THIS MONTH: FEBRUARY 2023
THIS MONTH: FEBRUARY 2023
The movies, books, art, theater and food to know this month.
BAM
THEATER
FEBRUARY 4
The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window
Starring Oscar Isaac & Rachel Brosnahan; Directed by Anne Kauffman
BAM
Lorraine Hansbury might be best known for A Raisin in the Sun, but the groundbreaking writer gifted us more than one stellar play during her storied (and tragically short-lived) career. Originally opening on Broadway in 1961, Hansbury's The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window tells the story of a spirited Greenwich Village couple and equally idealistic group of friends as they struggle to make their progressive dreams match reality during a moment of cultural upheaval. This production–starring Oscar Isaac (A Most Violent Year, Dune, Star Wars) and Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Dead for a Dollar, Othello)–marks the play's first major revival since its premiere over 60 years ago and, as with nearly every work by Hansbury, has a prescient quality that makes it feel as relevant as ever.
ART
NOW OPEN
Feed Your Head
56 Henry
Most of us are officially in need of a break from the dreariness of winter. Polly Apfelbaum and Gregg Moore's new show at 56 Henry is just the thing. "Ablaze with color," Feed Your Head is all about materials, specifically ceramics, and the unique kind of sensory pleasure they can provide. Hundreds of glazed mugs are nested together, each one dripping with different hues, and are designed to recall the comforting foods and beverages they usually carry.
Focus Features
FILM
FEBRUARY 17
Of an Age
Directed by Goran Stolevski
There's a lot to be said about the heartache of small tragedies: missed connections, departed friends, the ephemeral nature of special moments. Of an Age, a new Australian indie, takes us back to 1999 to tell the story of a 17-year-old ballroom dancer who meets his best friend's older brother, resulting in an unexpected romance–only one day before setting off for South America to pursue his career. But when they cross paths again years later, those 24 hours remain an emotional benchmark for the pair, leaving us to wonder if, just maybe, their connection could last a lifetime.
LITERATURE
FEBRUARY 21
I Have Some Questions for You
By Rebecca Makkai
A Pulitzer Prize finalist for her novel The Great Believers, Rebecca Makkai is back. In I Have Some Questions for You, protagonist Bodie Kane is a noted film professor and podcaster called back to teach at the boarding school she attended in her teenage years. But with that return comes the drudging up of memories she'd rather forget, like the mysterious murder of her senior-year roommate, Thalia Keith. Though the school's athletic trainer was convicted in the muder, no one seems to be sure that either the real circumstances of Keith's death or the actual killer have been brought to light. More than a book about an investigation, Makkai's latest work is an investigation into the meaning and shifting nature of collective memory.
FOOD
NOW OPEN
The Foul Witch
Chefs Carlo Mirarchi and Sam Pollheimer
By now, Roberta's is a more-than-well-established New York pizza paradise, but the team behind the Bushwick eatery has been thoughtfully expanding into other ventures over the past few years. First making its debut as a concept during Frieze 2018, Foul Witch borrows from the restaurant group's expensive tasting menu at Blanca (their other Bushwich spot), putting a more casual spin on things. Located in the East Village and limited to only 50 seats, diners can expect an edited lineup of dishes, but there's no pizza–yet. Keep an eye on the wood-burning oven they've got for any developments on that front.