B4B NYC: The 5 Best Bang-for-Your-Buck Adventures in New York City This Weekend

NEW YORK, NY — Summer may be cooling down, but the city's cultural opportunities continue at a steady boil. On this weekend's roundup of best bang-for-your-buck NYC events — B4B NYC, for short! — we're serving you a heapin' helpin' of fun things to do, for every age, price range and brow (high to low and in between).

In fact, the weekend of Aug. 26 through Aug. 28 is so chock-a-block with options — especially in the live-music realm — that even if you make it to two or three, you'll still be nursing a hard case of FOMO come Monday.

Ah, well — such are the pitfalls of life in the greatest city on Earth. Onward!

TACOS AND MEZCAL IN BROOKLYN

Where: Esme restaurant, 999 Manhattan Ave., Greenpoint [map]

When: Saturday, 8/27, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

What: Nothing goes down more smoothly on a late-summer day than a nice mezcal, and nothing pairs better with mezcal than a nice taco. To that end, lovely Greenpoint eatery Esme opens its backyard to all comers to enjoy food and cocktails from its kitchen this Saturday, along with tastings from Mezcal Bruxo. Frozen treats from Williamsburg mainstay Oddfellow's — as well as offerings from Archestratus Books + Food, located just around the corner — round out a full afternoon of mezcal-inspired fun. More information here.

How much: FREE to attend! (food and booze options from $3 to $10)

ARTHUR ASHE KIDS' DAY

Where: Billie Jean King Tennis Center, Flushing, Queens [map]

When: Saturday, 9/27, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What: It's that time of year again — time for world-class athletes to swing rackets at balls while you sit on your lazy buns and observe! Yes, the U.S. Open begins at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Queens on Monday. But this weekend is also the annual Athur Ashe Kids' Day — featuring musical performances, games and general goofery from some of tennis's biggest stars. This year, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal lend their finely tuned physiques to the festivities, along with hip-hop artist Flo Rida, pop singer Zara Larsson, actress Laura Marano and pop band Forever In Your Mind. Inexpensive tickets in the nosebleeds are still available, so pack up the kiddies and hop on the 7 Train Saturday morning! More information and tickets here.

How much: Tickets are $10 (general admission) and up (reserved seating)

SEE IT BIG!: LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER and STAR!

Where: Museum of the Moving Image, Queens [map]

When: Let's Spend the Night Together Friday, 8/26, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, 8/28, at 4 p.m.; Star!, Saturday, 8/27, at 3 p.m. and Sunday, 8/28, at 7 p.m.

What: The Museum of the Moving Image continues its See It Big! series this weekend, fetauring two very different musical films. The common thread: Both films are shown in their glorious 70mm original format. This time, Hal Ashby's classic Rolling Stones concert film Let's Spend the Night Together will give you an intimate backstage tour and a thrilling front-row seat for the band's 1981 Tattoo You album tour. And on Saturday and Sunday, the museum screens under-appreciated 1968 big-budget screen musical Star!, which reunited Julie Andrews with director Robert Wise just a few years after they made cinematic history with The Sound of Music. More information and tickets here.

How much: Tickets are $15

REGGIE WATTS AND COMEDY FRIENDS

Where: Music Hall of Williamsburg [map]

When: Saturday, 9/27, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

What: If you're like us, you can spend an entire day laughing and marveling at clips of performances by Reggie Watts, the uniquely talented beatboxer-cum-comedian with a signature 'fro and a closet full of ridiculous sweaters. So naturally, we kinda flipped when we heard Reggie would be making our YouTube dreams real at the Music Hall of Williamsburg this weekend, as part of the annual Brooklyn Comedy Festival. Watts will be joined by comedians Jena Friedman and Michelle Buteau. What's more, they'll all be backed by Prohibition-era jazz tunes from The Gotham Easy. More information and tickets here.

How much: Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 day of show

AFROPUNK FEST BROOKLYN

Where: Commodore Barry Park, Navy Yard, Brooklyn [map]

When: Saturday, 8/27, and Sunday, 8/28, noon to 10:30 p.m.

What: What a weekend for music in the city! There's the free Charlie Parker Jazz Festival all three days in Marcus Garvey and Tompkins Square parks. Then, on Saturday night, there's a tough choice between the Dresden Dolls at the Coney Island Ampitheater or the Bangles at Irving Plaza. But this weekend's aural options are hands-down dominated by the 12th annual Afropunk Fest Brooklyn, which has been described by the New York Times as "the most multicultural festival in the U.S." The fest features two full days of performances from a ridiculous lineup of artists including CeeLo Green, Ice Cube, Janelle Monae, Fishbone, George Clinton, Living Colour, TV on the Radio and Bad Brains, among many others (download the festival app for an up-to-date performance schedule). Food, art and shopping options abound, while AP After Dark extends the party into the bars and clubs of Fort Greene and Williamsburg long after the park has closed for the night. More information and tickets here.

How much: One-day tickets are $45 and up (or $75 and up for both days)!

And last but not least, a...

NOT-FOR-PROFIT-NEVER-TASTED-SO-GOOD ALERT!

TASTE OF EAST VILLAGE

Where: 2nd Street between Cooper Square and 2nd Avenue [map]

When: Saturday, 9/17, noon to 5 p.m.

What: Get your tickets now for a food fair with a cause! Next month, East 7th Street will be the site of the Taste of East Village. Proceeds will benefit the Cooper Square Committee, a not-for-profit that works to develop affordable housing in the community. Enjoy the early-fall weather (eek) as you stroll the block, sampling up to four plates from many local restaurants — including but not limited to Butter Lane Cupcakes, the East Village Meat Market, Italian roast-pork specialist Porcetta and even EV mainstay Veselka for borscht and blintzes. For tickets and a full list of vendors, go here.

How much: Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 on the day of. And all proceeds go to the Cooper Square Committee!

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