UWS Weekend: Great Ways to Celebrate the Fourth in (and Around) the Neighborhood

By Tracy Zwick

Nothing says summer like the Fourth of July, and here are a few ways to celebrate both. Let’s weekend!

July 4th to July 6th

Celebrate the 4th of July with Fireworks

One of the largest Independence Day celebrations in the country takes place a stone’s throw from the Upper West Side. If you can get up on a rooftop you may not even have to leave the neighborhood to watch the fireworks display sponsored by Macy’s around 9:25 p.m. tonight. The fireworks will be set off from the Brooklyn Bridge and barges near Piers 16 and 17 at the Seaport District on the East River. If you’re looking for an outing, you can also catch fireworks at Coney Island every Friday night all summer long. They start around 9:45 p.m. and launch from the beach at West 12th Street. Watch from the iconic boardwalk, where you can grab a hot dog and enjoy the amusement park games and rides right along the water.

Take a Swim

Nothing says summer like swimming. You can hit the beach, sure, but NYC’s public pools are also an option, including the brand new one at The Davis Center in the UWS’s backyard. The Davis Center is a contemporary idyll and it’s easily accessible from upper Central Park West or Central Park North. It’s open from 11 a.m. till 7 p.m. and free, with locker rooms and concessions available on site.

Listen to Music Outdoors

The Riverside Tennis Association launched its annual summer concert series a few weeks ago. This Saturday, July 5th, they’ll host The Afro-Latineers from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the waterfront at the West 96th Street clay tennis courts in Riverside Park. Bring your friends and family, a picnic blanket and hamper filled with your favorite snacks and drinks. Free and no advance registration required.

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