Take advantage of August summer days outdoors in NYC. Head to the MET rooftop for a fabulous exhibit, plus cocktails and sunset watching. Today is a great day to enjoy a stroll or bike ride around NYC with 20 miles of car-free streets. There’s always something to discover in Central Park, like the five hidden waterfalls. Later today, as part of Harlem Week, head to Central Park Hill for Great Jazz on the Great Hill. Watch incredible dance performances at Battery Park.  Our roving photographer is roving in Prince Edward County.And if you find yourself in the Boynton Beach area of Florida, Valerie Smaldone has a great seafood restaurant find.

Head to the Roof Garden Exhibition at the Met + Garden Bar

Two reasons to head to the roof garden at the Met. First, there’s an amazing exhibit featuring the work of American artist Lauren Halsey. She has created a full-scale architectural structure imbued with the collective energy and imagination of the South Central Los Angeles Community where she was born and continues to work.  And you can enjoy cocktails, snacks, and stunning sunsets at the Cantor Roof Garden Bar.  Get the details.

Aug. 12 & 19. Summer Streets: Manhattan

This Saturday and next Saturday you can enjoy 20 miles of car-free streets through the city, to play walk, and bike. Take a break along the route at one of several rest stops along the way to enjoy free activities. Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation.

Here’s the Summer Streets Route:

• From Brooklyn Bridge to West 125 Street
• Lafayette Street and Park Avenue between Brooklyn Bridge and East 109 Street
• East 109 Street between Park Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 5th Avenue between East 109 Street and Central Park North
• Central Park North between 5th Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard
• Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard between Central Park North and West 125 Street

Get more details here.

Now-Aug. 18. Battery Dance Festival

Head to Battery Park City for the Battery Dance Festival, New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival. Each year, the Festival draws an audience of over 12,000 people. It’s a chance to see dozens of companies from around the world performing outdoors near the sparkling water at sunset.

The lineup for the 42nd edition features multiple U.S. or world premieres, and the participating artists include visitors from India, Indonesia, Romania, Canada, Norway and Curaçao. Among the programs are slates devoted to young choreographers and India Independence Day. GET MORE DETAILS.

Free Outdoor Performances | August 12-18, 2023 | 7:00 – 9:00pm | Rockefeller Park – Battery Park City

Now-Aug. 20. Harlem Week & Great Jazz on the Great Hill

HARLEM WEEK is an annual celebration of the best of Harlem which works to promote its rich African American, African, Caribbean, Hispanic, and European history, as well as arts, culture, religion, business, entertainment, and sports.  Head to Central Park today from 4 to 7 PM, check out Great Jazz on the Hill featuring performances from internationally acclaimed trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, Renowned Musician, Composer, Conductor, Arranger Wycliffe Gordon and drummer, percussionist, composer, arranger, conductor, producer and 7-time GRAMMY Award nominee Bobby Sanabria. Bring a picnic, blanket, and dancing shoes for Great Jazz on the Great Hill, featuring live music and swing dancing in a beautiful park setting. GET THE FULL LINEUP OF EVENTS.

Discover the hidden waterfalls of Central Park!

According to Central Park’s web site, there are at least five waterfalls and all are completely man-made. Here’s where to find them:

The Loch: MAP | Three of the most impressive waterfalls are located in the Loch, situated in the Ravine, the stream valley section of the North Woods. The water that flows through them is New York City drinking water that comes from a 48-inch pipe hidden by the rocks at the Pool Grotto on West 100th Street, yet the waterfalls look very natural. Charming stone bridges cross the stream, and the area is cool and quiet. Watching the water gush down the giant boulders into dark ponds, it is easy to forget you are in the middle of Manhattan! Enter from the West side through Glen Span Arch around 102nd Street and follow the moving water, known as the Loch.

The Ramble: MAP | You’ll find some small waterfall-like tributes when walking alongside the Gill, a stream that runs through the Ramble woodland and feeds into Azalea Pond, a great place for bird-watching and beautiful blooms.

Roving in Prince Edward County

Our roving photographer, Nicole Freezer Rubens is on the road again.

On my way to our cottage in Quebec, I spent a night exploring the charming area of Prince Edward County. Several quaint towns including Picton, Wellington and Bloomfield, and multiple vineyards rest on the majestic shores of Lake Ontario. Sandbanks Provincial Park is a beach like no other, filled with mountainous dunes. The vibe is retro beach town and modern all at once. The bike trails are endless.

The area has many fine restaurants and adorable mom and pop style stores too. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend passing through Prince Edward County and experiencing a unique area and a very pleasant surprise.

~Nicole Freezer Rubens is the author of poetry/photo book, “The Long Pause and the Short Breath.” Follow her on https://www.instagram.com/nfrconsult/