THIS MONTH: DECEMBER 2021
THIS MONTH: DECEMBER 2021
A holiday lounge act, epic debut novel and Eastern Mediterranean restaurant are just three of the things we're looking forward to this month.
THEATER
NOVEMBER 30–DECEMBER 4
Kiki & Herb Sleigh at BAM
Directed and performed by Justin Vivian Bond & Kenny Mellman
If you're looking to get in the seasonal spirit sans more conventional entertainment, this lounge act by two of New York's nonagenarian icons could be the right choice. Filled with pithy banter on all things pop culture (with a holiday bent), it's the antidote to any seasonal blues.
ART
DECEMBER 1–4
NADA Miami 2021
Art Fair
NADA returns to Miami for its 19th-annual art show this year. With over 170 exhibitors spanning galleries, a NADA showcase of emerging voices and book publishers (presented by Printed Matter and Exile Books), it's a vibrant hub for the art world. And this latest iteration of the fair coincides with the launch of five artworks from NADA partners that will be available exclusively on Platform.
FILM
DECEMBER 3:
Benedetta
Dir. by Paul Verhoeven
Best known for contemporary classics like Basic Instinct, Robocop and Hollow Man, director Paul Verhoeven is no stranger to courting controversy in his projects. Benedetta, his latest indie, is no exception. Based on the real life of 17th-century Italian nun Benedetta Carlini (as well the book Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy by Judith C. Brown), the film centers on Carlini's religious and erotic visions as well as the romantic relationship she developed with another nun in her convent.
LITERATURE
DECEMBER 7:
Beasts of a Little Land
Written by Juhea Kim
The debut novel from author Juhea Kim, Beasts of a Little Land is a haunting love story set against the backdrop of Korea's struggle for independence from Japan. Its two protagonists – one a young girl sold to a courtesan school, and the other the impoverished son of a hunter – have intertwined fates that continue to connect through tremendous geopolitical upheaval.
FOOD
NOW OPEN:
Zou Zou's
Chef Madeline Sperling
There's something primal about cooking over an open flame, and chef Madeline Sperling sought to capture both the feeling and flavor associated with the practice in her new restaurant. Sperling spent years cooking her way through some of New York's best eateries (Gramercy Tavern, The NoMad) and is now bringing her take on Eastern Mediterranean cuisine to Gotham. With influences from Lebanon, Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Syria and Jordan, the 75-seat spot will feature an open kitchen surrounding a wood-burning hearth.