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15 kick-ass things to do in NYC this weekend

Written by
Jennifer Picht
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Fri 10

Subway Sets Brooklyn Grange; 7:30pm; $30
Here in NYC, it's very likely you'll pass by a brilliant musician or artist while rushing to your train, and at this concert you'll actually get to sit back and enjoy these subway performers. you know that busker on your commute who’s actually good? This annual summer concert series brings those (literally) underground musicians way above ground and to a wider audience—not to mention much lovelier environs—at rooftop gigs. Past shows have been held atop the Brooklyn Grange and the Bowery Hotel, and acts include classical violinists, confessional singer-songwriters, bucket-drum-fueled jazz outfits and foot-stomping bluegrass bands.

Lola Star’s Dreamland Roller Disco Lakeside at Prospect Park; 7:30pm; $18
Have you ever wanted to dress up like a character from Xanadu, The Great Gatsby, or the "Thriller" video and then go dance in a park with a lot of other like-minded people? Join the insanity at Lola Star's Dreamland Roller Disco, where you'll need to unleash your inner Rollerblade vixen to keep up with the crowd and the week's theme. A DJ will be blasting gems from the disco era to present day all night long, making the LeFrak Center at Prospect Park’s Lakeside the coolest roller rink this side of 1978.

Med Rooftops Ramscale Studio, 7pm; free
Escape NYC and head to the Mediterranean without renewing your passport. You’ll practically feel those sea breezes as you dance the night away atop a West Village roof while slugging down cocktails and munching on seasonal bites—free of charge. A special menu curated by chef Michael White, whose restaurants have earned numerous Michelin stars, includes tastes of Italy, Greece and Spain. The host Gin Mare concocts the beverages. 

Mysteryland Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 4pm, singe day pass $129–$464
The U.S. edition of the world’s longest-running dance-music festival takes place June 10–13 in upstate New York, with electronic bands, producers and DJs—including our faves like Jimmy Edgar, Kerri Chandler, Derrick Carter, Claptone, Omar-S and Matthew Dear—taking the stages in Bethel Woods, home to the legendary Woodstock festival. You can either hop on a daily roundtrip shuttle bus or grab a camping pass and spend the night.

Sat 11

Warm Up at MoMA PS1, 3pm; $22, at the door $25
The alfresco music series returns for the season bringing new sounds and DJs from all around the world. Catch U.K. native Flava D and Brooklyn artist BEARCAT at the kickoff. 

Jazz Age Lawn Party Governors Island, various times and prices
Slap on your spats and practice the Charleston because the Jazz Age Lawn party is returning to Governor’s Island. Sip on Prohibition-era cocktails like a classic St-Germain with mineral water and a twist or a glass of bubbly and none of the back-alley hooch of the day. Food vendors will be on hand to keep your Lindy Hop hoppin’.

Hawaiian Airlines Liberty Challenge Hudson River Park, Pier 26; 10am, luau 6pm
Dust off your Hawaiian shirt, and get ready to enjoy a taste of the Pacific Islands from the edge of Manhattan. Hawaiian Airlines is bringing the Liberty Challenge to the Hudson River for an outrigger regatta, during which you can watch teams from around the world compete as you enjoy Polynesian music and dance, food trucks, a beer garden and a traditional Hawaiian luau.

Renegade Craft Fair East River State Park; 11am; free entry
Browse imaginative maker-designed goods from 200-plus creators, indulge in bites from Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream and take pics in the photo booth with crafty friends. By the time you leave, you'll have enough DIY crafts, home knick-knacks and artisanal ingredients to totally redecorate your home. 

Big Apple BBQ Madison Square Park; 11am; $10/plate
The only big apple you’ll find here will be jammed inside a swine’s mouth—where fruit belongs. Fourteen pitmasters from across the nation bring their best barbecue offerings to the two-day cookout. There’s free entry to the block party, where you can enjoy the sounds of live bands. Pony up a small fee for each plate of the smoky goods—true ’cue lovers may have a hard time stopping at just one. 

Pour the Core Brooklyn Expo Center; noon and 5pm; various prices
Go hard—cider, that is— and sample crisp and sweet pours from local powerhouses Big Apple Hard Cider, Original Sin and other cideries from across the world. Make sure to line your stomach with offerings from the food trucks also participating, like savory and sweet pies from Dub.

Field Guide: North Brooklyn Kinfolk Studios; 1pm; $25
Open House New York hosts a one-day event, where you can explore the sites and buildings of a really trendy and semi-gentrified neighborhood—North Brooklyn! The self-guided tour allows you to experience talks and demonstrations from establishments in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, including ACME Studio, Museum of Food and Drink, The Lot Radio, VAMOS Architects and more. Make sure you wear your walking shoes and arrive at 12:30pm for check-in. 

Sun 12 

Parks and Recreation Trivia Videology Bar & Cinema; 8pm; free
Start getting reacquainted with Pawnee, Indiana now, because your team (up to four people) is going to need some Leslie Knope gusto to dominate Videology Bar and Cinema’s next trivia night exclusively about the hit TV show. The competition includes brainteasers from five categories: clips, pictures, two general knowledge tests and a surprise round. So here’s to hoping your team isn’t full of Jerry types. 

LIC Flea & Food, 11am; free entry
This open-air bazaar is Queens’ answer to the Brooklyn Flea, as both markets offer a wide array of retro wares and antiques, finger-licking–delicious eats and gorgeous skyline views that could bring a tear to the eye of the most jaded New Yorker. But it certainly pays to take a train or ferry to enjoy the Flea’s all-Queens Beer and Wine Garden, serving eight beers from spots like SingleCut Beersmiths and Queens Brewery; the suds will come in handy when you need to wash down Butcher Bar’s wood-smoked BBQ and red velvet funnel cake from A Lil’ Bit of Fun. More like a Lil’ Bit of yum, right?

Dumbo Flea; 10am; free
After five brilliant years in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Flea moved down the waterfront to Pearl Plaza in Dumbo, just beneath the Manhattan Bridge. A new location wasn’t the only major change—the market has shrunk to roughly 75 vendors, but you’ll find a familiar kick-ass assortment of antiques, vintage, furniture, clothing, artwork and jewelry. Don’t weep too much, Williamsburg residents—Smorgasburg still has boatloads of tasty food options presented at the East River State Park every Saturday (11am–6pm), or you can venture to Prospect Park for its Sunday residency (11am–6pm). 

Mister Sunday Nowadays; 3pm; $20
The sun is finally out and teasing you to get out and have some fun! Justin Carter, an avant-garde DJ-composer, and Eamon Harkin, with a flare for Detroit techno, know how to get a party started. This year, the weekly Mister Sunday summer series moves from its previous Industry City location to the outdoor bar-meets-restaurant venue, Nowadays, located on the edge of Bushwick. There’ll be plenty to eat from with Country Boys Taqueria and Nowadays’ vegan and veggie-friendly kitchen, some fresh, locally brewed beer and sangria, sodas from Brooklyn Soda Works and no restrictions on dogs or kids!

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