YOU’RE THE TOP: Closed since September 11, the Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens today, with much hoopla and fanfare, including the cast of ‘Hair,’ who’ll perform live. You know, to psych yourself for the 168-step, spiral-staircase climb to Dame Freedom’s topper – and arguably the best view anywhere in NYC. Saturday, 9AM.
HORNY: Louis Armstrong was born on the fourth of August, but he preferred to celebrate on the fourth of July. His house-cum-museum in Corona, Queens will stage an all-day jazz party, complete with live jamming by local outfits like the Red Hook Ramblers, all of whom owe a debt to Satchmo. Saturday, 12-4pm.
BUN FOR ALL: Joey Chestnut takes on Takeru Kobayashi at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest, where everyone’s a weiner (come on! we had to!). Saturday, Coney Island, 12PM.
VIVID: We’ve missed you, Vernon Reid. Legendary band Living Colour will headline a big, fat party at BAM’s Afro-Punk Festival, playing old favorites and goodies from their forthcoming album. Plus, a bunch of other bands will perform (like twangy Earl Greyhound), and the show’s free. Sunday, 4PM.
SPOKEN: When you crawl out of bed the morning after the festivities, point yourself to (Le) Poisson Rouge, whose cine-brunch screens Vittorio de Sica’s heartwrenching neorealist portrait-of-poverty masterpiece ‘The Bicycle Thief.’ Sunday, 12:30PM.
