Things To Do This April in NYC
The Spring season is finally sneaking up on us. Although it’s getting a bit chilly at night, the weather is generally warm and sunny. After all, New York wouldn’t be the same without some irregular weather changes. While March tends to focus on St. Patrick’s Day events, flower shows, and Easter celebrations, April is filled with several diverse, Spring-themed activities to guarantee that no New Yorker is left out. From beer festivals and park events to theater performances and a popular film festival, here is a recap of things to do this Spring.
At the Parks
Admirer of Japanese culture or unfamiliar with it? Welcome Spring at the 35th Sakura Matsuri, Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s annual cherry blossom festival from April 30th to May 1st! The cherry-blossom fever won’t stop, as the two-day fair includes more than 60 events and performances praising traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. To honor the end of Hanami (the Japanese seasonal tradition of blossom appreciation), there will be a cosplay fashion show, bands playing traditional tunes, dance performances, and obviously lots of pink-and-white petals. Tickets are free for children (under 12) and BBG members, but cost $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors (65 and over). Visit the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens website to purchase tickets.
Central Park also has something to offer. German artist Isa Genzken took the liberty of revealing her gigantic display of 34 x 28 feet orchids (photo above) on March 1st at Doris C. Freedman Plaza, the entrance to the southeastern section of Central Park showcasing a series of installations authorized by Public Art Fund. Knowing the white orchid is mass-produced and open to interpretation, Genzken aims to show an idealized version of the plant that represents our generation. Not to forget, the art piece was installed last year at the Venice Biennale. You can see it any time until August 21st, so check out the Public Art Fund website for more info.
Cirque Du Soleil: PARAMOUR
The dream has become a reality: After wooing audiences around the world for years, Cirque Du Soleil is setting foot in Broadway with its groundbreaking and touching play, PARAMOUR. Starting April 16th, a 38-member group of actors, dancers, aerialists, acrobats, and jugglers join to tell an exciting tale of a pretty young actress in Hollywood’s Golden Age. First you need to make reservations, then prepare yourself for a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Hurry up to benefit from the $55 ticket price!
Tribeca Film Festival
Film lovers, you certainly don’t want to miss this: The 15th Tribeca Film Festival (founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff) returns to New York City to cast the light on local indie films, documentaries, and foreign films. Audiences will see the newest films from well-known actors and the best from rising filmmakers. Watch two sisters adjusting to adulthood in Adult Life Skills, a mother and daughter becoming stronger together in Katie Holmes’ directional debut All We Had, and the street art world illuminated in The Banksy Job. The Spring festival will take place across Lower Manhattan from April 13-24.
Bacon and Beer Classic
The title is enough to stir your appetite! Restaurants (e.g. Tuk Tuk Go, Tres Carnes) and breweries from all five boroughs unite in this festival from April 22-23, so you can enjoy 50+ bacon-infused dishes by the best local chefs in addition to over 100 craft beers by local, regional, and national breweries. Moreover, you’ll get to explore the iconic Citifield sports stadium on a non-game weekend, partake in various games (giant Jenga, bungee run, posing at photo booth, branding yourself with bacon and beer-inspired tattoos, etc.), prove your unbreakable bond with pork in the infamous Bacon Eating Contest, and vote at the People’s Choice Booth for your favorite bacon-infused platter. Interested? Buy your tickets now!
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Posted in Downtown, manhattan living, Midtown West, NYC Events, Other Neighborhoods, Upper East Side | Tagged April • Events • NYC
