OUTDOORS Tours & Hikes ADVENTURE ON A SHOESTRING "Manhattan’s Gold Coast," ...

ADVENTURE ON A SHOESTRING

"Manhattan's Gold Coast," Fri. at 2:15; "Magnificent Queensboro Bridge," Fri. at 4:15; "Marvelous Murray Hill," Sat. at 9:30; "Splendid Grand Central Terminal," Sat. at 11; "Affluent Enclave," Sat. at 12:30; "Haunted Greenwich Village," Sun. at 4:30; 212-265-2663 for res. & meeting place; all tours $5.

 

BEHIND THE FENCES

Take an opportunity to explore Brooklyn's jewel?Prospect Park; 718-965-6988 for meeting place; Sat. & Sun. at 1 & 3, free.

 

BIG ONION WALKING TOURS

Tours conducted by graduate students in the American History dept. at Columbia Univ. This week, "Central Park at Twilight," Thurs. at 6:30; "Historic Lower Manhattan," Fri. at 1; "Park Slope," Sat. at 1; "Immigrant New York," Sat. at 1; "Greeen-Wood Cemetery," Sun. at 1; 212-439-1090 for meeting place; all tours $10-$12.

 

BROWNSTONE BROOKLYN

From Park Slope to Brooklyn Heights this intimate "New York Like A Native Tour" is limited to 8 people; RSVP 718-393-7537 for meeting place, Sat. at 10, $20 incl. lunch [through 9/2].

 

BUTTERFLY & HUMMING BIRD TRAIL

Trail open all summer long with nature sightings, gardens & special kids' activities; Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Ave. (Carroll Pl.), Bklyn., 718-622-4433; Weds.-Sun. & Tues., free w/grounds adm.

 

THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE

Tour chapel & learn history; Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave., (112th St.), 212-932-7347; Weds.-Sat. & Tues. at 11, Sun. at 1.

 

CENTRAL PARK CLIMBING

Instructors on hand to teach basics like knot tying & anchor set-up. "Youth Open Climbing," "Adult Open Climbing," "Adult Climbing Instruction" & "Orientation/Instruction to Climbing" offered; North Park Recreation Center, mid-park (97th St.), 212-348-4867 for complete sch.; $25 for 3 classes.

 

CENTRAL PARK WALKING TOURS

Hour-long tour of park's "Conservatory Garden," every Sat. at 12; "Views From the Past," Sat. at 1; 212-360-2727 for meeting places & sign language tours; free.

 

DR. PHIL'S TALKS & WALKS

Licensed guide Philip Schoenberg's tours of Brooklyn & Manhattan. This week, "Jack Finney Time & Again Tour," Sat. at 2; "Edgar Allan Poe & His Ghostly Friends," Sun. at 2; 888-377-4455 for meeting place; $10.

 

FOODS OF NEW YORK

"A Food Adventure of Greenwich Village" explores restaurants & specialty shops both new & old; 732-636-4650 or foodtours@aol.com for res. & meeting place; Weds.-Sun. & Tues. 11:30-1:30, $25 incl. lunch.

 

FULTON FISH MARKET WALKING TOUR

Get there when vendors do for a sneak peek; South St. Seaport Museum, 207 Front St. (South St.), RSVP 212-748-8786 24 hours in advance; Weds. at 6 a.m., $12-$10.

 

JOYCE GOLD WALKING TOURS

All tours at least two & a half hours long, cond. by Joyce Gold, a prof. of Manhattan history. This week: "Hidden Charms of Chelsea: Seminary, Brownstones & Shocking Inhabitants," Sat. at 1; RSVP 212-242-5762 for location.

 

GREENWICH VILLAGE CLUB CRAWL & Blues Lovers Club crawl for singles

Guided tours of NY music clubs. "3 Bands at 3 Clubs for Singles," Thurs.; "Blues, Stand-Up & Jazz," Fri.; "Rock & Blues," Sat.;. 212-875-7019 for res., times & meeting place, $20 incl. live music.

 

GREENWICH village literary pub crawl

Actors from The New Ensemble Theater Co. lead tour of four pubs giving literary histories & performances. Stops incl. Chumley's, the Cornelia St. Cafe, McBell's, the Cedar Tavern & the White Horse Tavern; meet at the White Horse Tavern, 567 Hudson St. (11th St.), 212-613-5796; Sat. at 2, $12, $9 st./s.c.

 

les Shopping Tour

Shopping tour of Orchard St. district; meets at Katz's Deli, 205 E. Houston St. (Ludlow St.); 212-226-9010; Sun. at 11, free.

 

lower east side tenement museum tours

"Streets Where We Lived," tour of LES plus history of immigrants who settled there; 212-431-0233 for meeting place, Sat. & Sun. at 1:00 & 2:30, $7-$9.

member's pioneer sail

Board the Pioneer for a sail through New York Harbor complete with champagne breakfast; South St. Seaport Museum, Pier 16, South St. (Fulton St.), 212-748-8786; Sun., $45-$35.

 

municipal art society walking tours

This week: "Deco to Modern: Midtown Enters the Machine Age" in conjunction with MET exhibit; meet at NW corner 3rd Ave. (51st St.), 212-935-3960; Sun. at 1, $15-$12.

 

NYC DISCOVERY TOURS

Walking tours this week incl. "Old & New Money: Origins of Central Park West & 5th Ave" & "Gotham City Ghost Tour"; RSVP 212-465-3331 for times & meeting place; Sat., all tours $12.

 

Steve "wildman" brill

Nature & ecology walk with "Wildman" Steve Brill, Sat. at Muttontown Preserve in Lattington; Sun. in Huntington State Park; 718-291-6825 for info; $10, $5 kids.

 

STEVE'S MANHATTAN TOURS

"Landmarks of Lower Manhattan," Weds. & Fri.; "Lower East Side," Sun.; RSVP 212-982-1697 for meeting places & times, $5.

 

STREET SMARTS NY

"Walk In Old Chelsea," Sat. at 2; "Ghostly Greenwich Village," Sat. at 6; "Dandies, Dudes & Shady Ladies," Sun. at 2; "Glorious Gramercy Park," Sun. at 2; 212-969-8262 for meeting place; all tours $10.

 

Parades, Fairs & Outdoor Sporting Events

BLADE NIGHT MANHATTAN

Join 100+ skaters on 2-hour tour of the city; meet at SW corner of Union Sq. Pk. (14th St.), 212-673-2933, Weds. at 8, free [through 10/25].

 

chinatown summer festival 2000

Live entertainment, activities for kids & free gifts plus info for immigrants on health care & financial advice. Sponsored by Asian Americans for Equality; Bayard St. (betw. Elizabeth & Baxter Sts.), 212-979-1108; Sun. 11-5, free.

 

coney island fireworks

Tradition going back to 1880s continues w/outdoor seating & firework reenactments of Vladivostock & more; Boardwalk (betw. W. 10th & W. 12th Sts.), 718-372-5159; Fri. at 9:30, free [through 8/31].

 

FasT & Fabulous Cycling CLub

Lesbian & gay group with regular rides. This week: "Middletown"; 212-567-7160 for more info.

 

NY Botanical garden

Visit "Exotic Courtyard Garden" with more than 100 pots of exotic tropical plants; NY Botanical Garden; 200th St. (Southern Blvd.), Bronx, 718-817-8700 for days & times; free w/garden adm.

 

pedal boat season

Is here at Prospect Lake so rent a boat & visit with the ducks; Kate Wollman Ice Skating Rink, Prospect Park, Parkside Ave. (Ocean Ave.), 718-282-7789; Thurs. & Fri. 11-4, Sat. & Sun. 12-6, $10.

 

time's up

Environmentalist/bicycle-advocacy group sponsors monthly skates & rides throughout New York City. This week: "Moonlight Ride"; 212-802-8222 for meeting place; Fri. at 10, free.