This weekend enjoy some Louisiana-style cooking in New York, go shamelessly retro at Future Cinema’s interpretation of Grease in London, and check out the new album from Cat Power.

1. FILM: LONDON

—Future Cinema: Grease Under the Stars

This weekend, London’s Future Cinema organisation, the people who go to obsessive lengths to make film a living, breathing experience, will be in bucolic Barnes Common in Southwest London. They’ll be transforming the park into an all-singing, all-dancing tribute to Rydell High, from the 1970s hit musical Grease. So expect real-life Pink Ladies, T-Birds, plenty of leather and a lot of summer lovin’. The film will be shown on Saturday and Sunday, but be sure to turn up early (in appropriate dress) for summer’s last chance to throw a Watusi or do the mashed potato – before we really head back to school.

Barnes Common, Rocks Lane. Screenings: Saturday at 18.00 and Sunday at 17.00
futurecinema.co.uk

2. FOOD: NEW YORK

—Exchange Alley

This time capsule of a restaurant that opened recently in Manhattan’s East Village, promises to be more than a place to eat. Chef Paul Gerard and cocktail expert Billy Gilroy spent several years working in New Orleans restaurants before opening Exchange Alley, a beautiful lantern-lit vintage spot that adds a Louisiana twist to traditional New York flavours. You’ll find jambalaya balls and spiced halibut on the menu, as well as an eclectic choice of German and American beers.

424 East 9th Street (near Avenue A). Open Tuesday to Thursday 17.30-00.00, Friday and Saturday 17:30-2.00
exchangealleynyc.com

3. DESIGN: BRUSSELS

—Design September

This weekend sees the opening of a series of design-related events around Europe, from Helsinki Design Week to Maison & Objet in Paris. If you are in Brussels, head to the annual Design September festival taking place until the end of the month. You can choose among over 100 art and design events and check out the latest works by Tom Dixon, Patrick Jouin and Ron Arad, to name a few. This year, all eyes are on graphic design with a number of dedicated exhibitions and workshops.

At locations throughout Brussels. Open daily from 10.00 until late. Until 30 September
designseptember.be

4. EXHIBITION: NEW YORK

—James Welling: Overflow

Debuting this weekend at Manhattan’s David Zwirner Gallery is James Welling’s Overflow, comprised of three related bodies of work exploring photography’s relationship to painting. Inspired by the work of late American artist Andrew Wyeth, Welling has recreated several of the painter’s well-known compositions in photographic form. While some incorporate a clear resemblance to Wyeth’s paintings, others explore a biographical approach to the artist’s life in Maine and Pennsylvania in both a tribute and expansion of one great artist by another.

David Zwirner Gallery, 525 West 19th Street. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.00-18.00. Until 27 October
davidzwirner.com

5. MUSIC: GLOBAL

—Cat Power: Sun

Atlanta-born songwriter Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) is revered in indie rock circles for her confessional delivery and a knack for interpreting underground sounds. But producing great work can take its toll and it was while touring 2006’s sweepingly emotional Memphis-soul-tinged The Greatest, that Marshall reportedly suffered a breakdown. Sun, is this year’s comeback and she’s produced a beautiful record of smart pop with electronic flourishes. Easy, upbeat – yet around five years in the making – you can only wonder what hardships went into creating a sound so effortless.

Sun is available to buy now
catpowermusic.com