Pictured Above: The Annual Free Jazz Festival at Manhattan's Oldest House: The Morris Jumel Mansion (built 1765). It served as General George Washington's Heaquarters during the fall of 1776

As Summer Winds Down, August Steps it up with Vibrant Culture and NYC History

Lots going on this month with more free live music at a variety of parks and venues throughout the city. At the end of the month, Brooklyn organizations including Greenwood Cemetery, the Prospect Park Alliance and the Center for Brooklyn History are commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn. There's also the annual Charlie Parker Jazz Festival and Jazz outdoors at the historic Morris Jumel Mansion.

Open House NY Upcoming Programs Here:

Check out my curated list of New York City cultural and historical events this month, many of them free and under-the-radar.

This is the monthly newsletter of Hank Orenstein, real estate broker at the Corcoran Group, professional NYC tour guide, and organizer of the successful Meetup.com group with 11,000 members, "Exploring NYC History and Neighborhoods." I am also president of Owning New York LLC, which offers real estate and lifestyle tours of NYC neighborhoods for people seeking to make a move.



Contact me for a consultation for all your real estate needs and a personalized analysis of the market. After an encouraging first quarter of home sales activity, the Iran War and its ripple affects appear to have slowed activity since the end of March with mortgage interest rates trickling up and the threat of inflation/stagflation.

Scroll to the end for the latest NYC Real Estate News and Trends

Check out my schedule of public walking tours here: Coming soon: South Harlem, Morningside Heights, Manhattanville and Fort Greene/Clinton Hill

The Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival:

Saturday, August 8 & Sunday, August 9th

Flushing Meadows Corona Park (Free)

This free family event features traditional dragon boat races, food, and cultural performances.

For 35 successful years, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York has been an international, multi-cultural celebration, and sporting event. It is the largest multicultural festival in New York and one of the largest Dragon Boat festivals in the US. The festival keeps up the age-old tradition of Dragon Boat Racing with a fleet of both traditional custom made teak boats and modern fiberglass boats, all of which conform to the International Dragon Boat Federation standards and are approved for International Dragon Boat Racing. All boats are colorfully decorated with a hand painted dragon head at the front and tail at the rear making them works of art gliding across the water. Each boat is powered by up to 20 members consisting of a drummer, a steersperson, and paddlers.

18th Annual Stanley Michels Jazz Festival

Fort Tryon Park

Saturday, August 8

Join us for a summer afternoon of live jazz at the 18th Annual Stan Michels Jazz Festival, honoring the legacy of longtime NYC Council Member Stan Michels. This free outdoor concert features a stellar lineup of local jazz greats in one of Manhattan’s most scenic settings.



Headlining the event is Marjorie Eliot and her Ensemble, celebrated citywide for her legendary “Parlor Jazz” concerts, which she has hosted every Sunday for more than a decade—rain or shine—without a single break. From her apartment on the northern tip of Harlem, Eliot has created a cultural haven for jazz lovers, and she brings that spirit to the Stan Michels Promenade every year.

The 15th Annual Greenpoint Film Festival

August 5 - 9

This festival is inspired by the stories yet untold and focuses on giving voices to the voiceless in the filmmaking industry while simultaneously bringing together the dazzling neighborhood of Greenpoint located in North Brooklyn. The themes of renewal and reclamation continue to play a major role in the social and creative fabric of the Greenpoint Film Festival as it constantly expands into a platform for thought-provoking and critically acclaimed stories, as well as a showcase for the fine arts and brilliant films.

Harlem's Annual Jazzmobile Summerfest

Free Wednesday Night Concerts at Grants Tomb

West 122nd Street & Riverside Drive, Morningside Heights

7:00pm - 8:30pm

Next 3 concerts: (all free, no tickets required)

August 5th

August 12th

August 19th

Check out Jazzmobile's full calendar below for other locations throughout the city.

Awesome International Film Festival

Saturday, August 14th at 12:30 pm

SVA Theater, 333 West 23rd Street (Chelsea)

The festival is a full day of inspiring independent cinema at the. Discover award-winning short films, compelling documentaries, acclaimed feature presentations, filmmaker conversations, a live performance by a featured artist, and special guest appearances throughout the day.

Meet creators, connect with fellow film lovers, and celebrate storytelling from around the world. The festival concludes with an exclusive Cocktail Reception, bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals, sponsors, and guests for an evening of networking and celebration.

Battery Dance Festival

August 10-16 at 7:00 pm

Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park

The Battery Dance Festival is New York City’s longest-running free public dance festival. Each year, the Festival draws a combined audience of over 12,000 in-person and over 35,000 virtual viewers. This year we will be kicking off the festival with four outdoor workshops on Monday, August 10, starting at 4:00pm at Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park.

Asia Society Summer Film Series, August 13—16,

Asia Society presents a series of five remarkable films starring the beloved Japanese actress, in partnership with Anthology Film Archives. With the distinction of working with all of Japan’s “Big Four” directors (Yasujiro Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Akira Kurosawa, and Mikio Naruse), Kyoko Kagawa’s filmography can read like a roadmap to Japan’s cinema, her characters meaningful guides in its living history.

Farmhouse Family Day at the Wykoff House, the oldest remaining farmhouse in NYC (mid 1600s!)

August 15 and 16

5816 Clarendon Road

East Flatbush, Brooklyn



The farm comes alive during the summer! Join us for this Family Day double feature as we explore all that nature has to offer us. We will celebrate nature with crafts and activities brought to you by friends of the Wyckoff Museum and staff. 

Prepare for your visit:

• Farmhouse Family Day is from 11AM-3PM. This is an all ages event, ideal for kids ages 4-12.
• Tours of the Wyckoff House will be available starting at 11:30am

Museum of the City Of New York- Summer Free Wednesday Nights:

5pm - 9pm

August 12, 19, 26 and September 2nd

This summer, the Museum’s free Wednesday admission program is expanding to include late-night hours. Visit MCNY for free on Wednesdays until 9 p.m., and explore the Museum’s full slate of current and critically acclaimed exhibitions. From 5–9 p.m., enjoy a pop-up bar with signature cocktails, soft drinks, and snacks.

Photo by Filip Wolak

Harlem Meer Performance Festival

Sundays Through August 23rd, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

(Enter park at 110th Street and either 5th Avenue or Malcolm X Blvd).

A beloved community tradition since the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center opened in 1993, this festival brings the best local talent to the stage each summer, filling Central Park’s north end with music and movement.

This year, we’re excited to present a fresh lineup of performers for a dynamic, genre-spanning festival. We hope you'll join us by the Harlem Meer on select Sundays in July and August to groove to Afro, Latin, world, hip-hop, gospel, jazz, and blues sounds.

Just Sixties Concert

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

6:45 p.m.–8:45 p.m.

A free Concert in Cunningham Park

196th St. & Union Turnpike (Eastern Queens).

Just Sixties is the longest running Sixties tribute band in the United States. Since their formation in 1982, JUST SIXTIES has played at top clubs and has been the opening act for Paul Revere and the Raiders, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals and Jay and the Americans. Their repertoire includes the ultimate cross-section of Sixties music from "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy" to Jimi Hendrix' "Fire," including many one-hit wonders. You'll hear authentic renditions of the timeless classics from The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, The Monkees, and so much more.

CBH Talk | An Unfinished Revolution: Dialogues on Freedom and Democracy

Center for Brooklyn History

128 Pierrpont Street

Brooklyn Heights

Wednesday, August 12th at 6:30pm

Thursday, August 20th at 6;30pm

Marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, join us to reflect, reckon, and reimagine the ideals at the heart of the American experiment. 

Across three evenings, CBH invites distinguished historians to select short readings as starting points for guided public conversations on the promise, limits, and enduring contradictions of a revolution still unfolding.

The Battle of Brooklyn 250: The Meaning of Freedom (free)

Sunday August 23rd 10:00am – 1:00pm

Greenwood Cemetery

Come gather where this country began. Two hundred and fifty years ago, parts of the first major battle of the Revolutionary War was fought on land that is now Green-Wood, and we’re marking the anniversary with our biggest Battle of Brooklyn event ever!  

Immerse yourself in August 1776 through costumed interpreters, civilian and soldier stories, diverse perspectives on this pivotal moment, and a special parade and commemoration ceremony. In partnership with institutions across New York City, we’re offering a fun-filled afternoon that honors those who fought and invites families to reflect on 250 years of American independence. Truly an event for all ages and all of history. 

Jazz at the Jumel Mansion

Saturday, Aug. 23, 2pm 6pm & Sunday, Aug. 24 2pm - 6pm 

This beloved MJM tradition is back for its 33rd year! Marjorie Elliot and Parlor Entertainment turn the Mansion into a concert venue unlike any other for two days full of Jazz, community, and joy! This event is FREE. There is no registration required.

The Mansion will be open for FREE self-guided tours from 2pm and-4pm.

The Amazing Queens Night Market

Saturdays, 4pm - Midnight

Through August 22nd &

September 19 - October 31

Flushing Meadow Corona Park

The Queens Night Market is a large, family-friendly (and affordable) open-air night market in Queens, featuring over 100 independent vendors selling merchandise, art, and food and featuring small-scale cultural performances, all celebrating the rich cultural diversity and heritage of NYC and Queens.

The Untold Story of Brooklyn’s Revolutionary War Prison Ships

Thursday, Aug 20th

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm Center for Brooklyn History

128 Pierrpont Street (Brooklyn Heights)

As the U.S. commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this talk explores the often-overlooked story of the British prison ships in Brooklyn’s Wallabout Bay, where an estimated 11,000 captured American soldiers, sailors, and privateers died from disease, starvation, and abuse during the Revolutionary War. Center for Brooklyn History Chief Historian Dominique Jean-Louis will speak with historian Robert P. Watson about his book The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn: An Untold Story of the American Revolution, examining the infamous HMS Jersey, the prisoners' experiences, and the lasting legacy of this tragic chapter in Brooklyn’s history.

Manhattan Weekly Market Sales Report

I am are pleased to present our weekly snapshot of Manhattan contracts signed from July 25 to 31, 2026. The full report is available here:

Below are some key highlights from the week:

• Last week, 215 contracts were signed, up 16% versus last week and 10% year-over-year, the largest annual percentage increase in six weeks.
• All product types except new development posted year-over-year sales increases. New development sales declined annually for the third consecutive week, marking the largest year-over-year decrease since March 2026.
• Sales over $5M jumped 50% versus last year (4 additional deals), marking the third largest year-over-year percentage increase for the $5M+ segment so far in 2026. In the 15 weeks since the pied-à-terre tax announcement, sales over $5M now trail 2025 by three contracts.
• The top contract was #18South at The Flatiron Building, asking $15.65M ($5,167 PSF).

Note: Figures exclude 12 contracts reported by Malabar Residences (126 East 57th Street) on July 28, 2026 as these are believed to have been signed prior to the report week.

A new report compares Manhattan and Brooklyn sales listings in different pricing tiers and finds inventory moving in opposite directions.

Apartment listings priced under $1 million have grown in Manhattan while luxury supply has shrunk. In Brooklyn, high-end listings have more than doubled and its starter apartment supply has fallen, according to the report by John Walkup, co-founder of UrbanDigs, a New York City real estate analytics firm.

The report contrasted snapshots of Manhattan and Brooklyn sales inventory in June 2023 to June 2026 in four price ranges: under $1 million, $1-$2 million, $2-$4 million, and $4 million-plus.

“Over the past three years, Manhattan’s under-$1 million is the only price band bringing more new listings to market than it did in June 2023, up 8.9 percent, while $2-4 million new listings have shrunk 18.3 percent, the steepest drop of any tier.” Sellers in that $2-4 million band “appear to be sitting out,” he said.



Brooklyn showed a mirror image, Walkup said. Its $4 million-plus tier has more than doubled its new-listing volume, up 111.5 percent, and $2-4 million is up 31.1 percent, while under-$1 million is the only tier bringing less supply to market than three years ago, down 5.2 percent, he wrote.

Etcetera: Real Estate News and Resources

How to look up a NYC building for violations in residential and status updates. Check out this article here:

The City has sent letters to homeowners regarding new Pied a Terre Tax (non-primary residence property surcharge). Applications for exemptions is extended to September 18, 2026. See this official city gov't link here:

Note: If you received a letter I suggest to consult your real estate attorney and/or tax accountant if you have questions.

August 3rd: New Condo Lending Policies in Effect, Making it More Challenging to Obtain a Mortgage. Read about the changes here: