Looking For Things To Do This Weekend In New York City & Roosevelt Island - Needle Park, NY Iditarod, Chinese New Year Parade and RI Tour

You Tube Video of 2008 New York Iditarod in Gowanus and Red Hook Brooklyn

Looking for fun or interesting things to do on Roosevelt Island or in some other part of New York City this weekend? Here are some suggestions.

For those who worry that the current economic crisis may bring a return of the 1970's to New York City and want to see what parts of the City were like at that time, the Al Pacino starring movie, Panic in Needle Park is playing this week at the Film Forum. From the New York Post:

Al Pacino landed his career-making role in "The Godfather" after Francis Ford Coppola showed Paramount brass his dazzling performance as a heroin addict and petty thief in "The Panic in Needle Park" (1971), a time capsule of Manhattan's Upper West Side at its very worst. "If you see it, it will sear your senses forever," promised the original ads. "Needle Park" begins a one-week run today at Film Forum (209 W. Houston St.; 212-727-8110), with co-star Kitty Winn, director Jerry Schatzberg and co-screenwriter Joan Didion appearing before the 7:40 show tonight.

Saturday is the 6th annual NY Iditarod. According to the NY Times Urban Eye:

You didn’t hear it from us: On Saturday the Idiotarod, a take on the famous Alaskan dog-sled race (note that extra ‘o’) hits New York. Brace yourself: instead of dogs and sleds, this one features humans and shopping carts. Expect to see hordes of outlandishly costumed meta-mushers running, drinking and sweating as they make their way to the finish line whatever way they can....

On Sunday afternoon, Free NYC suggests the Chinatown Chinese Lunar New Year Parade:

The spectacle features elaborate floats, marching bands, lion and dragon dances galore, Asian musicians, magicians, acrobats and procession by local organizations. Over 5,000 people are expected to march in the parade, which will start at Mott Street and promenade through practically every street in of Chinatown, finally dispersing at Worth Street. The parade is expected to conclude at 3:00 pm, at which time an outdoor cultural festival will take place on Bayard Street featuring more performances by musicians, dancers and martial artists.

On Roosevelt Island this weekend, the Farmers Market will be open as usual on Saturday as is Gallery RIVAA, the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association which is exhibiting a new show, Emergence by Bogdan Borgovan, and will be holding an opening reception on Saturday night. Also, RIOC has produced a great self guided tour map (PDF File) of Roosevelt Island for any visitor or resident looking to stroll the Island and learn something more about it.

Good weekend transportation news. The MTA is reporting normal Roosevelt Island F Train subway service in both directions and RIOC is not reporting any Tram service advisories either.

Check out some other ideas on what to do in New York City this weekend from the NY Times Urban Eye, NY Post Weekend Calendar and Newyorkology.