If you can unglue yourself from watching what is sure to be drama-filled Republican National Convention, there is much culture to be had in New York City this week. On the politics tip, BAM and the Museum of the Moving Image are both hosting election-themed film series. The Tribeca Film Festival brings a selection of its documentaries to Nitehawk Cinema, including the powerful Do Not Resist. For those looking for something lighter, we recommend looking into the LOL Film Series, which continues with a screening of Pitch Perfect accompanied by music and stand-up comedy, or heading to the garden at MoMA for its Summer Thursdays series where Potty Mouth will be rockin’ out.

You’ll find other recommendations below, many of which are free, including a lecture on barbecue, the High Line’s Up Late, a free performance by Patti Smith, and more.

Monday, July 18
BOOKS: Books Beneath the Bridge with WORD (UPDATE: the event has been rescheduled due to weather)
Books Beneath the Bridge is a NYC summer staple that finds authors and poets presenting their work in the outdoors against the backdrop of the East River. Each week a different bookstore is charged with curating duties. For this edition, WORD his lined up Emma Straub to read from her highly entertaining third novel, Modern Lovers. Joining Straub is first-time novelist Rumaan Alam. He will read from his acclaimed debut Rich and Pretty.
Granite Prospect, Brooklyn Bridge Park
7pm
Free

FOOD: The Masters of Social Gastronomy Presents: Barbecue
Learn the juicy details behind barbecue with Sarah Lohman and Jonathan Soma at this month’s installment of the Master of Social Gastronomy lecture series. Sarah will handle the history of the brown-sauced phenomenon while Jonathan tackles the science. Additionally, the event promises to settle the age-old debate: pork vs. beef. Beer, wine and food will be available for purchase.
Old Stone House, 336 3rd street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
8pm
$5 suggested donation

FILM: Flicks on the Beach: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Revisit box office sensation Star Wars: The Force Awakens under the stars in Coney Island. Co-presented by Alliance for Coney Island and Rooftop Films, the intergalactic sci-fi adventure that reunites Han Solo, Princess Leah, and Chewbacca to defeat the evil First Order screens on a 40-foot inflatable screen. Pre-film festivities get underway at 7:30pm.
Coney Island Flicks on the Beach, 1001 Boardwalk West, NY 11224
7:30pm
Free

MUSIC: SummerStage: The Feelies/Beach Fossils
On the occasion of their 40th anniversary this year, underground guitar rockers the Feelies headline a free SummerStage show in Central Park. Brooklyn Indie pop/rock darlings Beach Fossils open.
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park
6pm
Free

Tuesday, July 19
SHOPPING: Sonos Store Opening
Sonos opens the doors on its new 4,200 square foot home in SoHo. The smart speaker specialist’s NYC flagship store is a place where visitors can purchase products or sit back and relax in one of the sonically perfect listening rooms. For the opening day a number of special guests are rolling through including Thurston Moore, Rakim, El-P, Miss Info, Nancy Whang, Kyp Malone, and Walter Schreifels.
Sonos Flagship Store, 101 Greene Street, New York, NY
12pm

ART: Opening Day of The Hills at Governors Island
There is even more to enjoy at Governors Island as The Hills are finally ready for public consumption. Spanning 10 acres, The Hills are made up of four Hills that provide art, recreation and New York Harbor views. They consist of the Grassy Hill, a 26-foot high grassy slope that overlooks the island; Slide Hill, which is home to four slides; Discovery Hill, a 39-foot hill that features Rachel Whiteread’s site specific Cabin; and Outlook Hill, which rises 70 feet above the island. The Hills are designed by landscape architecture firm West 8.
Governors Island
10am-6pm
Free

ART: Lunchtime Lecture Series: Dread Scott in Conversation with Ron English
Artist Dread Scott, whose most recent exhibition involved a flag that read “A Man Was Lynched by Police Yesterday” hanging outside of Jack Shainman Gallery, and street artist Ron English sit down for a conversation regarding their practice. This free afternoon talk is presented by SVA’s MFA Art Practice.
Room 501H, 335 West 16th Street, New York, NY
12:30pm-2pm
Free

FILM: Little Cinema Presents: Lost Highway // Remixed + Rescored
Little Cinema, the House of Yes resident crew that specialize in memorable immersive screening events, take on David Lynch’s 1997 cult classic Lost Highway for their next go. The one-time event will feature a full live rescore by Late Sea with remixed scenes by AV artist and Little Cinema founder DJ CHNNLS.
House of Yes
7pm doors
$10-$100

PARTY: Red Bull Sound Select Presents: New York Curated by Afropunk featuring Big Freedia & Cakes Da Killa
This could be your last chance to see bounce queen Big Freedia for a while. The charismatic New Orleans-born performer is currently embroiled in a hairy legal situation with sentencing taking place in August. If things don’t go her way, she may have to serve jail time. Fans should show support by showing up at this Red Bull Sound Select presented show and sending good vibes her way. New Jersey recording artist and raunchy rapper Cakes Da Killa also performs with LSDXOXO, Byrel the Great and MikeQ providing sounds.
Baby’s All Right, 146 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY, 11211
8pm
$3 with RSVP/$10 without

Wednesday, July 20
PARTY: Bridge Grooves: PitchBlak Brass Band, Maurice “Mobetta” Brown, DJ OP!
Brooklyn Bodega, the team behind the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival that went down this past weekend, have another music series up their sleeve this summer, Bridge Grooves. The first installment finds Brooklyn’s PitchBlak Brass Band bringing their tuba, saxophone, and trombone-infused hip hop sound to Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Also on the bill, Grammy Award winning jazz trumpeter Maurice “Mobetta” Brown, and the soulful selects of DJ OP!.
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 1
7pm
Free

COMEDY: The Flight of the Conchords sing Flight of the Conchords with Demetri Martin, Eugene Mirman, John Hodgman
Reunited and it feels so good, Flight of the Conchords (aka Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement) are currently touring the US. The Grammy Award-winning Kiwi folk comedy duo’s show finds them engaging in witty banter, trying out new songs, and revisiting the classics. They make two stops in the New York City area, a sold out show at Central Park SummerStage on Sunday, July 24, and this show at Forest Hills Stadium. Opening acts for the Queens show include Demetri Martin, Eugene Mirman, and humorist John Hodgman.
Forest Hills Stadium, 1 Tennis Pl , Forest Hills, NY
5:30pm doors
$45-$65

FESTIVAL: Lincoln Center Out of Doors: Words and Music with Patti Smith/Mariachi Flor de Toloache
Lincoln Center Out of Doors kicks off its 46th season with an evening featuring living legend Patti Smith. “Punk’s poet laureate” takes centerstage to perform poetry, prose and acoustic music. Opening the evening is all-female, Latin Grammy-nominated mariachi band Mariachi Flor de Toloache.
Damrosch Park, 70 Lincoln Center Plz, New York, New York 10023
7:30pm
Free

FILM: Cocksucker Blues
In conjunction with Laura Israel’s documentary on Robert Frank, Don’t Blink – Robert Frank, Film Forum is presenting two screenings of Frank’s classic film Cocksucker Blues. Commissioned by The Rolling Stones, the concert documentary has been unreleased for over 40 years and follows the band on their 1972 North American tour in support of Exile on Main Street. The film screens at 9:50pm on Wednesday, July 20 and Thursday, July 21. Both screenings are sold out online but tickets may be available at the theater the night of.
Film Forum, 209 West Houston St.
9:50pm
$14

Thursday, July 21
MUSIC: Royal Headache, Career Suicide, JJ Doll, Degreaser
Most headaches we can do without, but when it comes to Royal Headache, we welcome their next flare up. Fronted by the charismatic Shogun, Royal Headache formed in Sydney in 2008 over an interest in stripped down, back-to-basics rock and roll. In 2011, they released their stellar self-titled debut which consisted of 12 quick, catchy tracks bursting with lo-fi, soul-tinged, guitar-ravaged goodness. After a hiatus and announcement the band had broken up, the foursome returned with their sophomore LP High, which dropped last summer. The new record dials up the soul and finds Shogun crooning about love, but the raw energy remains. The Aussie band are currently stateside (they played Pitchfork Festival over the weekend), and land in New York for a couple of shows this week. The show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Wednesday is sold out, but this show at Market Hotel still has tickets. Also, the band are also hosting an afterparty Wednesday night at Over the Eight, details can be found here.
Market Hotel, 1140 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11221
8pm doors
$13-$15

ART: Up Late
The High Line stays open late for this special evening filled with art, dance and performance. Night owls who venture to the elevated park will find a theatrical retelling of the history of legendary night club party Jackie 60, a participatory ecstatic dance led by The Dance Cartel, the electronic melodies of Yael “KAT” Modiano and Ursula Scherrer, and much more. There is an RSVP, but it doesn’t guarantee entry. Be sure to arrive early if you want to be part of the spectacle.
The High Line, from Gansevoort to 18th, New York, NY 10014
10pm
Free – RSVP