Memorial Day weekend is almost here. Get ready to enjoy the first long weekend of the summer right here in Manhattan

There are plenty of great events on the Memorial Day weekend schedule in New York City -- free concerts, free street festivals, a free family festival and a beer and street food picnic on Governors Island, tours and celebrations on the U.S.S. Intrepid, fun with the kids at the Cloisters, outlet sales,  and much more.

See our top event picks for Memorial Day weekend in New York City.

Fleet Week is coming. That means the big ships and lots of sailors in uniform are visiting Manhattan from May 23-28, 2012.

Take the opportunity to say thank you to the men and women of the U.S. military. You can also attend great Fleet Week events at the U.S.S. Intrepid all week long -- including ship tours, military demos, concerts, and a special Memorial Day ceremony. There's even a free screening of Top Gun and a star-studded after-party for the world premiere of <i>Men in Black 3</i> on the flight deck of the Intrepid.

Meanwhile, bars all over New York City are offering Fleet Week drink specials. So raise a toast (or three) to a sailor this week in New York.

See more Memorial Day Weekend 2011 events in New York City.

• Taste of Tribeca -- On Saturday, sample delicacies from Tribeca's most gifted chefs. Your $50 ticket ($45 in advance) buys you six scrumptious tastes from restaurants including Bouley, Nobu, Tribeca Grill and 50+ others.

• Taste of the Upper West Side -- Uptown, you can also enjoy treats from top chefs on Friday evening and all day Saturday.

• New York City Dance Parade 2012-- Shake your moneymaker down old Broadway on Saturday afternoon. The Dance Parade will start at 1pm, hoof it to Tompkins Square Park and then transform into DanceFest, a four-hour free festival with dance performances, dance lessons, and a DJ party.

• It's My Park Day! -- Also on Saturday, you can team up with  other New Yorkers to help beautify our NYC parks for summer. Events are taking place in parks across the five boroughs.

• Drums Along the Hudson -- Celebrate the spirit of the drum and the culture of the Native American people in Inwood Park on Sunday. The open-air powwow will feature world dance and drumming performances, international foods and Native American arts and crafts.

This Friday is National Bike to Work Day. Make your commute more healthy and eco-friendly on May 18 and you may just get hooked on biking to work.

Still not convinced? Transportation Alternatives, one of the sponsors of National Bike to Work Day, is giving out free iced coffees, Clif Bars, and fresh fruit to bikers from 6-10 AM on May 20 at the following locations:

• Brooklyn Bridge (middle)
• Manhattan Bridge (Manhattan side)
• Williamsburg Bridge (Brooklyn side)
• Queensboro Bridge (Queens side)
• Staten Island Ferry Terminal (Staten Island side)
• Hudson River Greenway at 70th Street
• Bronx - Joyce Kilmer Park (161st & Grand Concourse)

Pledge to bike to work on May 18, 2012.

New to biking the mean streets of New York? Find the best bike route to your office or get some tips on NYC bike commuting before Friday.

Happy pedaling!