Saturday Special - Summer Attractions/Openings in the Five Boroughs

Brooklyn

Recently opened, the Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk will be host to a full summer series of live music, comedy shows and family entertainment. The 5,000-seat covered open-air arena, the first of its kind in the tristate area, will feature a star-studded lineup, Fifth Harmony (August 2) and Boston (August 10). The Amphitheater is located at 3052 W. 21st St., Brooklyn. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit coneyislandlive.com.

Luna Park’s newest attraction, the Endeavor, is a fresh take on the Enterprise, which debuted in 1972. The ride tilts about 90 degrees and takes guests on a trip 60 feet through the air while spinning at speeds of 25 miles an hour. For the kids, Luna Park has opened the Convoy, a classic train ride that puts youngsters in the driver’s seat.

Coney Island is home to world-class entertainment attractions, including two amusement parks. Highlighted by Soarin Eagle, Wild River and the legendary Coney Island Cyclone roller coaster, Luna Park is a thrill-seekers delight. Adjacent to Luna Park is Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, featuring kid-friendly attractions in addition to five adult-size rides like the 125-foot-tall Thunderbolt roller coaster and Wonder Wheel. Declared an official NYC landmark in 1989, the 150-foot Ferris wheel is unique in that it features both stationary and sliding cars.

At Steeplechase Plaza, visitors can marvel at the graceful charm of the B&B Carousell, which features 50 hand-carved wooden horses that were recently painstakingly restored.   

Near Luna Park is the New York Aquarium, a family-friendly attraction that is home to an array of sea creatures, including penguins, sea lions, sand tiger sharks, sea turtles and walruses.

For some baseball action, the Brooklyn Cyclones play their home games at MCU Park. Afterward, visitors can take a free tour and taste fresh, locally made beer at Coney Island Brewing Company.

‘Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History’ at the Brooklyn Museum Prospect Heights, Brooklyn Through January 8, 2017, the Brooklyn Museum will exhibit memorable moments in sports history through the lens of sport photographers. Curated by distinguished photographic historian Gail Buckland, the exhibit will feature more than 200 photographs from 1843 to the present of captured moments from the Olympic games, fans, professional players off the field and more (brooklynmuseum.org).

Staten Island

The summer fun starts with a ride from Lower Manhattan to St. George on the free Staten Island Ferry. Visitors getting off the ferry can walk to the Richmond County Bank Ballpark, where the Staten Island Yankees will play their home opener on Saturday, June 18. All summer long, fans can enjoy a game of baseball along with post-game fireworks on Friday and Saturday nights. For outdoor family fun, the Staten Island Greenbelt is the borough’s system of connected parkland and nature preserves throughout the middle of the island, complete with bike paths, hiking trails and Nature Center. Known as NYC’s “biggest little zoo,” the Staten Island Zoo features one of the country’s largest collections of venomous snakes and is also home to the City’s most famous groundhog, Staten Island Chuck. Visitors can enjoy the surf and sand at Midland Beach and South Beach on the East Shore, where they can also stroll along the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk with its picturesque views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

Staten Island’s rich history can be traced at its museums and historic sites. Visitors can discover the borough’s history and contributions to the City’s art and culture at the Staten Island Museum. The museum has two locations: one just outside the St. George Ferry Terminal and a brand-new LEED-certified building at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. Snug Harbor was once a sailor’s retirement village and today is the location of the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden, one of two authentic Chinese gardens in the country. Right up the street is one of the neighborhood’s beloved cultural spots, the St. George Theatre, which has seen the likes of Al Jolson, Diana Ross and Jerry Seinfeld perform on its stage.

The former residence of one of America’s earliest groundbreaking female photographers, the Alice Austen House Museum in Rosebank pays homage to Alice Austen with a permanent collection of her documentary work and other photographic exhibitions. Situated not too far away is Fort Wadsworth—one of the oldest military installations in the country—which guarded New York Harbor during the Revolutionary War. After exploring these cultural institutions on the North Shore, visitors can hop on the Staten Island Railway to Tottenville for a tour of The Conference House, site of the Revolutionary Peace Conference of 1776 held between John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and other significant figures in American history. In Historic Richmond Town, visitors can take a walk back in time through restored homes and a museum that depict how Americans lived in the early 1700s.

On October 1, 2015, Staten Island Ferry service was expanded to run every 30 minutes, seven days a week, between St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island and Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan. The free ferry moves 70,000 passengers on weekdays and 22 million people a year, and offers unbeatable views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, the New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (siferry.com).

Bronx

The High Bridge, Upper Manhattan & South Bronx In June 2015, the High Bridge, New York City’s oldest standing bridge, reopened to the public after more than 40 years. Spanning 2,000 feet from Upper Manhattan to the South Bronx and sitting 102 feet above the Harlem River, the bridge is an iconic landmark for pedestrians and bicyclists to explore (nycgovparks.org).

Yankee Stadium - The home of the New York Yankees is one of the City’s most beloved sports sites. The team’s current address preserves many of the design details that defined the original place—The House That Ruth Built—where the baseball team played from 1923 until the new version opened for the 2009 season. The outfield stands still feature the Bleacher Creatures (very loud, very dedicated fans), but now there are fancy suites, a wider variety of concessions and a state-of-the-art video board. The stadium is also home to the New York City Football Club (that’s European football, or soccer) and sometimes hosts other big events like concerts.

Bronx Zoo - The Bronx Zoo of the Wildlife Conservation Society is the premier place to study and appreciate the world's many creatures. Home to more than 6,000 animals, the zoo spans 265 acres that re-create the diverse natural habitats of its numerous residents. You'll find the lemurs of Madagascar, gorillas of the Congo and snow leopards of the Himalayas, along with the denizens that stalk Tiger Mountain. Sea lion and penguin feedings are always fan favorites.

Queens

‘Hey! Ho! Let's Go: Ramones and the Birth of Punk’ at The Queens Museum Corona, Queens The Queens Museum and the GRAMMY Museum® in Los Angeles partnered together to present a two-part exhibition celebrating the lasting influence of punk rock progenitors the Ramones. The exhibition commemorates the 40th anniversary of the release of the Ramones’ 1976 self-titled debut album, in addition to the lasting influence the punk rock group had on their hometown of Queens. The exhibit highlights the group’s musical achievements and explore the influence on the relationship between New York City’s music and visual art scenes in the 1970s and 1980s, and are currently on display at the Queens Museum before moving to Los Angeles on Sept. 16, 2016 (queensmuseum.org).

‘Hotter Than That - 90 Years of Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five’ at the Louis Armstrong House Museum Corona, Queens Opened December 23, 2015 and running through October 16, 2016, the Louis Armstrong House Museum presents recordings, photographs and artifacts dealing with the legacy of the Hot Five, his collaboration with his wife Lil Armstrong, clarinetist Johnny Dodds, trombonist Kid Ory and banjoist Johnny St. Cyr (louisarmstronghouse.org).

‘Jim Henson: The Exhibition’ at Museum of the Moving Image Astoria, Queens A new Jim Henson gallery is expected to debut at the Museum of the Moving Image in 2016, complete with a donation of nearly 400 puppets, props and costumes by Henson’s family and The Jim Henson Company. Best known for his Sesame Street and Muppets characters, his legacy will live on in the 2,200-square-foot Henson Gallery, which will also showcase Henson’s sketches, storyboards, scripts and video clips (movingimage.us).

 Manhattan

‘Star Trek Starfleet Academy Experience’ at The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Far West Side, ManhattanIn celebration of the 50th anniversary of Star Trek, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum welcomes this new exhibition to Pier 86  through October 31. The Museum will be the first venue in the United States to host this first-of-its-kind, immersive “Trek Tech” experience, spanning 10,000 square feet. It will feature interactive activities and unique technology, including Leap Motion, table projections, projection mapping and holograms (intrepidmuseum.org).

Harlem/Havana Music and Cultural Festival Harlem, Manhattan The first annual Harlem/Havana Music & Cultural Festival, an international exchange celebrating the rich artistic connection between Harlem, New York and Havana, Cuba, will take this summer in New York City. The festival will bring world-renowned Cuban musicians, visual artists, dancers, film, chefs and educators to the U.S. this summer as part of Harlem Week activities August 15-21. In February 2017, an American delegation of artists and cultural leaders (to be announced at a later date) will travel to Havana and take part in a number of curated events (harlemweek.com).

The Hills Governors Island, Manhattan The next phase of Governors Island Park, The Hills, is scheduled for completion in July 19, 2016. The Hills is comprised of four man-made hills, rising 25 to 70 feet above the Island, promising dramatic new experiences and views of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty and the Lower Manhattan skyline (govisland.com).

‘Ghostbusters Experience’ at Mada& me Tussauds Midtown Manhattan  Madame Tussauds Times Square will bring the spirited world of Ghostbusters to life. Inspired by the 2016 film, the new exhibit will immerse visitors in a multi-layered experience featuring the streets of Times Square, the 7 underground subway tunnels and spooky surprises throughout the exhibit (madametussauds.com).

The Met Breuer Upper East Side, Manhattan Opened to the public on March 18, 2016, the Met Breuer, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s newest building, provides additional space dedicated to twentieth and twenty-first century art. The landmark building, designed by Marcel Breuer, expands on the Museum’s modern and contemporary art program, which includes new exhibitions, performances, residencies and educational initiatives (metmuseum.org).

Gracie Mansion Tours Upper East Side, Manhattan The official residence of the Mayor of the City of New York, Gracie Mansion reopened to the public on October 25, 2015 with an Open House, and tours which commenced November 10. As part of the 35th anniversary of the Gracie Mansion Conservancy, the historic landmark was retrofitted with 49 new pieces focusing on the late Colonial, Revolutionary and 4 Federal Periods as part of the “Windows on the City: Looking Out at Gracie’s New York” installation (nyc.gov/gracie).

Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling Harlem, Manhattan Harlem’s first children’s museum, the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, opened on October 3, 2015 with state-of-the-art facilities and spaces where children and families can learn through encounters with art and artists (sugarhillmuseum.org).*

*The above is a guest post by NYC & Company. For a 3 day itinary example of fun things to do in New York with kids go to http://www.nycgo.com/articles/kid-friendly-nyc . For even more about fun things to do in New York with kids, keep following our blog.

Photo credits:

Photo 1: Luna Park (Brooklyn) - © NYC & Company/Julienne Schaer

Photo 2: Staten Island Ferry - © NYC & Company/Jen Davis

Photo 3: High Bridge Bronx - © NYC & Company/Tagger Yancey IV Photography

Photo 4: Queens Museum - © NYC & Company/Julienne Schaer

Photo 5: Intrepid’s Star Trek Exhibit – Erika Kapin photography

Tune in tomorrow for this week's Sunday Scoop.