NYC Events This Weekend: Governors Ball, World Science Festival, More
There's so much to do this weekend! Thankfully, the sun is shining (mostly), the weather is getting warmer, and the days are getting longer. Below are our picks for the best eating, drinking, and merrymaking events on Saturday and Sunday. By Jessica Allen.
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We can't describe the mission of this festival any better than the festival organizers themselves: "Our mission is to cultivate a general public informed by science, inspired by its wonder, convinced of its value, and prepared to engage with its implications for the future." The huge array of events at this five-day festival range from the Great Fish Count to a tour of a working forensics lab to a panel discussion about the ways our neurons make us who we are.. Wednesday, June 1, through Sunday, June 5, see schedule for details and ticket info.
The motto / theme of this year's Brooklyn Film Festival is "experiment," so it's not surprising that many of the animated, documentary, and short films have a decidedly experimental theme. "Ambrosia," for example, features a suicidal clown and a restless ghost, while "Suck It" is about an employee who gets fed up -- once and for all -- with his bad boss. Got a young one in your life? Don't miss the 12th annual KidsFilmFest, screening movies for kids of all ages. Friday, June 3, through Sunday, June 12, see schedule for details. Prices vary, tickets required.
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Summer doesn't really begin in the city until Governors Ball, the annual three-day festival of music on Randall's Island. The festival, as organizers explain, "draws from the eclectic spirit that makes NYC so special and provides people with a first class experience for all the senses." This year's lineup includes Father John Misty, Haim, The Strokes, The Killers, Robyn, Kanye West, and others playing on several stages. Rain or shine. Friday, June 3, through Sunday, June 5, prices vary, tickets required.
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Once again, the totally and utterly volunteer-run FIGMENT is taking over portions of Governors Island for the summer. This grassroots festival seeks to connect emerging artists and the public via such participatory installations as a treehouse, a mini-golf course, the singing of siren songs, the playing of fiddles, and lots more. Check the calendar for new and ongoing events, and stop by this weekend for the season opener (note that many projects will stay up through September). Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, 10 am to 6 pm, free.
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Calling all coffee drinkers! Billing itself as "the consumer coffee festival," CoffeeCon is where to go to get your caffeine (or decaf) fix this weekend. In addition to classes, lectures, panel discussions, and a walk-in lab, the festival includes a Chemex Pop-Up Museum, dedicated to Dr. Peter Schlumbohm, a chemist who created inventions dedicated to "making everyday objects more functional, attractive, and enjoyable to use." We'll drink to that, sure. Saturday, June 4, 9 am to 4 pm, $30, tickets required.
