Ghosts are probably feeling not too thrilled lately. They’ve gone from being known for being spooky spirits to being associated with the kind of people who just stop texting you out of nowhere, which I can’t imagine feels great. Furthering this ghosting narrative (but in a fun way) is Savannah DesOrmeaux’s Ghost Town, a comedy show about dating, and of course, ghosting. It mostly functions as a typical stand-up show, but the host will also choose one comedian from the lineup to divulge their own experiences with being ghosted. This month, the candidates include Natasha Vaynblat, Chike Robinson, Jenny Gorelick, Kelsey Caine, Marie Faustin, and Shannon Coffey.
Delirious Cities Opening Thursday, July 25 at Aperture Foundation, 7 pm to 8:30 pm. On view through August 29.
The theme for this year’s Aperture Summer Open exhibition is all about cities, as you may have guessed, but specifically, it’s about ways to use the photographic image to illustrate the ways in which a city is diverse. Featuring 23 artists from around the world, the spread of photos predictably runs the gamut. Using their lenses and more, these photographers reveal the many types of people, religions, outfits, urban design schemes, food, and even animals that can be found in various urban centers worldwide. Hey, it’s cheaper than a plane ticket.
The Mx. Nobody Pageant Presents: NOPE Friday, July 19 at The Vault in Brooklyn, 11 pm: $5
Descend into the dark depths of basement venue The Vault in Brooklyn (formerly known as Tilt) tonight, and you’ll find a night of merriment presented by The Nobodies, a drag collective that often dabbles in inclusive pageantry and also, wrestling. Tonight, they’re throwing a show and party with drag and burlesque acts by Emi Grate, Sweaty Eddie, Qualms Galore, plus host Ariel Italic and tunes from DJ Accident Report. Expect acts that are weird and attention-grabbing, and if the heat is making you want to stay in and veg out, know that this starts at 11 pm, a time when the cursed sun will definitely not be out.
Collin van der Sluijs, New Life, 12.6 x 9.4 in (image courtesy of Sugarlift)
Mother and Child Vol. II Opening Monday, July 15 at 198 Allen Street, 6 pm to 9 pm. One night only.
If you’ve as much as glanced at the news lately, you probably know we have a problem, the kind of problem that involves both children and adults being mistreated and kept in literal cages as politicians essentially look the other way. There are many ways to at least attempt to fight back against this barrage of injustice, one of which is through art. Tonight in the Lower East Side, Colossal and Sugarlift will be presenting a group art show featuring over 50 artists exhibiting works themed around the subject of family. Everything will be for sale (prices start at $100 and go up from there), with 100% of the proceeds will be donated to immigrant right organizations The Young Center, Kids in Need of Defense, and The Florence Project.
A cheesy, tomato-y pie can be yours for the nice price of free this weekend, when “fast-fine” Neapolitan pizza chain MidiCi opens their first New York location in Williamsburg this Saturday.
U Up? Wednesday, July 10 at The Corners, 8:30 pm: FREE
While I want to say I haven’t sent a “u up” text, a brief moment of rumination on my college days makes me think that is probably not true. Thankfully, this monthly comedy show hosted by Youngmi Mayer and Blair Dawson starts at 8:30 pm, an hour when most people are probably up, so if you want to bring someone you can just text them some other kind of less embarrassing thing. Whether you go alone or with a pal of sorts, you can expect stand-up by Aparna Nancherla, Andrés Govea, Alex English, Atheer Yacoub, Andrew Casertano, and Olga Namer, who happens to be the only one on this lineup who doesn’t have a name that begins with A.
African Spirits Opening Thursday, July 11 at Yossi Milo Gallery, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. On view through August 23.
Your standard art history education tends to stay pretty Eurocentric, so some people might not know that portrait photography has had quite a heyday in Africa, dating back to the early 1900s, when both European visitors and African locals experimented more and more with the form. The 1950s through the 1980s were considered the “golden age” of portraiture in West Africa, and images from this time will be showcased in a new group exhibition at Chelsea’s Yossi Milo Gallery, which range from staged studio imagery to more candid nightlife captures. These photos will be displayed alongside works from more contemporary photographers of all stripes.
July 4th weekend tends to come with less events happening than usual, but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of quality fun to be had between the days of July 5 and 8. The night after the 4th, you can finish digesting all those processed meats at Cry Baby, a recurring comedy show and party in a DIY Bushwick venue hosted by performers Dekunle Somade and Abe Gatling. It also has iterations in DC and Philadelphia, in case you want to become a comedy show’s groupie. The latest Brooklyn edition features Sydnee Washington, Shane Torres, Devon Walker, Sam Evans, Chanel Ali, and Pockets Graham.
SATURDAY
(image courtesy of Ethan Beach and Josh Nasser)
Oh, Such A Huge Show, Oh! Saturday, July 6 at The Bell House, 7 pm: $18 advance, $23 day of show
As you might have gleaned from the title, Josh Nasser and Ethan Beach’s Oh, Such A Huge Show, Oh! is in fact a big show with a long, hefty lineup, and the proceeds will be going to The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights. Long lineups can become dreary over time, but this one is too jam-packed with fun and talent to feel that way. A taste of the performers that await: The Lucas Bros, Ziwe Fumudoh, Conner O’Malley, Ana Fabrega, Anna Drezen, Emmy Blotnick, Josh Sharp, and even more.
SUNDAY
(image via The Nobodies / Facebook)
Get Your Panties In A Brunch Sunday, July 7 at Dromedary Bar, 1 pm: FREE
Brunch can feel like an event in and of itself, but if eating eggs while calculating how many mimosas you can down before your bottomless time runs out isn’t enough for you, there’s a way to make brunch feel even more like a show. Enter drag brunch, where (you guessed it) drag performers strut their stuff right before your hungry eyes. There are several drag brunches out there to choose from, but a solid one in North Brooklyn can be found at tiki bar Dromedary, where the drag-collective-with-a-penchant-for-wrestling The Nobodies take over every Sunday. Expect a rotating cast that includes Emi Grate, Lady Beatrice Andrews, Ariel Italic, and Blvck Laé D.
Miss Meatface Opening Tuesday, July 2 at The Untitled Space, 6 pm to 9 pm. On view through July 13.
No, “Miss Meatface” does not refer to the latest right-wing woman to adopt the “carnivore diet,” that frightening all-beef culinary regime embraced by the likes of Jordan Peterson; it refers to the artist Kat Toronto, who creates bizarre and entrancing “performance-based photography” under the name Miss Meatface, which resemble stills from some surreal, experimental, BDSM-laced film you want to immediately consume in full. In addition to an exhibition of recent creations by Miss Meatface, Tuesday’s reception will also feature a zine signing and an artist talk between Meatface and The Untitled Space’s director, Indira Cesarine.
Runnin’ On Empty With Yotam and Lisa Thursday, June 27 at le poisson rouge, 7 pm: $2 advance, $3 doors
Some comedy shows in Manhattan require hefty cover charges and overpriced food and drink minimums, but the aptly-named Runnin’ On Empty only asks for a slim smattering of dollar bills: three, to be exact, or two if you Venmo in advance. Hosted by Lisa Franklin and Yotam Tubul, the show features a blend of seasoned and recognizable performers and stand-ups who are still starting out. Will you be able to tell who is who? Well, as long as you have a nice time, I guess it doesn’t matter. This time, the show welcomes Myq Kaplan, Ashley Brooke Roberts, Usama Siddiquee, Madeleine Olnek, Brittany Carney, and Felipe Di Poi.
