Things To Do In Mount Vernon

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). 

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.