HOT TIMES IN NYC: An insider’s guide to summer in the city

With the first phase of NYC & Company’s new “It’s Time for New York City” recovery campaign officially under way, the city’s CVB/DMO has produced a lively list to help visitors make the most of their return to the city, and to discover what’s new after being away for so long.

“As New York City continues to reawaken (from the pandemic pause), we look forward to highlighting new and timeless attractions and events across the five boroughs,” says NYC & Company president and CEO Fred Dixon. “This summer season will be bursting with unique offers including drive-in and rooftop theatre, new waterfront parks, expanded NYC Ferry access, outdoor performing arts spaces and café culture, countless green markets and gardens, and multicultural experiences.”

Below is a list of new activities and lesser-known outdoor experiences – no Statue of Liberty or 9-11 Memorial here – to help enhance summer in the city, courtesy of the insiders at NYC & Co., and presented from A to Z:

• Aquarium: Visit the New York Aquarium on Coney Island for wildlife encounters, maritime exhibits, including an interactive PlayQuarium exhibit opening soon, and entertaining shows with sea lions in the Aquatheater.

• Aire Ancient Baths: For a relaxing and calming experience, Aire Ancient Baths in Tribeca offers massages, baths, and ancient rituals inspired from Roman, Greek and Ottoman traditions.

• Beaches: NYC beaches are officially open for the summer. To swim, read a book in the sand, or enjoy a stroll on the boardwalk, visit Coney Island Beach, Manhattan Beach, Orchard Beach, Rockaway Beach and South Beach, to name a few.

• Ball Game: Live sporting events are returning, and the Mets, Yankees, and Brooklyn Cyclones are welcoming cheering fans back.

• Brooklyn Festival: For more than 40 years, the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival has presented renowned acts from legendary jazz artists and global music icons, to dance troupes and film projects at the free, summer-long experience. This year, the festival will bring back live, in-person performances from July 31 through Sept. 18 at the Prospect Park Bandshell.

• Backyard at Hudson Yards: Every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 31, Backyard at Hudson Yards will show live sporting events and featured screenings on its 9-metre screen. Visitors can also enjoy lawn games, alfresco dining, pop-up events and family-friendly activities.

• Circle Line: Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises offers six cruises this summer to see some of the city’s iconic landmarks during the day or at dusk, among other fun trips.

• Chinese Scholar’s Garden: One of two authentic classical outdoor Chinese gardens built in the US, the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden on Staten Island features eight pavilions, a bamboo forest path, a koi-filled pond, Chinese calligraphy, waterfalls, and a variety of Ghongshi scholar’s rocks.

• Central Park Concerts: In August, Central Park will host the Homecoming Concert on the Great Lawn, a celebration of NYC’s recovery from the pandemic. While the lineup is still to be announced, record producer Clive Davis will spearhead the three-hour, 60,000-attendee show; SummerStage has returned with in-person live concerts.

• Dim Sum: NYC has many great dim sum options to explore. Visitors can check out Ping’s Seafood in Chinatown, Yeah Shanghai Deluxe on Mott Street, Pacificana in Sunset Park, or Asian Jewels in Flushing, to name a few.

• Ellis Island: Board Statue Cruises to learn more about the history of the 12 million immigrants who came ashore at the Ellis Island /American Family Immigration History Center. Guests can browse immigrant arrival records and other historical archives and visit Liberty Island and the Statue in the same trip.

• Ferry Ride: Explore the five boroughs on the Staten Island Ferry and the NYC Ferry, which now includes a new Coney Island route. Embrace the waterfront views while enjoying onboard food, beverages, and fresh air.

• Fishing: The City has more than 840 km of shoreline with opportunities for freshwater and saltwater sport fishing in all five boroughs. A fishing license is required.

• Green Markets: For fresh, locally grown produce, visit one of the nearly 50 green markets around the five boroughs such as the Union Square Green market, St. George Green market, Brooklyn Borough Hall Saturday Greenmarket, Norwood Farmstand in the Bronx, and the Forest Hills Greenmarket. Weekly events and activities including cooking demonstrations and tastings.

• Gardens: NYC has a wonderful selection of gardens and outdoor landscapes to visit, from the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, to Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Staten Island, and the Queens Botanical Garden. Each garden provides a dynamic experience to escape the City’s concrete and skyscrapers.

• Google: Set to open this summer, the first Google store will be located in Chelsea where guests can expect to purchase a wide array of tech devices like Pixel phones, Fitbits, Pixelbooks, and more.

• Harry Potter New York: The Harry Potter Store New York is now open in Manhattan’s Flatiron District, bringing Butterbeer to NYC for the first time. Muggles everywhere are invited to try the golden, frothy magical drinks served in souvenir cups, while checking out the largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts products in the world.

• Hudson River Tow Pound: The formerly dreary Hudson River tow pound at Pier 76 has been transformed into a public recreational oasis with stunning waterfront views for visitors to enjoy.

• High Line: The High Line now offers a free 75-minute-long tour led by High Line docents, knowledgeable volunteer guides who offer an insider’s perspective on the park’s history from its origins as a freight rail line to its beautiful gardens, available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays through September.

• Irving Plaza: The newly renovated Irving Plaza will reopen on Aug. 17 with a concert by Ashley McBryde. Thereafter, audiences will be welcomed back to the iconic venue with a full slate of 40 upcoming shows.

• Island Hopping: There are more than 30 “islands” throughout the five boroughs. From Coney Island and Staten Island to stand-alone havens like Governors Island, Randall’s Island and Roosevelt Island – home to the newly opened Graduate Roosevelt Island hotel – visitors can spend a few days visiting parks and green spaces on different islets around the five boroughs.

• Jeffrey’s Hook Lighthouse: Located in Washington Heights, Jeffrey’s Hook is one of the few surviving lighthouses in NYC and even inspired a 1942 children’s book, which helped save the structure from the auction block. Tour the lighthouse and climb to the top of the tower for a remarkable view of the George Washington Bridge, followed by an afternoon exploring Latino culture in the neighborhood.

• Kayaking: Take in the splendour of the City’s architecture from a kayak on the Hudson or East River. Free kayaking is available at the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, the Manhattan Community Boathouse at Pier 96, and Red Hook Boaters.

• Little Island: Little Island, which opened in May with timed entry reservations, is located along the Hudson River and offers waterfront views in addition to outdoor performances, children’s programming, and a quick service restaurant.

• Markets: Indulge in authentic Italian cuisine at Arthur Avenue Retail Market in the Bronx; check out the newly renovated Essex Market, which offers kid and adult level cooking demonstrations, among other family-oriented programming; visit the Queens Night Market, which reopens this week, or experience the Time Out Market in Dumbo, Brooklyn, featuring more than 20 unique food concepts along with a rooftop stage offering musical acts, pop-up performances and more.

• NY PopsUp: An expansive festival featuring hundreds of surprise pop-up performances, many of which are free of charge and open to the public through Aug. 11. Follow @nypopsup on Instagram and Twitter for upcoming event announcements.

• Observation Decks: Take in a summer day or night in NYC from up high by visiting one of the famed observation decks, including Top of the Rock, Empire State Building Observatory, Edge at Hudson Yards, and One World Observatory. The newest observation deck, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, is slated to open in October.

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• Pinknic Rosé Festival: Toast the end of summer at the Pinknic Rosé Festival, which will return to NYC Sept. 4-5 on Governors Island. Guests can enjoy live music, drinks including rosé, frosé, champagne, or a chilled cocktail, and food from local restaurants and dishes prepared by acclaimed chef Gabriel Pazos.

• Queens County Farm Museum: A family-friendly museum and NYC Landmark, the Queens County Farm Museum gives visitors a chance to experience farming life in the big city through the Apple Blossom Carnival, a seasonal farm stand, a greenhouse, livestock, farm vehicles, planting fields, and much more.

• Surfing: Located in Queens, Rockaway beach has a thriving surf community with lessons available from local surf shops, in addition to other outdoor recreational activities such as jet skiing, and is easily accessible by the A train or NYC Ferry. With so much to experience, spend a night or two at The Rockaway Hotel, which opened last year.

• Shakespeare in the Park: This summer, the Delacorte Theater will host a fresh adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor” with free shows in Central Park through Sept. 18.

• Tennis: The prestigious US Open will be held at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Aug 30-Sept. 12.

• Unisphere: An iconic monument in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the Unisphere was originally commissioned for the New York World’s Fair of 1964-65.

• Van Cortlandt Park: Located in the Bronx, Van Cortlandt Park is a great spot for a summer picnic near the borough’s largest freshwater lake, or a game of golf on its public course, or a romp around its large playgrounds.

• Van Gogh Exhibit: After receiving rave reviews worldwide, the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit has arrived in NYC at Pier 36 and features more than 14,000 cubic metres of projections allowing visitors to step inside the iconic impressionist works of art.

• Waterfront Parks: Enjoy Brooklyn Bridge Park, Marine Park, Alice Austen Park, Riverside Park and High Bridge Park. You can also visit America’s largest waterfront park, Hudson River Park on Manhattan’s West Side, which stretches four miles long and features mini golf, rock climbing, batting cages, four dog parks and a carousel.

• Whitney Museum of American Art: The Whitney, in collaboration with Hudson River Park, has developed a permanent, monumental public art project by artist David Hammons titled “Day’s End,” which is located directly across from the museum on the southern edge of the Gansevoort Peninsula.

• Wave Hill: Sitting high above the Hudson River on a 11-hectare urban oasis, Wave Hill offers visitors a world-class garden and place to celebrate the arts. There is always something to learn or experience, whether it’s a workshop, contemporary art exhibit, or live performance.

• Bateaux NYC Cruise: Afternoon or evening dinner cruises along the Hudson and New York harbour with the city as a backdrop, viewable through the “all glass” vessels.

• Yoga classes: Sky-High Yoga hosts classes at over 335 metres in the air throughout the summer at the Edge at Hudson Yards in partnership with Equinox; Classes such as the energizing vinyasa yoga class will also be offered throughout the summer in Central Park for those looking to cleanse and recharge.

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• Zoos: Take a walk on the wild side at one of NYC’s zoos – the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and the Staten Island Zoo. All are part of the Wildlife Conservation Society and offer fun family-oriented activities including animal feedings, educational programs, and more.

“It’s Time for New York City,” is the city’s largest-ever, multi-phased global tourism marketing and advertising campaign to promote New York City. Launched initially as a domestic initiative, the unprecedented US$30-million tourism recovery campaign will expand to Canada, Mexico and Latin America as circumstance allow.

The initiative is designed to “remind visitors of the City’s unrivaled energy, excitement, and the abundance of life, endless experiences and resiliency that make NYC the most iconic destination in the world.”

NYC & Company predicts 36.1 million people will visit New York City in 2021, including 10 million people this summer. Since the quarantine requirement for domestic travellers was lifted on April 1, New York City’s hotel demand has steadily risen from 338,367 rooms for the week ending April 3 to 457,568 rooms for the week ending June 19, a 35% increase.