Get R.I.C.H.

The release party for Richie Righteous' latest album, R.I.C.H., is tomorrow night at 7:00 at New Greater Bethel, located at 215-32 Jamaica Avenue in Queens. Admission is free.

The evening will be hosted by comedian Chris Williams, with special guest God Given.

The Proverbial Craving

From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,
but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.
~ Proverbs 13:2

Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep Are the New Him + Her

First, there was "his and her" towels.

Then, there was She & Him, the indie pop collaboration of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.

Today, there is Him + Her, a video installation by Candice Breitz:

The exhibition features two seven-channel installations: Him (1968-2008) montages together a conversation between 23 Jack Nicholsons extracted from films made over a period of 40 years, while Her (1978 – 2008) places 28 Meryl Streeps – drawn out of 30 years’ worth of films – into dialogue with one another.

There will be an opening reception for Him + Her from 6 to 8 tonight at Yvon Lambert (550 West 21st Street). The exhibit will be on view until March 21.

It's getting harder and harder to keep these pronouns in check.

New Kerouac Novel about the Sea

The muse of everyone from Ben Gibbard to Craig Finn, Jack Kerouac has a new book coming out. In a deal reported by Publishers Marketplace Harper will publish the reluctant King of the Beat Generation's The Sea Is My Brother: The Lost Novel.

Just as last week's sermon at City Grace discussed the theme of water in the Bible, Kerouac had an interesting relationship with both the sea and religion. He joined the US Merchant Marines in 1942 and the US Navy in 1943. The Sea Is My Brother is based on his time serving in the galley on the Dorchester, according to Too Beautiful, the Blog. Kerouac was discharged on psychiatric grounds during World War II. His travels on the mainland, however, are what he's known for today: in 1951, his cross-country adventure On the Road changed the world forever.

Throughout his semi-autobiographical novels, Kerouac often touched upon the topic of religion. He was raised Catholic and turned to Buddhism before returning to Catholicism, many biographies report.

Kerouac's actual brother, Gérard, died from rheumatic fever when Kerouac was four and Gérard was nine years old.

The Sea Is My Brother will include "correspondence and commentary illuminating his development as a young writer, including correspondence with his friend, the poet Sebastian Sampas," according to Publishers Marketplace. It will be edited by Dawn Ward.

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The Proverbial Wise Son

A wise son heeds his father's instruction,
but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
~ Proverbs 13:1

Bad Apples in the Big Apple, If You Know Where That Is

Tonight's musical performance at Chelsea Mind Games is The Bad Apples. They'll go on at 6:30 and then at 7:30 comedian/encyclopedia editor team Jen and Meg will host a geography bee.

The problem with geography is that the facts we learned in elementary school may not be relevant any longer. Like, did you know there are now 5 oceans instead of 4? And that Zaire no longer exists? Check this out.

Got what it takes to compete? Head on over to 75 Ninth Avenue. It's free, and there are "prizes, refreshments, erudite merriment, booze available!"

The Proverbial Path

In the way of righteousness there is life;
along that path is immortality.
~ Proverbs 12:28

Time and Place Set for Pillow Fight ... But Not Without Controversy

[image from Newmindspace]

The next Pillow Fight has just been announced as taking place Saturday, April 4, in Union Square. This, however, came as somewhat of a shock to Newmindspace, the event organizer. According to an email we received from Newmindspace:

Before we were able to secure a location for the pillow fight, the creator of the Facebook event, Nikki M. Sparks, removed me as an admin and wrote the location as Union Square.

She says that Union Square is the true home of the event. I have tried to reason with her, to wait until a permit is granted, but she has acted alone by having created the event before we got a chance to.

There is already far too much momentum to try to start an opposing Facebook event with a different location, so I suppose we have no other option but to promote her event, permit or not.

The pillow fight this year is in Union Square on Saturay [sic] April 4th. Tell everybody.

Okay, we're telling everybody.

April 4 is World Pillow Fight Day. Different organizations are planning Pillow Fights everywhere from Cape Town to Sydney, Paris to Caracus, and Budapest to Portland. Find your city here.

Wikipedia noted that last year on Worldwide Pillow Fight Day, twenty-five cities across the world took part in the event and, according to a report put out by The Wall Street Journal, 5,000 people participated in New York.

Newmindspace is also organizing a Pillow Fight in Toronto on March 21.

Newmindspace is run by Lori Kufner and Kevin Bracken. They organize "free, fun, all-ages events like parties on subway cars, public pillow fights, giant games of capture the flag on city streets, massive bubble battles, public art installations and much more. Newmindspace is committed to reclaiming public space, inventing new ways of having fun, and creating community."

Technicolor Dreams of Coney Island

Yesteryear's Coney Island is but a blip in our minds. The Municipal Art Society of New York (MASNYC) is trying to put the spirit back into "the world's playground" with its ImagineConey Public Program. One of the most intriguing talks in the series is taking place tonight. At 6:30 PM at their headquarters (457 Madison Ave.), MASNYC will present "Imagining Coney: Bold Ideas, Technicolor Dreams, and Fanciful Concepts." At this free event (RSVP required) the more than 300 ideas for the future of Coney Island submitted by designers and laymen will be reviewed.

Some of these ideas are on display in the gallery at the MASNYC headquarters. They will be on exhibit until March 11. The gallery is open Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, and Sat: 11 am – 5 pm. Closed Thurs and Sun.

On January 14, MASNYC gave a presentation on some of the ImagineConey ideas at Our Lady of Solace Church, which used part of the timbers from one of the original rides in Coney Island in its belfry. You can download the presentation here.

New Documentary Examines Christians' Obligation to Sustain Nature

Although in the recent past Christians have been criticized for being more destructive toward the environment than being stewards of God's creation, there are many who are strong leaders in environmental issues. A documentary by producer Jim Becket and featuring Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will be released soon that examines our role in nature. According to Greek Orthodox Archdiocese:

Documentary producer Jim Becket has released several films that document the Symposium on Religion, Science and the Environment - a series of gatherings that follow from a initiative from the Ecumenical Patriarch to bring together experts from the field of ecological sciences, social sciences and world religions together to discuss the impact of human life on the environment and explore our obligations as people of faith to sustain the created world. Join our waiting lists to be notified when these products are available for sale.

More information here.

The Proverbial Roasted Game

The lazy man does not roast his game,
but the diligent man prizes his possessions.
~ Proverbs 12:27

Screening and Q&A for The J2 Project

"If Jesus Christ were cloned, would the clone meet with as much opposition and controversy as did his genetic ancestor?" That's the question posed by The J2 Project, a twelve-minute mockumentary showing tonight as part of Terraza 7 Train's cinemondays (40-19 Gleane St., Elmhurst, NY). After the film, Director Alex Horwitz will take questions on the controversial comedy.

The J2 Project stars Peter Cambor, William Francisco, F.D. Reeve, William Johnston, and Gabe Dabrowski.

Coming up next week... The Confession, a short film in which "a religiously devout young Spanish woman is torn between tradition and temptation."

Orthodox Podcasts on Lent

If you can't make it out to church, you can still prepare for Lent with radiocasts and podcasts. Fordham University scholars and Orthodox priests will present on a variety of topics that will air on New York radio and be available for download. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese reports:

Fr. Chris meets with Fordham scholars Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou and Dr. George Democopoulos to discuss Blessed Augustine: his life, his teachings and his legacy. There will also be a short ASK segment with Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou.

Other programs on our Internet radio stations: On "Special Moments in Orthodoxy," Metropolitan Jonah will continue his presentation on how to prepare for Great Lent. On "Theologically Thinking", Fr. Stanley Harakas will present a program called "The Hand that Blesses." A new episode of "Worship in Spirit and Truth" will discuss Emmanuel, He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Look for new podcasts through OCN's partnership with Axion Estin and NY radio station Cosmos and a new series on the Apocalypse by Dr. Jeannie Constantinou.

All programs available on Internet Radio, Podcast and OnDemand at www.myocn.net.

Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange Meets Tonight @ Union Hall

The community support in north Brooklyn is inspiring. Everyone out there seems to be encouraging each other's talents. In 2005 Rebecca Pronsky founded the Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange "to encourage community and support among songwriters in the borough of Brooklyn and around New York City."

Because of Pronsky's drive to unite creative individuals and build up the community, the Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange has gone on to become a much-talked about monthly series. Everyone from Time Out NY to NY Daily News has covered the group's events, which in turn promotes the individuals who have participated.

The Brooklyn Songwriters's next event is 7:30 tonight at the very cool Union Hall (702 Union St., Brooklyn). The free performance will feature Curtis Eller, Rachel Loshak, and Trevor Exter.