By Nancy Mandell

Last week, Karen Altfest hosted a docent-led tour of the Neue Museum’s collection of Viennese and German art with 15 of her sister alums from McGill University. After a fascinating tour of works by German artist Otto Dix (on view through Aug. 30), we stopped for lunch in the museum’s Café Zabarsky.

When conversation turned to the subject of this blog, a friend of Karen’s who lives in—and loves—Brooklyn, told us of the exciting events that are taking place in Brooklyn Bridge Park this summer.

The result of 20 years of advocacy and planning—as well as $226 million in funding from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and the City of New York—construction of Brooklyn Bridge Park began in January 2009, and the first six acres of the park—including the first waterfront promenade, lawns, a playground and the “Granite Prospect”—opened in March of this year at Pier 1 (Old Fulton Street). Pier 6 opened in June. An additional 3.5 acres of parkland on Pier 1 and 1.4 acres of parkland on the Pier 2 uplands will be opened later this summer. Meanwhile, Brooklyn Bridge Park is offering a full schedule of events this summer, with activities planned for almost every day of the week.

Starting at mid-week, Thursday evenings are reserved for Brooklyn Bridge Conservancy’s 11th annual Movies With A View ( Movies With A View) Bring a blanket to Harbor View Lawn at Pier 1—chairs are not permitted on the lawn—in time to picnic and enjoy music from 6 pm until the show begins at sunset. The schedule for the rest of the summer is:

Aug. 12
DREAMGIRLS [PG 13]
Aug., 19
THE BLUES BROTHERS [R]
Aug. 26
INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE [PG 13]

Feature films are preceded by shorts.

This Friday (Aug. 13) there is a special event for the kids and grandchildren in your lives, when the City Parks Foundation PuppetMobile Presents “Sleeping Beauty” on Pier 1. The free 90-minute show starts at 10:30 am, and is geared to 2- to 8-year-olds.

Over the next three Saturdays, the park offers a series of special tours and events: Sat., Aug. 13, the Conservancy conducts a walking tour to explore and identify The Trees of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The tour starts at 10:30 am at Pier 1. On the 21st, the Conservancy invites you to “Seining the River Wild” from noon to 1:30 pm using a 30-foot seining net to catch and release fish and other river creatures.

Aug. 28 marks the beginning of Tug and Barge Week when two antique vessels—a tugboat and a barge— will be on view through the 31st. It’s important to make email reservations for the walkup tug trips however, since each excursion is limited to 40 passengers. While the free tours and trips continue through Tuesday, the week culminates from 5 to 8 pm that evening with a Community Fundraiser Admission of $35 includes refreshments and entertainment. For information call David Sharps at (718) 624-4719 x11 or email.

Other ongoing events in the park are weekend walkup kayaking and rowing (BBPB Walk-Up Kayaking and Community Rowing) Saturday and Sunday afternoons at times depending on the tides. No training or prior experience required, but the ability to swim is! Kayaks are available on a first-come-first-served basis. All equipment is free.

From 3:30 to 4:30 every Sunday, you can also participate in a fitness program based on Latin and international dance music called ZUMBA presented by the Dodge YMCA (ZUMBA© presented by Dodge YMCA) at the Promenade in the southwest corner of Pier 1 or, in case of rain, in the Tobacco Warehouse.

On Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 6:45 pm, interested visitors can meet at the Pier 1 Gatehouse for walking tours of the park led by some of the site’s designers and planners. It’s a great way to learn about the history and special features of the project. Reservations are recommended, but not necessary.

Thurs., Aug. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Paul Taylor Dance Company & Taylor 2
80th Birthday Celebration
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Performing together for the first time, both companies celebrate dance legend Paul Taylor’s 80th birthday. The PTDC performs Airs, Syzygy, and Company B, while Taylor 2 dances his signature masterpiece Esplanade; also, a live collaboration with Asphalt Orchestra (see Aug. 7 below) performing an original arrangement of the score to 3 Epitaphs.

Fri., Aug. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Hallogallo 2010!
Hermeto Pascoal
Damrosch Park Bandshell
In an unusual double bill, Hallogallo 2010 combines the krautrock music of Neu! performed by Michael Rother & Friends with the jazz-based experimentalism of Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal.

Sat., Aug. 7, 4 p.m.
Family Day
Puppet Pageant: Pride and Prejudice and New York Real Estate
Hearst Plaza/Barclays Capital Grove
A world premiere from Puppeteers’ Cooperative.

Sat., Aug. 7, 6 p.m.
Asphalt Orchestra
Hearst Plaza
This 12-piece marching band’s international repertoire of processional music features world premiere commissions by Yoko Ono and David Byrne with Annie Clark.

Sat., Aug. 7, 7p.m.
Balkan Beat Box
Mucca Pazza
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Balkan Beat Box transforms Balkan-Mediterranean traditions, punk, electronic, jazz and hiphop while the 30-plus member circus punk marching band Mucca Pazza shows off its brass.

Sun., Aug. 8, 2 p.m.
Heritage Sunday
Yuri Yunakov, Zikrayat, The Maeandros Ensemble
Hearst Plaza/Barclays Capital Grove
Saxophonist Yuri Yunakov’s ensemble features multicultural music from Bulgarian Gypsy communities and native Romani wedding music. The ensemble of oud virtuoso Mavrothi Kontanis’ Maeandros “meanders” through Greek folk and urban song, Ottoman court music and regional originals. Zikrayat plays music from the golden age of Egyptian film as well as classical music and dance from throughout the Arab world.

(6 p.m.-Catch the Asphalt Orchestra at 6 p.m. on Broadway Plaza)
7:30 p.m.
S.O.S. (Saving Our Soul) – From the Big Easy to the Big Apple
Soul Rebels Brass Band
Wild Magnolias
Glen David Andrews
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Crescent City street bands commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Thurs., Aug. 12, 7 p.m.
Chinese American Arts Council: Lion Dance
Josie Robertson Plaza
The 2,000-year-old Lion Dance is said to bring luck, peace and happiness through its acrobatic and martial movements.

Thurs., Aug. 12, 7p.m.
SLAMMIN All-Body Band
Celina Kalluk and Lucie Idlout
Derique McGee
Damrosch Park Bandshell
The International Body Music Festival concert explores possibilities of the human instrument by traditional and contemporary artists from the Americas: Brazil’s 12-member “circle orchestra” Barbatuques in its New York debut; the Bay Area’s SLAMMIN All-Body Band; Inuit throat singers Celina Kalluk and Lucie Idlout from Nunavut, Canada; and African American hambone artist Derique McGee.

Fri., Aug. 13 at 6p.m.
Gamelan Galak Tika
Kecak workshop and Belaganjur (Marching Gamelan)
Broadway Plaza
Christine Southworth and Evan Ziporyn lead Kecak, Bali’s “Monkey Chant, followed by a processional performance of belaganjur, festive, polyrhythmic “marching gamelan.”

7:30 p.m.
Kronos Quartet with
Gamelan Galak Tika
Kenge Kenge (New York Debut)
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Contemporary musicians, the Kronos Quartet, perform works by Steve Reich, Café Tacuba, and the world premiere of Christine Southworth’s Super Collider. Kenge Kenge use the indigenous one-string fiddle, flutes and drums to explore Kenya’s Luo musical roots.

Sat., Aug. 14. 7:30 p.m.
La Raza Latina, a Salsa Suite
Reuben Blades, Adonis Puentes
Bobby Sanabria Big Band
Damrosch Park Bandshell
The long-awaited New York premiere of this landmark 1977 suite conducted by Larry Harlow and performed by a 40-piece orchestra and chorus playing music by Harlow, Johnny Ortiz, Rudy Calzado, and Tito Puente. Blades recreates his lead vocals from the original Fania recording—joined by Cuban singer Puentes and The Masacote Dance Company. Bobby Sanabria’s Big Band opens with a set of Afro-Cuban jazz

Sun., Aug. 15, 7:00 p.m.
Dance
Choreography: Lucinda Childs; Music: Philip Glass
Film: Sol Lewitt,
Brian Brooks Moving Company: Motor
(World Premiere)
Damrosch Park Bandshell
Dance—considered revolutionary at its premiere 30 years ago—was choreographed by Childs to an original Glass score and is now framed by LeWitt’s larger-than-life film of the original performers. Projected onto a translucent scrim the combination creates a flowing interplay of past and present. From the back of the stage, Brian Brooks’ Motor sends out hundreds of sky-blue cables that create a tunnel- like space over both audience and performers.

Sun., Aug. 22, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
26th Annual Roots of American Music Festival,
Barclay’s Capital Grove
“In the Spirit of Odetta,” with Tommy Sands and Fionan and Moya; Calypso Rose; The Holmes Brothers; and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot

By Nancy Mandell

There have been days this summer when the only appealing destination was an air-conditioned movie theater. But even senior ticket holders pay a pretty price for the privilege. So, before the season escapes us, it’s time to consider a different kind of film-going—one that offers a wide variety of films in a variety of scenic venues that share two significant elements in common: The movies are free, and the seats are outdoors, under the stars. From river to river, from uptown to down, New York is truly a summer film festival.

Perhaps the best-known of the city’s outdoor screening rooms is Bryant Park, where a huge screen shows film classics to savvy movie-lovers who arrive as early as 5 p.m. to enjoy picnic suppers on the lawn. The Monday-night screenings begin at dusk, and the schedule for the remainder of the summer is:
August 2
Roman Polanski’s 1968 shocker Rosemary’s Baby, starring then newcomer Mia Farrow with John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon and Ralph Bellamy.
August 9
The Goodbye Girl — (1977) Neil Simon’s romantic comedy starring Richard Dreyfuss and Marsha Mason.
August 16
12 Angry Men—Sidney Lumet directed this 1957 masterpiece with Henry Fonda as the holdout juror in a tense murder trial.
August 23
Bonnie and Clyde—This benchmark 1967 film stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the iconic bank robbers who savaged the Midwest with the help of a supporting cast that won Estelle Parsons an Oscar.

Central Park Film Festival
For the eighth consecutive summer, this late August series focuses on movies with a New York theme. Rain or shine, screenings start at 8 p.m.; gates open at 6:30 p.m. at the Mineral Springs, just north of the Sheep Meadow, mid-park at 69th Street. The schedule for this year’s “Iconic New York” is:
Tues., August 24
Fame— the 80s musical that follows talented teenagers at a Performing Arts High School in New York City.
Wed., August 25
The Taking of the Pelham 1 2 3—This remake of the classic 1970s thriller about a daring subway hijack stars John Travolta and Denzel Washington.
Thurs., August 26
Saturday Night Fever—the Brooklyn to Broadway disco classic that made Travolta a star.
Fri., August 27
King Kong— the cult classic starring a giant gorilla and the Empire State Building
Sat., August 28:
Viewers’ Choice—Visit www.7online.com through August 15 to vote for either Serendipity, a romantic comedy with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, or Manhattan, a classicWoody Allen-Diane Keaton angst-ridden romantic comedy. (For the record, we’ll take ‘Manhattan’!)

RiverFlicks for Grown-ups
Showing blockbusters from the 2009 season, this festival’s theme is “I Still Know What You Saw Last Summer!” The Wednesday evening screenings start at 8:30 p.m. at Pier 54 (14th Street/Hudson River).
August 4—Julie & Julia
August 11—Public Enemies
August 18—Star Trek

Summer on the Hudson
There is limited seating on Pier 1 (70th St.) in Riverside Park South where the following films begin at 8:30 p.m.
Wed., August 4—Big Fish
Wed., August 11—Stranger than Fiction

For a more complete summer schedule of films shown at various locales throughout Manhattan and the Boroughs, visit: http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/free_summer_movies

By Nancy Mandell

For the past week or so, I’ve been thinking about the treasure that Lincoln Center has become for New Yorkers as well as tourists. I had visitors over the July 4 holiday, and we found ourselves meeting there more than once, the last time on what should have been a quiet Tuesday evening in summer. We had ordered discounted tickets online to “South Pacific” at the Beaumont Theater, but they are usually available as “day-of” discounts from the Zucker Box Office temporarily located in Alice Tully Hall. The production was great, but so was the “after party,” an impromptu gathering of people strolling around the illuminated fountain, sitting on the new “lawn,” or enjoying gelati from a cart set up outside Avery Fisher Hall with plenty of umbrella tables and chairs for enjoying it. Some may have attended one of the many performances by international dance and theater groups offered by the Lincoln Center Festival that continues through the 25th. The annually anticipated Mostly Mozart Festival runs from July 27 through Aug. 21, and the Center’s free Out of Doors program of music, dance and the spoken word runs from July 27 through Aug. 21. But frankly, on a balmy summer evening, you don’t need any ticket to enjoy the free show at Lincoln Center which has truly become a destination in itself.

I’ve been so distracted by Lincoln Center, in fact, that I’ve neglected another summer standby that is already underway: the free Summergarden concert series in the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden of the Museum of Modern Art, on Sunday evenings at 8.  MoMA has been filling the garden with jazz and classical music since 1971, and there is still time to catch this summer’s last two performances—classical, with musicians selected by the Julliard School on July 25, and a jazz concert on Aug. 1 featuring two “stylistically different” trios chosen by Jazz at Lincoln Center. On 54th St. just west of Fifth Ave., there really is music in the air!

By Nancy Mandell

Here it is, just the beginning of summer according to the calendar—if not the temperature—and you’ve already hit the highlights of the city’s art scene. You’ve seen Picasso prints (through Aug.30) and Pictures by Women (photography on view through next March) at the Museum of Modern Art; and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Picassos from the museum’s collection (through Aug. 10) as well as the beautifully presented costumes illustrating “The American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity” (through Aug. 15). And there’s still plenty of time to check out the Big Bambu on the Met roof, a mind-boggling living sculpture by Doug and Mike Starn, before it closes on Oct. 31. You may also have covered the Whitney, the Guggenheim, the Jewish Museum and perhaps made it all the way down to the Bowery for the impressive New Museum.

But there is one major collection in the city that you probably have not yet explored, since formal access to its treasures was introduced only recently: the guided “Art and Architecture Tour” of Lincoln Center. We’ve all marveled at the gorgeous Chagall frescoes visible even from outside the Metropolitan Opera, but are you aware of Lincoln Center’s other extraordinary artworks by legends like Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Jacques Lipschitz, Elie Nadelman and Lee Bontecour? And what of the buildings, theaters and public spaces designed by luminaries such as Philip Johnson and Eero Saarinen in the 1960s and 1970s?

Conceived in tandem with Lincoln Center’s ambitious redevelopment project—something of an obstacle course to theater-goers and even worse for those accustomed to subway access—tours leave from the lobby of Avery Fisher Hall daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Frequency is determined on a weekly basis, however, so advance reservations are required by calling (212)875-5350.

Tour guides, we’re assured, will display “encyclopedic” and anecdotal knowledge of the Center’s past, present and future while they lead visitors through at least three of the theatres on the 16-acre campus. In addition to commissioned pieces by Jasper Johns, David Smith, and Louise Nevelson—many inspired by the performing arts—a sneak peek at a rehearsal is included when possible.

Senior tickets for the tours are $12. There will be no tours July 4th and 5th.

By Nancy Mandell

Did you know that you don’t have to pack your bags, stop the mail or kennel the dog to enjoy a spectacular summer cruise in this city? Of course you’re aware of the Circle Line offerings that ferry tourists around the island and the Spirit Cruises from Chelsea Piers that gussy up the trips with buffet meals and loud music. But how about a liesurely sail up or down the Hudson and East Rivers on historic ships that combine offshore breezes with a whiff of maritime history?A company called Manhattan by Sail (MBS) may be just what you’re looking for…especially with senior tickets starting at $35 for 90 minutes on the water.

MBS sails two unusual vessels, the 82-foot schooner Shearwater, the city’s only floating designated landmark with room for 48 on board, and the topsail schooner Clipper City, a 158-foot long replica of lumber-hauling schooners of more than a century ago that accommodates up to 144 passengers. On a typical day, the sailing schedule might include public sailings on the Shearwater, which departs from the North Cove Marina at 12:30 and 2:45 p.m. and a private charter from 7 to 9 p.m. The Clipper City schedule for last Monday, for example, was 2:15, 4:30 and 7 p.m. with departures from Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport.

While the Clipper City was built in the 1980s from plans purchased from the Smithsonian, the Shearwater is actually celebrating her 80th birthday. Hand-built from native hardwoods in 1929, the Shearwater is a throwback to the yachting era fortunes and lifestyles of the rich and famous—Gatsby among them! She has been exposing sailors to spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline for almost a decade.

The Clipper City may be a less intimate experience, but with masts and rigging reaching up 120 feet from the deck, it makes for an imposing and majestic voyage. And since it was designed specifically to accommodate passengers rather than lumber, the spacious decks provide plentiful seating, there is a full bar amidships and the raised quarter deck back aft is perfect for photographs of New York City and the harbor.

For reservations and information, email reservations@manhattanbysail.com or call (212)619-0907 or (800)544-1224.