101 things to do in the spring in New York City 2013
Warm weather is back, along with your will to go outdoors and explore NYC. Lucky for you, we've rounded up the best things to do in the spring.
Fri Mar 1 2013
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101 things to do in the spring in New York City 2013
81. Quaff a mint julep at at Eleven Madison Park's Kentucky Derby party
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Photographs: Marc Whalen
101 things to do in the spring in New York City 2013
82. Get a sneak peek at future movie hits at the Tribeca Film Festival
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101 things to do in the spring in New York City 2013
83. Have a whale of a time (sorry) at the American Museum of Natural History
Pictured: The Blue Whale, Milstein Hall of Ocean Life
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Photograph: Susan Johann
101 things to do in the spring in New York City 2013
84. See Stephen Adly Guirgis and Lynn Nottage at the 92nd Street Y
Pictured L–R: Lynn Nottage and Stephen Guirgis
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Photograph: Courtesy of the Wednesday Night Skate group
101 things to do in the spring in New York City 2013
85. Roll with your homies at Wednesday Night Skate
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Photograph: John Shearer
101 things to do in the spring in New York City 2013
86. Sit down while others stand up for a cure
Pictured: Jerry Seinfeld
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Photograph: courtesy of www.flickr.com/asterix611
101 things to do in the spring in New York City 2013
87. Join the AIDS Walk New York
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101 things to do in the spring in New York City 2013
88. Meet fellow bibliophiles at Lit Crawl Brooklyn
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Photograph: Louise Hannon
101 things to do in the spring in New York City 2013
89. Experience romance and tragedy at New York Live Arts
Pictured: Yasuko Yokoshi
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Photograph: Irwin Seow
101 things to do in the spring in New York City 2013
90. Get high and watch a film
Pictured: Rooftop Films atop the Old American Can Factory
Quaff a mint julep
- Critics choice
With the approach of the Kentucky Derby (May 4), our minds turn to hats, horses and that intoxicating mix of bourbon, sugar, mint and crushed ice. New York’s biggest show of pomp is at Eleven Madison Park’s glitzy party (May 4 3–7pm; $195, e-mail derby@elevenmadisonpark.com beginning Mar 11 to buy tickets) hosted by star chefs Daniel Humm and Will Guidara. It features a raw bar, fried chicken and waffles, snow cones, mint juleps and sundry cocktails, and live music from roots band the Crooners and country six-piece the Defibulators. If you prefer to get down and derby, plan on attending the Bell House’s annual shindig (times TBA; free).
- Sat May 4
Get a sneak peek at future movie hits at the Tribeca Film Festival
- Critics choice
Rejoice! Robert De Niro’s downtown indie-film fest returns for its 11th year, drawing cinéastes to its screenings, panels, talks and other events. This year’s lineup has yet to be released, but expect the quality to be high when the schedule for feature-length movies is announced on March 5 and 6, and shorts on the March 12. Unless you’re looking to spring for a ticket package ($250–$1,200), single tickets go on sale to the general public on April 15 at 11am. Before heading to this year’s activities, check out our handy roundup of the best places to eat and drink nearby. Visit tribecafilm.com/festival for details.
- Various venues
- Wed Apr 17 - Sun Apr 28
Have a whale of a time (sorry) at the American Museum of Natural History
- Critics choice
The museum’s iconic blue whale will get some company during “Whales: Giants of the Deep,” which comes to New York courtesy of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and is augmented with pieces from AMNH’s holdings. Artifacts on view include a massive 58-foot-long sperm-whale skeleton, items made from whale bones (such as weaponry and jewelry), and interactive elements that allow visitors to crawl through a replica of a blue-whale’s heart or to watch a re-creation of a sperm whale diving to unfathomable depths to catch a giant squid for supper (we really, really hope it ends up in a showdown). The exhibit will also examine the developing relationship between humans and whales, from the Maori whale-riding tradition to today’s conservation efforts.
- American Museum of Natural History Central Park West, at 79th St
- Sat Mar 23 - Sun Jan 5
See Stephen Adly Guirgis and Lynn Nottage at the 92nd Street Y
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
This bill features two of the best playwrights working today, both New Yorkers. Guirgis nails the impassioned yearning of the city’s desperate, repentant sinners (in their own vernacular), in plays that include prison drama Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train and Broadway's The Motherfucker in the Hat. Nottage channels the struggle and pain of black women, be they a turn-of-the-20th-century seamstress (Intimate Apparel) or a Mother Courage–like business owner in the Congo (Ruined). Don’t be surprised if some of their actor friends show up to help out.
- 92nd Street Y 1395 Lexington Ave, between 91st and 92nd Sts
- Thu May 9
Roll with your homies at Wednesday Night Skate
- Free
At this hump-day social, dozens of skaters cruise around the city for two hours along a different route each week—the group has previously wheeled through Central Park, Queens, Brooklyn and even Jersey. All skill levels are welcome as long as you can stop and turn, and because you'll be rolling on the road, helmets and wrist guards are obligatory. The hobnobbing continues postskate at Mumbles bar and restaurant (179 Third Ave at 17th St; 212-477-6066, mumblesnyc.com), which is also where the gang heads when the event gets rained out.
- Union Square 14th St to 17th St, between Broadway and Park Ave South
- Wed Apr 3 - Wed Oct 30
Sit down while others stand up for a cure
- Price band: 3/4
- Critics choice
After returning last fall to both his comedic and geographic roots, Jerry Seinfeld gives fans another opportunity to catch this carefully crafted hour of silliness about everything from hydration to marriage. During the show Stand-Up for a Cure, which benefits medical research and treatment, Seinfeld will be joined by his good pal, caustic NYC everyman Colin Quinn.
- Theater at Madison Square Garden 4 Pennsylvania Plaza (Seventh Ave), between 31st and 33rd Sts
- Wed Apr 17
Join the AIDS Walk New York
- Critics choice
- Free
You’re good at walking. Deploy your talent for a great cause at this 10K (6.2-mile) walkathon that starts and ends in Central Park—it’s also the largest AIDS fund-raising event in the world. Beyond benefiting Gay Men’s Health Crisis and more than 40 other tristate-area AIDS service organizations, the intent is to raise awareness of the continuing fight against HIV and AIDS. Though registration is free, walkers are encouraged to raise money through pledges and sponsorship. aidswalk.net/newyork
- Enter at 59th St and Fifth Ave
- Sun May 19 10am
Meet fellow bibliophiles at Lit Crawl Brooklyn
- Critics choice
- Free
This gratis event combines two of Brooklynites’ favorite things—literature and booze—into one multivenue fest. Details are still to be announced for this year’s incarnation, but the organizers say it will be an expanded version of 2012’s, which took place in locales all over Cobble Hill, including bar 61 Local, independent store BookCourt, the Micro Museum and more, and featured authors like Mark Haddon (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) and journals such as Electric Literature and Tin House. Expect 2013’s crawl to stretch out across more than 20 venues and include readings, workshops and plenty of imbibing.
- Various venues
- Until Sat May 18
Experience romance and tragedy at New York Live Arts
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
Japanese experimental choreographer Yasuko Yokoshi has collaborated with Masumi Seyama, an 82-year-old master teacher of the Kabuki Su-odori style of dance. As New York Live Arts’ resident commissioned artist, Yokoshi premieres BELL, a contemporary reimagining of the classical Japanese dance Kyoganoko Musume-Dojoji (“A Woman and a Bell at the Dojoji Temple”), which also draws inspiration from the ballet Giselle. Romance and tragedy never get old.
- New York Live Arts 219 W 19th St, between Seventh and Eighth Aves
- Tue Mar 19 - Sat Mar 23
Get high and watch a film
- Critics choice
Now in its 17th year, the Rooftop Films alfresco series hosts screenings of smartly curated indie docs, shorts and features at locations around the city (although you’ll often find them on the Open Road Rooftop on the LES, or the Old American Can Factory in Gowanus). To top it off, performances by buzzworthy music acts precede the feature and there’s almost always an after-party. The lineup for 2013 will be announced in April, visit rooftopfilms.com for updates.
- Various venues
- Begins Fri May 10
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