Who takes the cake: New York or L.A.? That’s not a question we’re here to decide—plus, we’re quite biased on the subject—but what kind of city would we be if we didn’t acknowledge the great events happening from coast to coast? From a groundbreaking exhibit at the MOMA, a month-long birthday celebrating the Saratoga Race Course, and the last tennis grand slam event of the year, New York City’s end of summer options are as diverse as ever. The following is a sampling of worthy pursuits for planning your August visit.
1. Attend Shakespeare In The Park, the city’s famously free, premiere outdoor theater experience. The musical adaptation of Love’s Labours Lost, in which a king and his lords try to give up the company of women, runs through August 18th. Colin Donnell, Daniel Breaker, Patti Murin, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Lucas Near-Verbrugghe are among the cast to perform in the open-air at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park.
2. Celebrate 150 Years of history and horse racing at the legendary Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs. The 40-day race meet that began on July 20th cumulates on August 24th with the 144th running of the Travers Stakes—America’s oldest Stakes Race for three- year-olds—which could feature a showdown between the winners of this year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Need a break from the thoroughbreds? Here’s a guide for everything from where to shop, dine, see art, and even grab a scoop of ice cream in Saratoga Springs.
3. Listen closely when the New York MOMA Presents “Soundings: A Contemporary Score”, the museum’s first major exhibition devoted to sound art. 
Experience how artists approach sound from a variety of disciplinary angles including architecture, performance, and computer programming and be sure to look out for the museum-wide installation of sound bells. The exhibit takes place August 10 thru November 3.
4. Hit the pavement for Summer Streets where on August 10th and 17th, nearly seven miles of New York City’s streets—from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park—open up for everyone to bike, run, play, or just walk at a leisurely pace with no repercussions from angry cabbies. Don’t miss the seven-block-long art installation located in the Park Avenue tunnel, the first time in history that it has been open to pedestrians.
5. See the best of the best compete at the Tennis US Open in Flushing Meadows, Corona Park. You can still reserve a seat for 22 sessions, including some available courtside, at the grand Arthur Ashe Stadium or the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Opening night is Monday, August 26 with the action concluding on Monday, September 9.
