Amy Plitt

If the term "feminist music" conjures up images of the Lilith Fair—or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, the Spice Girls and their message of "girl power"—that's great! Our goal here is to expand your worldview. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite feminist songs, including powerful tunes by Sleater-Kinney, Aretha Franklin and more. Our selection is a diverse mix of old and new songs, including notable hip-hop artists such as Nicki Minaj and the best punk bands like Le Tigre and The Slits. What these feminist songs all have in common is a decidedly pro-woman message, perfect for literally every occassion. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to protests in NYC

Central Park FREE Arsenal GalleryAmong Central Park's unheralded treasures, this space features a rotating series of art shows. From December 14 to January 12, "Wreath Interpretations,"  a multifaceted display of door hangings that features 33 unconventional wreaths—the creations of fine artists, metal workers, horticulturalists, designers and more—takes up residence in the gallery. Mon--Fri 9am--5pm. Enter at Fifth Ave and 64th St, nycgovparks.org. FREE Belvedere CastleThe turret of this Norman Gothic--style landmark houses a weather station that records the city's temperature. Inside, children can peek at a display that describes how the measurements are taken. Wed--Sun 10am--5pm. Midpark, enter at Fifth Ave and 79th St, centralparknyc.org. Central Park ZooSay hi to the polar bears, then step inside the zoo's 80-degree Tropic Zone. There children can gawk at a golden weaver, a Malayan mouse deer and more, and learn about other rain forest animals. Daily 10am--4:30pm. Enter at Fifth Ave and 64th St, centralparkzoo.com. $12, children 3--12 $7, children under 3 free. FREE Chess and Checkers HouseBuilt in 1952, the small visitors center stockpiles dominos, backgammon and, yes, chess and checkers sets—all available for borrowing. Pull up a chair and challenge your child to a game. Wed--Sun 10am--5pm. Midpark, enter at Fifth Ave and 64th St, centralparknyc.org. Swedish Cottage Marionette TheatreCheck out the space's newest show, Little Miss Muffet's Monster Sitting Service. Ope

Whether you’ve seen a Celebrate Brooklyn! show at the Prospect Park Bandshell, picnicked in the Long Meadow or hit up the food trucks at Grand Army Plaza, you’ll want to end on a refreshing summer drink. Try these Brooklyn bars in the immediate vicinity of the park for craft brews in outdoor spaces. RECOMMENDED: Prospect Park guide

In recent years, Prospect Heights has experienced a boom: Vanderbilt Avenue, the area's main thoroughfare, is a thriving business district, with fancy cocktail bars, restaurants and several speciality stores, including a custom-bike shop and a bookstore. The Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Public Library are also within walking distance, adding to the draw. But the invasion of the Atlantic Yards development, which is finally underway, could change all of that. There's no telling whether the new basketball stadium will have a positive or negative effect on the neighborhood. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Prospect Heights, Brooklyn Ross Greenberg, chef-owner, Woodwork "I'm in my tenth year of living here, and when I looked at my neighborhood, there were [no restaurants that were] moderately priced—everything was so high or so low—so I opened this place for the neighborhood. I'm also a soccer lover, and [in soccer] Woodwork traditionally means 'off the post, off the woodwork.' I decided to open a soccer-friendly bar. You would never look inside and think it's a soccer bar, but there's soccer on the TV all the time." 583 Vanderbilt Ave between Dean and Pacific Sts, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (718-857-5777, woodworkbk.com) "The neighborhood has exploded with restaurants and shops. The streets have been blocked off for almost three years now near my street, Carlton Avenue—I guess once the stadium comes, my business is a half a block from the stadium, and my house is a half a block fro

One of NYC's most enduring—and vibrant—Labor Day activities is the West Indian–American Day Carnival, which travels along Eastern Parkway from Crown Heights to Grand Army Plaza. This year's iteration was no exception: Costumed revelers danced through the streets, while vendors served traditional Caribbean dishes. (This being an election year, there were also some politicos in attendance, of course.) Click through the slide show above to check out more photos from the event.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the West Indian Day Parade

If ever there was a good weekend to cycle around the city sans clothes, it was this one. Throngs of nude bikers—many of whom painted their bodies with political slogans—braved the scorching heat to participate in the New York chapter of the World Naked Bike Ride on Sunday. We just hope everyone loaded up on sunscreen before setting out. Click through for more very NSFW photos. RECOMMENDED: Full coverage of the World Naked Bike Ride in NYC

Fleet Week is here! Which means there will be plenty of ladies and gents in uniform wandering through the city for the next seven days. The event kicked off yesterday with the Parade of Ships, including the USS Iwo Jima and the USS New York, which sailed along the Hudson River. Click through for more images, and check back on Tuesday for more photos of cavorting sailors. RECOMMENDED: See the full Fleet Week NYC guide

Few NYC neighborhoods stir up as much controversy as Park Slope; it's equal parts beloved (New York named it the most livable neighborhood of 2010) and derided (a Gothamist commenter summed up that New York story thusly: "Park Slope has turned into nothing but a cultureless Wonder Bread community of yupster pod people"). But regardless of public opinion, there are plenty of good reasons for the neighborhood's popularity: Two of its main thoroughfares—Fifth and Seventh Avenues—are teeming with restaurants, bars and shops; it's filled with gorgeous architecture; Prospect Park is right there; and it's one of the most family-friendly neighborhoods in the city (which in itself causes controversy—witness the debate over whether children should be allowed in bars). And despite the influx of big-box stores in NYC, Park Slope has managed to remain (mostly) a neighborhood of mom-and-pop shops, adding to the feeling of community that so many residents love. Michael Hearst, musician; cofounder, One Ring Zero "The thing that Barbs has done is it brought the downtown jazz scene to Park Slope and put it on the map. It's probably even raised property values—I've seen listings say 'Two blocks from Barbs!' as part of their pitch. And The Bell House has been a big thing, lots of national bands play there as well. And of course Celebrate Brooklyn is huge—that is Park Slope, and it's been going on for a long time. I love that I live two blocks away from the Bandshell—when we played there, it was

You have to respect Improv Everywhere's commitment to its pranks. Even in frigid temperatures, the group managed to get around 3,000 people (by their estimation) outside in their skivvies, all in the name of spreading a little humor around the city. The event culminated in a huge party for the pantless in Union Square, where confused passersby were treated to the sight of thousands of goose-bumped revelers trying to stay warm. Here's hoping it's a little warmer next year.RECOMMENDED: The No Pants Subway Ride