Ah, Memorial Day, the most official—yet, unofficial—beginning to summer we have. You can start wearing white again, switch to flip flops and iced coffee. In case you’ve forgotten how much snow we got this year, Long Island was hit with a snow storm nearly every other week since December. People were cranky. Animals were confused. Poor little Malverne Mel couldn’t even perform his Groundhog duties because of the ice and snow. Cabin fever set in. But thankfully that’s all in the past now. Lucky for you guys, we spent all those hours stuck inside the house doing hours of research, looking for things that we would do once we were able to scrape our way out of the front door. So, after months of snow and weeks of torrential rain we’re going to go out on a limb here and declare the nice weather is finally here to stay. And just to make it official, we give you our summer to-do list. From arm wrestling contests to farmer’s markets, pop concerts to slightly obscure shows, street fairs to reality stars, we’ve put it all here for your reading and planning pleasure. But, hey, we can’t do it all. Now it’s up to you to decide what you’re going to say in September when someone asks you, “What did you do this summer?”
Thursday, May 26
Rihanna
She may be bad, but she’s perfectly good at it…and she’ll be doing it in public in the center of Rockefeller Plaza for free. But you’d better get there early. Part of NBC’s Outdoor Summer Concert Series, you won’t need a ticket to see RiRi, but keep in mind tourists from Idaho to Alabama will be there and they get up early. THU 5.26, Rockefeller Plaza (Also with Cee Lo Green at Nassau Coliseum on 7.19)
Out at the Movies: Gun Hill Road @ Cinema Arts Centre
Filmmaker Rashaad Ernesto Green and star Harmony Santana discuss the film, in which Santana plays Michael, a teen exploring a sexual transformation.
West Side Story @ Gateway Playhouse
Black Velvet @ Ripe Art Gallery
Black-based abstract landscape paintings
Memorial Week Carnival Opens @ Huntington YMCA
Carl Labove @ Governor’s Comedy Club
Relationships, the evil of zoos, the family tree and treachery—nothing is off limits when Carl takes the stage. Through 5.28
Painting Hitchcock
For the past decade, artist John Abrams has explored the images found in art house films, focusing on themes and storylines ranging from seduction to politics. The exhibit comprises painted scenes from Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much, Rear Window, Torn Curtain and others. THU 5.26-6.13, Boltax Gallery
Friday, May 27
Lady Gaga
While subway trains are jetting through NYC with giant Lady Gagas plastered on the side of them, thousands of Little Monsters awaited their mother on the streets for days just to catch a glimpse of Gaga on Saturday Night Live last week. Needless to say, this free concert in the park is a ticketed event, so unless you got lucky on the May 20 drawing, you probably won’t get in, but you could always climb a tree—or watch Gaga perform between 8 and 9 a.m. on Good Morning America. FRI 5.27, Rumsey Playfield Central Park
Bomber Flights & Air Show
If you’re excited about the air show at Jones Beach this weekend, consider this the VIP pre-party. An extremely rare B-29 Superfortress, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator and B-25 Mitchell bomber are among the operational WWII aircraft that will be open to the public saluting soldiers and American veterans. They will be joined by period fighters and paratrooper planes along with a column of WWII armor led by a Sherman tank. The only operational B-29 in the world, this aircraft, the B-24 and B-17 will offer flight experiences at donation levels that vary based on the aircraft. FRI 5.27-5.30, American Airpower Museum
A Taste of the East End @ Bistro 72
Sidewalk Sales & Early Bird Shopping @ Tanger Outlets, Riverhead
Three miles of sidewalks paved with savings
Tamara Wallace/Lucas Prata @ Dream
Babylon Arts Festival Opens @ BACCA
Girls, Uninterrupted III @ Governor’s Comedy Club
Superstar Beer Tasting @ Coram Superstar Beverage
Wine Fair @ The Wine Shack
Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes @ Stephen Talkhouse
Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body Opens @ Long Island Children’s Museum
Saturday, May 28
The American Bombshells, Save the Catalina Hangar Party @ The American Airpower Museum
The American Bombshells are a nonprofit entertainment troupe with the mission of lifting the spirits of our troops and our wounded and disabled Veterans. We travel and raise money so that no veteran is left unappreciated for their sacrifices. This exclusive event includes big band music, air show pilot meet and greet, warbird and military aircraft, plus a private sunset warbird flight demonstration.
Armed Forces Helicopter Landing @ Eisenhower Park Kite Field
A helicopter landing in the middle of the park? Yes, please.
Emmylou Harris @ Rockefeller Plaza
New Suffolk Chowder Fest @ New Suffolk Waterfront
Sugar Shack Burlesque @ Stephen Talkhouse
Wine Fair @ The Wine Shack
Sheep to Shawl Festival @ Old Bethpage Village Restoration
Sheep sheering, old-fashioned “Base Ball,” band concerts and Model A Fords. Through 5.29
Montgomery Granger: Saving Grace at Guantanamo Bay @ Book Revue
Splish Splash Opening Day @ Splish Splash Water Park
Yes, this is the summer you were referring to last summer when you confidently said you would go on the Cliff Diver slide next summer. What? It’s only an 8-story, 3-second drop. While you’re trying to gather your courage, check out the brand spankin’ new 4-foot wave pool.
Johnny Flynn & the Sussex Wit @ Bowery Ballroom
One Love @ Crazy Donkey
Summer Pleasures Opens @ Tulla Booth Gallery
The Greater the Risk @ Vibe Lounge
Muttville Comix: A Canine Comedy Show @ Long Island Game Farm
David Johansen @ City Winery
Live Music on the Patio @ Duck Walk Vineyards
Bayside/Silverstein @ Best Buy Theater
Memorial Day Fireworks @ North Hempstead Beach Park
Asteroid Viewing @ Custer Observatory
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars @ The Bell House
Huge Book Sale @ Shelter Island Public Library
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
This isn’t just a screening of the cult favorite. This show involves audience participation. So bring your props, party with Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Magenta and Riff Raff and this time throwing a buttered slice of bread in the air and doing the Time Warp in the aisles won’t get you kicked out. We promise. SAT 5.28. Also 7.9, 7.29, 8.20; Cinema Arts Centre
Mozart Festival
Mozart’s work is still referred to as “violent,” “sensual” and “voluptuous” today. Not bad for a guy who died 200 hundred years ago, eh? Pre-concert events including children’s activities, tours and lectures pay homage to Mozart’s work in the day and in the evening concerts feature renowned violinist Anna Rabinova and Flutist extraordinaire, Lance Suzuki, and the LI Mozart Festival Chamber Orchestra conducted by Daniel Boico, assistant conductor of the NY Philharmonic. SAT 5.28 & SUN 5.29, Old Westbury Gardens
Bethpage Federal Credit Union Air Show
Due to technical issues, the F-22’s are grounded and will not be performing in the 2011 air show. This year’s show will feature three world-renowned aerobatic pilots including Sean Tucker, who was named a “Smithsonian Living Legend,” Lt. Colonel John Klatt, who has flown three combat deployments in the Middle East, and Michael Goulian, a world-renowned sports aviator. Together, they will have your toes curling in the sand. SAT 5.28 & SUN 5.29, Jones Beach State Park
