To Do, New York

DATE SPECIFIC

August 12th, Ottos Shrunken Head, 10pm, ottoshrunkenhead.com - An evening of cover songs remixed by DJ Xerox and others.

August 13th, 679 Riverside Drive at the Riverbank State Park Skate Rink, 8-11pm - Robot Chicken on Wheels, a free skating extravaganza with a performance by The Gym Class Heroes and special appearances by Seth Green and Matt Senreich. (I'm not entirely sure if this is my scene, but listening to live music while skating, that sounds like a ball)

August 13 - Borough President Billy Joel Starlight Tribute Concert on Staten Island, 10pm

ONGOING

Exit 9 in the East Village - An excellent place to wander around checking out kitsch and all sorts of items you don't need but would really make your life that much happier.

La Plaza Cultural (E. 9th St at Ave C, laplazacultural.org) - A great place to hang your hat and rest awhile, this relaxing lawn and pond area features scultures by Rolando Politi.

Mogador (101 St. Marks between 1st Ave and Ave A, cafemogador.com) - Their $9 lunch special will blow you away.

Free, Almost Daily Boating in Hallets Cove (liceboathouse.org, 718.228.9214) - Grab a kayak or canoe and push off from the Socrates Sculpture Garden onto the East River.

The Tree Museum, Grand Concourse between Moshulu Pkwy North and 138th St, Bronx all the way to 149th St and Grand Concourse, Daily thru Oct 12 - 100 trees, 100 tales. Dial the numbers posted on the trees to hear different stories about the borough.

Free Hyperlocal Story Scavenger Hunt, fluffyseme.net/groups/entry/hyperlocal, Daily thru Aug 31 - Receive text messages to send you on various missions and save your answers in order to solve the final mystery.

Free Public Tours of the Plaza Hotel (Tues and Sat at 3pm, RSVP required to 212.546.5477)