Gothamist Spring Guide: 20 Fun Things To Do In NYC This April

<br/><br/>Sure, it's almost tax time, but that doesn't mean April has to be a drag. In fact, some of the wildest events of the year are happening this month, from bacon and beer festivals to bike rides in the name of, what else, <em>donuts</em>. We've put together twenty of the best early spring happenings that the City has to offer, <a href="http://gothamist.com/2013/04/15/todays_the_last_day_to_do_your_taxe.php">stop fiddling with TurboTax</a> and start L-I-V-I-N!

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Sure, it's almost tax time, but that doesn't mean April has to be a drag. In fact, some of the wildest events of the year are happening this month, from bacon and beer festivals to bike rides in the name of, what else, donuts. We've put together twenty of the best early spring happenings that the City has to offer, stop fiddling with TurboTax and start L-I-V-I-N!

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<br/><br/>Sure, Turkish psych-rock, <em>Soul Train</em>, and Spaghetti Westerns are all pretty cool on their own, but when you blend them together you get one of the hippest damn groups on the planet. NYC's own <strong><a href="http://www.bowerypresents.com/event/1065883-budos-band-brooklyn">Budos Band will play Brooklyn Bowl</a></strong> this month, and their sprawling approach to making instrumental funk is not to be missed. Or taken lightly. Using Middle Eastern scales and vintage noir sounds, the group deals in mysterious vamps and high-drama crescendos that leads right to the very edge of what R&amp;B music is as we know it. It'll freak you out a little bit, sure, but don't be surprised if you end up dancing.<br/><br/><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GLtblepFoBs?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br/><br/><em>Saturday, April 2nd, 6 p.m. // <a href="www.brooklynbowl.com">Brooklyn Bowl</a>, 61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn // <a href="http://www.bowerypresents.com/event/1065883-budos-band-brooklyn">Tickets $20</a> </em>

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Sure, Turkish psych-rock, Soul Train, and Spaghetti Westerns are all pretty cool on their own, but when you blend them together you get one of the hippest damn groups on the planet. NYC's own Budos Band will play Brooklyn Bowl this month, and their sprawling approach to making instrumental funk is not to be missed. Or taken lightly. Using Middle Eastern scales and vintage noir sounds, the group deals in mysterious vamps and high-drama crescendos that leads right to the very edge of what R&B music is as we know it. It'll freak you out a little bit, sure, but don't be surprised if you end up dancing.Saturday, April 2nd, 6 p.m. // Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn // Tickets $20

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<br/><br/>Commit whimsical acts of violence at the annual <strong>Washington Square Park Pillow Fight</strong>, a massive, feathery battle royale. Local combatants will be just one of <a href="http://pillowfightday.com/">many groups around the world</a> spending the day pillow fighting, from Kuopia to Tijuana to Taipei. There're no rules apart from don't be an asshole and actually hurt somebody; <a href="http://gothamist.com/2015/04/05/photos_pillow_fight_day_2015_brings.php#photo-1">check out photos from last year's fight</a> and prepare your arsenal. It's not like you use those throw pillows, anyway.<br/><br/><em>Saturday, April 2nd, 3 p.m. // Washington Square Park // <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1738740433011542/">Free</a> (b.y.o. pillow!) </em>

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Commit whimsical acts of violence at the annual Washington Square Park Pillow Fight, a massive, feathery battle royale. Local combatants will be just one of many groups around the world spending the day pillow fighting, from Kuopia to Tijuana to Taipei. There're no rules apart from don't be an asshole and actually hurt somebody; check out photos from last year's fight and prepare your arsenal. It's not like you use those throw pillows, anyway.Saturday, April 2nd, 3 p.m. // Washington Square Park // Free (b.y.o. pillow!)

Tod Seelie/Gothamist

<br/><br/>Halloween candy, Christmas cookies, Valentine's chocolates, and Easter treats are all behind us. Are you finally out of the confectionary woods and ready for <a href="http://www.gothamist.com/tags/thongguy&gt;Thong Guy&lt;/a&gt; season? Not so fast. City Harvest's &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=" http:="">Around the World in 80 Sweets</a> is bringing a boatload of sweets to the Eventi Hotel. This is no ordinary jack-o-lantern stuffed with store-bought candy: pastry chefs from all around the globe will be serving their very best for lucky ticket-holders. Plan to see (and taste) dessert creations from Pierre Herme, Sadaharu Aoki, Francois Payard, and many others. A total of 19 different countries will be represented, and there'll be both savory snacks and cocktails available all night long.<br/><br/><em>Monday, April 4th, 6:30-8:30 p.m. // Eventi Hotel, 2nd Floor,851 Avenue of the Americas // <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/around-the-world-in-80-sweets-an-evening-with-the-worlds-best-pastry-chefs-tickets-20901894128">Tickets $125</a> </em>

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Halloween candy, Christmas cookies, Valentine's chocolates, and Easter treats are all behind us. Are you finally out of the confectionary woods and ready for Around the World in 80 Sweets is bringing a boatload of sweets to the Eventi Hotel. This is no ordinary jack-o-lantern stuffed with store-bought candy: pastry chefs from all around the globe will be serving their very best for lucky ticket-holders. Plan to see (and taste) dessert creations from Pierre Herme, Sadaharu Aoki, Francois Payard, and many others. A total of 19 different countries will be represented, and there'll be both savory snacks and cocktails available all night long.Monday, April 4th, 6:30-8:30 p.m. // Eventi Hotel, 2nd Floor,851 Avenue of the Americas // Tickets $125

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<br/><br/>When Coney Island-bred rapper <strong><a href="http://sobs.com/2016/7101/your-old-droog">Your Old Droog</a></strong> burst on the scene people legitimately <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/1947013/nas-responds-your-old-droog-rumors/">thought he was Nas</a>. The truth is that Droog's a Ukrainian kid with only a few records to his name and skills that defy his young age and modern era. His dusty, jazz-infused beats and mesmerizingly brutal disses harken back to a moment when hip-hop artists were focused on truly repping their block, and whether he's dressing-down subway showtime dancers, hitting the halal cart, or buying loosies at the bodega, Droog is all-NYC all the time. Go see him at SOB's and give him due props.<br/><br/><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/205255178&amp;color=ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br/><br/><em>Monday, April 4th, 9 p.m. // <a href="http://sobs.com/">SOB's</a>, 204 Varick Street, Manhattan // <a href="http://sobs.com/2016/7101/your-old-droog">Tickets $15</a> </em>

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When Coney Island-bred rapper Your Old Droog burst on the scene people legitimately thought he was Nas. The truth is that Droog's a Ukrainian kid with only a few records to his name and skills that defy his young age and modern era. His dusty, jazz-infused beats and mesmerizingly brutal disses harken back to a moment when hip-hop artists were focused on truly repping their block, and whether he's dressing-down subway showtime dancers, hitting the halal cart, or buying loosies at the bodega, Droog is all-NYC all the time. Go see him at SOB's and give him due props.Monday, April 4th, 9 p.m. // SOB's, 204 Varick Street, Manhattan // Tickets $15

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<br/><br/>What happens when you get a few giant penguin costumes, some self-professed circus freaks, a few high-powered speakers, and blend it all together with the wisdom of John Waters? We're not sure, but that's what's happening at the House of Yes/PoLaRi Evening of Decadent Filth, a party full of loud music and naughty costumes that'll be real bent and real amazing. <br/><br/>Music will be served up by <a href="https://soundcloud.com/no-bra">No Bra</a> and <a href="https://soundcloud.com/macyrodman">Macry Rodman</a>, and there'll be both a go-go circus and launch celebrations for the latest issue of queer zine <a href="http://handjobzine.com/">Hand Job.</a> The night's dress code states that "If all else fails, glitter can be a shirt. One man’s creepy is another man’s hot. Don’t be a Cry Baby, HAVE FAITH IN YOUR OWN BAD TASTE!!!" So yeah, we'll definitely see you there.<br/><br/><em>Wednesday, April 6th, 10 p.m. // <a href="http://houseofyes.org/">House of Yes</a>, 2 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn // <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/polari-presents-an-evening-of-decadent-filth-aka-we-3-you-john-waters-tickets-23056451467">Tickets $6-12</a></em>

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What happens when you get a few giant penguin costumes, some self-professed circus freaks, a few high-powered speakers, and blend it all together with the wisdom of John Waters? We're not sure, but that's what's happening at the House of Yes/PoLaRi Evening of Decadent Filth, a party full of loud music and naughty costumes that'll be real bent and real amazing. Music will be served up by No Bra and Macry Rodman, and there'll be both a go-go circus and launch celebrations for the latest issue of queer zine Hand Job. The night's dress code states that "If all else fails, glitter can be a shirt. One man’s creepy is another man’s hot. Don’t be a Cry Baby, HAVE FAITH IN YOUR OWN BAD TASTE!!!" So yeah, we'll definitely see you there.Wednesday, April 6th, 10 p.m. // House of Yes, 2 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn // Tickets $6-12

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<br/><br/>An entire avenue of eats will be plated up and served at <strong><a href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2500141">Taste of Fifth</a></strong>, from the dingiest dive bar to the busiest multi-course dining rooms. Not only do tickets get you all the food, beer, and wine you can handle, but the price of admission will also benefit local Brooklyn charities including <a href="http://bax.org/">Brooklyn Arts Exchange</a>, <a href="http://imanihouse.org/">Imani House</a>, and the <a href="http://www.ymcanyc.org/prospectpark">Prospect Park YMCA</a>. Fare prepared by chefs at Calexico, Buttermilk Bakeshop, Prawn Shop, Carnem, and many others will be hot, ready, and yours for the sampling, and it's all happening inside one of the most spectacular event spaces in New York. <br/><br/><em>Wednesday, April 6th, 6:30 p.m. // <a href="http://www.grandprospect.com/">The Grand Prospect Hall</a>, 263 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn // <a href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2500141">Tickets $55</a></em>

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An entire avenue of eats will be plated up and served at Taste of Fifth, from the dingiest dive bar to the busiest multi-course dining rooms. Not only do tickets get you all the food, beer, and wine you can handle, but the price of admission will also benefit local Brooklyn charities including Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Imani House, and the Prospect Park YMCA. Fare prepared by chefs at Calexico, Buttermilk Bakeshop, Prawn Shop, Carnem, and many others will be hot, ready, and yours for the sampling, and it's all happening inside one of the most spectacular event spaces in New York. Wednesday, April 6th, 6:30 p.m. // The Grand Prospect Hall, 263 Prospect Avenue, Brooklyn // Tickets $55

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<br/><br/>Not one, not two, but <strong><a href="http://www.bronxmuseum.org/exhibitions/upcoming">four new exhibits will open at the Bronx Museum</a></strong> this month, and they each offer an immersive look at life in the borough. Martine Fougeron's <em><a href="http://www.bronxmuseum.org/exhibitions/martine-fougeron-the-south-bronx-trades">The South Bronx Trades</a></em> is comprised of photographs that document sometimes-struggling, sometimes-thriving local industries like baking, floristry, and hand-made bedding. Also opening is <em><a href="http://www.bronxmuseum.org/exhibitions/bronx-focus-paintings-by-valeri-larko">Bronx Focus</a></em>, a series of paintings from Valeri Larko depicting beauty in the dilapidated cityscape, from crumbling factories to salvage yards overrun with weeds.<br/><br/> The museum will also feature <a href="http://www.bronxmuseum.org/exhibitions/permanent-collection-spotlight-john-ahearn-and-rigoberto-torres">plaster and tin casts from John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres</a>, who use three-dimensional materials to create unsettling (and often hilarious) portraits of Bronx locals. Finally, <em><a href="http://www.bronxmuseum.org/exhibitions/beyond-the-veil-works-from-the-permanent-collection">Beyond the Veil</a></em> will feature additional goodies from the permanent collection, which specifically focuses on Asian-American, African-American, and Latin-American works.<br/><br/><em>Exhibits open Wednesday, April 6th at 11 a.m. // <a href="http://www.bronxmuseum.org/">Bronx Museum</a>, 1040 Grand Concourse, the Bronx // <a href="http://www.bronxmuseum.org/visit">Admission Free</a></em>

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Not one, not two, but four new exhibits will open at the Bronx Museum this month, and they each offer an immersive look at life in the borough. Martine Fougeron's The South Bronx Trades is comprised of photographs that document sometimes-struggling, sometimes-thriving local industries like baking, floristry, and hand-made bedding. Also opening is Bronx Focus, a series of paintings from Valeri Larko depicting beauty in the dilapidated cityscape, from crumbling factories to salvage yards overrun with weeds. The museum will also feature plaster and tin casts from John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres, who use three-dimensional materials to create unsettling (and often hilarious) portraits of Bronx locals. Finally, Beyond the Veil will feature additional goodies from the permanent collection, which specifically focuses on Asian-American, African-American, and Latin-American works.Exhibits open Wednesday, April 6th at 11 a.m. // Bronx Museum, 1040 Grand Concourse, the Bronx // Admission Free

Martine Fougeron (via facebook)

<br/><br/>The hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and at the center of Parvez Sharma's film <em>A Sinner in Mecca</em>. Each year two million Muslims leave home and travel to the Saudi Arabian city to profess their faith. For many it's a joyous, life-altering experience, but for Sharma it was also gravely dangerous. An openly gay man with a passionate Muslim faith, Sharma put himself and his film crew at risk as he decided to document his experience preparing for and completing his hajj, despite <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/05/the-kingdom-in-the-closet/305774/">Saudi Arabia's death sentence punishment for homosexuals</a>. It's a test of personal devotion and a region's deep-seeded bigotry; watch it all play out when <strong><a href="http://www.movingimage.us/visit/calendar/2016/04/08/detail/a-sinner-in-mecca"><em>A Sinner in Mecca</em> plays at Museum of the Moving Image</a></strong>. Sharma himself will be on hand for a follow-up discussion.<br/><br/><em>Friday, April 8th, 7:30 p.m. // <a href="http://www.movingimage.us/">Museum of the Moving Image</a>, 36-01 35th Avenue, Queens // <a href="https://1282.blackbaudhosting.com/1282/tickets?tab=2&amp;txobjid=3b8870fa-71ea-45b5-a20d-4694b1ab0540">Tickets $7-12</a></em>

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The hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and at the center of Parvez Sharma's film A Sinner in Mecca. Each year two million Muslims leave home and travel to the Saudi Arabian city to profess their faith. For many it's a joyous, life-altering experience, but for Sharma it was also gravely dangerous. An openly gay man with a passionate Muslim faith, Sharma put himself and his film crew at risk as he decided to document his experience preparing for and completing his hajj, despite Saudi Arabia's death sentence punishment for homosexuals. It's a test of personal devotion and a region's deep-seeded bigotry; watch it all play out when A Sinner in Mecca plays at Museum of the Moving Image. Sharma himself will be on hand for a follow-up discussion.Friday, April 8th, 7:30 p.m. // Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue, Queens // Tickets $7-12

via A Sinner in Mecca

<br/><br/>Queens arts space Flux Factory isn't afraid to embrace a little childish wonder, and so it makes perfect sense that their new <strong><a href="http://www.fluxfactory.org/events/luminous-flux/">Luminous Flux</a></strong> exhibition includes an "interactive fabric fort installation" and watercolor painting centered around themes of love. This is, after all, the art collective that took one of our writers on a <a href="http://gothamist.com/2016/03/17/fung_wah_field_trip.php#photo-1">wild moving-art-gallery bus trip to Philadelphia</a>, which is to say that whimsical adventure is the essence of their enterprise. Artist <a href="http://www.goelsewhere.org/kathryn-sclavi/">Kathryn Sclavi</a> is the mastermind of Luminous Flux, which draws upon the phases of the sun and moon along with some interactive sound pieces. Be prepared to see, hear, and feel it all.<br/><br/><em>Runs Saturday and Sunday, April 9th - 10th, 6-10 p.m. // <a href="http://www.fluxfactory.org/">Flux Factory</a>, 39-31 29th Street, Long Island City // <a href="http://www.fluxfactory.org/events/luminous-flux/">Free</a> </em>

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Queens arts space Flux Factory isn't afraid to embrace a little childish wonder, and so it makes perfect sense that their new Luminous Flux exhibition includes an "interactive fabric fort installation" and watercolor painting centered around themes of love. This is, after all, the art collective that took one of our writers on a wild moving-art-gallery bus trip to Philadelphia, which is to say that whimsical adventure is the essence of their enterprise. Artist Kathryn Sclavi is the mastermind of Luminous Flux, which draws upon the phases of the sun and moon along with some interactive sound pieces. Be prepared to see, hear, and feel it all.Runs Saturday and Sunday, April 9th - 10th, 6-10 p.m. // Flux Factory, 39-31 29th Street, Long Island City // Free

Gothamist

<br/><br/><a href="http://www.earthday.org/">Earth Day</a> proper isn't until April 22nd, but it seems Harlem is less concerned with specifics and more concerned with saving <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/science/global-warming-antarctica-ice-sheet-sea-level-rise.html?em_pos=large&amp;emc=edit_nn_20160331&amp;nl=morning-briefing&amp;nlid=71964876&amp;_r=0">our poor planet</a>. Early this month the borough will host the <strong><a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/harlem-earth-day-celebration-triathlon-tickets-23228942392?aff=ebrowse">Harlem Earth Day Celebration and Triathalon</a></strong>, a completely free chance to run, bike, and...do yoga (sorry swimmers) in the name of a better, cleaner planet. On top of all the wholesome competitive exercise, it's also a family-friendly day replete with face-painting, carnival games, and a robotics demo. Because the children, and the androids, are our future. If you're extra-serious about the race, a special prix-fixe "carb load dinner" will be served the night before.<br/><br/><em>Saturday, April 9th, 4 p.m. // Morningside Park, Harlem // <a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/e/harlem-earth-day-celebration-triathlon-tickets-23228942392?aff=ebrowse">Free</a></em>

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Earth Day proper isn't until April 22nd, but it seems Harlem is less concerned with specifics and more concerned with saving our poor planet. Early this month the borough will host the Harlem Earth Day Celebration and Triathalon, a completely free chance to run, bike, and...do yoga (sorry swimmers) in the name of a better, cleaner planet. On top of all the wholesome competitive exercise, it's also a family-friendly day replete with face-painting, carnival games, and a robotics demo. Because the children, and the androids, are our future. If you're extra-serious about the race, a special prix-fixe "carb load dinner" will be served the night before.Saturday, April 9th, 4 p.m. // Morningside Park, Harlem // Free

Gothamist

<br/><br/><a href="http://www.brooklynbybike.com/">Brooklyn by Bike</a> has a master plan, and it involves getting you out the door, on two wheels, and pedaling in the direction of delicious donuts. Their upcoming <a href="http://www.brooklynbybike.com/rides/">donut ride</a> will start off near Prospect Park and then stretch 15 miles through Queens and back down into Brooklyn. Yes, that's a lot of road, but there'll be glazed, iced, and jelly-filled donuts waiting for you along the way, thanks to planned stops at places like Peter Pan, Dough, Donut Plant, and 7th Avenue Diner. Donuts and the spring breeze blowing through your hair...There's really nothing more to say here.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/grand-army-plaza"><em>Saturday, April 16th, 11 a.m. // Grand Army Plaza</em></a>, Brooklyn // <a href="http://www.brooklynbybike.com/rides/">Free</a>

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Brooklyn by Bike has a master plan, and it involves getting you out the door, on two wheels, and pedaling in the direction of delicious donuts. Their upcoming donut ride will start off near Prospect Park and then stretch 15 miles through Queens and back down into Brooklyn. Yes, that's a lot of road, but there'll be glazed, iced, and jelly-filled donuts waiting for you along the way, thanks to planned stops at places like Peter Pan, Dough, Donut Plant, and 7th Avenue Diner. Donuts and the spring breeze blowing through your hair...There's really nothing more to say here.Saturday, April 16th, 11 a.m. // Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn // Free

via scoboco's flickr

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<br/><br/>Can you name your top five Soundgarden songs? Do you still rock the coffee-stained flannel shirt you thrifted during that one trip to Seattle back in '95? Do you have strong opinions about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Cobain:_Montage_of_Heck">Montage of Heck</a>? Well then get out all your Gen-X angst during the <strong><a href="http://www.unionhallny.com/event/1122529-90s-alternative-sing-along-brooklyn/">Secret Formula's 90's Alternative Sing-Along</a></strong>. Part theme party, part group karaoke, the night will remind you of all the great 90's songs you almost forgot you always loved, and is the perfect way to unwind at the end of the week. In this media-saturated 21st Century charade that we call life, what you really need is a pair of Doc Martens and some distorted guitar.<br/><br/><em>Friday, April 22nd, 9:30 p.m. // <a href="http://www.unionhallny.com/">Union Hall</a>, 702 Union Street, Brooklyn // <a href="https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1122529?_ga=1.92947293.1501827745.1459190412">Tickets $10</a></em>

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Can you name your top five Soundgarden songs? Do you still rock the coffee-stained flannel shirt you thrifted during that one trip to Seattle back in '95? Do you have strong opinions about Montage of Heck? Well then get out all your Gen-X angst during the Secret Formula's 90's Alternative Sing-Along. Part theme party, part group karaoke, the night will remind you of all the great 90's songs you almost forgot you always loved, and is the perfect way to unwind at the end of the week. In this media-saturated 21st Century charade that we call life, what you really need is a pair of Doc Martens and some distorted guitar.Friday, April 22nd, 9:30 p.m. // Union Hall, 702 Union Street, Brooklyn // Tickets $10

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<br/><br/>If you believe in dousing most every meal with hot sauce prior to consumption, we suggest you cop a ticket to <strong><a href="http://www.nychotsauceexpo.com/index.php">NYC's 4th Annual Hot Sauce Expo</a></strong> immediately. This two-day event features a slew of spicy eating competitions, cocktail mixing contests, and prestigious hot sauce award ceremonies, and are three ticket levels ranging in perks from admission to open bar and VIP access to <em>hot n saucy</em> deals.<br/><br/>Among those mouth-watering events on the agenda for this year are a guacamole eating contest, a chicken wing eating competition, and a Grimaldi's pizza eating contest. Craft beer will be a-flowing, and faces of those who've consumed too much hot sauce will be a-glowing. Seize this opportunity to network with fellow lovers of all things spicy. <em>(Kellylouise Delaney)</em><br/><br/><em>Saturday and Sunday, April 23-24, 10-6 p.m. // <a href="http://www.brooklynexpocenter.com/">Brooklyn EXPO Center</a>, 79 Franklin Street, Brooklyn // <a href="http://www.nychotsauceexpo.com/tickets.php">Tickets $10-100</a></em>

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If you believe in dousing most every meal with hot sauce prior to consumption, we suggest you cop a ticket to NYC's 4th Annual Hot Sauce Expo immediately. This two-day event features a slew of spicy eating competitions, cocktail mixing contests, and prestigious hot sauce award ceremonies, and are three ticket levels ranging in perks from admission to open bar and VIP access to hot n saucy deals.Among those mouth-watering events on the agenda for this year are a guacamole eating contest, a chicken wing eating competition, and a Grimaldi's pizza eating contest. Craft beer will be a-flowing, and faces of those who've consumed too much hot sauce will be a-glowing. Seize this opportunity to network with fellow lovers of all things spicy. (Kellylouise Delaney)Saturday and Sunday, April 23-24, 10-6 p.m. // Brooklyn EXPO Center, 79 Franklin Street, Brooklyn // Tickets $10-100

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<br/><br/>He might be in the middle of one of the most ambitious literary undertakings of all time, but that's not stopping <strong><a href="http://www.bam.org/literary/2016/karl-ove-knausgaard">Karl Ove Knausgaard from stopping by BAM</a></strong> for a chat. The Norwegian author has been obliterating the bestselling lists with his mostly-autobiographical uber-novel <em>My Struggle</em>, which is apparently only half finished and already has a page count north of 1500. And sure, the literary talk at BAM will be filled with plenty of Knausgaard fanboys, eager to have a solemn and manly moment with their Scandinavian idol, but on the other hand the guy's style is so tender and raw that even those completely oblivious to his past works will find value in what he's said, seen, loved, and lost.<br/><br/><em>Monday, April 25th, 6:30 p.m. // <a href="http://www.bam.org/visit#/Peter-Jay-Sharp-Building/BAMcafé/Karl%20Ove%20Knausgaard">BAM</a>, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn // <a href="http://www.bam.org/literary/2016/karl-ove-knausgaard">Standby tickets $60</a></em>

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He might be in the middle of one of the most ambitious literary undertakings of all time, but that's not stopping Karl Ove Knausgaard from stopping by BAM for a chat. The Norwegian author has been obliterating the bestselling lists with his mostly-autobiographical uber-novel My Struggle, which is apparently only half finished and already has a page count north of 1500. And sure, the literary talk at BAM will be filled with plenty of Knausgaard fanboys, eager to have a solemn and manly moment with their Scandinavian idol, but on the other hand the guy's style is so tender and raw that even those completely oblivious to his past works will find value in what he's said, seen, loved, and lost.Monday, April 25th, 6:30 p.m. // BAM, 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn // Standby tickets $60

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<br/><br/>Gary, Indiana rapper <strong><a href="http://highlineballroom.com/show/2016/04/26/freddie-gibbs/">Freddie Gibbs</a></strong> is known for delivering some of the most aggressive lyrics in modern music, but don't let the gunsmoke fool you. This is one MC who refuses to become a cliche, and from the jazz-inspired bounce of Pinata to his new dark and moody Shadow of a Doubt mixtape, Gibbs's releases have shown both an eagerness to try new things and an ability to nail them. It's been a couple of years since he played New York, a fact that could be due to t<a href="http://gothamist.com/2014/11/04/rough_trade_shooting.php">he brief gunfight that broke after his 2014 Rough Trade show</a>. You can bet there'll be a little extra security at the Highline Ballroom, but don't let that stop you from seeing him hold it down.<br/><br/><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/244311280&amp;color=ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br/><br/><em>Tuesday, April 26th, 7 p.m. // <a href="http://highlineballroom.com/">Highline Ballroom</a>, 431 W 16th Street, Manhattan // <a href="http://highlineballroom.com/show/2016/04/26/freddie-gibbs">Tickets $18-22</a></em>

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Gary, Indiana rapper Freddie Gibbs is known for delivering some of the most aggressive lyrics in modern music, but don't let the gunsmoke fool you. This is one MC who refuses to become a cliche, and from the jazz-inspired bounce of Pinata to his new dark and moody Shadow of a Doubt mixtape, Gibbs's releases have shown both an eagerness to try new things and an ability to nail them. It's been a couple of years since he played New York, a fact that could be due to the brief gunfight that broke after his 2014 Rough Trade show. You can bet there'll be a little extra security at the Highline Ballroom, but don't let that stop you from seeing him hold it down.Tuesday, April 26th, 7 p.m. // Highline Ballroom, 431 W 16th Street, Manhattan // Tickets $18-22

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<br/><br/>Open at the Whitney Museum of American Art this month is the new exhibition <strong><a href="http://whitney.org/Exhibitions/HumanInterest">Human Interest: Portraits from the Whitney's Collection</a></strong>. The exhibit studies the ways portraiture has changed at the hands of artists old and new over the past sixty years. There will be more than 100 works on display - a vignette of new acquisitions, iconic works, and lesser known works, in a range of mediums.<br/><br/>The exhibit aims to draw connections between the past and the present, as portraiture connects artist to muse, or viewer to viewed. Artists confront the ease with which we create self-portraits in the technological age, compared to a time when self-portraits were a luxury item. Questions about how we perceive and commemorate ourselves and others contribute to the show's underlying themes. <em>(Kellylouise Delaney)</em><br/><br/><em>Opens April 27th; Hours vary daily // <a href="http://whitney.org/">The Whitney Museum of American Art</a>, 99 Gansevoort Street, Manhattan // <a href="https://visit.whitney.org/tickets/ItemList.aspx?node_id=86">Tickets Free-$22</a></em>

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Open at the Whitney Museum of American Art this month is the new exhibition Human Interest: Portraits from the Whitney's Collection. The exhibit studies the ways portraiture has changed at the hands of artists old and new over the past sixty years. There will be more than 100 works on display - a vignette of new acquisitions, iconic works, and lesser known works, in a range of mediums.The exhibit aims to draw connections between the past and the present, as portraiture connects artist to muse, or viewer to viewed. Artists confront the ease with which we create self-portraits in the technological age, compared to a time when self-portraits were a luxury item. Questions about how we perceive and commemorate ourselves and others contribute to the show's underlying themes. (Kellylouise Delaney)Opens April 27th; Hours vary daily // The Whitney Museum of American Art, 99 Gansevoort Street, Manhattan // Tickets Free-$22

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<br/><br/>Sure, there's <a href="https://twitter.com/coffee_dad?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">dad coffee</a>, <a href="http://www.memecenter.com/search/dad">dad memes</a>, and even <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbHRbNmppwE">Dads Across America</a> but what's the use if you're not chronicling all this dadful content? Leave it to local artist-writer couple <a href="https://twitter.com/Lubchansky?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Matt Lubchansky</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/jayasax">Jaya Saxena</a> with their new publication, <strong><a href="http://www.housingworks.org/events/detail/dad-magazine-launch/">DAD MAGAZINE</a></strong>. It's full of fake ads and interviews about fake dads who aren't afraid to get real, tell it like it is, and pose for fatherly photos. Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe will host the magazine's launch at the end of the month, and we hear there'll be both professional writers and as many as one <em>actual dad</em> in the audience! Crazy, we know.<br/><br/><em>Wednesday, April 27th, 7 p.m. // Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, Manhattan // <a href="http://www.housingworks.org/events/detail/dad-magazine-launch/">Free</a></em>

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Sure, there's dad coffee, dad memes, and even Dads Across America but what's the use if you're not chronicling all this dadful content? Leave it to local artist-writer couple Matt Lubchansky and Jaya Saxena with their new publication, DAD MAGAZINE. It's full of fake ads and interviews about fake dads who aren't afraid to get real, tell it like it is, and pose for fatherly photos. Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe will host the magazine's launch at the end of the month, and we hear there'll be both professional writers and as many as one actual dad in the audience! Crazy, we know.Wednesday, April 27th, 7 p.m. // Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe, 126 Crosby Street, Manhattan // Free

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