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Whether you grew up playing the original Red and Blue versions of Pokémon on your Game Boy or you’re just now learning what a Pikachu is for the first time, there’s a Poké-tastic event coming up that you’ll love. Meet other Pokémon Go players IRL and catch new Pokémon in interesting places at three of our favorites.
Pokémon Go tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Join Museum Hack for a lowbrow romp through one of the most highbrow institutions in the world. Your tour guide (who may be Kevin, the Met’s Pokémon gym leader—NBD) takes you to several Poké-stops throughout the museum and along the way tells you how some of the artwork connects with your favorite Pokémon. Check out the bejeweled Fabergé eggs, reminiscent of those eggs you’ve been hiking miles to hatch; visit Kohei Nawa’s sculpture PixCell-Deer#24 (highly reminiscent of new age Pokémon Sawsbuck) of a taxidermic deer decorated with glass spheres that look like Poké Balls; and head to the Met’s “visible storage” area to get inspiration for your own Pokémon creations. You will, of course, end the day with a giant boss battle and try to overtake the gym.
1000 Fifth Ave (museumhack.com). Sat 20 at 11am; $35.
Pokémon Go/Anime City party in Manhattan
Ain’t no party like a Pokémon party! The Senpai Project plans events for anime enthusiasts, and it’s putting on a night jam-packed with goodies for gamers of all kinds. Stop in for drink specials like the Team Valor cocktail, play video games like Pokkén Tournament and Super Smash Bros., and wear your best cosplay (Team Rocket, anyone?) for the costume contest. Raffle prizes given out throughout the day include a plushie of Pikachu in a Charizard costume (too adorable) and an action figure of Tidus from Final Fantasy X. And, obviously, you and your fellow Poké-fans will catch mad Pokémon.
Legends Bar, 6 W 33rd St (thesenpaiproject.com). Sat 20 8:30pm–3am; free.
Pokémon Go gathering on Governors Island
It’s time to take your game from Pallet Town to the Elite Four. Roam the great green expanse of the island with other Pokémon enthusiasts, and be sure to wear your team colors (yellow for Team Instinct, blue for Team Mystic and red for Team Valor) to pair up with your brethren and take down any local gyms. Just think: You could rule the whole island! Save your lucky eggs, because the player who catches the most Pokémon and moves up the most levels wins the Pokémon Go Master Give Away, with prizes for the top three finishers. There are charging stations on-site so you never run out of juice, and if you ever feel the urge to put down your phone and be social, there are live music performances, food trucks and beer from Gun Hill Brewing Co.
eventbrite.com. Sat 20 10am–7pm; free.