Self Magazine “Workout in the Park” and Central Park SummerStage Lineup!
Central Park SummerStage Lineup Announced!!!
Welcome Columbus Circle Hostel Guests and every New Yorker looking forward to hear some awesome FREE music this summer in NYC! Sit back and relax because we’re bringing you tons of exciting news today.
Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield, namely home of the SummerStage (mid-park near 69th), recently started to gear up the outdoor venue for a lineup of music and entertainment this summer. Crews have been working on getting the stage ready and another proof that the lineup is about to kick off soon is that the SummerStage 2010 schedule went live this week. Boy, have you guys also been waiting for that as much as we have over here at CC Hostel?
Apart from the Rumsey events like this Saturday’s Self Magazine “Workout in the Park”, a series of FREE shows is also set to start in a few weeks. Tomorrow, for example, women get the chance to come to Central Park to experience electrifying workouts, indulgent beauty and style consultations, gourmet delights and more. The event takes place from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and includes a series of fun exercise classes like Cardio Tai Box, Urban Rebounding (using mini trampolines), and Fat Burning Pilates. The feature of the New York City event is a Yogalosophy class by celebrity yoga trainer Mandy Ingber. So go ahead ladies, head out to Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield after breakfast tomorrow (near 69th) and learn the favorite yoga moves of some of Mandy’s celebrity clients like Jennifer Aniston .Who knows, maybe you’ll stumble upon one or two celebrities in the park – they looove working out there! The $20 ticket price includes admission to any of the classes, beauty and nutrition consultations, pampering, giveaways, and a one-year subscription to Self Magazine now that’s a great deal, wouldn’t you agree?!
The official season of free SummerStage shows begins on June 1st with Melody Gardot and the New York Pops, and continues through September 26th with “A Celebration of Gypsy Music from Turkey, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Romania.”
In addition to the lineup of free shows, a series of benefit concerts is scheduled as well, each of them put on to support the free shows throughout the year.
Take a look below and you’ll see that this year’s schedule seems extremely promising and several great concerts should be highlighted already!So, the first “rock” show happens at Central Park on Saturday, June 5th with Living Colour, Ebony Bones!, Pillow Theory and CX KiDTRONiK. Baaba Maal, who just played at Irving Plaza, will be at Central Park too on Monday, June 14th. The Tinariwen show on Saturday, June 26th also features Syrian beat & mikeman Omar Souleyman. Gil Scott-Heron plays there in June and Marcus Garvey Park in August.
But hey, there’s way more to come! We’ll enjoy the sounds by El Guincho, Bostich and Fussible and others in Central Park on July 7th. The reggae legend Jimmy Cliff will play on Sunday, July 11th. Raphael Saadiq performs there Saturday, July 17 at 3pm. The Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba/Fool’s Gold show on Sunday, July 25th will also feature “West African electronica” band Burkina Electric – we can’t wait to see that!
On Wednesday, July 21st, there’ll be a Comedy Central’s The Daily Show and Friends Central Park gig hosted by Lewis Black with John Oliver, Rob Riggle, Wyatt Cenac, Adam Lowitt and Rory Albanese.
There’s also music from St. Vincent, Tune-Yards and Basia Bulat on August 1st at Central Park. The xx play with Jack Penate and Chairlift on August 8th. At the same spot whereas Public Enemy play an August 15th day show to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Fear of A Black Planet, and the Specials play on August 22nd with Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and $mall ¢hange.
But let’s not forget that the SummerStage doesn’t mean great music and concerts at Central Park! The festival is spread around the city and the borough-wide shows take off with Jay Electronica in Red Hook Park on June 1st. Also at that park is Dan Deacon on Tuesday, June 15th. White Rabbits play East River Park on August 12th.
There’s lots of great jazz too: McCoy Tyner plays with Ravi Coltrane, Esperanza Spalding and Francisco Mela as part of the CareFusion Jazz Festival on June 23rd. He also plays in the Charlie Parker Jazz Fest, which comes at the end of the summer with an incredible lineup. McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Scott, Jason Moran and the Bandwagon and Revive da Live play during the day at Marcus Garvey on Saturday, August 28th. Then the next day, James Moody, Catherine Russell, Vijay Iyer and The JD Allen Trio play at Tompkins Square Park.
One more thing we over here at CCH are particularly excited about is that the park benefit shows include John Butler Trio (sweet! they’re from Australia as you may know and Ashleigh, everybody’s favorite front desk staff member, the one and only sexy blonde is as a matter of fact from Down Under and State Radio on June 15th (tickets on sale already!), The Flaming Lips on July 26th, The Black Keys (YAY!) with the Morning Benders on July 27th and 28th, Hot Chip/Hercules & Love Affair/Holy Ghost on August 4th, Govt’ Mule on August 11th, and one of the four Pavement shows September 21-24. Not to mention the fact that there’s a “Songbook of Simon & Garfunkel” benefit on June 8th!!!
WOW, what a great summer we are going to enjoy here in New York City!!!
Click here for a complete lineup of Central Park’s SummerStage,
or check out more info on the SummerStage press release or Brooklyn Vegan.
Tuesday, June 1st: Melody Gardot and The New York Pops
Saturday, June 5th: Living Colour, Ebony Bones!, Pillow Theory and CX KiDTRONiK: 25th Anniv. of Black Rock Coalition
Sunday, June 6th: Los Van Van, Jose Conde and A DJ Tribute to Fania Records with DJ Bobbito, DJ Laylo and DJ SAKE-1
Tuesday, June 8th: Benefit Show: The 25th Anniversary SummerStage Gala
Saturday, June 12th: The 8th Annual Cine Fest Petrobras Brasil Screening Oscar Niemeyer – Life Is A Breath of Air Live Performances from Maria Gadu and Os Paralamas Do Sucesso
Monday, June 14th: Baaba Maal and Playing for Change
Tuesday, June 15th: Benefit Show: John Butler Trio and State Radio
Saturday, June 19th: NYCPride Rally featuring Me’shell Ndegeocello, Martha Wash NY Gay Men’s Chorus, Vickie Shaw, Billie Myers and Bruce Vilanch
Sunday, June 20th: Salif Keita, Tabou Combo and Lo’Jo
Wednesday, June 23rd: George Wein’s Carefusion Jazz Festival: McCoy Tyner Quartet with Ravi Coltrane, Esperanza Spalding and Francisco Mela The Stanley Clarke Band with Hiromi
Saturday, June 26th: Tinariwen, Omar Souleyman and Toubab Krewe
Sunday, June 27th: Gil Scott-Heron
Tuesday, June 29th: Definitely Poetry: Daniel Bernard Roumain with Emeline Michel, Erol Josué and the poets of Cave Canem
Wednesday, June 30th: Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Saturday, July 3rd: Istanbulive II: The Sounds of Turkey with Kenan Dogulu, mor ve otesi and Ilhan Ersahin’s Istanbul Sessions with Burhan Ocal and Tulug Tirpan, Sukriye Tutkun and DJ Salih Saka
Wednesday, July 7th: Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich and Fussible, El Guincho and Anita Tijoux
Saturday, July 10th: Profitas, Maldita Vecindad and The Pinker Tones
Sunday, July 11th: Jimmy Cliff, Trevor Hall and Victor Démé
Saturday, July 17th: Raphael Saadiq
Sunday, July 18th: Family Day featuring Ralph’s World, Bethany and Rufus and Cirquetacular
Wednesday, July 21st: Comedy Central Park The Daily Show and Friends Hosted by Lewis Black with John Oliver, Rob Riggle, Wyatt Cenac, Adam Lowitt and Rory Albanese
Friday, July 23rd and Saturday, July 24th: The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Sunday, July 25th: Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba, Burkina Electric, Fool’s Gold and DJ Frank of Voodoo Funk
Monday, July 26th: Benefit Show: The Flaming Lips
Tuesday, July 27th and Wednesday, July 28th: Benefit Shows: The Black Keys and The Morning Benders
Saturday, July 31st: Jovanotti, Los Amigos Invisibles and Natalie Lafourcade
Sunday, August 1st: St. Vincent, tUnE-yArDs and Basia Bulat
Wednesday, August 4th: Benefit Show: Hot Chip, Hercules and Love Affair and Holy Ghost!
Saturday, August 7th: The Clark Sisters & Kierra Kiki Sheard
Sunday, August 8th: The xx, Chairlift and Jack Peñate
Tuesday, August 10th: Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Dancin’ Downtown Concert Winners
Wednesday, August 11th: Benefit Show: Gov’t Mule
Saturday, August 14th: Bachata Fest featuring Andy Andy, Luis Miguel de la Amargue, Elvis Martinez and Alexandria
Sunday, August 15th: Public Enemy with 7th Octave and Blitz the Ambassador
Saturday, August 21st: Chrisette Michele, Mario and Tamia
Sunday, August 22nd: The Specials – 30th Anniversary Tour with Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears and $mall ¢hange
Tuesday, September 21st: Benefit Show: Pavement
Sunday, September 26th: The Black Sea Roma Festival featuring Mahala Rai Banda, Técsöi Banda Selim Sesler & The NY Gypsy All-Stars and The Yuri Yunakov Ensemble
Fashion’s Night Out staging a Runway Show in UWS!
The largest Public Fashion Show in NYC History Coming to the Upper West Side!!!
Hey there Ladies and fashion lovers! Wow, do we have some exciting news for you! You better get your heels and make-up on because the models are coming to our neighborhood. Fashion’s Night Out, the shopping love-fest that the Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, created last year, will kick off the fall fashion week on September 10! But three days earlier, a special catwalk (and we actually mean a walkoff!) will take place right in the heart of Lincoln Center (for us that’s the best part of course!). So, on September 7, more than 200 models are expected to walk a runway in Josie Roberson Plaza in front of the Metropolitan Opera. You must agree that whether you like fashion or not, that’s going to be a spectacular event with all of the plaza’s gorgeous lights, the fountain and the whole setting… The models will be wearing designers’ fall lines, some of which will go on sale during Fashion’s Night Out on September 10.
In a press release, Anna Wintour said: “We felt it is important for people to see what wonderful fashion will be in stores at that moment” (…) “This show will focus on the key trends we’ve identified for Fall so that shoppers will have plenty of inspiration to join the fun during Fashion’s Night Out.”
Lincoln Center’s press release says they will sell about 1,500 tickets to the event this summer. Part of the proceeds will go to the New York AIDS Fund. So far however, we don’t know anything about the prices for the event but we’ll update you as soon as some information is released. We can expect them to be pretty high, let’s not be too naivee here… Good news for all of us broke folks – the show will be recorded by CBS so we we’ll be able to get our scoop on TV.
Should traffic laws apply to the sidewalks?
Hello Dear Columbus Circle Hostel Guests as well as all of you Globetrotters and City Dwellers out there!
Today, we’d like to share a fascinating (to us at least) article we stumbled upon while browsing Psychology Today. The article stirred some turmoil among us behind the frint desk and so we thought you might also find it interesting and worth discussing. It makes sense particularly if you live in a busy and vibrant city such as New York. And yeah, we couldn’t resist adding some comments of our own which you’ll find in brackets. Sorry, Mr Jaffe!) Let us know what you think!
Published on Psychology Today (http://www.psychologytoday.com)
Walking the Line
By Eric Jaffe
Created Apr 21 2010 – 7:33am
Over at “Frontal Cortex,” Jonah Lehrer recently wrote about why commuting makes us so unhappy. Well those of us who commute by foot have plenty to complain about too. And, according to new research, it appears we’re quite justified.
A group of “crowd physicists“—the best job I’ve heard of since assistant to the traveling secretary (we couldn’t agree more! LOL) —has found that up to 70 percent of walkers travel in groups. As the researchers report in PLoS One (full study), this sidewalk socializing slows down foot traffic by roughly 17 percent. (Do you also find it that these “slow walkers” are more than super frustrating, especially if you’re already running late for work or class and still have to catch the subway??? ughhh…)
These insights demonstrate that crowd dynamics is not only determined by physical constraints induced by other pedestrians and the environment, but also significantly by communicative, social interactions among individuals.
The researchers found that when people walking in groups run into space problems, they shift into convex V-shapes to facilitate socialization. These V’s, according to the researchers, “do not have optimal ‘aerodynamic’ features.”
(…) A previous study by several of the same authors (pdf here) found that problems arise even when we walk alone:
In case of head-on encounters, a binary decision takes place: pedestrians need choose whether to evade the other person on the right-hand or on the left-hand side. This decision process goes along with a significant decrease of walking speed. … It is therefore advantageous for an individual to develop the same preference as the majority of people.
The Headcase, for one, believes we could remove “preference” from the equation by holding walkers to the rules of the road. Let’s face it: In the current sidewalk regime, walking is a free-for-all. I’m constantly weaving in and out of stop-and-chatters. I’m lifting my arm to pass shorter people and small children. Oh I’ll use the bus lane. Seriously, what other aspect of society allows such unfettered chaos? Hell, even banks might get regulated (oh yeah!).
The aforementioned papers are mathematically based, but I see sidewalk congestion as a largely psychological problem (so do we!). As a result, I suspect much of it could be solved with a simple behavioral Nudge: painting lane lines on sidewalks.
Think about it. Most people would instantly fall into predictable traffic flows. The system could mature from there: A high-speed, singles passing lane on the left. A slower, two-person lane on the right (the bizarro H.O.V. lane). The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.
Threes remain a problem, but three is a problem in driving too, with one person stuck in the back. The fastest walker would naturally take the driver position. (Do you hop into the Accord when there’s a Boxster in the garage?) Standing talkers would be ticketed, just like drivers on cell phones. Move it to the storefronts, people. I’ll stop short of proposing a Walker’s License, although, if nothing else, a Dept. of Bodily Vehicles would create jobs.
The biggest foreseeable puzzle is how to minimize the pile-ups that occur when people wait at curbs to cross. I propose keeping a one-body distance from the person in front of you, so opposing traffic can pass, though admittedly this could get complicated. But hey, that’s why we have crowd physicists.
(Jeez, if the has article caused so many opposing arguments here at CCH, maybe it means we’re all too stressed out and should cut down on the “overanalyzing” and just chill out a little? Hmm, makes sense… But what can we do? Life today demands that we either hurry up or else will be left behind, sadly dragging our miseries at the end of the line, far behind the winners…Right?
Food Festival on the UWS in May!
Hi there Columbus Circle Hostel Guests and New York Visitors! We’d like to share this interesting article about cool event taking place in our neighborhood in the near future. Because what’s better than May, New York and good food?
Fancy Food Festival Coming to the Upper West Side 
By Laura Weiss
www.foodandthings.com
There are some who insist that there’s nothing much to taste when it comes to Upper West Side food. But others say there’s plenty to celebrate about the neighborhood’s robust dining scene. The New Taste of the Upper West Side is designed to let you sample a range of area restaurants’ offerings.
A panel on healthy eating, buying local and other foodie verities will kick off this year’s event, which takes place May 21 and 22. Then, once you’ve eaten your veggies so to speak, you can pig out on a lavish dessert spread.
On May 22, there will be special cocktails and flavors from over 40 Upper West Side chefs.
Ticket prices range from $25 for the panel discussion to $85 for the dessert bash. It will set you back $200 for a VIP ticket to the May 22 food and drink event. If you want to know more, click here.
Participating restaurants and chefs:
- Bar Boulud; Chef Damian Sansonetti
- Blue Ribbon Sushi; Chefs Bruce & Eric Bromberg
- Café Blossom; Chef Seamus Jones
- Calle Ocho; Chef Luke Laru
- Cesca; Chef Kevin Garcia
- Compass; Chef Neil Annis
- Dovetail; Chef John Fraser
- Earthen Oven; Chef Durtha Prasad
- Eighty One; Chef Ed Brown
- Fatty Crab, Chef Zakary Pelaccio
- Gabriel’s; Chef Matthew Hayden
- Isabella’s; Chef John Lictro
- Jacques Torres, Chocolatiers; Jacques Torres
- Jean Georges; Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten
- Josie’s; Chef Louis Lanza
- Kefi; Chef Michael Psilakis
- Landmarc; Chef Marc Murphy
- Madaleine Mae; Chef Jonathan Waxman
- Magnolia Bakery
- Nice Matin; Chef Andy D’Amico
- Nonna; Chef Sam Demarco
- Ocean Grill; Chef Juan Carlos Ortega
- Rosa Mexicano; ChefJoe Quintana
- Ruby Foos; Chef Shawn Edelman
- Salumeria Rosi; Chef Caesare Casella
- Shake Shack; Randy Garutti (Danny Meyer)
- Telepan; Chef Bill Telepan
(Photo via newtasteuws.com. Check out the site for photos of all of the participating chefs.)
Laura B. Weiss is a food and travel journalist who covers the food scene on the Upper West Side at
www.foodandthings.com. A version of this article originally ran on that site.
The Standpit by Sam O’Hare – awesome video of the UWS!
Local Upper West Side Artist Portrays New York in Miniature
Hi Columbus Circle Hostel Visitors and all of you Bloggers out there! We’d like to share a cool story with you today. It’s about Sam O’Hare, an extremely talented we think photographer residing in our neighborhood – the Upper West Side. At some point, we’ve all stood on the balcony of a very tall building and watched people walking on the street below, marveling at how much they look like tiny busy ants, right? 
And Sam O’Hare has been doing just that as well and he has taken tons of amazing pictures of New York from high above the street, editing his work in a style, called “tilt-shift”, that makes the city and its minions look miniature. The resulting 5 and a half minute film is made up of about 35,000 still photographs! Isn’t that something? He called the project “The Sandpit”.
The still above was captured from a building on 106th Street and Central Park West, though much of the rest of the film was shot in other parts of the city. There’s a longer explanation of the process he used to make the film here.
O’Hare, a director, visual effects artist, and photographer, came to Manhattan Valley via England two years ago. He’s an architecture graduate but evenutally moved into computer animation and film. And we’re sure glad he did if that’s what he can come up with! He’s now working primarily in commercials, and is represented by Aero Film.
So what inspired him to make this film?
“I love the look of the tilt-shift timelapse technique, and wanted to use it to explore my inspiring adopted home, New York City.”
You can check out the cool video in larger format here.
Freebies at the Tribeca Film Festival: Drive-Ins, Sports Fests, Street Fairs and More!
Hello Columbus Circle Hostel Guests and anyone who’s looking for interesting cultural events at the end of April! The one and only, not to be missed TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL is about to kick off and this year’s line-up truly sounds promising! Not only does it offer a wide variety of independent films (e.g. documentaries, narrative features and shorts) as well as family-friendly productions, The Festival also features panel discussions with personalities in the entertainment world and a music lounge produced with ASCAP to showcase up and coming artists.
Even though films screened during the Tribeca Film Festival do not come in cheap ;-( (they’re still worth the price though!), this year’s event also offers several movie showings and family events that DO NOT require any cash investment at all. YAY!
The three-day Tribeca Drive-In outdoor screenings will begin each night at 6 p.m. with pre-film events and a movie at sundown (about 8:15 p.m.) Seating is first-come, first serve at the World Financial Center Plaza, located at Hudson River’s North Cove near 200 Vesey Street.
April 22 – “El Espiritu de la Salsa” (“The Spirit of Salsa”)
Pre-show events: live salsa bands, salsa pros, salsa lessons, dance contests “and percussive revelry for all ages.”
The movie, a documentary about lonely hearts who meet weekly at Spanish Harlem’s Santo Rico Dance School, features music by Tito Puente, Eddie Santiago, Héctor Lavoe and Norah Jones.
April 23 – “Big”
Pre-show events: fortune tellers, carnival games, music, face painters and trivia contests. Sounds like fun, right?
The classic Tom Hanks comedy will be screened on Family Day by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment as part of the studio’s 75th anniversary.
April 24 – “The Birth of Big Air”
Pre- and post- show events: BMX street tricks and freestyle demonstrations and Mat Hoffman, a.k.a. “The Condor” in person.
The movie, a Spike Jonze documentary about BMX pro Hoffman, will make its world premiere at the ESPN at the Tribeca Drive-In event.
The Tribeca Film Festival’s street fair will overlap with the ESPN Sports Day, both scheduled May 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The street fair will takeover Greenwich Street from Chambers to Harrison streets with performers including the cast of Broadway’s “Wicked” as well as a massive Guitar “Play-in” led by Mike D of the Beastie Boys (who is a dad at Church Street School for Music and Art.)
The festival will be packed with other dancers, stilt walkers, puppets, storytelling, arts and crafts and a kite-making area. There will be a Tribeca Film Festival “red carpet” to walk and a screening of the movie “Snowmen.”
The fourth annual sports festival will be set on Duane Street between Greenwich Street and Hudson Street. Expect interactive sports-related games and demonstrations and appearances by Mr. Met and other icons.
Other Tribeca Film Festival free events include:
TRIBECA TALKS PEN TO PAPER
Barnes & Noble hosts this returning series of free events focusing on the art of screenwriting. Panelists include writers and writer/directors from the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival: Edward Burns, Omar Rodriguez Lopez, Dana Adam Shapiro, and more!
Hosted by Barnes & Noble at their Union Square location: 33 East 17th Street.
FILMMAKING EVENTS & WORKSHOPS AT THE APPLE STORE
For the sixth consecutive year The Apple Store, SoHo, is celebrating the spirit of independent filmmaking with the Tribeca Film Festival by hosting dozens of free events and workshops. The exclusive Meet the Filmmakers series, presented by Apple and indieWIRE, is not to be missed. Everyone’s invited, so be sure to check back for all the details.
Apple Store, SoHo – April 23 – May 1, 2010
103 Prince Street
New York City, NY 10012
www.apple.com/retail/soho/tribeca
Apple in-stores, the art awards and a few industry panels.
ART AWARDS
Every year, original artwork by several acclaimed artists is exhibited during the Festival and later serves as filmmaker awards for the 10 winning directors. Visit the ART AWARDS GALLERY from April 21 till April 28 for a special exhibition of worksby Yoko Ono, Stephen Posen, Maira Kalman, Ghada Amer, Reza Farkondeh, Maurizio Galimberti, Spencer Platt, Sheila Berger, and Valerie Hegarty.
Art Awards Gallery
Chanel Boutique SoHo
134 Spring St
www.tribecafilm.com/festival/events/art-awards
TRIBECA TALKS INDUSTRY panels
All are welcome at this series of free discussions surrounding issues of concern to today’s filmmakers, including the future of film distribution, stretching a production budget, how visual style affects genre, the challenges of documentary, and more.
For more info visit the Festival’s website at http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival!
If you want to experience New York to the fullest in April and May, make sure to check out at least a few of the inspiring, mind-opening and engaging events at THE TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL!!!
The Harder They Come at Brooklyn Bowl, Tuesday, April 13th
The Movie Bowl at Brooklyn Bowl: The Harder They Come
Some of you may have heard that the renowned Jimmy Cliff (Jamaican reggae and ska singer, musician and actor) has been rightfully selected for the 2010 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is perhaps best known among mass audiences for songs such as “Sitting in Limbo“, “You Can Get It If You Really Want“, and “Many Rivers to Cross” from the soundtrack to The Harder They Come (directed by Perry Henzel, 1972) which undeniably contributed to popularization of reggae across the world. Jimmy Cliff also appeared in the classic reggae movie which tells a story of a broke, young man arriving in Kingston and trying to make it in the recording business. But since nothing comes easy in life and our dreams often end up in the gutter, he turns to a life of crime instead and gets involved in a shoot-out with cops.
It’s a really good film if you haven’t seen it so Columbus circle Hostel Staff is thinking that it’s a great time to dust off the reggae classic and reserve tomorrow’s evening for the monthly Movie Bowl Screening organized by The Brooklyn Bowl and the L Magazine! What’s even better is that the film is free and there is a $2 beer special during the film. To refresh your memory check out the trailer below. The doors open at 6pm, you have to be 21 and over to get in though.
NY Essentials & Basics – Part Deux
Hi there CC Hostel Guests, New York Visitors and Travelers at large! Just as we promised earlier we’re bringing you PART DEUX of our “New York Essentials and Basics” to help you plan your trip to the Big Apple, get the most out of it at the cheapest cost! So let’s continue, shall we?
The BEST OF NYC’s SUMMER CONCERTS AND FILM SERIES
Here are links to the official sites for New York City’s summer concerts, free outdoor film series and music and theater festivals.
Central Park Summerstage
Shakespeare in the Park
Broadway Under the Stars
Naumburg Orchestral Concerts
Movies with a View at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park
Harlem Meer Performance Festival
NY Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks
Lincoln Center Out of Doors
Free for All at Town Hall
JVC Jazz Festival
Washington Square Music Festival
River to River
East River Music Project
Seaport Music Festival
SpiegelWorld
Governors Island Concert Series
Folks on the Island
Governors Island
Celebrate Brooklyn
Met Opera Summer Concert
McCarren Park Pool
Siren Festival
Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Bryant Park Film Festival
Broadway in Bryant Park
Piano in the Park, Bryant Park
Music at 5 in Bryant Park
Good Morning America Summer Concerts
Today Show concert series
Wave Hill concerts
Riverside Park RCTA Sunset Concert Series
Stars in the Alley
Classical Theatre of Harlem parks productions
Shakespeare in the Parking Lot
Rooftop Films
Turntables on the Hudson
TheaterWorks USA
Film Festival Theater Festival
J&R’s Summerfest
Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series
Seaside Summer Concert Series
Madison Square Park free Wednesday concerts
Forest Hills Jazz Thursdays
Baked Summer Concert Series
Music in Abe Lebewohl Park
Brooklyn Central Library free concerts
Poppenhusen Institute Concert Series
Hot Jazz/Cool Garden at Louis Armstrong House Museum
CityParks Concerts
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival
Opera on Tap
Snug Harbor Friday Night Movies
Brooklyn Independent Cinema Series
The Classical Theatre of Harlem
Gorilla Repertory Theater at the Cloisters
New York Grand Opera Company
Union Square Summer in the Square
Pedals & Pumps: A Festival of Organ Divas
MoMA Thursday Nights
All Points West
NY Essentials & Basics: Must-Know for NYC Newbies!
2 Rules That Will Make Your Visit More Enjoyable:
New York is big and fast and overwhelming until you realize it’s on a grid, very logical and that most people are nice and willing to help as long as you’re quick about . Ask US – we’re waiting for your questions and a chance to show off at the front desk at CCH!
First of all: walk to the right. If you need to meander or stop, step to the side. Don’t walk three or four abreast unless the sidewalk’s huge and no one’s around. You must share.
Secondly, speed it up! This goes for everything, including having your MetroCard out before you reach the turnstile, knowing what show you want to see when you get to the TKTS window, and just moving out of the way when you get off the elevator or to the top of the stairs. Got a question? Be concise. People are busy, don’t want to get sucked into a scam, and irritated with slow tourists. Oh, yeah, don’t take any of that personally – we only want to make it easier for you!
GOOD TO KNOW:
If you go to the Statue of Liberty, reserve a monument pass in advance. If you go up the Empire State Building, spend the extra $15 to get to the 102nd floor (in addition to the 86th like everyone else.)- A cab is for hire only if his numbered/lettered lights are lit on his roof.
- Let people exit the subway car before you push your way on.
- Be careful with your umbrellas, don’t stand in the doorway letting cold air in while you decide whether you’re coming or going, and fight the urge to eat and shop at the same dull chain restaurants and stores you’ve got at home.
- Spend your money at the interesting places so Manhattan doesn’t turn into a generic Disneyfied strip mall. Thank you!
SAD REALITY CHECK: Basic Prices in the Big Apple
While there’s a lot of flexibility in the question of how much it costs to see New York, as a point-in-time reference, it seemed appropriate to run down the list of the basics – from subway fare and a pastrami sandwich to museum admission and a trip on the Staten Island ferry.
After a long research, several phone calls and hours of browsing the internet, not to mention miles walked up and down Manhattan, we managed to come up with the following tips for first-time New Yorkers. The list below is the basic adult price, excluding the extras and Internet deals that can raise or lower the price. This also assumes you’re paying full price, although many of the museums quietly operate on a suggested donation policy. And to be fair, a lot of the concerts and events have seats near the rafters in the $10 range.
New York Travel & Tourist Essentials:
- Single-use MetroCard – $2.25
- Taxi flat fare between JFK Airport and Manhattan – $45 plus bridge/tunnel tolls and tip
- Staten Island Ferry – free!!!
- Met Museum – $20
- Museum of Modern Art – $20
- Guggenheim Museum – $18
- American Museum of Natural History – $15
- Whitney Museum – $15
- Bronx Zoo – $15
- Empire State Building – $18.45
- Top of the Rock – $20
- “Billy Elliot” on Broadway, orchestra level – $126.50
- La Bohème at Met Opera, prime orchestra – $175
- Radio City Christmas Spectacular, orchestra seats – $72 to $105
- New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, prime parquet – $89
- NY Knicks, three levels up from court – $99.50
- Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum – $19.50
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex – $28.18
- Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum – $35
- Ripley’s Odditorium – $24.99
- Sports Museum of America – $16
- Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island ferry – $18
- Circle Line full-island tour – $31
- Gray Line “Manhattan Comprehensive” bus tour – $91
- Rockefeller Center Ice Rink – $15.50 to $19, plus $9 skate rental
- United Nations tour – $12.50
- Grimaldi’s whole cheese pizza – $15.20
- Carnegie Deli pastrami sandwich – $17.95
- Per Se chef’s tasting menu – $275
- Gray’s Papaya recession special – $4.45 (YUM!!!)
- Magnolia Bakery cupcake – $2.50 (we’re drooling!)
We’ll be providing you with more tips and helpful advice soon! Make sure to follow our blog regularly for updates and ALWAYS feel free to stop by the front desk with any questions you may have! Have tons of fun in New York Columbus Circle Hostel Guests!!!!
Another essential thing to do & experience while in NY!
Other than stay at Columbus Circle Hostel (duh, where else?!) here is another place you MUST visit before you embark on your journey again and leave the Big Apple!
So, obviously, there are the amazing museums and art institutions that the city is famous for, like the MoMA, MET and the American Museum of Natural History that should be visited no matter what – there’s plenty of good reasons to see their inspiring, eye-opening and horizon-broadening art exhibitions, vast collections and cultural events. And don’t get us wrong – we highly encourage you to do that because without having been to these amazing institutions, your New York experience simply would not be complete and would lack in personal growth! However, there is one museum that is unfortunately often omitted in people’s recommendations, namely the Queens Museum of Art (QMA).
Not only does it exhibit art by local and international artists, the museum hosts permanent exhibits on the two World’s Fairs held in the Flushing Meadows Park and also has a spectacular, humongous, highly detailed panorama of all five boroughs of New York City. We like that view better than the one you get from the Empire State Building or the Statue of Liberty! Originally built for the 1964 World’s Fair, it presents all five boroughs and their parks, streets, buildings, airports, and more. Visitors walk above the diorama on a ramp that circles it. The lighting changes to show the progress of “day to night.” You just have to see it to believe it. This critically acclaimed diorama is a great example of how inventive and bold the museum is in its cultural mission and use of modern technology! If you still haven’t somehow, we assure you that you’ll fall in love with New York as you watch the 13-minute multimedia presentation and the way it spotlights the best the city has to offer and its top attractions!
But don’t think we’re only recommending QMA because we’re suckers for the view! There’s so much more to this institution – no worries! The museum is very diverse in its offerings and has more than enough to satisfy anybody’s expectations. To name just a few, QMA’s public programs could be perhaps the most noteworthy and culturally inspiring in the city. Passport Fridays or Cinemarosa, the queer-film series, explore and teach about various countries and cultures through their music, dance and film. Not to mention the free walking tours of the museum that take place every Sunday at 2, 3 and 4 p.m! (Group and Private tours of the museum’s exhibitions are available from noon to 5:00 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays).
Yeah, QMA’s mind-boggling exhibits and its never-ending support for local Queens artists are definitely the biggest reason why the museum is so essential to New York!
Thus, until April 25, you can view Duke Riley’s Those About to Die Salute You. It’s really awesome – we promise! It’s actually based on a battle which was held in the museum’s vicinity in August 2009 between some toga-clad people fighting with baguettes! YES!
Queens Museum of Art regularly exhibits the work of local Queens artists. For a detailed list of exhibits and events that are always happening at the Museum visit its website at www.queensmuseum.org.
Queens Museum of Art
New York City Building
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens, NY 11369
718-592-9700
www.queensmuseum.org
Hours and Admission:
September – June
Wednesday to Friday: 10 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Summer (July 18 – September 5)
Wednesday to Sunday: 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Admission
The suggested donation is $5 for adults and $2.50 for children and seniors.
The Queens Museum of Art is in Flushing Meadows Park,
right next to the Unisphere.
Directions:
Subway/LIRR: The 7 subway or LIRR train to Willet’s Point/Shea Stadium
and walk south toward the Museum (look for the Unisphere).
Bus: Q48 to Roosevelt Avenue and 111th Street, then walk south into the park.
Q23 or Q58 to Corona and 51st avenues, and walk east into the park.