The New York City Traveler

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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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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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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Reporting and gathering information on human rights for a film is not an easy task.  Too often, governments and financial restrictions stand in the way of filmmakers completing projects which is why each of the 32 films presented in the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival-New York is triumph.         
The 19th Annual Human Rights Watch International Film Festival will feature 19 full-length films and 13 shorts from 20 countries, including 31 New York premieres. This year, nearly half of the films are by women.
The central theme of the film festival is human rights, but the festival features films that …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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Let the fiesta begin! New York’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade will march up Fifth Avenue this Sunday.  The parade, the second largest in New York behind the West Indian-American Carnival Parade, celebrates Puerto Rican heritage and its contribution to the society of New York.
It is estimated that The Puerto Rican Day Parade has over 80,000 participants that march, over 2 million spectators, and is viewed on local and international channels, making it a truly international event.    
The parade has been marred by violence in the past.  In 2000, violence was at its height and last year, police …read more

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It may not be the Globe Theatre, but Shakespeare has returned to Central Park in one of New York City’s favorite free summer events, Shakespeare in the Park. 
This year the Public Theater is performing Shakespeare’s classic tragedies, Hamlet.  Denmark’s Prince Hamlet sets out for revenge against his Uncle Claudius, who has murdered Hamlet’s father, the King, and marries Hamlet’s mother in an attempt to take the throne.  Among the actors in Hamlet is Law & Order alum Sam Waterston.    
Free tickets are available on the day of the performance beginning at 1pm at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park. …read more

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To help Yankee Stadium go out in a “blaze of glory,” Bon Jovi will be performing a free concert in Central Park next week, July 12, 2008.
Announced yesterday, the concert will be part of baseball’s 2008 All-Star game festivities which will take place at Yankee Stadium.  This year will mark the final season of the “House that Babe Built,” in 2009 the ball team will move to a new Yankee Stadium.  
Though the concert will be free, a ticket will be required for admission.  Free tickets will be distributed beginning Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at New York-area ballparks.  Most tickets …read more

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ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars has just crowned a new champion.  But if you’re going through withdrawals from Dancing With the Stars, why don’t you dance under the stars?
The dance that has been called a “three minute love affair” is returning to Central Park again this summer.  Central Park Tango, a free dance meeting, is set to begin next week, Saturday, June 7 with Hernan as the DJ.  
Central Park Tango began in 1995 with a handful of people and a boom box at Bethesda Fountain.  At the time it was called “Hit and Run Tango” because if …read more

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