Things To Do In Hasbrouck Heights

This week’s list of reasons to leave the house include a whimsical animated Japanese movie, gallery openings in Chelsea, and a two-day outdoor poetry festival. If that still doesn’t fill your calendar, remember that you can always check Groupon for more great things to do in New York City. Summer Restaurant Week July 21–August 15 The summer edition of restaurant week brings three-course prix fixe menus to eateries such as Red Rooster Harlem, Café Boulud, Bann Restaurant, and Tertulia (pictured above). Luckily, the “week” actually runs for three-and-a-half weeks, so there’s still plenty of time to make reservations at crowded spots ahead of time. ($25 lunch, $38 dinner; see a full list of participants) Neutral Milk Hotel at Prospect Park Bandshell Prospect Park | Tuesday, July 22, and Wednesday, July 23, 7 p.m. It may have been 15 years since their last tour, but Neutral Milk Hotel haven’t lost the idiosyncratic touch that made 1998’s In the Aeroplane over the Sea an indie classic. Join a packed crowd in Prospect Park to hear frontman Jeff Mangum weave together his eccentric, Anne Frank–inspired lyrics with horn-centric melodies. ($39.50 in advance, $45 day of; buy tickets here for Wednesday’s show) A Letter to Momo West Village | Wednesday, July 23–Tuesday, July 29 A fanciful, hand-drawn tale in a similar vein to Spirited Away, 2011’s A Letter to Momo tells the story of a Japanese teenager, Momo, whose only relic of her lost father is a letter to her he never finished. Momo comes to terms with her loss with the help of three mischievous goblins who have taken up residence in her mother’s attic. (IFC Center, 323 Avenue of the Americas; $14 adults, $10 children and seniors, $9 IFC members; buy tickets here) Chelsea Art Walk Chelsea | Thursday, July 24, 5 p.m.–8 p.m. More than 100 participating galleries in Chelsea stay open late for a free public viewing of their summer exhibitions, as well as artist talks, openings, and other events. (free; see a full list of participating galleries) New York City Poetry Festival Governors Island | Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. The fourth annual event brings literati to Governors Island for a weekend of readings and performances by more than 250 poets, including Mark Doty, Joyelle McSweeney, Matthea Harvey, and Paul Muldoon. 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) Photo of Tertulia by Jen Davis

From onscreen acapella to formerly obscure indie rock, musical performances dominate this week’s list of things to do. However, if you’d prefer silence to soaring melodies, don’t think we forgot you: a child-friendly art exhibit on the Upper West Side provides plenty of peace and quiet. Enjoy, and as always, check Groupon for more great things to do in New York City. Coney Island Sand-Sculpting Contest Coney Island | Saturday, August 16 Soaring castles and elaborate statues rise along the Coney Island shoreline during the annual sand-sculpting contest, a decades-old tradition that gives out awards for both adult and child artists. The sculptors must finish by 3 p.m., when judging begins; stop by earlier to see their works in progress or enjoy live music and activities. Event organizers are also soliciting donations to help Brooklyn families still rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy. (on the Boardwalk near Wonder Wheel Park; judging begins at 3 p.m., award ceremony at 4:30 p.m.; free) “Pitch Perfect” South Street Seaport | Saturday, August 16 Whether you think acapella is aca-awesome or aca-awkward, musical comedy Pitch Perfect (2012) is just subtle enough to extract laughs. Anna Kendrick stars as Beca, a hip college freshman who gets roped into singing with a totally un-hip all-female acapella group, the Bellas. Beca’s initially hostile attitude toward the music slowly melts as she makes friends with the members of the group, played by an ensemble cast that includes Rebel Wilson as brash “Fat Amy” and Hana Mae Lee as the world’s creepiest soft-talker. Sea breezes carry the Bellas' tight harmonies (and Kendrick's surprisingly skillful rapping) to audiences' ears at this outdoor screening, part of South Street Seaport's Front/Row Cinema series. (Front St. & Fulton St.; 8 p.m.; free) Courtney Act Midtown | Wednesday, August 20, and Thursday, August 21 Courtney Act is a drag overachiever. Named one of FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women—despite not being a woman—she has also won Australian Idol and competed on Season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Her show Boys Like Me intersperses dance-ready pop songs with stories about her adventurous love life. This is your last chance to see her at Laurie Beechman Theatre before she leaves on her international tour. (407 W. 42nd St.; 9:30 p.m.; $22 w/$15 food & drink minimum, or $40 VIP ticket with meet & greet; buy tickets here) Arcade Fire Park Slope | Friday, August 22, to Sunday, August 24 When orchestral indie rockers Arcade Fire won a Best Album Grammy in 2011, confusion reigned among the viewing audience. The funniest gaffes were recorded for posterity on the Tumblr “Who Is Arcade Fire?”—a question that still seemed apt back then. In 2014, it’s a little harder not to know the band’s name. With a #1 best-selling album in 2013—the James Murphy–co-produced Reflektor—Arcade Fire proved they could top charts and fill stadiums with their epic, dance-inflected sound. Electronica impresario Dan Deacon and the recently reunited Unicorns open for them on their three nights at Barclays Center. (620 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn; 7:30 p.m.; $35–$85; buy tickets here) “Madeline in New York: The Art of Ludwig Bemelmans” Upper West Side | Through October 19 The New York Historical Society celebrates the 75th anniversary of the iconic little French schoolgirl with this exhibit of 90 original works by her creator, illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans. Visitors can admire drawings from all six Madeline books as well as panels from the mural Bemelmans painted in the playroom of Aristotle Onassis’s yacht. Stop in at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. Tuesday–Friday for a live reading from one of the Madeline books. (170 Central Park West; free with $6–$19 museum admission) Photo of Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest courtesy of Astella Development Corporation.

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.