Long Island Summer Events Guide 2011

Sunday, July 31

Long Island Punk Rock BBQ 2011 @ Sinclair’s Pub
Featuring Murphy’s Law, Antidote, No Redeeming Social Value, Last Call Brawl, Live Fast Die Fast, The Crusher and others.

Reach For the Stars @ Eisenhower Park
Long Island teen talent search finals

American Kennel Club Canine Experience @ St. Johnland’s Nursing Home

Record Collectors Show @ Crazy Donkey

NKOTBSB @ Nassau Coliseum

Tuesday, Aug 2

Britney Spears & Nicki Minaj @ Nassau Coliseum

Alison Krauss @ Beacon Theatre

Kiddie Rockers Princess Katie & Racer Steve @ Children’s Museum of the East End

Thursday, Aug 4

Queensryche @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury

Mike Burton @ Governor’s Comedy Club (Also 8.6)

Escape 2 NY
Featuring Patti Smith/Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros/Psychedelic Furs/The Vaccines
The first music festival of what’s shaping up to be a busy concert season on the East End, Escape 2 New York will be headlined by punk poet Patti Smith. Other artists slated to appear include Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, The Vaccines, The Psychedelic Furs, Best Coast, Au Revoir Simone, Chairlift, Lissy Trullie, Graffiti 6, Submarines, White Rabbits, Static Jacks and The Postelles. FRI 8.5 & SAT 8.6, Shinnecock Reservation

Friday, Aug 5

Nicki Minaj @ Central Park SummerStage

Reggae Revival w/UB40’s Ali Campbell/Maxi Priest/Junior Marvin @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury
The perfect bill for reggae fans not enamored with the macho swagger of dancehall, this show features ex-UB40 frontman Ali Campbell headlining a night that also includes crossover king Maxi Priest of “Close to You” fame and Junior Marvin, guitarist for Bob Marley and the Wailers.

Maroon 5 @ Rockefeller Plaza

Saturday, Aug 6

Clothesline Art Sale @ Guild Hall

Blink 182/My Chemical Romance @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater (Also 8.7)

Trace Adkins @ NYCB Theater at Westbury

Grucci Fireworks Extravaganza @ Ducks Bethpage Ballpark

A Chorus Line @ Elmont BayWay Arts

Crucial Dudes, HisDayHasCome, Broadcaster @ Ethical Humanist Society of LI

Bill Kirchen & Los Straitjackets @ YMCA Boulton Center

The Catskills in Dix Hills: Entertainment the Way It Used To Be @ Dix Hills Performing Arts Center

Mike Burton @ Governor’s Comedy Club

Sunday, Aug 7

Salute to Veterans @ Eisenhower Park

Cinderella @ Crazy Donkey
Out on the road celebrating its 25^th Anniversary, this glam-metal act got its big break when Jon Bon Jovi caught them playing at a club and recommended that Mercury Records sign this Philly outfit. And despite not having released any new material since 1994’s Still Climbing, Tom Keifer and company have managed to spend the past decade sharing bills with the Scorpions, Poison and Ratt.

National Lighthouse Day @ LI Lighthouses

Mike Burton @ Governor’s Comedy Club

‘Saratoga Race Track: The Back Stretch’ Opens @ Northport Tasting Room & Wine Cellar
Photos by Jennifer Lau Photography taken at Saratoga Race Track capturing moments in the back stretch in the stables & on the track. Through 9.15

Monday, Aug 8

The Kills @ Terminal 5

Guster/Jack’s Mannequin @ Central Park SummerStage

East Hampton Sandcastle Contest @ Atlantic Avenue Beach

Fortune 52 Networking @ Tanger at The Arches
An evening of networking within the fabulous Tanger Outlets center in Deer Park from 6-8 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug 10

Kings of Leon/Band of Horses @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
This double-bill is the face of mainstream contemporary alt-rock. Out in support of its fifth album, Come Around Sundown, Kings of Leon continue to flex their creative muscles with a batch of songs that contains elements of gospel, doo-wop, country and post-punk. As for Band of Horses, Ben Bridwell’s posse have struck commercial gold with the Southern Gothic-flavored dream pop that defines so much of last year’s stellar Infinite Arms.

Bon Iver @ Prospect Park

Thursday, Aug 11

The Beach Boys @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury

Paperworks @ B.J. Spoke Gallery

Cut Copy @ Prospect Park

Tops of the Pops @ Dix Hills Performing Arts Center

Friday, Aug 12

American Idol Top 11 @ Central Park SummerStage

Comedy Festival @ Martha Clara Vineyards

Murder Among Friends Opens @ Arena Main Stage

Maroon 5 & Train @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

Psychic Medium James Van Praagh @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury

John Oates @ YMCA Boulton Center

Blue’s Clues @ Patchogue Theatre

Saturday, Aug 13

MTK Music Festival – Featuring Vampire Weekend/Bright Eyes/Cold War Kids/Chromeo/Ra Ra Riot/Tom Tom Club/Fitz & the Tantrums/M. Ward
Also known as the Music To Know Festival, this inaugural East End event will be headlined by Vampire Weekend and Bright Eyes. Artists who’ll be rounding out the bill include Matt & Kim, Cold War Kids, Tom Tom Club, Ra Ra Riot, Naked and Famous, We Are Scientists, The Limousines, Francis and the Lights, Suddyn, Nicos Gun, Chromeo, M. Ward, Fitz and the Tantrums, Tame Impala and Young Empires. SAT 8.13 & SUN 8.14, Oceanview Farm

Paumanauke Pow Wow @ Babylon Town Hall (Also 8.14)

Steve Miller Band @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury

Wynonna Judd @ Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center

Leon Redbone @ YMCA Boulton Center

New York Pops performs the Music of Billy Joel @ Nikon at Jones Beach

Italian Singer Giada Valenti and Her Orchestra @ Dix Hills Performing Arts Center

E-Cycling @ Town Parking Field L2, Off Division Ave, Levittown Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boat racing is based on the legend of Qu Yuan, a exiled Court Minister who wandered writing poetry. When he heard his home had been invaded, he drowned himself in the river. Fishermen raced to save him, but couldn’t. To prevent his body from being eaten, they threw rice dumplings into the water as an offering to his spirit. Today, rice dumplings are eaten during the festival of dance, martial arts, street theater and racing. Before it begins, the dragon boats are ritually blessed by a Buddhist monk and brought to life by having their eyes dotted in red paint. See it all go down in Queens. SAT 8.13, Flushing Meadows Park

North Fork Craft Beer, BBQ & Wine Festival
The annual festival showcases the finest craft breweries—50 in all—from across the country and pairs them with outstanding BBQ prepared by Maple Tree BBQ and award-winning wines from Martha Clara Vineyards and other local wineries. The event will feature award-winning beer from local favorites including Blue Point Brewing Co. and Southampton Ales & Lagers plus attendees will have the opportunity to sample exceptional craft beer from national craft breweries. SAT 8.13, Martha Clara Vineyards

Sunday, Aug 14

KC & The Sunshine Band @ Eisenhower Park

Saw Doctors @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury

Rent @ Patchogue Theatre

Wednesday, Aug 17

Ladies of Laceration vs Rolling Thundercats Roller Derby @ United Skates of America

Yellowman @ Stephen Talkhouse

Journey/Foreigner/Night Ranger @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

Pinckalicous: The Musical @ Patchogue Theatre

Friday, Aug 19

Taio Cruz @ Central Park SummerStage

Jimmy Buffet @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater

Alec Baldwin @ Guild Hall

Jorma Kaukonen @ Stephen Talkhouse

Elvis Tribute Spectacular @ NYCB Theatre at Westbury

Ricky Nelson Remembered Acoustic featuring Matthew & Gunnar Nelson @ YMCA Boulton Center

Enrique Iglesias
August in New York will get even hotter on the 19th when Enrique Iglesias comes to town. Since this is part of the Toyota Concert Series on the Today show, we’re guessing he’ll sing the clean version of his hit “Tonight.” Either way, hopefully we get a heat wave so bad that it will force Enrique to perform shirtless…FRI 8.19, Rockefeller Plaza