Things To Do In Freehold

School may be back in full swing, but this week brings plenty of chances to enrich your mind outside of a classroom too. You can take in Pulitzer-winning images at Photoville, learn to make lanterns at the Morningside Lights festival, or have a revelatory theatrical experience at the much-discussed play “This Is Our Youth.” As always, don’t forget to check Groupon for more things to do in New York City. This Is Our Youth Midtown West | Ongoing Kenneth Lonergan’s caustic coming-of-age comedy—about a teen deciding what to do with the $15,000 he’s stolen from his abusive father—has plenty of complex emotional terrain to explore. Luckily the cast is up for the job: Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, and Tavi Gevinson have all received raves for their performances. (Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St.; $89–$96 on GrouponLive; buy tickets here) Morningside Lights Morningside Heights | Saturday, September 20, to Saturday, September 27 This weeklong art event has quite the payoff: participants in its daily workshops will produce more than 100 lanterns, which will then be displayed during a grand procession on the final day. The process is collaborative and takes the entire week, meaning you may start a lantern someone else will finish or pick up where someone else left off. (Morningside Park; free) Photoville Brooklyn | Thursday, September 18, to Sunday, September 28 Repurposed shipping containers serve as the display space for this large-scale photo exhibition, which will show off such works as Jeff Bauman’s acclaimed Boston Marathon photo essay “Beyond the Finish Line.” When you’re not browsing the exhibits or attending the hands-on workshops, you can grab a bite at the Smorgasburg Beer Garden. (Pier 5, Brooklyn Bridge Park; $3 suggested donation) Rock of Ages Midtown West | Ongoing One-time American Idol semifinalist Constantine Maroulis recently returned to the jukebox musical that earned him a Tony nomination in 2009, but he won’t be back long. If you want to catch him in character singing “I Wanna Rock,” “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and other ‘80s hits, you’ll have to do it by October 26. (Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 W. 44th St.; $49–$99 on GrouponLive; buy tickets here) The Haunted Pumpkin Garden Bronx | Saturday, September 20, to Friday, October 31 Kids in costumes populate the daily parade during this family-friendly festival, which features some of the most intricate gourd-based sculpture you’re likely to encounter this fall. Certain weekends promise special events, such as a live-bat animal program and a display of gigantic pumpkins from all over North America. (New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd.; $8–$25; buy tickets here)

As summer weather starts its slow fade to fall, it’s time to pack in the most open-air fun as possible. This week’s list of things to do has plenty of outdoor activities to fill the shortening days, from a concert in Hudson River Park to Manhattan’s first-ever Smorgasburg. Enjoy yourself, and as always, check Groupon for more great things to do in New York City. Lit Crawl Manhattan East Village | Saturday, September 13 This three-hour event puts a literary spin on a bar crawl as participants follow their maps to readings and book-themed activities at 25 East Village watering holes. Compete in rounds of “literary Taboo” at Solas, or take in a performance by Farrar, Straus and Giroux house band the Savage Detectives at Leftfield. See the full schedule of events here. (Multiple venues; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; free) Lorde & Majical Cloudz Midtown | Sunday, September 14 Gothy pop wunderkind Lorde claims she’s no royal—but her fans may beg to differ. This Sunday, the 17-year-old New Zealand native holds court at JBL Live at Pier 97, where she’ll set heads bobbing to chart-topping hits like “Tennis Court” and “Team.” Majical Cloudz’s wistful, electronica-tinged indie pop kicks things off. (Hudson River Park at W. 58th St.; 6 p.m.; $74; get tickets here) AHOYsters Tribeca | Tuesday, September 16 At this punning New York Oyster Week event, the crew of the F/V Sherman Zwicker invites landlubbers aboard their historic schooner for a shellfish-centric feast. Docked at Hudson River Park’s Pier 25, the Zwicker features more luxurious accommodations than the oyster boats of yore: guests pull up chairs to white-clothed tables at Grand Banks, the vessel’s onboard oyster bar. (N. Moore St. at West St.; 6 p.m.; free) Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man Hell’s Kitchen | Through Sunday, September 28 This live-action rom-com starts with a meet-cute between shy college student Robyn and brash advice-giver Dan, the gay male author of the book Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. As Dan helps Robyn loosen up in front of her crush, Stefan the stagehand, audiences get in on the naughty fun: bachelorettes who purchase a party package even get to join the characters onstage. (777 8th Ave.; tickets $55–$66.50 through GrouponLive) Smorgasburg at Central Park Central Park | Friday, September 19 For those tired of trekking to Brooklyn, Smorgasburg has granted you a reprieve. This Friday, the foodie festival brings 30 of its top vendors to Central Park SummerStage for its first-ever outing in Manhattan. Chow down on treats from ‘burg stalwarts like Blue Marble Ice Cream, Ramen Burger, and Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque, or newcomers like Dan & John’s Wings or tostada-slingers El Super. (72nd St. and 5th Ave.; 5–9 p.m.; free) Photo credits: Ky Huynh (Lit Crawl), Annette Geneva (Lorde). 

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)