The Bucket List • June 2017 • NYC Edition

Alex Aronson

Summer has arrived in the city, which means its time to trade in the leather jackets for tank tops. Catch legendary band U2 at The MetLife Stadium and The Governors Ball Music Festival featuring some of today’s hottest artists. Witness the best that the virtual reality world has to offer at Sotheby’s The Art of VR or head out to EMP Summer House in East Hampton. If food is what you are looking for please your taste buds with the Big Apple BBQ Block Party. Whatever you’re looking for, The Bucket List has you covered.

SummerStage at Various Locations | May 17 – Sept. 13
Enjoy free, yes you heard correctly, free, concerts and performances all season long with SummerStage. Various performances are running almost every night in parks across the city. It’s the perfect way to enjoy great entertainment and bask in the sun. Concerts in June include Elvis Costello & The Imposters, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Mavis Staples, The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series, KRS-One, Digable Planets and Just Blaze.

Book Expo America at Javits Center | June 1 – June 2
Storytelling and pop culture collide at this two-day event. Come down for a plethora of events that celebrate all that is good in the literary world. The expo features author autograph signings and book fairs, with a speech given by Hillary Clinton on the opening night. You’re going to want to register for this one right away.

Blue Note Jazz Festival at Various Locations | June 1 – June 30
Celebrate of month of Jazz with performances by some of the top jazz musicians in the country. Performers include, Kool & The Gang (June 3), Pat Metheny (June 10), Jerry Lee Lewis (June 23), and many more. Be sure to check the website for a full schedule.

The Governors Ball Music Festival at Randall’s Island Park | June 2 – June 4
Experience the East coast version of Coachella at The Governors Ball – a three-night event including performances by, Chance The Rapper, Lorde, SchoolBoy Q, Tov Lo (June 2), Phoenix, Childish Gambino, Marshmello (June 3), Tool, Cage The Elephant, and Wiz Khalifa (June 4).

Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic at Liberty State Park | June 3
Enjoy an afternoon of polo, picnicking, upscale vendors, and Veuve Clicquot champagne. The 10th annual event promises some exciting surprises with new additions to the festivities this time around. Alicia Keys will be giving a special performance at 5 p.m.

The Weeknd w/ Rae Sremmurd, Belly & 6LACK | June 4 + June 6 + June 7
Modern hit maker, The Weeknd is hitting NYC for three-nights on his “Starboy: Legend of the Fall” tour. On June 4 he will be performing at the Prudential Center. On June 6 and June 7 he will be rocking the stage at the Barclays Center.

The Gordon Parks Foundation’s 2017 Awards Dinner & Auction | June 6
Come together to celebrate the arts and humanitarianism with co-chairs, Alicia Keys, Karl Lagerfeld, Leonard Lauder, Janelle Monae, and Usher IV. The event will honor Jon Batiste, John Lewis, Alexander Soros, Mavis Staples, and Kathryn and Kennth Chenault. Common is set to perform along with a special appearance by Stephen Colbert. It’s a night of stars that you won’t want to miss.

Movie Under the Stars: “Moonlight” at Corporal John A Seravalli Playground | June 7
Enjoy the 2017 Academy Award-Winner for Best Picture under the stars. The free screening is befitting for LGBT month and is part of the Movie Under the Stars film series, which screens films at various parks across the city.

WhiskyX at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal | June 8
Get ready for a night of booze, food, and music. This exciting event features over 60 types of whiskies. Polish off your glass with delicious treats from the food truck, and sit back and enjoy the musical stylings of Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys live in concert.

Belmont Shakes Racing Festival | June 8 – June 10
What better way to kick off the season than to hit up the horse race. Place your bet on some of the country’s top champion racers. The event also includes live performances headlined by Andy Grammer.

“Changing the World, One Wall at a Time” Screening at Faison Firehouse Theatre | June 10
Featuring Mark Ruffalo, this documentary looks at the interesting stories behind street art in the fight for Iranian education. The screening concludes with a panel including filmmaker Maziar Bahari and guests. The screening and panel is followed up with an after hours Garden Party.

New York City Bourbon Bash at Various Locations | June 10
Celebrate National Bourbon Day by enjoying a wide variety of the best bourbon the South has to offer while relaxing at eight of NYC’s best venues. The bourbon tour is the new wine tour. Think of it as a unique substitute.

Big Apple BBQ Block Party | June 10 – June 11
It’s not summer without a little bit of good ole’ fashioned BBQ. Enjoy delicious dishes by chefs all over the country. The event covers the entirety of Madison Avenue, from East 23rd Street though East 27th Street. Come for the food, and stay for the music. Oh, and you might want to pack a bib.

NYC Cake Show at Pier 36 | June 10 – June 11
The summertime is definitely the busiest wedding season, so what better way to try different cakes than at the NYC Cake Show – hosted by Lisa Mansour. The event includes classes, demos, and live competitions between world-class chefs.

71st Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall | June 11
“House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey hosts the annual event, which will air live at 8/7c on CBS. Shows with the top nominations include, “Olso,” “The Little Foxes,” and “Six Degrees of Separation.” Two-time Tony Award-Winner, James Earl Jones will receive the Lifetime Achievement in Theatre honor for his work on the stage.

Jazz Age Lawn Party at Governors Island | June 11 – June 12
Travel back in time for this prohibition era inspired gathering, hosted and created by Michael Arenella. The event is a small gathering of about 50 people and attempts to bring back the old time tradition of lawn parties made for every fop and flapper.

Apollo Spring Gala 2017 | June 12
Join the fun at the Apollo Theater’s Spring Gala for a night of show-stopping performances celebrating the theater’s rich history, followed by a party with dinner and music. All proceeds support the work of the theater, including performing arts and education.

Frank Lloyd Wright at 150: Unpacking the Archive at MOMA | June 12 – Oct. 1
The works of one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century arrives at the MOMA for a four-month event. The exhibition features over 450 pieces created by the radical designer who embraced new technologies and materials into his portfolio.

Museum Mile Festival | June 13
For the past 39 years, seven of the country’s finest museums – all located on iconic Fifth Avenue – collectively open their doors to the public. All exhibitions are free to New Yorkers and visitors for a mile-long block party celebrating the best in art.

The New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks | June 13 – June 18
This experience transforms the parks throughout the city into a patchwork of picnickers and providers music lovers with an opportunity to hear the best classical music under the stars. This New York City tradition has been alive since 1965.

River to River Festival | June 14 – June 25
The 16th annual event spans across 31 unique sites in Lower Manhattan and Governors Island. Experience 12 days of dance, music, theater, and visual arts. This collaborative festival allows patrons to interact and socialize with artists’ whose work is featured in this diverse and cultural event.

NYC Pride | June 16 – June 25
June is the officially the celebratory LGBT month and the Pride Festival includes a wide variety of events, parties, parades, cinema, awards, and concerts. Nelly Furtado, Tegan & Sara, LeAnn Rimes, Patti Labelle, DJ Taryn Manning and more headline the festivities this year. Check out the site for a full list of events and ticket information. Many of the events are free of charge.

Eat (RED) Food & Film Festival at Bryant Park | June 20
Join Mario Batali in the help to fight AIDS. The event features an outdoor screening of “Sleepless in Seattle” and the ultimate picnic experience designed by Mario himself. It’s the perfect combination of food and entertainment under the stars.

The Art of VR at Sotheby’s | June 22 – June 23
Be the first to experience VR creations by leading artists, directors and producers from NYC and LA in these collaborative and interactive exhibitions. Get a glimpse into the future. Virtual reality is the way of the future, and this event is a one-of-a-kind must-see experience.

”1984” at Hudson Theatre | June 22 – Oct. 8
Get your tickets fast for George Orwell’s “1984.” Starring Tom Sturridge, Olivia Wilde, and Reed Birney, the brand new play is created and directed by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan.

NYC Craft Beer Festival at the Metropolitan Pavilion | June 24
Taste some of the finest brews and spirits of the season. This event promises brews and cocktails not found anywhere else. Quench your taste buds from a selection of over 75 breweries with the largest selection of season beers, ciders and meads in NYC.

EMP Summer House | June 24 – July 17
The world’s best restaurant,, Eleven Madison Park is moving to East Hampton for the summer. The pop-up restaurant is more casual than what you would find at the NYC location. With an a la carte menu, indoor dining room, and tented area, the environment will be quite relaxed and perfect for those summer nights.

Midsummer Night Swing at Lincoln Center | June 27 – July 15
Enjoy a new variety of music every single night. Acts range from Swing, Latin, Disco, Ballroom, and R&B. Performers include, Margi & the Dapper Dots, The Binky Griptite Orchestra, and the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. There will be music for everyone’s taste.

U2 at MetLife Stadium | June 28 – June 29
“U2: The Joshua Tree Tour” makes at stop at The MetLife Stadium. The summer-long international tour, which kicked off last month, and features The Lumineers, recently headlined at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.