Today’s Selected NYCity Events – FRIDAY, JULY 04, 2014.

Normally, on Independence Day you want to do two things: head to your beach of choice during the day and watch the Macy’s Fireworks at night. Hurricane Arthur may put a crimp in your beach plans, so if you want to head indoors during the day try this:

THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC (also July 5 & 6)
“There will be plenty of musical fireworks on display as the city’s premier orchestra puts on a star-spangled concert of great American music from Gershwin’s “Strike Up the Band” to Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.” (NewsDay, DANIEL BUBBEO)
Avery Fisher Hall, 10 Lincoln Center Plaz
July 4 and July 6 at 3 p.m., July 5 at 8 p.m. / $47.50-$67.50
212-875-5656 / nyphil.org

For good info on Lower Manhattan festivities:
Fourth of July  (NewYorker)
Harking back to the tall-ship display that graced New York Harbor for the nation’s bicentennial, in 1976, an elaborate Fourth of July celebration is set for downtown this year. Spearheaded by James S. Kaplan, a lawyer, historian and walking-tour guide, and presented in conjunction with the Fraunces Tavern Museum, the Sons of the Revolution, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the National Park Service, and many other organizations, the festival includes a fifty-gun salute near Castle Clinton, readings at Federal Hall of the Declaration of Independence, walking tours, and other events. Of particular note is a dramatic reading of George Washington’s 1790 “Letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport,” the new President’s groundbreaking affirmation of religious liberty as a natural right.

Kaplan likes to get started early on the Fourth of July: for the past seventeen years he’s led a pre-dawn tour of downtown on that day. This year, he’s leaving at 3 a.m. (For more information, visit july4thinnewyork.com.)

For good info on the fireworks:
Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks   (NYT-SpareTimes)
The Brooklyn Bridge has a starring role in this year’s display over the East River, as both the backdrop for the show and one of the locations for the setting off of the fireworks (along with three barges in the water). For spectators, the best viewing will be from sites in Lower Manhattan and along the Brooklyn waterfront (including the Brooklyn Heights Promenade) with a clear view of the river between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.

Elevated portions of Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive from the South Street Seaport to Old Slip will be closed to traffic and open to pedestrians for the fireworks, which begin at about 9:25 p.m. Also open to spectators will be Brooklyn Bridge Piers Nos. 1 to 6. Those with disabilities or special needs can view the show from the track-and-field site of the Murry Bergtraum High School, at Market and Cherry Streets.

Another option is the fireworks cruise; prices start at $125. A televised broadcast begins at 8 p.m. on WNBC, Channel 4 in New York, and features performances by Enrique Iglesias, Ariana Grande and Lionel Richie. A radio simulcast of the soundtrack for the fireworks display can be heard on WINS (1010 AM).
More information on the fireworks: 212-494-4495 or macys.com/fireworks.
Cruise information: circleline42.com; worldyacht.com; julyfourth.com/events.

For the absolutely most comprehensive list of places to watch the fireworks, you have to go to the curbed.com site. It is awesome, with great ideas for watching from on the water.
Here are a few highlights:

Where to Watch the 4th of July Fireworks in NYC, 2014 Edition
by Jessica Dailey

After five years on the Hudson River, New York City’s Fourth of July fireworks display is returning to the East River. Three barges will be positioned near the Brooklyn Bridge, giving Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights, and Dumbo front row seats to the explosive event. The masses will congregate in official viewing areas set up by the city along the FDR Drive, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the Brooklyn Heights promenade, but there are dozens of other options for those who prefer something a little less crowded. From $400 all-you-can-eat cruises to free rooftop bars, here are 20 26 places where you can watch the fiery fun and celebrate Independence Day. Know of one we missed? Leave a comment or send a note to the tipline.

Please note that the ticketed events on this map all had availability as of June 30 at 1 p.m. Venues that were already sold out (like the Wythe Hotel) were not included. Additionally, while the pedestrian pathways of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges may seem like ideal viewing points, they will be closed by the NYPD.
—Research by Angely Mercado

Brooklyn Bridge Park – Pier 1
Piers 1 to 6 and Empire Fulton Ferry in Brooklyn Bridge Park are part of the official fireworks viewing locations, and they are bound to be some of the most crowded, so head over early (probably first-thing-in-the-morning-early) to make sure you get in—the police will be closing the park once it reaches capacity. The fireworks will start shortly after 9 p.m., and the show will last about 30 minutes. The NYPD will be checking bags at every entrance, so avoid bringing large bags and coolers. Many parts of the park, including the Squibb Park Pedestrian Bridge and Main Street, will be closed.
334 Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Overlooking the harbor with a great view of the skyline, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is possibly the best place to watch the show, but it will also be very crowded. It’s one of the official viewing sites, and the Macy’s website lists the access points as Columbia Heights and Pineapple Street, Montague Street and Pierrepont Street or Pierrepont Street and Remsen Street. The following streets in Brooklyn Heights will be closed to vehicular traffic: Montague Street, from Court Street to Montague Terrace; Remsen Street from Court Street to Montague Terrace; Old Fulton Street from Hicks Street to Furman Street; Furman Street from Old Fulton Street to Atlantic Avenue. Columbia Heights from Montague Street to Old Fulton Street; and Hicks Street from Atlantic Avenue to Old Fulton Street. [Photo]
Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201

NY Water Taxi-Pier 45 – Hudson River Park
Get a little bit closer to the fireworks and further away from the masses with a water taxi ride. Tickets cost $225, and include a light buffet, dessert trays, refreshments, and hors d’oeuvres. There will be a cash bar for wine and beer. The Taxi departs from Pier 45 at Hudson River Park in Lower Manhattan at around 7 p.m., and the trip lasts three and a half hours.
West St, New York, NY 10014
(212) 627-2020

Cornucopia Majesty Cruise- Pier 36
With ticket prices starting at $180, the Cornucopia Majesty cruise ship offers a fireworks viewing party with an open bar, a buffet dinner with dishes like penne alla Vodka. This ship boards from Pier 36 near South Street at 5:30 p.m. and leaves at 6:30. Admission add-ons include a $7 American flag or a $5 USA tiara.
299 South St, New York, NY 10002

Festiva Cruise-Pier 25 — Hudson River Park
The Festiva yacht provides yet another opportunity to fete the Fourth on the open waters. This ship is perfect for all ages and and includes a buffet dinner and a live DJ. Festiva leaves from pier 25 on Manhattan’s west side at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for this more economical fiesta starts at $145.
West Side Highway, New York, NY 10013

Audubon Yacht- Pier 40 – Chelsea Piers
The Audubon yacht offers a family-friendly venue, but there’s also an open bar on board for adults and a fully stocked buffet for everyone’s enjoyment. There will be a live DJ and of course, great views of the fireworks. This yacht leaves Hudson River park Pier 40 at 6 p.m. General admission tickets are already sold out, but VIP tickets starting at $175 are still available.
West Side HWY, New York, NY 10011

Brooklyn Bridge Garden Bar
The Brooklyn Bridge Garden Bar on Pier 1 of Brooklyn Bridge Park is hosting a private, ticketed event that will offer the best views without the crowds—and with alcohol. The $150 price includes three drinks, plus a buffet with all-American fare like corn on the cob, potato salad, and pulled pork. Guests will need a printed copy of their ticket to gain access to the park through the NYPD check points.
12 Furman Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(347) 864-1255

NY Waterway Ferry Terminal Port Imperial
Departing from Weehawken in Jersey, the NY Waterway is hosting a four-hour cruise with music, snacks, and drinks. Tickets are $135 for adults, $125 for seniors 62 and older, $99 for children 4 to 12 years old and free for toddlers/infants three and under. Call 1.800.53.FERRY to buy tickets.
4800 Avenue at Port Imperial, Weehawken, NJ 07086
(800) 533-3779