Summer Events in NYC-River to River, Midsummer Night's Swing, Bastille Day, LC Festival

Midsummer Night's Swing --through July 17th, Tues-Sat July 5-10; Mon, Wed-Sat July 12th-17th.

Lincoln Center Festival: through July 25th

Bastille Day on 60th St. from Fifth Ave. to Lexington: July 11th

River to River Festival: Free events all summer long

Tomorrow, July 8th--the Restaurant Week Showcase, 11-1PM at the World Financial Center

Summer Outdoor Films

Bryant Park (42nd St and 6th Ave) starts this week its series of outdoor films every Monday at sunset, through Aug. 23rd, 2010. Here's the list of films:
July 12- My Man Godfrey July 19th: The China Syndrome July 26th Monty Python & The Holy Grail; Aug. 2nd Rosemary's Baby Aug. 9th The Goodbye Girl Aug 16th 12 Angry Men Aug. 23 Bonnie and Clyde.
An eclectic mix, to say the least, but most people don't attend for the film, but more for the only-in-New-York spirit of the event.

GMA Concert Series now in Central Park

I was interested to read that Good Morning America is now filming its summer concert series in Central Park at Rumsey Playfield...(enter at 5th and 69th and it is right there...or walk east across at 72nd at Central Park West....). While of course these are limited 'concerts" (generally 3 songs, I think) they do tend to get excellent artists. And of course it is free..first come first served, and they recommend you be there at 6AM (when the park opens). "Concerts" start around 8:30AM.
Here are the remaining concerts for August:
Friday, Aug. 7 -- David Cook, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert
Friday, Aug. 14 -- Kenny Chesney
Friday, Aug. 21 -- Reba McEntire

More free music-Hudson Square Music & Wine Festival

I just received notice from City Winery--one of my fave music spots in Tribeca (Varick and Spring) of FREE summer Tuesday nights of wine and music...what they are calling the 1st Annual Hudson Square Music and Wine Festival. Every Tuesday from 5-7 they'll have free music as well as a Farmer's Market and...wine. Well, I've had enough wine, thank you very much--but the rest of it sounds pretty interesting, and it could be a hot young crowd. We'll see. I like the City Winery for music --they have great shows at a great price--so this might be a fun event. Every Tuesday 5-7PM through Aug 11th. Aug 4th they have country rock; Aug 11 afro-soul.

Concerts in the Parks-NY Philharmonic, live and free

The New York Philharmonic gives a series of free outdoor concerts each July. This year on July 14 and 17th they'll be performing in Central Park on the Great Lawn (enter at 81st and CPW or 81st and Fifth Avenue to get there). The concerts start at 8PM and are free, of course. Like most Central Park concerts, this is really more of a "scene" than a musical event. The musical picks are usually crowd-pleasers (or classical- music -crowd pleasers), and frankly it is really for hanging out and saying you went there. I usually avoid it but it is an event, and out of towners will be impressed by the beauty of the location and the fact that so many New Yorkers manage to get together in one place without killing each other (though there is a definite divide between the music buffs who actually come to hear the music, and the "rest" who come to hang out in the park on their blankets and drink wine and eat cheese and talk and let their kids and dogs wander. ..which is fun too. But....really only if you ...like. Being. With. Lots. Of. People. In a crowded space. Not really for the music. But...an event!!!

Midsummer Night's Swing at Lincoln Center-best free show in town!

Midsummer Night's Swing is Lincoln Center's July 7-25th. Tues-Sat. outdoor dance event for professionals, amateurs, and just-watchers. It's one of those "only in New York" experiences that just makes you feel happy being there-whether you ware only walking by or decide to take the lessons they offer beforehand....or brave the dance floor. Most start at 6:30 with a dance lesson (free), and 7:30 with the live music. The bands are often world-renowned. This is fun for everyone, and a great thing for young kids also. You don't have to be inside the dance circle to enjoy hanging out...some of the best people-watching in town can be found here, and in New York that's saying a lot! All sorts of music and dance--from rockabilly to jazz to Latin to world music. Thursday July 9th has the Woody Herman Band (big band, swing); Friday, July 17th features the Best Dance in Town: Rockabilly.
When-Tues-Sat. July 7-25, 2009. Usually starts at 7:30 (lessons at 6:30).
Where: Damrosch Park, 62nd between Columbus and Amsterdam.

River to River Festival- FREE music and more in downtown NYC

The River to River Festival takes place from June to August each year in various public downtown NYC spots--Chambers Street down to the Battery Park/South Street Seaport. They have a series of FREE events: concerts, ranging from opera to hip-hop; and other events, such as the Public School Dance Contest, special events for kids, etc. Here are a few interesting, free upcoming events (go to the website for full schedule):

• Movie Nights On The Elevated Acre: The Seven Year Itch -July 6 8PM-55 Water St. (Multiple nights for movies)

• EAT: World Financial Center Restaurant Showcase- July 9 -Winter Garden-11AM

• Seaport Music: Casiokids, The Wave Pictures and Slow Club-Aug 7 6PMCasiokids (Norwegian electro-troupe playing afro-beat, techno and out-and-out pop), The Wave Pictures (“sweetly, simply soporific”), and Slow Club (“UK’s answer to The White Stripes”)... FREE 6PM South Street Seaport Pier 17

• Richie Havens- Four Nights of Peace, Love & Music: A Castle Clinton Tribute to Woodstock- July 23 7PM Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park / State Street and Battery Place / 212.835.2789Tickets will be distributed 2 per person outside Castle Clinton on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 5:00PM on the day of the show.

• Arlo Guthrie-Four Nights of Peace, Love & Music: A Castle Clinton Tribute to Woodstock- July 30 7PM (see above for tickets and location)

• John Kelly Sings The Joni Mitchell Songbook: "Songs for a Shiny Hot Night" Four Nights of Peace, Love & Music: A Castle Clinton Tribute to Woodstock- Aug 6 7PM Castle Clinton-tickets will be distributed 2 per person outside Castle Clinton on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 5:00pm on the day of the show. FREE. his is a HOT ticket.