5 Exciting Things To Do & Eat In NYC Between February 16th-22nd

This week, fight the temptation to burrow inside and trust that these community-oriented events will keep you warm. Enjoy food and art from the African diaspora on Saturday, watch a Filipino-American film screening on Thursday, or catch some jazz on Monday. If you’re a teacher, there’s also a food-and-drink special waiting for you in Bed-Stuy on Thursday night. We won’t tell anyone why you really put on a movie in class.

This Thursday, the James Beard Foundation invites you to eat maple–gochujang glazed chicken lollipops for two good causes: providing critical resources to independent restaurants and also providing food for your own stomach. The foundation's Open for Good campaign aims to help restaurants build back stronger and survive in the long term through industry support programs and fundraisers like tomorrow night's dinner at The Inn at Irving Place. In addition to glazed chicken, the tasting menu includes five spice duck confit and sunchoke vanilla bisque. Buy your tickets here.

On Saturday the people behind African Restaurant Week are putting up an all-day African Pop-Up Festival at Hudson Station. Shop for goods and art to Afrobeats coming from the DJ booth, and stick around for music and dance performances starting at 6:30. Spiced Kanteen, Nanas A Vegan, Delicious African Orchards, and BD Halal will be there with plenty of vegan and Halal options. Wash everything down with a juice from the sisters behind Tall and Co., and check out their other Senegalese-inspired health food products. See the complete list of vendors and artists here.

After the last two years, the least we can do for teachers is throw them into a bar and let Dead Poets Society do all the teaching the next day. The Caribbean-Asian spot Sally’s in Bed-Stuy wants to show their appreciation with complimentary chicken meatballs and mushroom fried rice with the purchase of one of their drink specials. Come by this Thursday if you’re a teacher, or if you just want to drink with one and hear what they really think about those kids.

Mondays at Wild Birds are great for a low-key night of live music and pizza. This Monday, you can catch an early show with Akie Bermiss or a late show with Willerm Delisfort and hear new configurations of jazz, gospel, R&B, and soul. Traze Pizza will be there with vegetarian grandma pies all night.

Actor Dante Basco is probably best known for his role as Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys in Steven Spielberg's Hook. Or, if you’re a super fan, you may know him from his appearance on Hell’s Kitchen 23 years later. Now, he’s touring his film The Fabulous Filipino Brothers—written, directed, and starring Dante, as well as his four real-life brothers. The film follows each brother as they prepare for all the warmth and chaos of a big Filipino wedding. You can catch Dante talking at the screening and Q&A on Thursday night. Reserve your tickets here.