SUMMER FUN IN NYC

This week's weather aside, it's going to get hot out, and it's getting to mid-June and that means the beginning of TONS OF THINGS TO DO EVERY SINGLE NIGHT IN NEW YORK. ("TOTTDESNINY," as they say).

There are too many too list, but here are a few highlights: (events are free unless mentioned otherwise)

Mondays: Byant Park Movies. The lawn opens at 5pm; get there much later than 6:30 or so and it's tricky getting a spot. Movies start 9-ish. Bring a picknick, or go get pizza or something and bring it back. Mmm, pizza. I don't know what half of these movies are, but one of them has Steve McQueen, and he was the bad-ass guy in The Great Escape. First movie is June 19th.

Wednesdays: Concerts in Madison Square Park. I really like these concerts, and I really like the park. This is probably my favoriate of all the events. The musicians aren't big-name, but they definitely pick good people. Often they're jazz-ish, though it's a variety. Often there are lots of cute little kids running around. And it's not hard to get a good spot on the grass. First concert is June 21st.

Wednesdays & Fridays: Hudson River Park Movies. On a pier by the water! Free popcorn! Theoretically the Wednesday movies are for the grown-ups and the Friday movies are for the kids, but I'm betting it's the kids' schedule that may draw more of a loyal crowd, with favorites such as Wallace & Gromit, MOTP, Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket and Willy Wonka. The grown-up movies start right with the best, though: Mean Girls opens the series on July 5th.

Thursdays: Brooklyn Bridge Park Movies. These movies are screened in the gorgeous little park right on the Hudson River, in DUMBO, between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. Get there by taking the F train to York Street, A/C to High Street or 2/3 to Clark Street. There's some really important pizza place right near the park. Yum. Movie to look out for: Raiders of the Lost Ark, August 17th! First movie is July 6th.

Various Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays: "Celebrate Brooklyn" concerts in Prospect Park. $3 suggested donation. Shows include Savion Glover, TV on the Radio, Yo la Tengo, etc. First concert is June 15th.

Various days: many other events at Hudson River Park. So much to do. Jazz concerts on Fridays. On Sundays, dance lessons followed by live bands. And lots of other stuff.

Various days: River to River Festival. This is a series of many many concerts and events in lower Manhattan, some of them on the river. Some of them in venues. Many events not free. One event to note: Dave Holland Quintet, Thursday Aug 3, battery park, free. Also: Son Boricua, Wednesday Aug 9, south street seaport, free.

July 10-18: New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks. July 11th in Prospect Park or July 12th in Central Park. Either way, you get the same program of a couple Tchaikovskys and Dvorak's 8th Symphony, aka one of the best pieces of music, ever. No, really.

Saturday, July 15: Pleasantville Music Festival. This is an all-day event a short Metro North ride up from the city on the Harlem Line. I've never been. This year's headliner is Dar Williams. Tickets for the whole thing are $20 if you purchase by June 15th; $25 after that.

Sunday, August 20th: Blues & BBQ Festival. Aside from last year's patriotic-to-the-point-of-goofy music during the fireworks finale, this event is great.

SEE YOU IN THE PARKS.

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