The New York City Traveler

***For the most recent free concert calendar, check out July’s Good Morning America and Today Summer Concert Series Calendar ***
ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today Show free summer concert series continues into June with even more musical performances from today’s hottest recording artists.
ABC’s Good Morning America hosts their free concert series in Bryant Park (map).  All concerts are free and open to the public.  Viewers interested in attending the free live performances should arrive at the park no later than 7am.  Admittance is on a limited first-come basis, so the earlier, the better.
The 13th annual NBC “Toyota Concert Series …read more

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There are some big headliners touring this summer, and of course many will be playing in New York City.  Here is a quick list of the some of the big summer concerts:
May

May 15 | Kid Rock, Lynard Skynard, Rev Run, Peter Wolf  Madison Square Garden
May 24, 25, 28, 30 | The Eagles  May 24/25 at Prudential Center, May 29/30 at Madison Square Garden
May 29 | Sheryl Crow  Rumsey Playfield
May 30, 31 | Duran Duran  Rumsey Playfield

June

June 5 | Eric Clapton  Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
June 12 | Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band  Madison Square Garden
June 14, 19 …read more

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This Friday night, trade in your usual club-hopping routine for Guggenheim’s Art After Dark.  The first Friday evening of each month, the Guggenheim Museum opens its doors at for a evening of DJ music, drinks, and art.
This week, Shepard Fairey will be the guest DJ spinning a mix of old-school, hip hop, rock, and electronica at the Guggenheim.  Fairey is one of the most influential street-artists of his time.  He initially became known for his “André the Giant Has a Posse” (later known as OBEY Giant) campaign.  Most recently, Fairey is the artist behind the “Progress: Obama” campaign.   
This Friday, …read more

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***For the most recent free concert calendar, check out July’s Good Morning America and Today Summer Concert Series Calendar ***
Add this to your list of “Free Things to Do in New York City.” Summertime means the kick-off of the ever-popular summer concert series hosted by two of the major television network morning shows: ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today Show.
ABC’s Good Morning America hosts their free concert series in the Times Square studio and Bryant Park (map). All concerts are free and open to the public. Viewers interested in attending the free live performances should arrive …read more

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For the third consecutive year, New York will be part of the Green Apple Festival to celebrate Earth Day 2008.  Festivities will include live entertainment, planting and mulching activities for families, tree care and composting demonstrations, arts & crafts with recycled materials, tree tours, face painting, a green mural project, Greenmarket vendors, and more!
The green mural project, peaceXpiece, is your opportunity to participate in the largest and longest “eco-mural.”  Conceptualized by artist Paul Kostabi, visitors are invited to stop by the Central Park Bandshell on Saturday or Sunday to pick up a free blank canvas and supplies to paint their …read more

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Even if you do nothing else this weekend, you must see Pink Martini perform live at Avery Fisher Hall (Lincoln Center) on Sunday night.  Blending lounge, jazz, classical, and Latin beats, Pink Martini creates the ultimate vintage-chic, romantic-sounding, cocktail-hour music.    
Formed in 1994, Pink Martini is comprised of twelve musicians, most of whom come from a jazz background and some of whom met while studying at Harvard University.  This “little orchestra” tours overseas and it is very easy to see those foreign influences in their music.
“Hang on Little Tomato” is one of my favorite albums.  It features songs in …read more

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Don’t forget that the foot-stomping, hand-clapping, guitar-strumming good time that is Flamenco Week ends this weekend in New York City. Though unaffiliated with Flamenco Week, the internationally-known Gypsy Kings will be performing at Radio City Music Hall. This is you chance to see the Kings perform their famous Flamenco-Rhumba music that has sold over 18 million albums worldwide and garnered a Latin Grammy.
Location: Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Avenue (map) 212-247-4777
Subway: B, D, F, V to 47th-50th Streets-Rockefeller Center; N, R, W to 49th Street
Date and Time: Monday, Feb 25 at 8pm.
Cost: $39.50-$79.50 available online

See a legend in …read more

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Top of the Rock, the observation deck of Rockefeller Center, is a great place to take in a bird’s-eye view of Manhattan.  It’s open until midnight and lacks the long lines that plague the Empire State Building Observation Deck.
He made a name for himself at Le Cirque, but he continues to impress with his edible creations.  Share some chocolates, truffles, or chocolate covered strawberries from Jacques Torres Chocolate.  Locations in Dumbo, West Village, and a new location on Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side.
The Valentine’s Day Poetry Reading at NYU’s Jurow Hall isn’t like any other, it will feature …read more

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A few years ago, while I was on an extended vacation in Spain, I fell in love.  It was late, I was in a bar on my second glass of wine.  No, it wasn’t a Spanish bullfighter that I fell in love with, but rather, flamenco.
Everything about flamenco is completely and delightfully unexpected.  My fellow bar patrons moved a few tables out of the way and the place lit up with energy as hands started clapping, guitars strumming, and feet stomping while a flamenco dancer and her musicians gave an impromptu performance.  There was something about the way …read more

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Most refer to the Brooklyn Academy of Music, or simply BAM, as Lincoln Center’s younger and edgier sister for performing arts. Its name doesn’t do it justice, BAM is an urban art center that hosts events in dance, humanities, opera, theatre, and, of course, music.
BAMart is BAM’s visual art program. Ongoing exhibitions include Leo Villareal’s piece, Stars which is site-specific LED art that illuminates at night and transforms the outside of the BAM building. BAMart also allows audiences to view and purchase new and contemporary works for sale.
BAM Rose Cinemas is the first outer-borough …read more

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