22 awesome things happening in New York this week

Tarantino Trivia Night; The Bell House
TrivWorks celebrates 20 years of the iconic movie Pulp Fiction by testing your most obscure Quentin Tarantino film knowledge.

New York Wildlife Conservation Festival; Various locations
You’ve seen all the Oscar bait; now check out this festival of nature-themed shorts—one of which is called Meercats: How they Cuddle, Dream and Sleep. *melts from overwhelming adorableness*

Italian Restaurant Week; various locations
Usually pricey Italian eateries cut their prices so you can enjoy the delightful cuisine without the very light wallet in return.

Cary Elwes in Conversation; Barnes & Noble Union Square
The Princess Bride star discusses the behind-the-scenes stories of his career in his new book, As You Wish.

All of Them Witches; The Bell House
Explore the wonderful world of witchcraft as the Bonnie & Maude podcast hosts talk live about the various ways the subject is portrayed in film and on TV, from broomstick travel to real-life Wicca practices.

Molly Ringwald; Café Carlyle (in the Carlyle Hotel)
John Hughes 1980s muse Molly Ringwald brings her spunky auburn glow to the Carlyle, celebrating her album of standards, Except Sometimes.

Creepshow at the Freakshow; Coney Island USA Shooting Gallery Arts Annex
Be prepared to participate at Coney Island USA’s Creepshow at the Freakshow with this year's over-the-top Halloween theater show, Dick Zigun's Dead End Dummy.

HONK!; Various locations
This annual multi-city showcase of "activist street bands" blankets the city—and yes, that phrase does describe an actual movement, as anyone who's been monitoring this scene in recent years could tell you.

Oct 14

Flying Lotus + Thundercat; Terminal 5
Since 2012’s excellent Until the Quiet Comes, Flying Lotus, reigning emperor of the forward-thinking L.A. electronica scene, has been quiet—under that moniker, at least. Well, now he's back with fast-fingered fusion bassist Thundercat for a fuzzed-out electronically jazzy show.

Having a Whiskey Coke with You; Freddy's Bar
Some of New York's best and brightest indie talent gather at this raucous series, which also puts out a zine of contributors' work each month.

Warpaint + Liam Finn; Webster Hall
L.A. quartet Warpaint brings its woozy, dreamy rock to Webster Hall for a blissfully jammy performance in support of a recent self-titled LP.

Festival Albertine; Albertine
Where can you see best-selling authors, a Nobel Prize–winning economist and Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner…for free? At a festival celebrating new French bookstore Albertine, of course!

Oct 15

The Lost & Found Show; Le Poisson Rogue
Hear actors, comedians and bloggers unfold bizarre tales about old objects they found. This month's theme is costumes, so maybe you'll spot some Spider-Men in the mix.

Jennifer Monson; New York Live Arts
Monson reprises her excellent Live Dancing Archive, in which she shares and explores her body's accrued knowledge from more than a decade of dance-based environmental research.

Never Can Say Goodbye; Greenlight Bookstore
In response to Joan Didion’s classic essay on leaving New York, anthology editor Sari Botton and authors Alexander Chee, Anna Holmes, Phillip Lopate and Adelle Waldman share why their hearts will never, ever, ever abandon the city they love. Even celebs like Whoopi Goldberg add their piece about why they can't leave NYC behind.

New York City Wine and Food Festival; Various locations
The star-chef food fete is back for its seventh round with more than 100 tastings, seminars.

Basil Twist; Rose Theater (at Frederick P. Rose Hall)
Puppeteer Basil Twist takes on Stravinsky's epic The Rite of Spring. Don't worry, we're sure it'll be more beautiful than creepy. Ok, we think. Go see for yourself!

Oct 16

Tinder Live; Knitting Factory
As if it weren't hilarious enough in real life, Tinder (the wildy popular dating app) gets exposed in this comedy show. If you're hoping for some swiping tips (no matter how ridiculous), this is the event for you.

On the Town; Lyric Theatre
The beloved 1944 classic musical (about singing, dancing sailors on shore leave) returns with a fresh young cast.

Academy of American Poets Chancellors Reading; NYU Skirball Center
Even in a literary haven like New York, it’s rare to see this much talent in one room; seize the chance to see Edward Hirsch, Anne Waldman, Claudia Rankine and more read their latest work.

Dean Moss; the Kitchen
Moss explores the complicated legacy of white abolitionist John Brown in a production that includes video performances of a script commissioned from playwright Thomas Bradshaw.