Tag Archives: summer

LET IT GO – AUG 3

See one of our fave kid movies outside tonight, an Alice in Wonderland exhibit, or enjoy restaurant week PASTA!

The America’s Cup Comes To San Francisco This Summer

Oracle2

The 34th AMERICA’S CUP will be contested in San Francisco Bay this summer!

The America’s Cup is oldest trophy in international sport, first contested in 1851.
The 34th America’s Cup is an umbrella term that covers several events: the 2013 America’s Cup Finals, the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series, the America’s Cup World Series and the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup.

The 2013 America’s Cup Final is scheduled Sept. 7-21, 2013, in San Francisco. The final, also known as the Match, will feature the defender, ORACLE TEAM USA, against a challenger that will have won the Louis Vuitton Cup which goes to the winner of the America’s Cup Challenger Series. The Louis Vuitton Cup series to determint the challenger, begins on July 4, 2013 and runs until August 30.

The America’s Cup is the most difficult trophy in sport to win. In the more than 150 years since that first race off England, only four nations have won the coveted trophy.

Throughout its history the America’s Cup has attracted the tycoons of business and industry, flamboyant, outspoken and demanding characters who are often successful in their career, but rarely successful in the America’s Cup. They’re attracted to the Cup because of the demands required to win the trophy, but only four nations have hosted the trophy: the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland.
Come see sports history in San Francisco this summer! Visit americascup.com for more information.

1. Avatar Among Screenings Under the Stars July 1-31

Picture 8In most cities, the outdoor summer movie series generally consist of a Blockbuster or two hidden among classics or obscure films. This is not the case at the Screenings Under the Stars at Penn’s Landing. The month of July starts off with a bang with the #1 movie of all time, Avatar, and continues with The Blind Side, The Secret Life of Bees and last year’s summer blockbuster Star Trek. In a beautiful setting right on the Delaware River, the experience is surreal as the large screen projects incredible movies, and the darkness of the theater is emulated by the darkness of the night sky. The screenings start every Thursday night at 8:30pm; make sure to check the website’s calendar for the schedule.

1. Summer Nights at the ICA July 8-29

Picture 4This summer, instead of going out to a club, Bostonians in the know head over to the coolest museum in Boston: the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). Heralded by the New York Times as one of the summer hotspots in Boston, every Thursday (and sometimes Wednesday) night there will be live music and performances.

In the ICA’s beautiful waterfront location- with floor to ceiling glass windows adding to the gorgeous ambiance- hear catchy Latin pop and folk music from Tais Alvarenga, old-school urban blues from the Pinchback Blues, and ancient Greece’s Sappho’s poetry meets interpretative dance at the Co Lab: Anne Carson and Rashaun Mitchell. Most performances are free, so Summer Nights at the ICA is a great way to cap off a beautiful summer night.

3. Shakespeare by the Sea July 2-31

Picture 31Two of the best aspects of LA- the warm weather and theater scene- combine in Shakespeare by the Sea’s summer program. Throughout the whole summer, the comedy Twelfth Night and the tragedy Julius Caesar will be put on in number of parks close to the ocean for free. In July, coming from audiences and critics’ rave reviews in New York, Chicago, and Austin, Impro Theater will be putting on Shakespeare Unscripted. Using your suggestions and Shakespearean characters, every performance is unique and makes for a fun and creative night out. Located a few blocks from the beach, it’s the perfect end to day out in the sun and surf.

NEUE Galerie’s Scott Gutterman Relaxes at Prospect Park

Believe it or not, Central Park is not the only park in New York City. Brooklyn native and Deputy Director Scott Gutterman of one of New York’s coolest museums, the NEUE Galerie, knows that Brooklyn’s Prospect Park is the hidden gem for a perfect urban escape.

“As much as I love Central Park,” Scott told citybuzz, “I think Prospect Park is a fantastic place. They have amazing concerts in the summer, lots of beautiful meadows, and it’s a little more rolling and winding so it gets a lot of respect from the city.” Picture 6

Located in the heart of New York’s most populated borough- yep, Brooklyn- Prospect Park is the place where true locals go to hang out. Designed by the same architects who created Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, is bigger in some ways than its more famous counterpart: a 90-acre Long Meadow, 60-acre lake and Brooklyn’s only forest. But that’s not all, Prospect Park has the nation’s first urban Audobon Center, a zoo and every summer there’s the Celebrate Brooklyn! Performing Arts Center, on top of year round tennis, playgrounds, and twilight tours that are like an urban safari, but with wine and cheese! Of course, Prospect Park is also great for a romantic stroll and the perfect excuse to get out of Manhattan and visit- for most New Yorkers- the real New York City.

*** Scott Gutterman is the Deputy Director of the NEUE Galerie on Museum Mile near Central Park. NEUE Galerie focuses on early twentieth-century German and Austrian art, including famed works from Gustav Klimt, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Otto Dix.

1. Madama Butterfly Kicks Off Summer Opera Series June 26-30

Picture 105Puccini’s classic Madama Butterfly kicks off Central City Opera’s Colorado Summer Musical Festival. It has a reputation as one of the premiere summer musical festivals in the state, which is a reputation that’s well deserved. Showing performances amongst Colorado’s beautiful mountain setting, Central City Opera still keeps the quality of its performances with internationally acclaimed artists, visually stimulating sets, decadent costumes and a professional live orchestra. Other summer headliners include Orpheus in the Underworld and Three Decembers, along with many other short festival extras and events.

Family Fun Aboard Boston Harbor Cruises’ Whale Watching Tours

Now that the warmer weather is finally here, it’s time to start planning some fun activities for the summer. What better way to explore the coastal region than with a trip aboard Boston Harbor Cruises’ whale watching tours. Board the three-hour cruise at Long Wharf located between The New England Aquarium and Marriott Hotel.

Once aboard the 400-passenger catamaran,Picture 23 you can take in the view of humpbacks, minkes, finbacks and white-sided dolphins from one of three outside decks. Inside, there is a climate-controlled cabin with free WiFi, and a galley for food and beverage purchases. The tour guide from the Whale Center of New England will narrate the cruise where will point out everything from whale behavior and migration patterns to the local ecology. Whale sightings are guaranteed, but if you don’t see one, Boston Harbor Cruises will give you a free ticket for a future cruise.

Insider’s Tip: Don’t forget binoculars, sunglasses and sunscreen for this outdoor event. April through October is the best viewing season. Reservations are recommended and can be bought easily online.

An Urban Oasis at the Denver Botanic Gardens

Picture 11Looking for a little peace and quiet from the sounds of the city? The 23-acre urban oasis that is the hip, wi-fi equipped Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street is a great place to think, write, read, and enjoy spectacular plants, flowers, and shrubs from all over the world.

Despite the mile high climate, altitude and geography presenting unique challenges to the horticulturists, the Denver Botanic Gardens is one of the top-ranked gardens in the United States. There are innovative designs with drought tolerant plants that showcase native and adapted plants. Highlights include the city’s first publicly accessible green roof, where visitors can literally stand on top of the future of innovation in green energy.

Whether it’s roses or chrysanthemums that tickle your nose, the Denver Botanic Gardens has three sites and changing events and exhibits that keep people coming back through the seasons.

Paddle Your Way Around the City with Charles River Canoe & Kayak

Picture 27Every New Englander loves to be outdoors once the weather turns nice and visitors alike love the region’s best coastline. For a unique view of Boston and Cambridge, there’s no better option than renting a kayak or canoe to set off on day of exploration of either Boston Harbor or the picturesque Charles River. Here, you will paddle past some of the city’s best sights, including the Esplanade, Hancock and Prudential buildings, Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge, Museum of Science, M.I.T., and Boston University.

Charles River Canoe & Kayak offers rental options from their newest location in Cambridge at Kendall Square. You can rent by the hour or for a full day with rates for children available. For the less adventurous, book a guided tour, where one of the most popular is the barbecue kayak tour, which ends with a catered lunch from Redbones in Somerville. Best of all, you can head over to the Harbor Islands, pitch a tent and stay the night, returning the following day.

Screamers Among the Skyscrapers: Elitch Gardens

Picture 9Not many city skylines boast a Ferris wheel and roller coaster amid the spires and office towers. Thanks to Elitch Gardens, downtown Denver does. Moving to its current site alongside the Platte River basin from its original location in 1995, the 120-year-old theme park presents a kaleidoscope of classic thrill rides—from the Mind Eraser with its double corkscrew turns to the Tower of Doom, which drops daredevils groundward from 200 feet in the air. For the tots, old-time favorites abound: there’s a carousel, tilt-a-whirl, and teacup ride, as well as the Island Kingdom Water Park with a high dive, wave pool, and array of slides. Kicking off in May, the season ends with a spooky bang during October’s Fright Fest—a boo-filled blast of haunted houses and trick-or-treat trails.

Skiing in the Flatlands? Four Lakes Proves it Possible

Yes, it’s true that Illinois is about as flat of a state as they come, but believe it or not, skiing (yes, downhill) is possible without driving to Wisconsin or flying to Colorado. Four Lakes is the place to get in some fun skiing, snowboarding and sledding without leaving Illinois.

FourLakes4The Four Lakes Ski & Snowboard School is a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and uses the American Teaching System, which makes it a great place for starters, newcomers and those wanting a little change in their routine (a.k.a. a fun idea for a date!). Besides, you’re not going to beat the prices; you may shell out hundreds up nort’ in Wisconsin whereas here on “Fab Fridays,” all day skiing will only set you back $15.00!

Once the snow has melted, Four Lakes keeps going with summer activities like private party rooms, volleyball leagues, tournaments, court rentals and golf leagues.