(8/16-8/18) Looking for what to do in New York 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. This weekend catch a Seinfeld popup, a sand sculpting contest in Coney Island, and a Brooklyn pizza eating competition.
THE BIG EVENT
(8/16-8/18) Apartment 5A Seinfeld tribute pop-up opens. This weekend's exhibition pays homage to the series, which made its debut 30 years ago and still continues to entertain. Featuring over 90 pieces of artwork, this collection takes care of your cravings from marble rye to Junior Mints and everything in between. The exhibition opens Friday, August 16th from 6-9pm at Parasol Projects @ Bowery in New York. In addition to the art exhibition, join in Saturday night from 8-10pm for a night of comedy hosted by Jane Harrison (The Onion, NY Comedy Festival) with performers Shane Torres (Colbert, Conan, Comedy Central), Chloe Radcliffe (10,000 Laughs, Thrillist), Fumi Abe (MTV, Vulture, Comedy Central), and Saurin Choksi (Fox, Sirius XM). Here's a link to the FB event page.
(8/16) Head to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum for the conversation From Concorde to Mars: Designing the Future. Lawrence Azerrad, author of Supersonic: The Design & Lifestyle of Concorde; Tibor Balint, principal human centered designer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory; and Jeffrey Montes, a space architect at Space Factory, all come together to talk about innovations to come.
(Now-8/16) Ends Friday! This is the last call for Summer Restaurant Week NYC 2019. There are 370 spots participating, rolling out a very affordable red carpet with three-course specials for both lunch and dinner (the meals are mostly on the weekdays, with a few Sundays, and a few brunches, included in the mix). The cost is a fraction of what you might find other weeks—$26 for a two-course lunch and $42 for a three-course dinner, not including tax, tip, and drinks.
(8/17) Artichoke Pizza's 4th Annual Pizza Eating Contest. A crowd of competitive pizza eaters will take to an elevated stage in front of Artichoke Pizza’s Park Slope restaurant in Brooklyn to vie for the coveted Golden Peel Trophy, named for the tool used by pizza pros to slide pizzas out of the oven. The eaters will chow down as fast as they can on Artichoke's larger-than-life slices and only one will remain victorious. Artichoke Basille’s Pizza co-founders Sal Basille and Francis Garcia, known nationally from their hit Cooking Channel TV shows Pizza Masters and Pizza Cuz, will host the epic eating contest in conjunction with the Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District. A DJ will also be on-site bumping energetic songs to keep the competitive eaters motivated during the contest.
(Now-8/17) Leap over to Battery Park for the annual Battery Dance Festival, which will feature special outdoor performances in Battery Park, running through Saturday, August 17.
(8/17) Space Jesus at Coney Island Art Walls. Good Looks and DEG Presents launch Space Jesus’s branded event, Moon.Beach, at Amuse. Amuse is located at the Coney Island Art Walls (3050 Stillwell Avenue, Brooklyn, NY) and the event takes place from 2pm till midnight. This brand-new, ginormous Brooklyn venue is home to a series of art walls created by the likes of Shepard Fairey, Ron English, and Kenny Scharf, making it the perfect backdrop for this full-day experience. A variety of food, drink, and craft vendors, housed in shipping containers, will be open for guests. Goes off rain or shine.
bitly.com/moondotbeach
(Now-8/28) The Shops at Columbus Circle Present Clean Beauty. Throughout the month of August, The Shops at Columbus Circle will be educating visitors on a variety of clean beauty topics. Each Wednesday in August, guests can visit the Clean Beauty Bar Pop-Up from noon-4pm to enjoy experiences, demos, and activations. This Wednesday it's the "Vegan Beauty Effect."
(Ongoing) Getting ready for Back to School shopping? Use City Guide's coupon booklet for The Mills at Jersey Gardens. Outlet shopping plus additional savings!
EXHIBITION OF THE WEEK
Terry O'Neill (British, born 1938). Raquel Welch in a Pierre Cardin outfit featuring a miniskirt and necklace in blue vinyl, worn with a Plexiglas visor, 1970. Image courtesy of Iconic Images. © Terry O’Neill / Iconic Images.
(Through 1/5/20) Experience the past, present, and future of fashion all at once at the Brooklyn Museum this summer. Pierre Cardin: Future Fashion celebrates the French designer who embodied the Space Age and futuristic concepts in his designs. A living legend at 97, this is the first retrospective of Cardin’s work hosted in New York for 40 years. It holds over 170 objects, dynamically displayed, collected from the Pierre Cardin archive, including recent work that feels every bit as vital as Cardin’s historic designs. The show also shows how Cardin designed outside the realm of fashion, crafting “couture furniture,” lighting, and even cars. Don’t miss the fashion that literally lights up, arranged in the exhibit’s back room. brooklynmuseum.org
For the duration of the exhibition, house restaurant The Norm has been rebranded as Maxim's at The Norm.
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Pieces from Shepard Fairey's Obey Giant series, part of his 30th anniversary collection. Photo: Dan Bradica, courtesy of Beyond the Streets.
(Now-9/29) Extended! Beyond the Streets at the space Twenty Five Kent in Williamsburg, Brooklyn celebrates some of the biggest names in graffiti, including work from NYC legends Tats Cru, Lady Pink, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, as well as Shepard Fairey, Invader, Brooklyn duo FAILE, artifacts from NYC's beloved Beastie Boys, street photographer Martha Cooper, and much more. Get tickets at beyondthestreets.com.
Installation view of Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die: Punk Graphics, 1976-1986 at the Museum of Arts and Design. Photo by Jenna Bascom.
(Now-8/18) Final week! Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die: Punk Graphics, 1976-1986 at the Museum of Arts and Design. More than 40 years after punk exploded onto the music scenes of New York and London, its impact on the larger culture is still being felt. Born in a period of economic malaise, punk’s energy coalesced into a powerful subcultural phenomenon that transcended music to affect other fields, and especially graphic design.Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die explores the visual language of punk through hundreds of its most memorable graphics, from the shocking remixes of expropriated images and texts to the DIY zines and flyers that challenged the commercial slickness of the mainstream media. #PunkGraphics
(Now-1/3/20) The most significant site of the Holocaust, Auschwitz was not a single entity, but a complex of 48 concentration, forced labor, and extermination camps, at which 1 million Jews—and tens of thousands of others—were murdered. Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away., a new exhibition at the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, explores the legacy of history’s deadliest mass murder site. More than 700 original objects and 400 photographs are on display, many for the first time in North America. Among the artifacts: personal possessions, fragments of a barrack, a gas mask used by the SS, and an original German-made Model 2 freight wagon used for the deportation of Jews to the ghettos and extermination camps in occupied Poland. 36 Battery Pl. (1st Pl.), 646-437-4202,;mjhnyc.org
(Now-10/1) When you see the sheer volume (some 130) of mind-blowing instruments that have been played by a broad cross-section of iconic musicians, all tucked into one space, you’ll understand why the sprawling Metropolitan Museum of Art is the appropriate place for the new show, Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll. It’s the first time a music exhibit of this magnitude has been presented, with guitars alone including the white Fender that Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock, Prince’s 1993 “Love Symbol” guitar, and one of Pete Townshend’s smashed Gibsons encased in Lucite.
(Ongoing) You can experience the world of history’s most famous spy at Driven: 007 x SPYSCAPE, a 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.
COMEDY
(8/15-8/17) Crazy Rich Asians' Jimmy O. Yang performs at Gotham Comedy Club.
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(8/16) ComedyJuice (The Vintage Lounge) with Comedy Central’s Ian Edwards, Fallon’s Louis Katz, MTV’s Giulio Gallarotti, and More! at Gotham Comedy Club.
(8/16) Living Room Comedy Show at Brooklyn's Postmark Cafe. All ages.
(8/17) A Drinking Game presents The Princess Bride at The Bell House.
(Now-8/24) Aussie comedienne Hannah Gadsby brings her new show, Douglas, to the Daryl Roth Theatre.
(Ongoing) See great new comedic talent daily at the LOL Times Square Comedy Club. Use this coupon and get half off admission!
Click here for more "Comedy Shows in NYC This Weekend."
KIDS
(8/17) Summer Streets returns to make a splash with traffic-free stretches of roadway opened up across the city. Centre Street in Lower Manhattan will be transformed into a makeshift beach and waterpark, including a giant 300-foot waterslide. Get an early start: Summer Streets runs from 7am-1pm.
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(8/16-8/18) New York: The Wizard's Brunch and Dinner, an immersive experience at Pier 60/Chelsea Piers. Seated on long tables, you will enjoy a magical feast and consume fine "wizard liquids" as masters and ladies immerse you in a unique universe created especially for you. Each ticket includes a three course meal cooked by the renowned chef Abigail Kirsch plus all the entertainment and events of the day. Dress up encouraged, but not mandatory. Event times Friday 16th Dinner: 8-11pm; Saturday 17th Brunch: 2pm-5pm (All ages); Saturday 17th Dinner: 8-11pm; Sunday 18th Brunch: 12-3pm (All ages); Sunday 18th Dinner: 7-10pm (all ages).
(8/17) 29th Annual Sand Sculpting Competition at Coney Island. This free competition is open to all ages and begins at noon on the beach at West 12th street. First, second, and third prizes will be awarded in the following categories: family, individual, adult, and adult group.
(Now-11/3) Kids of all ages will want to check out the new Bronx Zoo Dinosaur Safari. It's the biggest, most realistic dinosaur safari ride in America. Travel back in time on a guided tour to learn about dinos of the past and descendent animals of the present. The experience will take riders through 2 acres of woods, in which they will meet animatronic dinosaurs, including two 40-foot-long T. rexes, a 60-foot-long herbivore called Omeisaurus, and the Spinosaurus, one of the largest carnivorous dinosaurs to ever exist. For even more kids activities, and to learn more about the brand new Bronx Zoo Dinosaur Safari, check out our sister site nymetroparents.com!
(Now-9/8) Above & Beyond: The Ultimate Flight Exhibition at The New York Hall of Science. NYSCI’s summer exhibition uses flight simulation, augmented reality, touch tables, design and skill challenges, virtual reality, and more to immerse visitors in the wonders of flight.
(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
Updated!! Read about more Instagrammable pop-up exhibits in NYC here.
(Ongoing) Exhilarating Family Fun at Stomp NYC. Special discount packages available!
Click here for more "Things to Do with Kids in NYC This Weekend."
For more kids activities, check out our sister site nymetroparents.com!
SIGHTSEEING
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Bring a loved one to take in the breathtaking view at Top of the Rock.
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(Ongoing) Feelin' the need for speed? The BEAST Speedboat Ride is back! Zoom past the Statue of Liberty at a heart-racing 45 mph!
Paddlesports Galore! Free Kayaking, Rowboat Rentals & Paddleboard Yoga in NYC.
(New!) Madame Tussauds New York Presents Broadway. Take a magical journey starting with a cocktail at the Broadway Bar, and then traveling through a kaleidoscope of your favorite musicals. Enter the world of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita, Sunset Boulevard, and Cats. You can sing “Memory” with Grizabella the “Glamour Cat” and wear the Dreamcoat yourself as you become a Broadway star. The Phantom of the Opera will also guide you through this dazzling backstage experience, and perhaps do a little singing himself along the way. Live actors will be on hand to enhance the rush both on- and offstage.
(Ongoing) Get the full stadium experience with Yankee Stadium Tours, which offers exclusive access to New York Yankee historic spots like Monument Park, The Great Hall, and even down to the dugout. The daily tours also bring you close to baseball artifacts like Babe Ruth’s bat, Lou Gehrig’s jersey, and rings and trophies representing the Yankees’ 27 world championships.
(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.)
Immerse yourself in the deep, dark depths of the ocean, where Humboldt squid fight to the death and 50-foot whales ride overhead. Play with virtual sea lions, navigate a kelp maze, and more at National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey! Here's a $10 off coupon!
(Ongoing) Part show. Part tour. All entertainment. THE RIDE is a one-of-a-kind experience that turns the streets of New York into a stage. Journey through Times Square and midtown Manhattan as the city’s landmarks unfold before your very eyes. THE RIDE’s theatres-on-wheels also tour lower Manhattan, with THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE Powered by THE RIDE, which lets visitors re-live iconic moments in New York history through the magic of TimeLooper Virtual Reality Headsets. Use our coupon and save $10 off!
FOOD, MUSIC, AND NIGHTLIFE
(8/16, 8/23) Summer Like an Italian at Princi New York. This month, midtown artisanal bakery Princi is celebrating the history of the aperitivo with artisanal food, Italian wines and beer, gelato, and live music. Included in your ticket: your first beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic); unlimited access to aperitivo bites; and unlimited access to a pop-in gelato counter from M'O il Gelato. Plus there's a chance to win a trip to Milan!
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(8/17) Beck and Cage the Elephant at Forest Hills Stadium.
Want to see Blue Man Group live? Save $20 off admission with our Blue Man Group discount here.
(Now-8/24) 45th Annual Harlem Week Festival (yes, it goes on for almost a month). harlemweek.com
(8/16) For more than 70 years, Circle Line has been showing guests the best sights of NYC. In addition to a full lineup of sightseeing cruises, this summer you can get out on the water with Rockin’ the River Music Cruises, a series of floating open-air concerts. Thursday the 15th, it's Willie Nile and James Maddock. circleline42.com
(8/18) Click here for information on the Top 5 Spots To Celebrate National Fajita Day In NYC.
(8/18) India Parade NYC 2019 (fianyjct.org).
(Now-9/30) In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, find a celebration of the Summer of Love at Arlo Hotel in SoHo. The pop-up will play host to special acoustic performances, screenings of footage from the famous festival, natural dye workshops, and more. There will also be a full Summer of Love menu available, with Whistle Pig Whiskey cocktails. On August 18, check out a performance by Allen Stone.
(Now-9/30) It’s rosé all day once again. Rosé Mansion is back for another summer residency in NYC after a successful run last year. The designs in all 14 rooms will be brand-new, and the mansion will be twice the size of last year’s iteration. You’ll get tastings of 8 different pink wines as you travel through a champagne ball pit, a mini-theme park called Roséland, and a tree house! There will also be two different rosé wine bars where you can hang out, plus grub from Taco Dumbo on hand.
rosewinemansion.com, @rosewinemansion
(Ongoing) Drink, laugh, and save! Summer Savings on The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking! Choose from the evening show or Day Drinking: The Brunch Musical. Sit back and enjoy music and three cocktails, while the cast of The Imbible give insight into the history and science behind alcoholic beverages, tracing their economic and political impact on our cultural development. They'll also conduct live demonstrations of brewing beer and distilling spirits. Save $15 off admission with City Guide's coupon.
Click here for more "Nightlife in NYC This Weekend."
Click here for "Where to See Drag Shows in NYC."
Click here for "10 Things to Do in Brooklyn This Summer."
Click here for more information on The Best Things to Do in August in NYC. We've got September covered, too!
EVERYTHING TO DO NYC
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