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Stuart
Foreign.
Alison Stewart
This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. It's summer.
Co-host 1
We're in a city that's right. For the rest of this hour, we're continuing our Summer in the City series at all of it, we've been going burrow to borough to uncover some of the hidden gems, outdoor spaces and events
Alison Stewart
happening all, all around your neighborhoods.
Co-host 1
Today we continue with Manhattan. Summer can feel like an endless list of things to do. There's always a new exhibit to visit, a live performance around the corner. But perhaps some of the best experiences in Manhattan are tucked away in outdoor gardens or a drop in dance class. We're joined by Alexa Weiser, author of the weekly substack letter City Happenings, which highlights a curated list of happenings across the boroughs. Welcome to all of it.
Alexa Weiser
Thank you. Excited to be here, listeners.
Co-host 1
We want your thoughts. What are some underrated places in Manhattan you think people should go? What's your favorite Manhattan summer ritual? What are some hidden gems? Call in or text us right now at 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. While we get some calls lined up, let's jump into your list. We just finished talking about the documentary you and Me in Chinatown. So let's stay in town. We'll talk about the Chinatown Storytelling Festival, which is taking place. What's this festival festival about?
Alexa Weiser
Yeah, this is a really cool event put on by Think Chinatown. It's coming up later this month and they're essentially putting together a bunch of screenings, talks, just a bunch of events and programming where you can learn about the history of the neighborhood. Some of them are even as funky as going on tofu tastings around the neighborhood. So it's a lot of just fun ways to experience and immerse yourself in Chinatown.
Alison Stewart
Now, is it free? Do I have to sign up?
Alexa Weiser
How do I go? So most of them are free. A bunch of the screenings, recordings, you can just RSVP for free online. I think Chinatown, a few of the workshops are low cost, maybe $5, but mostly pay as you wish.
Alison Stewart
You went last year, right?
Alexa Weiser
I did not go to this one last year.
Co-host 2
Okay. All right. Tell us about Shop and Taste Workshop. Is that happening?
Alexa Weiser
Yes. So that's the tofu tasting. This is the thing I'm most excited about this year. You essentially stop by a bunch of different stalls across Chinatown and get to taste different tofu flavors, which just seems very fun.
Co-host 2
That seems really cool. Also, let's talk about another market that people can go to. I don't know how you pronounce this. It's M A, U M. I had
Alexa Weiser
my Korean friend pronounce it for me. I'm sure I will not do it correctly, but she said maum Market.
Co-host 2
Maum market.
Alexa Weiser
Okay.
Co-host 2
And where is it being held?
Alexa Weiser
So this one's in the seaport. It's all open air this weekend actually and it's full, fully featuring Asian owned businesses. So small local designers all the way up to mid size brands. And you can find anything from fun home accessories, jewelry, really a wide variety.
Co-host 2
We are continuing our Summer in the City series. Today we're discussing Manhattan. Joining us is Alexa Weiser. She's the author of City Happenings, which is a weekly substack letter highlighting things to do and burrows and things that you might not be on your list, but it should be. Listeners, we want to know what you think about this. Where should you go in Manhattan? What's your favorite place? What's your summer ritual in Manhattan? The number is 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc Alexa, there's another maker's fair you suggest called Dilly Dally. It's described on its website as Dilly Dally is a curated fare for, for people who value the detour. What makes this particular fair different from other fairs?
Alexa Weiser
Yeah, so this is actually a new one this year, which you don't find often. So very excited about it. It's really focused on works from artists that are still evolving. So think of it as like up and coming artists or folks with works in process. So I would think about it as a great way to discover someone new before they've been found.
Co-host 2
It's been kind of interesting. When you look on the website, it says like no resume or no CV needed. Just tell us what you're working on.
Alexa Weiser
Yeah, they have applicants from really all over, so I'm excited to see their final list that they end up with. They have some of their vendors already listed, but I know it's still being curated and I think it'll be an interesting cohort of people.
Co-host 2
Even if you're not that much into shopping, what else can you do at the fair?
Alexa Weiser
Well, there's some food stalls happening at Dilly Dally as well. And even if you're not into shopping, if you're into like art or figuring out what you might want to put on your walls, I guess that's a form of shopping. But there'll be quite a few drawings and paintings as well.
Co-host 2
I saw some classes.
Alexa Weiser
Oh yes There are also some workshops, a handful happening throughout the weekend. I think there's one on still life drawing. I'm not sure what the others are, but they seem really fun and like, immersing you in the art world.
Co-host 2
I signed up for one this morning.
Alexa Weiser
I love that during this I was
Co-host 2
like, I never heard of the Dilly Dally Fair. And I thought, like, this sounds really interesting. I'll try it out. We'll see what happens. That's the Dilly Dally Fair. All right, let's talk dance. You suggest an amazing list of dance series taking place in August. Let's talk about Sunset salsa at Pier 76. Tell us a little bit about Sunset Salsa.
Alexa Weiser
This has to be one of my favorite finds in New York. It's just amazing to see strangers coming together and just dancing outside. I am certainly not a dancer myself, but they make it really accessible. They have a class for beginners that they start out with, and then everyone kind of just joins in on the dance floor outside. And it's just a. It's really cool to see your city coming together in that way. It's happening every Thursday.
Co-host 1
And does it happen when does it happen?
Nora
At night?
Co-host 1
At daytime?
Alexa Weiser
In the evenings? Yeah, I believe 6:30 or 7 is when it kicks off.
Co-host 1
Do I have to bring a partner or is that.
Alexa Weiser
You do not.
Alison Stewart
Oh, really?
Alexa Weiser
I actually went alone, which was, you know, definitely outside my comfort zone. But people pulled me out, people taught me how to dance, and I had a blast.
Alison Stewart
You have to tell me more about the experience.
Co-host 1
So you go. You're by yourself. How does it start?
Alexa Weiser
So it starts the first, I want to say 45 minutes to an hour is actually a beginner class. So they're expecting you to either be on your own or be with some friends, but not know anything. And then after that, it opens up where everyone kind of can come out onto the dance floor. And so it just evolves more from the class into a free dance kind of.
Co-host 1
That's called Sunset salsa at Pier 76.
Alison Stewart
There's more salsa in your list.
Co-host 1
Summer salsa socials. What's this about?
Alexa Weiser
So those are happening in the court of the Hispanic society. I think it's monthly as well, but again, very accessible. This one I haven't been to, but a friend recommended. So I'm actually checking out next week. And just seems like a fun way to meet new people. I hope it is as beginner friendly because I am certainly no expert.
Alison Stewart
And where does it take place?
Alexa Weiser
That one's in the Hispanic Society right in their main court.
Alison Stewart
We are continuing our Summer in the City series. Today we are discussing Manhattan listeners. We want to know about your favorite things to do in Manhattan. What's your favorite place? Give us a call or text us now at 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. We've got a text that says Central park anywhere and everywhere. So much fun and completely free. This text says Battery Park City. They have so much programming for kids and you could practically fill every day with activities for kids from gardening, storytelling and playtime outside. It's amazing. Give us your calls and texts. We want to know what you would do in Manhattan this summer. Your favorite thing to do in Manhattan this summer. 212-433-9692. Okay. In Spanish Harlem, there's El Barrio Music Speaks Fish Festival. It's been around for three or four years. Where is it located? What's the festival's main focus?
Alexa Weiser
Yeah, so this one's in Spanish Harlem. It is not just dance. There's actually a lot of, like food stalls and vendors all around. So it's more of like a night market than solely focused on dance. But I did go last year and it turned into a full dance floor as well. So just a fun place to spend an evening, grab dinner and meet new people.
Ad Voice 1
All right.
Co-host 2
So you also talk about the Battery Dance Festival. This is full of some pros.
Alexa Weiser
Yes, this is for the pros. They do have some workshops that you can go to where they can like teach you dance on the side, but it's mostly focused on performances happening later in August. And you get performers from really all around the world. And it is completely free. And you just get access to professionals, which is hard to come by.
Co-host 2
What kind of dancing is done at the Battery Dance Festival?
Alexa Weiser
I believe it is all kinds. I know there's some focus on contemporary, but it's pretty wide ranging. I know they have folks from all around the world coming in.
Co-host 2
You wanted to shout out some community gardens nestled in a few neighborhoods. The first one is in the East Village 6 BC. Tell us about this space.
Alexa Weiser
Yeah, the East Village has such a wonderful cluster of community gardens. It's a great place to go to escape just for a moment, the city. If it's becoming overwhelming, you can walk through a bunch of paths. They actually have a little tree house in there. When I stopped by last year, they even had some live music going on. So it's a really great place to spend an afternoon, bring a book, post up for the day. But really all around the city. There's community gardens tucked away, so encourage everyone to find their neighborhood garden.
Co-host 2
Let's talk to Nora in Sleepy Hollow. Hey Nora, thanks for calling, all of it. You're on the air.
Nora
Thank you for checking my call. I love the show. I'm a devout listener. I have pitched this before. I bust in Central Park. I'm a solo unamplified acapella singer. Me and my old voice, as Billie Holiday said, singing sort of the songbook to a jazz kind of prism. But also the Ellington song you never heard and the Riding heart never heard and also some Dylan songs and other more contemporary stuff. And I've been doing it for, oh, about 10 years. And hey, New Yorkers come by. The tourists are wonderful. They applaud, they sit there and listen to songs in a row, which is a triumph with everybody on devices. And then they walk off and don't even drop a buck in the tip bag. So I need my peep. And another favorite is the Jazz Mobile concert free around New York City this Wednesday. Tomorrow it's going to be Houston Person, great old school tenor sax player and a great band. And Houston Person is now in his early 90s and playing as beautifully as ever. And they're free. And another thing I'll plug the season is over but the Classical Theater of Harlem free play in Marcus Garvey park. And there are sometimes pre shows with classical singers. The Classical Opera of Harlem I think it's called. And chambers music. It's just wonderful and a pop up market. And I keep telling Ty Jones he's got to get himself on your show before the season starts. I don't know if he did, but it seems a natural.
Co-host 2
Thank you so much for calling in. Some of those were on your list as well. This says, I recently went to the Bellevue Sobriety Garden, which is a gorgeous secret garden behind Bellevue Hospital. There are many beautiful little niches to sit and it's covered in handmade mosaic art pieces created by Patience. It's unlike anywhere I've been in New York City. That sounds beautiful.
Alexa Weiser
I love that. I want to do a tour of all the community gardens and learn about them all.
Co-host 1
You suggested El so brilliante. Is that correct?
Alexa Weiser
Yes. So this one has a lot of programming which I like. If you want to have a bit more of a schedule, they have meditation workshops which I went to and I think they have talks and just a lot going on all the time. So good to check out. If you want something with a little bit more structure and want to be
Co-host 1
outside in the Upper west you suggest the Westside Community Garden. What kind of cool events do they host?
Alexa Weiser
There's a. Yeah. They also have a lot of programming going on. They are not too far from Shakespeare in the park, so they have annual events around a Shakespeare festival going on where you can get readings before you line up for some free theater.
Alison Stewart
This text says Bryant park has a lot to offer during the summer. There's always a lecture, a class, an activity to check out, all for free. This text says visit the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Spaces at Sea Squat Lower east side.
Alexa Weiser
Amen.
Alison Stewart
Amazing punk history listeners, we want to know where should you go in Manhattan this summer? Where have you been? That has been a truly great summer experience. Our number is 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc. You can help report this story. It's our Summer in the City series. Today we're discussing Manhattan. Alexa Weiser is the author of City
Co-host 2
Happenings, a weekly substack letter. She's highlighting things to do in Manhattan.
Alison Stewart
I wanted to mention Fort Tryon Park. You could spend the whole weekend there.
Alexa Weiser
The whole weekend. I feel like people go for the cloisters, but there's just so much to do across the gardens, walking tours, there's a ton of pop up music festivals. So a really great place to spend a beautiful outdoor weekend.
Co-host 2
Let's talk about live music. Let's talk jazz.
Alison Stewart
You are recommending the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival.
Co-host 2
When does this happen?
Alexa Weiser
So this is kicking off later in August as well. It is all around the city. Some of the headline shows are more focused in Harlem around Lincoln center, but there's pop ups even at community gardens that you can go to. And they also bring in other artists. So they use it as an opportunity to promote art beyond jazz. So there's an exhibit by local artists that I'm really excited about in Marcus Garvey park and lots of other just local artisans that come up through the
Co-host 2
festival that is the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. One of our callers, I think it was Nora, she mentioned the jazz mobile. First of all, how would you describe the Jazzmobile?
Alexa Weiser
It is as the name implies, I will say it is mobile. It moves around and pops up around upper Manhattan and Harlem. I believe they stick to that area and put on shows. So definitely look out for the calendar, the schedule. Some things pop up as soon as two weeks in advance. So it's worth keeping an eye on.
Co-host 2
Let's talk about if you want to make one of these places a date spot. Where can you eat and see Jazz at the same time.
Alexa Weiser
My favorite. It's a mix of happy hour eating. Jazz is poppy. I love it. It's in the East Village. You can post up on their sidewalk if you want to stay outside. They have jazz, I believe, every Wednesday night. Really great date night. Highly recommend.
Co-host 2
Let's talk about a few inside places. The weather has been not great lately. It can get really hot. It can be pouring rain the next day. So tell us about the center for Book Arts.
Alexa Weiser
I love this one because it just goes to show how Manhattan has so much art and culture going on. We even have a center fully dedicated to books as an art object. So they're an organization. It's kind of a mix between a museum and a workshop space. But they host everything from author talks to bookbinding workshops. And it's a really great place to escape the heat.
Co-host 2
Listeners, we want to hear from you. What are your favorite things to do in Manhattan during the summer? Do you have a favorite place? Did you visit someplace that was spectacular and you want to tell other people about it? Our number is 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. We're considering we're continuing our summer in the city, talking about Manhattan. Joining us is Alexa Weiser. She's the author of City Happenings, which is a weekly substack letter highlighting things to do and boroughs that you might not might miss. A question for you. When did you start this newsletter?
Alexa Weiser
I started it just over two years ago.
Co-host 2
And what made you start it?
Alexa Weiser
I was curious about a little bit curious about a lot of things is what I like to say. I feel like a lot of people have one niche. They dive in deeply. They're really into theater. They're really into art. And I was living in Manhattan, wanted to experience a bit of everything and tracking this list for myself. And pretty soon some of my friends started asking for it. So I just decided to go for it and publish it.
Alison Stewart
That is so smart of you to
Co-host 1
just like take your passion and put it to practice.
Alexa Weiser
Exactly. It's mostly for myself. That's how it started. I love to figure out what's happening all around the city.
Co-host 1
All right, let's go back to inside places. I had to ask that question. You recommend Poster House? There are often guests on this show tell people about Poster House.
Alexa Weiser
I love that they're a really cool museum. They have exhibits. I mean, focused on the poster as an art form, which is very niche. They had one that was focused on shoes last year that I really Enjoyed where you could even go in and workshop your own Nike shoe. So a lot of like iconic posters come through and they have some really great First Fridays programming as well that I would check out.
Alison Stewart
And you suggest Poets House in Battery Park City. Tell us about Poets House.
Alexa Weiser
Yeah, it's another beautiful space, very well air conditioned. So great to escape from here, but you can essentially overlook the Hudson. Go in, read a book. They have some summer series as well for poetry readings that you can stop by and a little bit off the beaten path. I feel like a lot of people don't know about that one.
Alison Stewart
And where is it?
Alexa Weiser
That one's in Battery Park City.
Alison Stewart
This says Shout out to Hustle Club. They have bi weekly open social dance sessions and also start with a dance lesson if you're a beginner. At the Imperial Ballroom Dance center in Chinatown. A room full of joy. We also got a text that says Bryant park has free yoga in the park Wednesday night six to seven. So fun. With incredible instructors Rodney Yee and Colleen Seman. Yee will be teaching class August 12th. They make yoga accessible to all levels and safe. They've been teaching together for decades and some of the most influential instructors in the US today.
Co-host 2
That's sort of interesting.
Alison Stewart
When you're by yourself and you want to go try one of these events. What advice could you give people who want to go out? They want to go to one of these social dances. They want to go to something, but they're by themselves.
Alexa Weiser
What I always tell myself is not to put too much pressure on myself to just go for 15 minutes and if I'm really hating it, I can always go home. But to just show up and be fully present. Put your phone in your pocket, try to talk to one or two people and more often than not you'll end up loving it. Meeting someone new and, you know, really immersing yourself.
Co-host 2
Let's talk to Stuart in the East Village.
Alison Stewart
Hey, Stuart, thanks for calling, all of it. What's going on?
Stuart
My pleasure. Thank you for taking my call. Yeah, I'm going to shout out the East River Resiliency Park. The thing that, you know, was built in lieu of Sandy for resiliency. They started. The park that I go to starts around at the Delancey street at the Williamsburg Bridge. It goes north, just a couple blocks because they're building north north, but from the south it's great. They did a really great job raising that whole bank and then also like creating hills and like natural setting there. It's really, really, really cool. It's like A new high line.
Co-host 2
It's great you put something on my list to do.
Alison Stewart
Thanks, Stuart. Let's talk to Deborah from Brooklyn. Hey Deborah, thanks for calling, all of it.
Deborah
Hi, thank you so much for taking my call. So my favorite thing to do, especially when we get out of town guests is we go to the New York Botanical Garden. But we don't just go to the garden. We go to the conifer collection which is all the way in the back. There's usually nobody there. That's where all the propagation houses are. And I bring watercolors and watercolor paper and even my friends who say they are not artists, they explore a little side to themselves and we just paint. And then when we're hungry, we walk over to Arthur Avenue and get the best non Italian food in the city.
Co-host 2
That sounds like a great time. Thanks for calling in. We got a text that says Studio Museum in Harlem, Roof Garden and the stoop. Then dinner at Maison Harlem. Got another text that says Bruce's Garden, Public Garden in Inwood. So if you had just one day or two days in Manhattan, how would you spend it? Alexis.
Alexa Weiser
Alexis, Excuse me, Impossible question, but I, I wouldn't try to do it all. I think I would pick one or two neighborhoods and really go deep. I recently had an amazing day in Chinatown where I started off on a self guided food tour. Ate a bunch of dumplings, went vintage shopping at Ludlow Flea. You can find something there all the time. I got a great vintage tea and I ended up ending the day with a glass of orange wine at Purcell. It was a wonderful, wonderful day. But I like to just go really deep and walk a neighborhood across all their streets and discover it organically.
Alison Stewart
I did that a couple weeks ago. I went to Ridgewood, Queens and just spent the day going from Vintage Shop. I had lunch at Pierogi Boys, I had something delicious at Rudy's and it was just like I just dropped in
Co-host 1
and it was a great way to spend the day.
Alexa Weiser
In Ridgewood, Queens, it's the best way not to just drop in, but really go deep.
Co-host 1
Is there any other place that you wanted to shout out that you didn't get to?
Alexa Weiser
There is one Salma Gundi Club, which I recently discovered and I hope I am saying correctly, it is an organization and it's an art center in New York, but it's not one of the big museums or galleries. And I think Manhattan is such a center of art and culture and I feel like there's so much focus on the bigger spaces, but there's so many historic buildings where the architecture is so beautiful that are actually also open to the public. So definitely check out that one.
Alison Stewart
Alexa Weiser's substack letter is called City Happenings. Thank you so much for joining us.
Alexa Weiser
Thank you for having me.
Alison Stewart
And thanks to all of our callers. If you want to know about any
Co-host 2
of these places, it'll be available on our transcripts. They should be transcripts. They should be up on the website tomorrow.
Alison Stewart
Coming up on ALL of it in Ann Patchett's latest novel, a chance encounter at the Metropolitan Museum of Art reunites two people and changes the course of their lives.
Co-host 2
It is titled Whistler. And coming up, she joins us to discuss.
Alison Stewart
That's next after the headlines.
Co-host 2
This is all of it.
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Episode: Summer in the City: Manhattan
Date: August 4, 2026
Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Guest: Alexa Weiser (Author of the "City Happenings" Substack Letter)
Theme: A curated exploration of Manhattan’s underrated summer gems – cultural events, community happenings, outdoor escapes, and beyond.
In this installment of the "Summer in the City" series, Alison Stewart and her team focus on Manhattan, seeking out both well-loved and lesser-known summer activities with guest Alexa Weiser, the writer behind "City Happenings." The episode weaves together Weiser’s recommendations with listener call-ins and texts, spotlighting outdoor festivals, art fairs, live music, community gardens, and welcoming spaces for both newcomers and seasoned city dwellers.
Chinatown Storytelling Festival
Maum Market (Seaport District)
Dilly Dally Maker’s Fair
Sunset Salsa at Pier 76
Summer Salsa Socials (Hispanic Society)
El Barrio Music Speaks Fish Festival (Spanish Harlem)
Battery Dance Festival
6BC Garden (East Village)
El Sol Brillante
Westside Community Garden (Upper West Side)
Listener Shout-Outs:
Charlie Parker Jazz Festival
The Jazzmobile
Poppy (East Village)
Center for Book Arts
Poster House
Poets House (Battery Park City)
| Segment | Timestamp | | ------------------------------------- | ---------- | | Introduction and Guest Welcome | 00:09–00:54| | Chinatown Storytelling Festival | 01:33–01:95| | Maum Market | 02:40–03:07| | Dilly Dally Maker’s Fair | 03:58–05:07| | Sunset Salsa / Dance Events | 05:32–07:13| | Jazz Festivals and Venues | 13:34–15:03| | Community Gardens Discussion | 09:12–12:32| | Center for Book Arts & Poster House | 15:20–17:04| | Advice for Solo Attendees | 18:38–19:11| | Neighborhood Deep Dives Advice | 21:05 |
The episode is a love letter to Manhattan’s indomitable summer energy, highlighting how the city’s nooks, community gardens, street fairs, and pop-up performances define the season. Listeners are encouraged to pick a neighborhood, let curiosity lead the way, and not be afraid to dive in—whether solo, with friends, or alongside fellow New Yorkers. Alexa’s approachable curation and the eclectic mix of recommendations leave residents and visitors with a full, flexible—and affordable—agenda for summer exploration.
For more info:
Find Alexa Weiser’s “City Happenings” on Substack for updates and weekly city picks.
Full transcript and resources available at WNYC's website.