DISBAND was formed in the late seventies by a group of
artists, all female, whose outrageous brand of political theater has been
revived for reunion concerts at MoMA PS1 and all over. The recent program of
twelve short songs and sketches was standing-room-only at the cool Austrian
Cultural Forum in midtown.
In a famous skit, two men compare penises that grow and grow
until they're able to have a sword fight with them. In a new one, an empty suit draped over a
hanger, center stage, stands in for Gov Rick Perry. Bewigged Thomas Jefferson,
Ben Franklin, George Washington and Abigail Adams take turns scolding Rick,
addressing corrupt campaign funding, state-sanctioned rape in the form of forced trans-vaginal
ultrasounds, and the Constitution’s clearly stated mandated separation of
church and state.
DISBAND sketches over three decades old are still
very relevant. This “conceptual art punk band of women artists who can’t play any
instruments” formed at Franklin Furnace, which was founded by Martha Wilson, one
of the night’s performers. (Barbara Kruger and Ingrid Sischy are also members.)
This performance also included Ilona Granet, Donna Hennes and worldwide
sensation Diane Torr, in town for the US premiere of a film about her Man For a Day workshops.
It’s so easy to imagine these fearless artists partying with
Pussy Riot.
A walk across Central Park took us to the new Tavern on the Green, recently reopened after four years dark. The colorful crystal chandeliers and art nouveau mirrors were sold off, as well as the topiaries of teddy bears and elephant removed from the garden. Trees around the restaurant that had been strangled in ropes of hot, colored lights have been set free, and nature conservationists consider that in itself an improvement.
Since the bankruptcy filing in 2009, Tavern on the Green has
been owned by the city and was revamped in character with the other rustic park
buildings inside the park, with a new open kitchen, the original wood-beamed
ceilings, and a lively bar, which it never had before. Bartender Savannah will mix you a drink called the Bronx: Dorothy Parker American Gin, orange juice, and sweet and dry vermouths. The
old menu used to be all pasta and red meat. Under the direction of Chef Katy
Sparks, grilled meat and fish and roasted vegetables are offered, with several
ceviches that are popular on both lunch and dinner menus.
Pete Wells said the food isn't "so wonderful that it would lure crowds, but it wouldn't keep them away either," whatever that means. One day at lunch the most popular thing to order was the $18 tuna melt. (If nothing else, it gives you some idea of the pricing.) No bread basket comes with a main course or a main-course salad at the new Tavern on the Green. This can only be a money-saving decision that probably will be rethought as the restaurant fledges, because bread baskets should be de rigueur, even in a gluten-free world.
Pete Wells said the food isn't "so wonderful that it would lure crowds, but it wouldn't keep them away either," whatever that means. One day at lunch the most popular thing to order was the $18 tuna melt. (If nothing else, it gives you some idea of the pricing.) No bread basket comes with a main course or a main-course salad at the new Tavern on the Green. This can only be a money-saving decision that probably will be rethought as the restaurant fledges, because bread baskets should be de rigueur, even in a gluten-free world.
