-term commitments required. Our goal is to help groups or individuals that serve the greater good in small but significant ways, avoiding mega-nonprofits and people just looking for free labor. Know of any existing opportunities? Looking for ways to help out? Or need volunteers to get your own community project off the ground? Send your requests to Joanie Schaffer at schafferificgmail.com.

***** HELP: UPCOMING *****

• Brooklyn Animal Action is a non-profit in the works looking to do animal rescue work in Brooklyn...the papers are being filed with the lawyer and it's close to being a done deal. Now we are looking for someone who would be willing to donate a little time and help us create a logo. Most of our work is with cats, simply because there are so many homeless cats in Brooklyn, but we don't rule out helping dogs, rabbits, or other animals in need. We do a lot of trap-neuter-return work as well as find foster and permanent homes for all of the kittens and friendly adult cats we come across. Our goal is to find homes for as many as we can, and for those we can't, we aim to at least improve the quality of their lives by providing them with medical care - neutering and spaying, vaccinations, etc, � and work to keep the population down. If any of you are artists and have an idea for an image, or if you know anyone who might be interested, it would be greatly appreciated (and I'm sure we could find a way to plug you/your business in our newsletters/at fundraisers, etc.)
• August 15-23: Downtown Dance Festival. Volunteers will work with staff from Battery Dance Company to present the 28th Annual Downtown Dance Festival, a free roving event held each summer in Lower Manhattan parks, plazas and piers. The festival invites audiences to enjoy nine days of ethnic, classical, and contemporary dance performances from around the world. This year, the festival will return to Chase Plaza and The Lawn at Battery Park and will also cross the harbor with performances on Governors Island. Dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers are needed in the weeks prior to the Festival for publicity and marketing campaigns (posting flyers and giving away postcards at restaurants, coffee shops, businesses and organizations around NYC). Then, during the nine days of the Festival, volunteer ushers will greet audience members, hand out playbills and help with other various tasks, such as helping to set up and take down the stage, setting up chairs at Chase Plaza, or working with groups of children who are visiting for our special educational outreach segment of the festival. And you will have plenty of time to watch the performances, as well. Volunteers should be able to commit to at least one day for a two-hour block during the week of August 15-23. Please contact Soni Jaiswal, Festival Intern, for further information on the time slots available at internbatterydance.org.
• August 30: The Inaugural 150th Street Ultimate Block Party and Arts Fest. We are currently seeking entertainers from all walks of life/genres, grassroots organizations to host educational and/or interactive booths, workshop organizers, prized for our raffle, artists for art installations, DJs, performance artists, dance ensembles, volunteers, etc. The Hybrid Movement Company, a fiscally sponsored organization, will be hosting the Arts Fest for our community, families, friends, and neighbors in the vicinity of 150th Street between Amsterdam and Broadway on Sunday, August 30. The block party provides a forum for neighbors and community members to get to know one another with the goal of strengthening neighborhood spirit and encouraging residents to look after the neighborhood, in addition to providing a family-oriented festive environment to celebrate the connectivity of community members, all while promoting the well-being of our environment. We welcome your participation. Contact thehybridmovementcompanygmail.com or 775 450 2484.
• November 12. Set up help for the NephCure Foundation. Help is needed for the NephCure Foundation's 2009 New York Countdown to a Cure. Ten volunteers are needed to help with set-up for this charity event. Volunteers should arrive at 1p to begin set-up and will be fed. Countdown to a Cure will be held at the Citi Field Caesars Club in Flushing, Queens. Over 800 guests are expected. The reception-style dinner will begin at 6:30p. 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). Minimum age 15. Please contact Miriam Long at mlongnephcure.org for more information. volunteermatch.org/search/opp572855.jsp

***** HELP: ONGOING *****

• Help Seniors Hungry to E-mail. City Hall Senior Center has a computer lab with six computers but no instructor. If you have a solid handle on computer skills (you don't need to be a whiz, although that's a plus) and want to work with seniors, we need you. Our seniors are eager to learn the basics of internet navigation and email use. You will teach a weekly class of seniors in the early afternoon. You can even develop the class into a program with intermediate and advanced classes if you want. This is a great opportunity to develop your teaching skills and make a difference too. Comfort with and knowledge of basic computer uses, desire to work with seniors and teaching experience are a plus. volunteermatch.org/search/opp573589.jsp
• Food Servers of St. John's Bread and Life. We are in need of groups that would be interested in helping out in our Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry. Minimum age 21. 795 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn. volunteermatch.org/search/opp572876.jsp
• Looking for volunteers to do light administrative duties for non-profit outreach opera/musical theater group based in Washington Heights and Inwood. Most of the duties can be performed at home on your own computer. This is a great prospect for some one pursuing a degree in artistic administration. Looking for someone who can volunteer 5-10 hours a month. Again, just looking for someone to perform light administrative duties. For more info, contact cheron.g.cowangmail.com or visit nystreetopera.com.
• The GiveGoodGet Project is looking for "Good Deed Ambassadors" to take to the streets and find people doing good for their community! GiveGoodGet is a brand new project, still in its pilot stage, with the purpose of acknowledging good Samaritans for their contributions to making their neighborhoods stronger, friendlier places to live. We need outgoing, dedicated volunteers to identify and interview Samaritans on the streets, and award them with a small token of appreciation. To top off the fact that this is a great way to spread positive energy around the city and meet great people, all Good Deed Ambassadors will be compensated for their time (15/hr)! Interested? Please email marliewilsonstreetattack.com with your contact information, resume, and reason why you want to get involved.
• Reverend Billy Talen of the Church of Life After Shopping is the Green Party candidate for Mayor of NYC. The election is November 3 and we're looking for volunteers to help us between now and the election. Come share your fabulous talents with us, whatever they may be. We have a new headquarters at 250 Lafayette (between Prince and Spring) in lovely SoHo. Whether you're a poet, an artist, an organizer, or just willing to do odd jobs around HQ, like run errands or stuff envelopes, we'd love to have you working with us. To get involved, go to our web site and sign up on the volunteer page, stop by HQ, or come to our weekly meeting for new volunteers on Wednesdays from 7-9p in HQ. Right now we're especially in need of web savvy folks who know Drupal - we need Drupal administrators and Drupal themers to help with our web site. VoteRevBilly.org.
• Lit Drift: �Storytelling in the 21 Century� Seeks creative folks. I'm looking for bloggers, marketers, event organizers, and tech people to help out on our new blog dedicated to highlighting innovations in storytelling, with the ultimate goal to celebrate the art and craft of storytelling (in all its forms) by serving as a storyteller's resource and community. Lit Drift will start out as a blog, and eventually grow into an offline headquarters and creative space. But in the meantime, it's just a blog, so no one is getting paid until the site starts generating serious traffic and revenue. All I am looking for is a few passionate, creative people to pitch in for a few hours each week from the comfort of their own homes, and maybe get together every once in a while to discuss how the site is doing, where it's going, and schmooze over a beer or two (or ten). Please get in touch if you're interested at julialitdrift.com and tell me about yourself. litdrift.com.
• We can always use help in our office during regular business hours. There are a range of projects that volunteers can help with, some examples: press clippings, a Google Maps project (related to Community Boards and Council Districts), lending a hand in our events closet re-organization, general data entry projects and much more. Volunteers are welcome to come in for short or longer shifts, as often as you want. Please feel free to call or email Elena (volunteer and membership outreach coordinator) with any questions or to set up a time to come by and help out. elenatransalt.org 646 873 6036
• GALLOP, a New York City-based nonprofit corporation offers therapeutic riding lessons to individuals with disabilites at the historic Kensington Stables in the East Windsor Terrace section of Brooklyn, near Prospect Park. Staffed by a riding instructor certified by NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) and a supported by licensed physical therapists, as well as a dedicated and experienced group of volunteers, the program offers a safe and supportive environment in which an individual can reap the many benefits of therapeutic riding. GALLOP is always in need of volunteers to help out with our program in any way. No horse experience is necessary, but it does help. We provide all the training you will need. We need people to help out at the stable with the horses and riders during lessons. Also, we have tons of "behind the scenes", such as office work, fundraising, grant writing, etc.Visit gallopnyc.org.
• SafeWalk is a free service to increase safety in our communities. From 11p Friday to 2a Saturday, we organize volunteers to take your call, bike to your location, and walk you to a destination within a 10-15 block radius. Our area of service currently includes Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bedford Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and downtown Brooklyn. Interested in becoming a volunteer? Contact safewalknycgmail.com or visit rightrides.org/templates/volunteer.php?page=vol_service.
• More than a barn, we're raising the mother of all meeting houses. New Yorkers deserve the basic democratic right�enjoyed by most other Americans and in most of the country's big cities�to have a direct say in our city's future and the laws we live by. (Just think: we could actually make dancing legal again.) The right of citizens to propose and vote on laws is fundamental to democratic government around the country. Some of NYC's lowercase democrats aim to win it and bring it into the 21st century. Join in designing the meeting house (i.e. writing the needed amendments to our city's charter), help grow the November '09 - June '10 petitioning drive, or find out more at lowercased.org.
• The Fortune Society is looking for volunteers to teach reading, writing and math to former prisoners and young people facing prison time. Contact 212 691 7554 x250 or visit fortunesociety.org.
• NY Artists Unlimited is a 25 year old, multicultural nonprofit that takes professional theatre and art to under-served audiences. Volunteers/ interns are used in all areas: administration, office work, design, graphics, technical, fundraising & development, PR/marketing, creative areas, and more. We are soon moving back into our renovated East Village arts center and need help in design, planning & development, fundraising, PR/marketing. In the summer, we present the International CringeFest, which includes the Bad Plays, Bad Musicals, and Bad Films Festivals. All proceeds go to support our work with under-served audiences. Class credit is available for college interns. Come join us in an artistic, supportive environment where noble deeds are being done and great creativity is taking place. No pay, but snacks, beverages, occasionally lunch available. Visit the website for further info: www.NYartists.orgVisit the website for further info: NYartists.org or contact Nyartunlt[a t]aol.com.
• The Rock Dove Project focuses on connecting health care practitioners who offer cheap/free services with seekers of those services. rockdovecollective.org/project
• Mentor kids through skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding at Stoked Mentoring. Contact infostoked.org
• Rescue disoriented and injured birds and ultimately help migratory birds make it to their destinations as a Project Safe Flight Volunteer. volunteernycaudubon.org
• Volunteer with Books Through Bars, an affiliated project of ABC No Rio that sends books to prisoners all over the country. Books Through Bars meets Mondays and Thursdays 7:30-9:30p and Sundays 5-8p at the NYC AIDS Housing Network, 80-A Fourth Ave, Brooklyn. abcnorio.org/affiliated/btb.html
• Help feed the homeless by volunteering at a City Harvest special event. cityharvest.org
• Volunteer as a writing tutor for kids at 826NYC. 826NYC.org
• Dog walking and Cat Petting at the Brooklyn Animal Rescue Coalition. barcshelter.org

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Collecting the secret half-ass tricks of experts.