{"id":38309,"date":"2025-07-04T14:49:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T14:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/38309\/"},"modified":"2025-07-04T14:49:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T14:49:10","slug":"summer-2025-in-new-york-borscht-belt-laughs-butterfly-gardens-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/38309\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer 2025 in New York: Borscht Belt laughs, butterfly gardens and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the thermometer-shattering temperatures<\/a> and sweltering sun weren\u2019t proof enough, pleasant spring days are long gone.<\/p>\n

But summer in the city doesn\u2019t have to be all sweaty subway expeditions and serpentine ice cream lines down the block, however \u2014 this is the season when the Big Apple and environs truly come alive.<\/p>\n

NYers beat the heat any way they can. This month, many will flock to Snug Harbor\u2019s Sprinklerfest \u2014\u00a0a Staten Island seasonal favorite \u2014\u00a0to cool off. Lance J. Reha<\/p>\n

From budget-friendly park offerings to a one-of-a-kind urban \u201cglampground,\u201d here are The Post\u2019s must-attend activities to add to your summer calendar.<\/p>\n

Borscht Belt Fest<\/p>\n

Comedy legend Robert Klein performs onstage at Gotham Comedy Club in 2015. Getty Images<\/p>\n

Borscht Belt Fest<\/a> \u2014 a nostalgic celebration of the iconic Catskills community that thrived as a resort destination catered towards Jewish vacationers \u2014 will honor a comedy legend of the era this year: Robert Klein, whose status as an icon of American stand-up<\/a> will be feted with the fest\u2019s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award.<\/p>\n

It turns out that even before he stepped onto the stage, Klein spent his childhood summers going to small resorts and hotels in the region, which includes the Ulster County town of Ellenville, where the festival will be held July 26 and 27.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a lifeguard in a hotel, and when I was 16 or 17, I was a busboy with a bunch of other college boys. And of course, there was romance in the air,\u201d he recently revealed to The Post. \u201cYou know, my sister met her husband there in the Concord,\u201d referencing the former grand resort, now the site of Resorts World Catskills.<\/p>\n

That was when the region first inspired his love of the craft.<\/p>\n

These days, the comedy and culture scene in the \u2018Borscht Belt\u2019 region has been revived, and countless visitors flock to the area to get a taste of the golden age resort lifestyle. <\/p>\n

\u201c[One summer] I actually borrowed a tuxedo from the band and wore it over my bathing suit, and I introduced the acts. I got up and did it. That was important. I was terrified, but I was entertained,\u201d said Klein, who will make an appearance at a screening of and a panel discussion for the documentary \u201cRobert Klein Still Can\u2019t Stop His Leg<\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n

Not all of the Borscht Belt\u2019s golden-age comedians became nationwide sensations like Klein, Joan Rivers or Sid Caesar, to name a few, but many cultivated the dry, edgy brand of stand-up that audiences across the U.S. have become so familiar with.<\/p>\n

Linda Axelrod, a Joan Rivers impersonator, was a legendary performer at the iconic Friars Club. Brad Devins\/Borscht Belt Museum<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought, you know, that\u2019s a great way to make a living. And I\u2019ve never stopped thinking that. Making people laugh is a high calling,\u201d Klein told The Post. \u201cTo be remembered for doing it, and doing it well at that, is great.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 83-year-old comedian, who retired this year after six decades in the business, also shared that he has fond memories of the culinary culture that existed in the hotels.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was that kind of Jewish cooking that is completely lost \u2014 and partially in a good way, because cardiologists have made a tremendous amount of money due to that food,\u201d Klein joked.<\/p>\n

Street fair eats at Borscht Belt Fest. Brad Devins\/Borscht Belt Museum<\/p>\n

The planned screening of the documentary also stirred up plenty of nostalgia for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was wonderful to see all these great, big star comedians who say that I had some influence on them,\u201d Klein said, recalling when Jay Leno pointed to him a comedian people would say was \u201csmart\u201d and \u201cnormal,\u201d rather than \u201ccommiserating with your mother,\u201d and how Jerry Seinfeld called him \u201cthe Beatles of comedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just like the New Yorkers of the region\u2019s golden age, vacationers can make a 90-minute drive to Ellenville for the festival weekend of stand-up comedy, a street fair, history talks and Borscht Belt Museum<\/a> tours.<\/p>\n

Tickets range from $25 to $40 and are available at www.borschtbeltfest.org<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Bat Night Walk<\/p>\n

Checking out bats at Brooklyn\u2019s Marine Park is a fun, unexpected summer activity. MediaNews Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Contrary to popular belief, pigeons aren\u2019t New York\u2019s only airborne animals \u2014 in fact, they share the skies with nine native bat species.<\/p>\n

On July 31, Gotham Bat Conservancy<\/a> is hosting a Bat Walk in Brooklyn\u2019s Marine Park, where attendees can learn from NYC\u2019s leading bat experts.<\/p>\n

Aside from spotting bats as they flit through the trees and snack on insects, GBC president and principal biologist Ryan Maroney<\/a> said that the conservancy\u2019s team offers a pre-walk 411 on the animals that involves dismissing visions of Dracula and persistent bat-related wives\u2019 tales.<\/p>\n

And, no, bats aren\u2019t trying to swoop at you and get stuck in your hair, he told The Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are only three different species of bats in the whole world out of around 1,400 different species of bats that are sanguivorous [blood feeders],\u201d Maroney explained, \u201cso New Yorkers are all good. All of the bats that we have here are insectivores.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attendees will likely glimpse eastern red and big brown bats, but summertime is also prime insect season, so rarer species like the beloved northern long-eared bats and tricolor bats may make appearances as well.<\/p>\n

Bat Walk is free, but interested parties should register online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Central Park\u2019s Butterfly Garden<\/p>\n

The North Meadow Butterfly Garden is located mid-park around West 103rd Street. Stefano Giovannini<\/p>\n

Central Park\u2019s sprawling grounds are home to some of the city\u2019s most iconic summer destinations, with New Yorkers flocking to picnics in Sheep Meadow, impromptu volleyball games in the sand pits and bike rides around its many paths.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s your chance to check out one of its best-kept secrets: the North Meadow Butterfly Garden.<\/p>\n

This summer, visitors can join nature experts on a guided tour of the garden and the native wildflower meadow, where Monarch butterflies and other pollinators are almost a sure sight, especially now that the gardens are in full bloom.<\/p>\n

Perfect for families, the nature-inclined, or those looking for a low-stress, laid-back jaunt through the park, the walk will be offered on July 21, 24 and 26. Tickets range from free to $33, depending on age, and can be reserved online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

East River Tennis Courts<\/p>\n

Basketball courts, a lawn, a picnic area and BBQ pits were added to the park alongside the new courts. Tamara Beckwith<\/p>\n

Calling all racket players \u2014 the East River tennis courts at John V. Lindsay Park (from Montgomery Street to East 12th Street, hugging FDR Drive) are once again open to the public. After four long years of construction and renovations, the beloved spot is back with six brand-new hard courts, open daily from dawn to dusk.<\/p>\n

The courts, christened over Memorial Day weekend, boast better drainage systems, new benches and drinking fountains, and pleasant views of the East River and the skyline beyond.<\/p>\n

Met Museum Rooftop\u00a0<\/p>\n

The rooftop is subject to closure depending on the weather, so plan ahead if you\u2019re interested in catching the exhibit. Tamara Beckwith<\/p>\n

The popular Met Rooftop Garden is currently showing its last exhibition until 2030, due to forthcoming renovations.<\/p>\n

Jennie C. Jones\u2019 \u201cEnsemble,\u201d a striking display that combines minimalism and musical instruments to salute \u201cblack improvisation and avant-garde music,\u201d sits atop the museum\u2019s sprawling \u2014 and scenic \u2014 Cantor rooftop. <\/p>\n

Deep red, brown and black hues reflect off the installation\u2019s sculptural elements, with shifts in color and sound as the weather changes, offering a unique encounter each time.<\/p>\n

The exhibition is free with museum admission<\/a> until October.<\/p>\n

The View<\/p>\n

The slowly rotating restaurant offers top-tier views of the skyscraper-lined horizon and an up-close look at Times Square \u2014 without the area\u2019s typical crowds. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post<\/p>\n

Kiss overrated rooftop bars<\/a> and pricey harbor booze cruises goodbye.<\/p>\n

Instead, head for Times Square, where the glass-encased, rotating dining room high atop the Marriott Marquis has once again become one of the Big Apple\u2019s premier ways to take in the city\u2019s views while enjoying a meal.<\/p>\n

The NYC classic, located on the 47th floor of the hotel at 1535 Broadway, has a whole new look and attitude \u2014\u00a0and menu \u2014 after a revamp by Danny Meyer\u2019s Union Square Hospitality Group.<\/p>\n

The aptly named restaurant could be your best chance to catch a glimpse of a summer sunset against the skyline or try your luck at admiring the East River\u2019s Fourth of July fireworks<\/a> from afar.<\/p>\n

The View\u2019s executive chef, Marjorie Meek-Bradley, previously worked in high-profile Starr Restaurant Group spots. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post<\/p>\n

Crab cakes, beef tartare, spaghetti chitarra and a classic prime rib are popular menu picks<\/a>, but no visit is complete without a $10 dessert \u2014 or two \u2014 to sweeten the night.<\/p>\n

While reservations are recommended<\/a>, walk-in guests can try their luck for a table, or enjoy small plates and cocktails in the lounge and bar area, one floor up.<\/p>\n

Snug Harbor Sprinklerfest<\/p>\n

The free Staten Island ferry ride usually takes around 25 minutes to get to and from Manhattan. Lance J. Reha<\/p>\n

Central Park\u2019s brand-new pool<\/a> is convenient, sure. But for New York families looking to cool off and skip lengthy lines, Staten Island is the place to be.<\/p>\n

On July 18, the sprawling Snug Harbor Cultural Center complex will host Sprinklerfest, an annual event geared toward wholesome \u2014 and wet \u2014 outdoor fun where kids and their nostalgic parents can playfully dash through sprinklers, enjoy a spread of summery food and jam out to local music.<\/p>\n

Bonus: Snug Harbor is also home to a top-notch botanical garden<\/a> \u2014 Brooklyn and Queens aren\u2019t the only boroughs with awe-inspiring greenery.<\/p>\n

Catch the free Staten Island Ferry for this year\u2019s event, which runs from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at South Meadow. Register for free ahead of the event on the organization\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Charlie Parker Jazz Festival<\/p>\n

Jazz lovers gathered in Marcus Garvey Park for the 2024 iteration of the festival. Sean J. Rhinehart SGP<\/p>\n

Newcomers and jazz legends like Nicholas Payton, the Bertha Hope Quintet, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap, and bassist Ron Carter will celebrate the genre at SummerStage\u2019s Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, an annual three-day bash dedicated to its namesake saxophonist.<\/p>\n

The series will blend jazz classics, funk and soul from Aug. 22 to 24.<\/p>\n

The best part? The festival is free and open to all ages<\/a>, so jazz fiends don\u2019t have to brave long lines that the city\u2019s leading bars and clubs<\/a> now command.<\/p>\n

The first two nights, attendees can catch musicians at Marcus Garvey Park before the final afternoon at Tompkins Square Park.<\/p>\n

Collective Retreats\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rates for Collective Retreats\u2019 luxe tents begin at $249 per night. Collective Retreats Governors Island<\/p>\n

No, \u201cglamping\u201d isn\u2019t just for upscale upstaters or the faux-granola crowd.<\/p>\n

New Yorkers can enjoy the trend, thanks to Collective Retreats<\/a>, which boasts the city\u2019s first wellness-oriented \u201cglampground<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Enjoy a night under the open sky in the heart of the city in one of 29 luxury tents, unplug from cosmopolitan concerns with a bike ride down tranquil tree-lined paths, unwind with access to spa-style bathhouses<\/a>, and dig into nightly gourmet s\u2019mores sessions.<\/p>\n

After a snappy eight-minute ferry ride from Manhattan and Brooklyn, slow down with sunrise yoga, sophisticated seasonal dinners at Three Peaks Lodge<\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n

iFly Queens<\/p>\n

Adrenaline-addicted New Yorkers, this one\u2019s for you. <\/p>\n

iFly<\/a>, an indoor skydiving facility<\/a> in Long Island City (10-20 Borden Ave.), soft-launched its one-and-only NYC location last year, but a massive grand opening is set for July 19.<\/p>\n

Thrill-seekers aged 3 and up can gear up in flight suits and hop in the vertical wind tunnels for a truly unique experience from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If the thermometer-shattering temperatures and sweltering sun weren\u2019t proof enough, pleasant spring days are long gone. But summer…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":38310,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,1037,18061,1144,6335,246,1165,30906,5248,8160,405,403,5226,5225,5228,5227,30907,1176,1072,30908,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-38309","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-art","10":"tag-central-park","11":"tag-comedy","12":"tag-exclusive","13":"tag-family","14":"tag-lifestyle","15":"tag-marathons","16":"tag-metro","17":"tag-museums","18":"tag-new-york","19":"tag-new-york-city","20":"tag-newyork","21":"tag-newyorkcity","22":"tag-ny","23":"tag-nyc","24":"tag-stand-up-comedy","25":"tag-summer","26":"tag-things-to-do","27":"tag-travel-secrets","28":"tag-united-states","29":"tag-united-states-of-america","30":"tag-unitedstates","31":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","32":"tag-us","33":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114795522847001134","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38309\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}