WNYC Culture

Before Ezra Koenig was the lead singer of Vampire Weekend, he was a creative writing major at Columbia University. Even though Koenig left school, he's still a bookworm at heart.

Nick Fortunato calls himself an "equal opportunity social media junkie." p0ps says his "art-making tool of choice is an iPhone 3GS." Tell us why you should be part of the Whitney Bie...

This week’s picks include fresh takes on Southern rock, an old English folksong and on an even older French composer.

Last week, Banjo or Freakout performed at Pianos on the Lower East Side, Jenny Scheinman entertained at Barbès in Park Slope and Soulive played at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg with special guest, Charlie Hunter.

The South African artist has taken on a range of social justice issues in his sculpture, film and drawings. Now, he's tackling opera.  

The diva of performance art, Marina Abramovic, spoke to the press a few weeks before the opening of a major retrospective  called The Artist is Present. Listen to what she had to say about the show.

Take an audio tour with architecture critic Paul Goldberger, as he explores the High Line.

Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, physicist Brian Greene, astronomer Greg Laughlin and composer Philip Glass talk about time and space for BAM's Brainwave series. Listen to their discussion here.

The New York based folk-rocker Joseph Arthur stopped by Soundcheck studios and performed his unreleased song Famous Friends Along The Coast.

Last week, Efterklang performed at Le Poisson Rouge in the Village, Real Estate played a loft party in Bushwick and Javelin brought their electro-pop to NYU's Kimmel Center. Animal Collective dressed up in costumes and played pre-recorded music at the Guggenheim, and actress-turned-singer Lauren Ambrose entertained with her band the Leisure Class at the Bell House in Gowanus.

It's the Rodeo Drive of art shopping. And that means it's enough visual overload to turn your mind to mush. We need your advice.

Novelist and essayist Jonathan Franzen put his private life on public display.

This week’s picks include a new take on old string band music, a new song cycle with an indie rock accent, and a pianist fondly bidding adieu.

This week, Teengirl Fantasy performed at Death by Audio in Williamsburg, and Via Audio played Park Slope's Union Hall. The Glenn Branca Ensemble squeezed multiple guitars into Le Poisson Rouge, and the percussionist Hamid Drake entertained at Roulette in SoHo.

Renowned New York writer Jimmy Breslin shares stories from the mob for BAM's Eat, Drink & Be Literary series. Download the reading and discussion here.

Her large-scale drawings often explore interior spaces. Now, the Whitney turns the tables on the artist. Take a peek inside now.

His sculpture Baby resembles more of a giant than a small child. Plus, learn more about the inspiration behind the piece. Watch the video.

She takes us along to find the perfect pair to withstand her demanding performance at the Biennial. Watch the video for more.

Vallejo Gantner suffers from performance envy. He directs a downtown theater, P.S. 122, and he's not all that happy that the museum world has become the "new cool" for seeing live art.

But is any of that art ... any good?

This week, The Beets performed at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Lemonade made a scene at Glasslands. George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic were at B.B. King Blues Club, and The Phenomenal Handclap Band took over Brooklyn Bowl.