New York is full of surprises. Here are a few outings which are guaranteed to astound, excite or inspire, coming up this summer.

• Thrilling Fireworks- Macy’s sponsors one of the most incredible displays of fireworks anywhere in the country every 4th of July. Come to Hudson River Park on Monday night at 9pm at the conclusion of this year’s Independence Day holiday to witness in person with about 3 million spectators in addition to many millions nationwide who will watch the show on television. The largest of the nation’s fireworks shows, Macy’s will send over 40,000 blasts into the sky above the Hudson River for an unforgettable celebration of the 235th birthday of the USA.

Macy's Fireworks 2010

• Family Fun- This year’s Columbus Avenue Summer Festival will take place on Sunday, June 19th on Columbus Avenue (Duh!) between 86th and 96th Streets. Enjoy the wonderful arts, crafts, plants, antiques, games, entertainment. Get there early and have a fantastic day!

• Monkees Music- Whether or not you are old enough to remember the hit TV series “The Monkees” you will enjoy a trip down musical memory lane with this iconic pop-rock band. This rock group was artificially assembled not as musicians (although it so happens they were and are musicians) but mostly as actors to play the parts of musicians in a zany, cool and much loved late 1960s TV show. Go see them in two New York locations, part of a larger nation-wide tour, this Thursday evening, June 16 at the Beacon Theatre, and on Friday night June 17, at the Capital One Bank Theatre in Westbury, New York.

The Monkees Then

The Monkees Now

June is a great month to feast on some of New York’s special theatrical presentations. From Broadway to Central Park to some less known venues, treat yourself to some amazing performances this month.

•    Fish Eye: Playwright Lucas Kavner brings to life the love story of Max (Joe Tippett) and Anna (Betty Gilpin) which is a told in a loopy, time-warped fashion, but the narrative is never disjointed. Adrienne Campbell-Holt, director, makes sure everything runs smoothly while the cast delivers natural, convincing performances. Catch “Fish Eye” until June 18th at the HERE Arts Center, 145 Sixth Avenue, $18. Phone 2112-352-3101 for more information.

•    All’s Well That Ends Well: Until June 11th you can bask in the wonderful New York tradition of enjoying, for free, a Shakespeare play in Central Park. One of Shakespeare’s ‘tragicomedies.’ The story tells the unlikely romance of Helena, a simple doctor’s daughter, to Count Bertram, an unwilling partner in this forced marriage, believing that he is marrying below his station.  The play is full of twists and turns, one of Shakespeare’s “bed trick” plays, a case of mistaken identity during a sexual encounter. Delacorte Theater, June 11th through July 30th.

Shakespeare in the Park

•    Best of Broadway 2011: Fast-paced, great songs, fabulous dancing and exciting staging and choreography will make you glad you stepped out for some great musical nostalgia.  Check it out at the Tropicana Showroom in Atlantic City, 2831 Boardwalk, 800-843-8767

Are you a first time visitor to 31489, 1843404, 00.html”>New York and for some reason only have one day to take in the main attractions of this world class city? Well here are some great ideas of what to do and see which will give you a real feel for the real New York. These are sites which go beyond the usual recommendations such as Times Square and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

1.    Time Warner Center is so much more than just a mall. Despite what cynical New Yorkers might say, this mall in many ways says it all about New York. Just check out the fourth floor alone. There you will find among two of New York’s best restaurants, and most expensive, too. Located on Columbus Circle which is at the southwestern corner of Central Park, you can dine in either “Per Se” of Chef Thomas Keller, or have an amazing sushi experience in Masa, named for chef and owner Masa Takayama.

2.    West Village—Take a stroll here and see for yourself what a New York neighborhood is really like. You will find quaint brownstones along surprising tree-lined streets which are basically in the same state they were in when they were new, during the 19th century. Be sure to take a map, the street layouts are not exactly logical; West 10th street somehow magically intersects with West 4th.

3.    Film Forum—Believe it or not, more movies are filmed in the streets of New York than anywhere else, even Hollywood. So it should come as no surprise that there is a place New York film lovers flock to to see the films others can only hope to read about. Among some of the pickings are provocative independent films, documentaries, and foreign art films hand-picked from the world’s most prestigious film festivals. A must see for film fans.

You live in New York- starting enjoying living in the greatest city in the world. How? Well if you like theater, I have some amazing suggestions of things to see that will take you on a journey of self-discovery, entertainment, and thoughtful contemplation.  Here is a list of a few possibilities, but not anywhere near an exhaustive list:

•    HerStory:

Follow the lives of four women who are poets-by-night and during their off hours are dealing with the struggles of vanity, cultural confusion and difficult life circumstances.  There will be a performance of HerStory on March 7th at 7:30pm at the Kumble Theatre for the Performing Arts, at 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, New York. For more information call 718-488-1624.

•    The Male Ego:

March is “Women’s History Month” and in recognition of this the Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts is inviting women over the age of 18 to take part in a unique presentation of theater which will include a provocative discussion. Five men will reveal their innermost feelings and thoughts as they relate to the western Freudian concepts which our society uses to explain typical male behavior. Join in this unique experience on Wednesday, March 9th, at 7:30pm at the Kumble Theatre for the Performing Arts, at 1 University Plaza, Brooklyn, New York. For more information call 718-488-1624.

•    Compulsion:

This is the world premiere of the story of Sid Silver, who in 1951 decides that he is on a mission to guard and disseminate what is one of the 20th century’s most moving and provocative accounts of the 20th century, Anne Frank’s diary. Compulsion was inspired by the story written by Meyer Levin, and brings together playwright Rinne Groff and Director Oskar Eustis for an unforgettably powerful production guaranteed to challenge and entertain. A co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Yale Repertory Theatre featuring Hannah Cabell, Matte Osian and Mandy Patinkin. The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street,  NY, NY. For more information call  212-539-8500. From now until March 13th.