“Wait, a minute,” some 2013s might be thinking, “it’s only Thursday. Doesn’t the weekend start on Friday?” Not at Columbia…unless you have a lab…or a language class…or an internship…or…well, forget that, here’s the year’s first Guide to the Weekend.

Thursday-Sunday

Light of the Sufis: the Mystical Arts of Islam : Gathered from the collections of the Brooklyn Museum as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, items on display in this exhibition highlight the history, traditions and values of the Muslim Sufi sect. Free at the Brooklyn Museum.

Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum: “At the crossroads of major trade routes and as the focus of both nomadic migrations and invasions by great powers, ancient Afghanistan was home to one of the most complex, rich and original civilizations in Asia. This exhibition focuses on the unique artistic output of the nation, extending from the Bronze Age into the Kushan period, and features gold vessels from the Khosh Tapa hoard, turquoise-encrusted jewelry from the tombs at Tillya Tepe, sculpted ivory pieces, Roman glass from Begram and more.” $10 at the Met

Homer’s Odyssey: A contemporary verse adaptation of the Core’s poster-book which “incorporates acrobatics, shadow puppetry, full-bodied puppetry, and other uniquely theatrical means to summon Homer’s tale. $15 at the The Green Room at 45 Bleecker Street

Mid-19th Century Underwear: Even by New York museum standards, this exhibit is rather odd. “Visitors have the rare pleasure of taking a museum-sanctioned peek at ladies’ unmentionables.” Free, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Merchant’s House Museum.

Tauba Auerbach: Here and Now/And Nowhere: A new exhibit from the San Francisco-based artist, including an organ that requires two people to play it. The Deitch Projects.

Friday

Coney Island Fireworks: Every week at 9:30 p.m., a fireworks display above New York Harbor. 

Sunday

Harlem Meer Performance Festival: The ARC Gospel Choir gives a free concert in the last event in the Central Park Conservancy’s 2009 season. Free at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues, inside the Park).

Photo: Flickr/wallyg