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
See a Celebrate Brooklyn! concert in Prospect Park
- Price band: 1/4
- Critics choice
Thanks to this summer concert series, now in its 34th year, the Prospect Park Bandshell is to Brooklynites what Central Park SummerStage is to Manhattan residents—the place to hear great music in the great outdoors. The season opens with reggae legend Jimmy Cliff (June 5), and also features shows from British folkie Laura Marling (June 14) and indie-rock quartet Wild Flag (Aug 3). If you don’t mind ponying up more than the $3 suggested donation for benefit concerts to help fund programming, you can catch comedian Donald Glover’s hip-hop alter ego Childish Gambino (June 26; $40, advance $35), hometown heroes Dirty Projectors (July 10; $30) or quirky dance band Hot Chip (July 18; $40, advance $35).
- Prospect Park West, (at 9th St)
Cycle to New Amsterdam Market
- Price band: 2/4
- Critics choice
By the desolate site formerly occupied by the Fulton Fish Market, commerce is bustling once again. Every Sunday, locavores and artisanal purveyors—including Brooklyn Oenology, Hot Bread Kitchen, Saxelby Cheesemongers and Marlow & Daughters—gather to buy and sell local produce and gourmet products. Some weeks, the vendors are curated around a theme, for instance a cheese-maker’s showcase (June 24) or the annual Ice Cream Sunday (Aug 19). But motif or no, the quality of this snackfest is consistently excellent. Make use of a cool new feature this year: valet bike parking, courtesy of Bowery Lane Bicycles. South St between Beekman St and Peck Slip (newamsterdammarket.org). Sun 11am–4pm. Through December.
- South St, (at Fulton St )
Take a dip in the new McCarren Park Pool
- Critics choice
- Free
For the first time in nearly three decades, New Yorkers will be able to cool off at the McCarren Park Pool, scheduled to open for the season on June 28. The newly renovated 37,950-square-foot pond fits 1,500 swimmers and features eight lap lanes, alongside a sand volleyball court and a recreation center.
- Lorimer St, (between Bayard St and Driggs Ave)
Dance outside at All Day I Dream
- Critics choice
Legendary DJ Lee Burridge’s Sunday afternoon alfresco shindig returns for a second season, featuring the same dreamy, melodic house that made it such a hit last summer (and one of our best parties of 2011). The kickoff event—All Day I Dream of Manhattan (June 10 4–11pm; $30)—takes place at Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club, with three more of the monthly wingdings to follow. Check facebook.com/alldayidream for details.
Schedule a stop at Governors Island
- Critics choice
- Free
New Yorkers, as well all know, need a sense of purpose. Sometimes, hopping a free ferry merely to laze around on the car-free island oasis just won’t cut it. Consider, then, penciling in one of these many one-off events into your planner. The 1920s-themed shindig Jazz Age Lawn Party (June 16, 17, Aug 18, 19 11am–5pm; $15) finds flappers cutting a rug by vintage cars on Colonels’ Row. Tasting event Cook Out NYC (July 7, 8; $45, advance $40) brings food purveyors and breweries like Sixpoint to the island. And after a successful debut last season, pianists and co-artistic directors Pam Goldberg and Blair McMillen bring back the Rite of Summer Music Festival (July 7, Aug 4, Sept 3 at 3pm). Check our Governors Island guide for a full schedule of special events.
- Governors Island
Rock out by the Hudson river
- Free
The list of free summer concerts vying for your time is long (more than 200!), but the small (a mere three shows) RiverRocks series makes a compelling, perfectly formed argument for your time. The season kicks off with the avant-pop pairing of Dan Deacon and John Maus (July 12 at 6pm), followed by local favorites Oberhofer and the Soft Pack (July 26 at 7pm). The knockout finale is a one-two punch of deliciously dreamy ’80s-style one-man band Wild Nothing (the work of Jack Tatum) and Montreal weirdo-pop artiste Grimes (Aug 9 at 6pm).
- 44th St, (at the Hudson River)
Watch free flicks in Central Park
- Free
Break out your blankets, vino and snacks: The Central Park Conservancy Film Festival returns to the Sheep Meadow for its tenth year. Showtimes for this summer are still up in the air, but organizers have confirmed screenings of two quotable-as-hell stoner-comedy classics: Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure and the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski. And for the less munchie-inclined viewer, Spike Lee’s portrait of volatile ’80s Bed-Stuy, Do the Right Thing.
- Enter at Central Park West and 66th St
A Jedi master be
- Critics choice
- Free
Newmindspace (newmindspace.com), the team behind such participatory public fun as Pillow Fight NYC, gives you a chance to live out one of your childhood fantasies during its free Glow Battle summer 2012 tour. Six cities in the U.S. and Canada, including NYC and Halifax, will witness massive lightsaber battles. You can either BYO luminescent weapon or reserve a special six-color lightsaber for $5 (plus PayPal fee). The New York date and location have yet to be finalized; use the Force for updates on details, or check glowbattle.com.
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