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Two months gone by, and you still don't have anything for that what-I-did-on-my-vacation essay? Five ideas for five boroughs.

Where to order sea breezes by the sea, or at least by the harbor: five places to toss back a few while watching the boats and taking in the (ever so slightly cooling) river breeze.

"Dude -- more U2!" seems to be the usual method of stocking jukeboxes. But at a few bars around town, the music choices are eclectic and thoughtful. Here, great spots to be your own D.J.

You and your office softball team don't want to fight the crowds in Central Park. But at these less well-known fields, games are cheap ($5 to $16) and some of the city's best vistas are free. (For info, call 800-201-PARK.)

Lincoln Center is doing its best to prop up the airline industry, flying in a veritable world congress of talent for this summer's Lincoln Center Festival. (For a full list, visit lincolncenter.org; for tickets, call 212-362-6000.)

Fireworks, sure -- we all like fireworks. But there are smarter ways to spend the evening than navigating a crush of thousands on the FDR Drive.

The stars of the New York Shakespeare Festival get the banner headlines. But thanks in large part to such celebrities, the Bard has become as essential to summer as flip-flops and beach-house shares.

The Mets-Yankees series at Shea is sold out, so use a little creativity to have a fabulous time with Dad this Sunday.

See the stars under the stars: These free open-air festivals take summer moviegoing where it belongs -- outside.

There's nothing better than old-fashioned, all-American, fresh-squeezed lemonade on a blistering day -- except for these refreshingly exotic twists.