Join hundreds of your fellow New Yorkers this Sunday at 3 p.m. on Governors Island for the always unique MP3 Experiment. Fear not if you don't know what we're talking about, here's the deal: Before the event, Improv Everywhere provides an MP3 to be downloaded by any and all who wish to participate. The audio track is composed of about 45 minutes of music and verbal instructions. Participants synchronize their watches to the atomic clock on the Improv Everywhere website and, at the designated time, press play and abide by the omnipotent voice.
You'll be led through a series of silent, coordinated actions that will, knowing past experiments, likely culminate in something spectacular. So get off the computer and find happiness in spending time with strangers outside! (Your headphones will be on so don't worry about making conversation.) Improv Everywhere will release the full deets for the day on their website.
Also this weekend:
The 8th annual Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival concludes with a series of performances, screenings and parties. Catch the Dummy Clap Film Festival Indie Screenings on Friday, which features Brooklyn Boheme by Brooklyn writer/filmmaker Nelson George and The Infamous Mobb Deep documentary. Enjoy a full day of performances on Saturday with headliner Busta Rhymes and a score of other performers from Brooklyn and beyond. The artists will also be paying special tribute to the late great Beastie Boy Adam Yauch, and the festival wraps up with a big after-party at The Knitting Factory Saturday night with sets from Ana Tijoux, Jasmino Solano, CSC Funk Band and more. Tickets to the films and the after party are $10 each, with passes to the final day concerts available at a reasonable $30.
On Sunday evening, the big and beautiful Clipper City sailboat will disembark from South Street Seaport for a two hour unlimited oyster and Sixpoint beer sunset sailboat cruise. The Clipper City is America's largest operating tall ship—it was built 25 years ago and is replica of a Civil War-era schooner. They'll take you out to the Statue of Liberty and back while filling you with oysters from the Long Island-based Open Oyster, craft beer from Sixpoint, and mellow tunes. Tickets cost $90 and the boat boards at 6:30 p.m.
Speaking of the open water, the Metropolitan Water Authority, which is tasked with "transforming the New York and New Jersey Harbor and Waterways to make them cleaner and more accessible," is putting on City of Water, a day-long celebration of our natural coastline. Denizens can explore the waterways surrounding the city with free boat tours and kayaking, plus opportunities to catch some local seafood. Crafts, games, food and music round out the festivities. Many of the activities will happen on Governor's Island but every borough and parts of New Jersey will also host a variety of events.
In the midst of this summer's multitude of music festivals comes Bushwick Walkabout Music Fest, a two-day mini-music event this Friday and Saturday featuring 21 bands and... free Sixpoint beer! Hop the L and head into the bowels of Brooklyn to discover a bevy of up-and-coming music acts. Or, if you're one of the indie insiders, listen to that band you already discovered four months ago before the rest catch on and it goes mainstream. A two-day pass, if bought ahead, will only run you 20 bucks and a day pass is $15, but you can still get them at the door day-of for five dollars more. Shallow pockets rejoice!
With Carrie Dennis
