Summer's here and the time is right....
As you plan your travels this summer, take the time to do what the locals do. There are loads of great markets, festivals, outdoor cinemas to take in. While not exhaustive, this is a snapshot of some interesting events, mostly free and open to the public to do in some of my favourite cities. I have added in a few exhibits that I want to check out as well!
New York City, NY
The Hall’s free concert series that brings live music to neighborhoods across New York City. Presented in partnership with community organizations throughout the city, the series—celebrating its 50th anniversary this season—offers dynamic performances highlighting renowned local artists from a variety of musical genres—including classical, jazz, folk, Latin music, and more.
Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage is one of New York’s most beloved, broadly accessible, free outdoor performing arts festivals. SummerStage annually presents nearly 80 free and benefit performances in Central Park and neighborhood parks throughout the five boroughs to 217,000 fans.
Los Angeles, CA
Take a load off near the end of the work week and stop by the West Patio on Thursday nights from 6 to 8pm to hear a genre-spanning mix of live music, or Friday nights from 7 to 9pm for a lineup of tribute bands courtesy of E.B.’s Beer & Wine.
Getty Summer Series-Off the 405
One of the most stunning museums in the city (if not the world) is opening its doors after dark again for their annual series of free musical performances. The Getty brings together a range of Los Angeles-based artists to transform the museum's grounds into a grand stage lit by the glow of the sunset. Held on Saturdays in June, July, and August, the Getty's concert series invites artists to respond to the museum's unique architecture and gardens while forging new connections to the collections and exhibitions through music and performance.
London, England
Photo London (May 10-14th)
The eighth edition of Photo London opens its doors at Somerset House from 11 to 14 May, Preview Day 10 May 2023.
With its widest ever global reach and a vibrant Public Programme, this year’s Fair will showcase the very best in past, present and future photography and offer visitors the opportunity to marvel at, explore and acquire some of the finest photographic works.
Live at Lunch Royal Opera House
Experience an exciting programme of free lunchtime performances inspired by the heritage of the Royal Opera House and its operas and ballets. Artists from The Royal Opera, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, The Royal Ballet and a range of guest artists perform in the newly opened-up spaces of the Royal Opera House.
Sat, Jun 24, 2023 - Sat, Jul 8, 2023
For a decade now, British Summer Time Hyde Park has brought the biggest names in the history of pop music to London's historic park.
Previous years have seen the likes of The Cure, Stevie Wonder, Duran Duran and so may others to light up England's capital city.
And to celebrate the festival's 10th birthday in 2023, they're inviting an equally excellent lineup of music greats to headline. Check the link above. This is a ticketed paid event but well worth it.
Madrid, Spain
Bowie Taken by Duffy: THe Exhibition (on now until End of June)
Rare prints and original objects from the Duffy Archive, along with new and unseen video interviews with Bowie’s collaborators, are some of the experiences that can be seen in this exhibition. It is a journey through the 1970s organised by Sold Out, in association with the Duffy Archive and Nomad Exhibitions.
This exhibition presents the work of the non-conformist and legendary British photographer Brian Duffy, with one of the most influential and talented musicians ever. During the period referred to as Bowie’s Golden Years, they worked together in five photographic sessions and on three album covers. At this time, they broke down visual and identity barriers. In 1973, they created a cultural icon with the cover of the album Aladdin Sane
Paris, France
BASQUIAT × WARHOL, À QUATRE MAINS
Basquiat × Warhol, à quatre mains," the most important exhibition ever devoted to this singular work, brings together more than three hundred works and documents, including eighty jointly signed canvases; individual works by each artist are also presented, as well as a collection of works by Futura 2000, Michael Halsband, Keith Haring, Jenny Holzer, Kenny Scharf, etc., in order to recreate the art scene of downtown New York in the 1980s
Brescia, Italy
The historic race, Mille Miglia was born in 1927 as a brainchild of two young counts, Aymo Maggi and Franco Mazzotti, along with their sports manager Renzo Castagneto and Giovanni Canestrini a motoring journalist. Together with a group of friends, they decided on a race from Brescia to Rome and back that resembled the figure eight, covering roughly 1500 km — or a thousand Roman miles, hence the name Mille Miglia (1000 Miles).
Rome,Italy
Cas Del Cinema, Villa Borghese Park
Founded in 2001, this year Casa del Cinema hosts a film festival called Caleidoscopi. Featuring an international line up that pays homage to such great Italian filmmakers such as actress Anna Magnani as well as directors Roberto Rossellini and Franco Zeffirelli, the breezy outdoor setting under Rome’s iconic umbrella pines in Villa Borghese park (Largo Marcello Mastroianni 1) alone is worth a visit.
Berlin, Germany
The lido on the shore of lake Wannsee has a history of over 100 years. It is located in the south-west of Berlin and borders directly on the natural Grunewald forest. With its extensive area that offers space for about 50,000 bathers, it is also one of the largest inland lidos in Europe. The sandy beach is a very popular with sun-seeking Berliners and tourists. Active visitors can play volleyball, football or ping-pong or rent a boat. DJ’s take over the boathouse for a real Berlin Party Vibe!
Cinema under starry skies is something Berlin delivers well during balmy summer nights. Open-Air Cinemas (called Freiluftkinos in German) are spread across the German capital in parks, old warehouses, and historic courtyards. Grab some popcorn and choose from romantic classics, thrillers, cult films, foreign language pickings, or art house cinema. Open Air Cinema Volkspark Friedrichshain is a Berliner favourite, while Open Air Cinema Kreuzberg presents a fantastic selection of original-version (non-dubbed) films. Locations for open air cinema include Potsdamer Platz, where Berlin's glittering cityscape acts as backdrop.
Frankfurt, Germany
Opernplatz Fest (26th June - 30th June)
Originally created as a fountain festival around the Lucae fountain, the square in front of the Alte Oper is now also transformed into a festival meadow. Here people meet under white parasols to enjoy international specialties with a glass of wine or sparkling wine. Artists play on different stages and thus provide the musical entertainment. Enjoy the charming mood and atmosphere on the Opera Square in the evening, when the façade of the Opera is ceremoniously illuminated.
