Out of Manhattan
Here you'll find information about New York City's four outer boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island,) as well as spots that make good daytrips from Manhattan.
Comfort Inn to open near Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
Later this summer, Red Hook will get a second hotel located within walking distance of the Brooklyn Cruise Ship Terminal.
The hotel has on-site parking, free wi-fi, an exercise room and business center, free breakfast and free local calls. Rooms will be outfitted with flat-screen TVs with HBO and satellite service; coffee makers, in-room safes, irons and ironing boards, according to the hotel’s website.
There are definite advantages to the location, which is about two blocks from the street entrance of the cruise ship terminal as well as a short walk to the old-school BrooklynDeFonte’s sandwich shop on Columbia Street.
“New York City Opera is open for business,” New York City Opera General Manager and Artistic Director George Steel states in the news release announcing the season. “The Company is forging ahead with a strong and invigorating new model that will redefine the experience of live opera in New York City.”
The Howard Gilman Opera House at the Brooklyn Academy of Music will host City Opera’s new staging of “La Traviata” by Jonathan Miller on Feb. 12, 14, 16 and 18 as well as Rufus Wainwright’s new opera, “Prima Donna” on Feb. 19, 21, 23 and 25.
“Cosi fan tutte” will be staged March 18, 20, 22 and 24 at John Jay College’s Gerald W. Lynch Theater at 899 10th Ave, between 58th and 59th streets.
A new production of “Orpheus” will be staged May 12, 15, 17 and 20 at El Teatro at El Museo del Barrio, located at 1230 Fifth Ave. between 104th and 105th streets.
Sometime during the fall of 2012, City Opera and The Public Theater will present a a free opera based on a Shakespeare play at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. If successful, more Shakespeare collaborations could follow.
Gantry Plaza State Park is located along the East River across from the United Nations. Its named for the gantry cranes used to load Long Island Rail Road rail car floats.
Timed to coincide with Bastille Day, French Restaurant Week deals are being offered at a number of locations in New York City and elsewhere.
Slightly less organized than NYC’s main Restaurant Week, which starts today, the French restaurant deal runs from July 10 through 17. Offers vary, but several are doing a prix fixe menu for $17.89 - some including a cocktail or glass of wine.
At Benoit, the deal is a half-dozen escargot and chef’s charcuterie for $17.89.
At Le Comptoir in Williamsburg, French Restaurant Week menus include a four-course dinner for $29 with selections including soup, dessert and a choice of pan seared hanger steak bordelaise or potato gnocchi with bacon, shrimp & arugula. The bar special is a charcuterie plate with glass of red wine for $17.89. Brunch, also $17.89, comes with an entree and a bloody mary or mimosa.
At L’Absinthe, the $17.89 deal is either a charcuterie plate or trout stuffed with ratatouille.
Free 'Henry V' includes ferry to France/Gov Island
The New York Classical Theatre group this evening begins staging free performances of Shakespeare’s “Henry V,” which will include a mid-play ferry ride to Governors Island for the staging of the Battle of Agincourt.
The play will begin on Manhattan (England) in Battery Park. The audience will then travel with King Henry and his army across the English Channel (New York Harbor) to France (Governors Island.)
Statue Cruises is providing the free ferry as apart of the free River to River Festival. Wristbands for the ferry ride will be handed out (two per person) from 5 to 6 p.m. in front of Castle Clinton, which is where the drama will begin at 7 p.m.
Joey Chestnut today took home the mustard belt at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest after downing 62 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
Sonya Thomas, known as the Black Widow, ate 40 dogs and buns in 10 minutes to win the new women’s division, which also gets a $10,000 purse.
Brooklyn free shows include Queen Latifah, Cheap Trick
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Queen Latifah, Cheap Trick, The Monkees, Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson and Mary Mary are among the acts that will play free concerts in Brooklyn this summer, Borough President Marty Markowitz announced this morning.
After noise complaints, the 33rd Annual Seaside Summer Concert Series this year moves to a new location next to the Brooklyn Cyclones stadium in Coney Island, at West 21st Street and Surf Avenue. The Coney shows, all Thursday nights, begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Coney Island schedule:
July 14 - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
July 21 - The Monkees and Jay Black
July 28 - Mary Wilson of The Supremes, and The Spinners
Aug. 4 - (to be announced)
Aug. 11 - Annual Latino Night by the Sea with the Maris Torres Dancers
Aug. 18 - Cheap Trick and The Rattlers
The 29th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series will remain at the same location at Wingate Field, with entrances on Brooklyn Avenue at Rutland Road and Winthrop Street. All Mondays, the shows start at 7:30 p.m.
The Wingate Field schedule:
July 11 - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
July 18 - Mary Mary
July 25 - Charlie Wilson and Eric Benet
Aug. 1 (to be announced)
Aug. 8 - Men of Soul starring Jeffrey Osborne, Peabo Bryson and Freddie Jackson
Aug. 15 - Queen Latifah
Aug. 22 - Annual Caribbean Night with Shaggy, The Mighty Sparrow and another guest.
Reservations open for Restaurant Week, July 11 to 24
Junoon, Macelleria, Osteria Morini, Socarrat Paella Bar, ‘21’ Club, Barbetta, Delmonico’s, Le Cirque and Tribeca Grill are among the 320-plus dining houses taking part in New York City’s Summer Restaurant Week with three course meals priced at $24.07 for lunch and $35 for dinner.
By following the @NYCgo link on Twitter, the full restaurants list and reservations are available now.
The two-week event runs from July 11 through 24, excluding weekends at most locations. Taxes, tips and beverages are not included in the prix-fixe package. Not all restaurants are in for both lunch and dinner.
The full restaurant list also includes the likes of Aquavit, Bar Boulud, BLT, The Carlyle Restaurant, Carnegie Deli, Chinatown Brasserie, Cipriani Wall Street, Colicchio & Sons Tap Room, Craftbar, Esca, Gotham Bar and Grill, The Harrison, Joe Allen, Le Colonial Restaurant, Loeb Central Park Boathouse Restaurant, Lure Fishbar, Maze by Gordon Ramsay, Mercer Kitchen, Mesa Grill, The Modern–Bar Room, Morimoto, Nice Matin, Nobu, The Palm Court at The Plaza, Park Avenue Summer, Perry Street, Petrossian, Plaza Food Hall by Todd English, Red Cat, River cafe, Rock Center Cafe, Russian Tea Room, Ruby Foo’s, Shun Lee Palace, Sofrito, Spice Market, Telepan, Terrace in the Sky, Tocqueville, Union Square Cafe, The View, Water Club and Zengo.
