Laverne Cox
Orange Is the New Black actress Laverne Cox has been honored by GLAAD, among other organizations, for her tireless advocacy on behalf of transgender people. And she’s seen a lot of firsts in her career, from being the first transgender person nominated for an Emmy in an acting category to being the first transgender person to appear on the cover of Time. Notably and most recently, Cox declared a state of emergency in our country due to the continuing violence against the transgender community. She’ll be talking about all of this and more with New York Times Senior Culture Editor Erik Piepenburg at the TimesCenter.
Tuesday, August 25 at 6:30PM, at the TimesCenter, 242 West 41st Street.
Event info.
Alphabet City
Thanks to current movies like 10,000 Saints and upcoming TV shows like Vinyl, the gritty history of the East Village has been even more in the spotlight than usual lately. Few portrayals are more raw than Alphabet City, an original, real-deal crime drama from 1984. Punk filmmaker Amos Poe tells the story of a 19-year-old drug kingpin catching heat from the mob, and the intense teenage tale has a perfectly 80s soundtrack to match. BAM’s screening is a rare opportunity to catch this gem on a big screen.
Wednesday, August 26 at 9:30PM, at BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn.
bam.org
Tei Shi at MoMA Nights
One hangout session with Argentinean-born, New York-based singer Tei Shi, and we were hooked. Her sound, vibe and aesthetic are all gloriously undefinable; ethereal and badass at the same time. She’s also a DIY renegade, storming small venues with her band and captivating audiences with her spellbinding mix of pop and shoegaze (mermaid music, if you will). We have a feeling she’s on the verge of blowing up, so catch her now at buzzy, unique events like this installment of MoMA Nights, which will also include a DJ set by Lomé.
Thursday, August 27 at 5:30PM, at MoMA, 11 West 53rd Street.
moma.org
Waku Waku +NYC
Wishing a trip to Tokyo was on the cards for this summer? Well, a new festival called Waku Waku will launch in Brooklyn on Saturday to celebrate the many different sides of Japanese culture. Perfect whether you’re obsessed with Japanese film or looking to learn more about manga, the two-day event will represent anime, art, fashion, cosplay, music and food in interactive exhibits, screenings and workshops. Keep an eye out for the Lolita fashion show and the after-party at Brooklyn Bowl.
Saturday, August 29 to Sunday, August 30, at the Brooklyn Expo Center, 72 Noble Street, Brooklyn.
wakuwakunyc.com
Do the Right Thing
In honor of its first summer, new Rockaway spot The Palms has been hosting a schedule of pop-up shops and art shows, plus a series of movie screenings curated by mumblecore queen Greta Gerwig. The idea of a film screening on the beach is enough of a sell on its own, but this Sunday’s event is especially worth the trip because Ms. Gerwig has chosen to show Do the Right Thing. Spike Lee’s seminal film – equal parts funny, touching, raw and powerful – is a must-watch if you haven’t seen it already and a classic if you have.
Sunday, August 30 at 8PM, at The Palms Rockaway, 1-89 Beach 96th Street, Queens.
thepalmsrockaway.com
Credits
Text Courtney Iseman
Photography Brayden Olson