Prepare to get more hammered than one of Thor’s foes!
Bay Ridge Nights is going Norse in honor of Norwegian Constitution Day, and there is so much going on to celebrate the nabe’s Nordic folk, you’ll think you died and went to Valhalla.
Order up a few bottles of aquavit and make some new friends slurring drinking songs with the Norwegian coastline kings, Lords of the Fjords at Lockyard (9221 Fifth Ave. between 92nd and 94th streets) on Friday. The feiring starts at 9 pm — skål!
Never has there been a more fitting time to dust off that horned helmet from Halloween and wear it with pride than on Saturday, at the Viking Fest in Owl’s Head Park (68th Street at Narrows Avenue). A trio of medieval reenactment groups will use swords and shields to pummel Nordic history into the heads of gawking tykes. Then, in imitation of Viking invaders who plundered villages, youngsters can do a little raiding of their own, with a medieval treasure hunt from 10 am to noon, when the hardanger fiddler and other traditional musical performances will kick off. You can also stuff yourself with Scandinavian grub, play traditional games, and sail the hills in a replica Viking ship named the “Norseman” until 5 pm.
On Sunday, May 21, Scandinavians will take to the streets in force as the 17th of May Parade rumbles through the Ridge. The march, which honors the adoption of the Norwegian Constitution, takes place on the 17th or the nearest Sunday. The walk of pride will snake its way through Bay Ridge, starting at Third Avenue and First Street at 1:30 pm and ending at Lief Erikson Park (67th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues).
After the parade, lead your raiding party to the Danish Athletic Club [741 65th St. between Seventh and Eighth avenues, (718) 748–7844] for a post-parade feast and live music from accordion-heavy quintet the Smorgasbandet at 8 pm. Call the club for reservations, which run $30 a seat.
