Things To Do This Weekend In New York City And Roosevelt Island - World Trade Center Tribute In Light, Central Park Wilderness Skills & Brooklyn Books

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 ideas:

Everyone knows that today, 9/11, is the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Take a moment to think about those who were killed and their families as well as the men and women, both past and present, protecting us against these events ever happening again. Later tonight, look towards Battery Park for the magnificent Tribute In Light.

There will also be a Roosevelt Island 9/11 Memorial Ceremony tonight at 7 PM behind the Good Shepherd Chapel.

On Saturday, head on over to Central Park and test your wilderness skills.

Wilderness Skills Workshop
Saturdays, September 12 - November 7, 2009
9:00 am - 5:00 pm (full 8-hour course)

Program departs from the North Meadow Recreation Center (Located mid-Park at 97th Street)

Mountain Man comes to the Big Apple! Learn basic survival skills related to shelter, water, fire, food, and more with certified tracker and forensic investigator Shane "White Feather" Hobel. Program is appropriate for ages 14 and up. Advance registration and fee required; discounts available....

For the literary minded, Sunday is the Brooklyn Book Festival. According to the NY Times Urban Eye:

Put on your twee-est outfit — you know you have one — for the Brooklyn Book Festival on Sunday. Chockablock with local authors and personalities, from the Jonathans (Lethem, Coulton and Ames) to the literary comedians (David Cross and Gary Shteyngart) to the brainiacs (Naomi Klein, Oliver Sacks) to the trendy (Colson Whitehead, Sloane Crosley, Amy Sohn) to The Times’s own Jenny 8. Lee — literally everyone you’ve ever wanted to read will be there, plus Lupe Fiasco and Thurston Moore. This is perhaps the one place you don’t have to bring a book for fear of boredom

On Roosevelt Island this weekend, in addition to the 9/11 Memorial Remembrance on Friday, the Farmers Market is open as usual as is Gallery RIVAA, the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association which is having an opening reception for a new show titled Fall Fiesta on Saturday night.

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. There will also be Light Jazz performed outside of The Trellis restaurant on Friday and Saturday evening, weather permitting.

The MTA is reporting no Roosevelt Island F Train subway advisories this weekend and neither is RIOC with Tram advisories.

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 and Newyorkology.