Eating your way through the holiday market 

Over the past five years, pop-up holiday markets in the city’s larger public spaces (Union Square, Bryant Park, Columbus Circle) have become progressively monochrome, the Brooklyn-handicraft version of the tube-sock street fair. What were once venues for unique creative endeavors are now awash with the same five booths—hilariously screenprinted baby onesies, beaded jewelry straight out of summer camp, hand-carved Peruvian wooden wine boxes, framed illustrations torn from old science textbooks and purses made from license plates—repeating over and over like an M.C. Escher nightmare.

Paradoxically, the food options at these fairs have been getting better and better. Much as summertime events like Mad Sq. Eats and the Hester Street Fair have bested plain old street fairs by acting as incubators for small businesses and emphasizing variety over sheer abundance, so too do the holiday food vendors outshine their surroundings. No longer just a sugar-rush ghetto on the outskirts of town (though don’t worry, there are still plenty of sweets), these are bona fide food courts—with seating, even!

Now, if you spend too long ogling the hand-carved wind chimes, you have somewhere to restore your faculties—and maybe decide on a few edible gifts instead. Here are some of the best bets around town:

Taste of Persia (Union Square) undersells at the same time that they massively over-advertise—their menu is nonexistent save for a couple of scrawled-on styrofoam cups taped to the side of the booth (small and large, with prices. Meanwhile, the accolades they received from their appearance at the market last year literally paper the walls. The menu is secondary, really, as all they sell is a handful of soups, chief among them the “Persian vegetable noodle soup,” another remarkable understatement. (This glory has a proper name, ashreshteh, but that was apparently too much marketing for these guys.) The soup is rich and thick, but what really makes it is the à la minute assemblage of toppings afterward. From a compartmentalized condiment tray, spoonfuls of garlic, a yogurt-like whey and fried mint, black as night, add a welcome bitter, fragrant edge to an otherwise mellow cup. Eat it immediately—the toppings do not travel.

The bratwursts at German Delights (Columbus Circle) are to street hot dogs what the neighboring booths’ vintage subway map mugs are to a street fair’s plastic piña colada horns: higher quality, classier and way less embarrassing to carry around. Though the preparation is minimal and very street-dog-like—your options for topping are sauerkraut and mustard, though they are better versions of both—the robust flavor of the sausage shines through, making embellishments a moot point. Unless you’re willing to trek up to Yorktown, there are very few sources for fuss-free German fare in the city; take advantage of this one while you can.

The winner for most original vendor is Bryant Park’s Daisy’s Grits, the “only grits shop in the entire world and all of explored space,” according to them. I believe it. There aren’t many people who would stake their livelihoods on selling gussied-up versions of the Southern staple—options include Cantonese crab and vegan meatball—but bless their hearts, they’ve gone and made it a hit. Some flavors work better than others, and you’re generally better off erring on the side of tradition—creole chicken and collard greens are particularly good—but if you’re not sure, there’s always the option to add a pile of cheese (their words!) for $1. Now that’s money well spent.

For several years now, the good people at Stuffed Artisan Cannolis (Union Square) have been hoping theirs would be the next sweet nothing to hit the big time. After having suffered through the cupcake, mini cupcake, macaron and cake pop trends, we feel the same way. Their version of the old-school favorite is smaller than the one you might find on Arthur Avenue but not so small as to be foolishly “mini”; they’re just big enough to try a couple of flavors without having to roll yourself home. Oh, that’s right—did I not mention the flavors? In addition to good old-fashioned vanilla, seasonal flavors include pumpkin pie, eggnog and peppermint bark. Grab a box for your next holiday party and get ready to outshine all those who brought cupcakes.

By Rebecca Harris

Columbus Circle, a popular access point at the southwest corner of Central Park, regularly swarms with aggressive bike rental merchants, hounding passersby like handbag salesmen peddling their wares on Canal Street. Desperate to make sales as it is, some of these people fear their livelihoods will be threatened when Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s new Citi Bike program takes effect.

The bike share is being billed a commuting alternative for New York City natives, designed for short-term bike use only—a mode of transportation from point A to point B, with individual rides over 30 or 45 minutes, depending on the package purchased, incurring overtime charges. It follows a model that has been used with success by cities across the United States and around the world.

“It’s just like you would use the subway—it’s a public transportation system,” said Michael Murphy, communications director for Transportation Alternatives, an organization that advocates non-motorized means of traveling within the city.

In theory, Citi Bike would not be used for leisurely, lengthy rides through Central Park. Still, with rates comparable to those of local rental stores and the availability of a 24-hour pass, some out-of-town riders said they would be tempted to opt for the hassle-free city option.

“If they were safe, convenient and affordable, I would very likely use [Citi Bikes] instead,” said one woman, a Charlotte, N.C., native who was biking with her family last week in Central Park. “Especially if you could just stick your credit card in and go and avoid having people harassing you like they do here, it would be much less of a hassle.”

She noted that Charlotte had recently launched a pilot test of their own bike share—the program officially opened on Wednesday—and praised the system, which follows a similar model to its New York counterpart.

John Henderson, a lifetime New Yorker and an employee at Central Park Bike Rentals, said that although he believes the program will be good for the city, he is afraid that it could “tremendously and negatively impact” how he makes his living.

“It’s going to take the food out of our mouths, really,” he said. “This is how we make our livelihood, how we make our trade. It’s going to be very difficult for us.”

Other vendors said they cannot know what the bike share has in store for their business until it happens, but hope that if the program truly caters to locals and not to tourists, it will not chip away too much at their customer base.

Andrew McKenzie, an employee at Bike & Roll, the only establishment at Columbus Circle at which available bikes rest in a visible bay rather than an off-site location, expressed confidence that Bike & Roll will not suffer extensively from the competition Citi Bike might pose.

“We’re already established, people know about us. We do have locals come here and we have locations all over the city,” he said. “We really offer the same services that the Citi Bike share will. We have good visibility, people can see all of our bikes here, they can pay with a credit card. It’s convenient and we’re well-known.”

Still, McKenzie’s optimism will be put to the test once Citi Bike is up and running. Many customers renting bikes to ride in Central Park, including visitors whose home cities have successful bike share programs underway, said emphatically that they would choose to rent bikes from the city if given the option.

Helen Marmilic, another tourist who ventured to Central Park last week to bike, said she and her husband would choose a city bike option over a local rental establishment because of a presumed upgrade in quality.

“I would be more likely to use the city bikes because I assume they would be better quality,” she said. “We’re avid bike riders, and let’s just say these [local rental] bikes leave a lot to be desired.”

The couple, who hails from Melbourne, Australia, also has experience with a bike share of their own. Melbourne launched its program in 2010, and Marmilic said her family has frequently made use of the option at home.

One bike renter expressed skepticism that Citi Bike would be implemented at all in the near future, citing repeated delays that have stalled the program this summer. The program had an initial launch scheduled for July; it was later pushed back to August. Now, the city will not give an exact start date. The Department of Transportation said last week that a launch plan was underway, but did not provide further details as to the cause or extent of the delay.

“The delay has sparked such questioning and interest because of overwhelming demand for this program,” Murphy said. “I hope they meet that demand as quickly as they can, but I would rather they do it right than do it fast.”

When the program does launch, there will be no bike stations located on the Upper West Side. The most uptown docking bay is located just on the southeast edge of Central Park, and the tentative map on the Citi Bike website shows two locations at Columbus Circle. The DOT received numerous suggestions for locations in the neighborhood further uptown but did not answer questions about how the decision was made to keep bike sharing out of the Upper West Side for now.

Murphy said he believes the complete absence of stations further uptown is a result of lower demand for a bike share in those neighborhoods. He added that he hopes the docking bays will eventually expand to all parts of the city.

“They can’t just drop them out of the sky all at once. The rollout is starting in locations where there is more demonstrated demand, around the Central Business District,” he said. “We hope to eventually have a five-borough bike share program, but obviously that will have to happen in stages.”

The waiting area of City MD

by Amanda Woods

“In the past, the emergency room was your only option for receiving care for any minor or not-so-minor injury,” said Mark Melrose, D.O., co-founder of Urgent Care Manhattan on the Upper West Side. “The ER was the only game in town.”
Today, about 40 percent of visits to hospital emergency departments are for nonurgent or semi-urgent problems, resulting in unnecessarily overcrowded emergency rooms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For many conditions, urgent care is a more suitable option. Urgent care centers offer treatment for a variety of ailments, ranging from strep throat to broken bones and fractures. In some centers,
physical exams for schools, summer camps and employment are also provided.
Urgent care is not a new concept—it has existed for about 25 years, according to Bill Foresman, the administrative manager of Mount Sinai Urgent Care—but it has recently taken off both nation- and citywide, Melrose said.
Urgent care centers are open to walk-ins, and patients are usually seen within minutes of their arrival.
Citywide urgent care is a necessity that fits into the rhythm of Manhattan life, said Samuel Fisch, the CEO of MedRite Urgent Care in Midtown East.
“An urgent care center is definitely a model that belongs to New York City,” Fisch said. “People [have] busy schedules and it’s so hard to get in to see a doctor. We felt it’s a service that’s needed in the city more than any place else.”
Many issues play into the surge of urgent care in the city.
“You hear of the financial strife of hospitals closing, and they’re having trouble providing efficient care to all patients,” said Anthony Ruvo, M.D., a co-owner of New York Doctors Urgent Care. “Patients still need to be seen in a timely manner.”
Previously, it was too expensive for urgent care centers to open a Manhattan office. The financial crisis has actually helped that situation, Melrose said, and many urgent care centers can now afford to open up.
Many of the urgent care centers that have cropped up in Manhattan are staffed by board certified emergency physicians—a huge plus in a city filled with large medical institutions, said Douglas Kaiden, M.D., a doctor at MedRite.
Below is a list of some of the urgent care centers on the Upper East and Upper West sides and in surrounding neighborhoods.

Urgent Care Manhattan

Upper West Side—199 Amsterdam Ave., 212-721-4200, www.urgentcaremanhattan.com

Urgent Care Manhattan is a walk-in medical center that provides pediatric and adult care for common illnesses, minor emergencies, wound repair and X-rays. Patients can also receive travel vaccinations, diabetes and cholesterol screenings and blood tests and lab analysis. Students are welcome at the center for school and summer camp physical screenings. Alcohol and drug testing, along with HIV screenings, are also available at the facility.

CityMD

Upper East Side—336 E. 86th St., 212-772-3627; Upper West Side—2465 Broadway,

212-721-2111; Columbus Circle—315 W. 57th St. Another Upper East Side location (1150 3rd Ave. at East 67th Street) is set to open in the fall. citymd.net

CityMD physicians treat injuries, common illnesses and pediatric needs. They also provide X-rays and conduct health screenings for employment, STD testing and flu and mononucleosis screenings. The facilities also offer travel vaccinations. Besides the four locations mentioned above, CityMD also has an office on West 23rd Street in the Flatiron District.

MedRite Urgent Care

Midtown East—919 2nd Ave., 212-935-3333, www.medriteurgentcare.com

MedRite treats non-life-threatening illnesses including upper respiratory infections, the flu and migraines and injuries such as sprained ankles. X-rays are also available on-site. The doctors on staff are board-certified emergency physicians, said Douglas Kaiden, a doctor at MedRite. The office is open seven days a week, and patients can come in for school, sports, occupational and other physical exams. Patients have the option to fill out a check-in form online before they arrive at the office.

New York Hotel Urgent Medical Services

Upper East Side—952 5th Ave., Ste. 1D, 212-737-1212, travelmd.com/site1/home/new-york-hotel-urgent-medical-services

This center handles minor medical emergencies for city tourists, and its doctors follow up with patients’ primary care physicians back home, providing detailed reports. New York Hotel Urgent Medical Services also offers 24-hour in-room medical care—doctors usually arrive at the hotel room either within the hour or at the patient’s requested time. The doctors carry portable medical equipment, and most medications are immediately available.

EMERGeCARE

Upper East Side—210 E. 86th St., Ste. 203, 212-510-8092, www.emergecare.com

This center treats various medical needs, ranging from the common cold to bites and stings to dehydration. Most major insurances are accepted here, but those who aren’t insured pay an all-inclusive $125 fee.

Manhattan Physician Group

Upper East Side—215 E. 95th St., 212-996-8000; Upper West Side—154 W. 71st St.,212-496-4600. www.mpgcares.com

Here, patients can receive treatment for common illnesses. General and vascular surgeries, as well as social services, are also available at the Upper East Side location. Internal medicine services are offered at both locations.

DR Walk-in

Upper West Side—775 Columbus Ave., 212-932-8060, www.drwalkin.com

This urgent care center is located inside a Duane Reade pharmacy. Here, patients can receive general checkups, treatments for back and joint pain, physical exams for work and school and blood sugar testing, to name a few.

The Urgent Care Center of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Upper East Side—1275 York Ave., 212-639-7081, www.mskcc.org/doctor/department/department-medicine/urgent-care-service

Memorial Sloan-Kettering patients are treated for problems related to cancer, medical and surgical illnesses and side effects of cancer treatments. Staff at the center evaluate patients’ hospital records, take a brief medical history, do a physical exam and conduct tests based on the physical symptoms. Then, the staff will determine whether the patient should go home or be admitted into the hospital.

Mount Sinai Urgent Care

Upper West Side—638 Columbus Ave., 888-407-1848, mountsinaifpa.reachlocal.net/about-us/locations/upper-west-side/urgent-care

This is a brand-new urgent care facility. Many of the urgent care doctors here also treat in the hospital’s emergency department, but at the urgent care center, they are able to treat patients more quickly and with greater privacy. This center has a unique perk—access to Mount Sinai’s clinical pathology and diagnostic services.

One Medical Group

Columbus Circle—1790 Broadway, Ste. 182, 212-530-0624, www.onemedical.com/nyc/doctors

One Medical Group offers same-day appointments for patients in need of immediate attention. On the center’s website, there is a link to the member services portal, My One, which allows patients to sign up for an appointment whenever they like. Using MyOne, patients can enter their medical history online and, after their appointments, follow up with doctors and schedule their next visit.

New York Doctors Urgent Care

Greenwich Village—65 W. 13th St., 212-414-2800; new office at 205 Lexington Ave. (Murray Hill) to open July 16. www.nydoctorsurgentcare.com

At this office, the two doctors, Anthony Ruvo and Alvaro Alban, treat immediate health needs such as acute lacerations, minor fractures and occupational-related injuries. The doctors—both with experience in emergency medicine—also handle common illnesses such as allergic reactions, bronchitis and upset stomachs. Patients usually wait only 10 minutes in the casual, café-style waiting room to be seen by a doctor, Ruvo said, and they usually spend no more than an hour total in the office.

Emergency Dentist NYC

212-486-9458; www.EmergencyDentistNYC.com

Located near Union Square, Emergency Dentist NYC specializes in treating all dental emergencies, traumas and pain relief.

Seven days a week including weekends and holidays.

Dotan Negrin, recently playing uptown. Photo by Andrew Schwartz.

by Adel Manoukian

Dotan Negrin decided to fulfill his dreams of playing music, seeing new places and meeting new people by taking his piano and dog named Brando across America, traveling with few belongings in a 12-foot Box truck the 25-year old bought off eBay.

This year, Negrin is taking his upright 88-keys and loyal canine to 100 locations across the city, his hometown. Starting in May, Negrin has already performed in the elevated Highline Parking the Meatpacking District, becoming the first person to haul a piano up there. As of yesterday, Negrin has played atColumbus Circleand in front of Alice Tully Hall inLincolnCenter.

Although his next locations are uncertain, this piano man keeps moving and updates his twitter and blog followers with his current location.

Fresh out of college in 2008, Negrin began auditioning and performing small roles in non-union shows and was unhappy with the idea that he needed to spend more time looking for jobs than actually working one. He originally decided to travel and play to earn money but soon realized that he really wanted to see what it would be like to travel without laid out plans. Negrin’s main goal now is to inspire people with his music although he still wants to release an album with original music and develop more skills. He has been playing the piano for about 7 years.

This is Negrin’s third road trip, his first being from April 4 to September 5 and his second one being from November 22 to December 12, both in 2011. He has already visited popular cities and landmarks on both coasts, even performing in National Parks.

His adventures and who he encounters while performing can be read in detail on his blog, pianoacrossamerica.com.

Negrin also blogs about difficulties he encounters while out playing, including rain, and most recently the NYPD. Depending on where he plays, police sometimes threaten to give him tickets. Challenges last year include pushing the heavy piano, which has put strain on his back. One year, the piano, while being maneuvered, fell on and broke his hand.

Despite the hardships, Negrin is enthusiastic about inspiring and meeting more people. He hopes his next road trip will be documented more thoroughly with camera crews.

Film Forum

This West Village hub of art house cinema continues its quest to promote new indie and underground releases, as well as a wide array of repertory selections. It remains the only autonomous nonprofit cinema in New York City. Selections this summer will include a tribute to silent film maestro Erich von Stroheim, including his Greed, The Merry Widow, Queen Kelly and Sunset Blvd. During the month of June, Film Forum will run a tribute to spaghetti westerns programmed by Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan and Bruce Goldstein. Flicks will include Death Rides a Horse, Django, The Big Gundown and the Man with No Name trilogy. 
filmforum.org 

Downtown

IFC Center

This downtown mecca for independent feature films, documentaries and short films offers several series for cinephiles this summer. Short Attention Span Cinema: Films from the New York Times’ Op-Docs will play short opinion documentaries covering events both historical and current, with a special evening screening with filmmakers and guests from the Times’ editorial staff to be scheduled for June. Additionally, the Queer/Art/Film spring/summer series, curated by Adam Baran and Ira Sachs, continues, including Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom, I Could Go On Singing and Rope. Ifccenter.com 

Downtown

Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre 

A few select Monday evenings this summer, New Yorkers can climb up to the Elevated Acre to catch free outdoor films. The first screening, on June 18, is of Stella Days, a new film starring Martin Sheen as a priest in 1950s Ireland who struggles to reconcile a modernizing country with its cultural and religious traditions when he brings electricity and Hollywood to his small town. June 25, Collaborator, starring Martin Donovan and David Morse, brings two childhood pals with different lives into a violently tense hostage situation; the film is Donovan’s writing and directing debut. The final installment, July 9, is Side by Side, a documentary that follows Keanu Reeves through the history of cinema as he interview Hollywood icons like James Cameron, David Fincher, David Lynch, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas and Steven Soderbergh.
June 25-July 9, seating opens at 6 p.m., films begin at 8 p.m. or sunset. The Elevated Acre, 55 Water St., rivertorivernyc.com/events/film.

Downtown

Movies Under the Stars in Riverside Park

As usual, Bryant Park’s summer film schedule features a slate of timeless classics. But let’s face it: That lawn is too damn crowded. Fortunately, for those who’d prefer not to trip over a dude in a bowler hat and miss the climax as we search for our blanket whenever we use the Port-a-Potty, there are a number of other city parks with outdoor films. Most notable is Pier 1 in Riverside Park, which follows up its invasion film-themed 2011 with an eclectic mix that includes Cinema Paradiso (July 11), Amélie (Aug. 1) and Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (Aug. 8). Chairs await you, and you won’t need to arrive four hours early to snatch one. 
Wednesday evenings, July 11-Aug. 15, 8:30 p.m.; free. Pier 1, Riverside Park South, 70th St. at the Hudson River, riversidepark.org.

Upper West Side

Film Society at Lincoln Center

Getting psyched for Prometheus, Ridley Scott’s maybe-prequel to his classic 1979 space horror film, Alien? May 25-June 3, the Film Society pays tribute to the 74-year-old director with a retrospective of his versatile career. Past and Prologue: The Films of Ridley Scott will present a complete inventory of his work, including Blade Runner and the three movies that earned him Oscar nods: Thelma & Louise, Gladiator and Black Hawk Down. Also, in preparation for the 50th annual New York Film Festival this fall, the Society will take a look back at highlights from the first 49 years. Films include Gates of Heaven, The Last Metro, My Own Private Idaho and Hoop Dreams.
Filmlinc.com.

Citywide

50 Years of the New York Film Festival

One of the world’s premier film festivals, the NYFF is leaping into its 50th year with a series of screenings showcasing the most important movies from years past, from memorable mainstream successes like 1993’s The Piano to lesser-known gems such as the 1994 flick Lamerica, about Italian con men in Albania. The 50th edition of the fest kicks off in late September, but there’s no better way to prepare yourself than with these screenings—and perhaps some afternoon sunbathing on Lincoln Center’s divine Illumination Lawn.
Ongoing, locations and times vary; $13. filmlinc.com 

Citywide

French Institute Alliance Cinema

The annual Films on the Green series, celebrating French and American literature brought to the big screen, is presented by French Institute:Alliance Française and never fails to inject a bit of joie de vivre into the summer film scene. This year’s movies, screening in parks around the city beginning June 1, include OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies, a spy film parody from Michel Hazanavicius—the Academy Award-winning director of The Artist—as well as the cult favorite animated film Persepolis and the Truffaut classic Jules et Jim. Packing a baguette and some brie is practically mandatory.
fiaf.org 

Citywide

Rooftop Film Festival

The Rooftop Film Festival kicked off its 16th year of “Underground Movies Outdoors” on May 11 with a collection of the best new short films from around the world. Be the first of your friends to see one of the many independent films that are being premiered at the festival. Venues include the Old American Can Factory in Brooklyn, Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens and Solar One, a solar-powered arts center in Kips Bay. Movies are preceded by live music and followed by a Q & A with directors and an after-party.
Through Aug. 18; $12. rooftopfilms.org.

Midtown

HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival

Now in its 20th year, this film festival in the heart of Midtown will feature a fun slate of classic and more recent films that will compete with blocks of glittering skyscrapers for your attention. Kicking off with Alfred Hitchcock’s legendary Psycho, the fest will include screenings of The Wizard of Oz, Roman Holiday, Rebel Without a Cause, All About Eve and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Keep in mind that this series features some of the more competitive seating in town, so get there early and plan to be cozy with your neighbors.
June 18-Aug. 20, films start at sunset. Bryant Park, enter at E. 40th St. & 5th Ave. bryantpark.org.

Midtown

Intrepid Museum Summer Movie Series 

Spending a summer evening aboard the magnificent ship Intrepid is draw enough, but throw in some crowd-pleasing military-themed movies, and it becomes a must-see. On Friday, May 25, bring your aviators, decide who in your group is Maverick and who is Iceman and memorize the lyrics to “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling,” because the series kicks off with Top Gun. Subsequent screenings include Spider-Man (that one from way back in 2002), the J.J. Abrams-directed Star Trek, Jason Segal in The Muppets and everlastingly glorious classics Jurassic Park and The Goonies. Films start at sunset on the Flight Deck, but come early for prime seating.
May 25-Aug. 17, 7:30 p.m.; free. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86, W. 46th St. & 12th Ave., intrepidmuseum.org.

Midtown

New York Asian Film Festival 

This self-described “two-week orgy of popular Asian cinema” celebrates its 11th year this summer. Highlights include the opening night screening of director Pang Ho-Cheung’s Vulgaria, a movie about movie-making that was shot in only 12 days and revolves around gangsters, lawyers, the sex film industry and all manner of sleazy fun; the director himself will be attending. Korean action director Chung Chang-Wha will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. His 1972 movie Five Fingers of Death, which will be shown at the festival, launched the American kung-fu obsession when it was one of the first Asian films to find Western success.
June 29-July 12; $13. Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, 165 W. 65th St., and The Japan Society, 333 E. 47th St., facebook.com/nyaff.

Upper East Side

Central Park Film Festival

Now in its 10th year, this festival is known for pairing themed movies—past favorites have included Coal Miner’s Daughter and Dreamgirls—with live DJs for a week every August. The gates around Rumsey Playfield open at 6:30 and visitors are free to relax and frolic—no glass bottles!—until the screenings begin. The roster for this year’s fest has yet to be announced, but there’s rarely a bad pick in the bunch; with a whole summer guide’s worth of things to do, who knows how much time you’ll even have left in your schedule.
Aug. 21-25; films start at 8. Rumsey Playfield in Central Park, enter at E. 69th St. & 5th Ave., centralparknyc.org.

Upper West Side

Manhattan Film Festival 

The MFF is in its sixth year as a festival and its second year as a forum for indie filmmakers to actually make some dollar bills off their work. Fifty percent of ticket sales go right back to the filmmakers, so they can hopefully continue to make awesome independent movies instead of working at Starbucks. The lineup is still being created, but highlights from last year include Under Jakob’s Ladder, which won for best period piece and best actor, based on the true story of a chess game that led years later to the captivity and torture of its victor in a Soviet detention camp. Winner for best dramatic feature, White Irish Drinkers centers on two brothers in 1975 Brooklyn who plot to rob a theater during a Rolling Stones concert. It’s safe to say you can expect some interesting on-screen scenarios again this year, plus the knowledge that your ticket is directly supporting the filmmakers.
June 21–July 1. manhattanfilmfestival.org.

Downtown

Sunshine at Midnight at Landmark Sunshine 

Landmark’s Sunshine Cinema is a consistently cool place to see movies both underrated and wildly popular. In addition to their excellent concessions menu (vegan sweets, pizza-stuffed pretzels, Peet’s Coffee), they’re holding midnight screenings of a grab bag of favorites almost every weekend this summer. Flicks to catch include Raiders of the Lost Ark, Zoolander (which promises special guests), Rosemary’s Baby, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Duck Soup. The most amazing part of the series has to be The Room, which runs Saturday, June 2, as well as Aug. 3 & 4, when director/writer/star Tommy Wiseau will be there in the flesh. The film has become a cult classic, and Wiseau has attempted to market it as a “black comedy,” which may be accurate now but clearly wasn’t the intention when the film was made. It’s so excruciatingly bad that it guarantees a hilariously good time. Bring friends and be prepared to say, “Wait, are they serious?” at least 90 times during the first half-hour of the movie.
$10. Sunshine Cinema, 143 E. Houston St., landmarktheatres.com. 

Upper West Side 

Museum of Arts & Design 

This is the place to go for random screenings of strange movies from the ’80s, like the June 15 showing of Mother’s Day (on Father’s Day, natch), a low-budget Charles Kaufman film about a trio of ladies on a camping trip who are kidnapped by a pair of sadistic brothers led by their deranged mom. Good summer fun! Or check out Hellroller on June 22, about a serial killer confined to a wheelchair who doesn’t let his disability get in the way of his passion for slaughter. If horror isn’t to your taste, see Steven Soderbergh’s Sex, Lies, and Videotape screens on June 21 or Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story on June 28, or catch any of the curated series (like the one of “videos exploring inter-dimensional travel”) in July.
$10. 2 Columbus Circle, madmuseum.org.

May 3-5 

Pier 36—Basketball City, South & Montgomery Sts.

bikenewyork.org

Presented by Eastern Mountain Sports, this expo will have manufacturers including Shimano, Raleigh, Timbuk2, TrailRail and VIVA showcasing their stuff, as well as hands-on programming throughout the three-day event. Thinking about touring the country on your bike? Eastern Mountain Sports will be giving an intro course to bike touring that caters to both newcomers and experienced bikers. BE Chic, BE NY will be hosting a fashion show that will display the latest and greatest in bike gear, bike wear and bikes in general. Adding to the plethora of bike stuff will be authors David V. Herlihy and the famous Bike Snob NYC (Eben Weiss), who will be giving talks and signing their books. Since this event precedes the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, Recycle-A-Bicycle will be doing free bike repairs.

Moonlight Ride—
Central Park

May 4, 10 p.m.-12 a.m. 

Columbus Circle (at the intersection of Broadway, Central Park South, 59th Street and Central Park West)

times-up.org

On the first Friday of every month, Time’s Up! New York City’s direct action environmental group, takes bikers on a peaceful, approximately 10-mile ride through Central Park that begins at 10 p.m. and ends around midnight. Start off this year’s Bike Month by taking this scenic, relaxing ride through the dark in Central Park with trusty bike guides who ensure a leisurely trip infused with all the nature this great city has to offer. Grab your bikes, bring your helmets and lights (optional) and enjoy this unconventional aspect of New York City nightlife you never expected. This moonlit bike ride happens all year round, so if you miss the May foray, you can still partake on the first Friday of every month (June 6 is the next ride). May 4 is also Star Wars Day, so if you have a light saber handy, you should definitely bring it along for the ride.  May the fourth be with you!

Blessing of the Bikes—Morningside Heights

May 5, 9:30 a.m.

St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave., at 112 St.

212-316-7540

Fix Your Bike Workshop—Brooklyn/Lower East Side

Throughout May

Sundays 6 p.m., Wednesday 6:30 p.m. (6th St., off Bedford Avenue right under the Williamsburg Bridge)

Thursday 6:30 p.m. (156 Rivington St. on the LES in the basement)

times-up.org

Do you have a bike but haven’t ridden it in a while because you’ve been procrastinating fixing that flat tire? Time’s Up! New York City’s direct action environmental organization, is giving everyone the opportunity to learn how to fix their own bike. Use their tools and stands while experienced mechanics stand by to answer questions and monitor your work.

TD Bank Five Borough
Bank Tour

May 6

Ride through all five boroughs during the TD Five Borough Bank Tour. Regular registration is closed but you can still participate in the Ride for a Reason charity event—volunteers are welcome as well. For more information, visit www.bikenewyork.org

Street Skills Class

May 16, 7-8 p.m.

Bicycle Habitat, 250 Lafayette St., betw. Prince & Spring Sts. 

www.bikenewyork.org

Bike New York is providing this free, 90-minute crash course in what it means to be a street-smart biker. In a city like ours, the dangers of the road are obvious, with honking and screeching tires and irate cabbies hell-bent on running you over. As an interactive class, students will learn through real-life scenarios of city riding that will help them ride safely and stress-free. Certified bike instructors teach the class on the rights and responsibilities of bikers on the road, understanding traffic principles and various other aspects of street riding. This course will provide adults and teens with knowledge that will help them drift and swerve through traffic congestion with the grace and eye of Bobby the Urban Hawk.

Bike Commuting 101

May 17 and 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Eastern Mountain Sports, 530 Broadway, at Spring St.

bikenewyork.org

Are you terrified to ride your bike through the bustling, borderline psychotic streets of New York City? Then attend Bike New York’s free, ongoing Bike Commuting 101 workshops, two of which will be held during Bike Month at Eastern Mountain Sports in Soho. The one-hour presentation will inspire and reassure bikers willing to take their horseless, two-wheeled chariots to work. This informational workshop will include tips on bike selection, bike usage, riding in daylight and darkness and other useful tips to ensure a safe and seamless ride through the streets. No biking is involved during this workshop, but there will be giveaways!

Spring Brooklyn Bike Jumble

May 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

336 3rd St., Brooklyn 

nybikejumble.com

Join the New York Bike Jumble this Bike Month for their fourth annual Brooklyn Bike Jumble at the Old Stone House in Park Slope’s Washington Park. This event is a bike flea market where vendors will be selling used bikes as well as new and used bike accessories to all who cannot afford a $500 fixie to jumpstart their eco-friendly, economically sound biking lifestyle.

National Bike to Work Day

May 20, 7 a.m.

Give the environment a break and get some exercise all on the same day with National Bike to Work Day. Ride to work instead of driving, and pick up a free iced coffee and a bite to eat at various stations around the five boroughs. Join members of the Department of Transportation who will lead the ceremonial kickoff ride Friday, May 20 at 7 a.m. at Poe Cottage at Grand Concourse and Kingsbridge Road in The Bronx.

Bike Brooklyn Beer Blitz 2012

May 20, 12-4 p.m.

370 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn

levysuniqueny.com

Expand your knowledge of New York City’s alcohol production by taking a $25, four-hour bike tour of Williamsburg, East Williamsburg and Bushwick. Levy’s Unique New York tour guides will take riders on a biking excursion into the city’s brewing neighborhoods. Riders will compare brewing buildings from their original, 1880s-1920s build to how they currently stand and function in these historic neighborhoods. The $25 fee includes a mid-tour pit stop at Matt Tourney’s for a quick brew, then it’s back on the road again. Aside from the breweries, the tour will also include a look at German churches, banks and social halls. So BYOBike and RSVP to Matt@levysuniqueny.com.

For more bike coverage visit nypress.com.

LeWitt rose to fame during the late 1960s with a series of wall paintings that were part of an effort to break free from the limitations of canvas.

“LeWitt’s genius comes through in this artwork, which is a major work of precision with its curves and bands in vibrant color that completely fills the space. It will become a landmark and is a great tribute to one of our major artists,” said MTA Chairman H. Dale Hemmerdinger.

The artwork by the late LeWitt is part of a larger MTA project for the Columbus Circle station, which is expected to be complete by March 2010. Other planned renovations include new flooring, lighting, a passenger restroom and a retail arcade.