photo c/o Mike Thompson
Enjoying the warm weather this week? Well friends, don’t be fooled by global warming- it’s not summer quite yet. Here, in no particular order, are 10 summertime activities to mark in your calendar and start getting pumped for:
10. Kickball- Hardcore kickball fanatics already know that May 6th is opening day, but here’s a head’s up for all of you newbies out there. Sign up now if you’re interested in joining a team and prepare for a summer full of glory, camaraderie, and frequent Turkey’s Nest runs.
9. Brooklyn Flea- The eclectic shopping mecca will grace the East River Waterfront with its presence once again when it reopens on Sunday, April 8. That weekend also marks the return of Smorgasburg on Saturdays at the waterfront, which promises to be as mouthwatering as ever with favorite vendors including Porchetta and People’s Pops making a comeback.
8. Baseball- The Mets kick off their season on April 5th, which means those sweaty summer baseball games are just around the corner. It’s only a matter of time before you’ll be dodging stray baseballs in McCarren park.
7. Waterfront Concert Series- The new location is confirmed, and the season kickoff is June 1st. Now all we need is a band line up!
6. Biking- Although it’s a year round activity, it still deserves to be on the list as it’s possibly the most quintessential summer pastime in Brooklyn. May is also Bike Month in New York City, which means there will be loads of cycling events happening around town. Sign up at BikeNYC.org to get the scoop on events and special discounts throughout the month.
5. Greenmarkets- Hardcore localvores know that the Greenpoint/McCarren Park Greenmarket is actually open year round, I think it’s safe to say that shopping for fresh produce is a hell-of-a-lot more enjoyable when it’s warm outside.
4. Northside Festival- Speaking of concerts, it’s time to get excited about Brooklyn’s favorite festival coming up on June 14-21. Got a band? You still have a chance to be a part of it! April 13th is the deadline to submit applications to play at the festival, which you can do by signing up at Sonic Bids.
3. Outside Seating- Because any bar or restaurant with outside seating seems MUCH more appealing when the weather gets warm.
2. SummerScreen Film Series- Watching films under the stars in McCarren Park has been a favorite summertime event since The L Magazine started hosting the free screenings years ago. The dates, films, and live music performances for this year have yet to be announced, but it’s sure going to be hard to top last year’s epic lineup that included Clueless, Wayne’s World and Jurassic Park. You can vote on which movies they should show this summer here. (Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, anyone?)
1. The McCarren Park Pool- Remember when McCarren Park had a pool that was actually full of water? Well, I don’t either because the pool was closed in 1984 and hasn’t been used for swimming purposes since then. In 2007 Mayor Bloomberg announced that reconstruction of the pool would begin as part of the City’s PlaNYC initiative with a budget of $50 Million. According to NYC’s Department of Parks and Recreation website, construction is supposed to wrap up in spring 2012. Here are some more details from the site:
The rehabilitation of the Pool preserves the historic bathhouse building and entry arch. The project includes a swimming pool, recreation center, snack shop, and rooftop cafe. The pool “beach” can accommodate an ice skating rink in the winter. Arts and music events will return to McCarren after the pool reopens.
DPR is seeking a LEED Silver rating for the project to ensure the materials and construction methods are ecologically sensitive. Salvaged wood from the Coney Island Boardwalk will be used for interior partitions and exterior screens.
Personally, I’m still having trouble wrapping my head around the concept of a giant swimming pool existing near my apartment, but it does sound like a pretty interesting concept.
What do you think? Will you be spending your summers at the pool, or does the idea of swimming with thousands of strangers turn you off?