5 Things To Do in Midtown This Weekend

The last weekend in June is highlighted by Pride, but that's just one of the many things to do in Midtown the weekend of June 25-26.

1. Gay Pride Parade — OK, so the first thing to do is obviously the Gay Pride Parade. We broke down everything you need to know about the parade in our weekend preview. It steps off at noon on Sunday, June 26 from 36th Street and Fifth Avenue. Bring your own pride — and a rainbow flag couldn't hurt.
2. Rooftop VIP Party — If partying is more your thing, Pride Weekend has you covered there as well. The rooftop at Hudson Terrace (621 West 46th St.) is one of the hottest spots in Midtown. It'll be especially hot Saturday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. for the only official pride event on Saturday afternoon. But be warned you will need a ticket and they do sell out.
3. The Emerald City Ball — If you find yourself in Chelsea on Saturday night, make sure to hit up SuperCinema at the McKittrick Hotel for The Emerald City Ball at 10:30 p.m. This weekend's event will have an obvious tilt toward Pride Week festivities, but it's theme is "a dance party inspired by The Wizard of Oz." Make sure you buy a ticket and wear your finest Oz costume — expect lions, tin men, and a lot of Dorothy cosplay.
4. Barbara Carroll — Birdland (315 West 44th St.) and jazz are synonymous with each other. And so is the legendary Barbara Carroll. The jazz pianist, composer and vocalist is an astounding 91 years old and still performing strong. She'll be joined by bassist Jay Leonhart. And tickets are only $30.
5. New York Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes — We're now officially in our first weekend of summer, which means it's time to check out the New York Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes. Yes, the Rockettes now perform outside of the Christmas season, too. Unlike the holiday spectacular, this show highlights many of the landmarks of the Big City, such as the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty. Yes, it's for tourists, but at some point you have to say you saw the Rockettes (and it's best to avoid Rockefeller Center entirely during the holidays).

Photo Credit: Jeremy Stebens via Creative Commons