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Definitely not recommended for summer fun, is what Nik Wallenda decided to do in 2008. Seemingly, he was bored, so he set a world record by taking a walk on 235 feet of wire suspended between two cranes. He finished this stroll by 
Nik Wallenda's spinning classpedaling a bicycle on a wire dangling above Newark, New Jersey.
He set the world record for highest and longest bike-ride. The circus daredevil, and seventh generation of the Flying Wallendas circus family, was 12 stories above the street. He did this in front of his family, wife, three small children and the curious – all of whom held their collective breath. Of course. Nik's next pre-funeral feat is supposed to be a stroll across the Grand Canyon - on a wire. This observer has found a few more conventional ways to cool off, relax or just enjoy what is out there in the summer of our content. And, a lot of it is free.
One of the heady aspects of New York is the unflappable promise of discovery. This is especially so in the summer. Whether you're into high wire bike riding, running around the reservoir, high fashion with flip flops, greasy frankfurters at Coney Island or going to cabaret or a Broadway show, it's all here – somewhere. It's New York. If you are bored, you might need to call a therapist for comfort. Otherwise, the city has other amusing things to do in abundance. And soon, waiters will be serving food on the streets of Times Square as the mayor continues to mess up traffic even more. Maybe it's the next piano bar? Why not? You can wander around for hours and lose yourself not just where you are, but but in what you have found.
Broadway is on fire with some monster sell-out shows including: The Book of Mormon, War Horse, Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert, Sister Act, Jersey Boys, Anything Goes and Memphis. Also, some mega-million thing called Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark – which, does not have Nik Wallenda, and is still quite the thrill and box office hit. New York has plenty to do in the summer. Fish are jumpin' and the living is (not) easy - but it's good fun.
Bryant Park is much smaller than Central Park, but it is a sweet place to spend late afternoons and lunch time. It's located in Midtown, bordered by Fifth Avenue, Sixth Ave, 40th St and 42nd St. It's also the home of ithe denizens of fashion and star-studded galas.
Movies/Concerts in Bryant Park
With an inviting, lush lawn, this “designer” park is one of the most occupied greeneries in the world, hosting an attendance of about 800 people per acre, in the summer. The vital park is a popular site where people lunch, spend time on the lawn, read, stop to take a breath, watch movies and maybe sip a cappuccino at the Bryant Park Cafe. Aside from movies under the stars, catch any hot & hip concert from all the favorite and current Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, sung by their stars.
Schedule: Thursdays, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm, presented by 106.7 LiteFM
Thursday, July 7 - STOMP | Baby It's You | Sister Act | Zarkana
Thursday, July 14 - Chicago | Million Dollar Quartet | Catch Me If You Can | Newsical
Thursday, July 21 - The Addams Family | Billy Elliot | Memphis | Rock of Ages | Voca People
Thursday, July 28 - Anything Goes | The Phantom of the Opera | The Fantasticks | Hair | Traces
Thursday, August 4 - Jersey Boys | The Lion King | Rent | Wicked | Death Takes a Holiday
Thursday, August 11 - Mamma Mia! | Mary Poppins | Avenue Q | Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Central Park/Mainstage/SummerStage
It's the most famous park in the world!
Originally, Central Park was just a piece of land with trees. In 1858, Fredrick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve the park-like grounds. Construction began the same year and was completed in 1873. Today, the park has many attractions to visit including, lakes, ponds, walking tracks, bridle paths, the zoo, a band shell and two ice-skating rinks. Many events take place there year round. Among the popular attractions is the Great Lawn, a big hunk of Manhattan with real green grass to play sports, read, show your abs or enjoy the passing parade. Central Park also has the “The Mall," a famous aisle where several movies were shot.
Central Park SummerStage is a program of the City Parks Foundation and presents performances of outstanding artistic quality, free of charge, to serve the diverse communities of the city. Participating artists represent a breadth of genres and cultures and perform in the outdoor setting accessible to people of all ages. Central Park SummerStage works hard to develop audiences' appreciation for contemporary, traditional, and emerging artists as well as the diverse communities in which these artists originate.
The Met's annual concerts in New York City parks are one of the most beloved summer traditions in the city. This year, the Summer Recital Series, first presented in 2009, returns with six performances in the parks of all five boroughs. The series kicks off with a concert at Central Park SummerStage on July 11, featuring rising opera stars, soprano Angela Meade, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano and tenor Dimitri Pittas.
Monday, July 11, 2011, 8pm
Central Park SummerStage
Angela Meade, soprano, Dimitri Pittas, tenor
Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano
Bradley Moore, pianist
Wednesday, July 13, 2011, 7pm
Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn
Angela Meade, soprano, Dimitri Pittas, tenor
Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano
Bradley Moore, pianist
Tuesday, July 19, 2011, 7pm
Crotona Park, Bronx
Layla Claire, soprano. Renée Tatum, mezzo-soprano
Ryan Speedo Green, bass-baritone
Bradley Moore, pianist
Thursday, July 21, 2011, 7pm
Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island
Layla Claire, soprano. Renée Tatum, mezzo-soprano
Ryan Speedo Green, bass-baritone
Bradley Moore, pianist
Tuesday, July 26, 2010, 7pm
Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens
Layla Claire, soprano
Renée Tatum, mezzo-soprano
Ryan Speedo Green, bass-baritone
Bradley Moore, pianist
Thursday, July 28, 2011, 7pm
Jackie Robinson Park, Manhattan
Layla Claire, soprano. Renée Tatum, mezzo-soprano
Ryan Speedo Green, bass-baritone
Bradley Moore, pianist
For more informatyion: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call: (212) 360-2777
More Music...River to River Festival
From Wall Street to Washington Square, from The Battery to The Bowery, from the East River to the Hudson, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council invigorates the arts downtown. They make art happen. This is a summer celebration featuring hundreds of free music events , dance and cultural programs in Lower Manhattan.
River to River Festival will host many free events and concerts all summer long at downtown venues including South Street Seaport, the Battery Park Esplanade, Castle Clinton and the World Financial Center.
Some highlights of the 2010 River to River Festival:
Indie Music at the Seaport -- This season, see rising and established indie music stars perform live at South Street Seaport. The line-up will include Bear in Heaven (July 9), The Oh Sees (July 16), Free Energy and Best Coast (July 23), Avi Buffalo (July 30) and YACHT (August 6).
Sunset Concerts in Rockefeller Park -- An early evening concert series will feature Poets House’s celebration of the poetry and music of Haiti starring L’Orchestre Septentrional (July 7), Haiti's oldest big band orchestra, Jimmy Webb and Martin Rivas (July 14), and Burning Spear (July 21).
Washingtom Square Music Festival
The Washington Square Music Festival celebrates its 53rd season of free classical and jazz concerts in 2011. Concerts take place on the new stage in the center of Washington Square. All concerts take place on Tuesday evenings at 8pm In the event of rain, concerts will take place at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, 371 Sixth Avenue at Washington Place in Greenwich Village. For more information, call (212)252-3621 or visit WashingtonSquareMusicFestival.org.
2011 Concert Schedule
Tuesday, July 12, 2011 | 8pm
Opera in the Park: Michael Spierman conducting Festival Chamber Orchestra in W.A. Mozart's The Impresario & Schubert's Unfinished Symphony
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 | 8 pm: The Joy of Unfamiliar Music:Festival Chamber Ensemble with soloists: Emmanuel Sejourne's Concerto for Marimba and strings, Luciano Berio's Opus Number Zoo, for speaker and wind quintet, Corrado Maria Saglietti's Suite for Alto Trombone and String Quartet
Tuesday, July 26, 2011 | 8 pm: Music Making by the Master Stanley Drucker: W.A. Mozart's Quintent for Clairnet and Strings in A major, K.581, Astor Pizzolla: Four for Tango, Anton Arensky String Quartet op 35 in a minor
Tuesday, August 2, 2011 | 8pm: Charles Mingus Orchestra
Summer Cabaret
Tudor City Greens July Concerts
The new season of the Tudor City Greens FREE outdoor concert series continues on Wednesday, July 6th at 12 noon. (Rain date: Thursday, July 7th). This event will feature performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret scene. The concert will be hosted by Tudor City resident, Broadway/cabaret artist Raissa Katona Bennett (Phantom of the Opera, Chess). The afternoon concert is called A Child’s Garden of Verse: Songs By, About, For and With Children. Guests scheduled to appear are Broadway’s Mimi Bessette (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), Bart Shatto (Civil War, Les Miserables), MAC, Bistro, and Nightlife Award winner Julie Reyburn, cabaret performers Joshua Desjardins, Peter Haas, Christine Reisner and young theatre performers Connor Shatto and Peter Charney. Broadway performer and multiple award-winning cabaret artist Eric Michael Gillett will make a special appearance as well. Accompanists for the concert will be Tex Arnold, David Caldwell, Cindy Gooden, Sean Harkness and Bill Zeffiro.
The event will take place in the South Park of Tudor City Greens Park – enter at Tudor City Place between East 41st and 42nd Streets, between 1st and 2nd avenues.
For more formation: www.TudoCityGreens.org
I love the NiteLife …
Cabaret rarely takes a holiday. No matter what the season, the clubs rule! This summer is no exception. Most rooms' schedules are brimming with terrific shows and hot talent all summer. However, the list is really much too long and the events vary a lot. Plus, the usual fare of cabaret, comedy, piano bars, open mics and jazz is randomly scattered all over the city map. So, for this week, until I've gathered a basic, yet comprehensive listing's section together, I'm including assorted cabaret venues that stand out; their locations and contact information. Schedules often change and many clubs do not regularly publicize events through advance announcements or press releases. There was a time when nightclubs built a reputation for themselves by generating their own publicity campaigns. Consequently, customers knew what to expect and the character of the venue attracted more and more denizens of the night.
For now, it's best to call if you're looking for a show or know of an artist you want to see who will be upcoming. While some rooms have impressive highlights booked for the fall and winter seasons, that does not mean there is a slack over the summer.
Speaking of fireworks; Downtown's beloved cabaret legend Baby Jane Dexter returns to Metropolitan Room with four encore performances celebrating the release of her thrilling new CD of last winter's sold out show, The Real World. She's there on Fridays and Saturdays, July 8 & 9 and July 15 and 16 ...
Jazz at the Plaza on Wednesday and Thursday Nights. No cover, no minimum, just great music! The Plaza Hotel’s Rose Club (Fifth Avenue and Fifty-Ninth Street.) Hot jazz singer Kat Gang singing traditional jazz standards, Cole Porter, Gershwin and others from the Great American Songbook. Also relax with - Lapis Luna on Thursdays at 9pm. Vintage jazz and classic swing music, Lapis Luna brings you the captivating jazz of the 1930s, '40s, and '50s with a classic glittering sound. New and old standards, obscure swing-era gems and vintage melodies the way they were meant to be heard: vibrant, fun, romantic and cool … Reserve early: It's the Johnny Rodgers Band in a rare club appearance at Iridium on July 12 at 7pm … And, of course, also there, Terese Genecco & Her Little Big Band on the last Tuesday of the month, now with rising young singer Nicolas King …
The Duplex continues its weekly Mostly Sondheim party hosted by Brian Nash and featuring Ben Cameron 
and Emily McNamara. They invite you to stay all night and sing them all! And, there's no cover (but a 2-drink minimum.) the Sondheim (and other) worship starts at 11:30 and goes till closing. It's 270 minutes of non-stop open-mic and some great talents.
Back to Broadway: She's a Princeton graduate (how many on or off Broadway can say that?) and a "Suddenly Susan" TV alumnae. Now, Brooke Shields has taken over as Morticia (since the departure of Tony-winner, Bebe Neuwirth) in The Addams Family Musical. Long ago, Shields proved she was more than just a pretty baby, moving from a multi-layered career 
as a child model, to winning accolades for successful roles in Grease, Wonderful Town, Chicago and Cabaret. In addition to Ms. Neuwirth (Lilith on TV's "Cheers" and "Frasier"), other actresses who have played the campy Morticia include, Angelica Huston in The Addams Family movies, and the late Carolyn Jones, who, in the 1960s TV series, introduced the character. From, Pretty Baby to Morticia, talk about running the gamut of emotions. Good luck to her.
Out of Town: Cast Party is on the move again!
It was inevitable. As if there's not enough for the wide-eyed, wandering masses to do in 
Caruso and StritchSin City, Enter Jim Caruso. After huge success at the Magic Castle in LA, on Wednesday, August 24th and Thursday, the 25th, the Alexis Park All Suite Resort will launch the first in a monthly series (!!!) of cabaret shows. The series will lead off with Jim Caruso's Cast Party. Cast Party has been the singularly wildest sensation at New York's Birdland for the past eight years. Millions (well almost) of entertainers take part in the weekly talent-fest. So many headliners have performed at Cast Party, that the Wall Street Journal said, "Cast Party has more stars than there are in the heavens." Who will show up to perform at Cast Party is always a surprise, and Las Vegas, as the entertainment capital of the world, is the perfect second city for this wanderlust of stars, cast members and others joining this growing circus.
Jim Caruso is host for the evening's music and mayhem, lending quick wit and a swinging voice to the mix. Billy Stritch adds his renowned piano accompaniment and sophisticated humor to the soiree. Together, Caruso and Stritch offer show business repartee, dish, comedy bits, ad libs and duets with riotous results. Vegas' Alexis Park, a non-gaming property, is located at 375 East Harmon Avenue, south of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. It seems they'll be in Vegas for most of July and back in Manhattan in August.
Here's that list of cabarets, piano bars and other places to keep anyone from being bored in the summer. Enjoy:
59E59 THEATERS: 59 East 59th Street, NYC - (212)279-4200 - www.59e59.org Well worth checking out. High quality theatre and other projects.
THE OAK ROOM AT THE ALGONQUIN: 59 West 44th Street, NYC - (212)419-9331 - Closed for the summer. Opens with cabaret royalty, Karen Akers, on Sept. 27. www.algonquinhotel.com
THE ARS NOVA THEATRE: 511 West 54th Street - (212)868-4444 . A performance/theatre space that often hosts Broadway and cabaret artists. www.arsnovanyc.com
THE BARUCH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: (55 Lexington Avenue, NYC - (646)312-4085 - www.baruch.cuny.edu/bpac
B. B. KING'S BLUES CLUB: 237 West 42nd Street – (212)997-4144. Check their web site for the upcoming roster of electric performers. www.bbkingsblues.com
BIRDLAND: 315 West 44th Street – (212)581-3080. Birdland offers top-flight jazz in a world class setting, great sight lines, acoustics, elbow room and an award-winning menu of American cuisine with a Cajun flair. It is also home to the Manhattan's favorite night out, Jim Caruso's Cast Party on Mondays, where the the beginners sing with the super-stars and everyone in between. Monday, July 11, Broadway at Birdland presents Julie Halston in Old, New, Borrowed, Blue at 7pm. www.birdlandjazz.com
THE BITTER END: 147 Bleecker Street, NYC - (212)673-7030 - A West Village landmark club that has presented everyone from Anita O'Day to Lady Gaga! www.bitterend.com
THE BLUE NOTE: 131 West 3rd Street: (212)475-8592 This legendary jazz club is wrapping up its first Jazz Festival with a stunning array of impresarios and legends scheduled throughout the rest of the summer and most of the year. There's a reason the lines go down the block to get in to sold-out shows here. www.bluenote.net
BRANDY'S PIANO BAR: 235 East 84th Street: (212)744-4949 - www.brandyspianobarnyc.com
BROADWAY COMEDY CLUB: 318 West 53rd Street, NYC – (212)757-2323 – Three comedy rooms packed with live comedy by rising comedians and their followings. Top names from Rosie O'Donnell to Conan O'Brien have been known to pop in and join the upcoming stars practicing new material. www.broadwaycomedyclub.com
THE CAFE CARLYLE: 35 East 76th Street, NYC - (212)744-1600 - This elegant, pricey room is also closed for the summer. Cafe Carlye opens officially in September with Woody Allen & the Eddie David Jazz Band. And, on September 13, with Broadway legend Elaine Stritch, for a 4-week engagement. Over the summer, catch jazz pianist Loston Harris, one of the city's treasures, whose supple blend of smooth jazz and moody swing recalls a bygone era once led by Nat “King” Cole. He's that good. www.thecarlyle.com/entertainment.cfm
CAFE PIERRE: Fifth Avenue at 61st Street, NYC - (212)838-8000 - Quiet night, expensive dining at the established posh hotel. Minimal music. Kathleen Landis no longer rules the piano there. www.fourseasons.com/newyorkfs/index.html
THE CARNEGIE CLUB: 156 West 56th Street, NYC - (212)957-9676 - www.thecarnegieclubnyc.com
CAROLINES ON BROADWAY: 1626 Broadway, NYC - (212)757-4100 - Manhattan's top comedy room. Always worth checking out. www.carolines.com
CORNELIA STREET CAFE: 29 Cornelia Street, NYC - (212)989-9319 www.corneliastreetcafe.com
DON'T TELL MAMA : 343 West 46th Street, NYC - (212)757-0788 Legendary piano bar and cabaret rooms with extraordinary singing and piano bar staff as well as jammed roster of very popular artists. This well known club on Restaurant Row is always worth the trip. www.donttellmamanyc.com
THE DUPLEX CABARET THEATRE: 61 Christopher Street on Sheridan Square. (212)255-5438 Manhattan's oldest continually running cabaret and piano bar with an exceptional lineup of regulars in the piano bar, and rising stars in the cabaret theatre. Hey, Woody Allen started out here. Check them out regularly. Jimmy Fallon has been spotted downing a few with his crew several times. www.theduplex.com
FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY: 540 Park Avenue - (212)339-4095 - As “the nightclub of New York,” Feinstein's has established itself as a world class nitery and restaurant that hosts some of the world's most prestigious talent. Resident star and respected cabaret archivist and torch-bearer Michael Feinstein opens the season in September with Broadway's Linda Eder. But check out their very impressive talents over the summer. www.feinsteinsattheregency.com
GOTHAM COMEDY CLUB: 208 West 23rd Street, NYC - (212)367-9000 - www.gothamcomedyclub.com
HA! COMEDY CLUB: 163 West 46th Street - (212)977-3884 . www.hacomedynyc.com
THE HIGHLINE BALLROOM 431 West 16th Street - TKTS: (866)468-7619 - Eclectic pop/rock and very edgy cabaret acts. www.highlineballroom.com
IRIDIUM: 1650 Broadway, NYC – (212)582 2121. Broadway's popular jazz club features an endless array of top-notch talent throughout the summer. ScoBar Entertainment books an exciting lineup every Tuesday, that's as affordable as it is entertaining. wwwl.theiridium.com
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER: Broadway at 60th Street, NYC - CenterCharge: (212)721-6500 - Check out their website for exciting summer events. www.jazzatlincolncenter.org
THE JAZZ STANDARD: 116 East 27th Street, NYC - (212)576-2232 - www.jazzstandard.net
THE KITANO HOTEL: 66 Park Avenue, NYC – (212)885-7119: Call for information of this intimate room that hosts local favorites like Joyce Breach, Mercedes Hall and Ronny Whyte.
KNITTING FACTORY: NEW YORK 74 Leonard Street, NYC - (212)219-3132 - www.ny.knittingfactory.com
LA MEDITERRANEE CAFE & FRENCH BISTRO: 947 Second Avenue, NYC - (212)755-4155 - Mitch Kahn, Steven Lowenthal and opthers lead the orster of singer/pianists at the popular little nitch. www.lamediterraneeny.com
MARIE'S CRISIS: 59 Grove Street: (212)243-9323. what's left of Grove Street is all ghere at Manhattan's most popular relic that is also its happiest sing-along bar.
METROPOLITAN ROOM: 34 West 22nd Street, NYC - (212)206-0440 - A jammed summer line up as always. Aside from the aforementioned Baby Jane Dexter, check out fast-rising Brazilian standards singer Courtney Graves' exciting show on July 30 and beginning Monday, July 11, their 4th annual MetroStar Talent Challenge starts, with the grand finale set for Monday, August 29.
The competition spans eight consecutive Mondays. This event packs them in as the competition gets fierce and the talent is hot. www.metropolitanroom.com
NEUE GALERIE: 1048 Fifth Avenue - (212)288-0665 - www.neuegalerie.org
NEW WORLD STAGES: 340 West 50th Street - Telecharge: (212)239-6200 - www.newworldstages.com
SUGAR BAR 254 West 72nd Street: (212)579-0222 Owned by Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson, this hotspot hosts some of the best jazz/R & B artists in the business. www.SugarBarNYC.com
SWING 46: 349 West 46th Street: (212)262-9554. Manhattan's popular swing dance emporium with irrepressible band leader George Gee still on the bandstand.
THE TOWNHOUSE: 236 East 58th Street - (212)754-4649 . Upscale Manhattan piano room popular with the gay crowd features a bevy of singer/pianists with Bistro winner Rick Unterberg at the helm. www.townhouseny.com
THE TRIAD: 158 West 72nd Street – (212)362-2511. A New York favorite for decades, this upstairs venue presents everything from cabaret to theatre and off-Broadway revues. It's about to re-open after a multi-million dollar renovation. www.Triadnyc.com
THE TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: 199 Chambers Street - (212)220-1460 - www.tribecapac.org
UNCLE CHARLIE'S: 139 East 45th Street 2nd Floor, NYC - (212)661-9097 - Well run gay piano bar with some great singers taking the mic and doing their thing. www.unclecharliesnyc.com
THE WEST BANK CAFE/LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATRE: 407 West 42nd Street - (212)695-6909 This is one of Manhattan's most popular cabaret/dinner theatres that has presented a plethora of shows and amazing artists for years now. There's always a happening and great talent (to go with the small meals and the great American menu upstairs in the West Bank Cafe). www.westbankcafe.com
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