The best things to do in NYC this weekend

Shop through a ton of vintage finds—from clothing to jewelry and everything in-between—at A Current Affair, a new outdoor pop-up market taking over Industry City every weekend in May. Expect ten rotating vendors to occupy the courtyard each weekend, from Amarcord to Moore Vintage Archive, Time Lords, Wayward Collection and more. Shoppers will have to don face coverings and abide by social distancing measures while attending the free events (no tickets are required!), but, given COVID-19-related guidelines, entry will be limited. You'll get to shop from NOON to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays for four weekends in a row. Woohoo!

Bib Gourmand awards are bestowed on restaurants where you can order an app, entrée and a glass of wine or dessert for about $40 before tax and tip. That still isn’t cheap, but it’s relatively more affordable than the august institutions starred by the august institution. Today, The Michelin Guide announced its 2021 Bib Gourmand award winners, including 131 restaurants in New York City and Westchester County. Honorees span 36 Michelin cuisine categories and include 30 newcomers. This year’s selections include Thai Diner, which Michelin inspectors thought was a “quaint spot,” Bolero, where “the kitchen team straddles the line between subtle and savory with ease and creativity,” Gentle Perch, which has a “playful edge,” La Cueva Fonda, for its “warming and memorable” cuisine and Pierozek, which “appears to be exactly what the neighborhood needed.” 

55 galleries, including 1969, 55 Walker, Brooke Alexander, Freight + Volume, Grimm and Peter Freeman, are inviting in the community for a gallery walk on Saturday and will be staying open later (noon to 7pm). Get out and see the best art in NYC!

On the other side of the footbridge that connects Manhattan to Randall's Island are two new incredible sculptures by artist Rubem Robierb. The first is a 10-foot fiberglass and stainless steel sculpture called Peace Makers that has been lauded for its representation and call for unity. Two doves—one black and one white—seem to circle each other and while they are separate, they are part of one artwork, which was inspired by the recent protests against racial injustice. The other piece by Robierb, Dream Machine II, which is a pair of 13-foot, brilliant blue butterfly wings, is a tribute to the human spirit and symbolizes strength and resilience in the face of immense challenges, according to NYC Parks' Art in the Park.

Tipsy Scoop and Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas are teaming up for a limited-time flavor—Guava Lime Cocktail Ice Cream, which will be available for four weeks. To celebrate and get people to try the new flavor, Tipsy Scoop (217 East 26th Street in Manhattan and 270 Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn) will be giving free scoops of it as well as a daily trip giveaway between May 6 and May 13, from noon to 8pm.

Ten massive "rivers" of flowers—made up of nearly 1,000 planted grow bags, 7,000 flowers and 17,000 gallons of soil—have taken over Fifth Avenue. It's all part of a walkable flower installation in celebration of the arrival of spring and Mother's Day (which is Sunday) called "Fifth Avenue Blooms." Floral designer Sachi Rose has essentially painted the avenue in blossoms from 47th to 59th streets. Each block features a different color palette to form a pastel ombre effect. The installation is free and easy to see—just turn up to Fifth Avenue starting at 47th Street between now and May 14. Document your beautiful findings on social media by tagging #FifthAvenueBlooms, too.

One of New York City's biggest art fairs is happening in person this year and it's promising an "exceptional" program that includes an immersive installation, augmented reality and talks with leading artists. Frieze New York will be at The Shed in Hudson Yards from May 5-9 with more than 60 major galleries, most of them from the New York area, and a parallel virtual viewing platform called the "Frieze Viewing Room." 

One of the best rooftop bars in Manhattan is back with a totally new menu of vibrant cocktails and bites. Jimmy, which sits on the 18th floor of the brand new ModernHaus SoHo hotel on Thompson Street, has totally unobstructed views of the city skyline, and once its pool opens this summer, it'll be the perfect hangout spot. To celebrate reopening and its 10th anniversary, Johnny Swet, Jimmy's master mixologist and partner has concocted exciting new cocktails like The Mexican Honey Bee, Sazerac Tonic, Marmaduke, Lavender Lemonade and Strawberry Moscow Mule, and frozen options, like the Boozy Watermelon Frosé. Yes, please! 

Always wondered what it would be like to be the only spectator at a concert? You might have the opportunity to experience just that this weekend. As part of its exciting spring programming, the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is getting very creative, hosting personal concerts that guests will attend solo throughout two weekends in May (May 8-9 and 15-16) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  The events, which are completely free (no, we're not lying), are truly one-of-a kind. Ticket-holders will be treated to ten-minute private performances by a range of New York musicians from the Silkroad Ensemble (45 have signed up in total) taking place all over the destination in Brooklyn. Talk about an intimate experience.  

This beloved destination is now official open for the season, set to feature around 20 food vendors each Saturday from NOON to 7pm through November. Among the rotating lineup of vendors are San Antonio's Wood Fired Pizza, Downeast Lobstah, La Braza, Osicala NYC, Sechebel Catering Co. and Sweet and Salty Empanads. Dessert-wise, visitors can indulge in Island Love Cake's aged-rum cakes, Dre's Water Ice and Ice Cream Southern-style treats and baked goods from Sweet Obsessions, among others. As is now the standard across the world, COVID-19 safety measures are in place. Attendees are required to social distance and wear masks throughout the open space, of course. You'll also need a ticket to get in (which you can get right here) but, worry not, it's all completely free.

One of the best outdoor spaces for dining in Brooklyn returns this May. Olmsted's Summer Camp is back on May 5 with its lush backyard vibes, dishes featuring fresh produce, gorgeous flowers, wine and cocktails. From Wednesday to Sunday, beginning at 5pm, the covered outdoor blooming backyard garden will be serving limited-edition, seasonal dishes like soft shell crab with grilled ramps, pickled aji dulce and fancy ranch; spring onion "onion rings”; mint & pea spätzle; seven radish som tum salad; and heirloom tomato schnitzel; alongside chef-owner Greg Baxtrom’s take on summer classics, like a corn dog with cherry ketchup and corn pudding mustard; and hot duck pastrami with red cabbage sauerkraut on housemade rye. There will also be new cocktails added to the menu for those looking for a new refreshment this summer. Try the Smoked Rhubarb (El Tesoro Blanco Tequila, mezcal, creme de menthe, smoked rhubarb amaro, housemade rhubarb lemongrass syrup, lime and club soda); the Fennel (Svol Swedish Aquavit, sweet and dry vermouth, Ricard Pastis, lime and club soda); and the Espresso Martini (Maker’s Mark, dark rum, creme de cacao, chipotle, L'Orgeat, Kahlua, and Olmsted’s exclusive Vietnamese cold brew coffee, finished with a stencil of Olmstead's quail mascot Gary in chocolate bitters). 

Usually heralding the impending arrival of summer, the annual Macy's Flower Show is as defining of New York as bagels and rooftop bars are. Although last year's show was understandably cancelled, we're here to report that 2021's iteration of the event is officially happening. Beginning May 2 through May 16, New Yorkers will get to walk through a plethora of magical flowers at Macy's flagship store in Herald Square. This year's theme is "Give. Love. Bloom." and, according to an official press release announcing the news, the "presentation will feature magnificently landscaped gardens inspired by the feeling of hope for a brighter year ahead." Free to the public, the colorful "exhibit" will be open for browsing during the store's regular hours. Needless to say, visitors should expect a slightly different format than what they're used to seeing. The space will certainly be filled with beautiful blooming florals, but the displays will all be socially distanced, as will the structures (from topiaries to grand bridges and columns) extending from the main floor through the outdoor area surrounding the store.

After debuting at the end of last summer, The Baylander Steel Beach is back! The unique restaurant and bar is located at West Harlem Piers in Upper Manhattan at 125th St and boasts a 4,000-square-foot outdoor deck where you can order lobster rolls, burgers and drinks. It’s located on a former Navy ship that was once used during the Vietnam War. The less-than-a-year-old floating dining destination is a lot tinier than its more recognizable neighbor, The Intrepid, which is docked farther down the Manhattan coastline. (It’s a mere 125 feet compared to 820 feet) but it still played an active role when it was in operation, working to train helicopter pilots who needed to learn how to land on a boat.  Cocktails available on the floating venue include some very maritime-appropriate concoctions including the Captain’s Colada with Bacardi superior rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream and the Steel Beach Margarita with Patron reposado tequila, fresh watermelon puree, cointreau and lime juice. Food includes burgers, hot dogs, fish tacos and a lobster roll.

Now through the end of December, everyday New Yorkers walking by Grand Central Station will be treated to three massive sculptures depicting... everyday New Yorkers.  Part of New York City's Department of Transportation's Temporary Art Program—through which artists of all calibers can work on public art pieces that take up residence all around town for up to 11 months—the installation is the brainchild of artist Jim Rennert. At over 6 feet tall each, the life-size works can be found at Pershing Square Plaza West, on Park Avenue between East 41st and East 42nd Streets—and that's not a random location.

If you’re looking for a vibrant new dining destination, a new pop-up tucked into the back of Eataly NYC Downtown is worth having on your radar. La Pizza & La Pasta A Colori began welcoming guests on April 21. Located in the culinary hub’s main restaurant space, the multisensory experience puts the focus on color in a similar way that Eataly’s other recently newly transformed venue, Serra by Birreria, puts an emphasis on seasonality. The color theme is immediately apparent upon walking into space, located on the third floor of 101 Liberty St., and encountering “Somewhere Out There,” a striking installation by the artist Eric Rieger, known as HOTTEA. The piece features hundreds of multi-colored pieces of yarn hanging from the ceiling that combine to create an almost celestial effect. Not surprisingly, the work was inspired by sunrises—specifically those found in Torino, where Eataly was founded, and in New York City. Along that theme, floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the space overlook the WTC memorial and Brookfield Place, offering stunning views of actual sunsets. The food and drink menu, created exclusively for the new space, is full of fun twists on the color theme as well, often highlighting vibrantly hued ingredients. “Giallo in Sfumatura” presents a selection of Italian cheeses playfully arranged across a painter’s palette in various shades of yellow. “Il Riso Nero” features a jet-black plate of rich squid ink risotto.”La Pizza Verde” is a traditional Neapolitan pizza in an unexpected green color thanks to seasonal produce like spring peas. 

Remember those mini backyards on the waterfront at Pier 17 that delighted New Yorkers last summer? Well, they're back!  The Greens, as the destination is dubbed, is made up of 32 mini lawns that are 10x10 square feet in size and seat up to eight people each. Each pod it outfitted with a sun umbrella, multiple lounge chairs and a love seat. Scanning a QR code on your phone will catapult you to a delicious-looking, touch-less menu of summer treats, including an everything-crusted Bavarian soft pretzel, a shaved onion smashed burger, lamb kebabs, and PopBar popsicles, among others. Yes, there will also obviously be cocktails on offer. You can check out the full food and drink menu right here. Just like last year, there will also be a giant, 32-foot-wide LED screen. Guests can also expect live music and DJ sets. The best part? The views, of course. You'll revel in the lower Manhattan skyline while safe and socially distanced from the other New Yorkers around you. It doesn't get better than this.

A new rooftop is now part of the New York City skyline: the Glass Ceiling is a novel space in Nomad that overlooks the Empire State Building, where guests can order cocktails and light bites or even host events. Expect warm colors, palm trees and earthy wood tones to define the space, which truly feels like an oasis of calm and peace in the middle of the city and will likely become one of your favorite rooftop bars in Manhattan.

Artist Michael Alan will be working on multiple pieces simultaneously in this iconic fast-paced performance you can catch inside his Lower East Side art studio this Saturday from 3 to 7pm. He will paint large canvas, create sculptures, small drawings, collage, large scale, small scale, and mixed media works while Jadda Cat performs as “Boxhead” creating cardboard body art and puppets. Then at 4pm, everyone will migrate to the roof as they become living, ever-changing sculptures in front of the skyline. Tickets ($20-$40) give access to both parts of this event, which is rain or shine. All proceeds help bring back Living Installation, a 20-year DIY NYC punk goofball performance. The address is provided via email upon sign-up. If you want to watch online, a YouTube link will be sent out at 2pm.

A lush, tropical oasis awaits you in Soho at Gitano's Garden of Love. The Garden of Love brings back its massive Mezcal bar with views of the Freedom Tower and the downtown NYC skyline and gorgeous greenery that will make you feel transported to Tulum, Mexico. Now in its fourth summer, the bar and restaurant will again span the same 24,000-square-foot city block with 30-foot palm trees, tropical plants, twin pergola dining decks, an open fire kitchen and a reflecting/meditation pond. Guests will get to enjoy the space with a stream of gypsy-disco music, entertainment and art. Executive Chef Antonio Maldonaldo's menu this year includes Mezcal-focused cocktails and modern Mexican dishes cooked in a wood-burning oven and open-fire grill, including the tuna tostada, truffle tlayuda, grilled chicken pastor, watermelon salad and more. Preview reservations are open now at sevenrooms.com.

One of the best open-air spots in the city to grab a drink and see a show, the rooftop at Elsewhere, is reopening for the season on April 30 just in time for Hot Vax Summer. The rooftop venue, which also managed to reopen for gatherings last summer, will be offering socially distanced food, drinks and music beginning next week. Reservations for the upcoming events are currently available through the venue’s site for 2+ parties Thursday–Sunday and 4+ parties on Fridays and Saturdays. (Party packages are also available for 6+ parties.) Though reservations are strongly encouraged, they’re not required. The venue will also be setting aside tables for walk-ins. On April 30, you can see Jubille & Jesse Mann, on May 1 there’s Oscar Nñ & Fried Platano and on May 2, Eli Escobar and Lloydski.

Resounding, an immersive theater company, is at Radial Park with live, in-person audio plays featuring actors each weekend in May, including a remount of the company’s popular Treasure Island (May 14-15), an adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest (May 7-8), a new ghost thriller, Beyond The Veil (April 30-May 1), and the musical Triassic Parq (May 21-23) with the original off-Broadway cast. Grab food and drinks from Radial Park's food trucks and settle in at a picnic bench or in your car (it's a drive-in, too) for an evening of drama and hilarity. If you can't make it in person, it'll be livestreamed for $10.

Throughout the month of May, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Resy is teaming up with NYC chefs—Chinese Tuxedo, The Tyger, Wildair, Wayla, Lotus + Cleaver, Kimika, Jeepney, Bessou, Gabriel Kreuther, Nami Nori, Fish Cheeks, Wayan, Rule Of Thirds, Mokbar, Nom Wah, Golden Diner, Tita’s Baby, Di An Di, Llama San, Saigon Social, Cha-An—to fight against anti-Asian hate crimes and xenophobic attacks on the AAPI community through a five-course meal series. 

All you need to do is purchase tickets for the featured weekly meal on Resy.com, which are all priced at $165. The meals include a “mystery” bottle of sake courtesy of Joy Of Sake and feed two adults. Chefs will be reimbursed for their dish and additional revenue will be donated to local AAPI-led organizations Heart of Dinner, Apex for Youth and Rise. 

Tickets for week one, week two and week three are now available for purchase on Resy.com, where guests can select pick-up times; tickets for weeks 4 and 5 will go on sale at the beginning of May.

You can check out each week's menu here.

“I'm participating to amplify the voices in my community who are combatting a very serious sickness that has been spreading across the country. My hope is that this series sows some seeds of awareness and empathy. This is clearly a fight that has a long road ahead and it's crucial we participate in whatever way we can,” says Sam Yoo, Chef-Owner of Golden Diner. 

 

The North River Lobster Company is back open and offering trips on its three-story yacht and a summery menu by executive chef Gil Martinez that includes mouth-watering lobster rolls and an indulgent raw bar. The "Shelly" (for a cool $99) is New York City’s biggest lobster roll at over two feet long. Of course, it's meant to be shared — it's packed with Atlantic lobster, Old Bay mayo, celery, lemon zest, and lettuce all set on a giant 28-inch potato roll. If sharing isn't in the game plan, you can order the Double Truffle Roll ($29.95) that features truffle-mayo drenched lobster or the Lower East Side Roll ($23.50) packed with chunks of fresh lobster mixed with scallion cream cheese, red onions, chives and everything seasoning on an everything potato roll. If you want to forego the bread, a full lobster dinner ($42) comes with a 1¼ lb lobster, corn, potatoes and coleslaw. You'll be able to wash it all down with a refreshing Watermelon Mule, the Frozé! Frozé! Frozé, the Lifesaver with Ketel Botanical Peach and Orange Blossom Vodka, Triple Sec, orange and grenadine or a crisp margarita or sangria — all come in a standard 12-ounce serving ($15), a 24-ounce keepsake illuminated Lighthouse cup ($25), or a 64-ounce pitcher ($55). You can also order buckets of ice-cold beer, cider and hard seltzer, too.

It's going to be a woolly fun summer on Governors Island! NYC's backyard reopens for the season on Saturday and new this year are five fluffy sheep have been added to the island's payroll to help control a sheep-ton of invasive plants this season. They'll be munching down in Hammock Grove, so you'll literally be able to count sheep while relaxing in a hammock.

Italian-style piazza dining is coming back to the Bronx's Arthur Avenue this month, offering a car-free dining experience on the weekends. Starting April 30, East 188th Street to Crescent Avenue will be closed to traffic from 6-10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1-9pm on Sunday so that diners and shoppers can take full advantage of the street. There are at least 26 eateries—from red-sauce restaurants to delis—that will set up seating for patrons, ready to chow down. And hopefully, with more of us vaccinated, these eateries are able to recoup some business they've lost over the last year.

Broadway is still closed, but its stars are clearly ready to take on the spotlight once more—and they're doing so in super-creative ways. Take violinist Suzy Perelman, a Broadway veteran who has played in shows like Phantom of the Opera, Cats and My Fair Lady: the musical guru joined forces with Broadway pianist Christian Regul to lead impromptu one-hour-long concerts from her very own courtyard at 149 West 85th Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues. How cool is that? The first al fresco musical event, which also delightfully featured a hula-hoop, happened earlier this month. Since then, the duo has set up an Instagram account (@concertsinthecourtyard) to alert the public of their upcoming performances and post footage from each one.

Have you ever wanted to dress up like a character from Xanadu, The Great Gatsby or Donna Summer and dance and skate with other like-minded people? Join the insanity at Coney Island icon Lola Star’s infamous roller disco at Lakeside Prospect Park, where you need to unleash your inner Roller Blade vixen to keep up with the crowd. Costumes are highly encouraged at this kitschy and mostly adults-only roller-skate dance party, so be sure to dress to dazzle your fellow skaters. Make sure to check dreamlandrollerink.com for the full schedule so that you know what costume to wear! 

Head over to Orchard and Broome streets for a comedy show that comes with a cold alcoholic beverage (you can also BYOB). Hosted by Jamie Wolf (New York Comedy Festival "Comic to Watch"), the show features Dina Hashem (Conan, Comedy Central), Kate Willett (Netflix), Matthew Broussard (Conan), Carmen Lagala (Colbert), Mike Rowland (Comedy Cellar), Jason Choi (New York Comedy Club) and Usama Siddiquee (America's Got Talent, the Comedy Cellar). The show is at 8 and again at 9:30pm. Tickets are $10 each.

Laugh, advocate and educate at this comedy show kicking off
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and CAPA's 42nd annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival with a history-related comedy show by sketch comedy team Model Majority founded by Veronica Dang. Model Majority will "teach" you about some historical figures and moments, including but not limited to American Girl doll, The Olympics, Bruce Lee and Star Wars that'll both educate and amuse. It's free to watch but donations suggested for Asian Mental Health Collective. The virtual show begins at 9pm on Saturday.

BAM is celebrating hip-hop and African diaspora with a fantastic roster of artists (Sa-Roc, Okai, Nejma Nefertiti, Peggy Robles-Alvarado, Jade Charon, Baba Israel, and DJ Reborn) who will perform works around the theme of "rejuvenation." The 70- minute showcase will feature music, spoken word, dance, and live visual design and mixing, which you can view in person or online. It's pay-what-you-wish starting at $10. Head over to BAM.org for more information.

Sit out at Prospect Park for a night of comedy and music with comedian Calvin S. Cato and drummer Rob Montemarano. Rob’s band The Brooklyn Bards will play a mix of classic rock and Irish music, and then after their set, Calvin hosts comedians who have been featured on Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, BET, and all those late night shows. Need something to take the edge off? Cato and Montemarano will offer beer and Jell-O shots to the audience. The show is completely free, but donations are encouraged to help a local women's shelter! So get your blanket out and head out to the northwest part of Prospect Park (close to the Prospect Park West and Garfield Place entrance).

Give back to New Yorkers in need by shopping from a designer bridal show this weekend at Housing Works. Deep discounts will be offered during the pop-up bridal salon, which will feature a collection of brand-new merchandise including jewelry, accessories (ring bearer pillows, veils, tiaras), footwear, menswear (tuxedos, suits), as well as wedding and bridesmaid dresses by Jenny Yoo, Adrienne Landau, Leela Rose, JS Group, Leanne Marshall, Amor, Melissa Manning Joy, and Happily Borrowed. Wedding dresses start at $75 and bridesmaids' dresses start at $35. All sales benefit Housing Works which has been fighting homelessness and HIV/AIDS for nearly 30 years.

Head over to Q.E.D. Astoria for stand-up each Friday night with the Transplants Comedy Show. As the name suggests, the comedians on stage are not originally from New York City, so they'll be telling jokes and stories about NYC and their hometowns. Hear from comics like Leclerc Andre (from D.C.), Mike Feeney (Long Island), Reggie Conquest (West Philly), Lindsay Theisen (South Carolina), Katie Boyle (Ireland), Pedro Gonzalez (Colombia) and Usama Siddiquee (Canada).

You might recognize Native Noodles' Singaporean offerings from its stint as a food stall at the Queens Night Market back in 2019. But now, the destination has officially expanded into a brick-and-mortar space in Washington Heights and, needless to say, the noodles on offer are as delectable as we remember them to be. The fast-casual destination—now offering takeout, delivery and indoor dining—opened back in February and it has amassed an expanded devoted fan base since then. That's all for good reason: not only are the menu options delicious but they offer New Yorkers the chance to revel in Singaporean food, a cuisine that has yet to be thoroughly explored within the sea of ethnic eateries that make up the city's relatively varied culinary culture. Other gastronomical standouts include the vegetarian Singapore wok-fried thin rice noodles, which are served with greens, shredded egg, scallions and crispy onions, and the satay peanut noodles, which are wider egg noodles paired with cucumbers, scallions, crispy onions and a soft-boiled egg.

This year's Metropolitan Museum of Art Roof Garden Commission features a very familiar friend—Big Bird. That's right, the beloved Sesame Street character with feathers and a beak features prominently in the artwork by Alex Da Corte. Dubbed As Long as the Sun Lasts, the commission stands 26 feet tall and seems to balance Big Bird, who is sitting on the moon holding a ladder, on one side and a modern mobile on the other. The sculpture is kinetic, meaning it moves with the wind. As Long as the Sun Lasts opens Friday, April 16, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and will be on view through October 31.

Like something out of a 1950s horror film, six giant red tentacles are reaching into the sky above the Coney Island boardwalk. Luckily for us, it's part of a massive poster advertising the New York Aquarium's new "Spineless" exhibit about the world of invertebrates including octopuses, squid, sea anemones, jellyfish, and other sea animals that lack backbones. The huge poster stretches across a portion of the aquarium's education building and features a massive octopus with eight tentacles with the upper half of six of them continuing into the air as inflatable arms. "Spineless" opened in August 2020 and highlights the ocean’s invertebrates by giving visitors a close-up view of the big-brained giant—a Giant Pacific Octopus—in a pop-up bubble within the animal’s habitat and pulsing jellyfish in three habitats. More than 20 species of animals including squid, cuttlefish, lobsters, crabs, sea anemones, sponges are on view.

Have you ever actually tried to sit through your grief, revel in it in order to eventually move past it? That's what artist Precious Okoyomon (they/them) are trying to do through their new exhibit "Fragmented Body Perceptions as Higher Vibration Frequencies to God," now on view at the Performance Space New York in the East Village through May 9. Employing ash from kudzu, an invasive vine originally from Japan and used in the United States to prevent soil erosion from the cultivation of cotton, the installation is basically a room filled with large, eerie stone sculptures surrounded by gravel. While ashes float out of pipes above, a stream of red dirt flows through the center of the room and loud sounds (think screams from a crowd and flaps of birds) take over a viewer's hearing system. Think of it as a pretty deep, albeit unusual, therapy session that is meant to help you cope with the events of the past year. Although the show is completely free to the public, RSVPs are required. Secure a ticket right here.

The Brooklyn Flea at the Manhattan Bridge Archway is back every Sunday with 40 local vendors to shop from and the “Dumbo Station” bar located inside the Archway in a “lighthouse” (open noon-6pm). The Saturday Brooklyn Flea in Williamsburg (at 51 N. 6 St. at Kent Ave.) is also back with 30 vendors (mostly vintage and antiques plus a smattering of handmade goods) in the fenced-in lot. There will be a handful of new vendors including Mexican But Japanese Vintage, a popular Instagram personality. Both Brooklyn Flea markets are open from 10am to 5pm.

This adults-only painting party experience in West Harlem and the Lower East Side is opening its outdoor spaces again! Pick up a paint brush with cocktail in hand (like the Picasso Punch or the Sistine Apple) and create your own masterpiece. If you're hungry, no worries, Paint 'N Pour also has small plates (shrimp po’boy sliders, orange bbq henny wings, cauliflower bites, bacon egg and cheese sliders, french toast and chicken 'n waffle sliders). Tickets are $50 and include all art supplies and a 2-hour open bar. 

Celebrated Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama's expansive 2021 exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden is finally opening this weekend with outdoor installations across the garden's 250-acre landscape. Four of the projects will be making their NYC debut, the most exciting of which will surely be Infinity Mirrored Room—Illusion Inside the Heart, which will be housed in a cube-shaped structure located out in the open. Featuring mirrored sides, the exterior of the piece will reflect the changing skies while the interior will glow with a seemingly endless array of colored lights. To avoid long lines, timed tickets will be issued to get in. Elsewhere, there will be an interactive greenhouse installation, in which visitors will be invited apply stickers picturing coral-colored blossoms throughout the interior—thus taking part in one of Kusama’s signature "obliteration" pieces. Also on view will be two new outdoor monumental sculptures, the self-explanatory Dancing Pumpkin and a 13-foot high biomorphic form featuring a polka-dotted face called I Want to Fly to the Universe.  The NYBG itself will chime in with special flower bed plantings patterned on Kusama’s paintings and an allée of trees wrapped in polka-dotted fabric.

Film buffs can look forward to Friday when Film at Lincoln Center finally reopens its theaters after a year-long closure. FLC’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center will open its doors first with the New York Film Festival's closing night showing of French Exit (directed by Azazel Jacobs) and a new restoration of Andrei Tarkovsky’s Mirror. 

• New Directors/New Films (April 28 – May 8)
• Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood for Love (opening May 14)
• World of Wong Kar Wai (May 14-20)
• Heidi Ewing’s I Carry You With Me (opening May 21)
• Jia Zhangke’s Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue (opening May 28)
• Christian Petzold’s Undine (opening June 4)
• François Ozon’s Summer of ’85 (opening June 18)

Exploring the themes and techniques involved in the use of fiber art, "UNRAVELED: Confronting the Fabric of Fiber Art" is a new group exhibit at The Untitled Space featuring the works of 40 contemporary women artists. 

"The exhibition presents figurative and abstract works that address our lived experience and history through the lens of women weaving, knotting, twining, plaiting, coiling, pleating, lashing and interlacing," reads the show's official press release. 

The featured pieces—by artists the likes of Lisa Federici, Ruta Naujalyte, Sphanie Eche, Victoria Selbach and Winnie van der Rijn, among others—are visually striking and will have you wonder about the artistic power behind a usually looked-over fabric like fiber. 

"Walk Through the Midst Bloom" is a new walk-through pop-up at event venue Absurd Conclave in Bushwick. Put together by event planning company Euphoria, the experience seeks to help attendees "feel and get a glimpse of a field of new vision full of hope, optimism and positivity," reads the happening's official description. "[Our] goal is [for] you to leave this exhibit with a fresh outlook towards a brighter tomorrow." To put it simply, the organizers want you to forget all about the troubles that have defined the past 12 months and just spend some time relaxing, recharging and seeing things from a different perspective. Expect a wide variety of backdrops to define your experience, from a visually striking bed of roses to neon vines and a room filled with colorful balloons. The exhibit is set to run through May 31 and tickets run $15 for kids and $23 for adults. Grab yours right here.

New York City's first-ever woman-owned and run brewery and taproom, Talea Beer Co. in Williamsburg, is already breaking expectations.With its fruit-forward brews, Talea specializes in beer for people who do not normally drink ale—and, unlike any other taproom, it's also opened to the community as a workspace during the day. Open as of mid-March, the 9,000-square-foot spot at 87 Richardson St. has been opening at 8am with fresh coffee or cold brew, kombucha and ample room to spread out for remote workers and others just looking for a place to chill. There are two kinds of charcuterie boards available for the peckish, too. Aside from that, its main purpose as a taproom comes alive in the evenings, when it serves up suds from some of its 30 taps, including the Sun Up Hazy IPA, Leaps and Bounds Hazy Double IPA, Raspberry Lime Crush Gose and Mixed Berry Tart Deco Sour IPA, among others.

You can now play a little Pétanque with your pals at Industry City thanks to Carreau Club in Courtyard 5/6. It's just $20 per hour for a maximum of six people per game. For those of you who don't know, the game dates back to ancient Rome and is popular in France. It's often the game played on the streets during Bastille Day. You can reserve a court on a first-come, first-served basis or ahead of time here. Carreau Club will also coordinate a league beginning in May, players can sign up here. 

Move over escape rooms, a new immersive 360-degree game is afoot. Opening on April 9 at midtown's Lightbox, "Game of 1000 Boxes" isn't about packing up your apartment, it's part game show, part audio-visual thrill ride that offers teams of four a series of challenges. Using 360-degree digital projections, the game takes players through high-energy party games that tap into teamwork, reaction time, puzzle-solving, trivia, social strategy and more to bring teams to a mystery box. High scorers can check back weekly to see if they remain at the top of the game’s leaderboard at Lightbox. The game is open to the public from Friday-Sunday at various times, starting on April 9. You can purchase tickets, which is $140 for four people, at 1000boxes.game and on Instagram @1000boxesnyc.

Imbibing alfresco at one of New York’s best outdoor bars is one of our favorite things to do in summer, or at least when the weather gets warmer, especially at a craft beer hall or beer garden in NYC. We're excited that there's a growing emphasis on experimentation, sour ales, and lower ABV booze in New York right now. And what's better than a sunny day with cold brews and summer drinks? A growing number of beer halls in New York are becoming breweries, too. And if you like what you taste, many are not only taprooms but sell the beer for take-home, when you want to savor a sip of summer later on. 

Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar, Casa del Toro is bringing back its live aerialist performances on weekends starting at 7:45 p.m. Diners watch the mesmerizing movements of Eliana Wenick, a lauded NYC-based aerialist, while enjoying their dishes. Wenick will perform 3 live sets on both Friday and Saturday nights.

There’s a massive work of art hidden in a Chelsea hotel’s lobby that’s worth taking some time to explore. Created by NYC-based artist Laura Morrison, the installation can be found inside of the Renaissance Chelsea (yes, a Marriott) on 25th St. Morrison took inspiration for the piece from the hotel’s location which used to house the Antiques Garage flea market. (One man's trash!) Building on that theme, Morrison sourced ephemera and objects for the piece like door knockers, handles and more from various antique outlets. The giant walls full of mounted objects are also interactive—you can even touch all of the things, though that’s not happening much at the moment thanks to Covid. It would make for a fun cheap date, though. Check out the massive artwork for yourself at 112 W 25th St.

The Tiny Cupboard and Brittany Brave are teaming up to host rooftop stand-up comedy shows every Friday. New York City’s finest comedians from Late Night, Comedy Central, Netflix, and more will throw their best at the audience. This week's show is a fundraiser for the National Asian Pacific Women's Forum featuring headliner Jessica Kirson. The show is also co-presented by Cat Call, which will be selling female-empowerment-inspired merch and donating proceeds to NAPAWF as well. Seating is extremely limited in order to ensure socially distancing and advance purchase is highly recommended.

Goodnight Moon, that dreamy book that's been lulling children to sleep since 1947, has come to life in a new Manhattan exhibition. "Goodnight House" at Fort Makers, a design studio and artist collective on Orchard Street, contains reimaginings of the objects found in the book's bedroom setting. Standing in this exhibit is like stepping into the book itself. The pieces have been created with a child's perspective in mind. "Goodnight House" will be at Fort Makers (38 Orchard St.) now through May 27, from noon to 6pm on Saturdays. Appointments to see it can be made for Thursday through Sundays.

International travel is still a bit limited, but sweets-loving New Yorkers can at least pretend to be in Italy while indulging in some delectable gelato at San Ambroeus' newest gelateria in SoHo. Aptly dubbed Gelateria ("gelato parlor" in Italian), the 700-square-foot space at 267 Lafayette Street officially opens today. Expect both indoor and outdoor seating plus local delivery service... because we all need our gelato fix while working endless hours from home, of course. Folks get to choose from over 16 different flavors of both gelato and sorbetto—from classics the likes of vanilla, strawberry and pistachio to the out-of-this-world panettone, croccantino, stracciatella and passion fruit. Two vegan flavors also make the menu alongside a variety of homemade toppings like shaved milk chocolate, salted caramel hazelnuts, orange sponge, lemon confit and more. If you're going all out, consider opting for a coppa gelato (basically, a sundae). Our favorite? The Reale, boasting upstate honey and vanilla soft serve gelato with Fabbri Amarena cherries and demi-glacé. And if you're in the mood for a different kind of sweet, you can peruse through the space's pasticceria section (Italian for "pastry shop), where you'll notice a ton of chocolate bon bons and the famous Principessa and Gianduia cakes that the plenty of other Sant Ambroeus locations across the city are known for. 

The first thing people tell you to do when you're stressed is to take a deep breath. Now, a futuristic new art installation in Downtown Brooklyn—at The Plaza at 300 Ashland—is reminding viewers to do just that through 20, nine-foot-tall columns that glow and change their brightness to lead them through a calming breathing technique. The installation is called "Breathing Pavilion" and its by artist Ekene Ijeoma. Visitors must step in the middle of the circle to participate in the experience. Ijeoma created the installation during the pandemic and while the U.S. struggled with systemic racial injustice this past year. The work is supposed to offer sanctuary during a time of "intense hardship and loss," and "suggests a paradigm shift towards communion and meditative stillness, and creates an accessible space of reprieve when the act of breathing itself is under siege," according to The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, a not-for-profit local development corporation that collaborated with the Van Alen Institute to bring the work to this location. You can view the installation now through May 11, 2020 and take in some live performances there on Tuesday evenings.

A new stunning exhibit of massive sculptures is coming to MoMA PS1 this spring. The art show, "Structures for Life" opening March 11, puts a spotlight on feminist artist Niki de Saint Phalle's with 200 works on view, including sculptures, prints, drawings, jewelry, films, and archival materials. It'll be the first show in NYC to review her work. The biggest draw for this PS1 exhibit will be Saint Phalle's large-scale outdoor sculptures called Nanas as well as models of architectural projects including, Le rêve de l’oiseau (built for Rainer von Diez between 1968 and 1971); Golem, a playground in Jerusalem that is a big black and white monster with three tongues; Le Dragon de Knokke, a children’s playhouse in Belgium that looks like a giant monster with a long tongue and tail; and La Fontaine Stravinsky, a whimsical fountain that moves and sprays water. Nanas are her series of large, brightly colored sculptures of female figures. A seven-foot-tall sculpture called Clarice Again will welcome visitors to the show's gallery. Saint Phalle's Tarot Garden is also part of the show. The sculpture garden based on 22 tarot cards is located across 14 acres in Tuscany and for this show, you'll see photos and drawings of it that the artist used for its various structures. The structures were massive — she actually envisioned experimental societies there "where you could have a new kind of life, to just be free," MoMA PS1 says. She even lived in one called "The Empress," which has a bedroom and bath in one breast and a kitchen in the other, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Rubin Museum of Art's newest exhibit invites you to unplug and free your mind through Tibetan Buddhist art, including 35 traditional objects, including 14 from the Rubin Museum’s collection, with two contemporary works by Nepal-born, Tibetan American artist Tsherin Sherpa. "Awaken" features works from the 7th and 21st centuries including stone, wood, and metal sculptures, traditional Tibetan hanging scroll paintings, illuminated manuscript pages and vibrant contemporary pieces. Through these, the exhibition introduces the central teachings of Tibetan Buddhism as visitors "progress through 10 milestones on the journey from the chaos of ordinary life to the awakened states of awareness." 

Your eyes will feast on the bold colors, varied textures and patterns that call your attention in this exhibit of Hassan Hajjaj’s photography. The immersive exhibit showcases five series Hajjaj developed over three decades that captures popular culture, street style, hip-hop and haute couture—all of which challenges the viewer through an eclectic confrontation of styles, and invites them to re-examine cultural stereotypes and cliches, Fotografiska says. Hajjaj asked local women to pose wearing his creations (traditional Moroccan djellabas, hijabs, caftans and babouches covered with candy-colored polka dots, leopard prints or counterfeit brand logos) in the streets of the Medina, often parodying the poses typical of
Western models. The title "VOGUE, The Arab Issue" has a double meaning—“issue” refers not only to a copy of the monthly magazine but also to an important topic or problem for debate or discussion, one he also probes in his video Naabz and the series "Hijabs and Handpainted
Portraits."

El Museo del Barrio is doing its first-ever, national survey of Latinx contemporary art featuring more than 40 artists from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Curated by El Museo del Barrio’s Chief Curator Rodrigo Moura and Curator Susanna V. Temkin, along with New York-based and former (S) Files artist Elia Alba as guest curator, the exhibition explores how identity and structural racism, migration, displacement, climate and ecological justice are all addressed in the context of the pandemic, as it relates to Latinx populations. 

The tassels are back in full force with the return of the Sunday Burlesque Brunch at Duane Park. For $85, you can enjoy a full brunch including the Knish Benedict, Blintz Waffle and Lox Lox Who's There Platter, and a titillating show. The price does not include tax, tip or beverages.  

Industry City is bringing Japanese flair to its courtyard with a massive traditional-style house right in the middle of one of its courtyards. WakuWaku, an Izakaya restaurant from Industry City’s Japan Village, teamed up with the Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Center and part of the Japan External Trade Organization to bring a taste of the eastern culture to Brooklyn. The outdoor dining setup is designed after traditional wooden Japanese houses and meant to "bring warmth and comfort during cold weather, and a cool breeze throughout the structure during warm weather," reps say. WakuWaku, which is a restaurant from Industry City's massive market Japan Village, is partnering with the Japanese Food Overseas Program to offer Japanese Wagyu Ribeye on its menu. A lightly seared six-ounce cut is offered and cooked in front of patrons on a tabletop charcoal grill and served with matcha salt, yuzu soy sauce, and house-made steak sauce. It'll also offer two varieties of canned cocktails from Suntory Toki and Maker’s Mark: Hana, which is made with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Hakutsuru Umeshu, and Green Chartreuse; and Kansha, made with Suntory Toki Whisky, housemade persimmon syrup, and black walnut bitters. You can stop by WakuWaku on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from noon to 7 and Friday and Saturday from noon to 8.

Oh. my. God. The Friends Experience that took NYC by storm in 2019 is coming back! You know, the one with all the iconic props and recreated scenes from Friends? It opens on March 17 with a whopping 18 rooms, including the orange couch in front of the fountain, Monica’s kitchen, the hilarious 'Pivot!' scene, and the Las Vegas wedding chapel where Ross & Rachel tied the knot. There will even be an actual functioning Central Perk that serves coffee, pastries, and desserts, which will be open to the public daily starting at 7am so you can bring your friends and relive your favorite Central Perk scenes. New props and costumes have been added this time around, including Chandler's bunny suit and Rachel's famous cow jacket, as well as Monica and Rachel's living room and Ugly Naked Guy. And for those concerned about health and safety at this time, the experience boasts that it is "Monica clean." That means limited capacity, temperature checks, masks requirements, regular cleaning and sterilization across the building and hand sanitizing stations. Megafans will be able to purchase Friends-themed masks, clothing, totes, and other trinkets at the store.  The whole experience will take up two floors in the Flatiron District at 130 East 23rd Street. 

“Geometric Properties: An Immersive Audio-Visual Journey Through Fractal Dimensions,” is the first solo exhibition of Dutch artist Julius Horsthuis’ work to come to NYC. Previously, his work has been featured in Manchester by the Sea and through collaborations with musical artists like ODESZA, Meshuggah and Birds of Paradise. He uses fractals to create alternate science fiction-like realities using visual art and motion graphics, and they are a real trip, to say the least. The digital art destination on Manhattan’s west side (it’s literally located in Chelsea Market’s former boiler room) is opening the new show on March 1, and it will be on view through September 6. If you want to stop by and check out the endless geometric iterations and fractional dimensions for yourself—you frickin' fractal freak you—tickets cost $24 for adults and $17 for children. (Pro tip: New York and New Jersey residents receive a $5 discount on tickets on weekdays.)

The New-York Historical Society has a new exhibit that coincides with the 80th anniversary of the United Service Organizations (USO) that shows off artifacts (a World War II-era aircraft fragment, mess kit, and other relics engraved to Hope), films, and rare photographs to illustrate how Bob Hope helped lift spirits with his USO and radio shows during a dark time in American history.

There's also a companion exhibition, "The Gift of Laughter," that delves into Hope’s varied career after World War II as a USO entertainer, television star, and Academy Award host demonstrating the many hats worn by comedians. His legacy will be brought to life with many items, including costumes from the Emmy Award-winning series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, as well as objects related to other comedians—real and imagined—influenced by Hope.

This new exhibition that has taken over almost the entirety of the New Museum and is set to stay put until June 6, explores the history of racist violence all throughout the United States. Back in 2018, curator Okwui Enwezor began working on the project, hoping to mount it by last year's Presidential election. Unfortunately, the curator's passing in 2019 and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic forced a shift in plans that delayed the show's opening to last week. In total, the work of 37 Black artists currently fills the museum's lobby, its three main viewing floors, the building's exterior and the South Gallery found in the building next door. Expect to browse through the amazing works of artists the likes of Kara Walker, who is the brain behind an entire wall filled with sketches and drawings; LaToya Ruby Frazier, who contributes over a dozen photographs from her "The Notion of Family" series; and Jean-Michael Basquiat, whose "Procession" can be glanced at as soon as the elevator doors open on the third floor. The show is a powerful one, with images ranging in style, theme and scope, but one that is necessary to delve into today more than ever. Given COVID-19-related guidelines, visitors have to purchase timed tickets ahead of their trip.

Brooklyn Museum's biggest exhibit this spring is opening on Friday. You may have seen KAWS' giant cartoon-y characters with X's for eyes around the city, but this is the first time Brooklyn-based artist (Brian Donnelly) has had a major New York survey of his work, which includes rarely seen graffiti drawings, paintings, smaller collectibles, furniture, and his popular "Companion" figures.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum officially reopens its doors on Saturday after six long months of closure with three major shows, including a Jackson Pollock exhibit that features a mural that hasn't been shown in NYC in more than 20 years.