Things to do in New York City: Spring events and attractions

If you like books, films and interesting conversations—so yes, that's all of us—you'll want in on LIVE from the NYPL. The semiannual reading series returns to the iconic New York Public Library this spring with a lineup that includes maverick movie director Wes Anderson, cultural commentator and hair icon Malcolm Gladwell, and Generation X author Douglas Coupland. Who said libraries are for squares?

In 1968, the legendary New York Times photographer set out to explore the idea of fashion as cultural history in a photo essay titled "Facades." More than 40 years later, 88 original prints from the project—featuring elaborate vintage attire culled from thrift shops and modeled in front of iconic NYC locations—offer as much insight into fashion as they do to Cunningham himself.

The expansion of Brooklyn Bridge Park continues apace: The green space will gain five acres once Pier 2—located just south of the Squibb Park Bridge—opens to the public in late April. Get the scoop on the five things we’re most excited for in the new parkland.

May is Bike Month; time to take your two-wheeled steed out of the corner of your living room and hit the pavement once more. If you love cycling but have a horror of navigating New York traffic, join Bike New York’s annual trans-city cyclathon. As the name suggests, this 32,000-strong ride spans all five boroughs in the course of 40 miles and five bridges. And thanks to a partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation, each and every one of those miles is automobile-free.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art may be known for its paintings and ancient treasures, but fashion is increasingly what brings crowds to the institution. Nearly 700,000 people came to the stunning “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” retrospective in 2011, making it one of the most-visited exhibitions in the museum’s history. Last year’s “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” was a more modest success, as 450,000 people clamored to see a replica of CBGB’s grotty bathroom. With more fashion-focused visitors than ever, the timing is perfect for the museum to open its revamped Costume Institute on May 8. It’ll be bigger and better—and thanks to a particularly helpful benefactor, it’ll be known by a new moniker: the Anna Wintour Costume Center.