It finally feels like Spring today and I’m looking forward to some outdoor fun. What beats seeing your favorite band live minus the smell of sweat, stale beer and smoke? Nuthin’, I tell ya!

Jones Beach is such a great venue for a show. We caught Depeche Mode there a few years ago and I’m still raving about it. The seating and acoustics are above average and the ocean breeze is unbeatable. This year they have Kid Rock and New Kids on the Block, Aerosmith with ZZ Top, some heavy metal and a splash of pop. Although Blink 182 is the only concert I’d travel to Long Island for, the line up isn’t bad…No Doubt, Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction. Eh.

Celebrate Brooklyn at the Prospect Park bandshell is F-R-E-E, with a suggested admission of just $ 3. Some of the shows are benefits and require a $30 ticket purchase. We paid thirty bucks one year to see Cake and Flaming Lips in the rain and were peeved that people parked themselves just outside the fence and saw the same concert for free. Anyway, they were worth the ticket price. Here’s what you do. Bring a picnic. Hang out. Cheap, awesome evening. Some 2009 performers: David Byrne, TV on the Radio, Burning Spear, Buckwheat Zydeco and Big Daddy Kane.

Central Park SummerStage has an eclectic selection of performances ranging from spoken word to comedy dance to music. A Ziggy Marley benefit concert is sold out, as is TV on the Radio. Josh Ritter with NY Pops is playing, so is Matisyahu and Q Tip.

You’ll have to download the PDF to see the River to River Festival event calendar. There’s some folk, ballet and movies going on. The one that caught my eye is The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3 on July 13th. The original! That is one of the best NYC movies of all time!

The Seaside Concerts in Coney Island isn’t updated with the 2009 schedule, but keep an eye on those. There’s always something wonderful at the Seaside.

McCarren Park still has the 2008 schedule up, which I just got excited about until I realized this is 2009.