Part of the beauty of being in NYC in the summer is taking advantage of the wide range of activities and events the City has to offer, especially on date night. Sports fans, foodies, cinephiles and even those on a first date have plenty of options for fun-filled adventure on the town. Design your very own New York love story with our five hot date ideas. 1. Pride Night at Citi FieldThis year's Pride Night at is set for Saturday, . The Mets will take on the Atlanta Braves starting at 7:10pm—but get there early to hear the national anthem, which is often sung by a top-name celebrity performer. (Bonus: it also happens to be Noah Syndergaard-as-Thor bobblehead night, given to the first 25,000 fans.) A portion of the proceeds from the game will go to the LGBT Network and its Safe Schools Initiative to stop bullying in Long Island and Queens. For a drink before or after the game, head to , a recently opened Danish beer hall attached to Citi Field.2. Summer Movies in Bryant ParkJoin the crowd on Monday nights at 5pm—the time the Bryant Park lawn opens—to grab the best spot for sunset screenings of the . Bring snacks and maybe a bottle of your favorite beverage (we'll look the other way!) for classics like A League of Their Own (July 2) and Fried Green Tomatoes (July 16). Before finding your seat, you can venture indoors to check out , a free exhibition this summer at the adjacent .3. New York Botanical GardenThis summer, the is all about . The exhibit gets up close with the flora of Hawaii in the the beautiful Enid P. Haupt Conservatory, while some of O'Keefe's Hawaiian flora paintings and letters from the time can be seen in the the garden's galleries. If you really want to get in the spirit, show up on one of the for a hula party. And of course brilliant summer blooms are on hand all season in the Perennial Garden, Native Plant Garden and Rose Garden. The NYBG's Pine Tree Cafe and Hudson Garden Café offer options for snacks, coffee or full meals. 4. LGBTQ+ Inspired TheaterBroadway marks the 50th anniversary of with a landmark queer production starring some of Hollywood's most notable LGBTQ+ actors, including Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto and Jim Parsons. Also, the Tony Award–winning , an iconic piece of LGBTQ+ theater, has been revived with well-known actors Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane. And there's always the long-running Off-Broadway hit Make a night of it with a pre- or postshow meal on . 5. Big Gay Ice Cream You know it's summer when you first hear that ice cream truck jingle on the City's streets. For a taste of soft-serve with an LGBTQ+ twist, head to the West Village's , specializing in sweet treats with fun names like the Bea Arthur and the Salty Pimp. While you're in the area, stop by for cocktails or happy hour and then take a stroll to check out other nearby .
