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!
Given the city’s current Florida-esque summer climate, I think there’s no point in trying not to sweat. It’s going to happen, people. Why do you think I always wear black clothes? I’m not chic — just trying to hide the fact that every trip outside my apartment involves fully sweating through my clothing lol. Anyway, given that there’s no avoiding the swamp, my current recipe for weekend fun is to do something outdoors (water bottles in hand!!!) followed by eating in the glory of air conditioning. Last week’s pick? Strolling through Ebony G Patterson’s new exhibit at the beautiful New York Botanical Garden followed by pizza at Zero Otto Nove (go right when they open, they don’t take reservations!) and cannolis at the century-old Madonia Bakery (filled while you wait!). Stay (somewhat) cool, friends!!!
…when you can only think as far ahead as Monday!
🎭 ai,robot
As a human writer hoping to continue writing for a living I am thoroughly freaked out by ChatGPT lol but I am intrigued by Caveat’s new show, It Writes Itself: An Experimental AI Variety Show playing July 22, in which a group of volunteers will present everything from Shark Tank-esque pitches to wedding vows to tabloid stories written with AI. As they put it, “We tell our performers and our audiences that this is a safe space for trying shit out, and we actively encourage folks to attempt the dumbest thing they can think of. The more cringe, the more incredible! The more awkward, the more awesome! The more random use of AI, the better…or as we like to say, the official goal of the show is to collaborate with AI; the unofficial goal is to break it.”
🎞️ only in NY baybee
Head to Green-Wood Cemetery for the New York Non-Fiction film festival on July 22, where you can screen an evening of short documentaries, participate in Q+A with filmmakers and celebrate “the myriad quirky characters, hidden communities, and overlooked histories that make this city so special.”
🍸 stay hydrated y’all
New York City in the summer is essentially an unofficial tequila festival but should you want to formalize your margarita consumption, there’s the Brooklyn-based Tequila Fest New York City July 22 under “K” Bridge Park in Greenpoint. There will be DJ sets and dancing along with free tequila drinks, tacos and BBQ while supplies last (you must purchase an advance ticket), and maybe someone will play the “One Margarita” song hahahaha.
🎞️ popcorn flick central
I’ll admit it: I think I’ve only seen the original Top Gun once on TV and certainly didn’t go into last summer’s Top Gun: Maverick with any sort of fan expectation. That said, it was truly a fun summer movie in a way that we haven’t had since idk the early aughts???? See it again at the Rooftop Cinema Club Midtown July 22 and sing along to Danger Zone.
🎭 family ties
Want in on some Hamptons House Drama without joining a fraught summer share full of hedge fund bros??? There’s a play for you!! “Set in the heady days of late 2008, with the Obama campaign as a backdrop, an upper-middle-class African American family wrestles internalized racism, class anxiety, and each other when a sudden job loss and a revelation about their shared past threaten to upend their comfortable lives” at new show Unentitled, opening July 21 at 59E59 Theaters.
🎶 got canned heat in my heels tonight
It’s Salsa Night at Industry City July 21, with a rousing evening of live music from NYC-based Cuarteto Guataca featuring Sono Cubana and Salsa tunes from Jainardo Batista of San Juan, Puerto Rico and guitarist Román Lajara of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and Marseilles, France!
🖼️ the way we wore
A part of Lincoln Center’s Legacies of San Juan Hill project, costume designer Sabrina Guillaume-Bradshaw curates a new exhibit exploring the 1950s and 1960s fashions of the neighborhood in Elements of Humanity: Garments of San Juan Hill showing now through July 28 at the performing arts venue.
🇰🇷 korean arts week
While you’re at Lincoln Center, be sure to check out all of the free events planned — from KPOP disco dance parties to film screenings — for Korean Arts Week now through July 22!
🎈 don’t pop them though
Take the whole family to Balloontopia at City Point July 22 for an indoor playground of inflatable art and immersive, interactive exhibits that you don’t have to try to set up in your 400-square-foot apartment.
🎶 lose yourself
2000s nostalgia is at perhaps an all-time high and I have mixed feelings about it — guys, I’m sorry, I still hate bucket hats and think we all look dumb in them, but I digress. I will fully co-sign that the music was damn catchy, though!! Belt out your favorite TRL hits at Let’s Sing the 2000s with the Fresh Kids of Bel Air playing Le Poisson Rouge July 21.
🎶 jazz in the park!!
Carnegie Hall comes to Bryant Park at the latest free picnic performance of jazz singer Magos Herrera featuring The Knights July 21, where Herrera will herald the release of her newest album, AIRE, with songs from the EP as well as standards from the Great Latin American songbook.
🖼️ continent couture
Commemorating the continent’s enduring sartorial influence and creative renaissance, new exhibit Africa Fashion now showing at the Brooklyn Museum showcases a wide array of African designer clothing as well as photographs, runway videos, sketches, textiles and jewelry.
🎶 get down on it
70s funk legends Kool and the Gang play Flushing Meadows Park Summerstage July 22 where surviving members Robert “Kool” Bell and George “Funky” Thomas will celebrate the band’s seventh decade with an evening of their extremely danceable hits.
…what’s happening before and just after I hit your inbox next!
🎞️ people who need barbra
Missed seeing Barbra play Fanny Brice in 1964? So did most of us lol. If you have three hours and want to jam out to that overture but can’t snag a seat to the revival, Funny Girl is screening at Green Room 42 July 24.
🎶 groove it
My very cool and trendy friend Jordan recommended checking out jazz band Wayne Tucker and the Bad Motha’s at Groove NYC July 26, and therefore I do too!
🎤 dinner for the diaspora
Authors behind the acclaimed cookbook Black Power Kitchen, the Ghetto Gastro culinary collective Jon Gray, Pierre Serrao, and Lester Walker join James Beard Award-winning chef Sophia Roe in Conversation at the 92nd Street Y July 26, where the trio will discuss food, identity and culinary culture’s role in America’s social fabric.
…for when you need to secure those hot tickets before they sell out!!!
🎶 star-studded
Where can you see LL Cool J, Run DMC, Queen Latifah, Method Man, Swizz Beatz as well as Salt-N-Pepa all in the same place??!!! The Rock the Bells Festival, playing Forest Hills Stadium August 5!! A rocking lineup indeed!!!!!!
🍷 taste test
In addition to being able to check out the Intrepid Museum for free next Friday, you can also enjoy wine and beer from local vendors (not free) at the Intrepid Summer Tasting Fest July 28!
🔥 Hot tip
Block parties are, in theory, fun, but frankly sound kind of stressful to host. Let someone else do the work and enjoy the good vibes as Museum Mile hosts its own summer block party near El Museo del Barrio and the Museum of the City of New York at Uptown Bounce July 21, July 28 and August 4!
⚠️ Omg I forgot to tell you
The Roxanne Assoulin Sample Sale is live now through July 23
Drake is playing Madison Square Garden July 23
There’s a Midnights Taylor Swift dance party at Drom July 22
This is your last week to check out Life of Pi on Broadway!
That’s it for now! Call me beep me if you want to reach me! (sarah@w42st.com)
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