101 things to do in the summer in New York City 2012
Our picks for the best events and things to do in the summer in NYC. Make a checklist, keep track on our Facebook app... just get outside and get started.
Fri May 25 2012
-
Photograph: Julienne Schaer
11. Spend some time on the waterfront in Brooklyn Bridge Park
-
12. Drink on the waterfront at Beekman Beer Garden
-
Photograph: courtesy Tanya Bonakdar Gallery
13. Make music in Madison Square Park
Pictured: Charles Long, Rendering of Pet Sounds (2012) in Madison Square Park
-
Photograph: Virginia Rollison
14. Hot step it to Midsummer Night Swing
-
Photograph: Virginia Rollison
15. Get tanned and titillated at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade
-
16. Catch the season's big outdoor music fest, Governor's Ball
-
Photograph: Courtesy Shakespeare in the Park
17. Queue up for free Shakespeare in Central Park
-
Photograph: Max Flatow Photograp
18. Follow a flock of food trucks
-
19. Root, root, root for the home team
Pictured: The Brooklyn Cyclones' MCU Park
-
Photograph: Jakob N. Layman
20. Go for postwork drinks on a Tuesday night at the Hudson Square Music and Wine Festival
Spend some time on the waterfront
- Critics choice
- Free
Perennial favorite Brooklyn Bridge Park just keeps getting better. This summer, it inaugurates a new 1,500-square-foot, 3.5-foot-deep wading pool (opens early July) on the greenway adjacent to Pier 2 and launches Books Beneath the Bridge (Mon 7–8pm; free; July 9–Aug 13), programmed by a half dozen of the best independent bookshops in Brooklyn. Big names (Martin Amis, Aug 13) and local heroes (Lizz Winstead, July 23) will read on Pier 1’s Granite Prospect with the Manhattan skyline as their backdrop. Returning to the fold is the Syfy Movies with a View series (Thu 6pm, July 5–Aug 30) on Pier 1—Wet Hot American Summer screens August 2—and three walk-up sand volleyball courts plus a roof deck with concessions from Bark Hot Dogs (Wed–Fri, holiday Mon 11am–10pm; Sat 11am–midnight; Sun 11am–11pm; opens May 26).
- Main St, (Fulton Ferry Landing)
Drink on the waterfront
- Price band: 1/4
Once you’ve had your fill of sober lounging in Brooklyn Bridge Park, cross the bridge to Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club in South Street Seaport and imbibe in its sandy environs. Recline on the white couches, play a free game of pool, Ping-Pong or foosball (tables are first-come, first-served), or gather round the fire pit when the night turns chilly. As well as one-off events like a crawfish boil (May 31 at 6pm; $65), there’s a slew of Wednesday night shows (times and prices vary) and Sunday afternoon parties.
- north side of Pier 17, Beekman St, (at South St)
Make music in Madison Square Park
- Critics choice
- Free
The gigantic white head (otherwise known as Jaume Plensa’s Echo) is gone from the Oval Lawn, but it’s been replaced by a mixed-media installation that is just as whimsical—and a tad less scary. Pet Sounds (through Sept 9), by California artist Charles Long, consists of colorful railings and cartoonish blobs that vibrate and emit sounds when touched. It’s worth timing your visit to either before June 1, when Worth Square is packed with 25 local food vendors—including Eataly and Momofuku Milk Bar—for Madison Square Eats (daily 11am–9pm; free), or on Wednesday evenings after June 20 for the Madison Square Music: Oval Lawn Series (times vary; see madisonsquarepark.org for information), which culminates in a show by lauded veteran soulstress Bettye LaVette on August 8.
- 23rd St to 26th St, (between Fifth Ave and Madison Ave)
Hot step it to Midsummer Night Swing
- Critics choice
Learn how to dance salsa, tango and, of course, swing at this outdoor shindig. First, instructors lead a basic lesson (such as mambo by Carlos Konig on June 30), then musical acts like the ’50s and ’60s specialists of the Nelson Riddle Orchestra (June 26) take over to lead a good, old-fashioned get-down. These increasingly popular nights have a nasty habit of selling out, so buy tickets in advance. Do you really want to miss a night of classic Michael Jackson and Prince tunes performed by the Losers Lounge (July 12) because of poor planning? $17, six-night pass $60, season pass $160.
- Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center W 62nd St, between Columbus and Amsterdam Aves
- Tue Jun 26 – Sat Jul 14; Lesson 6:30pm, concert 7:30pm
Get tanned and titillated at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade
- Critics choice
- Free
Glitter-covered seminude revelers, aquatically adorned floats and classic cruisers fill Surf Avenue for this annual art parade, which celebrates its 30th year. The party has grown quite a bit over its three decades and now draws an audience of more than half a million, with well past a thousand marchers. Keep an eye out for the to-be-announced king and queen—previous royal duos include notables like Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson—who will reign over the costumed mermen and -maids. After the sun goes down, head to the Mermaid Parade Ball at the nearby New York Aquarium (7pm; $30, VIP $75) to continue the party.
Catch the season's big outdoor music fest
- Price band: 4/4
- Critics choice
Having recently returned to action with a pair of instantly sold-out club dates, Fiona Apple commandeers Randall's Island June 24 to properly celebrate the release of her new album, which naturally has a 23-word title. Beck, Modest Mouse and Explosions in the Sky are among the major acts that share the Sunday bill; on Saturday you can catch Passion Pit, Duck Sauce, Chromeo, Santigold, Special Disco Version and more.
- Randalls Island Park Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, at Randalls Island
- Fri Jun 7 - Sun Jun 9
Queue up for free Shakespeare in Central Park
- Free
Director Daniel Sullivan returns to the Delacorte Theater with As You Like It (June 5–30)—where he's had remarkable success with Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream and other notably fresh takes on Shakespeare. This new staging of the Bard's beloved pastoral romantic comedy stars Lily Rabe as the witty and pretty Rosalind, Oliver Platt as the clown Touchstone and Stephen Spinella as the mordant Jaques, he of "seven ages of man" fame. Normally, New Yorkers expect one or two Shakespeare classics presented free in Central Park, but we'll make an exception this time for Stephen Sondheim's Into The Woods (July 23–Aug 25), staring Amy Adams.
- Central Park, (at 81st St)
Follow a flock of food trucks
- Critics choice
Good news: Food trucks, previously thought to be solitary, elusive creatures, do in fact travel in packs. Downtown office workers will find five of the mobile snack stands parked outside 4 World Financial Center (North End Ave at Vesey St) during the week; vendors at the Food Truck Court (worldfinancialcenter.com/foodtrucks; Mon–Fri 11am–3pm; through 2013) shuffle daily, but favorites like Kimchi Taco, Rickshaw Dumpling and Red Hook Lobster Pound are often in attendance. On select Sundays, a five-to-eight-vehicle strong Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar convenes at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market (hellskitchenfleamarket.com; second Sunday of the month 11am–5pm; through October); city staples like Kimchi Taco, Coolhaus, Frites n Meats and Taim Mobile are all regulars. Between eight and a whopping 15 grub mobiles gather in Grand Army Plaza for Prospect Park’s monthly Food Truck Rally (prospectpark.org/food-truck-rally; May 26, then every third Sunday 11am–5pm; through October). Produced by the NYC Food Truck Association, the roundup draws members such as Luke’s Lobster, Milk Truck and Souvlaki GR over the course of the season.
Root, root, root for the home team
- Critics choice
This summer, catch the Yanks on their home turf of Yankee Stadium as they battle their fierce rivals, the Boston Red Sox (July 27–29), or watch them face off against the Mets at Citi Field for the second Subway Series of the year (June 22–24). Just remember to remain civil and avoid fistfights. No one wants to be that guy who shows up in ESPN highlights. For a less expensive, more laid-back alternative, hike out to Coney Island to see minor-league team the Brooklyn Cyclones at MCU Park. Even if sparks don’t fly on the field, there’s still a good chance you’ll catch a fireworks show—11 night games this year end with ’em.
Go for postwork drinks on a Tuesday night
- Price band: 2/4
How do you turn an unremarkable, empty parking lot into a popular summer destination? If you’re City Winery, you haul out custom barrels for serving vino on tap, create a makeshift stage from an adjacent loading dock, book an eclectic assortment of musical acts and call it the Hudson Square Music and Wine Festival. The lineup for this Tuesday evening concert series includes novelty string collective the Portland Cello Project (June 26), Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sam Moore (July 17) and local bluegrass quintet Ollabelle (July 31) pumping out tunes while an after-work crowd of revelers eats, drinks and makes merry. A couple of City Winery’s own craft vintages are available for sipping (2011 sauvignon blanc, $7; 2011 zinfandel, $9), or select from a trio of German bottled beers ($6). If it’s dinner you’re after, mix and match a locally sourced burger-and-salad combo ($10) from Great Performances catering, which comes with a fresh-brewed, mint-infused strawberry lemonade. Though they’ve added a few tables this year, don’t count on snagging one as attendance can reach upwards of 1,000 people. Bring a blanket. A heavy one: All this might sound glamorous, but it’s still asphalt. (212-608-0555, citywinery.com/hudsonbbq)
- Spring St, (between Hudson and Varick Sts)
Comments & ratings