Courtesy of NYBG
As we enter the month of September and start saying our goodbyes to summer, there are still tons of events in New York City to enjoy. Untapped Cities has already suggested some unique ways to spend this Labor Day weekend, but here are our picks to fill out the rest of your week:
Friday, August 31st
Photograph by Adela Loconte, Courtesy of Bryant Park
Watch a performance of Shakespeare’s Macbeth on the lawn at Bryant Park, as part of the park’s music, theatre, and dance series Bryant Park Picnics. The Drilling Company sets the drama in mid-1800s New York, when early settlers fought for turf in the infamous Five Points area, for a Shakespeare meets “Gangs of New York” production. Admission is free, blankets are provided and food from local vendors curated by the Hester Street Fair, as well as beer and wine will be on sale!
Become immersed in the experimental 3-D sci-fi film Prototype by American-born Canadian filmmaker Blake Williams at the Museum of the Moving Image. The film combines archival material with various optical manipulations and imagist surfaces to create a movie-going experience unlike any other.
Saturday, September 1st
Courtesy of NYBG
Imagine you are vacationing in Hawaii at the New York Botanical Garden’s final Aloha Night. Celebrate the rich cultural artistry of the Hawaiian Islands with an after-hours viewing of Georgia O’Keeffe: Visions of Hawai‘i in the Art Gallery and Conservatory, then move out onto the Conservatory Lawn for interactive hula lessons and lei-making demonstrations, where you can craft your own lei pin. A relaxing atmosphere will be created by illuminated installations by contemporary Hawaiian-Chinese sculptor Mark Chai and live music. There will be an array of refreshments available for purchase—from poke bowls to the NYBG’s signature cocktail, Passiflora Punch.
Explore the abandoned Ellis Island Hospital Complex which has been left to decay for over sixty years. On Untapped Cities’ Behind-the-Scenes Hard Hat Tour, guests will gain access to the abandoned complex, which is off-limits to the public, to explore spaces that once served as facilities such as the laundry room, morgue and contagious disease wards. Learn about the compound’s history as one of the most advanced medical facilities in the country, and what became of it after the immigration center closed.
Behind-the-Scenes Hard Hat Tour of the Abandoned Ellis Island Hospital
Take part in the return of WIGSTOCK, the legendary drag festival that started in the mid-1980s. This is the biggest Wigstock since 2001 and will include performances by festival founder Lady Bunny and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris. The day-long event will take place at the gorgeous new Pier 17 Rooftop in New York City’s Seaport District, rain or shine.
Sunday, September 2nd
Photograph by Lawrence Leyderman, Courtesy of the Old Seaport Alliance
Gaze up at a sky of (artificial) constellations on a bed of (artificial) grass under dusk.space in Peck Slip. This outdoor art installation made up of a turf floor and a giant steel dome dotted with LED lights, is intended to simulate the feeling of laying in a country field. You can even listen to the sound of crickets to enhance your experience, through the installation’s website. This is the first public artwork to be displayed in Peck Slip and was made possible by the NYC Parks Department’s Art in the Parks Program and the Old Seaport Alliance.
Uncover the Secrets of Grand Central Terminal on Untapped Cities’ walking tour of the iconic station. See inside the hidden tennis courts, peek into the entrance of the glass walkways and discover a multi-million dollar jewel hidden in plain sight! This tour will show even commuters who pass through the station everyday, something new and surprising about this historic landmark.
Tour of the Secrets of Grand Central Terminal
Monday, September 3rd
It’s Broadway Week! Grab 2-for-1 ticket deals for some of the city’s most popular shows all week long.
Wednesday, September 5th
2017 Festival of New Trumpet Music. Photograph by Lukas Frei, Courtesy of FONT
Kick off the first night of the 16th annual Festival of New Trumpet Music at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. This year’s festival will feature more than 80 musicians performing across sixteen concerts in five different locations.
Thursday, September 6th
New York Fashion Week rings in the fall fashion season with a series of shows at Spring Studios in Tribeca. Tickets are available to the general public for select events and there are sure to be great outfit sightings on the streets throughout the week.