The 5 Best Bang-for-Your-Buck Adventures in New York City This Weekend

NEW YORK, NY — So the next two weeks are basically wall-to-wall Halloween, which is just as it should be. (In fact, for the inside scoop on all the creepiest, crawliest events during this super-fun season, check out our Ultimate NYC Halloween Guide!)

Still, for the less-costume-inclined, the City remains chock-a-block with plenty of non- and barely-Halloween-themed doings this weekend. And as always, Patch Culture Hound — your leading authority on all things fun and culturally nutritious in NYC — rounds up five of the best City adventures, in every taste and price range.

But first it's a ...

APPLES?-WE-DON'T-NEED-NO-STEENKIN'-APPLES ALERT!

CIDER WEEK NYC

Where: All over town, and upstate too!

When: Starts Friday, 10/21, and continues through Sunday, 10/30.

What: Starting Friday and continuing for ten days is the 6th Annual Cider Week NYC, a celebration of the fermented fruit that got us into all that trouble back in Eden. Connoisseurs of the sweet and tart libation will find nearly 80 events to choose from, including tastings, dinners, classes and "tap takeovers," spread across the City like so many of Johnny Appleseed's offerings. (Turns out old Johnny wasn't trying to curb hunger in the New World, his apples were intended to meet colonists' demand for hard cider!) Highlights include the Lower East Cider Fest down on (of course) Orchard Street on Sunday, 10/23, and Hardscrabble Cider's Fall Festival next weekend up in North Salem. For tickets and a complete schedule of events, go here.

How much: Tickets range in price from FREE to $75.

ONE: ONE PLANET ONE FUTURE

Where: Westbeth Center for the Arts, West Village [map]

When: Friday, 10/21, and Saturday, 10/22, Noon to 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10/23, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

What: It's a great weekend to take in some art, and a fantastic free exhibit awaits you at the old Westbeth theater space on the lower west side — although its message is more haunting in a real sense than a thousand Halloween ghouls. The subject of One: One Planet One Future — a photo installation by Anne de Carbuccia — is environmental degradation and the possibilities of a bleak future for coming generations. Each photo displays a still life of objects (always including a skull and hourglass) set in what the artist calls "symbolically significant environments." A large part of the exhibit is the space itself, which has been transformed for this show and which, fittingly, suffered extensive flooded during Hurricane Sandy. For more information, go here.

How much: FREE!

13 CATS: A FELINE FILM FESTIVAL

Where: BAM Rose Cinemas, Brooklyn [map]

When: Friday, 10/21, and Sunday, 10/23, screenings at 2 and 9:30 p.m.

What: Last week, we highlighted the canine film festival at Symphony Space and, not being idiots, we'll sidestep any perception of favoritism in the whole dogs-vs.-cats debate. Now it's the kitties' turn in the limelight with 13 Cats at BAM Rose Cinemas, a two-week series comprising a baker's-dozen movies starring mankind's other best friend (and many of them with a creepy, Halloween vibe). This weekend, catch Miyazaki's sweet animé coming-of-age classic Kiki's Delivery Service and the much-less-sweet Japanese horror flick Hausu, each screening Friday and Sunday. The series continues through November 3rd, showing such cat-centric faves as the The Grudge (Japanese version), My Neighbor Totoro, and Cat People (both the 1942 and 1982 versions). For tickets and a complete schedule of screenings, go here.

How much: Tickets are $14 ($7 for members).

BLOCKTOBERFEST

Where: The Well, 272 Meserole Street, Bushwick [map]

When: Saturday, 10/22, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

What: The New York Brewers Guild — a not-for-profit supporting the local craft-beer industry — presents the third annual Blocktoberfest, this year located at Bushwick craft-beer shrine The Well. Meet and sample the wares from over 15 local brewers or try the more than 50 craft beers available onsite. Teetotalers can hang out and enjoy the fun for a mere Hamilton, while affordable multi-tasting tickets are available in advance (or at the door for a bit more). A backyard taco truck provides the nosh you'll need to soak up all that alcohol. For more information and tickets, go here.

How much: Tickets are $10 to $30.

SCARECROW NIGHTS AT THE NY BOTANICAL GARDEN

Where: New York Botanical Garden, Bronx [map]

When: Friday, 10/21, and Saturday, 10/22, two timed entries each night at 6:30 and 7:15

What: The New York Botanical Garden is all decked out for the season, with family-friendly adventures featuring scarecrows and jack-o-lanterns, as well as an exhibition this weekend only of giant pumpkins, some weighing more than a ton. All of these daytime festivities are included for the standard price of admission ($10 to $25 per person, depending on age). But this weekend, the Garden is also open after dark for Scarecrow Nights, two walks (one friendly, one freaky) through shadowy, winding trails where custom-sculpted scarecrows greet you around every turn. Choose from two timed entries at 6:30 and 7:15 both Friday and Saturday nights. For tickets, go here.

How much: Tickets are $20 each.

HIDEAWAY CIRCUS: SLUMBER

Where: House of Yes, Bushwick, Brooklyn [map]

When: Friday, 10/21, and Saturday, 10/22, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10/23, 3 and 7:30 p.m.

What: Small, boutique circuses are pretty much all the rage these days — who doesn't love sipping a Pinot as a contortionist does the Human Pretzel a mere arm's length away? — and so Hideaway Circus brings the genre to Bushwick's House of Yes this month with its sexy, gory whodunit Slumber. Set to a pulsing electronic score, Slumber follows the exploits of a "girl squad of circus performers on the last night of their lives," according to show notes, as the performers are killed off one by one. Cool choreography and jaw-dropping circus acts keep you on the edge of your seat. For more information and tickets, go here.

How much: $45 and up.

Submit your event to arts@patch.com to be considered for the B4B NYC weekly roundup.