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Norma's Weekly Member Snapshot:
Beach Breaks
For a seaside retreat, venture to a sandy spot right outside the city. There are plenty of sun and sand escapes to explore right at your fingertips. This week, I've listed my top 5 in the area, so pack a bag of your beach essentials and experience stretches of beautiful beach.
Norma Knows New York City
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Send to other savvy New Yorkers and hip visitors,
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 GENERAL EVENTS |
Now Open Bryant Park Outdoor ActivitiesBryant Park
There is so much to do during the summer in Bryant Park - from outdoor dance and exercise classes to a live piano player... check the calendar for the full schedule.
Tuesdays Stargazing on The High LineThe High Line (West 13th & Washington Streets) Every Tuesday until October you can peek into high powered telescopes on the High Line and chat with the experts. July 18 City of Water Day
Governors Island Entertainment, education, and adventure on Governors Island in celebration of our waterfront.
Through July 19 AVP Kingston New York City Open
Randall's Island A 5-mile challenging athletic event on Randall's Island. Proceeds will support the children's charity of Make-A-Wish. July 25 & 26 NYC Poetry Festival
Governors Island
250 poets over 2 days... if you're a poetry lover, come to hear free readings.
July 27 Harlem Week
Various Locations
Celebrate Harlem through August 22nd with musical events, film festivals, fashion shows, and more.
August 2 Summer Streets
See the map online
On 3 consecutive Saturdays, 7 miles of NYC's streets are open for people to play, run, walk, and bike. Activities include arts and crafts workshops, live musical performances, dance workshops, plenty of snacks, a 25-foot climbing wall, and a 160-foot zipline. 7:00 am to 1:00 pm, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets. August 2nd, 9th, 16th.
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CULTURAL PURSUITS
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Looking for a new way to see a museum? Check out Museum Hack, guided tours (up to 9 people) of the Met and the American Museum of Natural History. Led by experienced guides well-versed in art history, it's a way to see the works through a new lens. |
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DANCENOISE: Don't Look Back
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PETZEL GALLERY (456 West 18th Street) Seth Price - Drawings: Studies for Works 2000-2015 Through July 17 Best known for his sculpture, video, and writing, New York based Price's drawings will be on display. DAVID ZWIRNER GALLERY (537 West 20th Street) Through July 24 A major installation in forged weatherproof steel. THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (11 West 53rd Street)
Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955-1980
Through July 19
An examination of the positions, debates, and architectural creativity from Mexico and Cuba to the Southern Cone between 1955 and the early 1980s. WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART (99 Gansevoort Street)
DANCENOISE: Don't Look Back
July 22 through 26
Live performances and a retrospective installation. ONGOING EXHIBITS:
AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM (2 Lincoln Square) Folk Art and American ModernismJuly 18 through September 27 This exhibit traces folk art from fishing shacks to the walls of major art museums.|
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Jean-Michel Cousteau's Secret Ocean
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AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (Central Park West at 79th Street)
Through August 9
Exhibit uncovers the causes of nature's forces. Jean-Michel Cousteau's Secret OceanThrough January 2016 Take a breathtaking journey around the underwater world as Cousteau introduces 30 species shown for the first time on film... created over a three year period.BROOKLYN MUSEUM (200 Eastern Parkway - Brooklyn) Basquiat: The Unknown NotebooksThrough August 23
View the large scale works of this illustrious painter along with sketches from his personal notebooks.
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Jazz-minh Moore: Middle of Nowhere
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CLAIRE OLIVER GALLERY (513 West 26th Street)
Jazz-minh Moore: Middle of Nowhere
Through July 31
The two dozen new paintings in this Road Trip Series are inspired by images and experiences from Claire's road trip through the Southwest.
DISCOVERY TIMES SQUARE (226 West 44th Street)
The Hunger Games
Through January 3, 2016
The world premiere exhibition is open! Katniss fans will go wild for authentic costumes, props, and highly interactive hands-on experiences exploring the world of Panem.
ELLIS ISLAND
Ongoing
Life-size historic photographs of Ellis Island immigrants are displayed on the south side of Ellis Island.
Ongoing
Tells the story of immigration to America before the processing station opened in 1892 and after it closed in 1954.
THE FRICK COLLECTION (10 East 71st Street) Leighton's Flaming JuneThrough September 6 British artist Frederic Leighton's paintings are on exhibition. On July 17th, visit for Nights at the Frick, f ree after-hours access to collections with
an evening of free programs inspired by the exhibits.
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM (1071 Fifth Avenue)
Storylines: Contemporary Art at the Guggenheim
Through September 9
This exhibit displays 100+ works and examines how artists forge new paradigms for storytelling through painting, photography and sculpture.
INTREPID SEA, AIR, & SPACE MUSEUM
(Pier 86 - 46th Street & 12th Avenue)
Through September 15
Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope.
THE JEWISH MUSEUM (1109 Fifth Avenue)
Through September 27
The first exhibition to explore how avant-garde art influenced the look and content of early network television.
MADISON SQUARE PARK Teresita FernándezThrough Winter 500 feet of sprawling sculptures made of golden canopies suspended above the park's pathway. An eye-catching exhibit.
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (1000 Fifth Avenue)
Through November 1
It feels like summer and a perfect time to visit the Met's Roof Garden. Besides the beautiful view and delicious drinks, Pierre Huyghe's minimalist installation is mystifying and adds to the view.
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China: Through the Looking Glass
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China: Through the Looking GlassThrough August 16
The Costume Institute and the Collaborative Department of Asian Art showcase the fashionable imagination of Asian designs, exploring the impact of Chinese aesthetics on Western fashion.
Van Gogh: Irises and Roses Through August 16
THE MORGAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (226 Madison Avenue)
Through October 11
For the first time in three decades, the original manuscript will travel from the British Library in London to New York, where it will be joined by original drawings and letters, rare editions, vintage photographs, and fascinating objects... many never before exhibited.
MUSEUM OF ARTS & DESIGN (2 Columbus Circle) Through September 20
Through August 30
Displays thirty of his works of ever-changing fashion.
MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK (1220 Fifth Avenue)
Through September 13
An exhilarating exhibit of 50 years of New York landmarks.
Through August 13
Exhibit will take us back to the early days of Hip Hop and showcase the work of three NYC photographers who documented the scene between 1977 and 1990.
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (11 West 53rd Street)
Through March 31, 2016 Exhibition of past three decades of 30 international artists whose works range in their approach to political, social, and cultural flux of our global landscape.
This Is for Everyone: Design Experiments for the Common Good
Through January 31, 2016
Digital age design encompassing fashion and furniture.
Andy Warhol: Campbell's Soup Cans and Other Works, 1953-1967Through October 12Andy Warhol's famous Campbell Soup Cans are on display.Yoko Ono: One Woman Show, 1960-1971Through September 7MoMA features a compilation of approximately 125 of her early objects, works on paper, installations, performances, audio recordings, and films, surveying the decisive decade that led up to her unauthorized exhibition.
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One-Way Ticket:
Jacob Lawrence's Migration Series
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Through September 7
Portrays the mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. NEUE GALLERY NEW YORK MUSEUM FOR GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN ART (1048 Fifth Avenue)
Through September 7
View the original painting that inspired Helen Mirren's role in her latest movie by the same name.
NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY (170 Central Park West)
Through October 12
Nine decades of his art are on display for the first time.
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Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life
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THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life Through November 1The inaugural exhibition to examine Frida's appreciation for the beauty and variety of the natural world, as evidenced by her home, garden, and use of plant imagery in her artwork. NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY (5th Avenue at 42nd Street)
Public Eye: 175 Years of Sharing Photography
Through September 4
The first-ever retrospective survey of photography organized by the Public Library. How have we been engaged over time? Are we risking our privacy in pursuit of a more public photography? The exhibit explores these questions.
Sinatra: An American Icon
Through September 4A tribute to the life of the legendary actor and singer, Frank Sinatra. A multimedia exhibit showcasing memorabilia never before seen.
PARK AVENUE ARMORY (643 Park Avenue)
Through August 2
Philippe Parreno constructs a sculpted space where a series of events fold and unfold onto the vast space of the Armory. An amazing sensory journey! Through November Annual summer art exhibitions on the shoreline of Randall's Island. ROBIN RICE GALLERY (325 West 11th Street)
Summertime Salon
Through September 6Annual photographic exhibition featuring the works of the gallery artists as well as a few newcomers.
SOCRATES SCULPTURE PARK (Long Island City) The Living PyramidThrough August 30
Stop by and see New York City artist Agnes Denes' work.
THE SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM (39 Battery Place)
Ten TopsThrough September 13Focuses on a group of the world's tallest buildings 100 stories and higher. A perfect exhibit for this museum! VAN DER PLAS GALLERY (156 Orchard Street) Summer Salon 2015Through August 31 Opening reception for this exhibit is tonight from 6-8pm, displays works from various artists including Green Intersections, Quartered by Toni Silber-Delerive. WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART (99 Gansevoort Street)America is Hard to See Through September 24 Recently premiering at the downtown opening of the Whitney Museum. View this inaugural exhibit of over 650 pieces from 400 artists.
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CURTAIN UP
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FILM:
Visit my recent Snapshot for all of the outdoor film this summer! This week's movie picks: MUSIC & DANCE:
The Lambs Club (132 West 44th Street)
Live jazz from new and up and coming performers.
July 17 Sunset on the Hudson
Hudson River Park Pier 45 (at Christopher Street)
Free live music each Friday this summer through August 21st.
July 21 Hudson Square Museum & Wine Festival
City Winery (155 Varick Street)
A fun, free after-work backyard party held every Tuesday through August 11th.
July 21 through 30 31st Annual Jazz in July Festival
92Y (1395 Lexington Avenue)
A jazz series featuring the true titans of jazz and brilliant new stars of the next generation. |
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Lincoln Center Out of Doors
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July 22 Lincoln Center Out of DoorsLincoln Center 3 weeks of dance, music, and concerts in Lincoln Center... and it's all free! Through August 9th. July 23 Harry Partch: Bitter Music New York City Center (131 West 55th Street) A jazz tribute of an American entertainer who built his own instruments and invented his own music theory. July 23 Hudson Riverrocks Hudson River Park Pier 84 (at West 44th Street) Free outdoor concert series on the river. Also August 6th.
Bryant Park
Broadway's biggest hits are sung by many top performers each Thursday. This Thursday, performances include music from BEAUTIFUL and Kinky Boots. Thursdays through August 13th.
 July 23 MoMA Nights
Museum of Modern Art (11 West 53rd Street)
Sculpture Garden
The perfect respite... listen to jazz and classical music in the museum's exquisite sculpture garden on Thursdays in July & August.
Through July 27 The New York Musical Theatre Festival
Various Locations
The festival provides a platform to introduce new shows and perspective into the world of musical theater. Visit the website for tickets.
Central Park
Every Tuesday, the city's oldest free classical music series.
Through August 12 Celebrate Brooklyn
Prospect Park Bandshell
Free concerts all summer.
MoMA PS1 (Long Island City)
Each Saturday, warm Up is experimental live music, DJs, and dancing in the outdoor courtyard of MoMA PS1 in Queens.
THEATER:
39 StepsThrough November 30 Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street) The energetic production has returned to NYC! A comedic spoof where 4 actors portray over 150 characters. |
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The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey
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The Absolute Brightness of Leonard PelkeyThrough October 4 Westside Theatre Downstairs (407 West 43rd Street)
An off-Broadway production of a tenaciously optimist and flamboyant 14 year old boy who goes missing from his small Jersey shore town. Previews begin July 11th, opens July 27th, through October 4th.
An Act of GodThrough August 2 Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street) Emmy and Golden Globe winner, Jim Parsons, stars in the 90-minute comedy in which God and his devoted angels answer some of the deepest questions of mankind.An American in Paris
Palace Theater (1564 Broadway)
American Stage debut of the story about a young artist who discovers life and love after returning from the war.
Amazing Grace
Through December 20
Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st)
World Premiere musical based on the awe-inspiring true story behind the world's most beloved song. Now in previews, opens July 16th, through December 20th.
Through January 3, 2016
Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street)
This musical follows the legendary songwriter from her early days as a Brooklyn teenager to well-known hits as a top recording artist.
Through January 3, 2016
Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) Now a Tony Award Winning play! The lead actor, a recent graduate of Julliard, is brilliant. The story unfolds with a mathematically precocious adolescent with behavioral problems uncovering truths and secrets. Finding Neverland Through January 10, 2016 Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street) Starring Kelsey Grammer. The amazing story of how Peter became Pan.
Fish in the Dark
Through August 1
Cort Theater (138 West 48th Street) Funnyman Larry David focuses on 15 characters as each deals with a death in the family. Seinfeld buddy Jason Alexander replaced Larry for the remainder of the show's run. The FlickThrough August 30 Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street) Set in a run-down movie theater in central Massachusetts, this is Annie Baker's Pulitzer Prize-winning play.  Fun HomeThrough January 3, 2016 Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50th Street) Performance brings the actors and audience within close proximity. Tony Award Winning play depicting the theme of seeing your parents through adult eyes. Hamilton
Through March 27, 2016
Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street)
A show stopper that got its start at the Public Theater earlier this year. An inventive musical about the young immigrant who changed America... Alexander Hamilton. In previews now, opens August 6th, through March 27th.
Through August 30
The Signature Theater (480 West 42nd Street)
World premier by Pulitzer prize winning playwright of the Flick. John is directed by Sam Gold and is the story of a young couple's struggle to stay together.
Through January 3, 2016
Lincoln Center Theater (150 West 65th Street)
The revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's play, starring Tony Award Winner Kelli O'Hara.
Of Good StockThrough July 26 New York City Center (131 West 55th Street) Alicia Silverstone stars in this play about a reunion of three daughters. On the 20th CenturyThrough July 19
American Airline Theatre (227 West 42nd Street) Love, lust, and mischief collide in this musical comedy starring Broadway showstopper, Kristin Chenoweth.
On the TownThrough December 6
Lyric Theatre (213 West 42nd Street) The feel good play of the season. Broadway's largest orchestra and cast make us fall in love with the city again.
Penn & TellerThrough August 16 Marquis Theatre (46th Street between Broadway & 8th Avenue) For the first time in 25 years, this duo returns home bringing astonishing tricks from their record breaking Las Vegas show. PreludesThrough August 2 Lincoln Center Theater (150 West 65th Street) A musical fantasia set in the mind of a Russian composer as he attempts to overcome his writer's block and return to composing. A Queen for a DayThrough July 26 Theatre at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street) Many of the former stars of The Sopranos (such as Vincent Pastore) have joined forces in this production... a new mafia story.
Shakespeare in the Park: Cymbeline
July 23 through August 23
The Delacorte Theater (81 Central Park)
It's worth standing in line for the free performances of Shakespeare's tale. Starring Hamish Linklater.
Shows for Days
Through August 23
Lincoln Center Theater (150 West 65th Street)
A favorite performer of mine, Patti LuPone, stars in a semi-autobiographical play about a community theater in rural Pennsylvania.
The Weir
Through August 23
Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street)
The acclaimed revival returns to the stage. What starts out as "blarney" turns into haunting ghost stories.
The Wild Party
Through July 18
New York City Center (131 West 55th Street)
Starring the infamous Sutton Foster... the decadent era of the 1920s is captured by the artistic performance of Ms. Foster.
Ziegfeld's Midnight FrolicThrough August 29 Speakeasy Dollhouse (234 West 42nd Street) A hidden theater in the Heart of Times Square, purchase tickets for an evening of music, magic, and mystery.
ON THE RADAR:
July 25 Mostly Mozart
Lincoln Center
Classical music concerts through August 22nd. Order your tickets now.
July 26 Kaiko Matsui
B.B. King Blues Club
Central Park SummerStageFree concert with music from the Broadway hit!
August 4 Ramblers and Strugglers: Old Time Music in the Big City
Museum of the City of New York (1220 Fifth Avenue)
An evening of old time blues by two outstanding folk groups based in the city. Don't forget to take in the exhibits during your visit.
August 15 & 16 Jazz Age Lawn Party
Governor's Island
An annual prohibition-era soiree (How very Gatsby!). The quintessential outdoor celebration of the jazz age.
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FOR THE FOODIE
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 Daily Seaport SmorgasburgSeaport District along Fulton Street Smorgasburg market includes eight food vendors and a bar open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, and drinks. Vendors include Pizza Moto, Ramen Burger, and Red Hook Lobster Pound.
Through July 19 French Restaurant Week Celebrate Bastille Day's weekend festival while dining in some of the city's finest restaurants where many prix fixe menus are offered. My top picks are Orsay, Le Rivage, Le Philosophe, and Cercle Rouge. Various Locations Restaurant Week returns through August 14th - lunch $25, dinner $38. Make your reservations... below are some of my top picks: American Cuisine
Union Square: 12 East 12th Street
Harlow Seafood Midtown East: 111 East 56th Street Il Cantinori Italian Cuisine East Village: 32 East 10th Street Match 65 French Cuisine Upper East Side: 29 East 56th Street Morimoto Japanese Cuisine Chelsea: Chelsea Market (88 10th Avenue) Grand Central - Vanderbilt Hall Free tastings from selected shops and restaurants, plus special offers and live music. Wednesdays throughout July. ON THE RADAR:
August 16 Food Truck RallyGrand Army Plaza - Brooklyn Sampling of cuisines from around the world from New York's best food trucks.
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SPECIAL FEATURE: Beach Breaks
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Cooper's Beach
Southampton, NY
A prime destination for the Hamptons set, Southampton maintains seven miles of coastline, including the gem Cooper's Beach. This soft, sandy beach is beautiful with lifeguards and concessions galore for you to choose from. Easily accessible from the city on the LIRR or Hamptons Jitney at about two and a half hours each way - if you do take the bus, just hope the traffic gods are with you.
Long Beach
Long Beach, NY
The beautiful shores of Long Beach are just steps from the LIRR, getting you there from NYC in a short hour and a half. The boardwalk is brand new, perfect for roller skating or just strolling and taking in the sea air. There is a fee for beach access or you can take the train and get the train ticket and beach access combo package.
Main Beach
East Hampton, NY
Another Hamptons offering, Main Beach's sandy shores are pristine and inviting. Despite the city dwellers that descend for the weekend, the beach never feels overly crowded, with offerings including delicious snack bars and kayak rentals. You can get there in just under three hours on the LIRR or the Jitney making it the perfect weekend getaway. Once you arrive, consider biking to the beach from your overnight accommodations.
Fire Island, NY
Appreciate a laid back town with bicycles, stunning sunsets, and easy access to the beach. It's a longer trek to get there, but you can take the Long Island Railroad to Bayshore, then the ferry to Fire Island. The unofficial capital of Fire Island, Ocean Beach, is perfect for families and singles a like. Cars aren't allowed on the island, but you'll love exploring the bars, boutiques and spectacular beaches by foot.
Rockaway Beach Queens, NY
A favorite with the hipster crowd, Rockaway Beach is a popular spot to get your surf on. The Rockaways is easy to get to from the city with MTA options including the A train connecting to the S or the NYC Beach Bus that makes pickups in Brooklyn and will get you there easily. If your summer time fun includes delicious taco trucks, funky shops and outdoor drinking, this beach is for you.
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Tuesdays & Wednesdays 
