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September 25
Drag Court Peoples Improv Theater; 9:30pm; $10
All rise for the honorable Judge Rooby Roo, because the small claims Drag Court is in session. Judge Roo will use her wisdom to see through the shade to rule who is guilty of wrongdoing and who is criminally guilty of wearing a bad wig.
The Decemberists + Lucious Radio City Music Hall; 8pm; $29.50–$59.50
Indie-favorites the Decemberists are bringing music from their latest album, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World, to the famed venue. Their passionate fans will be singing along, so be sure to brush up on the narrative-song lyrics.
ElevenEleven Open House; 11pm; $5, before midnight free
It’s the weekend! Cut loose at the multifloor LGBT dance party hosted by nightlife queen Lady Fag. Expect to stay out all night with this lively crowd.
Lola Stars Dreamland Roller Disco Lakeside at Prospect Park, Brooklyn; 7:30pm; $18
Transport yourself to a magical land where you sing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” into a hairbrush with curlers in your hair and roller skates on your feet at the '80s Pajama Party–themed night of roller-skating and dancing.
Museum Hack at BBG Brooklyn Botanic Garden; 6pm; $65–$70
See the conservatory in a brand new light on an after-hours tour of the premises. You’ll not only learn about exotic plants, but you’ll also get the dirt on the garden’s history and behind-the-scenes botany.
Hold on to Your Butts Peoples Improv Theater; 9:30pm; $20
Two dudes and one talented foley artist take on all of the characters, including a very sexual Jeff Goldblum, in the monstrous blockbuster Jurassic Park in this shot-for-shot remake of the '90s classic.
Differnc Berg’n, Brooklyn; 9pm; free
DJ Differnc brings his beats to this Brooklyn Beer hall. While you groove to the music, chow down on grub like pulled pork or brisket from Mighty Quinn’s BBQ or a Coney Dog from Ed and Bev’s, and wash it down with one of the dozen brews on draft. Cheers!
Cruise to the End of the Line Hot Rod and Tattoo Show Sideshow by the Seashore; 12pm; free
You might want to pack a leather jacket when you head to Coney Island all weekend long to watch skilled tattoo artists create fresh works and check out vintage cars and motorcycles.
September 26
Museum Day Live Various locations and times; free
Skip boozy brunch and feed your brain with a free ticket to one of the 20-plus participating museums from Smithsonian magazine. Appreciate a different culture at the Rubin Museum, Ukrainian Museum or the Hispanic Society of America, or feel really bookish at the Morgan Library and Museum.
Chile Pepper Fiesta Brooklyn Botanic Garden; 10am; $20, seniors and students $15, members and children under 12 free
Spice up your life with samples of salsas, chili-infused chocolates and hot sauces. After your mouth is sufficiently scorched, heat up the dance floor with music provided by funk, hip-hop, salsa and Afro-Brazilian bands.
World Maker Faire New York Hall of Science; 10am; $30, seniors $25, students $20, children 2–17 $15, children under 2 free
Tinkers, innovators and creators let their nerd flags fly at this annual fair. Exhibitors show off their latest inventions—both those that might save the world and pianos that light on fire—and give visitors a chance to build their own creations.
Miguel Gutierrez : the Age and Beauty Series New York Live Arts; 3, 6, 8pm; $15–$35
Gutierrez reprises the captivating dance trilogy from the 2014 Whitney Biennial for a limited run in Chelsea. He brings his experiences and anxieties about aging, particularly as a dancer, to explosive—and often hilarious—places.
Perfect Pussy + Guerilla Toss + Pawns + Ghost Dads Riis Park Beach Bazaar, Queens; 1pm; free
Just because it’s officially fall doesn’t mean you can’t still ride the sound waves down at the beach. Time Out New York presents this full day of music, and we’re bringing along some of our favorites: headliner noise-punk band Perfect Pussy.
The Governors Island Art Fair Governors Island; 11am; free
This is the last weekend to ride the ferry to car-less, art-filled bliss before the island closes for the year. Check out the works of more than 120 independent artists and galleries as you breathe in the fresh air.
Ariana Grande + Prince Royce Barclays Center, Brooklyn; 7:30pm; $39.50–$695
Grande has long “Broke Free” of her Nickelodean beginnings to become a Billboard Chart juggernaut. The young diva’s big hair and even bigger singing-range (she’s got four octaves!) are even more impressive in the flesh.
Breukelen Country Fair Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, Brooklyn; 1pm; free
Take a trip through time to when the Dutch first settled in Breukelen (that’s “Brooklyn” to you modern folk) to celebrate the history of the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, which was first built in 1652. Sip on cider, hear live music, and learn about the area’s agricultural past.
Little Red Lighthouse Festival Fort Washington Park; 12pm; free
Tucked away in Fort Washington Park stands Manhattan’s last remaining lighthouse and, guys, its really cute. Celebrate its longevity with live music and tour of red beacon.
September 27
Asssscat 3000 Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre; 7:30, 9:30pm; free–$10
One of the city’s longest-running improv shows is also the most consistently hilarious. Each week a special guest—often a comedian, actor or television writer—steps up to tell a story that the cast of top improvisers build scenes off of.
The So So Glos + Bikini Carwarsh Riis Park Beach Bazaar, Queens; 1pm; free
It’s the last day of the Beach Bazaar (sob), but instead of mourning the loss, we’ll party like summer never ends with jams from local punk band So So Glos and the power-pop group Bikini Carwash.
29th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction Shubert Alley at W 44th Street; 10am–7pm; free
Give your regards to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids at this annual flea benefitting the nonprofit. The sprawling market has playbooks, costumes and tons of autographs up for sale, and those with deeper pockets will want to check out the exclusive passes and offers being auctioned off.
Atlantic Antic Atlantic Ave between Hicks St and Fourth Ave, Brooklyn; noon–6pm; free
The self-proclaimed largest NYC street fair is back for it’s 40th year. The sprawling Brooklyn bonanza cuts through four neighborhoods, presents live entertainment on 10 stages and has more than 500 food and craft vendors. Try to see it all: We dare you.
Unbound: Bryan Doerries BAM Harvey Theater, Brooklyn; 7pm; $30
For fans of theater, it’d be a tragedy to miss this reading from Bryan Doerries’s book The Theater of War: What Ancient Greek Tragedies Can Teach Us Today. If you haven’t heard of Doerries, you’re probably familiar with the performers joining him on stage: Adam Driver, Paul Giamatti, Gloria Reuben and David Strathairn.
Harry Potter Trivia Videology, Brooklyn; 7pm; free
Gather your own Order of the Phoenix or enter as a lone unicorn in this duel with other Potter Heads. Fair warning: Only those who completed all 7 years at Hogwarts and passed their O.W.L.s in spades stand a chance against these Hermione-wannabes.
New York Burlesque Festival The Tippler at 2pm; Highline Ballroom at 8pm; free–$120
See dazzling costumes, acrobatic choreography and plenty of sexy surprises when more than 120 burlesque artists pull out all the stops (and pull off all their clothes) at the 13th annual festival.
The Fabulous: A Trans-formative XPerience Pianos; 10pm; $10
Watch transexual alien queen Essi X fight her evil sister Fáme with fabulosity at this new musical from gender-bending disco band Amerigogo.