The Blankman List: August 2023 Edition

A monthly curated list of things to do in New York City

I started doing these for fun back in February and have somehow kept it going. Here’s July for the rest of the month.

However, this project remains a labor of love for me. New York City is no fairy tale, but it is magical. It is humanity. Classical opera. Thrash metal. Meditation centers. Raves. Norwegian film. Kenyan music. Vietnamese dance. Chilean art. I’m not speaking just of Manhattan either, where you can find a shocking amount of these things within a 1-mile radius. For the residents who balk at going to Times Square, there are farmer’s markets, niche shops, library events, and community arts centers to be found across all of the boroughs in this beautiful city.

Unfortunately, I can no longer justify doing this for free. Since February, I have felt compelled to keep it going. But I have been vocal about how long these take to assemble and attentive to many of you who have provided feedback and helped me see that a list like this is unique and valuable. Nobody is paying me to promote an event, and it seems like no other list takes into account the range of venues, events, and artistries to be found in this city.

This is the last complete list that I plan to post for free. I am figuring this out as I go here, but if you are interested in continuing to see this list for September and beyond, please subscribe to the Blankman List for $5 per month:

To get a taste of what will be included, here were my recent lists for April, May, and June, in addition to July, which is also linked above.

With that out of the way, one call-out for the month: NYC Restaurant Week is July 24–August 20. The specific deal depends on the restaurant, but typically there is a special menu with prix fixe two-course lunches for $30 and three-course dinners for $60. Use the website for a list of all participating restaurants and their specific deals.

Before going anywhere, please confirm the date, time, and location using the listed website. Any event is at risk of being rescheduled, relocated, sold out, at capacity, or canceled. I try to vet quality, but I may misjudge, plus I recognize that all events are not for all people. Some events require advance registration, and if you are visiting NYC, please double-check how long it will take to get to the venue. Now on to the list!

Tuesday, August 1

• Mark Morris Dance Group (Manhattan)

  • Modern dance performance; 7:30 pm; through August 12

  • $61–$81

  • The Joyce Theater

  • 175 8th Ave (Chelsea)

• Fall Out Boy - So Much for (Tour) Dust (Queens)

  • Alternative rock concert; 5:30 pm (doors 4:00 pm)

  • Currently $132+

  • Forest Hills Stadium

  • 1 Tennis Pl (Forest Hills)

Wednesday, August 2

• Hélio Oiticica & Neville D’Almeida: Cosmococas (Manhattan)

  • Brazilian-influenced art installation; 10:00 am–6:00 pm; through August 11

  • Free

  • Lisson Gallery

  • 508 W 24th St (Chelsea)

• Miki Yamanaka Quartet featuring Mark Turner (Manhattan)

  • Piano quartet jazz concert; 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm (Miki Yamanaka Spotify)

  • $23–$33

  • The Jazz Gallery

  • 1158 Broadway (NoMad)

Thursday, August 3

• Convenience Story (コンビニエンス ストーリー) (Manhattan)

  • Japanese drama/thriller film screening; 9:00 pm; part of Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film July 26–August 6

  • $18 nonmembers; $14 members; $16 students/seniors

  • Japan Society

  • 333 E 47th St (Midtown East)

• Concert of Walter Hofbauer and Milena Kolářová (Manhattan)

  • Classical chamber music concert; 7:00 pm (Walter Hofbauer YouTube)

  • Free

  • Bohemian National Hall Ballroom, Czech Center New York

  • 321 E 73rd St (Upper East Side)

• Huma Reunion Show with Special Guests Bizarro Especial, Entrez Vous (Queens)

  • Moody electropop concert; 8:00–11:00 pm (Huma Bandcamp)

  • $10

  • Bar Freda

  • 801 Seneca Ave (Ridgewood)

Friday, August 4

• Revelations Celebration Dance Workshop (Manhattan)

  • Family-friendly dance workshop with African drumming; 3:00 pm; part of Ailey Moves NYC July 31–August 5

  • Free

  • Little Island

  • West Side Highway at 12th St (Chelsea)

Saturday, August 5

• Zamna Festival NYC (Brooklyn)

  • Immersive electronic rave; doors 6:30 pm

  • $85 and up; 21+ only

  • The Brooklyn Mirage at Avant Gardner (Bushwick)

  • 140 Stewart Ave

• Artists on Artists: sonia louise davis, David L. Johnson, and Shamel Pitts on Smokehouse Associates (Manhattan)

  • Multimedia art program with participatory activities; 4:00–7:00 pm

  • Free

  • Harlem Art Park

  • E 120th St & Sylvan Place (Harlem)

• NYCRuns Ice Cream Social 5K & 10K (Manhattan)

  • Sanctioned running race with ice cream; start time 8:30 AM (5K) and 9:00 AM (10K)

  • $45 (includes ferry ride, race entry, T-shirt, fruit, and ice cream)

  • Governors Island

  • Start along Clayton Rd near Wheeler Ave (map)

Sunday, August 6

• Rise & Shine Drag Brunch (Manhattan)

  • Brunch with drag performance; seatings at 12:15 pm & 2:30 pm; every Sunday hosted by Holly Box Springs and Egypt

  • $59 includes unlimited drinks and any entree; full food and drink menu

  • Rise Bar NYC

  • 859 9th Ave (Hell’s Kitchen)

Monday, August 7

• CFGY in Residence: Avena Gallagher, Patia Borja (Queens)

  • Multimedia art exhibition; 12:00–6:00 pm; part of residency June 3–August 7

  • Free

  • SculptureCenter

  • 44-19 Purves St (Long Island City)

Tuesday, August 8

• A Fun Afternoon of Opera Hosted by Lou Barrella (Staten Island)

  • Luncheon with opera performance; 12:00 pm

  • $50 (includes lunch)

  • Osteria Santina

  • 502 Jewett Ave (Westerleigh)

Wednesday, August 9

• Unsolved Mystery: Understanding and Playing with an Open Problem in Mathematics (Manhattan)

  • Public talk on mathematics; 4:00 pm & 7:00 pm

  • Free

  • National Museum of Mathematics

  • 11 E 26th St (NoMad)

Thursday, August 10

• The 3rd International Puppet Fringe Festival (Manhattan)

  • “Halloween in August” themed puppetry festival with performances and workshops; 11:00 am–11:00 pm; festival is August 9–13 (full programming)

  • $83 for day pass; $265 for VIP all-access pass; individual events range from free–$57

  • Assorted venues within The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center

  • 107 Suffolk St (Lower East Side)

• Conversations with … an Expert on Tree and Serpent: Early Buddhist Art in India, 200 BCE–400 CE (Manhattan)

  • Buddhist art tour; 3:00–3:30 pm; additional date: July 27

  • Free with museum admission, which is pay-what-you-want for NYC residents and NY, NJ, CT students, otherwise $30 adults/$22 seniors/$17 students

  • The Met Fifth Avenue, Gallery 999

  • 1000 5th Ave (Upper East Side)

Friday, August 11

• Disco Tehran (Queens)

  • Dance party influenced by 1970s Iranian discotheques; 3:00–10:00 pm

  • $46

  • Knockdown Center

  • 52-19 Flushing Ave (Maspeth)

Saturday, August 12

• Natalia Jiménez: Antologia 20 Años Tour (Brooklyn)

  • Mexican-influenced Spanish-language pop music; 8:00 pm (doors 7:00 pm)(Natalia Jiménez YouTube)

  • $53–$337

  • Kings Theatre

  • 1027 Flatbush Ave (Flatbush)

Sunday, August 13

• She Did That! Pop Up Experience (Brooklyn)

  • Pop-up shops for Black business month including panels and workshops; 11:00 am–8:00 pm; August 11–13

  • Free

  • City Point BKLYN

  • 445 Albee Square W (Downtown Brooklyn)

Monday, August 14

• Chris Gethard & Guests Featuring Dave Ross, Clare O’Kane, Monroe Martin and Sarah Squirm (Brooklyn)

  • Stand-up comedy; 8:00 pm (doors 7:00 pm) (Chris Gethard videos)

  • $31–$37

  • Littlefield

  • 635 Sackett St (Gowanus)

Tuesday, August 15

• Book Launch: Holler Rat by Anya Liftig in conversation with Emma Copley Eisenberg (Brooklyn)

  • Moderated book discussion; 7:00–9:00 pm

  • Free or $7 (includes $10 gift certificate) or $37 (includes copy of book)

  • POWERHOUSE @ the Archway

  • 28 Adams St (Dumbo)

Wednesday, August 16

• Poets of Queens at QED (Queens)

  • Poetry readings; 7:00 pm

  • $10

  • Q.E.D.

  • 27-16 23rd Ave (Astoria)

Thursday, August 17

• Walking Tour: Gramercy Park (Manhattan)

  • Historian-guided walking tour; 6:00–7:15 pm

  • $21 ($11 for NY Historical Society members)

  • Exact meeting location provided upon ticket purchase

  • Area between 1st Ave & Park Ave and 14th St & 23rd St (Gramercy Park)

• Dyckman Dynamics: Yvonnick Prene Jazz Quartet (Manhattan)

  • French-influenced jazz harmonica concert; 6:30–7:30 pm (Yvonnick Prene videos)

  • Free

  • Dyckman Farmhouse Museum

  • 4881 Broadway (Inwood)

Friday, August 18

• El Mago Pop (Manhattan)

  • Close-up magic and illusions on a Broadway stage; 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm; August 17–27

  • $102–$306

  • Barrymore Theatre

  • 243 W 47th St (Times Square)

Saturday, August 19

• Socrates x Noguchi Field Guide: Plant Dyeing (Queens)

  • Hands-on art workshop experimenting with plant-made dyes; 11:00 am–1:00 pm

  • Free (registration required; includes free pass to the Noguchi Museum)

  • Socrates Sculpture Park

  • 32-01 Vernon Blvd (Long Island City)

• Judgement Day Htng Vol. 2 (Brooklyn)

  • Hip-hop concert and dance party; 11:00 pm–4:00 am

  • $28 (general admission) or $58 (includes meet and greet)

  • Market Hotel

  • 1140 Myrtle Ave (Bushwick)

Sunday, August 20

• Shakespeare at the Beach (Queens)

  • Family-friendly outdoor Shakespeare performance; 5:00–8:00 pm; August 17–20

  • Free

  • Beach 94th Street Plaza

  • Beach 94th St & Shorefront Pkwy (Rockaway Beach)

Monday, August 21

• Cherry Picking 2023: Sh*tshow (Manhattan)

  • Staged readings of plays inspired by the theme of “sh*tshow”; 7:00 pm; August 21–22

  • $24

  • Wild Project

  • 195 E 3rd St (East Village)

Tuesday, August 22

• Mapleton's “No-Pressure” Book Club (Brooklyn)

  • Book club discussion with no assigned books; 2:00–3:00 pm

  • Free

  • Mapletop Library

  • 1702 60th St (Mapleton)

Wednesday, August 23

• Bembe Presents: Afrobeats Wednesdays (Brooklyn)

  • Afrobeat dance party; 9:00 pm–4:00 am; every Wednesday at Bembe

  • Free entry (cash bar)

  • Bembe

  • 81 S 6th St (Williamsburg)

Thursday, August 24

• Closing Night: The Head And The Heart | Izzy Heltai (Brooklyn)

  • Outdoor indie folk concert; 7:00 pm; part of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! through August 24

  • Free (RSVP recommended)

  • Lena Horne Bandshell

  • Enter at 9th St & Prospect Park W (Prospect Park)

Friday, August 25

• Boy Bands vs. Girl Pop Dreamland Roller Disco (Brooklyn)

  • Roller skating with themed music; 7:00–10:00 pm; Dreamland Roller Disco every Friday through October 27

  • $27 (advance) or $33 (door); includes skate rental; additional packages include drink tickets and VIP tables

  • LeFrak Center at Lakeside

  • 171 East Dr (Prospect Park)

• Statiqbloom, Trace Amount, Michael Berdan, Nuxx Vomica (Brooklyn)

  • Industrial metal concert; 7:00 pm (Statiqbloom Spotify)

  • $20

  • Saint Vitus Bar

  • 1120 Manhattan Ave (Greenpoint)

Saturday, August 26

• Immanuel Wilkins, 75 Dollar Bill, Ka Baird (Manhattan)

  • Electronic and experimental jazz; 7:00 pm (Immanuel Wilkins Spotify)

  • Free

  • Bryant Park

  • Between 40th St & 42nd St / 5th Ave & 6th Ave (Midtown)

• Gimme Gimme Disco (Manhattan)

  • Abba-inspired disco dance party; 7:00 pm

  • $34–$93

  • The Rooftop at Pier 17

  • 89 South St Pier 17 (Financial District)

Sunday, August 27

• Toosii: Naujour Tour (Manhattan)

  • Melodic rap concert; 7:00 pm (doors 5:30 pm) (Toosii videos)

  • $60–$263

  • Palladium Times Square

  • 1515 Broadway (Times Square)

• Curator’s Tour of “The Golden Path: Maimonides Across Eight Centuries” (Manhattan)

  • Jewish-themed rare book and manuscript guided tour; 11:00–11:45 am

  • Free (reservation required)

  • Yeshiva University Museum

  • 15 W 16th St (Union Square)

Monday, August 28

• The Hours (Manhattan)

  • Outdoor opera screening; 8:00 PM; part of 2023 Summer HD Festival August 25–September 4

  • Free (first come, first served)

  • Lincoln Center Plaza

  • Along Columbus Ave between W 62nd St & W 65th St (Lincoln Square)

Tuesday, August 29

• Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado (Brooklyn)

  • Outdoor documentary screening of Puerto Rican astrologer; 9:00 pm

  • Free with RSVP

  • Fort Greene Park

  • Myrtle Ave & N Portland Ave (Fort Greene)

Wednesday, August 30

• Good Burger Movie Party (Staten Island)

  • Film screening featuring themed props and drinks; 7:00 pm

  • $22

  • Alamo Drafthouse Staten Island

  • 2636 Hylan Blvd Suite 230 (New Dorp Beach)

Thursday, August 31

• Bar Trivia at The Skillman (Queens)

  • Bar trivia; 7:00 pm; trivia every Thursday

  • Free entry (full food and drink menu available)

  • The Skillman

  • 45-20 Skillman Ave (Sunnyside)