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Over its history, Celebrate Brooklyn has presented over 1,700 artists and ensembles reflective of the borough’s diversity, ranging from internationally acclaimed performers to emerging, cutting-edge artists. All Celebrate Brooklyn performances are FREE! The festival attracts upwards of 250,000 attendees from across New York City to the Prospect Park Bandshell each summer.

2009 Summer Schedule - All Events are Rain or Shine

Monday, June 8, 2009
David Byrne: Songs of David Byrne & Brian Eno
From 8:00 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Among iconic New York artists, DAVID BYRNE has few peers. In this concert he plays songs from his collaborations with Brian Eno, which began in the late 70s and span three Talking Heads albums, 1981’s groundbreaking My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, and last year’s Everything that Happens will Happen Today. An ensemble cast including dancers, background vocalists, and a killer band amplify the spectacle—a legendary Brooklyn night in the making, sure to pass instantly into NYC folklore.

Thursday June 11, 2009
Goran Bregović & His Weddings & Funerals Orchestra
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Sarajevo-born GORAN BREGOVIC is a seminal figure in the Yugoslav rock world, a film composer who has been likened to Enio Moriconi and Nino Rota, and a co-conspirator with artists as varied as Iggy Pop and Cesaria Evora. With his own massive band, featuring brass, a classical string ensemble, an all-male choir, and traditional Bulgarian and Roma singers, he marries the dance music of a raucous gypsy wedding with Eastern European choral arrangements in “a mind-blowing return trip with no destination or port of arrival…a magnificent concert, one of the greatest marvels to be heard on stage today.” (La Vanguardia, Spain)

Friday June 19, 2009
David Rudder, Samantha Thornhill
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
A performer of such innovation and vitality that Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner called him “the Bob Marley of soca,” DAVID RUDDER changed the face of Caribbean music with his heart pounding mix of classic calypso and soulful pop. Trinidadian born Brooklynite SAMANTHA THORNHILL, an author, educator, and slam poetess of the first order, will prime the crowd with some spoken word derring-do.

Saturday June 20, 2009
Movie: La Nave De Los Monstruos With Live Score by Ethel and Gutbucket
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
“I wish there were more rock bands who played like ETHEL.” (Guardian UK) In a special Celebrate Brooklyn commission, the nation’s premier rock-infused, postclassical string quartet teams up with the artrock wild men of GUTBUCKET to perform a new original score to the vintage Mexican science fiction classic La Nave De Los Monstruos (The Monsters’ Ship, 1959). In the film, the last male on Venus has died and two Venusian hotties embark on a quest to find men on other planets. The two bands dig into this fertile ground after developing the project at a BRIClab residency this spring. GUTBUCKET performs an opening set. Friends of CB pre-performance reception sponsored by Aguayo & Hubner Fifth. See Friends panel for details.

Thursday June 25, 2009
Femi Kuti and the Positive Force | Melvin Gibbs’ Elevated Entity
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Having long established himself as the heir apparent to his famous father Fela’s superfunky Afrobeat throne, the unstoppable FEMI KUTI returns to the Bandshell to make all of Prospect Park into one giant Nigerian dance party. Brooklyn born MELVIN GIBBS, “the best bassist in the world,” (Time Out NY) starts the night off with his ELEVATED ENTITY project, something of a downtown NYC supergroup, which continues Gibbs’ exploration of African diaspora music with a fusion of Afro-Brazilian rhythms, funk and rap.

Friday June 26, 2009
Blonde Redhead
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Vaunted NYC underground sensualists BLONDE REDHEAD have shape-shifted from dissonant noise explorations to ethereal, dreamy pop over the course of their career, always inspiring intense devotion from their fans. “It is as if they are pressing on piano keys and each key is a trigger that tugs a wire within the listener. There are keys for longing, possession, despair, and ecstasy—and Blonde Redhead travel fast and skillfully over the whole keyboard.” (PopMatters)

Saturday June 27, 2009
Dr. Dog | Phosphorescent | These United States
From 7:00 PM (Gates: 6:00 PM)
DR. DOG’s foot stomping, back porch blend of “a little folk, blues, indie rock, soul, bluegrass–and a whole lot of down-home harmonizing” (Philadelphia Weekly) channels The Band one moment, the Beach Boys another, and Pavement the next. In the music played by Brooklyn’s Matthew Houck, a.k.a. PHOSPHORESCENT, “you can hear Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Will Oldham—but the modern day folkie has a sound all his own.” (Gothamist) THESE UNITED STATES’ “distinct electro-folk sound” (NPR) rounds out the bill.

Thursday July 2, 2009
Obie Juan BermudÉZ | Cucu Diamantes | Rebel Diaz
From 7:00 PM (Gates: 6:00 PM)
The Latin Grammy-winning Puerto Rican pop star OBIE JUAN BERMUDÉZ, “a talent on par with Juanes or Alejandro Sanz,” (Houston Chronicle) pits his mojo against Yerba Buena singer CUCU DIAMANTES’ fiery mix of “salsa, funk, cumbia, hip-hop, pop-punk, mariachi, tango, disco and flamenco…just for starters,” (NY Times) and the political activist hip-hop of REBEL DIAZ, whose mesmerizing frontwoman Lah Tere unleashes rhymes with hurricane force.

Thursday July 9, 2009
Dance: STREB: Invisible Forces
From 8:00 PM (Gates: 7:00 PM)
The breathtakingly acrobatic Williamsburg-based company celebrates 30 high flying years with Invisible Forces, which combines the thrills of the circus and the velocity of the Indy 500 in one crowd pleasing Action Event. STREB’s new Action Platform, a 20 ft. amped-up rotating floor, the Espana Whizzing Gizmo, and the 2 dimensional vertical pipe grid Airlines will dazzle and amaze. Beautiful bodies engaging sexy hardware in show stopping pieces will keep you on the edge of your seat, heart in throat. “Streb’s unique movement art—kin to sport, circus, physics experiment, and hard labor—has reached a peak of theatricality and dare-all virtuosity.” (Village Voice)

Friday July 10, 2009
Los Amigos Invisibles | Aterciopelados
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
A double shot of unfiltered South American pleasure in which the great Venezuelan party band LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES, a lusty outfit that combines a “love of disco and funk with their reverence for oldfashioned Latin dances like the mambo and bossa-nova,” (NY Post) locks horns with Columbian national heroes ATERCIOPELADOS. Proficient in everything from punk to electro-lounge to jangly Latin folk rock, the velvety ones (English translation, for all you gringos) have an uncanny ability “to take north-of-theborder musical styles…and breathe new life into them.” (Time)

Saturday July 11, 2009
Ezra Jack Keats Family Concert, A Very Special Family Show With They Might Be Giants
From 4:00 PM (Gates: 3:00 PM)
Brooklyn’s own legendary alternative rockers THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS have made some astonishingly good kids’ albums, most recently the 2009 Best Children’s Album Grammy Winner Here Come the 123s, becoming in the process “the ultimate fan- and now family-friendly rock act.” (Billboard) They return to the Bandshell to headline our annual Ezra Jack Keats Family Concert, which also features readings of Keats’ classic stories by WFUV’s Claudia Marshall. Special appearance by Livable Streets Education’s big purple friend ZoZo!

Thursday July 16, 2009
Kronos Quartet | Luminescent Orchestrii
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
For more than 35 years KRONOS QUARTET has pushed, made fun of, made irrelevant, and pretty much pulverized the standard notion of the string quartet, assembling in the process “a body of work unparalleled in its range and scope of expression.” (NPR) Their repertoire runs the gamut from Bartók to Charles Mingus to Jimi Hendrix, and their collaborators have been as diverse as Philip Glass, Asha Bhosle, and Nine Inch Nails. They share the Bandshell stage with the frenzied and slightly diabolical LUMINESCENT ORCHESTRII, a Gypsy punk string ensemble that “plays renditions of Appalachian and Gypsy tunes that run from lively and infectious to deeply melancholy.” (Time Out NY)

Friday July 17, 2009
The Robert Cray Band | the Sweet Divines
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
The five time Grammy-winning Stratocaster titan ROBERT CRAY’s “soul-infused blues has become the bridge between traditional and contemporary blues;” (Rolling Stone) he remains a strong persuader, as potent as ever after three decades of recording and touring. THE SWEET DIVINES, four young ladies with a smoking band behind them, pay homage to the traveling soul revues of the 60s with an authentic sound that evokes Stax, Aretha, James Brown, and funky New Orleans. “Sign them up, and let them bring the funk to the masses!” (BBC) Friends of CB pre-performance reception sponsored by Betancourt Realty & Associates. See Friends panel for details.

Saturday July 18, 2009
African Festival With King Sunny Adé | Freshly Ground | The Mandingo Ambassadors | Cheikh M’Baye & Sing Sing | Abena Koomson | Yasser Darwish
From 2:00 PM (Gates: 1:00 PM)
Our annual day-long festival of music, food and crafts features a lineup of bands that will keep the dancers moving from day till night, with the great KING SUNNY ADÉ of Nigeria leading the charge. The bill includes South Africa’s FRESHLY GROUND, making a rare US appearance to whip the revelers into a frenzy with its mix of indigenous African sounds and contemporary urban styles; THE MANDINGO AMBASSADORS, from NYC by way of Guinea, whose music “has been structured to make you feel good” (NY Times); wild Senegalese drum troupe CHEIKH M’BAYE & SING SING; powerful Brooklyn born Ghanaian vocalist ABENA KOOMSON; and whirling traditional Egyptian dancer YASSER DARWISH.

Thursday July 23, 2009
Dance: Stephen Petronio Company
From 8:00 PM (Gates: 7:00 PM)
“One of the few contemporary dancer makers who have created an instantly recognizable style,” (NY Times) STEPHEN PETRONIO celebrates his company’s 25th Anniversary Season with the dynamic and elemental I Drink the Air Before Me, an evening length work inspired by the power of extreme weather and storms both atmospheric and internal. Petronio’s predeliction for forward thinking popular music (his dancers have moved to Rufus Wainwright and Antony in the past) is satisfied here by a score from new classical composer and crossover sensation Nico Muhly.

Friday July 24, 2009
Buckwheat Zydeco | the Holmes Brothers
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Swamp boogie accordion master BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO and his band “spit out the kind of crackling music that’s been missing since the heyday of Stax Records…on stage the attack is relentless.” (Wall Street Journal) THE HOLMES BROTHERS harmony-filled blend of American roots jumps from church to the juke joint and “recalls the era when soul seceded from gospel music,” (Mother Jones) with a healthy dose of blues, funk and country thrown in. Friends of CB pre-performance reception sponsored by Warren Lewis Realty Associates. See Friends panel for details.

Saturday July 25, 2009
Kailash Kher | Electro Morocco
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
The South Asian superstar, Bollywood icon, and judge of Indian Idol KAILASH KHER moves “among styles without hesitation, adding elements of folk, reggae and rock to Indian pop…(he) has a voice as appealing as it is thrilling.” (Wall Street Journal) Comprised of five NYC-based Israelis, ELECTRO MOROCCO combines buzzing guitars with synths and beats to concoct a dance floor friendly mix of retro rock, Middle Eastern folk, and warped electro.

Thursday July 30, 2009
Burning Spear | Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Roots reggae legend BURNING SPEAR brings his Rastafarian message of positivity back to the Bandshell for another epic performance. Last year’s vital Jah Is Real featured contributions from Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrel; Spear has never sounded better. “Four decades and still dropping knowledge: no other artist, with the possible exception of Toots Hibbert, can lay claim to being reggae’s true elder statesman.” (PopMatters) The evening begins with the righteous harmonies and church-inflected soul of NAOMI SHELTON & THE GOSPEL QUEENS.

Friday July 31, 2009
The Royal Family: Soulive’S 10Th Anniversary Celebration
From 7:00 PM (Gates: 6:00 PM)
The exceptional jazz-funk trio SOULIVE celebrates 10 years of “simmering instrumental funk” (Entertainment Weekly) by busting out THE ROYAL FAMILY, a hard hitting conglomeration of various side projects and special guests that will come together for the jam of the summer. Ivan Neville’s DUMPSTAPHUNK, “musically hard-nosed and rooted in 1970s inner city funk,” (Offbeat)” kicks off the show with a set of New Orleans’ nastiest grooves.

Saturday August 1, 2009
Movie & Music: Dean & Britta - 13 Most Beautiful…Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests | Crystal Stilts
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
Luna alumni DEAN & BRITTA perform original scores to Warhol’s rarely seen short silent film portraits, which captured Factory superstars, celebrities, and anonymous teenagers in mesmerizing 4-minute shots. “The music unabashedly translates the ominous drone of early Velvet Underground songs like I’m Waiting for the Man and Venus in Furs into a more modern electronic mode reminiscent of Giorgio Moroder’s chic torture-chamber disco.” (NY Times) Commissioned by the Andy Warhol Museum, the project is like an archeological dig unearthing NYC’s 1960s art scene, complete with soundtrack. Brooklyn’s CRYSTAL STILTS, “moody-sounding f***ers who make fabulous stripped-down garage-pop,” (Pitchfork) will set the tone for the night.

Thursday August 6, 2009
Movie & Music: Purple Rain Sing-A-Long With Escort
From 7:30 PM (Gates: 6:30 PM)
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of history’s greatest pop albums, and the extravagantly, hilariously whacky and over the top film it inspired (the apotheosis of both the purple one’s genius and self caricature), we invite you to don something lacey and ruffled and come get your Prince on. We’ll have lyric subtitles, but you know the words already. Brooklyn’s own live disco orchestra ESCORT plays an opening set, and will lead the sing-along festivities. Rated R. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or guardian.

Friday August 7, 2009
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals | Deer Tick
From 7:00 PM (Gates: 6:00 PM)
Fronted by the Joplin-like vocals and driving Hammond B-3 of their fearless frontwoman, GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS play “blues-based rock with glorious passion.” Hard to categorize—folk? indie rock? alt-country? Americana?—but easy to love, DEER TICK “write and play some of the most soulful, inspired music around, littered with lyrics as sharp as a shot of whiskey and rapid-fire guitar solos strong enough to blow the dust off your boots.” (Brooklyn Vegan)

Saturday August 8, 2009
Big Daddy Kane | Plus Screening of BDK: the Big Daddy Kane Story | Hosted by “The worlds #1 beatboxer” Rahzel
From 7:00 PM (Gates: 6:00 PM)
The Lyricist Lounge returns with a once in a lifetime night of positive hip-hop featuring Brooklyn legend BIG DADDY KANE performing with his live band, preceded by a screening of the short documentary BDK: THE BIG DADDY KANE STORY, directed by Lyricist Lounge’s own Anthony Marshall. Other special guest performers TBA!

Benefit Concerts

Proceeds help support free shows at Celebrate Brooklyn!
July 1: MGMT (Sold out)
July 21: Jackson Browne
Aug 11: TV on the Radio
Aug 12: Bonnie Raitt & Taj Mahal
Aug 14: Animal Collective (Sold out)
Aug 15: Animal Collective

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Movies With A View returns for its 10th Anniversary Season on Thursday, July 9, 2009. This summer, sidle up, nab a patch of grass and enjoy a night of fabulous entertainment FREE. Come down (walk across the Brooklyn Bridge or scoot) to the park to enjoy one of the city’s premiere outdoor film series with an eclectic line-up of films and breathtaking views of the NYC waterfront & Brooklyn Bridge.

The films are chosen by an all-volunteer Film Committee and each feature is preceded by a short film. DJs from Brooklyn Radio kick off the evening, spinning tunes as the sun sets, while RICE sells delicious dinners on-site. The theme for this summer’s films is Stolen Summer - the season of capers, thrillers and heists!

July Film Schedule

(Activities start at 6PM)

Thursday, July 9 - Feature Film: Raising Arizona
Short: Ami Underground directed by D.W. Young
DJ: DJ DRM
Thursday, July 16 - Feature Film: The Maltese Falcon
Short: Under the Rollercoaster directed by Lila Place
DJ: MonkOne
Thursday, July 23 - Feature Film: Paper Moon
Short: The Coffee Bird directed by Bryan Brinkman
DJ: Tim “Love” Lee
Thursday, July 30 - Feature Film: To Catch A Thief
Short: Icebox Blues directed by Jesse Ash
DJ: DJ Ayres

August Film Schedule:

Thursday, August 6 - Feature Film: The Return Of The Pink Panther (1975)
Short: It’s Good to Be Green directed by Michael Garvey
DJ: Soulstatic
Thursday, August 13 - Feature Film: Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
Short: Birdman of Brooklyn directed by JL Aronson
DJ: Nick Name
Thursday, August 20 - Feature Film: Catch Me If You Can
Short: 6 a.m. directed by Carmen Vidal
DJ: DJ Emch
Thursday, August 27 - Feature Film: Edward Scissorhands
Short: I Am Not Obsessed directed by Imani Dean
DJ: Oneman

Featured NYC Things To Do in July

Saturday, July 4, 2009
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
12:00PM,
Watch the re-match of last year’s historic over-time battle (video) between winner Joey Chestnut and runner-up Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi LIVE! (video of winners with trophies)
Islandwoo Tip for this year: Arrive 2 hrs early and bring a crate or ladder to step on!

Thursday, July 9th (16th, 23rd, 30th)
Start of Summer Films at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Movies With A View
6:00PM
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to enjoy one of the city’s premiere outdoor film series with an eclectic line-up of films and breathtaking views of the NYC waterfront. This summer’s movie theme: “Stolen Summer - the season of capers, thrillers and heists!”

Sunday, July 12, 2009
Highline Street Festival
12:00PM - 5:00PM
Enter at Gansevoort Street between 9th Ave & Washington St - Celebrate the opening of the first section of High Line Park with Target. The festival will feature internationally-acclaimed artists, inflatable sculptures, cowboys, story-tellers, marching, swing and salsa bands (some on a roof-top stage), and an exciting array of hands-on activities for the whole family.

Other NYC Things To Do in July

Saturdays in July (4th, 11th, 18th, 25th)
P.S.1 Summer Music Series - July
Sunday, July 12, 2009, 12PM - 6PM
Bastille Day on 60th Street (between 5th & Lex)
Monday, July 13, 2009, 8PM
Paulo Szot kicks off Met Opera Summer Recital Series (full schedule: through 8/14)
Tuesday, July 14 to Friday July 17 - 8PM
NY Philharmonic kicks off 4 nights of “Concerts in the Parks” - Central Park, Bronx, Brooklyn (featuring Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Copland)
Saturday, July 18, 2009, 12PM - 9PM
The 2009 Siren Music Festival in Coney Island, NY
Thursday July 30 at 7PM
Rumble on the River - Amateur Boxing on Pier 84

Ongoing NYC Things To Do

Through the summer
Top 10 Rooftop & Garden Bars in NYC
Through the summer
Latest Broadway and Off-Broadway Deals and Discount Codes
Through Sunday, August 16, 2009
Enjoy Free Concerts at Central Park SummerStage
Through Sunday, August 15, 2009
Enjoy Free Music, Movies and Dance at Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park
Through Sunday, August 30, 2009
2009 Williamsburg Waterfront “Pool Parties” Concert Schedule
Through the summer
Walk Through the Heart of Central Park
Through the summer
Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge

I will add new things to do to this list as I find out about them. Be the first to be notified by following me on twitter

The High Line was originally constructed in the 1930s, to lift dangerous freight trains off Manhattan’s streets. Section 1 of the High Line is now open as a public park! When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen. It features an integrated landscape, designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, combining meandering concrete pathways with naturalistic plantings. Fixed and movable seating, lighting, and special features are also included in the park.

See images of the architects’ vision for High Line Park: Design Gallery

Summer Events

July 12th - High Line Street Festival with Target
July 15th - Design Talk: Lecture with the Designers
Throughout the summer - Walking Tours of High Line
Throughout the summer - Family Events
Full schedule of events

The High Line is open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Access to the High Line is possible via any of these access points: Gansevoort, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th Streets. Dogs are currently not allowed on the High Line due to the limited area of the pathways and the fragility of the new plantings.

New York City is in no shortage of amazing rooftops for public gatherings. Though I’ve never come across one as unique as this: X-Initiative presents the premiere of Pool Noodle Roof by Jeffrey Inaba’s Los Angeles-based practice, INABA. The rooftop space, which will be used for film screenings and special events, will be open to the public daily during selected visiting hours throughout the summer.

Four separate seating areas have been specially designed to cluster around an ‘X’ shaped carpet that covers the entire rooftop surface. The furniture, which is also X-shaped in plan, has been constructed from pool noodles – the long and cylindrical, foam water floatation toys commonly found in suburban backyard pools. The pool noodles have been cut and bunched vertically into chaise lounge and ottoman units of varying heights that accommodate up to 150 people. When viewed from above, the arrangement of vibrant colored buoyant seating material spells out the word, ‘bububluooopppp’ (the sound of something rising or sinking). Pretty clever!

I love it when interaction with public art installations is encouraged. When I tried to pet Jeff Koons’ balloon dog at the Met Rooftop, I received a much different reaction!

Islandwoo Tip: X has not disclosed their summer schedule yet but has promised to email Islandwoo. So follow me on Twitter to be the first to be notified.
Location: 548 West 22nd Street between 10th & 11th Aves. Be sure to also visit the newly opened High Line Park (Manhattan’s elevated park) nearby

Salon de Ning
Peninsula Hotel, 700 5th Avenue, at 55th Street; daily 4:00PM - 1:00AM
Themes based on the tale of Shanghainese socialite Madame Ning and her travels. Expensive drinks, but the views and decor are worth it!

230 Fifth Rooftop Garden
230 5th Ave (& 27th St.), 20th floor; Open everyday 4:00PM - 4:00AM
Expensive drinks and a little cheesy, but 230 Fifth offers the city’s largest rooftop bar and best views of the Empire State Building

Cantor Rooftop Garden at Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 5th Avenue, at 82nd Street; 212-570-3820
This Art filled museum rooftop garden offers amazing views of Central Park and 5th Ave. Currently exhibiting Roxy Paine on the Roof. Past exhibits include amazing balloon sculptures by Jeff Koons.

A60 (Above 60) Rooftop
60 Thompson Street, between Spring and Broome Streets; Open everyday 6:00PM - 12:30AM
Hotel guests and members-only rooftop bar with stunning views of downtown Manhattan. Another Thompson hotel rooftop that is open to the public…
Above Allen Rooftop
190 Allen Street btw Houston and Stanton
This new rooftop has the usual expensive drinks but also has great music, great views of midtown & a popular Wednesday night.

Bohemian Hall Beer Garden
29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria; 718-274-4925
This Astoria Queens Beer Garden is the oldest and biggest for outdoor beer drinking, with $14 pitchers and picnic chairs and weekly Jazz and Comedy.

Plunge
Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Avenue, at 13th Street; 877-426-7386
Usually horribly crowded and cheesy, but if you are in the Meatpacking District, in need of a rooftop, and can’t get into the members-only SoHo House, this is it.
If this is not your style, you can always try
The Garden of Ono
The hotel’s ground level restaurant has a bamboo-filled outdoor garden and four cabanas. Call ahead for reservations at 212-660-6766.

Rise at the Ritz-Carlton, Battery Park
2 W. Street, 14th fl, 917-790-2626
Located on the 14th floor of the Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park, this award-winning and aptly named bar boasts one of the most dramatic views in the city, perfect for July 4th fireworks!

The Park - Garden & Penthouse
118 Tenth Avenue, between 17th and 18th Street; 212-352-3313
Featuring lower level garden with Japanese maple trees and top level Penthouse, this place has something for everyone!

Highbar Rooftop Lounge
251 West 48th Street; 212-229-0010
The breezy sixteen stories Highbar terrace is sprinkled with sprawling day beds, plush love seats as well as a UFO chair. Try the Drunken Watermelon: a scooped out melon rind, filled with the liquor of your choice.

Notable Mentions

B-Bar & Grill - 40 E 4th Street
The Delancey - 168 Delancey Street, at Clinton Street
Local West - 1 Penn Place, Eighth Avenue at 33rd Street
Studio B - 259 Banker Street
AVA Penthouse Garden - 210 W 55th Street
Brass Monkey - 530 W. 27th Street

P.S.1 Opening Day Celebration: Young Architects Program 2009

Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
“Join us for this very special opening day!” Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Young Architects Program, P.S.1 and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) present Afterparty, an interactive environment serving as a cooling “urban shelter” in the heart of P.S.1’s courtyard with towering hut-like structures providing shade similar to that of a Bedouin tent. This will create a breeze and a “cool down” refuge for the kinetic Warm Up crowd.

Warm Up Summer Music Series

Date: Saturdays, July 4th to Sept. 5th, 2009, 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Warm Up is P.S.1’s critically acclaimed music series and has become one of the most anticipated summer events. The series is housed within the architectural installation created by the winner of the annual P.S.1 and MoMA organized Young Architects Program. Together, the music, architecture and exhibition program provide a unique multi-sensory experience for music fans, artists, and families alike.

Highlights from past Warm Ups include a stellar group of international DJs and live music ensembles: DJ Harvey, Groove Collective, Lovebug Starski, Afrika Bambaataa, Mad Professor, Richie Hawtin, Danny Krivit, Trevor Jackson, Francois K, DJ Craze, Frederic Galliano, Kid Koala, Derrick May, and many more.

Warm Up Admission:
$10 (includes access to all exhibitions as well) Cash only.
FREE to MoMA members and Long Island City residents with id. LIC residents can bring 1 guest so give that friend a call!

Islandwoo Tip: Avoid waiting in line and purchase tickets in advance from any agnès b. store located in New York City.

PS1 Warm Up Schedule (shows run 2:00PM - 9:00PM)

Saturday, July 4
The 2009 WarmUp season kicks off with Reagenz featuring Jonah Sharp (Space Continuum) & Move D (extended live set)
DJ set by Daniel Bell a.k.a DBX.
Get your dancin’ shoes on for another great season of music in Long Island City!

Saturday, July 11
Week 2 of WarmUp brings another exciting line-up of music by Arthur’s Landing plays the music of Arthur Russell; Danny Wang (Balihu, NYC/Berlin) and MV Carbon & Aki Onda.

Saturday, July 18
agnés b., proud sponsor of WarmUp, hosts a very special day of performances with SPANK DJs SeanB and DJ Will; Cheveu (Born Bad label); Xeno & Oaklander (Wierd Records) and DJ Pieter (Wierd Records).

Saturday, July 25
Alexi Delano (AD Music, NYC); Derek Plaslaiko (the Bunker/Specral, Queens); Elliott Sharp’s Carbon (with Zeena Parkins, David Weinstein, and many others)

Saturday, August 1
Balance Recordings & NDATL hosts. Chez Damier (Chicago); House of House (Live/DJ, Whatever We Want NYC); Kai Alce (Atlanta); Stars Like Fleas

Saturday, August 8
Music Committee of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company: Stephan Moore and David Behrman
Eats Tapes; Lovefingers with special guests

Saturday, August 15
Afro Acid hosts. DJ Pierre (Chicago); Phuture 303 (Chicago); House of Stank (New York); Growing

Saturday, August 22
Brennan Green (Chinatown); John Selway (CSM); Tim Love Lee (Tummy Touch); Talibam!
The Phenomenal Handclap Band (live)

Saturday, August 29
Timmy Regisford (Area Code) & Club Shelter); Duane Pitre

Saturday, September 5
Rong Music with Glenn Branca and special guests

I am one disgruntled New Yorker that constantly need to be distracted to avoid drowning in my daily frustrations. Luckily there are some very cool, unique and free NYC things to do every month!

Featured NYC Things To Do in June

Friday, June 12, 2009
Time Square Bubble Battle! (Amazing photos & video)
From 6:15 PM to ??
Millions of bubbles fly through the air as thousands of people converge in Times Square for a magical bubble battle! From the some folks that brought us the
NYC Pillow Fight (photos & video) and
NYC LightSaber Battle (photos & video).

Saturday, June 13 to Friday June 19, 2009
NYC Food Film Festival
Doors at 7 PM, Films start at 8:30 PM
Water Taxi Beach, Long Island City & South Street Seaport
The 3rd Annual NYC Food Film Festival is a multi-sensory experience where film-goers are able to watch food films and then sample the food portrayed in those films.

Monday, June 22 to Friday June 26, 2009
Experience a Week of Wimbledon Tennis LIVE at Rockefeller Center
Daily from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Watch Wimbledon Tennis LIVE on a big screen and play tennis on a Manhattan’s only grass court! Plus many free daily and special events. Reserve your court time now!

Sunday, June 28, 2009
P.S. 1: Opening Day Celebration: Young Architects Program 2009
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the Young Architects Program, P.S.1 and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) present Afterparty, an interactive environment serving as a cooling “urban shelter” in the heart of P.S.1’s courtyard with towering hut-like structures providing shade similar to that of a Bedouin tent.

Other NYC Things To Do in June

Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 2PM
Mermaid Parade in Coney Island
Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 12PM - 8PM
Celebrate Hip Hop music & culture at Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival
Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 12PM
500 Free Treats of Summer NYC - Shake Shack, Cupcake Stop, Mud Truck, Treats Truck, Wafels and Dinges
Sunday, June 20 to Wednesday June 24
50-70% off at Hugo Boss Warehouse Sale
Friday, June 26, 2009 - 7:30PM
FREE Concert with Blonde Redhead in Prospect Park
Sunday, June 28, 2009 - 7PM
NYC’s 2009 LGBT Pride March

Ongoing NYC Things To Do

Through the summer
Top 10 Rooftop & Garden Bars in NYC
Through the summer
Latest Broadway and Off-Broadway Deals and Discount Codes
Through Sunday, August 16, 2009
2009 Central Park SummerStage Concert Schedule
Through Sunday, August 30, 2009
2009 Williamsburg Waterfront “Pool Parties” Concert Schedule
Through the summer
Walk Through the Heart of Central Park
Through the summer
Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge

I will add new things to do to this list as I find out about them. Be the first to be notified by following me on twitter

Watch Wimbledon tennis LIVE on a big screen and play tennis on a real grass court!
Date: Monday, June 22 to Friday, June 26, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Rockefeller Center Plaza - 5th Ave & 50th/51st Streets

Islandwoo Tip: Play on Manhattan’s only grass court! Wear white and call 212-525-4331 to reserve your complimentary court time.
Question of the Tournament: Will Roger Federer make tennis history at Wimbledon this year in Rafa Nadal’s absence?? Please comment below

Daily Events

Watch Wimbledon LIVE daily on the big screen - Catch exciting match play daily on a giant screen TV from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., followed by classic tournament footage until 7:00 p.m. ESPN is providing the live feed so we can catch the magic of Wimbledon as it happens. Tennis fans can enjoy their lunch or take a break while watching the action from a special seating area.

Complimentary Strawberries and Cream - Stop by HSBC carts for a traditional Wimbledon treat distributed between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily.

Picture with the Wimbledon Trophy - Through green screen technology fans can pose with the Wimbledon trophy and walk away with a photo via the direct print station in the plaza daily.

Play “Grand Slam Tennis” - Throughout the week, try out the new video game, “EA SportsTM Grand Slam® Tennis.”

Special Events

Monday 6/22 at Noon - Jim Courier and Jennifer Capriati in a live tennis exhibition - See Jim Courier and Jennifer Capriati in a live tennis exhibition with emcee Luke Jensen. These former number 1 ranked tennis greats will face off on Monday 6/22 at noon.

Tuesday to Friday - Come out and improve your game - Prince tennis pros will give fun tennis coaching and let you have a go with Prince’s latest rackets.
Tues & Wed from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM and 5:30 - 7:00 PM
Thurs & Fri from 1:00 - 2:30 PM and 4:00 - 5:30 PM.
Spaces limited!

Tuesday 6/23 at 3:30 PM - Watch a kids tennis clinic hosted by Jim Courier - Jim Courier will host a tennis clinic for children from the City Parks Foundation, taking them through tennis skills and drills and a Q&A session with the tennis champ.

Wimbledon week at Rockefeller Center is sponsored by HSBC, the world’s local bank. The weeklong celebration has activities for every tennis fan.

LIVE photos from some of the other twitterers who captured the excitement and drama of this year’s Time Square Bubble Battle. (Thanks to @tomatoejam, @nicolebadac, @dugange, @cubanpab, vfnyc1, jandan)

If you have photos that you’d like to include here, please tweet them to @islandwoo or send them to islandwoo@gmail.com

Awesome video by davemarc23

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