Kick off your work shoes, swap ’em for flip flops, and send off July in style with outdoor movies at Coney Island, pin-up girl burlesque, and massive water gun fights. Don’t fret–July or not, summer is still very much alive in New York. And we’ve got you covered!
FRI 24 Fresh Fruit Festival 2015: 10 Minutes Plays
The Wild Project, 195 E. 3rd St.; 6:30pm; $15
From six 10-minute plays to “Queer Memoir,” a storytelling symposium, New York’s celebration of LGBTQ arts and culture wraps up another year. Enjoy theatre, dance, musicals, art, and cabaret all celebrating the LGBTQ’s creative community. Plus, catch the world premiere of a new, original musical about Silent Spring author, Rachel Carson: a story about environmentalism, feminism, and risking everything that matters to you for what might just matter more.
SAT 25 Central Park Water Fight
Central Park, mid-park from 79th to 85th; 2pm-5pm; FREE
Ready to cool off? Then, grab your super-soaker and squirt guns and get ready to get wet at the largest water fight in the city. Round up a team or battle new friends. Just, leave those water balloons at home. FYI: The organization states that instead of having people all congregate on the Great Lawn as originally planned, they will post different areas around the park to spread out the game.
SAT 25 Taste the World: Botanical Brew Fest
Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St.; 12pm-7pm; $35-$50
Dating back to its World Fair days, the Queens Botanical Garden has been a host of cultural gatherings and good times for decades. This weekend, come sample international cuisine and beers from around the city and across the globe, all under the sun with live music too. Snag tickets for the morning (12-3pm) or evening (4-7pm) sessions and bring your appetite (and thirst.)
SUN 26 Harlem Week Kick-Off: “A Great Day in Harlem”
U.S. Grant National Memorial Park, W. 122nd St.; 1pm-8:30pm; FREE
Head over to Harlem on Sunday for swing dancing, song, and musical salutes under the stars. Honoring all that the neighborhood’s rich history has to offer the annual Harlem Week kicks off with a day-long festival featuring the Swing Dance Society, the Africa Center Music Series’ DJs and dancers, an international gospel choir showcase and a fashion fusion show. Plus, the night wraps up with a musical tribute to B.B King. Click here for a full list of events.
MON 27 Coney Island Flicks on the Beach: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk, West 10th St., 8:30pm-10pm; FREE
So you’ve gone to all the rooftop films and foreign-indie-lawn-flicks. Next on your summer bucket list? Outdoor movies at Coney Island. And what better show to catch than Indiana Jones! Arrive early to get your Nathan’s hotdog haul and snag a a good spot, then lay back for the feature presentation projected onto a 40-foot inflatable screen. Ah, summer.
TUES 28 Eat Australian (…or Peruvian! or Korean!) at NYC Restaurant Week
Locations and times vary, $25-$38
Treat yourself (you know it’s time) and grab a date, friends, or dine solo at this annual culinary spree. Try some of the best eateries through all the boroughs with savory prix fixe menus starting at $25 three-courses lunches to $35 three-course dinners. There will never be a reason not to savor the city dining scene.
WED 29 Nurse Bettie Burlesque Show
Nurse Bettie, 106 Norfolk St.; 9:45pm-11:30pm; FREE
Produced by Calamity Chang, otherwise known as the “Asian Sexsation,” and hosted by Shelly “The Singing Siren” Watson, this weekly pin-up burlesque show is about to become your new Wednesday night go-to. Start the night with $4 happy hour until 9pm, then grab your cocktails and cozy up to the go-go dancers before the big show. Don your best 1950s poster girl get-ups and sit back (or lean forward) for six intimately good acts you’ll simply adore.
THURS 30 In the Glow of a Breathing Sphere
Fridman Gallery, 287 Spring St.; 12pm-6pm; FREE
Taking “Don’t touch the art!” to a whole new level, this LED light installation is activated merely by a single viewer’s breath. Accompanied by various vocal art and spoken word performance, the triggered light centerpiece explores visual energies and the interaction of nature, humans and technology. With over 13,000 lights and 5,422 feet of tubing, experience a close-up look at art like you’ve never seen it before.
