Gothamist January Guide: 20 Fresh Ways to Kick Off 2015
21 photos
<br/><br/>Unless there's been some kind of incredible chronological mistake, it appears we're already knee-deep in January 2015? Let's start the new year in New York City right; click on the photos for our detailed guide to this month's most interesting cultural events.
Original photo courtesy Vivienne Gucwa / Flickr<br/><br/>It's common knowledge that Chinese food and Chinese-American food are quite different, but how did that come to be? More specifically, how did a late Qing-era military leader lend his name to a fried chicken dish served at tens of thousands of restaurants across the United States? Director Ian Cheney's new documentary, <strong><a href="http://www.ifccenter.com/films/the-search-for-general-tso/"><em>The Search for General Tso</em></a></strong>, seeks to answer these questions. Follow Cheney as he travels across the United States and China, and discovers the takeout favorite's origins in "immigration, adaptation and the American imagination." If you want to learn more, you can meet the filmmakers in person at the 7:10 p.m. screening on January 2nd. <em>(Ben Jay)</em><br/><br/><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7z0hmBIR8BE" width="640"></iframe><br/><br/><em>Through Thursday, January 8th; six screenings daily // <a href="http://www.ifccenter.com/">IFC Center</a>, 323 6th Avenue (at W 3rd Street) // <a href="http://www.ifccenter.com/films/the-search-for-general-tso/">Tickets $14</a> ($10 for children and seniors, $9 for members)</em>
Pickles
<br/><br/>Filled with strange futurist sculptures and dazzling lights, the Guggenheim's <a href="http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/exhibitions/on-view/zero-countdown-to-tomorrow-1950s-60s"><strong>ZERO: Countdown to Tomorrow</strong></a> exhibit ends imminently and should <em>not</em> be missed. A sprawling retrospective of the German 'Zero' art movement that includes painting, sculpture, light instillations, photos, and film, the exhibit was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/10/arts/zero-a-look-at-a-movement-at-the-guggenheim.html">summed up by the Times</a> as "a timely comment on the limits of newness as an artistic goal." The Zero movement pushed their contemporary boundaries of painting and light representation into uncharted territory, and is the unsung influence of much of the contemporary modern art scene. If you're still heartbroken over missing the Infinity Room, seize your last chance to catch the final <em>Countdown</em>. <br/><br/><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="270" id="flashObj" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=3907505002001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guggenheim.org%2Fzero&playerID=2558880403001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAABpkRvB3E~,mMvo3RkSdKF-vGDS4FrHUqFfgJR3pDun&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true"/><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com"/><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=3907505002001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guggenheim.org%2Fzero&playerID=2558880403001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAABpkRvB3E~,mMvo3RkSdKF-vGDS4FrHUqFfgJR3pDun&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" height="270" name="flashObj" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" seamlesstabbing="false" src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1" swliveconnect="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480"/></object><br/><br/><em>Ends Tuesday, January 7th // <a href="http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/exhibitions/on-view/zero-countdown-to-tomorrow-1950s-60s">Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum</a>, 1071 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan // <a href="http://www.museumtix.com/venueinfo/venueinfo.aspx?hasFlash=true&vid=873&tab=E&pvt=srgf&__utma=1.608969135.1420222487.1420222487.1420222487.1&__utmb=1.6.9.1420223056349&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1420222487.1.1.utmcsr%3d(direct)%7cutmccn%3d(direct)%7cutmcmd%3d(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=126157069">Tickets $22</a><em></em></em>
via facebook<br/><br/>Over six years gone, David Foster Wallace continues to haunt anyone who's encountered his work. Wallace wrote with both humor and crushing sadness about modern American culture and our psychological dependence on media, entertainment, substances, and self-absorption. It's a fair bet that today, what with Google Glass, Nest, twitter, and native advertising, Wallace would have even more to write about (or perhaps more to fear). As part of the annual <a href="http://www.publictheater.org/Programs--Events/Under-the-Radar-Festival/">Under the Radar Festival</a>, the Public Theater will offer up a fresh new look at Wallace's work with <a href="http://www.publictheater.org/en/tickets/calendar/playdetailscollection/utr-2015/a-supposedly-fun-thing/?SiteTheme=UnderTheRadar"><strong><em>A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again</em></strong></a>, a new play adapted by Daniel Fish that's loosely based around the novelist's collected works. As actors play out scenes of tennis and "spectation," audio records of Wallace's voice will play over the theater's sound system. <br/><br/><em>Evenings Wednesday-Friday, January 7th-16th, (times vary) // <a href="http://www.publictheater.org/en/Visit/">Anspacher Theater, The Public Theater</a>, 425 Lafayette Street, Manhattan // <a href="http://www.publictheater.org/en/tickets/calendar/playdetailscollection/utr-2015/a-supposedly-fun-thing/?SiteTheme=UnderTheRadar">Tickets $25</a><em></em></em>
via wikicommons<br/><br/>Looking for a perfectly cromulent way to spend a Thursday eve in <strike>Smarch</strike> January? Longtime <em>Simpsons</em> longtime scriptwriter <a href="http://thepit-nyc.com/event/simpsons-backstage-tour-mike-reiss/"><strong>Mike Reiss will drop by the Peoples Improv Theater</strong></a>. Embiggen your mind as he reveals stories from the showâs past, discusses guest stars, disses network censors, and shows rare clips from <em>The Simpsons</em>, <em>The Critic</em>, and <em>Queer Duck</em>.<br/><br/>Reiss has been around <em>The Simpsons</em> since the very beginning; he was hired to the writing staff during the 1989 inaugural season, and yâknow, just went on to be co-showrunner for THE BEST. SEASONS. EVER. (Three and four, fyi.) Mr Plow? Marge vs. the Monorail? Lisaâs First Word? All Reiss productions. <em>(Jessica Warriner)</em><br/><br/><em>Thursday, January 8th, 8 p.m. // Striker Stage at <a href="http://thepit-nyc.com/">Peoples Improv Theater</a>, 123 E 24th Street, Manhattan // <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-simpsons-backstage-tour-with-mike-reiss-tickets-14054093171">Tickets $20</a><em></em></em>
<br/><br/>Chances are you need to brush up on your late '70s Ethiopian funk. <a href="http://babysallright.ticketfly.com/event/731023-okayafrica-multiflora-brooklyn/"><strong>Hailu Mergia, a living legend of the African funk scene, will play Baby's All Right</strong></a> backed by a top-notch band in a showcase put on by <a href="http://okayafrica.com/">Okayafrica</a>. Mergia is a keyboard wizard and has lent his chops to dozens of recordings with multiple bands; though often a sideman, he has plenty of showmanship of his own and will lead what's sure to be a steamy night of tribal-tinged funk in Brooklyn. Fans of Antibales, and other Afro-funk bands will find plenty to enjoy, but don't go expecting a night of stock Fela Kuti grooves. Mergia's catalog is vast and diverse, and his accordion solos can be nothing short of revelatory (really). Sudanese Songstress <a href="https://soundcloud.com/wonderwheel-recordings/alsarah-the-nubatones-1">Alsarah and the Nubatones</a> opens.<br/><br/><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DnGgtfgHfC4" width="640"></iframe><br/><br/><em>Friday, January 9th, 9 p.m. // <a href="http://babysallright.ticketfly.com/event/731023-okayafrica-multiflora-brooklyn/">Baby's All Right</a>, 146 Broadway, Brooklyn // <a href="https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/731023?__utma=1.887355017.1418846177.1420217505.1420225423.3&__utmb=1.3.10.1420225423&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1418846177.1.1.utmcsr=babysallright.com|utmccn=(referral)|utmcmd=referral|utmcct=/&__utmv=-&__utmk=182845862">Tickets $12-15</a><em></em></em>
Hailu Mergia (via facebook)<br/><br/><a href="http://www.stonesthrow.com/">Stones Throw Records</a> executive and worldwide groove impresario Peanut Butter Wolf will hit the decks at Brooklyn Bowl, bringing along some of the rarest and flat-out best vinyl records ever made, hand-picked from his personal collection. Despite his global travels in search of records, the LA-based Wolf doesn't land in New York all that often, making this date essential for fans of r&b, funk, hip-hop, jazz, and soul. Through Stones Throw he's brought acts like Madlib, Dam-Funk, MF Doom, Mayer Hawthorne, and J Dilla to the masses, and with such a finely-tuned ear it's a safe bet that the DJ will throw down an unforgettable dance night in Brooklyn Bowl's massive main room.<br/><br/><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VG66s0lMI10" width="640"></iframe><br/><br/><em>Friday, January 9th, 11 p.m. // <a href="http://www.brooklynbowl.com/event/675433-peanut-butter-wolf-brooklyn/">Brooklyn Bowl</a>, 61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn // <a href="https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/675433?__utma=1.1643167962.1416342630.1416342630.1420226553.2&__utmb=1.1.10.1420226553&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1416342630.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=(not%20provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=223712795">Tickets $10</a><em></em></em>
via facebook<br/><br/>What is a cassoulet, exactly, besides a word that's difficult to pronounce? Find out for yourself, and feast your way into wintertime bliss, at <strong><a href="http://jimmysno43.com/events/seventh-annual-cassoulet-cookoff/">Jimmy No. 43's Seventh Annual Cassoulet Cook-Off</a></strong>. Chefs both amateur and pro will bring their best hot stews to the table for a competition that regularly mixes the traditional with the culinary avant-garde. Just how many strange concoctions can fall under the heading of "stove-cooked stew?" There's only one way to find out. Each attendee will be able to sample over 10 different cassoulet dishes, and the first beer, wine, or cider is on the house.<br/><br/><em>Sunday, January 11th, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. // <a href="http://jimmysno43.com/">Jimmy's No. 43</a>, 43 East 7th Street, Manhattan // <a href="http://cassouletcookoff2015.brownpapertickets.com/">Tickets $30</a></em>
<br/><br/>Trip hop-heads kick back and rejoice because the effervescent <strong><a href="http://highlineballroom.com/show/2015/01/09/neneh-cherry/">Neneh Cherry will play her first NYC show</a></strong> (yes, really) at the Highline Ballroom on January 9.Known for her artistic involvement with Bristol-based legends like Massive Attack, Tricky and Portishead, Cherry's most recent release, the 2014 critics' favorite <em>Blank Project</em>, made the over-long 18 year pause in her solo career well worth it. With support from DFAâs krautrock-meets-Sudanese pop funk genius Sinkane and guitar virutoso Kaki King, itâs set to be a night with a little bit of everything from club funk to avant-punk... just like Cherry herself.Fingers crossed she just stays away from <a href="http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20121380,00.html">the Lyme</a> this time. <em>(Sandra Song)</em><br/><br/><em>Friday, January 9th, 7 p.m. // <a href="http://highlineballroom.com/show/2015/01/09/neneh-cherry/">Highline Ballroom</a> (431 W 16th St, NY) // <a href="http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=5420175&pl=highline&REFID=hl&utm_source=highline&utm_medium=eventlink&utm_campaign=neneh%2Bcherry">Tickets $35-40</a><em></em></em>
via facebook<br/><br/>Lisa Leone was in the right place at right time. The Bronx-born photographer made the acquaintance of Spike Lee while working on the set of <em>Do the Right Thing</em> and immediately went on to become a force in hip-hop culture all over the city. Leone made a name for herself shooting candid shots of The Fugees, Snoop Dogg, Busy B, Nas, and many more during the early 1990s, capturing the artists and the art form when it was still emerging. Leone's 35mm shots are currently on display in an exhibition, <strong><em><a href="http://www.bronxmuseum.org/exhibitions/here-i-am-photographs-by-lisa-leone">Here I Am</a></em>, at the Bronx Museum</strong>. <br/><br/>The show wraps up on January 11th, however, and Leone rarely displays her past work so openly. Her photographs are beautifully understated, telling as much about the places of early hip-hop as they do its early legends. If you have fond memories of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3PW2dXh0dk">back in the day on the boulevard of Linden</a>, make it a point to take it all in.<br/><br/><em>Open Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (8 p.m. Fridays) // <a href="http://www.bronxmuseum.org/exhibitions/here-i-am-photographs-by-lisa-leone">The Bronx Museum of the Arts</a>, 1040 Grand Concourse, The Bronx // Free <em></em></em>
via Lisa Leone<br/><br/>Teaming up with <a href="http://the-toast.net/tag/hey-ladies/">The Toast</a>, <a href="http://www.housingworks.org/events/detail/hey-ladies-live-part-two-home-for-the-holidays/?utm_source=bookstore_newsletter&utm_medium=email"></a><a href="http://the-toast.net/tag/hey-ladies/">Housing Works Cafe brings us another "Hey Ladies!" live show</a> this month, set to the theme of "Home for the Holidays." Hosted by Caroline Moss and Michelle Markowitz, the hilarious show that's part theater, part comedy, and part cathartic show-and-tell will feature tales of the (mis)adventures that take place during holiday break. Trying to make a baby, sleeping with the high school gym teacher, and dreams of bottomless mimosa brunches are just some of the topics on deck, and more than a few "Hey Ladies" emails will be read and acted out as well. Leave the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dw7GE_BYjI"><em>Mean Girls outfits</em></a> at home, or don't, the choice is yours.<br/><br/><em>Thursday, January 15th, 7 p.m. // <a href="http://www.housingworks.org/events/detail/hey-ladies-live-part-two-home-for-the-holidays/?utm_source=bookstore_newsletter&utm_medium=email">Housing Works Cafe</a>, 126 Crosby Street, Manhattan // Free<em></em></em>
via facebook<br/><br/><em>Blade Runner</em> is probably Philip K. Dick's best-known work (it was adapted from his book <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_Androids_Dream_of_Electric_Sheep%3F">Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?</a>), but the author penned over 40 novels and 120 short stories whose influence on the sci-fi genre is incalculable. The <strong>Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival</strong> kicks off this month in Tribeca, featuring a bevy of never-before-seen sci-fi films, as well as many fan favorites from decades past. Panels on independent filmmaking and three films, Christopher P. Garetano's documentary <em><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1661066/">Montauk Chronicles</a></em>, Chris Alexander's <em><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3263758/">Queen of Blood</a></em>, and Christian Carroll's <em><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2234052/">Suicide or Lulu and Me In A World Made For Two</a></em> were just added to the bill. <br/><br/><em>Wednesday-Saturday, January 15th-18th (times vary, <a href="http://www.thephilipkdickfilmfestival.com/program%20at%20a%20glance.html">full schedule here</a>) // <a href="http://www.tribecacinemas.com/">Tribeca Cinemas</a>, 54 Varick Street, Manhattan // For tickets email [email protected]<em></em></em>
<br/><br/>Blood and betrayal spill across almost every scene in Shakespeare's tragedy <em>Titus Andronicus</em>. The play is a tale of ancient Rome nearly ripped to shreds, with soldiers returning home from war to find their emperor dead and the common citizens demanding that power return to the people. One man steps forward to try and restore order, but not before many more noblemen hit the killing floor. <a href="http://www.shakespeareexchange.org/"><strong>The New York Shakespeare Exchange is diving into the bloodbath</strong></a> with their new <em>Titus</em> production adapted and directed by Artistic Director Ross Williams. The play has been reset into a contemporary American context, and moves at a breakneck 2 1/4 hour pace. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!<br/><br/><em>January 22nd-February 8th, 8:30 p.m. // <a href="http://here.org/about/spaces/">HERE Mainstage Theater</a>, 145 6th Avenue, Manhattan // <a href="https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/941612">Tickets $18</a><em></em></em>
via facebook<br/><br/>Head to Cobble Hill on the 22nd for the first ever <a href="http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/event/good-spirits-brooklyn/"><strong>Good Spirits Brooklyn</strong></a>, where you can indulge in some top quality local food and liquor. Put on by <a href="http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/">Edible Manhattan</a> and based off its Good Spirits Manhattan counterpart, the cocktail and food pairing event will feature James, Taco Santo, Don Julio, Fort Defiance, Post Office, and Whole Foods, with more expected to be added in the coming weeks. <br/><br/>Edible Manhattanâs version of the event usually features an impressive variety of food and drink, so we have high hopes for the new Brooklyn iteration. It all goes down at the Invisible Dog Gallery, which is housed in an old factory building dating back to the 1800s. <em>(Jessica Warriner)</em><br/><br/><em>Wednesday, January 22nd, 6-9 p.m. // <a href="http://theinvisibledog.org/about/">The Invisible Dog</a>, 51 Bergen Street, Brooklyn // <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/good-spirits-the-brooklyn-edition-tickets-14853345757">Tickets $60</a> (21+)<em></em></em>
via flickr<br/><br/>Beer. Bourbon. Barbecue. The three come together this month in one gut-busting Chelsea event. Touted as âThe Big Appleâs Favorite Winter Porkapaloozaâ, the <strong><a href="http://www.beerandbourbon.com/new-york/show-info">Beer, Bourbon and Barbeque Festival </a></strong>is back in 2015 for its sixth installment. The day is broken into two sessions - noon to 4 p.m. sees the Bacon Bash reign supreme, and 5:30-9:30 p.m. is Whole Hog Pickinâ time. If youâre up for a whole day of feasting, you can head along from noon to 9:30 p.m. for the Grand Poobah Chicken NâBiscuits Session. The price of admission gets you a sampling glass so you can taste away to your heartâs desire, and if you want more pulled pork, ribs or brisket, you can always choose to splash a little extra cash for a heavier portion. In a new addition this year, you can also check out the âShrine of Swineâ: pulled pork right from the source. Sadly the Bacon Bash is already sold out (try Stubhub?), but there are still tickets up for grabs for Sessions Two (the Whole Hog, $99) and Three (Chicken NâBiscuits, $199). <em>(Jessica Warriner)</em><br/><br/><em>Friday, January 24th, 12 p.m.-9:30 p.m. // <a href="http://www.lavenue-ny.com/">The Tunnel in Manhattan</a>, 608 West 28th Street // <a href="http://www.drinkeatrelax.com/tickets/beer-bourbon-and-bbq-festival/beer-bourbon-bbq-manhattan-ny-january-24th/beer-bourbon-bbq-ma">Tickets $99</a><em></em></em>
via flickr<br/><br/>Despite repeatedly losing its title as the tallest skyscraper in town, the Empire State Building remains unrivaled as an icon of New York City. The Museum of the City of New York and the Art Deco Society of New York are hosting a talk with John Tauranac, author of 1995's <a href="http://www.mcny.org/event/empire-state-building-making-landmark"><strong>"Empire State Building: The Making of a Landmark"</strong></a>, which is being republished this year as a 20th anniversary edition. Tauranac will be discussing his research on the the development of the skyscraper as an architectural form, 1920s real estate boom, and how those both led to the rise of 34th Street's most beloved behemoth. Book signing and reception to follow. <em>(Ben Jay)</em><br/><br/><em>Wednesday, January 28th, 6:30 p.m. // <a href="http://www.mcny.org/">Museum of the City of New York</a>, 1220 5th Avenue, Manhattan (btwn 103rd and 104th Sts) // <a href="http://www.mcny.org/event/empire-state-building-making-landmark">Tickets $25</a> ($15 for members, students, and seniors)</em>
via ESB facebook<br/><br/>Itâs been a <em>century</em> since the United States first launched its war on drugs, and anyone out there wondering what this war's been good for should catch journalist <strong><a href="http://www.92y.org/Event/One-Hundred-Years-of-the-War-on-Drugs.aspx">Johann Hari's upcoming talk at 92Y</a></strong>. Hari has written extensively on the government's long, plodding push against controlled substances for the likes of <em>The Guardian</em>, <em>Le Monde</em>, and the <em>Times</em>. The talk coincides with the release of Hariâs new book on the drug war, <em>Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs</em>. Since the first arrests under the Harrison Act (a federal law controlling the importing and distribution of opiates and coca products) in 1915, our war on drugs has consumed untold resources and caused incalculable suffering, with highly dubious results. Hari's book aims to find out why it began, why it continues, and how to move past it. <em>(Jessica Warriner)</em><br/><br/><em>Friday, January 30th, 12 p.m. // <a href="http://www.92y.org/">92nd St Y</a>, 1395 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan // <a href="http://www.92y.org/Event/One-Hundred-Years-of-the-War-on-Drugs.aspx">Tickets $24</a><em></em></em>
via facebook/amazon<br/><br/>BAM and the Mariinsky Theatre of St. Petersburg are coming together for a few very special performances of <strong><a href="http://www.bam.org/dance/2015/swan-lake"><em>Swan Lake</em> at the Howard Gilman Opera House</a></strong> this month. The production, featuring its iconic Tchaikovsky score, runs from the 15th through the 23rd. Swan Lake has been a staple of the Mariinskyâs repertoire ever since it was reimagined and staged in 1950 by renowned Russian choreographer Konstantin Sergeyev. He put a new spin on the original Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa version, which was performed back in 1895 and stuck firmly to the tragic medieval story. So if youâre not into the traditional ending, the Mariinsky version is a happier affair, a remnant of âSoviet-era heroicsâ. Musical director Valery Gergiev will be on hand to conduct the opening nightâs performance, and thereâs a rotating cast of leads over the run of the show. <em>(Jessica Warriner)</em><br/><br/><em>January 15th 7 p.m., 16th 7:30 p.m., 21st-23rd 7:30 p.m. // <a href="http://www.bam.org/dance/2015/swan-lake">BAM Howard Gilman Opera House</a>, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn // <a href="http://commerce.bam.org/tickets/production.aspx?pid=9676">Tickets $35-350</a><em></em></em>
<br/><br/><strong><a href="http://nycpodfest.squarespace.com/">The NYC Podcast Festival</a></strong> is coming back for its third year, and if you're a podcast fan who's always wanted to attend a live taping (or you're looking to attend as many as possible in only three days), the second weekend of January is probably your best bet. Among the highlights are <em><a href="http://www.flophousepodcast.com/">The Flop House</a></em>on Friday at the Bell House, <em><a href="http://thedailyshow.cc.com/podcast">The Daily Show Podcast without Jon Stewart</a></em> and <em><a href="http://www.feralaudio.com/show/the-todd-barry-podcast/">The Todd Barry Podcast</a></em> (with guests Yo La Tengo), both at Fontana's on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. <em>(Ben Jay)</em><br/><br/><em>Friday January 9th - Sunday January 11th // <a href="http://www.thebellhouseny.com/">The Bell House</a>, 149 7th Street, Brooklyn on Friday // <a href="http://www.fontanasnyc.com/">Fontana's</a>, 105 Eldridge Street on Saturday // <a href="http://nycpodfest.squarespace.com/schedule">Ticket prices vary, most in the $10-15 range</a></em>
via facebook<br/><br/>The Museum of the Moving Imageâs <a href="http://www.movingimage.us/films/2015/01/09/detail/first-look-2015/"><strong>First Look Film Festival</strong></a> is back with a stellar line-up. Now in its fourth year, the festival has expanded to two theaters (you can even catch free screenings in the Bartos Room) and incorporates a digital-media component with specially commissioned GIFs. Because stock-standard GIFs are so 2014.<br/><br/>One clear standout is <em>Our Terrible Country</em>, a collaboration between directors Mohammed Ali Atassi and Ziad Homsi, the former of which will be speaking live at the screening. Itâll be the North American premiere of the documentary, in which Homsi, a journalist, joined the Free Syrian Army and filmed his mentor Yassin al-Haj Saleh, a well-known writer and political dissident. The film has garnered much critical acclaim, and scored the Grand Prize at the FIDMarseille International Competition. It screens <a href="http://www.movingimage.us/visit/calendar/2015/01/17/detail/our-terrible-country-notre-terrible-pays-2">January 17 at 7 p.m.</a><br/><br/> Also worth catching is the screening of <em>I Touched All Your Stuff</em>, which will be accompanied by directors Maira Buhler and Matias Mariani. The Brazilian film revolves around the seemingly gullible American Chris Kirk as he recounts his story of a romance gone wrong: the tale of obsession and deception is illustrated by images, emails and video from Kirkâs own computer.<em>(Jessica Warriner)</em><br/><br/><em>Friday-Saturday, January 9th-18th (times vary) // Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue Astoria, Queens // <a href="https://1282.blackbaudhosting.com/1282/tickets?tab=2&txobjid=7fd8a52d-eaad-4541-bc5e-42e2ea3f010b">Full festival passes $40</a><em></em></em>