Skip the Met Gala: 21 things to do this Cinco de Mayo weekend

By Joshua Encinias

Met Gala, Shmet Shmala. There are no fewer than three cheeky alternatives to the parade of Manhattan elitism this weekend — and countless other ways to get out and about.

The Coney Island Film Festival takes place Friday through Sunday with inexpensive tickets and plenty of entertainment (and junk food) to spare. The Decemberists play Brooklyn Paramount on Friday night, and the Boys Club’s Net Gala raises money for The Lower Eastside Girls Club with a campy Bushwick affair.

Park Slope Open Streets returns on Saturday, spanning fewer blocks than in previous years, but with more events planned for the summer through October. Woofstock is a day of fundraising and dog adoptions in celebration of Badass Animal Rescue. Speaking of animals, the 150th Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday and the biggest annual party outside of Kentucky is pulling out all the stops. Don’t overdo it, though, because the Skatalites celebrate 60 years of roots reggae in Crown Heights that evening.

Cinco De Mayo is on Sunday, bringing with it many offerings to choose from to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Plus, there’s The 2nd Annual Debt Gala, which raises money to cancel people’s medical debt, and The People’s Ball, a big celebration at The Brooklyn Public Library of everyday New Yorker style.

Friday, May 3

Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm
Opens 11 a.m. Friday, through August
Fifty years after the Beatles broke up and nearly 44 years since the murder of John Lennon, the band and all it stood for continues to be an object of fascination for millions. That passion, which sometimes borders on obsession, is the fuel behind “Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm,” a new exhibit set to debut at the Brooklyn Museum on May 3 and run through August 18. Displayed alongside video clips and archival material will be more than 250 photos taken by McCartney throughout the Beatles’ earliest years, between 1963 and 1964. 200 Eastern Parkway. General admission varies, up to $20.

Uncharted Territories: Black Britain on Film, 1963-1986
Friday through Tuesday, May 9
This wide-ranging program collects over two decades worth of vital, rarely-screened movies through which filmmakers of African and Caribbean heritage in Britain, alongside some committed outsiders, began to create powerfully resonant images of Black people on screen. 30 Lafayette Avenue. General admission tickets are $16.

Coney Island Film Festival
Friday through Sunday
The Coney Island Film Festival screens a truly eclectic range of films from the U.S., all over the world, and also, naturally, several “made in Coney Island” movies each year. In 2024 the Coney Island Film Festival is celebrating its 24th anniversary. 1208 Surf Avenue. Individual tickets start at $10 and weekend passes are $50.

Orthodox Easter Events
10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Bay Ridge celebrates Orthodox Easter Weekend on Friday with the decoration of the epitaphios (a funeral cloth) at 10:30 a.m., followed by an unnailing service — in which an icon of Christ is taken down from the cross and wrapped in white cloth — at 2:30 p.m., and a Lamentation service at 7 p.m., when the epitaphios will be carried around the neighborhood. 8401 Ridge Blvd. Free.

The Decemberists at Brooklyn Paramount
7 p.m.
Everyone’s favorite nautically-themed indie rockers The Decemberists are swinging through Brooklyn Paramount on Friday night. They’re touring in support of their new album, “As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again,” with opener Ratboys. 385 Flatbush Ave Ext. Resale tickets are $83.

Don’t Tell Seth! An Evening With Seth Meyers’ Writers
7:30 p.m.
“Don’t Tell Seth!” is a variety show at The Bell House featuring members of the writing staff of “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” Unshackled from the confines of network censors and what Seth thinks is appropriate for the show, these writer-performers let loose in an evening of stand-up, sketches, improv, character pieces and more. 149 7th Street (Between 2nd and 3rd Ave). Tickets are $25.

Lynn Nottage’s ‘Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine’
Friday through Tuesday, May 7, nightly at 7:30 p.m.
The award-winning “Fabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine” is a satirical tale set in New York City following successful African-American publicist Undine Barnes Calles as she stumbles down the social ladder after her husband embezzles her hard-earned fortune and suddenly disappears. The production of Nottage’s classic comedic play celebrates the acclaimed playwright’s Brooklyn roots as well as her rich history with The Billie Holiday Theatre. 1368 Fulton Street. Tickets are $60.

Boys Club’s Net Gala
9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Boys Club hosts some Met Gala counter-programming with their Net Gala, an irreverent night celebrating internet culture through fashion, art and music. This year’s theme is “surveillance” and they have some outfit inspo to get your creative juices flowing. The Gala is in support of The Lower Eastside Girls Club and is invite only — email them here to get on the list.

Saturday, May 4

Park Slope Open Streets
11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Park Slope’s Open Streets season returns on Saturday, and this year, they’re only blocking car traffic along four blocks of Fifth Avenue every Saturday, down from 16. Open Streets runs through October, with a brief break in August. Expect live music and other events planned for the afternoons. The truncated version of Open Streets will run between President and Second Streets. Free.

Woofstock: Badass Spring Fest 2024
12 to 5 p.m.
Every Spring, Badass Animal Rescue partners with neighborhood favorite Canal Bar to host the Badass Street Fest, a community block party on President Street. There will be fun activities for dogs and kids such as a dog agility course, face painting and a raffle to support Badass’s fundraising efforts. The headliners of the day are Badass’s dogs, who are all up for adoption. The public, adopters, fosters and volunteers are invited to come together, celebrate, and meet new furry friends. 270 3rd Avenue #A. Free.

19th Annual Brooklyn Derby
4 to 8 p.m.
The largest Kentucky Derby party outside of the Bluegrass State is happening at Greenwood Park. Whether you’re in it for the ponies, the prizes, the spectacle of the hat contest, or the swagger of julep drinkers in seersucker suits, The Brooklyn Derby guarantees a good time and mint juleps for all. 555 7th Avenue. Ticket packages vary.

‘And Then, Now’ at Green-Wood Cemetery
Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.
“And Then, Now” is coming Green-Wood Cemetery this week, combining dance, live music, and a reflective dialogue about time, history, legacy and our connections to each. The latest work in a series of site-specific and immersive works by Jody Oberfelder Projects, “And Then, Now” is a celebration of untold stories. 500 25th Street. Tickets are $30 and $25 for members.

The Skatalites 60th Anniversary ‘Diamond Jubilee’ Tour
7 p.m.
Dive into a night of rocksteady and roots reggae with The Skatalites, the iconic band that helped pioneer the genre. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness a live performance at Crown Hill Theatre packed with vibrant beats and timeless grooves. Dre Island is joining the celebration with a special live set that blends reggae, dancehall and hip-hop. 750 Nostrand Avenue at Sterling Place. Tickets are $25 and $35 day of the show.

A Night at the Opera
7 p.m.
Brooklyn’s professional orchestra, the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra presents “A Night at the Opera” on Saturday at the historical St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church. The evening will feature renowned soprano Rebecca Nelsen from Vienna Volksoper supported by the Grace Chorale. The program will feature epic selections from the repertoire of Strauss, Mozart, Mascagni, Wagner and Verdi, offering audiences the captivating melodies and emotive narratives of these iconic composers in this one-night-only event. 157 Montague Street. Student tickets are $20 and GA starts at $40.

Sunday, May 5

Cinco De Mayo 

• The Cinco de Mayo 5K Run will be hosted by The Mexican Athletic Club of New York and begins at 11 a.m. at Bartel Pritchard Square. See their website for more details. Enter the park by the 16th Street and Prospect Park West entrance.
• Join the rooftop party for the Cinco De Mayo Celebration at Time Out Market on Sunday. You can expect delicious food, refreshing cocktails, live music, and more. There will be drink specials and prize giveaways all day.
• The Bodega Lounge hosts a festive celebration honoring Mexican culture and heritage. Get ready to groove to Afro-Latinx beats with their DJ, indulge in delicious bites and specials at Rancho Avocado, plus, you can sample Los Hermanos Tequila in Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo varieties.
• Cinco De Mayo at Estuary at ONE°15 Brooklyn Marina has a brunch from 12 to 4 p.m. that includes spicy fajita salad, coconut lime cilantro garlic rice, black beans, fish, beef, chicken, and shrimp, among other delicacies.

Greenpoint Terminal Market grand opening
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Rain or shine, Greenpoint Terminal Market is opening for the summer this Sunday. Launched during the pandemic to help keep small businesses open, the market features favorite local foods, drinks, and artisans. The market happens every Saturday and Sunday through October. Veterans, note the new location at 72 Noble Street.

The 2nd Annual Debt Gala: A benefit show for RIP Medical Debt
5 p.m.
Skip the Met Gala and attend the Debt Gala. The dance party aims to “swap pretense for purpose” with a ball battling healthcare inequality and raising money for RIP Medical Debt, a national nonprofit that strengthens communities by abolishing burdensome medical debt. The Bell House, 149 7th Street. Tickets are $35.

The People’s Ball
7 p.m.
The Brooklyn Public Library’s free annual celebration of fashion, personal style and inclusivity is The People’s Ball which happens Sunday night. Held on the eve of The Met Gala, the most exclusive event of the year, The People’s Ball declares that the pinnacle of fashion is found in the everyday New Yorker. Hundreds of New Yorkers from all across the City will gather to flaunt their unique fashion and dance the night away, with an exciting performance from drag icon Kevin Aviance and beats by DJ Spinna. There will also be a special tribute to the legacy of New York Times fashion and street photographer Bill Cunningham on what would’ve been his 95th birthday with a catwalk featuring a group of his former models: Lauren Ezersky, Jean Stone, Lana Turner and Amy Collins. 10 Grand Army Plaza.