Summer in New York can be divine — when the weather cooperates. Last week I raved about Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park as one of the best things to do in the Big Apple during the summer. About 30 blocks south of the action at the Delacorte Theatre is another fantastic classic summer activity — the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival. On Monday nights, thousands gather on the lawn of Bryant Park and watch films outdoors. It’s a classic New York thing to do.
 

 
First up this season is a very charming comedy from the 80s: Tootsie. Dustin Hoffman plays an out-of-work actor who pretends to be a woman to win and perform the role of a lifetime: a grand soap opera dame. There are, of course, a myriad of complications. And fantastic performances by Teri Garr, Jessica Lange, Bill Murray and Hoffman. Sydney Pollack directed this gem of a movie. Prepare to laugh, have a delicious picnic and enjoy Tootsie this Monday night, June 17th. The lawn opens at 5:00 pm, and the screening begins once it’s dark enough outside.
 
The film festival continues through August 19th with an eclectic slate of films: the drama Norma Rae, Spielberg’s E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and more. For a full list and more information about the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival, visit the website.