5 Exciting Things To Do & Eat Between August 24th - 30th

Summer’s official end date is actually a month from now, but something about August puts us into panic mode. Have we had enough nights that started with Happy Hour frosé and ended with Hennessy? How many times have we exercised our earthly right to blow off work early? Are our clothes still free of the scent of smoked meats? There's still time to make a few questionable decisions at one of this week’s summery events.

Cafe Erzulie has one of the most danceable gardens in Brooklyn, and more importantly, impeccable taste in music. Come to their jazz night on Thursday from 7-11pm for cocktails and live music by Kaya Nicole. Buy tickets here.

The best comedy shows are good parties, and a good party will have all your stories the next day devolving into “you had to be there.” So be there, at the Y’all Had To Be Here show at Union Hall this Friday. In addition to a live podcast from the YHTBT crew, there will be stand up from comics featured on Comedy Central and FX, live music, trivia, and more. Buy tickets here.

Though the Walking Dead-looking people emerging from a Bushwick rave will try to convince you otherwise, you only need a few things to have a good time: good music, good people, and, preferably, good booze. Marlow & Sons will provide two of these things during their Forthave Spirits takeover this weekend. The duo behind Forthave will be collaborating with the restaurant on special cocktails featuring their Marlo amaro, and they’ll be spinning original pressings from their record collections. More info here.

One can never have enough candles. You may encounter too many candles made to smell like strangers’ nether-regions, but you can avoid that by skipping our self-care czar Gwyneth’s recommendations and heading to the Queens Craft Brigade this Saturday instead. You’ll find candles, housewares, jewelry and more from the borough's best makers at this event that also focuses on highlighting local non-profits.

Sadly, you can go all summer in NYC without actually eating your BBQ outside. Take a break from consuming your pulled pork in fake, air-conditioned barn houses, and head to this Sunday’s big Prospect Park BBQ. Smorgasburg is bringing the smokers out for BBQ feasts by Bark BBQ, Sholay Indian BBQ, Monk’s Meats vegan BBQ, and more. Find the full lineup here.