Free Friday Five

Nothing's cheaper than free.
This weekend we bring you...

1. Strange Fruit, Saturday 7/14, 4PM, 6PM, & 8PM
at the Brooklyn Bridge Park (Dumbo)
They're Australian? No big deal. They're a performing arts company? Lots of those. But these kids, my friends, have shunned the stage for the sky and perform on sway poles. They liken themselves to "a field of wheat swaying in the breeze." How about "dancers on sticks?" Whatever the case, this show is bound to be entertaining...

2. Bastille Day Bonanza, Sunday, 7/15, 12PM-6PM
on 60th Street (between Lexington and 5th Avenue)
This annual fair celebrates all things French. Sip some Lillet, eat a crepe or two, and listen to the live music playing all afternoon. Or check out the Tour de France stationary bike race, enter a raffle to win a trip to Paris, and watch a game of pétanque. Admission is free. Vive la France!

3. The Floating Pool and Brooklyn Heights Beach, ongoing throughout the summer
at 334 Furman Street, off of Joralemon
Want to see some sand but don't feel like taking a 90-minute ride on the LIRR? Then check out Brooklyn Heights' new manmade beach off of the Brooklyn Bridge Park. The beach is part of the public park, and once you're in, you can rent an umbrella, grab a burger, play volleyball, or swim in the Floating Pool (which sits on a barge in the water). The bonus? Amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.

4. Sid & Buddy Karaoke, Sunday 7/15, 10PM
at Galapagos Art Space (60 N. 6th Street between Wythe & Kent) Stretch your weekend at this rock & roll karaoke party in Williamsburg. Prizes! Costumes! Who cares that it's a school night?

5. Shakespeare in the Park[ing Lot], Saturday 7/14, 8PM
in the parking lot at 85 Ludlow Street
Summer in NYC is Shakespeare crazed, and you've got options, options, options... That said, if you're in more of a downtown mood than an uptown one, hit up Shakespeare in the Parking Lot on Saturday night. There aren't any chairs (this is a parking lot, people!), so don't forget to bring a blanket or something to sit on. This season's show is Romeo and Juliet.