Things To Do In Elizabeth

From kimchi-covered hot dogs to frothy Oktoberfest brews, this week’s list of things to do is brimming with deliciousness. But that’s only a taste of things to come—read on for more events and happenings, including a musical revival and an opportunity to hear Silent Bob break his silence. And, as always, check Groupon for more great things to do in New York City. Munich on the East River Gramercy Park | Saturday, October 11, and Sunday, October 12 This Oktoberfest bacchanal hosted by East Village brewhaus Zum Schneider brings oompah bands, burly strongmen, and vast quantities of cold, frothy German beer to a quaint blue-and-white tent by the river. Guests quaff huge Masskrüge—liter steins—of brews like Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen and HB Traunstein Festbier and, after 5 p.m., tuck into dinners of soft pretzels, weisswurst, and other traditional German fare. (E. 23rd St. at the river; Noon to 10 p.m.; $25 general admission, $100 VIP; buy tickets here) Fat Man on Manhattan: An Evening with Kevin Smith with Special Guest Jason Mewes Midtown | Saturday, October 11 20 years after the slacker comedy Clerks launched him to indie-comedy stardom, writer and director Kevin Smith will “get up close and personal” with fans at this event, which closes out New York Super Week’s epic pop-culture nerdfest. Appearing alongside Smith at the Hammerstein Ballroom is his frequent co-star Jason Mewes, who’ll likely overturn audience expectations by letting Silent Bob do most of the talking. (311 W. 34th St.; $20–$40) NYC Makers: The MAD Biennial Columbus Circle | Through Sunday, October 12 The Museum of Arts and Design’s first-ever biennial shines a spotlight on artisans, artists, and designers who create exquisitely beautiful things—only some of which you would normally find in a museum. Visitors gaze upon a creepily globular pink face mask by artist Zach Blas, but also a pair of beach-tennis paddles from design team Fredericks & Mae. (2 Columbus Circle; $12–$16) Hot Dog Happy Hour with Mo Rocca West Village | Friday, October 17 Cooking-show host and CBS correspondent Mo Rocca celebrates one of America’s most iconic snacks at this Groupon-exclusive hot dog tasting, part of the Food Network Wine and Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE. In the airy outdoor space of The Standard, High Line’s beer garden, guests feast on bun-swaddled treats from Walter’s Hot Dogs’ classic franks to Asiadog’s kimchi- and curry-smothered fusion creations. (848 Washington St.; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; $75; buy tickets here) On the Town Times Square | Through November 23 Three sailors on scant 24-hour shore leave scour the Big Apple for their dream dates—or any date—in this madcap Leonard Bernstein–scored musical. The original, which first appeared on Broadway in 1949, gave us such hits as “New York, New York,” as well as a movie version starring Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly; the New York Times called Tony Award–winner John Rando’s 2014 production at the Lyric Theatre “one of those rare revivals that remind us what a hit show from long ago was really about.” (213 W. 42nd St.; $35–$79 through GrouponLive; get tickets here) Munich on the East River photo by Jonathan McPhail Photography. Photo of MAD Biennial opening night by Gulshan Kirat.

Just because you’ve hauled the grill in from your patriotic backyard cookout doesn’t mean it’s time to let up on summer fun. Pack the post-Fourth-of-July week with a ghost story performed by a kabuki theater troupe, a free concert in Hudson River Park, and a three-course picnic in the Rockaways curated by French foodies. And, as always, check Groupon for other great things to do in New York City. Heisei Nakamura-za at Lincoln Center Festival Upper West Side | Monday, July 7–Sunday, July 13 In their first visit to the Lincoln Center Festival since their sold-out run in 2004, Japanese kabuki troupe Heisei Nakamura-za will perform Kaidan Chibusa no Enoki, a 19th-century ghost story. Look forward to cutthroat stage combat, theatrical grimaces, and raucous slapstick comedy from the elite troupe, which traces its roots back to the 17th century. Before or after the show, stroll to the Japanese Artisan Village, which will vend traditional textiles, dolls, hair ornaments, and other handicrafts in Lincoln Center plaza through Sunday. (Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, 10 Columbus Circle; $45–$150; 7 p.m. each day with 1:30 p.m. matinees on Wednesday and Saturday) Photograph of Heisei Nakamura-za above: © Shochiko. Wild Beasts and Mutual Benefit Hudson River Park | Thursday, July 10, 6 p.m. The UK’s Wild Beasts are probably best known for singer Hayden Thorpe’s distinctive vocals, which can veer from soaring falsetto to guttural growl within a single line. Their 2014 album Present Tense may have toned down that roughness in favor of lush synthesizers and a smoother, R & B-inflected sound, but the new tunes still preserve the band’s intrinsic sense of drama. Get a taste this weekend at Hudson River Park, when Wild Beasts kicks off RiverRocks along with chamber-folk group Mutual Benefit. (free) Le Fooding Beach Club Rockaway Beach | Friday, July 11 French gastronomes Le Fooding return to New York City with this three-day event honoring the cuisine of the Sandy-ravaged Rockaways. Chefs including Christina Tosi of Momofuku Milk Bar and Andrew Field of Rockaway Taco prepare a three-course, picnic-style meal, which guests can pair with San Pellegrino sparkling fruit drinks and bartender-stirred mocktails. Saturday and Sunday tickets have sold out, but you can still grab a Friday ticket to kick off a long weekend or really long lunch break. (97-01 Shorefront Pkwy.; $40; seatings at noon to 1:45 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.–4 p.m.) Saturday Sculpture Workshop Long Island City | Saturday, July 12, noon to 3 p.m. This weekly event brings different artists to Socrates Sculpture Park to lead creative and kid-friendly arts-and-crafts activities. This week, artist Janelle Iglesias teaches kids to make geometric mobiles with straws and string. (free) Raekwon and Jay Electronica at the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival Williamsburg | Sunday, July 13 The Brooklyn Bodega–sponsored festival, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, brings two hip-hop heavyweights to the stage for its fifth and final night. With a feud with RZA brewing, Raekwon may not be in the mood to perform old Wu-Tang hits, but there’s plenty to love in his solo catalog—including some new tracks from Fly International Luxurious Art, due out this fall. The music doesn’t get underway until later in the afternoon, but those with tykes in tow can show up early for Family Day from noon to 2 p.m. (50 Kent Ave.; doors open at noon; $30+; buy tickets here)

On this week’s agenda: thought-provoking video art, an all-food market, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Greil Marcus, and Mamma Mia! on Broadway. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in New York City. Nam June Paik: Becoming Robot Upper East Side | Opens Friday, September 5 Sure, you could go see the Matisse cut-outs at the Museum of Modern Art, but for an art exhibit that's colorful and relevant to modern concerns, look no further than the Asia Society Museum. Considered the father of video art, the late Nam June Paik was fascinated by the manipulative power of technology. As funny as they are thought-provoking, his artworks on display here include a TV you can sit on to be reminded of the shrinking gap between human and machine. (725 Park Ave.; $7–$12) Smorgasburg Williamsburg | Saturday, September 6, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you haven't visited Smorgasburg yet this summer, do yourself a favor and plan a trip to East River State Park on Saturday. This all-food pop-up market features 100 vendors from across the boroughs, all converging on the Williamsburg waterfront to dole out packaged and prepared treats. (Kent Ave. and N. 7th St.; free) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Madison Square Garden Midtown Manhattan | Wednesday, September 10, 7:30 p.m. The World's Most Famous Arena will host one of America's most enduring rock bands when Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers roll into town with special guest Steve Winwood. The band's latest studio album, Hypnotic Eye, marks a return to their rollicking '60s form, and the bluesy guitar riffs in tunes like ''Fault Lines'' and ''Power Drunk'' sound like they were written to rock the rafters at MSG. (4 Pennsylvania Plaza; $56–$137; buy tickets here) Greil Marcus and Sasha Frere-Jones Talk Rock 'n' Roll Clinton Hill | Wednesday, September 10, 7:30 p.m. Greil Marcus is considered by many to be the founder of modern rock criticism, and Sasha Frere-Jones is one of the many writers who have benefitted from his influence. Frere-Jones, who writes for the New Yorker, will sit down with Marcus at St. Joseph's College on Wednesday to discuss the latter's new book, The History of Rock 'n' Roll in Ten Songs. The price of admission includes a copy of the book, which attendees can have signed after the discussion. (245 Clinton Ave.; $25; buy tickets here) Mamma Mia! at Broadhurst Theatre Theater District | Through Saturday, September 13 A lighthearted romp of a musical, Mamma Mia! chronicles a daughter's quest to find her true father before her wedding day. It all happens to the sparkling sounds of ABBA, the Swedish pop group behind such hits as ''Dancing Queen,'' ''Knowing Me, Knowing You,'' ''The Winner Takes It All,'' and of course, the title track. (235 W. 44th St.; $49; buy tickets here)