From: "Jeff Stark" <jstark@nonsensenyc.com>
Subject: nonsensenyc: 6.4 to 6.10
Date: June 4th 2010

Friday, June 4
* Humans Versus Zombies, Brooklyn
* Rubulad Presents: Yacht Rock! Brooklyn * Hot Noir, Brooklyn
* Newsonic Loft Party: A Summer Night's Dream, Brooklyn * Unbearables Fusionarts Be-In, Queens
* Warehouse Fridays, Brooklyn
* Gnome on the Range, Brooklyn
* Loew's Landmark Movie Palace, Jersey City * Showpaper Benefit: So So Glos DJ Partay, Brooklyn * Arts in Bushwick, Brooklyn

Saturday, June 5
* Beauty and Ruin, Brooklyn
* Come Out and Play, Brooklyn
* Island, Brooklyn
* The Unconventional Expressions of Uranus, Williamsburg * Audience, Manhattan

Sunday, June 6
* Glass Hunt: An UrbanGlass Urbanites Event, Brooklyn * Summer of '86, Brooklyn
* Father's Day with Reverend Billy, Jersey City * Metro Metro's Metropolitan Odyssey 2010 * Sharegroove, Brooklyn

Monday, June 7
* Sex Worker Cabaret, Manhattan

Tuesday, June 8
* Fifth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest, Brooklyn * Are Sports Boring? Brooklyn
* Past Life Analysis, Brooklyn

Wednesday, June 9
* Skits'n'tits, Manhattan

Thursday, June 10
* Lady from the Sea, Brooklyn
* New York, Incorporated, Brooklyn
* Rude Mechanical Orchestra's Newsies Sing-a-Long, Brooklyn

Wishlist
* Parade of One

Spectre
* No Seriously

Learning
* DIY Urban Agriculture Workshop

Help
* Clowns

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

Old TV screen with surveillance images burned into a grid.

XXXXX FRIDAY, JUNE 4 XXXXX

Humans Versus Zombies

We are going to be playing a large scale game of Humans Vs. Zombies as part of the Come Out and Play festival and all day on the 5th and 6th of June. The game is located at the Brooklyn Lyceum

Humans Versus Zombies is an immsersive, team based, multi-day game of tag played with Nerf blasters and socks. It's free to play, and while you're playing you can participate in all the other Come Out and Play games happening at the same time. Although we'll have some loaners, players should bring their own socks, Nerf blasters, and bandannas (to mark teams).

227 4th Avenue, Brooklyn
718 857 4816
contacthvzsource.com
humansvszombies.org/
comeoutandplay.org/

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

Rubulad Presents: Yacht Rock!

Bands: The Himalayas, .357 Lover, Inner Princess. DJs Urusula 1000, DJ Hardtop, Barney Iller, DJ Dirty Finger, DJ Reaganomics. In the Cabaret Room: Mary-Go-Round, Kinky and Boon, Jessica Delfino, with your DJ soundman Greything. Plus: Modern Dance Awareness Society, Hot F***ing Tamales, Norm Francoeur’s Light Circus Extraordinaire, Sumptuous Supper by Vicious Delicious, Dreams and Aspirations Vending Machine by Yung, Airbrush Body Paining by Malcolm Stuart. In the Starlight Lounge: G-Scopitronic’s Non-Stop Film Fest, Dallas Does Delicacies. Dress: For Cruisin’!

Rubulad Home Base:
338 Flushing Avenue, between Classon and Taaffee, Brooklyn 10p doors, 11p show; $10 in costume, before 11p, or way late, $15 otherwise
G train to Classon station

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

Aztec Economy presents:

Hot Noir

The Aztec Economy proudly partners with the Addtract Consortium for three days of music, mayhem and merriment as part of the 4th Annual Bushwick Open Studios Festival.

Join the team that brought you Monduna: a Robot Masquerade for a deliciously dark weekend celebrating and destroying all things Miles Davis and the Era of Jazz and the third and installment of the Aztec Economy's 'Battle Plays' Trilogy: My Kind of Blood. Featuring drinks and dancing at Bushwick's only outdoor patio bar, Brooklyn Fireproof. Live Theater set to Miles Davis's classic album Kind of Blue. Four Guitars in a Dark Room for a reeeeeeally long time. Music by the Suite Unraveling, Hypercolor, Jeremy Udden and Ben Monder, Johnny Butler, and more. Video art, Texas barbecue on wheels, and a giant, honkyass horn parade. Also, tacos by Taccolada. Come in your very most dramatic film noir attire.

Brooklyn Fireproof
119 Ingraham Street, Brooklyn
7p-9p SUNDAY; $free
tinyurl.com/2d42pes

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

Newsonic Loft Party: A Summer Night's Dream

A Summer Night's Dream in Brooklyn. The Newsonic Loft Parties are legendary fun and will be kicking off again this Friday night in Brooklyn with live music from virtuosic metal duo Bot, electro-rockers Chappo, and party jam band Paragraph with DJ sets from Pia, Selectrick, and Andreas Van Ingen, spinning electro, house, reggae, funk, dance goodness. VJ Suit Machine will be providing a psychedelic multi-screen projection experience. Cold Beer. Music. Visuals. Fun times. This is a peace and love party, don't miss out.

Newsonic Loft Party
76 Rutledge Street, Brookyln
9p-4a; $5, or free before 10p

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

Unbearables Fusionarts Be-In

Nude body painting. Erotic poetry. Music/interactive art. The literary/performance-art collective, the Unbearables, combine their long history as Sexual Outlaws (Annual Erotic Poetry readings on the Brooklyn Bridge, Guerilla Strip-Tease Action in the New School auditorium, & their forthcoming Big Book of Sex anthology) with Shalom Neuman’s downtown Fusionarts ensemble at the Long Island City gallery, Space Womb, to create the first great Be-In of the Twenty-First Century. There will be nude body art painting, video projections, interactive art installations and the performance artist Kika von Klück is creating a new piece for the event -- plus we will pay anyone who shows up in costume $10 dollars -- the more far-out the better.

Jongwang Lee’s Space Womb
2248 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, Queens 7 train to 45th Road, Courthouse Square 6-9p; $free?
917 670 1342

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

Warehouse Fridays

Summer's back! Come celebrate at Yes by dancing your ass off with Jangula, Movement, and Ezrakh. There is a bar though it's still BYOB. Good vibes, pretty people, colored lights.

The House of Yes
342 Maujer Street, Brooklyn
L train to Grand Street station
10p-4a; $5
mediafire.com/?y0mydzaoyga

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

Gnome on the Range

The age of exploration is upon us, and the humble garden gnome has shaken his Appalachian roots and turned his twinkling eyes westward, towards the wide-open plains and endless deserts of the Great American West. Join us in preparing the gnomes for their manifest destignome: to go west, young gnome, go west in this once-in-a-lifetime event.

With Panti-Gravity, bootie-house duo extraordinaire; John Reinhold and Conway Jennings, ass-grabbing tech-house all the way from Richmond, VA. Tektite, house-infused breaks to break dance, break out, or break up. Ahmed Hashim, titillating sexjamz to make ya gyrate 'n grind. DJ Morphous featuring ShiZaru, and Tim the Enchanter. Plus: Cheap libations at the Whiskey and Gnomes Saloon, down-gnome cabaret by NYC Fringe Fest Outstanding Performer Halley Bondy, pose-with-a-gnome photo booth by NickDigital, Manifest Destignome Evolving Ema by Shizaru Zoe, gnome hat decoration station by Tiny Gnome Enterprises Magical mushroom garden by Sparky's House of Shrooms, visuals by the Ephemeral Jaygo Fire performance by special guests from near and far Rooftop chillout lounge with panoramic city views and of course the not-to-be-missed, once-a-year-only Girls of Gnome Camp Cabaret Striptease. Costume suggestions: down-home gnome, unicorn from the OK Corral, centaur cowboy, campfire sprite, r oaming buffalo, naughty saloon nymph, desert sylph, slutty schoolmarm, prairie dawg, tumbleweed.

This is a fundraiser for the Gnome Adoption Agency: all proceeds go towards finding loving homes for gneedy garden gnomes at events across the country, from the Figment Festival to Burning Man and beyond. Learn more at gnomecamp.com.

Top-secret gnome sanctuary in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn RSVP for address
10:30p–6:30a; $15 Door tickets are $20 in costume, $25 in street clothes blackrocktickets.com/view/7/

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

Loew's Landmark Movie Palace

This coming weekend the Loew's Jersey, we cap off the Theatre's 80th Anniversary Year theme of showcasing three iconic films of one decade from the 1930s thru the 1980s with, naturally, the '80s.

Tonight: Raging Bull. Tomorrow: Pee-wee's Big Adventure (6p) and the Blues Brothers (8:15p).

Loew's, Inc.
54 Journal Square, Jersey City
8p; $6
loewsjersey.org/

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

Showpaper Benefit: So So Glos DJ Partay

DJs Mark Kamins, Patrick Stickles, So So Glos, Tone Tone. With Prince Rama, Highlife, Amen Dunes, G. Lucas Crane, and W.H.I.T.E.

Shea Stadium
20 Meadow Street, between Waterbury Street and Bogart Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn L train to Grand station
midnight; $5
all ages
sheastadiumbk.blogspot.com

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

Arts in Bushwick

With almost 300 individual studios, shows and events involving more than 500 artists in over 150 locations, this free annual festival invites visual artists, performers, musicians, designers and the public to celebrate creative expression together in the one of the most vital arts districts in New York City.

Check website for complete listings and locations. Continues SATURDAY and SUNDAY.

artsinbushwick.org

XXXXX SATURDAY, JUNE 5 XXXXX

Beauty and Ruin

This weekend you will find yourself in the aftermath. Two-dozen artists have built a landscape of beauty and ruin within large geodesic domes, ragged tents and hidden lounges. It starts with an intimate conversation in the corner of an army-tent turned Bedouin hide-away, continues on the dance-floor pressed against the bouncing crowd and Brooklyn's brashest march bands, then finishes with a drink, a whisper and the sunrise slipping through windows. This event is about building the best we can out of the little we have.

Featuring brash brass bands, live Afro-Haitian drum cores and DJs playing jump-up-dance music including the talents of: Mikerline Afro-Haitian Dance and Drum Troupe, the Rude Mechanical Orchestra, the Hungry March Band, DJ Kiva, Cumba Mela, Junglez, the Stellar Chic Duo, dj Zemi 17Plus mischief, fire and overhead performance by Anya Sapozhnikova, Carrie Cash, Tajna Tanovic, Kae Burk, and the 626 Roving Sangria Pump.

Explore five geodesic domes built into living art installations themed: Waterfall, Storm, Play, Home and Survive. Each will be a world unto itself with light and fire, water and magic. Smaller installations will complete the articulation of ruin across the 13,000 square foot expanse of this deep Brooklyn loft. Lopi LaRoe, Arielle Bier, Robyn Hasty, Olivia Katz, Anna Ialeggio, David Siegel, Ryan O'Connor, Deb Yoon, the House of Collections, William Jackson Etundi Jr., Lord, Jordan, Mark Krawczuk, Band of Bicycles and many more. Also, Swoon, Tod Seelie and Ben Wolf are putting together a show of stand-out art sold to benefit their Haiti Shelter project: konbitshelter.org. Drinks will be cheap, the night will be full and the fire will be real.

Dress in your best rag-tag formal wear. Pull out that dusty ill-fitting tuxedo or the prom dress you burned to erase the memory then saved because even burned memories are better than nothing at all. And don't forget the flower in your lapel.

195 Morgan Avenue, Brooklyn
L train to Morgan Avenue
9p; $15 before 11:30p, $20 after, benefits Domes for Haiti 21 and over
thedanger.com/
domesforhaiti.org/

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

Come Out and Play

Each year the Come Out and Play festival settles in a different neighborhood and explores the limits of play and games in that space. We've played among the galleries of Chelsea, played amidst the thriving nightlife of the Lower East Side and navigated the throngs of tourists in Times Square. This year the festival lands in Brooklyn to explore a new set of challenges. We will explore the potential for play in a converted 100-year old bathhouse. We will find ways to engage a residential neighborhood like Park Slope with games. We will discover the playful uses of a post-industrial swath of warehouses and canals like Gowanus. And we'll make games from the rich texture of a historic public cemetery like Green-Wood.

Check website for details and complete schedule.

comeoutandplay.org/

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

Island

A 1600 square foot open ground floor space located at the top of the Jefferson L subway stop.

Island will be presenting this event during the ARTS in Bushwick Open Studios Weekend. The following bands and films will be playing: Smother Party, Yonderverse, and Universe. Gratuitous Art Films will be projected between bands. Come and enjoy an EPIC eclectic kaleidoscopic evening of fun and sensation.

Island
36 Wyckoff Avenue, at Starr Street, Brooklyn 8p-midnight; $free?

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

The Unconventional Expressions of Uranus

The ancient order of the creepy triangle in conjunction with the neurotheque audio visual society an evening of extraordinary audio visual performances featuring Melissa More, solo AV; Peradam, AV duet; Bicameral Research Sound and Projection System, 60hz Raga; Ursula Scherrer, live video with David Watson on highland bagpipe.

Secret Project Robot
210 Kent Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 9p; $8

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

Ramiken Crucible presents the New York City premiere of:

Audience

Experimental noise in the dark. Conceived in 2006, Audience is dedicated to the advancement of aural arts by providing wide distribution and new contexts for works by emerging and established sound artists and composers. The centerpiece of Audience is a 2 1/2-hour program of 5.1 surround sound works by eight international artists. Presented in-the-dark with full 5.1 surround sound, this immersive experience in cinematic audio will feature works by: Jamie Allen; Bryan Jacobs; the Loud Objects; Simona Brinkmann; Uli Schuster; Natasha Barrett; Emmanuel Madan and Anna Friz; and Cedric Maridet. The Audienceprogram will be screened three times in complete darkness.

Ramiken Crucible
Clinton and East Broadway, Manhattan
11a, 1:30p, and 4p; $5 suggested donation ramikencrucible.com
au.dience.org.

XXXXX SUNDAY, JUNE 5 XXXXX

Glass Hunt: An UrbanGlass Urbanites Event

The UrbanGlass Urbanites present Glass Hunt, an all day exploration and discovery of glass art and design in New York City. On Saturday, June 5, contestants will race to find glass treasures and complete challenges to win prizes. Teams will check-in at UrbanGlass in Brooklyn at 11:30a for a brief orientation. At noon sharp, the hunt begins. All contestants will meet back at Heller Gallery on 14th Street at 5p for a post-hunt reception, where they can enjoy refreshments, mingle, and see works of spectacular contemporary glass art; while team points are tallied up. The winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded to the top three teams.

The Urbanites are a dynamic group of young professionals that promote education, commu- nity and support for the exploration and appreciation of glass as a medium of artistic expression through special events and educational experiences. UrbanGlass is a not-for-profit international art center located in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, NY. The mission of UrbanGlass is to be a leading resource for both aspiring and established artists wishing to create with glass. We foster innovative art and advance the use and appreciation of glass as a creative medium.

Urban Glass
647 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
11:30a; $20 each
urbanglass.org

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

Summer of '86

Party like it's 1986 in a brand-spanking new Williamsburg space with two rooftops, two dancefloors, two swimming pools, and a waterslide. For your ears: Cheryl/DJ Leah Beth of the Nouvellas/DJ Mojo/Vick Valentino/DJ Curly/DJ Cashbar. For your eyes: Flying go-go dancers/Firedancing by Cynthia/Performance by Cheryl/Wild art and spectacular designs.

Come dressed 80s. Costume suggestions: Raybans, neon, Miami Vice, Ferris Bueller, Top Gun, new wave, etc.

RSVP for location
time?; $10
info@bangon-nyc.com
BangOn-nyc.com

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

Reverend Billy and the Church of Life After Shopping present:

Father's Day with Reverend Billy

The Life After Shopping Gospel Choir and the Not Buying It Band return to Jersey City with miracles and holly rolling activism. Fathers will be honored on this visit to Grace Church. The show is family-friendly, song-filled, and funny! Lena, the two month old daughter of Reverend Billy and the director of the performance Savitri D will be in attendance. The Devil of overconsumption appears in the form of predatory lending and dirty coal practices (Mountaintop Removal), bank-rolled by JP Morgan Chase. Give us a good kick-off after months of sculpting Mountain Mud and leaving information about strip-mining in Chase lobbies throughout the New York City area.

Grace Church Van Vorst
39 Erie Street, Jersey City
3p; $10 door, no one turned away
All ages
dannyrevbilly.com**
revbilly.com

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

Metro Metro's Metropolitan Odyssey 2010

Teams of four will race around part of New York City, solving clues, taking photos, and having the best time ever. Get ready to have your senses dazzled.

Check website for details.

metrometroland.com

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

Sharegroove

I have a party/DJ partnership called Sharegroove. Most recently we throw a party every few months at a true pre-Guliani loft in Gowanus. It's time again for another special night of music, dancing, and togetherness. For this edition Sharegroove invite their buddies from Philly, Billy W. and Ryan T., to play. Their weekly Friday night jam Robotique is the place to get your disco and cosmic boogie on. Hosting local, national, international talent (Trus'me, Soft Rocks, Dam Funk, Rich Medina, and Ron Trent to name but a few), Robotique is as a solid as they come. Plus: The multitalented Aurora Halal will be providing visuals. Resident DJs Duckcomb and Steve ShakeWell warm up and maintain the dancefloor til sunrise. Food and drinks served all night. Complimentary Rum Punch. BYOwhatever.

Douglass Loft
300 Douglass between 3rd and 4th avenues, Brooklyn $10, $5 after 3a

XXXXX MONDAY, JUNE 6 XXXXX

Sex Worker Cabaret

Sex workers take the stage to tell their diverse stories through burlesque, comedy, narrative, contortion, aerial performance, and more. Producers Sarah Jenny and Rachel Grinstein are proud to present an evening cabaret showcasing some of the most vibrant creative talent in the sex worker community. The cabaret is in homage to Annie Oakley's Sex Workers Art Show (1997-2009) and will take place during LGBTQ Pride month, a time to reflect on the importance of community. Come bare witness as sex workers eloquently, and at times raunchily, speak their truths.

Slipper Room
167 Orchard Street, Manhattan
7p doors, 7:30-10p performances; $10-20 sliding scale 21 and over

XXXXX TUESDAY, JUNE 8 XXXXX

Fifth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest

How many bloggers does it take to fill the Brooklyn Lyceum? Come find out the Brooklyn Blogfest when the borough's most opinionated and dedicated bloggers (and surprise special guests) step away from their keyboards to sound off about how and why Brooklyn remains such a rich source of material and inspiration.

But forget about filling the room. Here's the real question the Brooklyn Blogfest will answer: How many bloggers does it take to wrap their arms around New York's most happening borough? So, whether you are a blogger, wannablogger, reader, or media maven, you'll want to come see for yourself. And meet up with this year's most tenaciously keen tribe of bloggers as they gather to celebrate all the reasons Brooklyn is such a potent source of runaway creativity.

Since it was founded in 2005, the Brooklyn Blogfest has established itself as the nexus of creativity, talent, and insight among the blogosphere's brightest lights. This year will be no different as a panel of blogging's best disect the unique brand of entrepreneurial creativity flourishing here. Also on tap: a video tribute to Brooklyn's most visionary photo bloggers, special networking sessions for like-minded bloggers (i.e. Blogs of a Feather), the return of the ever-popular Shout-out, when bloggers are invited to share their blogs with the world, and a roof-raising after-party with vodka cocktails, food, and music.

The Brooklyn Lyceum
227 Fourth Avenue, at President Street, Brooklyn 7p; $10, $5 for students and seniors
louise_crawfordyahoo.com
brooklynblogfest.com

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

Are Sports Boring?

Join us for an evening of forensic fisticuffs and verbal violence as Dave Zirin, sports columnist for The Nation magazine and author of A People's History of Sports in the United States, takes on Arun Gupta, a founding editor of the Indypendent on his claim that sports are boring.

The Brecht Forum
451 West Street, between Bank and Bethune streets, Manhattan 7:30p; $10-20 sliding scale, all proceeds to benefit the Indypendent indypendent.org
brechtforum.org

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

The Secret Science Club presents:

Past Life Analysis

Molecular biologist Lee M. Silver Steps Into the DNA Time Machine. For a few hundred bucks and a tube of your own spit, you can now obtain a read-out of “secret histories” embedded in your DNA. Thanks to growing data on the genetics of human populations, the budding field of deep ancestry promises to take your family tree to a whole new level. Could a quick peek at your personal genome reveal that you’re a descendant of Marie Antoinette? Genghis Khan? Charles Darwin? Turn the clock back even further, and you might learn what path your ancient ancestors took as Homo sapiens migrated out of Africa.

Molecular biologist and biotechnology expert Lee M. Silver reveals the surprising tales hidden in his own genome. (For example, did his maternal ancestor really get hot and heavy with a man from another species? Shwing!) And he explores the ethics and anxieties society faces as science makes increasingly dramatic advances in personal genomics.

A professor of molecular biology and public policy at Princeton University, Lee M. Silver is the author of Challenging Nature and Remaking Eden.

Bell House
149 7th Street, between 2nd and 3rd avenues, Brooklyn 7:15p doors, 8p show; $free
718 643 6510
21 and over
secretscienceclub.blogspot.com

XXXXX WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9 XXXXX

Skits'n'tits

Burlesque and comedy show. Jessica Delfino, Diane O'Debra and Steph Sabelli present a terrific night of new skits, comedy, celebrity guests, raffles, give aways, drink specials, and so much fun. This month marks Jessica's birthday, so we're adding cake and shenanigans: At midnight, we're screening Jessica's new fave flick, the Room. Bring plastic spoons (from home or McDonald's please, don't buy them, it's too wasteful) and be prepared to get torn apart.

308 Bowery, Manhattan
10p-late; $8 door
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Room

XXXXX THURSDAY, JUNE 10 XXXXX

Lady From the Sea

My name is Cannon Rose Kearns and I am writing to share some information that may be of interest to Nonsense readers, about a grassroots, experimental theater company that I, in conjunction with eight other artists, am currently in the process of bringing into being. We call our ensemble Saint Jude of the Cats and our aesthetic is shaped by our enthusiasm for mystery, our respect for the intuitive and imaginative aspects of making art. Our inaugural production, Henrik Ibsen's Lady from the Sea, will play at the Brooklyn arts space Chez Bushwick between June 10 and June 12, 2010.

Lady from the Sea is one of its author's least known plays -- also perhaps his weirdest and most Jungian. The tag line we came up with is Ibsen's quirky 1888 drama of necromancy, gender politics, and family dysfunction. Expect live music, and surprises.

Martin D. Anderson is the director. The cast consists of Alice Camarota, Rommel Genciana, Cannon Rose Kearns (me), Tracy Park, Alionka Polanco, David Storck, and Kyle Wood. Jesus Ward is our resident visual artist, and he has incorporated the work of German Expressionist Alfred Kubin into some of the promotional materials. The text we speak is our riff on the 1890 English-language translation of Eleanor Marx-Aveling, now in the public domain.

Chez Bushwick
304 Boerum Street, no. 11, Brooklyn
L train to Morgan Avenue station
8p; $8 advance, $10 door

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

Artists on the Brink Announces New York launch and performance:

New York, Incorporated

New York, Incorporated will be a celebratory event to pay homage to the incredible richness of artistic undertakings within a great metropolis, with a focus on the theme of increased suburbanization and commercialization of the cityscape and the importance of small business and artistic endeavors within this conflicted landscape. New York, Incorporated will feature entrepreneurs, performers, visual artists, and non-profit organizations that enhance the city of New York with creative gestures that prize artesian traditions of hand-crafted and hand-made. And there is no better location for this event than Littlefield, which has emerged as a hot bed of creativity in Brooklyn and as a significant space for up-and-coming performing and visual artists.

The artistic stylings of the artists for the cabaret-style stage performance range from Portuguese Fado music to electronica to improvisational comedy. A small-business market place will feature various entrepreneurs of to culinary treats (Sweet Tallulah), jewelry (Jill Platner), fashion design (Octopi), and handmade body products and soaps (Sopawalla), and a fine arts auction will entice attendees' visual senses. There will also be a unique and tempting raffle that will feature small and local NYC businesses across a variety of genres and services, such BAM, Jo's Restaurant, Area Kids & Spa, and much more!

The mission of Artists on the Brink is to bring together artists to collaborate on joint live productions to raise awareness about matters of consequence and raise funds for local, small-scale not-for-profit organizations that would benefit from targeted grants and publicity.

Littlefield
622 Degraw Street, between 3rd and 4th avenues, Brooklyn 6:30p doors; $12.50-65
203 895 2539
amybarlaggmail.com
littlefieldnyc.com
artistsonthebrink.org

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

Rude Mechanical Orchestra's Newsies Sing-a-Long

We will pay tribute to the newsboys musical classic by screening the film and singing our little hearts out. Come and bring your friends. Especially the ones you maybe knew when you were 10 years old. Cheap delicious drinks and snacks.

First Unitarian Church
50 Monroe Place, between Clark and Pierrepont streets 8p; $5 donation will help the final kick to send the Rude Mechanical Orchestra to the U.S. Social Forum in Detroit.

XXXXX UPCOMING XXXXX

• Splendor in the Green: Fundraiser for Build it Green and Solar One, June 12
• Golden Angel Waltz Orchestra presents the Waltz Ball, June 19
• Beauty and Ruin, June 5
• Winkel and Balktick present Campfire, June 19
• The Golden Angel Waltz Orchestra presents the Waltz Ball, June 19
• Mermaid Parade, June 19
• Lumen, June 26

XXXXX ONGOING XXXXX

Nonsense is too long. The great thing about the internet is that it doesn't really cost much to run long listings and exhaustive descriptions. It turns out that's ... exhausting. After several complaints and a little deliberation, we're trying a new format: On the first Friday of the month we will run updated ongoing listings in each section: events, learning, and help. Other weeks we're going for leaner, meaner sections. If you're desperate for something to do on an off-Tuesday night we suggest you either look back a few issues ago in your inbox, or poke through our online archives, which you can find under the subscribe page.

Also, a note about 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.

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 *****

• Kentler International Drawing Space is looking for a freelance teaching artist/part-time scheduler for our Art Education program. Application deadline is June 15. Contact Mollie McQuarrie, Director K.I.D.S. Art Education, mollie(at)kentlergallery.org.
• Parade with us: Jeremy Danneman's Parade of One is an ongoing project that brings his music to public spaces in post-conflict regions for the purpose of promoting peace and reconciliation. To date, Danneman has performed on the streets in Kigali and other major Rwandan cities. In 2011, the Parade of One will expand to other regions, such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Detroit. Danneman plays sax and clarinet, specializing in improvisation, jazz, world music, and unlikely collaborations. To help bring awareness--and food!--to the streets of Bushwick, Aztec Economy and the Addtract Consortium will be parading with Jeremy through Bushwick on the final day of the Open Studios festival. Think, barbecue on wheels. Think, epic saxophone sailing through the streets of Brooklyn. To join in the fun, meet in the Brooklyn Fireproof yard at 119 Ingraham Street, 1:30p this Sunday, June 5. Any musicians or performers interested in participating should contact Addtract ahead of time: addtract.n cc(at)gmail.com. See: paradeofone.org.

***** SPACES *****

• Sci-Fi Movie Set Available: We are producing a short film that is scheduled to shoot in August at a wonderfully generous warehouse space in Williamsburg. Normally we are daytime players in the commercial world, but are sacrificing a good chunk of our corporate-fueled paychecks to build a beautiful set and shoot this amazing sci-fi short. As it seems popular these days, we're promoting and fundraising a portion of the budget through Kickstarter.com, see: kck.st/bcAqVP. As an added bonus, we'd love to re-use the set for a music video, still photo shoot, or any other type of project as long as the right collaborators cross our path. Contact Jason, jason(at)pharmacyfilms.com.
• Sunny Top Floor Two-Bedroom Apartment in Private Home Available: Bushwick, July 1. The whole top floor of our two-family home in Bushwick is available for $1,450. Sunny, pretty two-bedroom railroad apartment with bonus small bedroom/office. Tall ceilings! Free WiFi, heat, water, gas. It's good for roommates - you don't have to walk through each other's rooms -- but it's perfect for a couple. Close to Myrtle-Wyckoff L/M train, Gates J. Contact Libby, libby(at)nonsensenyc.com.
• $525 per month plus utilities. Loft space for live-work artists. We want the best of both worlds -- a serious and productive work environment and a comfortable home with lots of common living space. We are one 24 year-old ex-boat-captain, sculptor, printmaker, beam wrassler; one 34 year-old puppeteer and poof-magic maker; one 25 year-old milliner and breadmaker with a heart of gold. The apartment is a duplex in an small warehouse building: the upstairs is the "living" floor with an open plan kitchen-living-room, the bottom floor is the studio floor. The bedrooms are all lofted with three-foot five-inch ceilings. We use the studio as a building space, a rehearsal space and have plans to start a performance space and want this to be a space that you would use too. We love having pancake brunches, dancing in the kitchen, watering the roof garden, drinking coffee over the newspaper, supporting each other's art and life. Our house is still evolving and we would love to share it with a new roommate with big ideas, a warm heart and interest in helping to build an awesome home. 1/2 block from JMZ at Myrtle, supermarket and laundry across the street. Contact Robyn: robyn.renee.hasty(at)gmail.com.
• We have a room open immediately. It's a medium-sized (eight by eleven) room in a large four-bedroom apartment. $500 a month. This is on 61st Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenue, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn (not Manhattan). We're two blocks from the 59th Street express stop on the N/R lines. It's a quiet, safe neighborhood, with tree-lined blocks, and mostly family-owned townhouse/brownstone houses. The current lease ends October 31, but there's a decent enough chance we'll continue into 2011 off-lease. We've been here since 2007. First and last month's rent required to move in, $1000 total. We are 27-35, three guys, work in film/archiving, publishing/literature/healthcare, design/coffee, etc. There are two cats in this apartment, which you must like and respect. Please tell us about yourself - your work, studies, hobbies, interests, etc. First/last month's rent needed upfront, $12/internet, $12/gas, $12/electricity. Contact Matt Peterson, mjjvckp(at)gmail.com.
• We have a room available in our eleven-person co-op in Clinton Hill. It's a great house in a great neighborhood, and we welcome someone enthusiastic about sharing it with others. The room is available from June 15 through the end of August - we are flexible on the move-out date. The room is on the small side but decent for NYC (definitely fits a full bed), it has high ceilings (12-foot), a view of the garden, new wood floors, fresh paint, a fire escape and a big closet. The house is four stories, with a big parlor with an awesome living room, a huge backyard where we like to host openings or barbecues, a finished basement that's great for projects, and rooftop access. We are a co-op, so we share righteous food and cook a lot together, do chores, and help each other out with building projects and throwing great parties (in-house or elsewhere). Everyone is very supportive of each other. Some of us work in non-profits, some work with other housing or food co-ops, we have a bik e mechanic, people work in wine, education, architecture, rock & roll, programming, filmmaking, etc. We are nerd- and queer-friendly and non-discriminatory, and vegetarianism is a plus. We have three cats and a fish. The closest subway is the Clinton-Washington G, and the A/C are a 12-minute walk away. Buses run frequently on Flushing and Vanderbilt, and the 2/3/4/5/B/M/Q/R are not far. The room is $600/month; upon moving in, we require a member share deposit of $650 which will be returned to you at the end of your stay less damages, a $50 joining fee to go toward our initial investment (we moved in April 15), and $100 a month for our shared food and bills (including CSA shares, bulk orders, electric, gas and wireless internet). It works out great: we tend to cook plenty of food for everyone, plus leftovers if you want to bring your own lunch. Everyone cooks really nice food, too. Contact John Balliet, j.d.balliet(at)gmail.com.

XXXXX SPECTRE PRIORITY XXXXX

Before we had a name, the Spectre Event Horizon Group used to meet at a bar to commiserate and trade what our business friends like to call best practices. The group has expanded since then, but it remains focused on smartening the crowd mind. There are no subject limits; our favorite is the incredible sci-fi present, or anything that goes toward a better understanding of human behavior and our universe's ecology. Our simple intent is to connect good minds with as much quality mind-blowing information as we can freely locate 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. The list is compiled for Nonsense by J. Sinopoli. Contact us at spectre.event.horizon.group gmail com or spectregroup.org. Here's some of what came in this week:

***** No Seriously *****

http://spectregroup.wordpress.com/2010/06/04/no-seriously/

Exopolitics (n. The art or science of government as concerned with creating/influencing policy toward extraterrestrial beings.) disclosureproject.org/
extracampaign.org/
bluebookarchive.org/

As In: Are State Secrets Safe From Telepathy? newsru.com/russia/04may2010/uno_top_secret.html news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8662822.stm
trueslant.com/juliaioffe/2010/05/05/serious-allegations-kalmyk-governor-leaks-classified-information-to-humanoid-aliens/ "A Russian MP has asked President Dmitry Medvedev to investigate claims by a regional president that he has met aliens on board a spaceship. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the leader of the southern region of Kalmykia, made his claim in a television interview. MP Andre Lebedev is not just asking whether Mr Ilyumzhinov is fit to govern. He is also concerned that, if he was abducted, he may have revealed details about his job and state secrets. The MP has written a letter to Mr Medvedev raising a list of his concerns. In his letter he says that - assuming the whole thing was not just a bad joke - it was an historic event and should have been reported to the Kremlin. He also asks if there are official guidelines for what government officials should do if contacted by aliens, especially if those officials have access to state secrets. During the interview, Ilyumzhinov openly discussed his 1997 encounter with benevolent aliens: he came home to his Moscow apartment, watched some TV, read a bi t, and drifted off to sleep. Mid-drift, he heard the balcony door open. Then someone called to him. Ilyumzhinov went to check it out, only to discover a hovering transparent tube, which he, naturally, entered. Inside, humanoids in yellow spacesuits awaited him. They had a pleasant talk, which occurred on the level of mindwaves because, Ilyumzhinov said, “there wasn’t quite enough oxygen.” The humanoids, who were friendly, told Ilyumzhinov that they were not yet ready for direct contact with human humans. Instead, they gave him a tour of the ship and sent him on his way. Lebedev wants to know, did Ilyumzhinov let the President know about his contacts with such beings? And, while we’re at it, “who else among the governors of the Russian Federations, members of the government, and other federal civil servants is communicating with aliens?” “Dmitry Anatolyevich,” Lebedev wrote, addressing the Medvedev by his patronymic, “you will agree that, unless Ilyumzhinov is bluffing, then this information is historically significant. If possible, I ask you to brief the deputies of the Federal Duma about your conclusions.” Medvedev has yet to respond."

Need to Know
presidentialufo.com/
technorati.com/technology/article/researcher-grant-cameron-talks-mcelroy-research/ "Canadian UFO researcher Grant Cameron runs the web site Presidential UFO, where he makes the case that various presidential administrations have shown either interest in, or some involvement with, UFO phenomena. He’s also responsible for obtaining the 1,000-page stack of documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that X-Conference organizer Stephen Bassett says “completely confirm” that billionaire Laurance Rockefeller met with both Bill and Hillary Clinton to discuss ending the United States government’s UFO “truth embargo.”

the Disclosure Project
youtube.com/watch#!v=7vyVe-6YdUk
youtube.com/user/DisclosureLobby
disclosureproject.org/docgallery.shtml

Hawking : 'Think of Columbus, and How Well That Turned Out' timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/space/article7107207.ece "Stephen Hawking has suggested that extraterrestrials are almost certain to exist — but that instead of seeking them out, humanity should be doing all it that can to avoid any contact. Hawking believes that contact with such a species could be devastating for humanity. He suggests that aliens might simply raid Earth for its resources and then move on: “We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet. I imagine they might exist in massive ships, having used up all the resources from their home planet. Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonise whatever planets they can reach.” He concludes that trying to make contact with alien races is “a little too risky”. He said: “If aliens ever visit us, I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.”

Political Will
aolnews.com/weird-news/article/exopoliticians-say-governments-must-start-planning-for-alien-visits/19456520 "According to Salla, the issues include deciding how the alien presence will be announced (he advocates announcing the presence of microbes and working up to more sentient beings), and who will be in control -- a secret committee or a corporate entity. Of course, another big issue is determining the protocol for contact between humans and aliens, lest either side be exposed to strange viruses, a Romeo and Juliet situation between Martians and Earthlings -- or worse. "A big question is how will humans interact with aliens," Salla said. "If someone is threatened by one, will they take a shot at them while driving by? And, if so, will this be as illegal as shooting a human?" Luckily, for Salla and the others in this pioneering form of paranormal political science, they aren't the only ones asking these questions. "In the last six months, both the Vatican and the Royal Society of London have held astrobiological conferences studying the implications of life found on other worlds, " he said. Other exopoliticians, like political activist Stephen Bassett, believe that the governments of the world -- especially the United States -- don't want to give such a momentous announcement to the U.N. Although Bassett believes any such announcement would be made by one nation, Webre says he and other exopoliticians have been talking with members of the U.N. General Assembly regarding U.N. Resolution 33/426, which is a proposal to set up a Department of Extraterrestrials Affairs. Salla says the extreme divide between cynics like Hawking and optimists like the Vatican, which has declared that God may have created theologically minded beings on other planets besides Earth, is OK, just as long as the debate is happening. "While one can heartily disagree with Hawking's public policy recommendation of ignoring intelligent alien life, he is to be congratulated for elevating exopolitical study as a 'perfectly rational' discussion," Salla said.

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 listing suggestions, announcements, and corrections to her at libby(at)nonsensenyc.com.

***** LEARNING: FRIDAY *****

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Tour

Come enjoy the beginning of the summer foliage bloom on a lovely tour of the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. A trained tour guide will show you the ins and outs of this splendid place, which is celebrating its 100th year. A portion of all ticket proceeds goes directly to the maintenance of the gardens.

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn
9p; $5
bklynevents.com

***** LEARNING: FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY *****

Free African Dance

Trial dance classes through Monday with Djoniba for new students. Go to the website for the free coupon.

Peridance Capezio
126 East 13th Street, Manhattan
Various times; $free
djoniba.com for coupon

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

Make Your Own Absinthe

Up there with vibrators and bicycles, here’s another 19th-century fad too good to fade back into history. Build your fin de siecle street cred by learning to brew the infamous green spirit at home with almost no special equipment. We’ll talk about how to source or grow your own ingredients, flavoring, purifying your finished product, and tasting. You will emerge from the second session with a bottle of finished absinthe made by you.

Madagascar Institute
217 Butler Street, Brooklyn
Two Saturdays, 2-3:30p; $35 members, $55 nonmembers (including materials) Register: madagascarinstitute.com

***** LEARNING: Also on SATURDAY *****

DIY Urban Agriculture Workshop

A hands-on urban agriculture workshop with hosts DoTank Brooklyn. From worms to seed bombs to vertical, hydroponic, modular, low-energy, high-yield edible window farms, you'll gain new tools to help you engage in and enhance your urban environment. Bring curiosity, cameras, and something to write on.

The Change You Want to See Gallery
84 Havemeyer Street, Williamsburg
1-3p; $15 entry to cover materials
RSVP: thechangeyouwanttosee.org

***** LEARNING: Also on SATURDAY *****

Family Day: Fantastic Felt

At the next Family Day workshop, come experience the bright and fantastic art material of felt. Participants will be guided with examples of what can be made with felt and be encouraged to create anything they wish. Inspired by artwork in BRIC’s annual exhibition of student artwork made through our in-school contemporary art education program. This free, drop-in event is appropriate for all ages. Led by Angela Earley, a professional artist and educator.

BRIC Rotunda Gallery
33 Clinton Street, Brooklyn
Noon-3p; $free
718-875-4047
bricartsmedia.org/contemporary-art/

***** LEARNING: Also on SATURDAY *****

Chinese Brush Painting

Nature is the theme. Simplicity is the key. With a bamboo brush, Chinese ink, and rice paper, learn the picturesque origins of Chinese characters. Get individual instruction in this ancient artform, and develop your own style. All levels welcome. Materials fee includes inks, brushes, and rice paper.

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
1000 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn
8 Saturdays: June 5 to August 7 (except July 3) 3–6p; with materials: $251 member, $271 nonmember bbg.org/learn/classes/

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

Three-Class African Dance and Drum Sampler

Head up Nyack an afternoon of the drum and dance of Mali and Guinea! Sory Diabate, Lauren Camara, and Youssouf Koumbassa will lead us in three sampler classes. All are welcome to join in for as much or as little as you wish. These styles are all traditionally done outdoors, so it will be a special treat and a dose of authenticity. (NOTE: There is no rain date so let's all hope for good weather.). Classes will held in Memorial Park, overlooking the Hudson River. Please bring drums, sunglasses, sunscreen, hats, water and anything else you may need. Chairs will be provided.

Memorial Park, Nyack
1-4p; $free (donations welcome)
Info and updates: spagecook(at)mac.com
718-781-2867

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

Free Children's Book Writing Class

Gotham Writers' Writers Workshop presents this free class on writing for children, led by Michael Leviton.

McNally Jackson Books
52 Prince Street, Manhattan
6-7p; $free
writingclasses.com/communityevents/index.php

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

Butch Burlesque

Victoria Libertore leads a six-week burlesque workshop for self-identified butch women. You will build a three- to five-minute performance piece incorporating a strip tease that reflects your individual attributes. Create a masculine strip tease or go to the complete other realm and do something crazy feminine or maybe totally in drag or incredibly androgynous. Or perhaps your piece has nothing to do with gender at all. Anything goes. Using my original archetypal energy work (combining tools of physical theater, archetypal energy, intuition, character exploration, and imagery), you create a performance piece, get feedback, and learn how to further develop the piece. You then perform the piece in class—and onstage if you like at Dixon Place's HOT! Festival in July). Performance experience is not required. Note: Portions of the workshop are being filmed for a short film about the workshop process. Participants must be OK with being in the film, though not everything will be f ilmed.

Studios 353
353 W. 48th Street, second floor, Manhattan Mondays, June 7 to July 12
7-10p; $300 ($250 for past participants of Victoria's workshops) howlingvic.com

***** LEARNING: Also on MONDAY *****

Dumplings

Marja Samsom, the Dumpling Diva herself, teaches how to create the best dumplings ever.

Building on Bond
112 Bond Street, Brooklyn
347-853-8687
dumplingonbond(at)gmail.com

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

Barefoot Running Clinic

Michael Sandler, author of "Barefoot Running," leads this seminar. Wear your barefeet or your Vibram Five Fingers. (Beforehand, at 4p, a group of barefoot running enthusiasts are meeting for $3 drinks and $1 empanadas at Havana Central at Broadway and 114th Street.)

Central Park
South end of Great Lawn, Manhattan
81st Street entrance
6:30p (4p for drinks, food; see note above) mrapoza(at)gmail.com

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

Intro to Guerilla Language

This workshop is for those interested in picking up languages and becoming more multilingual. It is designed for reconsidering language learning as a thing in itself, and applying that awareness to the languages that interest us. Whatever language you choose to speak, come to the workshop designed to heighten your Language IQ.

Simple Studios
134 West 29th, Floor 2, Manhattan
7:30-9:30p; $?
212-273-9696
simplestudiosnyc.com
facebook.com/event.php?eid=108887565823815

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

Beginner Poker/Texas Hold 'Em, 751 President Street, #4, Park Slope. Friday, June 11, 7p; $10. bklynevents.com

***** LEARNING: NOTICE *****

What is your dream class? There's a new intergenerational free school coming to Greenpoint in July. School of the Future is a project about what a school can be. From solar-powered lighting to a giant Scrabble board, giant Tyvek mountains and experimental food sculptures, the School of the Future is an invitation to experiment and analyze learning through the arts. Submit your requests now for the types of classes you'd like to see this school offer, at schoolofthefuture.org

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

NOTE: The Ongoing section of LEARNING runs only on the first Friday of each month.

BODY

• Free West African Dance at Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy. Brooklyn. Saturdays through June 5 at 7:45-9:15a. $free. RSVP: arts(at)ifetayo.org
• Free African dance classes with Sandella at Booker T. Washington Middle School gym. Manhattan. Fridays through June 18; 6:30-8p. $free. 212-942-3566. (Class airs Wednesdays 2p on Time Warner Channel 56.)
• HoopSkool. Manhattan. Various days, times. facebook.com/event.php?eid=100811513299543
• Tao Yoga and Tsa Lung (The Shamanic Yoga of Zhang Zhung) led by Lama Ji at Surreal Estate. Brooklyn. Tao Yoga Saturdays at 10a; Tsa Lung Tuesdays at 5:30p. $donation. surrealestatenyc(at)gmail.com
• Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu at Triskelion Arts. Brooklyn. Training is centered on jissen gata combat fighting. Membership is selective, but you may attend the first class free. Saturdays 5-7p, Sundays 2–4p. triskelionarts.org/events.htm#classesoffered
• Afro-Haitian dance with Julio Jean at Ripley-Grier Studios. Manhattan. Saturdays 6-7:30p. $10. jeanjulio(at)gmail.com
• Haitian, African, Afro-Caribbean, Samba dance and much more at the new Djoniba Dance and Drum Center. Manhattan. Daily, various times. $17. djoniba.com
• Flirting with Burlesque at the School of Burlesque. Manhattan. Thursdays 7-8p. $15. schoolofburlesque.com
• Tribal Fusion bellydance class with Fayzah at Battery Dance Studios. Manhattan. Tuesdays 5:30-7p. $20. dancespiral.com or fayzahfire(at)gmail.com
• Contemporary dance, hip-hop, belly dance, and much more at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation. Brooklyn. Various days and times. $10+. 718-636-696
• Congolese dance with Funmilayo at Resurgent Fitness, Brooklyn, Wednesdays 6:30-8p; at Boy's Harbor Conservatory, Manhattan, Thursdays 7:30-9p; and at Alvin Ailey Extension, Manhattan, Sundays 4:30-6p. $varies. fushadance(at)aol.com or krosebud14(at)hotmail.com
• Open company class with Perceptions Contemporary Dance Company, intermediate/advanced. Brooklyn. Thursdays 5-6:15p. $12. RSVP at perceptionsdance.com.
• Balkan folk dance at the Hungarian House. Manhattan. Wednesdays 6:30-8p; $12. nycfolkdance.org
• Introduction to House Dance with Linda La Naija at Black River Dance. Harlem. Fridays 6-7:30p; $14. blackriverdance.com
• The Art of the Samurai Sword with Raab Rashi at The Workman’s Circle/NYR Studios. Manhattan. Thursdays 6-7p; $free intro lesson, $15 beyond. swordclass.blogspot.com
• Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art and dance, with Capoeira Angola Quintal. Manhattan. Various days; $15. afrobrazilarts.org/newyorkcapoeira/index.htm
• Parkour workshops. Manhattan. Sundays 4p; $15+. nyparkour.com
• Aerial classes (silks, trapeze, lyra, pole dance, ballet) at the Sky Box at House of Yes. Brooklyn. Monday through Saturday; $15. theskybox.org/classes
• Aerial yoga. Manhattan and Williamsburg. Various days; $20. aerialyoga.com
• Group tightwire walking, foot-juggling, and more at Trapeze Loft. Williamsburg. Sundays 5-6p; $25. thetrapezeloft.com
• Trampoline at Streb Lab for Action Mechanics. Brooklyn. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays 7-8:30p; $25. streb.org/V2/school/adults.html
• Co-ed nonsexual naked yoga. Manhattan. Various days; $?. groups.yahoo.com/group/coyoga/

BRAIN

• Free Hacker Helpline from Eric Singer of LEMUR (lemurbots.org) to answer your questions about projects, electronics, software, robotics, physical computing, Max/MSP, etc. For help, open Skype, add contact "hackerhelpline," and go to the Mood section to see dates and hours. e(at)ericsinger.com
• Free open craft/hack nights at NYC Resistor. Brooklyn. Thursdays 6-9p; $free. nycresistor.com/2008/11/22/open-craft-hack-nights-on-thursdays/
• Free math studies at the School of Mathematics, which cultivates a natural, stress-free environment where everyone can explore, study, and discover mathematics. Prior knowledge is not assumed. Brooklyn. Various days; $free. thewe.net/math
• Writing with constraints at the Writhings Society. Practice writing with arbitrary, sometimes mathematical, rules invented by the French group Oulipo and others; no experience necessary. Brooklyn. Wednesdays 6:30-8:30p; $5+. proteusgowanus.com
• Study Hall (a workplace for writers and thinkers) at Proteus Gowanus. Brooklyn. Mondays through Fridays, 10a-5p. $50 a month, includes free WiFi, free coffee, and free home-baked bread. proteusgowanus.com

HANDS

• Assorted artstar classes at the Madagascar Institute! Brooklyn. Various times; great prices. madagascarinstitute.com
• Free Make-A-Bot Mondays at Alpha One Labs. Brooklyn. Mondays 8p; $free. psytek(at)alphaonelabs.com, alphaonelabs.com
• Free casual ladies bike repair workshop at Velo Brooklyn. Bushwick. Saturdays 4-6p; $free. marin.tockman(at)gmail.com
• Free Craft-On (fun with yarn, thread, and more) with Church of Craft. Brooklyn. Sundays at Etsy Labs and various weekdays at SpaceCraft; $free. churchofcraft.org/2008/10/01/welcome-nyc-crafters/
• Free bicycle repair classes at Time's Up! Manhattan and Brooklyn. Various days. $free. times-up.org/index.php?page=bike-co-op
• Free home-improvement classes, from tiling to drywall repair, at Home Depot stores. Saturdays and Sundays; $free. homeimproverclub.com/workshops.aspx?Type=3
• The Fixers Collective is a social experiment in improvisational fixing and mending. Participants bring their broken objects and put them on a large, common fixing table and share ideas and techniques for repairing, mending, enhancing, or repurposing the objects. Brooklyn. Thursdays 6-9p; $5. proteusgowanus.com/main/fixers-collective
• Figure drawing at Brooklyn Artists Gym. Mondays 6:30-9:30p and Saturdays 12-3p; $8-plus. brooklynartistsgym.com/events.html#workshops
• Guinean Rhythms drum class with Ibrahima Kolipe Camara at Chelsea Studios. Please bring a drum. Manhattan. Fridays, 6:30-7:30p. $15. kolipe81(at)yahoo.com; 646-897-2293
• Beading classes at Brooklyn Bead Box. Various days; $varies. brooklynbeadbox.com/classes.html
• Classes in the needle arts at Brooklyn General Store. Various days; $varies. brooklyngeneral.com/shop/classes/
• Knitting and spinning classes at the Yarn Tree. Various days; $varies. theyarntree.com/studio/classes/
• Mosaic workshops. Manhattan. Wednesdays 1-4p and 6-9p; $100 for four-class workshop. newyorkartworld.com/things/things-mosaic.html
• Wheel and handbuilding classes at La Mano Pottery. Manhattan. Various days; $300 for eight-week class. lamanopottery.com
• Studio Sundays: Intergenerational Programs at Museum of Arts & Design. Manhattan. Sundays 2-4p. $10 (includes admission and materials) 212-956-3535.madmuseum.org
• Females-only African drum class at Oduduwa Cultural Arts Center. Jamaica, Queens. Sundays 11a-noon. $10. balletintlafricans.com

GRAB BAG

• 3rd Ward offers multi- and interdisciplinary courses in visual art, technology, and fabrication. Various days; $varies. 3rdward.com/classes
• Gearilla!, a street theater workshop (on bikes). Various locations. Tuesdays 2p; $10-plus. monicahunken.com/classes.html
• Creative arts classes at Spoke the Hub. Brooklyn. Various days; $varies. spokethehub.org
• First aid for cats and dogs. Manhattan. Saturdays 10-2p; $65 (if purchased online). nyredcross.org/viewclass.php/prmCID/32/month/08/year/2009

XXXXX HELP XXXXX

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

***** HELP: SATURDAY *****

Garden Party Day

Have a green thumb? Join the Institute for Community Living at our Annual Gardening event in Brooklyn. Enjoy food, dance, and artwork, come plant in our garden.

bit.ly/9r3jan

***** HELP: SATURDAY to MONDAY *****

Bushwick Open Studios

Arts in Bushwick seeks videographers, editors and motion graphic artists for our video team. Whether you have a hour to shoot or want to be a lead editor, we'd love to have you. The video team will be working together before, during, and after Bushwick Open Studios to create street documentation, interview artists, and otherwise capture the festival on film. SD, HD, and DSLR with video capabilities welcome. All videos will be used to showcase the creative and diverse artists of Bushwick Open Studios. E-mail Ben if you’re interested.

Ben, benjberlin(at)gmail.com

***** HELP: TUESDAY *****

Sounding Off For a Cure

Voices Against Brain Cancer will hold our annual fundraising gala, Sounding Off For a Cure, on the 8th at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. Join us for an exciting evening of fine samplings from restaurants and spirit companies in New York City, great music, a live and silent auction, and an elaborate sweepstakes. Funds raised from this event will go towards VABC's mission to find a cure for brain cancer by advancing scientific research, increasing awareness within the medical community and supporting patients and families afflicted with the devastating disease.

This event would not be possible without the help of volunteers. Volunteers are needed to help with registration, sweep stakes and overseeing the silent auction. If you are interested in volunteering at the event, please contact Emily with time(s) you are available.

1375 Broadway, Third Floor, Manhattan
5:30-11p
Emily, emily(at)poweredbyprofessionals.com bit.ly/bKrguV

***** HELP: deadline extended to JUNE 8 *****

Logo Design

The 4th Street Food Co-op comprises a community of people who care about food and its production. The completely vegetarian member-run food co-op (the only one in Manhattan) offers healthy, high-quality and ethically-produced food. Fresh produce, bulk and packaged goods and many locally produced items (produce, grains, beans) are available for purchase to the public. Products are organic or better, and we avoid buying from transnational corporations. As a non-profit co-op, we can offer some of the most competitive prices in the area.

We’re having a design competition for a new logo for the co-op. Anyone may submit a logo, and multiple submissions/variations are permitted. E-mail for a design brief with all the details. The winner gets $250 cash or the equivalent in membership dues.

social(at)4thstreetfoodcoop.org
bit.ly/9BCzKr

***** HELP: THURSDAY *****

Clowns Needed

Learning Leaders, a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, screens, and supports over 10,000 volunteers in 800 New York City pubic schools seeks volunteer clowns to perform at an upcoming family event. The event is geared for volunteers and their children.

Clowns will be assigned a book from a variety of children’s books, then will read their assigned book and perform as the book is being read by someone else. Volunteers may be required to participate in an orientation session.

80 Maiden Lane, Manhattan
10:30a-noon
646 519 8354
ajordan(at)learningleaders.org.

***** HELP: THURSDAY *****

Market Hotel Project

Join in this new initiative to create a sustainable, all ages, open-to-the-community, 7-nights-a-week home for independent music and art in the Market Hotel space. Recent developments include that the project is now certified as a limited liability corporation, and the next step is to full 501(c) non-profit status. Next in the code compliance process are architectural renderings and plans submissions towards beginning building upgrades and obtaining a "Place of Assembly" permit. The first grant application has been submitted, to the Metlife Foundation / Ford Foundation / LINC jointly offered "Space for Change: Building Communities Through Innovative Art Spaces" grant, so now we need to fine tune the language of this grant, and apply for more.

Our next project meeting is this coming Thursday, and a perfect time for you to get involved in any and all aspects of the project, so think about coming by, or write to us with ideas for help.

Market Hotel
957 Broadway, Brooklyn
8p
markethotelproject(at)gmail.com

***** HELP: THURSDAY to the following SUNDAY (6/13) *****

The Queens Art Express 2010

Queens Council on the Arts is pleased to present the return of the Queens Art Express in 2010. Now in its second year, this upcoming spring festival will feature performances, exhibitions, art events and great places to eat in the unique cultural communities along the route of the No. 7 train.

Join our team and volunteer; receive a T-shirt and become a very important part of a fun weekend that takes guests from Long Island City to Flushing with plenty to do along the way. Assignments based on interests and schedules.

queensartexpress.com
http://bit.ly/bNy2xQ

***** HELP: SOON *****

Volunteer at the New Paltz Hostel

The New Paltz Hostel is nestled in the heart of the Mid-Hudson Valley, an area that is both rich in beauty and culturally unique. Our aim is to provide a welcome retreat from the usual hustle and bustle of "modern" life in an environment that is not only warmly comfortable, but economical and family-friendly as well.

Please call for more information on living and volunteering - including general work around the hostel, cleaning, greeting guests, reservations - at the hostel.

845 255 6676
newpaltzhostel.com

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

• Until June 15 and on June 22. Yoga at the Great Lawn - Karma Crew. On June 22, 2010, Flavorpill will host the world’s largest yoga event ever as 10,000 people of all backgrounds, sizes, and skill levels will simultaneously practice on the Great Lawn in Central Park, NYC. We are seeking over 100 volunteers to distribute flyers between now and June 15th and support the event on June 22nd from 3-7p. Volunteers will arrange mats on a massive grid, check in participants at the entrance, and usher individuals and groups to their practice location. All volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in class from 7-8:15p. To get involved as a volunteer and earn a guaranteed ticket, a free week of classes at YogaWorks, and a whole lot of good karma please e-mail: volunteer(at)flavorpill.com.
• June 18-27. BoCoCa Arts Festival. Volunteers needed for the box office, postering, venue managing, and more. There will be a mandatory training session prior to the festival, and you get free access to all festival shows and our lifetime gratitude. bococaartsfestival.com/InKindSupport.php
• June 19 and 20. Outdoor Nation. The Outdoor Nation Youth summit is an opportunity to connect students with the national conversation about protecting our environment and increasing outdoor opportunities. We are looking for volunteers who are able to help out during this monumental event. This ground-breaking event will harness the passion, energy and ideas of over 500 youth ages 18-30 who will work together to develop a national agenda, set priorities and outline strategies and solutions to champion the outdoors. Please e-mail me with your availability and refer this opportunity to your friends and colleagues. bit.ly/c2bMhc
• June 21. InterActive Music New York. IAMNY! is a unique program of interactive music performances and outdoor installations to be held on Monday June 21, 2010 as part of the fourth annual Make Music New York. IAMNY! will unfold as a walking tour of public sites in the Meatpacking district on 9th Avenue between Gansevoort and 14th Street. On two stage areas, artists and their instruments will present original compositions that interact with the audience, the immediate environment, or with various forms of technology to deliver a dynamic and spontaneous musical experience. We are currently seeking a small number of volunteers to help put on during the day of the program. If you are interested please contact Ken Umezaki, at kumezaki(at)nyc.rr.com, or 646-509-6861. bit.ly/92jLWS
• June 26. American Diabetes Association’s NYC Tour de Cure. The Tour is a ride, not a race, with routes designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist. Whether participants ride the 15 miles or 100 miles, they will travel a route supported from start to finish with rest stops, food to fuel the journey and fans to cheer them on. Help the American Diabetes Association make this experience the best it can possibly be by volunteering - volunteers needed for route marking, set up, breakdown, working the rest stops and more. If interested, please fill out a volunteer form: bit.ly/8CNKZe
• June 27. Gay Pride March -- Anti-circumcision. Are you against infant circumcision? If so, we need your help: Volunteers are needed to join Intact America in marching in the 41st Annual Gay Pride March, which will take place on Sunday, June 27, 2010 in New York City. The parade route runs down 5th Avenue, through Greenwich Village and into the West Village. We’ll be carrying banners and posters, and handing out literature to spectators that dispels the myths of circumcision and explains the sensory and protective functions of the foreskin. It will be a great opportunity to communicate a pro-foreskin, anti-circumcision message to New Yorkers. Anyone is welcome to join us for all or part of the march. No experience is necessary. Please email Julia at genitalintegrity(at)gmail.com if interested. intactamerica.org
• Tape somethin’ for me? http://bit.ly/cMpjCH Or be my personal scream-assistant? http://bit.ly/diu4sb

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

SOCIAL

• Street Project: Serve at the University Soup Kitchen, Saturdays from 11:45a - 3:30p. streetproject.org/eventarchive.php
• St. John's Bread and Life: Help with the Soup Kitchen, Mobile Soup Kitchen, or Food Pantry. breadandlife.org/volunteer.htm
• GiveGoodGet Project: Recognize people doing good for their community. facebook.com/givegoodget
• GALLOP: Therapeutic riding program for individuals with diabilities. gallopnyc.org
• RightRides and SafeWalk: Late night rides - help to increase safety in our communities. rightrides.org
• The Fortune Society: Volunteer to teach reading, writing and math to former prisoners and young people facing prison time. 212 691 7554 x250 or fortunesociety.org
• Samitarians: Volunteer for a suicide-prevention hotline. samaritansnyc.org/volunt.html
• The Rock Dove Project: Connects health care practitioners who offer cheap/free services with seekers of those services. rockdovecollective.org/project
• New York Cares: Attend an orientation to learn about volunteer opportunities. www.newyorkcares.org/volunteer
• Books Through Bars: Sends books to prisoners all over the country. Mondays and Thursdays 7:30-9:30p and Sundays 5-8p. abcnorio.org/affiliated/btb.html
• Food not Bombs: Serves vegan food in Tompkins Sq Park. Sundays 1p on. abcnorio.org/affiliated/fnb.html
• Volunteer Referral Center: Get your interests, skills, and schedule availability matched with a non-profit organization that needs your help, for free. volunteer-referral.org
• City Harvest: Help feed the homeless by volunteering at a special event. cityharvest.org
• Housing Works: Provides housing for individuals affected by HIV and AIDS. Volunteers of all types needed. housingworks.org
• Helping Hands for the Disabled. Volunteer for a special event, read to a blind person over the phone. 718-728-0868
• New York Road Runners: Work with kids, help out at a race, and more. volunteers.nyrr.org
• Computers for Youth: Help this organization increase the educational resources available to low-income youth. cfy.org
• El Museo del Barrio: Help this Latino cultural institution with one of their many awesome events. bit.ly/4U1UG6, elmuseo.org
• National Language Service Corps: Use your language skills to help others. nlscorps.org
• Domes for Haiti. Help this grassroots org build geodesic domes. domesforhaiti.org

CREATIVE

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

POLITICAL

• Transportation Alternatives: Biking, walking, and public transit advocacy. Office volunteers needed. elena(at)transalt.org or transalt.org
• lowercased democrats: Design a citywide public meeting house, support a petition drive. lowercased.org

ENVIRONMENTAL

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

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Reading the Inferno in an elevator shafts.