(Riverside Park, Pier 1 @ 70th Street, New York, NY 10024) (7pm) Every Saturday grab your blankets, picnic baskets, and candles! The Riverside Clay Tennis Association is once again hosting its series of sunset concerts on the tennis lawn overlooking the Hudson River at 97th Street. (FREE) Event Website

(New York Botanical Garden, 200th Street and Kazimiroff Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10458) (10am - 6pm, Tu - Su) Travel to southern Spain in just an afternoon. This unprecedented exhibition explores the collaboration of sublime nature and dramatic design that created an earthly paradise. The New York Times says Spanish Paradise: Gardens of the Alhambra invokes "the mythic imagery of the place and its hold on the imagination." ($20) Event Website

(See website for details) The Festival will feature a vibrant mix of companies from New York and abroad. The Downtown Dance Festival provides a unique opportunity for both professional and emerging dancers and choreographers to present original works of high artistic merit in a free public forum. Event Website

(Leslie/Lohman Gallery, 26 Wooster St, New York, NY 10013) (noon-6pm) This show spans twelve centuries and three continents of LGBTQ culture and history, as interpreted by over thirty artists, archivists, and academics. Exhibit topics include the life of musician Billy Strayhorn, mapping wimmin's separatist land, the 19th century demonization of a transgender African-American person named Peter Sewally, the White Night Riots, and the Mattachine Society. Pop-Up Soho will host a number of events, including an opening reception, movie screenings, a music recital, and two original plays. Pop-Up Soho is presented with the Leslie/Lohman Gay Art Foundation and the Center for Lesbian And Gay Studies at CUNY, with fiscal sponsorship by MIX NYC. (FREE) (212-431-2609) [email protected] Event Website

(Venue #3: CSV Kabayitos, 107 Suffolk St, btwn Rivington & Delancey, New York, NY 10002) (varies) Male Matriarch, the autobiographical story of its star and creator Amir Levi, challenges postmodern gay identity through his cultural desire to create a nuclear family based on traditional values. Strongly influenced by the love stories of his mother and grandmother, Amir shares his Builla’s rhythm, his mother’s taste in curly-haired men, and thinks he’s destined to be the next matriarch of his Mexican Israeli Jewish American family. ($18) Event Website

(Lincoln Center, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023) (See website for details) Mostly Mozart Festival is home to period-instrument ensembles, dance presentations, new-music groups, composers- and artists-in-residence, visiting orchestras and ensembles, opera productions, late-night concerts, films, and lectures and artist discussions. Its presentations and concerts span five venues and five centuries of repertoire, from the distant edge of the Baroque to the cutting edge of our own time. Event Website

(See website for details & locations) (Varies) The largest multi-arts festival in North America, with more than 200 companies from all over the world performing for 16 days in more than 20 venues. ($15 $18 @ door) Event Website

(See website for details & locations) The largest multi-arts festival in North America, with more than 200 companies from all over the world performing for 16 days in more than 20 venues. In addition to 1200 incredible performances. Event Website

(See website for details) (Varies see website for details) New York’s largest free performing arts festival, brings over 100 performances to eighteen parks throughout the five boroughs. With performances ranging from American pop, Latin and world music to dance, spoken word and theater, SummerStage fills a vital niche in New York City’s summer arts festival landscape. Event Website

(IFC, 323 Sixth Ave at West 3rd St, New York, NY 10003) (Various) DocuWeeks is here! Don't miss out on Better This World, The Boy Mir, Darwin, Miss Representation, Unfinished Spaces, and the NY Shorts Program: The Barber of Birmingham, Maya Deren's Sink, The Home Front. Filmmakers available for Q&A at many evening screenings. ($13) Event Website

(Fossil, 111 Spring St, New York, NY 10012) (Varies) Excited to see a bevy of vintage items selected by the staff, as well as leather goods and accessories that are synonymous with the label. Fossil also goes retro and promises to transport us to another time with '70s style; an obvious reoccurring trend this Fashion Week that will wear us well into next winter. Event Website

(59E59 Theaters, 59 East 59th St, New York, NY 10022) (Varies) Tony Award®-nominated playwright Charles Busch’s latest comedy, Olive and the Bitter Herbs is a comedy about connecting to the people in our lives—those with us and those who have passed on. ($45+) Event Website

(Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036) (Varies) scar® and Emmy Award® winner Robin Williams makes his Broadway debut in the New York premiere. he lives of two American Marines and an Iraqi translator are forever changed by an encounter with a quick-witted tiger who haunts the streets of war-torn Baghdad attempting to find meaning, forgiveness and redemption amidst the city’s ruins. Rajiv Joseph's groundbreaking new American play explores both the power and the perils of human nature. ($60+) Event Website

(59E59 Theaters, 59 East 59th St, New York, NY 10022) (Various) his collection of new American shorts includes new works by Christopher Durang, Tina Howe, Neill LaBute and Will Scheffer, the latter of whom's work The Green Book, follows a gay couple who returns home from Queens to "comfort the destructive power of familiar love". ($18) Event Website

(Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020) (Varies) This epic spectacle takes audiences into a fantastical and suspenseful world where highly-acrobatic feats are heightened by original live music and interactive multimedia elements. Zarkana transforms the grandest stage in the world into a world of unreality as only Cirque du Soleil could imagine. ($60+) Event Website

(St. James Theatre, 246 W 44th st, New York, NY 10036) (See website for details) 10 weeks only! HAIR tells the story of a group of friends choosing to speak up and sing out in celebration of love, life and freedom. The first great rock musical, it has some of the most rousing and soulful songs ever written for the stage, including "Let the Sun Shine In," "Easy to be Hard," "Good Morning Starshine," "Aquarius" and the infectious title song, "Hair." ($47+) Event Website

(Riverside Park, Pier 1 @ 70th Street, New York, NY 10024) (see website for details) Whether you want to learn to dance or pull up a blanket to see a movie (FREE) Event Website

(10th Ave @ 30th St) The High Line Rink will be one of the only open-air roller-skating venues in Manhattan, with regularly scheduled theme nights and other fun public activities for New Yorkers and visitors of all ages. ($12) Event Website

(Midtown Theater, 163 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10024) (Various) Cary Hoffman turns his celebrated PBS special into a very true, hilarious, and poignant one-man musical play about his love and idolization for his hero Frank Sinatra. Hoffman authentically sings just like his hero, as he weaves over 20 classic Sinatra songs, creating a musical score about his lifelong obsession. ($55-$75) [email protected]

(Sideshows by the Seashore Theater & Coney Island Museum, 3006 West 12th St & 1208 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224) (Varies) Every Thursday & Friday during the Summer season, The Great Fredini & Bambi The Mermaid present the popular Burlesque on the Beach program- A revival of the most glorious and notorious of the "girlie revues" in Coney Island history. The sumptuous decor, fabulous bubble machine and swell girls make burlesque one of Coney's hottest attractions! Every week brings all new shows with outrageous acts. Event Website

(SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam Street, New York, NY 10013) (Varies) Baba Brinkman uses hip-hop as a vehicle to communicate the facts of evolution while illuminating the origins and complexities of hip-hop culture with Darwin as the inspiration. A provocative, hilarious, intelligent and scientifically accurate. Brinkman performs his clever reworkings of popular rap singles as well as his own originals to illustrate Natural Selection, Sexual Selection, Evolutionary Psychology and much more. ($39+) Event Website

(Sofia's Downstairs Theatre, 221 West 46 St, New York, NY 10036) (Varies) the story of Miss Abigail, the most sought-after relationship expert to the stars (think Dr. Ruth meets Emily Post), and her sexy side-kick Paco, as they travel the world teaching Miss Abigail’s outrageously funny “how-tos” on dating, mating and marriage! ($69+) Event Website

(Union Square Theatre, 100 East 17th St., New York, NY 10003) (Varies) Traces is poetic and explosive, humorous and thoughtful. Combining traditional acrobatic forms with street elements such as skateboarding and basketball, mixed in with some theatre and contemporary dance, it surprises, awes and delights at every turn. ($87) Event Website

(The McKittrick Hotel, 530 West 27th St., New York, NY 10011) (See website for details) London's award-winning PUNCHDRUNK and the legendary space is reinvented with SLEEP NO MORE, presenting Shakespeare’s classic Scottish tragedy through the lens of suspenseful film noir. Audiences move freely through a transporting world at their own pace, choosing their own path through the story, immersed in the most unique theatrical experience in the history of New York. ($95) Event Website

(Pier 40, Pier 96 and 72nd St @ Hudson River) (See website for details) This volunteer organization, the Downtown Boathouse offers free river kayaking to the general public. Instructors provide the equipment and tutorials, so all you have to do is show up in a swimsuit or shorts and strap on a life vest. (FREE - $35) Event Website

(First Park, Houston @ 2nd Ave) (Varies) A mobile laboratory traveling to nine major cities worldwide over six years. Led by international, interdisciplinary teams of emerging talents in the areas of urbanism, architecture, art, design, science, technology, education, and sustainability, the Lab addresses issues of contemporary urban life through programs and public discourse. (FREE) Event Website

(DR2 Theatre, 103 East 15 St, New York, NY 10009) (Varies) Emmy-winning actress and comic Judy Gold returns to the New York stage in a brand-new show, building on the success of her show 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, funny-woman Judy Gold returns to the stage in this hilarious look at her life through the lens of the classic sitcoms of her youth. ($45) Event Website

(Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th Street, New York, NY 10036) (Varies) Openig bight. Starring the acclaimed international stage and film actor Daniel Radcliffe (Equus on Broadway, the Harry Potter film series) and five-time Emmy Award® winner John Larroquette (Night Court, The Practice) in their Broadway musical debuts, this Pulitzer and Tony Award®-winning “Best Musical” is the hilarious fable of executive dreams and office romance. ($52+) Event Website

(Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52nd St, New York, NY 10019) (Varies) A high-flying new musical comedy based on the hit DreamWorks film and the incredible true story that inspired it! eatures a Tony Award-winning "dream team," with a book by TERRENCE McNALLY (The Full Monty, Ragtime), an irresistible score by MARC SHAIMAN & SCOTT WITTMAN (Hairspray), choreography by JERRY MITCHELL (Hairspray, Legally Blonde) and direction by JACK O'BRIEN (Hairspray, The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). ($65) Event Website

(Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036) (Varies) FOLLIES comes to Broadway for an historic limited engagement, complete with its 28-piece orchestra and a cast of 41—led by such Broadway babies as two-time Tony® winner Bernadette Peters, four-time Tony® nominee Jan Maxwell, two-time Tony® nominee Danny Burstein, three-time Emmy nominee Ron Raines and Olivier Award winner Elaine Paige. Purchase Between August 7 – October 2 - $89 Orchestra/Front Mezz (reg. $135/$125) $65 Mid Mezz (reg. $95/$85) Order August 7 – October 2, Use code 2BUDDY ($45+) Event Website

(New World Stages, 340 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019) (Varies) Returning to NYC after its groundbreaking 12-year Broadway run, Rent, set in NYC's East Village, is a modern take on the classic Puccini opera, La Boheme. It tells the unforgettable story of a group of young artists learning to survive, falling in love, finding their voices and living for today. ($65) Event Website

(Foxwoods Theater, 214 West 43rd St, New York, NY 10019) (Varies) Previews November 14th Opens December 21st. Drawing from over 40 years of Marvel comic books for inspiration, Spiderman - Turn Off The Dark, spins a new take on the mythic tale of Peter Parker, a teenager whose unremarkable life in Queen's is turned upside down - literally - when he's bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to the ceiling. Event Website

(American Museum of Natural History, 175 Central Park West, New York, NY 10023) (Varies) A new exhibition this spring focusing on the monstrous size and impressive survival of these beings with hands-on computer activities and collections of sauropod specimens. The main attraction will be a life-size sauropod dinosaur that is about 60 feet in length. ($24) Event Website

(The High Line, Gansevoort St to 34th St, btwn 10 & 11th Aves, New York, NY 10011) Three sculptures resembling the skeletal framework behind advertising billboards. These blank forms emulate the abounding indicators of the economic recession, such as empty storefronts and "For Sale" signs. Beck's sculptures have the illusion of depth when viewed from the front, but as visitors move past them, the side views reveal that they are completely flat, cut from perspective drawings and built like theater props. (FREE) Event Website

Tuesdays at 7pm, 3rd St & Prospect Park West; Wednesdays at 6:45pm, 236 West 73rd St; Saturdays at 9:15am, 236 West 73rd St Event Website

(Fighthouse, 122 West 27th St, New York, NY 10001) (5 - 7pm) Metro Wrestling is New York City's gay freestyle wrestling club. Gay, straight, male or female, all are welcome to attend. Event Website

(CBST, 57 Bethune St, New York, NY 10014) (10am) Event Website

(Chelsea Art Museum, 556 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011) (3 PM) Join us for docent-led tours of our exhibition galleries. Highlighting works from both our permanent collection and our rotating exhibitions, tours are free with museum admission and start from the bookstore. (Free!) (212 255 0719) [email protected] Event Website

(Big Apple Ranch, 39 West 19th St, New York, NY 10011) (9PM) Founded in 1997, Big Apple Ranch has hosted a weekly country-western dance for the gay and lesbian community virtually every Saturday night for eleven years. Our huge dance floor welcomes people of all dance-abilities, and our friendly people go out of their way to make sure everyone has a good time and keeps coming back. The Ranch’s growing crowds are proof that the fun of partner dancing is contagious Polish up your boots, and come on and see what all these cowgirls and cowboys are talking about!! Event Website

(Chelsea Art Museum, 556 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011) (3.00 p.m.) Docent Tours are held in Chelsea Art Museum every Saturday at 3.00 p.m. (free)

(Comix, 353 west 14th street, New York, NY 10014) (10:30pm) Hosted by NYC Sensation Sweetie (Wig Out, Charmed Life, Project Runway, Starbooty), The colorful ‘cast’ of contestants is an ever-changing weekly roster with some of your favorite and undiscovered talent from across the country in a wacky glamour-fest with brainy categories, comedic camp and live musical performances. This laugh out loud romp is a NYC treasure where the audience decides the outcome of the evening and gets to bestow the winner with the coveted ‘Drag Off’ crown! ($25 + 2 drink minimum) Event Website

(Duane Park, 157 Duane St, New York, NY 10012) (8pm & 10:30pm) A weekly decadent, top-shelf burlesque show at the intimate this supper club with guest host MURRAY HILL and a bevy of burlesque bombshells for the 2011 spring season. Three-course dinner (anything from the menu). Beverages, tax and gratuity are not included. There is no additional cover charge. ($60) Event Website