Photographs by Beth Greenfield

Hopefully, the facts about last night’s marriage-rights vigil—organized by Marriage Equality New York (thank you, MENY!) in Union Square—are not an indication of how this week’s possible New York State special-session vote on the issue (delayed, sadly, from this afternoon) will go. First of all, there were not many people on board (200, at most, showed up to hold candles and chant, and the only two speakers were Council Speaker Christine Quinn and MENY director Ron Zacchi). Second, the chants were kind of lame (”They will vote! Yes! They will vote! Yes!”). And finally, the whole event was upstaged by a hideous combo of commercialism and war worship: the slick, mobbed, loud release party for the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which was already in full swing at the south end of the park when the gays showed up with candles and signs and rainbow flags and messages of love. It would have been funny if it weren’t so disturbing.

It’s Saturday, so you’re either waking up hungover or filled with vim and vigor because you stayed in last night. Either way, by the time you pull yourself out of bed and throw some clothes on, it’s probably noon and you need sustenance before you can take on the day. Head to Grey Dog for perennial fave sandwich #7—sliced Granny Smith apples, turkey, brie, and raspberry mustard ($9)‚which is sure to satisfy.

After you’ve polished that off, make your way to the Union Square Greenmarket for a cup of fresh-pressed apple cider ($1) from Migliorelli Farm. Head west for Frank Stella Polychrone Relief at Paul Kasmin Gallery; you can make the trek to Tenth Avenue on foot or hop on the M23 ($2.25).  Stella’s pieces are perfect art for big, brash fluorescent color-lovers, swirly, windy object aficionados and those who like their sculptures undulating.

Now that you’re sufficiently cultured, walk south to the High Line, where you may be able to snag yourself one of the wooden, rolling chaise lounge chairs. Entertain yourself by joining tourists and locals alike in gawking at those staying at the Standard Hotel. The floor-to-ceiling windows have enticed many a guest to take up an X-rated pose, and now you can get in on the peep show.

By now you may be cold and pining for a beverage and a snack.  Chelsea Market’s just minutes away; you can grab yourself some caffeine with Ninth Street Espresso’s namesake drink ($2) and pair it with a blondie from Fat Witch ($2.75). Once you’re sufficiently reenergized, it’s time to booze it up. Walk a few blocks south to 5 Ninth, where you’ll be so charmed by the rustic space that you won’t even notice you’re paying $13 for a cocktail—albeit a potent, yummy one.

That’s it, you’ve reached $30! We’re sorry to leave you hanging in Meatpacking, but hey, you’ll find a way home.—Sophie Friedman

Things to do: Six; seven if you count riding the crosstown bus

Cost: $30

Photographs by Beth Levendis.

“Yo, people, listen up, people: June 25 is officially a new holiday! And every year, from here on out, we all gonna come back to Union Square on June the 25th and celebrate Michael. Y’all hear that? Michael Jackson! Tha Man! Tha King of Pop! Y’all fucking feel me?!?”

This declaration, made by a petite woman with a voice like a bulldozer, was just one of many articulated at last night’s fevered cell-phone-and-candlelight vigil/impromptu dance party in Union Square, honoring the life (and sparkly wardrobe) of the still-unbelievably dead pop star. Thunderous applause was met by chants of “Michael! Michael! Michael!,” and dancers of every stripe popped, locked and moonwalked in a breakers’ circle at the center of the square, their enthusiasm fed by fans undulating, clapping and singing along. People fired off song requests (”‘Black or White’!” “‘Remember the Time’!” “‘Smooth Criminal’!” “‘Man in the Mirror’!” “‘Beat It’!” “‘The Way You Make Me Feel’!”) to an appointed DJ (apparently, the only guy who thought to bring a portable Bose stereo and stack of burned Jacko CDs). At its most rocking, 75-plus New Yorkers joined in the reenactment of Jackson’s “Thriller” video, flashing creepy zombie poses at strangers and rallying around a handful of superbly dressed Jackson impersonators.

MTV cameramen circled the crowd like vultures, and cameras flashed epileptically as people tried to not only document the historical outpouring, but document themselves as present. (Two college-aged girls, after asking a bystander to snap their pic amid the celebratory chaos, exclaimed “Oh my God, this is awesome. We’re gonna remember this forever!” To which the other replied, “Hell yeah, we are. Send me a copy, okay? I want to put it on Facebook.”)

The Bose DJ crapped out around 11pm, after agreeing to one last “Thriller” encore. The crowd dispersed shortly thereafter, save 20 or so diehards who took an a cappella approach to the rest of Jackson’s catalog.

There’s a big meat meetup of vegetarians of all persuasions today, with a march starting in the Olde Meat District at noon and finishing in Union Square at 1pm, where the festivities will continue until 5pm.

The second annual event is spreading the message that livestock is a major contributor to global warming. How? Flatulence. Something those on a vegetarian diet may know a thing or two about.

Get the deets here.

Photos by Joe Karandy

As anticipated, Nate Hill, Ryder Ripps and the rest of Club Animals converged on Union Square at 4pm today for the group’s first-ever minimarathon. Mini being the operative word: The whole shebang was no more than a dozen participants—stretching, doing jumping jacks, posing for pics and eventually running three or four laps around Union Square. (That exact number is debatable, as several mascots admitted to cheating.) The only-in–New Yorkiness was over in 15 minutes or less, and no winners were declared. “We’re all champions here,” said one guy, who wore a cow skull tied to his head. Read more »