This year the SummerStage is celebrating its 25th anniversary and will have 33 free concerts and 8 benefit shows. Admission to all free performances (not benefit concerts) is on a first come, first-served basis, no tickets required. Every year SummerStage brings together a wide range of performers.

Central Park SummerStage is located at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park. Enter the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue on the east side or at 72nd Street and Central Park West on the west side, tel.: 212-360-2777.

Become a member of SummerStage and have exclusive access to the best music, film, dance events all summer long and guarantee that you won’t have to wait at the gate to see show in Central Park.

Naya – a modern Lebanese-Mediterranean Mezze and Grill serving traditional Lebanese fare in a Midtown East. It’s located at 1057 2nd Avenue (between 55th and 56th Street) New York, tel.: 212.319.7777.

The white and silver design remind me some nightclub and it just does not look like place for good food, but I love it and I go back every few month for mezze dinner there. The mezze is my favorite; just order some 10 kind different appetizers (hummus, sujuk, baba ghannouj, stuffed grape leaves) and salads (tabbouleh), char-grilled meats (beef or lamb) and make the best meal.

‘New York has never had a Lebanese restaurant like Naya,’ claims The New York Times and I agree; this is the best Lebanese restaurant in NYC!

Restaurant Type: Spanish

Our Rating: 8

Food: 8 • Service: 8 • Décor: 8 • Atmosphere: 8 • Price: $$

The Spanish Tapas Bar and Restaurant Solera is located in Manhattan, East Midtown at
216 E 53rd Street (between 2nd Ave & 3rd Ave), tel.: 212-644-1166.

Solera is the perfect place for a pitcher of sangria and wonderful tapas. Food was awesome – too many choices and all that were had were very good. We had 7 different dishes: both cold and hot. They have really good olives!

The atmosphere is friendly, as is the service, and you can enjoy a meal without loud music.

Prices are not too overly crazy.

Restaurant Type: Steakhouse

Our Rating: 9

Food: 9 • Service: 9 • Décor: 9 • Atmosphere: 9 • Price: $$$

We had very good dinner at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse. This was location at New York City
135 W. 50th Street (Bet. 6th & 7th Avenues), Tel.: 212-957-5050. The very first Bobby Van’s restaurant was opened in Bridgehampton, Long Island in 1969. He was a piano player and actor who loved to perform and entertain friends at his home in the Hamptons area. There are also Bobby Van’s Steakhouses at 230 Park Avenue (46th Street, Tel.: 212-867-5490), 25 Broad Street (Tel.: 212-344-8463) and 131 E. 54th Street (Tel.: 212-207-8050). Also they have two restaurants in Washington D.C. at 809 15th Street N.W. (Tel.: 202-589-0060) and 1201 New York Avenue (Tel.: 202-589-1504).

We started with good appetizers and had great steaks with side dishes. I had the sirloin, which I really enjoyed. You are guaranteed the very best meats. The prices are not cheap, but the portions are enormous. I’ll definitely try out their other locations.

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It’s located at 245 Park Ave S. (Between 19th Street and 20th Street) in New York City. Tel.: 212-475-9377
This Sushi Samba Park is an assortment place of snacking delights from Japan, Brazil and Peru with DJ Sabo on Friday Nights.
We went to this restaurant second time and had lunch on weekend and I just love this fusion restaurant. The food was great and I got them quite quickly. The ceviche was excellent and my mojito was strong and yummy. This restaurant is mixing South American elements and ingredients with Japanese cuisine and it taste very good. The result is a spicy, natural mix of two cultures that have perfected the art of raw seafood. There was something on the menu for everyone, including great steak, seafood and vegetarian options. The atmosphere is relaxed but the food is fine-dining quality. Best people watching around. Check it out and better make sure to have reservations.

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