The Ridge is lighting up with possibilities this weekend, with a lantern walk, jazz night, and an obligatory smattering of barroom rock.
On Friday get down and dirty with rock group Straight Up Dirty at the Greenhouse Cafe (7717 Third Ave. between 77th and 78th streets). The band’s five musicians — each with 30-plus years’ experience of rockin’ on the road — have you covered for a wild night of hard rockin’ hits from ’70s favorites like ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, and Aerosmith. The amps turn up to eleven at 10 pm.
Dial it back a notch on Saturday with an evening of family fun at the Tinkergarten Lantern Walk at Owl’s Head Park (479 74th St. between Fourth and Fifth avenues). This annual tradition marks the end of daylight saving time, with families gathering at dusk (that’s from 5:45 pm to 6:45 pm) to light lanterns and stroll through the park as day fades into night. Organizers will also pass out sheet music for some folksy lantern walk sing-alongs. If you do not have an old-school lantern laying around, just grab a flashlight, camping lantern, or any other mobile light source — we promise it won’t dampen the evening’s magic.
Once the tots are tuckered out and off to bed, treat yourself to some smooth jazz at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (7420 Fourth Ave. at Bay Ridge Parkway) starting at 8 pm. The Mike Fahie Quintet brings together trombone, trumpet, piano, bass, and drums to put a modern spin on the soulful sounds of a ’60s Blue Note band. The group emphasizes spontaneity, so you can expect solos and riffs like no other. Admission is $30 at the door and includes a glass of wine and appetizers.
And after you’ve had your fill of Thelonious Monk-style melodies, cap off your Saturday with something entirely different — hip-hop at the Wicked Monk (9510 Third Ave. between 95th and 96th streets). Musical mash-up Hello Brooklyn will take the stage around 10 pm with a funky hip-hop pop-rock twist on contemporary favorites. And you get an extra hour to enjoy the night!
