What to do this week(end): July 23–29

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Hello and welcome to the cusp of a weekend that, as of press time, is not forecasted to involve flash floods, record-breaking heat, or drastically sub-optimal air quality and a sci-fi inspired red sun because of raging fires 3,000 miles away. Whew, between the wild weather everywhere lately and the Delta variant news, there’s never been a better time for me to not wake up in the middle of the night and flick my way through my Twitter feed in the dark, and yet. . . sigh.

Hopefully, the Olympics will provide a welcome distraction, and the re-watch of The Sopranos I’d planned for this month is going swimmingly so there’s always that. I’ve been running around a lot lately, so I’m looking forward to staying local, fixing things up around here, and enjoying what looks to be pleasant weather for a change.  

Should I get ants in my pants, however, I’ve definitely got my eye on some calendar-entry contenders for the week ahead, starting with tonight’s screening of Inside, the solo comedy show that Bo Burnham wrote, performed, and recorded from his house during lockdown, at Nitehawk. Also tonight, the Forest Hills Stadium summer concert series kicks off with Brandi Carlile, and there are still limited tickets available. 

It looks like a splendid weekend for a trip to Governors Island, which just so happens to be the venue for the 10th annual New York City Poetry Festival taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile, literary landlubbers can stick to the subway to experience the Little Island Storytelling Festival, featuring appearances by a curated selection of New York-based songwriters, musicians, poets, and performers, now through Sunday. If you’re more in the mood to take in visual art, the perennially intriguing Other Art Fair, sponsored by Saatchi, is back at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint all weekend. 

It’s also Restaurant Week, which means you can once again take advantage of deals at hundreds of restaurants across all five boroughs, so get cracking on getting a reservation on the books while it’s top of mind. Or maybe you are in a cooking groove, inspired by the season’s bounty of fruits and vegetables available at the city’s farmers’ markets and CSAs. If so, you may be interested to know that the city’s composting program is coming back this fall, and you can sign up here to be notified of details as they develop. 

On the southern end of the borough, the Cyclones are playing a three-game series against the Wilmington Blue Rocks this weekend, and tonight’s game features the added thrill of post-game fireworks. Phoebe Robinson is at The Bell House on Monday night, and there are still tickets available to the late show if you act fast.

Later in the week, Prospect Park’s Summer Movies Under the Stars series begins on Thursday with a free screening of Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse on Thursday. Speaking of Thursdays, you might want to clear your schedule now for August 19, when Brooklyn will get its own concert (lineup TBD) at Brooklyn Army Terminal to celebrate NYC Homecoming Week

As fun as that all sounds, I have a feeling I’ll be taking this weekend slow and steady, making sure to get outside as much as I can, and trying to see friends here and there. (But mostly looking forward to a solid Sunday NYT crossword session on the beach or sitting in the park, if I’m being honest). Here’s hoping that you are able to fully immerse yourself in whatever weekend vibe suits you this time around, and best wishes for a safe and happy one!

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