Things to do in New York City this spring, summer
Museum of Failure is a collection of failed products and services from around the world on display in Brooklyn. Credit: Museum of Failure
Let the city dwellers head to our beaches. New York City offers an intriguing variety of events and exhibits to lure us into town in the next few months, from celebrations marking 50 years of hip-hop to a pop-up exhibit of products that, well, didn’t exactly succeed. There’s a new food hall, a roller rink and for “Bridgerton” fans, an immersive ball that will put you in the heart of the hit series.
The Orchid Show: New York Botanical Garden
Explore the gardens and flora at the annual Orchid Show: Natural Heritage at The New York Botanical Garden. Credit: New York Botanical Garden
“Natural Heritage” is the theme of the garden’s 20th Orchid Show, designed by guest artist Lily Kwong. Thousands of orchids are on display in what Kwong calls “a feast for the eyes.” In a promotional video, she describes the exhibit as “the most autobiographical piece I have ever done,” noting that it draws on art objects that were important to her family and her Chinese roots. “I hope it inspires people to look at their own stories.” The show runs through April 23; tickets are $35, seniors and students, $31, children 2-12, $15.
INFO 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx; nybg.org
Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace: Rockefeller Center
The West Hollywood rink was such a hit last summer, it’s having a return engagement at Rockefeller Center starting April 14. It’s not quite as large as the renowned ice rink, but that allows spectators to watch the action from the sidelines. Theme nights (music, fashion, art) and other special events are planned. The rink is open noon to 10 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, until midnight Thursday-Saturday. An hour skate plus skate rental start at $32 for adults, $25 for kids 4-12; $22/$15 if you bring your own skates.
INFO 600 5th Ave.; flippers.world.com
The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience: Mediapro Manhattan Studio
A scene from "The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience," an immersive show based on the Netflix program "Bridgerton." The event is running in NYC at the Mediapro Manhattan Studio in Manhattan through July 2. Credit: Netflix
Can’t get enough of those swells from “Bridgerton?” The experience comes to you in a 90-minute immersive gala inspired by the popular Netflix series (and the upcoming spinoff, “Queen Charlotte”). You’ll be able to interact with familiar characters, imbibe themed cocktails and dance to the show’s soundtrack played by a string orchestra. It opens April 27, running Wednesday-Sunday through the summer; tickets start at $49 (guests must be at least 16).
INFO 508 W. 37th St.; bridgertonexperience.com/new-york/
Little Island Audio Tour: Hudson River Park
Little Island is a public park, located in Hudson River Park. Credit: Liz Ligon
This new urban oasis on Manhattan’s West Side is the perfect place to spend a quiet afternoon. Learn about the history of the park and the neighborhood in a new audio tour, narrated by Tony winner Andre De Shields (find it on the website, or scan a QR code once you get to the park). Later in the summer, a variety of performances and educational programs will be scheduled in the 687-seat Amph or the 200-seat Glade. The park is open daily, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. through May 28, until midnight through Sept. 3; admission is free except for some performances in the Amph.
INFO Hudson River Park (between 13th and 14th streets); littleisland.org
Market 57: Pier 57
No one’s ever in danger of starving in Manhattan, but this new food hall at Pier 57 in Hudson River Park will enhance your culinary options. Curated by the James Beard Foundation, the market focuses on restaurants owned by women and minorities. About 15 food stalls offer everything from Thai (an outpost of Elmhurst’s Zaab Zaab) to Japanese (a revamped Bessou with a focus on seafood). Ice cream lovers will delight in a branch of Cobble Hill’s Malai, known for its globally inspired flavors like Golden Turmeric and Sweet Roti. The market is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
INFO 25 11th Ave.; pier57nyc.com
Fresh, Fly and Fabulous: Fifty Years of Hip-Hop Style: The Museum at FIT
Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous: 50 Years of Hip-Hop Style at The Museum at FIT. Credit: The Museum at FIT
It’s been 50 years since hip-hop was born at a party in the Bronx, a milestone recognized with an exhibit of the style of the genre — and it’s way more than baggy jeans and Air Jordans. The free exhibit runs through April 23. Also marking the anniversary: “Hip-Hop: Conscious, Unconscious,” an exhibition of photographs of icons like Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Jay-Z and more. It runs through May 20 at Fotografiska, 281 Park Ave. South, fotografiska.com; tickets are $31; seniors 62 and over, students and military, $21.
INFO 227 W. 27th St., fitnyc.edu
Museum of Failure: Industry City
Museum of Failure is a collection of failed products and services from around the world on display in Brooklyn. Credit: Adam Bettcher
Not every idea is a winner. Check out 150-plus failures at this traveling exhibit, featuring such flops as the DeLorean and the Edsel, Coke II and Olestra. And let’s not forget Google Glass. The pop-up was curated by Swiss psychologist Samuel West, who apparently decided there were things to be learned from other people’s mistakes. It runs Tuesday-Sunday through May 14; tickets are $20.50, children (7-13, under 6 free with paying adult,) seniors (65 and over) and military, $16.50.
INFO 900 3rd Ave., Brooklyn; museumoffailure.com
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Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute
The Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty exhibit is on view from May 5 through July 16, at The Met Fifth Avenue. Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art/Matthew Tom
Karl Lagerfeld was never a fan of retrospectives, but he’s getting one anyway. The work of the designer, who died in 2019, will be featured in the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition. Around 150 creations from Chanel, Fendi, Balmain, Chloe and his own label will be on display, along with many of his original sketches. The exhibition will also be the focus of the May 1 Met Gala (streaming on Vogue.com) It runs May 5-July 16; New York residents pay what they wish for admission to the museum.
INFO 1000 Fifth Ave., metmuseum.org
Shakespeare in the Park: Delacorte Theater
Catch a show at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Credit: Steve Brown
The Public Theater’s annual gift to the city usually consists of two or three plays. But when you’re doing what the Public’s artistic director, Oskar Eustis, considers the best play ever written, best to let it stand on its own. This year’s production, “Hamlet,” will be presented in a nine-week extended run, June 8 through Aug. 6. Tony nominee Ato Blankson-Wood stars in the title role. Tickets are free and will be distributed at the park and other locations across the city (more details will be announced in May on the Public’s website).
INFO Central Park; Enter at 81st Street and Central Park West or 79th Street and Fifth Avenue; publictheater.org
Moulin Rouge Sing Along: Al Hirschfeld Theatre
If you’ve always wanted to sing along at a Broadway show, now’s your chance. The hit musical “Moulin Rouge,” based on the 2001 Baz Luhrmann film and running in New York since June 2019, invites the audience to sing along at the Aug. 30 performance. Join the actors in songs from the jukebox musical like Katy Perry’s “Fireworks,” “Chandelier” by Sia and Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.” Sadly, you won’t be allowed onstage to join the dancers in the high-kicking can-can. Tickets for the 7 p.m. performance start at $59.
INFO 302 W. 45th St.; moulinrougemusical.com
