Go out with a bang this month and bring on June with these sweet summer events. From a funny song festival and free tango lessons to an all pop-cultured weekend and a date night at the cemetery, we’ve got you covered.
FRI 29 NY Funny Songs Fest
Locations and times vary; tickets FREE-$20
For its fourth year this fast-growing indie fest is a comedy-show-meets-concert chockfull of quirky, musical events and live performances. Catch a unicorn parade, happy hour open mic, improv jam sessions and a funny songs contest. Stick around Friday night for the rock n’ roll CD release pizza party, or Saturday night for the “g’bye shindig” after party.
SAT 30 BookCon 2015
Javits Center, 655 W. 34th St.; times vary; tickets $30-$45
For the best in storytelling and pop culture, the people who brought you NY Comic Con are back with a packed weekend of kick-ass panels, screenings, and special guests. The speaker line-up features everyone from John Green, Shane Dawson and HONY’s Brandon Stanton to R.L. Stein, Meg Cabot, Mindy Kaling and many (many) more. Click here for a full schedule of events.
SAT 30 2nd Annual Vulture Festival
Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St.; times and ticket prices vary
Craving more pop culture? Fill up on the hottest in film, tunes and TV at this year’s Vulture Festival, presented by New York Magazine. Hear your favorite cartoon characters read classic movie scenes, watch an exclusive early screening of Pixar’s newest film, or have coffee with Jerry Seinfeld. Visit here for a full list of events.
SUN 31 Brooklyn Taco Takedown
The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, 514 Union St.; 12pm-2pm; $20
Surrender your tastebuds to a handful of home cooks, eager to blow your mind. Cheer them on as they cook, fill, and serve up 220 mini tortillas. Then, prepare your stomachs for a taco-tasting and judging round to help crown the most triumphant taco.
MON 1 Taste of Times Square 2015
Times Square, 46th St. between Broadway and 9th Ave.; 5pm-9pm; FREE admission, “taste” tickets start at $10
If you’re going to venture to Times Square at all this summer (read: beware, it’s tourist season), do it today. When else can you nosh on some of the city’s most iconic eateries all on one street and all at once? Bareburger sliders, Carmine’s meatballs, Junior’s cheesecakes, Shake Shack’s ShackMeister dogs, Dos Caminos’ guacamole—maybe, you can have it all.
TUES 2 Outdoor Fest—Intro to Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
Manhattan Kayak Company, Pier 84 on the Hudson River; 4pm-5pm; $30
Got your summer bucket list yet? Start by learning something new and getting outdoors more with this workshop on the waters. Get a feel for different boards, learn the 411 on equipment, and get a hands-on for the basics before going solo. Want more activities like this? Check out a full schedule for NY’s Outdoor Fest here.
WED 3 Dancing in Bryant Park: Tango
Bryant Park Fountain Terrace; 6pm-8:30pm; FREE
Kick off your work shoes and switch ‘em for dancing ones at the park’s free summer dance series. All experiences levels are welcome! Tune in for a lesson in the first hour then get ready to show off your best moves to the NY Tango Quartet’s live music in the next.
THURS 4 Dark Wonderland Nights at Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery, 500 25th St., Brooklyn; 7:30pm-10pm; tickets $25 in advance, $30 at door
Gear up for summer nights at Green-Wood (event runs Fridays and Saturdays too!) with this nighttime festival of visionary performances. With 478 acres of ground to explore, the cemetery invites you to a world of “saints, sinners, and otherworldly beauties.” Start with twilight refreshments before beginning a candlelit walk and wrapping up with live musical, dance, and theater performances.
