Just a New York minute!

In our last post, we covered museums, dancing, theater, and even a Swedish celebration of the Summer Solstice! If one thing’s for sure, it’s that there’s always plenty to see and do in NYC. This June, as you plan your NYC vacation, be sure to mark your calendar for some of these exciting events happening during your visit:

Taste of Times Square: As one of NYC’s longest-running food festivals, the Taste of Times Square event is a must-taste attraction! More than 50 area restaurants participate, many of which are in the famous Restaurant Row. A ticket gets you samples from local eateries. June 11 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visit TimesSquareNYC.org for more information.

Broadway Shows & Plays – If you haven’t tried one of our Broadway Theatre Packages yet, this is the time to do it.  While the theatres will be there year after year, the same shows may not. Even long running shows come to a close eventually, so be sure to catch the classics like Chicago, Phantom of the Opera, and The Lion King. Other exciting shows happening in June include: Mary Poppins, Evita, Sister Act, Once, Peter and the Star Catcher, Death of a Salesman, Ghost, Memphis, Jersey Boys, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rock of Ages, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, War Horse, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Harvey.

The Mermaid Parade: This is one of Coney Island’s most exciting summer events. Since 1983, participants from all over the world have come to NYC decked out as mermaids as they walk through Coney Island before taking a dip into the Atlantic Ocean. June 23 at 2:00 p.m.

National Puerto Rican Parade: On June 10, join this annual parade on Fifth Avenue as you watch floats, musical performances, and millions of spectators celebrate Puerto Rican culture. You may even spot a few Puerto Rican celebrities, who are known for making an appearance at this grand event! Visit NationalPuertoRicanDayParade.org for more information.

Ready to make your NYC vacation unforgettable? Plan these events into your New York City vacation with the help of NYCTrip.com. We offer customizable vacations and NYC vacation packages to help you design the visit of your dreams. We’ll help you see – and do – more this June than you ever could have imagined!

Some events that bring you to the city are once in a lifetime – others happen every year. Whether you visit often or are planning a trip to NYC in June, there’s no way you should miss out on these fantastic shows, events and concerts:

Museum Mile Festival – Every year, ten of the museums on a mile stretch from the Met to the El Museo del Barrio open their doors and the street is filled with a block party like you’ve never seen. Billed as NYC’s biggest block party, the Museum Mile Festival is a must-see event that celebrates culture, art, and the vibrant heartbeat of New York City. Free, rain or shine, on June 12 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Summer Stage – The City Parks Foundation offers free outdoor concerts in various parks across the city. A nice relaxing concert in the park is just the thing to end your Walking Tour of NYC, seated in the lawn of NYC for a show you’ll never forget. For more information and events, visit SummerStage.org.

Summer Solstice Celebration NYC: It’s a chance to celebrate the longest day of the year in the Big Apple, so why not make it a part of your New York City vacation? This event showcases many free events around the city, including free yoga classes in Times Square. Also, don’t forget to stop by Battery Park to see the Swedish Midsummer Festival – it’s the largest Summer Solstice celebration in the country. June 20^th.

NY Midsummer Night Swing: Dance the night away with dance festivals that run from June until July at Lincoln Center in NYC. There’ll be live music and plenty of chances to see and practice dance styles of all kinds. Runs June 27 until July 16. Costs ranging from $17 to $160, depending on the event.  Visit LC.LincolnCenter.org for more information.

If you can’t make it in June for the Museum Mile Festival, be sure to check out our packages to see how you can get into various other sites and attractions for free with your New York City Vacation Package as well.  With so much to see, you don’t want to miss a thing! Stay tuned for another post with more must-see events in NYC in June. 

Why would one designer push the feminine boundaries while another uses ‘bad taste’ in color to play up the female beauty ideal? Imagine watching iconic women discuss their work in the Spring Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Spring 2012 Costume Institute exhibition, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, brings a simulated conversation between two iconic Italian designers: Elsa Schiaparelli (born in 1890) and Miuccia Prada (born 1949). There will be a discussion of fashion and form topics such as:

•  The use of detailing and focus below the waist in "Waist Up/Waist Down" 
• Hats by Schiaparelli and fabulous footwear by Prada
• The twist in taste that uses both good and bad of fabrics, prints and color in design in "Ugly Chic”
• The "Hard Chic" style of menswear used in feminine wear
• Age appropriate styles are challenged in "Naïf Chic
• 18th and 19th century styles as seen in "The Classical Body," as well as "The Pagan Body"
• Eastern culture, silhouettes and Eastern fabrics in "The Exotic Body" 
• "The Surreal Body” the final showcase

For fashionistas looking to go on a shopping spree while visiting the Big Apple, this exhibition lends a different perspective and experience to make your visit even more memorable. Let the whole family see that the city is more than just a great place to find the greatest fashions and deals, but also to learn. To see fabulous styles up close and personal like this is a great experience for anyone who has a passion for fashion!

The exhibit runs from May 10 – August 19^th, 2012 so be sure to check with NYCTrip.com when planning your trip to the Met. We can help you save and see more of what the city has to offer with our Met Vacation Package. Mark your calendars – it’s going to be a wonderful exhibit.