(3/22-3/24) Looking for what to do in New York City this weekend? We've got the latest on all the goings-on, from concerts to museum exhibitions to comedy to the best in city sightseeing. Happy spring!

THE BIG EVENT

Agor Tibetan Female Ear Ornament, available at Vajra Gallery, specializing in fine Tibetan arts and crafts.

(Now-3/23) The Manhattan Art & Antiques Center is the largest center of its kind in the country, boasting 100 galleries and three full floors filled with antiques, fine art, decorations, silver, and jewelry. Ten of The MAAC’s galleries will be participating in the 10th anniversary year of Asia Week New York. Stop in to see a wide variety of Asian art and antiques, including Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan, Indian, Near Eastern, and Islamic works. (European and African art is also on display at this treasure trove.) Open seven days a week. the-maac.com

(Through 3/22) With over 500 exhibitions, many of them world-famous relics, there’s something to hold anyone’s attention at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square. (Robert Ripley himself tracked down many of the items in the collection—he was a long-time presence in New York.) Through Friday March, 22nd receive $10 off admission by wearing GREEN! 

(3/24) Every Sunday on the Upper West Side you can check out Grand Bazaar NYC, the city’s largest curated market—and most distinctive! You’ll find unique fashion, collectibles, handmade jewelry, and artisanal bites. This Sunday, you’ll also find the NYC Craft Pop-up. Grand Bazaar celebrates National Craft Month by bringing in a curated selection of independent and emerging craft-makers: talented locals creating one-of-a-kind fashion, jewelry, furniture, stationary, lamps, art, and home and leather goods.

March Madness has begun! Read more about "Where to Watch March Madness 2019 in NYC."

(New!) Hudson Yards is open! Learn more about New York's newest neighborhood, a mix of residential, retail, and office space, with tons of new restaurants in Midtown West near the Hudson, plus, take a walk up NYC's newest iconic sculpture, The Vessel. 

(Through 3/31) Elevate your dining experience to the highest restaurant in the Western Hemisphere. Through the end of March, enjoy an exclusive, chef-crafted prix fixe menu that includes free admission to the epic views at One World Observatory. The package comes with a three-course dinner and priority access to the Observatory floors. 

EXHIBITION OF THE WEEK

(New!) T. rex: The Ultimate Predator opens at the American Museum of Natural History. Visitors will encounter a massive, life-sized model of a T. rex with patches of feathers—as well as reconstructions of a fluffy T. rex hatchling and a four-year-old juvenile T. rex; and a “roar mixer” where visitors can imagine what T. rex might have sounded like by blending sounds from other animals. The museum will also present its first interactive, multi-player virtual reality experience.

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J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973), Dust jacket design for The Hobbit [April 1937], pencil, black ink, watercolor, goache. Bodleian Libraries, MS. Tolkien Drawings 32. © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937.

(Now-5/12) “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” With these words Oxford professor J.R.R. Tolkien ignited a spark that's burned for generations of readers. From the children’s classic The Hobbit to the epic The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien’s tales of hobbits and elves, dwarves and wizards have introduced millions to Middle-earth, a world that Tolkien populated with creatures, languages, and histories. Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth at the Morgan Library & Museum is the most extensive public display of original Tolkien material in decades, stocked with family photographs and memorabilia, maps, draft manuscripts, and Tolkien’s original illustrations. 

(Now-4/28) The Orchid Show celebrates its 17th year at The New York Botanical Garden with a tribute to Singapore, the “City in a Garden.” Thousands of flowers pay homage to Singapore’s innovative garden designs, floral displays, and advances in cultivation. Two iconic architectural elements take inspiration from the show’s two Singaporean partners: the “Supertrees” of Gardens by the Bay and the famed “Arches” of Singapore Botanic Gardens’ National Orchid Garden. The energy and nightlife of Singapore also come to the Bronx on Orchid Evenings, with music, cocktails like the Singapore Sling. The garden, just a 20-minute Metro-North ride from Grand Central Terminal, also features more than one million plants. nybg.org

Nickolas Muray (American, born Hungary, 1892–1965). Frida in New York, 1946? printed 2006. Carbon pigment print, image: 14 x 11 in. (35.6 x 27.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Emily Winthrop Miles Fund, 2010.80. Photo by Nickolas Muray, © Nickolas Muray Photo Archive. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

(New) Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) lived and worked in a manner which challenged the political, social, and sexual norms of her era. Kahlo held her national identity dear and used traditional Mexican dress as a fixture of her public persona. Her large body of self-portraits created a mythos of self (some say she invented the selfie). New at the Brooklyn Museum is Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving, a lush exhibition that shows off Kahlo’s art, in addition to personal artifacts like her cosmetics, letters, jewelry, and clothing. Additional context is provided by items from the museum’s Arts of the Americas collection, including Aztec sculptures, ceramics made in Guadalajara in the early 20th century, and an ancient Colima dog sculpture of a Xoloitzcuintli, a Mexican hairless dog that Kahlo had an affinity for. 

(New!) You can experience the world of history’s most famous spy at 007 x SPYSCAPE: Driven, a brand-new exhibition inside New York’s spy museum, SPYSCAPE. This immersive exhibition brings you into the Bond universe with sets, props, and insights about the creation of the ageless secret agent. Among the highlights: an Aston Martin DB5, the lab of Quartermaster (or Q), M16’s gadget master, concept art from Oscar-winning production designer Sir Ken Adams, and an exploration of 2012 Bond film Skyfall’s unforgettable final scene.

Group IV, the Ten Largest, No. 3, Youth, 1907, from Untitled Series. Photo: Albin Dahlström, Moderna Museet, Stockholm

(Now-4/23) Before abstract art was a speck in Kandinsky’s eye, the painter Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) was pioneering non-representational painting in Sweden. A spiritualist who claimed to communicate with the dead, af Klint worked in near-obscurity, forbidding her paintings to receive public exposure until 20 years after her passing. Discover Hilma af Klint, a woman before her time, at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum exhibition  Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future. Over 170 of af Klint’s non-figurative paintings are on display, richly colored and often staggering in scale. Many pieces play with geometry and floral shapes that seem to swim across the canvas. As af Klint worked on her series The Paintings for the Temple, she envisioned a spiral temple as their eventual home. She got her wish over a century later with this eye-opening exhibition at the Guggenheim. Open Monday.

(Now-7/10) Photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, who died 30 years ago of complications from AIDS, is the subject of Implicit Tensions: Mapplethorpe Now, now displaying the first installment of a two-part retrospective at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.  Mapplethorpe is known not just for his images, but for the controversies they incited. In 1989, after his death, his work became the centerpiece of a national debate about artistic censorship and what kinds of works public funds should cover (ironically, it was the debate that led to his widespread fame). Many of the images are graphic and retain the ability to cause discomfort, but time has lessened the shock; it has also brought to the forefront Mapplethorpe’s technical proficiency and his ability to capture deeply insightful looks at his subjects.

Optician’s Trade Sign, E. G. Washburne & Co. 207 Fulton Street, New York City, c. 1915. Paint and gold leaf on zinc and iron, with glass and light bulbs 26 x 54 x 4”. Collection of Penny and Allan Katz. Photo by Gavin Ashworth, New York.

(New!) Folk art may seem like something that flourishes best in isolated areas, but it’s been a vibrant tradition in the heart of New York City for centuries. In fact, many objects associated with the heartland were originally manufactured by artisans here. A new show at the American Folk Art Museum, Made in New York City: The Business of Folk Art, uses some 100 works by self-taught artists to tell the story of how New York became the commercial and financial capital of the country, as seen through the lens of the folk art that was made here. From stoneware cast in the West Village to advertising figures made on Canal Street to weathervanes forged in the Bronx to carousel animals carved on Coney Island, see how New York City was the center of it all.

Photo: Jin Lee

(Ongoing) Sports in America provided a unique form of solace after the seismic losses of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. Comeback Season: Sports After 9/11, a special exhibition at the National September 11  Memorial & Museum, delves into uplifting moments at games in the aftermath of the attacks. Explore the stories of Mike Piazza’s home run during a New York Mets home game, President George W. Bush’s first pitch at a World Series game at Yankee Stadium, and the New York City Marathon on November 4th, 2001. Video, artifacts, and moving images help provide context for a nation coming back together. Open Monday.

(Now-5/15) Jean-Michel Basquiat at The Brant Foundation Art Study Center in the East Village. Eighties it-painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, a Brooklyn product, created passionate, bold street art and canvases. He died at only 28. Organized in collaboration with the Fondation Louis Vuitton and curated by Brant Foundation founder Peter M. Brant and Dr. Dieter Buchhart, the inaugural exhibition will bring together Basquiat’s most important masterworks from the Brant Collections joined by contributions from international museums and private collections. No walk ins. Get tickets here (FREE). Note: there is a waitlist.

COMEDY

(3/22-3/23) Carlos Mencia at Gotham Comedy Club.

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(3/22-3/24) Judah Friedlander: Future President Tour stops at Carolines. 

(Ongoing) Check out great comedic talent every night at Broadway Comedy Club! Use our coupon and pay only $5 for admission!

Click here for more comedy shows in NYC this weekend.

KIDS

(Ongoing) Color Factory, a massive interactive art space, began in August 2017 in San Francisco. Wildly popular, the project has set up shop in SoHo and is sure to inspire lines as long as the cronut did at nearby Dominique Ansel Bakery. Designed by a wide spectrum of artists, Color Factory walks visitors through 16 rooms devoted to the wonder of color. You’re invited to compliment someone using color words, discover your signature color, and read wishes for the world written by NYC school children on varicolored balloons. Each room is equipped with a camera that can take a picture of you and send it to your phone: the better to post with! On view now through August, 2019. 251 Spring St., support@colorfactory.co, colorfactory.co, @colorfactoryco

Read about more Instagrammable pop-up exhibits in NYC here.

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(Now-5/5) Bionic Me at the NY Hall of Science. With hands-on displays and full-body experiences, this exhibition explores the inventive and ingenious medical and industrial breakthroughs that have helped enhance the human experience. Visitors can move a ball with their mind, manipulate a robot arm, race against a Paralympian, use night vision to see in the dark, and explore how technology can provide camouflage and make you invisible.

(Ongoing) A 7D experience at Madame Tussauds New York, Mission: Undead, tasks you with killing more zombies than your friends! Prevent the zombie apocalypse and survive your first night of work on the force at this state-of-the-art Times Square attraction (13+). 

(Ongoing) Exhilarating Family Fun at Stomp NYC. Special discount packages available!

Click here for more events to do with kids this weekend.

For even more kids activities, check out our sister site nymetroparents.com!

SIGHTSEEING

(Ongoing) For more than 70 years, Circle Line has been showing visitors the city, including the only cruise that goes all the way around Manhattan: Circle Line’s Best of NYC Cruise. One trip will show off five boroughs, three rivers, and more than 20 bridges on the way to 101 New York City sights. State-of-the-art Empire Class ships have recently launched, providing quieter rides, better sound for the personable onboard guides, bigger windows, improved climate control, and more outdoor deck space. (For dining and entertainment, take a ride on Hudson’s, a three-story “floating rooftop” that’s a Circle Line sibling.) Now through March 31, book a Circle Line cruise and get a $5 discount! 

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(Ongoing) THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE Powered by THE RIDE lets visitors re-live iconic moments in NYC history through the magic of virtual reality. In addition to video clips, you’ll get a personable tour guide and a state-of-the-art rolling theatre cruise through the city’s past—and present. Surprise street performances complete an unforgettable journey. Use our coupon and save $10 off!

Immerse yourself in the deep, dark depths of the ocean, where Humboldt squid fight to the death, 50 foot whales ride overhead, play with sea lions, navigate a sea kelp maze and more at National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey! Here's a $10 off coupon! 

Bring a loved one to take in the breathtaking view at Top of the Rock. 

(Ongoing) The Rink at Rockefeller Center, the most famous patch of ice in the world, welcomes skaters for a very glamorous experience.

(Ongoing) Get all of the best of NYC with the SightSeeing Pass NYC, from CitySightseeing. You can mix and match your way to a complete New York experience, with more than 100 attractions and special discounts to choose from. This is the only pass that includes options for five double-decker loops, Woodbury Common shopping, a horse and carriage ride, or entry to One World Observatory. You can even save on lunch: the pass includes prix fixe meals and other discounts. For amazing water vantages, CitySightseeing offers a Hop-On, Hop-Off ferry tour. Passes are available in digital or physical format and available for one to seven days; check the website for complete details. sightseeingpass.com

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

(3/21-3/23) Guitarist Gary Clark Jr. plays three nights at the Beacon Theatre. 

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(3/22) Joe Bonacci's "Celebrating Whitney" featuring Samara Brown at Sugar Bar NYC. 8pm-midnight.

(3/22) Drew Anderson & The Newtet at The Sound Bite. Drew and The Newtet, based out of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, is a unique group of young upcoming artists/composers who bring the fiery aggression and attitude of straight ahead jazz, espoused by the “young lions” of the 80’s jazz scene (Wynton Marsalis, Terrence Blanchard, and Kenny Kirkland) while mixing in the sounds and influence of African rhythms in their original works. The line up consists of Drew Anderson on trumpet, Christian Cummings on alto saxophone, Isaac Poole on trombone, Sean Mason on piano, Matthew Jamal on acoustic bass, and Bryce Collins on drums. 7pm and 9pm sets.

(3/22) Celebrate World Water Day at a family-friendly evening hosted by the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. NASA engineer Todd Barber and astrobiologist Laurie Barge from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will discuss the search for water on other worlds, with a focus on the intriguing Europa, one of Jupiter’s 53 moons.

(3/23, 3/30) Orchid Evening at The New York Botanical Garden. Step into one of the world’s greenest cultures as "Supertrees" come alive around you, exhilarating with a display of lights and orchids after dark in the conservatory. Sip a Singapore Sling and purchase a bite to eat from the Bronx Night Market Pop-Up (while freestyle dancers and DJs perform throughout the night) and explore the kaleidoscope of orchid varieties from the “City in a Garden” and beyond.

(3/23-3/24) Come Together at MoMA PS1 is back. MoMA PS1 and iconic record shop Other Music present the third annual Come Together: Music Festival and Label Market, offering live performances, films, workshops, and panels that celebrate the interactive ecosystem of local and international music communities, and a label market featuring more than 75 record labels. This season’s expanded event is presented across two days, including additional live programming and extended hours. Reasserting the central and essential role that communities play in both the creation and consumption of new sounds.

(3/23-3/24) Jawbreaker, with War on Women, Pogoh at Brooklyn Steel.

(Ongoing) The Imbible: A  Spirited History of Drinking sweeps New World Stages audiences along a 10,000-year historical journey accompanied by craft cocktails and acapella singing. Sit back and enjoy the music (and drinks, three of which are included with your ticket) while experiencing live demonstrations and plenty of opportunities for laughter. Shows are 8pm Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 5pm and 8pm on Saturdays. Here's a $15-off coupon!

(3/23) Barbara King & The Spirit of Jazz at The Sound Bite. In celebration of Women’s History Month and the Lady Got Chops Music Festival, vocalist Barbara King will be appearing with an all-female band. The line up for the evening: Nicki Denner on piano; Jennifer Vincent on bass; Lucianna Padmore on drums. They are sure to rock the house with their outstanding musicianship. Don’t miss this special night where some of the legends of jazz and their music will be honored – Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Gloria Lynne, and more. 7pm and 9pm sets.

Click here for nightlife in NYC this weekend.

For information on LGBTQ nightlife, visit our brother site metrosource.com! Planning on being in New York in June for WorldPride? We've got all the WorldPride 2019 info you need right here.

Like what you see? Click here for more ideas on Best Things to Do in NYC in March. We've got April covered, too!