[title]
Mon 4
The New York Pops 32nd Birthday Gala; Carnegie Hall, Midtown West, 7pm. $65–$160.
The Pops snap and crackle through a star-studded gala evening of orchestral delight featuring Queen Latifah, Laura Benanti, Alan Cumming, Sutton Foster, Victor Garber and others.
The Big Star Wars Quiz Thing; Subculture, Downtown, 7:30pm, $15.
In honor of the geekiest holiday around, May the Fourth (be with you), the Big Quiz Thing is hosting a live game show celebrating the beloved space opera.
Lyon Opera Ballet; Joyce Theater, Chelsea, 2pm. $10–$59.
This revered European—always a welcome addition to the Joyce's season–group presents three works by William Forsythe, Benjamin Millepied and Emanuel Gat.
Early Shaker Spirituals; St. Ann's Warehouse, DUMBO, 8pm. $25–$55.
The Wooster Group spins vinyl in a performance piece based on a 1976 album of Shaker religious music and testimony. Frances McDormand (Fargo), Suzzy Roche, Cynthia Hedstrom and Wooster leader Elizabeth LeCompte do the singing; Kate Valk directs.
"Revolution of the Eye: Modern Art and the Birth of American Television"; The Jewish Museum, Central Park, 11am. $15.
This exhibit looks at how early television borrowed many of its style cues from Modern Art—everything from CBS's "eye" logo to countless sets for game shows, variety shows and news broadcasts, etc, designed with sleek midcentury lines.
Music Video Night; Bossa Nova Civic Club, Bushwick, 10pm.
Every first Monday of the month, Bossa Nova Civic Club's professional juicer/bartender/VJ/DJ Chris Video hosts Music Video Night—complete with happy hour sets, movie screenings and live DJ sets.
PEN World Voices Festival; Various locations, 4:30pm and 7:30pm. Various locations, prices and times.
This massive festival, now in its 11th year, brings together 100 writers from 30 countries to contemplate change, international politics and the value of free speech.
Williamsburg Spelling Bee; Pete's Candy Store, Williamsburg, 7:30pm. Free.
How do you spell "fixie"? How about "mustache"? Or another Williamsburg-centric hipster punchline? Never fear: this spelling bee takes itself seriously.
“America Is Hard To See”; Whitney Museum of American Art, Lenox Hill, 10:30am. $22.
It's finally here! The new and improved Whitney home in MePa that's supposed to finally put to rest the museum's rep as the also-ran of New York's major art institutions.
AG Jeans sample sale; Clothingline, Midtown West, 10am.
Alexa Chung gave this already-popular denim brand her seal of approval, so you should totally stock up on jeans while the price is right.
Mika; Webster Hall, Downtown, 9pm. $30.
Catch the garish and fearless British singer during his stop in NYC.
Tue 5
RadioLoveFest; Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Fort Greene, various times and prices.
The unapologetically nerdy event features live tapings of some of your favorite podcasts like Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, plus panel discussions with several on-air personalities.
The Flick; Barrow Street Theatre, West Village, 7:30pm. $45–$75.
It won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013, and now Annie Baker’s offbeat but tender portrait of movie-theater losers returns to Off Broadway for an extended run.
Ciara; Best Buy Theater, Midtown West, 8pm. $30–$35.
Ciara's "Body Party" was one of the great singles of 2013. The now-underrated R&B siren returns with Jackie; expect a few more celestial bedroom bangers.
Bill Jensen, “Transgressions”; Cheim & Read, Chelsea, 10am. Free.
Grandeur rubs up against a strange caliginous quality in Bill Jensen’s latest visionary paintings. On the grand side, he’s abstracted details from Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment to distill the artist’s muscular aesthetic in a series titled “Transgressions.”
Gotham West Movie Night; Gotham West Market, Hell's Kitchen, 9pm. Free.
Every Tuesday, this food market plays a popular movie and offers complimentary popcorn. On May 12, see the critically acclaimed rom-com Chef.
Wed 6
Paramore + Copeland; Beacon Theatre, Upper West Side, 8pm. $59.50-$79.50.
Paramore takes a victory lap on this final trek in support of its self-titled 2013 record.
John Leguizamo; The Creek and the Cave, Long Island City, 7pm. Free.
The actor reminds us of his stand-up roots with his no-doubt-intriguing curation of a week’s worth of shows at the Creek and the Cave.
Thu 7
Jeff Garlin; Carolines on Broadway, Midtown West, 7:30pm. $44 plus two drink minimum.
The Curb Your Enthusiasm star brings his likable stand-up to Carolines for four nights—expect a big bowl of laughs.
Air à Danser; Battery Harris, Williamsburg, 5pm.
Season 2 kicks off with guest Salinas JC.
"China: Through the Looking Glass"; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, 10am. Suggested donation $25.
This exhibition, which is on view in both the Met's Chinese galleries and the Anna Wintour Costume Center, takes a look at the Middle Kingdom's influence on Western fashion with displays of haute couture and art objects from China.
The Holy Fuck Comedy Hour; Annoyance Theatre, Williamsburg, 10:30pm. Free.
Every Thursday NYC's top comedians write and perform sketches, music, character studies and more without any rehearsals.