Just because summer is coming to a close doesn’t mean you have to spend the rest of the season binge watching Buffy, trapped in the center of your clever home-made fan trifecta. August in NYC is brutally hot but also packed with summer’s best events like Afropunk, Fringe Festival, and Mathew McConaughey as a stoner in Brooklyn Bridge Park. We made a list of free and cheap events to get you through your Netflix withdrawal period. Grab a bottle of water and a freeze pop and enjoy the final days of sweet summer before winter arrives and destroys our souls.
Frida Kahlo at NY Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden has captured the beauty of Frida Kahlo’s greatest inspiration for their latest exhibit: nature. Frido Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life draws from the late artist’s imagery to recreate her garden and famous Mexico City home, Casa Azul. Check the calendar for special events in the exhibit featuring live music and authentic cocktails. Give yourself an artistic cleanse ( and DIY home improvement ideas) while sipping on an ice cold cerveza.
May 16 — Nov. 1 @ NY Botanical Garden, $18-$24
NYC Fringe Festival
August is the best month for theater lovers who don’t have the money to shell out for those impossible Hamilton tickets. Now in its 19th year, the NYC Fringe Festival remains one of the largest multi-arts festivals in the country, with 200 acts performing at various venues in Manhattan. See live opera, musical theater, dance, stand-up and digital media performances without having to combat your way through Times Square.
Aug. 14 — 30, $18
Queer/Art/Cinema Black Summer Nights Presents: Friday
In case you needed another reason to holler “Bye, Felicia,” the mega hit Friday will be at IFC Center for its 20th anniversary, featuring a Q & A with poet Angel Nafis. On how Friday broke stereotypes Nafis said, “seeing her world reflected on screen was a powerful experience, but even more important was the presence of ‘impossibly fine’ actress Nia Long as a ‘black girl next door,’ who wasn’t a stereotype.” If you haven’t seen this gem of a film we demand you put it on top of your summer check list, if at least for the countless one-liners.
Aug. 17 8:00pm @ IFC Center, $14
Syfy Movies With a View Presents: Dazed & Confused
Richard Linklater’s cult classic Dazed & Confused, a movie about group of teenagers on their last day of high school in the late ’70s, will be playing at Brooklyn Bridge Park this August. Not only did this film launch the careers of Mathew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, and countless others, but it’s the ultimate feel-good movie paired with an incredible funk and blues infused soundtrack.
Aug. 20 6:00pm @ Brooklyn Bridge Park, FREE
Girls At Night On The Internet Opening Reception
“Girls At Night On The Internet” is a group exhibition curated by Grace Miceli of Art Baby Gallery. Art Baby Gallery’s first IRL show aims to provide a platform for artists who are traditionally underrepresented or overlooked by the traditional art world. This is a physical manifestation of the space Art Baby has already created online. There will be a DJ set from Radio Rahill of Habibi.
Aug 21. 6-9pm @ Alt Space Brooklyn
Jacob Riis Park Beach Bazaar with Mykki Blanco, Princess Nokia, and LSDXOXO
Since the departure of the Brooklyn Bazaar this spring, the Jacob Riis Park Beach Bazaar has been holding down the fort out on Rockaway Beach. Each weekend this summer Jacob Riis Park is consumed with live music, food vendors, and hula hoopers. Rapper and LGBTQ activist Mykki Blanco will join forces with Princess Nokia and LSDXOXO on August 22 to close out a successful first season.
August 22 12pm @ Jacob Riis Park at Rockaway Beach, FREE
Warm Up: Andrés, Kyle Hall, Pender Street Steppers, Hashman Deejay, Laraaji
MoMA PS1‘s Warm Up series is now in its 18th year of bringing the best experimental talent cross-overs in all genres to Long Island City’s most promising venue. The series runs through September 5, so be sure to catch a live set by ambient-funk DJ Kyle Hall on August 22. Hall will be joined by Andrés, Laraaji, Pender Street Steppers, and Hashman Deejay.
Aug. 22 12pm-9pm @ MoMA PS1, $0-$21
Afropunk Festival
Closing out festival season is Brooklyn’s Afropunk Festival . Known as “the most multicultural festival in the US” Afropunk is a celebration of the alternative music, art and fashion of a non-conforming marginalized urban culture. Kelela, Lenny Kravitz, Death Grips and SZA are just the tip of the iceberg for the festival voted “Least likely to see Native American headdresses At”.
August 22 — 23 @ Brooklyn Commodore Barry Park, $45-$250
MoMA Nights with Tei Shi
Our summer girl crush Tei Shi will be performing in the MoMA sculpture garden to close out their MoMA Nights PopRally series. The Brooklyn based indie R&B singer and songwriter will showcase a set based off her latest EP, Verde. MoMA Nights features gelato (yes!) and a cocktail bar just in case the Matisse sculptures and live music is a bore.
August 27 5:30pm @ Sculpture Garden in MoMA, FREE with Admission ($15)
Morbid Anatomy Flea Market
What better way to end your summer than with taxedermy. August 30th is a last chance you can pick up your mourning ring and insect shadowboxes at the The Morbid Anatomy Museum’s flea market in Brooklyn. Visitors can buy and sell their oddities and antiques ranging from cat skulls and mice taxedermy. Head to the Morbid Anatomy Museum first (just a block away) to get the full experience. Happy Summer!
Aug. 30 12pm-7pm @ The Bell House, $1
Article by Danielle O’Neill.