Highlights this week include Paul Rucker’ spellbinding first NYC art exhibition, free Shakespeare in Battery Park, and a “Shark Party” on Coney Island.
Also, there’s a Fourth of July cruise around the city, Robert Glasper going solo at The Blue Note and “This Is Spinal Tap” back on the big screen before its sequel that was 40 years in the making.
Art
“Rewind Resurrection”
545 West 23rd St., Manhattan (Chelsea)
Through July 23.Various times.
Multimedia artist Paul Rucker has finally made it to New York City with his provocative art embodying America’s cultural and social issues relating to race, class and power.
“My motivation is to bring back a show I created 10 years ago and give it a new audience,” he told The Daily News. “This is my first New York City show, and I’m very excited to be sharing with the community here.”
The award-winning visual artist, composer and musician has flipped white supremacy on its head with works that tackle the legacy of enslavement and its connection to the prison-industrial complex and its connection to today’s sociopolitical climate.
The South Carolina native is a collector of artifacts connected to the history of slavery, from branding irons and shackles to postcards depicting lynchings. He was inspired to create his most stunning piece when he couldn’t find an undamaged Ku Klux Klan robe for his collection.
Of the more than 100 individual art pieces, historic artifacts, photos and documents presented at the exhibit, Rucker’s remix of the white supremacist hate group’s robes with kente cloths and other colorful fabrics from the African diaspora brings new definition to the term “appropriation.”
“I use fabrics from all over,” he explained. “The kente cloth I use is wax fabric, which is a part of Dutch colonization… I have so much fabric it’s important to note that each pattern and color was chosen for a reason. Each robe is a riddle, connecting specific aspects of the ideology, organization, and the goals of the KKK.”
Free, with reservations.
Theater
“All’s Well That Ends Well”
Castle Clinton— Broadway and State St.. Manhattan (Battery Park City)
Through July 6. 7 p.m.
Before Lupita Nyong’o and her brother star in Saheem Ali‘s anticipated take on “Twelfth Night” in next month’s Shakespeare In The Park run, there’s still a chance to catch New York Classical Theatre’s production of “All’s Well That Ends Well” — also under the stars.
Helmed by founding artistic director Stephen Burdman, the bard’s bold romantic comedy is the highlight of the company’s 26th season of offering free Shakespeare in three public parks around the city.
Anique Clements, Carine Montbertrand and Paul Deo Jr. are among the cast of eight who bring the Shakespeare classic to life.
Free, with reservations.
Film
“This Is Spinal Tap“
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Staten Island — 2636 Hylan Blvd Unit 34, Staten Island (New Dorp)
Through July 6. Various times.
Before its long awaited sequel hits theaters in September, Rob Reiner’s 1984 cult film about a British band past its prime returns to the big screen this weekend, remixed and remastered in a new 4K restoration.
Starring and co-written by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer, the mockumentary chronicles the trials and tribulations of “one of England’s loudest bands” as they tour the U.S. with their controversial new album “Smell the Glove.”
Tickets are $19.98 (incl. fees)
Music
Robert Glasper
Blue Note Jazz Club — 131 West 3rd St. Manhattan (Greenwich Village)
Through July 6, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Ahead of his annual “Robtober” residency, genre-defying musician Robert Glasper headlines the venerable jazz venue this weekend.
The 5-time Grammy winner will showcase his latest album, “Let Go” and maybe some classic sounds before next month’s grand opening of Blue Note Los Angeles, where he serves as creative ambassador. A magnet for superstar collaborations, attendees shouldn’t be surprised to see a few noteworthy guests jamming with Glasper.
Tickets start at $50, plus fees with food & drink minimum.
Family
“Shark Party”
New York Aquarium — 602 Surf Ave., Brooklyn (Coney Island)
Through July 14. 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Fireworks and hot dog eating contests aren’t the only spectacles this weekend — there’s a bunch of fun-filled, fin-filled festivities at the New York Aquarium.
Alongside educational presentations and live entertainment, “partygoers” get to spend the day with 5,000 ocean dwellers. Hands-on activities include ocean-themed face painting, dancing with “MC Hammerhead” and learning how to dig for shark fossils.
“Shark Party is an exciting new celebration that invites guests to discover the fascinating truth behind these often misunderstood marine animals,” New York Aquarium director Leigh Clayton said of the event. “Our goal is for visitors to leave with wonderful memories and a newfound respect for sharks … and their vital role in keeping our oceans healthy and balanced.”
Tickets start at $25.95 for nonmembers, discounts available.
Outdoors
Fourth of July Fireworks Cruise
Pier 83 — West 42nd St. and 12th Ave., Manhattan (Hell’s Kitchen)
Fri. July 4, 7:30 – 11 p.m.
For those who want to skip the TV special and get in on the action live, Circle Line Cruises — celebrating its 80th anniversary — has what it considers the best seats in the house, on the water.
Offering a front row seat to the Macy’s Fireworks Show with the New York City skyline at the backdrop, the excursion will include a buffet, open bar and a live DJ.
Tickets are $289.
Free
“A Century of The New Yorker“
New York Public Library — 476 5th Ave., Manhattan (Midtown)
Through Feb. 2026. Various times.
New York Public Library’s new exhibition at its most famous flagship branch celebrates the 100th anniversary of The New Yorker magazine’s first issue.
Co-curated by historian Julie Golia, the show fills two upstairs galleries and showcases The New Yorker’s history from its 1925 launch to the present, with stories, juicy tidbits and office artifacts that explore its history and cultural impact throughout the decades.
On view are countless covers (including Kadir Nelson’s 2020 George Floyd issue), rare manuscripts, photographs, founding documents and an archive of the magazine’s cartoon art. There’s also a mock-up of the first New Yorker website, the typescript draft of what would become Truman Capote’s seminal “In Cold Blood,” Saul Steinberg’s caricature of trailblazing editor Tina Brown and The New Yorker’s type identification and style guide.
Free.
If you have an upcoming weekend event you’d like to submit for consideration in an upcoming roundup, please email: nycevents@nydailynews.com with the full details. Consideration does not guarantee inclusion.
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