ON THE TOWNS: In Texas, a First for Female Filmmakers; Expect Feats (and Feet) of Fancy as Ardani Artists Celebrates 25 Years; 17th Annual Taste of Tennis Adds Appetizers

Yokayam, a strengthening exercise that combines yoga, Indian martial arts and Indian classical dance, is on the workshop schedule for the Indian Festival of Dance. Photo courtesy of Indian Festival of Dance.

AUGUST 2016

THE film world turns its focus on Locarno, which had been going strong for nearly 70 years in Switzerland. On these shores, the Women Texas Film Festival debuts in Dallas, proudly proclaiming that it is "the very first full-fledged film festival in the state of Texas to focus solely on the work of female filmmakers."

Elsewhere, plenty of dance moves are to be found at the Festival of Indian Dance and the spectacular Ardani Artists.

1-7 August

FILM. 3-13 Aug. Festival del Film Locarno. The 69th edition of the Swiss-Italian festival known for featuring trendsetting works and an open-air theater (Piazza Grande)'that can acconmodate 8,000 viewers. Various locations. Locarno, Switzerland. http://www.pardolive.ch/pardo/festival-del-film-locarno/home.html

Sennia Nanua at the Piazza Grande after the screening of her film, "The Girl With All The Gifts," at the Locarno film festival. Photo by Massimo Pedrazzini.

8-14 August

DANCE. 13-15 Aug. IAAC Erasing Borders Festival of Indian Dance. The festival highlights the literary content and language of classical Indian dance through a concert, workshop and all-dance program. The dance program is hosted by the Battery Dance Festival. Pace University and Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park. New York. http://www.iaac.us/IAAC_dance_fest2016/index.htm

15-21 August

THEATER. 18 Aug. - 2 Sept. Gregorian. Working Artists Theatre Project presents the Matthew Greene drama about the triumphs, challenges and tragedies - starting with the Armenian genocide - experienced by four generations of the titular family. Soho Repertory Theater, 46 Walker St. New York. http://www.WATproject.com/Gregorian

DANCE. 19-20 Aug. Sergei Danilian presents Ardani 25 Dance Gala. The 25th anniversary of Ardani Artists will feature three U.S. premieres. The gala closes with "Le Divertissement du Roi" choreographed by Maxim Petrov to the music of Jean-Philippe Rameau and featuring members of the Mariinsky Ballet. New York City Center, 130 W. 56th St. New York. http://www.bit.ly/2bbwTFg

FILM. 19-21 Aug. Women Texas Film Festival. The debut of the first Texas film festival to focus exclusively on the work of women opens with "Girl Asleep," the award-winning comedy from Australian director Rosemary Myers. Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson Blvd. Dallas. http://www.WomenTxFF.org

22 August and beyond

FOOD, SPORTS. 24-27 Aug. 17th Annual Taste of Tennis (2016).The tennis-party franchise owns the week leading up to the U.S. Open. The main events, over three consecutive days, beginning 24 Aug. are Taste of Tennis Master Class: top chef prepares favorite meal of top tennis player ... the new Taste of Tennis World Team Tennis and Billie Jean King reception ... Taste of Tennis New York Gala: the jewel of the crown features dishes prepared by top chefs with an assist from top players, who may also help serve them up ... and the new Taste of Tennis Pavilion: takes what had recently been the Celebrity Chef Tennis Challenge and adds a Mylan World Team Tennis match and interactive Taste of Tennis Pavilion.

Finally, the Taste of Tennis Player Party has a new venue: the Knickerbocker Hotel. Guests mix and mingle with players, including Feliciano Lopez and Alexander Zverev, who will also be available for photo-ops. Various locations. New York. http://www.tasteoftennis.com/nyc/

ART. Through 25 Sept. 2016. Danny Lyon: Message to the Future. The retrospective of the photographer’s work includes nearly 200 photos and is billed as the first to consider his work as a filmmaker. Whitney Museum of American Art. 99 Gansevoort. New York. http:// www.whitney.org/Exhibitions/DannyLyonMessageToTheFuture

ON THE TOWNS: Apollo Theater Gives Prince a Place of Honor; Northside Festival and the Next Big Things; in 'Hooligan Sparrow,' a Good Deed Does Not Go Unpunished; Lens on Danny Lyon

Prince will be inducted posthumously into the Apollo Theater's Walk of Fame in a ceremony on 13 June. Photo from Prince fan Facebook page.

JUNE 2016

A list of goings-on, from a place on the Apollo Theater Walk of Fame for Prince to Eva Longoria getting down with "Lowriders" and all manner of cattiness at CatCon LA 2016.

1-7 June

ART. Through 26 June. Intrude. Four-city tour of public art installation by Amanda Parer of Australia continues. Presented by Arts Brookfield, “Intrude” depicts white nylon-inflated rabbits illuminated from within. New York, 17-30 April; Houston, 9 May-14 May; Los Angeles, 5 June-11 June; Denver, 17-19 June, 24-26 June. Brookfield properties. Free. New York. Houston. Los Angeles. Denver. http://www.brookfieldplaceny.com/events/intrude/

FILM. 1-9 June. LA Film Festival. Festival opens with Ricardo de Montreuil’s “Lowriders,” starring Eva Longoria and others. The closing film is “Desierto” from Jonás Cuarón. Various Locations. Los Angeles. http:// www.filmindependent.org/la-film-festival/

ART, MUSIC, FILM, BUSINESS, etc. 6-12 June. Northside. Festival convenes trendsetters and stakeholders across various artistic and business disciplines. Concerts, films, popup shops, speakers content creators. Various locations. Brooklyn. http:// www.northsidefestival.com/

8-14 June

FOOD, TECHNOLOGY. 10-12 June. Food Loves Tech. Hosted by Edible Manhattan and VaynerMedia, the expo explores the intersection of food and technology. On the table: sustainability and healthy eating, panels, chefs and tastings. The Waterfront, 241 11th Avenue. New York. http:// www.foodlovestech.com/

FILM. 10-19 June. 2016 Human Rights Watch Film Festival (New York). Festival presents 18 films and three interactive programs. Opens with “Hooligan Sparrow” from Nanfu Wang. The subject of the film is Chinese activist Ye Haiyan (aka Hooligan Sparrow) whose efforts to expose the sexual abuse
of young girls by a school headmaster lead to unwanted government attention. Film Society of Lincoln Center (FSLC) Walter Reade Theater and IFC Center. New York. 6-20 June, Chicago. 14 June, Sydney. http:// www.bit.ly/21cHmCO

LIFESTYLE, MUSIC. 11 June. Shikuri Project Charitable Trust Fundraiser. Drumming group, Denbaya, performs during the benefit at Mist Harlem. Founded by Gail Sealy, the Shikuri Project is dedicated to providing medical care to needy children in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa. Mist Harlem. New York. http:// www.shikuriproject.com

FASHION. 11 June. St James’s London Hosts Jermyn Street Catwalk Show. For the second year during men’s fashion week (London Collections Mens), Jermym Street will be shut to traffic and turned into a catwalk. St James’s hosts the fashion shows and invites the public, too.
Jermyn Street, West End. London. http:// www.stjameslondon.co.uk/

MUSIC. 4 p.m. 13 June. Apollo Theater Prince Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony and 11th Annual Spring Gala. Before its 11th Annual Spring Gala and its largest fundraiser of the year – emceed by LL Cool J and with performances by The O’Jays and others – the Apollo Theater inducts Prince into its Walk of Fame. The Artist joins some splendid company under the venue’s marquee, including James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard and Stevie Wonder. Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St. New York. http:// www.apollotheater.org/event/apollo-gala-2016/

FILM. 13 June. Kino & Vino Series: FLYTRAP. Monthly industry screening party sponsored by the Chelsea Film Festival and Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea. Screening of “Flytrap.” Bow Tie Cinemas Chelsea, 260 W. 23rd St. New York. http:// www.chelseafilm.org/kinoandvino

15-21 June

"Pumpkin Reneé, Galveston, Texas, 1967. Vintage gelatin silver print from the Whitney Museum retrospective, "Danny Lyon: Message to the Future." Photo by Danny Lyon, courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

FILM. 16-19 June. Oak Cliff Film Festival. The 5th edition opens with a restored version of Eagle Pennelli’s “Last Night at the Alamo. Music performances also on the bill. Closes with “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” from Taika Waititi. Various locations.Dallas. http:// /www.oakclifffilmfestival.com

ART. 17 June-25 Sept. 2016. Danny Lyon: Message to the Future. The retrospective of the photographer’s work includes nearly 200 photos and is billed as the first to consider his work as a filmmaker. On opening night, DL participates in a program. Whitney Museum of American Art. 99 Gansevoort. New York. http:// www.whitney.org/Exhibitions/DannyLyonMessageToTheFuture

Vegans expected at the Rose Bowl. Photo from Photo from Los Angeles Vegan Beer and Food Festival website.

FOOD. 18 June. Los Angeles Vegan Beer and Food Festival. Depending on ticket tier, unlimited pours of beer, wine, kombucha, craft soda and cold brew as well as access to more than 70 vegan restaurants and the pop up marketplace. A portion of all proceeds goes toward The Gentle Barn which works to provide a place of healing and safety for at-risk youth and animals. Rose Bowl. 1001 Rose Bowl Dr. Pasadena, CA. http://www.veganbeerfest.com/

22 June and Beyond

Calling all cat people to CatConLA. Photo from CatConLA Facebook page.

FILM. 22 June-9 July. 2016. The 15th New York Asian Film Festival (presented by Film Society of Lincoln Center and Subway Cinema. The festival attracts some of the most edgy work, featuring some of the most popular stars of the moment in Asian cinema. Also awards and talks. Walter Reade Theater and SVA Theatre. New York. http://www.filmlinc.org/festivals/new-york-asian-film-festival/

Harvind Raj as Appoy in Shanjhey Kumar Perumal debut film, "Brutal." Photo from festival website.
LIFESTYLE. 25 and 26 June. CatConLA. Convention for cat people, that is individuals who like cats. Products, panels, furniture, food, ideas and experts. At the Reef, 1933 S. Broadway. Los Angeles. http:// www.catconla.com/