City Week: July 29 - August 5
a selective listing of recommended cultural and community events
compiled by alice robb and reid spagna thursday, july 29 creative writing 101-professional writers teach an hour-long class on creative writing, hosted by the gotham writers' workshop. barnes and noble, 150 e. 86th st., 212-369-2180; 7 p.m., free.
design on wheels-the museum of arts and design explores the art of building bikes with bespoke: the handbuilt bicycle. the exhibit displays the models of six renowned designers, who manipulate steel, aluminum and titanium to create their vehicles. the museum of arts and design, 2 columbus circle, 212-299-7777; 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m., $12-$15. friday, july 30 young opera-citywide youth opera presents the world so wide (a global journey through operatic music). this concert of opera scenes and arias is performed by some of greater new york's most talented teens, with selections by mozart, handel, monteverdi, berlioz and others. roy arias studios and theatre, 300 w. 43rd st., 6th fl., 212-539-3561; 7:30 p.m., $12-$20. saturday, july 31 manhattan in 1900-playwright martin zuckerman and turtle shell production have taken a famous john dos passos novel and adapted it for the stage. manhattan transfer chronicles the big apple's evolution during the early 20th century through the intertwined stories of several new yorkers. the shell theater, 300 w. 43rd st., 212-352-3101; 8 p.m., $18.
shakespeare for the small-dramatune presents a mini-twelfth night, an hour-long, family-friendly version of shakespeare's classic comedy of mistaken identity. children are encouraged to wear clown hats, as feste the clown interacts with them. west side community garden, 115 w. 89th st., 212-316-5490; 5 p.m., free. sunday, august 1 sea lions-witness sea lions high-fiving their trainers, showing off their flips and catching fish on the fly at a sea lion feeding and presentation. central park zoo, east 64th street and 5th avenue, www.centralparkzoo.com; 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., free with admission ($7-$12).
artistic life from death-thirty international artists use organic materials to create their art at dead or alive, a unique exhibit at the museum of arts and design. everything from bird feathers to animal bones are employed to creatively make a statement about existence. the museum of arts and design, 2 columbus circle, 212-299-7777; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., $12-$15. monday, august 2 the art of jazz-in its latest exhibit, lincoln center shows that jazz can be visual as well as auditory. jazz at first sight: the art of david stone martin displays the artist's illustrations for the sleeves of various jazz albums. throughout his career, martin always aimed to correlate his cover art with the composer's musical piece. frederick p. rose hall, 33 w. 60th st., 212-258-9807; 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m., free. tuesday, august 3 klezmer music-music for a better world: jewish music free and out of doors presents a concert featuring the music of the grammy award-winning klezmatics, adrienne cooper, michael winograd and friends and the community chorus of the boston workmen's circle. damrosch park, lincoln center, west 62nd street and amsterdam avenue, 212-889-6800; 7 p.m., free.
baskets full of baskets-the museum of arts and design presents intertwined: contemporary baskets from the sara and david lieberman collection. with over 70 traditional and contemporary baskets, the exhibit displays the best of the liebermans' collection, and gives an in-depth look at the art of basket weaving. the museum of arts and design, 2 columbus circle, 212-299-7777; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., $12-$15. wednesday, august 4 cool songs to cool down-performance company sing! sing! sing! will give audiences a way to escape the heat this summer. the group presents cool songs for a summer evening, a rendition of over 20 summer-related songs that aims to "counter soaring temperatures with soaring voices." spectators are encouraged to sing along. the triad, 158 w. 72nd st., 212-786-9064; 7 p.m., $10 cover with 2-drink minimum.
andes to the pampas-the mta arts for transit's music under new york program continues its summer concert series, which brings members of new york's diverse underground music scene to the lively oasis of broadway and west 66th street. music lovers are invited to bring lunch and friends to a performance featuring a pair of colombian identical twins, argentinian singer flamenco y sol and andean flute player edgar paucar. richard tucker park, broadway and west 66th street, 212-878-7250; 12 p.m., free.
new music-asphalt orchestra performs world premiere commissions by yoko ono and david byrne/annie clark as part of the lincoln center out of doors festival. broadway plaza, corner of west 65th street and broadway, 212-875-5000; 7 p.m., free. thursday, august 5 meet the goldbergs-a classic film from 1950 will make its return to the silver screen at the jewish museum. molly: the goldbergs is based upon the television series the goldbergs, with the sitcom's cast reprising their roles as a working class jewish family from the bronx. the jewish museum, 1109 5th ave., 212-423-3337; 6:30 p.m., $12-$15.