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With six piers and 85 acres of prime waterfront property, Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) is poised to make this summer King County’s best yet. Whether you’re looking for adventure, exercise, culture or just fun in the sun, BBP has you covered—and you won’t spend a dime.
This week marks the return of Books Beneath the Bridge, an annual literary series that aligns local literary stars under the skies. Each Monday a different indie bookstore curates a special night featuring a reading by an author with a NYC connection. On July 18th WORD hosts Emma Straub, a neighbor and friend of the park’s, who will read from her new and buzz-worthy novel Modern Lovers along with Rumaan Alam (Rich and Pretty). On Mon 11th Freebird Bookstore celebrates the release of Heather Wolf’s Birding at the Bridge: In Search of Every Bird on the Brooklyn Waterfront and Wolf will even share the audience with a few tips on where they can spot feathered friends in the park.
If you want to know more about the area’s wildlife, or maybe get a taste of its history, then come back for the Wednesday Night Tours. Wolf leads a birding tour on August 10th, or spread your wings with walk discussing Oysters, (July 13) or Bugs, (August 31). Think you know everything about the hood? You’ll still learn something new at the How Ferries Built South Brooklyn (Aug 17) and Battle of Brooklyn Tour (Aug 24).
Of course, the exercise potential doesn’t end with walks. Nearly every day there is at least one class happening through the free Waterfront Workout series. You won’t need a gym membership all summer long with fun sessions like Piyo, Zumba, Hip Hop Dance Aerobics and Broadway Dance on Pier 2’s acre of soft grass, or find your center in quieter corners of the park with yoga. Fans of running, or those interested in becoming joggers, should try the all-ages, all-levels welcome weekly Tuesday night Open Run with the New York Road Runners (7pm).
Get your cardio in on the water with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse’s free kayaking. Every Thursday (5:30–6:45pm) and Saturday (10am-3pm) the program offers free 20-minute sessions on the bright yellow vessels on a first-come basis (get there early!). After you’ve gotten the hang of paddling along—and have stopped gawking at the amazing views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty—try your arms at Kayak Polo (Sundays at 11am, arrive by 10:30 for a spot on a team and equipment).
And if you'd rather just sit around (no judging), check out Movies with a View. A film committee met over the winter to cull a list of thousands of movies to just eight beloved choices to be screened each Thursday in July and August. You’ll be with 7,000 of your fellow New Yorkers laughing, crying and otherwise appreciating the likes of Purple Rain (July 21) and a League of their Own (August 18). For the more highbrow viewer, All the Park's a Stage brings New York Classical Theater company to perform Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale in a production unlike any you’ll see at the Delacorte Theater. This free production uses the entire Pier and brings you along as the actors move through the space.
So much to do, so little time.