Photos by James Kelleher

Photo by Joan Marcus.

Here’s a mini-history lesson to go along with Daniel Sullivan’s marvelous new staging of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, a perfect fit for the Public’s annual Shakespeare in the Park presentation (now celebrating its 50^th anniversary): it comes on the heels of several underwhelming neutered versions of the Bard’s work. Last year’s All’s Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure felt more like a formality, a resume checklist, than an invigorating resuscitation of Shakespeare’s work, despite following an angrily potent revival of The Merchant of Venice that transferred to Broadway. While a transfer doesn’t seem likely for Like, it nonetheless restates the Public’s reputation for breathing new life into these five-hundred year-old plays. Sullivan’s revival of this comedy about conflict resolution and secret lives gets the treatment it deserves, and even manages to touch hearts along the way.

Sullivan is aided in this adaptation, now set in the nineteenth-century American South, immeasurably by a top-notch cast led by Lily Rabe, late of Merchant, who has proven to be one of the current great interpreters of Shakespeare, in addition to being a wonderful stage talent in general. She is Rosalind, who flees to the woods of Arden with cousin Celia (Renee Elise-Goldsberry) after Celia’s father, Duke Frederick (Andre Braugher), banishes them from his court. The two disguise themselves – Celia as an unattractive woman named Aliena and Rosalind as a man named Ganymede, which complicates her semi-requited crush on Orlando (David Furr).

Further entangling this web are Silvius (Will Rogers), pining for Phoebe (Susannah Flood), who has fallen in love with Ganymede, and the bawdy jesters Touchstone and Audrey, embodied to perfection by Oliver Platt and Donna Lynne Champlin, respectively. Stephen Spinella adds wisdom to the hectic proceedings as philosopher Jacques as well. All of the actors acquit themselves nicely, though I wish the spirited Goldsberry wasn’t forced to spend quite so much time hiding on the ground. Two actors emerge as particularly noteworthy in this production: Rabe, who from her first speech to her final breathlessly emotive epilogue portrays the agony and ecstasy of lovelorn optimism, and Rogers, who communicates all of Silvius’ disappointments and relief with spot-on physicality that never once overshadows his fellow actors.

Another set of performers must also be saluted here: the onstage band who transform Like into a lively three-hour hoedown thanks to comedy icon Steve Martin’s bluegrass compositions. The clarion work of Tashina Claridge (fiddle), Jordan Tice (guitar), Tony Trischka (banjo), and Skip Ward (bass) textures the show in ways even Shakespeare’s poetry cannot. Additionally, John Lee Beatty’s very green set makes for the perfect forest, one that brims with the birth of new love and also provides plenty of places for those who fear its admission to hide.

As You Like It

Shakespeare in the Park, Delacorte Theater, Central Park, near 81st Street and Central Park West. shakespeareinthepark.org

The Town of Ephesus is Possessed in Comedy of Errors - photo courtesy of Hudson Warehouse

It’s that time of year again, where people are filled with joy, the trees are covered in a shine of green, bottles (and people) are covered in sweat, and Riverside Park is filled with tragedy.

This tragedy, though, is the re-arrival of The Bard on the Upper West Side. For the 9th-consecutive year since its founding in 2004, Hudson Warehouse and its collection of passionate artists is performing Shakespeare at the beautiful north patio of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Riverside Park.

This year the Hudson Warehouse, which dubs itself “the other free Shakespeare in the Park”, is performing Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, Richard III, and the lesser-known The Rover by Aphra Behn throughout the summer.

“When you see the audience leave with the big smiles on their faces, I don’t know what is more satisfying or more thrilling”, said Susane Lee, Hudson Warehouse’s Assistant Artistic Director. “I really think art should be for everybody… and it should be accessible.”

A typical Hudson Warehouse performance is in about as casual as it gets — in front of of an audience seated on the monument’s steps and fashioned with cushions.

“We want anyone to stop by, sit down on the steps, and watch theater. And we want to be as high-caliber as possible. We’re out there and are free theater, but we want to knock peoples’ socks off.”

This past Sunday’s show, directed by Lee herself, was a rendition of Comedy of Errors. Under skies that were cloudless and pink at showtime, Lee and her clan of actors, ranging from ages 20s to 40s, performed an updated, nuanced, and idiosyncratic version of the slapstick comedy. These idiosyncrasies are what make their version stand out.

“This space makes me feel very creative”, Lee said at the end of the performance and in the midst of disrobing and dressing actors. “I feel like this space inspires us to be more creative and think outside the box, and I love that.”

It is in this setting that makes Hudson Warehouse flourish. With actors jumping around the audience and milking the monument’s patio for all it’s worth, along with a 1 hour 35 minute run-time, the theater company keeps the audience engaged and laughing throughout the entire performance.

Hudson Warehouse performs at 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Sundays through August. Comedy of Errors is the featured play this month, followed by Behn’s The Rover in July, and Richard III in August.

“There is no angst-ing about tickets… if you come we take you in. We invite everyone… you’ll see great theater,” Lee said.

–Nick Gallinelli

You can follow Hudson Warehouse on Twitter for heads-ups about their performances and events– @HudsonWarehouse

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot
Tired of waiting in the stifling heat for Shakespeare in the Park to no avail? Fear not; there’s another free outdoor option to view the Bard’s work. The Drilling Company’s LES staple, taking place in the municipal parking lot at the corner of Broome and Ludlow streets, will present The Merry Wives of Windsor in July, followed by Coriolanus in August. Keep in mind that these productions are prone to interruption; the action occurs around parked cars whose drivers sometimes return and drive away mid-performance. Now that’s something performers never needed to concern themselves with during the Elizabethan era!
Thursdays-Saturdays, July 12-28 & Aug. 2-18, 8 p.m.; free. Broome St. at Ludlow St., shakespeareintheparkinglot.com.

Upper West Side
Shakespeare in the Park
It wouldn’t be summer without a trip (or better yet, two) to the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, where the Public Theater presents Shakespeare in the Park. This summer, it isn’t just the Bard taking the stage, however. In addition to As You Like It, starring Oliver Platt and Lily Rabe, there will also be a run of Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical Into the Woods, featuring movie star Amy Adams and Broadway vet Donna Murphy.
As You Like It opens June 5, Into the Woods opens July 2; free. The Delacorte Theater in Central Park, enter at W. 81st St. & Central Park West, shakespeareinthepark.org.

Upper West Side
Lincoln Center Theater Festival
The esteemed arts institution will offer a diverse mix of live programming, including two works—Giselle and Orpheus and Eurydice—by the Paris Opera Ballet and a 70th birthday tribute to late soul great Curtis Mayfield on July 20. Performers will include Tunde Adebimpe, Meshell Ndegeocello, Ryan Montbleau, Sinéad O’Connor and Mavis Staples. The National Theatre of Scotland will perform Macbeth, starring Tony winner Alan Cumming as the famed Thane of Cawdor. And six years after playing Hedda Gabler at BAM, Cate Blanchett and the Sydney Theater Company will revive another Chekhov classic, Uncle Vanya. Completists can check out both this version and Annie Baker’s adaptation at Soho Rep.
July 5-Aug. 5. Lincoln Center, W. 62nd St. & Columbus Ave., lincolncenterfestival.com.

Midtown
Marble Collegiate Church New Work Festival
Entering its second year, The Puzzle, Marble Collegiate Church’s festival of new work, brings together a host of freshly written theater pieces from New York and around the country for a three-week workshop process culminating in a week of plays, musicals and spoken word.
June 25-30; free. Marble Collegiate Church, 29th St. at 5th Ave., marblechurch.org.

Midtown
Signature Theater
In its first season in its new three-theater Midtown home, the Signature Theatre will present Athol Fugard’s My Children in Africa, Will Eno’s Title and Deed, the world premiere of Kenneth Lonergan’s Medieval Deed and Sam Shepard’s Heartless, among others. In addition to the plays, the theater will offer talk-back programs with performers and playwrights as well as pre-show discussions with designers.
Times and dates vary. Signature Theatre, 480 W. 42nd St., signaturetheater.org.

Citywide
New York Musical Theatre Festival
Featuring live music, workshops and full productions of brand-new musicals, the NYMTF has been giving New York audiences a chance to experience exciting musical theater without Broadway price tags (or tourists) since 1994. This year’s lineup is particularly strong, with 30 musicals including A Letter To Harvey Milk, about a butcher sending a letter to Milk; Baby Case, Michael Ogborn’s take on the Lindbergh baby’s disappearance; and Prison Dancer, a show based on the Filipino prisoners who became a worldwide sensation thanks to their YouTube performances.
July 9-29. Various locations, nymf.org.

Citywide
Fringe Fest
Even at 16 years old, this annual marathon of offbeat, cutting-edge theater—which birthed Rent, among other memorable shows—is devoted to the new and the strange. This year’s performances will include From Busk Till Dawn: The Life of an NYC Street Performer, Love Death Brains (A Zombie Musical), Occupy the Constellations: A Collaborative Revolutionary Puppet Tale and, all the way from California, a show called What I Learned From Porn. Not everything you’ll see at the Fringe is great, but it’s always done with humor and spirit, making it more interesting—if not quite as professional—than most other festivals. Aug. 10-26. fringenyc.org.

Simon Callow performs in “Being Shakespeare” a new play by Jonathan Bate and directed by Tom Cairns, presented by the Brooklyn Academy of Music at the BAM Harvey Theater on April 4, 2012. Credit: Stephanie Berger

Callow and Bate Pursue Shakespeare

SHAKESPEARE’S LADIES
Just about all of Shakespeare’s characters are iconic symbols of the human condition,
and the same can be said of the heroines within his tales. The experimental Shakespeare ensemble Dark Lady Players will be performing Shakespeare’s Annunciation parodies Sunday, March 25, at 5 p.m. at West-Park Presbyterian Church, 165 W. 86th St. The event is free to attend and will feature actors portraying Juliet, Desdemona, Olivia and Ophelia in part-comic religious allegories for the Virgin Mary.
WILD BIRDS NEED CASH
The Wild Bird Fund’s wildlife rehabilitation and education facility, located on the Upper West Side, will be NYC’s first wildlife rehabilitation and education center. To raise money  for equipment and medical supplies, the fund will host “Wild Bird Fund Takes Flight,” Tuesday April 3, 6:30–9 p.m., at “Birdie” Vanderbilt’s mansion at 60 E. 93rd St. The group is hosting a multitude of events that evening, including a speech from acclaimed author Jonathan Franzen.

Other events will include a self-guided tour of the historic Vanderbilt residence and the Carlton Hobbs antiques gallery, a video tour of the new center, a performance by Dzul Dance, jazz renditions by Jennifer Dudley of the song “It’s for the Birds,” a showing of baby birds, squirrels, owls and hawks, a silent auction and hors d’oeuvres and wine. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased by contacting Beverly Mastropolo at 917-848-0044 or online at http://bit.ly/GCXNPr.

FAMED DEBATERS ON GOD, GAYS AND GUNS
On Thursday, March 29, Dr. Cornel West and the Rev. Osagyefo Sekou will host a discussion about Sekou’s new book, Gods, Gays, and Guns: Essays on
Religion and the Future of Democracy, at West-Park Presbyterian Church, 165 W. 86th St. West is one of the nation’s most prolific authors and a known critical activist who participated at Occupy Wall Street last year. Sekou is considered one of the most influential religious leaders of the current generation. His work as an on-the-ground activist has landed him in post-Katrina New Orleans and the World Culture Center in Berlin. There is no advance ticketing and doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call the Rev. Bob Brashear at 646-541-3329.

LOCAL COUNCIL CANDIDATE HIRES BIG GUN
Ken Biberaj, the latest candidate to declare for the soon-tobe-vacant Upper West Side City
Council seat, has hired veteran political consultant firm Sheinkopf Ltd. to work on his campaign. The hire signals a serious move from a largely unknown candidate; Hank Sheinkopf has worked on many high-profile political campaigns, like President Bill Clinton’s re-election and Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s last election.

“As an Upper West Sider myself, I’m thrilled to work with a candidate who has such a compelling vision for the neighborhood’s future,” said Sheinkopf in a statement.

“We’re working hard, speaking with voters and small business owners to convey my campaign’s message,” Biberaj said.

Biberaj previously told the West Side Spirit in an interview that one of his top priorities is to get out in the community and introduce himself. Biberaj, who serves as vice-president of the Russian Tea Room and works in commercial real estate, is up against three other candidates who have each served on Community Board 7 and
are arguably more familiar faces on the Upper West Side.

JAPANESE RHYTHM: Taiko drummers from Soh Daiko perform during Japan Fest at the American Museum of Natural History. Visit www. nypress.com for more photos of the group in action. Photo Credit: Andrew Schwartz

FREE TAX HELP ON THE UWS

Sitting down to go over the taxes is an event most would equate with torture. However, residents of the Upper West Side can rest easy with several free sessions that condense the processes behind filling out tax forms. The AARP will host a number of sessions at several libraries and community centers during tax season to educate the public about filing their taxes:

• The Bloomingdale Library, 150 W. 100th St., will host classes every Friday through April 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call 212-222-8030 for more information.

• The Morningside Heights Library, 2900 Broadway, will host a session every Monday and Saturday through April 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Call 212-666- 5099 for more information.

• The Riverside Library, 127 Amsterdam Ave., will hold classes every Thursday through April 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 212-870-1810 for more information.

• The Project FIND Hamilton Senior Center, 141 W. 73rd St., will hold classes every Tuesday through April 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 212-787-7710 for more
information.

• The West Side Campaign Against Hunger, 263 W. 86th St., lower level will hold classes every Tuesday through April 17 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Call 212-362-3662 for more information.

• Community Tax Aid at Goddard Riverside Community Center at 647 Columbus Ave. near 92 Street will cater to single adults with income of up to $25,000 or families with income of up to $45,000. Bring last year’s tax forms and other relevant documents. Class will be held every Tuesday through April 10 from 6–8 p.m.

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 & 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 & Out of Doors presents a concert featuring the music of the Grammy Award-winning Klezmatics, Adrienne Cooper, Michael Winograd & 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.

Compiled by Alice Robb and Reid Spagna

Friday, July 16

Bat Watching—At dusk, bats leave the warm spaces under city roofs to feed on flying insects. Members of the New York City Bat Group, aided by a detector that amplifies bats’ high frequency chirps, lead a walk through Central Park. Meet at the steps of the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and West 79th Street, pre-register at www.amnh.org; 8:30 p.m., $30.

1960s Pop Art—Kelly Sidley leads a gallery talk on Pop Art and Minimalism in the 1960s. The Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Atrium, MoMA, 11 W. 53rd St., 212-708-9400; 1:30 p.m., Free with museum admission.

Restaurant Week—More than 250 New York City restaurants offer discounted three-course prix-fixe meals as part of this summer’s Restaurant Week. Various locations, www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek; $24-$35.

Meatballs on the Hudson—Hudson River Park’s River Flicks for Kids presents Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Inspired by the beloved children’s book, the film tells the tale of a town where food falls from the sky like rain. Free popcorn is served. Hudson River Park’s Pier 46, Charles and West streets, 212-627-2121; dusk (around 8:30 p.m.), Free.

Saturday, July 17

Shakespeare on the Run—New York Classical Theatre presents Much Ado About Nothing: the actors move when the scene location changes every 10 to 15 minutes, and the audience follows. Meet in front of Castle Clinton in Battery Park, www.newyorkclassical.org; 7 p.m., Free.

Storytelling—For more than 50 years, New York children have gathered around Hans Christian Andersen’s Statue in Central Park to listen to his stories. The tradition continues with Jean Hale and Joy Smith’s telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Nightingale” and South Africa’s “Nyangara.” The Statue of Hans Christian Andersen is on the western edge of the Conservatory Water at 72nd Street in Central Park, www.centralpark.com/events; 11 a.m., Free.

Lincoln’s Dance—Bill T. Jones and the Company immerse themselves in the life of Abraham Lincoln with Fondly Do We Hope…Fervently Do We Pray. In their performance, Jones and the Company imagine what would have happened had our 16th president lived. The result is a mixture of well-choreographed dance, quotes from Walt Whitman and traditional folk music. Rose Theater at Frederick P. Rose Hall, 33 W. 60th St., 212-875-5456; 8 p.m., $30-$75.

Sunday, July 18

Choir Music—The Summer Festival of Sacred Music at St. Bartholomew’s continues with a performance of Charles-Marie Widor’s Mass for Double Choir and Organ. The piece was composed by Widor in 1878, and was performed the same year at the church of St. Sulpice in Paris. William Trafka is the Choir’s conductor for the St. Bartholomew’s rendition during the Sunday service, and Paolo Bordignon accompanies them on the organ. St. Bartholomew’s Church, 325 Park Ave. at East 51st Street, 212-378-0222; 11 a.m., Free.

Seasonal Art—The Whitney offers a gallery tour of new exhibition Heat Waves in a Swamp: The Paintings of Charles Burchfield. Whitney Museum of American Art, 945 Madison Ave., 212-570-3600; 2 p.m., Free with Museum admission.

Mathematical Play—Winner of the Laurence Oliver Award for Best New Play in 2008, The Disappearing Number chronicles the journey of two mathematicians as they learn about infinity’s numerical and spiritual meaning. David H. Koch Theater, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, 212-875-5456; 3 p.m., $20-$100.

Music and Magic—SummerStage presents an afternoon of family fun including puppetry, music, mime, acrobats and magic. Kid-friendly rocker Ralph Covert performs songs from his new album, All Around Ralph’s World, plus classics from his Disney releases. The acrobats of Cirque-tacular Entertainment combine spectacular aerial numbers with energetic music; Bethany Yarrow and Rufus Cappadocia perform American roots music. Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, 212-360-8290; 3 p.m., Free.

Monday, July 19

Honoring A Revolutionary—The New York Philharmonic, the International Contemporary Ensemble, and other ensembles perform Varèse: (R)evolution at Lincoln Center. This two-night presentation is a compilation of the works of Edgard Varèse, a composer and innovator of classical music technique in the 20th century. Starr Theater, Alice Tully Hall, 1941 Broadway, 212-875-5456; 8 p.m., $30-$40.

Tuesday, July 20

Cézanne—Three Colors Cézanne discusses how Cézanne’s use of vivid colors and multiple perspectives influenced many other artists. Shown in conjunction with the exhibit Side by Side: Oberlin’s Masterworks at the Met. Uris Center for Education, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave., 212-570-3894; 2 p.m., Free with Museum admission.

Royal Drama—New York Times bestselling author Alison Weir’s new novel, Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine, takes us back to the 12th century with a tempestuous tale that brings to life England’s most passionately destructive royal couple: Eleanor of Aquitaine and King Henry II. Barnes & Noble, 150 E. 86th St., 212-369-2180; 7 p.m., Free.

Wednesday, July 21

Kafka to Opera—Composer Salvatore Sciarrino’s La porta della legge is the sole opera at this year’s Lincoln Center Festival and is based on a short story by Franz Kafka. Sciarrino’s piece opens July 20, and continues until July 22. Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 899 10th Ave., 212-875-5456; 8:30 p.m., $35-$55.

Thursday, July 22

Writing Class—The Gotham Writers’ Workshop holds a memoir writing class at the Barnes & Noble of Greenwich Village. Shahnaz Habib, a publisher and Workshop instructor, plans to discuss how attendees can retell their life stories using fiction as their vehicle. Participants are encouraged to bring writing utensils. Barnes & Noble in Greenwich Village, 369 6th Ave.; 7:30 p.m., Free.