HOT LIST: Swing band at Bo’s and brunch at Louro

Entertainment

April 18, 2014

NYC weekend picks: Our best bets

Friday, April 18, 2014

 

The new Springtime Music Series at Bo’s Kitchen Bar Room, 6 W. 24th St., kicks off on Saturday with swing band Sarah King The Smoke Rings playing free back-to-back sets at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

 

Chef David Santos will host both brunch (11 a.m. – 3 p.m., $35) and dinner (5:30 p.m. – 11 p.m., $55) three-course prix fixes at Louro, 142 W. 10th St., on Sunday.

 

Thursday, April 17, 2014

 

Ken Cook, 19 Kenmare St., will serve a prix fixe menu for Easter on Sunday for $45 per person. There will also be live jazz. Call 212-966-3058 to reserve.

 

French playwright Mohamed Kacimi’s acclaimed play “Holy Land” will run from Friday, April 18 through May 10 at HERE, 145 Ave. of the Americas, with performances Weds.-Sat. at 7 p.m. Tix are $18 here.

 

Isola Trattoria Crudo Bar at Mondrian SoHo, 9 Crosby St., will celebrate spring and the fresh Italian lemon flavor by hosting its first-ever Limoncello Festival with a coastal-Italian style brunch and a DJ from 1-5 p.m on Saturday. Tix are $45 per person which includes a choice of two cocktails and two food items. E-mail limoncellofest@mhgc.com or call 212-389-0000 to reserve.

 

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

 

Brooklyn-based band Emily Danger will play at The Way Station, 683 Washington Ave. in Brooklyn, on Wednesday at 10 p.m. to promote their new EP “Peace Arch.”

 

NYC-based metal-rap group PUSHMETHOD will play at Mercury Lounge, 217 East Houston, on Wednesday at 11 p.m. (doors at 9:30 p.m.); $10 here.

 

David Bouley’s latest project, the private event space and bio-dynamic indoor farm dubbed Bouley Botanical, 281 Church St., will host an Urban Gardening Class on Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; $35 here.

 

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

 

Juni, 12 E. 31st St., will offer 50 percent off all alcoholic beverages for Tax Day on Tuesday, including bottles of wine, cocktails, wines by the glass, and beer. No minimum purchase is required.

 

The Spotted Pig, 314 W. 11th St., will host a Donkey Goat Wine Dinner with Tracey Brandt of Donkey Goat Vineyard in Berkeley, Calif. on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Tix are $120, and can be reserved by emailing events@thespottedpig.com.

 

Celebrate your big return or drown tax debt woes with a free 1040EZ Tequila Lime Shot at tapas hotspot Boqueria, 53 W. 19th St. and 17 Spring St.

 

Monday, April 14, 2014

 

NYC-based indie pop group The Henry Millers will play at Cameo Gallery, 93 N. Sixth St. in Williamsburg, on Monday at 9 p.m.; $10 here.

 

Chef David Santos will host a Portuguese Passover dinner at his West Village restaurant, Louro, 142 W. 10th St., on Monday starting at 7 p.m.; $65, BYO wine and beer. The menu will feature Portuguese-style takes on Jewish classics, such as Sardine Salad with arugula, piquillos and matzo crumble; Matzo Ball Soup with kale and smoked chicken; and Gefilte Fish with poached egg and piri tomato sauce.

 

Christopher Fischer is having a home goods sale at 80 Wooster St. featuring up to 60% off through April 30th; 212-965-9009.

 

Friday, April 10, 2014

 

Gabrielle Bernstein will celebrate the NYC Launch of her fourth book “Miracles Now” on Friday from 7- 9 p.m., at the Middle Collegiate Church, 112 Second Ave. A general ticket is $49 and includes two copies of “Miracles Now;” a VIP ticket is $69 and includes three copies among other perks. Tix here.

 

NYC-based retro pop star Emergency Tiara will play an EP release party at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 1, 196 Allen St. on Saturday at 9 p.m.; free.

 

Thursday, April 10, 2014

 

Brooklyn-based ethereal renaissance pop songstress Kristin Hoffmann will play at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard St., on Thursday at 7 p.m.; $10 here.

 

Brooklyn-based alternative-rock group The Corduroy Suit will celebrate the release of their new EP “Revisions” at The Bowery Electric on Thursday at 8 p.m.; $8 in advance here, $10 at the door.

 

Brooklyn-based indie rock band All Forces will have a record release party at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2, 196 Allen St., on Friday at 9 p.m.; free.

 

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

 

Having songs prominently featured on popular shows such as “Pretty Little Liars,” “The Biggest Loser” and “The Vampire Diaries,” The Strange Familiar will perform at Pianos, 158 Ludlow St., on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to celebrate their April 15 “The Day The Light Went Out” album release; $8 at the door.

 

Candy Crush creator King’s “Be a Farm Hero” pop-up Event will sprout to life in the middle of Flatiron Plaza, 23rd St. and Broadway/5th Ave., on Wednesday 12-3 p.m., and will challenge New Yorkers to learn the urban farming lifestyle; free.

 

Le Grand Cercle des Vins de Bordeaux, an organization with 188 wineries from 31 appellations in the popular French winemaking region, will tour to the Manhattan Penthouse, 80 Fifth Ave., on Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $85 each or two for $150 here.

 

Friday, April 4, 2014

 

Brooklyn-based rocker Meghann Wright will perform at The Bellhouse, 149 Seventh St. in Brooklyn, on Friday at 7:30 p.m.; $14 here.

 

NYC-based rock band Easy Company will perform at Arlene’s Grocery, 95 Stanton St., on Saturday at 11 p.m.; $10.

 

DBGB Kitchen Bar, 299 Bowery, will host a Big Bowery Brunch, a new family-style offering designed for large groups of six to eight guests, on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. -3 p.m. The menu is $30 per person with optional D.I.Y. cocktail packages including Bloody Marys or Mimosas for $50 per group.

 

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

 

Head down to Jazz Nights at The Rose Club at The Plaza Hotel, Fifth Avenue at Central Park South, featuring live music on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.

 

Tiny’s the Bar Upstairs, 135 W. Broadway in TriBeCa, is now serving breakfast on weekdays from 8-11 a.m. Guests can stop in for La Colombe coffee and Bien Cuit pastries ($3-$4), seasonal fruit ($4) and a kale salad smoothie $8 (based on the ingredients of their popular kale salad) or opt for heartier breakfast dishes from chef Paul Ñáñez such as house-made biscuits and gravy ($9) and an egg sandwich with braised ham gruyere ($6).

 

Jenna Leigh Lingeri will have a sample sale at the Gelmart Showroom, 136 Madison Ave., 4th floor, will have a sample sale featuring 80-90% off on Friday from 12-6 p.m.

 

Monday, March 31, 2014

 

New Orleans-inspired Bo’s Kitchen Bar Room, 6 W. 24th St., will launch Clam Bake and Burger Mondays starting March 31st, featuring a clam bake with shrimp and andouille sausage, and a brand new burger.

 

Black Sabbath will perform at the Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., at 7:30 p.m.; tix here.

 

Marnie Old, sommelier and author of “Wine: A Tasting Course,” will lead a 60-minute introduction to six different wines, using her signature common-sense approach to empowering people to simply enjoy vino, at Terroir Murray Hill, 439 Third Ave.; $30/person, 7-8 p.m. Tix here.

 

Lady Gaga will perform for all her Little Monsters at Roseland Ballroom, 239 W. 52nd St., on Monday March 31, Wednesday April 2, Friday April 4, Sunday April 6 and Monday April 7, at 8 p.m.; tix here.

 

Thursday, March 27, 2014

 

NYC-based art rocker Tatiana Kochkareva will play at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 1, 196 Allen St., on Thursday at 8 p.m. RSVP here.

 

Jazz artist Mimi Jones will play at Marcus Samuelsson’s live-music and dinner venue Ginny’s Supper Club on Saturday at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tix are $15 and are available for purchase here for standing room only. Reservations during either show can be made by calling Ginny’s Supper Club at 212-421-3821 or here.

 

Comedian, writer and animal activist Elayne Boosler will bring her one-of-a-kind wit back home with two rare NYC performances on Saturday at 9 p.m. and Friday, April 18 at 9 p.m. at STAGE 72, 158 W. 72nd St. Tickets are $25 plus a two-drink minimum and can be purchased here.

 

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

 

United Nude, 25 Bond St., is launching its spring/summer 2014 collection hitting retail with a performance by Xeno Oaklander on Thursday from 7-11 p.m. Cocktails will be served while the SS14 collection will be available to shop. RSVP here.

 

The New York Weddings Event kicks off the bridal season with more than 100 of the industry’s top talents, from the city’s best jewelers, caterers, and photographers, to the most sought-after gown designers, venues, and planners. It will be at the Metropolitan Pavilion 125 W. 18th St., on Thursday from 5-8 p.m. Tix are $40 for single admission or $60 for two, here.

Bliss49 (at the W — 541 Lexington Ave.) will have a consumer event with Mindy Kaling of “The Mindy Project” on Thursday from 6:15-7:15 p.m.

 

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

 

Destination Maternity, 28 E. 57th St., is hosting The British Invasion with Zanna Roberts Rassi of Marie Claire and E! News on Tuesday from 12-2 p.m. Shop the latest spring styles, receive expert tips and enjoy sweets from Treat House. RSVP to eabernathy@rogersandcowan.com.

The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave., will unveil “Palaces for the People: Guastavino and the Art of Structural Tile,” showcasing the architectural beauty and engineering strength of spaces created by Spanish immigrants Rafael Guastavino and his son Rafael Jr. who came to New York from Barcelona in the late 19th century. It will be on display from Wednesday through Sept. 7.

Pucker, 129 Grand St., is hosting a new Lunchtime Masterclasses every Tuesday and Wednesday from 12–1:30 p.m. Tuesday’s class is “Impeccable Complexion,” and Wednesday’s is “All About Eyeliner 101.” Classes are $100 ($50 deposit included); reserve at 212-334-3690.

 

Monday, March 24, 2014

 

Elizabeth Chubbuck of Murray’s Cheese and Paul Grieco will lead a tasting of six wines and cheeses on Monday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Terroir Murray Hill, 439 Third Ave. Guests can expect pairings like Vermont Creamery’s ash-ripened Bonne Bouche with Sauvignon Blanc, and Spanish Valdeon with Madeira to finish. $35/person, 6:30-8:30pm. Order tickets here.

 

Ali Wong, of HBO, will perform at the Laughing Devil comedy club, 47-38 Vernon Blvd. in Long Island City, in a new all-female Tuesday lineup starting at 8 p.m.; $5.

 

For the latest installment of Mixed Company at Extra Fancy, 302 Metropolitan Ave. in Brooklyn, on Wednesday, beverage director Robert Krueger will be tending bar with guest Eryn Reese of Death + Company and Mayahuel, starting at 6 p.m. Eryn and Robert will be creating a special one-night-only cocktail menu that highlights Giffard and Zacapa spirits; $8 per cocktail.

 

 

Friday, March 21, 2014

 

Meet Alex Woo at the annual Macy’s flower show at Macy’s Herald Square, 151 34th St., from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday. She will sign all Little Icons purchased at the event.

 

VONDA7 will DJ at W New York – Downtown, 123 Washington St. (entrance on Albany Street), at the Living Room Bar Terrace on Saturday at 9:30 p.m.

 

GQ and Northern Grade have partnered to open a menswear pop-up market at The Powerhouse Arena, 37 Main St., on Saturday and Sunday. Brands participating include Billy Reid, Fellow Barber, Haspel, Left Field NYC, Lotuff, Rancourt Co., Rogue Territory, and Taylor Stitch, among others.

 

Thursday, March 20, 2014

 

Christopher Fischer, at 80 Wooster St., will have a sample sale featuring up to 70% off from Thursday through Sunday from 10-7 p.m.

 

Visit Bloomingdale’s 59th Street, 1000 Third Ave., on Thursday at 6 p.m. to meet the queen of boudoir glamour, Dita Von Teese, at the exclusive launch of her new lingerie collection inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood. Purchase any item from her collection to meet her and receive an autographed photo (one per customer).

 

For National Ravioli Day, Good Enough To Eat, 520 Columbus Ave., will serve a special of Squid Ink-Striped Ravioli filled with lobster and tossed with sun-dried tomato and asparagus in a creamy lemon parmesan mascarpone saffron champagne sauce on Thursday; 212-496-0163.

 

Wednesday, March 19

 

Patsy’s Italian Restaurant, 236 W. 56th St., on Wednesday will offer a variety of special dishes including striped bass alla livornese and zeppole de San Giuseppe for the Roman Catholic feast day St. Joseph’s Day. Call 212-247-3491 for info.

 

Brooklyn-based indie dance band Cold BloodClub will play at The Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Ave. in Brooklyn, on Thursday at 8 p.m. with The Hounds Below, Jason Stollsteimer of Von Bondies’ new band; $10 in advance here, $12 at the door.

 

New Yorker Adam Braun, CEO/founder of Pencils of Promise, will be at Barnes Noble Union Square, 33 E. 17th St., with Humans of New York photographer Brandon Stanton Thursday from 7-9 p.m. Braun will sit down with Stanton to discuss his new book “The Promise of a Pencil.”

 

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

 

Henri Bendel, at 712 Fifth Ave., will host a pop-up shop in its window featuring customized monogramming on select handbags and small leather goods from Tuesday through March 24.

 

Macy’s and Wacoal will host Hollye Jacobs, breast cancer survivor, award-winning blogger of TheSilverPen.com and author of “The Silver Lining: A Supportive and Insightful Guide to Breast Cancer” at Herald Square, 151 W. 34th St., for Fit for the Cure, on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Jacobs will be in a QA session and autograph her book. The first 100 customers to make a Wacoal purchase of $80 or more will receive a free book.

 

Meet designer Matt Bernson and special guest bloggers Arielle Nachmani of Something Navy and Grace Atwood of Stripes Sequins to celebrate the launch of his spring collection at Bloomingdale’s SoHo, 504 Broadway, on Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. The first 50 guests will receive a complimentary Matt Bernson ring.

 

Friday, March 14, 2014

 

Hyatt Union Square New York, 134 Fourth Ave., will offer complimentary St. Patrick’s Day-themed nail art manicures from high-end nail atelier, Vanity Projects, between 3 and 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. (Tipping is encouraged.)

 

iAdventure.com and SideBAR, 120 E. 15th St., are hosting their third annual Kegs Eggs “Green Breakfast” weekend bash with Green Beer, Green Eggs, Green Bagels, Green Pancakes and, of course, Lucky Charms from Saturday through Monday. Tix at iadventure.com.

 

Showroom Seven, 263 11th Ave., third floor, is having a sample sale through Friday, March 28 (Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.) featuring off to 90% off clothing and accessories; 212 643 4810

 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

 

City Lore, at 56 E. First St. presents Will Shortz, Bob Mankoff, Stefan Kanfer and Steve Zeitlin for Ping Pong in New York for one night only on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Tix are $15 at the door or $12 in advance here.

 

NYC-based pop-rocker NOY will play at The Bitter End, 147 Bleecker St., on Friday at 11 p.m.; $10 at the door.

 

Starting this week, UpDown, a new dual concept space at 244 W. 14th St., will open at 7:00pm Tues.-Fri. offering patrons an exclusive new signature cocktail program crafted by in-house mixologist Andres Santillana.

 

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

 

Learn how to craft an NCAA basketball tournament bracket at The National Museum of Mathematics’ bracketology workshop (March (Mo)Mathness!), on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; tix are $100 here.

 

La Brochette, an upscale kosher steakhouse and sushi bar at 340 Lexington Ave., will host a Post-Purim costume contest on Sunday at 6 p.m. The winner of will receive a dinner for two at La Brochette and a complimentary bottle of wine. Reserve at 212-927-2700.

 

Bloomingdales 59th Street is launching The Collective, a new grouping of 21 fashion-forward designers, with an event on Thursday at 6 p.m. Guests can meet the designers behind the brands and enjoy a fashion presentation by Brooke Jaffe, Bloomingdale’s Fashion Director, and music by Hannah Bronfman.

 

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

 

Nat Sherman and McSorley’s Old Ale House are hosting “An Evening of Common Ground Old Fashioned Socializing” to benefit for POTS, presented by Toasting the Town, at The Nat Sherman Townhouse, 12 E. 42nd St., on Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ; tix are $100 at eventbrite.com.

 

NYC-based indie pop group Guess Check will play at The Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Ave. in Brooklyn, on Wednesday at 8 p.m.; tix are $10 here.

 

The Roof by Gerber Group at Viceroy New York, 124 W. 57th St., opens Tuesday at 3 p.m., serving classic signature cocktails, with a DJ spinning Thursday through Saturday; TheRoofNY.com.

 

Monday, March 10, 2014

 

Aldea, at 31 W. 17th St., will host a Festa do Leitão (Festival of the Suckling Pig) dinner on Monday with seating available between 6 and 7 p.m. for $58/person (additional $30/wine pairing); aldearestaurant.com.

 

The Spotted Pig, 314 W 11th St. will host a winemaker dinner with Randall Grahm featuring a six course prix-fixe menu with dishes such as East Coast Oyster Roe; Bollito Misto of Cotechino with Smoked Lamb’s Tongue; and Pan Roasted Ribeye. Dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m. and costs $150 per person; reserve with events@thespottedpig.com.

 

Chef Brian Tsao of Mira Sushi Izakaya, 46 W. 22nd St., will appear on Bobby Flay’s new Food Network competition show “Beat Bobby Flay” on Thursday, March 13 at 10 p.m. To celebrate Mira Sushi Izakaya will offer specials on his signature Beef Bulgogi Tacos from Monday through Saturday, March 15.

 

 

Friday, March 7, 2014

 

Just Salad in Park Slope, 252 Seventh Ave., will celebrate its one-year anniversary on Saturday from 12-3 p.m. with kids’ face painting, stroller cleaning, Frava drinks, and 50% off smoothies and soups with a purchase of any salad or wrap. In addition, 15% of all sales will be donated to New York Methodist Hospital’s Spirit of Women program.

 

Lower East Side hotspot Hotel Chantelle, at 92 Ludlow St., will host an Improper English Roast starting this Sunday at 6 p.m. It will include a three-course meal and beer pairing; hotelchantelle.com.

 

NYC-based rocker Karla Moheno will play at Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston St., at 9:30 p.m. on Monday; $10 in advance at mercuryloungenyc.com, $12 at the door.

 

 

Thursday, March 6, 2014

 

NYC-based Italian rock group Late Guest at the Party will play at Glasslands Gallery, 289 Kent Ave., on Thursday at 8:30 p.m.; tix are $10 at theglasslands.com.

 

“Retail meets art” in the “DISown” exhibition at Red Bill Studios NY, 218 West 18th St., featuring consumer products created by renown artists, such as Ryan Trecartin and Lizzie Fitch, and a DJ set by Oneohtrix Point Never; Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m.-8 p.m.

 

East Village-formed Japanese duo Cibo Matto (Italian for “Crazy Food”) will play at Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave., on Saturday; doors at 8 p.m., tix at brooklynbowl.com.

 

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

 

In honor of National Absinthe Day on Wednesday, Louro, at 142 W. 10th St., will be serving a Necromancer made with white absinthe, Lillet blanc, elderflower, lemon, and a dash of gin for a touch of juniper; louronyc.com.

 

The Doe Fund will host its third annual “sweet: New York” tasting fundraiser on Thursday, March 13 from 6 p.m to 10 p.m. at the Bowery Hotel to celebrate the culinary industry’s role in providing opportunity for homeless New Yorkers. Tix are $100, or $150 for VIP, at doe.org.

 

For National Oreo Cookie Day (Thursday), Little Town, at 118 E. 15th St., will serve Carnival Style Deep-Fried Oreo Ice Cream Sliders, with a scoop of chocolate, vanilla strawberry ice cream sandwiched between each warm cookie; littletown.com.

 

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

 

The 87 Seventh Ave. location of SUSHISAMBA, a Brazilian/Peruvian/Japanese fusion restaurant, is bringing the excitement and flavors of Carnaval to NYC on Tuesday at 8 p.m. with performances by shimmering samba dancers, the beats of booming batucada drummers, DJ’s and a special menu including Brazilian Camarones and Watermelon Baja cocktails. Reserve at 212-691-7885.

 

Bagatelle NY, at 1 Little West 12th St. is hosting a Mardi Gras dinner Tuesday night from 6-11 p.m. with a DJ spinning all night; bistrotbagatelle.com.

 

Get your kids new do’s for spring (in case it ever comes) and donate unwanted sneakers to The Max Cure Foundation at Cozy Cuts for Kids Salon, 1416 Second Ave., on Tuesday from 3-5 p.m. There will also be a meet-and-greet with Bravo Housewife Aviva Drescher who will be on-site to sign copies of her new book “Leggy Blonde.” RSVP to gozcelik@tractenberg.com

 

 

Monday, March 3, 2014

 

Americana-chic Flatiron hideaway, Harding’s, 32 E. 21st St., is transporting guests to the French Quarter with Exec. Chef Peter Hampton‘s southern-style seafood gumbo and Hurricanes shaken up by Harding’s expert mixologists from Monday through Saturday, March 8.

 

Dylan Prime, 62 Laight St., the TriBeCa hotspot which just reopened with a new menu and reclaimed industrial design, is now open for lunch from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

 

Chef David Santos of Louro, 142 W. 10th St., will host a seven-course Mardi Gras dinner on Monday at 7 p.m. with mixologist Mayur Subbarao to get everyone in the spirit with a New Orleans-style cocktail pairing; LouroNYC.com.

 

Friday, Feb. 28 – Sunday, March 2, 2014

 

Electric dance pop-artist Lilly Wolf will play Pianos Upstairs, 158 Ludlow St., on Saturday at 9 p.m.; free, 21+.
 

Visual and performing arts will collide in the heart of the South Street Seaport on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. with a new community initiative “OUT TO SEE,” featuring the work of local artists in 17 venues.

 
Gotham West Market, 600 11th Ave., will host an Oscars viewing party on Sunday at 7 p.m. featuring the awards projected on large screens and ballots to vote on this year’s winners.

 

Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014

 

NYC-based pop/soul/RB artist Aisha Eustache will perform songs off her EP “Love Addiction” with special guest Traum Diggs at the Slipper Room, 167 Orchard St., on Thursday. Doors at 8 p.m., tix at Ticketfly.com or $10 at the door.

 

To celebrate National Chili Day on Thursday, Virgil’s Real Barbecue at 152 W. 44th St. in Times Square will give out free chili samples in front of the restaurant from noon-2 p.m.

 

NYC-based retro pop artist Emergency Tiara will perform at Rockwood Stage 1, 196 Allen St., on Friday at 8 p.m.; 21+, free.

 

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014

 

The latest installment in the guest bartending series Mixed Company at Extra Fancy, 302 Metropolitan Ave. in Williamsburg, will feature beverage director Robert Krueger tending bar with Pete Vasconcellos of The Penrose bar on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

 

Reichenbach Hall, 5 W. 37th. St, kicks off its Karneval on Thursday with a performance by reknowned German polka band The Adlers at 7 p.m., a costume contest and liters of Reichenbach Pils beer for $15.

 

Christopher Fischer at 80 Wooster St. will have a sample sale March 20th – 23rd  featuring up to 70% off.

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Photographer Dustin Fenstermacher takes cats & spring break seriously – PW

Shot caller: Dustin Fenstermacher does not shy away from photographic challenges.

There’s something very early-Annie-Leibovitz about Philadelphia’s photographer Dustin Fenstermacher; a name some people don’t believe is real. It is.

With his recognizable editorial, portrait and documentation work, jumping between weightlifting competitions, lingerie football games, comic-cons and gun shows, Fenstermacher—like Leibovitz—captures an honesty in the weirdness that’s, well, for people who don’t spend a lot of time behind a camera, they should know it’s very difficult. Only the best can make it look easy.

Aside from also shooting for Rolling Stone, in addition to publications like Esquire, New York Times, Washington Post, Village Voice and VICE, Fenstermacher shoots quirky scenes and tells a story without over-orchestrating things. Even at the couple dozen cat shows he’s covered—and that’s kind of where the similarities end—he revealed the furry madness behind feline modeling. And as of April 1, with the release of his new book, How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity, the cat thing has become a very good thing. We’ll get to that later.

First, check out Leibovitz’ photos for Hunter S. Thompson’s coverage of the ‘72 presidential campaign trail—some of her first work ever. Not everyone could accept that challenge, knowing her shots would be paired with HST’s searing observations of the trail’s underbelly, but every shot was a subtly strange and beautifully unguarded look at that world.

She, like Fenstermacher, saw the weird scenes we all miss in every day life. Whether he’s lurking behind a gun rack to photograph some teens drooling over assault rifles, watching as bodybuilders get painted orange, or skipping town to shoot Spring Break, Fenstermacher does not shy away from peculiar challenges. In fact, it’s his self-appointed job to find them.

PW: Why did you go to Spring Break?

Dustin Fenstermacher: Uhh… it’s… I never went to Spring Break before in my life. So I figured, why not go when I’m 34 and be, like, twice the age of some of the people who might be there. I wanted to see if what I heard was true, in that you might think you’re the creepiest old guy there, but there’s always someone creepier.

No. I like going places I’ve never been before. Even though sometimes it’s going to be some place that I know I’m going to maybe not have the best time.

Yeah, it does seem like a hilarious form of worthwhile self-torture.

And I’ve done that… That seems to be what I do with my projects. It’s like, all right, I’m going to go to this thing and document it and see if I don’t hate myself for going.

But you’re totally immersed.

Oh, I’m fascinated.

Yeah, you really capture it too. How do you convince a stranger to give you a real honest thing, and do not worry about the camera? That’s hard. It’s probably a little bit of improvisation?

Yeah. I tend to find that the photos I like the best are either before or after a “shoot.” When somebody’s caught off guard in a way, then it’s more their natural self. Like, “Oh, I’m testing the lights! Don’t mind me, I’m still testing the lights.” And people are super loose and, I don’t know, people just don’t fall into how think they should act in front of a camera.

When I look at award-winning photographs of people, really honest-looking shots, I always think: how did they get that? Maybe that’s it. Just, always ask that question, and always be interested in trying new things.

Yeah, I totally agree. I think a lot of it also has to do with just gaining a person’s trust. I sometimes you think you can’t get that unless you’re working with people who are either comfortable with cameras or at least comforted by your presence.

How did the cat book, How to Make Your Cat an Internet Celebrity, come to be?

My friend and I pitched this book with the cat show photos, and we were going to do a take on a “Kensington Blues” project that Jeffrey Stockbridge did. And she’d write up some first person narratives as the cat, talking about how they’re all nipped out, and how rough the life of being a cat model is. It was silly. And they passed on that. But they got in touch with me about taking photos for this other cat book and I kind of wept a little on the inside, because I had to go and photograph more cats, which I’m kind of… a little over? A lot over it?

So this is like the end? It’s your cat exclamation point.

Yeah, maybe. And the stuff I’ve been seeing on the Internet is just ridiculous. Oh my god.

The book is a satirical guide on how to make your cat an Internet celebrity. It’s actually super hilarious. I was wondering why I needed to shoot with a lot of open space, at first, but then I saw the drawings and how everything just clicked together.

That’s really cool. And you never met the writer or illustrator. What a great 21st-century sort of collaboration.

Yeah, it’s really cool. And a lot of it’s just… a lot of it can work. It makes sense. The popular cat blog DoodleCats posted an entire blog post about the book. And she used some of the tips they gave in the book to make her cat an internet celebrity She drew a lion on a box, cut a hole and then put the cat in there. Within a day, there were already [hundreds of] likes or whatever. That might not be a lot for Lil Bub or Maru [both established cat celebrities], but it’s pretty good.

You’re acknowledging what’s happening on the Internet and making it your own, with this book. It’s a satire book, but it’s also an honest and original observation. It’s one of the things on the Internet that has been done the most.

Cats?

Yeah. And maybe it’s an actual statistic. On YouTube anyway.

It probably is. It’s like between that and Justin Bieber or Lady Gaga.

Or Frozen.

I’ve been around so many kids lately, and so many parents are now in the Frozen stage of, like, parenting. So all these kids love Frozen. But I still have not heard the song.

Anyway, I guess the cat book is doing well in pre-orders and that sort of thing, so they are already finishing a spin-off, which… I’m not sure how much I’m able to say about it? Let’s just say there’s a spin-off. Um, we’ll just say… there’s another book that I’m working on. It may or may not be a spin-off. But I’ve been photographing a lot of babies lately. Yeah, I’m knee-deep in it.

The request I saw on Facebook was, well—I know you’re not being offensive, at all—but that request really made me laugh one morning. Like a good Eugene Mirman joke. “One more time: if anyone knows anyone that has a non-white kid that I can photograph for an upcoming humor book, let me know. That last batch yielded a few, but not enough.”

Yeah, I’m all white babied out. You know, it’s a challenge. It’s a book they’re going to try to distribute internationally.

Do you have any other ideas for some books, going beyond your initial contractual obligations with Quirk, you know, for these two books?

Yes. The next big project that I’m attempting to put together is a super-Philadelphia-centric project that I don’t believe has ever been done. So…

Well, then I don’t want to know it yet.

Let’s just say it’s gonna be meaty. A meaty piece.

So, we learned how this book sprung out of some of your personal photojournalism projects. Did you go to school for photography?

Hell no. I picked it up as a hobby back in 2005 or 2006. I’d gone through a brutal breakup and the band I was playing in kind of broke up for a while. I had all this free time.

What do you play?

Guitar, and I did some vocalizing.

Singing?

Vocalizing. It’s not pretty. It sounds better in the studio, when I can layer voice a bunch of times. And not feel so naked. But yeah, I had all this time and I got a Canon point-and-shoot on clearance at a K-Mart that was going out of business. And I just started taking photos around town. Two mega pixels. Less powerful than what everyone has in their pockets these days. I photographed stuff that would make me… I just, the stuff that I like the most is the stuff that makes me laugh to myself. I wish I could be a comedian, or a comedic actor of some sort

You mean a film camera?

Digital. I’ve barely shot with film, it’s so sad.

Not really.

So many of my friends have gone to art school, or they went to photography school. They’re like, “Oh man, just keep on going with it. You’ve got an eye or something.” And…

Be like, “It’s my job, man.” (laughs)

It’s my job now. But like, at the time, they said, “keep on going with it.”

Yeah, it’s like, “Get a Hasselblad, see how it works for you…” (laughs)

What got you started?

I used that point-and-shoot for a couple months. I figured I needed a DSLR or a DSLR-like camera, so I got a Fuji that I ended up selling within a couple months because the photo quality was just not there. S I bought a Canon Rebel XT, which was also probably less than what your phone has. And after a year or a year and a half after doing photography as a hobby, I was just not down with being in an office job. That’s what I was doing at the time, online marketing. I just went and started doing that part-time and started figuring out how to be a photographer, full-time. It also took me a couple months in Central PA to realize that there are no jobs in Central PA for photography, unless you want to be a wedding photographer, which is not a bad thing.

But I wanted to leave PA, growing up. And I was just kind of miserable where I was. So, after I started taking pictures, I realized it was a gold mine. Everything is just so weird and preserved and it’s so lived-in.

Here, (in Fishtown) you can see it if you go further, away from the gentrifaction. It’s like, communities of people are still there and it’s kind of still a little untouched. And I find myself more inspired by that stuff than the, like, “Hey, check me out, I’m on Girard. I love…going to places here…”

You find more interesting people where they aren’t showing off at all.

Like the people wearing sweatpants. My roommate is a jewelry designer, stylist and art conservator, and she helps me find out a lot about fashion stuff. Apparently, there’s something called normcore, which is indie people or hipster or whatever dressing up like they’re an extra on the set of Seinfeld or something. It’s like people not giving a fuck. And there’s an offshoot of that, or at least something that the Wall Street Journal posted online, about a scientific study about how people who might not be dressed for where they’re supposed to be, will sometimes command more authority. So, a person going into a high-end clothing story, they might come in wearing some nice top, and then just, sweatpants. And if they act like they belong there, they can command more respect. They’re like, I don’t care what other people think around here.

The Bill Murray effect.

Yeah. Oh, man. You shouldn’t have said that. I’ve got a Bill Murray story, too. Well, not a great one.

So, now I see people in sweatpants… maybe they’ve got something going on.

Yeah, people concerned about dry cleaning are just not… (laughs) So, anyway, what’s your Bill Murray story?

One time, I was housesitting up in Brooklyn and my friend Colleen, who runs a DJ business that a started working with last year or the year before, and I were going to get pizza. We walked by this film set in Park Slope or something, and we saw some kid walking around with a bloody nose. I was kind of like, “Holy crap! Look at that kid’s bloody nose!” And then you look up the street and there’s Bill Murray wearing a really ratty wife-beater-type of shirt, just so dirty. And he’s just awesome looking. So I just like to think Bill Murray punched that kid in the nose.

Oh! Did I meet someone later that said they were related to that kid or something? I can’t remember. Yeah, I met someone later who said, “I know so-and-so and it’s his first movie and he doesn’t know who Bill Murray is,” so he can’t get blown away by the fact that he’s working with Bill Murray.

That man was at my college graduation. He had his own tent, right next to the diploma area. He yawned when I walked across. Life. Complete.

That guy just… he just gets it. He just knows.

If you’re shooting a personal project, or you’re shooting an event, or there’s some mysterious idea you’re chasing, how do you know when you’ve got it?

Isn’t doubt and self-loathing an inherent part of this whole process? You shoot it, and you… you never know. One of the best lessons I’ve learned is that you can’t be a perfectionist with this whole thing. You can shoot, and shoot, and shoot, and you just have to be able to stop at some point. And then, or, work with what you’ve got.

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