BAM CINEMA

Kicking off in style with a brand-new screen, the BAMcinemaFest turns five this year. In five short years, this annual showcase has become “essential to New York’s cultural scene,” according to the Wall Street Journal, which hailed it as “a regional festival with global reach.” Running through June 28, the lineup gives New Yorkers a first look at some of the most inspiring new voices in independent cinema, like tonight’s opener, “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” starring Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck. See the film and then celebrate with an after-party featuring DJ Monk-One.

BamCinemaFest

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COMEBACK COCKTAILS

Living in a city like New York, there’s a good chance you’ve developed a discerning taste for cocktails. All around town, from dive bars to sleek lounges, bartenders have raised the bar on what you can expect from a shaker, a strainer, and a glass. Check out “Hey Bartender,” now playing at the Village East Cinema. This documentary goes “behind the bar” for the back story on two cocktail renaissance men: one an injured a Marine who achieves his dream of mixing drinks at Employees Only and the other a former bank exec who buys the corner bar in his hometown. Say “cheers” to following your dreams!

“Hey Bartender” at the Village East Cinema

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MONDAY TO-DOS 

Brighten your day—and your complexion.

See ABT’s opening night of “Swan Lake” (through June 22).

Have a summery feast at ZZ’s Clam Bar.

Watch “The Parade” go by at the IFC Center.

Walk a mile with Iggy Azalea at Bowery Ballroom.

NORTHSIDE FESTIVAL

The weeklong Northside Festival kicks off today, running through June 20, answering the big question, “What’s Next, Brooklyn?” with more than 350 bands, over 50 films, and some 70 speakers. Spanning music venues across Williamsburg and Greenpoint (and some secret spots, this is Brooklyn after all), headliners include Black Flag (June 14 at Warsaw), The Walkmen and Phosphorescent (June 15 at McCarren Park), and Solange (June 16 at McCarren Park), among others. Tonight starts with Mac Demarco at Brooklyn Bowl—and a “Swans” song at Warsaw.

Northside Festival

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MONDAY TO-DOS 

Review some new summer hair ideas.

See an ancient masterpiece at the Met.

Take a local wine tour on a Frenchified double-decker bus.

Check out Sofia Coppola talking about “The Bling Ring.” 

Get your heart pounding with The Drums.

OPEN ROADS

Summer is a time for hitting the open road and expanding your horizons—or you could just take the subway up to Lincoln Center for the annual Open Roads film festival starting today (through June 12). Showcasing a fresh crop of new Italian films and filmmakers, this popular roundup features established directors and actors, as well as up-and-comers, serving up a delicious slice of the cinematic dolce vita. Opening night features Paolo Virzi’s modern rom-com “Every Blessed Day,” about an odd couple-style duo trying to conceive a baby.

“Every Blessed Day” at the Open Roads Film Festival

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JUGGLING ACT

Feel like it’s Wednesday and you’re already juggling a lot? Take a break with the U.S. premiere of David Hockney’s first video installation, “The Juggler,” now on view at the Whitney (through September 1). This multiscreen tableau was filmed using 18 cameras and shows jugglers as they move across 18 screens framed by a pink wall and a blue floor. Dressed in all black, the figures juggle brightly colored objects creating what could almost be described as a visual metaphor for the chaotic fun of planning a fashion show—complete with a high-energy soundtrack.

David Hockney at the Whitney

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WET HOT SUMMER

Judging by the weather recently, it’s already been one wet hot American summer, and it’s technically still only spring until June 21. Given the summery downpours and mini July-style heat wave, tonight’s launch of the Summer Cinema Series at Tribeca Cinemas & The Varick Room feels especially aptly timed. RSVP for a free screening of one of the funniest camp movies ever made, “Wet Hot American Summer,” featuring an all-star cast (before they were super-famous), including Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, and Molly Shannon, among others.

Wet Hot American Summer

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STAY PUT

Now that you’re back at your desk, and likely daydreaming about your next getaway, this might be a good time to take solace in knowing that sometimes vacations can go wrong—very wrong—especially in the case of “Sightseers,” a dark British comedy now playing at the Sunshine. Real-life co-writers Steve Oram and Alice Lowe star as a couple who heads out on an RV adventure through the British Isles that veers way off course when they hit a few proverbial road bumps—namely litterbugs, obnoxious teenagers, and at-capacity RV site. Hm. Maybe you should book that staycation after all.

“Sightseers” at the Sunshine

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KINGS OF SUMMER

Set in the woodlands of Ohio, “The Kings of Summer” is a coming-of-age flick about three teens who decide to break free from the confines of their suburban homes and build a house in the woods, away from nagging parents. Think of it as “Into the Wild” updated for millennials with “Parks and Recreation”-style humor (one of the film’s stars also happens to be the cantankerously funny Nick Offerman of “Parks and Recreation”). See this movie in the open air through Rooftop Films this Saturday—or wait until it premieres in air-conditioned theaters on May 31.

Rooftop Films presents “Kings of Summer”

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