Museum of the City of New York Announces May and June Events
By: Gabrielle Sierra Apr. 30, 2010
Among the city's major museums, there is only one with the words "New," "York," and "City" in its name, and this is precisely what gives the Museum of the City of New York its unique mandate: to explore the past, present, and future of this fascinating and particular place and to celebrate its heritage of diversity, opportunity, and perpetual transformation. A variety of exhibitions, public programs, and publications all investigate what gives New York City its singular character.
May and June Calendar Events
Sunday May 2 2:00 PM - Musica de Camara El Barrio's own Musica de Camara presents A Musical Tapestry for the Beginning of the 21st Century, a chamber music concert featuring works by Francesco Lecce-Chong, Alison Nowak, David Robert Johnson, Dave Brubeck, Susan Riley-Caldini, and Richard Pearson Thomas. FREE with Museum admission!
Tuesday May 4 5:30 PM - The Lindsay Years: A Symposium - At The New York Academy of Medicine 1216 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street
When he came into office, Mayor John V. Lindsay had a dream to reinvent the cityto bridge the income and affordability gap, bring racial minorities into government, integrate neighborhoods, empower communities through decentralization, impose strategic urban planning to spare the environment, and make cities more livable. Which of these dreams became a reality and how do those changes affect us today? Join us for a symposium assessing the legacy of Mayor John V. Lindsay, moderated by Sam Roberts of The New York Times and featuring Vincent Cannato, Jeff Greenfield, Pete Hamill, Jay Kriegel, Major Owens, and Gabe Pressman. Following the program there will be a reception celebrating the opening of the exhibition Americas Mayor: John V. Lindsay and the Reinvention of New York at the Museum of the City of New York. Symposium and Reception Tickets: General admission $35 Museum members $20
Sunday May 9 2:00 PM - Classical Puerto Rican Music Concert
Join The Association for Puerto Rican-Hispanic Culture for Alma Sublime, an annual spring concert celebrating Puerto Rican Danza, an expressive form of classical Puerto Rican music. It will feature soprano Ilya Martinez, baritone Rafael Lebron, and a performance by Danza Fiesta: Baile y Teatro. FREE with Museum admission! THIS PROGRAM IS SOLD OUT. Tickets are no longer available.
Phil Patton, automobile design expert and co-curator, leads a tour of the Museum's exhibition Cars, Culture, and the City, focusing on the city's auto design legacy and visions of the future. The exhibition features visionary drawings and models, historic photographs, films, and advertisements. FREE with Museum admission!
Saturday May 15 2:00 PM - Strictly Jazz: Japanese Style Join the group Akatsuki for an afternoon of music with Japanese musicians influenced and inspired by the musical talents of American great jazz artists including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and MiLes Davis. Akatsuki is led by Wataru Uchida on the saxophone and features Miki Hirose, trumpet; Toru Dodo, piano; and Hirota Tanaka, bass. Presented in conjunction with Community Works and the New Heritage Theatre Group, in celebration of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. FREE with Museum admission!
Sunday May 16 1:00 PM - America's Mayor: Gallery Tour Join Steve Jaffe, guest curator, for a gallery tour of the Museum's newest exhibition, America's Mayor: John V. Lindsay and the Reinvention of New York. The exhibition examines the tumultuous tenure (1966-1973) of John V. Lindsay, exploring such events as the 1966 transit strike, the Ocean Hill-Brownsville school controversy, and the opening of the citys parks to "happenings." FREE with Museum admission!
Monday May 17 6:30 PM - Robert Moses, Jane Jacobs, and the Automobile Robert Moses always wanted to build bigincluding highways. Jane Jacobs wanted to preserve neighborhoods and encourage mass transit. These and other differences led to the showdown between them in Greenwich Village and engendered a debate that is still going on today. Join Owen Gutfreund, Associate Professor of Urban Affairs and Planning at Hunter College and author of Twentieth Century Sprawl: Highways and the Reshaping of the American Landscape (Oxford University Press, 2005), and Roberta Brandes Gratz, author of The Battle For Gotham: New York in the Shadow of Robert Moses and Jane Jacobs (Nation Books, 2010), for a discussion moderated by Anthony Flint, journalist and author at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and author of Wrestling with Moses: How Jane Jacobs Took on New York's Master Builder and Transformed the American City (Random House, 2009). Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Cars, Culture, and the City. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED $12 Non-Members $8 Seniors and Students $6 Museum Members *A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
Thursday May 20 6:30 PM - Television and the Mayoralty of John V. Lindsay at the Paley Center for Media
Whether chatting with Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show" or fronting his own weekly television program, Mayor John V. Lindsay was in the vanguard of politicians who achieved national celebrity as a result of television's infatuation with charismatic leaders. A panel of journalists, politicians, and former Lindsay aides reflects on these exhilarating yet trying times and examines the role that television played in shaping the Lindsay legacy. Hosted by the Paley Center for Media in partnership with the Museum of the City of New York, in conjunction with the exhibition Americas Mayor: John V. Lindsay and the Reinvention of New York. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. For more information or to register, visit www.paleycenter.org.
Monday May 24 6:30 PM - Artists' Housing Past, Present, and Future
When Westbeth opened in the West Village in 1970, the former Bell Labs buildings became the world's largest artists' community. On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, a panel of experts discusses the legacy of Westbeth and the state of artists' housing in New York City. Join a discussion with Theodore Berger, Executive Director, Urban Artists' Initiative, and former Executive Director of the New York Foundation for the Arts; and Norma P. Munn, Chairperson, New York City Arts Coalition; with guest Joan K. Davidson, founding Chairman of Westbeth Artists Housing. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition America's Mayor: John V. Lindsay and the Reinvention of New York. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $12 Non-Members $8 Seniors and Students $6 Museum Members *A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
Thursday May 27 6:30 PM - The Next Generation of the Automobile
Throughout their century-long history, New York City cars have been constantly redesigned, re-imagined, and redeveloped, much like the city itself. As New York continues to change in the 21st century, so do its automobiles. Join a panel of experts at the forefront of forward-thinking car design including Phil Patton, automobile design expert and co-curator of the Museum's exhibition Cars, Culture and the City, and Lawrence Burns, co-author of Reinventing the Automobile: Personal Urban Mobility for the 21st Century (MIT Press, 2010), for a discussion of the future of car design and urban mobility. Co-sponsored by the AIA New York Chapter in conjunction with the exhibition Cars, Culture, and the City. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $12 Non-Members $8 Seniors and Students $6 Museum Members *A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
Tuesday June 1 6:30 PM - Car Advertising of the 1960s: When New York Became Motown
Landmark campaigns by New York-based advertising firms have redefined the way we think about automobiles including Doyle Dane Bernbach's "Think small" Volkswagen campaign; Wells, Rich, Greene's American Motors campaign; and Scali, McCabe, Sloves' campaign for Volvo. Join the creative forces behind automobile advertising for an illustrated presentation, featuring Bob Kuperman, former President and Chief Executive of the flagship New York office of Doyle Dane Bernbach; Ed McCabe founder of Scali, McCabe, Sloves; and the creative team of Stan Dragoti & Charlie Moss, formally of Wells, Rich, Greene Inc. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Cars, Culture, and the City. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $12 Non-Members $8 Seniors and Students $6 Museum Members *A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
Saturday June 5 3:00 PM & Sunday June 6 3:00 PM - Razzle Dazzle: The Lindsay Years on Broadway a Musical Theater Cabaret John Lindsay was the Broadway mayor responsible for creating the Special Theater Zoning District and TKTS ticket booth and renowned for hobnobbing with Broadway stars. The newest installment of the Perform series features selections from many of the shows that lit up the Broadway stage during John Lindsays years in City Hall. Highlights include songs from Chicago, Follies, On a Clear Day, and Hair. Razzle Dazzle stars Brigid Brady, Penny Fuller, and Michael McElroy and is written and directed by Michael Montel, with Lawrence Yurman as musical director. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $20 General Admission. $15 Museum members, seniors, and students.
Sunday June 6 10:00 AM 5:00 PM - Japan day at the Museum of the City of New York
Celebrate the Japanese influence on New York with Japanese-themed family activities from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the Museum's courtyard and a preview installation of the exhibition Samurai in New York: The First Japanese Delegation, 1860. FREE with Museum admission!
Tuesday June 8 6:00 PM 9:00 PM - Museum Mile Festival
Start your visit to the 32nd annual Museum Mile Festival at the Museum of the City of New York with free admission and family activities. View the Museum's current exhibitions, America's Mayor: John V. Lindsay and the Reinvention of the New York, Charles Addams's New York, and Cars, Culture, and the City, then stroll Fifth Avenue and visit nine of the country's finest museums, all open free of charge.
Thursday June 10 6:30 PM - Fusion in Motion: 150 Years of Japan-America Integration at Japan society
From the California roll to hip hop to Zen gardens, the cultures of the United States and Japan have crisscrossed the Pacific, profoundly influencing one another. Theodore C. Bester, Professor, Chair of the Department of Anthropology, Harvard University; Ian Condry, Associate Director, Comparative Media Studies, MIT; and Marc Peter Keane, landscape architect, discuss over 150 years of influence, modification, and adaptation. Hosted by the Japan Society, co-sponsored by the Museum of the City of New York. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. For more information or to register, contact the Japan Society at 212.715.1258.
Friday June 11 2:00 PM - Behind-the-Scenes in East Harlem
Kathleen Benson, Museum of the City of New York staff member and board member of East Harlem Preservation and Hope Community, leads a tour of East Harlem. Stops include Metropolis Studios, home of New Yorks largest all-digital television production center, St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church (NapoLeon LeBrun, 1877), and Hope Community's Modesto Flores Garden. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $12 Non-Members $8 Seniors and Students $6 Museum Members. Space for this program is extremely limited. For more information, or for registration inquiries, please call 917.492.3395.
Tuesday June 15 6:30 PM - 150th Anniversary of The First Japanese Mission's Visit to New York
Setting the stage for the upcoming exhibition, Samurai in New York (opening June 25), Professor Naoyuki Agawa, Vice President, Keio University, discusses the significance of the first Japanese delegation to the United States, with a focus on its two-week visit to New York. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $12 Non-Members $8 Seniors and Students $6 Museum Members *A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
Thursday June 17 6:30 PM - In the Public Domain: New York Harbor in the 21st Century
Significant parts of New York Harbor have recently become public open spaces. Both Brooklyn Bridge Park and Governors Island were transferred to city control to speed their redevelopment. But what comes next to ensure these and other open spaces are effectively integrated into the fabric of the city? Join Paula Berry, Director, NYHarborWay, New York &. Co.; Leslie Koch, President, Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation; Regina Myer, President, Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation; and others as they take a closer look at efforts to build, connect, and revitalize the parks of New York Harbor. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $12 Non-Members $8 Seniors and Students $6 Museum Members *A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
Sunday June 20 2:00 PM - The Lost Cyclist
In 1892 Frank Lenz finally got his chance to realize his dream of cycling around the world. That June, he ceremonially began his odyssey from City Hall Park. His tragic and mysterious disappearance in Turkey two years later augmented the fame he had acquired as a correspondent. Join author David Herlihy for a discussion of this story, based on his new book The Lost Cyclist: The Epic Tale of an American Adventurer and His Mysterious Disappearance (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, June, 2010). FREE with Museum admission!
The Museum celebrates Pride Week 2010 with the opening night of Maysles Cinema's second annual Homo Harlem film series. This week-long event investigates the cinematic representation of gay life and culture in black America's fabled homeland. Co-sponsored by State Senator Bill Perkins, Men of All Colors Together, and Queer Black Cinema, the series is curated by Michael Henry Adams. For a series schedule visit Cinema@mayslesinstitute.org. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $12 Non-Members $8 Seniors and Students $6 Museum Members *A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
Tuesday June 22 6:30 PM - The Public Theater: Politics and Performance in New York from the 1960s to Today
In 1967 the Shakespeare Workshop moved into the space formerly occupied by the Astor Library, emerging as New York Shakespeare Festival/The Public Theater and becoming one of New York City's foremost venues for the creative exploration of progressive politics. Its first production, the world premiere of the musical Hair, became the anthem for a generation. Join a discussion with the theater's founders and members of its present leadership as they reflect on The Public's founding and its continuing presence in the city. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition America's Mayor: John V. Lindsay and the Reinvention of New York. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $12 Non-Members $8 Seniors and Students $6 Museum Members *A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
Wednesday June 23 6:00 PM - The Physical City: Planning, Design & Development, Then and Now at the Center for Architecture
No postwar New York mayor was as interested in urban design as John Lindsay. How did Lindsay's leaders shape the city, and what was their impact on those who are now influencing its future? Join architecture critic Paul Goldberger as he moderates a conversation with Amanda M. Burden, FAICP, Hon. AIA, Chair, NYC City Planning Commission; Donald Elliott, former Chair, City Planning Commission; and others. Hosted by the Center for Architecture in partnership with the Museum of the City of New York, in conjunction with the exhibition Americas Mayor: John V. Lindsay and the Reinvention of New York. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. For more information or to register, visit www.aiany.org/calendar.
Friday June 25 7:00 PM - Do Enka: East Meets West
Thelonius Monk, Jr., renowned jazz drummer, composer, music educator, and Chairman of the Monk Institute, will join Japanese guitarist/music producer/song writer Yuchiro Oda for a musical collaboration featuring Do Enkaa fusion of jazz, blues, and spoken word developed in Japan in the early 1900s. Produced by the New Heritage Theatre Group and OPI/Gaia Media in association with Community Works and the Harlem Arts Alliance. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Samurai in New York: The First Japanese Delegation, 1860. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $12 Non-Members $8 Seniors and Students $6 Museum Members *A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
Saturday June 26 1:00 PM - Samurai in New York: Gallery Tour
Join Project Director Kathleen Benson, Yuko Suzuki of the Consulate General of Japan, and Eric Campbell of the Japan Information Center for a tour of this exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese embassy to New York and featuring rare 19th century photographs and documents. FREE with Museum admission!
Monday June 28 6:30 PM - Designing Women: The Intersection of Art, Culture, and Car Design
From their early days as "Damsels of Design" to their current integral roles, female designers at General Motors have impacted car design, inspired by artistic and cultural influences. Join us for a program examining how art, fashion, diversity, and technology are integrated into the design of GM products. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. $12 Non-Members $8 Seniors and Students $6 Museum Members *A two dollar surcharge applies for unreserved, walk-in participants.
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