MOVIE: Every national election year reminds us of that part in The Dark Crystal where the hideous Skeksis systematically drain the Gelfling’s “essence” and drink it to increase their power. If you don’t know the scene we’re talking about, you need to go see it on the big screen tonight – a regular-sized TV monitor just doesn’t do Jim Henson’s creepy masterpiece justice. The one-night-only screening will be introduced by one of the film’s puppet......

THEATER: Theodora Skipitares is a Greek-American playwright, director and puppeteer who uses near life-size puppets and Greek tragedies to look at our current situation in Iraq. (Her rendition of the Iliad and the Odyssey was a sold-out hit at La MaMa last year.) Her new show, which features puppetry and video, is The Exiles, an adaptation of the Orestes/Electra myth. “In this particular story of betrayal and vengeance, these puppets are an eerie construction of......

The Center for an Urban Future released a report, Rethinking New York's Street Fairs (PDF), that criticizes city street fairs for being too many, too bland, and too difficult for other vendors to participate in. For instance, did you realize there are 367 street fairs a year (at least planned for 2006)? And did you know that almost 46% of the food permits are held by the 20 largest street vendors - 9 of......

It's the West Side County Fair! Of course, Upper West Side style, it's on a pier and the rides are tiny, though sweet. Till 5PM this afternoon.......