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15 magnificent things to do in NYC this weekend

Written by
Jennifer Picht
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Fri 4

Ra Ra Riot Webster Hall; 7pm; $22
Back in 2008, fresh-faced Syracuse college grads Ra Ra Riot won fans with their debut disc, The Rhumb Line, mixing mischievous chamber-pop with a marked unselfconsciousness. We haven't seen any new material since 2013's Beta Love, a synthy, bouncy pop affair, but the band's catalogue of undeniably catchy hooks promises a dancy time nonetheless.

Wine Riot 69th Regiment Armory; 7pm; $65
Ditch the stuffiness of orthodox wine tastings at this laid-back drinking spree that touts 350 varieties culled from every corner of the globe. Get schooled with 20-minute crash courses on topics like vinting and pairing, then hit the floor to sip elegant yet underused bottles like Vinho Verde whites from Portugal or sweet muscats from California’s Quady Winery. Instagram photobooths, wash-off tattoos and live tracks spun by DJ Andie Cassette help fuel your boozy conquests.

Molly Ringwald Birdland; 8:30pm, 10:30pm; $35–$50, plus $10 minumum
Erstwhile John Hughes muse and 1980s teen icon Molly Ringwald has gone on to a varied career on stage and screen (including a stint as Sally Bowles in the Broadway revival of Cabaret). Now she brings her spunky auburn glow to Birdland, in a set that includes selections from her album of standards, Except Sometimes. 

K2 Friday Nights The Rubin Museum of Art; 6pm; free
DJ David Ellenbogen spins an eclectic mix as the Rubin Museum waives admission during its weekly soiree. Hang around for gallery tours, pan-Asian tapas and tonight's Cabaret Cinema selection, A Double Life (movie tickets are free with a $7 bar minimum). 

Andy Warhol: Money on the Wall Sotheby’s; 10am; free
If there was one thing that pop iconographer Andy Warhol loved, it was money. Explore several highly-saturated silkscreens of dollar signs and bills at this selling auction of rare pieces. You may be inspired to spend some of your own cash as an act of artistic tribute. 

Sat 5

Target First Saturday Brooklyn Musuem; 5pm; free
The revered Brooklyn institution stays open late and waives admission on the first Saturday of every month. Attendees can take in performances and lectures, go on guided tours or sip wine between gallery browsing. The nights are often themed, and schedules are announced in advance of the museum's website. Be sure to arrive early for (free) ticketed events within the event.

Annual Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Rockway Beach and Boardwalk; 10am; free
March your way over to Rockaway Beach for a pre-St. Patrick’s Day Parade the first Saturday in March. The 41st Annual Parade kicks off at 1pm (130th St and Newport Ave) with grand marshals including congressman and respected community members. Early birds can attend a mass for peace and justice at St. Francis de Sales church (129th St and Rockaway Beach Blvd) at 10:30am.

Comedy at Stonewall Inn; 7pm; $10 plus two-drink minimum
Chrissie Mayr and Oscar Aydin host this monthly showcase of gay and gay-adjacent comedy at the historic bar. At this month's Pride fundraiser, they welcome hilarious acts Emma Willmann, Matteo Lane, Whore at the Bar and more to tear up the stage. 

Big Apple Comic Con Penn Plaza Pavilion; 10am; $20
Die-hard fans of comics, anime and genre that need a less-overwhelming alternative to the behemoth NYCC can head to this delightful old-school convention that's been running for over 30 years. Browse through bins and bundles of comics, meet actors from some of your favorite childhood series and get your bound editions signed by legends like Jim Steranko and Neal Adams. If you're down for some cosplay fun without experiencing severe agoraphobia, this may be the con for you. 

Party Like It’s 1999: 25 Years of R.E.M.’s Out of Time Edition The Bell House; 10pm; free
Can you believe it's been a quarter-century since the world's moodiest alt-rockers dropped such gems as "Shiny Happy People" and "Losing My Religion?" Celebrate the glory of 1991 with a solid alt-rock block, followed by crowd-pleasing Hip-Hop, R&B and pop jams from the likes of Coolio, TLC and Ace of Base. 


Sun 6

Morbid Antaomy Flea Market The Bell House; noon; $1
Collect rare books and antiques, eerily cute taxidermy and repurposed skulls at this bustling fair full of morbid curiosities. The Morbid Anatomy Museum has culled together some of its favorite artists to bring you jewelry and decor from beyond the grave. Just make sure it's dead before you wear it. 

The Armory Show Piers 92/94 noon; $45, seniors and students $30, show pass $80
The megafair returns, with exhibitors of contemporary and modern art divided, respectively, between Piers 92 and 94. Besides the expected deluge of print, photography, mixed material and multimedia pieces, the Armory will be presenting pieces by Africa-based and African diaspora artists as part of this year's focus on African Perspectives. 

PULSE New York Metropolitan Pavilion; 1pm; $25, $40 four-day entry
Every year, the PULSE advisory crew assembles a perfectly-varied armada of contemporary artists to show at this weekend-long fair. Check out stunningly colorful prints by Armando Marino, massive mixed media by Mia Taylor and other astonishing pieces at this saturating event.  

TimeTalks: Forest Whitaker The TimesCenter; 6pm; $40
Join the star of The Last King of Scotland and The Butler at an intimate discussion about his inspirations, career and his starring role in this month's revival of Eugene O'Neill's Hughie

Orange Brunch Gala 2016 501 Union; 12:30pm; $95–$145
We hope you own some orange-colored duds because the biggest brunch party of the year—The Orange Brunch Gala—is back! As in recent years, proceeds benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, so you can totally feel good about gorging on grub like enchiladas and sipping unlimited bloody mary’s for a good cause. Other perks include live music, appearances by cast memebers from hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black and 50 percent off Lyft rides. Yow! 

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