Friday, July 25
City Lore and The Bronx Museum of the Arts are teaming up to celebrate immigrant communities, with a special edition of Bronx Stories, a collaborative series that hosts storytellers, poets, and musicians. Artists performing include poet Annecy Baez, storyteller Donna Bailey, hip hop artist Intikana and comedian Bill Santiago. From 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., Bronx Museum of the Arts, 1040 Grand Concourse. Free admission and bar, though donations are suggested.
Founded and produced by journalist and former Village Voice columnist Mike Geffner, event series The Inspired Word celebrates New York City writers of all types this evening at (Le) Poisson Rouge — poets, novelists, journalists and short story writers. Shows feature as many as five curated readers and a seven-slot open mic, with a five-minute time limit. From 7 p.m. in The Gallery at (Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St, Greenwich Village. $10
Saturday, July 26
New York’s vibrant poetry community will be the center of this weekend's two day New York City Poetry Festival, kicking off this morning at the recently refurbished Governors Island. Discover more than 60 poetry organizations and listen to more than 250 poets on three stages. There’s also a Vendor's Village, a beer garden, good food, poetic installation art throughout, the Ring of Daisies open mic and, last but not least, the Children's Poetry Festival, complete with writing games and its own all-kids stage. From 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., Governors Island. Free.
In the New York Hall of Science’s Maker Space workshops, they use real tools to make things and re-use everyday materials in exciting ways. It’s a learning environment where children, teens, adults and families can tinker, design and create together. From woodworking and plaster casting to electronics and 3D printing, Maker Space encourages experimentation and open-ended exploration. The Maker Space is open to the public every weekend from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. 47-01 111th St., Corona, Queens.
Sunday, July 27
The Clearwater, a replica of the cargo sloops that traveled the Hudson River in the 18th and 19th centuries, sets sail from a variety of docks from Albany to New York City, April through October. The Clearwater organization began with musician and activist Pete Seeger in 1966, when the Hudson was rank with raw sewage and toxic chemicals. Today, the boat is recognized as America’s Environmental Flagship. Trip departs Yonkers, 71 Water Grant St., at 5 p.m.
Adult $50, Kids $15. Bookings are essential.
With the excellent exhibition Italian Futurism, 1909–1944: Reconstructing the Universe currently on show, today is a great time for families with children ages 5–14 in tow to check out The Guggenheim. After exploring Italian Futurism, Contemporary Art from Latin America, Kandinsky Before Abstraction, and the Frank Lloyd Wright tribute, explore the themes and materials seen in the work on view with The Guggenheim’s drop-in art making program. To participate, stop by the Studio Art Lab, located in the Sackler Center between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. 1071 Fifth Avenue, (at 89th Street), Upper West Side.
