Memorial Day is just a few days away, and if you’re like us, you can’t wait to take a break from the daily grind. While many have made plans that will sweep them off to far flung places like Paris, for those looking to stay local, there are plenty of incredible events going on across all of NYC’s boroughs — rain or shine. Keep reading for our top events to check out this Memorial Day weekend. It’s going to be a busy few days!

All the events this way

We’re all looking forward to a long weekend this week, so why not get amped for Memorial Day by boning up on some of the knowledge this city has to offer? School yourself on Russia’s Modern Masters, learn about the genius of the Scandinavian design approach, or go one on one with a Whitney Museum artist.

As Memorial Day looms, so does the opening of the city’s greatest isle of relaxation: Governors Island. You know summer is almost here when the ferries start running over to Manhattan getaway, so head to the ferry terminal this weekend!

All the best events here

The creative mind is so spectacular. There’s nothing more fun for designers than to be given a project where they can allow their imaginations to run rampant. Never was this more evident than with The Warehouse Gallery’s new exhibit opening next month. Five architecture firms were asked to design an idealistic plan of Atlantic Yards, conforming to the same dimensions as the actual project headed up by developer Forest City Ratner. These proportions include 4,278,000 square feet of housing and 156,00 square feet of retail space.

Find out more about the project here

Spring is in full swing, so how about venturing around the city this week to experience some of the arts and culture New York has to offer?

Hob knob with donors and creatives at the annual Party in the Garden at the Museum of Modern Art, check out a secret bar behind an art opening, indulge in all things design at ICFF this weekend, or experience an art installation that encourages sleep. Another great week is yours for the taking!

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It’s May, which means that NYC’s most exciting month for design is here! We’ve rounded up a few must-see shows that will feature furniture and products by local creatives, and designers from across the globe. Find out the best places to get your furni fix ahead — we promise plenty of Instagram-worthy design-stuffs will abound!

Our top picks ahead

Looking for something to do in this great city now that the weather has warmed up? We’ve rounded up some of this week’s best art, design and architecture events to kick off the month of May.

Get your art fix in Times Square for Midnight Moment or head to Randalls Island for the third rendition of Frieze Art Fair, browse the latest in cutting edge design at Collective Design Fair, explore Jersey City with Mana Contemporary’s massive open house or get outside and check out the latest installation at Socrates Sculpture Park. It’s going to be a great week!

All the best events here

Fort Greene is easily one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in all of Brooklyn. With tree-lined streets and plenty of historic homes and churches throughout, just strolling its blocks will usually send you into a state of architectural splendor.

This weekend is your chance to take a look inside these incredible spaces. Sponsored by the Fort Greene Association, this ambitious self-guided walking tour offers unique insights into the neighborhood’s thriving new cultural district, as well as its coveted homes. See an assortment of townhouses and private residences, including a quirky brownstone featured in an episode of HBO’s hit series Girls!

Find out where to get tickets here

Prolific artist, and Banksy-homage payee, Kara Walker will be kicking off her new show at the Domino Sugar refinery on Saturday, May 10th. Walker, who is best known for creating room-size tableaux of black cut-paper silhouettes that explore everything from race, gender, sexuality, and violence, will take over the 90,000-square-foot space for what’s to be her first large-scale public installation.

No specifics or images of the work have been released yet, but her press release notes that the installation at Domino “will explore a radical range of subject matter, including but not limited to the history of sugar and its many implications.” Don’t miss out on your chance to see what is sure to be an arresting installation — and the interior of a historic building that will soon be transformed.

[Via Gothamist]

How can we create sustainable and livable cities in the face of climate change? On April 8, 2014, the AIA New York Chapter is joining forces with the Consulate General of Denmark in New York to host a panel discussion on the water-related challenges faced by New York City and Copenhagen, and the wide array of approaches and solutions that have already been deployed or will be implemented.

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