It's not my local branch, and it may not be yours, but you should plan now to go there next Monday night, Oct 22, 2007. Where? Why? The Mulberry Street Branch of the New York Public Library (the entrance is really 10 Jersey Street between Mulberry & Lafayette) is an interestingly designed, well-executed re-use of some ground-floor and basement Soho industrial space.(Predictably, perhaps, luxury apts are above). Next Monday night two local figures,author Terry Iacuzzo and Monsignor Donald Sakano (of Old St. Patricks Cathedral) will talk about little Italy-Soho, followed by a tour of Old St. Patrick's -- catacombs included . Thus you get three treats for the price (Did I say "free" by the way?) of one: The library, a story of Little Italy and a chance to see Old St. Patrick's. RSVP by email to mulberry_branch@nypl.org or by telephone 212-966-3424

I got this from Lambda Independent Democrats: LID and the Atlantic Yards - Oct. 22nd LID will be taking a hard look at the Atlantic Yards proposal. Until now, the club has remained neutral, but the time has come to take a position. We have invited Councilmember Latitia James (confirmed) and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz (unconfirmed) to talk about the pros and cons of this project. Please join us on October 22nd, 7:30pm at Camp Friendship located at 339 8 Street, just below 6th Avenue. [Editor's Note: I wonder if Marty Markowitz will dare show his face at a gay and lesbian organization after his endorsement of homophobe Noach Dear for judge...]

If you've been to Bryant Park in the last few days, you'll have noticed the lawn is gone in preparation for free ice skating at the The Pond at Bryant Park . Skating continues through mid-January according to the web-site, but skaters were promised the rink through March for this year. Citibank may have dug wrongly and deeply into sub-prime loans, but the gift of free skating is quite wonderful. Enjoy. I certainly plan to and hope to see you there.

Shown at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, was a remarkable bio-pic of folk-singer, leftist trouble maker : “ “Pete Seeger – The Power of Song” . Now it will play for non-festival movie goers at the IFC Center 323 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10014 (6th Ave. at 3rd Street). Call for times (212) 924-7771. Below a micro-review via the NY Times:

Join me and other Iraq war opponents in a march down Broadway. Meet at Noon at 23rd Street & Broadway in Manhattan march to Foley Square for a Peace Fair all sponsored by United For Peace & Justice

Elizabeth Swados' new work, a cantata called Atonement will receive its final FREE performance of the current series at the Jewish Community Center, 334 Amsterdam Ave & 76th St. I heard the two previous performance and suggest you not miss this last one. The JCC website says the event is full, but tickets not picked up will be redistributed at 7:45 AM. Good luck.

LINDA STEIN & ANN SNITOW cordially invite you to a fundraiser in honor of NORMAN SIEGEL Please come meet the People’s Advocate, and show your support for his campaign for NYC Public Advocate. Wednesday, October 29th, 2007, 6:00 to 8:00pm at the studio of Linda Stein 100 READE STREET Bet. West Broadway & Church St. (Reade is one block north of Chambers St.) Subways: A or C to Chambers St.; R or W to City Hall; 1, 2, 3 to Chambers St.; 4, 5, 6 to Brooklyn Bridge PARKING ON SOME SIDE STREETS AT 6 PM; ON READE STREET AT 7 PM Suggested Contribution: $25 to $250 Drinks & Refreshments will be served RSVP to Theresa Canter at 212-448-6271

David McReynolds, pacifist, socialist, east village militant calls us to remember the life of Norma Becker a leading NY trouble maker at PS 234, Saturday Nov. 3. I will see you there. "If you were one of those opposing the Civil Defense drills in New York City in the early sixties . . . If you were one of those who risked their lives in the South during the Civil Rights struggle . . . If you were one of those who joined the Fifth Ave. Peace Parade Committee to begin mass mobilization against the Vietnam War . . . If you were one of those who rallied at the United Nations in support of the Special Sessions on Disarmament in 1978 and 1982 (in 1982 there were a million of you, so you were probably there) . . . If you were one of those fighting nuclear power after the disaster of Three Mile Island . . . If you were on of those who finally questioned the rigid US policy in the Middle East which always favored Israel and ignored the suffering of the Palestinians . . . If you were one of those who helped organize for economic justice . . .

Join Us & Celebrate Change in 2008! For New York, the 2008 Election will be the time for pro-choice political change and the Planned Parenthood of New York City Action Fund is committed to making that change happen. But we need pro-choice New Yorkers like you! Fight for Your Rights. Party. Pro-Choice Poker! Saturday, November 17th, 2007 5-9pm Pete's Candy Store 709 Lorimer Street Brooklyn, NY 11211 Tickets $20 Meet other pro-choice New Yorkers, play a friendly game of poker and support the important political work of the Planned Parenthood of New York City Action Fund! Your $20 ticket to this fabulous party also gets you a one-year membership to the Action Fund. As a member, you'll get all the latest info on how to make pro-choice political change in 2008 and beyond. Click Here to RSVP!

If, like me, you haven't yet gotten over the loss of Grace Paley, author, anti-warrior, feminist, consider this protest-less reading at Cooper Union's Great Hall PEN American Center presents: A Tribute to the Life and Work of Grace Paley An Evening of Readings and Remembrance With: Michael Cunningham, Eve Ensler, Amy Hempel, Walter Mosley, Richard Price, Katha Pollitt, Francine Prose, Victoria Redel, Sonia Sanchez, Scott Spencer, Vera B. Williams Tuesday November 6, 2007, 7:00 p.m. The Great Hall at Cooper Union 7 East 7th Street at Third Avenue Subway: 6 to Astor Place or the R, W to 8th Street FREE ADMISSION - Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Three Bands will play to raise funds for DDDB’s legal fight against Bruce Ratner's plan for the “Atlantic Yards” development project. Grammy-winning band klezmer band the Klezmatics will play a special concert on November 8 at the Brooklyn Lyceum to benefit Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB). Two other area musical groups, Kakande and the Demolition String Band, will also perform. The benefit concert will raise funds towards DDDB’s state lawsuit challenging the Atlantic Yards project's environmental review and approval and the federal lawsuit challenging the state's abuse of eminent domain. Both of these lawsuits were organized by DDDB, and are funded entirely by individual donations from the community and fundraising events throughout the year. Both lawsuits are pending; a victory in either suit would mean that developer Forest City Ratner's Atlantic Yards project would not move forward. Concert Details are as follows: The Klezmatics, Kakande, and Demolition String Band Thursday, November 8 Doors at 7pm Brooklyn Lyceum 227 4th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 857-4816 $20 in advance, $25 at the door

Okay, sometimes you gotta help even lawyers. This worthy event comes from the NY Bar Assn. (as an aside, these are the same people who rated Noach Dear, the new judge for the 5th Civil Court, endorsed by Vito Lopez, Marty Markowitz, Domonic Recchia, and a handful of other hacks, as completely unqualified):

As an expression of solidarity with our beleaguered colleagues at the Pakistani bar, the New York City Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the New York County Lawyers' Association, in conjunction with other organizations, invite you to attend a public rally in front of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street on Tuesday, November 13, from 1:00-1:30 p.m. The crude and brutal suspension of law and the legal system in Pakistan, and the repression of judges and lawyers there, require that we take a moment from our own busy schedules and demonstrate our concern. Because the images from Pakistan show the violent repression of Pakistani lawyers wearing their customary dark suit and white shirt, we request that you appear on Tuesday in similar attire, though this is not required. What is important is a strong show of support.

The American Institute of Graphic Artists displays to 50 best designed books and 50 best covers at its 164 5th Ave., gallery. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.