NYC Beaches

At last, information on all the great beaches within NY City limits. Enjoy it while you still can.

Coney Island Surf Ave., Brooklyn, 718/372-5159 In addition to a beach, Coney Island has a famous boardwalk with rides and games of chance, Cyclone roller coaster, a sideshow, museum, flea markets, the beautiful new Brooklyn Cyclones stadium, the fantastic New York Aquarium, and special events like June’s Mermaid Parade and the summer Siren Festival.
Did You Know?New York City has 578 miles of waterfront. Gateway National Recreation Area Brooklyn, Queens, & Staten Island, 718/338-3688 Fantastic beaches, old military forts, and wildlife are the big draws to this unexpectedly diverse park with an assortment of activities from beachcombing to aviation history. The concept of the urban natural park emerged in the United States in the 1960s. One of the first in the country to be set up by the National Park System, Gateway National Recreation Area protects wilderness along the city's south shore, combining native wildlife, public beaches and historic structures. There is seasonal ferry service (to be expanded) from Manhattan to Gateway’s Sandy Hook Unit, in NJ.Great Kills Park Hylan Blvd., between Fairlawn & Emmet Aves., Staten Island, 718/980-6130, 718/ 351-8700 Great Kills Park is part of Gateway National Recreation Area and has a swimming beach with life guards, off-shore fishing, marina, jogging and walking trails.

Orchard Beach Pelham Bay Park, Bronx, 718/885-2275 The elegant mile-long Orchard Beach crescent - the "Bronx Riviera" - is the borough’s most popular summertime meeting place. There’s a boardwalk for people-watching, a band shell where weekend concerts are held, and tennis, paddleball, and basketball courts. Rockaway Beach South of Rockaway Beach Blvd./Bay 116th St., 718/318-4000 Rockaway Beach is America’s longest municipal beach, with almost ten miles for sun worshippers and sand castle builders.

Coney Island Freak show, highly recommended

SIDESHOWS BY THE SEASHORE is located at the corner of Surf Avenue & West 12th Street in the heart of the Coney Island amusement park. The sideshow seats about 100 people and there is a FREAK BAR (serving beer) and a GIFT SHOP in the lobby. Both the inside and the outside of this historic early 20th century building are decorated in canvas sideshow banners. In the 1950's and 60's it was home to Dave Rosen's Wonderland Circus Sideshow where such legends as Sealo the Seal Boy, JoJo the Dogfaced Boy, tattooed man Jack Dracula and talker Bobby Reynolds once worked and performed. Please call the office at (718) 372-5159 for rental rates. SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend the full cast show will perform Fridays from 2-8pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 1-11pm. PRICE: Tickets can be purchased at the door only on the day of performance. The price is $6 for Adults and $4 for children under 12 years old. TRANSPORTATION: Take the N or Q train to the last stop, Coney Island station.

Tigers at the Bronx Zoo

Want to see a tiger up close? Come explore Tiger Mountain, the Bronx Zoo’s spectacular tiger exhibit that puts you just a (safe!) whisker away from the largest member of the cat family.

Tiger Mountain is three acres that recreate the natural habitat of the Siberian tiger. But there are some unique additional amenities like a pool and a sprinkler that speak to the Bronx Zoo’s innovative animal enrichment program, developed to help animals live stimulating, healthy lives.

Tiger Mountain features six stars in stripes, the latest in animal enrichment, and the most up-to-date information on the Wildlife Conservation Society’s global efforts to save this majestic endangered animal.

Best Steak NYC: Peter Luger

If you can get reservations at this finest Brooklyn, NY steakhouse, it's well worth the large amount of cash you will drop for the best beef in NYC. CASH ONLY, NO CREDIT CARDS!

Peter Luger, Inc.178 Broadway Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211 Reservations:(718) 387-7400

BY SUBWAY: Take F Train downtown to Delancey Street. Go upstairs and transfer to the J, M, Z Train over the Williamsburg Bridge to Marcy Avenue (First stop over the bridge). Walk on Broadway towards the East River to Peter Luger at 178 Broadway.

Peter Luger Steak House has been serving the finest USDA Prime steaks since 1887. The selection process is crucial and therefore is done only by members of the family who visit the wholesale markets on a daily basis. It begins with fresh sides of beef that usually come from the Midwest. The section of beef used is called the short loin. Only those cattle graded PRIME by the United States Agriculture Department are even considered. It is then important to examine the color, fat conformation and bones.

The color must be pink with an even conformation of fat dispersed throughout. This is referred to as marbling. If selected, the loin is brought back to the premises of the restaurant where the dry aging process begins. The loins of beef sit in a temperature controlled cooler where air circulates around them. After the meat is properly aged, it is butchered and brought up to the kitchen for broiling.

June is almost here

Hi all,

June is right around the corner and this is a great time to visit NYC. Here are a few stats/tips, etc. about visiting the city in the early part of the summer.

June Weather:
Average High: 79°F
Average Low: 64°F
June's warm weather welcomes visitors to New York City who want to enjoy walking the streets of New York City, and the many exciting summer activities in the city.

What to Wear:
pack an umbrella
a sweater
closed toe shoes, comfortable for walking and water-resistant if possible
a picnic blanket is great if you want to check out some of the free concerts and movies

June Perks:
warm weather for visiting New York City, but not as hot as the rest of summer
perfect time of year for New York's many walking tours
the annual Museum Mile Festival
many summer concerts and outdoor film festivals to see (most of which are free!)
Restaurant Week returns, so enjoy the opportunity to try some of New York City's restaurants at bargain prices

June Cons:
warmer weather
more crowds, especially later in the month when schools are out

Good to Know:
If you want to go to any of the movies or free concerts in New York City parks, bring a blanket and pack a picnic dinner -- you can even bring some wine and beer if you're discrete. It's a great experience and truly gives you a taste of being a local New Yorker.

June Highlights/Events:
Museum Mile Festival
Belmont Stakes
Puerto Rican Day Parade
Met Opera in the Parks
Bryant Park Film Festival
Shakespeare in the Park
Mermaid Parade
Lesbian and Gay Pride Week
Father's Day
New York Restaurant Week
Midsummer Night Swing
Baseball Season
Women's Liberty Season (WNBA)
JVC Jazz Festival
Central Park SummerStage

The Wedding Singer: Musical Review

The Wedding Singer - Musical In The Wedding Singer it's 1985 and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey's favorite wedding singer. He's the life of the party - until his own fiancee leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Enter Julia, a winsome waitress who wins his affection. Only trouble is Julia is about to be married to a Wall Street shark, and unless Robbie can pull off the performance of the decade, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever. With a brand new score that pays loving homage to the pop songs of the 1980's, The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer just might be the coolest guy in the room.

10 best spots in the city

Impress out of town guests with a truly local experience.

1. Bowery Ballroom
6 Delancey St, New York, NY CBGB may be the more popular T-shirt, but to see up-and-coming bands with the locals, this place can't be beat.

2. Frick Collection
1 E 70th St, New York, NY Pass by the Met on your way to this, a unique collection housed in the mansion of its collector.

3. Spice Market
403 W 13th St, New York, NY Superstar chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Meatpacking District spot not only serves outstanding Asian eats, but the decor is even more impressive.

4. Lobby Lounge
80 Columbus Cir, New York, NY This plush lounge on the 35th floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is arguably the best place to sip a glass of wine while gazing out at Central Park.

5. Grimaldi's Pizzeria
19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY It may be cliche, but grabbing a pie at one of the city's best pizzerias and then hoofing it over the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most fun and affordable ways to show off NYC.

6. Brooklyn Botanic Garden
1000 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY The expansive gardens are a peaceful oasis year-round, nestled between two other noteworthy attractions, the Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park.

7. Lenox Lounge
288 Lenox Ave, New York, NY Skip the mainstream midtown spots and instead, catch a weekend jazz show or a Monday night jam session at this legend.

8. Canal Street Bikes
417 Canal St Ste 1, New York, NY Locals know that the best way to see the city, no matter the season, is on two wheels. Rent a bike and head up the West Side Highway path, stop by the Boat Basin cafe for a beer and burger, and see Central Park all in one afternoon.

9. The Cloisters
Fort Tryon Park, New York, NY This medieval European museum and garden is a favorite escape, with an impressive view of the Hudson River and the Palisades.

10. Comedy Cellar
117 MacDougal St, New York, NY Up-and-coming comics test their material here nightly, but there's no telling when one of the "SNL" stars or other famous comics will stop by for a set.