Saturday
April 13
Wine time
The Wine Riot 2.0 festival for fermented grape fans will give you a chance to learn from sommeliers, join a scavenger hunt, and show off your wine knowledge in a trivia contest. You can also sip unlimited samples of hundreds of wine varieties, and visit a special lounge devoted to vino’s bubbly variations.
2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Weylin (175 Broadway at Driggs Avenue in Williamsburg, www.winer
Sunday
April 14
Big Wheel
Coney Island’s iconic Wonder Wheel opens for the summer season this morning! Show up early to catch the “blessing of the rides,” and a ceremony to honor the late Lula Vourderis, who owned and operated the ride for more than three decades. The first 99 people in line will get a free ride to celebrate the Wheel’s 99th birthday.
10:30 a.m. at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park (1025 Boardwalk at W. 12th Street in Coney Island, www.denos
Tuesday
April 16
The ’craft of hate
Early 20th century horror writer H.P. Lovecraft created a rich mythology of cosmic terrors — but what really scared him was anyone non-white! Tonight’s panel discussion “The Shadow over Lovecraft,” features authors Matt Ruff, Victor LaValle (pictured), and Ruthanna Emrys, who have all addressed the writer’s racism through their work.
7 p.m. at Film Noir Cinema [122 Meserole Ave. at Leonard Street in Greenpoint, (718) 389–5773, www.miska
Wednesday
April 17
Funk rock
Rising Afro-Cuban soul singer, composer, and producer Cimafunk, will bring his blend of funk and Cuban rhythms to National Sawdust tonight. The artist draws massive crowds in his native Cuba, so this is your chance to see in him in an intimate environment, before he breaks big in the United States.
7:30 p.m. at National Sawdust [80 N. Sixth St. at Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, (646) 779–8455, www.natio
Thursday
April 18
Sharp teeth
Wander down to Dumbo, where three new exhibits will open at the A.I.R. gallery tonight! One of them is “Swim Faster,” from local artist Cynthia Karasek. a striking show of murals about female anxieties, depicting women and girls swimming alongside grinning sharks.
6–8 pm at A.I.R. Gallery [155 Plymouth St. in Dumbo, (212) 255–66511, www.airga
