Good afternoon, this is W42ST Lifestyle Editor Sarah Beling with “MakeWay For The Weekend” — your curated guide to the best of New York events in one convenient newsletter!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned after realizing a lifelong dream of visiting Italy, it’s that there’s nothing like looking at a place with new eyes. A cobblestone pedestrian alley is suddenly something out of a Fellini film. A tiny, candlelit restaurant, a grocery store, a local pharmacy — all become enchanting. Even a row of parked cars (or in this case, Vespas) are photo worthy.
I also learned that I still have an intense fear of heights, as evidenced by my panic attack climbing the Duomo. And yes, I did feel that the painted angels in The Last Judgement were judging me.
But aside from that minor episode (my husband got some great solo shots from the top of the building 😅), I’ve come away from the trip determined to approach our fair city with the same sense of wonder and delight. No, I’m not going to pose for pictures with the rats or luxuriate in Penn Station, but I know that there are so many eclectic, electric corners of New York that I’ve admittedly been neglecting, electing instead to let my eyes glaze over my phone instead of taking in all that we are so lucky to have (even the rats??? Jk. I haven’t become that blissed out from taking a vacation).
See you back out there!!
❓Quick Question
Where do you go when you want to shake things up???
🎭 forever young
Maybe it’s because I hummed The Light in the Piazza on repeat while strolling the streets of Florence (🎶it’s the land of naked marble booooys!), but Broadway legend Victoria Clark has been on the brain. In my humble opinion we are WAY OVERDUE for another Vicky Clark star vehicle, and luckily, the brand-new, original (!!) Broadway musical Kimberly Akimbo now in previews is here to deliver on that promise. Based on its acclaimed Off-Broadway run at the Atlantic Theater Company, we predict that the story of a young woman who ages prematurely is going to be a strong contender for this year’s Best Musical Tony.
🍿 let’s go to the movies
Did you miss out on the New York Film Festival like I did? Lincoln Center is screening new indie releases from the festival all fall, so you can stay caught up with the erudite A24 crowd 😅.
🎭 on the grid
The man behind much of the landscape of New York City, Robert Moses is as much known for creating public works as he was for notoriously shutting many New Yorkers out of them. The US premiere of David Hare’s Straight Line Crazy opening this week at The Shed and starring Ralph Fiennes, explores the urban planning giant’s questionable legacy and its century-long impact.
🎶 and if you want to sing out, sing out
Raising money for the ACLU and NYCLU (who really have to work hard these days👀), the Sing Out for Freedom concert, hosted by Busy Philipps and Sarah Jones, comes to the Town Hall next Monday and features performances by a bevy of notables like Shoshana Bean, Ato-Blankson-Wood, Tomás Matos, the casts of A Strange Loop and 1776, and honors Padma Lakshmi, Patti Smith, Shaina Taub and Erich Bergen.
🎭 one night only
Stop by an exclusive one-night-only reading of Winter Miller’s new play Spare Rib at New World Stages next Monday, starring Drama Desk Award winner Kathleen Chalfant and raising money for WRRAP, the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project.
🏃♀️ heart it races
Who needs a new year’s resolution to turn over a new fitness leaf? Who among you is going to keep me accountable to work out??? Enquire within. Anyway, maybe I’ll try an athletic conditioning class (part of the city’s free Shape Up NYC series) in Hell’s Kitchen Park on Sunday!
🎺 i’m a brass band
Despite not really being a rah-rah school spirit kind of gal, there is something about brass instruments that really peps me up (I once made a playlist of John Philip Sousa in order to march myself to a job I hated, but that’s another story for another day). Head to the Little Island this Saturday to hear NYC brass band Shag Horns serve up throwback hits from the 70s to today and put the pep back in your step!!!
🎶da-da da DA!
One of the opera world’s most iconic and recognizable scores, Bizet’s Carmen (sung in English with a translation by musical theater composer Sheldon Harnick) comes to Lincoln Center next Tuesday, featuring vocals by MasterVoices and backing by the Orchestra of St Luke’s!
🎶come to her window
Please stop giving yourself vocal nodes trying to sing I’m the Only One at karaoke and go see legendary Grammy-winning singer songwriter Melissa Etheridge perform My Window: A Journey Through Life at New World Stages instead, in a one woman show detailing her life and music across decades!
🎭 the uncommon application
If you or someone you know has been through the college admissions process in the past 20 years or so, you know how…intense it can be. Fair warning, the new play peerless now playing at 59E59 Theaters may strike fear into your heart as it perfectly melds the tale of two ambitious high school senior siblings and Macbeth into the notorious undergrad application process.
🎨 the two fridas
If you enjoyed last year’s immersive Van Gogh exhibit, check out The Life of an Icon, a new, multimedia and interactive Frida Kahlo experience showcasing the biography of the Mexican painter through historical photographs, films, and of course, her work, in a seven-room walk-through opening next Thursday in Brooklyn.
🎙 pop culture happy hour
Comedians Tom Scharpling and Julie Klausner (insanely funny on the late, great Difficult People) host an evening of cultural commentary at Double Threat playing The Bell House this Friday, where the duo will explore “obscure American subcultures” and give “the business to blockhead celebrities” with the help of unannounced special guests.
🍿 wyoming, that’s not a country
I had the pleasure of chatting with Artistic Director Beau Gravitte of the venerable Actors Studio (located right here on W44th Street!) ahead of their 75th anniversary celebrations. One of the highlights is next Thursday’s star-studded screening of Sidney Lumet’s Dog Day Afternoon featuring a pre-film interview with its star (and Studio President) Al Pacino at uptown’s United Palace!
🍷 direct from the vine
Get your grape on at Brooklyn Crush, the borough’s foremost wine festival — happening this Saturday in Industry City and featuring hundreds of wines and craft beverages from around the world. You can also enjoy local bites and live music as you sip from your custom souvenir glass. A happy hour, indeed.
🖼calling all nighthawks
Celebrated painter Edward Hopper said New York was “the American city that I know best and like most.” We’d have to agree!! Head over to The Whitney Museum to check out the opening of a retrospective of the artist’s Big Apple-based paintings from his six decades as a New Yorker.
🔥 Hot tip
If you too are looking to recreate the glorious aperitivo culture of Italy but may or may not have exhausted your budget on Italy itself 😅, I’ve heard that you must hit up the happy hour at Crispiano in the East Village, where everything is under $10 (👀🙏!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and you can snack and sip to your heart (and accountant’s) delight.
⚠️ Omg I forgot to tell you
Can’t get enough Into the Woods?! Chip Zien of the OBC discusses the original run at The Green Room 42 this Sunday. If you want to emotionally prepare, listen to No More and cry lol.
Be sure to check out the powerful art exhibition Blood and Tears: Portrayals of Gwangju’s Democratic Struggle showing at John Jay College through Friday
The Copacabana is hosting a series of empowerment dance and self defense classes in awareness of Domestic Violence Month this Friday
There’s a doggie birthday party this Friday from 12-2pm at Silver Towers Dog Park!
There’s a costumes-encouraged, HALLOCLEAN neighborhood cleanup hosted by the Hell’s Kitchen Litter Legion this Saturday at 12pm!
There’s also a dog Halloween costume contest and party at the Pier 84 Dog Run this Saturday from 9am-12pm!
There’s a Halloween murder mystery party at Mom’s next Tuesday!
Charming Charlie Puth plays the Beacon Theatre next Wednesday
There’s a 3.1 Philip Lim sample sale starting next Tuesday!!
That’s it for now! Call me beep me if you want to reach me! (sarah@w42st.com)
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