Locked in: we're doing Elsewhere — Hayden James (Bushwick, 4PM–4AM). We start from Tribeca / Union Sq, so the plan is: Greenpoint bar-hop → World Cup soccer → Elsewhere. Here's the run of the day.
The plan
The run of the day ✓ Elsewhere confirmed
Tribeca / Union Sq → Greenpoint bars → World Cup soccer → Bushwick · the vibe: new, undercover, great food, good crowds
~1:30 PM
Kick off in Greenpoint — El Pingüino + Greenpoint Ave hop
El Pingüino · 25 Greenpoint Ave, Greenpoint
Start at El Pingüino — the buzzy Spanish seafood + tapas bar (oysters, tinned fish, natural wine; oyster happy hour 4–7). Then bar-hop around Greenpoint Ave. Fun way in: the NYC Ferry (Pier 11, near Tribeca → Greenpoint/India St), or a ~20-min cab.
↓ ~8-min walk to the Greenpoint waterfront
~3:30 PM
World Cup soccer — The World by Zum Schneider
12 Franklin St, Greenpoint (Franklin Point, waterfront)
Zum Schneider's summer soccer village on the Greenpoint waterfront — a giant 10×16 HD screen plus a rooftop with skyline views and outdoor screens, beer-hall seating, free walk-in. Round-of-16 matches are on all day July 4.
↓ ~15-min cab to Bushwick
~5 PM → late
Elsewhere — Hayden James ✓ CONFIRMED
599 Johnson Ave, Bushwick · 4PM–4AM · 21+
The anchor, locked in. Land for golden hour, Hayden James on the roof, then it rolls into the indoor rooms all night.
Fireworks fork (~9:25 PM): want the Macy's show? Duck out to a rooftop or the water for 20 min, then back into Elsewhere — it's going till 4AM anyway.
More around Greenpoint — optional add-ons
Ways to stretch the afternoon in North Brooklyn — stack any of these in. (Superior Ingredients & Eavesdrop are still on the rooftop menu if you want a DJ set too.)
A Nowadays — outdoor day party DJ
📍 56-06 Cooper Ave, Ridgewood (Bushwick border)
The on-brand move. All-day open-air dance compound — the area's DJ institution (home of Mister Sunday). Sunny backyard, ping pong, great sound. ~8 min from Elsewhere.
B Transmitter Park + Greenpoint waterfront Free
📍 West St, Greenpoint · right by lunch
The chill reset. East River waterfront with a pier and full Manhattan skyline — a golden-hour breather after lunch before the party.
C Franklin St stroll + record digging Shops
📍 Franklin St, Greenpoint
Undercover wander. Vintage (Dobbin St Co-op), record shops, WORD Bookstore, Radio Bakery — an easy browse-and-graze between lunch and the rooftop.
D Rooftop drinks — Westlight Rooftop
📍 111 N 12th St, 22nd fl, Williamsburg
The high-view pit stop. 22nd-floor rooftop with the best sweeping skyline in the area — a quick elevated drink en route to Bushwick.
Full rooftop menu — mix & match
1 Elsewhere Rooftop — Hayden James ✓ Confirmed
📍 599 Johnson Ave, Bushwick · 4PM–4AM · 21+ · from ~$30
Locked in — the anchor of the whole day. 12-hour day-into-night marathon, rooftop then indoor rooms.
2 Superior Ingredients Fireworks view
📍 74 Wythe Ave, Williamsburg · 3–11PM · 21+
Best fireworks-while-you-rave. Panoramic skyline + house lineup timed to the show.
3 Westlight (The William Vale)
📍 111 N 12th St, 22nd fl, Williamsburg
Best design + skyline. DJs Tennis, Carlita, DeRoos.
4 Harriet's Rooftop — 1 Hotel Bklyn Bridge
📍 60 Furman St, DUMBO · ~$75 · "The Ritual"
Best golden-hour view. Lower Manhattan sunset over the East River.
5 Bar Blondeau — Wythe Hotel roof
📍 80 Wythe Ave, Williamsburg · chef takeover
Best rooftop meal to start on. Next door to Superior Ingredients.
6 Mercer Day Party — Arlo SoHo Open bar
📍 Arlo SoHo · 5PM–midnight (open bar 5–10) · ~$300
The all-in splurge. House scene, DJ Fatfingaz, 5-hr open bar.
7 The Crown 360° views
📍 50 Bowery, Chinatown/LES · from ~$50
Best 360° panorama downtown. Open-bar hour in the ticket.
8 Elsie Rooftop
📍 Near Bryant Park (25 stories) · from ~$25
Best value glam rooftop.
9 33 Hotel — Seaport Fireworks view
📍 Seaport District · 3-hr open bar + apps
Best all-inclusive bridge view.
10 230 Fifth
📍 230 Fifth Ave, Flatiron
The classic big rooftop. Full Empire State view.
11 Magic Hour — Moxy Times Sq
📍 485 7th Ave
Best goofy-fun. Mini-golf + carousel.
12 Mr. Purple — Hotel Indigo LES
📍 180 Orchard St
Pool-deck rooftop, downtown views, easy to bar-hop.
13 PhD Rooftop — Dream Downtown
📍 355 W 16th St, Chelsea
Slick pool-deck scene + DJ.
14 The Fleur Room — Moxy Chelsea
📍 105 W 28th St · from ~$20
Sultry rooftop, skyline + DJ, low entry.
15 Lost in Paradise — LIC
📍 Long Island City · from ~$30
Tiki rooftop looking back at Manhattan from Queens.
16 The Highlight Room
📍 LES · from ~$50
Higher-energy LES rooftop club.
17 Loosie's — Moxy LES
📍 Moxy LES · from ~$25
Good late-night pivot.
18 Downtown Skyport Fireworks view
📍 East River, Downtown
Waterfront party, straight-on East River fireworks angle.
Non-rooftop add-ons
+ Silent disco — Bohemian Beer Garden
+ Louis Valentino Jr. Pier Free
+ Free Hudson kayaking — Downtown Boathouse Free
Everything I could find going on around the 4th — beyond our plan. It's America's 250th and Macy's 50th, so the city's expecting ~8–10M people. Book/arrive early for anything ticketed.
Fireworks & where to watch
★ Macy's 4th of July Fireworks — 50th edition Jul 4
📍 East River (Seaport) + lower Hudson + a Brooklyn Bridge laser show · ~9:25PM · 85,000 shells
The big one. Free public viewing along the FDR Drive (arrive ~2 hrs early). viewing guide
+ Free, less-mobbed viewing spots Free
+ Coney Island Friday Fireworks Fri Jul 3Free
America 250 & the harbor
★ International Aerial Review — "the air parade" Jul 4 · ~10:15AMFree
📍 Over the Hudson, Verrazzano → GW Bridge (best from any river-facing waterfront / high roof)
120+ U.S. & allied aircraft led by the Navy Blue Angels, with France's Patrouille de France trailing red-white-blue smoke — flying up the river over the tall-ship parade. Once-in-a-generation for the 250th; visible free from both sides of the Hudson. details
★ Tall Ships / Sail250 Jul 3–7Free
📍 Hudson & East Rivers → Bklyn Bridge Park / Seaport / SI
48 tall ships from 20 countries. Parade of Sail starts ~9:30AM Jul 4 under the Verrazzano → up the Hudson (the air parade flies over it ~10:15AM); free public ship tours Jul 5–7 (12–6PM). Once-in-a-generation for the 250th. details
+ International Naval Review 250 / Fleet Week Jul 3–8Free
Classic 4th
+ Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Jul 4Free
+ THE BBQ NYC Cookout Jul 4
+ Central Park legal-grilling day Jul 4Free
Parties & DJs
★ Rooftop day-parties Jul 4
18 ranked on the Plan tab — Elsewhere (Hayden James), Superior Ingredients, Westlight, Harriet's, Elsie, 230 Fifth + more.
+ Nowadays — open-air day party Jul 4
+ Silent disco after-party — Bohemian Beer Garden Jul 4
Daytime & outdoor
+ Free Hudson kayaking — Downtown Boathouse Free
+ Governors Island Sat/Sun
Made for the crew · Data as of 2026-07-03 · Verify times/prices at the links before booking.