Waiting for Tables

Local

When I first encountered Sunnyside’s tall trees fanning over peaked rooftops, I couldn’t believe such suburbia was a ten-minute subway ride from Midtown. But mostly I was curious how the idyllic neighborhood contained two of its inhabitants, the Armenians and the Turks, and their ancient, bloody grudge.

A MODEST IMPERIALIST: William T. Vollmann

Express

I became an ardent fan of William T. Vollmann’s work after reading Europe Central (2005). It is an extraordinary accomplishment, a remarkable feat of re-imagining one of the most complex, and harrowing, events of the 20th century, the conflict between Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia.

IN CONVERSATION: LEONARD LOPATE with Phong Bui

Art

Leonard Lopate paid a visit to Art International Radio to talk with Publisher Phong Bui about his life and work.

IN CONVERSATION: Arnold Mesches and Jill Ciment WITH ROBERT STORR AND PHONG BUI

Art

On a quiet evening of a late November weekend in 2009, the painter Arnold Mesches and his wife, the writer Jill Ciment, dropped by the Rail’s Headquarters to talk with Publisher Phong Bui and Consulting Editor Robert Storr about their lives and works.

IN CONVERSATION: Dan Walsh WITH JOHN YAU

Art

Dan Walsh welcomed Art Editor John Yau to the site of his exhibit Days And Nights at the Paula Cooper Gallery to talk about his new group of paintings.

IN CONVERSATION: David Reed WITH JOHN YAU

Art

On the occasion of the current exhibit of his working drawings and color studies, which is showing for the first time at Peter Blum SoHo till March 6, 2010, the painter David Reed welcomed Art Editor John Yau to view the works at the gallery a day before the opening reception. Afterward, they both sat down to talk about his life and work.

IN DUBIOUS BATTLE

The Iraq War turns seven this month, and some folks seem really eager to blow out the candles on the birthday cake.

IN DIALOGUE: Kia Corthron’s Cool Dip

Theater

"There’s a lot of autobiography in A Cool Dip in the Barren Saharan Crick," says playwright Kia Corthron.

DANCING ON SCREEN, BIG AND SMALL

Dance

In like a lion, out like a lamb—but for dance-loving New Yorkers, this March also promises three anticipated film events. First, dance film pioneer Elaine Summers is honored over three evenings at Danspace Project at Saint Mark’s Church and one afternoon discussion at the New Museum, which will explore her influence on a younger generation of artists.

SPARTACUS Is there No purpose beyond the blood?

Film

I’ve often imagined what Angelina Jolie films would be like if they starred Lucy Lawless. Tomb Raider was in a manner envisioned for the Kiwi television icon—it’s a film based on a video game character, who was in turn inspired and made possible by the groundbreaking heroine Lawless created the year before in the syndicated television epic Xena: Warrior Princess.

ROCK ’N’ ROLL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Music

Rock camps and rock schools for kids are a very recent phenomenon, but the idea is already so established, and seems so natural, that it feels like they’ve been around forever.

Tales/Composites/From Nearby

Fiction

I was standing in line for a ticket, tasting Finnish Christmas cookies. Then just staring into space and the man behind me asked me if they were chocolate. If I liked chocolate.