Carpe diem is basically Latin for “it’s summer, live a little,” so as the season sizzles on, let your social life follow suit. Throw on your breeziest ’fit and lean into July’s carefree vibe.
This edition of “Your Month IRL,” Bustle’s roundup of in-person events, is packed with inspo. Concert season is in full swing, movie theaters are nice and cool, and there’s no better time for glamping, friendship bracelets, and outdoor art installations. Slick on your sunscreen — let’s go.
— Hannah Orenstein, deputy lifestyle and wellness editor
Some dates and details to keep in mind, regardless of your home base.
Get that glitter on your eyes and rip your stockings up the side — Kesha’s heading out on a world tour with Period (out July 4), her first album on her own independent label. She’s described it as the first time in her career she’s “truly free in every way.” The Scissor Sisters, Slayyyter, and Rose Gray are joining her on the road.
It’s hard to believe, but the cult-favorite tool is getting even better. The Coanda 2x is smaller and lighter, comes with two new attachments, and amps up the air pressure and power for a faster dry and higher-quality results. Head to your local Sephora; your hair will thank you.
Calling all millennials: Gaga’s back with the OG dance-pop sound you loved in college. Her world tour was bumped up from 32 shows to 45, thanks to fans’ demands to see the “perfect celebrity” in concert.
The league’s biggest names are going head to head, and the starting lineup will be determined in part by fans’ votes. Currently, the top two front-runners are the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier from the Minnesota Lynx. While you can catch the game on ABC at home, a sports bar will feel more like a party.
The annual nerd’s paradise is back again. This year’s events include a rooftop concert headlined by The All-American Rejects, an anime music festival, and a panel hosted by The Legend of Taylore (a podcast for Dungeons and Dragons-loving Swifties, naturally).
Escape summer’s heat and dip into a cool movie theater for this indie rom-com starring Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman. They play a new couple on a romantic road trip that hits a few unexpected speed bumps. The result is charming, steamy, and delightfully unhinged.
Go glamping on Governors Island, just 10 minutes from Manhattan by ferry. Collective Retreats guests can play cornhole and oversize Jenga on the Great Lawn, eat farm-to-island fare, sip craft cocktails as the sun dips behind the New York skyline, unwind in luxurious suites with panoramic views, and more.
— Hannah Orenstein, deputy editor of lifestyle and wellness
Stop by Franklin Square to see the Chinese Lantern Festival, which has more than 1,000 glowing sculptures, including a 200-foot dragon. The event also features performances (think jugglers and acrobats), dumpling-making workshops, food stalls, a Lotus Cocktail Garden, and more. Tickets start at $26.
— Carolyn Steber, lifestyle and wellness writer
JoJo’s Shake Bar is celebrating summer by getting crafty. The River North and Naperville locations will be hosting interactive activities like making friendship bracelets and painting birdhouses, all while enjoying some tasty camp-themed milkshakes and cocktails. Book an experience here.
— Gabrielle Bondi, entertainment editor
If you’re as obsessed with The Gilded Age as I am, this July is the perfect time to visit the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. House tours of the dazzling 20th-century property run regularly. But you can also stick around for special events like the farmers market, book-making workshop, orchid tour, and more — all at a lavish estate you can totally imagine the Russells spending their winter at. More information here.
— Grace Wehniainen, TV writer
Have an event for our monthly roundup? Send it to bustlecalendar@bustle.com.
