Things To Do This Weekend In New York City & Roosevelt Island- Come Out and Play, Big Apple BBQ Block Party, Science Street Fair & RI Live Concert

You Tube Video of 2008 Big Apple Barbecue

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

On Friday as well as the rest of the weekend, Free NYC suggests the Come Out and Play 2009 Festival.

RAIN OR SHINE!!! Come Out & Play will transform New York City into a playground once again! The annual festival runs this summer during the weekend of June 12-14.

The NY Times Urban Eye says of Come Out and Play:

Dedicated to the kind of games you might’ve invented when you were a child, the fourth annual Come Out and Play festival takes over the city this weekend. Expect creative competitions like the Neo-Cowgirl Faux Rodeo, Circle Rules Football (played in the round using a giant Pilates ball) and Stalk Exchange, a cellphone game designed for Grand Central. The festival concludes with an awards ceremony, but c’mon: we’re all winners here.

If you are a BBQ lover, then you're in luck with a must attend event.

The Seventh Annual Snapple Big Apple Barbecue Block Party returns to Madison Square Park June 13-14, 2009, from 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM. The weekend-long event takes place every June and brings together the country’s top pitmasters who cook up their award-winning food for over a hundred thousand barbecue enthusiasts. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Madison Square Park, the Snapple Big Apple Barbecue Block Party attracts people from near and far to sustain and celebrate America’s authentic culinary and musical traditions.

Chowhound has the goods on The Big Apple Barbecue.

The World Science Festival is taking place in New York City from June 10 - 14 and on Sunday will be holding a Science Street Festival.

World Science Festival Street Fair
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Washington Square Park
The Washington Square Park area is transformed into a science wonderland when the World Science Festival Youth and Family Street Fair returns to New York City, Sunday, June 14, 2009. This year’s extravaganza will feature a non-stop program of interactive exhibits, experiments, games, and shows designed to entertain and inspire. Join us for a full day of free family fun.

On Roosevelt Island this weekend, in addition to the Roosevelt Live Concert featuring Leah Siegal and Chana Rothman on Saturday, the Farmers Market is open as usual as is Gallery RIVAA, the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association which is exhibiting a celebration of the Queensboro Bridge Centennial - Connecting Islands and Generations. Another suggestion - 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.

The MTA is reporting no Roosevelt Island F Train subway advisories this weekend and neither is RIOC with Tram advisories. Smooth Roosevelt Island transportation this weekend for the first time in a couple of weeks. However, RIOC is advising that:

Be advised on Sunday June 14th from 8 AM to 11 AM, there will be approximately 200 people walking on the seawall during a walkathon.

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