I was talking to one of my favorite friends as I do everyday, Michelle from Everyday Celebrating and we were discussing BLOGHER NYC. I haven't seen Michelle since her trip to NYC almost 5 years ago (good lord time flies!) and we laugh about that trip in that I took one day with her to really tackle the city from a insider's perspective. We shopped, we talked and we walked and walked and walked some more. From the very tip of battery city park all the way up to Carmines on the Upper West Side, I introduced my wonderful city to her that day. I wish I could do the same to everyone attending BLOGHER because the city is vast and has so much to offer that I think everyone should see it not through t he eyes of a tourist but through the amount of things it can offer.
This is my town. So let me give you some things that at times don't necessarily fall under that banner of tourism because as grand as the empire state building, the statue of liberty or the ridiculousness that is the Sex & the City tour is, the city has so much more to offer. Better yet, these are things that are easily accessible, fun and what's more FREE or at a very minimal cost because although we are an expensive city in the grand scheme of things (you pay how much rent for a studio!!!!??) the city offers so much more that does not come close to breaking the bank. This list will be updated as time passes. So pick something out of it while planning or just jump to any of these on the fly while you're here or not.
DISCLAIMER: I'm starting on Wednesday in the hopes that some of you have managed to squick out a day that BLOGHER is not in effect to have some quality time in 'the city.' ALL the events below are FREE unless otherwise noted. Many summer events have not been listed as the individual summer events schedules are coming out little by little so expect this list to Grow & Grow. BLOGHER EVENTS and events related to blogher attendees will be added as well and will be noted in ORANGE. New York looks forward to seeing you soon!
Wednesday, August 4th
- National Night Out
- Bryant Park After Work: Mia Riddle
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Bryant Park Fountain Terrace
Music to start the end of your day - Perfectly timed for an early evening visit to the park, Bryant Park After-Work features an eclectic selection of music performed by talented New York area artists. - RiverFlicks for Grown-Ups: Julie & Julia
8:30PM
Pier 54 West St. and 14th St.
See the stars, under the stars - watch all of your favorite blockbusters from 2009 on the big screen, again! This time around, they’re all FREE. Movies begin at dusk (generally around 8:30 p.m.) There will be complementary popcorn. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase.
Julie & Julia - Julie Powell is dissatisfied with the direction her life is headed. To shake things up she begins to attempt to cook all 524 recipes from Julia Childs’ culinary classic: Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Rated PG-13 - Central Park Summerstage - GEORGE LAMOND, JUDY TORRES and DJ LUCHO
7:00 – 9:00 pm
East River Park, Manhattan
George Lamond became an instant star for his first freestyle album, "Bad of the Heart," which yielded the hit single with the same name and as well as ―Without You" and "Look Into My Eyes." This paved the way for other popular albums in both the freestyle genre as well as modern approaches to traditional Latin music, including ―Where Does That Leave Love‖ and ―Oye Mi Canto
Judy Torres‘ debut album Love Story, is considered by many to be a freestyle collection essential. With numerous major club hits like "Please Stay Tonight", "Come Into My Arms", "Love Story", "I Love You, Will You Love Me" and "No Reason To Cry," her name became synonymous with freestyle music. Currently, Torres hosts a Sunday-night Freestyle show on New York's popular radio station, WKTU 103.5, where she plays the best singles of the genre.
DJ Lucho‘s early exposure to the harmonious rhythms of Latin music in his Harlem neighborhood nurtured an innate talent that propelled him to become one of the most gifted DJs and producers in the music industry. His interaction with different genres of music has allowed him to develop a unique and versatile style, which was guided by his deep appreciation for various cultures and their musical influences. - Tiempo Libre with Julito Martinez/ Una Noche Cubana: Trova con Timbre Presented by Arts World Financial Center
7pm
World Financial Center Winter Garden, 220 Vesey Street
Tiempo Libre, three-time Grammy-nominated timba masters known for their joyful, incendiary, dance-inducing performances, team up with their compatriot, trovador (Cuban troubador) Julito Martinez, for a high-energy concert. Combining the rich jazz harmonies and seductive rhythmic pulse of timba with the poetry and lyricism of trova, these two Latin stars present an unforgettable night of sensual, irresistible Cuban sounds. - Conjunto Imagen - Presented by Battery Park City Authority
7pm
Wagner Park, Battery Place and West Street
Founded in 1989 by Ernie Acevedo and Junior Rivera, Conjunto Imagen has recorded twelve albums and performed at a number of high-profile locations including Gracie Mansion, Lincoln Center and the NBC Rainbow Room. - Madison Square Park Music The James Carter Organ Trio
7:00 pm
Madison Square Park
Described as a “Sax God” by Hi-Fi UK, James Carter brings his trio to Madison Square Park for a season finale of jazz. A darling of the jazz world since his breakout album in 1993, Carter has yet to meet a sax riff he couldn’t devour and his mastery is evident on his latest release Present Tense (Emarcy). - Lincoln Center Out of Doors – Asphalt Orchestra
7:00pm
Josie Robertson Plaz - Lincoln Center Out of Doors – Robert Glasper Experiment with special guests Q-Tip and Bilal Jose James Blackmagic
7:30pm
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Thursday, August 5th
- Rumble on the River
7pm
at Pier 84 (44th Street)
Raindate: August 6 Outdoor Boxing on Manhattan's Spectacular Waterfront. Be on hand for this free outdoor main event as participants from around the five boroughs and beyond fight it out to see who is the best. Event is free and open to the public with special ticketed VIP ringside seating also available. fridaynightfightsnyc.com - Bryant Park Tai Chi - Free Classes in the Park
7:30am – 8:30am
Bryant Park Fountain Terrace
Tai Chi and Eternal Spring are instructed by members of the Tai Chi Chuan Center. Classes are for all ages and experience levels. Classes are rain or shine. - Bryant Park Yoga - Free Classes in the Park
10:00am – 11:00am
Bryant Park Upper Terrace
lululemon athletica provides free yoga classes for all ages and levels. Awaken the body’s potential with revitalizing movement, stretching, breathing, and poses. Some of yoga’s benefits include weight loss, deeper sleep, release from pain and arthritis, and a more youthful appearance. Wear comfortable clothing that allows easy movement. Mats are provided. In case of rain, please call 212-768-4242 - Central Park Summerstage - GIL SCOTT-HERON Presented in association with Jill Newman productions Part of the NYC Revolutions series
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Marcus Garvey Park, Manhattan
Gil Scott-Heron‟s poetry and music is widely acknowledged as the matrix from which hip-hop and neo-soul emerged. His transgressive, politicized, spoken-word-meets-jazz recordings, including, ―The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, ―Whitey on the Moon,” ―The Bottle” and ―Small Talk at 125th and Lennox,” have been covered, sampled, referenced, deified and parodied by generations of artists. 2010 saw the release of I’m New Here, Scott-Heron‘s first release in thirteen years. SPIN called the album, "not so much a comeback as a testament to spiritual resilience." - Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre: Auntie Mame: Broadway2Battery - Classic New York Features Paired with Independent Shorts
8pm
The Elevated Acre at 55 Water St, between Broad and William
Based on Comden & Green’s Broadway musical and nominated for six Academy Awards, this beloved 1958 classic stars Rosalind Russell as Mame, an exuberant and unconventional socialite in the roaring 20’s. Featuring a short film screening by filmmaker Cheryl Dunn. TICKETS ARE REQUIRED and will be available, two per person, at the street-level Water Street entrance to the Elevated Acre on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 6:00 pm on the day of the screening. - Tremenda Rumba! Tiempo Libre with Guest Drummer, Román Díaz - Presented by Battery Park City Authority
7pm
Rockefeller Park, River Terrace and Warren Street
Tiempo Libre, the three-time Grammy-nominated timba masters, known for their joyful, incendiary, dance-inducing performances, join forces with master drummer Roman Diaz and special guests for a night of Tremenda Rumba!- the ultimate Afro-Cuban dance party. Strictly BYOD - bring your own drum! - Broadway in Bryant Park
12:30pm–1:30pm
The Lawn
presented by 106.7 LiteFM
The most popular musicals on and off Broadway perform their biggest hits.
Featuring the casts of:
Avenue Q
Fela!
Million Dollar Quartet
Freestyle Love Supreme
The Fantasticks - Lincoln Center Out of Doors – Asphalt Orchestra
7:00pm
Josie Robertson Plaza - LincolN Center Out of Doors – Paul Taylor Dance Company: 80th Birthday Celebration
8:00pm
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Friday, August 6th
- Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series (artist TBA)
- Today’s Show Concert Series Featuring TRAIN
6am
Rockefller Plaza – 49th street between 5th and 6th Avenues
Fans and visitors are encouraged to join us on the plaza for the live performances. Viewing is on a first-come, first-served basis outside TODAY's window-on-the-world studio, located at 49th Street and Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Fans should arrive by 6 a.m. for best viewing. - Sunset on the Hudson
7 pm
Pier 45 Christopher St. and West St
Every Friday at Sunset there'll be David Ippolito and his guitar strumming away those worries as we all relax underneath the setting sun and into the night. - Rooftop Screening The Vault of Horror Flicks: Freaks (1932)
8:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Tony Dapolito Recreation Center 3 Clarkson St.
Join us in August on Fridays for rooftop screenings of make-your-skin crawl flicks! The first film in this series is Freaks (1932). - RiverFlicks for Kids: Big
8:30pm
Pier 46 -Charles St. and West St
Join us at Hudson River Park’s Pier 46 as we screen new and classic films for the whole family! Movies begin at dusk (generally around 8:30 p.m.) There will be complementary popcorn. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase.
Big - Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it! When 12-yearold Josh Baskin makes a wish to be big, the next morning he wakes up as a grown up! Rated PG - Central Park Summerstage - blood pudding by Sharon Bridgforth, Directed by Baraka de Soleil
8:00 pm
Marcus Garvey Park, Manhattan
blood pudding is a multi-disciplinary theatre piece that celebrates the history of Black people in New Orleans. Through blood memories of a gurl born in Congo Square/blood pudding explores a landscape of magic. In this polyrhythmic telling/the blues is sacred. Narrators are holy. Indigenous people are honored. The drum shapes reality. This is Jazz. Ritual. Theatre. - YACHT - Seaport Music
6pm
South Street Seaport, Pier 17.
YACHT, formed in 2002 by Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans, who claim Portland and Marfa, Texas as homes, is best known for combining music with live visual shamanistic, video, audio and PowerPoint performance. Driven to change drastically every six months, or die, the 2010 version bears no resemblance, except biologically, to previous versions. - STREET FAIR - Financial Community Day Series
11-4
on Fulton St. from Water - Ryders Alley - Lincoln Center Out of Doors – Asphalt Orchestra
7:00pm
Josie Robertson Plaza - Lincoln Center Out of Doors – Hallogallo 2010: Michael Rother & Friends perform the music of NEU! Hermeto Pascoal
7:30pm
Damrosch Park Bandshell - MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) FREE admission Fridays
4-8PM
Location: 11 W 53rd St (btw 5th & 6th Aves), NYC
Details: The Museum of Modern Art is a place that fuels creativity, ignites minds, and provides inspiration. It has the world's finest collection of modern and contemporary art. - Rubin Museum of Art FREE admission Fridays
7-10PM
Location: 150 W 17th St (btw 6th & 7th Aves), NYC
Details: The Rubin Museum of Art (RMA) is home to a comprehensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions.
Saturday, August 7th
- Central Park Summerstage THE CLARK SISTERS and KIERRA „KIKI‟ SHEARD Presented in association with WLIB and Globe Star Media
3:00 – 7:00 pm
Central Park, Manhattan
Four of the most celebrated voices in gospel history, The Clark Sisters - Jacky, Twinkie, Dorinda and Karen - have spent three decades singing, preaching, evangelizing and teaching the Word at home and abroad. With three Grammys under their belt and twelve full-length records to date, they are credited as cornerstone performers in the mainstream, contemporary gospel style.
Kierra „Kiki‟ Sheard is the latest generation of a legendary Gospel music family. The daughter of Karen Clark-Sheard of
The Clark Sisters, she continues the family legacy of spiritual encouragement with a sound and perspective that is all her
own. Inspired by her personal experiences, her latest release, Bold Right Life, features cutting-edge music that could be at
home in churches and clubs alike, bringing her open declaration of the love for Gospel to the forefront. - STREETFAIR - Greenwich Village Festival
11-4
on Greenwich Avenue from 6th - 7th Avenue - Lincoln Center Out of Doors – KIDS DAY – Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls Summer Revue featuring le Saffire and The Awkward Turtles
2:00pm
Hearst Plaza/Barclays Capital Grove - Lincoln Center Out of Doors – KIDS DAY – Puppet Pageant: Prie & Prejudice and New York Real Estate – Puppeteers’ Cooperative with Lincoln Square neighborhood Center and the Red Hook Community Center -
4:00pm
Hearst Plaza/Barclays Capital Grove - Lincoln Center Out of Doors – Asphalt Orchestra
6:00pm
Josie Robertson Plaza - Lincoln Center Out of Doors – Balkan Beat Box Mucca Pazza
7:00pm
Damrosch Park Bandshell - Brooklyn Museum of Art FREE admission Saturdays
5-11PM
Location: 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn (North of Prospect Park)
Event Details: The Brooklyn Museum, housed in a 560,000-square-foot, Beaux-Arts building, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the country.
Sunday, August 8th
- George Gee Swing Orchestra
7:00 pm
Pier 54 14th Street and the Hudson River – Meatpacking District
Here's your chance to dance with the sunset or rather with your partner by the Hudson River. This regular venue takes place every Sunday night from July - August. There'll also be Free Dance Lessons beginning at 6:30 pm courtesy of Dance Manhattan. Live bands to begin at 7:00 pm - Central Park Summerstage THE XX, CHAIRLIFT AND JACK PEÑATE Presented in association with Meanred Productions
7:00 – 10:00 pm
Central Park, Manhattan
The xx are making a quick ascension to pop fame with their dreamy, post-punk songs. The British band‘s 2009 debut, simply titled xx, caught the attention of music critics and fans alike, which lead to sold out tour dates around the globe, as well as wide-spread acclaim. NPR says, ―Both casually cool and absolutely magnetic, this young London (band) makes music that's simple and raw, but utterly captivating.
Chairlift formed in 2006 to make music for haunted houses (!), but has since abandoned that mission to make cleverly seductive psych-pop instead. Best known for their song "Bruises", Chairlift is part of a collaborative circle of Brooklyn experimental pop magicians including MGMT, Yeasayer, Telepathe, and Class Actress.
UK singer/songwriter Jack Peñate pieces together a collage of up-tempo sounds from a myriad of influences. Rolling Stone describes Peñate‘s sophomore release, 2009‘s Everything is New, as ―a more mature album… that jumps from classic soul to Afropop to Tropicalia with a rock undercurrent. As advertised, everything is new this time around for the twenty-four year old soul-singing Brit rocker. - Acoustic Sundays: Slavic Soul Party
7:00 p.m
Pier I at 70th Street.
E njoy spectacular sunsets over the Hudson as you listen to some of New York’s best jazz, R&B, and world music. Fiery Balkan brass, hip-grinding grooves & ecstatic anthems
Throbbing funk grooves, fiery Balkan brass, Gypsy accordion wizardry, and virtuoso jazz chops make Slavic Soul Party! NYC's official #1 brass band for BalkanSoul GypsyFunk. SSP! has created an acoustic mash-up of Balkan and Gypsy sounds with North American music, weaving the gospel, techno, funk, dub, jazz, and Latin influences of New York's neighborhoods seamlessly into a Balkan brass setting. Their original sound has never been clearer than on their new cd Taketron, a surprising re-imagining of brass band dance music that includes only two traditional songs (a blazing Moldovan oompah and a soulful Gospel journey). SSP's music has won the ear of fans and musicians on both sides of the Atlantic, and their tunes have been learned by Serbian brass stars Boban Markovic Orkestar and New Orleans funk sensations Galactic, among others. In addition to touring throughout the US and Europe, SSP! holds down a residency every Tuesday in Brooklyn which has become a destination for music fans from around the world. - STREETFAIR - Lexington Avenue Summerfest (on Lexington Avenue from 42nd - 57th Street)
- Lincoln Center Out of Doors – Heritage Sunday – Yuri Yunakov, Zikrayat, The Maeandros Ensemble
2:00pm
Hearst Plaza/Barclays Capital Grove - Lincoln Center Out of Doors – Asphalt Orchestra
6:00pm
Broadway Plaza - Lincoln Center Out of Doors – S.O.S. (Saving Our Soul) – From the Big Easy to the Big Apple – Soul Rebels Brass Band – Wild Magnolias – Glen David Andrews
7:30pm
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Monday, August 9th
- HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
dusk
Bryant Park
The lawn opens at 5:00pm for blankets (no plastic tarps please) and picnicking. The films begin at dusk (typically between 8pm and 9pm).
The Goodbye Girl - Struggling NYC actor Richard Dreyfuss unhappily shares an apartment with an unemployed dancer (Marsha Mason) and her precocious 10-year-old daughter. Neil Simon’s romantic comedy testament of just how the ones we grow to love drive us crazy. (1977) 110 Min. (Warner Bros.) - Sitelines Presented by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council - LoVid: Trichrome Navigation
12:30pm
One Chase Manhattan Plaza
Interdisciplinary artist duo LoVid leads a team of performers and audience members through an obstacle course, carrying electronic components from one side to another to build an electronic musical instrument that produces live sound. Beginning at a low volume with minimal movement, the performance progresses to a crescendo of density and sound.
