the big apple

Summer is approaching! Sure, the beach is one place to spend the summer months, but why not take a less conventional approach and use this summer to enjoy NYC (I know I will be!). There is tons to do during the summer months …

Instead of lounging in the sand, grab a blanket and tan on the Great Lawn in Central Park! There’s so much packed into this tranquil spot in the city, and this is the perfect season to take advantage of it all. Visit the official website for information on special attractions & events.

(Credit: here)

The summer is also a great time to enjoy some live music (well, anytime of year is, but atleast in the summer there should be more free time to do so), so check out this list of concerts in the city (many are free/open to the public in various city parks). There are tons to search through, but I would recommend the free concerts that appear on the TODAY show (you get to see great must for free AND have the chance to pop up on television, if you don’t mind waking up early). A complete listing of the summer TODAY show concerts can be found here.

(Credit: here)

Another must see this summer is Coney Island. The official website has plenty of information regarding directions/events/attractions/etc. Coney Island has a long history and it’s just a fun place to spend a day with tons of really unique and slightly risque attractions. Ride the cyclone, enjoy some junk food, roam the museum (admission is only 99 cents!), see the mermaid parade. If you go on July Fourth you can catch a glimpse of the annual hot-dog-eating contest, an important part of Coney’s history!

(Credit: here)

I was browsing some fun city-oriented websites, and I came across a “This is New York City” section on the NYC VISIT website. It’s a special section that helps plan a trip to the city for the infrequent visitor. You must register to use the features, but registering only takes a few minutes. Once you’ve done that, you can plan your trip, selecting what appeals to you based on location/price/descriptions. Every attraction is divided into categories [hotel, dining, shopping, culture, nightlight, & events] to make your planning easier. This program can map out the route to take to see everything you desire. You can even restrict your trip to certain dates, allowing the program to show you what special events are available at that time.

Also, don’t forget to take the quiz to find out what kind of New Yorker you are. It allows the program to tailor the attractions offered to your tastes. (According to the site, I am a “romantic”, what are you?)

(Credit: NYC VISIT)

ALSO: The Pope will be in town this weekend (Friday - Sunday). He will be doing all sorts of memorable things, such as paying his respects at Ground Zero. For those Catholics/others who would have been interested, it’s too late to get tickets to attend his public mass at Yankee Stadium. However, it’s still kind of cool to be in the city the same weekend as the Pope, right?

Wednesday is preceptorial advising, which means there is no class! I’m sure most of us have to visit with our preceptors, but for those who don’t or have an early appointment … There is a whole day to do what we please! So instead of staying inside doing work (like I’m sure most of us should), it’s a perfect day trip. A day trip where? Well, the city of course!

The Bronx Zoo just started its spring/summer hours, and as always WEDNESDAYS ARE FREE (well, its actually a donation of your choosing, but close enough). The zoo is a fun way to spend a day, cause you really are never too old. It’s huge, and there is a lot of walking to be done, so dress comfortably and get there early to see it all. For more information visit the official website.

(Credit: here)