Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Film SXSW Breakouts: Gimme the Loot and Black Pond
Posted by Mark Asch on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 3:40 PM
The city heat shimmers in the slightly blown-up film, providing a nice visual correlation to the slightly vintage invocation of NYC street culture; there are moments built around swimming in rooftop water tanks (“the ghetto swimming pool”) and watching TV in a car with a power cord jacked into a streetlamp. The overflowing, contemporary dialogue, ear-tested and riffed on by the young actors, delineates a jabbing, respectful, somewhat complex platonic friendship (in one discussion of sexual etiquette, Sophia berates Malcolm for his macho dismissal of condoms; he backs off, says he just wishes they were better designed; her: “It wraps your dick. How you want it to wrap your dick better?”).
Music On "Heart-Shaped Box," Performed Horribly, on The Voice
Posted by Jeff Klingman on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 3:00 PM
I don't know if you guys are watching The Voice? I am not, for the most part. I assume most people aren't because it's never really gained water-cooler status, even on the Internet. But I'm not that mad at it when it happens to be on. I like Cee-Lo's bawdy jokes! (Maybe they should offer him a sitcom. I bet you anything he would take it. "Cee-Lo Green is a private detective in Cee-Lo on the D-Lo!" I'm already sold.) But anyway, last night, during one of the show's patented "song battles," two singers from coach Christina Aguilera's team fought it out over who could perform a more compelling version of Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box," with respective aid from the most obviously qualified helpers, Jewel and Lionel Ritchie.
Let's watch:
Food & Drink Forget Them Not: The 10 Most Underrated Foods
Posted by Cathy Erway on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 2:28 PM
Have you become a creature of mono-eating habit? Or are you just sick of the food trends in last week's Most Overrated list? This similarly biased list of ingredients instead uncovers those that don't seem to get enough respect. For health or sustainability-seeking purposes, or just plain clever ideas to entertain the palate, here's our list of the 10 most underrated foods at this particular moment.
News As Brighton Boardwalk Goes Plastic, a Dockbuilder Remembers It in the 80s
Posted by Henry Stewart on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 2:22 PM
My uncle Gary worked on the boardwalk several decades ago. I got in touch to ask about what that was like, and what he thinks of the proposed changes.
News Look Up: You Might Be Able To Spot 5 NASA Rocket Trails Shooting Across The Sky This Week
Posted by Sydney Brownstone on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 1:39 PM
The 200-300 mile per hour winds circle the earth in predictable patterns at an altitude above most plane flights, but not much is known about what drives them. The rockets will shoot across the sky for short trips of eight to ten minutes to allow scientists to better develop models of electromagnetic regions in space. When the trip is over, the rockets will crash back into the Atlantic Ocean and form artificial reefs.
Art Camel Art Space Gets a New Hump
Posted by Paul D'Agostino on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Geographically bridging the Williamsburg-Bushwick art thoroughfare for several years now, and hosting a great variety of curatorial practices and practitioners all the while, Camel Art Space, currently located at 722 Metropolitan Avenue, is soon to gather up its wares and caravan away.
But not before a final show, Souvenir, takes place.
Music So You're Not at SXSW: It's OK, We'll Get Through This Together, Right Here in the Greatest City in the World
Posted by Mike Conklin on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 12:40 PM
But listen: We're in New York, after all, and while it's true than there are fewer shows than normal this week, and that the ones that are happening are not exactly going to break the buzz-o-meter, well, there's still a huge amount of good live music for you to enjoy. Let's have a look...
Follow Mike Conklin on Twitter @LMagMusic
Books / Talks and Readings Franklin Park Turns Three
Posted by Henry Stewart on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 12:00 PM
Sex Bloomberg Denies Smooching Obama
Posted by Audrey Ference on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Asked about their private meeting yesterday Bloomberg told reporters—referring to his memorable New Year's lip-lock with Lady Gaga—that he'd "never kiss and tell." He then quickly noted that "I did not kiss President Obama" (not that there is anything wrong with that!). Instead, he explained that the leader of the free world was "very interested in what’s going on in New York City and what we need from the federal government to continue to grow."
Booorrriiinnngg. Who will write this slash fic for me? Oh also, I guess El Bloombito is not being considered for a White House job, which, too bad because I feel like the billionaires in this country are underrepresented in Washington.
TV Lena Dunham's 2007 Web Series About A House Full of Horny Art Students Has Been Unearthed
Posted by Sydney Brownstone on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 9:51 AM
"Budding sexuality" isn't a topic unfamiliar to Lena Dunham, creator of the upcoming HBO series, Girls and 2010 film, Tiny Furniture. In 2007, Dunham directed a web series called Tight Shots exclusively for Nerve.com that dealt with a house full of art students working on a film project and eventually sleeping together.
Books / Film Geoff Dyer's Tarkovsky Obsession
Posted by Henry Stewart on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 at 8:59 AM
