Happenings Guide Summer 2024

This summer, New York City Happenings Guide invites you to immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of cultural experiences, from music festivals and film screenings to theatrical performances and culinary delights. Whether you’re seeking the soulful rhythms of the River & Blues Festival overlooking the Hudson River, the cinematic journey of the New York Asian Film Festival at Lincoln Center, or the rhythmic beats of the Harlem Meer Performance Festival in Central Park, the city offers something for every taste.

Dance enthusiasts can look forward to BAAND Together at Lincoln Center, a celebration featuring renowned dance companies. At the same time, opera aficionados can enjoy Puccini in the Park with Tosca at Bryant Park. Art lovers can explore exhibitions like the Whitney Biennial and Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64 at the Brooklyn Museum, showcasing a diverse range of contemporary and historical artworks.

For foodies and wine connoisseurs, there’s no shortage of delectable experiences, from the upscale Diner en Blanc to the lively Summer Wine Games at City Winery and the bustling Atlantic Antic in Brooklyn.  This summer, NYC Restaurant Week returns. From July 22 to August 18, explore the five boroughs through specially priced prix-fixe menus at hundreds of participating restaurants. Check back on July 16 to view menus and make reservations.

Join us this summer as New York City comes alive with various events and activities that promise to enrich your cultural palate and create lasting memories. Plan your adventure and indulge in the city’s vibrant spirit!

 

 

 

1. RIVER & BLUES FESTIVAL 

July 11 to August 1 | Rockefeller Park at Battery Park City

Celebrate global and American folk, roots, and blues music while overlooking the Hudson River. Sunset over the Jersey City skyline and cool river breezes make this an ideal location for summer afternoons. The concert series includes performances by Los Lobos, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Leela James, and Abraham Alexander. The events kick off each night with a DJ set followed by live performances.

 

2. NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2024

July 12 to July 28 | Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center

 The 23rd Annual Asian Film Festival kicks off with the coming-of-age drama Victory, from Korean director Park Beom-su. The festival includes short and feature-length films from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Mongolia, and the United States. The festival runs at Lincoln Center through July 22 and then continues at the SVA Theatre on 23rd Street.

 

3. HARLEM MEER PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL

July 14 to August 18 | Haarlem Meer at Central Park

On Sunday afternoons through August, enjoy a variety of musical performances along the Harlem Meer, the large pond in the northeast corner of Central Park. Performances include jazz, salsa, soul, and blues music, and fun for all ages. The performance series is part of a larger program, Summer on the Harlem Meer, featuring nature walks and programming for children at the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center. 

 

4. JOB

Previews begin July 15 | Helen Hayes Theater

This one-act psychological thriller played to sold-out shows downtown and now moves to Broadway for ten weeks. Written by Max Wolf Friedlich and directed by Michael Herwitz, Sydney Lemmon and Peter Friedman star in a show about a woman placed on leave from her big tech job after a viral video surfaces.

 

5. BAAND TOGETHER

July 30 to August 3 | Lincoln Center

Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem join together for this summer dance festival featuring five performances and dance workshops for all ages. The dance workshops are free, and performances are pay-what-you-want. 

 

6. PUCCINI IN THE PARK: TOSCA

August 23 and August 24 | Bryant Park

 The New York City Opera has been bringing opera to Bryant Park since 2016, drawing crowds as large as 5,000 people. Tosca is set in 19th-century Rome following Napoleon’s invasion of Italy and follows a love story peppered with betrayal, revenge, and murder across three acts. The opera stars Kristin Sampson, Victor Starsky, and Michael Chioldi. The event is not ticketed and the park provides both lawn chairs and blanket seating.

 

7. BATTERY PARK DANCE FESTIVAL

August 11 to 17 | Rockefeller Park in Battery Park City

The outdoor dance festival features both performances and workshops. The festival includes dance companies from across the tri-state area, Iowa and Texas, along with international companies from Canada, Asia, and Europe. Some seating is provided, but chairs are not otherwise allowed, and bringing your own blanket to sit on is recommended. But if in-person attendance isn’t possible, the festival is available live online and for ten days following.

 

8. THE ROOMMATE

Previews begin August 29 | Booth Theatre

Mia Farrow and Patti LuPone are stars in a new show by playwright Jen Silverman, directed by Jack O’Brien. In this one-act show, two women in their fifties need to start over and end up becoming roommates despite their different backgrounds. This dark comedy is about reinvention – who we can become if we want to change.

 

 

 

 1.  WHITNEY BIENNIAL 2024

Closes August 11 | Whitney Museum

First introduced in 1932, the Whitney’s Biennial offers a survey of contemporary artists. The 2024 edition, subtitled Even Better Than the Real Thing, includes 71 artists across a variety of mediums with an emphasis on “fluidity of identity, and the growing precariousness of the natural and constructed worlds around us.”  Members can avoid the crowds with a special late night viewing on July 31.

 

2. TARA DONOVAN, STRATAGEMS

Closes August 16 | Pace Gallery

Featuring sculptures made entirely of upcycled CD-ROM discs found and scavenged by the artist, Donovan explores everyday materials and objects. The structures vary in height from seven to ten feet tall with the reflective surfaces of the discs playfully rendering different sunlight reflections depending on the time of day.

 

3. PAUL MCCARTNEY PHOTOGRAPHS 1963–64: EYES OF THE STORM 

Closes August 18 | Brooklyn Museum 

During the Beatles’ rise to fame, Paul McCartney snapped photos using his Pentax. The show includes more than 250 images recently discovered in McCartney’s archive and features many with bandmates John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. McCartney assisted in curating the collection himself. Members have access after hours on August 4.

 

4. LYLE ASHTON HARRIS, OUR FIRST AND LAST LOVE

Closes September 22 | Queens Museum

Lyle Ashton Harris is a Bronx-born artist raised in Tanzania, and the exhibition examines identity and self-portraiture over the last 35 years of his career. The exhibition is anchored by the artist’s recently completed Shadow Works, and includes photo prints and constructions made from Ghanaian funerary textiles. Themes of the show include representation of black and queer identities, violence in intimacy and desire, and exploring the idea of legacy.

 

5. BRUCE GILDEN, WHY THESE

Closes September 29 | Fotografiska

A collection of large-scale color and black and white portraits featuring subjects from across the globe, Bruce Gilden peers into the depths of ordinary people in ordinary situations. The Brooklyn-born photographer developed a unique style of snapping photos of passersby, highlighting their facial features with a flash. The images dive into the intimate lives of the individuals through Gilden’s skilled eye. His work has earned him a European Publishers Award for Photography, a Japan Foundation Artist Fellowship, a Villa Medicis Hors les Murs Artist’s Fellowship, and a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship.

 

6. BUSHWICK OPEN STUDIOS

September 28 to September 29 | Bushwick

Better hope the L train is running – the Bushwick arts scene is on display the last weekend of September. The neighborhood-wide show includes gallery openings, access to artists’ workspaces, and plenty of parties. The Open Studios includes visual and performance art and plenty of new and up-and-coming artists, even as the Bushwick art scene has matured. Come for the art but stay for the afterparties. 

 

 

1. WEST SIDE FEST

July 12 to July 14 | Chelsea and the West Village

Explore Manhattan’s West Side art scene. With more than 20 participating museums, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, the West Side Fest promises access to the neighborhood’s art. Additional programming includes live music performances, artmaking, and workshops. Dia Chelsea, Poster House, The Whitney, and Rubin Museum of Art all have free admission hours. The fun is for all ages, including Penny’s Puppets for young audiences held at Westbeth Artists Housing, or Zumba and Senior Stretch on the High Line.

 

2. BASTILLE DAY

July 14 | Madison Ave from 59th to 63rd

Commemorate the French Revolution and the storming of the Bastille with the largest fête in New York City. Sponsored by the French Institute : Alliance Française, the celebration includes food, games, French language book vendors, and of course, plenty of champagne at the annual Champagne Party. Or head over to Central Park in the evening for a French music festival sponsored by the Consulat General de France.

 

3. NEW YORK POETRY FESTIVAL

July 13 to July 14 | Governors Island

Uniting local and national poetry communities in a two-day event, the festival includes readings, panels, and workshops along with book vendors, an artisan market, food, drinks, and literary community. The festival is free to attend and includes five mainstages. This year’s headliners include Kaz­im Ali, Katie Far­ris, Safia Elhil­lo, and Ilya Kamin­sky, but don’t miss the hundreds of other readers curated by local institutions like Poets House, Wendy’s Subway, No Dear, Washington Square Review, New School, and dozens more.

 

4. WOMEN’S WORK

July 21 to August 25 | New-York Historical Society

Featuring 45 objects curated by the Center for Women’s History, the show examines how “women’s work” defies categorization. The objects come from the New York Historical Society’s own museum and library, and include items such as a 19th-century mahogany cradle and a 20th-century doctor’s dissection kit.

 

5. THE ARMORY SHOW

September 6 to September 8 | Javits Center

The renowned exhibition brings together leading contemporary art galleries from around the world and New York City. This year’s Focus section is curated by Robyn Farrell with an interest in engaging with avante-garde history of the fair. Don’t miss the emerging artists in the Presents section where inclusion in the is limited to artists with fewer than ten years of work. Eugenie Tsai curates the Platform portion of the show focusing on large-scale and site-specific works.

 

6. BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL

September 29, 2024 | Brooklyn Borough Hall and surrounding area

Featuring readings, discussions, and performances from some of the best writers today, the multiple stages have everything from children’s books to cookbooks to the best literary fiction. The marketplace includes big publishers, small presses, MFA programs, and many local and national literary magazines, who often offer attendees an opportunity to speak with editors and link the local literary community with readers. The event is an ideal way to hear your favorite author in-person, have a book signed, or meet writers. The festival also hosts Bookends events in the week leading up to the festival at venues around the city, and a Children’s Day on September 28th.

 

 

 

1. DINER EN BLANC

 Date TBA | Location TBA

Nothing is more exclusive than the secret dinner where everyone in attendance is dressed in summer white. The Bring Your Own Picnic began in Paris in 1988, and has slowly conquered the world with summer dinner parties. The date will be announced soon, and guests then meet up around the city before descending on the secret location known only to the volunteer leaders. A dance party follows dinner.

 

2. SUMMER WINE GAMES

Wednesdays through August 21 | City Winery

Learn and taste wine varieties from around the world in this series from City Winery. Each night features a specific wine like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rosé with examples curated from around the world. The fun culminates in the concluding dinner on August 21, where gold medal winners are paired with each dish.

 

3. DRAGON FEST

Weekends through October | Various Locations

This outdoor Chinese food and cultural festival hosts a range of foods from traditional to Chinese American cuisines. Every province of China is represented with favorites like soup dumplings, dim sum, and cold noodles. The curated festival moves from location to location throughout the summer and fall ensuring easy access for every neighborhood.

 

4. BEER, WINE AND SPIRIT FESTIVAL

August 16 | USS Intrepid Museum

Sample more than 100 types of wine, spirits, and brewed beverages, including local craft beers and the best international wines. Brewery representatives and sommeliers can answer questions. Food vendors will also be inside the festival and there will be live entertainment all while celebrating the 81st anniversary of the aircraft carrier.

 

5. SMORGASBURG AT THE SHED

July 3 to August 22 | The Shed at Hudson Yards

Why go to Brooklyn when Smorgasburg comes to Manhattan? The curated food festival known for innovative creations and serving as a launching pad for celebrity chefs and new restaurants comes to Hudson Yards. The event features 20 vendors on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 6pm and entry is free. 

 

6. FEAST OF SAN GENNARO

September 12 to September 22 | Mulberry Street

In 1981, Calvin Trillin chronicled in the New Yorker his attempts to find the best sausage and pepper sandwich at the festival. His journey ends in regret, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying too. Food vendors specializing in all sorts of Italian American treats sweet and savory line the blocks leading to Little Italy. The heart of the festival is the corner of Mulberry and Grand where nightly live entertainment can be enjoyed. Check out Danny Fratta’s corner zeppole stand, all manner of Italian gifts from E. Rossi and Co, cannoli from Ferrara’ Bakery, or try your favorite classic red sauce meal from one of the many streetside restaurants.

 

7. ATLANTIC ANTIC

September 29 | Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn

Downtown Brooklyn comes alive with this street festival on Atlantic Avenue, stretching from Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue. Local vendors line the streets with an emphasis on food. There are plenty of usual food festival vendors like sausage and pepper sandwiches, but also lots of local restaurants offering unique flavors representing the diverse cuisines of Brooklyn. There is also live music and kid-friendly activities along the route, as well as vendors selling handmade arts and crafts. Atlantic Antic is just a few blocks from the Brooklyn Book Festival, so make it a full day in Brooklyn and check out both!

 

 

 

 1. SKY-HIGH YOGA

Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday through September | The Edge at Hudson Yards

Head to the top of 30 Hudson Yards, the 1,100-foot tall building at the center of the new neighborhood, for your morning workout. The Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, and this summer through September, it now offers morning yoga classes. Mats are provided, and classes move to the indoor sky deck if the weather is inclement.

 

2. STARGAZE AT ONE VANDERBILT

July 17, August 14, and September 18 | One Vanderbilt

See the Milky Way from 1,100 feet above the city. The Amateur Astronomers Association provides telescopes to view the sky from the 93rd floor of Manhattan latest supertall on the outdoor terrace. Rain dates are available for the following night.

 

3. JAZZ AGE LAWN PARTY

August 10 and 11 | Governors Island

Relive the roaring twenties at this outdoor costume party. Era-appropriate clothing is a must, but don’t worry, there are changing rooms. Activities include vintage photo portraits, live music, and retro cocktails. Even the kids can join in the fun with a children’s parade and special prizes. Learn to dance the Charleston or enter the pie-eating contest.

 

4. DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

August 3 and August 4 | Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Dragon Boat Racing is a Chinese rite commemorating Qu Yuan, a poet from the third century BCE, and the tradition is kept alive in New York by a dedicated nonprofit organization with major sponsorship coming from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office. The festival features custom-made teak and fiberglass boats, hand decorated and powered by twenty people paddling, steering, and drumming. With 180 teams and 2,000 athletes, this is one of the largest dragon boat festivals in the United States.

5. U.S. OPEN

 August 19 through September 8 | Flushing Meadows Corona Park

The final Grand Slam tournament of the year, the annual tennis event consists of men’s and women’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. The Open hosts a block party on August 23 on Fountain Plaza with DJs, player appearances, and more, but the hottest ticket is usually private parties hosted off-site.

 

6. SUMMER STREETS

Saturdays July 27 through August 24 | All 5 Boroughs

New York City’s Summer Streets returns this year now with dates in all five boroughs and extended hours. From 7 am to 3 pm, streets are closed to cars for walking, running, and biking. Citi Bike will offer 30-minute free passes, artwork will be installed, and other programming will be included on the routes.