As the month of August starts this week we enter the second half of the summer season. In New York City this weekyou can stay cool indoors with exciting exhibitions from the city’s leading cultural institutions or seek adventure outside on a tour, at a festival or outdoor concert. Whatever your preference, we’ve pulled out some of the best things to do this week in our Untapped Picks:
Friday, August 2nd
Jonathan Blanc/The New York Public Library
Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the New York Public Library’s Jerome Robbins Dance Division with a inside look at Archive in Motion, a brand new exhibit at the Library for the Performing Arts. The exhibition charts the division’s history and the establishment of international dance archival practices through the display of significant items from its collections. If you are an Untapped Cities Insiders, you can join this free tour guided by Linda Murray, the curator of both the exhibition and head of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division. Learn more and book your spot here!
Saturday, August 3rd
Enjoy the car free Summer Streets today between 7:00am and 1:00pm. On the first three Saturdays in August nearly seven miles of New York City’s streets are open to the public to play, run, walk and bike. All along Lafayette Street and Park Avenue between the Brooklyn Bridge and 72nd Street New Yorkers can take part in various outdoor activities like zip-lining, rock climbing, yoga, and more.
Discover New York City’s seafaring past on Untapped Cities Maritime History tour, which includes access into the hull of the Wavertree ship at South Street Seaport. “There isn’t a ship in the world that has a space like this,” South Street Seaport Executive Director Jonathan Boulware says. On the tour, also explore the early Dutch era stories of infamous sea captains Adrian Block and William Kid, walk the less-charted trail along the historic east side slips including Old Slip and Coenties, learn about New York’s old buried ships on both the Hudson and East River shores and New York’s old floating churches, and uncover more tales of the sea.
Tour of NYC’s Maritime History
Catch a movie and get the chance to ask a question of its subject and the filmmaker behind it at the Film Forum’s Q&A with
JAY MYSELF Subject Jay Maisel and Filmmaker Stephen Wilkes. The documentary film, which will be screened at the event, centers around photographer Jay Maisel as his big move out of “The Bank” on Bowery where he has amassed an extensive collection of objects over the past forty years. This is one of the few nights that aren’t sold out just yet!
Dive into the depths of the New York City subway system to uncover the secrets from below on Untaped Cities’ Underground Tour. Starting at the birthplace of the system, City Hall Park, you will learn about the transformation of the over 100 year old system as it grew and expanded throughout the city. You will use the 6 train as your own time machine as you ride through abandoned subway stations, discover a hidden art installation thousands of riders walk by everyday and more!
Underground Tour of the NYC Subway
Sunday, August 4th
Watch more than 200 teams compete in the 29th Annual Hong Kong Boat Festival at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens. In a series of races, each team rows a colorful, custom made teak boat that weighs one ton each. Each is colorfully painted with a Dragon head at the front and Dragon tail at the rear. In addition to the boat racing, the free, family-friendly two day festival which starts on Saturday will feature multi-cultural performers, traditional arts and crafts, and international foods.
Unearth the remnants of New York City’s colonial past on Untapped Cities’ tour of the Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam. On this tour led by a licensed New York City tour guide, you will walk the city’s original coast line, see the remains of Manhattan’s first City Hall, discover the original Dutch fort, wind mill and battery and more!
Tour of The Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam
Tuesday, August 6th
This year marks the 60th Anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum. The institution is celebrating with a year of programming including Silent Nights. The program, which kicks off this evening, is an homage to founding director Hilla Rebay’s vision for a “temple of spirit.” Visitors are invited to enjoy the exhibitions on view in a meditative state of mind, aided by dimmed lights and ambient music in the rotunda. This uniquely contemplative atmosphere will be created every Tuesday through December from 8:00pm to 9:00pm.
Join a special access tour of Woolworth Building to get inside the stunning lobby that is usually off-limits to the public. Go up to the mezzanine level to get a close-up look of the shimmering mosaic ceilings and go down to the basement to see inside the original bank vault.
Insider Tour of the Woolworth Building
Wednesday, August 7th
Go inside Gracie Mansion on a special tour of the Mayor’s house. Learn about the history of the yellow mansion on the East River and visit rooms such as the dining room, ballroom, various parlors, the library, and more. In addition to this access, you will also get to see a new installation, She Persists: A Century of Women Artists in New York. You can join this free tour if you are an Untapped Cities Insider. You must register for this tour before 3:00pm on Monday, August 5th! Not a member yet? Become and Insider today to gain access to free behind-the-scenes tours and special events all year long.
Thursday, August 8th
Get in on the Transportation Conversation with former Chair of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Meera Joshi. Presented by Open House New York, this talk will delve into New York city’s ride sharing regulations and examine how they work in practice, how they are affecting ridership across the city, and the lessons other cities can learn from New York’s experience as they face similar challenges. A conversation with Sarah M. Kaufman, Associate Director of the NYU Rudin Center for Transportation, will follow.
Watch free Jazz in Times Square every Thursday through September. Curated by Jazz at Lincoln Center, the free performances take place at Broadway Plaza between 43rd and 44th Streets. Tonight hear the tunes of the Henry Conerway III Trio.
Explore the stunning and historic Temple Emanu-El on New York City’s Upper East Side, one of the largest Jewish Reform temples in the world. Tour inside of the Art Deco sanctuary and see the amazing artifacts within the collections of the adjoining museum. You can join this free tour if you are an Untapped Cities Insider! Not a member yet? Become and Insider today to gain access to free behind-the-scenes tours and special events all year long.
