Your weekend guide to everything happening in NYC. Want to share an event? Email info@squarerootz.net.

Friday: 8.28.09

1. The Freedom Party NYC/ 1st ANNUAL MJ BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE PARTYIn honor of Michael Jackson’s recent passing and his birthday on August 29th, Freedom will kickoff an annual birthday tribute party./ @ (le) poisson rouge/ 158 Bleeker St. Btwn Thompson & Sullivan, New York, NY 10012/ A/C/E/F/V/S to West 4^th Street/ Classic hip-hop + classic r&b + classic reggae/dancehall + disco + house + 80s + rock + soul + funk + new hits by DJs Herbert Holler, Cosi and Marc Smooth/ 11PM to 4AM/ On Guest List/RSVP BEFORE 12AM: Ladies FREE Gents $10 AFTER: $10 Ladies $15 Guys More info

Saturday: 8.29.09

1. A FREE screening of Bronx Princess on Saturday, August 29 as part of the Rooftop Films Summer Series in Mullaly Park, just blocks from where it was filmed. (Raindate: September 1, 2009) The evening’s festivities kick off at 7 PM with live music, storytelling and poetry performances by West African artists featured in the film (including hip-hop musician Blitz the Ambassador, who wrote and performed the music for Bronx Princess), hands-on arts activities for children and college resources for teenagers. Then at 9 PM, Rooftop Films presents the Bronx premiere of Bronx Princess, featuring Rocky Otoo – the Bronx-bred teenage daughter of Ghanaian parents. She is a sassy high-achiever bound for college. With freedom in sight, Rocky rebels against her mother’s rules. When their relationship reaches a breaking point, Rocky flees to her father, a chief in Ghana. What follows is captured in Bronx Princess, a tumultuous coming-of-age story set in a homeland both familiar and strange. Her precocious – and very American – ideas of a successful, independent life conflict with her father’s traditional African values. Reconciling her dual legacies becomes an unexpected chapter in this unforgettable young woman’s education. Watch the trailer here.
2. You Are Invited By SPIKE LEE & THE GREAT BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN To Celebrate The 51st Birthday of MICHAEL JACKSON SATURDAY, AUGUST 29TH 2009 @ PROSPECT PARK, Nethermead Field 12Noon - 5pm Music By DJ SPINNA Help Us Sing It “MA MA SE, MA MA SA, MA MA COO SA” (Rain or shine)

Sunday: 8.30.09

1. Uptown Summer Classic Cookout/On Sunday, August 30th, from 1-8pm I’m helping to host the Uptown Summer Classic, a cookout on the waterfront in historic Harlem NY. It’s gonna be a really great event, and its for charity, so you know like, that’s kinda nice too. They are asking for a $10 (optional) donation, so if you can afford it, please give, if not, you’re still very much welcome. I’m gonna be there, everyone is gonna be there, lots of the cool kids, plenty of the nerds, the movers, the shakers, the leaders and the followers, the good, the bad, & the ugly (hopefully not too many of them though), like, erryone. So you should be there too. Please come join us!
2. Black August 2009/ Cost: $20/ Tickets can be purchased at the BB King Blues Club box office (237 W 42nd St, between Broadway and 8th Ave at 44th Street in Times Square, NYC) or online at Ticketmaster with this link. Description: The Black August Hip Hop Project strives to promote human rights though supporting and influencing the global development of Hip Hop culture.  By facilitating exchanges between international communities where Hip Hop is a vital part of youth culture, we promote awareness about the social and political issues that affect our global communities. More Info.