Monday, June 9
As part of Hayden Planetarium’s Frontiers Lecture series, Russian cosmologist Alexander Vilenkin discusses recent developments in our understanding of the Big Bang. Perhaps the Big Bang was not a unique event, and they occur regularly in remote parts of the universe, producing new worlds with a great variety of physical properties. Over the summer, the Hayden Planetarium is presenting more in this series, including Family Astronomy (June 14), Summer Skies Telescope Party (June 24) and SeismoDome: Sights and Sounds of Earthquakes and Global Seismology (June 25). 7 p.m., Hayden Planetarium Space Theater. West 81st Street, Upper West Side. $15.
Tuesday, June 10
Genre-defying English author Geoff Dyer ("Yoga For People Who Can’t Be Bothered To Do It," "Paris Trance: A Romance") is appearing this evening in conversation with Paul Holdengräber in the excellent Live from NYPL series at New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Dyer’s latest book “Another Great Day at Sea: Life Aboard the USS George HW Bush,” chronicles Dyer’s experiences on the largest aircraft carrier in the world. Magnum photographer Chris Steele-Perkins illustrates the book, which is part of Writers In Residence, a new publishing venture by writer Alain de Botton. 7 p.m., Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Wachenheim Trustees Room, 5th Avenue at 42nd St., Midtown. $15/$25.
The Museum Mile Festival is a great opportunity to visit the cultural riches that line the Upper East Side’s Fifth Avenue. This evening, entry is free to all nine museums from 82nd to 105th Streets and, with lots of street entertainment on the menu, the length of Museum Mile turns into New York City’s biggest block party. 6 to 9 p.m. Free.
Wednesday, June 11
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis is decamping for a special
150th anniversary commemorative gig at the historic Woodlawn Cemetery. The 90-minute open air performance will feature the works of many of the famous jazz artists who are memorialized at the cemetery, including "Duke" Ellington, Charles "Cootie" Williams and Max Roach. Visit Woodlawn’s "jazz corner" before the concert begins and spread a blanket on the open lawn at the Jerome Avenue entrance to the cemetery. General public admission begins at 6 p.m. Jerome Avenue and Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx.
Thursday, June 12
Soccer fans will be glued to their screens today as World Cup 2014 kicks off in Brazil. Thirty-two nations battle it out during the Group Match stage from June 12 - 26, and there’s no shortage of venues to watch the games in New York City — every competing nation has presence here. Divided into eight four-team groups, the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. Team USA is in the tough Group G, with Germany (ranked 2) and Portugal (13) favored to advance. Host nation Brazil will have a big home turf advantage and are the pre-tournament favorite, but Spain, Germany, Argentina and Italy are also in with a chance. Head to “Little Brazil,” on Manhattan’s West 46th Street, today at 4 p.m. when Brazil plays Croatia in the first game.
