ARIAS
If the Pussycat Dolls show is too thoughty for you, Bryant Park is also hosting three days of a veritable opera buffet. The programs feature crowd-pleasers like Puccini, Verdi and Gilbert & Sullivan sung by some of the City Opera's young talent.
Bryant Park, 6th Ave. (betw. 40th & 42nd Sts.); Aug. 15, 17 & 18, 12:30, free.
EELS W/ SMOOSH
The plastic pop band everybody adores but nobody can recognize.
World Financial Center Plaza, (on the Hudson River betw. Vesey and Liberty Sts.); June 13, 7, free.
GMA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
What's better than going to a Pussycat Dolls concert? How about the rest of the country watching you attend on Good Morning America? At 7 a.m.? Somehow, though, they booked Prince and Pharrell with Kanye West for this.
Bryant Park, 6th Ave. (betw. 40th & 42nd Sts.); Fridays, May 26-Aug. 25,
7 a.m., free.
MCCARREN PARK POOL W/ BLOC PARTY, SECRET MACHINES & MEW
The show everyone's talking about and there's plenty of reasons. First, the pool is a venue to be reckoned with. It had its rebirth last year as an arts venue and despite the opposition by some in the neighborhood (who'd like to see it renovated as an actual pool again), this is the first show announced for the revived landmark. See you in the deep end.
McCarren Park Pool, corner of N. 11th Street and Driggs Ave., B'kloon; July 29, $35.
NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC: CONCERTS IN THE PARKS
A week of free shows that include crowd pleasers such as Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet and Tchaikovsky's Coronation March, throughout the boroughs, Long Island and New Jersey. But who cares about culture? There's fireworks afterwards.
Various parks in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island; July 10-15,
17-18, 8, free.
HARLEM MEER PERFORMANCEFESTIVAL
Soul, jazz, cumbia; every Sunday for a month, the sounds of Harlem float out from Uptown's favorite lake.
Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, Central Park, 110 St. (betw. 5th & Lenox Aves.); Sundays, May 28-July 9, 4, free.
NINE INCH NAILS AT JONES BEACHW/ BAUHAUS AND PEACHES.
While there's always plenty to skoff at when it comes to Jones Beach, this show seems to be a blend of nostalgic angst and dark, campy self-loathing. Bring it on! Worthy recipients of the Beach Boys' effervescent "summer fun" legacy.
Jones Beach Theater, Jones Beach; June 17; doors 5:30, $29.50-$49.50.
LINCOLN CENTER OUT OF DOORS
The whole rest of the year, suckers pay through the nose for this stuff. Then for two weeks in August, Lincoln Center puts up its whole inventory-dance, jazz, classical, whatever-for free.
Lincoln Center, Columbus Ave. (betw. 62nd & 66th Sts.); August 4-27, free.
DR. JOHN
With a horn section and special guests. Going to this concert sounds vaguely like supporting Katrina relief, so why not do your part?
Rockefeller Park, at Chambers St. (betw. River Terrace & the Hudson River); June 28, 7, free.
MLK JR. CONCERT SERIES
Last year, it was the Ohio Players, The O'Jays and Chaka Khan. Soon enough, it'll be the JFK concert series featuring Michael Bolton and Limp Bizkit.
Wingate Field, Winthrop St. (betw. Brooklyn & Kingston Aves.); Mondays, July 11-Aug. 22, 7:30, free.
MADISON SQUARE PARK FESTIVAL
One of the lesser known music fests, makes for a much more laid-back experience. This year's most popular show may be Me'shell Ndegéocello with her personal (if typical) blend of rock, jazz, funk and soul (June 21). For further retro enjoyment, Glen Phillips (formerly of Toad the Wet Sprocket) still delivers his well-crafted songs (June 28) in that sweet-tuned voice. And if you need a little more ole timey feeling, the bluegrass super-group Uncle Earl recalls those long summer days in Kentucky (July 12).
Madison Square Park, (at 5th Ave. & 23rd St.), 212-538-6667, June 21- Aug. 9; 7, MadisonSquarePark.org. free.
WASHINGTON SQUARE MUSICFESTIVAL
Free Mozart and tango music: the second and third best reasons to enjoy Washington Square in the summer, after NYU being on vacation. "Cuartetango" isn't until August, so if you still haven't suffocated from breathing in all the evaporated cat piss in the park, then get ready to show some of your steps.
Washington Square Park, University Pl. (betw. W. 4th St. & Washington Pl.), 212-252-3621, Tuesdays, July 11-
Aug. 1, 8, free.