Things To Do This Weekend In New York City & Roosevelt Island - Rhythm In The Kitchen, Pillow Fight, Stargazing, Cyclone RollerCoaster & RI Tour

You Tube Video of Ride On Coney Island Cyclone

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

On Friday or Saturday night partake in the Hell's Kitchen Cultural Center's Rhythm In The Kitchen Festival. According to the NY Post:

Tonight and tomorrow's Rhythm in the Kitchen Festival is more than a jazz fest -- the participants reach beyond traditional instrumentals by using electronics, turntables or ukuleles, and add elements of rock, pop, classical and even noise to the mix

Saturday afternoon is New York City Pillow Fight Day. According to Free NYC:

Feathers fly and fake cash soars as we converge on Wall Street for a massive urban pillow fight! Swing and whack as you evade pillow-wielding bank executives. Bring a pillow to Wall Street and wait for the signal. Pillow fight! This year's pillow fight is timed to coincide with pillow fights in cities all over the world as part of World Pillow Fight Day...

Later Saturday night check out the 100 Hours of Astronomy Project with the Columbia University Astronomy Outreach team.

The 100 Hours of Astronomy project is a star party taking place April 2nd-5th on sidewalks all across the globe. Our outreach team will be manning telescopes at 125th and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd in Harlem on the clear-weather nights of Thursday, Saturday and Sunday (NOT FRIDAY). We will provide everyone with free looks at Saturn and the Moon, as well as astronomy swag. There is also rumor that the AMNH portable museum will show up for hands-on astronomy activities.

Ultimate Roller Coaster is reporting that Sunday will be opening day for the Coney Island Cyclone.

Coney Island's world-famous Cyclone roller coaster will kick off its 2009 season Sunday, April 5. The first 100 people in line on Sunday will be treated to a free ride on the roller coaster.

According to the NY Post:

Come the weekend you'll be able to ride the Cyclone - and soon even "Shoot the Freak" - just like you did last summer as Coney Island bounces back for at least one more season before a massive overhaul....

Free NYC adds:

Did you miss the chance to enjoy Coney Island in it's heyday? Perhaps even its recent nostalgic yet run down Renaissance? Well don't fear. While Brooklyn's little playground by the sea is undergoing a Disnification, you can still learn all about its grand and sorted past at the new Coney Island History Project Exhibition Center. Each weekend throughout the summer, they will spin yarns of yesteryear under the rickety old Cyclone for you wax poetically about. Today is their kickoff event with a photo exhibition and free Cyclone rides to the first 100. All ages.

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 group show titled Vernissage 8. 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.

Not so good weekend transportation news. The MTA is reporting no Queens Bound F Train subway service to Roosevelt Island this weekend. The F Train will be running on the E track so in order to get to Roosevelt Island from Brooklyn or Manhattan by subway take the F to Roosevelt Avenue and then take the Coney Island bound F Train back to Roosevelt Island. RIOC is not reporting any Tram service advisories for the weekend.

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