We’re back for a new round of NYC Best Weekday Bets! Each day will feature a top pick in the areas of 1. fitness (active), 2. comedy, 3. culture, 4. film, 5. food + drink, 6. free, 7. music and 8. staying in (because let’s face it, sometimes you just want to not leave your couch, especially when it continues to be cold AF outside).
Lots on the books this first couple of weekdays INCLUDING but not limited to queer literary speed dating, drag performances with Sasha Velour, the Pancakes & Booze Art Show (pancakes are totally our GIF theme, BTW, ’cause it’s a Sunday morning and I want some) and MORE:
Monday, February 19
ACTIVE: It’s about to be B-B-B-B-BIKE season again, so take advantage of a class that’ll show you how to make your own repairs! It’s free, though $5 suggested donations are appreciated!
COMEDY: My top pick for comedy tonight is Cartoon Monsoon (a children’s show for adults, full of crazy costumes and other weird shit) at Union Hall! Mary Houlihan, Joe Rumrill, Tim Platt and others will be there, so it’s guaranteed to be a good time. Tickets are $10 a pop!
CULTURE: See Sasha Velour’s Nightgowns (an evening of short drag performances) at National Sawdust, duh! Tickets are $25-$45 each.
FILM: Catch a screening of America Uprising at Nitehawk ft. a bonus Q+A w/ Isabel Castro (producer), Lucian Read (executive producer) and Sushana Dubreil (producer)!
FOOD + DRINK: Into Trini food? Head to a pop-up at Butter & Scotch ft. bake & shark, geera pork and more! Just be sure to RSVP to grab a spot.
FREE: Go get REAL SMART over at the Bell House, where tonight’s round of Secret Science Club will focus in on SWARM ROBOTICS! There’ll be a real live biologist, behavioralist and AI expert (Simon Garnier) in the house, and as always, this is a 100% free event!
MUSIC: Absolutely catch Gold Child tonight at Elsewhere! Tickets will run you a very reasonable $12 a pop, so get ’em while they last!
STAY IN: Maybe you don’t feel like watching the Olympics, but I do, and I’m in charge, so here is me telling you to turn on NBC tonight to see bobsledding, freestyle skiing and figure skating!
Tuesday, February 20
ACTIVE: Hit up a FREE self defense pop-up class at Interference Archive in Brooklyn tonight! Goes from 7pm until 9pm, and obviously remember to wear clothes you’re cool to move and sweat in!
COMEDY: This is a no-brainer! Head to Raise The Roof (And Help Syrian Children) at the Bell House, and support a great cause via the comedy stylings of Maeve Higgins, Phoebe Robinson, Todd Barry, Aparna Nancherla, Chris Gethard and Michelle Buteau! Tickets are $15 each.
CULTURE: If you’re a queer lady, you might consider hitting up Literary Speed Dating at Strand Bookstore to (potentially) find someone who loves books just as much (if not more) than you do! All you have to do is grab a $10 Strand gift card to attend. (Free Sixpoint to boot!)
FILM: Watch a special screening of This Is Congo at IFC Center tonight ft. a bonus Q+A with director Daniel McCabe!
FOOD + DRINK: Chef Marsia Taha is taking over Restaurant Norman with a one-night-only dinner menu this evening! Tons of Andean deliciousness, like a bone marrow cuñape, spicy beef tongue and yuca, tarwi two ways and MORE! $70 per person including tax and gratuity.
FREE: If you’re broke AF, tonight’s your lucky night; I’m With Her will perform a FREE set at Rough Trade starting at 7pm sharp!
MUSIC: Got $50? Then you’ve potentially got yourself a ticket to see Portugal. The Man at Brooklyn Steel this evening! Topaz Jones will open the gig.
STAY IN: You’re right, I AM going to tell you to watch the Olympics again! (IT’S NOT EVERY DAY WE GET TO ENJOY THESE THINGS!) Tonight it’s bobsledding, snowboarding, alpine skiing and figure skating, hooray!
Wednesday, February 21
ACTIVE: Swing by BREATHE Manhattan to do yoga in a salt room! (Apparently supposed to be v. healing or something!) Salty yoga will run you $40 for an hour-long session.
COMEDY: Get to Littlefield for Every President Ever: Together Again, aka 45 presidents (played by comedians) in one hour! Tickets are $8-$10 each.
CULTURE: The NYC Pancakes & Booze Art Show kicks off today, so if you’re into art (and free pancakes), then probably grab yourself a $20 ticket to check it out!
FILM: Fabien Cousteau will introduce a special screening of World Without Sun at Metrograph tonight, so most definitely check that out at 7pm!
FOOD + DRINK: Tonight Jenné Claiborne will present her book Sweet Potato Soul at Word Brooklyn, and there’ll be some accompanying vegan soul food treats to taste as an added bonus!
FREE: Hit up Sun and Air for a WTF (Women, Transgendered, Femme) clothing and gear swap! There’ll be free pizza and beer as an added bonus, and any clothing that doesn’t get snagged will be donated to the Broadway House Women’s Shelter. (A win-win-win!)
MUSIC: Obviously catch Diane Birch at Joe’s Pub tonight! Tickets are $20 and I’d be willing to bet they’ll sell out, so don’t sleep on purchasing!
STAY IN: OLYMPICS, DUH! Tonight is cross country skiing, alpine skiing, bobsledding and freestyle skiing!
Thursday, February 22
We like 2 party LOL! So we count Thursday as part of the weekend. Sign up to receive our full weekend guide bright ‘n early on Thursday mornings!
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