Summer is the worst thing about New York. Summer is the best thing about New York. Since you’re probably not going to be spending time in some exotic locale this year,or sharing a cottage on some spit of land,we provide an essential guide to the concerts,movies,restaurants and more outdoor doings that make the sweltering months ahead bearable. We check in with the locals who will add new sounds and tastes to the scene, as well as funny ladies,talented boys and girls and dedicated cultural curators. But you won’t find everything you desire: Despite our vigilance,some of the folks in charge of our favorite events still haven’t re-leased schedules or refuse to fess up to the truth about their anticipated programming. So take this as a starting point,mark your calendars (or tear out our handy ones showing events taking place every day from June1 to August 31) and remember: If you can’t have fun this summer,it’s not the heat, it’s the stupidity. (P.S.summer scarves suck.) Read more

Brooklyn International Film Festival May 30-June 8 Brooklyn Lyceum, Brooklyn Heights Cinema, Brooklyn Central Library, Lumenhouse, East Coast Aliens (Greenpoint), and Studio B. www.wbff.org/events/2008/festival.asp Brooklyn celebrates independent filmmakers, beginning with the U.S. premiere of director Paul Krik’s Able Danger, a feature about 9/11 conspiracy theorists (Krik will be fielding questions after the screening.) The festival also boasts the East Coast premiere of Austin Read more

Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death July 25-Aug. 16, various locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx www.classicaltheatreofharlem.org/ The Classical Theater of Harlem presents Melvin Van Peebles’ musical about junkies, crooked cops, prisoners, lovers and dreamers. After it premiered on Broadway, it ended up influencing the choreo-poem, spoken word and rap music, and now it will be presented outdoors (in conjunction with the City Parks Foundation). All performances are Read more

Metropolitan Museum of Art Rooftop Café 1000 5th Ave. (at E. 82nd St.), 212-535-7710 Jeff Koons will be your backdrop as you’re sipping cocktails. The metallic sculptures resemble whimsical balloon animals—just make sure you don’t mount one after you’ve had the third vodka gimlet. Oh, and need we mention the incredible views of the park? Even if you don’t have to play tour guide this summer, don’t miss what is always a relaxing and inspiring re Read more

Citysol (July 12-15) E. 23rd St. & East River, (July 13 also at South Street Seaport) www.citysol.org Finally, a concert where you can explore sustainability solutions while listening to Les Savy Fav! Founded by the green education, arts and advocacy center Solar One, Citysol will likely be the only summer festival powered completely by clean energy. The three-day festival (July 12-15) has your typically (for New York anyway) tasteful mixture of indie rock and hip hop, with A-OK coll Read more

Afro-Punk Festival July 5-13 AP Skate Park, Brooklyn www.afropunk.com Film, music, art, skateboarding and more. Afro-Punk , BAMcinematek and Toyota present the 4th annual festival, taking place in the heart of Brooklyn. The festival is the definitive destination for the global Afro-Punk community and audiences yearning to experience true AP culture. Last year 30,000 people attended the festvial, and this year is expected to be even bigger, featuring 40 bands, 15 films being screened, a vis Read more

It was 82 degrees last Wednesday and all I could think about was how nice it would be to take a dip in a swimming pool. But like most New Yorkers, I don’t have a pool. And the city pools don’t open for another month (and aren’t too sexy). Still, I had water on the brain and was determined to do something about it. I heard that there was a pool in the lobby of the Hotel QT in Midtown (125 W. 45th St.) and, although the pool is an amenity officially reserved for guests, I ha Read more

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Last year's Summer Guide cover displayed A. an exclusive photo of Nicky Hilton in a Zurich hotel room performing something called the "Turkish Backpack" B. a picture of dachshund puppies cooling off in a puddle of water C. a drawing of a Godzilla-size George W. Bush rampaging through Midtown. If you guessed C. , congratulations—you win a free copy of New York Press' Summer Guide O-Five. Last year's Bush cover wasn't the sunniest of images for a traditionally sunny issue, but it Read more

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