The New York City Traveler

Fresh from a controversial trip to North Korea, the New York Philharmonic will be coming to a park near you.  For the 44th consecutive year, the New York Philharmonic will be performing 8 concerts as part of the free Concerts in the Park series. 
This year the NY Phil will be performing in all 5 of the boroughs as well as East Islip, Long Island and New Jersey.  And in an effort to find a new summer home in the New York area, the Philharmonic will also have a free concert on July 5, 2008 at Governors Island.  The …read more

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If you head out to Coney Island this weekend you may think that Hollywood is recreating the classic Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah film Splash.  Alas, they are not.  The mermaids swimming ashore and marching down the street are part of the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade.
Celebrate the sand, the sea, and the mythological mermaid at this parade of artistic self-expression. There are no Grand Marshalls in this parade, this year’s parade is being led by King Neptune Reverend Billy and Queen Mermaid Savitri D.  For more information, check out the Coney Island Mermaid Parade website.
In true Coney …read more

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Man-made waterfalls will grace New York Harbor this summer as New York City embarks on the largest, and most ambitious, public art project that the city has seen in years. 
Artist Olafur Eliasson, in conjunction with Public Art Fund, has created four 90- to 120-foot man-made waterfalls at locations across New York: Governors Island, between Brooklyn Piers 4 and 5, Manhattan Pier 35, and Brooklyn Bridge.  Click here for a map of waterfall locations.
The waterfalls may be viewed from various locations across the city.  The Staten Island Ferry and Governors Island ferry will provide views of the Brooklyn falls …read more

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Most cities in the US will celebrate Gay Pride this month and the mother of them all– Gay Pride Week 2008-New York City (also known as Heritage of Pride)– is less than a week away!  This year, the New York gay community has a little extra to celebrate with New York’s recognition of same-sex unions.  Here’s a schedule of New York’s gay pride festivities:
Sunday, June 22nd | The Rally  Hosted by comedians Judy Gold and Bob Smith, this kick-off to the week’s festivities will include performances by well-known performers and motivational speakers from the LGBT community as well …read more

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Fashion has never appealed to the masses more since Project Runway came to television.  New York City is a fashion mecca from its Madison Avenue boutiques to Fashion Week twice a year.  It’s only right that New York City also have a museum dedicated to fashion: The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).
The Museum at FIT is a tiny slice of the Fashion Institute of Technology, part of the State University of New York.  The museum’s mission is to “collect, conserve, document, exhibit, and interpret fashion.”  The museum’s permanent collection includes over 50,000 articles and is divided into …read more

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New York City’s Heritage of Pride celebrations aren’t scheduled to begin until June 22nd, but there are plenty of pride events going on this weekend to prepare you for the mother of them all… New York’s Gay Pride March.
“Live, Love, Be” is the theme of this year’s Brooklyn Pride event.  There is a full day of events on Saturday, June 14th with a festival in Prospect Park from 11am-6pm and a Night Parade from 6-8pm.  More information can be found on the Brooklyn Pride website. 
Washington DC’s Pride Fest finishes this weekend with a parade and festival.  To …read more

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Normally a series of summer concerts featuring lesser-known talent in a variety of venues across the five boroughs, the Metropolitan Opera’s summertime tradition is shifting gears this year and will feature a free one-night-only performance with two of opera’s biggest stars, Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna.  
Operatic partners, as well as husband and wife, soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Roberto Alagna are frequent performers at the Met Opera and will perform popular arias and duets at the outdoor concert.
The concert will take place at Prospect Park in Brooklyn in the Long Meadow, which can accommodate up to 150,000 people, six …read more

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The free summer film series, Bryant Park Film Festival, will begin this Monday evening with a screening of Dr. No, the 1962 James Bond film starring Sean Connery.
The film festival is entering its 16th year and will feature classic American films like Superman and Bride of Frankenstein.  For a full movie schedule, visit the Bryant Park film festival calendar.
Location: Bryant Park, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues at 42nd Street (map)
Subway: 7 to Fifth Avenue; B, D, F, V to 42nd Street-Bryant Park
Dates and Time:  Every Monday from June 16th until August 18th, 2008.  Lawn opens at 5pm for blankets …read more

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River to River, a downtown festival that stretches from June to September with various events, is will underway.  Featuring world-class performing arts and free admission, the festival takes place in a variety of Downtown Manhattan public venues, from Chambers Street to the Battery on Manhattan’s southern tip, and includes Governors Island. 
There are a number of free events virtually everyday.  Highlights of the summer festival include:

Otis Clay and Ryan Shaw June 11  Free
Sonic Youth  July 4  Free
Folk Music Festival on Governors Island  July 26  Free
The Big River Project: The Music of Johnny Cash  July 26  Free
Seaport Music Festival  …read more

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The Sixth Annual Snapple Big Apple Barbecue Block Party comes to Madison Square Park this weekend. 
Listen to live music as you enjoy award winning food from top pitmasters.  Fourteen of the country’s top pitmasters will represent their restaurants, including John Stage from New York’s own Rack & Soul and pitmaster Chris Lilly from Big Bob Bar-B-Q in Decatur, AL. When you’re not noshing on bbq, check out the free seminars and cooking demos.    
Eat for a cause!  Proceeds from the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party support the Madison Square Park Conservancy.  Visit Big Apple BBQ for more information …read more

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