Summer on the Hudson Presents Harlem Stage & Urban Word NYC’s Uptown Open

Together with Harlem Stage and Urban Word NYC, Summer on the Hudson is inviting the public to West Harlem Piers Park to check out Uptown Open: Summer Edition, an open mic series featuring the newly crowned youth of Urban Word NYC's 2011 Slam Team. At the forefront of youth spoken word, poetry and hip-hop movements in New York City since 1999, Urban Word NYC promotes literary arts education and youth development programs through free, safe and uncensored writing workshops for teens year-round. Bring something to read or hear others spin words into air at Uptown Open: Summer Edition every Thursday, beginning August 4 from 5 - 6:30 pm at the 125th Street Stage.

Buoyed by cool breezes off the Hudson, travel downtown to Riverside Park South to watch a multitude of original kite designs take flight at the Third Annual FlyNYC, a kite festival featuring live entertainment and workshops on kite-making and kite-flying. This one day event, which takes place on Saturday, August 20 from 11 am - 4 pm at Pier I, is sure to catch wind among hobbyists and spectators alike!

Together, Riverside Park and West Harlem Piers Park make Summer on the Hudson New York City's largest free festival of the summer. To get the latest on all of Summer on the Hudson's free events, follow the festival on Twitter @SummerOnHudson and on Facebook at Riverside Park Fund.

Fairway Market (www.fairwaymarket.com), which has been a part of the Harlem community for almost 20 years, sponsors a variety of Summer on the Hudson events in West Harlem Piers Park.

About Summer on the Hudson
Summer on the Hudson strives to present events that meet the cultural and recreational needs of the community, enrich the daily lives of New Yorkers and bring diverse groups of people together to enjoy the panoramic north and south views of the Hudson River. Summer on the Hudson programming is free to the public and seating is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating begins 1-2 hours before the event. In the event of heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be cancelled. No rain dates are scheduled. If attendance reaches maximum capacity, management reserves the right to close participation.

About New York City Parks & Recreation
NYC Parks & Recreation is the steward of more than 29,000 acres of land - 15 percent of New York City - including more than 5,000 individual properties ranging from Coney Island Beach and Central Park to community gardens and Greenstreets. Parks & Recreation operate more than 800 athletic fields and nearly 1,000 playgrounds, 550 tennis courts, 66 public pools, 48 recreational facilities, 17 nature centers, 13 golf courses, and 14 miles of beaches. The department cares for 1,200 monuments and 23 historic house museums and looks after 600,000 street trees and two million more in parks. It is New York City's principal provider of recreational and athletic facilities, programs, concerts, world-class sports events, and cultural festivals.

General Information
Riverside Park South is located on the Hudson River between 59th and 72nd Streets with entrances at 59th, 68th, 72nd Streets. West Harlem Piers Park is located on the Hudson River between 124th -135th Streets with entrance at 125th Street.

Permanent food and drink concessions (cafes) are located in the park at 62nd, 70th, 79th and 103rd Streets. Mobile vendors can be found in various locations throughout the park. Restrooms are located at 70th, 72nd, 79th, 81st (Playground), 91st (Playground), 97th (Playground), 105th,123rd and 148th (Playground) Streets.

Courtesy of Bike and Roll, bike rental is available at the 72nd Street basketball courts and the 135th Street Greenway this spring and fall from 9am - 7pm, and this summer from 9am - 8pm, dependent on weather.

Funding for public programming brought to you by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, Riverside Park Fund and Riverside South Planning Corporation. For more information, to donate to programming, or to volunteer please visit www.riversideparkfund.org or call 212.408.0219

Summer on the Hudson
August Programs
Movies Under the Stars "Terror Through the Decades"
(Pier I; Wednesdays, July 13 - August 17, dusk)
August 3: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1978)
August 10: Return of the Swamp Thing (1989)
August 17: Mars Attacks (1996)

MUSIC & DANCE

Harlem Dances (West Harlem Piers Park; Third Fridays, 6-7 pm)
Come see local dancers demonstrate their moves!
August 19: Groove With Me

Lunchtime Listen (West Harlem Piers Park; Last Fridays, 12-1 pm)
Pack some lunchtime yummies and drink in the reverberations as you enjoy the ambient acoustics.
August 26: Columbia Jazztet

Amplified Sundays (Pier I; Sunday, July 10 - August 14, 7 pm)
August 7: Galeet Dardashti and Divahn, all-female group bridging Middle Eastern cultures
August 14: Los Soneros de Oriente, fiercely danceable Cuban Son

KIDS

Play Dates! (West Harlem Piers Park; Second Saturdays, 1-4 pm)
Come have a family play date with your children and their friends at this outdoor kiddie party featuring a children's performer, arts and crafts and neighborhood fun!
August 13: Kae Burke of Lady Circus (circus)

Children's Performance Series (Pier I; Thursdays, July 7 - August 11, 10:30 am)
August 4: Bindlestiff Family Cirkus
August 11: Bari Koral Family Rock Band
August 18: City Parks Foundations presents Puppeteers from the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater

Soccer Tots & Pee Wee Basketball (71st St; Wednesdays, July 7 - August 4)
All little ones (5 and under) are welcome at this introduction to soccer and basketball.
Soccer Tots from 9:30-10:30 am / Pee Wee Basketball from 10:30-11:30 am

WELLNESS AND RECREATION

Kayaking on the Hudson (72nd St; Saturdays & Sundays, May 15 - October 10)
Join the Downtown Boathouse for 20-minute instructional paddles and explore the Hudston River first-hand. Please wear a bathing suit or shorts and a t-shirt and know how to swim. Weather permitting. No registration required. Kayaks and life vests provided.

Yoga - Evening Salute to the Sun (66th St; Wednesdays, June 8 - September 21, 6:30 pm)
End your day with relaxing Hatha yoga in a beautiful sunset setting. Suitable for all fitness levels. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring your own mat.

Pilates - Mat Class (66th St; Tuesdays, June 7 - August 30, 6:30 pm)
This total body workout is a great way to develop superior core muscle power and tone, all with a beautiful view of the Hudson. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring your own mat.

Pedal Stops (Riverside Park; Third Saturdays and Sundays through September)
Bike New York and Bike and Roll partner to provide rider-assistance-and-information stations open to all cyclists free of charge.