WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — The calendar may say that it's spring, but the weather this weekend isn't expected to cooperate.
Still, there are plenty of fun ways to get out of the house and enjoy the weekend. Here are our top picks:
Friday
Word Up Books will celebrate Women’s History Month with a performance by two female spoken word artists and a writer Friday night. Elizabeth Acevedo, a National Poetry Slam champion, will perform alongside Mariela Regalado, a member of the Full Circle Ensemble, while novelist and memoirist Vanessa Martir will share her work.
The event, which is organized by Wordat4F poetry collaborative, will benefit Young Women Rock, a mentorship program for young women who live in impoverished neighborhoods. The event at 2113 Amsterdam Ave. begins at 8 p.m. and costs $5 at the door.
Saturday
Kids can test out their hurdling and shot put skills at the fourth annual Uptown Games at the Fort Washington Armory. More than 500 children in the third through eighth grades are already signed up to attend the event, where New York Road Runners and Armory staffers will provide 30-minute clinics on different track-and-field events. Children will also have an opportunity to participate in competitive events, including team relays.
The event is organized by NY Road Runners, the Armory Foundation and Uptown politicians Adriano Espaillat, Ydanis Rodriguez and Mark Levine. The day begins at 10:50 with a hip-hop warm-up and runs to 3 p.m. Uptown Games is free for all. Parents can sign children up on Saturday at the Armory, located at 216 Fort Washington Ave.
Sunday
The Fort Tryon Jewish Center kicks off Dream Uptown, a new series of arts events exploring the idea of borders and boundaries in Washington Heights. The first event “Strangers in a Strange Land: Jews and Latinos Onstage,” will present excerpts from three new plays that examine the intersections between culture, religion and spirituality in both communities.
Future events will include an evening of spoken word poetry and a multimedia art walk, which will be held in conjunction with the Uptown Arts Stroll. Sunday’s performance begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center, located at 530 W. 166th St. There is a suggested donation of $10.