Seven Things to Look Forward to in New York City This Summer
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to the summer and New York City is buzzing with excitement! So whether you are looking for a new dining spot or looking for something fun to do, here are seven things to look forward to in New York City this summer.
Checking Out What’s New in NYC Parks
P.C.: wikipedia, Jean-Christophe Benoist
There are always a ton of fun things to do in New York City parks in the summer. Both Central Park and Prospect Park are huge so every time you visit them you can find something new to do or to see. Bryant Park has a lot of activities every day ranging from board games to movie nights. The High Line offers breathtaking views of the city and also usually has fun events throughout the summer. Best of all, almost all of this is free!
Pier 17 Reopening
P.C.: wikipedia, Jim.henderson
After a few delays Pier 17 and the South Street Seaport District will be reopening! Jean-Georges Vongerichten and David Chang are both opening exciting new restaurants and there will also be a new seafood market years after the Fulton Fish Market closed. But probably the most exciting of all is the Pier 17 Rooftop Concert Series which has acts like Amy Schumer, Kings of Leon and deadmau5 already on the calendar.
Ocean Wonders: Sharks Exhibit Opening in the New York Aquarium
P.C.: The New York Aquarium
Also opening soon is the new shark exhibit in the New York Aquarium (602 Surf Ave, Brooklyn) near Coney Island. In addition to sharks this huge exhibit will feature cownose rays, sea turtles and schools of fish! This fun exhibit will open June 30.
Concerts and Music Festivals
P.C.: yelp, Kay C.
In addition to the Pier 17 Rooftop Concert Series, there are also Panorama NYC, Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival, Afropunk Fest, Electric Zoo, Celebrate Brooklyn and Summerstage concert series so there is something for everyone this summer. We are especially excited about Common (6/5 Celebrate Brooklyn), Aimee Mann, Superchunk & Jonathan Coulton (6/21 Celebrate Brooklyn) and The Killers (7/29 Panorama).
All the Food Festivals
Also in the summer there are a bunch of exciting food festivals! Some to look out for include Broadway Bites (Until 7/14), Smorgasburg (Sat & Sun), Hester Street Fair (Sat), LIC Flea & Food and the Astoria Flea & Food (select weekends), NYC Taco Festival (7/22) and Secret Summer Festival (8/6). Don’t forget there are also food halls like DeKalb Market Hall and Chelsea Market throughout New York City that are also must dos for foodies!
NYC Restaurant Week
NYC Restaurant Week also starts this summer, July 23 to August 17. This is a great opportunity to explore the vast NYC dining scene and try new restaurants. Be sure to keep an eye out for our guide to this summer’s NYC Restaurant Week.
Cooling Off at the Beach or the Pool
P.C.: wikipedia, Urielevy
Finally, as the temperatures rise you may be looking for ways to cool off. You definitely want to take advantage of some of the beaches near New York City like Coney Island, Rockaway Beach and South Beach and all the pools throughout the city.