8 Things To Do In NYC This Week

Photo: Courtesy of Chris Mosier/Narcissa.
With Memorial Day weekend behind us, the week ahead is looking a little, well, drab. No more relaxing at the beach. No more spending the days in your pajamas. We get it! But, ever the silver-lining finders, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to share eight fun, delicious, and relaxing reasons to be excited about returning to NYC.

Play board games and ping-pong at Blue Ribbon Beer Garden.
This Lower East Side haunt has everything you need for a perfect summer afternoon: drinks, a barbecue, paper lanterns, board games, a ping-pong table, and more. It may not be the beach, but it’s definitely a great way to spend the weekend outside.

When: Mondays through Fridays, 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 10 p.m.
Where: Blue Ribbon Beer Garden, 190 Allen Street (between Houston and Stanton streets), second floor; 212-466-0404.

Practice yoga in Bryant Park.
Athleta and Bryant Park have teamed up to offer free yoga classes every Tuesday and Thursday all summer long. Instructors from YogaWorks will lead hour-long sessions, providing not only a sweat-worthy workout but also an opportunity to meet fellow yoga lovers outdoors. Mats are provided on site. Just be sure to sign up in advance.
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, various times.
Where: Bryant Park, 40 West 40th Street (between Fifth and Sixth avenues).

Shop a big sale for some pretty little things.
Fleur du Mal has extended its debut sample sale onto the Internet, offering lingerie and ready-to-wear styles up to 75% off through Sunday, June 1. Time to stock up!
When: Through Sunday, June 1.
Where: Fleur Du Mal online

Try a new restaurant before it opens.
Chef Sarah Simmons will be hosting a four-course Southern Comfort dinner at CITY GRIT on Wednesday evening. This installation at the culinary salon is particularly exciting, as the night’s menu will provide a sneak peek at Simmons’ upcoming restaurant. When it opens, Birds Bubbles will offer elevated Southern dishes with a focus on fried chicken and Champagne.
When: Wednesday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: CITY GRIT, 38 Prince Street (between Mott and Mulberry streets); no phone.

Say happy birthday to Antoinette.
This Brooklyn boutique is celebrating three years on Grand Street with a PBR-sponsored shindig. All vintage clothing will be up to 20% off, DJ Rok One will be on the ones and twos, and the first 50 customers will receive a Zippo gift with purchase. Round up your friends, and stop by for a drink, a new dress, and a good time.
When: Thursday, May 29, 7 to 11 p.m.
Where: Antoinette, 119 Grand Street (between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue), Brooklyn; 718-387-8664.

Score a dress for only $10 at Babel Fair.
This Nolita spot is pricing each item at this weekend’s sample sale at a mere $10. Alternatively, you can pay $40 and fill an entire bag — a whole bag! Is it obvious which option we’ll be choosing?

When: Friday, May 30, to Sunday, June 1, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Babel Fair, 260 Elizabeth Street (between East Houston and Prince streets), 646-360-3685.

Have brunch somewhere different.
Your trusty neighborhood diner will always have a place in your heart. But, this new East Village restaurant, which recently debuted a delectable brunch menu, will be well worth the trip. Try the French-toast bites or the poached eggs on avocado toast. Is it the weekend yet?
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Narcissa, 21 Cooper Square (at 5th Street and Bowery); 212-228-3344.

Unearth the secrets of gay history in Central Park.
That is indeed the title of David Cobb Craig’s sidetour page, which invites New Yorkers and out-of-towners alike to see Central Park for the hotbed of history it is. Craig’s insightful and little-known facts are sure to inform and excite.

When: Saturday, May 31, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Central Park

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Amber Heard Talks Johnny Depp Romance

Amber Heard shares insight into love and life with Johnny Depp

Amber Heard is opening up about her personal life. Appearing in skin-baring lingerie on the cover of this month’s W Magazine, Heard is frank about her career, her high-profile love life and how she remains grounded.

“I haven’t noticed any change in my career,” she said, disregarding claims her romance with actor Johnny Depp has boosted her status in Hollywood.

But when it comes to their relationship out of the public eye, Heard remains “guarded,” choosing to speak more generally about how she’s handled relationships in the limelight.

“For better or worse, I’ve always had a love life that seemed particularly salacious to some people,” Heard, who is bisexual, said of her controversial romance with Depp, which she chose not to divulge in close detail as well as her four-year romance with female photographer Tasya van Ree.

“I’m not one to talk about my personal life as I prefer to keep that as private as possible.”

“There has been a lot of media attention surrounding my relationship. It’s been frustrating as I don’t label myself one way or another—I have had successful relationships with men and now a woman. I love who I love, it’s the person that matters,” Heard has said of past and present romantic relationships.

“I didn’t want to look like I was hiding anything. I’m not, and wasn’t ever, ashamed. I don’t imagine myself, my work, or my life, fitting into any kind of standardized path. In fact, the idea of there even being a standard freaks me out a lot.”

Despite the attention – positive and negative, Heard remains unfazed, insisting she is familiar with dealing with the public’s grievances, alluding to the controversy surrounding her relationship with Depp and van Rees. “Before, it was also seen as unconventional,” Heard said of the female romance.

Heard also divulged the lengths she will go to protect her private life from the tabloids, including sharing false stories with friends to see what gets leaked to the press, and no longer driving her beloved Mustang, which she built from scratch.

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Despite the fascination with her personal life, Heard insists she remains true to herself—she regularly rides her horse, Arrow, in Los Angeles and she is incredibly close with her family, namely her father.

“He taught me a lot about animals, about cars, and about resilience,” she says of her dad. “That’s what happens when your father doesn’t have a son. I drew the line at learning about football. I had to rebel somehow.”

The combination of Heard’s tough gal ‘tude and her gorgeous looks is part of what has made her appealing to so many—including Depp, who has previously called Amber “a southern bell” who is “sharp as a tack.”

“Whenever my old friends meet someone I’m involved with romantically, they immediately warn them: ‘She may look refined, but when she’s angry, she can go trailer park really fast,’ ” Heard jokes to the mag. “But I’d always rather be passionate than bland. I can’t imagine living a quiet life.”

Depp and Heard first met in 2011 on the set of The Rum Diaries before getting engaged in January of 2014. They are reportedly set to wed later this year on Depp’s private island in The Bahamas.

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