Can you believe it’s August already?! This is the last month of summer before the kids have to go back to school, so we are making sure to make the most of it! There are a bunch of sporting events, outdoor festivals and special events happening all month long. Live entertainment is one of our favorite things, so you can never go wrong with a Broadway show or outdoor concerts. Welcome to the big apple, where we have delicious food and just about every immersive experience to enjoy. Keep reading to make a list of everything you’d like to check out this month in New York City!
US Open
The US Open is back and starts August 26th and runs through September 8th! It’s truly an amazing experience to go to a match and watch the greatest tennis players in their element. Tickets are officially on sale and they offer several different plans to purchase. With daily events, there are several opportunities to have a good time as sports enthusiasts but it is one of the most popular events in the country. Tickets are always expected to fly, so grab yours now!
Jazz Age Lawn Party
The annual Jazz Age Lawn Party is back for the 19th year! You don’t even need to be a huge jazz fan to enjoy this because it’s an event that is always phenomenal. Tickets are on sale now and they include 1920’s photo opportunities and gourmet drinking and dining options. Dress in your best jazz age gear and head on over!
Pier 17 Concerts
Pier 17 is hosting some really great concerts this summer. Not only are the performances phenomenal, but you’ll also get some of the best views in town! Seaport also has a ton of great spots to grab drinks or a bite to eat beforehand. With happy hour specials and even a movie theater over there, you can make the most of your day.
Summer Streets
Summer Streets is back and it’s a way to use up the space in the city for fun things like activations, walks free from cars, workshops, fitness classes and more! The full schedule is on the nyc.gov site for all 5 boroughs but it’s truly a great way to get outside here and enjoy the day. It’s happening August 3rd, 10th and 17th.
SummerStage Festival
The Summer Stage Festival is put on by The City Parks Foundation. They partner with Capital One to bring live performances to the city. It’s a fun festival and they have every genre of music you can imagine. Summer Stage is the largest, most accessible, free admission outdoor festival in NYC! Something cool they do is sometimes there are free digital performances you can view. You’ll want to check them out this month!
Free Kayaking
For those that want to stay active in the summer and keep cool, you can actually go kayaking for free. Several places in the city offer this amazing deal and you can view them here. It’s fun to do with friends or even a day date option.
Shop Sample Sales
I love to shop as much as the next girl, but what’s even better about sample sales is the prices. Some items are 80% off sometimes and my favorite place to shop for sample sales is 260 Sample Sale. They have a few locations in the city as well as online sales and several take place a week. This is a great place to get holiday gifts ahead of time, too! Follow their Instagram to stay up to date on all the latest brands they are hosting sales for.
Check Out Rooftop Bars
I have a ton of information on the blog about my favorite rooftop bars and rooftop restaurants! Views are a huge factor, but the food and cocktails need to be worth it, as well! Make a whole day out of it and check out little island, walk the high line and then finish the night at a rooftop bar!
Pools
It’s hands down the hottest month of the year and that means we need to do whatever we need to do in order to keep cool through the end of the season. Here is a list of all the best free outdoor pools located here in the city, so you can bring your family or friends and relax in a cool pool. My biggest advice is to pack your own water and snacks to enjoy throughout the day in the summer heat.
Alyssa Edwards: Glitz and Giggles
The Brooklyn Monarch has a fun Drag show coming up on Sunday, the 25th! The RuPaul’s Drag Race icon will dazzle with stunning looks, hilarious comedy, and unforgettable performances. Hosted by Shuga Cain, this two hour performance features Alyssa’s fantastic opening and closing numbers, along with a cast of local talent. Be sure to get there early to snag a seat and bring cash to tip the queens. For an extra special experience, purchase a VIP Meet and Greet ticket to meet and snap a photo with Alyssa before the show at 6:30 PM. Seating is first come, first served, with VIP seats closer to the stage. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Hall des Lumières
Looking for something fun to do with your family before the new school season begins? Hall des Lumières is reactivating: Destination Cosmos: The Immersive Space Experience. It’ll be open from August 21-25 and the digital exhibition will launch guests on a gripping voyage across the universe. The experience will transport you to a maze of stars, planets, nebulae, and supernovae. Composed of 13 sequences and a prologue, the unique journey of discovery stretches from Cape Canaveral to the universe’s outer reaches. Beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, you will travel over Martian canyons alongside rovers (space exploration vehicles), dive into the heart of Jupiter, glide across the rings of Saturn, and explore beyond the frontiers of the solar system to experience the immensity of our universe. Get your tickets now!
Bloom: A Journey by HERO
Located at Rockefeller Center, Bloom is an immersive storytelling experience using sounds and lights in more than eight different installations throughout a 12,000-foot space. They’ll be hosting a bunch of really cool events this month such as yoga, garden concerts, happy hour and an adorable program for little one’s by Seedling on Saturdays and Sundays. Check out their site to see all the amazing events check out this month!
CityPickle
We love City Pickle for an active way to spend time together as a family or practicing our pickleball skills with friends. There’s no pressure if you’re not a pro! This is also a great place to learn how to play if it’s your first time on the court. New Yorkers need some time to be active or we go crazy indoors, so this is skipping a tourist attraction and doing what the locals do in one of the best ways.
Mercer Labs
Living in New York City, we have the amazing privilege of having the coolest attractions come to town for our family to spend time together and enjoy. An interactive multi-sensory art exhibit is here and we couldn’t wait to get tickets! Mercer Labs is the perfect blend of technology and art in the most fascinating way. My family was able to experience this one of a kind exhibit this week, where we walked through fifteen different experimental spaces that featured projections of mesmerizing art with unique listening encounters mixed in too. When we go out to try something new, I always make an effort to immerse my kids in the world of art somehow to gain new experiences and this was nothing short of amazing! If you’re looking for the coolest activity in town, get your hands on tickets to Mercer Labs in downtown Manhattan! It’s family-friendly and the perfect place to bring your friends to enjoy artwork for all senses.
Grab Brunch
There are so many great brunch spots in the city, it’s nearly impossible to narrow in on a place to book a reservation. I have a few blogposts with great recommendations that I will link here! If you can find a rooftop for brunch, that is bonus points! The West Village and Greenwich Village are some of the best places for brunch and they’re easily accessible via public transportation.
Go Glamping On Governor’s Island
Collective Retreats has so much to offer, such as their glamping accommodations and a phenomenal restaurant! They have stunning luxury camping with several tent options, as well as the opportunity to take culinary classes and enjoy a special tasting menu. Even if you don’t stay overnight, you can book reservations for their farm to island menu on OpenTable. Although, they do allow walk ins for brunch and lunch, so if you’re visiting Governors Island for the day, this is the best option!
Smorgasburg
Smorgasburg is the largest open air food market in NYC! With locations in Brooklyn Manhattan and Jersey City, there’s plenty of opportunity to find a spot close to you to check out! They have everything from BBQ to sandwiches to cookies and back! It’s also a really fun place to bring your kids to try out new bites! Check out their site for hours and days of operation, as well as a full list of their vendors.
The Color Factory
My kids love checking out the Color Factory because they always have something fun going on there. The Color Factory is going green! In partnership with Broadway’s WICKED, they have an entire confetti room you’ll be able to sing along in. The confetti is all pink and green, too and the kids love it! You’ll want to get your hands on tickets as this will be running until early September.
Seaport Cinema Rooftop
Rooftop movies are in season! The Seaport Cinema screens films on their open rooftop in the summertime and it’s another great outdoor movie option. Views alone from the roof make it worth it! It’s free to go but space is limited so you will want to get there earlier than the 6:30 start time. I recommend bringing water because it’s pretty hot out this summer.
Movies with a View
There really aren’t many drive in movie options here, so finding fun outdoor movie choices for summer nights is not an easy task. Movies with a View is located at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Not only is this free but it’s running until September 26th, so check the schedule to plan out a date night!
Restaurant Week
It’s back! Running through August 18th, the most delicious event of the summer is here! Reservations actually will start to open on the 10th, which you will want to get a head start on because it’s a popular activity to participate in. If you’re unfamiliar with this few week event, it is when restaurants have running deals where you can get a trio of pricing options normally $30, $45 and $60 for prix fixe lunch and dinners. This is a great idea for a date night or a night out with friends!
Enjoy the Beach
Finally, the beach is most likely where you will find us this month! We love to take advantage of the warm weather and being near a great beach to make memories together as a family. Check out all of our beach content to see what we are making for beach snacks, taking as beach gear and which beaches are our favorite near the city!
Mini Golf
Another great outdoor activity is mini golf. We live by Pier 25, so we often go over there! A few great other spots are Putting Green at Two Trees, Swingers and Shipwrecked. Add these to your August calendar to try out! It’s a great opportunity to practice your putting skills and a must-do activity in the last full month of summer.
Tea Around Town
The coolest bus is in town! Did you know you can sip on tea while driving around NYC and seeing all the great sights? Tea Around Town is a bus with afternoon tea! It’s all pink, so it’s right up my alley and they have great finger sandwiches and pastries to enjoy along with the tea. The 90 minute experience has tickets starting at $69. Book it with friends!
Enjoy the Beach
Finally, the beach is most likely where you will find us this month! We love to take advantage of the warm weather and being near a great beach to make memories together as a family. Check out all of our beach content to see what we are making for beach snacks, taking as beach gear and which beaches are our favorite near the city!
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