By Tracy Zwick
Are you an Olympics obsessive, like me? If so, we’ve got you covered. And if not, how about some classical outdoor theater? The forecast looks great.
Let’s Weekend!
July 26 – 28, 2024
Watch: Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Opening ceremony, Friday, July 26, 1:30 p.m. ET, and continuing through August 11; Streaming on Peacock and viewable on various Comcast platforms
Comcast (parent company of NBC Universal, USA Network, & Peacock) has 7,000 hours of exclusive Olympics coverage over 17 days, 5,000 of those on Peacock, including all 329 medal events. So if you’re a Peacock subscriber, you’re golden. If not, time to make friends with someone who is, or get to your favorite Upper West Side establishment that has a big TV and streaming services. (I suggest Cafe du Soleil below.) NBC will have packaged programming in prime time, but they will not have live events during those hours, because of the time difference. Some of our UWS neighbors will be covering or broadcasting from the games, including Matthew Futterman for The New York Times and the NYT-owned The Athletic; Andrew Ross-Sorkin for CNBC, and Jocelyn Noveck for AP. If you know any UWSers who are participating in the games, coaching, competing, supporting the athletes, or visitors who are connected to the games, shout ‘em out in the comments!
Personally, I’m looking forward to Kevin Hart & Keenan Thompson doing highlights starting tonight; Colin Jost covering surfing in Tahiti starting tomorrow; and Snoop Dogg everywhere around Paris. If you missed Snoop on the Olympic Track & Field Trials call, you can catch up here. I’ll be dialed-in for his coverage of the swimming events, which start tomorrow, where he’s promised to get in the pool with Michael Phelps.
Eat Out: Cafe du Soleil, 2723 Broadway at 104th Street
If you’re not at the games in Paris, you can still get a taste of France and all the televised action right here on the UWS. Cafe du Soleil on Broadway and 104th was in full swing by 4:30 on Wednesday, two days before the opening ceremony, when France’s men’s soccer team debuted with a 3-0 defeat of Team USA. The Olympics will be on this bistro’s large-screen TV, which looms over the flag-strewn bar area, for the duration of the games. Though it’s French, fans of all flags are welcome at the bar, at tables in the restaurant, at the sidewalk cafe or in the dining shed. I’d be happy to order the Calamars Frits and a $7 cocktail during happy hour from Max the bartender, or come for Steak au Poivre, Coq au Vin, or the Boeuf Burger at one of the cafe tables within view of the television during prime time to catch up on highlights.
Eat In: International Foods of the UWS
Who has time to cook with 7,000 hours of Olympic coverage to watch? Fortunately, on the UWS we have options for food consonant with your rooting loyalties, whatever they are. Get takeout and watch the day’s marquee events while eating at home, or if you’ve watched live during the day, give your eyeballs a rest and talk the day’s contests over with family or friends at one of these UWS restaurants. Add your suggestions for international cuisine on the UWS to the comments!
Shun Lee for Chinese (43 West 65th Street); Nobody Told Me for a terrific American burger with double patties & cheddar on a Hawaiian roll (951 Amsterdam Ave.); Kouzan for Japanese (685 Amsterdam Ave.); Genarro for Italian (665 Amsterdam Ave., cash only; go Lorenzo Musetti!), Miriam for Israeli / Mediterranean (300 Amsterdam Ave.); Banh Vietnamese Shop House for Vietnamese (942 Amsterdam Ave.); Pio Pio for Peruvian (702 Amsterdam Ave.); Noche Mexicana II for Mexican (842 Amsterdam Ave.); Thai Market for Thai food (960 Amsterdam Ave.); Awash for Ethiopian (947 Amsterdam Ave.); Wau for Southeast Asian (434 Amsterdam Ave., food from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore & Thailand figure into the menu .)
Theater: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Classical Theater of Harlem, Richard Rogers Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park (123rd near Malcolm X Blvd.); Free with advance registration
It’s the last weekend of this outdoor show, which wowed my 21-year-old. So if you aren’t chained to the sofa watching the Olympics, get ye there. It’s part of Classical Theater of Harlem’s Uptown Shakespeare in the Park, and it takes viewers to the height of the Harlem Renaissance. There, four young lovers, mischievous fairies and other scamps find themselves entangled in a web of romantic chaos in a mystical forest. On Friday the performance runs from 9:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; on Saturday and Sunday it’s 8:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
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Are open streets still happening on Sundays on the UWS?
Why pay for Peacock when you can watch the Olympics for free on NBC?
NBC will have a lot of Olympic coverage, but not nearly as much as Peacock & much of it will be highlights and replays during prime time. Peacock will have every live event, replays and original content. Other Comcast platforms (USA, Telemundo, CNBC, and more) will also have coverage, but many events are digital only.
From the article “NBC will have packaged programming in prime time, but they will not have live events during those hours, because of the time difference.” Peacock has 5000 hours, including 329 medal events.
I love cafe soleil! What a great place to watch the Olympics!
Cafe Soleil Year after year good food & year after year bad service.
Let’s be honest, that makes it authentic.
I was thinking of getting Peacock tv to stream the Olympics; but then I checked Trustpilot.com
for customer reviews: many, many terrible reviews of their service, which put me off.
You might want to check that out, then decide for yourself.
It’s a month to month service (and you can cancel online). So, if you hate it, at worst you’re out a month’s charges.
There will be lots of ways to watch and it’ll be fun no matter how or where you watch the Olympics! Any decision about what platform to use will depend on what and when you want to watch. Peacock is going to have every event live and additional content plus replays, so it’s the gold standard for Olympics devotees. But not necessary for everyone.
Please give cross streets on these restaurant addresses like a real New Yorker.
LOVE THIS! WOW. Will be watching for snoop dogg.
If you can, do go see “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” before it closes. I attended last night. It was beautifully produced, musically flawless, with fantastic choreography and acting — plus it was hilarious from start to finish. Puck’s costume alone is worth the trip.
I’d like to head to Le Monde and pretend I’m in Paris!
So glad you mentioned “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Classical Theater of Harlem, Richard Rogers Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park.
I went last week and it was fabulous. I was so impressed with the stage, actors , dancers and singers and overall production. It was better than some performances that cost me hundreds of dollars to attend!
This production is 🆓
One of the best places to watch the Olympics is Bodega 88, which is a Sports Bar, has excellent food, reasonable prices, all day Happy Hour, screens around the bar and at every table. Not sure why this was not added to the list, but you won’t be disappointed. Bodega, located on 88th and Columbus. https://bodega88nyc.com
For some of us who work and need to do errands and chores on weekends, how about a heads up for some local shops like:
Tip Top Shoes
Stationary and Toy World
West Side Kids
Epices Bakery
Great recommendations as always!!