Price of a Movie: 7.01.09

Fireworks everywhere you look and free shows by child-actor-turned-rocker Jenny Lewis? Summer in the city is heating up for July 4, all for the Price of a Movie or less! 

Celebrate the Holiday: Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks 2009

July 4 marks the 400th anniversary of the exploration of the Hudson River by Henry Hudson. So in a break with tradition, this year's Macy's fireworks are going west to the Hudson. The out-of-this-world pyrotechnic show will be hard to miss, featuring more than 40,000 shells exploding at a rate of more than 1,500 per minute: eight times more boom and bang than before! To accompany the fireworks, the legendary New York Pops will perform under the direction of Steve Reinke, with Broadway superstars Audra McDonald and Idina Menzel also on the line-up. Before the show, check out an FDNY Fireboat water show (featuring arcs of red, white and blue soaring into the air), and an Air National Guard jet fly-over.

Best Places to View: West Side Highway and Surrounding Area—in Manhattan, 12th Avenue and the northbound lanes of the West Side Highway between 23rd and 59th Streets. (The highway will be closed to traffic for public fireworks viewing.) Pedestrian access to the viewing area will be via the following streets: 24th, 26th through 30th, 34th, 40th through 44th, 47th through 52nd, and 54th through 57th.

According to some, the best spots will be south of 42nd Street along the pier by the Circle Line, including: Dewitt Clinton Park (access from 11th Avenue) Pier 54 (limited access from 14th Street), Pier 84 (limited access from 44th Street), and selected side streets between 11th and 12th Avenues.

Where: The Hudson River, watch on Manhattan's West Side between 23rd and 59th Streets.
When: Saturday, July 4. Fireworks begin at approximately 8:20 pm, but get to your viewing spot well before 7:00 pm for a decent view.
Price: Free!
 

The 94th Annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest

According to legend, on July 4, 1916, four immigrants had a hot dog-eating contest at Nathan's Famous Stand on Coney Island to settle an argument about who was the most patriotic. The tradition has continued, as the world's most famous hot dog-eating contest occurs every Independence Day. A group of twenty individuals line up behind a 30-foot-long (ha) table to participate in the twelve-minute event. This year marks the 94th annual contest, which is televised live on ESPN and usually attracts over 30,000 spectators. These guys are going to give it their all: since 2007, along with other prizes, first place wins $10,000!

Where: Nathan's Famous Flagship Restaurant, 1310 Surf Avenue, Coney Island
When: Saturday, July 4, at 12:00 pm
Price: Free! 
 

Aperitivo: Happy Hour at Dell'Anima

Opened in 2008, Dell'Anima has quickly become one of the West Village's most praised neighborhood Italian spots. Check out the restaurant on Friday through Sunday, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm for an "aperitivo." Aperitivo is an Italian tradition focused on socializing and winding down after a day of work. Even better, as described by the restaurant, "Aperitivo is much more than the happy hour cocktails we know and love; bars throughout Italy display an array of foods with the hopes of attracting drinkers who want to get an early start on the night. The best part, the food is entirely free and seemingly endless—that is, if you buy a drink." What a deal: delicious and free Italian plates, accompanied by great drinks and a cozy, vibrant atmosphere!

Where: Dell'Anima, 38 8th Avenue, Manhattan
When: Friday through Sunday, 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Price:  Drink prices range from $7 to $13, with free food!

Summer Fireworks on the Coney Island Boardwalk

If you can't get enough fireworks, or want to avoid the crowds on July 4, you're in luck! Continuing an 100-year-old tradtion, Coney Island will host free fireworks shows every Friday night this summer through Labor Day. For a spectacular front row view, watch the fireworks from 150 feet up, on top of the NYC landmark Wonderwheel. Afterwards, stick around the boardwalk for a variety of live entertainment.

Where: The Boardwalk between West 10th and West 12th Street, Coney Island
When: Fridays throughout the summer at 9:30 pm
Price: Free!
 

River to River Festival: Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band with Jenny Lewis

The River to River Festival takes place each summer from June through August in a variety of public venues that canvas all of downtown New York. Devoted to providing cheap access to culture downtown, they're getting a start with a great July 4 show: Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band with Jenny Lewis at Battery Park. (Normally, tickets for this sort of bill would be $30+ and probably sold out.) Conor Oberst is a talented Americana folk rock singer/songwriter whose catchy tunes touch on New York, his Midwest roots, and political protest. His collaboration with The Mystic Valley Band in 2008 on the album Outer South earned him "best songwriter" from Rolling Stone Magazine. Oberst and his band will follow the all-grown-up, rocking and wry opener Jenny Lewis, whom you may recognize as a former child actress (80s kiddie classics like Troop Beverly Hills and The Wizard), and erstwhile frontwoman of Rilo Kiley, when she's not touring her just-as-critically-acclaimed solo work.

Where: Battery Park, Battery Place to South Street (at State Street), Manhattan
When: July 4, 3:30 pm
Price: Free! (The event is not ticketed, but space is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.)
 

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