New York Entertainment

New York is home to a dazzling selection of entertainment options. Whether its classical music youre looking for, a ballet or simply checking out nightlife in the many clubs, New York truly is the city that never sleeps! The New York Times features excellent entertainment coverage, particularly in the two-part Friday Weekend section.

Nightlife

Many night-time places, such as the Chelsea Brewing Company near 18th Street, offer a little for everyone; from an indoor bar popular with nearby golfers, to an open-air area that pulls in socialites from the marina nearby. If a cigar lounge is what youre looking for, just go upstairs where enchanting views of the river await you. Dont forget to sample one of the 20 different brews produced on-site at the brewery. The many comedy clubs always offer a good laugh, with venues such as Rififi/Cinema Classics in the East Village or Pianos on the Lower East Side.

Depending on which night of the week it is, free horror movies, comedy entertainers or parody skits are on offer. If you are in the West Village, check out Pisces, where you can find karaoke, live music, a DJ or guest performances depending on the day you visit.

For those looking for a more romantic night out, hundreds of meeting spots can be found, such as Punch and Judy on the lower east side. If you are looking for that special someone, a number of meeting places such as the funky Bar Below in Brooklyn provide good hunting grounds.

Theatre and music

No other city, not even London, boasts such a varied theatre scene with so much breadth and depth. Broadway is home to the big stage productions, from crowd-pleasers like The Lion King to incredibly successful shows like The Producers. But a thriving alternative scene exists beyond the bounds of Broadway, with smaller venues catering to the popular imagination, too.

The Joseph Papp Public Theater continues to attract top talent to the stage with its innovative productions of Shakespeares plays as well as new plays, classical dramas and solo performances. The Signature Theatre Company stages season-long discoveries of a living playwrights entire body of work. Visitors can also volunteer to usher here. Publications such as the Village Voice and Timeout New York have listings of major Off-Broadway productions.

The classic New York night on the town may include an evening at a cabaret. This can be a costly experience, depending on the showroom and the act, and may also require drink or dinner minimums. For jazz fans, The Knitting Factory offers jazz with an edge, while those who fancy swing should head to Swing 46. The Lincoln Center is the nations premier forum for the traditional and developing jazz performer.

Weekends at Carnegie Club are perfect for Sinatra fans who want to relive old blue eyes. Live music at rock clubs typically starts around 21:00, but you should check individual venues for current starting times and prices. Rock fans looking for diamonds in the rough may also want to check out folk rocks legendary Bitter End.

Festivals

New York stages frequent festivals, including lively street fairs, carnivals, parades, festivals and many sporting events. These are some of the highlights:

• Winter Antiques Fair (January) is a major antiques event, held at Park Avenue at East 66th Street.
• Valentines Day Marriage Marathon (February) sees over 100 people exchanging marriage vows at the top of New Yorks tallest skyscrapers.
• Manhattan Antique and Collectibles Triple Pier Expo (March) is New York's largest and most comprehensive antiques show, held over two consecutive weekends.
• Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival (April) celebrates the arrival of spring. It takes place in Central Parks Conservatory Garden and also at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.
• Ninth Avenue International Food Festival (May) is a two-day feast celebrating the citys ethnic cuisine and is held on 9th Avenue, between 37th and 57th Streets.
• Shakespeare in the Park (June) is held at the Delacorte Theater in New Yorks Central Park and offers first-rate, free performances of Shakespeare plays.
• Independence Day Celebrations (4th July) offers numerous festivities such as Macys popular firework show from barges moored on the Hudson River.
• Harlem Week (August) is a two-week festival celebrating Harlems rich history and culture.
• Broadway on Broadway (September), staged in the middle of Times Square, features a free afternoon with the songs and casts from practically every Broadway production.
• New York City Marathon (late October/early November) attracts several thousand athletes and spectators to the course from Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to Central Parks Tavern on the Green.
• Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade (November) features enormous helium filled balloons, and a parade marching along Central Park West and Broadway.
• Rockefeller Center Christmas Festivities (December) sees the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center, marking the official start of Christmas festivities.