Guide to what's happening in New York this week

Guide to what’s happening in New York this week

LIVE from NYPL presents Def Jam w/ Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons Friday, 7 p.m., New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue & 42nd Street, $25 Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, founders of Def Jam Recordings, (check them out here in this 1988 photo with RUN DMC) hold court on this very special night of LIVE from the NYPL, where they converse with NYPL’s Paul Holdengraber and pay tribute, along with other guests, to hip-hop’s pioneering label.

Food

Village Voice Brooklyn Pour
Saturday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Skylight One Hanson,
1 Hanson Pl., Ft. Greene, $40
In addition to sampling more than 100 beers from area makers and importers such as Kelso, Abita, Flying Dog and Vanberg & DeWulf, attendees also learn how to home brew with Tim Besecker, meet Drinkology Beer author James Waller, and feast on German currywurst.

Culture

Lisa Yuskavage
Through Nov. 7, David Zwirner, 525 W. 19 St., free
For two decades, Lisa Yuskavage has been gracing canvases with her lush, cartoonish, erotic nudes. The new works presented in her latest exhibit demonstrate a merging of genres including landscape, still-life and portrait painting more than her work has in the past.

‘Skateboarding Works’
Through Nov. 5, Panda Bar, 139 Chrystie St., free
L.A. may have its Z-Boys, but New York City has a thriving skate culture all its own. “Skateboarding Works” highlights recent photographs of skaters in action.

OpenHouse NY
Saturday and Sunday, Various locations, $5 per reservation
Go to Staten Island to see the Conference House, the only pre-Revolutionary manor house left in New York City. Check out Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg, whose vintage interior lends a nice dichotomy to its minimalist LED facade.

The Creators Project
Saturday and Sunday,
7 p.m., Various DUMBO locations, free with RSVP
The two-day festival casts its net wide over DUMBO with major art installations, film screenings, panel discussions, food from Brooklyn Flea vendors, DJ sets from Justice and Juan MacLean, as well as performances by Florence & the Machine — and more.

Outside

Blinky Palermo
Retrospective Coach Tour
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Dia:Beacon,
3 Beekman St., Beacon, $20-$40
Take advantage of this special one-time-only day trip, which includes pick-up and drop-off in Manhattan, a visit to both locations for the full retrospective experience and a guided walk-through at Dia:Beacon with artist Liliana Porter.

ZombieCon 2011
Saturday, 2 p.m., various locations, free
Today’s forecast calls for frightful conditions. A swarm of flesh-eating undead is expected to flood the city, terrorizing innocent passersby in search of brains and Bloody Marys. Corpses draw inspiration from medieval times, when the Black Death was the disease du jour.

Music

Beach Fossils w/ Dive, Minks & Heavenly Beat
Friday, 8 p.m., 285 Kent, 285 Kent Ave.,
Williamsburg, $10
JM Rambo and Captured Tracks present a lineup that will bring you back to those breezy summer afternoons at the Williamsburg waterfont. Beach Fossils headline the night.

For more events check out Flavorpill.