By LAURA VOGEL
Posted: 2:00 am
July 6, 2008
This week: Totally garbage movies; dump your ex all over again; San Fermin flamenco and food; art that kills; and a major-leage exhibition
Seeing fallen stars
Bellwether Gallery, 134 Tenth Ave.; (212) 929-5959
Brilliant young curator Becky Smith is known for spotting true young talent in this overcrowded city of wannabes. Her latest group show, "If Love Could Have Saved You, You Would Have Lived Forever," is a must-see. If you only have time for a brief visit, check out fierce partners/collaborators Marc Swanson and Joe Mama-Nitzberg's haunting photography first. The sumptuously shot funeral floral arrangements (made by the artists for punk icons like Darby Crash and American messes like Anna Nicole Smith) explore our love of dead celebs.
Perfect pastime party
Jacob Javits Center, 655 W. 34th St.; 888-FANFEST
The first pitch at this year's All-Star Game won't be thrown till July 15 at Yankee Stadium. But you can get yourself psyched for the game at the DHL All-Star FanFest, which features 40 interactive exhibits spread over 400,000 square feet, including video batting cages, pitch-speed monitoring and a make-your-own baseball card booth. Major leaguers including Cal Ripken, Jr., Derek Jeter and Yogi Berra will hold baseball clinics on an indoor field, and over a dozen more legends will sign autographs. There will also be an auction of baseball memorabilia, including Babe Ruth's historic 712th home-run ball . Estimated price is $200,00, but admission, which pays for everything, including autographs, is just $30 for adults and $25 for kids and seniors each day. Details at JavitsCenter.com.
Feeling bullish
Pamplona, 37 E. 28th St.; (212) 213-2328
Short of a flight to Spain to experience the real San Fermin Fest, Chelsea restaurant Pamplona is the next best thing. Chef Alex Ureņa is celebrating the yearly bravery/stupidity-inducing running of the bulls in the real Pamplona with five courses of his fantastic Spanish-inflected cuisine for $65 ($30 extra for wine pairing). Plus, there will be live flamenco music in the house. Get yourselves there, homesick conquistadors.
Take my ex, please!
Tenjune, 26 Little West 12th St.; (212) 724-3900
Predicated on Bravo's "Real Housewives of Orange County" spin-off "Date My Ex: Jo & Slade," the Recycle Your Ex Event is your opportunity to finally get rid of that old lover who's been taking up space and "auction" them off to some other sucker - um, soulmate. The event apparently benefits a green charity, hence the recycling tie-in. (No Soylent Green here, people.) If you can find them, grab your astoundingly compliant ex and head to the Meatpacking District at 7 p.m. Pre-register at recycleyourex.com.
Trash-heap theater
Comix, 353 W. 14th St.; (212) 524-2400
You know those "artsy" films you and your friends made in college? Well, the bad news is that the curators of the Found Footage Festival dug 'em out of a dumpster somewhere. The good news? They spliced them together with some unintentionally hilarious industrial-safety flicks from the '50s (the "accident" scenes alone are worth the price of admission). Salvation Army-sourced family movies and a buff Governator touting the pleasures of Brazil in a vintage promo video round out the hour's entertainment. The hosts of the evening, which starts at 9, are Onion and "Letterman" alums, so their running commentary is bound to be a riot, too. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 the day of show; comixny.com.
