Hudson River Park runs along the west side of Manhattan offering greens for sunbathing, free concerts, and hundreds of outdoor activities.

The 850-foot long Pier 45 in Greenwich Village (cross at Christopher St) is NYC’s most picturesque pier for sunbathing and free activities. Amenities include shade structures, seating areas, wood decking and a stretch of grass lawn that has become a favorite spot for sunbathers. Nearby you can grab food and refreshments at the Regatta Cafe or catch the NYC Water Taxi to the Beach. Pier 46 also has free fishing for all ages with Big City Fishing, as well as educational programs. Heat up, then cool down using Pier 45′s super interactive water feature -enjoy a spritz of fresh water right when you need it. The Hudson River Park Trust also sponsors free events on Pier 45 in the summer. Here is what’s going on this summer at Pier 45, 46 (as well as other piers up to 96):

10th Annual Blues BBQ

Location: Pier 54 at 14th St.
When: Sunday, August 23, 2PM – 9PM
Back for the 10th year, Hudson River Park’s annual Blues BBQ Festival brings the best Blues bands from across the country together with the finest New York City BBQ restaurants for a fantastic summer day on the river. This feast for your senses brings you the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of a true southern BBQ experience!

This year’s performers will include:
Eden Brent
Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater
Diunna Greenleaf
the Homemade Jamz Blues Band
Michael Burks

Film: RiverFlicks for Grown Ups

Location: Pier 54 at 14th St.
When: Wednesdays, movies begin at dusk (generally around 8:30 PM) Seating is available. Free popcorn. Beverages and Snacks are for sale. Closed Captioning available.
Movie Theme: I Know What You Saw Last Summer! Watch all of your favorite blockbusters from 2008 on the big screen, again! This time around, they’re all FREE and out under the stars. From superheroes to gossiping gals, Hudson River Park’s RiverFlicks has all of last years favorite summer hits!

July 8 – Iron Man (PG13)
July 15 – Vicky Cristina Barcelona (PG13)
July 22 – The Dark Knight (PG13)
July 29 – Hancock (PG13)
August 5 – Tropic Thunder (R)
August 12 – Sex and the City: The Movie (R)
August 19 – Pineapple Express (R)

RiverFlicks for Kids

Location: Pier 46 at Charles St.
When: Fridays, movies begin at dusk (generally around 8:30pm.) Free popcorn. Beverages and Snacks are for sale. Closed Captioning available.
What: Join us at Hudson River Park’s Pier 46 as we screen new and classic films for the whole family!

July 10 – Wizard of Oz (G)
July 17 – Kung Fu Panda (PG)
July 24 – Ghostbusters (PG)
July 31 – Star Wars: The Clone Wars (PG)
August 7 – Muppet Movie (G)
August 14 – Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (PG)
August 21 – Curious George (G)

Hudson River Park’s MoonDance

Location: Pier 54 at W. 14th St.
When: Sundays. Free dance lessons begin at 6:30pm courtesy of Dance Manhattan. Live bands go on at 7pm.
What: Whether you’ve been dancing for years, or want to learn how to boogie like a pro, Hudson River Park’s MoonDance is your chance to strut your stuff under the stars! No experience necessary. Featured styles include swing, tango and salsa.

July 12 – George Gee Big Band
July 19 – Hector Del Curto’s Eternal Tango Orchestra
July 26 – Los Hermanos Colon
August 2 – Nu Guajiro
August 9 – David Berger Jazz Orchestra

Hudson River Park’s RiverRocks

Location: Pier 54 at W. 14th St.
When: 3 Thursdays at 6 PM.
What: All concerts are free!

July 9 – Matt and Kim featuring Flosstradamus and Team Robespierre
July 23 – Ted Leo and the Pharmacists featuring Extra Golden and Radio 4
August 13 – Yeasayer featuring Amazing Baby

Hudson River Park’s Stars of Tomorrow

Location: Pier 45 at Christopher St.
When: Tuesdays at 6:30 pm
What: Enjoy music from Bach to BeBop on Tuesday nights, as students from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and Mannes College The New School for Music perform on one of Hudson River Park’s most beautiful piers. Performances begin on June 2nd.

June 2 Sarah Charles Quartet- Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
June 9 Samuel Mortellaro Trio- Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
June 16 Classical Brass Trio – MANNES COLLEGE THE NEW SCHOOL FOR MUSIC
June 23 Classical Woodwind Trio – MANNES COLLEGE THE NEW SCHOOL FOR MUSIC
July 7 Classical Brass Triofrom THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
July 14 Shrimrit Shoshan Trio- Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
July 21 Darrell Smith Trio – Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
July 28 Classical Woodwind Trio – MANNES COLLEGE THE NEW SCHOOL FOR MUSIC
Aug 4 Amanda Ruzza Trio- Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Aug 11 Erika Kapin Trio- Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Aug 18 Classical Brass Trio – MANNES COLLEGE THE NEW SCHOOL FOR MUSIC

Sunset on the Hudson

Location: Pier 45 at Christopher St.
When: Fridays at 7:00 pm

Every Friday from June 5th through August 21st (except July 3rd), enjoy the gorgeous sunset and mellow sounds of New York’s acclaimed Guitar Man David Ippolito from this spectacular grass covered pier that stretches 900 feet into the majestic Hudson River.

Celebrate Brooklyn! is one of New York City’s longest running, free, outdoor performing arts festivals. Launched in 1979 as a catalyst for a Brooklyn performing arts scene and to bring people back into Prospect Park after years of neglect, Celebrate Brooklyn has been an anchor in the park’s revitalization and has become one of the city’s foremost summer cultural attractions.

Jump to June Performers | July Performers | August Performers

Over its history, Celebrate Brooklyn has presented over 1,700 artists and ensembles reflective of the borough’s diversity, ranging from internationally acclaimed performers to emerging, cutting-edge artists. All Celebrate Brooklyn performances are FREE! The festival attracts upwards of 250,000 attendees from across New York City to the Prospect Park Bandshell each summer.

2009 Summer Schedule – All Events are Rain or Shine

Saturday August 1, 2009
Movie & Music: Dean & Britta – 13 Most Beautiful…Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests | Crystal Stilts
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Luna alumni DEAN & BRITTA perform original scores to Warhol’s rarely seen short silent film portraits, which captured Factory superstars, celebrities, and anonymous teenagers in mesmerizing 4-minute shots. “The music unabashedly translates the ominous drone of early Velvet Underground songs like I’m Waiting for the Man and Venus in Furs into a more modern electronic mode reminiscent of Giorgio Moroder’s chic torture-chamber disco.” (NY Times) Commissioned by the Andy Warhol Museum, the project is like an archeological dig unearthing NYC’s 1960s art scene, complete with soundtrack. Brooklyn’s CRYSTAL STILTS, “moody-sounding f***ers who make fabulous stripped-down garage-pop,” (Pitchfork) will set the tone for the night.

Thursday August 6, 2009
Movie & Music: Purple Rain Sing-A-Long With Escort
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of history’s greatest pop albums, and the extravagantly, hilariously whacky and over the top film it inspired (the apotheosis of both the purple one’s genius and self caricature), we invite you to don something lacey and ruffled and come get your Prince on. We’ll have lyric subtitles, but you know the words already. Brooklyn’s own live disco orchestra ESCORT plays an opening set, and will lead the sing-along festivities. Rated R. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or guardian.

Friday August 7, 2009
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals | Deer Tick
From 7:00 PM (Gates: 6:00 PM)
Fronted by the Joplin-like vocals and driving Hammond B-3 of their fearless frontwoman, GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS play “blues-based rock with glorious passion.” Hard to categorize—folk? indie rock? alt-country? Americana?—but easy to love, DEER TICK “write and play some of the most soulful, inspired music around, littered with lyrics as sharp as a shot of whiskey and rapid-fire guitar solos strong enough to blow the dust off your boots.” (Brooklyn Vegan)

Saturday August 8, 2009
Big Daddy Kane | Plus Screening of BDK: the Big Daddy Kane Story | Hosted by “The worlds #1 beatboxer” Rahzel
From 7:00 PM (Gates: 6:00 PM)
The Lyricist Lounge returns with a once in a lifetime night of positive hip-hop featuring Brooklyn legend BIG DADDY KANE performing with his live band, preceded by a screening of the short documentary BDK: THE BIG DADDY KANE STORY, directed by Lyricist Lounge’s own Anthony Marshall. Other special guest performers TBA!

Past Events

Monday, June 8, 2009
David Byrne: Songs of David Byrne & Brian Eno
From 8:00 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Among iconic New York artists, DAVID BYRNE has few peers. In this concert he plays songs from his collaborations with Brian Eno, which began in the late 70s and span three Talking Heads albums, 1981’s groundbreaking My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, and last year’s Everything that Happens will Happen Today. An ensemble cast including dancers, background vocalists, and a killer band amplify the spectacle—a legendary Brooklyn night in the making, sure to pass instantly into NYC folklore.

Thursday June 11, 2009
Goran Bregović & His Weddings & Funerals Orchestra
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Sarajevo-born GORAN BREGOVIC is a seminal figure in the Yugoslav rock world, a film composer who has been likened to Enio Moriconi and Nino Rota, and a co-conspirator with artists as varied as Iggy Pop and Cesaria Evora. With his own massive band, featuring brass, a classical string ensemble, an all-male choir, and traditional Bulgarian and Roma singers, he marries the dance music of a raucous gypsy wedding with Eastern European choral arrangements in “a mind-blowing return trip with no destination or port of arrival…a magnificent concert, one of the greatest marvels to be heard on stage today.” (La Vanguardia, Spain)

Friday June 19, 2009
David Rudder, Samantha Thornhill
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
A performer of such innovation and vitality that Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner called him “the Bob Marley of soca,” DAVID RUDDER changed the face of Caribbean music with his heart pounding mix of classic calypso and soulful pop. Trinidadian born Brooklynite SAMANTHA THORNHILL, an author, educator, and slam poetess of the first order, will prime the crowd with some spoken word derring-do.

Saturday June 20, 2009
Movie: La Nave De Los Monstruos With Live Score by Ethel and Gutbucket
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
“I wish there were more rock bands who played like ETHEL.” (Guardian UK) In a special Celebrate Brooklyn commission, the nation’s premier rock-infused, postclassical string quartet teams up with the artrock wild men of GUTBUCKET to perform a new original score to the vintage Mexican science fiction classic La Nave De Los Monstruos (The Monsters’ Ship, 1959). In the film, the last male on Venus has died and two Venusian hotties embark on a quest to find men on other planets. The two bands dig into this fertile ground after developing the project at a BRIClab residency this spring. GUTBUCKET performs an opening set. Friends of CB pre-performance reception sponsored by Aguayo & Hubner Fifth. See Friends panel for details.

Thursday June 25, 2009
Femi Kuti and the Positive Force | Melvin Gibbs’ Elevated Entity
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Having long established himself as the heir apparent to his famous father Fela’s superfunky Afrobeat throne, the unstoppable FEMI KUTI returns to the Bandshell to make all of Prospect Park into one giant Nigerian dance party. Brooklyn born MELVIN GIBBS, “the best bassist in the world,” (Time Out NY) starts the night off with his ELEVATED ENTITY project, something of a downtown NYC supergroup, which continues Gibbs’ exploration of African diaspora music with a fusion of Afro-Brazilian rhythms, funk and rap.

Friday June 26, 2009
Blonde Redhead
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Vaunted NYC underground sensualists BLONDE REDHEAD have shape-shifted from dissonant noise explorations to ethereal, dreamy pop over the course of their career, always inspiring intense devotion from their fans. “It is as if they are pressing on piano keys and each key is a trigger that tugs a wire within the listener. There are keys for longing, possession, despair, and ecstasy—and Blonde Redhead travel fast and skillfully over the whole keyboard.” (PopMatters)

Saturday June 27, 2009
Dr. Dog | Phosphorescent | These United States
From 7:00 PM (Gates: 6:00 PM)
DR. DOG’s foot stomping, back porch blend of “a little folk, blues, indie rock, soul, bluegrass–and a whole lot of down-home harmonizing” (Philadelphia Weekly) channels The Band one moment, the Beach Boys another, and Pavement the next. In the music played by Brooklyn’s Matthew Houck, a.k.a. PHOSPHORESCENT, “you can hear Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Will Oldham—but the modern day folkie has a sound all his own.” (Gothamist) THESE UNITED STATES’ “distinct electro-folk sound” (NPR) rounds out the bill.

Thursday July 2, 2009
Obie Juan BermudÉZ | Cucu Diamantes | Rebel Diaz
From 7:00 PM (Gates: 6:00 PM)
The Latin Grammy-winning Puerto Rican pop star OBIE JUAN BERMUDÉZ, “a talent on par with Juanes or Alejandro Sanz,” (Houston Chronicle) pits his mojo against Yerba Buena singer CUCU DIAMANTES’ fiery mix of “salsa, funk, cumbia, hip-hop, pop-punk, mariachi, tango, disco and flamenco…just for starters,” (NY Times) and the political activist hip-hop of REBEL DIAZ, whose mesmerizing frontwoman Lah Tere unleashes rhymes with hurricane force.

Thursday July 9, 2009
Dance: STREB: Invisible Forces
From 8:00 PM (Gates: 7:00 PM)
The breathtakingly acrobatic Williamsburg-based company celebrates 30 high flying years with Invisible Forces, which combines the thrills of the circus and the velocity of the Indy 500 in one crowd pleasing Action Event. STREB’s new Action Platform, a 20 ft. amped-up rotating floor, the Espana Whizzing Gizmo, and the 2 dimensional vertical pipe grid Airlines will dazzle and amaze. Beautiful bodies engaging sexy hardware in show stopping pieces will keep you on the edge of your seat, heart in throat. “Streb’s unique movement art—kin to sport, circus, physics experiment, and hard labor—has reached a peak of theatricality and dare-all virtuosity.” (Village Voice)

Friday July 10, 2009
Los Amigos Invisibles | Aterciopelados
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
A double shot of unfiltered South American pleasure in which the great Venezuelan party band LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES, a lusty outfit that combines a “love of disco and funk with their reverence for oldfashioned Latin dances like the mambo and bossa-nova,” (NY Post) locks horns with Columbian national heroes ATERCIOPELADOS. Proficient in everything from punk to electro-lounge to jangly Latin folk rock, the velvety ones (English translation, for all you gringos) have an uncanny ability “to take north-of-theborder musical styles…and breathe new life into them.” (Time)

Saturday July 11, 2009
Ezra Jack Keats Family Concert, A Very Special Family Show With They Might Be Giants
From 4:00 PM (Gates: 3:00 PM)
Brooklyn’s own legendary alternative rockers THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS have made some astonishingly good kids’ albums, most recently the 2009 Best Children’s Album Grammy Winner Here Come the 123s, becoming in the process “the ultimate fan- and now family-friendly rock act.” (Billboard) They return to the Bandshell to headline our annual Ezra Jack Keats Family Concert, which also features readings of Keats’ classic stories by WFUV’s Claudia Marshall. Special appearance by Livable Streets Education’s big purple friend ZoZo!

Thursday July 16, 2009
Kronos Quartet | Luminescent Orchestrii
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
For more than 35 years KRONOS QUARTET has pushed, made fun of, made irrelevant, and pretty much pulverized the standard notion of the string quartet, assembling in the process “a body of work unparalleled in its range and scope of expression.” (NPR) Their repertoire runs the gamut from Bartók to Charles Mingus to Jimi Hendrix, and their collaborators have been as diverse as Philip Glass, Asha Bhosle, and Nine Inch Nails. They share the Bandshell stage with the frenzied and slightly diabolical LUMINESCENT ORCHESTRII, a Gypsy punk string ensemble that “plays renditions of Appalachian and Gypsy tunes that run from lively and infectious to deeply melancholy.” (Time Out NY)

Friday July 17, 2009
The Robert Cray Band | the Sweet Divines
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
The five time Grammy-winning Stratocaster titan ROBERT CRAY’s “soul-infused blues has become the bridge between traditional and contemporary blues;” (Rolling Stone) he remains a strong persuader, as potent as ever after three decades of recording and touring. THE SWEET DIVINES, four young ladies with a smoking band behind them, pay homage to the traveling soul revues of the 60s with an authentic sound that evokes Stax, Aretha, James Brown, and funky New Orleans. “Sign them up, and let them bring the funk to the masses!” (BBC) Friends of CB pre-performance reception sponsored by Betancourt Realty & Associates. See Friends panel for details.

Saturday July 18, 2009
African Festival With King Sunny Adé | Freshly Ground | The Mandingo Ambassadors | Cheikh M’Baye & Sing Sing | Abena Koomson | Yasser Darwish
From 2:00 PM (Gates: 1:00 PM)
Our annual day-long festival of music, food and crafts features a lineup of bands that will keep the dancers moving from day till night, with the great KING SUNNY ADÉ of Nigeria leading the charge. The bill includes South Africa’s FRESHLY GROUND, making a rare US appearance to whip the revelers into a frenzy with its mix of indigenous African sounds and contemporary urban styles; THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS, from NYC by way of Guinea, whose music “has been structured to make you feel good” (NY Times); wild Senegalese drum troupe CHEIKH M’BAYE & SING SING; powerful Brooklyn born Ghanaian vocalist ABENA KOOMSON; and whirling traditional Egyptian dancer YASSER DARWISH.

Thursday July 23, 2009
Dance: Stephen Petronio Company
From 8:00 PM (Gates: 7:00 PM)
“One of the few contemporary dancer makers who have created an instantly recognizable style,” (NY Times) STEPHEN PETRONIO celebrates his company’s 25th Anniversary Season with the dynamic and elemental I Drink the Air Before Me, an evening length work inspired by the power of extreme weather and storms both atmospheric and internal. Petronio’s predeliction for forward thinking popular music (his dancers have moved to Rufus Wainwright and Antony in the past) is satisfied here by a score from new classical composer and crossover sensation Nico Muhly.

Friday July 24, 2009
Buckwheat Zydeco | the Holmes Brothers
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Swamp boogie accordion master BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO and his band “spit out the kind of crackling music that’s been missing since the heyday of Stax Records…on stage the attack is relentless.” (Wall Street Journal) THE HOLMES BROTHERS harmony-filled blend of American roots jumps from church to the juke joint and “recalls the era when soul seceded from gospel music,” (Mother Jones) with a healthy dose of blues, funk and country thrown in. Friends of CB pre-performance reception sponsored by Warren Lewis Realty Associates. See Friends panel for details.

Saturday July 25, 2009
Kailash Kher | Electro Morocco
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
The South Asian superstar, Bollywood icon, and judge of Indian Idol KAILASH KHER moves “among styles without hesitation, adding elements of folk, reggae and rock to Indian pop…(he) has a voice as appealing as it is thrilling.” (Wall Street Journal) Comprised of five NYC-based Israelis, ELECTRO MOROCCO combines buzzing guitars with synths and beats to concoct a dance floor friendly mix of retro rock, Middle Eastern folk, and warped electro.

Thursday July 30, 2009
Burning Spear | Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Roots reggae legend BURNING SPEAR brings his Rastafarian message of positivity back to the Bandshell for another epic performance. Last year’s vital Jah Is Real featured contributions from Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrel; Spear has never sounded better. “Four decades and still dropping knowledge: no other artist, with the possible exception of Toots Hibbert, can lay claim to being reggae’s true elder statesman.” (PopMatters) The evening begins with the righteous harmonies and church-inflected soul of NAOMI SHELTON & THE GOSPEL QUEENS.

Friday July 31, 2009
The Royal Family: Soulive’S 10Th Anniversary Celebration
From 7:00 PM (Gates: 6:00 PM)
The exceptional jazz-funk trio SOULIVE celebrates 10 years of “simmering instrumental funk” (Entertainment Weekly) by busting out THE ROYAL FAMILY, a hard hitting conglomeration of various side projects and special guests that will come together for the jam of the summer. Ivan Neville’s DUMPSTAPHUNK, “musically hard-nosed and rooted in 1970s inner city funk,” (Offbeat)” kicks off the show with a set of New Orleans’ nastiest grooves.

Benefit Concerts

Proceeds help support free shows at Celebrate Brooklyn!
July 1: MGMT (Sold out)
July 21: Jackson Browne
Aug 11: TV on the Radio
Aug 12: Bonnie Raitt & Taj Mahal
Aug 14: Animal Collective (Sold out)
Aug 15: Animal Collective

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Movies With A View returns for its 10th Anniversary Season on Thursday, July 9, 2009. This summer, sidle up, nab a patch of grass and enjoy a night of fabulous entertainment FREE. Come down (walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or scoot) to the park to enjoy one of the city’s premiere outdoor film series with an eclectic line-up of films and breathtaking views of the NYC waterfront & Brooklyn Bridge.

The films are chosen by an all-volunteer Film Committee and each feature is preceded by a short film. DJs from Brooklyn Radio kick off the evening, spinning tunes as the sun sets, while RICE sells delicious dinners on-site. The theme for this summer’s films is Stolen Summer – the season of capers, thrillers and heists!

July Film Schedule

(Activities start at 6PM)

Thursday, July 9 – Feature Film: Raising Arizona
Short: Ami Underground directed by D.W. Young
DJ: DJ DRM
Thursday, July 16 – Feature Film: The Maltese Falcon
Short: Under the Rollercoaster directed by Lila Place
DJ: MonkOne
Thursday, July 23 – Feature Film: Paper Moon
Short: The Coffee Bird directed by Bryan Brinkman
DJ: Tim “Love” Lee
Thursday, July 30 – Feature Film: To Catch A Thief
Short: Icebox Blues directed by Jesse Ash
DJ: DJ Ayres

August Film Schedule:

Thursday, August 6 – Feature Film: The Return Of The Pink Panther (1975)
Short: It’s Good to Be Green directed by Michael Garvey
DJ: Soulstatic
Thursday, August 13 – Feature Film: Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
Short: Birdman of Brooklyn directed by JL Aronson
DJ: Nick Name
Thursday, August 20 – Feature Film: Catch Me If You Can
Short: 6 a.m. directed by Carmen Vidal
DJ: DJ Emch
Thursday, August 27 – Feature Film: Edward Scissorhands
Short: I Am Not Obsessed directed by Imani Dean
DJ: Oneman

The High Line was originally constructed in the 1930s, to lift dangerous freight trains off Manhattan’s streets. Section 1 of the High Line is now open as a public park! When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen. It features an integrated landscape, designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, combining meandering concrete pathways with naturalistic plantings. Fixed and movable seating, lighting, and special features are also included in the park.

See images of the architects’ vision for High Line Park: Design Gallery

Summer Events

July 12th – High Line Street Festival with Target
July 15th – Design Talk: Lecture with the Designers
Throughout the summer – Walking Tours of High Line
Throughout the summer – Family Events
Full schedule of events

The High Line is open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Access to the High Line is possible via any of these access points: Gansevoort, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th Streets. Dogs are currently not allowed on the High Line due to the limited area of the pathways and the fragility of the new plantings.

Central Park SummerStage (map and direction), a program of City Parks Foundation, presents FREE and big name benefit performances to serve the diverse communities of New York City. The artists represent a breadth of genres and cultures and perform in an outdoor setting accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. 2009 brings big name performers like TV on the Radio, Indigo Girls, 311, Ziggy Marley, Les Nubians, Q-Tip, Ginuwine, Matisyahu. All show are FREE except for the ticketed benefit concerts.

Jump to June Performers | July Performers | August Performers

Friday, June 05, 2009
TV on the Radio
Dirty Projectors
From 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at Central Park SummerStage. SOLD OUT

Friday, June 12, 2009
Josh Ritter and The New York Pops
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
To kick off this year’s Central Park SummerStage season, we are delighted to bring you a special collaborative program starring Josh Ritter performing orchestrated arrangements from his catalog backed by the fabulous New York Pops.

Saturday, June 13, 2009
Smokie Norful
Tye Tribbett & G.A.
Ruben Studdard
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Gospel’s brightest stars shine in this praise-filled afternoon. Presented in association with Globe Star Media.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Indigo Girls
Matt Nathanson
From 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM
A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at Central Park SummerStage.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Word
Wally Lamb
Zoë Heller
From 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
The first of four successive Word programs begins with two critically acclaimed novelists reading and sharing insights from their latest works: The Hour I First Believed and The Believers.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Sharon Olds
Thomas Sayers Ellis
Elizabeth Alexander
From 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
A rare opportunity to hear some of the most acclaimed poets of our day on one stage, followed by a roundtable discussion. Presented in association with the American Academy of Poets.

Friday, June 19, 2009
Comedy Central Park
Gabriel Iglesias
Pablo Francisco
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Two high-octane comics with unmatched vocal talents perform at our third annual evening of stand-up comedy. Presented in association with Comedy Central.

Saturday, June 20, 2009
Definitely Poetry Hosted by Majora Carter
Earthdriver
Staceyann Chin
Jennifer Johns
ArtBattles
Urban Word NYC
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Join urban green pioneer Majora Carter and friends in celebration of our planet with innovative and powerful spoken word artists, musicians, and visual artists.

Sunday, June 21, 2009
Fête de la Musique
Yannick Noah
Coralie Clément
Mayra Andrade
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
SummerStage joins the global Francophone community in celebrating chanson française (French song) with a line up representing the diversity of French contemporary music.
Presented in association with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy.

Thursday, June 25, 2009
311
Ziggy Marley
The Expendables
From 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at
Central Park SummerStage.

Saturday, June 27, 2009
Istanbulive: The Sounds & Colors of Turkey
Mazhar-Fuat-Özkan
Painted on Water featuring Sertab Erener & Demir Demirkan
NY Gypsy All-Stars with Hüsnü Senlendirici and special guests
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
The colorful culture of Turkey and the musical richness of Istanbul come alive with sounds, visuals, food, and art. Presented in association with the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism and Serdar Ilhan.

Sunday, June 28, 2009
Ledisi
Esperanza Spalding
Jonathan Batiste
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Two sensual jazz-fusion vocalists share this dynamic co-bill;
accompanied by an on-the-rise pianist.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Explosions in the Sky
Constantines
From 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at Central Park SummerStage.

Sunday, July 05, 2009
Oumou Sangare
Les Nubians
Asa
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
An outstanding day of music featuring three pioneering African and “Afropean” chanteuses.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Juana Molina
Curumin
El G (ZZK)
From 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Electronic and danceable sounds straight from Argentina and Brazil. Presented in associated with the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC).

Thursday, July 09, 2009
Matisyahu
Umphrey’s McGee
From 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
A benefit concert to support the full season of free programs at
Central Park SummerStage.

Saturday, July 11, 2009
Calle 13
Bomba Estereo
Eric Bobo
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Puerto Rico’s socially outspoken and critically praised urban-alternative Grammy winners.
Presented in associated with the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC).

Sunday, July 12, 2009
Family Day!
DJ Lance Rock & Brobee (of Yo Gabba Gabba!)
The JumpArounds
Billy B.
Iza Trapani, Storyteller
“Sleeping Beauty” Puppet Show
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
A day for the entire family showcasing Nickelodeon stars, hip music, storytelling, marionette puppets, and dancing.

Monday, July 13, 2009
The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
The Metropolitan Opera launches its Summer Recital with a special performance of opera arias and popular songs headlined by the Tony Award-winning baritone Paulo Szot and featuring Lisette Oropesa (soprano), Alek Shrader (tenor), and Vlad Iftinca (piano). Free tickets are required for entry and are available at the Met Opera box office from July 6-10.

Saturday, July 18, 2009
Q-Tip
Chester French
Little Dragon
Benji B
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
The beloved hip hop innovator and Renaissance man shares the day with musical trailblazers from around the globe.
Presented in association with Giant Step.

Sunday, July 19, 2009
Alpha Blondy & The Solar System
Lee “Scratch” Perry & Dubblestandart
Subatomic Sound System
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
These two charismatic and political reggae originators from Côte d’Ivoire and Jamaica, have defined the genre and expanded its global reach.

Friday, July 24, 2009
Bettye LaVette
Budos Band
Rhythm Revue with Felix Hernandez
From 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
The sophisticated soul songstress shares a bill with the NYC’s own Afro Soul band and radio personality/soul music champion.

Saturday, July 25, 2009
Jerry Rivera and special guests
N’Klabe
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
The Grammy-nominated, chart-topping salsero spices things up for an afternoon of música muy caliente.
Presented in association with Globe Star Media.

Sunday, July 26, 2009
Ginuwine
Joe
Chico DeBarge
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
A full afternoon of R&B legends. Presented in association Kedar Entertainment & Globe Star Media.

Friday, July 31, 2009
Dance
RIOULT
Germaul Barnes/Viewsic Expressions
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Two courageous choreographers stage an enthralling evening of provocative dance.

Saturday, August 01, 2009
M. Ward
Mike Watt & Nels Cline +
From 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
A trio of songwriting innovators on one noteworthy evening line-up.

Sunday, August 02, 2009
CineFest Brasil
If I Were You 2 (Se eu fosse você 2) directed by Daniel Filho
Silvia Machete
From 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
The natural born carioca is renowned for her trademark little red dress, twirling hoops and sensuous guitar work; followed by the US premiere of a wildly popular Brazilian comedy.

Monday, August 03, 2009
Music & Film
Béla Fleck
Toumani Diabaté
From 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
A full set of music by Béla Fleck and Toumani Diabaté, followed by a screening of the documentary tracing Fleck’s journey through Africa in search of the origins of the banjo.

Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Music & Film
I Am Cuba directed by Mikhail Kalatozov
The Pedrito Martinez Project
From 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
The multi-faceted musician performs songs anchored in his beloved Cuba; followed by a screening of the unforgettable film that reconstructs the life of the island during the Batista era.

Thursday, August 06, 2009
Asbury Shorts: An Evening of the World’s Best Short Films
Mingus Dynasty Quintet
From 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
A dynamic evening of live music, celebrity guests, and elite award-winning short films compiled from the past ten years.

Friday, August 07, 2009
Dance
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
nathantrice/RITUALS dance theater
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
The accomplished modern dance company DCDC grounds their work in the African American experience. Choreographer Nathan Trice employs a diverse ensemble to create dance theater works.

Saturday, August 08, 2009
Boys Noize
Drop the Lime and Special Guests
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
A mega-dance party led by the go-to motivator and music producer extraordinaire.
Presented in association with Meanred Productions.

Sunday, August 09, 2009
Jazmine Sullivan
Chrisette Michele
Jon B.
From 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Soul takes center stage on this bill with heartfelt anthems, ballads, love songs and good vibes from three of today’s most sought after vocalists.
Presented in association with Globe Star Media.

Saturday, August 15 & 16, 2009
Dance
Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company
with musical guest Martha Wainwright
From 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
A very special evening of dance and music that will feature a world premiere by choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, set to new music by Martha Wainwright, both commissioned by City Parks Foundation.

Map and Directions
Central Park SummerStage is located at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Enter the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue on the east side or at 72nd Street and Central Park West on the west side.

Subway: 6 train to 68th or 77th Streets; N, R or W trains to 5th Avenue; F train to 63rd Street and Lexington, 1, 2, 3, 9, B or C trains to 72nd Street

Jump to June Performers | July Performers | August Performers

Ella (Fitzgerald) sings “Autumn in new york…Why does it seem so inviting…” Louis (Armstrong) follows “On the benches in central park…Great autumn in new york…Its good to live it again…”

What makes Central Park so inviting in the Fall months?
There are many obvious reasons including breath-taking fall colors of the elms, pine, oaks and locusts; artfully placed benches, terraces, lakes and ponds (think reflection – double the foliage) leaving you to appreciate every moment and every step you take in the park. For me, it’s the immediate stress relief from the day to day life in NYC and unless you live close to the park, it is likely you will experience some form of stress just getting to the park.

The Science
Bill Berliner is the Central Park Conservancy’s Associate Vice-President of Horticulture and knows the facts about fall. “Three factors influence leaf color — leaf pigments, length of day, and weather. As days grow shorter and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaves take place. Leaves lose their green when chlorophyll production slows and finally breaks down, allowing other pigments in the leaf to show through.” Which is why November is the best month to see fall foliage in Central Park this year.

The Players
Maples, Oaks, Pine, Elm, Gingkos are just a few of the diverse tree types in Central Park. Keep this in mind as you walk through the park.

The Locations – Top 3 Best Places
1. Great Hill and the Ravine in the North End – 103rd to 105th Street on the West side of the Park
The North End is the considerably more rugged area of the park north of the Reservoir. Covered in acres of woodlands, Great Hill is a rare meadow sitting amongst a true deciduous forest of elm, oak, hickory, maple, and ash. Walk down the slope to the Ravine where you’ll find arches and streams and some of NYC’s hidden waterfalls. With the city’s skyline no where to be seen and surrounded by vast natural beauty, this fall foliage experience is as good as being in the Adirondacks!

2. The Mall – 66th to 70th Street on the East side of the Park
The Mall is the grand promenade of Central Park, a 40-foot-wide walkway surrounded on each side by quadruple rows of American Elm, providing a living cathedral ceiling high over the walkway. These giant Elms offer a lime green shade in the summer and as autumn’s yellow and gold leaves fall, they reveal the bold architecture of the trees’ skeletons. Directly east of Sheep Meadow and stretching north to Bethesda Terrace, the Mall is breathtaking in any season. Benches line the mall for strollers to relax or socialize and let go of the hustle and bustle of the big city.

3. Bow Bridge & The Lake – 74th Street in the middle of the Park
Our last location to experience fall foliage in Central Park is the surrounding area around the Lake. In particular by the handsome cast-iron suspending bridge is the shape of an archer’s bow. Connecting the areas of the Ramble and Cherry Hill, the bow bridge is a famous romantic setting in NYC and a signature design feature of Central Park. The lake provides such beauty in reflection of the bridge and the foliage.

With only one month left before the leaves fall and the freezing winds of winter around the corner, I prescribe to you the medication for curing the headaches from your high-stress job and the rush of your every day life – take a walk through Central Park and enjoy autumn in New York!

Central Park extends from Fifth Avenue to Central Park West and 59th Street to 110th Street in over 6 miles of perimeter. With 136 acres of woodlands, 250 acres of lawns, and 150 acres of water, it’s no wonder visiting the Park in one day is physically impossible. Central Park is divided into four sections: South End, Great Lawn, The Reservoir, and North End. So where is the heart of Central Park? Only have a few hours to spare? Let Islandwoo Tips be your guide…

Conservatory “Model Boat” Pond
Entering the park on the east side between 72nd and 75th Streets, you will discover the Conservatory Pond. Named after the site’s original plans for a conservatory of tropical flowers, the pond was added and modeled after the model boat ponds of Paris. Today, you’ll find just that: radio-controlled model sail boats gliding across the water seeking your attention. Nearby you’ll find children climbing a bronze sculpture of “Alice in Wonderland.” Continuing due west from the pond is the famous Loeb Lake…

Loeb Boathouse
Lunch or dinner at the restaurant and cafe overlooking Loeb Lake, bike rentals, row boat / kayak rentals, and even an authentic Venetian gondola ride can all be experienced here at Loeb Boathouse.
Row boat and Kayak rentals: March through October, weather permitting: Daily 10:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. $12 first hour and $3 each additional 15 minutes, $30 cash deposit required; up to four people per boat. The lines can be long on a weekend afternoon so prepare early.
Bicycle Rental: $9 to $15 per hour; Must leave credit card, driver’s license or passport as deposit.

Bethesda Terrace and Fountain
In their master plan for Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux proposed an architectural “Heart of the Park” defined by a sweeping Promenade that would culminate in a Terrace overlooking Loeb Lake. They have accomplished just that with Bethesda Terrace where from the upper terrace, visitors can look across at the Lake; and from the lower terrace, sit around one of the most photographed fountains in the world, “Angel of the Waters” or Bethesda Fountain, as it is often called. Continuing south, the promenade or “the Mall” leads you to Naumburg Bandshell and nearby Roller Skating…

Roller Skating (Disco Skating)
The “skate circle” is home to some serious roller skating / dancing! Open to the public, roller skaters not only skate in a circle, they dance (on skates) to disco music! Look out for some outrageous costumes and synchronized dancing. The video below captures the spirit of an afternoon in the skate circle.

Beach Volleyball
You heard me right. Just south of the “skate circle,” an elevated beach volleyball court with sand! is part of three volleyball courts bordering Sheep Meadow on the east. Surprisingly beach volleyball (with imported sand) can also be played at the Water Taxi Beach across the river in Queens. No shoes, shirts optional and open to the public.

Sheep Meadow
This 15 acre lush meadow was indeed once inhabited by sheep from 1864 until 1934. Today it is one of New York’s best places to relax with a blanket with friends or loved ones. You’ll find kites and frisbees flying, guitars playing, and much much more. Whatever the activity, New Yorkers love to relax and sunbathe on this over-sized piece of heaven. Did you know that the first landing on the moon was televised to a large crowd at Sheep Meadow in 1969?!

Islandwoo’s quick 30 second video recap…

Experience more:
Music of Central Park
Running in Central Park

Central Park is home to a busy summer schedule of free concerts: Central Park Summerstage located at Rumsey Playfield and Naumburg Orchestral Concerts located at the Naumburg Bandshell are two examples of large scale musical events.

But some of the best music can be heard throughout the park – around the corner or along a busy foot path or in the middle of a large lawn performed by none other than street musicians like you…

Read more: Heart of Central Park

Bryant Park “is a Garden. And it’s ours.” From Good Morning America Concert Series to Piano in the Park to the HBO Film Festival, Bryant park hosts some of the best summer events in the city. There are many daily activities as well to explore in the park – from chess and backgammon, to the carousel, to pétanque (a traditional french game using metal balls), or just relaxing on the lawn. Here’re some pictures from Film Festival last year and the Films playing this year.

Update: 2009 Schedule of Bryant Park Summer Activities:
Summer HBO Films (Mondays)
Piano in the Park | Bryant Park After Work | Broadway in Bryant Park | Classes in the Park

Islandwoo Tips to make your trip to Bryant Park Film Festival a little better: Arrive early to ensure a seat on the lawn (bring a blanket) or chair in plain view of the movie screen. Bring friends, food, wine, games to pass the time while you wait. Check out the Bryant park webcam (updated every 10 minutes to get the latest on weather and crowd)

Bryant Park live webcam (updated every 10 minutes):

The lawn opens at 5:00pm for blankets (no plastic tarps) and picnicking.
The films begin at dusk (typically between 8pm and 9pm)

Schedule of Films for Summer 2009

Monday, 6/15: The Sting
Monday, 6/22: Breaking Away
Monday, 6/29: Gold Diggers of 1933
Monday, 7/6: Dog Day Afternoon
Monday, 7/13: How Green Was My Valley
Monday, 7/20: Harold and Maude
Monday, 7/27: The Defiant Ones
Monday, 8/3: Kramer vs. Kramer
Monday, 8/10: The Magnificent Seven
Monday, 8/17: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Past Films – Summer 2008

June
Mon 16 – Dr. No
Mon 23 – Bride of Frankenstein
Mon 30 – Hud
July
Mon 7 – The Man Who Came to Dinner
Mon 14 – Fail-Safe
Mon 21 – Arsenic and Old Lace
Mon 28 – The Apartment
August
Mon 4 – Lifeboat
Mon 11 – The Candidate
Mon 18 – Superman

McCarren Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is home to the McCarren Pool where every Sunday people gather for the McCarren Pool Parties. The park also hosts a myriad of activities played on open grass and softball fields. such as kickball, volleyball, softball…and occasionally, running under a huge flag!!

We’re not sure how frequently, but you may see a HUGE flag of the United States waving 7 feet in the air with a diverse group of people (who happen to be in the right place at the right time) running, sitting, biking underneath! This unique experience brings everyone together in the task of getting the flag off the ground and keeping it in the air. We witnessed this on July 22, 2007. How about you?