Tri-color flags, Ferraris, and firefighters streamed down Fifth Avenue to show Italian-American pride for the annual Columbus Day Parade.

Jens Lekman, the Swedish indie-pop sensation, plays the Music Hall of Williamsburg Monday night. Download his "An Argument With Myself" for free here.

Pernett, purveyor of "galactic cumbia," plays for the first time in New York this weekend. Download his "El Mago" here for free.

James Brown's original horn men unite for a rare joint performance Thursday night at Town Hall. Download a 12-minute live version of the J.B.'s classic "Pass The Peas" here for free.

All week long, the Art in Odd Places festival turns Manhattan's busy thoroughfare into a museum with 70 guerrilla art installations and performance pieces. The works range from laundry hanging on the sidewalk, to quilts made out of garbage that are displayed in bodega windows, to a tree that sings Buddhist chants.

Since the Occupy Wall Street protests began a few weeks ago, there have been ebbs and flows in the number of protestors, the rallying cries and the demonstrators' run-ins with the police. One thing has remained constant in Zuccotti Park: drums and protest songs.

The group that made "Walk Like An Egyptian" a No. 1 hit is back with a new album. Catch The Bangles Monday at the Highline Ballroom and download a new song, "I'll Never Be Through With You," here.

In English and Japanese, Asobi Seksu combines playful melodies with outer-space guitars. Catch the group Saturday at Brooklyn Bowl, and download "Perfectly Crystal" here for free.

The first ever exhibition of Bob Dylan’s paintings in New York City is under scrutiny over the source materials behind the paintings included in the show.

Jose James perfectly straddles the line between smart, minimalist jazz and baby-making R&B. Catch him on Thursday at the Jazz Standard, and download his "Save Your Love For Me" here.

On Tuesday evening, city park officials unveiled new inscriptions on the city’s Nobel Monument, honoring the three American laureates of 2010: chemist Richard Heck, economist Dale Mortensen, and economist Peter Diamond.

It's a big season for Indian art at New York City museums. As the Brooklyn Museum wraps up its "Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue-Skinned Savior" exhibit this weekend, the Metropolitan Museum of Art opens a major show of art from the subcontinent on Wednesday, called "Wonder of the Age: Master Painters of India, 1100-1900.” See images from the show here.

Zee Avi, the 25-year old Malaysian singer-songwriter, plays her lovely ukulele songs at the Highline Ballroom on Monday. Download her new "Swell Window" here.

Tarana, the jazz-world-electronica project of drummer Ravish Momin, performs at the Baruch Performing Arts Center on Friday. Download the as yet unreleased "Night Song" here.

Combining indie rock cool with world music eclectica, Beirut presents its third album The Rip Tide at Terminal 5 on Thursday. Download the band's brand-new "East Harlem" here.

Indie favorite tUnE-yArDs hits Le Poisson Rouge on Monday. Download a free track from her new album w h o k i l l here.

Neo-soul prince Bilal plays B.B. King's Blues Club and Grill Friday night in Midtown. Download his "Think It Over," from 2010's Airtight's Revenge here.

Jazz guitarist Matthew Stevens plays the Jazz Gallery Thursday night. Download his a previously unreleased 12-minute version of "Iris" here.

From Tuesday through next May, Gran Elefandret by Spanish artist Miquel Barceló will be on display in Union Square. The 5-ton, 26-foot tall bronze sculpture depicts an elephant standing whimsically on its trunk, seemingly defying physics.

On Tuesday, the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission is expected to vote to approve the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District, which would give landmark status to 21 downtown Brooklyn buildings.