Greenlight Bookstore’s Prospect Lefferts Gardens location presents Everyday People: The Color of Life–a Short Story Anthology. “Representing a wide range of styles, themes, and perspectives, these selected stories depict moments that linger—crossroads to be navigated, relationships, epiphanies, and times of doubt, loss, and discovery. A celebration of writing and expression, Everyday People brings to light the rich tapestry that binds us all.” Editor Jennifer Baker hosts the launch. Highlight contributors include Mitchell S. Jackson, Dennis Norris II, and Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond. A wine reception follows. A portion of sales will go to the Rhode Island Writers Colony, a nonprofit organization founded by the late Brooklyn writer Brook Stephenson, who founded the colony to give “speculation, production, and experimentation by writers of color.” 7:30pm. 632 Flatbush Ave. (718) 246-0200
Sunset Park’s Target Margin theater sling around peanut butter while questioning the foundations of American education, just in time for back to school. The Peanut Butter Show runs just five night. The show’s produced by Little Lord, a company in Bushwick that radically reinterprets (often to uproarious effect) classic works. Here they’re taking material from 19th century McGuffery Readers to act out on. “The moralistic underpinnings of these texts led us to think about education as indoctrination — along with issues like assumed authority, the grotesque and humiliating cult of middle school, the awkwardness of children’s musical “edutainment,” and whether or not it’s ever okay to poop with the door open.” 232 52nd Street. (718) 398-3095.
CMJ, the far-reaching music festival in all boroughs featuring an amazing growth of acts, ended three years ago, and it’s more mature (and corporate) replacement — Mondo.NYC — has been resurrected in Williamsburg. Over the first weekend in October, record and tech executives from established companies like FuseMachines and RIAA will present on the latest with founders of new music ventures (Bill Wilson from Indie Ninja; Michael Kurtz from Record Store Day). In the shadows are the emerging artists form around the world who were once the main focus of CMJ. They do have some well-known acts, though. Lenny Kaye, Patti Smith’s guitarist, has wandered into their roaster. 96 Wythe Ave. (718) 362-8100
 Oct 3
The Next Wave Festival at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) brings together the best of emerging arts around the world. It kicks off with “Humans” (Oct 3-7) from Australian ballet company Circa: “10 performers execute breathtaking sequences of circus acts, displaying physical and emotional strength as they manipulate, contort, and catapult one another in death-defying feats.” Other highlights include “Interpassivities” (Nov 15-17) by Kim Gordon and Danish filmmaker Jesper Just join forces in a “shape-shifting ballet….inspired by Jorge Luis Borges’ fantasy of an immense map constructed on a one-to-one scale, Interpassivities immerses participants in a life-size no-man’s land.” Through Dec 12-15, The Builders Association presents their technologically adventurous rendition of Henry James’s gothic classic, “Strange Window: The Turn of the Screw.” 30 Lafayette St. (718) 636-4100.
Now in its 1oth year, The Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival (BEM) features every stripe of EDM out there. Centering along clubs in Williamsburg, BEM expands a bit more this year with performances in Ridgewood and Bushwick. Headliners include Breakbot, DJ Seinfeld, Nina Kraviz, and Motor City Drum Ensemble. Various locations.
Only NYC would combine children’s myth with all-male burlesque dancers. Such is the case with Company XIV, the spectacle-driven dance company from Bushwick. Munro Lead’s 1936 children’s tale, “The Story of Ferdinand,” gets a scantily class, high-pitched opera spectacular. Through Oct 29, Thurs-Sun. $39-99. 383 Troutman St.
The Ragas Live Festival takes over the first weekend at Pioneer Works. Beginning 5pm on Friday, the festival opens with the talented Vijay Iyer, Yosvany Terry, and Rajna Swaminathan. Other highlights include the Coltrain Raga Tribute, the tabla player Karsh Kale, and sets by Samarth Nagarkar, Steve Gorn, and Jay Gandhi. Video artist Nitin Mukul provides the visual. You can listen in on WKCR 89.9 FM-NY, stream at www.wkcr.org, or hear later on NYC Radio Live podcast. 159 Pioneer St.
At Cathouse Proper launches “Western Painting – Magnasco” by James Hyde. The mammoth works of, “Hypo-chromatic paintings employ assorted matte and gloss varnishes, house paint, fresco and metal pigments, ground tire rubber and glass beads.” Opening Oct 6, 6-9pm. 524 Court Street. (646) 729-4682
Brooklyn Public Library comes together with Greenlight bookstore to feature Nadya Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot. The Putin-defying performance artist has a new book, Read & Riot: A Pussy Riot Guide to Activism, that’s included with the $27 ticket. “Fusing punk and positivity to create a culture of protest that inspires and connects us, Read & Riot includes actions, suggestions, and resources for creating an empowered movement of resistance. Tolokonnikova presents her book with a talk, Q&A and book signing. 10 Grand Army Plaza. (718) 230-2100
Calling all history buffs: The Brooklyn Historical Society hosts eminent historian Ron Chernow to talk about his latest biography on Ulysses S. Grant. Chernow’s work on Alexander Hamilton served as the basis for the musical, and he won the National Book Award for his work, “The House of Morgan,” and a Pulitzer in 2011 for “Washington: A Life.” $10, $5 for members. 6:30pm. 128 Pierrepont St. 718-222-4111.
Cave Theatre Company, based in the East Village, will perform Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” through Oct 27 at The Waterfront Museum. “Join Shakespeare’s most loveable (minor) characters as they muddle their way through one existential crisis after another. In this brilliant philosophical comedy, set against the backdrop of the most famously morose play of all time…Stoppard muses on life, death, and the statistical probability of coin tosses, flipping seamlessly between hilarity and poignancy.” Performances are weekends only; GA is $30. 290 Conover St. (718) 624-4719.
In Fort Greene, BRIC hosts the JazzFest Music Marathon. Opening night, featuring Chet Baker, is free and first come, first served with RSVPs accepted online. Other highlights include Urban Bush Women, Terence Blanchard, and Meshell Ndegeocello. Tickets are $30 per day or $75 for a 3-day pass. www.bricartsmedia.org. 647 Fulton St. (718) 855-7882.
Through the Oct 14, SARDINE exhibits the group show “Italicized Reality,” the latest by Liz Ainslie, Andy Cross, Christopher Dunlap, Robin Kang, Jennifer J Lee, and Dana Powell. The pieces look at cosmic consciousness, artistic visions, and notions of reality. “Through the hands of these artists the ineffability of a mystical experience is underscored, and reality is italicized.” 286 Stanhope Street near the Knickerbocker M. Gallery. Hours vary. (914) 805-1974.
A radical reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure set in Vienna, BAM hosts the Pushkin Theatre (Moscow) and Cheek by Jowl (London) as they follow a leader who rules everyone through humiliation and fear, constantly diminishing the laws of morality. Director Declan Donnellan casts a minimal stage with a superb set by his long-time collaborator Nick Ormerod. The Russians supply stirring lights, music, and choreography by (respectively) Sergey Skornetskiy, Irina Kashuba, and Pavel Akimkin.
In Russian with English subtitles. Through Oct 21. Lafayette Ave. See website for varying dates and times, or call 30 (718) 636-4100.
The Waterfront Museum along with Sable Gallery presents Ukrainian Maritime Paintings through Oct 20. Portion of sales goes to charity. Yulia Altas and other artists will have more work on display at Woolly & Sable Gallery. 290 Conover Street. (718) 624-4719.
Art Gowanus is upon us: more than 350 artists open their studios to greet their neighbors, sell their wares, and talk art. For over two decades, Arts Gowanus has forwarded the belief that “the diverse creativity of local artists contributes to the singularly vibrant cultural life and energy of New York City. And that it is critical not only for the artists, but also our society in general, that the arts continue to thrive in Gowanus.” The festivities roam from Atlantic Ave to 21st Street, and Court Street to 6th Avenue. 12pm-6pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Since 2000, the Gravesend Inn Haunted House has been the pride and joy of Theaterworks, the company from NYC City of Technology. Witness college students using their latest tech skills to scare you shitless. Through Oct 31. 186 Jay Street.
Williamsburg’s Videology Bar & Cinema will roll out specialty cocktails and candy fever dreams inspired by Dario Argento’s spectral horror flick, “Suspiria,” where a ballerina returns to her elite dance academy just to realize that murder is afloat. “For the Suspiria super-fans who’d like to catch the original one last time before seeing the remake, we’ll have 3 back to back screenings of Suspiria with witches’ wine from the Black Forest starting at 6pm!” 308 Bedford Ave.
Elsewhere in East Williamsburg is celebrating their one year anniversary on Halloween with performances from rock bands Wavves and Beach Fossils. $25 GA. 599 Johnson Ave.
If Fleetwood Mac is more your style (particularly “Rhiannon”) Le Poisson Rouge provides you with the rare opportunity to dress like a blood soaked Stevie Nicks with “Rhiannon’s Revenge: A Halloween Disco.” $15-22. 10pm. 158 Bleecker St. (212) 505-3474
The Crystal Method (Scott Kirkland) pumps up a Halloween party with EDM at Good Room nightclub. Suggested for the funemployed. $25. 9pm. 98 Meserole.
ONGOING
Greene Grape Annex hosts a graphic novel book club. This month, they’ll discuss Bitch Planet Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine, a sci-fi satire by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Valentine De Landro. Greenlight Books sponsors. 753 Fulton Street, across the street from the bookstore. (718) 246-0200.
Brooklyn Historical Society at Dumbo hosts Waterfront, “an exhibition and multimedia experience for all ages that traces a personal, local history of the borough’s waterfront while also revealing the coastline’s global significance.” The exhibit takes places at Empire Stores, a 19th century warehouse and still one of the largest. With an eye on rising sea levels of the pressures of gentrification, the exhibit is a memorable, visceral way to learn about the land you inhabit. 11am-6pm Sunday, Tuesday to Thursday; 11am-8pm Friday and Saturday. Suggested admission $6-10. Free for members and students.
“Tanker Time” at PortSide Museum invites you to hang out during the day on Pier 11. “Hammocks! Books to read! TankerTots toy area with kiddie pool! ArtTable with free drawing & painting supplies to use. Watch boats, ducks and geese come and go. Chill. Beat the rat race. Have your meeting here.” Check their website portsidenewyork.org or call (917) 414-0565 for weekend hours.
