8 Exciting Things To Do & Eat In NYC Between May 19th-May 24th

It’s hot outside, restaurants can reopen at 100% capacity for the first time since March 2020, and we’re reacclimating to seeing the lower half of strangers’ faces. But most importantly for our purposes today, a range of restaurants and chefs are hosting special events and pop-ups this week. That’s why we’re curating a weekly list of all the most intriguing stuff to eat and do around the city. Here’s what’s happening between May 19th and May 24th.

Got a tip for something going on that we should know about? Email hannah@theinfatuation.com.

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The iconic (and massive) Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden in Astoria reopened on Wednesday, May 19th. Even if you’re one of those people who stays in touch with every acquaintance you meet, Bohemian Hall still has room for every single person you know. It’s a great place to spend a summer afternoon drinking steins of Czech beer and eating bratwurst. You can stop by starting at 5pm on weekdays and noon on weekends.

Teranga’s original location in Harlem is hosting a day party with African Chop House this Saturday, May 22nd from 1-8pm. In addition to a couple of live DJ sets, Teranga is debuting some new pan-African menu items, as well as cocktails and merch. See the details and RSVP here.

There are two exciting new things happening in Dumbo this week. The first is the opening of a Vietnamese restaurant called Em (which has a location in Bensonhurst already). The second is Dumbo Open Studios, a free art show with 100 artists, galleries, and art organizations participating. Art In Dumbo, a resource for arts in the neighborhood, created a helpful map to all of the in-person exhibitions in the area that you can check out before or after lunch or dinner.

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For all those who spend weekends thinking about smoked fish and vessels used to eat smoked fish, head to latke project Luxe Latke’s pop-up party at Gertie in Williamsburg on Saturday, May 22nd from 5-9pm. Luxe will be serving things like a beet caraway latke with smoked salmon and a classic potato latke with caviar from Acme Smoked Fish. You can see the full list of specials available for preorder here, and expect drinks by Gertie and music to accompany you and your fish.

Makina Cafe, one of our favorite food trucks in the city, will be parked on Governor's Island this weekend from 11am-6pm (which recently reopened for the season and has a ton of arts programming and stuff to do). Makina serves Habesha food, which implies both Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine, and makes incredible beef tibs and heavily fermented injera. Follow along their Instagram account for more pop-ups (they were at woman-run Talea brewery right by McCarren Park in Williamsburg last Friday, for example).

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This Bushwick restaurant and Brooklyn-based beer project, Dyke Beer, is hosting a queer brunch tea party on Sunday, May 23rd from 12-4pm (with dancing and more drinking from 4-8pm). There will be a live DJ, burlesque performances, and drag, as well as plenty of Dyke Beer to try and Maite’s rotating menu of seasonal Colombian-Basque dishes. Reservations are required, and you can make one ahead of time here.

Whenever you’re in Midtown and get an overwhelming desire to drink rum and eat Jamaican escovitch fish, check out Jasmine’s on West 46th Street. But, this Thursday in particular, stop by Jasmine’s for all of that plus stand-up comedy. There’s no admission charge, but you’ll have to meet the two-drink minimum. Get on the waitlist for a reservation here.

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If you’re looking for Thursday night plans, Cowgirl Seahorse in the Seaport has a stand-up comedy night (by way of Waterline Comedy) starting at 8pm. The whole thing is happening outside, and there are a bunch of frozen margaritas and Tex-Mex dishes to consume while you watch people who have performed on The Tonight Show and Comedy Central. Reserve your $10 ticket here.

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