I don’t know how effective these signs really are, tbh, but I guess NYC Parks is trying.
Dear Reader
In the first interview for his new Streams of Thought series, Black Thought of The Roots asked D.Nice about how he’s managing being on lockdown in LA. D’s Instagram Live parties have become the stuff of Studio 54 legend during this time, and he spoke about that phenomenon. But he also spoke about going stir-crazy, missing being able to physically be around his family and having actual contact with people. For those of us confined on our own, touch — that very thing that is so risky and dangerous right now — is a much-missed casualty of this war that’s going on right now. The hugs, the pats on the back. There are some things Zoom can just never provide. And I wonder how long it will be before we are able — and comfortable enough — to enjoy this once-taken-for granted liberty again, especially if a vaccine is still so many months and months away. It’s not an easy thought to sit with, and dancing out this worry is one reason I’m grateful for the virtual parties D.Nice and other DJs have been giving us.
**A quick programming note before we begin, I got the date of the James Vincent McMorrow live event wrong — it’s actually today. My apologies. The days really are blending into one, aren’t they?
1. Ever the outliers, even Radiohead have joined the live-online program. From today, they’re releasing the first of several live shows, promising one a week “until either the restrictions resulting from current situation are eased, or we run out of shows. Which will be first? No-one knows.” Starting at 10pm UK/2pm PT/5pm ET with Live From a Tent In Dublin, circa Kid A-era, on the band’s YouTube page.
2. The American Cinematheque has debuted a short film by the late, great Agnes Varda, ahead of a bigger announcement coming soon about their virtual programming. The extremely rare short film, The Little Story of Gwen From French Brittany, is currently streaming on YouTube, and it has the touch of whimsy we miss from the filmmaker since her death a year ago.
3. Before he was the Carpool Karaoke-driving late night TV host, he was the Tony Award-winning actor of One Man, Two Guvnors, and you can see James Corden in the hit production if you head over onto YouTube. The online debut happened a few days ago, but it’s still available and you can send a few dollars over to the National Theatre in the UK, while you watch it too.
4. 90-year-old Yayoi Kusama was meant to have a massive retrospective at the New York Botanical Garden this May, which, like so much else, has been postponed. The Broad Museum in Los Angeles is, as part of its Broad from Home programme, offering somewhat of a consolation for Kusama fans in the chance to “visit” one of her mythic Infinity Rooms. You can step into The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, accompanied by music specially chosen for the occasion, here.
5. Oscar-winning screenwriter and director Taika Watiti is hosting a Thor Ragnarok screening party on his IG, 4pm PT/ 7pm ET, which, if it’s anything like his commentary or captions, is sure to be a hoot.
Also! I found out the name of the artist who I mentioned in a previous edition, hung up BeeGees lyrics outside his Brooklyn building. He is Cuba Cubicle - at least his IG is, and he seems to be on lockdown with a host of lovely roommates.
Thank you for reading. Leaving you with a little Resistance Revival Choir lovin’ and hopin’.
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Stay safe, stay sane
Your neighbour
Nadia