Your perfect Memorial Day 2012

Find the best things to do in New York City on Memorial Day 2012.

"Tomás Saraceno on the Roof: Cloud City" Installation View

"Tomás Saraceno on the Roof: Cloud City" Installation View Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

West Indian–American Day Carnival

  • Critics choice
  • Free

Cap your long weekend with lively music and lots of skin at the West Indian–American Day Carnival. This massive street fair is never short on costumed stilt dancers (moko jumbies), floats blaring soca and calypso music, and plenty of flags from countries such as Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Barneys New York warehouse sale

  • Price band: 3/4
  • Critics choice

It’s that time again: Designer garb discounted up to 75 percent is being offered to those who have the patience to do a little elbowing. Items go fast, but expect to find pieces like Étoile Isabel Marant printed jumpsuits for $319 (were $795); Loeffler Randall ankle boots, chipped from $395 to $159; and T by Alexander Wang men’s button-up shirts tagged $49 (instead of $125).

  1. Barneys New York Warehouse 255 W 17th St, between Seventh and Eighth Aves
  2. Until Mon Sep 3
More info

Free Bike Mondays

  • Critics choice
  • Free

The best way to see Governors Island is on two wheels, and with Bike and Roll's gratis program, you can do just that. Cycles will be available for one hour per person on two holiday Mondays—Memorial Day and Labor Day—this summer.

  1. Governors Island Governors Island
  2. Until Mon Sep 3
More info

Metropolitan Opera Summer HD Festival

  • Critics choice
  • Free

The Met is back on the Lincoln Center plaza with free screenings from its Live in HD series. Closing the festival today is last season's opener, Anna Bolena, with Anna Netrebko in the spotlight (Mon 3).

  1. Broadway Plaza (at Lincoln Center) 1941 Broadway, at 65th St
  2. Fri Aug 31 - Mon Sep 3
More info

The Moth StorySLAM!

  • Price band: 1/4
  • Critics choice

Ten stories. Three teams of judges. One winner. The outrageously popular (deservedly so) spontaneous storytelling series pits local raconteurs against one another, challenging them to come up with an impressive work based on a specific theme. Get in line early, as spots for writers and spectators alike go quickly.

  1. The Bell House 149 7th St, between Second and Third Aves
  2. Mon Sep 9
More info

Blazing Saddles

  • Price band: 1/4
  • Critics choice

Treat yourself to a heapin’ helpin’ of beans, and all assembled can experience this Western parody’s famous campfire scene in Smell-o-Rama. Actually, you know what? Forget we said that last part.

  1. BAM Rose Cinemas 30 Lafayette Ave, between Ashland Pl and St. Felix St, 11217
  2. Fri May 24 - Mon May 27
More info

Subliminal Sessions Versus Dirty Dutch: Erick Morillo + Chuckie

  • Price band: 3/4
  • Critics choice

That's right—it's a battle of bigger-than-big house beats on Governors Island today, with Subliminal majordomo Erick Morillo taking on Dirty Dutch don Chuckie. Sympho Nympho and BetaTraxx make some noise as well.

  1. Governors Beach Club Governors Island
  2. Mon Sep 3 - Tue Sep 4
More info
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