offManhattan

What: Queens Theatre in the Park: Latino Cultural Festival

Where: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens

When: Friday, July 29 – Sunday, August 8th

Why: Queens stays true to the international character of its borough with the return of Queens Theatre in the Park‘s 14th annual Latino Cultural Festival. From inception, QTP’s tradition of transporting locals to global countries with a program of dance, film, music and spoken word has made it the cultural conduit for New Yorkers. There’ll be traditional dance (tango, milongo, urban) and legendary voices (Susana Baca, Yomo Toro,) interlaced throughout the performances. Don’t miss Leon Geico who is hailed as a pop-folk Bob Dylan, and Columbian folk artist Jorge Velosa who’ll introduce carranguero music. Representing countries include Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, the U.S. and Venezuela. Whether your mode of transport to this celebration of Latin roots is by bike, bus, or train, you’ll feel like you’ve seen the world in nine days.

Bike travel provides many positives to the rider and the environment. The good people at SummerStage now add the high roller treatment to the list. In partnership with Transportation Alternatives, SummerStage will be rolling out the red carpet of convenience with FREE bike valet parking at all East River Park events. This August, SummerStage is celebrating its 25th anniversary by extending beyond their programming in Central Park with over 100 music, dance and theater programs in all five boroughs.

So how does the bike valet service fit into their master plan? The current valet program promises to give greater access to cyclists at the East River Park venue, provide an incentive to utilize alternative means of transportation, and promote the use of green spaces in the Lower East Side. They’re making a significant statement in support of the growing bike culture of New York with an emphasis on sustainability and community. “This is the first time SummerStage is offering free bike valet service,” said Karen Overton, City Parks Foundation Catalyst Coordinator. “It is a pilot program, but we do intend to continue it going forward next year.” The service launches Wednesday, August 4th and runs through 13 days of free music, dance, and theater. Such events include local indie-rock darlings White Rabbits, a rowdy re-imagining of the epic poem Beowulf, the socially conscious Wideman/Davis Dance group, and a tribute to the Faina All-stars featuring DJ Lucho and a variety of the city’s top Latin players. (A full schedule and breakdown on the varied multi-cultural performances can be found at SummerStage.org.)

There is the Snooki-poofed version of the Jersey Shore and then there is this one. The village of Spring Lake, NJ is located one hour and 15 minutes from NYC by way of the New Jersey Transit rails. Here, there are calm stretches of sandy beach, Victorian homes, the longest non-commercial boardwalk in the state, Shakespeare plays in a garden, an old pond-perched copper church, and charming inns right on the sea.  

· Get a slice of pizza and peruse Brooklyn Grange farmers market veggies at Roberta’s on Sunday 11-5pm. [Robertas]

· Celebrate Brooklyn! presents a D.I.Y. art fair and talent-packed concert, “Field of Dreams (Un Mundo Nuevo)” on July 24 in Prospect Park; $3 suggested donation. [bricartsmedia]

· Relish diner takes an indefinite nap. [grubstreet]

· Celebrate the City of Water Day Festival with free fishing on Governors Island, listen to whale tales on a tanker ship in Red Hook, or go kayaking (and learn rolling skills) at Brooklyn Bridge Park. [nytimes]

· The LaGuardia Performing Arts Center hosts the borough’s 1st International Theater Festival, ongoing through July 29. [lagcc]

· Step aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum tonight for a free film screening of The Goonies. [tony]

· The 1st Annual Kemble Park Tavern Craft Beer Festival in D.C. starts this Sunday, July 25-July 31, and includes nightly complimentary tastings, beer and food pairings, and $4 American craft beers. [girlmeetsfood]

· Get your tickets for a ride in the sky in advance of this weekend’s 28th Annual NJ Balloon Festival. [oM]

What: 28th Annual New Jersey Festival of Ballooning

Where: Solberg Airport, NJ

When: July 23-25; Friday 1pm-10pm, Saturday 6am-10pm, Sunday, 6am-8pm

Why: To achieve new heights in life. Ballooning exists in that special space between flying in an airplane and jumping out of one, and this weekend, the largest summertime hot air balloon festival in North America will commence rising. An hour from NYC, join 175,000 spectators—including Rick Springfield on Sunday—as 125 colorful puffed-up shapes take to the sky. While the trip is mostly worth it for the experience of hovering 2,000 feet above the clouds for up to a few hours, there will be plenty of other amusements on the ground, from yoga classes to Air Force skydiving shows to funnel cake, a family fun pavilion, and live music. Get out a pen, cross air ballooning off the bucket list, carry on.

Whether sitting under a cherry blossom tree in Brooklyn, in a sculpture garden facing the Manhattan skyline, or perched overlooking the Hudson River on a historical site, from April through October, consider eating alfresco at one of these picturesque places.

Here is a list of seven beautiful picnic spots in and around New York City for that next romantic date or rendezvous with friends.

Although we helmet heads are grateful for the 600 miles of designated bike lanes in NYC, let’s face facts: to most New Yorkers, biking in the city conjures up harrowing images of way-too-close encounters with agitated motorists and cabbies.

As an alternative, we recommend these three refreshingly bike-friendly, multi-level rides, which involve free beer, pizza and routes that weave throughout farms, vineyards, and the sea—all near NYC and accessible without, you guessed it, a car.

· Matt & Kim are performing at the free Siren Festival in Coney Island this Saturday at 1pm; W 10th & Surf Ave. [Flavorpill]

· Take the free ferry back to the 1920s at Governors Island’s annual Jazz Age Lawn party this weekend. [DailyCandy]

· An organic restaurant with a contemporary Italian menu just opened in Cobble Hill. [BrooklynExposed]

· For those fond of crêpes, pétanque, the French (and their wine), bike over to Smith Street this Sunday at 11a.m. for some fun Bastille Day celebrations. [TONY]

· Nintendo is hosting the 1st annual Wii Games: Summer 2010 competition in Liberty State Park this Saturday, July 16, where attendees can mingle with Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson. [going]

· Latin Afro-Cuban Jazz group Mundo Clave will take the stage at Live at the Gantries in Queens on Tuesday, July 20 at 7pm. [QueensCouncilArts]

· Don’t forget to check out the free Roosevelt L!ve series, which is presenting a Mardi Gras Meets Carnaval event this Sunday, July 18; Red Hook Lobster Pound will be there. Take the F train. [oM]