Summer Culture Calendar: After Dark

"A sea of humanity in Bryant Park" by acnatta is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
( André Natta / Creative Commons )

Title: Summer Culture Calendar: After Dark

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Brian Lehrer: I'm Brian Lehrer on WNYC. Just throwing this little addendum to the pledge-drive messaging. Somebody just texted, "Yorkies adore mini totes." I can see why, right? We'll end today with another installment in our pledge-drive miniseries, looking ahead to the cultural events coming up this summer in New York City. Today, we're going to talk about some of the fun things on offer that get started after dark, family-friendly things, that is, like outdoor movies, night markets, and fireworks. I'm joined for this by Rossilynne Culgan, the Things to Do editor at Time Out New York, and the author of Secret New York City: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Hey, Rossilynne, welcome back to the show.

Rossilynne: Hi. Glad to be here.

Brian: I think maybe Bryant Park got this whole free outdoor movie showing trend started back in the 1990s. They've announced they'll be back this year, but no lineup yet. What are some of the other places to see movies, in particular, under the stars or under the streetlights, as it may be?

Rossilynne: One of my favorites is coming back this year. It's called the Films on the Green Festival. Now, this is a French film festival, but don't worry if you don't speak French. I don't know a word of French, but I still enjoy this because the movies all have subtitles. This year, they're going to be focusing on films about fashion. They are popping up at three different parks. The first one is going to be Central Park on May 30th, and then Washington Square Park on June 13th, and then Riverside Park South on June 27th.

Each time, they'll have a different French film that you can come and enjoy, and again, you've got those English subtitles, so don't worry. You're going to be able to catch on. It all happens at sunset. It's a really fun opportunity. Bring your picnic blanket, bring a chair, bring some snacks, and enjoy the show.

Brian: That sounds fun. For people like me who took French in high school but forgot most of it, you can see how many words you remember as you come across [crosstalk].

Rossilynne: That's right. It'll be a good flashback.

Brian: Another one, Brooklyn Bridge Park, movies with a view.

Rossilynne: Yes. This one, they really do talk about movies with a view, and that fits for what they have here. I believe they have just announced their lineup, and similarly to Bryant Park, I feel like this one is kind of iconic. Bryant Park, as you mentioned, was the original, but Brooklyn Bridge Park wasn't too far behind. I think they're starting soon in July, I believe. They have some really great movies on the lineup to check out as well.

Brian: Sounds good. Thursday evenings in July and August, yes, lineup to be announced. Riverside Park's Pier 1 Picture Show, Wednesdays in July and August.

Rossilynne: Yes. This is one of, actually, my favorite parts of the city. It's near my neighborhood, so I have to give it a special shout-out. This is going to be along the water, and they are starting in July as well. I think some of the movies that I saw on the lineup were Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Robot Dreams, Dirty Dancing, Grand Budapest Hotel. They have some iconic movies on the lineup that you'll want to catch.

Brian: I think I have the whole lineup in front of me, and really a lot of oldies but goodies. Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, as you said, I have the years here, so that was 1989, Robot Dreams is one of the most recent ones, 2023, Dirty Dancing from 1987. You mentioned The Grand Budapest Hotel, that was a 2014 film. The oldest one is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid from 1969. Elemental, which was just in 2023, and Bend It Like Beckham from 2002. That's a lot of films over a big range of movie history, huh?

Rossilynne: Yes, it's a good mix, a good mix and a great venue for sure.

Brian: Yet one more in this category, Rooftop Films, and that's not just in one location, right?

Rossilynne: We have Rooftop Films, and then I'll throw in a little bonus one after that. It's called Rooftop Cinema Club, and this is on a midtown skyscraper. It really takes the moviegoing experience to the next level. Differently than the ones we've talked about so far, which are free, these ones are not. These ones you'll purchase tickets for, but they have a great lineup. This weekend alone is excellent. They're going to be doing a Mamma Mia pajama party, which sounds really fun. There will be karaoke.

[laughter]

Rossilynne: Then coming up later this month, they're going to do a Wicked sing-along, which I feel like people are going to be really into this year. They're doing a last day of school theme with the movie Dazed and Confused. Then I really love this, as a baby of the late '80s, they're doing a '90s kids club, so these nostalgic movies like The Parent Trap, Sandlot, movies that I grew up with. This one, again, is called Rooftop Cinema Club. They're going to be operating all summer long, and the lineup, as you can tell, is really fun. The tickets for this one range from 23 to 29, depending on the seating preference and the movie time that you're going to go see, but it's worth it. I go to this one every year, and I love it.

Brian: That sounds great. One more I'll throw in here, in the movie lane, the Intrepid has three Friday night movies, and I see Top Gun kicks it off next Friday night. I guess the other thing we should say about this category is that they all start after dark so that the screen shows up since it's outdoors. Maybe that's too obvious to even say, but the technology has not progressed to that point where you could see the outdoor movies on a screen so well if it's still light out. These all start after dark, right?

Rossilynne: Exactly. I was hoping we would get to mention Intrepid as a bonus because this one is so cool. All these movies are great, but when do you get to see a movie while you're sitting on an aircraft carrier? So cool. They kick off, as you said, every year they start with Top Gun, iconic, and then this year they're going to be doing Pirates of the Caribbean, The Abyss, and Atlantis. They're doing this kind of nautical theme this year with movies inspired by the mysteries of the ocean.

Brian: Neat. All right. Next category, tell me about the night markets. Where are they, and why at night?

Rossilynne: I feel like night markets are our reward for making it through a difficult winter. This year, they're going to be in the Bronx, we've got one in Uptown, which is in Harlem, Union Square is back this year, and Queens Night Market is back. Of course, that one is iconic. Why at night? My hunch is that the summer days can get so sweltering that being around all these tents with hot food and grease and all of that would just be maybe a little bit too much. Once the sun goes down, we can enjoy all the foods, all the delicious fried foods, and much more, once it's a little bit cooler.

Brian: Bronx Night Market, Fordham Plaza. I'm just going to dash through the list here. It's already going on on the last Saturday of the month.

Rossilynne: That's right.

Brian: Uptown Night Market, 133rd at 12th Avenue, Union Square Night Market, and the Queens Night Market, which is at the New York Hall of Science.

Rossilynne: Exactly.

Brian: There you go.

Rossilynne: Queens Night Market, of course, has been a classic for many, many years. Union Square Night Market, on the other hand, that one was new last year, and it's coming back, so it's really cool to be able to see that one having success again. They're going to have 35 vendors in Union Square this year.

Brian: Last thing on our fun after dark list, kind of family fun after dark list-- Of course, you can always go out at night and go to a club, whatever, but last thing on our list, the way we're defining it, is the return of a free firework show on the beach at Coney Island every Friday night, starting in late June, plus July 4th. Actually, July 4th is a Friday this year, as it turns out. If you decide to visit Nathan's or ride the Wonder Wheel while you're there, make a night of it, I guess, with the fireworks. Anything you want to say about fireworks that everybody doesn't already know?

Rossilynne: [chuckles] Yes. I feel like people flock to Orlando to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks, but forget that this summer. We instead can enjoy our own fireworks here in Coney Island. It's a magical kingdom of itself. As you said, every Friday night, grab a hot dog, grab a spot on the boardwalk, the views are stunning. Is there anything more iconic New York than eating a hot dog while watching fireworks at Coney Island? It's perfect.

Brian: You can even see minor league baseball there. Before I let you go, I see you have a book that came out-

Rossilynne: I do.

Brian: -last summer, Secret New York City: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Maybe you can share a secret here?

Rossilynne: Absolutely. It's hard to pick just one, but for the summer and for family-friendly, I want to mention the Home for Retired Playground Animals. This is in Flushing Meadows, Corona Park in Queens, free to visit, and these are playground animals that are past their prime. They're not for climbing on or playing on anymore, but you can go and hang out with them in their retirement. There's an aardvark, a frog, a camel, an elephant, and two dolphins. There are these concrete statues that have lived an important and a long life in New York City's parks and playgrounds, but now they're in retirement. They love to have visitors, though. You can go hang out with them. It's really fun to see them.

Brian: That is so sweet. You want to throw in another one? We have 10 seconds. You have a quickie?

Rossilynne: Oh my gosh, 10 seconds. Okay. I am going to throw in a little more of, I guess, an adult one. This is the Connie Cocktail Lounge at TWA Hotel. If you're looking to go out for a fun drink, you can whisk yourself back to the jet age and enjoy a drink. This is in Queens by JFK.

Brian: We leave it there with today's look at fun things to do this summer. We'll have more tomorrow in other categories. Today we thank Rossilynne Culgan, the Things to Do editor at Time Out New York and author of Secret New York City: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Thanks a lot, Rossilynne.

Rossilynne: Enjoy the summer. Thank you.

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