Cheap and Free NYC Fourth of July 2011 Guide

Hi all! Looking for a cheap and free way to celebrate our nation's birthday here in NYC? Well you're in luck, here's my cheap and free guide to events happening in the Big Apple for your Fourth of July weekend! Stay tuned for additional weekend picks including BBQ events and my July 2011 Summer Guide!

Enjoy and Happy Fourth! Have I forgotten a Fourth of July-related event? Feel free to comment below!

Cheap Chick NYC Fourth of July Guide

Friday July 1, 2011

Feed your fireworks fix before the Fourth with a fireworks show along the boardwalk! 9:30 p.m., on the boardwalk bet. 10^th and 11^th, long the boardwalk between 10th and 11th streets, free!

Saturday July 2, 2011

Sing along to classic American tunes at this patriotic Stars and Stripes Forever outdoor concert performed the Community Wind Ensemble! 8 p.m., Kingsborough Community College, 2001 Oriental Blvd at MacKenzie St, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, free!

Saturday July 2, Sunday July 3, and Monday July 4, 2011

Discovery Walking Tours invites you to participate in their Pre-Fireworks Presidential Greenwich Village and Gramercy Park Walking Tour! “A historical walking tour of both neighborhoods, with special stops at places associated with some early presidents, including Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, JFK, Wilson and Washington. Stops include the Washington Square Arch and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthplace.” 2:30 pm and 5 p.m. all days, Call 212-465-3331 for meeting place, $18! Please Note: Monday’s 5 p.m. tour ends at the West Side Highway at 7:30 pm in time to secure a spot for fireworks viewing.

Sunday July 3, 2011

Join in some old-fashioned, historic fun at Historic Richmond Town’s Independence Day Celebration, including a pie baking contest, homemade churned ice cream, and a pinwheel parade, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island, 441 Clarke Avenue, Take the S74 bus from the terminal to Richmond Road and St. Patrick's Place, included in regular admission, $5!

It’s an alliterative Fourth of July celebration at the Bell House: BBQ, Beer, Brooklyn, Brass Bands, and Burlesque at its America: F*ck Yeah! Party! Enjoy hot dogs, burgers, live music, a burlesque show as well as that soon-to-be all-American tradition, the Show Us Your Patriotic Underwear Contest! 8 p.m., The Bell House, 149 Seventh Street bet. 2nd/3rd Avenue, $10 (psst, it’s free if you dress up as Wonder Woman!), buy tkts here: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=3760935

July 4, 2011-Happy Fourth of July from the Cheap Chick!

Set that alarm for an early wake-up call this morning to go on a special Nighttime Walking Tour of Revolutionary War New York. James Kaplan will lead you to sites including Fraunces Tavern and the tour ends with viewing the sunrise over Trinity Church, 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., meeting place revealed when you make a reservation-go to http://www.frauncestavernmuseum.org for more info, $20!

How many hot dogs can you stuff in your mouth during one sitting? Definitely less than the entrants in Nathan’s annual 4^th of July hot dog eating contest, I’m sure! 12 p.m., Nathan’s (Coney Island), Surf Avenue (at Stillwell Ave.), free!

Celebrate the Fourth in film with a road trip movie celebrating America, Easy Rider, a classic flick starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper! The movie is screening tonight at Bryant Park (film starts at dusk), where you can have the perfect 4th of July picnic before it starts! Bryant Park, Dusk (around 9 p.m. starting time, but come early to get seats!), free!

Learn about the city’s roots during Big Onion Walking Tour’s Immigrant New York Walking Tour! “A walking tour through the many layers of the multi-ethnic Lower East Side to see the historic and architectural landmarks associated with African, Chinese, German, Irish, Italian, Jewish and Latino immigrants. Stops could include: The "Tweed" Courthouse, Five Points, the African Burial Ground, and sites associated with Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Jacob Riis, Abraham Cahan, Pierre Toussaint, Emma Goldman, and many others,” 11 a.m., meet at the southeast corner of Broadway and Chambers Street, at City Hall Park, $15!

Listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence at historic St. Paul’s Independence Day celebration. Music, speeches, and refreshments will also be included! 10:30 a.m., St. Paul’s Church, 897 South Columbus Ave. (Take the 5 to Dyre Ave Station), free!

The Staten Island Philharmonic is giving a free concert at the Alice Austen House today, 6 p.m., Alice Austen House Museum, 2 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, take the ferry over, At the ferry terminal in Staten Island #S51 Bus to Hylan Boulevard (15 minute ride). Walk one block east to water and house, free!

Wish Louis Armstrong a posthumous birthday today at the all-American Jazz Party at his Corona home (now a museum)! 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., 3456 107th Street, Corona Flushing (take 7 train to 103 St-Corona Plaza), $10 admission includes free b-day cake!

Dance the night away with Gelber & Manning and the Star-Spangled Orchestra during the Liberty Belle Spectacular! Cool cats are encouraged to dress in vintage attire that’s the cat’s pajamas! The evening will also feature burlesque performances and views of the Hudson River fireworks, Empire Hotel Rooftop, 44 West 63rd St at Broadway, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., $20 in advance, $25 at the door! Buy tkts here: http://www.libertybellespectacular.com

Of course you can always join the masses on street level to watch the Macy’s fireworks. The fireworks start around 9:20, but you should head out earlier to get the best and least-crowded viewing spots, Here are some Cheap Chick Cheap Tips:

The Westside Highway will be closed from 22nd Street to 59th Street beginning at 4:00 pm, as will the Highline and many waterfront parks.

For the best views, head to 12th Avenue below 59th Street Here is a list of places where you can to access 12th Avenue: 24th Street
26th - 30th Streets
34th Street
40th - 44th Streets
47th - 52nd Streets
54th - 57th Streets

You can also head to the Boat Basin Café (http://www.boatbasincafe.com/) or the Pier 1 Café (http://piericafe.com/) to catch the fireworks, but I hear that the view isn’t that great tho both restaurants are open for free!

Plus the Met (http://www.metmuseum.org/), the Museum of the City of New York (http://www.mcny.org), and Belmont (http://www.nyra.com/index_belmont.html) are all open today!

And the Cooper-Hewitt (http://cooperhewitt.org/calendar/#/?i=1) is free today as well!

2011 NYC Cheap and Free Summer Museum Guide

The Cheap Chick asks why bother with the humidity, oily sunblock, or bugs when you can see great works of art in air conditioned comfort? With that in mind, here’s a guide to NYC Summer Museum Exhibits running through August and beyond!

Start date unknown-August 14, 2011-Future Perfect: Re-Constructing the 1939 New York World’s Fair (Queens Museum of Art) http://www.queensmuseum.org/future-perfect-re-constructing-the-1939-new-york-world%E2%80%99s-fair

Start date unknown-August 14, 2011-Not the way you Remembered (Queens Museum of Art) http://www.queensmuseum.org/not-the-way-you-remembered

Start date unknown Now-December 31, 2011-Celebrating 100 Years NYPL Centennial Exhibit (main branch-with the lions-Stephen A. Schwarzman Building), http://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/celebrating-100-years

May 4-August 7, 2011-Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty (Metropolitan Museum of Art) http://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/

May 25 - November 5, 2011-Sporting Life (Museum at FIT) http://www.fitnyc.edu/336.asp

May 28, 2011-No end date listed-Frogs: A Chorus of Color (Museum of Natural History) http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/frogs/

June 3-October 2, 2011-Lists: To-dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts, and Other Artists' Enumerations from the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art (Morgan Library) http://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/exhibition.asp?id=53

June 7, 2011-September 18, 2011-Otherworldly: Optical Illusions and Small Realities (Museum of Arts and Design) Long link, so go here for more info!

June 8-September 11, 2011, Turkish Taste at the Court of Marie-Antoinette (The Frick) http://www.frick.org/exhibitions/turkish/index.html

June 9-December 31, 2011, Children’s Book Illustrators and Authors Come Alive (Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Children's Center at 42nd St.), http://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/children%E2%80%99s-book-illustrators-and-authors-come-alive

June 10, 2011-August 14, 2011-Home Base: Memories of the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field (Brooklyn Historical Society) http://brooklynhistory.org/exhibitions/home_base.html

June 14, 2011-January 8, 2012, El Museo's Bienal: The (S) Files 2011 (El Museo del Barrio) http://www.elmuseo.org/en/event/el-museos-bienal-s-files-2011

June 14, 2011-October 23, 2011-Spiral: Perspectives on an African-American Art Collective (Studio Museum in Harlem) http://www.studiomuseum.org/exhibition/spiral-perspectives-african-american-art-collective

June 24-Oct. 2, 2011-Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue Skinned Savior (The Brooklyn Museum) http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/vishnu/

June 24, 2011-Lee Ufan: Marking Infinity (Guggenheim) http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/exhibitions/upcoming/lee-ufan

June 29, 2011-August 13, 2011, Silent Echoes Sound Installation (Rubin) http://www.rmanyc.org/silentechoes

June 29–November 27, 2011, Mother India: The Goddess in Indian Painting (Metropolitan Museum of Art), http://www.metmuseum.org/special/se_event.asp?OccurrenceId={6F75CAF0-1167-461A-8AF2-B9599E0E6E69}

July 16–January 16, 2012, Jim Henson's Fantastic World (Museum of the Moving Image) http://www.movingimage.us/exhibitions/2011/07/16/detail/jim-hensons-fantastic-world/

July 24-November 7, 2011, Talk to Me: Design and the Communication between People and Objects (MOMA) http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1080

July 31-October 23, 2011-Maya Zack, Living Room (Jewish Museum) http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/exhibitions/zack2011

August 30, 2011-January 22, 2012, 9/11 Peace Story Quilt (Metropolitan Museum of Art) http://www.metmuseum.org/special/se_event.asp?OccurrenceId={427AFBE3-C836-4757-BE11-E9385E5C9E70}

Did I forget an exhibit or do you want to suggest one? Post a comment below-remember the exhibits should be running through the end of August to qualify for this list!

Cheap and Free NYC Weekend Events, June 24-26, 2011

Also don’t forget to check out my June Summer Guide (http://cheapchickinthecity.blogspot.com/2011/06/cheap-and-free-nyc-summer-guide-june.html) and my Summer Movie Guide (http://cheapchickinthecity.blogspot.com/2011/06/cheap-and-free-nyc-summer-movie-guide.html) for more cheap and free event picks going on this weekend and beyond!


And watch (like Monday!) for my Cheap and Free NYC Summer Arts/Museum Guide, and later on for my July Summer 2011 Guide, and my Cheap and Free NYC Fourth of July Guide!


Cheap Chick Weekend Event Picks!

Friday June 24, 2011

If you wanna be my lover, hopefully you’ll wanna go to the Spice World Sing-a-long, 11 p.m., 92ndY Tribeca, 200 Hudson Street at Canal, $13 includes one beer! Buy tkts here: http://www.92y.org/Tribeca/Event/Tribeca-Spice-World-Sing-Along.aspx

A-B-C it’s easy as 1-2-3 to beat it on over to the Freedom Party’s annual tribute to Michael Jackson, 11 p.m., Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street, free!

Ewoks! Princess Leia in a gold bikini! Time to relive all those moments and watch Return of the Jedi, 8 p.m., Carroll Park, Court St., Smith St., Bet. Carroll St. and President St., Brooklyn, free! (be sure to bring a blanket!)

Whether it’s the shoulder-padded 80’s woman or the Joans and Peggys of the ‘60’s, 92ndY Tribeca pays homage to working girls with film clips, live performances, and comedy. Snacks will also be provided, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., 92ndY Tribeca, 200 Hudson St. at Canal, $12!

You’ll find that Sweden is more than just meatballs at the Swedish Midsummer Festival, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Robert F. Wagner Park, Battery Place bet. West and 1^st Place, free!

Saturday June 25, 2011

In honor of Pride Weekend, Big Onion Walking Tours is hosting a special Before Stonewall Walking Tour! “Discover the many facets of lesbian and gay history as we trace the development of Greenwich Village. Stops could include: The Stonewall Inn, The Duplex, and sites associated with Bayard Rustin, Willa Cather, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Audre Lorde,” 1 p.m., Meet at the Northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Washington Square North, $15!

See how much you really love cupcakes at the Cupcake Kings Cupcake Eating Contest! The winner of the 10-minute competition will receive a Cupcake Kings trophy and $100, 12 p.m., CupCake Kings, 1613 Voorhies Avenue, Brooklyn, free, but send an email to amateureaters@gmail.com with Cupcake Kings in the subject to register!

See the Williamsburg you never knew with Discovery Walking Tours! “Take a tour of one of Brooklyn’s most colorful neighborhoods focusing on the diversity of area, from the hipster to the Hasidic. Stops include Bedford Avenue, Peter Luger’s, the landmark Williamsburg Savings Bank, and the Williamsburg Bridge,” 4:45 p.m., call 212-465-3331 for meeting place and reservations.

Who says you can’t get a free lunch? Watch a free cooking demonstration and then sample a warm vegetable salad with curried almonds when it’s done, 12 p.m., Demos are at one of these Williams-Sonoma stores, to register and to find out the W-S locations closer to you go here, http://www.souschefseries.com, free!

Outdoor fun awaits at Adventures NYC! Today you can rock climb, get a free bike helmet, attend health and fitness clinics, do yoga, check out outdoor gear exhibits, rent bikes for free, and participate in other activities! 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Central Park, Bandshell at 72nd Street, free!

Get down with your bad self at the Barefoot Boogie Dance Party and Thai Yoga Class featuring a wide variety of music! 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Insight Meditation Center, 28 W 27th Street, 10th fl. bet Broadway and 6th Ave., $10 (discount of $5-$10 off if you volunteer to help out! Email info@barefootboogie.org to sign up in advance for setup help and/or an early door shift. $5 off for 1/2 hour of your time. Get in free for one hour of volunteering!

Dinner and a slideshow come together at Slideluck! Enjoy food (maybe even a pig roast!), and a slideshow featuring local artists! Drinks are provided by Brooklyn Brewery, Perrier, and Brooklyn Republic Vodka, 7:30 p.m., 9 p.m. dinner, Kidd Yellin Gallery, 133 Imlay St, Red Hook, $15 at the door!


Devour the history of Chinatown with the walking tour From Coffeehouses to Banquet Halls with the Museum of the Chinese in the Americas, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., meet at the museum, 215 Centre St. bet Grand and Hester, $15!

Plus check out Lumen 2011, a video and light festival on Staten Island (http://www.lumenfest.org), see who breaks the mold during a Jell-O competition where artists use the jiggly medium to sculpt edible creations (http://www.gowanusstudio.org/jello), quote your favorite movies at movieoke (http://www.92y.org/Tribeca/tickets/production.aspx?pid=67651), and sing-a-long to Michael Jackson songs at Union Hall (http://www.facebook.com/secretformulany)!

Saturday and Sunday June 25 and 26, 2011

Visit the Harlem you never with Discovery Walking Tours! “A tour through one of the country’s most prominent African American neighborhoods. Stops include the Hotel Theresa, where Castro and Khrushchev met; the Apollo Theatre; Lenox Lounge, where Billie Holiday performed; Blumsteins, where an assassination attempt was made on Martin Luther King’s life in the 1950s; and sites associated with Malcolm X, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and Langston Hughes,” 2 p.m., call 212-465-3331 for meeting place and reservation, $18!

Sunday June 26, 2011

People are just dying to get in! The New York Marble Cemetery (usually closed to the public) opens its doors today, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., 41 1/2 Second Avenue, free!

Can you say “the cheese is old and moldy” in Espanol? (bonus points if you know the movie reference! Hopefully you won’t have to say that at today’s Stinky Brooklyn Cheese Eating Contest! Aside from the fromage, there will be sandwiches, and refreshments! 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., contest at 2:30 p.m., Stinky Brooklyn, 215 Smith Street bet. Butler and Baltic Streets, free!

Bring out your rainbow colors and celebrate at NYC’s Gay Pride Parade! 6 p.m., The event runs from Fifth Ave. and 36^th Street to Christopher Street, free! A post- Parade party will be held at the Spotted Pig (http://www.thespottedpig.com/) at 6 p.m.!

Take in a free organ recital at St. Patrick’s Cathedral today, 4:45 p.m., St. Patrick’s, 51^st and Madison, free! For more info go here (scroll down): http://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/calendar.php

End the weekend with a giggle or two with the NY Laughs Comedy Show, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Central Park, Mineral Springs, enter at W. 67^th and 69^th Street, free!

Plus all weekend long the Bicycle Film Festival cycles on (http://www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/), get those jazz hands ready at the Undead Jazz Fest (http://www.undeadjazz.com/?page_id=276), shop for crafts from around the world at the Maker’s Market at Socrates Sculpture Park (http://www.socratessculpturepark.org), and the BoCoCa Arts Festival brings together performing artists, musicians, bands, and visual artists in Brooklyn (http://www.bococaartsfestival.com)!

Win free tkts to Rooftop Films for Tonight!

Hi all,
Cheap Chick here! We're having a contest today! The first ten people to post either their favorite cheap and free summertime activities or suggestions for future blog entries will get two free tkts to tonight's Rooftop Films event! If you could please include your first and last name with the post so I can get that info to Rooftop Films. Thanks and see you at the movies!

Cheap Chick in the City

More info here:

Thursday, June 23, 2011

ROOFTOP FILMS: HOME MOVIES AND COMMERCIAL KINGS (Short Films)

A special collection of short films that let us peak into the lives of strangers, plus a special sneak preview of Commercial Kings, a new series on IFC. For decades people have been making home movies; capturing what they feel are important times in their lives. Home movies are made up of personal and special moments that someone wanted to document and never forget—and most of the time they rarely get seen again. But it’s a pleasure to watch them, to peek into someone else’s life, to feel a little voyeuristic. This year's edition of Rooftop's "Home Movies" draws inspiration from the tradition of the home movie, building off tropes of self-documentation to create accomplished works of art, and honoring the life and death of a town, paying homage to wrestling fathers and grandfather’s unknown, and giving voice to boozy family members who make you laugh and truly scare you at the same time.

Venue:

Outdoors in the backyard at Crown Vic, 60 South 2nd St. (at Wythe Ave.), Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Subway: Take the L to Bedford, the G to Metropolitan, or the M to Marcy. The venue is located at the corner of South 2nd and Wythe.

8:00 PM Doors Open

8:30 PM Live Music

9:00 PM Films Begin

11:30 PM After Party at the Crown Vic

More information at:

http://rooftopfilms.com/2011/schedule/home-movies--and-commercial-kings/

The Films:

MY BIG RED PURSE (Giancarlo Iannotta | Chicago, IL | 4 min.)

GRANDPA LOOKED LIKE WILLIAM POWELL (David Levy | Brooklyn, NY | 4 min.)

WRESTLING WITH MY FATHER (Charles Fairbanks | Lexington, NE | 5 min.)

FAMILY NIGHTMARE (Dustin Guy Defa | Salt Lake City, Utah | 9 min.)

FOR HOME VIEWING (Mikhail Zheleznikov | Russia | 29 min.)

WEE REQUIEM (Jenn E. Norton | Canada | 7 min.)

WELCOME TO PINE POINT (Paul Shoebridge and Michael Simons of The Goggles | Canada | 14 min.)

COMMERCIAL KINGS (Todd Cohen | USA | 23 min.)

Cheap and Free NYC Weekend Events, June 17-19, 2011

Happy Father's Day weekend! Plenty of cheap and free events to do with Dad in NYC this weekend!

Also don’t forget to check out my June Summer Guide (http://cheapchickinthecity.blogspot.com/2011/06/cheap-and-free-nyc-summer-guide-june.html) and my Summer Movie Guide (http://cheapchickinthecity.blogspot.com/2011/06/cheap-and-free-nyc-summer-movie-guide.html) for more cheap and free event picks going on this weekend and beyond!

Friday June 17, 2011

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! PEELS is hosting an ice cream social this afternoon featuring ice cream, sorbet, and sherbet! 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., PEELS Restaurant, 325 Bowery (Corner of 2nd St.) single scoop, $1.50 for a single scoop, and $3.00 for a double scoop!


The Books, Junip (with Jose Gonzalez and Doveman with Thomas Bartlett are all appearing at tonight’s Celebrate Brooklyn concert! 7 p.m., Prospect Park Bandshell, suggested donation of $3!


One of the answers to the eternal question of what Arnold Schwarzenegger did before becoming governor of California is answered yet again during tonight’s screening of Conan the Barbarian, 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., 92Y Tribeca, 200 Hudson at Canal, TK price! Buy tkts here: http://www.92y.org/Tribeca/tickets/production.aspx?pid=72255

David Bowie rocks out in Labyrinth tonight complete with Muppet magic! 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle, $7-$10! Buy tkts here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/168049

Saturday June 18, 2011

Crack those knuckles, warm up those hands, and play it again Sam, when free pianos just ripe for the playing return to NYC (through July 2, 2011! http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/street-pianos-returning-with-reinforcements/

Get out to an old-fashioned ball game with Dad at the Bartow-Pell Mansion! Watch the New York Mutuals play the 1864 way-with no helmets or gloves! A raffle for the game ball and free house tours are also part of the event! Registration requested (did not specify about registration on ws, so perhaps call this number: 718-885-1461 or take your chances the day of) and the cost is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for children ages 6-17!


I didn’t realize Central Park had so many of them-do you think you can guess? Bridges! Learn all about the park’s connecting structures during this walking tour, 11 a.m., meet at the North Side of Columbus Circle, West 59th Street and Central Park West, free!


Can Adam Sandler actually be a Dad? Find out at this screening of Big Daddy! 2 p.m., Sony Wonder Technology Lab, 56^th and Madison, screenings are free, but is recommended that you call (212) 833-8100 to make a reservation!


Strawberries are sweet in the summer! See how many you can chow down on at the Williamsburg Smorgasburg Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest, 11 a.m., East River Waterfront (bet North 6th and 7th St.) free!


Plus NYC Pride Week (nycgo.com/gay) starts today with a rally at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield (72^nd and Fifth Ave.) 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., free!


And the Muppet Vault is open today at the Bell House featuring Bonds + Blondes Muppet episodes! Does that make Miss Piggy a Bond Girl? Does Kermit have a license to kill? 2 p.m., The Bell House, 149 7th St., Brooklyn, $8!

Saturday and Sunday June 18 and 19, 2011

Join Discovery Walking Tours as they walk The High Line and the Meatpacking District! “A walk through the gritty but hip Gansevoort Historic District, also known as the Meatpacking District with a special stop along the newly opened High Line – a new and long anticipated public park that once served as an elevated rail line. Other stops include the Titanic Memorial Arch, the “R and L” restaurant, and sites associated with Alexander Hamilton and author Herman Melville, 11:30 a.m., Call 212-465-3331 for reservations and meeting place, $18!


Take Dad out to the ball game (figuratively!) with Discovery Walking Tours’ Father’s Day Doubleheader: The Brooklyn Bridge and the Brooklyn Dodgers! “Two tours for the price of one for Fathers Day Weekend. First, a walk across the bridge to cover its creation and early history, with a discussion of the Roeblings, the designers of the bridge, as well as the sacrifice and dramatic story of the immigrant workers that built it. Then gear up for a tour of sites in Brooklyn Heights associated with the Dodgers, including Leo Durocher and Duke Snider’s home, the place where the Dodger name was derived, and the site where Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax were signed,” 2:15 p.m., Call 212-465-3331 for reservations and meeting place, $18!


Say 'Ciao!' to Italian cuisine during Discovery Walking Tours’ Little Italy History and Tasting Tour, “What better way to enjoy a tour of an ethnic neighborhood than to take bite out of it as well -- YUM!! Join us on a walk through Little Italy exploring the trials and triumphs of the Italian immigrant. Along the way, we will sample ethnic specialties from pizza and cannolli to mozzarella and prosciutto bread. Stops include the Church of the Most Precious Blood; Mulberry Street; Banca Stabile, the oldest Italian cheese shops in the United States and where the Sons of Italy were formed,” 11:30 a.m., call 212-465-3331 for meeting place and reservation! $26 (includes food-that’s how it’s on the Cheap Chick list…)

Sunday June 19, 2011

Nosh along NYC with your Dad during Big Onion’s special Father’s Day Multiethnic Eating Tour! Stops will be made in the LES enclaves of the Jewish East Side, Little Italy, and Chinatown! 1 p.m., $20, but reservations are required. Please email info@bigonion.com with your name, the date you wish to attend, and the number of people in your party. Big Onion will send a confirmation email in reply.

Find some flavorful fish on Father’s Day! Pick up a box lunch with Dad to enjoy outside at the Beer Table’s Father’s Day Fish Fry in the Street! Boxed meals are $12 each and include fried catfish, hush puppies, and cole slaw! 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 427 B 7th Ave. bet 14th and 15th Streets, $12!


Laugh it up for free today at the NY Laughs comedy show in Washington Square Park, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., free!


The New York Scandia (referring to Scandinavian I believe…) is giving a free performance today! 2 p.m., Fort Tryon Park, on Billings Lawn, below Heather Gardens at 193^rd St., free!


It may seem dangerous (esp. given the possible seven years of bad luck factor (!), but today you can play with mirrors and glass to create optical toys like kaleidoscopes and anamorphic drawings. artist Yuka Otani will be leading this class, which is inspired by the exhibit “Otherworldly: Optical Delusions and Small Realities.” Anyone age six and up can participate in this workshop, and all art materials will be provided, but please note space is limited! 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle, $10 fee per person includes admission and materials!


The River-to-River Festival debuts today with the Bang on a Can Marathon featuring 12 hours of “genre-defying music featuring over 150 astounding musicians and composers from throughout the world,” 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., World Financial Center Winter Garden, free!


Puppets are apparently the dominant attraction at the Cantastoria Festival, whose opening festivities you can attend this afternoon, 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier One, DUMBO, free!



Find more books than you possibly have room for (hello, windowsill bookshelves, anyone?) at the Community Book Swap to Benefit Housing Works Bookstore Café! BYOB (Bring Your Old Books) and get new ones! 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Public Assembly, 70 North 6th St., Brooklyn, $1 donation is suggested, as portion of proceeds will go to Housing Works, plus prizes from local bookstores and other businesses will be raffled off!


Join 'the Circle of Life' at the Bell House's Lion King sing-a-long plus all sorts of trivia and other contests! Doors open at 7 p.m. doors open, movie begins at 8 p.m., The Bell House, 149 7th St., Brooklyn, $15!


Plus you could grab a bite with dad at the Food Truck Rally in Prospect Park (http://www.prospectpark.org/calendar/event/foodtrucks) or punk it up on Governors Island during their Punk Music Festival! 50+ bands are expected to take the stage at this free event! http://punkisland2011.blogspot.com/p/about.html today!

Plus all weekend…Start planning that vacay with Housing Works’ Travel Sale going on thru Monday), save 30% off all travel guides, travel writing, and foreign language books (http://www.housingworks.org/events/detail/summer-travel-sale-all-day-friday-6-17-monday-6-20), Northside Open Studios events are happening all weekend (http://www.northsideopenstudios.org//), as are events at the similarly-name, but not to be confused Northside Music Festival sponsored by the L magazine (http://www.thelmagazine.com/blogs/NorthsideFestivalNews/), a variety of artsy events are happening in Queens during the Queens Art Express Event (http://queensartexpress.com/), and it’s movies galore in Brooklyn during the Bamcinemafest (http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=11930, which is happening through 6/26 and the Human Rights Watch Film Festival (http://www.hrw.org/iff/), which is happening through 6/30!

Cheap and Free NYC Summer Movie Guide, 2011

One of the best things about summer in the city are all the cheap and free movie nights there are! Here’s a comprehensive list of summer films, many held outside in four of the five boroughs!

(THIS MOVIE SERIES ENDS TONIGHT June 15, 2011) Stuyvesant Town: Movies take a different shape here as you watch “Movies on the Oval” with munchies served from gourmet food trucks! Lawn chairs are encouraged here! http://dguides.com/newyorkcity/blog/upcoming-events/free-movies-on-the-stuyvesant-oval-in-brooklyn-through-june-15-2011/

Bryant Park: Watch movies in a green oasis among the shadow of midtown’s office towers and the New York Public Library during this Monday night summer event staple. Designate someone with a blanket to get there early to snag seats-they go quickly, (gravel area opens at 4 p.m., lawn at 5 p.m.) but it’s a great excuse to picnic with friends before the show starts! Or if you’re the designated space-saver, bring your laptop, Bryant Park has free Wi-Fi. Remember to get up and dance during the HBO opening sequence-it’s tradition! http://www.bryantpark.org/plan-your-visit/filmfestival.html

Films on the Green: Visit France through film this summer with subtitled movies! Appropriately enough the movies are inspired by a “summer” theme and take place at parks across the boroughs. http://www.frenchculture.org/spip.php?article4245

Movies With a View: The Brooklyn Bridge is the perfect backdrop for your Thursday movie night! Plenty of food vendors are available for pre-movie noshing as well! Seats go quickly so an early arrival is beneficial here too! Music is played before the movies start! http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/go/programs-/-events/syfy-movies-with-a-view

Hudson Riverflicks: The water’s waves provide a soundtrack and the view to movies on the Hudson River’s Pier 54. Friday nights are for the kids (http://www.riverflicks.com/RFkids.html), and Wednesdays are for the grown-ups (http://www.riverflicks.com/RFgrownups.html)! Here there are rows of seats and areas to set blankets on the ground. Most early arrivals can get chairs, but they’re not guaranteed! Often there is free popcorn given away at these screenings as well!

Intrepid: Is that a battleship in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? You’ll have to figure it out as you watch a movie while you’re actually on the water on Friday nights. Cheap Chick Cheap Tip: Unlike most summer movies, this event is ticketed and access to the ship will be literally closed off once all the tkts have been distributed, so get there early to wait in line (other outdoor movies you’ll likely able to sit and save space and come and go as you please) and be sure your friends can get there before the boat closes up and tkts are gone! http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/Summer-Movie-Series.aspx

Rooftop Films: Movies with a different sort of view of the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines, that change venues each week, films on topics ranging from friendship to lesbian extraterrestrials to indie wrestling to autism! Most flicks are $10, but there a few free movies here and there. Local bands precede the movies tho seating type and availability varies by location (often chairs are available, but are v. much first-come, first-served, so you may want to bring a blanket just in case!) They don’t sell food or snacks here so bring your own! http://rooftopfilms.com/

Socrates Sculpture Park: Find a spot among the outdoor art at this Queens Park. Sked not up yet, but check the ws for an updated listing! http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/programs/outdoorcinema.php

Movies Under the Stars With Habana Outpost: Classic movies are served up in this eco-restaurant on Sunday nights. Be sure to try a smoothie mixed by bicycle or some “home-style Latin food with unique Cuban and Central Mexican accents.” http://cafehabanablog.wordpress.com/events/ (scroll down for movie list.)

Red Hook Summer Movies: Head to the far reaches of Brooklyn to watch free movies on the pier of Valentino Park with your friend and mine, Lady Liberty in site. Films start at 8:30 p.m. http://redhookfilms.org/

McCarren Park: Ball fields aren’t just for baseball anymore! The folks at the L magazine are hosting this Wednesday night summer film festival in Brooklyn! Bringing your own seating is a necessity here, so bring something comfy to rest your bottom on! There is also food and drink for all and music as well! http://www.thelmagazine.com/blogs/SummerScreenNews/

Snug Harbor Staten Island Movies: Take the ferry over to Staten Island for free movies on Friday nights at the Snug Harbor Botanic Gardens’ South Meadow Stage. http://www.snug-harbor.org/special.html

Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre: Downtown NYC becomes your personal movie theater as films are screened during the River to River Festival on the elevated acre (55 Water Street, between Broad and William Streets in Lower Manhattan). Tkts are free BUT can either be reserved online, or by picking them up at the stairs to the entrance at 55 Water St. at 6 p.m. (the show starts at sunset or 8pm.) Short films precede the feature screening. http://www.rivertorivernyc.com.

IFC stranger Than Fiction Summer Documentary series: Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. see movies on subjects so strange, they have to be true, in the air-conditioned comfort of the IFC Center and hosted by Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen! http://stfdocs.com/

Czech Movie Night: Every Tuesday night “Czech” out Czech movies (with subtitles) on the rooftop of the Bohemian National Hall at dusk! These movies are free, but capacity is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis. http://www.bohemiannationalhall.com/index/upcoming/lang/en

Coney Island: Rock and Roll down by the boardwalk with summer movies screened at the Coney Island Museum! Tkts are $6 and benefit the non-profit group Coney Island USA. There is a “pre-show at 8:15pm featuring classic drive in trailers, shorts, old commercials and more. Films start at 8:30pm. Bar and concessions available.” http://www.coneyisland.com/films.shtml

Did I forget any movie nights? Any tips for movie-goers that I haven’t included? Feel free to share!