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Fri 26
Fleet Week Times Square Flash Mob; 7pm; free
It’s Fleet Week in NYC, so celebrate the big Naval arrival with panache at this one-hour dance party. Join the always-wild Svetlana and the Delancey Five as they play big, brassy swing jams for your jiving, jitterbugging and lindy-hopping pleasure, right in the middle of Times Square. Serve your best Jean-Paul Gaultier sailor look to slay the night.
Wasabassco’s SUPER! Heros vs. Villains Littlefield; 8pm; $15–$25
The studs and sirens of Wasabassco strap on spandex and face off against each other in battles of good vs. evil that will leave you breathless—and them nearly naked. Witness the spectacle of Nasty Canasta, Doc Wasabassco, Jenny C’est Quoi, Lux La Croix, Medianoche, Michael Momentum, Nina La Voix, Tiger Bay, The Wonder Twins, Amuse Bouche & Qualms Galore in flight, and serve your own sexy avenger look to win the costume contest.
“Gypsies: Dance Traditions from India to Spain” Nuyorican Poets Café; 7:30pm; $15, at the door $20
Choreographer Tatyana Popova stages this show that traces Gypsy elements through Flamenco, Bharatanatyam and Kathak dances.
Dance Yourself Clean Music Hall of Williamsburg; 10pm; $12
Acolytes of Purity Ring, CHVRCHES, Robyn, Empire of the Sun, and, of course, LCD Soundsystem come together for a night of rapturous dancing to hard synth beats at this summertime bash.
Tour of Javits Center Roof Javits Center; 6pm; $40
Meet the 11 species of birds that call the convention center’s roof home—and see how the contemporary green space could change urban animal life in NYC.
Sat 27
The Great Brooklyn Grill Out The Food Sciences Academy at Long Island University; 2pm; $65
Enter the mother of all summer barbecues, hosted by NYC Hot Sauce Expo producers Food Karma. Join chefs like George Motz and Michael Yapi as they flare up hot dogs, porchetta, portobello burgers and more. Witness the gooey spectacle of the grilled-cheese-sandwich competition, and burn away your senses at the hot sauce pavilion. Grab craft beers and ciders and even some ice cream to balance out the hot stuff. If you’re coming to slay, we recommend wearing a bib.
Discotechnique: The White Party House Yes; 10pm; free before 11pm, $20–$25
Serve Hillary Clinton crisp pantsuit realness for this renegade pre-Memorial Day ball at House of Yes. Spin, drop and twirl in your whites, silvers and sequins to deep disco beats from Kraak & Smaak, jozif, David Kiss and Blu Detiger. Better bring the hot iron to this ball!
Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit Washington Square Park; noon; free
This city tradition feels fresh every spring when artists following in the footsteps of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning set up shop in the park. Hundreds of exhibitors, from NYU students to artists who remember the Village as a creative enclave, display their paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry and woodcraft.
Writing on It All Governors Island; 1pm; free
Politically conscious writers, artists, choreographers, domestic workers and more lead the charge at this collaborative experiment that welcomes members of the public to write on the walls of an abandoned house in Governors Island’s Nolan Park. This year’s season features Olga Rodriguez Ulloa, Alexandra Chasin, Luis Jaramillo, Matthew Brookshire, Ana Lara, LaTasha Diggs, Mariame Kaba, Laia Sole and Anthony Rosado.
Whiskey Me Away: Sexy Whiskey Tasting Babeland; 4pm; free
If you need some liquid courage to get creative in bed, this workshop will get your juices flowing. While you get fired up sampling whiskeys from local distilleries, Babeland’s pro sex educators offer tips on toys, techniques and anatomical trivia to take your game to the next level. Be sure to arrive early, as the first 10 guests receive free take-home toys—to sample in private.
Sun 28
The Freedom Party NYC: Memorial Day Weekend Irving Plaza; 11pm; $10–$15
For one night every year, this seminal throwback party aims its focus entirely on the ’90s for a rager worthy of all five House Party movies. Get down to No Doubt, Salt-N-Pepa, Mariah Carey and other icons, as provided by DJs Herbert Holler, Cosi and Marc Smooth. Serve your finest Punky Brewster realness to win up to $500 in the costume contest. Better bring it.
Everybody Loves the ’90s: Brunch and Day Party MIST Harlem; noon; $35
What’s better than Saturday morning cartoons? Saturday morning mimosas. Indulge in a stacked $35 prix-fixe brunch that offers steak and eggs, chicken and waffles, and champagne, all while DJ E Class spins the pop jams that delighted Generation X, including TLC and the Backstreet Boys. Live boy band RNB Boys are on hand to serenade you with the jams of your youth.
The Secret Eats and Gritty Past of Chinatown Columbus Park; 4pm; $35–$39
Feast on scallion pancakes and steamed buns in some of Chinatown’s most delicious hidden spots on this New York Adventure Club tour. Neighborhood historian Mike Morgenthal leads you through landmarks and back alleys, where you learn about the history of Tong gangs, immigrant communities and the thriving food scene.
Broad City Trivia Essex; 8pm; free with R.S.V.P.
Think you’re a resident of Broad City? Grab a ferry from North Brother Island, study up on those Kirk Steele videos, and prove it at this intense trivia night dedicated to NYC’s baddest kweens. Reserve a spot for a team of up to four frands, and get there early: This showdown will be more packed than a rat party at Ilana and Jaime’s apartment.
Selena Sing-Along Videology Bar & Cinema; 8:45pm; $15
It's been 20 years since Jennifer Lopez starred as the luminous Tejana singer who changed Latino representation in American music forever—and whose musical legacy still still inspires devotion from fans. Sing-along to your favorite ballads from the movie, like "I Could Fall in Love," and be sure to keep tissues on hand at this night of fan adoration.