Union Square’s beer garden returns on Summer Fridays

Summer is a magical time that changes how the city operates, bringing with it pop-ups, special menus, live music — all outdoors.

Once a month during summer, Union Square is going to look a little different, too. Summer Fridays, which begin on June 17, will bring a beer, wine and hard cider garden to the northern end of the park, along with outdoor booths by nearby restaurants from 4-9 p.m. (oh, and the Greenmarket will be open late as well). Organizers have also curated a lineup of up-and-coming musicians, with performances by the Jazz Foundation of America kicking off the opening night.

The evenings — the other days are July 15 and Aug. 19 — will each have their own theme (but the beer garden will remain the same!) June 17 is all about sustainable seafood, with restaurants like Print and Blue Water Grill among others highlighting unusual fishes and preparations all intended to keep our oceans stocked for generations to come.