Bee Scene: Busy as a bee in June

Every year around this time, my friends anxiously await an e-mail that I send around once a year. For a number of years, I’ve compiled a list of all the great summer activities that take place in NYC and send it to the masses with hopes that others will join me on urban adventures.

There are many other summer events lists floating around the Internet right now, but mine includes activities that take places in *gasp* other boroughs than Manhattan.

The list is usually the same from year to year, but one notable exception for 2008 is the absence of the Metropolitan Opera concert in Central Park. Instead, the Met will host one performance in Prospect Park on Friday, June 20.

Be sure to bookmark this page, as I’ll add a few more events as I come across them. And check back for the lists of monthly activities for July, August and September later this summer.

Pull up your calendar and mark down these dates. What a way to kick off summer!

June Activities around NYC:

May 27-June 29
Shakespeare in the Park
Hamlet featuring Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under)
Get up early and stand in line at Central Park, 81st Street entrance near the Delacorte Theater. Visit the website for opportunities to register online for tickets. Good luck!
www.publictheater.org/content/view/126/219

Tuesday, June 3rd (and every Tuesday night until August 19th)
Stars of Tomorrow, Pier 45 at Christopher St at 6:30 p.m.
See tomorrow’s jazz and classical virtuoso’s today. Tuesdays hit a high note with jazz and classical performances from Mannes College, The New School for Music and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music on one of Hudson River Park’s most beautiful piers by star students from around the city. 1 train to Christopher St.
www.hudsonriverpark.org/events.asp

Friday, June 6th (and every Friday night)
Rubin Museum
Happy Hour and DJ 6-7 p.m., free admission to museum 7-10 p.m.
www.rmanyc.org/programs-events/index.xml

Friday, June 6th
Rooftop Films 2008 Summer Series Opening Night
“This is What We Mean by Short Films,” Open Road Rooftop (Lower East Side)
Adventures are as common as rooftops. Films that don’t take long to astonish, amaze, inspire.
www.rooftopfilms.com/08-summerseries.html

Friday, June 6th (and every Friday night)
Sunset on the Hudson, Pier 45 at Christopher St. at 7:00 p.m.
Every Friday from June 6th to August 22nd, enjoy the beautiful sunset and mellow sounds of New York’s acclaimed guitar man David Ippolito from this spectacular grass-covered pier that stretches 900 feet into the majestic Hudson River. 1 train to Christopher St.
www.hudsonriverpark.org/events.asp

Saturday, June 12th
Celebrate Brooklyn Opening Night Gala
Free concert with Isaac Hayes
This festival is celebrating 30 summers of free performances at the Prospect Park Bandshell.
http://www.briconline.org/celebrate/2008season.asp

Friday, June 13th, 7-10 p.m.
Central Park SummerStage opening night with Mavis Staples and Stephanie McKay, two gospel/soul singers
SummerStage is a performing arts festival that runs on a Central Park stage from June-August.
Check the website for a full listing of shows, most are free:
www.summerstage.org

Saturday, June 14th, 4-8 p.m.
Central Park SummerStage featuring Vampire Weekend, Kid Sister and Born Ruffians, hosted by Andrew W.K.
SummerStage is a performing arts festival that runs on a Central Park stage from June-August.
Check the website for a full listing of shows, most are free:
www.summerstage.org

Sunday, June 15th, 8:00 p.m.
Tony Awards on CBS
www.tonyawards.com

Monday, June 16th
HBO Bryant Park Movie Festival
The festival begins with Dr. No.
(Note to my friends reading: I will buy anyone dinner who saves me a seat on their blanket!)
www.bryantpark.org/calendar/film-festival.php

Friday, June 20th, 8:00 p.m.
Metropolitan Opera Summer Concert: Live in Prospect Park
Ball Field area of Long Meadow
Rain Date: Saturday, June 21
www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/news/features/detail.aspx

Saturday, June 21st, 2:00 p.m.
Mermaid Parade, Coney Island
The Mermaid Parade celebrates the sand, the sea, the salt air and the beginning of summer, as well as the history and mythology of Coney Island, Coney Island pride, and artistic self-expression.
www.coneyisland.com/mermaid.shtml

Tuesday, June 24th, 8:00 p.m.
NY Philharmonic in Central Park with Fireworks
B/C trains to 81th St, enter the park and follow the path to Great Lawn.
http://nyphil.org/attend/summer/index.cfm?page=parks

Friday, June 27th through Friday before Labor Day
Fireworks on the Beach, Coney Island
D/F/N/Q trains to Stillwell Avenue (last stop).
Astroland and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park sponsor fireworks at 9:30 every Friday night during the season.
www.coneyisland.com/tourism.shtml

Ongoing Events:

Every day
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
This lengthy list offers free activities taking place in New York’s public parks. A short list includes walking tours, free yoga, chess, children’s activities, dancing and outdoor activities like kayaking, birdwatching and hiking
www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/upcoming_events/events_search.php

Weekends in June through September 27th
Rooftop Films 2008 Summer Series
This series will run every weekend until September 27, screening 19 feature films and over 150 short films in 38 screenings, in in a dozen spectacular outdoor locations all over the city. All screenings include live music before the films, and most screenings include after-parties with free drinks. Tickets are just $9, or $6 online in advance for select shows.
www.rooftopfilms.com/08-summerseries.html

Saturday nights through September 17th, 8:30 p.m.
Coney Island Film Society
Coney Island Museum, 1208 Surf Ave. (between Stillwell Ave. and W. 12th St)
Tickets $5, $3 for Film Society members. Doors open at 8pm Pre-show at 8:15pm featuring classic drive in trailers, shorts, old commercials and more. Free Popcorn!
www.coneyisland.com/films.shtml

South Street Seaport Music Festival, ongoing
Free outdoor concerts at the Seaport all summer long, check website for full schedule.
www.seaportmusicfestival.com

River to River Festival, ongoing
This festival is NYC’s largest free summer arts festival with over 500 music, dance and cultural events from June through mid-September.
Check the website for upcoming performances:
www.rivertorivernyc.com

Today Show’s Toyota Concert Series, ongoing
Live music is a great way to start your workday, as I mentioned last week.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/3041478

Good Morning America’s Concert Series, ongoing
(Boyz II Men, y’all!)
www.bryantpark.org/calendar/gma-concerts.php

Upcoming Events:

Date TBD
P.S. 1 Warm-Up
Traditionally begins the last weekend of June/early July. Check back on the P.S. 1 website!
$10, 3-9 pm every Saturday, Long Island City
www.ps1.org

Photo via Ross Reyes on Flickr