Blazing Hot Weekend Picks

It's gonna be a hot one this weekend (prepare to have that conversation with everyone you meet). Temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s every day. But that doesn't mean you have to sit home in front of the air conditioner (just remember to be safe and follow our tips for beating the NYC heat wave this weekend). Here are our top event picks for the weekend of July 18-20, 2008:

• Central Park SummerStage -- See hip-hop icons perform on Friday, get inspired by the voices of modern gospel supestars on Saturday, and get down with the Madfools (including Santogold and Diplo) on Sunday.



• Midsummer Night Swing -- Bust a move at Midsummer Night Swing this weekend. Enjoy a little soul and a little funk on Friday night, take the kids to jam with Father Goose on Saturday afternoon, and move to Cuban son on Saturday night.



• Harlem Book Fair -- Join 50,000 literary types for a day of book sales, readings, author signings, and more in Harlem on Saturday. Check out panel discussions, children's storytelling, poetry readings, and live music.



• Siren Music Festival 2008 -- It's well worth a trip to Brooklyn on Saturday for the Siren festival, the free outdoor alternative music festival on Coney Island. Performers will include Stephen Malmus and the Jicks, Broken Social Scene, Islands, Ra Ra Riot, and lots of other great acts. The music starts at noon and plays on until 9 PM. Take the D, F, N, or Q to Coney Island/Stillwell Ave. to enjoy the show.



• New York Triathlon -- Thousands of athletes will swim, bike, and run through the boroughs of New York City at Sunday's Nautica New York City Triathlon. Come out and support the athletes brave enough to swim in the Hudson River and race through the hot streets of New York. Maybe you'll even get inspired to go work on your own breast stroke in a nice, clean New York City swimming pool.



• Weekend Street Fairs and Festivals -- Hit the streets this weekend for great street fairs downtown, midtown, and uptown.



• Summer in Little Italy Festival -- Wander the streets of Little Italy this weekend. Every weekend this summer, cars are banned and Little Italy's best eateries offer special treats for passersby.