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Mon 27
NYC Undiscovered The Living Room at the W Times Square; 6pm; free
Ever wish you could hear and enjoy the great talents who perform on the subway without rushing to your next destination? The Living Room at the W New York – Times Square is making your dream a reality. Every Monday night, the venue invites raw talents such as subway musicians Najah Lewis, Chris Zurich and Drew Angus to provide free entertainment while you chill and sip cocktails.
Puffs, or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic Peoples Imrpov Theater; 9:30pmp; $20
The frighteningly creative minds behind Kapow-i GoGo bring you a Harry Potter parody of epic proportions. The gentle Hufflepuffs often live in the shadows of J.K. Rowling's universe, and this show follows the forgotten lives of the students sitting next to the hero. Wayne Hopkins was just a boy from New Mexico till he found out he was a wizard. Find out how he and other mediocre Puffs fare at the School of Magic and Magic.
“Star Wars and the Power of Costume” Discovery Times Square; 10am; $27.50
Enter fan Valhalla and feast your eyes upon more than 70 impeccably preserved original costumes from the first two Star Wars trilogies, along with seven pieces from The Force Awakens. You can see yourself reflected in Vader’s helmet, wish you were Naboo royalty when passing Queen Amidala’s regal gowns and cringe in disbelief at Princess Leia’s bikini. Just try to keep your arguments over midi-chlorian counts to a minimum.
Whiplash Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre; 11pm; free
This always-packed show, hosted by Leo Allen, features the city’s best up-and-coming comedians. But it’s the surprise special guests—Chris Rock, Louis C.K. and David Cross have appeared—who keep audiences hooked.
Lady Bunny: Trans-Jester; The Stonewall Inn; 7pm; $20
The shameless drag legend and nightlife pioneer Lady Bunny is back with another delightfully offensive solo show packed with song parodies and savagely hilarious takedowns.
Tue 28
The Dump! Open Mic Storytelling Show The Creek and the Cave; 8pm; free
The Creek and the Cave gives you eight minutes to rid yourself of some of your most ghastly memories at this cathartic storytelling event. With no prompts or judges, you can finally share your secret tales of summer camp heartbreak and music festival STDs among tipsy friends and fellow shameless storytellers.
Trivia Tuesdays The Sackett; 8pm; free
Don't let the Sackett's stacked drink menu blur your trivia skills, because you'll need to bring your A-game for five rounds of unpredictable trivia. You'll have to keep up with music, visual, mystery rounds and more if you want to win eternal glory (at least, until the next game two weeks later).
Fly, You Fools! Peoples Improv Theater; 8pm; $20
The irreverent goons behind Hold On To Your Butts and the director of the Harry Potter parody show Puffs present this "shot-for-shot" reenactment of the gloriously dramatic The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Expect wigs to fly as this four-person crew plays the roles of a nine-man cohort of misfits, a sentient astral eye and an elfin princess with hilarious dedication.
St. Vincent + Martha Wainwright + Elysian Fields + Joan As Police Woman + Very Special Guest Le Poisson Rouge; 8pm; $35
St. Vincent plays a special benefit show for the son of her drummer Matt Johnson, who's suffering from a brain injury. The artist née Annie Clark has spent the last two years touring with David Byrne and recording another stellar self-titled album of self-confident musings that have made her the reigning queen of indie rock.
Wed 29
Oh My Science! Videology Bar & Cinema; 7pm; free
You'll actually learn quite a bit during UCB comedian Dan Silver's twisted, hysterical lectures on psychology, animal biology, ecology and more, but you'll have to try hard to keep up between gut-busting laughs. Whether you show up for slides of animals dancing or kissing or for the answers to life on Earth, you'll likely be stupefied and wiped out from laughing at this "rigorous examination of all matters."
Arcade Classics: Video Games from the Collection Museum of the Moving Image; 10:30am; $15
Take a break from Fruit Ninja and revisit the good ol’ days of gaming at the Museum of the Moving Image’s exhibit of more than 30 iconic vintage video games, including beloved classics like Centipede, Donkey Kong, Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam, Q*bert and Tron. Museum admission includes four game tokens—and no parents telling you to go play outside
Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater; 7:30pm; $15–$35
It’s an NYC rite of passage to watch hopeful performers rub the Tree of Hope and give their all to make Top Dog status. Whether the acts dazzle the crowd or are literally swept offstage by C.P. Lacey, they’re guaranteed to produce an unforgettable show. This season’s series of dance, music, comedy and performance showdowns builds up to November’s finals, at which one Super Top Dog wins $10,000 and eternal glory. Be good or begone!
Mindfulness Meditation at the Rubin Museum; 1pm; $15
New York Times best-selling author and meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg and other esteemed practitioners of mindfulness meditation lead beginners and long-time meditators in midday sessions designed to expand your consciousness—during your lunch break. Inspired by art from the Rubin Museum, each event includes an opening talk, a sitting meditation and a closing discussion.
Super Free Wednesday Peoples Improv Theater; 7pm; free
Every Wednesday, all night long, see the PIT's best house teams doing their brand of long-form improvisation.
Thu 30
Tainted Love: ‘80s Dance Party with DJ Jane Elizabeth The Bell House; 10pm; free
Every month, DJ Jane Elizabeth revives gems—or, technically, jams— from the annals of synth-pop, new wave, glam rock, old-school hip-hop and more at this party for fans who still want their MTV. This is your chance to tease your hair, paint on eyeliner and worship some of the U.K.’s finest artists-—including Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, and Siouxsie and the Banshees—before celebrating the USA all weekend long.
I Like Your Glasses: Ladies’ Literary Speed Dating Housing Works Bookstore Café; 7pm; $15 (includes one drink)
Tired of fawning over sexy subway strangers with good literary taste from afar? This speed-dating event—presented by CoverSpy, a blog that documents straphangers’ reads—looks to match lit-lovers, ages 21–39, with other lit-lovers. The ticket price includes a beer or glass of wine, and all proceeds benefit Housing Works' AIDS health services.
Dinner Party No. 11: Brooklyn Foodworks; 6pm; $70
Brooklyn Brewery returns with another suppertime soiree, this one taking place at the Pfizer Pharmaceuticals–factory-turned-foodie-haven Brooklyn FoodWorks. The menu comprises offerings from the location's residents, including Mama O's Kimchi, Steve's Ice Cream, Sfoglini Pasta, Tinyfield Roofhop Farm and Roberta's, plus, of course, plenty of Brooklyn Brewery beer.
Fat Baby Live! The Stand; 10pm; $15
The guys behind Fat Baby Comedy—Benny D and Giulio Gallarotti—host a different crew of comedians every Thursday. They also produce an involved series of promos for the show on YouTube that is worth checking out for, if nothing else, their degree of goofy cinematic skills.
Homotown Henrietta Hudson; 4pm; free
Head to Henrietta Hudson every Thursday for a seemingly endless happy hour (till midnight, seriously) and chill jams from veteran DJ Tikka Masala, who keeps you grinning all night with Motown, soul and beloved hip-hop classics.
Thug Passion The Creek and the Cave; 6pm; free
Hosts Shalewa Sharpe and Courtney Fearrington bring together a night of heavy drinking and raw, unpredictable open-mic stand-up sets, all in honor of Tupac.