What to Do 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

In most places outside of city limits, summer means county fair time. And county fair time means lots and lots of fried food. Whether you’re nostalgic for the fairs of your childhood, or just want to pig out for a day, join the Minnesota State Fair Day food tour around Manhattan on Sunday. Your guide will lead you to the best approximations of fair food in NYC, from milkshakes to funnel cakes.

Sun, August 22, noon; pay as you go Meet at Fat Annie’s Truck Stop, 131 W. 33rd St, Manhattan; mnstatefairday.com

DRINK

Put your taste buds (and your alcohol tolerance) to the test at the Brooklyn Wort’s Amateur Brewing Competition. 20 local contestant will be pouring from their own home-brewed concoctions, from IPAs to Belgian ales. Cast your vote for Brooklyn’s finest, and wait to hear the results by soaking up the suds with some free BBQ.

Sat, August 21, 2:30 pm and 5pm; $20 Sycamore, 1118 Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn; 347-240-5850, brooklynwort.com

SEE

As the summer winds down, enjoy the last weekend of car-free streets and entertainment at Manhattan’s Summer Streets. All Saturday, Park Avenue and Lafayette Street will be closed to motorized vehicles for 7 miles, all the way from Tribeca to the Upper East Side. Street performers and activities are set up at rest stops along the way, the most popular of which are the open dumpster pools (they’re clean!). Put on your bathing suit and walking shoes and take back the city!

Sat, August 21, 7am-1pm; free Visit nyc.gov/summerstreets for routes and information.

SHOP

This weekend marks the last of Greenpoint’s Backyard Bazaars, our favorite shopping event turned garden party. Browse the clothing, crafts, jewelry and vintage housewares from a dozen local designers—all at a discount—while relaxing in the boutique’s garden and sipping your free mimosas (or, for the less girly-drink inclined, beers). We recommend purchasing before imbibing.

Sat, August 21, noon-6pm; free admission In God We Trust, 70 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn; greenpointbackyardbazaar.blogspot.com

PLAY

Get a team of friends together for our last Come All Race of the year! The Amazing New York Race lets you see NYC in a whole new way. Follow clues that take you through the secret gems of NY and complete crazy challenges in this event that's part obstacle course, part scavenger hunt, and all New York! The winning teams receive prizes including massages, photo tours, food, drink, jewelry and more. Make sure you bring a digital camera and an unlimited MetroCard to keep up with your team.

Sunday, August 22, 12:30p-6pm; $35 per person Meet at Dave & Busters, 234 W. 42nd St, Manhattan; theamazingnewyorkrace.com

What to Do 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

Chinese food, Thai eats, Indian and Vietnamese cuisine have all long since gone mainstream, but what about Burmese food? Although it’s bordered by Thailand, China and India, Myanmar still has a ways to go before it becomes a staple in US kitchens. That’s not any comment on the food, however, whose deliciousness you can sample at the Myanmar Baptist Church Fun Fair this weekend. With over ten dishes to sample, mostly from $1-$5, you’ll be able to become a Burmese foodie in no time.

Sat, August 14, noon-6pm; free admission 143-55 84th Drive, Briarwood, Queens; mbcnewyork.org

DRINK

Dust off your ping pong table, bust out the moves from your college days and start training for the SummerSlam Tag Team Beer Pong Tournament. The grandfather of drinking games is going pro, with 32 teams competing to win the championship belt and the $250 prize. Players get all the free beer they want and WWE is sponsoring, so be prepared for some smackdowns and maybe a body slam or two.
Sun, August 15, 6pm; $25 per player Bar Twelve, 206 E 34th St, Manhattan; bar12.com

SEE

Recreate a classic photo and mack on several hundred strangers at the Times Square Kiss-In. Everyone’s seen the picture of the famous V-J Day kiss, celebrating the end of World War II and making girls everywhere swoon over sailors (The photo was featured in A Night in the Museum, so you know it’s a big deal). Strike a pose, get a few kisses, and remember the days when Times Square wasn’t so overrun with tourists.

Sat, August 14, 11am-2pm; free
Military Island, Broadway to Seventh Ave between 43rd and 44th Sts; timessquarenyc.org



SHOP

Get a quick taste of Mexico and get some souvenirs to bring back home on the Little Mexico Walking Tour through Jackson Heights. Dina Leor will guide you through the neighborhood’s multitude of shops that bring the products of Mexico to NYC. Stop by specialty food stores, arts and crafts shops, music sellers and even the biggest religious statuette store in town.

Sat, August 14, noon; $15 Meeting location given with RSVP; 212-780-9113

PLAY

For those looking for sun, fun, and a chance to meet and mingle with other singles, take a break from the city and join The Amazing Club Getaway Race: a vacation, scavenger hunt, Berkshire resort and social event all in one! Racers in our POGO Weekend get special rates for their entire stay, including sports lessons, mixers, meals and our special edition scavenger hunt, with prizes from Club Getaway bar books and merchandise to a free NYC race from POGO. Take a mini-vacation and join us at the Club!
Sat-Sun, August 14-15 www.theamazingnewyorkrace.com

What to Do 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

Bastille Day was last month, but you can still indulge in the best of Paree with delicious crêpes at Môtek. The East Village crêperie offers classic fillings like Nutella and sugar to elaborate pairings like the signature Môtek: vanilla cream cheese, Halva, roasted coconut shreds, strawberr y & honey, all torched at the end like a crème brulée. And with this deal from 8coupons, you can get all that for just eight cents. We say oui to that.

Sunday, August 8, 11am-6pm; $0.08 with coupon
125 St Marks Pl, Manhattan; 8coupons.com

DRINK

Broozy brunch is a NYC weekend tradition by now, but you’re probably not used to it quite like this. At Sunday Morning Mimosas, sip your champagne while listening to the vocal stylings of drag queen hostesses Aunt Anita M. Buffem and Aunt Gina Marie Rittale as they work their way through the power-pop canon. After the drinks, you’ll feel less guilty about joining in on “California Gurls.”

Sunday, August 8, noon-4pm; $13-18 (brunch prix fixe included)
40-17 30th Ave at 41st St, Queens; 347-642-4840

SEE

Heavy-duty construction tools plus music always seems like a good combination, and now there’s a whole festival dedicated to it. The Musical Saw festival brings the talents of international saw musicians to Queens, with some non-saw players joining in as a backup band. Join the Musical Saw Workshop and learn how to coax some music out of the metal, or tune in to the grand finale: all saw players jamming at once in “The Chorus of the Saws.”

Saturday, August 7th, 2pm; free
Hellenic Cultural Center, 27-09 Crescent Street, Queens; musicalsawfestival.org

SHOP

Shutterbugs, make your way to the Lomography gallery sale, where all minimal-defect and sample cameras on heavy discount, up to 50% off. No digital here: Browsing the selections takes us back to a time when film was the norm, and movies like One Hour Photo were still relevant. Pick up a vintage Canon, snap some cool shots, and own a piece of technology that is slowly becoming steampunk.

Saturday, August 7, 10:30am-9pm and Sunday, August 8, 11am-7pm.
W 8th St, Manhattan; lomography.com

PLAY

Team up in a twosome and tour the town with our Amazing New York Race: Teams of Two! Follow clues that take you through the secret gems of NY and complete crazy challenges in this event that's part obstacle course, part scavenger hunt, and all New York! The winning teams receive prizes including massages, photo tours, food, drink, jewelry and more! Make sure you bring a digital camera and an unlimited MetroCard to keep up with your team.

Sunday, August 8, 1:30p-6pm; $35 per person
The Village Pourhouse, 64 Third Ave, Manhattan; theamazingnewyorkrace.com

What to Do This Weekend in NYC

Happy Memorial Day weekend! 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

New York’s annual celebration of Taiwanese culture, Passport to Taiwan, has a lot of things going for it: multiple musical performances, traditional dance, costume making and more. But we think it will be difficult to pull ourselves away from the food! Enjoy traditional specialties like bamboo tamales, kumquat juice, fish cakes, with some shave ice for a refreshing dessert.

Sun, May 30, noon-5pm; free
Union Sq West and E 17th St, Manhattan; www.p2tw.org

DRINK

A prohibition-era party doesn’t seem like the place to knock back a few drinks, but the Roaring ‘20s are known for getting creative with drink recipes. Sample some period-appropriate cocktails at the First Annual Dreamland Beach Party, which also features live music from Michael Aranella’s Dreamland Orchestra and a scenic outdoor bar setting. We hope bathtub gin makes an appearance on the menu.

Sun, May 30, noon-5pm; $18 in advance, $25 at the door
2-03 Borden Ave, Queens; dreamlandorchestra.com

SEE

What could be a better way to spend the long weekend by a relaxing evening at the park? Getting free music to accompany your lounging! Enjoy New York Philharmonic’s free Memorial Day concert in Morningside Heights, with selections from Copland, Haydn and Schubert. Get updown early, though, because seats on the lawn can be hard to come by!

Mon, May 31; 8pm; free
Cathedral of St. John the Devine; 1047 Amsterdam Ave, Manhattan; stjohndivine.org

SHOP

You’ve done your spring cleaning by now, right? Take all those old clothes to BKLYN Yard for their Score! Pop-Up Swap this Saturday. It costs only $3-5 with your clothing donation to enter a world of gently-used clothes and accessories. Plus, a full bar will be open while you swap.

Sat, noon-6pm; $3 in advance, $5 at the door
400 Carroll St, Brooklyn; bklynyard.com

PLAY

Whether you love the old Day of the Dead films or prefer the newer Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, you’ll feel right at home in this weekend’s NYC Zombie Crawl. Get your best tattered clothing and fake blood to join hundreds of other zombie fans for events around Brooklyn, including a dance party featuring any zombie’s favorite jam, “Thriller.”

Sun, May 30, 3pm; free
Meet at the Charleston, 174 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn; www.nyczombiecrawl.com

What to Do 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

Roast lamb, lamb kebabs, lamb chops … lamb ice cream? Feast on 20 different chefs’ creative take on lamb at the Lamb Takedown this Sunday at the Bell House. Then vote for the winner and take home a bag of lamb swag – and a full stomach.

Sun, April 18, 4pm; The Bell House, 149 7th St, Gowanus, Brooklyn
www.chili-takedown.com; $15

DRINK

Grab a friend and celebrate the spring weather with Jamba Juice’s best annual deal: buy any drink on the menu, get a second one free. Whether lemonade, wheatgrass, or smoothie, you’ll quench your thirst twice! The promotion lasts until April 25, so we plan on being regular customers this week.

Sat and Sun; all Jamba Juice locations
www.jambajuice.com

SEE

Get a first glimpse of one of New York’s newest houses of history, the Museum of the American Gangster. The exhibits offer a look into the seedy underbelly of old New York, from old mobsters’ weapons to a tour behind the scenes of an authentic speakeasy. Stop by before the crowds find out.

Sat, April 17, 12pm-4pm; 80 St. Marks Pl at First Ave
800-603-5520, $10

SHOP

Get a blast from the past this Saturday, New York’s annual Record Store Day. Although the antiquated machines are becoming retro-cool again, you can enjoy the festivities no matter what format your music is in. Find deals on rare and limited edition LPs, or just enjoy the live music and DJs spinning throughout the day.

Sat, April 17; locations and times vary
www.recordstoreday.com; free

PLAY

Get back to the good old days on the playground with NYC’s Street Games, sponsored by the New York Parks Department. Jump ropes, pogo sticks, hula hoops and all kinds of other equipment will be on hand for some old-timey fun. Plus, skateboarding competitions and a performance by Dance Theatre of Harlem will give you a chance to catch your breath.

Sat, April 17; 11am-4pm. Thomas Jefferson Park, First Ave between 111th and 114th Sts, Manhattan
www.nycgovparks.org; free

What’s Happening This Weekend?: Our Picks

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

March 20th is official Macaron Day (one of our personal favorite patry-related holidays). Enjoy this deliciously elegant French cookie at 13 renowned NYC bakeries for free to celebrate. Participants include Bouchon Bakery, La Maison du Chocolat and DessertTruck Works. Just say you're there for Macaron Day and get a free sweet treat. We'll be impressed if you hit all the stops.

Sat March 20, noon-10pm; free
See the participating stores: http://macarondaynyc.com/participants.html

DRINK

Get out of the dark bar and enjoy the spring weather this weekend at Bohemian Hall, New York's most celebrated beer garden. Even for die-hard Manhattanites, the plentiful outdoor garden bar seating and the impressive list of German beers make this watering hole a don't-miss destination and well worth the trip out to Astoria.

Weekends 12pm-11pm; free
2919 24th Avenue, Queens

SEE

You don't have to go to an observatory to see the stars this weekend. On Saturday night, amateur astronomers take to the streets and share their telescopes with the public. In a city where the lights are bright, these kind of starry views are hard to find, so check them out and ask the astronomers your burning celestial questions.

Sat, March 20; free
See website for location details: http://www.sidewalkastronomers.us/id220.html

SHOP

Lit lovers, it's your lucky day! Head on up to Book Culture, where nearly every book is 20% off thanks to the store's spring sale. Stock up on some Shakespeare, check out some Chaucer, or just browse around one of our favorite independent bookstores in NYC.

Sat and Sun, March 20-21, 11am-7pm
536 West 112th Street, Manhattan

PLAY

Get out, meet new friends and explore your city: The Amazing New York Race is having its last underground race of the season this weekend! Follow clues that take you through the underground secrets of NYC, and complete challenges along the way in this event that's part obstacle course, part scavenger hunt, and all New York!

Sun, March 21, 12:30pm-4:30pm; $35
Starts at Tracks Bar and Grill, LIRR level of Penn Station, 11 Penn Plaza, Manhattan

What’s Happening This Weekend?: Our Picks

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

Get a head start on St. Patrick’s Day at Ulysses’ Folk House, the classic Irish pub that has Patty’s-themed events all week long. Our favorite? Their Cobblestone Brunch, featuring unlimited servings of sausage, omelets, oysters, pastries from Financier, and of course, corned beef. A complimentary Guinness makes it a true St. Patrick’s Day treat.

Sun March 14, 11am-4pm, $20

95 Pearl Street / 58 Stone Street, Manhattan

DRINK

Celebrate the opening of West 3^rd Common, a new addition to the Washington Square bar scene, with a free glass of beer or wine, plus a free order of garlic fries for the table, when you tell them the code word (“wheaten terrier”). Then sip on your drink while enjoying the bar’s selection of board games with friends.

Through March 31; free

1 W. 3^rd St, Manhattan

SEE

It's time to play the music, it's time to light the lights. It's time to meet the Muppets with a sing-along screening of The Muppet Movie at the Knitting Factory. Watch the movie and join in with subtitled song selections. Fans of Kermit, Fozzie and the gang will also enjoy Muppet trivia and drink specials honoring the fuzzy friends.

Sun, March 14, 2:15 PM; $7.00

361 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn

SHOP

Pick up a vintage handbag or decorate your apartment with one-of-a-kind pieces from the Pier Antiques Show. With over 500 vendors joining the crowd, you’ll find everything from classic LPs to chandeliers while browsing this lineup along the Hudson. Curious collectors can also bring items to be appraised – You might have something valuable on your hands!

Sat and Sun, March 13-14, 10am-6pm; free

Pier 94, 12^th Ave at 55^th St, Manhattan

PLAY

Bring your puppy or just watch the canine competitors at Brooklyn’s Mutt Show. See who will win the crown in events like Sloppiest Kisser, Looks Most Like Owner and Most Nutritionally Advantaged (Fattest). Puppy costumes will also be judged, so be ready to face the cuteness.

Sat and Sun, March 13-14, 11am-7pm; $5 to watch, $10 to enter

Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 Fourth Ave, Brooklyn