Summer Guide: Great Outdoor

Whether you"re actually sporty or just look really good in shorts, there"s plenty of outdoor activity to keep you sweating this summer's not that you"ll need a whole lot of help with that. By [Staff] Rollerblading in Central Park Rollerblading in Central Park appeals most to teenagers who need another hangout since the ice rinks are all gone, as well as Brooklyn types who are increasingly replacing bicycles with blades on Bedford Avenue. If you don"t fit in either of these categories and the idea of wearing the required wrist guards still appeals to you, we recommend rollerblading in Central Park. There"s less of a chance someone you know will see you bite it at Columbus Circle than in your own neighborhood. You can skate in the park any time it"s open; however, we recommend waiting until the weekends, when Park drives are closed to traffic. Columbus Circle entrance to Central Park; weekends beginning at 7 p.m. on Fri., Free. Ultimate Frisbee Because Frisbee-catching isn"t just for golden retrievers when you put the word ultimate in front of it, why not head to the park and try your hand at spinning a plastic disc through the air without smacking any sunbathers in the back of the head? You can join a league through the NYC Social Sports Club or just stand around the stoners in Tompkins Square Park until they ask you to join.   Basketball Few things beat a pick-up game of basketball in the summer, or so we"re told by our friends with both height and hand-eye coordination. Whether you can or can"t jump is really irrelevant, as long as at least one person on your team can, so break out the tube socks and sweat bands and hit the courts. The Parks Department offers over 500 locations to play, and leagues are also an option through Zog Sports. Sat., various locations, www.zogsports.org. Hudson Kayaking Kayaking on the Hudson River is like the adult version of canoeing at summer camp, minus the obligatory trip to the mess hall to make another piece of art out of macaroni that always followed. It"s becoming one of the most popular outdoor activities in the city every summer, so we suggest getting there early, or risk being stuck with an ugly-colored kayak. Through Oct. 10, Pier 40, Pier 96 & Riverside Park at W. 72nd St., www.downtownboathouse.org; times vary, Free. Fishing If kayaking involves too much of the Hudson River for you to handle, but you still want a water-based activity, why not try fishing? The Hudson River Park Trust provides rods, reels, bait and instructions, so don"t worry if you don"t know the difference between bait and tackle. And if retrieving fish out of the Hudson River has you raising an eyebrow, fear not: It"s catch and release, so you don"t have to eat it. May 28â?"Sept. 5, Pier 46 at Charles St., Pier 64 at W. 24th St. and Pier 84 at W. 44th St., www. hudsonriverpark.org; times and prices vary. Beach Volleyball Competition If you have moves like Maverick or Iceman, or just want to spend an afternoon looking at others who do, we suggest you check out NYC Park"s annual amateur beach volleyball competition. Those that have what it takes to ace it could walk away with a wad of cash. Details will be released in June. Howl Festival Tompkins Square Park is the perfect place to celebrate Allen Ginsberg"s 85th birthday with the 8th Annual Howl Festival, for reasons obvious to anyone in the know. Grab some grass (whether it"s still attached to soil is your choice) and listen to Bob Holman and Beat poets like John Giorno, Hettie Jones, Ed Sanders and Bob Rosenthal recite works, as well as a rendering of one of Ginsberg"s greatest poems, Howl (also known as that movie with James Franco). June 3â?"5, Tompkins Square Park, E. 7th St. (betw. Aves. A & B), www.howlfestival.com; 11 p.m., Free. Let"s Dance! We suggest checking out salsa, cha-cha and bachata lessons with some master teachers from Piel Canela Dance and Music School at Riverside Park, if you"ve ever wanted to learn how to dance like a star (or whatever constitutes one by today"s standards). It"s only happening once this summer, so be sure not to miss it. June 5, Pier 1 at Riverside Park, betw. W. 65th & W. 72nd Sts., www.riversideparkfund.org; 6 p.m., Free. Tour de Brooklyn If you squint just right, Prospect Heights could be mistaken for Passage du Gois, where the Tour De France starts July 2. Possibly. Regardless, Brooklyn"s 18-mile interpretation, which circuits around the borough with a brief stop at Canarsie Pier, is a chance for cyclists to extend their turf outside of the borough"s bike lanes for a day. We recommend packing both sunscreen and a poncho, as this is one event that happens rain or shine. June 5, North 12th Street and Union Avenue, Brooklyn, www.tourdebrooklyn.org; 8 a.m., Free. Inner Tube Water Polo If that wedding didn"t sour you completely on the royals, we suggest you pay homage to HRH by slipping on a Speedo and an inner tube for a bit of water polo. And as players are allowed to flip one another out of their tubes, we recommend practicing plugging your nose and competing at the same time. Sun., June 5â?"July 24, Chinatown YMCA, 273 Bowery (at E. Houston St.), www.nycssc.com; 8 p.m., $100. Beach Fireworks at Coney Island Coney Island"s fireworks are a clichÃ&Copy;d element of summer we can still appreciate. Pick your way through the pre-pubescent teenagers making out under the piers and find a seat in the sand to enjoy this iconic summer event. Or at least laugh at those doing so in earnest. Fri., June 17â?"Sept. 5, Coney Island Boardwalk at W. 12th St., www.wonderwheel.com; 9:30 p.m., Free. Midsummer Night Swing If late June to mid July isn"t hot enough for you, dial up the heat on the dance floor at Lincoln Center"s Damrosch Park during one of Midsummer Night Swing"s epic dance parties and DJ sets. Be sure to shake your groove thing through its soul train June 28, and stick around to hear Biz Markie drop some beats after. Tue.â?"Sat., June 27â?"July 16, W. 62nd St. (betw. Columbus and Amsterdam Aves.), www.midsummernightswing.org; 6:30 p.m., $17. Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest Nothing says Fourth of July in New York like watching contestants distend their abdomens hoovering Nathan"s hotdogs, so if your gag reflex can stand it, head to Coney Island. Who knows, maybe another competitive eater will get arrested for crashing the event like Takeru Kobayashi did last year. An added bonus is that this year, ladies are eligible to win as much money at the contest as fellas. July 4, Coney Island Boardwalk, www.coneyisland.com; time TBA, Free. Bastille Day Celebrations Because celebrating a single act of independence every summer isn"t enough, make sure to celebrate two by commemorating France"s independence and the storming of the Bastille four days early on July 10. Break out the berets and nautical stripes to shop at French-themed market stalls and sample wine and cheese at the city"s annual Bastille Day block party on East 60th Street. July 10, E. 60th St. (betw. 5th & Lexington Aves.), www. bastilledaynyc.com; 12 p.m.