This is the 25th anniversary of Broadway In Bryant Park! My first year was 2003 when I saw Bernadette Peters from Gypsy along with some preteen phenom belting out “Let Me Entertain You”.  At that time, construction had not even begun on the massive Bank of America Tower overlooking the northeast corner of the stage.  For many years I went to every show, making notes about performers’ names on the distinctive menu like programs.  I don’t attend regularly anymore, but yesterday I was able to see Tony Award winners “Maybe Happy Ending” along with “& Juliet”, “BOOP! The Musical”, “Hell’s Kitchen” “MJ the Musical” and “The Great Gatsby.” Joy comes from seeing stars of the stage but also from observing the hot weather fashion choices of Aussie tourists or midtown office workers.

Of course, many folks were taking shaky videos from a distance, but there are plenty of decent videos online from the press section up front if you want to get a flavor of the experience, including of Mamma Mia, which was always a crowd favorite during their 14 year run.

I have never been to Coachella , but every year I find more joy than I can imagine ever having at one of these mega music fests strolling through Make Music New York on Summer Solstice. This year’s highlights: First, a group of Middle school students from WHIN Music Community Charter School performed for an audience of mostly pre-schoolers in the Children’s Magical Garden on the Lower East Side.  The toddlers enthusiastic comments after each song were a riot.

Next I saw a tribute to Billy Strayhorn by several groups of musicians in Freeman Plaza East.

And, finally I saw Wyatt McManus perform Broadway Show tunes in Bella Abzug Park.

I adore Taylor Swift, but I would rather see Wyatt McManus perform Sondheim among a dozen passersby in the canyon of Hudson Yards skyscrapers than be packed into an arena of sweaty swifties with iphones swaying wildly to catch a glimpse of the super songstress of West Reading PA.

Make Music New York was back with hundreds of artists at venues across the city celebrating summer solstice.  There were two highlights for me this year.  First, I found Victor Gurbo and Mark Caserta putting dark contemporary spins on Americana from Leadbelly to Vera Lynn (Yes I know she is English!) in front of a Flatbush Ave locksmith packed with potted plants and adjacent a smoke shop–where folks rang a buzzer to enter and possibly pick up edible pot.

Second, I strolled in to Madison Square Park and caught Mira Gill in mid performance of Samuel Barber’s Piano Sonata second and fourth movements.  She was part of Paul’s Pianopalooza, a 90th birthday celebration for composer and educator Paul Sheftel, that included four hours of performances of NYC rooted works from Gershwin to Glass.

Of course, everyday encounters with talented musicians are common in NYC (in fact, on the subway to Madison Square Park I gave a guy playing Santana on congas a dollar), but what makes MMNY special is the opportunity to stumble upon musical gems in unconventional intimate settings.  And the slightly chilly June weather was ideal for a day of musical rambling through city streets.