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Hot summer nights are about to get hotter. From sexy rooftop pool parties to epic outdoor music festivals to picnics by moonlight with live jazz or fireworks, Night+Day’s Best Summer Nights highlight primo nocturnal events for the beautiful, balmy evenings ahead.
Best Summer Nights in....
Best Summer Nights
New York
Byrant Park Summer Film Festival Bryant Park, between 40th St., 42nd St., Fifth Ave.,
and Sixth Ave., Midtown, 212-768-4242 bryantpark.org
The Draw: Enjoy contemporary and classic films in the open air at Bryant Park. The Scene: You’re in the concrete heart of Midtown. Yet as night falls, the warm wind rustles through the trees, the greenery is bathed in light from only the movie and the moon, and you’ll feel like you’re anywhere but. Late Jun–Aug Mon. Hot Tip: No time to pack a picnic? Go online and place an advance order with the haute sandwich shop ‘wichcraft (wichcraftnyc.com) in the park. Pick up your order when you arrive, and enjoy your meal with the film.
Met Opera in the Parks: Summer Recital Series Great Lawn, Central Park, 212-362-6000 metoperafamily.org/parks
The Draw: Opera rings out amid the lush greenery and chirping birds of Central Park. The Scene: The Great Lawn is covered end to end with picnic blankets, where opera-lovers sip wine, munch on hors d’oeuvres, and soak in sun and arias. July, check website for schedule. Hot Tip: Three words: Get there early. The lawn fills up quickly, so do as New Yorkers, and follow this strategy: One person gets there early to secure lawn space; the others can come later, but they bring the wine and food.
Water Taxi Beach Long Island City, South Stree Seaport, and Governor’s Island,
877-974-6998 ext. 4 watertaxibeach.com
The Draw: You know it’s summer in New York when Water Taxi Beach opens for the season, with three shoreline hot spots (and we mean this literally and figuratively) in New York: Long Island City, South Street Seaport, and Governor’s Island. The Scene: Come evening, the Water Taxi beaches become thumping playgrounds for the clubby set, featuring DJs spinning dance music, tropical cocktails, and flirting under the stars. Refuel at the beach snack shacks: Try the tasty fish tacos or graze at the weekend “raw bar” at the Fish Shack at South Street Seaport or fill up on cola-grilled pork spareribs at the Beach Grill on Governor’s Island. See website for calendar of events. Hot Tip: There may be no free lunch, but here is a free…launch: The Water Taxi Beach shuttles are free from East 35th Street in Manhattan every Friday and Saturday night (8pm–2am).
