Slope Weekday Events Spotlight: March 14-17

Are you ready for a wild selection of events this week? Choose from a strip tease class, crybabies, a lecture on the Gowanus, and more. For all St. Patrick’s Day events this week, please visit our St. Patrick’s Day events listings.

For even more things to do around Brooklyn, and to add your own upcoming events (some of which we’ll feature in this roundup in the future!), check out our calendar.

And I Must Scream: An Examination of Body Horror in Japanese Animation, An Illustrated Lecture with JR Pepper
When: Monday, March 14, 7pm-9pm
Where: Morbid Anatomy Museum, 424 3rd Avenue (at 7th Street)
What: Bio-morphic transformations, countless limbs, undulating tentacles and a decaying human form all define the term ‘body horror’. Although there are many films that exhibit this trope, arguably the versatility, artistry and sheer imaginative insanity of Japanese animation best exhibits the true primal fear that is body horror. ‘And I Must Scream’ will explore the various forms of body horror as exhibited in anime, including its origins in Japanese animation and the symbolic meanings behind it. Please be advised that there will be graphic and disturbing imagery and video in this lecture.
How much: $8, tickets available here.

Crybabies “Live” with Susan Orlean and Sarah Thyre
When: Monday, March 14, Doors: 7:30pm, Show: 8pm
Where: The Bell House, 149 7th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues)
What: Everyone loves a good cry – or, at least most people do. On their Earwolf podcast CRYBABIES, Susan Orlean and Sarah Thyre interview comedians, musicians, actors, and writers about the movies, tv, music, plays, art, and culture that make them cry. Join us for a spectacular live taping of this hilarious and touching show, featuring Amy Sedaris and other special guests. With Amy Sedaris, Eugene Mirman, Jon Glaser, Cole Escola, Jodi Lennon, Ted Leo, And More!
How much: $20, purchase tickets in advance. $25 at the door.

Olivia Laing in conversation with Laura Miller
When: Tuesday, March 15, 7:00pm
Where: Community Bookstore, 143 7th Avenue, between Garfield Place and Carroll Street
What: You can be lonely anywhere, but there is a particular flavor to the loneliness that comes from living in a city, surrounded by thousands of strangers. The Lonely City is a roving cultural history of urban loneliness, centered on the ultimate city: Manhattan, that teeming island of gneiss, concrete, and glass. Olivia Laing’s new book is an expertly crafted work of reportage, memoir, and biography on the subject of loneliness, told through the lives of several iconic artists: Andy Warhol, David Wojnarowicz, Edward Hopper, Henry Darger, Alfred Hitchcock, Valerie Solanas, Nan Goldin, Klaus Nomi, Peter Hujar, Billie Holiday, Zoe Leonard, and Jean Michel Basquiat. In conversation with Laura Miller.

Story Collider: Brain Awareness Week 2016
When: Tuesday, March 15, Doors: 7:30pm, Show: 8:00pm
Where: Union Hall, 702 Union Street and 5th Avenue
What: The Story Collider was founded in 2010 by Ben Lillie and Brian Wecht, two physicists who met at a storytelling show in Queens and quickly realized that they could do that too. Since then, The Story Collider has been bringing true, personal stories about science to life both through our many live shows as well as our weekly podcast, and we’ve used what we’ve learned about science and stories to teach scientists to use narrative in our university and corporate workshop program. With Amanda Buch, Anne K. Churchland, Chris Duffy, Emily Mullin, Nitin Ron, Ben Lillie, and Erin Barker.
How Much: $10, tickets available in advance. 21 and over. This event will be mixed seated/standing. Arrive early for best seat selection.

Uncivilized
When: Wednesday, March 16, 8:00pm
Where: Barbes, 376 9th Street near 6th Avenue.
What: Formed in various incarnations in New York circa 2012, Uncivilized is a tectonically shifting roots organelle that has “its own, fuzzy, folky, big-hearted thing” (The New York Times),  featuring players from the City’s jazz, folk, pop and experimental corners. With tints of 70s folk-jazz, bebop, and American Primitive, it’s “a real chimera of a group”, a romping groove vessel with strings, percussion, clarinets, and flutes to tell their earthen groove stories — with leader Tom Csatari’s vagabond guitar at the helm.
How much: $10 (strongly) suggested donation.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
When: Through March 27. (Check ticket calendar for specific dates and times.)
Where: The Gallery Players, 199 14th Street, between 4th and 5th Avenues)
What: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is based on the novel by Ken Kesey, and adapted for the stage by Dale Wasserman.  Cuckoo’s Nest continues Gallery’s 49th Season. Directed by Mark Harborth.
How much: $18, $15 for children and seniors.

The NYChillharmonic Album Release
When: Wednesday, March 16, Doors: 8:00pm, Show: 9:00pm)
Where: Littlefield, 622 Degraw Street (between 3rd and 4th Avenues)
What: The NYChillharmonic is a 22 piece ensemble/collective lead by Sara McDonald and located in NYC. The group is comprised of musicians that hail from all over the globe, but currently live and/or go to school within the five boroughs. While most people would assume that a band of this size and instrumentation would function as a traditional big band, the overall sound of the ensemble truly encompasses progressive rock, indie-pop, and classical genres.  With Ellis Ashbrook, SPACE CAPTAIN, and Mister Lies.
How much: $10, tickets available in advance.

Gowanus: The Past And Future Of Brooklyn’s Curious Canal — in Partnership with the Brooklyn Brainery.
When: Thursday, March 17 at 7pm-8:30pm
Where: Gowanus Souvenir Shop, 543 Union Street (the entrance is on Nevins Street, and down the alley, and on the left)
What: A lecture by Joseph Alexiou, author of “Gowanus: Brooklyn’s Curious Canal” about the canal’s colorful history, how it got so polluted, and what is next for this post-industrial neighborhood poised at the brink of yet another evolution. Followed by a wine reception.
How much: $15. Tickets are available here.

Striptease for Shy Birds with Leah King
When: Thursday, March 17, 7:30pm-9pm
Where: Please, 557 5th Avenue at 15th Street
What: Wondering how to excite your partner/s – or yourself! – with the age-old art of striptease? Feeling a little too shy to strip down to nothing but tassels and a thong? Come and find your inner vixen in a fun class combining sensual warm-ups, a How-to-Strip lesson, and body-positive choreography in a judgment-free zone specifically for newbies. Please bring: 1) your favorite sexy song to help find your own special flare for seduction; 2) things you like to take off – whether that’s long gloves, a feather boa, tight pants, something strappy, or a snowsuit. All body types, levels, and genders are welcome to join, though this class will focus on bringing shy birds out of their nests.
How much: $30. Tickets available here or can be purchased at the store.

Videokaffe presents Para-sites & Proto-types, A Participatory Installation
When: Thursdays-Saturdays, 2pm-6pm. Through March 26.
Where: Open Source Gallery, (306 17th Street at 6th Avenue)
What: Videokaffe is an art collective known for occupying spaces for intensive work periods and throughout March will harness their members’ skills and the surrounding’s materials to create artworks acutely engaged with their place at Open Source. Para-sites & Proto-types will transform the gallery into a ‘science-garage-arcade’ using the space as a combination exhibition venue, cafeteria, and workshop open to the public. Videokaffe will work on-site at the gallery, scouring and collecting from the local environment to create work by integrating found and recycled materials with ready-made components. They will exhibit their methods of working, encouraging conversation with the public–and inviting interested viewers to participate in various aspects of the project. Para-sites & Proto-types aims to build artwork uniquely formed from and with their environment by recycling objects and testing environmental possibilities. Instead of installing finished work within the gallery, Para-sites & Proto-types will integrate art into the urban architecture surrounding Open Source, celebrating how art nurtures the environment and how the environment nurtures art.
How much: Free.

Loop 2.4.3 Record Release Event
When: Wedneday, March 16, 8:15pm
Where: ShapeShifter Lab, 18 Whitwell Place (between 1st and Carroll Streets)
What: Loop 2.4.3 creates original music steeped in percussion and electronics. Upon the group’s debut release, NPR called Loop 2.4.3 an original voice that “sounds like part of a well-thought-out tradition. Only the tradition has never existed until now.” This idea of simultaneous familiarity and experimentation has been at the heart of Loop 2.4.3 from its inception.  With the Brooklyn artist’s fourth release, Time-Machine_music, founder Thomas Kozumplik has created a flexible ensemble that rotates players and varies in size, but a powerful sense of exploration and freedom is constant.  The full album will be performed live, along with a special World Premiere work, for this ShapeShifter Plus event.
How much: $15.

New Members’ Show at 440 Gallery
When: Exhibit runs through March 20. Regular hours: Thursdays and Fridays, 4:00-7:00pm; Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00am-7:00pm.
Where: 440 Gallery, 440 6th Avenue, between 9th and 10th Streets
What: 440 Gallery presents the work of six new members of the Gallery. The exhibit is curated by veteran 440 Gallery artist Karen Gibbons. Works by new members Jo-Ann Acey, Eric Banks, Richard Barnet, Leigh Blanchard, Joy Makon, and Amy Weil.
How much: Free.