Image via Complex Original
There is no shortage of things to do in New York City during the summer, but if you’re not willing to make some hard choices, you could end up stuck in Times Square getting your photo taken with a guy in a ratty Cookie Monster costume. You don’t want that. You want to go H.A.M., and to do that you’re going to need to blaze your own path. Whether you cut that path on the back of a surfboard in the Atlantic or on the shoulders of a friend while dancing under the hot sun, the important thing to know is: those who make hard choices in life are always rewarded in the end.
Mad Decent Block Party
It seems like every weekend there is another outdoor concert or music festival in New York City. So many to choose from, but the harder choice is the Mad Decent choice. Hip-hop keeps evolving at the speed of sound, and Mad Decent tries to stay one step ahead of the frantic pace. The Mad Decent Block Parties are taking place this summer across the country and will be touching down in Brooklyn on August 8 at MCU Park in Coney Island. The Brooklyn block gets Dillon Francis, Diplo, DJ Snake, Flosstradamus, Grandtheft, and headliner Chance The Rapper.
Locals Surf School
There’s nothing wrong with wasting away the summer lying out on the beach. Nothing wrong at all… if you’re soft. Choose harder on your beach trips by learning how to surf at Rockaway Beach’s own Locals. Yes, you can surf here in New York City, and not just in-between subway cars. Locals Surf School offers classes for all skill levels in groups, semi-private, or private settings. So stop talking about how you want to “try” surfing and catch a real wave.
Coney Island Reggae Beach Party
Reggae, rocksteady, ska, dub, dancehall—Jamaica has contributed so many variations of amazing summer-scorched tunes and they were all distributed by the local DJs who became just as important to the music as the musicians who pressed the 45s. Chris Van Pelt, a DJ for WKCR’s show Eastern Standard Time, got the idea of show casing this music as it was meant to be heard while strolling the boardwalks of Coney Island. Now on various weekends this summer you can join in and skank to the classics.
Electric Zoo Festival
This EDM festival keeps growing and growing and on its five-year anniversary it may reach critical mass. Running over Labor Day weekend at Randall’s Island, the Zoo will feature some of the best dance DJs. If you’re a fan of electronic dance music then this event is probably already circled in glitter on your calendar. And if you just want to see what all the hubbub is about, the lineup will be a good introduction to the genre with huge acts like David Guetta, Paul Van Dyke, and Jamie XX. Watch out for dropping bass.
Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
A nice little row around the pond in Central Park? You can choose harder than that. On August 9 and 10, Meadow Lake in Corona Park Queens will once again host the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. The festival commemorates the holiday Duanwu Jie and memorializes the poet Qu Yuan (whose drowning is said to have begun Dragon Boat racing). Spectators get to witness more than 30 races of beautiful constructed and designed dragon boats as well as dancers, musicians and martial artists.
PS1 Warm Up
PS1 is an offshoot of the Museum of Modern Art. The building was a former school that now contains some of the most avant-garde artwork on display in New York City. Every summer Saturday, PS1 transforms from a mind-blowing art space to a mind-blowing dance party. Admission gets you into the museum and on to the outdoor dance space. This year’s lineup includes Dām-Funk, Pantha du Prince, Simian Mobile Disco, and Evian Christ.
Bikeable Feast
There is no shortage of great places to eat in the city. So many to choose from, but what’s the harder choice? Meals always taste better when you’ve done a little work for them. The idea behind Bikeable Feast is that you peddle for you food. A 90-minute bike tour takes you along the Brooklyn waterfront and a few hidden spots along the way before leading the pack to an organic farm where chef Shane McGarvey will have a four-course meal waiting for you. Getting home after you’ve stuffed your face is another story.
We the People / Dahn Vo
Tons of tourists choose to see the Statue of Liberty on their visit to NYC. But if you want to make the harder choice this summer you can check out Danish artist Dahn Vo’s take on the iconic statue. Vo recreated the Statue of Liberty full-scale then chopped her up into 250 pieces. The pieces are exact replicas the original design by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi using the same copper sheeting and wood supports. Consider it the ultimate chopped and screwed remix of Lady Liberty.
Sebago Canoe Club
A New York summer weekend is often a choice between the two big outdoor areas: Central Park or Prospect Park. But for the harder choice for the truly H.A.M. make it to Jamaica Bay. The bay divides Queens and Brooklyn and contains the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. The best way to experience is by canoe or kayak. Check out the Sebago Canoe Club to help get you outfitted. Sebago is a non-profit organization whose members love to help people take advantage of New York’s water systems.
West Indian American Day Carnival
Maybe you can’t make it to an island getaway this summer, but in New York, every country is just a subway ride away. The West Indian American Day Carnival is a celebration of all things Caribbean. This parade offers bright and blaring music, jerk chicken and roti, and imaginative costumes that don’t leave much to the imagination. This is an all day party in Brooklyn, starting before dawn with J’ouvert, a pre-festival event where you can douse and be doused with powered paint.