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COOL THINGS TO DO
June 9
Museum Mile Festival; Fifth Ave
Fine-art block party! Ten esteemed institutions shut down Fifth Avenue and open their doors for a three-hour free-for-all, featuring live music and DJs.
June 13, 14
Jazz Age Lawn Party; Governors Island
Fox trot over to Governors Island for this 1920s-themed outdoor shindig, featuring Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra and all manner of costumed revelers.
June 20
Mermaid Parade; Coney Island
King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, and over a thousand other marchers, hit Surf Avenue once again to show a little—okay, a lot of—skin and bask in all things nautical.
June 26–28
17th Annual Del Close Marathon; various locations
The Upright Citizens Brigade returns with its 56-hour laughathon, boasting 575 improv shows at nine stages throughout Chelsea and the East Village.
June 27–Sept 5
Warm Up at MoMa PS1; MoMA PS1
You'll have to brave a pretty massive crowd at MoMA's über-popular summer party series, but with LuckyMe's Eclair Fifi and Hippie Dance's Pachanga Boys on the decks, it'll be well worth it.
AWESOME THINGS TO SEE
Through July 19
Preludes; Claire Tow Theater
In his new music-theater piece, prodigiously talented songwriter Dave Malloy (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) explores the tortured psyche of Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.
June 3
Heisenberg; Manhattan Theatre Club
Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds) plays an American in London who kisses an older man in a tube station—which results in a chain of unexpected events in Simon Stephens’s thoughtful new play.
June 5
Love & Mercy; opens in theaters
Beach Boys fans, catch a wave to this heartbreakingly good biopic of Brian Wilson. It’s offbeat, sensitive and cast with two dynamite actors: Paul Dano as the young genius, and John Cusack as the fragile, overmedicated adult who requires saving.
June 12
Dope; opens in theaters
A thumpingly funny sensation out of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Rick Famuyiwa’s comedy follows a trio of brainy nerds who call L.A.’s violent Inglewood home. It’s a new Risky Business in our midst.
Jurassic World; opens in theaters
Really need a road map on this one? More dinosaurs, more succulent children put in harm’s way, more idiotic geneticists unable to think three steps ahead. Guardians of the Galaxy’s Chris Pratt takes the lead.
June 14
The Qualms; Playwrights Horizons
Swingers—as in spouse-swapping, polyamorous free-lovin' types—don’t get enough exposure (ahem) in theater. So playwright Bruce Norris (Clybourne Park) has written a play about them. We expect him to make us laugh and squirm as he usually does.
June 19
Inside Out; opens in theaters
Pixar’s latest, a return to form, is bound to mobilize the base—not kids, but sentimental young parents who need a break from Frozen. The plot: Five emotions (anger, fear, digest, sadness and joy) come to visual and verbal life.
Infinitely Polar Bear; opens in theaters
Mark Ruffalo, a master of rumpled befuddlement, finds his signature role here, as a bipolar slacker who must rise to the occasion of raising two unruly daughters while his wife gets their money situation back on track.
June 25
Amazing Grace; Nederlander Theatre
Ever wondered about the origin of the title hymn, one of the world’s most uplifting and inspiring? Of course you have! Well here’s a new musical tale of romance and redemption about its creator, English poet and clergyman John Newton.
June 28
Guards at the Taj; Atlantic Theater Company
In this far-flung period drama by the boldly imaginative Rajiv Joseph, two soldiers (Omar Metwally and Arian Moayed) protect the newly built Taj Mahal.
TASTY PLACES TO EAT
June 1
Taste of Times Square; Times Square
Times Square’s bad rap gets a boost with this outdoor bites-and-beats festival, featuring eats from 50 neighborhood restaurants including Shake Shack, Blue Fin and Virgil’s Real Barbecue.
June 4
Tasting Table’s Lobster Rumble; Metropolitan Pavilion
The fourth annual crustacean celebration features 25 lobster-roll stations including Grand Banks, Burger & Lobster and Luke’s Lobster clawing it out to win judges'-panel and people's-choice top honors.
June 7
Egg Rolls, Egg Creams & Empanadas; Museum at Eldridge Street
The Lower East Side’s annual Chinese-Jewish block party—think dumpling demos, challah braiding and Peking opera performance—expands with empanadas this year to rep the neighborhood’s Puerto Rican community.
June 13, 14
Big Apple Barbecue Block Party; Madison Square Park
Pit masters from across the country, from Wayne Mueller of Texas’s legendary Louie Mueller Barbecue to local 'cue heroes like Hometown Bar-B-Que’s Billy Durney and Hill Country's Charles Grund Jr., will smoke out Madison Square Park for this 13th annual BBQ bash.
June 15
Fourth Annual Spirits of New York; McCarren Hotel
Celebrating Empire State booze, this Slow Food NYC–hosted spirits fete spotlights regional producers including Breuckelen Distilling, Astoria Distilling and Van Brunt Stillhouse, with liquors served neat and in seasonal cocktails.
ASTONISHING DANCE PERFORMANCES
Through June 6
New York City Ballet Spring 2015; David H. Koch Theater (at Lincoln Center)
Catch the final performances of the spring season when the dancers takes on several works by one of the 20th century's greatest choreographers, George Balanchine.
Through July 4
American Ballet Theatre; Metropolitan Opera House
The venerable company returns for its 75th season with the premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s The Sleeping Beauty. The dancers are also slated to perform other classic tales like Swan Lake, Othello and Romeo and Juliet.
June 16–21
Polish National Ballet, Joyce Theater
Though the company may be one Europe’s oldest, it makes its Gotham debut with athletic, vibrant choreography that demonstrates true innovation. In Emanuel Gat’s rendition of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring the Russian composer’s celebrated classic is given a Latin American–inspired makeover.
June 23–28
The Royal Ballet, Joyce Theater
For the first time in over 10 years the famed British company is back on the New York stage. This time they’re bringing two mixed-bill programs that include Frederick Ashton’s The Dream and the new work Age of Anxiety, which was inspired by the W. H. Auden poem of the same name.
June 23–July 3
DanceBrazil, Joyce Theater
Full of life from their outstretched fingers to their bare toes, these performers—who were all trained in capoeira, a Brazilian movement style that combines martial arts with acrobatics and dance—bring the vibrant, urban streets of their home country to New York.
FANTASTIC SHOWS TO SEE
June 1–Dec 31
Teresita Fernández, Fata Morgana; Madison Square Park
Fata Morgana is a term for mirage shimmering along the horizon line where water or land meets sky. Fernández evokes the effect in this series of reflective gold canopies suspended over paths in Madison Square Park.
June 6–Sept 22
Billion Oyster Pavillion; Governors Island
A billion oysters sounds like a lot, but the title of this installation created by architectural firm BanG Studio for this year's Figment NYC on Governors Island isn't a statement of fact.
Through June 27
“Zoe Leonard: Analogue"; Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
This ambitious project made up of both color and black-and-white photos was created over a 10-year period, and takes its cues from Eugène Atget’s iconic documentation of ancient Parisian neighborhoods disappearing under the onslaught of modernization. In similar fashion, Leonard used a vintage Rolleiflex camera to capture vanishing mom-and-pop enterprises.
Through Aug 30
Tatiana Trouvé, Desire Lines; Central Park
The winding walkways of Central Park provide the backstory for this Italian artist's installation, which began with her gauging the extent of the paths before visually translating their measurements into matching lengths of rope.
CONCERTS TO GO CRAZY AT
June 1, 4
Ride; Music Hall of Williamsburg, Terminal 5
Your ’90s-loving pals are already in a tizzy over these comeback shows by revered U.K. shoegaze act Ride. You should be too.
June 3
Chaka Khan; Celebrate Brooklyn!
Chi-town's veteran Queen of Funk unleashes her monster pipes at the 2015 Celebrate Brooklyn! season kickoff.
June 5–7
The 2015 Governors Ball Music Festival; Randalls Island Park
The gang's all here, from hip-hop superstars to folky indie faves, EDM dance commanders, and the one and only Lana Del Rey.
June 10
Belle and Sebastian; Radio City Music Hall
The Glasgow twee-pop overlords play one of the city's most lavish rooms in support of their recent ninth LP, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance.
June 26–28
FarmBorough Country Music Festival; Randalls Island Park
Whatever your preferred country-music varietal, whether it's slicked-up radio fare or no-nonsense old-school stuff, this fest has plenty to offer.
INTERESTING AUTHOR EVENTS
June 4
Marin Hopper + Mark Rozzo; Strand Book Store
Marin Hopper, the daughter of the late actor and photographer Dennis Hopper, sits down with Vanity Fair deputy editor Mark Rozzo to discuss her father’s collection, Dennis Hopper: Drugstore Camera. Make sure to buy a copy of the book to attend.
June 5
NYC book-launch party: The Happiness Industry; The powerHouse Arena
Why are humans so obsessed with being happy? Head to the joyful launch party, where the author grapples with the question in his book with English philosopher Simon Critchley.
June 8
Poets House's 20th Annual Bridgewalk; Brooklyn Bridge
Actor Bill Murray joins Brooklyn poet laureate Tina Chang, Cornelius Eady and other fine bards to continue the tradition and read NYC-inspired poems across the Kings County landmark.
COMEDY SHOWS TO CHECK OUT
June 2
Aparna Nancherla Live Album Recording; Union Hall
The laid-back absurdist with the hilarious Twitter feed records her debut comedy album.
June 9
Colin Quinn: The Coloring Book signing; Barnes & Noble, Union Square
Meet the SNL alum as he signs copies of his new book on race relations in America following a live conversation about the book’s themes (host to be confirmed).
June 15
Amy Schumer and Friends; Beacon Theatre
The promotional tour for Train Wreck gathers steam (see what we did there?) as Schumer brings director Judd Apatow and costars Mike Birbiglia, Colin Quinn and Dave Attell along for this night of stand-up.
June 17
Yum’s the Word; Le Poisson Rouge
It’s summer, and that means ice cream. Head to Robin Gelfenbien’s fantastic monthly storytelling show to sample her selection of homemade ice cream cakes.
June 20
Judah Friedlander; Carolines on Broadway
The 30 Rock star brings his World Champion schtick to Carolines for a night of hilariously skewed machismo.
WONDERFUL LGBT EVENTS
June 1
Night of a Thousand Judys; Merkin Concert Hall
Downtown darling Justin Sayre oversees this star-studded annual tribute to Judy Garland. Proceeds go to the Ali Forney Center.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season Seven Finale and Coronation; Stage 48
If you’re not still reeling from Katya’s unjust elimination, head to this official coronation ceremony featuring finalists Ginger Minj, Violet Chachki and hometown queen Pearl.
June 12
Cheyenne Jackson, The Town Hall
The very handsome star of stage and screen performs a concert at one of NYC’s finest venues.
June 21
Folsom Street East; Chelsea
Kinky folks take to the streets for this street fair featuring demonstrations, vendors, performances and some of the best people-watching you’ll see all year.
June 28
LGBT Pride March; march begins at Fifth Ave
June in NYC means Pride, and it all comes to a loud, screaming climax with this massive march through Manhattan.
ACE PLACES TO SHOP
June 1–5
Tory Burch sample sale; Clothingline
The designer behind the ubiquitous buckle flat is offering up to 80 percent off handbags, shoes and ready-to-wear.
June 1–5
Autumn Cashmere sample sale; Autumn Cashmere Showroom
Sweater weather is gone, but it’s never too early to snag cozy threads—like the ones at this sale, where cashmere items are up to 75 percent off.
June 1–6
Showroom Seven sample sale; Showroom Seven
This highly anticipated sale kicked off earlier last month, but we hear that there’s still major loot to be had for the warmer months.
June 1–15
Aritzia sale; Arizita
Scoop up this Canadian brand’s downtown wares—especially while they’re marked up to 50 percent off.
June 2–6
Rebecca Taylor sample sale; 260 Sample Sale
We love the day-to-night versatility of Rebecca Taylor’s pieces, and now’s the time to scoop up styles from the spring collection, marked up to 75 percent off retail.