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Your Weekend Agenda

Events to catch this weekend, July 20–23.


Samantha Bee, RuPaul, Malcolm Gladwell and Senator Kirstin Gillibrand are all on the eclectic lineup for OZY fest this Saturday.   

1. Kick off the weekend on Thursday with rap phenom Kendrick Lamar, who performs at Barclays Center in support of this blockbuster album DAMN. If you miss Thursday, there’s a second show on Sunday.

2. Or go the singer-songwriter route, when Conor Oberst plays recent works and old Bright Eyes songs at a benefit show for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! With Hop Along and Big Thief. A dollar from every ticket sold will go to support Planned Parenthood.

3. On Saturday, back at Prospect Park, the Beirut-based Mashrou’ Leila channels the North American indie rock of the late aughts. A free show, with Dawn of Midi.

4. And on Sunday, head to Staten Island, a.k.a. Wu-Tang holy land, for a free SummerStage show by GZA, in association with the Lyricist Lounge 25th Anniversary Series.

5. Friday night is made for laughs with comedian and classically trained vocalist Eliot Glazer singing earnest ballads of pop hits in his Haunting Renditions show at the Bell House, with guests Taran Killam and Marina Franklin.

6. And at the UCB Chelsea, SNL writer Julio Torres performs his multimedia show “My Favorite Shapes,” where he talks about, well, his favorite shapes.

7. Stimulate your mind, feet, and funny bone on Saturday at OZY Fest, a day-long bash that includes talks by Samantha Bee, Malcolm Gladwell, and Kristin Gillibrand; musical performances by Jason Derulo, Talib Kweli, and Yuna; and comedy by Michael Che. Plus much more, including food curated by Eddie Huang. Tickets begin at just $25.

8. And take a boat to some booze. Governors Island as a few new options: a pop-up by ABC Beer Co. and Edi and the Wolf serves up sausages, charcuterie, and a specially brewed beer just for the new locale, while Island Oyster, from the folks behind Grand Banks, now serves cocktails and oysters (full menu to come soon).

9. Dance by the ocean on Saturday at the Coney Island Burger Beach Bash. Doors open at noon for the music festival presented by California indie label Burger Records, with artists including Sunflower Bean, Daddy Long Legs, and the Zeros. It takes place in the majestic Coney Island Art Walls.

10. And this week, MoMA PS1’s fun-in-the-sun Warm-Up dance party is a U.K.-heavy rager, with the hypermelodies of producer Dark0, the trance party of Evian Christ (who worked as a producer on Kanye’s Yeezus), and drum-and-bass legend Roni Size.

11. Summer is for the Bard, with A Midsummer Night’s Dream continuing the season of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater. While you’re out in Central Park, stop by the Tavern on the Green’s To-Go Pop Up for some shrimp cocktail, sangria, or soft serve.

12. And the Public Theater doubles down on Shakepeare with Hamlet, starring the excellent Oscar Isaac in the title role. To thine own self be true, and happy weekend!