Battery Park City Life

JUNE 1- 30, 2009
Rose Month at BBG Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Cranford Rose Garden takes the spotlight in June, or National Rose Month in the United States. Cranford boasts nearly 1,200 different kinds of blooms, which burst with color and fragrance in spring and summer. Visitors can take self-guided tours of the garden, and guided tours are available on weekends at 3pm for guests who want to learn about old garden and hybrid varieties. For more info goto www.bbg.org

MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2009
Hungarian violinist Félix Lajkó fuses folk, jazz, Gypsy, and Jewish klezmer music to create a unique and energetic musical style. Known for his charismatic performances, Lajkó has collaborated with everyone from Japanese Butoh dancer Min Tanaka to the French rock band Noir Désir. Here he will perform with violist Antal Brasnyo as part of Extremely Hungary, a yearlong festival celebrating Hungarian arts and culture in New York and D.C. (extremelyhungary.org). Free tickets available after 4pm, day of show, at the box office. Time: 7:30pm at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts. For more info go to www.rivertorivernyc.com

TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2009
Dine Around Downtown! From 11am to 3pm, you can sample signature menu dishes from many downtown restaurants including Battery Gardens, Bobby Vans Steakhouse, P. J. Clarke's on the Hudson, SouthWest NY, Haru and many more. This event takes place at Chase Manhattan Plaza, between Liberty and Pine, Nassau and William streets. Rain date will be Wednesday June 3rd. Music will be provided by the Jazz Museum AllStars. For more info, goto www.downtownny.com. Price: $3-$6 dollars.

WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 3-6, 2009
Women's Project Lab Global warming--do you find it chilling? Let the artists of the Women’s Project Lab lead you on a journey through the World Financial Center.  GLOBAL COOLING: THE WOMEN CHILL explores environmental awareness through six short theater pieces that use spoken word, song, dance, yoga, and repurposed garbage. For more info goto www.artsworldfinancial.com FREE

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2009
Museum Mile Festival Nine of the country’s finest museums offer free admission amid a festive car-free block party with live music, street performers and activities for kids. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art at one end of the mile to El Museo del Barrio at the other, here’s your chance for a bargain crash course in New York City culture. Rain or shine. For more info goto www.metmuseum.org

FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2009
New York City Opera The River To River Festival brings New York City Opera’s popular Opera for All program to the World Financial Center’s Winter Garden with a concert performance of La Navarraise, a rarely performed Massenet opera. In this gripping one-act work, a turbulent love story unfolds against the backdrop of civil war in Spain. Performed by the New York City Opera soloists and orchestra, La Navarraise reveals the composer of Manon and Thais at his lyrical best. Place: World Financial Center. Time: 7pm FREE
For more info goto www.artsworldfinancialcenter.com

JUNE THROUGH JULY 2009
Check out Chelsea Wine Vault's website for their calendar of tastings and events for the summer. They have some upcoming events including free tastings as well as some for under$50. For more info goto www.chelseawinevault.com