Volume 79, Number 20 | Oct. 28 - Nov. 04, 2009
West and East Village, Chelsea, Soho, Noho, Little Italy, Chinatown and Lower East Side, Since 1933

The A-List

Compiled by Scott Stiffler, Scott@thevillager.com

Events

Photo by Gardiner Anderson
The casket goes, but the ghost stays

GHOST TOUR
Merchant’s House, that highly haunted museum, hosts several events tied to its spooky reputation. Oct. 29 and 30, 6 to 10 p.m., the “Candlelight Ghost Tour” happens every half hour. See eerie scenes of mid-19th century death and mourning and find out what paranormal investigations have uncovered. $25, reservations required. If that’s too intense for the kids, or you, their “Family Friendly Ghost Tour” happens Noon to 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, every 20 minutes. After the “just spooky enough” tour, come downstairs for cider, creep cakes, lady fingers, and spirited 19th century activities. Recommended for ages 7-12. Adults & Children $10. Reservations suggested but not required. At 7 and 9 p.m. on Oct. 31, “Ghost Stories of the Merchant’s House Museum” features official Merchant’s House ghost-storyteller, Anthony Bellov reading selections from 19th-century horror classics and recounting highlights from his ongoing research into the strange and supernatural occurrences at the Merchant’s House Museum — in a parlor arranged for a mid-19th century funeral. $25, reservations required. At Merchant’s House Museum (29 East Fourth St.) Call 212-777-1089 or visit www.merchantshouse.org.

Photo by Jonathan Slaff
Candice Burridge (L) and David Zen Mansley (R) in their own version of “American Gothic”

HALLOWEEN COSTUME BALL
As annual costume balls go, this one may take the blood-stained cake. Theater for the New City’s 33rd Annual Halloween Costume Ball features underground stars performing in TNC’s Halloween Cabarets, prizes for best costumes, and Halloween delicacies in The Witches’ Cauldron. The one-night fiesta takes over all four of TNC’s theater spaces, plus its lobby and the block of East Tenth Street between First and Second Avenues. Flirt with fire capacity laws as you and over 1,400 wildly-clad celebrants gather for dancing, dining and showing off. Sat, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. at Theater for the New City (155 First Ave. at E. 10th St.). $20. Costume or formal wear required. Call 212-254-1109 or visit www.theaterforthenewcity.net.


Film

Photo courtesy of MGM
From “The Raven”

ROGER CORMAN: POE & BEYOND
It wasn’t just his bare bones production values that frightened audiences. Independent film pioneer Roger Corman gets the respectful retrospective treatment in this celebration of “the unholy union of two of America’s great masters of horror, Edgar Allan Poe and Roger Corman.” Featured films include “House of Usher” on Nov. 1 at 3 p.m., “The Pit and the Pendulum” on Oct. 31 at 5 p.m., “Tales of Terror” on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m., “The Raven” Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. and “The Masque of the Red Death” on Oct. 30/31 at 9 p.m. and Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.; at Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Avenue). $9 general admission. Call 212-505-5181 or visit www.anthologyfilmarchives.org.

Theater

Frankenstein takes Manhattan

FRANKENSTEIN
Does the world need another version of the Frankenstein story? This rock musical concert thinks it knows the answer, and is so confident it promises to become “one of the world’s most compelling Halloween rock musical traditions.” Encouraging signs? The legend-laden band includes past members of Frank Zappa’s The Mothers of Invention. Here’s hoping their telling of the iconic Mary Shelley tale is one you’ll want to see again — because this time next year, the production — like the creature — will rise again. Sat., Oct. 31, 8 p.m. at The Highline Ballroom (431 West 16th St.). For $65/$50/$35 tickets, www.theatermania.com (search FrankensteinNYC09) or call 866-811-4111. Visit www.frankensteinaroundtheworld.com. 

Readings

Book cover image courtesy of NYU Press
It’s gonna get a little rough: Lovell’s “Crimes of Dissent”

Jarret S. Lovell and Rebecca Solnit
The only non-Halloween event in this week’s A List is, nonetheless, a frightening proposition. These two events promise to reveal the price we pay (and the power we gain?) when we sass off to “The Man.” On Tues., Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., take a deep and likely dark look at why folks break the law to promote political advancement when Jarret Lovell reads first-person accounts from animal rights, anti-abortion and tax resistance activists (from his book: “Crimes of Dissent: Civil Disobedience, Criminal Justice, and the Politics of Conscience”). Then, on Sat., Nov. 7 at 7p.m., author Rebecca Solnit explores anarchism’s belief that civil society triumphs over institutional authority. The proof? Argumentation and accounts to be found in her book — “A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster.” At Bluestockings Bookstore (172 Allen St. at Stanton St.). The suggested donation for all Bluestockings events is $5, but you’ll never be turned away for having empty pockets. Call 212-777-6028 or visit www.bluestockings.com.