Cheap Chick NYC, Cheap and Free Weekend Event Picks, April 1-3, 2011

Friday April 1, 2011

Meet Jake Gyllenhaal and Duncan Jones as they discuss their latest flick “Source Code” at Apple SoHo, 7p.m., 103 Prince St., free!

Don’t forget that the Neue Galerie is free tonight as part of its First Fridays program! (http://www.neuegalerie.org/) and the Rubin Museum is screening The Manchurian Candidate ($7 drink minimum) as part of its free K2 Friday night events-gallery is also free to view as well on these nights, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (http://www.rmanyc.org/pages/load/122)

Saturday April 2, 2011

See local sites related to the 1863 draft riots during the New York Historical Society’s walking tour The Civil War Draft Riots Walking Tour including South Street Seaport, two Irish Catholic churches, the site of the infamous Five Points slum, the African Burial Ground, Tweed Courthouse, and the former New York Times Building, across from City Hall. 11 a.m., (not clear about meeting place, likely museum) $20, and tkts can be bought here: https://www.nyhistory.org/web/default.php?section=public_programs&page=detail&program=6784589, From the Society: Walking Tours are limited to 35 guests per tour. Please buy tickets in advance!

John Lithgow gives “a gloriously silly hour of interactive entertainment” during a concert of music and stories accompanied by the "The Sunny Side Strutters," a jazz octet. Concerts at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., tkts are $15 and can be purchased here: http://www.metmuseum.org/tickets/calendar/view.asp?id=3334!

Watch the pillows, not pigeons fly at Pillow Fight NYC 2011 sponsored by Newmindspace! 3 p.m., Union Square, corner of E. 14th and Broadway, free!

You'll need an awful lot of blue cheese to win Duke's Wing Eating Contest-tho I suppose the dipping motion would slow things down a bit...6 p.m., Duke's, 3rd Ave. and 37th St., $25 to enter, to save your spot go here: https://app.giftango.com/giss/Shopping/T1/shopping_AvailableProducts.aspx?BUNID=1690&GOFID=2236&TemplateVersion=T1!

Which kind of swan are you? (Sounds like a Cosmo quiz...) Channel your black or white swan powers into a costume for The Black Swan Experience, which includes a free screening of the film, giveaways and surprises! 11:59 p.m., Landmark Sunshine, 143 E. Houston St., free!

Hanami, cherry blossom season, begins at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden today (http://www.bbg.org/discover/cherries/) the Prospect Park Carousel is also opening today, and don’t forget about free First Saturdays at the Brooklyn Museum (http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/visit/first_saturdays.php)!

Saturday and Sunday April 2 and 3, 2011

Join Discovery Walking Tours on their Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill History and Tasting Tour! This is "a tour through the two historic districts, addressing the transition of the neighborhoods from wealthy Victorian suburbs to 20th century literary havens. Stops include Plymouth Church, where abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher preached; Borough Hall, once the City Hall of Brooklyn; the Promenade and its magnificent view of Manhattan island; the birthplace of Winston Churchill’s mother; the Truman Capote residence where he penned Breakfast at Tiffany’s; and the home of Arthur Miller, where he courted Marilyn Monroe. Along the way, taste the area’s classic and contemporary foods, from Brooklyn egg creams to spinach pie and baklava.” 2 p.m., Call 212-465-3331 for meeting place and to RSVP, cost is $26 (includes price of food)!

Housing Works Bookstore is having their regular 30% off sale! (http://www.housingworks.org/events/detail/monthly-30-off-sale-all-day-april-2nd-and-3rd/)

Sunday April 3, 2011

Watch silent short comedies of Charlie Chaplin in quiet amazement at the Brooklyn Public Library, 1:30 p.m., Central Branch, Grand Army Plaza at Flatbush Ave., free!

Take in a free jazz concert performed by the quintet Footprints, who will play from their debut album at the Eldridge Street Synagogue! 4 p.m., 12 Eldridge Street Between Canal and Division Streets, $20 adults; $15 students/seniors; half-price admission ($10) for their Facebook fans and Twitter followers! (RSVP here: http://www.eldridgestreet.org/index.php/april)

Calling all herbivores! Chow down on meat-free samples at the NYC Vegetarian Food Festival! The program also features raffle drawings, entertainment, speakers, and demontrations! 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., The Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street (Between 6th and 7th Avenues), free!

I’ve also heard great things about the free salsa dance party at Brooklyn Bowl! (http://www.brooklynbowl.com/event-detail/?tfly_event_id=20923)

Plus all weekend: The New School Noir Arts Festival is happening (through the 8th) http://www.newschool.edu/eventDetail.aspx?id=59986 and Spring Downtown events are available (http://www.springdowntown.org/) !