I just returned from risking my life to view (and photograph) Manhattanhenge from the middle of 42nd Street.

It was a spectacular sight, but none of my photographs seem to do Manhattanhenge justice (maybe it was because I had to try to shoot around moving traffic).

If you got great photos of Manhattanhenge and would like to share them with About.com readers, send me an email.

This weekend, we've got plenty of outdoor concerts and festivals plus a pub crawl to drink to Michael Jackson and that biannual light show by Mother Nature known as Manhattanhenge. Here are our picks for the weekenf of July 10-12, 2009:

• Midsummer Night Swing -- Learn to rumba on Friday night and then mambo Saturday night away at Midsummer Night Swing.



• Central Park SummerStage -- Check out free concerts in Central Park this weekend. On Saturday, enjoy a program featuring Puerto Rico's urban-alternative Grammy Winners, Calle 13. On Sunday, it's Family Day with kids' music from DJ Lance Rock and Brobee from Yo Gabba Gabba! and a Sleeping Beauty puppet show.



• King of Pop Pub Crawl -- Raise a glass to the King of Pop on this Saturday pub crawl in memory of Michael Jackson. It starts at 11AM at Village Pourhouse and each bar will feature different drinks specials and a different Michael Jackson album for drinking music. Dress in tribute to Michael and prepare for a choreographed Thriller dance scene at the final pub crawl stop.



• High Line Street Festival -- On Sunday, there's a major party on the High Line. Check out New York City's newest and most unusual green space and enjoy musical entertainment, free lemonade, and a giant balloon sculpture. See photos of the High Line. And check out our listings of other street fairs and festivals in New York City this weekend.



• Bastille Day on 60th Street -- On Sunday, start celebrating Bastille Day (July 14th) early with a full day of French culture and entertainment at this outdoor festival on 60th Street between Fifth Avenue and Lexington Avenue. Sample French delicacies, dance in the streets, and enter to win a trip to Paris.



• Manhattanhenge -- Don't miss the biannual thrill of Manhattanhenge. On Sunday, the setting sun will perfectly align with the east-west streets of Manhattan and produce a spectacular light effect. For the best views, position yourself on the east side of 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, or 57th Street at around 8:20. See photos of Manhattanhenge on Flickr and check back here on Monday for pictures of Sunday's light show.



• The Amazing New York Race -- You don't have to leave New York City to run The Amazing Race. Join the race this Sunday and compete to finish road blocks and detours for valuable prizes. Read about my experience on The New York Amazing Race for a preview of what it's all about.

On Thursday, July 9 from noon to 2:00pm, NYC & Company will kick off NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2009 with the Coca-Cola® Great Tastes of Summer event at the Shops at Columbus Circle in Time Warner Center.

This Restaurant Week pre-party will offer an opportunity to sample gourmet tastings from five of the City’s top restaurants and meet the famous chefs behind their menus, including Daniel Boulud from db Bistro Moderne, Stéphane Motir from Tribeca Grill, and Anthony Ricco and Ellie Rodriguez from Spice Market.

Cast members from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Hair will take the stage at 12:45pm to serenade the crowd with love songs to reflect the "Love NYC Restaurant Week" theme.

NYC Summer Restaurant Week officially begins on Sunday, July 12th. Make your reservations now to enjoy $24.05 lunches and $30 dinners at New York's best restaurants this month.

I love Midsummer Night Swing because it always makes me feel like I've stumbled upon a Broadway musical number in the middle of New York City -- and have been invited to join in (kind of like what I thought New York would be like when I was 7 and watched West Side Story for the first time).

At Midsummer Night Swing, you can kick up your heels and admire the moves of some of New York City's finest dancers. You can even take free dancing lessons to loosen up and learn the steps before strutting your stuff on the dance floor.

Tuesday, July 7th is the first of 15 swinging midsummer nights, so put on your dancing shoes and boogie on over to Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park.

Up first is a night of New Orleans jazz and small band swing featuring the stylings of Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers. Dance lessons begin at 6:30 pm and the live music starts at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $15.

Get the full 2009 Midsummer Night Swing schedule of performances.

We just returned from watching the Macy's July 4th fireworks display live from the banks of the Hudson River.

Every year, the pyrotechnics get bigger and more awe-inspiring. Tonight, the explosions filled the sky above the U.S.S. Intrepid as fireworks launched from six barges along the river.

We had the equivalent of a front-row seat and took some crazy photos of the fireworks for those of you who couldn't deal with the crowds or want to relive the glory of tonight's show.

See the 2009 Macy's July 4th Fireworks Photo Gallery

Did you know that the Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular uses 55 times more fireworks than the average U.S. display? Or that the shells are precisely timed to the music by a computer that requires ten miles of wiring?

See the Macy's pyrotechnics display live over the Hudson River on July 4th. We've got your guide to the best views of the famous Macy's fireworks.

We've also got a long list of other great events in New York City over the three-day July 4th weekend. Check out our guide to concerts, street fairs, pub crawls, walking tours, museum events, discount Broadway, and more.

Things to Do in NYC on July 4th Weekend

• July 4th NYC Weekend Guide
• Macy's July 4th Fireworks Viewing Guide
• Macy's July 4th Parking and Driving Guide
• Macy's July 4th Fireworks Photos
• July NYC Street Fairs and Festivals

And check back here after the smoke has cleared for photos of this year's Macy's July 4th fireworks display.

Reservations opened today for NYC Summer Restaurant Week, which will actually run for two weeks this summer (July 12-31, 2009). It will all start with a free kick-off party featuring performances from the cast of Hair on July 9th.

Don't let this pesky recession stop you from eating well. During New York Summer Restaurant Week, New York's hottest restaurants will offer three-course prix-fixe lunches for just $24.07 and dinners for only $35.

Participating restaurants include New York favorites like Megu, Dos Caminos Soho, Nobu, Tao Blue Water Grill, and many more.

Trust me when I tell you to make your reservations early. The hottest spots will fill up fast (take it from the woman who had to settle for 6pm reservations last year).

And mark your calendar for the free NYC Summer Restaurant Week kick-off party on the afternoon of July 9th at Time Warner Center. Sample goodies from restaurants including Tribeca Grill and Spice Market and see a live performance by the Tony Award-winning cast members of Hair.

Bryant Park has a new spot for outdoor lounging, drinking, and eating. The Southwest Porch in Bryant Park opened last week and hosted a grand opening bash last night.

Guests including Chef Tom Colicchio, restaurant review guru Tim Zagat, and Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe lounged on porch furniture and enjoyed cocktails and 'wichcraft delicacies.

For a city of apartment dwellers, it's nice to finally have a porch (and one with a fully-stocked bar). The Southwest Porch in Bryant Park will be open through September. No purchase is necessary to lounge, people watch, or catch up on some work (wifi is free in Bryant Park). The Southwest Porch is sponsored by Southwest Airlines.

As we sipped ginger margaritas and nibbled on soft-shell crab sandwiches on the Porch, we watched as hundreds of New Yorkers gathered for the weekly HBO Film Festival movie screening in Bryant Park. If you haven't yet caught a movie in Bryant Park, here are some photos to show you what you've been missing.

Thanks to Alex for all the great photos.

Tonight's Bryant Park film selection is a perfect escapist treat from the Depression era. Busby Berkely's Gold Diggers of 1933 is a musical extravaganza complete with leggy showgirls in kick lines, elaborate sets and costumes, pre-Code glimpses of skin, and Ginger Rogers.

Pick up dinner and popcorn and enjoy a picnic in the park before the movie. You can even order for pick-up at the 'wichcraft kiosk in the park (call 212-780-0577 or order online).

Films begin at dusk (between 8 and 9PM), but the lawn opens at 5 PM for picnickers. Get there early for a spot with a good view.

See the full schedule of films in Bryant Park this summer.

• Free Pinkberry Friday -- Get your free Pinkberry frozen yogurt and sample the store's brand-new flavors (Coconut and Passionfruit) and Bing cherry toppings.



• NYC Public Pools Open -- New York City public swimming pools open this Saturday. Find out where to go for a cool refreshing dip this weekend.



• Gay Pride Week Festivities
  • Rapture on the River -- This Saturday night party is for the ladies on Pier 54
  • The Love Ball -- Head to Nokia Theater on Saturday night for a drag show/walk-off/dance party/Judy Garland tribute.
  • Gay Pride March -- On Sunday afternoon, take to the streets for one of the nation's largest gay pride parades.
  • Gay Pride Fest -- Enjoy the sunny weather at a family street festival featuring live entertainment and kids' activities.


• Sundae Sermon in Harlem -- On Sunday, head uptown for a free dance party in Morningside Park -- the first in a series of six weekly events featuring some of New York's top DJs .



• NYC Street Fairs and Festivals -- There are approximately 20 different street fairs scheduled around the city this weekend. Check the schedule and remember that it may change if it rains. See our photos of NYC street fairs.