Weekend Picks -- Downtown and Uptown, Dogs and Cats

Here are our top NYC event picks for the brisk autumn weekend of Friday, October 17th through Sunday, October 19th, 2008:

• 18 Nights of Inspiration at 92YTribeca -- The 92nd Street Y is opening its new Tribeca location on Saturday and celebrating with 18 straight days of great performances and events. On opening night, see musician John Vanderslice and comeidan Michael Showalter and check out screenings of Wet Hot American Summer and Viva.



• New York Cares Day -- Join New York cares for a day of good works at 100 New York City public schools. Help improve libraries, playgrounds, and classrooms for 8,000 city students.



• Yankee Stadium Auction -- Bid on a piece of Yankee Stadium history at this Saturday auction at Madison Square Garden. Items on the block include championship rings, DiMaggio and Mantle autographs, and the original architectural drawing sused to build the stadium.



• Iams 2008 Cat Championships -- While you're in the neighborhood, linger at Madison Square Garden for the 2008 Cat Championship Show. See prize kitties from around the world, browse for cat products, hear advice from feline experts, and meet rescued cats available for adoption.



• Times Square Dog Day Masquerade -- Not a cat person? The dogs will be out in Times Square on Sunday for Times Square Dog Day Masquerade. The best dog Halloween costume will win a $250 gift certificate to Petland Discounts. And you can hold onto that creative canine costume for next weekend's Dog Halloween Parade in Tompkins Square Park.



• NYC Halloween Haunted Houses -- The bewitching season is here. Get a jump start on Halloween terror at Blood Manor or Nightmare: Bad Dreams Come True, New York's scariest haunted houses.



• New York Spa Week -- It's your last chance for cheap pampering as New York Spa Week winds down.