Among our picks for the best in eating, drinking and merrymaking around New York City this weekend are multiple film festivals, a book fair, and a parade featuring tartan-wearing canines. Read on for details.

Havana Film Festival
Various locations
New York, NY
(212) 946-1839
www.hffny.com/2016

Can’t get to Cuba? No matter. You can head to Havana vicariously, via the Havana Film Festival. This annual event celebrates movies from Cuba and elsewhere in Latin America. This year that means Papa: Hemingway in Cuba, the true story of a journalist who develops a paternal relationship with the ‘Old Man And The Sea’ author; Magallanes, about an old Peruvian taxi driver with a dangerous past; and Zoom, about a comic book artist whose work becomes all too real. Thursday, April 7, through Friday, April 15, see schedule for details, tickets required.

 

Japan Sings!
Japan Society
333 East 47th Street
New York, NY 10017
(212) 715-1258
www.japansociety.org/page/programs/film/japan-sings-the-japanese-musical-film

Japan Sings! is a film festival centered around Japanese musicals, particularly the so-called Golden Age of the genre in the 1950s and 1960s. As the series’ curator explains, “seeing and hearing the tradition of musical films in Japanese cinema gives us a different view of Japanese popular culture that is smart as well as silly and sometimes devastating, too.” Friday, April 8, through Saturday, April 23, see schedule for details, tickets required.

 

Rainbow Book Fair
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
524 West 59th Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 817-1955
rainbowbookfair.org/

Established in 2009 and organized by the nonprofit organization CLAGS (the Center for LGBTQ studies), the largest LGBT book event in the world takes place this weekend in Manhattan. Attendees range from editors and publishers to agents to writers, all devoted to literature by and/or about members of the LGBT community. You can go to readings, attend panels, hang out in the Poetry Salon, and, of course, browse tons and tons of books. Saturday, April 9, 12 to 6 pm, free.
Tartan Day Parade
Sixth Avenue between 45th and 55th Streets

New York, NY
(908) 273-3509
nyctartanweek.org

Show your Scottish pride! This annual celebration of Scottish heritage is organized by the Clan Currie Society, and features actor Sam Heughan(from Outlander) as grand marshal. One of the largest Tartan Day celebrations also includes pipe players, kilt makers, fiddlers, Highland jig dancers, and many other performers and entertainers, including a pack of Scotties and Westies dressed in a special Barbour plaid. Saturday, April 9, parade starts at 2 pm, free.
Hall of Heroes
The Bowery Hotel
335 Bowery
New York, NY 10003
(212) 505-9100
events.thrillist.com/hallofheroes
Hero, grinder, sub, sandwich. Whichever name you use, you’ll want to head over to Thrillist’s first annual Hall of Heroes sandwich competition. Will Luke Lobster’s Maine-style seafood roll beat out The Jam Stand’s PB&J (spiced up with locally made jam)? Or will Fresh Salt’s meatloaf sandwich reign supreme? You’ll just have to stuff your face with every single one of the entrants to figure it out. Good thing it’s an all-you-can-eat event! Must be 21+. Sunday, April 10, 1 to 4 pm, $65, tickets required.