What's Happening This Weekend in NYC

Every weekend, we're bringing you five of our top events picks from around NYC. Check back next week for more ways you can eat, drink, see, shop and play around the city!

EAT

This weekend marks 200 years since Mexico gained its independence from Spain, and you can celebrate it by filling your stomach with one of the county’s favorite condiments. The Salsa Slam comes to the Bell House with 20 competitors vying for the crowd’s vote. Sample all their salsas, cast your lot for the winner, and cool down by chugging some water and listening to the event’s mariachi band accompaniment.

Sun, September 12, 4-7pm; $15 149 7th St, Gowanus, Brooklyn; nachosny.com

DRINK

Bookworms, get your booze on! The third annual LitCrawl NYC offers a literary twist on the pub crawl, with a selection of bookish events at each bar along the way. Fight other literati in a book trivia challenge, join a karaoke recital of famous author interviews, and listen to local authors reading from their latest works. Luckily, you’re not the one at the podium, so you can drink at every stop. Then make some impulse buys at one of our favorite NYC bookstores and support the lit cause!

Sat, September 11, 6-9pm; free Locations and times vary; litcrawl.org

SEE

Residents of the five boroughs, especially those in Williamsburg, see a lot of unusual facial hair. Now is the time that unusual handlebar mustache comes in handy. The Coney Island Beard and Mustache Competition is presenting its honors to those with the best (and worst) beards and ‘staches in the city. Girls, don’t feel left out—the Best Fake category is up for grabs to competitors of any gender!

Sat, September 11, 6pm; $15
1208 Surf Ave, Brooklyn; coneyisland.com

SHOP

Get a taste of the small-town with the Fall Arts and Crafts Fair on City Island. With dozens of vendors selling their homemade wares, from art pieces to accessories to textiles, you’ll get the variety of a big city with the peaceful surroundings of the country. Folk artists from the Lickety Split Band provide the down-home accompaniment.

Sat and Sun, September 11-12, 11am-7pm; free Hawkins Park, City Island, Bronx; cityislandchamber.org

PLAY

NYC dogs and their owners are invited to join the third annual Amazing New York Race: Dog Friendly Edition! POGO Events and FIDO present the ultimate dog day afternoon: part scavenger hunt, part puppy obstacle course and all the best of NYC. Follow a course through Prospect Park through puppy friendly challenges, from an agility tunnel to a dance contest. At the finish line, an after-party greets the teams with food, drink and “doggie bags” filled with treats for humans and dogs alike. $5 of each ticket purchased will go to City Pitties, a local animal rescue organization.

Sun, September 12, 1pm-4pm; $35 The Nethermead, Prospect Park, Brooklyn; theamazingnewyorkrace.com