The A-list

Volume 2, Number 18 | The Weekly Newspaper of Chelsea | February 1 - 7, 2008

"Support businesses and organizations that support Chelsea Now"

The A-list

Theater:

Photo by Hart Larsson
Jake Robards & Erik Jensen in “At War.”

AT WAR
Interweaving excerpts from 11 new plays to present a cross section of views on the war, this Fire Dept. performance is followed by a discussion with the artists and Iraq War veteran Paul Rieckhoff and writer Sinan Antoon. One of the strongest pieces is Jose Rivera’s “Gas,” in which Daniel Sunjata’s Cheo reflects on his brother’s military turn in the Middle East, marveling that his love and fear have him “wanting people I don’t hate to die.” The excellent David Strathairn, Bebe Neuwirth, Bobby Cannavale, Denis O’Hare, and Gloria Reuben comprise the rotating cast. (Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Bleecker Street Theater, 45 Bleecker St. 212-260-8250, thefiredept.org.) In a similar vein is George Packer’s “Betrayed,” a play based upon his 2007 New Yorker story about Iraqi interpreters who, despite compromising their lives by working for Americans, were offered no protection. Through March 16. Culture Project. 55 Mercer St. 212-352-3101, cultureproject.org.

Courtesy Kimberlee Auerbach

Talks

SPEAKEASY STORIES

This eponymous series features people from wildly disparate backgrounds and professions sharing personal 10-minute stories about their lives. With no notes, the scheduled speakers recall events that are sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, and uniformly engaging for their often unpolished and always authentic voices. This week’s lineup includes The Devil, the Lovers, and Me memoirist Kimberlee Auerbach (pictured), frequent Moth performers Elna Baker and Martin Dockery, and Tracy Rowland, Jennifer DeMeritt, and Rick Patrick. Feb. 5 at 8:30pm. Cornelia Street Café. 29 Cornelia St. 212-989-9319, speakeasystories.com

Art

SHIRIN NESHAT
In praising this Iranian-born artist’s solo show, Chelsea Now reviewer Jeffrey Cyphers Wright noted that Neshat “confronts tradition and finds a way through the landmines separating self from society. Known for film and video, her signature motif is the use of Persian calligraphy to cover her own body, her subects or backgrounds…[Her] vision is important and this show features new video installations and photographs that explroe two Iranian women struggling to assert their identity in the face of domination. Neshat does not rely on irony or satire in her remarkable portrayals of the desires of life. She translates vulnerability into courange and suffering into nobility.” Through Feb. 23. Gladstone Gallery. 515 W. 24th St. 212-206-9300, gladstonegallery.com

Music

Courtesy Jill Sobule

JILL SOBULE
The ebulliant pop singer, most famous for the ’90s hit “I Kissed a Girl,” plays two shows of old favorites and new music from her most recent album, “Underdog Victorious.” Sobule is known more for her lyrics than her voice, and her catchy, high-octane songs are reminiscent of poetry with a quirky romantic and political slant. Born in Colorado, the 46-year-old has been playing at watering holes around the country for more than two decades, infusing intimate concerts with a sense of humor and unapologetic frankness. Feb. 4 at 9:30 p.m., Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.. Joe’s Pub. 425 Lafayette St. 212-539-8777, joespub.com

Food and Drink

8th STREET WINE CELLAR
Two new wine bars open this week: the Adour Alain Ducasse at the St. Regis Hotel in Midtown East, and in Soho, Bar Veloce returns to its former address at 17 Cleveland Place. But that’s no reason to overlook the 8th Street Wine Cellar. Opened in July 2007 by veteran Union Square Café bartenders Michael Lagnese and Jonny Cohen, this just below-ground-level bar and restaurant offers an excellent selection of affordable wines produced by small vineyards in Europe and California. The menu is laden with cheese and charcuterie, and friendly servers create a noticeably relaxed atmosphere, perfect for a glass of Rioja at the bar, or settled with friends in the corner banquette. 28 W. 8th St. 212-260-9463, 8thstwinecellar.com