The weather has been a tad soggy lately, but Summer on the Hudson is already in full swing up and down Riverside Park.
This weekend the river-hugging West Harlem Piers at 125th Street will host the Sweet Spot Music + Art Festival. The afternoon has a West African theme–it's being called a FELA-bration in honor of Fela Kuti, the Nigerian musician–and will also include vendors selling food like African-inspired hot sauces and crafts such as jewelry. (Note: It was planned for Saturday, but has been moved to Sunday at 3pm because of the rainy forecast.)
After you've taken in the festival and the killer views, be sure to take advantage of the cool area surrounding West Harlem Piers. The park is just steps away from popular destinations like Fairway (why not do your weekly shop?) as well as fun restaurants and drink spots including Bierstrasse, Solomon & Kuff, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, and the old-school Floridita.
Of course Riverside Park is huge, which means there are tons of events planned at a number of other locations this summer, from Fort Washington Park up in Washington Heights all the way down to Locomotive Lawn at 61st Street on the Upper West Side. They include concerts, outdoor movies, exercise classes, and all kinds of events for kids. Head to the official NYC Parks website or download the complete schedule here to block out your summer weekends now.
