CULTURE CLUB

If you've always wanted to experience the days of Prohibition, your chance has come. From the chefs that brought you Dine Titanic, Prohibition NYC is now bringing 160 lucky revelers to experience a once in a lifetime culinary experience with Rob McCue and Adam C. Banks. During the 1920s, speakeasies popped up all over the city, frequented by the elite and fashionable. Taking off on this concept, the event, which will be held on April 20th at 1pm, is highly exclusive. VIP tickets are already sold out, but now's your chance to snag a coveted ticket for $125 (here). In typical speakeasy fashion, only those that purchase tickets and follow the protocol will be granted entrance. The exact location of the cocktail party will be kept a secret until 48 hours prior to the event. The chefs have created a unique tasting menu working off of the traditional '20s cocktail menus, which will be served along with period cocktails and a modern twist on the roaring '20s. Period dress is also strongly encouraged. After all, if you're going to partake in a speakeasy, you might as well look the part.

While New York City is the biggest theater destination there is, it is easy to get caught up in the glamour that is Broadway. Unbeknownst to many, there is a world beyond pricey shows and it takes place Off-Broadway. With so many happenings going on each and every day it can be hard to know where to even start looking. Lucky for you, we are in the know and have rounded up some of the best up and coming acts out there. Check em out!

Have your secretary make an appointment for April 6th at The Tribeca Underground. Travel back to 1980 and make sure to bring your giant cell phone and don all the right attire. Brought to you by BBQ Films, hosts of pop-up movie nights throughout the city, this epic evening event celebrates Patrick Bateman's 27th birthday. The event is broken down into two screenings of American Psycho and features your favorite tunes from the '80s, including Huey Lewis, Whitney Houston, and Genesis. Join Pierce & Pierce employees for cocktails at the secret club under the Tribeca Grand Hotel and enjoy a special performance by the Silent Drape Runners, a photo booth with your own Robert Palmer girl backup dancer, and more. If you wanna rock out with your chainsaw out, then this is the place to be. Check out all the available ticket options below!

Earlier this week, The School of American Ballet held their 2013 Winter Ball: A Night in the Far East at Lincoln Center's David H. Koch Theater. The annual dinner dance was attended by more than 400 patrons, including the School's board members and alumni, as well as leaders from New York corporate and social communities. Van Cleef & Arpels and Ron Wendt Design put on quite the display, evoking the colors and ornaments of the Baron Alexis de Rede's 1969 Le Bal Oriental held at the Hotel Lambert in Paris. Van Cleef & Arpels was the lead corporate sponsor of the gala for the sixth year in a row. The ball began with cocktails and dinner, followed by a performance and then The Encore dessert and dancing.

If you've always wondered what is was like during Prohibition, now is your chance to find out. Throw back some moonshine, cozy up to gangsters, ogle at burlesque dancers and solve a murder. Artist and author Cynthia Von Buhler is the woman behind Speakeasy Dollhouse. Cynthia's Italian immigrant grandfather, Frank Spano, owned a speakeasy and was killed in Manhattan in 1935. The shooter was caught but the case was inexplicably dismissed, leaving the murder a complete mystery.

The art world is buzzing with anticipation for the 100th anniversary of the prestigious Armory Show which opens its doors today and stretches through the weekend. No longer held at its original historic venue, The 69th Regiment Armory, this year’s installment of the Armory Show will be held at Pier 92 and Pier 94 in Midtown Manhattan. Renowned the world over, The Armory Show is essentially an international contemporary and modern art fair that is devoted to showcasing the world’s leading art galleries and their most important artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries.

This year’s Armory Show is split between the two piers holding the event. Pier 92 will be showcasing historically significant modern art from top galleries such as the Forum Gallery, LEVY Galerie, Vivian Horan Fine Art, and dozens more. Contemporary artworks from up-and-coming, new artists and living artists will be featured on Pier 94, with exhibition pieces from Eleven Rivington, GRIMM, and Two Palms among many others. The 2013 Armory Show will also have a focus exhibit that will highlight artworks from the United States. The Focus: USA gallery will have exhibit pieces from the collections of Various Small Fries, Suzanne Geiss, Anthony Meier Fine Arts, and more.

Tonight be sure to check out Color of Sound, an art exhibition surrounding the Shoalin Jazz musical exploratory by Gerald Watson and DJ 2 Tone Jones melding the poetic raps of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan with some of Jazz's greatest instrumentals.

Tonight's gala is also presented by art crew Brooklyn Wildlife and Bushwick's Fuchs Projects, a NYC art space that seeks to preseverse, produce and showcases the work of emerging and mid-career artists.

Photographer Chris Carr of BK Wildlife plans to be in attendance to document tonight's event while artist Aniekan Udofia exhibits a visual interpretation of the Shoalin Jazz sound with an exclusive installation. Doors open at 8PM and complimentary cocktails will be provided by Chairman's Reserve Rum.

Horse Trade Management Group is presenting the 7th Annual FRIGID New York Festival, a fun and open, and uncensored theatre festival on the fringe of the mainstream. This one-of-a-kind festival is one of the best of theatre productions in the city and should be marked on everyone's calendar. The shows will run from February 20th through March 3rd at The Kraine Theater & The Red Room and UNDER St. Mark's. 100% of box office proceeds will go directly to the artists and tickets are already on sale here. Check out all the shows you don't want to miss below! 36 Hours Presented by aWe Creative Group - New York, NY Written by Amy E. Witting, Directed by Bricken Sparacino Four years after a brief rendezvous Annie and Patrick reunite at Heathrow Airport and discover how life-changing 36 hours can be. A Day in the Life of Miss Hiccup Presented by Shoshinz – Tokyo, Japan Written & Performed by Yanomi The mysterious Miss Hiccup lives alone, but is definitely not lonely. She is forever accompanied by a raucous cast of sounds and music that make her life an absurd adventure. A hilarious and beautiful story by an award-winning Japanese performer. Bathtub Jen and the Henchmen Written by Jennifer Harder, Charley Layton, Glen Heroy, & David Rosen – New York, NY A steampunk collaboration of prohibitionistic proportions! Sneak into a world of slapstick, stand-up, and vaudeville with Jersey's finest speakeasy entrepreneur and her curmudgeonly ex-con husband as they embark on poorly judged money-making schemes, erotic escapades gone awry, run-ins with a keystone cop, and vignettes that include accordion, ukulele, clarinet, spoons, and trumpet. Commencing Presented by Estraña Theatre Company - Brooklyn, NY Written by Jane Shepard, Directed by Christina Massie The beautiful Kelli eagerly anticipates the blind date her friends have set her up on. To her dismay, it turns out her date is one very disappointed lesbian named Arlin. Mutually appalled, yet appallingly intrigued, they proceed to pull the screws loose on both straight and gay women's culture, to find the common ground between them in the search for true love and self acceptance. exHOTic Other Presented by Keep It Movin’ Productions – New York, NY Written & Performed by Una Aya Osato How many layers must you lose to get to the center of yourself? Come join award-winning and critically acclaimed writer/performer Una Aya Osato and her burlesque alter ego exHOTic other as they take on the world and take off their clothes. Generic Magic Realism Presented by Temerity Theatre – Brooklyn, NY Written by Ed Malin, Directed by DeLisa White, Starring Nat Cassidy What happens when the magical world of your average South American person is transplanted to a more northern, less magical, more real location? Join Octavio as he discovers poetry, satire, love, birds, chocolate, hippies and explosives on the way from the Andes to San Francisco during the fragrant 1960s. iMime, There’s An App For That Presented by Laughing Nomad Productions – Minneapolis, MN Choreographed & Performed by Kirsten Stephens Inspired by irretrievable hours sucked into Angry Birds, YouTube, and deciphering privacy settings. Each “app” opens a window into the bizarre, addictive, and sometimes surprisingly human things we follow, share and become with our gadgets. iMime tells the stories of our lives, both real and virtual, through stylized, poetic movement. JonBenét Ramsey: Murder Mystery Theater Presented by Medium Face Productions – Brooklyn, NY Who Killed JonBenét? And when? And how much? The creators of the off-Broadway hit, Bayside! The Unmusical! (Saved by the Bell Musical) proudly presents a true crime musical comedy. We boldly recreate that fateful night of the fateful murder in that fateful town of Boulder, Colorado. With music! Little Pussy Written & Performed by John Grady – New York, NY John Grady's true tales of being picked on, chased down, and beat up, from his youth to adulthood. Will he ever stand and fight? Are bullies and the bullied destined to fine each other? If so, who will save him? From the creator of the fringe hit, Fear Factor: Canine Edition. Losing My Religion: Confessions of a New Age Refugee Written by Seth Lepore, Directed by Thomas Griffin– Westhampton, MA A hysterical romp through America’s spiritual enterprise exposing the blurry line between self-help and faith. Yoga gurus, healthy chocolate peddlers and Buddhists with God complexes ego-trip their way toward absurdity. Love in the Time of Time Machines Presented by The Theatre Elusive – Toronto, Ontario Written by David Tichauer, Net Petrie, & Gillian English Once upon a time, Klein and Gabrielle broke up. And that was the end of it. OR WAS IT?! In a world where time's arrow spins like a compass needle at the North Pole, do the actions of two people amount to a hill of beans? Sure, but what does that hill of beans amount to? I don't know, you're the bean expert! Maison des Reves Written & Performed by Talie Melnyk – New York, NY Directed by Gretchen Cryer In 1909 Alexe Popova confessed to killing over 300 men, liberating women of her community from their abusive husbands. For 30 years she fought the War on Women in her own way, with a little lethal poison. Come ‘try’ her for yourself at Maison des Reves! My BoX Written & Performed by Killy Dwyer – New York, NY “I’m not sure I’m good enough to make something bad enough that today’s society will hate enough to love.” - Killy. My BoX is a dark comedy exploring pop culture shock in this digital age of simultaneous connection and isolation. Weaving storytelling, performance art, experimental projection and original live music, this "Mock$tar" creates a unique experience nightly. My Pussy’s Purrin’ Again! Written & Performed by D’yan Forest– New York, NY A vibrant, 78 year old woman, discovering the purrin' stirrin's of sex at age 12 (oh! Camp Takawalananakiki!), admits to the many lies of her life and discovers no matter how the world has tried to stop her adventurous soul-- her pussy’s purrin again! Comedy, song, dance, and a glockenspiel, too. My Three Moms Written & Performed by Virginia Bryan – New York, NY One birthed her, one nursed her, one raised her. Now she’s burying all three. A daughter is called back to the red clay of Georgia to bury her moms and shape her own identity Ringmaster Presented by Boom Done, Inc. – New York, NY Written by Turhan Caylak, Directed by Adam Knight Come be a fly on the wall, high in the mountains at the home of Pops- watch this master manipulator of a bygone era in razor sharp form, as fists fly, tops come off, and bodies hit the floor- Will Pop's legacy be preserved? Or will the secrets of the Sickie Room be uncovered at last? Serving Bait to Rich People Presented by Botwot Productions – Aspen, CO Written & Performed by Alexa Fitzpatrick Ski bum Alexa Fitzpatrick serves up jokes about sushi and dating in a land locked mountain town where the men outnumber the women two to one. As a bartender at a very high-end sushi restaurant, she amusingly stumbles through the moral dilemmas of serving very expensive bait to rich people. Sisters Grimm: Fables of the Stage Presented by Bricken and Birch Productions – New York, NY Written by Bricken Sparcino & Amy E. Witting Directed by Lori Kee & Bricken Sparacino A hilarious look behind the curtain. Find out how Jack really met the Giant and what happens between the scenes of a traveling musical children’s theater troupe. No children allowed. That’s Her Way Presented by En Avant Playwrights and Emerging Artists Theater – New York, NY Written by Kathleen Warnock Directed by Vivian Meisner Stuckey and Ferro have been doing this dance since high school. Hometown hero Stuckey stayed behind in their small town while smart, ambitious Ferro went off to discover her own future. A lifetime later, she's back and the conversation continues. Will it ever end? The Dreamer and The Acrobat Presented by Petite Mort Productions – New York, NY Written by Stav Meishar, Directed by Rachel Klein Mallory is an agoraphopic baker who never leaves her shop, eager to experience the world but terrified to try. The circus comes to town with Mallory's best childhood friend – the acrobat Gitano – with whom she's always been secretly in love. To be with him, she must overcome her fears and join the outside world before the circus leaves. The God Box Written & Performed by Antonia Lassar – Brooklyn, NY A "bagels and schmeaaah" mother discovers her daughter wasn't a practicing Jew. The God Box is a hilarious and poignant tale of how faith is passed on, and what happens when it isn’t. The Sandman’s Coming Presented by Brain Melt Consortium – New York, NY Conceived & Directed by Molly Ballerstein Lulled by nursery rhymes, a man's thoughts are haunted by what separates his identity from his addiction. Finding life's beauty and embracing addiction's lifeblood entangle when what is real is only perceived through touch. Dance, multi-media, and text weave together for a chilling look into the world of an addict. The Spectator & the Blind Man: Stories of Seeing & Not-Seeing Written & Directed by Dr. ML Godin – New York, NY Voilà, enlightenment’s blind side! Set in eighteenth-century Paris, The history of Braille begins at a sideshow spectacle and ends with revolution. Hear intimate stories of triumph and degradation embedded in sound and visionscapes. Think Ken Burns on hallucinogenic steroids! The Vindlevoss Family Circus Spectacular Presented by Animal Engine– New York, NY Written by Carrie Brown & Karim Muasher Directed by Mark Gindick The mustachioed Professor Penelope Vindlevoss discovers Edward the Zombie on her recent anthropological expedition, and takes it upon herself to domesticate him. What is Edward’s final lesson? To put on a circus, of course! Physical comedy and undead logic collide in this quirky fable about how to be truly human. Traditional Dances of Sri Lanka Presented by Nishadhi Dance Troupe – Sri Lanka Mind and spirit in one as the body sways to the tunes of the yakka (devil). Twisted Beats & Circus Feats Presented by Circadelix – Sydney, Australia/Chicago, IL Written by Jesse Horne, Directed by Dan Griffiths Twisted Beats & Circus Feats tells a uniquely heartfelt story through the eyes of a slightly deranged clown who, in his quest to become a hip-hop superstar, falls in love with a wind-up ballerina. A breathtaking fusion of clowning, juggling, contortion, hip-hop rhyming, storytelling, and puppetry. Two Lovely Black Eyes Presented by Elephant Run District – New York, NY Written by Chris Harcum, Directed by Aimee Todoroff Chris Harcum (American Badass, Rabbit Island and Some Kind of Pink Breakfast) returns to the Frigid Festival with a stand-up and storytelling fueled solo performance on feuds, gunslinging and what you get when you go up against the impossible. Varieties of Religious Experience Written & Performed by Adam Strauss – Brooklyn, NY Inspired by a scientific study showing that hallucinogenic mushrooms can effectively treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, Adam Strauss embarked on his own program of vigilante psychopharmacology. VGL 5’4” Top Written & Performed by Lucas Brooks – New York, NY Directed by Matthew Klein Sick and tired of short jokes and snobbery amongst the gay population, Lucas, a sexually frustrated and vertically challenged young top, is ready to fight back. Armed with only a laptop and a quick wit, our gallant hero addresses the loaded topic of sex and how it divides us, rather than unites us, in a time of need. Wearing Black Presented by Dark Prophet Productions – New York, NY Book, Music & Lyrics by Riley Thomas Accident. Murder. Evan must navigate the drugs, debts, and relationships he inherits after his twin brother is killed. Darkly visceral, strangely intimate and set to a deeply emotional score, “Wearing Black” trespasses into of the hearts and minds of those left behind and demands to know what place love has in death.

Last week, artist Steven Colucci debuted his new scarf collection, as well as "Sounds of Color" paintings at The National Arts Club in Gramercy Park. The exhibit was displayed alongside Andy Warhol sketches and was debuted while Shea serenaded guests with festive Christmas tunes. Colucci has been working with The American Cancer Society, as well as the Quogue Wildlife Refuge to raise awareness and funds during the holiday season, and therefore all proceeds from the event benefitted these two organizations.

This Wednesday at LES’ White Rabbit from 7 pm – 1 am, 2feet12inches presents Live Girls! Revue an all-female artist lineup featuring painting, photography, sculpture and installation exploring the social and moral expectations as a woman while existing as an artist.

A diverse group of womens' visual conversation, sharing their experiences both as females and as artists. These ladies express their thoughts on sex and gender roles while living as artists. Topics range from sex, relationships, family and breaking through a male dominated art scene.