Tuesday, 9 July 2013 - Riverside Park Summer Teen Corps
Who wants to get their hands dirty? The Upper West Side's best kept secret, Riverside Park, needs teenagers who are interested in beautifying their community, while also gaining valuable green job skills. From today and all through the summer, Riverside Park Conservancy is providing a hands on learning program for teenage volunteers interested in learning basic horticultural skills. Volunteers will work closely with Riverside Park Conservancy gardeners to care for spring plantings, prepare park areas for fall plantings, maintain key horticultural sites, and keep the park safe, clean, and healthy. High school teens - rising freshmen & graduating seniors are welcome.
Wednesday, 10 July 2013 - Free movies!
Catch a free movie (free popcorn too) tonight from about 8:30p.m. courtesy of Hudson River Park on the Pier 63 Lawn (at 23rd St, Manhattan). Tonight's movie is "Silver Linings Playbook". The film stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Jacki Weaver. The movies continue every Wednesday evening until August 21. Here's the schedule: July 17 "Looper", July 24 "Argo", July 31 "Moonrise Kingdom", August 7 "The Avengers", August 14 "Pitch Perfect", August 21 "The Hunger Games". Bring your own chairs and blankets as chairs are not provided.
Also this evening: The Lowdown Hudson Blues Festival kicks off this evening with a world class lineup of performers. Tonight B.B. King and The James Hunter Six are on stage from 6pm. Tomorrow night it's Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys and Alejandro Escovedo. At Brookfield Place (formerly the World Financial Center). The show is free to attend (no tickets or rsvp required). Seating first come, first served.
Also this evening: Cathleen Schine - author of "The New Yorkers", "The Love Letter", and "The Three Weissmanns of Westportreads" reads from her new novel "Fin & Lady" from 7p.m. at The Community Bookstore in Park Slope.
Thursday, 11 July 2013 - Dancing in the streets
The annual, free River Rocks Festival launches this evening at Pier 84 (at the end of W. 44th St). Kicking things off tonight is New Orleans’ Generationals and Sallie Ford. It's also happening July 25 (Foxygen headlining) and August 8 (Titus Andronicus).
Also this evening: Enjoy an evening of salsa dancing and music as the sun sets over Chelsea. Some of the best instructors in the city lead a free lesson from 6:30pm, followed by open dancing for all until 9:00pm. At 14th Street Park in the Meatpacking District.
Friday, 12 July 2013 - Statue Of Liberty
The Statue Of Liberty has reopened after the post-Sandy damage to the public, so today is a great time to plan your visit. There are three different ticket options. The Reserve Only ticket (adults $17) gives you access to the grounds of Liberty Island, the Reserve With Monument ticket (adults $17) allows you up to the Fort Wood section of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty and Reserve with Crown ticket (adults $20) gives you access up to the Crown of the Statue of Liberty. Understandably, accessing the crown is the most popular ticket option, but at the time of writing, there is no availability until late August 2013, whereas the wait time for the other ticket options is just a day or two. Ticket price includes audio tours and ferry from either Battery Park or New Jersey's Liberty State Park.
Saturday, 13 July 2013 - Day Tripping
Young art collective Mount Tremper Arts bought a neglected farm in the Catskill Mountains and in 2005 built a multi functional arts space to call their own. This evening one of the premières of their annual summer Mount Tremper Arts Festival is "Poe", a musical drama inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's poem “Alone”. Need a ride from the city? Take a van from Williamsburg to see a Saturday show this afternoon (also on August 17 & 24). Total trip cost is $55 and includes round-trip van fare ($40), a reduced-rate show ticket ($15), and relaxation in the mountains. Travel time is about 2.5 hours each way. Tickets here. Mount Tremper Arts is located in the Catskill State Park, near the villages of Phoenicia and Woodstock.
Also today: The Rite Of Summer Music Festival aims to present the highest quality live performances of free contemporary classical music to as many people as possible in a relaxed, fun, outdoor setting. Today's performance features the Bang On A Can All-Stars, a band that crosses the boundaries between classical, jazz, rock, world and experimental music. They've consistently forged a distinct category-defying identity, taking music into uncharted territories. Joining them in today's performance is Steve Reich and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth). At Governor's Island from 1pm.
This evening: The last time BRIC screened the 1931 Bela Lugosi classic, "Dracula" with Philip Glass's original score performed live, a storm of Transylvanian proportions sent performers and audience scurrying mid way through the performance. This evening it's take two and the team from Celebrate Brooklyn are hoping for better weather this time. At the Prospect Park Bandshell. From 7.30pm.
Sunday, 14 July 2013
Inspired by India’s Holi Festival the Color Mob 5k is a crazy five kilometre all-ages fun run where the participants are prepared to become a moving canvas as they are drenched in a rainbow of dyed cornstarch. Register here, (runner entry is $50 and includes a free shirt), then celebrate afterwards at the Aviator Sports and Events Center, 3159 Flatbush Avenue. Shuttles will pick up participants from Brooklyn College Train Station.
Also today: Celebrated performance artist Marina Abramovic is appearing at MoMA PS1 to talk about how to create a productive union between the arts, science, technology, spirituality and education in the future. As part of the EXPO 1: New York festival at MoMA PS1, Long Island City. From 3pm.
This evening: Get into the groove with a free dance lesson at Hudson River Park’s famous MoonDance - which kicks off for the summer this evening. Dance lessons are provided by the pros at Dance Manhattan and begin at 6.30pm. Live music begins at 7pm. Refine and master your technique every Sunday until August 11 at Pier 84 at W.44th St.
