It’s the first official Friday of summer 2021, and the weather is showing up in a big way. So, let’s get down to business on planning the weekend ahead, shall we? Sure, the city may have abruptly cut off to-go drinks this week, but on the bright side outdoor public pools are reopening tomorrow, Smorgasburg’s original Williamsburg location reopens tomorrow, and there are an array of Pride celebrations to choose from happening all over town. (Given that it’s the 10th anniversary of Governor Cuomo’s signing of the Marriage Equality Act, there’s extra reason to celebrate this year even if the traditionally raucous, main parade remains virtual for now.)
We’re coming off a big week that included a significant local election, upsetting revelations from Britney Spears, trouble for former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and HOT weekend temperatures that prompted my first real trip to the Rockaways this year, which was lovely and involved my favorite pina colada from Connolly’s. If you’re planning a seaside adventure yourself, note that Red Hook Lobster Pound is hosting a lobster boil at the 97th Street concessions area every Thursday evening until September starting this week.
If you’re looking for something to do tonight, Burgie’s, the utterly delicious, burger-centric offshoot of Roberta’s, is hosting a Burgerama party starting at 8pm, and they’ll even be screening Game 7 of what’s turned out to be a very exciting Islanders/Tampa Bay Lightning NHL playoff series. Maybe the end of pandemic restrictions has you thinking about bringing your Tootsie Roll out of retirement? No, just me? Well, regardless, Dreamland Roller Disco is back at the LeFrak Center tonight with a ’90s hip hop theme.
Tomorrow, you could head to Governors Island for the Porch Stomp, an annual, free festival showcasing Americana and Folk Music that looks to be a rollicking good time. If you really want to get your groove on though, Gemini and Scorpio is hosting a Renegade Pride dance party in the courtyard of Industry City that sounds like it will be just the kind of wild, sweaty situation that we were all promised with the advent of hot vaxx summer.
Want to keep things more low key? Staple of the NYC comedy scene Todd Barry is performing live at City Winery on Saturday evening, and there are still tickets available.
If you fancy a trip to the city on Sunday, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic are playing two shows at Central Park Summerstage. Alternatively, stay local and attend Rooftop Films’ free screening of Playing with Sharks, a documentary by one of the world’s foremost shark experts, at the Brooklyn Army Terminal. Or, consider recuperating from the busy front half of your weekend at home, watching Riz Ahmed play a British-Pakistani rapper in Mogul Mowgli, which is available to stream through BAM.
Looking ahead, Celebrate Brooklyn! has continued to trickle out its 2021 lineup, announcing that none other than The Roots (!) will play a show at the Prospect Park Bandshell on August 12. Tickets went on sale this morning, and we’d advise you get on it ASAP if you want to go. I’m also interested in The Watering Hole, a new, immersive theater experience from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright in residence Lynn Nottage that will be at the Signature Theatre now through August 8.
Finally, if you haven’t journeyed up to the New York Botanical Garden to see Kusama: Cosmic Nature yet, new tickets have been released for dates through mid-October, and after August 3, guests will finally be able to enter the interior chamber of the Infinity Mirrored Room installation.
So, the Great Reopening continues apace and, with any luck, you’re all able to take as much or as little advantage of it as feels good and safe to you right now. As tempting as it is to do IT ALL, some of us are finding reentry exhausting and need to build in time to relax and reinvigorate. Please be mindful of your own limitations and flex that atrophied “no thanks, I’m just going to stay in” muscle if need be—there’s no contest to win here. Happy first weekend of summer to all, and please remember to stay cool, hydrated, and adequately sunscreened over the hot days ahead!
