The Olympics are winding to a close this weekend, and you can say Cheerio to the games right here in NYC with two Olympic-sized events put on by the folks at Hester Street Fair. First up on Saturday, the always fun LES food and craft fest will be enhanced with a Ping Pong—table tennis if we're being technical—tournament, with the chance to win some special prizes and gift certificates. (Register in advance at rsvp@hesterstreetfair.com, or sign up day-of.) The fair, located in Seward Park at the intersection of Hester and Essex Streets, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., giving you plenty of time to enjoy La NewYorkina popsicles, plantain sandwiches from Vendy Award winner Patacon Pisao, popcorn from Cultured Confection, and so much more. The festivities culminate with the "experimental pop stylings" of Conveyor.
On Sunday, watch the Olympics Closing Ceremony unfold on a giant screen in the plaza of the Eventi Hotel, with international food curated by the Hester Street Fair. While we can't guarantee any Voldemort appearances, we do know that the ceremony, called "A Symphony of British Music," will feature George Michael and Muse, with rumors abounding that the Spice Girls, Adele and The Who might also show up to perform. The Eventi will screen the ceremony from 7 p.m. until 12 a.m.
Also this weekend:
If the weather doesn't cooperate, why not ponder the afterlife and have a few laughs while you're at it, with midday screenings of Defending Your Life at Williamsburg's Nitehawk Cinema Saturday and Sunday. Albert Brooks dies and finds himself in a midway point in the universe, where he must defend his actions during his time spent on earth and either "move forward" or be sent back to earth to try again. Sounds heavy, but Brooks's lighthearted dialogue and whimsical vision of the afterlife make this comedy an enjoyable peek at what our lives really mean. Enjoy fantastic performances from Brooks, Rip Torn and the always luminescent Meryl Streep.
Marching Bands are no longer relegated to High School football games and Memorial Day parades: MarchFourth Marching Band will be performing a midnight show at Brooklyn Bowl on Friday. This "mobile big band spectacular" brings together all the classical elements of a marching band—like lots of horns and percussion—and turns it on its head, adding electric bass and a crew of dancers, circus performers and fine arts. Don't expect to hear any songs about marching saints, M4 composes its own material, drawing inspiration from just about everywhere. Tickets are $10.
Relive all your favorite '90s jams and belt out the lyrics at the 90's Summer Jams Sing-Along Friday night at Legion in Williamsburg. All the hits from the decade are represented, including songs from Fastball, Britney Spears, Oasis, RHCP, Coolio, Spice Girls...you get the picture. The music videos will be up on the big screen, lyrics included, setting the stage for one epic sing-along dance party. To be clear: this isn't karaoke, so all you shower-only singers need fear not—when everybody is singing, nobody knows you're out of tune. The doors for this free event open at 9 p.m. with an hour-long pre-show of 90's TV clips before the main event starts at 10 p.m.
It's that time of year again! The Discovery Channel's annual Shark Week will make its 25th splash this Sunday. Why not observe the time honored event at MexiBBQ in Astoria, Queens for their very own Shark Week? Starting at 3 p.m. on Sunday and ending at 1 a.m. Friday, August 17th, submerge yourself with $9 shark-inspired food and drink specials including Tacos de Tiburon—actual grilled shark(!), fresh avocado and guajillo orange salsa—and the Great 'Witte' Beer Flight which will include a variety of craft brews. Watch shark, while you eat shark; the bar will be playing Shark Week programming the whole time.
Additional contributions by Carrie Dennis.
