By Tracy Zwick
May 1st through 3rd
Margaret Mead Film Festival at AMNH: Friday, May 1st through Sunday, May 3rd at the American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West (between West 77th and 81st streets); showtimes and tickets here; ticket prices start at $13
The NYFF at Lincoln Center isn’t the only prestigious cinematic showcase on the UWS. The Margaret Mead Film Festival, honoring storytelling and documentary film, kicks off today at 7 p.m. at the American Museum of Natural History with Oscar nominee Sara Dosa’s “Time and Water.” Dosa’s 2022 “Fire of Love”—about a pair of volcanologists—was nominated for an Oscar for best documentary film. The 2026 festival slate includes several award-winning docs, including “Nuisance Bear,” winner of the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Documentary at Sundance, and “Whispers in May,” directed by Dongnan Chen, which won the top award at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen. “The Oldest Person in the World,” Sam Green’s documentary about cultural fixation on whatever person at any given time is the certified “oldest living human,” will hold its NY premiere at the festival.
“Old Masters, New Amsterdam” at The New York Historical: Tuesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (open late Fridays, till 8 p.m.); 170 Central Park West at 77th Street; tickets start at $13 (pay-as-you-wish from 5 to 8 p.m. on Fridays)
Across the street from the AMNH and the film fest this weekend, The New York Historical is celebrating the opening of its new exhibition “Old Masters, New Amsterdam.” The show uses 17th-century paintings by Rembrandt van Rijn and his contemporaries to envision life in the Dutch settlement that would become New York. Several works by Rembrandt, and fellow Dutch artists Frans Hals and Jan Steen are making their debuts in New York.
“All that Jazz” at the Davis Center at the Harlem Meer in Central Park: Saturday, May 2nd from 4 to 7 p.m.; 106-51 East Drive in Central Park; free
It was International Jazz Day on Thursday, and Central Park’s newest gathering space, the Davis Center, is belatedly marking the occasion with an open-air celebration for all ages on Saturday evening. Bring a blanket or yoga mat to sit on. Live performers include Alfredo Colon, Kalia Vandever, and Elé Salif Howell.
Hippo Playground Fair: Sunday, May 3rd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Riverside Park near West 91st Street
Live music, entertainment, games, arts and crafts, an obstacle course, face painting, and a petting zoo are part of this year’s iteration of the springtime ritual that is the Hippo Playground Fair. Wristbands can be purchased ahead of time using this link, or at the fair on Sunday. Proceeds from this fundraiser support playground maintenance and free programming year-round.
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Tracy, you always make time in New York City (UWS and beyond) wish there were more than two days in a weekend. Thanks for keeping me off the couch!