Things To Do In Cliffside Park

From unicyclists and silly dances to futuristic light suits, this week’s list of things to do is high on whimsy, low on adult responsibilities. Enjoy these five excuses to put off your chores, and as always, check Groupon for more great things to do in New York City. NYC Unicycle Festival Governors Island | Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31 Circus performers, inventors, and other fans of mono-wheeled transport roll over to Governors Island for this whimsical two-day celebration of all things unicycle. Visitors can test their skills in relay races and rounds of unicycle basketball, hockey, and sumo wrestling, or watch world-class performers’ daredevil moves. If you’re not used to balancing on one wheel, no worries—lessons for first-timers will be available throughout the day. (Noon to early evening; free) Silly Dance Contest Rockaways | Saturday, August 30 Goofily costumed revelers shake off self-consciousness during the Silly Dance Contest, a Rockaway Beach Surf Club–hosted competition that rewards guests’ arm-flailing-est, booty-shaking-est moves. After three 20- to 30-minute rounds and a climactic final dance-off, the winner gets a $50 bar tab, second place gets a $25 bar tab, and everyone else gets that feeling of lightness that comes with not taking yourself too seriously. (302 Beach 87th St., Queens; sign-up at 6 p.m., dancing at 6:30 p.m.; $5 cover) The Williamsburg Spelling Bee Williamsburg | Monday, September 1 New York’s only adult spelling bee brings word-lovers to Pete’s Candy Store once a month to test their word-ly knowledge. Sign-up begins at 7 p.m., and the first 15 get to play; spectators toast correct spellings of “autochthonous” with beer and other grownup beverages. Bee founder Bobbyblue and comedian Jen Dziura host. (709 Lorimer St., Brooklyn; 7:30 p.m.; free) DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist – Renegades of Rhythm Union Square | Thursday, September 4, and Friday, September 5 Turntablists DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist celebrate the legacy of hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa as only music nerds know how—by rooting through his vinyl collection. Their show at Irving Plaza will set Bambaataa’s favorite records spinning on six turntables; light and video effects add visual interest as the two DJs mix and meld their sounds. (17 Irving Place; $47–$101.50; buy tickets for Thursday here and Friday here) iLuminate: Artist of Light Midtown | Through January 4, 2015 The best dance show in the city might be one that takes place in total darkness. After blowing away judges on America’s Got Talent, the dancers of iLuminate don their high-tech light suits again for this performance at New World Stages. As dancers perform moves in styles from Latin dance to hip-hop, the LEDs embedded in their all-black clothing transform them into fanciful creatures, from friendly robots to multi-limbed spiders. (340 W. 50th St.; shows daily except Tuesdays; tickets $45 through GrouponLive) Photo of NYC Unicycle Festival courtesy of Keith Nelson. Photo of Williamsburg Spelling Bee by Deneka Peniston.

This week’s agenda includes a poet-led rock band, a 40-mile bike ride, indie-pop handclaps, and frothy pints of craft beer. If that’s not enough to keep you busy, you can always check Groupon for more great things to do in New York City. New York City Poetry Festival Governors Island | Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing a Pulitzer Prize–winning poet front a rock group, here’s your chance. The fourth annual NYC Poetry Festival brings Paul Muldoon’s folk-and-roots band Wayside Shrines to Governors Island to headline a weekend that will include readings from more than 250 poets, including Mark Doty, Joyelle McSweeney, and Matthea Harvey. In-between sets, browse indie crafts and booksellers’ wares, fuel up with snacks from food vendors including Morris Grilled Cheese and Mud Coffee, or quaff pints in a beer garden sponsored by Brooklyn Brewery. (free; register here) The Epic Ride Greenpoint | Sunday, July 27, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cyclists zip along 40 miles of picturesque waterfront during this Brooklyn Greenway Initiative–sponsored ride, which loosely follows the path of the proposed Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. Starting in Greenpoint, riders pedal their way along the Queens shoreline to Rockaway Beach, where they can celebrate their feat with a dip in the ocean or a beachside after-party with food vendors. ($30 BGI members, $40 general admission; register here) Ingrid Michaelson Central Park | Wednesday, July 30, at 6 p.m. This spring, singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson’s “Girls Chase Boys” became her highest-charting single in eight years, buoyed in part by a Robert Palmer–esque music video full of made-up male models. But Michaelson's back catalog is full of even more sweet, upbeat pop. This Wednesday at Central Park Summerstage, the concert crowd can look forward to clapping along with her 2006 hit “The Way I Am” or whipping out their best air ukulele during the chilled-out ballad “Be Ok.” (at Central Park SummerStage; $30, $25 in advance; buy tickets here) Good Beer SoHo | Thursday, July 31 Sponsored by Edible Manhattan, the sixth annual Good Beer festival lets suds aficionados celebrate the end of July Good Beer Month in style. Guests match pints from craft brewers such as Brewery Ommegang, Oskar Blues Brewery, and KelSo Beer with bites from the likes of Luke’s Lobster, Brooklyn Cured, and Roni-Sue’s Chocolates. (at 82Mercer, 82 Mercer St.; $65 general admission; buy tickets here) Finding Fela West Village | Friday, August 1 Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti may have a hit Broadway musical to his name, but there’s always more to his life story than can fit onstage. Academy Award–winner Alex Gibney’s documentary Finding Fela, which opens at the IFC Center this weekend, attempts to fill in the gaps left by FELA! by delving deep into Kuti’s legacy as a performer and political activist. The result may feel a little like program notes for the musical (whose scenes feature prominently in the film), but for fans of Kuti, it’s still worth a look. (323 Sixth Ave.; $14 adults, $10 children and seniors, $9 IFC members; tickets not yet available) Photo of Ingrid Michaelson by Shervin Lainez.

Don’t let the Fourth of July hog all the attention. From an Avengers-themed costume party to a dream-pop concert at MoMA, there’s plenty to do this week beyond cookouts and fireworks. If you still need help filling your schedule, check Groupon for more great things to do in New York City. Drunk Shakespeare Hell’s Kitchen | Monday, June 30, at 8 p.m. Sure, this limited-run show has multiple performances throughout the week. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more highbrow(ish) excuse to get tipsy on a Monday night. Upstairs at Quinn’s Bar & Grill, an actor downs a minimum of five shots of whiskey before attempting to perform a Shakespeare play from memory. Botched lines, mangled soliloquies, and other antics ensue as the troupe blends the poetry of the Bard with the spontaneity of improv comedy. (356 W. 44th St.; $29) Downward Doll Yoga at Karma Kids West Village | Wednesday, July 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Child-centric yoga studio Karma Kids kicks off its Wednesday summer event series with a yoga lesson for kids aged 3–6 and their favorite stuffed animals and dolls. Each toy gets its own mini yoga mat to practice poses alongside its pint-size owner. If this session fills up, no worries—Karma Kids has pirate, shark, and fairy-princess themed yoga yet to come. (104 W. 14th St.; $30) MoMA Nights with Au Revoir Simone Midtown | Thursday, July 3, at 6:30 p.m. The austere white walls of MoMA’s sculpture garden will reverberate with the dream-pop of Brooklyn trio Au Revoir Simone this Thursday in the latest outing in the MoMA Nights series. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase, including local gelato and sorbetto from the Garden Bar. Get there before doors open at 5:30 p.m. to wander the museum’s summer exhibitions. (11 W. 53rd St.; free with $14–$25 museum admission) Nathan’s Famous Hot-Dog Eating Contest Coney Island | Friday, July 4, starting at 11 a.m. Fireworks, shmireworks. Every red-blooded American knows that the real way to celebrate our nation’s birth is to watch an adult man (or woman) scarf down dozens of hot dogs in a matter of mere seconds. Stop by to see Kobayashi’s archnemesis Joey Chestnut and Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas defend their 2013 men’s and women’s titles. (1310 Surf Ave.; free) Midtown Comics Fan Party and The Avengers Screening South Street Seaport | Saturday, July 5, starting at 4 p.m.; movie screening at 8 p.m. Can’t make it to Comic Con this year? No worries—this Pier/Party event will be crawling with cosplayers. Costumed fans enjoy drink specials and compete for prizes provided by South Street Seaport and Midtown Comics. Stop by to participate or people-watch before The Avengers brings heroes like Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man to life on the big screen. (11 Fulton St.; free) Photo of 2006 Nathan's Famous Hot-Dog Eating Contest sourced from Wikipedia under a Creative Commons License. Downward Doll photo courtesy of Karma Kids.