Welcome to Culture Hound, InsideHook’s deep dive into the month’s most important (pop) cultural happenings.
GO: “History of Burlesque” Show
Who better to learn about burlesque from than a performer, researcher and producer writing her thesis on the resurgence of theater’s most tantalizing variety? Swill in hand, enjoy an expert talk and multi-act, in-the-flesh performance featuring some of NY’s foremost seductresses, including Dirty Martini, Gin Minsky and Corvette Le Face.
WATCH: Midnight Special
A father goes on the run to protect his unusually gifted eight-year son. On their tail: the government, Adam Driver and a group of religious zealots called The Ranch. Set in the Deep South and once again starring the imperious Michael Shannon, the fourth film from indie director/writer Jeff Nichols (Mud) adds a welcome touch of ‘80s sci-fi nostalgia. John Carpenter and Steven Spielberg will be proud. (March 18)
GO: Cocktail Magic
The country’s first craft cocktail tour kicks off this month in NYC (with a second stop in Boston a week later). Forget bar-hopping in search of the perfect ‘tender, Cocktail Magic is rounding up mixology’s crème de la crème at Weylin B Seymour’s. Swill experts from the likes of the Dead Rabbit, Death & Co., PDT, Pouring Ribbons and more will be shaking and stirring to DJ beats with Roberta’s pie on hand to soak things up. (March 19)
STREAM: Flaked
Has criminally misused Will Arnett finally found his ideal post-Arrested Development role? As Chip, a recovering alcoholic and habitual F-up, Arnett perfectly inhabits the weird, insular world of Venice, California (as co-star Christopher Mintz-Plasse notes, “I like this place. It’s like an online community but in real life”). A serio-comedic midlife crisis via Netflix, with help from Arrested creator Mitch Hurwitz (an executive producer here). Plus, the best TV soundtrack of the year. (March 11)
LISTEN: The Lot Radio
And watch. The Lot is an indie online radio station streaming live all day every day from a reclaimed shipping container in Greenpoint they call home. Diverse tunes at all hours from local DJs, musicians and producers, and it’ll all be funded by a soon-to-open coffee kiosk next door.
READ: The Throwback Special
Miss football? Not like these guys. The NFL’s most infamous — and cringe-inducing — injury is the basis for this satirical meditation on manhood. In Chris Bachelder’s novel, a rather eclectic group of 22 men gather to recreate the 1985 infamous play where Lawrence Taylor eradicated Joe Theismann’s leg. Think Fight Club by way of Men of a Certain Age. (March 14)
A great chance to visit the regal Union League Club and win brownie points with the lady in your life. For Women’s History Month, the Club is celebrating 100 years of women painters. At its centerpiece: Anna Walkinska, a powerhouse New Yorker and premier artist and gallerist re-emerging here nearly two decades after her passing.
PERUSE: Offtrackoutlet
Speaking of nostalgia: This rather clever Instagram reimagines modern movies (The Revenant, It Follows) as classic VHS tapes.
The Met Gala’s more unruly younger sister, the Armory Party kicks off the annual Armory Show and Armory Arts Week. This year’s benefit includes a DJ set by The Range and a live performance from Holy Ghost!.
SPLURGE: Prima Cinema
Unofficially dubbed the “Netflix for billionaires,” PRIMA offers day-and-date releases of Hollywood’s biggest movies in the comfort of your home … for about $500 per flick. Encrypted films are downloaded onto your home theater, and you access these new releases via a fingerprint sensor. The tech’s been around for a bit; the news is that a next-gen, 4K system is imminent.
SEE: Anja Niemi: Photographing in Costume
Norwegian artist Anja Niemi’s photography draws comparisons to the eerie surrealism of David Lynch. Adding to that effect is the fact that she always works alone, acting as stylist, model and photographer for her noir-ish self portraits. Her exhibition, which explores the role and perception of women in Western societies, opens today. On view March 2nd to April 2nd at Five Eleven, New York
LISTEN: The best music of March
An hour of the month’s best new music on our monthly Spotify playlist, from classic rock stylings (The Virginmarys, Brian Fallon) to electronic supergroups (Miike Snow) to beautiful, folksy musing (Whitney’s “Oh Woman”).
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