Whenever the weather starts getting a little bit colder and the pumpkins start emerging from their pumpkin lairs, I always start to think about retreating inside and thinking about cozy art shows. This week is full of the arts, from The Frick to a gallery opening to a boozy art show to Native American performers to Latin-American artists. Don’t worry, though, art-hater: we’ve also got half-priced milkshakes.
Fri 6: Milkshake Happy Hour
Big Daddy’s, 2454 Broadway, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Half-price!
Big Daddy’s milkshakes are legendary (I mean, just look at it) and its fun, kitschy atmosphere can’t be beat. Get yourself into the habit with a half-off special! Share it with a loved one… or not.
Fri 6: First Fridays: The Frick Collection
The Frick Collection, 1 E 70th St, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Free
I know, I know, you always hear about First Fridays, but so many people I’ve spoken to about them have never taken advantage. Now’s the time to start! Check out many world-class museums, including The Frick, for zero dollars! Just one small reminder that NYC can actually be kind of sweet to us sometimes.
Sat 7: Julie Curtiss “Soft Shells”
106 Green, 104 Green St, Brooklyn, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Free
Julie Curtiss’s paintings are mesmerizing. Those waves could be a field, or the covers of a soft bed. They happen to be hair. Funny, charming, and somehow equally disturbing and soothing, this collection of paintings is more than worth a trip to the lovely 106 Green gallery space.
Sat 7: The Armando Diaz Experience
Magnet Theater 254 W 29th St, New York, 7:30 – 8:30, $10
Anyone with more than a passing familiarity with improv knows about the Armando, the form in which a monologist tells a story followed by improvisers acting out that story to hilarious effect. The creator of the Armando is one of the founders of The Magnet Theater, and in celebration of this fact The Magnet weekly performs one of the most killer Armando sets you’ll ever see. This week’s monologist is the incomparable Brad Benson, whose travel-inspired shows have been featured previously in this blog.
Sun 8: Latins in New York: Art Song by Hispanic Composers 1945 to the present
Shetler Studios & Theatres 244 W 54th St, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM, $20
This show highlights Hispanic composers from the golden age of art songs in New York City onward. Enjoy the beautiful voices of Baritone Steven LaBrie, Mezzo Soprano Anna Tonna, Soprano Mary Thorne (featured above) and Tenor Mario Arevalo singing music that flowed from New York’s transition to the global center for the arts.
Sun 8: Soca Dancehall & Reggae DayParty
Hudson Terrace 621 w46th street, New York, 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM, $10 (RSVP)/$20
Enjoy the closing of the weekend with the music and dance of dancehall and reggae music. If you’re looking for something different, AfroBeats & HipHop will be featured on the rooftop. Dress classy!
Mon 8: Indigenous Peoples Day NYC
Randall’s Island, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Free
Do your part in rejecting the day of celebration of a genocidal slaveowner by educating yourself about the culture of the people he attacked. This is a day to instead celebrate Native American artists, musicians, poets, activists, cultural groups and more.
Weds 11: The NYC Pancakes & Booze Art Show
M1-5 Lounge 52 Walker St, 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM, $22
What’s better than a boozy art show? Maybe a boozy art show with body painting? Maybe an art show with body painting AND A FREE PANCAKE BAR? Folks, if I have to do more to sell this to you, you’re not the cool weirdos I thought you were.
Lotsa variety this week! It’s still a fresh new year, so enjoy a grab bag of a dance party, an exercise class, an art show, and many more fine offerings I have chosen from the vast Internet for your entertainment.
Fri 6: HOY Turns ONE! Thank You for Everything
House of YES, 2 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn, 10:00 PM – 4:00 AM, Free
House of Yes is Mesh’s favorite Aerial/Performance/Nightlife/Food & Drink/Events & Variety place, and lil baby is turning one year old! Celebrate with cake/surprises/balloons along with, of course, resident go-go aerialists.
Fri 6: Without a Body | Ivana Bašić, FlucT & Sable Elyse Smith
Andrea Rosen Gallery, 525 W 24th St, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Free
Enjoy the reception of this intriguing art show, in which Serbian-born artist Ivana Bašić uses video, sculpture, photography, and text to explore the alienness of the body, through the lens of mass incarceration.
Sat 7: Cooking Lesson: Stir Fried Shrimp with Lemon-Ginger Sauce
W 139th St, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, $39
Want to be that kind of date who effortlessly throws things into a pan and serves them to your loved one (or lusted-after one) like someone off a goshdarned chef show? Me too, only I am lazy so I constantly eat out. There’s another way! Join (the very handsome) Chef Anthony as he teaches you how to make yummy shrimp. After, there’s wine!
Sat 7: Planned Parenthood Benefit ft. Hollywood Royalty, Sunday, more!
Red Hook Labs 135 Imlay St, Brooklyn, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM, $5
Have fun listening to probably the most adorable rock music you’ll ever find (seriously, check out their website), all while raising money for Planned Parenthood!
Sun 8: Sexy Sassy Master Class with Angelina “Spicy” Alfaro
227 Mulberry St, 12:00 PM – 1:45 PM, $35
Clocking in at nearly two hours, this master class is a bang for your buck. You’ll sweat buckets and learn all kinds of sexy moves. Men and women equally welcome!
Sun 8: Beatbox Workshop
54 Studio 54 Franklin Ave. Unit 1, Brooklyn, $25
Interesting in beatboxing beyond the “boots and cats” that you sometimes force Siri to do? Join Ethan (“Exacto” in the beatbox world) in this intro class and you’ll walk away ready to battle. Or maybe just make cool mouth sounds. Either way, sounds like fun.
Wed 11: Singleling Anniversary Show
Kraine Theater 85 E 4th St, 8:45 PM, $15
This storytelling show features some heavy hitters, including two Moth Storyslam champs, a favorite of the New York Times, and a multimedia artist. If you’re in a relationship, come remember the agonies of being single. If you’re single, come commiserate (in a funny/professionally entertaining way, of course.)
Thurs 12: Roxane Gay at 92nd Street Y
Kaufman Concert Hall 92nd & Lexington Ave, 7:30 PM, $22
I love Roxanne Gay. I love her articles; I love her books; I love her appearances on podcasts. She’s a sheer delight: funny, smart, insightful, all that good stuff. We’re lucky to have her as a voice of our generation, so take advantage and go hear the woman speak.
Ah, the Thanksgiving tofurkey has been eaten and the dolphin-free cranberry sauce has been consumed. I guess it’s time to start thinking about the winter holidays? Personally, I’m pretty overwhelmed with indulgence-induced distraction and looking forward to some much-needed distraction.
This week’s got some art, some music, some fitness and some advocacy – take your pick!
Fri 25: Akim Funk Buddha Hip Hop Holiday
Bamcafe30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, 9:00 PM, Free
This free night’s entertainment is truly eclectic. Dancer Akim Funk Buddha draws from international dance genres as well as martial arts to create an intoxicating blend of movement. It’s free, so get there early!
Fri 25: Lost in Translation (w/ Suntory Whisky on the rocks)
In the film, Bill Murray’s character plays a jaded, washed-up movie star experiencing Japan through the lens of a Suntory Whiskey advertisement- and you can play along, with a glass of whiskey of your own!Sat 26: Eyeworks Festival New York
Check out a curated festival of classic and contemporary alternative cinema, featuring artists from Robert Breer (seen above) to Paul Glabicki.Sat 26: Network N’ Chill-NYC #FREE
Barcade, 148 W 24th St, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Free
We’ve all been to Barcade, right? Pretty fun- lotsa video games, decent beer, nice ambiance – but I mean, it’s a bar. You’re not gonna talk to anyone other than (maybe) the people you came with. BUT! Not tonight! This is a night when”makeup artists, djs, bakers, videographers, podcasters, event planners, performers, cosplayers, vendors, crafters…” can get together and bond over their mutual love of Addams Family pinball.
Sun 27: Krav Maga IDF basics
NYC IDF Fitness and Krav MagaPier 40 W Houston street, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM, $45
Krav Maga is one of those things you’ve been saying you were going to learn ever since you went on that one date with that Israeli guy but have been putting off… I may be projecting there, but the fact remains that Krav Maga seems pretty cool, and this is a great opportunity to check out the basics!
Sun 27: Holiday Letter Writing
Blue Stockings Bookstore, 172 Allen St, 2:00 PM, Free
We’ve mentioned Blue Stockings on this blog before, but if you’re not acquainted with this radical feminist bookstore, this is the perfect opportunity. Volunteers write letters to incarcerated LGBTQ people, who can feel particularly isolated during the holiday season. The organizers, Black and Pink, do much more to support advocacy for LGBTQ in the prison system, so this would be a great moment to get involved.
Tues 29: WE SHALL FIGHT UNTIL WE WIN: Cocktails for Planned Parenthood
The Third Man, 116 Avenue C South Retail Store, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, happy hour!
This is a night of community-building, planning, and cocktails- all in support of Planned Parenthood, which faces an uncertain future with our upcoming administration. Half-priced cocktails await you, as well as spirited conversation and strategy-building. Don’t get too tipsy, though, because afterwards you might want to head on over to…
Tues 29: Your Love, Our Musical! at Union Hall – Brooklyn
Union Hall, 702 Union St 5th & 6th Avenues, Brooklyn, $10
These songsters know how to make it romantic. Two extremely talented musical improvisers (and one equally talented pianist) interview an audience couple and make a musical about their lives. It’s simple and romantic. Check it out, whether you’ve got someone to bring along or you just aspire to be part of a couple that people make songs about some day!
We have eight magical and eclectic events lined up for you, and the Halloween season is upon us so some of these are spooky – but we know all you care about is the chocolate.
Fri 7: Check out the Rose Room!
The New York Public Library, 5th Ave at 42nd St, 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM, Free
The Rose Room is finally open again after a fresh coat of polish! Come marvel at one of the most beautiful rooms in NYC, and sneak a smoochie with your cutie… quietly!
Fri 7: Emerging Writer Happy Hour
Powerhouse Arena, 28 Adams St, Brooklyn, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Free
Who says it’s tough to get published? Well, everybody, because it is incredibly tough to get published. But you don’t have to do it alone! Come enjoy free drinks and the chance to mingle with writers, directors, and agents.
Fri 7: Sisters Three
Magnet Theater, 254 West 29th St, 7:00 PM, $10
I’m a completely incurable improv nerd, so when I tell you that my only plan for this Friday is to see this show you should take me seriously. These are two intensely hilarious women and I fully intend on laughing until I hurt. Just trust me and come see it. I’ll give you a refund if you hate it. I’ll make you say you’re stupid and wrong first, but I’ll do it.
Sat 8: The Big Chocolate Show
Terminal Stores / Waterfront Building, 269 11th Avenue, 2:30 PM – 7:00 PM, $45
“But Jessica,” you scoff, “Surely those are nuts and bolts, not chocolate treasures.” That’s where you’re wrong, bub! Chocolate festivals are where ~crazy things~ happen with chocolate, and don’t you forget it. Tastings, lectures, opportunities to pour your own chocolate molds- anything can and will happen! Put on your chocolate tasting boots and get ready!
Sat 8: Sunshine at Midnight: The Room with Tommy Wiseau
Sunshine Cinema, 143 E Houston St, 12:00 AM, $17
This is a photograph signed by Tommy Wiseau himself, from when the man seen above and I went to see The Room some five or so years ago back when I was young and adorable. I’ve probably seen The Room more than any other movie, and for good reason. It is delightfully bizarre so is its creator. Go meet him- let him know Bo Peep and the Copper Captain say hello. He won’t know what you’re talking about, for good reason.
Sun 9: 9th Annual Indigenous Day of Remembrance
Columbus Circle, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Free
Celebrate Columbus Day in a way that honors the people most hurt by its legacy at one of the thousands of places named after the man history has declared either an explorer/hero or a genocidal narcissist. Be sure to bring a food item for an ancestral altar.
Sun 9: Redshirts: Pop Culture Night with Who-Prov
PIT Loft, 154 W 29th St, 4:30 PM, $5
It’s the only all-female Star Trek improv troupe that has ever existed or will ever exist in any universe! Come laugh with them and enjoy their co-act, an improvised Doctor Who, in a nerdtastic hour you’ll never forget.
Tues 11: SASS Presents: Real Scary History
The Society for the Advancement of Social Studies, 110 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, 7:30 PM, Free
I love the Society for the Advancement of Social Studies, and I love that this is the photo they chose for their spooky lecture series. Come enjoy the lectures The History of Superstitions, Herman Göring: Evil Art Lover, and The History of Human Fear, all for free and all with delightful drink specials.
Oooh we’ve got a very ~mysterious~ and ~sexy~ week for you all lined up! From a sexy cabaret to a tarot class to a party with a bunch of Brazilians, let’s all ignore the chilling weather and get it hot up in here!
Fri 30: NYC’s #1 Brazilian Party
SOB’s (Sounds of Brazil), 204 Varick St, 10:00 PM – 4:00 AM, $10 (prepaid) – $15 (door)
Brazilian snacks! Drinks! Music! Dancing! It’s all glow in the dark, too, so grab a glow stick and imagine you’re in your own private Carnaval.
Fri 30: Back to School with Guilty Pleasures Cabaret
The Duplex Cabaret and Piano Bar, 61 Christopher St, 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM, $15 (advance)/$20 (door)
Sometimes, you wanna see a sexy kinda show. I remember seeing Queen of the Night with my then-boyfriend, and it was pretty amazing to watch these sexy women and men contort and sing and dance and get to feel like voyeurs as we watched. Well, this is a fraction of the cost, and you probably won’t get wasted and yell at each other like Jake and I did afterwards. Enjoy the talents of these women as they put on the kind of show you instantly think of when you hear “cabaret,” if you’re not immediately picturing Liza Manelli.
Sat 1: Tarot Workshop
QED Astoria, 27-16 23rd Ave, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, $35
Whether or not you believe in the ~magic~ of a tarot deck, it’s pretty fun to be able to read tarot for your friends. I dabbled in tarot last year for a carnival at my school, and the students got such a hoot out of it that there was an unsustainable line for my booth. This is a boast not of myself, but to the luring power of a deck that ~knows things.~ Learn the symbols, become that person at parties, and buy the deck afterwards if you want!
Sat 1: Paper Jam Small Press Festival 6 + Bushwick Open Studios
Silent Barn, 603 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn, 12:00 PM – 6:30 PM, Free
The small, independent press exists, and it’s here for you to peruse- for free. There’s literally no easier way to support this kind of artist. Show up, listen to some music, browse, and experience.
Sun 2: Brooklyn Hip Hop Art Run
Urban Glass, 647 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM, $25
They’re fun, they’re followed by billions on Spotify, and they’re running at a chill 10 mph/hr, it’s the most fun run this side of the Hudson. Pound the pavement on your way through downtown Bed-Stuy and make sure to take some nice mural pics on the way.
Mon 3: Would You Rather…
The Experiment Comedy Gallery, 272 Grand St, Brooklyn, 8:00 PM, $5
Would you rather enter this mazy, or live with the knowledge that you just ate fully 2,000 calories while writing this blog? I know my answer to this question, but perhaps yours would be different. Try yourself out in an open mic portion of this comedy event, otherwise enjoy the stylings of various standups as they ponder the great mysteries of life in hilarious ways.
Tues 4: Phoebe Robinson Launches “You Can’t Touch My Hair”
Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, 126 Crosby St, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Free
Phoebe Robinson is my hero. She hosts the Soooo Many White Guys podcast, as well as co-hosts on Two Dope Queens. Both of these are amazing and you need to go download them now. She’s hilarious, insightful, and you get to meet her at this book launch! The Daily Show’s Hasan Minhaj will also be there, as if you needed another reason!
Tues 4: Punderdome – NYC’s Most Puntastic Competition!
Littlefield NYC, 622 Degraw St, Brooklyn, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM, $8 (advance)/$10 (door)
Are you a person who loves puns, or who groans at them? I used to be Option B, but over the years I have come to love the double entendre and the portmanteau and the simple pun. Part of this comes from wisdom, and part of it comes from having a terminally punny roommate. Either way, come groan, cheer, and drink on humans as they make their best puns. Sign up for a chance to be the champ!
It’s getting cool outside again! Let’s celebrate this lovely weather with… a COMPETITION THEMED WEEK! It’s alien vs woman, improviser vs improviser, and human vs a 5K (the 5K always wins) this week with a Bushwick’s Got Talent cherry on top.
Fri 16: Sunshine at Midnight: Aliens
Sunshine Cinema, 143 E Houston St, 11:59 PM, $12
There are a few movies in this world that I will watch every second of if I should happen to catch it on TV or at a friend’s house. Shawshank Redemption is one, Silence of the Lambs is another, and Aliens is the third. It doesn’t get any better than Sigourney Weaver stomping around in a mecha suit, man. I’ve never actually seen it on the big screen, though. Have you? In the past decade?
Fri 16: The Island: Cutthroat Competition
The People’s Improv Theater (PIT), 123 E 24th St, 7:00 PM, $5
As the tagline says, six improvisers will compete for the glory of one audience member in this show, using comedy as their sharpest weapon. Who will survive this improv competition? The event doesn’t describe what happens to the losers, so I assume that they are murdered under the reddish lights of the bar upstairs.
Fri 16: NY Coffee Festival
69th Regiment Armory, 2:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Sat/Sun starts at 10:00 AM) $20 online/$25 door
Your ticket to this event gets you in for a 3-hour session where you can drink as much coffee as you can fit down your gullet, as well as learn interesting coffee stuff from experts giving presentations (for more info see their website) and various ways to brew at home. Yum! I’ve got the jitters already.
Sat 17: Portraits of Women, Feminist Icons: Opening Party
The Diana Kane Boutique, 229 5th Ave, Brooklyn, 6:00 0 8:30 PM, Free
Twenty artists were given a 12 X 12 canvas and the simple instruction to make a portrait of a woman of their choosing. These artists, many of them NYC locals, have produced art representing women from Madonna to Malala. Come for snacks, drinks, and a chance to chat with some of the artists
Sat 17: Balboa Crash Course
You Should Be Dancing! Dance Center, 412 8th Ave, 12:00 – 3:00 PM, $40 advance/$50 day of
Balboa is not, as I had previously thought, a type of tall tree. It is a fusion of dance styles that originated in the 20s and 3os, and here’s you chance to take a crash course that’ll leave you amazing folks on the dance floors. I promise it’ll be way more fun than that couples dance class I took with my mom in high school.
Sun 18: The Brew Hop 5K Race and Craft Beer Fest
Randall’s Island Park, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, $60 (access to the race and festival)
You know what the great thing about a 5K is? An actual human can run it without exploding into a thousand tiny melted pieces. I could probably run a 5K and not die… probably. And this 5K ends with a big ‘ol craft brew festival, with unlimited beers you can drink to celebrate that run you did, as well as access to lawn games, food trucks, and live music!
Mon 19: Sunnyside Restaurant Week
Various Sunnyside Restauraunts, All Week, $25
Hooray Sunnyside! Astoria’s next door neighbor that somehow never gets as much attention. Well, this week you can check out some of Sunnyside’s best restos at a great bargain, plus enter to win awesome prizes.
Thurs 22: Bushwick’s Got Talent
House of YES, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, $15-$25
Bushwick’s residents and wannabe residents have been working hard at their submissions to be judged in front of you! Come watch celebrity judges (as yet unnamed) cut down (and lift up) Bushwick’s best and brightest for the ultimate glory of a bicycle and $500.
August. A truly excellent month to watch people run about and get sweaty. Be it pokéhunters in the wild or beefers on dragon boats or men on horses at the Ren Faire, we’ve got what you need!
Fri Aug 5: The Bad to Good Show
Annoyance Theatre, 367 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, 8:00 PM, $10
This show’s goal isn’t modest: they’re going for emotional catharsis here. It begins with the dark, the nasty, the upsetting and finishes with the joyful and exuberant. Join the cast in an emotional journey that will leave you feeling healed! (No promises.)
Fri Aug 5: Uptown Fridays!
The Studio Museum in Harlem, 144 W 125th, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, $3-$7 (suggested donation)
Check out music, special cocktails and get guided tours of the Studio Museum in Harlem in this fun event, included in the price of museum admission. Haven’t been to the Studio Museum yet? Perfect first visit!
Sat Aug 6: NY Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Free
Woah! Major beefer alert! Oogle the men and women rowing the intricate boats at this incredible event, celebrating the fifth month of the lunar calendar. Also celebrating my love of watching men row fancy boats!
Sat Aug 6: Renaissance Faire Opening Weekend
NY State Route 17 A, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM, $23
Remember junior high? Remember eating giant turkey legs, spending way too much money on trinkets your mom will appreciate but hide, wishing you had the energy or interest to make a dress? Relive the memories this upcoming weekend… and maybe meet a knight of your own!
Sun Aug 7: Pokemon Battle for Midtown
Bryant Park, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Free
Has anyone noticed that all the damn pokemon gyms are dominated by Team Valor? It’s annoying! I can’t get any damn XP over here! If you’re an insufferable nerd like me, that grinds your gears right up. Come to Bryant Park and have a gay old time taking gyms back and forth from your friends!
Sun Aug 7: Queens Book Festival
Kaufman Astoria Studios, 2, 34-12 36th St, Astoria, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Free
Books! Giveaways! Special signings! Adventure! It all awaits you at the beautiful at Kaufman Astoria Studios this Sunday.
Mon Aug 8: Rooftop Happy Hour
Yotel, 570 10th Ave, 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM, Free
My sister stayed at Yotel once. She’s bougie and gets to stay at fancy places. I admired the meeting places and fancy bright lights everywhere- in my apartment we had to write three letters in Italian to our landlady before she would put our busted closet back on its tracks. All this to say that I wish I could live at Yotel and go to fancy rooftop parties all the time. You can experience the ~Fancy Jessica’s Sister Life~ for free this Monday!
Thurs Aug 11: Soca Glow Cardio Event
Wingate Park, 600 Winston Ave, Brooklyn, 7:00 – 8:30 PM
If the movie Speed is accurate, which I assume it is about all things, you call in love when adrenaline is involved. Saving people from bus bombs causes adrenaline, as does dancing your ass off in a free class. One is far less dangerous, and involves far more sexy workout pants.
It’s inhumanly hot, so soak yourself in a water fight, see some shows in some deep A/C, and let’s settle into deep summer!
Fri 29: Friday Night Stories
Back room at HiFi, 169 Ave A, 7:00 PM, Free
We’re living in a golden age of storytelling, and I don’t care what the ancient Greeks would have to say about that. With extremely high-quality storytelling podcasts highlighting the best storytellers honing their craft at live story slams around the city, there has never been a better time to hear honest, crafted stories that will draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat. Enjoy this free night hosted by Moth Storyslam winners, novelists, and other experts.
Fri 29: All Aboard: TAP NY Summer Boat Cruise Party
Pier 16 South St Seaport, 9:00 PM – midnight, $20/$25
It´s getting into mid-late summer, and you still haven´t spent any time near the water. Well, maybe you have, but have you been on a BOAT? Make it easy for yourself with a fun little cruise with plenty of booze, great views, and a breeze that would make your air conditioner jealous.
Sat 30: Water Fight NYC
Sheep Meadow, Central Park, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Free
Do you miss summer camp in a deep and meaningful way? Do you want to remember that eternally youthful feeling, if only for a moment? Grab a super soaker and plenty of water and head out to Sheep Meadow for an epic splashdown that will be remembered when our great-grandchildren reach for their water blasters on the surface of Mars.
Sat 30: Secret Loft Greatest Hits Party
Secret Loft, 255 McKibbin St, 9:00 PM – 4:00 AM, Free
We’ve written about Secret Loft parties before, and they always sound like the amazing parties your older siblings got invited to that you couldn´t wait to start going to once you were old enough. You might have missed all those, which means this ¨greatest hits¨party is the perfect chance for you to catch up. Just check out all the themes you can choose from: Halloween, The Cat Costume Party, Jurassic Party, Flight Risk, GLAM, Fishnets and Ice Cream, Under the Sea, Rocky Horror Picture Party, Bushwick Beach Party, Short Shorts, Kink Valentines, Ugly Sweater Party, The Hip Hop Christmas Pageant. Feel like a search through your closet for something that fits?
Sun 31: Sisters Three
Magnet Theater, 254 W 29th St, 7:15 PM, $10
Elana Fishbein and Elena Skopetos take the stage in this family character comedy. The Magnet has been stepping up its game recently, with one of its most popular shows getting a loving writeup in the New York Times, and this show is no exception to this high standard of comedy. Louis Kornfeld, improv guru, described Sisters Three as ¨basically a perfect show.¨ This one´s probably going to sell out, so reserve your tickets as soon as humanly possible.
Sun 31: Brunch and Rescue Fundraiser
Mercury Bar West, 659 9th Ave, 1:00 – 4:00, $50
Brunch! Booze! Dogs! What more could a New Yorker want? Well, you can´t actually play with with dogs at brunch, but you can support them with your waffle bucks, because the proceeds from this delicious date go to saving pooches like the fluffball you see above.
Mon 1: A Benefit for Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement
The Silent Barn, 603 Bushwick Ave, Brooklyn, 7:00 PM – ?, $8-$20 suggested donation
Here’s the combination of two of my favourite things: the independent, community-directed art space and the opportunity to raise money for a good cause (outreach and support to the Hispanic LGBTQ community.) Grab a drink, listen to some awesome music, and enjoy the atmosphere.
Tues 2: The Pin & Patch Show
Chinatown Soup, 16 Orchard St, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Free
Pins! Patches! Independent producers! If decorating your bag is your bag, you’ll find all the accoutrements right here. The first 50 attendees get a free pin or patch!
This week’s theme is: get outside! We’ve got two great gardening events (one culinary, one witchy) along with a summer concert and a big ol’ bike ride. Summer’s in full swing, so get swingin’!
Fri 22: View from Above Exhibition
Rabbithole Studio, 33 Washington St, Brooklyn, 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Free
Arial perspective gives us a view we’re not used to having, and these artists use their talents to uncover new ideas about “political borders and hidden miniature landscapes to mechanical infrastructures and textured maps of memory.” Spend some time checking out our world from above.
Fri 22: Sia’s Free Summer Concert
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, 8:00 – 9:00 PM, Free (get there early, for the love of God)
Oh God, I love Sia so much. I love Sia so much that I’ve watched Sia music video channels while casually cleaning. I love Sia so much that I cried when teaching Chandelier lyrics to my students. We all know that Central Park shows are a hot mess, but seeing Sia for free is worth the hot mess. Get there early, bring plenty of water, and HIT THA DANCE FLOOR.
Sat 23: The Epic Ride 2016
Greenpoint to Riis Park Beach, 8:00 AM – whenever you’re done, $70
You know that bike you’ve got rusting behind your building, just waiting for the right day to take a ride that never seems to come? That’s not true for me, because I’m an insane bike person, but it may be true for you. Experience the joy of the long(ish) bike ride with tons of athletic (possibly single?!?) cyclists on this amazing tour of our beautiful city. Proceeds support the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, a 14-mile bike path that will connect Green Point to Bay Ridge.
Sat 23: Sexy Nerds BK Blockparty II
Gold Sounds, 442 Wilson Ave, 10:00 PM – 4:00 AM, $10
Dance it up with the sexiest nerds in Brooklyn this Saturday. Enjoy a buffet of video games, or drink some nerdy drinks (Ecto-wine coolers?) on your way to a photo booth. For you ambitious travelers, there’s also an event in Philly – they’ll charter a bus for you! It’s never been easier to be a nerd.
Sun 24: Painted Nails
Asian American International Film Festival, 30 John St, Brooklyn, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM, $15
This film falls smack in the middle of the Asian American Film Festival, so be sure to check out the other events and films. If you’re one of the millions of people who found themselves passively concerned about the recent legal action regarding the toxic chemicals that so many nail salon employees breathe in daily, you should check out this fascinating glimpse into the world behind the counter.
Weds 27: Garden Events: Community Chef Demonstration
Evergreen Community Garden, 153-19 56th Ave, Queens, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM, Free
So you started growing some things, or maybe you’re thinking of starting to grow some things. If you’re like me, that’s pretty much where it ends. The community chefs at Evergreen want to show you how some of those plants you can grow yourself can turn into delicious meals. Get inspired.
Weds 26: Pegasus
Annoyance Theater NYC, 367 Bedford Ave, 8:30 PM, $10
The last time I saw Amanda Xeller perform, she had given audience members squirt guns that she used in a skit about a private eye that involved her and the stage getting utterly drenched. I believe this was in February? I remember thinking, “holy shit, this girl is going to die when she leaves.” That’s how dedicated she is to comedy, guys- she risked her life for a (very funny) bit. Trust me when I say that this “hyper comedy” is going to be worth your time. It’s a character show, so expect fast changes and maybe, just maybe, something death-defying.
Thurs 28: Green Witch: Plant Magic, Alchemy, and the Wild Feminine
The Alchemist’s Kitchen, 21 E 1st St, 7:30 – 9:00, $20
If you went to Wednesday’s gardening event, you may be itching to know more about how those plants you’re growing on your windowsill can be used in your daily lives. Art curator Pam Grossman and green witch Robin Rose Bennett discuss the concept of the “green witch” throughout history, and ways you can use nature and spirituality yourself.
I’m a winter person. I like bundling up in a warm sweater and sipping hot cocoa and snuggling and all that good stuff. 
I can still like summer for what it’s worth, though, mosquitos and all! I’m going on a lot of first dates these days, and hey, guess what! I’m seeing a new guy (very casually) and we’re doing some summer stuff! Here’s what makes it into my summer duffel- and maybe into yours!
Do you seriously not have your NYC ID yet? For Christ’s sake. For free admission to some of NYC’s best sites, you need to head on over to your community library (or whatever) to order yours. This month alone I’ve been on dates to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Bronx Zoo, and the Met – for FREE. You pay your taxes, don’t you? Reap the benefits!
The link is to the one I have, but it can be anyone. Either you’re playing Pokemon Go or your date is. Either way, it’s amazing to be the one who doesn’t have to hunt around like an idiot for an outlet to charge with mid-date.
Okay, maybe I’m super awkward, but I have yet to master the art of the mid-date “oh my God, I’m burning alive” casual sunblock application. I’m not a big fan of spray-on sunblock in general (feels like a waste. Do you actually get much sunscreen?) but for a fast fix, this stuff is amazing. Also, it’s cooling, so you can suavely pretend like you’re a warm-weather person when inside you’re dying.
Summer hits and I become an idiot. Suddenly I’m wearing shoes I would never wear in winter, and I’m an idiot about shoes in the winter. Don’t spend your morning worrying whether those sandals are going to give you a blister. They probably are. Bring protection.
Speaking of protection…
Have you used this yet? If not, it’s time. It’s summer and you’re going to get bitten by something. Put some tiger balm on and stop scratching!
Am I encouraging you to buy this Kleen Kanteen that I own for sneaking wine into public events to share with a date? Absolutely not. I am, however, pointing out that if you buy this Klean Kanteen, you can pour several glasses in and it will maintain its temperature and taste perfectly. Just hypothetically.
Hey, did you know that lips get burned? They do, and that is not sexy. Stay hydrated, stay out of the sun, and stay kissable.
Maybe I’m just a sweaty smelly person. I have friends who can spend a day baking and spell fresh as a daisy and look amazing. You’re going to want a way to clean up after spending time outside without spending twenty minutes in the bathroom with a pile of paper towels. No need to spend a ton of money on wet towels for grownups. Baby wipes do the trick.
Bonus Things that may not fit into your duffel:
Okay, I get that it’s way more expensive than it really should be for being basically a plastic bin, but KanJam is the most fun thing ever. Just trust me. I lugged it to a date and we ended up playing for three hours.
Summer’s hot. If you’re going to make me go outside, I’m going to sit.