The 10 best cheap things to do this week

Drag yourself out for an evening with Aja Queen (#8)

1. Get literary at the first Franklin Park Reading Series of the new year: Short Fiction Night, featuring Adam Haslett, Mary Miller, Rion Amilcar Scott, Uzodinma Okehi, and Rebecca Keith. (Monday, Franklin Park, FREE)

2. Have an unassuming laugh at The Simple Show, with comedy from Mitra Jouhari and Nayomi Reghay, plus a lecture on the linguistic differences between liberals and conservatives by Melanie Hoff. (Monday, Bushwick Public House, FREE)

3. Be engaged at the inaugural episode of The Hook, a “political speakeasy” and live talk-show, tonight welcoming NYC City Councilmember Steve Levin to discuss whether there’s any hope in politics today. (Tuesday, Pete’s Candy Store, FREE)

4. Listen to some kick-ass ladies at The Crunk Feminist Collection Book Launch & Panel Discussion, with Robin M. Boylorn, Brittney C. Cooper, and Susana M. Morris conversing about how race and gender politics intersect with pop culture and current events. (Tuesday, Greenlight Books, FREE)

5. Fill up on food and funnies at Devour Hour: New Year Edition, with comedy from Kerry Overfab Coddett, Sam Taggart, Liz Magee, Brantley Brice, and Lucie Steiner, plus free dumplings for all. (Wednesday, Hank’s Saloon, FREE)

6. Learn about the flora and fauna all around you at NYC: Where the Wild Things Are, an illustrated talk on the vast variety of plants and wildlife that call this town home. (Wednesday, Brooklyn Brainery, $7)

7. Feel all the feels at the Funny/Sexy/Sad Paper Anniversary Show, featuring stories that are uplifting, upsetting, or scintillating from Kim Yaged, Ziwe Fumudoh, Andrew Blossom, Evan Rehill, and Rosa Escandon. (Thursday, Molasses Books, FREE)

8. Queer up your night at Sasha Velour’s Nightgowns, “the thinking queen’s drag show,” featuring artistic alt-drag from Aja Queen, Lucy Balls, Miss Malice, Kelly Boner, and more. (Thursday, Bizarre, $10 suggested)

9. Pick up some pretty prints, patches, and pins at Joy Sneaks In, an affordable charity art fair with all proceeds going to Lambda Legal, which works to defend LGBTQ civil liberties. (Friday, Bat Haus, FREE)

10. Get up offa that thing and head to Mr. DynaNight, a celebration of the music of the Godfather of Funk, James Brown, with three different DJs to keep you grooving late into the night. (Friday, Friends & Lovers, FREE)

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