Thanks to Facebook, I found a list of "206 cool and random things to do when summer heats up in NYC". I went through the list and picked out the ones that seem fun/interesting to me. Let me know which ones pique your interest, and we can plan to do them together!!
Chill out: 206 cool and random things to do when summer heats up in NYC
BY: DAILY NEWS
1. Get to an outdoor movie. From DUMBO to Hoboken to Socrates Park to Riverside Park to the roving Rooftop film series, catch a flick while enjoying the New York night air. More than 200 movies will play out between now and Aug. 20. (rooftopfilms.com)
2. Escape to the zoos. Beyond the Bronx and Central Park … the Queens, Prospect Park and Staten Island zoos make for great escapes, whether or not you are entertaining children or out-of-town guests.
3. Read "The Help" out on Aug. 12.
4. Go climb something. A small secret, but the largest ropes course in the tri-state area, the Alley Pond Park Adventure Course on Winchester Blvd. in Queens, is great for group parties and for solo climbers. But it helps to be in shape, unlike me.
5. Get peaceful. Visit the Chinese Scholar's Garden at Staten Island's Snug Harbor.
6. Free art, free river view, free air. Riverside Park's great Art in the Park program goes from 58th to 70th Sts., June 1-4. (riversideparkfund.org).
7. Take a bike on the 6 train to its final stop in the Bronx, then ride all the way out to City Island for a cool drink.
(I would need to buy a bike for this, but I'm not opposed)
8. Ride a bike out to Owl's Head Park at the southern end of Bay Ridge, then walk it out to the end of Owl Head's Pier. Here you'll find the broadest possible view of the entire New York Harbor.
9. Walk to Pier 66 in Hudson River Park, at West and 26th Sts. and grab a meal at the Frying Pan. It's a funky old restored boat that also provides the sole reminder of the pre-gentrified West Side park. The restaurant/bar doubles as a nautical museum of sorts. (Open late May through August).
10. Attend the opening of the second section of the fabulous High Line Park. The park's midsection, set to open this summer, will stretch from 20th St. (where the park currently ends) to 30th, along 10th Ave. For updates on the opening, check thehighline.org.
11. Stargaze on the High Line. Every night in the warm months, from dusk to 9:30 p.m., the park will feature a free lecture on stargazing from the elevated park. It's hosted by the Amateur Astronomer's Association. Find out more at thehighline.org.
12. Listen to Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" CD, whose singles will surely dominate this summer's airwaves and dance clubs. It arrives May 23.
13. See candy-colored pop star Katy Perry perform her first national arena blowout show, at Nassau Coliseum June 17.
**Can't go to this performance, but I'm pretty sure she is playing somewhere local on June 19 too***
14. Eat your way through New York City Restaurant Week. (All dinners are $35, lunches, $25.07). The deal is in effect July 11-24, though these things tend to get extended.
15. Rent one of those free kayaks at Pier 40 at Houston and West Sts. The rub? You have to stay between Piers 39 and 40. But that still leaves lots of room to bask in the rare view of the city while bobbing on the water.
16. Hit up Red Hook to try the vendors, plus get a slice at nearby Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pie.
17. Sit down for Pichet Ong's dessert tapas at Spot (St. Mark's) and try his new Bangkok Classic Menu at Qi Asian Eatery (Times Square).
18. Chase down all the summer treat trucks, including Kelvin's Natural Slush, the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck and Coolhaus. While we're on the topic of ice cream, customize a Popsicle at People's Pops (Chelsea Market).
19. Have a boozy brunch at Agua Fresca in Harlem, where $10 gets you a savory or sweet Latin-influenced dish and sangria.
20. Chow down on the best BBQ in New York at Madison Square Park's annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party on June 11 and 12.
21. Take some great photos of Manhattan and the Hudson River up at Fort Tyron Park, then make your way to the Little Red Lighthouse in Washington Heights.
22. Do a food crawl through Flushing Mall before it closes next year.
23. Try all the crazy stunts, including tightrope walking and flying acrobatics, at the New York Hall of Science's "Circus!" exhibit, running June 11-Sept. 4.
24. Zip-line through the Alley Pond Park Adventure Course.
25. Visit the Astoria Market, Queens' answer to the Brooklyn Flea, and see what their artisans and food vendors have to offer.
26. Grab your bike, then head to the Caesar's Bay path in Brooklyn.
27. Try the Throwdown-winning dumplings — and the steak and eggs Korean-style that we once featured —at the Good Fork in Red Hook.
29. Score an amazing designer deal at an upper East Side thrift shop.
30. See "Through a Glass Darkly." Before she was an Oscar nominee for "An Education," Carey Mulligan came undone exquisitely on Broadway in "The Seagull." In this dramatization of the 1961 Ingmar Bergman film, she plays a young woman fresh from an asylum. Friday-July 3, New York Theatre Workshop.
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31. Shakespeare in the Park. The annual theater freebie is one of the great joys of summer in the city. Two lesser-done works, "All's Well That Ends Well" and "Measure for Measure," will be performed in rep. June 6-July 30, Delacorte Theater.
32. Royal Shakespeare Company in rep. The renowned troupe's takes on "Romeo and Juliet," "Julius Caesar," "As You Like It," "King Lear" and "The Winter's Tale" promise to be royal treats. July 6-Aug. 14, Park Avenue Armory.
33. "Zarkana." Human pretzels. High-flying daredevils. A new acrobatic spectacle from Cirque du Soleil. Starts June 9, Radio City Music Hall.
34. New York International Fringe Festival. It's the 15th annual presentation of the annual theater sampler. Dozens of events and theater to talk about. Starts Aug. 12 at venues around Manhattan. (fringenyc.org)
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35. "Rent." Jonathan Larson's Broadway hit returns ... to Off-Broadway. Starts July 14, New World Stages.
**THIS IS A MUST!!!! I WILL BE GOING TO MORE THAN 1 PERFORMANCE***
36. "Death Takes a Holiday." The Italian play that inspired the Brad Pitt movie "Meet Joe Black" gets a musical makeover by Maury Yeston. Starts June 10, Laura Pels Theatre.
37. "All New People." Last summer, Zach Braff acted Off-Broadway in "Trust," a play about S&M. This year, the comedy he wrote is about a man who tries to get away from it all on a desolate island. Starts June 28, Second Stage.
38. Explore Governors Island. Each season it's gets a little more built up, but it maintains that Rod Serling-ish, land that time forgot appeal. And there's a great view of the Lady with the Lamp.
39. Summer road trip to Lake George for a black raspberry cone at Martha's Soft Serve Ice Cream. A long drive — but worth it.
41. Get some culture — on the grass. The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series begins July 11 at Central Park SummerStage featuring three rising Met stars: soprano Angela Meade, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano and tenor Dimitri Pittas. Other locations: July 13 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Later recitals in Crotona Park (July 19), Clove Lakes Park (July 21), Socrates Sculpture Park (July 26) and Jackie Robinson Park (July 28). (metoperafamily.org).
42. Laugh out loud outdoors. Jim Gaffigan, newly minted Broadway star thanks to "That Championship Season," returns to his bread-and-butter — standup comedy— and performs in Central Park on June 29.
43. Munch a lobster roll at Mary's Fish Camp on Charles St. in the West Village. It's as sure a sign of summer as flip-flops and seersucker.
44. Go to the Top of the Rock — the observation deck at Rockefeller Center. When the city empties out in the summer would be a good time to go.
45. Hit the bike trail along the Hudson River every chance you can.
46. Go to the new Yankee Stadium to see Derek Jeter get his 3,000th hit. A late-June home stand, starting on the 24th against the Rockies and Brewers might be a good place to set up for the record.
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48. Ride the Staten Island ferry 10 times in a day. Why? Why not?
*I can only do this with Jen*
49. Eat seafood and ride the trolley on City Island.
50. Visit the New York Aquarium to cool off with the seals on a hot day. It's another excuse to go to Coney Island.
51. Stargaze at Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
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52. Play 18 at the Dyker Beach Golf Course and then go and fix your swing at the pitch-and-putt at the golf center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. (golfnyc.com)
53. Enjoy the Museum Mile Festival on June 14 (museummilefestival.org).
56. Kayak Newtown Creek.
57. Attend Washington Square Music's free concert series. Shows are every Tuesday at 8 p.m. July 12-Aug. 2.
58. Go celeb-spotting on the High Line, said to be a "perfect point" for star sightings. Every Tuesday dusk-9:30 p.m.
59. Visit the Hester Street Fair, an indie-fair darling held every Saturday.
60. Take a free class at BeFitNYC the first Monday of every month throughout the summer.
61. Enjoy the Summer Streets. Park Ave. and connecting streets from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park are closed to cars for people to stroll Aug. 6, 13 and 20.
62. Head to the 33rd annual Thunderbird American Indian midsummer pow wow at the Queens County Farm Museum on Little Neck Parkway July 29-31.
63. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge. One of the most quintessential things you can do — grab a cone and go!
65. Take the NYC 3 Hour Summer Sunset Cruise Aug. 4 at 8 p.m.
66. Leave work a little early to relax at the HBO Bryant Park Summer Movie Festival, Mondays starting June 20 at 5 p.m.
63. Bike to Roosevelt Island for beautiful views and no traffic.
64. Sip deliciously overpriced cocktails on the back porch at Mulberry Project.
67. Down buckets of beers at the Frying Pan at Pier 66 in Chelsea.
* I love how they say buckets of beers. This is right up my ally*
69. When the High Line's Phase 2 opens, sunbathe and picnic on its new elevated lawn.
70. Find the city's very best running trail as you train for the Marathon. Help: Which one has the best breezes? Water fountains? Hospital access?
71. Have a drink on the back porch of the Boat Basin, which gives you a front-row seat to watching runners and bikers along the Hudson River Greenway. There's nothing like laughing at their outfits and such while the only workout you're doing is beer curls. Plus, the Basin makes a great burger.
72. More reasons to finally get to Governors Island: free bike Fridays, art exhibits, great concerts, beer fests.
73. Go to Eataly's new rooftop beer garden/patio and enjoy the views of Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building at night. Get gelato on the way out instead of waiting in a line around the block for a Shake Shack concrete.
76. Watch Tom Cruise in "Top Gun" on — where else? — the deck of the Intrepid at the May 27 launch of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum's outdoor film series (intrepidmuseum.org; 1-877-957-7447).
77. Take the IKEA water taxi from downtown Manhattan to Red Hook and the Waterfront Museum and Showboat Barge (waterfrontmuseum.org).
78. Channel your inner Ariel at "The Little Mermaid," at Players Theatre in Greenwich Village (literallyalive.com; 212-352-3101).
79. Check out the bling at the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum at its "Set in Style: TheJewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels" exhibition (cooperhewitt.org; 212-849-8400).
80. Take a hike and do some bird-watching at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (nps.gov/gate; 718-318-4340).
81. Visit Planting Fields Aboretum State Historic Park on Long Island and stroll 409 acres of greenhouses, rolling lawns, formal gardens and woodland trails. (plantingfields.org; 516-922-9200).
82. Starting in June, ride the new East River Ferry that makes stops at E. 34th St., Long Island City, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Fulton Ferry, Pier 11 in lower Manhattan and — on summer weekends — Atlantic Ave. and Governors Island. (waterfrontalliance.org.)
83. Buy into a CSA — a community supported agriculture program that provides weekly produce straight from the farm. There's a new one through Local Roots NYC, with pickups at 61Local in Cobble Hill (localrootsnyc.org).
84. Plan the ultimate no-nosh-barred road trip using Mike Urban's "Clam Shacks: The Ultimate Guide and Trip Planner to New England's Most Fantastic Seafood Eateries" ($17, Cider Mill Press, out May 31).
85. For "After Hours: Murals on the Bowery," 17 artists will paint on roll-down security shutters along Bowery between Houston and Canal Sts. Catch evening displays of these masterpieces while they last. Through July 2. (newmuseum.org)
86. See the Alexander McQueen retrospective, "Savage Beauty," at the Met (blog.metmuseum.org/alexander mcqueen).
87. Keep cool by skating at the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers, overlooking the Hudson River. Prices ($14 for those 13 and up, and $12 for kids 12 and under) include admission and skate rental (chelseapiers.com).
88. Mark Pug Day, June 5, at the Alice Austen House (2 Hylan Blvd.) in Staten Island. The smooth-coated canines and their owners are invited to a picnic 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on the historic home's park grounds.
89. No New York summer is complete without a trip to Ralph's Famous Italian Ices, boasting flavors ranging from Cantaloupe to Cookies N' Crème. (various locations; ralphsices.com).
90. Nathan's is famous for its hot dogs. But few know that the Coney Island location's (1902 Surf Ave., Brooklyn) menu also offers fried frog legs. Grab a seat at the chain's original location.
91. Enjoy "Movies Under the Stars" on June 17 and 24 and July 8 and 15 at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Staten Island.
92. Shmooze with sailors during New York City Fleet Week, going down May 25 through June 1. Events usually include a parade of ships and military demonstrations.
93. Row or kayak around the lake in Central Park, now through November. From 10 a.m. until dusk at the Loeb Boathouse, you can rent a boat for $12 an hour (cash only), $2.50 for each additional 15 minutes (with a $20 cash deposit.) Each boat holds up to four people (thecentral parkboathouse.com).
94. Grab a seat when born and bred New Yorker Brooke Shields joins the cast of "The Addams Family" on June 28 (theaddamsfamily musical.com).
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96. Join yoga types on June 21 and celebrate the summer solstice at a free, all-day fest in Times Square. Transcendence in Times Square? Now that's an interesting position.
