Top things to do in New York — week of April 20

Late April is when NYC remembers it has outdoor space. Rooftops open, two of my favorite warm-weather walk-up bars start checking IDs again, and the calendar gets really good. This week is unusually stacked.

I keep the live filter on the NYC this-week page — it pulls Luma and Eventbrite together so I do not have to remember which thing was where.

Monday: rest

Monday remains a graveyard. The one event tempting me is a private members' club thing in NoMad that I am not endorsing because the cover is $90 and I refuse on principle.

If you must go out, the AI safety reading group in DUMBO meets at 7. Free, ten people, smart room.

Tuesday: a panel and a dinner, pick one

• A panel at NYU on AI policy — students do most of the questions, the panelists are mostly serious. Free RSVP.
• A small founders dinner in the LES — twelve seats, $40, no slides. The host runs a tight table.

I'm doing the dinner. The panel is fine but I have already heard most of the panelists.

Wednesday: founder breakfast, SoHo

A 7am breakfast meetup that should not work and somehow does. Pastries, coffee, twelve people, no agenda. I went last month half-asleep and left having had three real conversations, two of which turned into something. Free, RSVP via Luma.

Thursday: rooftop opening, LES

The first real rooftop of the season. RSVP only, free with a list, the bar is small enough that it will be 1-in-1-out by 9. The drinks list is tight, the view earns the cliché.

If rooftops are not your thing, the Sushi Yasuda counter has a Thursday late seating that I will not go into detail about because every word increases the difficulty of getting in.

Friday: Comedy Cellar late

The 11pm slot, $25 plus two drinks. Drop-ins are the headline but the locals on the lineup are why you go. Sit at the bar if it's your first time. The room itself is fine, the bar gives you better sightlines and faster drinks.

If you want music instead, Webster Hall has a touring act on Friday that's worth the cab back to Brooklyn.

Saturday: House of Yes themed Saturday

Bushwick, $25 advance, doors at 9. The Saturday theme night has been the strongest programming at HOY this season. Dress code suggested, never mandatory, never quite ignorable.

If you want dinner first, Llama Inn is twenty minutes away and reservations open two weeks out. Plan ahead.

Sunday: bagels, then matinee

The Eastville Comedy matinee is the play. $20, four comics, all working things out, occured to me last time that this is the most honest comedy show in the city.

Bagels after at the place on Bedford. You know the one.

Twelve things, mostly free or under $30. I will be at the rooftop opening Thursday and the Cellar Friday. Say hi if you see me — I will be the one ignoring my drink to type into my Notes app.

For the things I cut, the startup events in SF answer page is the parallel for visitors heading west.