The first comprehensive survey documenting the important AIDS activist art collective's work from 1987 to 1995 is set to open on January 31 at 80WSE. The exhibition, curated by Gran Fury and 80WSE Assistant Director Michael Cohen, runs through March 17, 2012.

Angered by the political sphere’s refusal to address or react to the AIDS crisis that devastated NYC beginning in the ‘80s and continuing through the ‘90s, a group of designers and artists formed the collective, Gran Fury, after meeting through ACT UP (the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power).

The boutique hotel which bills itself as an "urban  gay resort," is located in Hell's Kitchen (where else?). It will include 105 rooms and XL Nightclub, which the creators say is the first nightly gay dance club to open in the city in the last 15 years.

Brought to you by club legend John Blair, the 14,000 sq. foot  XL is slated to open this month.

Plans for the hotel also include a three courtyards and a massive gym.

Rooms will start at around $200 a night, with sleep shares starting at $99 a night.

• January 8: Vanishing of the Bees, edited by Ellen Page, this documentary examines the mysterious disappearance of entire honeybee populations across the US, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Called Colony Collapse Disorder, the phenomenon has far-reaching effects on the production of hundreds of fruits and vegetables. The film explores the link between human activity and the welfare of the earth. 

• January 15: Scrabylon, filmed primarily during the World SCRABBLE Championships in Las Vegas, this documentary delves deep into the competitive and colorful world of tournament SCRABBLE. Interviews with players from around the globe address the timeless allure of the popular word game.

• January 22: Bag It, follows “everyman” Jeb Berrier as he travels the world, investigating the systematic effects of our use of plastic on our oceans, environment, and bodies. Using the ubiquitous plastic bag as a touchpoint, Berrier hones in on our role in a system which prizes convenience over thoughtfulness, and the effect this has on our oceans, environment, and bodies. This documentary comes at a great time, as Seattle just recently banned plastic bags: READ MORE
  

Up next month: The Films of Pedro Almodovar!

Almodóvar is arguably the most successful and internationally known Spanish filmmaker of his generation. His films, marked by complex narratives, employ the codes of melodrama and use elements of pop culture, popular songs, irreverent humor, strong colors and glossy décor. Desire, passion, family and identity are among Almodóvar’s most prevalent themes. His films enjoy a worldwide following and he has become a major figure on the stage of world cinema.

The word “cabaret” conjures up images ranging from smoke-filled rooms (remember smoke?) to lap dances. We may have lost the smoke, but cabaret is back in a big way in New York.

In these rooms performers strive for the chance to communicate with an audience. Nothing’s needed except the singer, the song, a musician or two, and the give and take of the audience. It’s the rare opportunity to express yourself with lyrics that mean something and music that shapes those lyrics indelibly. You can explore a vast treasury of great songs and can take a familiar pop song and give it new life and meaning. It is the job of a singer to convey the story behind the music. I can’t tell you how many times someone has come up after a show to say they had never really heard the lyrics to a pop song until I had sung it. 

Part of the fun of cabaret is how audiences differ so much depending on the location and venue.

I was the first white male to sing at Sweetwater’s, an R&B club in New York. It was fun because I got to work with the house band who had toured with Aretha Franklin. As I took to the stage there was a dubious silence, but once I began singing, I started hearing, “you tell ‘em, baby,” and “sing it child!” It took me a minute to get used to this participatory crowd, where you would sing and they would answer you right back — but I loved it!

In London, the audiences seem like very serious students, silent throughout the song and until the pianist has played his very last note and then politely applauding;  afterwards they tell you how moved they were. In Los Angeles, they sigh audibly and want to stay after the show to discuss in detail every song you chose and where you found it. In New York, they heckle (good-naturedly!) and, if they like it, applaud enthusiastically even before the song is over. It’s all wonderful. And you never know who you’re going to meet…

Early on, I had gotten a lot of attention from some record labels, and I was working at a club called Mickey’s with famed singers Karen Akers and Cissy Houston. Bob Feiden of Arista Records asked me to stay for Cissy’s show to get my take on her daughter, whom Cissy was introducing in the act. Into the spotlight stepped this pretty teenager with minimal makeup wearing a sheath dress. Barely moving, she sang a very pure version of Barry Manilow’s “All the Time.” Her beauty and simplicity were amazing. It was, of course, Whitney Houston.

Craig Pomranz in the recording studio.

Photo courtesy of Craig Pomranz.

So many people think they can sing, and do, that it’s important that the world of cabaret offers them a venue, especially in New York.

You don’t have to have a beautiful voice.  Some of the greats had little range but were all soul. Frank Sinatra says he learned it all from Mabel Mercer, who often talked her way through a song. Insiders hail Fred Astaire as a great singer, and some of the finest songs were written for him (“The Way You Look Tonight” for example). He had a small voice but exquisite rhythm, timing and a reserved emotional quality that could be heartbreaking.

What prepares you to be a singer? Life!

What art form is more immediate, able to change from night to night according to musical fashion or even the headlines? In a world full of noise and clatter, people yearn for the kind of intimacy a small music room provides. Like all live performance, you never know what you’re going to get…But it’s oh so worth the visit. So go out and support live music, be it a cabaret, a piano bar or any other venue. Let yourself be transported, and have a cocktail while you’re at it. Cabaret is a key part of New York’s culture.

Craig Pomranz is an actor, singer, dancer, recording artist and song stylist who sings internationally. His new show in New York is “Love and the Clock” at The Metropolitan Room.

The Holiday Windows are up, lights are hanging on Fifth Avenue, and there’s a line at the airport — it must be time for our holiday video.  “Unleashed” is here and it’s ready to rumble around the internet.  BG has always been a dog-friendly store but for “Unleashed” we got downright intimate.  Dogs had free run through the store (the filming took place at 5am) and as you’ll see, they took full advantage.

We were very happy to work with the Humane Society of New York, which has been helping animals in need since 1904.  We hope you enjoy it — and we want to see photos of your dogs for an upcoming project, so start planning your portraits.

Now it’s time to meet Salty and the rest of the pack.  WATCH  NOW