SUMMER AIN’T OVER
13 fab festivals and exciting events to hit up in NYC as warm weather winds down
FEELING like NYC’s comeback summer went by in a flash? Don’t fret — fall doesn’t officially start until Sept. 22, and there are plenty of fun things to do around town to extend the summer vibes before then. All through the month, events, parties and festivals will be popping up across the five boroughs. Whether your warm-weather bucket list includes hitting up a music festival, finally catching a football game in person or chowing down on some fantastic Italian fare, you’re in luck.
Here’s what the city’s endless summer has on tap.
Fill up on tennis — and food — at the US Open
They’ll be serving up more than tennis balls at Arthur Ashe Stadium this month.
The US Open, which continues through Sept. 12, has a formidable culinary scene to go along with its high-octane athleticism. Michelin-starred celebrity chef Alex Guarnaschelli will bring a Mediterranean experience to the south plaza of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, while famed seafood chef
Josh Capon will be rolling out lobster rolls, ceviche and poké at his Fly Fish @ Oyster Bar, located in the Grandstand Food Village and Arthur Ashe.
Other new additions to the Food Village include Eataly, Los Tacos No. 1, Brooklyn-based Stuf’d gourmet sandwiches, Forest Hills’ Stacked Sandwich Shop and Neapolitan pizza from San Matteo.
Proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine required for those 12 and older. From $115. USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing; USOpen.org
Rave it up on Randalls Island
Hold on to the heat by moving to the beat.
Electronic music fans can let loose at Electric Zoo, a three-day-long party spread across several stages on Randalls Island. After a 2020 hiatus, this year’s E-Zoo lineup features headlining progressive house DJs such as Alesso, Tiësto, Kaskade, Alan Walker and Galantis, among several other huge acts in the EDM scene.
Must be 18 or older. Proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID-19 test required. Friday through Sunday. From $109 each day. ElectricZoo.com
Sip rosé while Fat Joe plays on Governors Island
Looking for chill vibes, great wine and cocktails, plus a star-studded music lineup? Sounds like Pinknic is perfect for you.
This massive lawn party on Governors Island is a celebration of rosé wine. They’ll be serving up the blush beverage in almost every way imaginable, from mixed cocktails to Champagne pours, along with plenty of eats and treats.
The Bronx’s own Fat Joe will headline both days of the pink party’s fifth anniversary, supported by acts including house DJ Dombresky, vocalist Nancy Whang and jazzfusion artist Masego.
Must be 21 or older. Proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID-19 test required. Saturday and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m. From $79 each day. Pinknic.com
Admire art near Washington Square Park
After its Memorial Day weekend stint was canceled, the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit will happen twice this month.
This delightful free sidewalk show in the West Village stretches down University Place, from East 13th Street down past the park at West
Third Street, and will showcase some of the New York area’s finest collections of mixed media, watercolor, acrylic and oil works, along with photography, sculptures, crafts, jewelry and ceramics.
Saturday through Monday, and Sept. 11 and 12, noon to 6 p.m. WSOAE.org
Root for your home team during the Yankees-Mets 9/11 game
In the chilling weeks that followed Sept. 11, 2001, baseball helped bring New Yorkers together and heal.
Twenty years later, the red-hot Yankees and Mets will play a special rendition of the Subway Series at Citi Field on Sept. 11. Former Mets legend Mike Piazza, who hit the go-ahead home run in the teams’ first game back after the towers fell, is expected to appear in Queens that night.
First pitch at 7:40 p.m. From $127. Citi Field, Flushing; 718507-TIXX, MLB.com/Mets
Pig out on Staten Island
Returning for its 12th year, Pig Island will unite more than 20 renowned chefs for some fine swine at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden on Saturday, Sept. 11.
This paean to all things porcine will feature the best pulled pork, ribs and other meaty delicacies from here to South Carolina. Some such treats include beerbrined smoked hog with Scotch bonnet, and herb and garlic chimichurri from Kim Plafke of Meat Hook in Williamsburg. Craft beers, hard cider and other spirits will be on offer too.
In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Pig Island will also be partnering with the nonprofit Friends of Firefighters to raise money and give out ceremonial awards that honor and support first responders.
Guests are encouraged to
come early and hog as much food as possible in the event that some stations run dry.
Festivalgoers are encouraged to bring their own picnic baskets and camping chairs for the rain-or-shine event.
Must be 21 or older. From $65. 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island; PigIsland.com
Show your pride at LadyLand
Christina Aguilera headlines a mighty and diverse lineup for this one-day festival celebrating gay pride and LGBTQ performers in North Brooklyn.
Billed as Coachella meets a
Berlin nightclub, LadyLand will feature DJs, drag stars and performance art. This includes “xxxtreme queer wrestling”: a drag performance that aims “to intensify and make apparent the inherently flamboyant and camp elements of professional wrestling,” according to the Web site.
Must be 21 or older. Proof of vaccination required. Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m. From $90. Brooklyn Mirage, 140 Stewart Ave., East Williamsburg; LadyLandFestival.com
Live it up with drag queens in Queens
Bushwig, the world’s largest drag and music festival, celebrates 10 years of fun and fierceness with a weekend’s worth of entertainment.
This year’s iteration, aptly named Bushwig 10, has some of the largest queer icons on the bill, including Heidi N Closet and festival founder Horrorchata, along with local legend Amanda Lepore.
Must be 21 or older. Proof of vaccination required. Sept. 11 and 12, 2 p.m. to midnight. From $80 for both days. Knockdown Center, 52-19 Flushing Ave., Maspeth, Queens; Bushwig.com
Kick off football season with the Giants and Jets
After COVID benched NYC football fans for the 2020 NFL season, this month the Giants and Jets faithful can finally return to MetLife Stadium.
Daniel Jones and the G-Men open at home on Sept. 12 against the Denver Broncos at 4:25 p.m. and Gang Green, under the command of new quarterback Zach Wilson, will face the New England Patriots for their home opener on Sept. 19 at 1:05 p.m.
Giants tickets from $130, Jets from $66. MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ; Giants.com, NewYorkJets.com
Get saucy at San Gennaro
After being sidelined by COVID last year, the beloved Figli di San Gennaro festival returns to Little Italy this month.
Now, we have 10 days of Italian food, music and
eating contests, testing who can eat the most meatballs, zeppoles and cannoli.
As a way of commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11, FDNY commissioner Daniel Nigro will serve as honorary grand marshal for the feast and its parade in honor of first responders.
Sept. 16 to 26, varying hours. Mulberry Street between Canal and Houston streets, and on Hester Street between Baxter and Centre streets, Little Italy; 212764-6330, SanGennaroNYC.org
Eat your heart out at Eataly
If San Gennaro wasn’t enough, perhaps this will satisfy your appetite for the fine wine and delicacies of Italia.
Eataly’s downtown location will be hosting an endof-summer wine and food festa.
The party will showcase over 20 wines from all over Italy, as their respective producers and other wine experts provide a breakdown of what you’re sipping on inside the marketplace.
It will also feature live music and dancing, as guests dine on fresh pasta, scrumptious paninis, homemade gelato and some cannoli to wrap up the evening.
Proof of vaccination required. Sept. 17, 6 to 8 p.m. From $75. 101 Liberty St., third floor, Financial District; 212-897-2895, Eataly.com
Get your groove on at Governors Ball
Another iconic NYC music festival is making a return this month at Citi Field.
Governors Ball is celebrating its 10th season in style, with a powerhouse lineup of headliners Billie Eilish, A$AP Rocky, Post Malone, J Balvin, Megan Thee Stallion, Rüfüs Du Sol, Ellie Goulding, Leon Bridges and 21 Savage, to name a few.
The festival happens over three days and will also feature an array of food options from local vendors, such as Roberta’s, Dyckman Dogs, La Newyorkina frozen treats and more.
Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test from within 72 hours of attendance required. Sept. 24 to 26. From $129. Citi Field, Flushing; GovernorsBallMusicFestival.com
Sing along at Global Citizen
Hopefully Central Park’s long-awaited “welcome back NYC” day in the sun will come when Global Citizen rocks the Great Lawn.
The star-studded lineup includes Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello, Jennifer Lopez, Lizzo, Meek Mill and Shawn Mendes, in addition to special guest performances by Alessia Cara, Burna Boy, Cyndi Lauper, Jon Batiste and Lang Lang.
The NYC show is also tied to a historic 24 hours of worldwide performances broadcast from Los Angeles; Paris; London; Sydney; Lagos, Nigeria; Seoul, South Korea; and Rio de Janeiro.
Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from within 72 hours of attendance required. Sept. 25, 4 p.m. From $200. GlobalCitizen.org