Beginning on October 31, 2019, New Yorkers can mosey on down to Bryant Park and go ice-skating completely free of charge. Sponsored by Bank of America, it is part of what is being called Winter Village at Bryant Park.

Skaters can either bring their own skates or rent high-quality skates at the rink. To prevent overcrowding, people can reserve their on-the-ice time online, making it fun and easy to enjoy this traditional New York winter activity.

Visitors can participate in Broomball pick-up games, Exerskate classes, and other great activities that will keep you moving through the winter. There is also special programing on the calendar, including kids’ week, bumper cars, read-to-skate story time, and lots more.

Not a skater? There are shops, restaurants, bars and the Lodge by Urbanspace where new and classic restaurants come together for visitors to enjoy.

So dust off your skates and go up to Bryant Park at Sixth Avenue and 42 Street. Winter Village will be in operation until March 1, 2020.

Now that school is at last back in session, it’s time to think about some extra special places to go with your little ones to help ease the pain of the end of the summer. Luckily, New York loves kids!

American Museum of Natural History
There is no question the AMNH has risen to super-nova star status. Movies like a Night in the Museum and dozens of books have all added to the allure of this mother of all kid-friendly museums. From gigantenormous dinosaur bones, to humungagiant blue whales hanging from ceilings, your kids will beg to stay way past closing hours. Entrance is free, but it is suggested that adults donate $19 per person.

The Zoo
The weather is still great, so why not go see the elephants? Which zoo, you may ask? Well, there are so many to choose from in the five boroughs and beyond, that whatever you choose is sure to please. For a zoo more in tune with conservation and animal welfare, your best bet is probably the Bronx Zoo, but don’t dismiss the joys of a visit to the Central Park Zoo, the Prospect Park Zoo (Brooklyn) or the Staten Island Zoo. We are pretty sure they all have elephants.

Coney Island
This amusement park destination might be unique in that it is part of a real live neighborhood and is along a real live beach. Situated along the great boardwalk that connects Coney Island to Brighton Beach, if you get tired of roller coasters and Ferris wheels, just walk along the boardwalk and feel the cool ocean breezes and snack on some hot dogs and cotton candy washed down with some cold beer. Oh, and get your kids something, too.

There is no better time to make some great memories with your kids than now. And with so many fun activities to choose from, those memories are sure to be thrilling. Get out there and par-ty!

There is so much going on this coming month, you had better have a darn good reason for leaving the Big Apple just as it is coming ripe and ready for you to take a giant, delicious bite.

Shall we start with music?

*On August 1 Herb Alpert and wife, Lani Hall, will perform a mix of Brazilian jazz and classic songs at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown, New Jersey.

*August 1-11 Outdoor concerts at Lincoln Center are free and take place in nearby Damrosch Park and the plazas of Lincoln Center, when weather permits.

*Classical music festival from August 1-10 includes concerts, operas, late-night recitals, and world premieres at Mostly Mozart Festival.

*Broadway Hits the Park from August 1-15, on Thursday afternoons at Broadway in Bryant Park. Arrive by 11am to get a seat and watch the pre-show. Completely free.

What about Film?

*The Asian Film Festival takes place from August 1-3 at different locations around town

*August 1-3 are the dates for the Long Beach International Film Festival where 50 films will be screened along with tasting events and parties on Long Island.

*August 2 through September 8 you can catch free movies in parks in all boroughs but Staten Island.

And for something completely different.

*Go see the amazing Dragon-Boat Festival August 3 and 4. You will see 170 dragon-boat teams compete on Meadows Lake. In addition, there will be music, dance, martial arts, folk art and best of all, Chinese food. Its all free at Flushing Meadows Park in Queens.

*From August 10-11 you can go to the Model Train Show at the New Jersey Convention & Exposition Center in Edison, New Jersey. Its free for anyone under 11.

*And my personal favorite: Women Brewing Beer on August 10, from 12pm to 4pm. If you head out to Brooklyn for this event, you will be able to taste beer brewed from 24 women-owned brewers. Billed as Beers without Beards, there will also be food for sale. Open only to adults over 21.

If you are like me then you are probably wondering how it can possible be July already. But however, you are reacting to the beginning of summer vacation, there is no question that there is no lack of what to do every single day, and every night.

For a nice list of something to do all 31 days in July check this out.

The following are just a small sample of the fun you can have, if you so choose, in the great Big Apple. Many of the following are FREE. Just take a bite!

July 4^th: Don’t miss the amazing, traditional Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, at the southern tip of Brooklyn.

July 7^th: International African Arts Festival at Commodore Barry Park, Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

July 11^th: Go see Moulin Rouge at the Al Hirschfeld Theater in Manhattan’s theater district, in other words, Broadway.

July 12^th and 13^th: Jennifer Lopez is performing in honor of her birthday at Madison Square Garden.

July 16 – August 23^rd : Go see Corionalus at the Delacorte Theater as part of the Shakespeare in the Park Festival in Central Park.

July 21^st: Go have a blast at the Rubin Museum Block Party. The yearly event starts at 1PM and ends at 4PM, in Chelsea, lower Manhattan.

July 26^th: Jeff Tweedy will perform at Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Starts at 7:30PM, at Damrosch Park, on West 62^nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.

July 30^th: Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center.

The International Computer Music Conference and New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival is scheduled this year for June 16-23. This unique gathering combines the art and science of making music with computers by hosting panel discussions, workshops, presentation of scholarly papers, and of course, performances.

All week long dozens of papers will be presented at the NYU Education building from 9am to 12pm concerning such issues as: “The Emotional Characteristics of Woodwind Musical Instruments with Different Pitch and Dynamics;” “Bubbles: an object-oriented approach to object-based sound for spatial composition and beyond;” and “IRMA (Interactive Real-time Measurement of Attention). A new method investigating performances of audio-visual computer music.”

Each day there is one panel discussion from 3pm to 4pm on such topics as: “Women in Computer Music;” “Soundscape Heritage;” and “Feedback Musicianship.”

Participants can also join in a large variety of workshops, including: “Computer Aided Design for Prepared Instruments;” “A Suggested Methodology for Composing & Performing Live-Electronics;” and “A Phenomenological Approach to Curating AI Music Composition.”

But of course, most people will come for the amazing performances, featuring the following performers:

• Elenora Claps, soprano
• Enzo Filippetti, saxophone
• Jocelyn Ho, piano
• Esther Lamneck, clarinet and tarogato
And many more.

The festival began in 2009 and is one of the largest festivals like it in the world. Music will be performed using acoustic instruments, laptops and custom-made electronic devices. There are also works featuring digital video and sound installations.

For more information visit New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival.

Have you ever wanted to go camping right in your own backyard? Here is an upscale take on that fantasy brought to you by Collective Retreats.

All you need to do is take the ferry over to Governor’s Island a place where no cars or other motorized vehicles are permitted, and pick one of two levels of posh glamping tents- a third, more luxurious “Outlook Shelter” repurposed shipping container with a 180-degree glass encased bedroom is coming soon- which include 1,000-1,500 thread-count linen, electricity and plenty of sockets, a designer curated blanket, plush Turkish towels, and of course a chandelier above your bed.

The campsite boasts amazing views of lower Manhattan surrounded by lush green space, an inspiring view of Lady Liberty, bike tours, sightseeing, and lovely parks nearby. A gourmet Continental Breakfast is served in the morning, so no need to fuss with the Coleman stove or cleaning the trout from the lake/river. Lunch and dinner are also available, from BBQ-in-a-box, to Ferry to Flame- a chef-prepared multi-course dinner extravaganza served either “in-tent” or at an outdoor table overlooking the mesmerizing New York Harbor. There are also traditional restaurant meals available at the Three Peaks lodge. And of course, there’s a full-service bar at Three Peaks.

When you are not eating, drinking, sleeping or bike riding, guests can enjoy the rich calendar of art and cultural events, including performances, educational exhibits, tours of National Monuments and more.
Glamorous camping arrived in New York last spring, and this year it is bound to out do itself. Check it out here: Collective Retreats.

For many New Yorkers, Grand Central Terminal is just a place to pass through. This terminal is where over 250,000 people commute daily via trains and busses.

Grand Central Terminal is more than just a transportation hub; it’s also a unique tourist destination. Grand Central Terminal is also a shopping, dining and cultural destination with 60 shops and 35 places to eat.

The terminal first opened in 1913 and became a historic landmark in 1978. Many tourists stop by to view the cathedral-like zodiac ceiling, or the information booth clock, valued at 20 million dollars. Tours that detail the history of Grand Central Terminal are available.

According to their site:

“Grand Central doesn’t just help you reach your destination. It is a destination. Grand Central is a unique urban space: majestic yet approachable, decorative yet functional. For a century, New Yorkers have used Grand Central as their town commons, a beloved gathering place for shared experiences, distinctive displays, and important events.”

New York is at the forefront of healthcare. Many world-class hospitals and medical research centers are located in New York.

Weill Cornell Medicine is one example of a NY medical institution that makes medical research a priority. The institution helps researchers secure funding, often by turning to philanthropists. For example, Dr. Darius Paduch is a urologist whose research was funded by the Paul Ostling Foundation. The contributions of Paul Ostling, a business leader and former Global Chief Operating Officer at Ernst & Young, helped make his research possible.

The research center at Weill Cornell Medicine focuses on several areas of medicine including neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases and cancer research. Weill Cornell Medicine houses facilities that support physical and intellectual advances in medical research.

This combination of medical excellence, dedication and generosity are key factors that contribute to the advancement of medical care in New York.

Book lovers are in for a treat this weekend! From March 7-10, the 59^th annual Antiquarian Book Fair will take place at the Park Avenue Armory.

Over 200 American and international dealers will exhibit a vast selection of rare books, maps and illuminated manuscripts.

All the books and manuscripts have been examined for bibliographic accuracy. If you’re looking for a rare book or manuscript, this is definitely the place to visit.

The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is an interesting, and lesser-known place to visit. Owned by the NYC Department of Park and Recreation, the museum is a member of The Historic House Trust of New York City.

Originally built in 1784 and opened as a museum in 1916, The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is the last farmhouse in Manhattan. It includes several collections that house thousands of artifacts and written records. The landscape has also been recreated with several period pieces, including a smokehouse and a well.

The museum offers several programs including tours, art exhibits, and children’s programs.