Good afternoon, this is W42ST Lifestyle Editor Sarah Beling with “Make Way For The Weekend” — your curated guide to the best of New York events in one convenient newsletter!
I recently heard the week leading into Labor Day Weekend described as “The Ultimate Sunday Scaries”. While it was helpful to pinpoint our collective anxiety over having to face all the tasks we’ve put off until fall and the disorienting notion that 2022 is nearly over (wasn’t 2019 last year? Isn’t the pandemic one long year?? Can we get a refund for lost time???), I think we have the power to collectively reclaim this week and weekend from the overbearing sense that Things Are Ending.
Labor Day Weekend may be the unofficial end to summer, but every know-it-all at your office will tell you that we’re technically in season until September 22. And besides, haven’t the last few years proven that time feels like an illusion? We can embrace the coming change of season with the knowledge that there’s no deadline to having fun or keeping the spontaneous, carefree feelings of summer with us all year long.
Here’s to another weekend of summer fun with no end in sight!
❓Quick Question
What is your end-of-summer New York tradition?? Where do you have to go to feel like you’ve “done” summer?!
🍿 who lit the black flame candle
Despite all of this summer talk, I will say that I am unabashedly basic about my love for all things fall (I believe the term is “I am cringe but I am free”). For my fellow October enthusiasts, get a head start on the season and tune in to the Rooftop Cinema Club’s Summerween movie marathon, playing Halloween-themed movies all weekend long at their Midtown location. The lineup? A 70s/80s/90s cornucopia of gems like Beetlejuice, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Scary Movie, Coraline (still scarred from watching this TBH), The Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloween, Practical Magic, Halloweentown, and of course, Hocus Pocus. Grab the candy corn!!!
🎤 don’t stop believin’
The summer-long “Dalton’s Got Talent” karaoke contest comes to a close this Sunday with a grand finale judged by Broadway’s Robert Cuccioli, Lulu Picart and Jim Caruso (also widely known for his weekly Cast Party show at Birdland!). Stop by to see who will win the $3,000 grand prize and grab a few brews to support the Entertainment Community Fund!
🎶 you send me
Stroll over to the Town Hall Friday night for a tribute to the music of Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, starring Cooke’s daughter Carla Cooke, Brian Owens performing as Gaye and That Motown Band!
🎭 the rising tides
Got climate anxiety? Me too… Head over to the Chain Theater for playwright Emily Bice’s world-premiere before the flood, a humorous and poignant Biblically-inspired family dramedy that tackles the issue head-on and opens September 8. Bonus — the production is partnering with the Broadway Green Alliance and raising funds for climate justice organizations!
🎶 bring in the funk
Chelsea Table and Stage hosts the Hell’s Kitchen Funk Orchestra this Friday — grab a ticket to check out groovy tunes with excellent names like Some Skunk Funk from the West Side’s best musicians. Want to stay even more local? Head to Birdland (read more on its storied history here!!) on Sunday to hear the “Generation Gap” Orchestra!
🎶 hitting the high note
Over in Bryant Park, the New York City Opera (famously dubbed “The People’s Opera” by Fiorello LaGuardia) brings Lucia di Lammermoor to Midtown — or as they describe it, “Romeo and Juliet but set in Scotland.” Cue the bagpipes!
🍿 ease on down the road
Hop the ferry to Governors Island (open late this weekend to close out summer!) for a free outdoor screening of 1978’s The Wiz this Friday — featuring an all-star cast of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor, Nipsey Russell and Ted Ros and an Oz that more than slightly resembles New York City of the 70s.
🛳 cruise control
Looking for a waterfront activity that doesn’t involve a schlep “Out East”? Board the Labor Day Weekend brunch cruise departing from Pier 36 Friday through Monday that features a three-course meal, bottomless mimosas, and live DJ sets!
🍿 i’m older than leo dicaprio’s girlfriends
I originally went to see The Wolf of Wall Street in theaters with my MOM — and if you remember the opening shot of the rowdy, unabashedly bro-y Martin Scorcese movie then you KNOW what a mistake that was. I’m still sweating. Anyway! It’s playing at the Skyline Drive In this Friday for those brave souls who do want to sit next to their parents and watch Leonardo DiCaprio snort coke off of a really creative location.
🕺 what is love
The featured photo on this Eventbrite is Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan in A Night at the Roxbury. Enough Said. Come on down to the Bell House this Saturday for their Party Like It’s 1999 dance extravaganza and jam to hits like One More Time, Blue (Da Ba Dee), What Is Love (obviously), Call on Me and Aqua Girl. And if you can’t remember 1999…congratulations, you’re the right age to date Leonardo DiCaprio.
🎤 but seriously folks
We live in an age of chaos. Embrace it!!! Why not learn stand-up comedy???! Register now for Manhattan Comedy School’s one-day standup workshop on September 10 at Gotham Comedy Club. As they say on the website, “this class is perfect for you even if you don’t want to quit your day job”. But who knows, maybe you’ll get so into standup that you will!! Embrace the chaos!!!
🎭 fresh air find
Enjoy storytelling under the stars next Wednesday at Little Island’s presentation of world-premiere concert-play Miss Mitchell, a tale blending astronomy and the complicated lives of two sisters against a backdrop of haunting, stirring songs from Drama Desk-nominated theater collective The Lobbyists!
🔥 Hot tip
We know Nicole Kidman loves the movies, but girlfriend has somewhat of an unlimited budget. For the rest of us, there’s National Cinema Day this Saturday where theaters around the city (and nationwide) are offering showings for just $3 (less than the cost of a bottled water at most movie houses 😂💀)!! Go forth and movie marathon!!
⚠️ Omg I forgot to tell you
There’s a Grand Bazaar end-of-summer sale this Sunday
Dad Rock gang, unite! The Doobie Brothers play Madison Square Garden September 8`
Shrek is playing at the Green Room 42 rooftop this Friday
That’s it for now! Call me beep me if you want to reach me! (sarah@w42st.com)
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