Weekend Guide: ‘Get Out’ with The New York Phil, Boo at The Zoo, a Costumed Marathon Shake-Out, and More

By Shawn Setaro

For the second consecutive year, New Yorkers are getting a whole Halloweekend. This, of course, means you will not be able to stumble into so much as a grocery store without cobwebs, costumes, or some type of “Spooky Season” invocation. It also means there is an almost embarrassing level of partying one could blissfully endure with enough gumption and/or chemical combinations. For that, we’ve made sure you’re covered no matter where the next five nights might take you.

But Halloween isn’t purely about which pop culture reference you manage to hook up with; in Kings County, it’s yet another great excuse to soak up some art, some music, some so-bad-it’s-actually-good cinema, and, in the spirit of the season, some murder mysteries. So, our latest edition of the Weekend Guide has all of that, and, yes, even some parties for those ready to leave the house on Thursday night and be gone ‘til November (shout out Wyclef).

See it all below.

Courtesy of New York Philharmonic Orchestra

Thursday, October 29

Skeleton Crawl NYC @ Gallery 198
5 p.m.

Imagine the one piece of awesome spooky art you saw at that gallery show you went to for the free wine. Now imagine it surrounded by all its scary cousins. That’s the concept behind Skeleton Crawl: placing a bunch of dark, morbid, surreal art together in a thematically fitting environment.

Sponsored | Get Out in Concert with The New York Philharmonic @ Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall
7:30 p.m.

Get Halloweekend started with a special screening of Jordan Peele’s blockbuster debut at the Lincoln Center, accompanied by a live performance of Michael Abels’ spectacular film score by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, at the helm of conductor Gustavo Dudamel. It’s running every night at 7:30 p.m., from Wednesday, October 28, through Fright Night proper. Get your tickets today.

Leenalchi, Femcel @ Pioneer Works
8 p.m.

Leenalchi is a Korean band that has been blowing up in recent months. They’re sort of a combination of funk, rock, and Korean pansori, made all the more strange and wonderful by their instrumentation: two bass guitars, drums, keys, and four amazing singers. Jang Young Gyu and Femcel open up.

Smash, Release & Reset: The Pumpkin Smash Workshop @ LeFrak Center, Prospect Park
Various times

We’ve all got some anger we don’t know what to do with. If you want a chance to let it out in a unique way, this is your best bet. Show up and smash a pumpkin one of two ways: by throwing it or, if you’re feeling adventurous, by breaking it apart with a mallet. You will get safety instructions beforehand, so your pent-up rage doesn’t hurt you (or anyone else).

Courtesy of A Boogie

Friday, October 30

Nicolas Caged: A Tiny Jazz Murder Mystery @ Light Switch
7 p.m.

Murder mysteries? Great. A murder mystery where everyone is a different Nicolas Cage character? Unbeatable. Upon purchase of a ticket, one of Cage’s iconic characters will be assigned to you. When you arrive, a murder mystery will play out, and all the Nics will have to determine which Nic killed Nic. Got it?

The 12th Annual Rocky Horror Picture Show Live Band Karaoke Halloween Extravaganza @ Littlefield
7 p.m.

This is exactly what it sounds like: the borough’s best live karaoke band, The Occasionalists, will be playing all of Rocky Horror, while audience members jump onstage to perform with them. Signup begins at 7, and the show starts at 7:30. 

Tommy Stinson’s Cowboys in the Campfire Live @ Secret Patio
7 p.m.

Stintson, best known for his tenure in the greatest rock band of the 1980s (The Replacements), is still rocking with the trio Cowboys in the Campire, consisting of him, Chip Roberts, and Chops LaConte. The band will be doing a secret show tonight on the patio of a warehouse that semi-regularly hosts indie rock royalty (Lou Barlow played there a couple years back).

Halloween Showing of Nosferatu (1922) with a Live Score @ Threes Brewing
8 p.m.

There will be plenty of spooky movies showing during Halloween weekend, but why not go with the original? F.W. Murnau’s don’t-call-it-Dracula classic still holds up as one of the best scary film experiences of all time. Tenth Intervention (Hajnal Pivnick, violin/Dorian Wallace, piano) will provide the music.

Official A Boogie Halloween Party @ 4508 2nd Ave.
10 p.m.

A Boogie wit da Hoodie may be from the BX, but the rapper is spending his Halloween in BK. He’ll be celebrating a decade of being on the scene. Costumes are required, so start planning your outfit now.

Courtesy of KeiStar Productions

Saturday, October 31

Recess and commUNITY Run Clubs Present: A Costume NYCM Shake-Out Run @ Padmore’s
7:45 a.m.

Live here long enough (or for any amount of time, really) and you’ll need not be reminded of how chaotic a confluence of Halloween and the New York City Marathon can be. But here’s a rare instance in which the mayhem is almost whimsical in nature: two local run clubs joining forces at the only hours they know (early ones) for a dressed-up shake-out ahead of the big one on Sunday. Costumes and actually running are encouraged, but not mandatory, and it appears there will be some prizes for the right fit(s).

Halloween Ritual By Ideal Glass Studios @ a secret Brooklyn warehouse
6 p.m.

This Halloween party gets extra cool points for being at a secret location. If you make it there, you’ll experience cabaret, burlesque, wild projections, a costume contest, and even some opera.

Rawayana: ¿Dónde Es El After? World Tour @ Barclays Center
8 p.m.

Your favorite Venezuelan band is in town to promote their sixth album, ¿Dónde es el after?, which may have inadvertently predicted a major geopolitical event. See what other predictions they’ve got up their sleeves tonight. 

Sinful Halloween ft Hills @ The 1896 Studios & Stages
9 p.m.

The house music DJ duo of Tommy and David have been making big noise over the past few years, both online and in the clubs. And a handful of lucky attendees will be able to join them in the booth during the set. You can throw your hat in the ring here.

Soul Slam: A Michael Jackson and Prince Halloween Masquerade Bash @ The Spinnaverse
9 p.m.

As noted, there are far too many parties to keep with over the next four days (trust us, we tried). But this one in particular, hosted by local legend DJ Spinna in a pocket universe of his own design, is going to be special. Doors are at 9, with music to follow not long after. Tickets are available now, with the location revealed at the time of purchase.

Boo! At the Zoo @ Oberon
10 p.m.

Boo! At the Zoo is back for year number four. The hosts of the queer horror-themed night encourage you to show up dressed as your favorite scream queen, or at least “something that would get you chased out of a small town.” Luis Fernando, GOGO, and Cute Boys will be spinning, and there will be at least one yet-to-be-announced very special guest.

Courtesy of Groove Lab

Sunday, November 1

Groovelab presents : Boris Halloween Afterhours @ Polygon 
4 a.m.

If you’re still partying on Halloween night after all the clubs have shut down, this should be your after-hours destination. Transmit Recordings head DJ Boris headlines, with Bodega going back-to-back with Psymon GT, as well as Vnuz with Franklin Santana.

Cat People @ Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg
11:15 a.m.

One of this writer’s personal favorite spooky films is coming back this weekend. Note that this is the original 1942 version, not the 1982 remake (which is also fantastic). The less you know going into this one, the better. But believe us when we say it’s one of the most original and arresting films of the decade, of any genre.

40+ Years of REGGAE “To the Foundation” by Sting International @ Xanadu
4 p.m.

DJ Sting International is celebrating four decades of rocking the house with an all-vinyl set. Roots, reggae, dancehall—it’s all on the table. To make sure you’re in the mood, the club will feature a custom Caribbean-themed menu and drinks.

Kevin McDonald: My Stupid Career @ Union Hall
7:30 p.m.

The actor and comedian may be best known for his membership in The Kids in the Hall, but he’s done a whole lot more. You undoubtedly caught him as the spooky sheriff in Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. Tonight you’ll get a hybrid one-man-show/stand-up set centering on “stupid stories” from his not-stupid-at-all career, followed by an audience Q&A at the end.