Say “Summer Sizzles in NYC” with a lisp! Cute huh?

Summer is the only reason to live in NYC. Why in the hell else would you chose to live with astronomical rent, filthy subways and a profound lack of trees (outside of the parks)? What makes NYC worth all the drama, is that period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

People are outside, and wearing very little. New Yorkers are the hottest people in the US as a whole-and not that fake Miami/LA paid-for hotness. I’m talking realness, honey. The other thing that makes NYC summer so hot is all the free outdoor music, theater and dance!

Here’s what’s up!

NYC Summerstage, the biggest and most well-known of the outdoor festivals, held in Central Park, opens June 8 with a benefit concert featuring Joss Stone and Common. That one you gotta pay for, but the other highlights I am loking forward to are:

6/15: Cassandra Wilson & Olu Dara

7/06: Ronald K. Brown /Evidence Dance Company & Full Circle Productions

7/11: Femi Kuti & DJ Rich Medina

8/09: The Black Crowes

8/12: ANGELIQUE KIDJO!!!!, Zap Mama & K’naan

That’s just a taste kids! I think this is the best overall schedule they’ve had in years. But you gotta check out the full schedule on the website. The dance companies in particular this year at SummerStage look phenomenal.

The City Parks Foundation brings concerts to some of the smaller parks in New York City neighborhoods in all 5 boroughs. The acts often rotate parks, so if you didn’t catch em in one place, you can go to another. Some of my pics in this series are:

Brooklyn

Von King Park
7/19: Arrested Development

Brower Park
7/11: Roy Ayers

Manhattan

Jackie Robinson Park
8/8: Biz Markie / DJ Lovebug Starski
8/15: Leela James + DJ

Marcus Garvey Park
8/16: Dwele

Lastly, is Celebrate Brooklyn at Prospect Park, the “other” park in NYC.

6/29: Groove Collective, Ravi Coltrane & Craig Harris

7/5: Isaac Delgado, Xiomara Laugert (DON’T SLEEP) & Pistolera

7/20: Bobby “Blue” Bland & Catherine Russell

7/26: Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company

8/11: Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Sekouba Bambino, Stella Chiweshe, Shiko Mawatu, Baye Kouyaté et les Tougarakés

In addition to these, check out Fort Greene Parks Summer Soul Summit Music Parties, Public Theater Shakespeare in the Park(Romeo & Juliet, Midsummer Night’s Dream), and see what the Classical Theatre of Harlem (Electra) is serving up this summer.

*Swoon*

I’m gonna need a gentleman caller (or two) to accompany lil ‘ole me to all these events!

Any takers? LOL!