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Mon 21
David’s Friend Dixon Place; 7:30pm; $18, $15 advance
Nora Burns' one-woman show brings the story of a fabulous friendship to Dixon Place, with forays into love, loss, disco and the AIDS crisis in New York City. Directed by Adrienne Truscott.
“Dinosaurs Among Us” American Museum of Natural History; 10am; $12.50–$22
If you thought dinosaurs have been extinct for the last 65 million years, prepare to get schooled! The American Museum of Natural History’s new dino-mite attraction proves you can spot ’em in the concrete jungle right this very minute. Don’t fret—Godzilla won’t make an appearance anytime soon (we hope). Instead the exhibit features the latest discoveries from paleontologists, like that dinosaurs walk—or fly—among us in the form of...birds?
PoetNY Open Mic & Bowery Slam Bowery Poetry Club; 6:30pm; $10, $15 for both
Bowery Poetry packs a double-header every Monday night, with the wild and unpredictable PoetNY Open Mic at 6:30pm, followed by the competitive, rowdy Bowery Slam. Whether you're a weekly regular or just coming in to get your annual poetry fix, you'll be more than satisfied by the local talent and unexpected guests this night brings.
Fly, You Fools! Peoples Improv Theater; 9:30pm; $15
The irreverent goons behind Hold Onto Your Butts and the director of the Harry Potterparody show Puffs present this "shot-for-shot" reenactment of the gloriously dramatic The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Expect wigs to fly as this four-person crew plays the roles of a nine-man fellowship, sentient astral evil and Elven princess with admirable, hilarious dedication.
Jake Bugg + Spookyland Bowery Ballroom; 7pm; $25
Though Noel Gallagher helped launch Jake Bugg to U.K. fame early in his career, the Oasis leadman recently retracted his seal of approval after learning that the British whippersnapper used co-writers on his latest album, On My One. But Oasis cosign or not, the new tunes undoubtedly carve a striking presence, ranging from delta blues twang ("On My One") to driving dance frenzy ("Gimme The Love").
Tue 22
Baad!Ass Women Festival Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance; 7pm; free–$25
The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance presents its 16th annual celebration of women in theater, dance, music, film and other arts, including many works by queer and trans women.
The Dump! Storytelling Open Mic The Creek and the Cave; 8pm; free
The Creek and the Cave gives you eight minutes to rid yourself of some of your most ghastly memories at this cathartic storytelling event. With no prompts or judges, you can finally share your secret tales of summer camp heartbreak and music festival STDs among tipsy friends and fellow shameless storytellers.
Trivia Tuesdays Brookfield Place Plaza; 6pm; free
Secure a seat at Hudson Eats for its weekly quiz, with rounds dedicated to "On This Day in History," a rapid-fire "Name Threes" and a best-curated audio sequence. The vibe is laid-back and less "pubby" than most, but don't fret—wine, beer and sake are certainly available. Teams of no more than six can play for prizes (there's a winner after every round) in the form of gift cards from stores and eateries at Brookfield Place.
Carolines Comedy Madness Stand-Up Competition Carolines on Broadway; 7pm; $10 plus two-drink minimum
Sixty-four local comics go head-to-head over five shows in this round-robin, with everybody getting one minute of stage time in the first round, two in the second round, and so on. The winner scores a cash prize, a featured gig in the 2016 New York Comedy Festival and, of course, bragging rights.
LE1F + Loaf Music + Nasty Nigel Baby’s All Right; 8pm; $10, $3 with R.S.V.P.
Local indie-rap sensation LE1F went viral in the summer of 2012 with the video for "Wut," which featured the artist hot-stepping in a pair of denim short-shorts while introducing his quicksilver vocal-fry flow. Expect effortless party rocking here as the impish MC, who continued his ascent with last year's stellar studio debut Riot Boi, headlines this Williamsburg gig.
Wed 23
Trump Dump: President Luxury Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre; 9:30pm; $5
The indefatigable, irritating and idiotic possible president sits down for an intimate night from his bizarro Oval Office, where he'll deliver opinions and updates on his presidency and even answer audience questions (so long as they're not from Megyn Kelly). Connor Ratliff and Anthony Atamanuik's apocalyptic show may calm your fears over the coming election, or make them much more severe.
Fully Bunny Contact Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center; 6pm; $5–$25
If bonnets and pastels aren’t your thing, take an alternate approach to Easter with this bizarre four-day carnival by the creator of Nightmare Haunted House. Games like “Chicken Scratch” (where you must beat a giant chicken at tic-tac-toe)and “The Keister Bunny” (which involves pulling candy from an Easter bunny’s backside) lead up to the main event, an egg-hunt cage match where participants must battle rabbit-costumed challengers in a 16-by-20-foot steel cage. There will also be food trucks and an on-site bar if you prefer to simply observe the guaranteed pandemonium.
“Fairy Tale Fashion” The Museum at FIT; noon; free
Cinderella's glass slipper was only the beginning. Immerse yourself in enchanted worlds where contemporary couture merges seamlessly with the imaginings of childhood. In vibrantly realized settings like "Castle," "Forest" and "Sea," you'll be able to see tales of Snow White, the Little Mermaid and more in fully realized runway majesty by designers including Thierry Mugler, Christian Louboutin and Manish Arora. You won't be able to choose which ruby slippers you'll want to take you home.
Macy’s Flower Show Macy’s Herald Square; 10am; free
You could easily spend hours sniffing the aromatic blooms at this popular annual two-week floral exhibition, this year dubbed “America the Beautiful.” The ground level of Macy’s Herald Square transforms into a not-so-secret garden that’s covered in floor-to-ceiling greenery depicting the purple mountain majesties and fruited plains that we’re so, er, unaccustomed to in the concrete jungle.
RISK! The Bell House; 8pm; $15
This storytelling show hosted by Kevin Allison (The State) has its tellers reveal true stories—the kind of jaw-droppers one wouldn't normally whip out during a dinner party—that vary in tone but are always surprising. Get ready for an earful from special guests Bowen Yang, Livia Scott, Adam Lowitt and Arthur Meyer.
Thu 24
Ask Roulette Housing Works Bookstore Café; 7pm; $8
WNYC radio producer Jody Avirgan hosts a live series in which audience members are invited to ask the panel of stand-ups and stars anything they like—but only if they answer a question first.
The Bullshit Olympics Videology Bar & Cinema; 7pm; free
Put a pin in your pretense and rejoice in ridiculing the self-serious. Videology wil be showcasing unbearable student films, existentialist essays and any other exhaustively serious works from recent years. Alice Roth and Ken Greller host the ego-deflating gathering.
Tainted Love: ‘80s Dance Party with DJ Jane Elizabeth The Bell House; 9pm; free
True acolytes of the ’80s finally have a celebration of their decade that goes beyond leg warmer costumes and embraces gems from the New Wave, Ska, Darkwave and Glam Rock movements and beyond. Hit the Bell House every last Thursday of the month for some of last century's definitive heartbreak ballads and synth jams.
The Wind Up The Jewish Museum; 8pm; $13, at the door $18
The Jewish Museum is going all-out in the latest edition of their open-bar after-hour showcase, which features a stacked lineup of stand-up performers, including Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams, Josh Gondelman, Michelle Wolf, Ted Alexandro and Sean Patton, along with tours of exhibits "Unorthodox" and "Isaac Mizrahi: An Unruly History."
Pearson Sound + Tessela Good Room; 10pm; $15–$20
Pearson Sound, one of the U.K.'s most talented producers of mind-numbing bass music, is no newcomer to the scene. Also sometimes known as Ramadanman, David Kennedy is an integral part of the Hessle Audio label, which has been in the banger business since 2007. A highly sought after DJ with an impeccable taste in percussive bass music, Kennedy has kept himself plenty busy with touring and critically acclaimed productions—with his debut album ranking 11th in our list of the best dance music albums of 2015. Joining him is fellow U.K. producer Tessela, who's released tracks on Punch Drunk, the legendary R&S Records, as well as his own Poly Kicks imprint—with the most recent release "Tenner Eclipse" landing a spot on our picks for January's best new songs. Treats of this nature don't come as often as they should, so take full advantage and experience forward-thinking techno at its best.