EYES ON THE PRIZE
It shouldn’t surprise people that Jimmy Carter of the Blind Boys of Alabama is still touring at 81. Carter’s mother passed away in 2009 at the ripe old age of 103, so he clearly comes from great genes. “When you love what you do as much as we do, that keeps your energy up,” says Carter, who helped found the group in 1939. “I got some gas left in the tank!” And that gas is taking him to Terminal 5 Saturday, where the Grammy-winning gospel group (of which he is the only original member) will open for the Black Crowes and perform songs from their new album “I’ll Find a Way,” as well as songs from their long history. There’s no end in sight, either. “There are some young men coming up behind me, and I’ll pass the torch to them when I can’t go on. But I hope that ain’t too soon.”
8 p.m., 610 W. 56th St.; 212-582-6600; terminal5nyc.com. $59.50. — Hardeep Phull
SWEET ON SOURS
It will be a barrel of briny fun on Sunday, when Orchard Street hosts the annual Lower East Side Pickle Day. (Last year it was canceled after Hurricane Sandy.) “We like the idea that there is an actual day just for us,” says Alan Kaufman of The Pickle Guys, who will be one of 15 pickle vendors participating. “A good pickle has a little snap, salty garlicky flavor and good texture,” adds Kaufman, who will be giving away his relished preserves for free. More than 30 popular neighborhood spots, such as Mission Chinese and Grey Lady, will also be on hand, as will face-painters and even a home-pickling contest. “Pickles are fun. Even the word ‘pickles’ is fun. If you went out with a guy named Pickles, you know you’d have a good time,” says Kaufman.
Noon to 5 p.m. on Orchard Street between Houston and Delancey streets; lowereastsideny.com. — Kirsten Fleming
WRITE ON!
If there’s one thing Donna Tartt knows, it’s how to leave her readers wanting more — the author has penned just three books in the last two decades, a pace which seems wildly refreshing in today’s landscape of 24/7 tweets, Facebook updates and streaming news updates. (Unsurprisingly, Tartt is not on Twitter, and she has said she only uses the Internet to look up restaurant addresses.) Tartt will appear Monday at the 92nd Street Y in what will be the only Manhattan reading of her latest novel, “The Goldfinch.” Sharing the podium will be fellow Southerner and master storyteller Allan Gurganus, reading from his recently released collection of novellas, “Local Souls,” set in Falls, NC, scene of his wildly popular first novel, “Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All.” A Q&A and book signing will follow.
8 p.m. at 1395 Lexington Ave.; 212-415-5500, 92y.org. Tickets: $34, $15 for ages 35 and under. — Mackenzie Dawson
TRICKS & TREATS
It’s easy to understand why the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has gourds — they grow things there. But ghouls? Well, it’s Halloween, and time to celebrate at the garden’s 15th annual Ghouls & Gourds fest.
New to the music- and puppet-filled extravaganza this year are performances catering to older kids, including a set by the tween metal band Unlocking the Truth. Yo-yo master Eric Girardi will show his tricks, and youngsters can make their own potato people at one of the many crafts booths.
Costumes aren’t required, but Anita Jacobs, BBG’s director of programming, says that in recent years, everyone seems to be getting in on the fun.
“Many of the adults actually dress up,” she says, adding that parents started bringing “their teeny-weeny babies; it’s a great opportunity because when they get older, you might not be able to stuff them into your choice of costume!”
Saturday, noon to 5:30 p.m. at 990 Washington Ave., Brooklyn; 718-623-7200; bbg. org. Admission: $15, adults; $10, seniors and students; free for 12 and under. — Gregory E. Miller
ALONG FOR THE BRIDE
One of the greatest films of the classic era, James Whale’s “The Bride of Frankenstein’’ (1935) is the peak of the Universal Pictures horror cycle, beautifully atmospheric with a super-evocative score by Franz Waxman. Filled with iconic images, it showcases Boris Karloff’s greatest performance as the tortured monster, with Elsa Lanchester making a huge impression in her brief appearance as the monster’s resurrected bride (as well as playing “Frankenstein’’ author Mary Shelley in the witty prologue to this greatest sequel of all time).
It’s playing Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Loew’s Jersey, the restored 1929 movie palace in Journal Square in Jersey City, loewsjersey.org; and Sunday at 11 a.m. at Film Forum, 209 W. Houston St., filmforum.org. — Lou Lumenick