(3/1-3/3) Looking for what to do in New York City this weekend? We've got the latest on all the goings-on, from concerts to museum exhibitions to comedy to the best in city sightseeing. Read on for our picks for the best of this weekend in New York City.

EXHIBITION OF THE WEEK

(Now-4/28) The Orchid Show at The New York Botanical Garden is back for its 17th year. This year, the Orchid Show is a dazzling tribute to Singapore—one of the world’s greatest orchid cultures—where these storied flowers are an integral part of the life of this vibrant “City in a Garden.” Developed in partnership with the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Gardens by the Bay, this horticultural tribute set in the landmark Enid A. Haupt Conservatory will feature thousands of orchids dramatically paying homage to Singapore’s rich legacy of innovative garden design, spectacular floral displays, and achievements in orchid cultivation. nybg.org 

Nickolas Muray (American, born Hungary, 1892–1965). Frida in New York, 1946? printed 2006. Carbon pigment print, image: 14 x 11 in. (35.6 x 27.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Emily Winthrop Miles Fund, 2010.80. Photo by Nickolas Muray, © Nickolas Muray Photo Archive. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

(New) Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) lived and worked in a manner which challenged the political, social, and sexual norms of her era. Kahlo held her national identity dear and used traditional Mexican dress as a fixture of her public persona. Her large body of self-portraits created a mythos of self (some say she invented the selfie). New at the Brooklyn Museum is Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving, a lush exhibition that shows off Kahlo’s art, in addition to personal artifacts like her cosmetics, letters, jewelry, and clothing. Additional context is provided by items from the museum’s Arts of the Americas collection, including Aztec sculptures, ceramics made in Guadalajara in the early 20th century, and an ancient Colima dog sculpture of a Xoloitzcuintli, a Mexican hairless dog that Kahlo had an affinity for. 

PLUS

(Now-3/3) Final weekend! Even over a century after his birth, Dutch artist M.C. Escher (1898-1972) continues to astound. Catch more than 200 of Escher’s mind-bending works at Escher: The Exhibition & Experience, installed at Brooklyn's Industry City. Exploring the intersection of art, mathematics, science, and poetry, the exhibition will feature interactive immersive experiences that bring the artist’s optical illusions to life.

Group IV, the Ten Largest, No. 3, Youth, 1907, from Untitled Series. Photo: Albin Dahlström, Moderna Museet, Stockholm

(Now-4/23) Before abstract art was a speck in Kandinsky’s eye, the painter Hilma af Klint (1862-1944) was pioneering non-representational painting in Sweden. A spiritualist who claimed to communicate with the dead, af Klint worked in near-obscurity, forbidding her paintings to receive public exposure until 20 years after her passing. Discover Hilma af Klint, a woman before her time, at the new Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum exhibition  Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future. Over 170 of af Klint’s non-figurative paintings are on display, richly colored and often staggering in scale. Many pieces play with geometry and floral shapes that seem to swim across the canvas. As af Klint worked on her series The Paintings for the Temple, she envisioned a spiral temple as their eventual home. She got her wish over a century later with this eye-opening exhibition at the Guggenheim. Open Monday.

(Now-7/10) Photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, who died 30 years ago of complications from AIDS, is the subject of Implicit Tensions: Mapplethorpe Now, now displaying the first installment of a two-part retrospective at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.  Mapplethorpe is known not just for his images, but for the controversies they incited. In 1989, after his death, his work became the centerpiece of a national debate about artistic censorship and what kinds of works public funds should cover (ironically, it was the debate that led to his widespread fame). Many of the images are graphic and retain the ability to cause discomfort, but time has lessened the shock; it has also brought to the forefront Mapplethorpe’s technical proficiency and his ability to capture deeply insightful looks at his subjects.

(Ongoing) Faith and Empire at the Rubin Museum. Religion has influenced and empowered countless political leaders throughout history, and Tibetan Buddhism is no exception. “Faith and Empire: Art and Politics in Tibetan Buddhism” is the first exhibition of its kind to explore Tibetan Buddhism’s dynamic political role in the empires of Asia from the 7th to the early 20th century. Artwork highlights include a set of 8th-century gilt-silver drinking vessels from the Tibetan Empire; an early 13th-century wrathful icon made of silk and ornamented with tiny seed pearls; a 4 ½-foot-tall 680-pound gilt-bronze bodhisattva from the early 15th-century Ming court; and a 19th-century 8-feet-wide Mongolian depiction of the final battle against the heretics and nonbelievers. The exhibition is arranged chronologically, beginning with the Tibetan Empire in the 7th century, and includes sections on the Tangut kingdom of Xixia, the Mongol Empire, the Chinese Ming dynasty, the rule of the Dalai Lamas, and the Manchu Qing dynasty. Open Monday.

J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973), Dust jacket design for The Hobbit [April 1937], pencil, black ink, watercolor, goache. Bodleian Libraries, MS. Tolkien Drawings 32. © The Tolkien Estate Limited 1937.

(Now-5/12) “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” With these words Oxford professor J.R.R. Tolkien ignited a spark that's burned for generations of readers. From the children’s classic The Hobbit to the epic The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien’s tales of hobbits and elves, dwarves and wizards have introduced millions to Middle-earth, a world that Tolkien populated with creatures, languages, and histories. Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth at the Morgan Library & Museum is the most extensive public display of original Tolkien material in decades, stocked with family photographs and memorabilia, maps, draft manuscripts, and Tolkien’s original illustrations. 

(Now-6/23) A City for Corduroy: Don Freeman's New York, now open at the Museum of the City of New York, presents the gamut of Freeman’s New York work, from his lively and humane depictions of ordinary New Yorkers and the city in the 1930s, to his illustrated scenes of the Broadway backstage, to his children’s books inspired by the city. For the latter, you'll see not just the beloved children's Corduroy books, but also lesser known examples like Pet of the Met and Hattie the Backstage Bat. The exhibition features drawings, paintings, publications, and prints, as well as the artist’s original studies and sketches of Corduroy and other characters. Open Monday.

Photo: Jin Lee

(Ongoing) Sports in America provided a unique form of solace after the seismic losses of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. Comeback Season: Sports After 9/11, a special exhibition at the National September 11  Memorial & Museum, delves into uplifting moments at games in the aftermath of the attacks. Explore the stories of Mike Piazza’s home run during a New York Mets home game, President George W. Bush’s first pitch at a World Series game at Yankee Stadium, and the New York City Marathon on November 4th, 2001. Video, artifacts, and moving images help provide context for a nation coming back together. Open Monday.

(Permanent) The Jim Henson Exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image celebrates the life and legacy of the famed Muppet creator, exploring both his prolific career and the enduring effect his work has on pop culture to this day. Visitors will learn more about the creation of such beloved works as The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and Labryinth, as well as discover the cutting-edge experimental works Henson made throughout his career.

COMEDY

(3/3) Patton Oswalt at the Beacon Theatre. 

PLUS

(3/1) Kevin Nealon of SNL & CBS's Man with a Plan at Carolines. 

(2/28-3/2) Ian Bagg at Gotham Comedy Club. 

(Ongoing) Check out great comedic talent every night at Broadway Comedy Club! Use our coupon and pay only $5 for admission!

KIDS

(Ongoing) Color Factory, a massive interactive art space, began in August 2017 in San Francisco. Wildly popular, the project has set up shop in SoHo and is sure to inspire lines as long as the cronut did at nearby Dominique Ansel Bakery. Designed by a wide spectrum of artists, Color Factory walks visitors through 16 rooms devoted to the wonder of color. You’re invited to compliment someone using color words, discover your signature color, and read wishes for the world written by NYC school children on varicolored balloons. Each room is equipped with a camera that can take a picture of you and send it to your phone: the better to post with! On view now through August, 2019. 251 Spring St., support@colorfactory.co, colorfactory.co, @colorfactoryco

Read about more Instagrammable pop-up exhibits in NYC here. 

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(3/3) Metropolitan Museum of Art Scavenger Hunt. $25. POGO Events presents The Amazing Metropolitan Museum of Art Scavenger Hunt. A series of clues leads you around the Met, performing mental challenges along the way. This is a great way to connect with friends or meet new ones. THE WINNING TEAM WINS A CASH PRIZE OF $150!! The hunt takes one and a half hours. Please wear comfortable shoes. One member of the team should have a smart phone (either Android or iPhone). The hunt is run through an app called ScanQuest. Please download that before you come to the event. We will meet at Carlow East Bar, 1254 Lexington (84th and 85th) ,at 2pm and walk over to the Museum together at 3pm. (Museum admission separate--NYC residents are "pay as you wish.") 

(Ongoing) A 7D experience at Madame Tussauds New York, Mission: Undead, tasks you with killing more zombies than your friends! Prevent the zombie apocalypse and survive your first night of work on the force at this state-of-the-art Times Square attraction (13+). 

(Ongoing) Exhilarating Family Fun at Stomp NYC. Special discount packages available!

Click here for more kids activities this weekend. For even more kids activities, check out our sister site nymetroparents.com!

SIGHTSEEING

(Ongoing) For more than 70 years, Circle Line has been showing visitors the city, including the only cruise that goes all the way around Manhattan: Circle Line’s Best of NYC Cruise. One trip will show off five boroughs, three rivers, and more than 20 bridges on the way to 101 New York City sights. State-of-the-art Empire Class ships have recently launched, providing quieter rides, better sound for the personable onboard guides, bigger windows, improved climate control, and more outdoor deck space. (For dining and entertainment, take a ride on Hudson’s, a three-story “floating rooftop” that’s a Circle Line sibling.)

(Ongoing) THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE Powered by THE RIDE lets visitors re-live iconic moments in NYC history through the magic of virtual reality. In addition to video clips, you’ll get a personable tour guide and a state-of-the-art rolling theatre cruise through the city’s past—and present. Surprise street performances complete an unforgettable journey. Use our coupon and save $10 off!

Immerse yourself in the deep, dark depths of the ocean, where Humboldt squid fight to the death, 50 foot whales ride overhead, play with sea lions, navigate a sea kelp maze and more at National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey! Here's a $10 off coupon! 

Bring a loved one to take in the breathtaking view at Top of the Rock. 

(Ongoing) The Rink at Rockefeller Center, the most famous patch of ice in the world, welcomes skaters for a very glamorous experience.

(Ongoing) Get all of the best of NYC with the SightSeeing Pass NYC, from CitySightseeing. You can mix and match your way to a complete New York experience, with more than 100 attractions and special discounts to choose from. This is the only pass that includes options for five double-decker loops, Woodbury Common shopping, a horse and carriage ride, or entry to One World Observatory. You can even save on lunch: the pass includes prix fixe meals and other discounts. For amazing water vantages, CitySightseeing offers a Hop-On, Hop-Off ferry tour. Passes are available in digital or physical format and available for one to seven days; check the website for complete details. sightseeingpass.com

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

(3/2, 3/9) New York Shakespeare Exchange (NYSX) announces the next ShakesBEER, NYC's original Shakespearean Pub Crawl, running Saturdays March 2, 9, at 3pm. The pub crawl begins at The Dubliner (45 Stone Street, NYC) at 2:30pm and moves to Route66 Smokehouse (46 Stone Street, NYC), The Irish Punt (40 Exchange Place, NYC), and The Full Shilling (160 Pearl Street, NYC). Check-in is at 2:30pm at The Dubliner. Get tickets here.

PLUS

(3/2) Musical performance by Sistashree at the Museum of Arts and Design. 2pm. Join musician Sistashree for an exciting musical performance of her new piece MOKSHA, dedicated to Nina Simone. A fusion of American gospel and Indian devotional music with deep roots in soul, jazz, and blues.

(3/2) Brown Girls Burlesque at the Brooklyn Museum. Brown Girls Burlesque presents “Arrest! Unrest! Herstory!,” an evening of theatrical burlesque on womanhood, resistance, culture, and what it means to be free. Performers include Hoodoo Hussy, Chicava Honeychild, Dakota Mayhem, Skye Syren, Tutu Toussaint, and Voodoo Onyx. Adult content. It's part of a full slate of First Saturday activities at the museum. General admission is free; 330 free tickets for burlesque will be available in the auditorium line at sdmissions at 7:30pm.

(3/2) Christopher Cross: Take Me As I Am Tour stops at City Winery.

(3/3) Travis Scott at Barclays Center. 

(Ongoing) The Imbible: A  Spirited History of Drinking sweeps New World Stages audiences along a 10,000-year historical journey accompanied by craft cocktails and acapella singing. Sit back and enjoy the music (and drinks, three of which are included with your ticket) while experiencing live demonstrations and plenty of opportunities for laughter. Shows are 8pm Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 5pm and 8pm on Saturdays. Here's a $15-off coupon!

For information on LGBTQ nightlife, visit our brother site metrosource.com! Planning on being in New York in June for WorldPride? We've got all the WorldPride 2019 info you need right here.