Thursday, May 1
Jeff Koon’s at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue. The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden. Runs through Sunday, October 26.
The String Quartet: Haydn, Dvorák, Berkeley, & Beethoven, New York Philomusica Chamber Ensemble, Broadway Presbyterian Church, 114th Street and Broadway, 212-580-9933. New York Philomusica presents “The String Quartet,” a showcase of quartets from Joseph Haydn, Michael Berkeley, Antonin Dvorák, and Ludwig van Beethoven. Pre-concert lecture at 7:30 PM, post-concert reception with the artists. www.nyphilomusica.org. Tickets only $25!!! ($10 for students). 8 PM.
American Experience: Grand Central Terminal, New York Transit Museum, Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights, 718-694-1600. Newly released one-hour film, produced by American Experience, tells the dramatic story of the famous landmark's construction. Historians, architects, engineers, and present day New Yorkers also describe their personal connections to Grand Central. This screening is offered in honor of Metro-North Railroad’s 25th year. Runs through Sunday, June 29.
Celebrating Greensward: The Plan for Central Park 1858 – 2008, Central Park, 212-310-6600. The Central Park Conservancy and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation are hosting a series of public events and activities to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the design for Central Park - one of America’s most important works of art and a treasured New York landmark. Runs through Thursday, June 19.
Friday, May 2
Live Jazz Performance: Starry Nights, American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200. Some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians play one-hour sets at 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM on the first Friday of each month. An extensive menu of delicious tapas and beverages is also available. Free with Museum admission
Saturday, May 3
The TriBeCa Family Festival Street Fair, Greenwich Street, (between Hubert and Duane Streets). Families will enjoy fun and lively entertainment with talented performers, dancers, stilt walkers, Broadway performances, arts and crafts, face painters, and more. The main stage will feature special performances by the Broadway musicals Grease, Legally Blonde and Xanadu. Kites will be available to fly as well as giant bubbles for all to create. 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
The TriBeCa/ESPN Sports Day, Starting on N. Moore (between Greenwich and West Street). Fans will enjoy a variety of interactive sports related games and demonstrations. The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) will set up courts and a quick serve cage, The New York Jets will have their “Generation Jets Fest” where fans can participate in a football theme park, Mr. Met will and Sparky, mascot of the New York Islanders, will also be on hand 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Moorcroft Pottery Master-Class in Manhattan, Omni Berkshire Hotel, Omni Berkshire Hotel, 21 East 52nd Street at Madison Avenue, 800-872-0195. One of the leading artists from the Moorcroft Art Pottery in England will be coming to New York on May 3 & 4, 2008 to host a program of Master-Classes at the Omni Berkshire hotel. Alison Edwards will be demonstrating the intricate art of tube-lining and hand-painting Moorcroft pottery and New Yorkers will be able to try these distinctive decorative techniques.
NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix Presented by Continental Airlines: Brooklyn, New York Road Runners, Prospect Park, 212-860-4455. The third in a series of half-marathon (13.1-mile) races throughout New York City, the NYRR Half-Marathon Grand Prix Presented by Continental Airlines follows a longstanding tradition of welcoming runners to scenic, history-rich courses in New York City's five boroughs to race the popular half-marathon (13.1-mile) distance.
Habana Outpost May 3 Opening Day Block Party, Habana Outpost, 757 Fulton Street (corner of South Portland) Brooklyn, 718-858-9500. Habana Outpost is getting a jump on summer with what they call the best block party in NYC. This year’s roster includes intoxicating live music from bands like Pistoleras, Conjunto Guantanamo, and a spectacular performance from The Hungry March Band. DJ Cato and Juice E, master eclectic style by blending Funk, Soul, and Brazilian sounds.
Global Weekend: Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity in the Amazon,
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200. Indigenous leaders from the Amazon, United States representatives and environmental activists discuss critical issues facing the Amazon rain forest. From indicators to advocacy, topics addressed highlight the region’s biodiversity and the need for global concern. Free with Museum admission.
Sunday, May 4
Recital for Flute & Piano, Yamaha Piano Salon, 689 Fifth Avenue at East 54th Street, 3rd Floor. Jonathan Brahms, flute and Dianne Frazier, piano perform original and transcribed works for flute and piano by W.A. Mozart, Robert Schumann, Franz Doppler, Maurice Ravel, Paul Ben-Haim and Alfredo Casella, with Guest Artist Norman Dee, flute at 5:30 PM. Admission is free.
Asian American Heritage Day: Global India, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200. Kaufmann Theater, first floor. This program explores some of India’s cultural and technological contributions to the world today through demonstrations, performances, lectures, and workshops for the entire family from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM. Free with Museum admission
Irish Arts Center Irish Dance Festival, Riverside Park South, Pier 1, West 70th Street, Riverside Park South, 212-408-0219. Free, for the whole family, rain or shine, 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Stars of Irish dance and music, games, sing-along, dance instruction. Opening event of free annual "Summer On the Hudson" festival, presented by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Food and drink sold at the Pier 1 Cafe.
Tuesday, May 6
Darwin: 21st-Century Perspectives Darwinism: Its Social History and Impact, New York Botanical Garden, 1000 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, 800-322-6924. Science enthusiasts are invited to attend this program celebrating the legacy of Charles Darwin with leading scientists in evolutionary biology. This series is a collaboration between the American Museum of Natural History and The New York Botanical Garden. Fee: $10 each/ $16 for both Tuesday, May 6, 5:00 PM –7:00 PM.
Composers “?” Us, Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts, 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, 718-488-1624. The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center presents: Chamber Music Beginnings, for grades 3-6, is an imaginative, interactive series of performances that bring young students up close and personal with live chamber music. Tickets and info: www.chambermusicsociety.org (Learning/School Programs) or call: 212-875-5793. Tuesday May 6. 10:00 AM.
Wednesday, May 7
Sports Museum of America Grand Opening, Sports Museum of America 26 Broadway, 212-747-0900. Come make sports history! The nation's first and only interactive all-sports museum-experience will open to the public at noon. Created in partnership with more than 50 single-sport halls of fame, national governing bodies and museums across North America, SmA richly celebrates the history and significance of sports in American culture.
Thursday, May 8
A Sign of the Times: The Petula Clark Special with Harry Belafonte, The Paley Center for Media, 25 West 52 Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues), 212-621-6805. Forty years ago singer Petula Clark was given her own special by NBC only to have the innocent variety show end up the center of a racial controversy. Petula is a time capsule of the styles and sounds of 1968. Following a screening of the program, Petula Clark and Harry Belafonte will appear with director Steve Binder to talk about it. 6:00 PM –7:30 PM.
Astronomy Program: Astrofavorites: NASA Astronaut Training Mission,
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200. Children will learn about rocketry, the human body in space, and how astronauts become “space specialists” through hands-on activities and team-building missions on three consecutive Thursdays, May 8–22. 4:00 PM –5:30 PM. (Ages 4–6, each child with one adult) Rose Center Classroom, fourth floor. (Fee: $90/pair)
Friday, May 9
6th Annual Sprout Film Festival, Metropolitan Museum of Art-New Uris Education Center, 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, 212-222-9575. We invite you to experience film and video related to the field of developmental disabilities. People with developmental disabilities as subjects and performers remain marginalized in the media. The Sprout Film Festival aims to raise their profile by showcasing works of all genres featuring this population. Tickets start at $8 per program. Runs through Sunday, May 11.
Saturday, May 10
L.I.C. Bike Parade!, Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Boulevard (at Broadway), Long Island City, 718-956-1819. Socrates Sculpture Park, w/ Bike New York, City Parks Foundation, Freestyle Arts Association, Friends of Queensbridge Park, Materials for the Arts, The Noguchi Museum, Recycle a Bicycle, and Transportation Alternatives invite children of all ages to repair and decorate their bicycles and then parade them in a colorful procession through the Park!
Madison Avenue Gallery Walk, Madison Avenue BID (Business Improvement District), Madison Avenue between East 57 and East 86 Streets, 212-861-2055. Fifty nine of the world’s most prestigious art galleries will host the first Madison Avenue Gallery Walk on Saturday, May 10th from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Free guided gallery tours for families and art lovers will be conducted by art teachers from NYC’s public schools. The event benefits The Fund for Public Schools.
Sunday, May 11
Happy Mother’s Day!!!!
Call us for Gift Certificates to create a very special day in NYC for your mother.
Tai Chi in the Park Sundays, Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Boulevard (at Broadway), Long Island City, 718-956-1819. Socrates hosts free Tai Chi classes in the Park led by Aaron Kirtz, a member of the Taoist Tai Chi Society. Participants will have the opportunity to relax and exercise among the changing exhibitions of contemporary outdoor sculpture. Classes are designed for all experience levels. Participants should wear comfortable clothing. Runs through Sunday, September 28. 11:00 AM – Noon.
New York Junior League Mother's Day 10K, New York Road Runners Central Park, 212-860-4455. Join the 4th Annual Mother's Day Race to raise awareness about the effects of domestic violence. The New York Junior League is committed to help victims break the cycle of domestic violence and raise money to reduce the incidence of domestic violence in our city. Last year more than 7,000 women & men participated! http://www.nyjl.org/ny/npo.jsp?pg=action9
Monday, May 12
Women At Risk 17th Annual Luncheon, The Waldorf Astoria, Grand Ballroom, Park Avenue at 50th Street, 212-305-9525. Women At Risk (WAR) is a New York-Presbyterian Hospital program whose mission is to enhance the lives of women at high risk for and those with breast cancer through research, education and support.
Tuesday, May 13
Open House, New York Open Center, 83 Spring Street, 212-219-2527. Join us for an evening of FREE lectures and refreshments! Meet faculty, sample programs, ask questions and browse the bookstore. Free events in Meditation, Reiki, Dancing, Reflexology & More! Special discounts available this evening only.
Moynihan Station: What Needs to Happen Next? The Municipal Art Society Urban Center Galleries, 457 Madison Avenue, 212-935-2075. The construction of Moynihan Station is the single most critical civic project planned for New York City this decade. Penn Station, this country’s busiest transportation center, is overcapacity and inefficient. A modern, state-of-the-art train station would revitalize the surrounding district and be the most effective catalyst for development on the Far West Side of Manhattan. What will it take to fully realize Senator Moynihan’s vision? Panelists include: Kent Barwick, president, Municipal Art Society; Richard Ravitch, principal, Ravitch Rice & Company LLC; Richard L. Brodsky, assemblyman, New York State Assembly; and Anna Hayes Levin, chair, Community Board 4. Moderator: Charles Bagli, reporter, The New York Times. $15, $12 MAS members. Reservations and prepayment required. Purchase tickets online or call 212 935 2075. 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
Thursday, May 15
George Gershwin & Kay Swift: Evening of Song & TV with special performances, The Paley Center for Media, 25 West 52 Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues), 212-621-6805. Tony Award–winner Christine Ebersole and other Broadway stars will be at the Paley Center to perform the songs of George Gershwin and Kay Swift, the first woman to write a complete score for a Broadway musical (Fine and Dandy). Musical director Aaron Gandy will provide commentary on how the lives of these two songwriters intersected. 6:00 PM –7:30 PM.
Sixth Annual Adam Jeffrey Katz Memorial Lecture Series, Columbia Grammar & Preparatory, 5 West 93rd Street, 212-404-3924. Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinko’s and author of “Copy This!”, will join Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, director and founder of NYU Child Study Center, in a conversation to share how he built a phenomenally successful business while living with dyslexia and ADHD.
AWIB (Asian Women In Business) Annual M/WBE Procurement Conference, Asian Women In Business, The Bank of New York Mellon, 101 Barclay Street, 212-868-1368. A free conference for minority/women-owned businesses presents a day of learning and networking. Pre-qualified business owners get one-on-one meetings with corporations and buyers. Attendees will hear from corporate and government procurement officials. There will be exhibitors from federal, state and city government and corporations.
LOLA's 4th Annual New York City Hepatitis C Walk, Battery Park, 718-720-4370. Come show your support and participate in the 4th Annual New York City Hepatitis C Walk taking place from Battery Park to City Hall Park. This community event with live entertainment is designed to increase awareness of hepatitis C, the most common blood-borne infection in the US. Visit www.lola-national.org or call 718-720-4370.
GERALDCASELDANCE, Joyce SoHo, 155 Mercer Street (Houston/Prince), 212-352-3101. GERALDCASELDANCE presents the world premiere of Border. Set to a largely impressionist sound score, Border asks, “How do we define our identity? What if we had no physical borders? Would we lose or gain more of ourselves?” This evening-length piece highlights Casel’s complex choreographic structures with virtuosic and emotional dance. Runs through Sunday, May 18.
Saturday, May 17
The Horse Opening Day Celebration, The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200. This exciting exhibition explores the origins of the horse family, extending back more than 50 million years; examines early interactions between horses and humans that led to horse domestications; and shows how horses have, over time, changed warfare, trade, transportation, agriculture, sports, and many other facets of human life.
Bicycle Safety Day - The NYC Police Museum, 100 Old Slip, 212-480-3100. The Police Museum will host a Bike Safety Day in partnership with NYC Department of Transportation and the New York Chapter of the National Safe Kids Campaign. The day’s activities include games and presentations on the rules of the road such as sign recognition and proper signaling. Certified technicians will be on hand. Ages 5 & up. 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
NYRR Healthy Kidney 10K, New York Road Runners, Central Park, 212-860-4455. Sponsored by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, with proceeds benefiting the National Kidney Foundation, NYRR hosts the fourth annual Healthy Kidney 10K. The race features professional male runners from around the world in addition to thousands of entrants taking part to support the fight against kidney disease.
Monday, May 19
Wine Enthusiast's Toast of the Town, Lincoln Center's New York Theater, 63rd St. and Columbus Avenue, 800-847-5949. A spectacular epicurean evening of wine, food and soft jazz. International wine and spirit companies will pour more than 500 of their premium products and over 30 top New York restaurants will be showcased. The silent auction will benefit City Harvest and the Food Bank For New York City.
Tuesday, May 20
American Heart Association Start! Wall Street Run and Heart Walk, New York Road Runners, Central Park, 212-860-4455. You can make a difference in your life and the lives of others by participating in the American Heart Association Start! Wall Street Run & Heart Walk! Proceeds benefit the American Heart Association, an organization dedicated to reducing disability and death from heart disease and stroke through education and research.
Astronomy Program: Twinkling Stars, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200. This introduction to the night sky was developed for budding astronomers. Classroom activities and observations in the Hayden Planetarium Space Theater reveal the stars above and the ancient stories and traditions that have followed them through the ages. 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM. (Ages 4–6, each child with one adult) Fee: $65/pair.
Wednesday, May 21
Milk-Bone 100th Anniversary Celebration in Times Square, Military Island in Times Square, 973-316-1665. Milk-Bone® Celebrates 100th Anniversary by Building the World’s Largest Dog House in Times Square! 12:00 PM. – 3:00 PM.
Final Event Celebrating the MTA’s 40th Anniversary: Subway Moon, New York Transit Museum, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, The Great Hall, 7 East 7th Street at ThirdAvenue, 718-694-1600. “Subway Moon,” is a collection of stories inspired by the subway and told through music, image, and words by Roy Nathanson and "The Jazz Passengers," a group of high school students from New York’s Institute for Collaborative Education and visiting students from the suburbs of Paris. Free admission, no reservations required.
Thursday, May 22
Children's Street Festival, Maria Hernandez Park, Knickerbocker Avenue & Irving Avenue, Brooklyn, 718-497-6090. The children of the Coalition for Hispanic Family Services Arts and Literacy Program will dazzle you with performance and visual art during a celebration in Maria Hernandez Park. A procession of singing children will dance around the perimeter of the park. The children will perform their theater, music, and dance pieces, all-student created.
Friday, May 23
13th Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, Theater for the New City, 155 1st Avenue, 212-254-1109. The 13th Annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, is a FREE event showcasing the Best performers, authors, musicians, dancers, comedians, filmmakers and more the city has to offer! This event runs in the evening, at 6:00 PM Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 23, 24 and 25! On Saturday, a Street Festival with vendors on East 10th St from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
Saturday, May 24
Memorial Day Weekend, Central Park: The Big Back Yard of the City, Fifth Ave. & 59th St., at the General Sherman statue, 212-242-5762. These 843 acres became a work of art at the heart of Manhattan 150 years ago. 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Happy Birthday Brooklyn Bridge, New York Transit Museum, Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights, 718-694-1600. Learn all about Brooklyn’s first bridge across the East River, which turns 125 years old this weekend! We’ll read Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing by April Jones Prince, learn about the various forms of transportation that traveled across the great bridge, and create cable cars of our own. Suggested for ages 4+. 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
Friday, May 30
Late Night Dance Party: One Step Beyond, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5200. Flavorpill, New York’s online cultural attaché to young professionals brings the party to the American Museum of Natural History with One Step Beyond, a monthly event featuring the biggest names in techno, electronica, indie rock, and hip-hop. Cocktails keep the party going. 9:00 PM–1:00 AM. Fee: $20.
Rhythms of Latin America / Ritmos de Latinoamerica, Thalia Spanish Theatre, 41-17 Greenpoint Avenue, Long Island City, Queens, 718-729-3880. An exuberant new program exploring the music and dance of Latin America with Ballet Mestizo and its sizzling Grupo Musical. Runs through Sunday, June 29.
