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). Tons happening this week ft. a free self-defense course, a pickling ‘n canning class, a flippin’ Let The Right One In dinner (our GIF theme, duh) and more! Details:

Monday January 20

ACTIVE: Like beer? Like running? Get to Beer Karma for a Fifth Hammer run!

COMEDY: There’s a new round of Star F*ckers: Astrology, But Make It Comedy w/ Melissa Stokoski, Karolena Theresa, Brian Bahe and Lizzie Martinez at Union Hall! Tickets are $10 a pop.

CULTURE: There are loads of great ways to observe MLK Day 2020, so don’t sleep on any of them today if you’re off work!

FILM: Hit up Nitehawk Williamsburg for a $15 brunch screening of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse! (Unless you just really love Lindsay Lohan, in which case swing by Metrograph for a $16 screening of The Canyons!)

FOOD + DRINK: Learn all about winter pickles ‘n canning at the Brooklyn Kitchen tonight! Tickets are $100, and topics covered will include fermenting kraut ‘n kimchi, canning apple butter, pickling carrots ‘n beets ‘n cauliflower and MORE!

FREE: Swing by Bluestockings for a free self-defense workshop tonight! Open to all ages, and beginners are totally welcome!

MUSIC: Hit up Schimanski for JOEY BADA$$ 25th Birthday Party! Tickets are $25-$35 each.

STAY IN: The Bachelor is on, but as usual, I will strongly suggest Antiques Roadshow instead!

Tuesday January 21

ACTIVE: Get to Otto’s Shrunken Head for a new round of Punk Rope! This time it’s a fundraiser for Australia (the music will also be Australia-themed), and tickets will run you $10.

COMEDY: Union Hall is set to host Abortion Access Front’s presentation of Feminist Buzzkills of Comedy ft. April Boddy, Alison Leiby, Drexton Clemons and Lane Moore! Tickets are $10 each.

CULTURE: Head to 92Y for TV Tuesdays: Sitcoms That Changed America – Friends! Saul Austerlitz and Kelsey Miller will head up the conversation, and tickets are $29.

FILM: Scope Bell, Book and Candle over at Metrograph! Tickets are $16.

FOOD + DRINK: OBVIOUSLY get to Nitehawk Prospect Park for a Let The Right One In (the OG version) FILM FEAST!!! Swedish meatballs! Blood pudding! Gravlax on rye bröd! All of the alcohols! Tickets are $95 // grab ’em quick! 

FREE: Go learn all about structural biology at the Bell House tonight! There’s a new round of Secret Science Club, and as always, it’s FREE!

MUSIC: Catch a $27.75 show from Temples at Webster Hall tonight! (Or if you’re broke dot com, see Frankie Rose and Brandy for free at Union Pool!)

STAY IN: Knocked Up is on E!, Django Unchained is on BET, National Lampoon’s Vacation and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation are on IFC and The Godfather is on AMC.

Wednesday January 22

ACTIVE: According to Cosmic Fit Club, it’s never too late to learn how to do a handstand! They’ll teach you the ways in tonight’s class, and tickets are $25.

COMEDY: Get to Union Hall for Classic Black Dude Live! ft. Clark Jones, The Lucas Brothers, Larry Owens, Paris Sashay and Josh Johnson! Tickets are $10 each.

CULTURE: Hit up a new round of NPR’s Ask Me Another at the Bell House tonight! Special VIP guest is Ben Sinclair, and tickets are $15 each.

FILM: Love you some Nicolas Cage? Head to IFC Center for a special screening of Color Out of Space! Tickets are $16.

FOOD + DRINK: We’ve got another Film Feast tonight, but this time the film is Sleepless In Seattle and the screening is at Nitehawk Williamsburg! Menu includes popcorn w/ Old Bay! Plank salmon w/ crab beurre blanc! Berger cookies w/ Seattle coffee tiramisu! Wine ‘n cocktails! Tickets are $75 a pop.

FREE: There’s a new round of In The Gutter: A Monthly Comics Reading Series Showcasing Queer and Trans Creators at Bluestockings! This time the work of Bee Kahn, Beatrix Urkowitz and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell will be featured, and it’s free to attend!

MUSIC: Algiers are set to do a live set + signing at Rough Trade tonight provided you grab a copy of their new LP, plus you can catch OSHUN for free (w/ RSVP) at NYU Clive Davis Institute!

STAY IN: John Wick is

on SPIKE, The Notebook is on Freeform, The Wedding Singer is on IFC, Taken is on AMC and Pitch Perfect 2 is on FXX!

Thursday January 23

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!