Limelight Then and Now
SoHo and Madison Avenue get all the glory, but the impressive building on corner of 20th Street and Sixth Avenue is home to a veritable shopper’s paradise. An awe-inspiring gothic church on the outside, inside lies Limelight Marketplace (656 Avenue of the Americas), a mall housing over 60 shops and restaurants. Here, visitors will find outposts of some of New York’s most famous institutions, from J. Sisters salon to Grimaldi’s Pizzeria.
But it wasn’t long ago that this historic venue was one of the city’s biggest nightclubs, Limelight. In the 1980’s, this hot spot was the place to see and be seen, with glamorous attendees and performers from Madonna to the Beastie Boys. However, the fate of the club is almost as epic as its legendary parties. The mesmerizing tale behind this NYC institution is chronicled in Limelight, now in theaters. This eye-opening documentary pulls back the curtain to reveal the club’s inside story, told through vintage news coverage and one-on-one interviews with the saga’s main players, including former club owner and nightlife visionary Peter Gatien, music star Moby, and defense attorney Ben Brafman.
Limelight is currently playing at Sunshine Cinema 5 (143 East Houston Street, between First and Second Avenues). Click here for tickets and showtimes.
Brooklyn Flea
Next time you head to the Big Apple, shop where resident New Yorkers have been getting their goods since 2008. The uber-popular mega-market Brooklyn Flea showcases over one hundred area retailers every weekend, selling everything from furniture and home decor to clothing and jewelry. And that’s not all – make sure to bring your appetite as well as your cash, because some of the most popular eateries in New York are also part of the fun, dishing out delicious cuisine to fuel weary shoppers.
Visit the market every weekend from 10am – 5pm. Up through Thanksgiving, retailers set up shop each Saturday in Fort Greene (176 Lafayette Avenue, between Clermont and Vanderbilt Avenues), and on Sundays the action moves to Williamsburg (27 North Sixth Street, between Kent Avenue and the East River). After Thanksgiving, the market relocates indoors to the unique Skylight One Hanson event space in the former Williamsburgh Savings Bank (corner of Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue).
For the most up-to-date information on Brooklyn Flea schedules, locations and vendors, click here.
Pints, Pretzels and Ping Pong
All over the five boroughs, German-style beer gardens are emerging as some of the city’s most popular locales. Cool down and chill out at these two outdoor drinking meccas in Manhattan.
Birreria
As if Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich’s Italian mega-mart Eataly didn’t already have it all, it is now home to a massive new beer garden. Birreria serves top quality, homemade brews and bites in a 3,000 sq. ft. rooftop space. Live music plays every Sunday night, and when the weather gets too cold (or too hot!), a retractable roof ensures a comfortable atmosphere.
200 Fifth Avenue, enter on 23rd Street
Biergarten
See and be seen at Biergarten at The Standard Hotel. Situated under The High Line in the Meatpacking District, this trendy hot spot sports ping pong tables and seating for 200. While you imbibe at this chic outdoor meeting place, munch on German-inspired fare like soft pretzels, sausages and sauerkraut.
848 Washington Street, at 13th Street
Friday Nights at the Museums
The Whitney Museum of American Art, Museum of Modern Art and Asia Society Museum are three of NYC’s busiest daytime attractions. But those in the know end their work weeks at these iconic institutions after hours. Here’s the inside scoop on starting your weekend amidst some of the world’s most celebrated works of art.
Whitney Museum of American Art
Friday evenings are quite special at The Whitney, which houses one of the world’s foremost collections of contemporary American art. Not only is admission reduced from $18 to pay-what-you-wish after 6pm, but the museum stays open until 9pm, 3 hours later than usual. Plus, on select Friday nights, the museum hosts Whitney Live, a series of live musical performances. Catch this week’s show headlined by Medeski Martin and Wood.
945 Madison Avenue, at 75th Street
Museum of Modern Art
Admission to MoMA is free during Target Free Friday Nights (sponsored by popular discounter Target), held every Friday evening from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tickets for this popular weekly event are not available in advance, so start lining up early.
11 West 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues
Asia Society Museum
One good thing about summer coming to an end? The Asia Society Museum’s Late Night Fridays resume starting September 16th. The museum stays open until 9pm, and admission is free after 6pm. Fans of Asian art will be captivated with the works housed here, ranging from historic masterpieces to cutting edge new media projects, all by Asian and Asian American artists.
725 Park Avenue, at 70th Street
Ride the Ferry Back to the Jazz Age
Take a trip back to a simpler time, before $5 lattes, smart phones and the Internet ruled our world. This weekend, hop on the free Governors Island ferry and take a five-minute trip back to the 1920’s. This summer’s second Jazz-Age Lawn Party will be held from 11am – 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, August 20th and 21st. Don your best Gatsby-era clothing and accessories while you experience a live twenties-style jazz band and partake in some of the best people-watching in the city.
Throughout the day, feel free to enjoy a myriad of throwback activities and events, including a pie recipe contest, bathing beauties and beaus promenade, Charleston lessons, a 1920’s motorcar exhibition, and a tug o’ war.
Tickets are $7 in advance, $10 on site.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Sleep No More
Neil Patrick Harris calls it “1 of the single greatest things I have ever seen.”
According to Elijah Wood, it’s “a play unlike any other. Truly extraordinary.”
And Olivia Wilde says that it’s “the coolest, sexiest, most mind blowing thing I’ve ever done in New York.”
So, what has some of Hollywood’s biggest stars singing its praises? It’s Sleep No More, a revolutionary work of immersive theater unlike any seen before.
Based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Sleep No More encapsulates 1930’s film noir style at its best, creating an experiential, unforgettable evening of revolutionary theater. The performance is truly unique; there are no seats, no curtain, and no intermission. Rather, wearing Eyes Wide Shut-esque masks, audience members are free to roam the dark, multi-story performance space, moving from room to room as cast members interact with and entertain the crowd. Surprises lurk around every corner, and no two shows are ever the same.
Sleep No More is performed at The McKittrick Hotel (530 West 27th Street, between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues).
For tickets, click here or call 866-811-4111.
For more information, click here.
Rumble on the River
This Thursday, August 4th, witness one of the city’s most intense annual events: The Rumble on the River. As the sun sets over the city, amateur boxers from all over the New York area will gather to fight it out on Pier 84 (44th Street at the Hudson River) in Hudson River Park. And this year, for the first time ever, the featured fighting style of the night will be the ancient sport of Muay Thai kickboxing.
Although this event is set for Thursday, it is part of the Friday Night Fights series, which began at the Church Street Boxing Gym in 1997. While the contenders in the ring certainly provide edge-of-your-seat entertainment, the energy throughout the diverse crowd of spectators is known to be electrifying. This event is free and open to the public.
Click here for more information.
Can’t make it on Thursday night? You can still get your fill of ringside drama at an outdoor screening of last year’s Oscar winning film The Fighter on Wednesday, August 3rd. Grab a seat at Pier 63 (between 22nd and 24th Streets at the Hudson River) and enjoy tour-de-force performances from Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo.
Click here for more information.
N. Y. Sea
This summer, take to the water for a whole new way to see the city.
Circle Line
Board the famous Circle Line for a relaxing cruise around Manhattan and get an up-close view of attractions in the New York harbor, including the Statue of Liberty. Sightseeing tours run for either two or three hours throughout the day, and two-hour sunset cruises are the perfect way to welcome the night in the City that Never Sleeps.
Cruises leave from 2 locations, each run by a different owner: Pier 83 at West 42nd Street and Pier 16 at the South Street Seaport.
Manhattan by Sail
It may not be the high seas of the Caribbean, but the Hudson River certainly provides a picturesque setting for a day of sailing. Manhattan by Sail offers options to fit every need, from private, 6-passenger charters to the Clipper City, a 158-ft. tall ship that can accommodate up to 150 passengers for sails that are open to the public.
Boats depart from 2 locations: Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport and North Cove Marina at the World Financial Center between Vesey and Liberty Streets.
New York Kayak Company
Prefer a more active day on the water? The New York Kayak Company rents kayaks and equipment to eager paddlers. For novices, personal and group instruction is available. Sightseers can join one of many scheduled, guided tours to nearby sites like Hoboken Beach, Red Hook and Governors Island.
Tours and kayaks leave from Pier 40 on the Hudson River, between West Houston and Canal Streets.
Beaches Within Reach
A mere mention of The Hamptons conjures images of the rich and famous rubbing elbows on eastern Long Island’s pristine shores. But summer traffic and pricey weekend rentals can make this oceanfront oasis feel more like purgatory than Paradise. Luckily, New York City has gorgeous beaches much closer to home, offering the perfect places to get away from the city for a relaxing day trip.
Water Taxi Beach
Five minutes by ferry from downtown Manhattan, Water Taxi Beach on Governors Island is a relaxing respite with breathtaking views of the city skyline. Patrons of this hot spot can set their towels down in the sand to work on their tans, or, if they’re feeling more energetic, join a game of beach volleyball. When hunger strikes, the adjacent bar and grill provides freshly prepared meals and local beers on tap.
Long Beach
Less than an hour from Penn Station via the Long Island Railroad, Long Beach makes it easy for cityfolk to lounge on the sand or surf the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The entrance to this public beach is a few short blocks from the train station, and the $12 fee to enter is a bargain on a picturesque summer day. When the sun sets, the town’s main drag offers a lively nightlife, with bars and restaurants to suit all tastes.
Indie Rock on the Dock
Are you an indie music fan? Do you want to catch some rays in one of NYC’s most historic neighborhoods? Do you like getting things for free?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then the 4 Knots Music Festival is for you. This Saturday, July 16th, join the crowd at the South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 for a day-long live concert. From 1-8pm, you’ll hear from some of today’s hottest emerging indie rock bands, including Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and The Black Angels.
If you’re looking for a different vibe, duck into the Indoor Lounge (210 Front Street) from 2pm to midnight, where DJ’s will be spinning all day long. Admission to the lounge is free, but only guests who are 21+ can enter.
