WEDNESDAY May 18
Maybe you want to enjoy this beautiful weather in a sufficiently secluded spot, like, say, a rooftop garden, but also in the middle of New York, like, right smack dab in the middle of everything. In that very specific case, you’ll want to get over to the rooftop garden at the Westin. Today, they’ll be hosting a cocktail party where guests will have a chance to munch and enjoy cocktails and organic, biodynamic wines. The Westin, 212 East 42nd Street, 6-8 p.m., invite only
THURSDAY May 19
Nothing says, “Summer is coming,” like eating so many oysters you feel slightly unwell. Today you can have approximately a billion, at the third annual Billion Oyster Party. Forty oyster farms will come together to allow guests to sample their catch, and proceeds go toward helping to clean up the New York harbor. Pioneer Works, 159 Pioneer Street, 6-10 p.m., $150
FRIDAY May 20
Get ready to paint the town pink at In Living Pink: The Art of Survival. The evening will feature artwork for auction, as well as live performances from numerous contemporary, fine and performing artists. Proceeds will go toward the Young Survival Coalition. Three Sixty, 10 Debrosses Street, 7-11 p.m., $200
SATURDAY May 21
You’re probably familiar with Louis XIV (good years to be an aristocrat) and Louis XVI (very bad years to be an aristocrat). The non-modern-day aristocrats might be less familiar with LOUIS XIII. That’s because it is a cognac. But not just any cognac. LOUIS XIII takes over a hundred years to create, and it was served on the Normandy, the Orient Express and the Concorde. You’d also have found it at Imperial courts from Austria to China. Today, Louis XIII has teamed up with Hermès, Saint Louis and Puiforcat to create an interactive exhibition that tells their story called “L’Odyssee d’un Roi—An Ode to Adventure.” You’ll be able to check out travel trunks designed to hold a decanter hand-stitched by Hermès, see the hand-forged white gold Puiforcat pipettes and check out the 19th century map engraved on the Saint Louis glasses and decanter. If you want one of the trunks for your very own, you’ll be pleased to know that they’ll be auctioned off at Sotheby’s in September. The benefits from the auction will ultimately go towards The Film Foundation, which helps restore classic films to their former glory. 3 West 57th Street, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., open to public
SUNDAY May 22
W.C. Fields once quipped that you should “never work with animals or children” as both are little show stealers. Clearly, no one has told the Broadway stars who’ve mentored Rosie’s Theater Kids for this year’s Passing it On: An Evening of Mentorship gala. The organization offers kids a chance to perform a show in tandem with stars like Robin de Jesus (In the Heights, Wicked), Robert LaFosse (Alex in Wonder, The Nutcracker) and Brad Oscar (The Producers, Something Rotten!). Rosie O’Donnell will host, and the evening will honor Terrence Meck. You can expect to find famous faces like Christine Ebersole, Javier Muñoz and Michael Mayer in attendance. Though, you know, they might be overshadowed by the kids, just as W.C. Fields predicted. Proceeds from the gala will go toward creating a “safe haven” for LGBT youth. Alvin Ailey Citygroup Theater, 405 West 55th Street, $150
MONDAY May 23
The educational organization GLSEN is honoring George Stephanopoulos (Good Morning America), Ali Wentworth and Ilene Chaiken (executive producer of the hit television series Empire) today at the 2016 GLSEN Respect Awards. The ceremony is intended to honor those who are “exemplary role models and have made a significant impact on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth.” Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 East 42nd Street, 6 p.m., $1,250
TUESDAY May 24
City Journal is hosting a dinner for their contributor John Tierney, who recently wrote about “Reimagining Times Square.” They’ll be hosting it at the Time’s Square Olive Garden, an attraction to all those who come to New York to see the world’ finest restaurants. (Joking. They will not be doing that because Times Square is a nightmare place.) Benoit Bistro, 60 West 55th Street, 7 p.m., invite only
WEDNESDAY May 25
The American Cancer Society is hosting its 11th annual Taste of Hope gala tonight. You might wonder, “What does hope taste like?” We’re not precisely sure, but participants like Nobu New York, BLT Prime, Telepan and Todd English probably have some idea. Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, 7 p.m., $200
