For our (unconscionably high) rent money, the best thing about living in NYC is its endless supply of fun, odd, and inspired cultural events. But with so many options, it can be hard to know where to even begin planning your week. To help you make sense of it all, Flavorpill Deputy Editor Mindy Bond shares the very best of what’s on offer this week. It’s just a taste of what you can find on the new Flavorpill, so if you like what you see, be sure to sign up.
Tuesday, May 28
BOOKS: Yes Is the Answer: Rare Bird and Other Voices present PROG NYC BEA PARTY 2013 If you’re a book lover who wants to get in on some cheap BookExpo America action, Housing Works, the trade show’s official charity partner, is doing its best to bring some of the bookish excitement down to its Crosby Street location. Tonight, the store plays host to a soiree celebrating Yes Is the Answer, a literary anthology that takes progressive music haters to task. Presented by indie publishing houses Rare Bird and Other Voices, the evening features music, readings, and signings by prog-rock supporters Rick Moody, Charles Bock, Wesley Stace, Rob Roberge, Marc Weingarten and more. — Mindy Bond
Wednesday, May 29
FESTIVAL: World Science Festival 2013 Don’t let that seven letter word scare you, the World Science Festival is an exciting adventure for anyone who has ever had an interest in the way things work. Running five days, the sixth installment features more than 50 panels, screenings, performances, and exhibitions addressing topics such as the mating rituals of insects, ancient ales, the existence of infinity, nanomedicine, and the science of food. Also planned is a night of urban stargazing, a sail aboard the Mystic Whaler Schooner, a science street fair, a two-day hack convention, and Innovation Square, an Epcot for technophiles. And if all that wasn’t enough to feed your imagination, you can join scientists and culinary innovators including Wylie Dufresne, Harold McGee, Maxime Bilet, and Rachel Dutton for an evening of scientific discovery, experimental cocktails, and cutting-edge cuisine. — Mindy Bond
Thursday, May 30
MUSIC: NYC Popfest 2013 A labor of twee love, this unabashedly upbeat music festival returns for its seventh year. Over its course, NYC Popfest has exposed New York audiences to both emerging and established acts such as the Radio Dept., Tender Trap, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Pelle Carlberg, and the Wake. In keeping with its predecessors, the 2013 edition runs four days and features jangle masters from a variety of time zones. Among those flying in for the occasion are freewheeling British pop vets the Monochrome Set, French Films From Finland, New Zealand’s the Bats, and Madrid-based Zipper. Acts hailing from closer to home include Ski Lodge, Grand Resort, and Michael Grace Jr.’s the Secret History. For those looking for ways to partake on the cheap, free events include a screening of a documentary about K Records on Friday and a daytime showcase at Spike Hill on Saturday. Otherwise, tickets are available individually or in a neat festival package. — Mindy Bond
Friday, May 31
ART: Bushwick Open Studios It’s time once again for art enthusiasts from across the five boroughs and beyond to descend on Bushwick’s three square miles to celebrate its thriving art scene. Organized by Arts in Bushwick, this three-day festival, now in its seventh year, showcases over 500 artist studios, dozens of group exhibitions, and a variety of other related events. In addition to weekend art crawling, revelers can attend the unveiling party for a new mural at La Marqueta de Williamsburg, check out an Electronic Music Showcase at Bossa Nova Civic Club, or settle in for an evening of short films at Bat Haus. For those who want to start the weekend off right, Shea Stadium plays host to an official BOS ’13 launch bash Friday night featuring performances from EULA, Air Waves, and Lodro. — Mindy Bond
BOOKS: Jeremy Scahill in conversation with Spencer Ackerman After the huge success of Jeremy Scahill’s first book, Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army, the anticipation has been quite high for the followup by the National Security Correspondent for The Nation. Now that the wait is over, Scahill will be in discussion tonight with Spencer Ackerman, a national security reporter and blogger for Wired magazine, and a frequent guest on several prominent MSNBC shows you probably watch, to talk about Scahill’s latest, Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield. — Jason Diamond
Saturday, June 1
CITY GEM: Sing for Hope Pianos The Sing for Hope Pianos are again popping up all over the five boroughs for two weeks to encourage music and the arts. Eighty-eight pianos (one for each key on a piano) have been painted by volunteers and are to played by anyone and everyone. At the end of it, all the pianos are donated to local schools, hospitals, and community centers. — Shea Corrigan
Sunday, June 2
COMEDY: Mike Birbiglia’s My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend — The Final Performance
ART: Red Bull Music Academy: Brian Eno’s 77 Million Paintings
Ongoing
THEATRE: A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay About the Death of Walt Disney New Dramatist resident playwright Lucas Hnath takes a superbly calculated stab at Walt Disney’s dark underbelly in his recent play, A Public Reading of an Unproduced Screenplay about the Death of Walt Disney. Enjoying its world premiere at Soho Rep, the play centers around the reading of a screenplay written by the great American dreamer during his last days on earth. Featuring a terrific ensemble cast lead by the captivating Larry Pine as the guileful Walt and directed by Soho artistic director Sarah Benson, this production is a must-see. — Mindy Bond