Recessionista Guide to a Swingin' Summer in NYC: Part I

Summer has arrived! Ok maybe not, but this past weekend found us in cut-offs in the park, obsessively planning our summer calenders. Luckily, New Yorkers have been enjoying a chock-full schedule of free summer events since long before the recession, and Recession Girl is here to make sure that being broke doesn’t keep you from even one second of fun. From concerts to movies under the stars, check here periodically as we update the blog with all these great events as soon as the schedules are out.

Brooklyn Bridge Movies with a View
Brooklyn Bridge Park's Movies With A View returns for its 10th Anniversary Season on Thursday, July 9, 2009. This summer, sidle up, nab a patch of grass and walk off with a night of fabulous entertainment without paying one red cent. Come down to the park to enjoy one of the city's premiere outdoor film series with an eclectic line-up of films and breathtaking views of the NYC waterfront. The films are chosen by an all-volunteer Film Committee and each feature is preceded by a short film. DJs from Brooklyn Radio kick off the evening, spinning tunes as the sun sets, while RICE sells delicious dinners onsite. Complimentary bike valet provided by the fine folks at Transportation Alternatives.

Thursday, July 9
Feature Film: Raising Arizona
Short: Ami Underground directed by D.W. Young
DJ: DJ DRM


Thursday, July
Feature Film: The Maltese Falcon
Short: Under the Rollercoaster directed by Lila Place
DJ: MonkOne


Thursday, July 23
Feature Film: Paper Moon
Short: The Coffee Bird directed by Bryan Brinkman
DJ: Tim "Love" Lee


Thursday, July 30
Feature Film: To Catch A Thief
Short: Icebox Blues directed by Jesse Ash
DJ: DJ Ayres


Thursday, August 6
Feature Film: The Return Of The Pink Panther (1975)
Short: It's Good to Be Green directed by Michael Garvey
DJ: Soulstatic


Thursday, August 13
Feature Film: Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
Short: Birdman of Brooklyn directed by JL Aronson
DJ: Nick Name


Thursday, August 20
Feature Film: Catch Me If You Can
Short: 6 a.m. directed by Carmen Vidal
DJ: DJ Emch


Thursday, August 27
Feature Film: Edward Scissorhands
Short: I Am Not Obsessed directed by Imani Dean
DJ: Oneman


Central Park Summerstage
While a few of these are benefit concerts and not free, not having the cash to make it happen doesn’t mean you should skip the show. Grab a blanket and a bottle of wine, and enjoy the sounds of your favorite artists from the lawn right outside the stage.
05/31/09 Reality Shock, Yaakov Chesed + more TBA (Salute To Israel) FREE
06/05/09 TV on the Radio, Dirty Projectors (Buy Tickets/Sold Out)
06/12/09 The New York Pops, with Josh Ritter FREE
06/13/09 Tye Tribbett & G.A. (Speculative) FREE
06/16/09 Indigo Girls, Matt Nathanson (Buy Tickets 03/27 @ noon)
06/17/09 Wally Lamb (Reading from “The Hour I First Believed”) FREE
06/20/09 The Sound Physician, SXNDRGS (Speculative) FREE
06/21/09 Fête de la Musique, (World Music Day) with Yannick Noah FREE
o6/25/09 311, Ziggy Marley (Presale: 04/14, Public Sale: 04/17)
06/28/09 Ledisi06/30/09 Explosions In The Sky (Buy Tickets)
07/05/09 Oumou Sangare, Les Nubians FREE
07/08/09 Juana Molina FREE
07/09/09 Matisyahu, Umphrey’s McGee (Presale: April 15-17, Password = LIGHT, Public Sale: April 17 - noon EST)
07/18/09 Dobet Gnahore FREE
07/24/09 Bettye Lavette FREE
08/01/09 M. Ward FREE
08/14/09 Morphoses (Dance) FREE
08/15/09 Morphoses (Dance) FREE
08/16/09 Ineptie (Speculative) FREE
08/29/09 Paul Van Dyk (Buy Tickets)