FestivalBuzz Pages

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Another Soup Cookoff For Another Good Cause

Yet more soup for a good cause - this one is the Prospect Farm, also known as an urban farm on Seeley Street and Prospect Avenue in Brooklyn spanning 5000 acres and filled with yummy goodness.  The soup cook off has been fully subscribed, with contestants charged to bring in enough soup to feed 8 to 12 people (taking mercy on New Yorkers' tiny kitchens) and judged by two local food luminaries.

Lots of kids' activities, music and other types of food will also be available as well!
When: Saturday, October 30, 2010 11PM-4PM
Where:  Prospect Farm 1194 Prospect Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11218
Website: Prospectfarm.org
 http://www.yelp.com/events/brooklyn-fall-harvest-fest-and-soup-cookoff

Halloween Parades in Manhattan & Brooklyn

Want to get dressed and strut around for Halloween? Two great Halloween parade traditions show two very different facets of New York, but I'm hard pressed to pick the more fun.  

On the one hand, there is the nationally known Village Halloween Parade, which features colorful, flamboyant floats, costumes and acts. Always mobbed by festive party-goers, some in costume, some not, this year's parade route is abbreviated and will run uptown from Spring Street to 15th Street on Sixth Avenue.  A notable feature of this parade is that ANYONE can participate, if you are in costume (and just putting on a witch hat doesn't count). For more details and retrospectives of past Halloween Parades, check out their website at http://www.halloween-nyc.com.

On the other hand, Park Slope celebrates its family identity with it's own Halloween Parade, full of young kids in colorful costumes who trick or treat up and down Seventh Avenue shops and restaurants during the afternoon and evening with their parents. From tiny little peas-in-a-pod to gothic-inspired teenagers imitating their favorite book characters, this parade is great for people watching. Kids and parents in costumes (witch hats count as costumes here). For more information visit http://www.http://parkslopeciviccouncil.org/halloween-parade.

FB is closing down this weekend and heading to the Rally to Restore Sanity in DC. Please say a little prayer that the middle will show up here!

Pumpkin Festival

Scarecrow competitions, a haunted house, hay rides, a pumpkin patch, and more!  The Great Pumpkin awaits all New Yorkers at the Pumpkin Festival.

When: October 30, 2010 12PM-5PM
Where: Central Park near 72nd Street near Bandshell
Website: http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_things_to_do/events/output_pages/pumpkin_festival.php

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Smith Street Soup Festival

Hot soup for a cold day.... $5 ($10 per family) for 20 samples of soup from restaurants up and down the famed Smith Street Restaurant Row.  Proceeds go to a new culinary arts program at the local High School for International Studies. So show up with an appetite and a desire to help, at one of the best priced food festivals of the year.

When: Saturday, October 23rd (rain date October 24th) 1-4 PM
Where: Smith Street between Atlantic Avenue and Carroll Street
Website: None, but here's an article from the Brooklyn Paper: http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/33/43/24_soupcontest_2010_10_22_bk.html

Saturday, October 16, 2010

CMJ Music Marathon and Festival

While the general public experiences this festival as a massive smörgåsbord of emerging and established musical artists with a sprinkling of film thrown in, this festival is a comprehensive music industry get together. Geeky FestivalBuzz is most attracted to the panels which talk in detail about different aspects of the music industry, including new and emerging revenue structures. A full pass to all venues, panels and film showings costs $495, but you may be able to purchase tickets to individual shows at the venues. Just try to get there soon, because the most popular shows will sell out before the performance.

When: October 19-23
Where: various venues around NYC
Website: cmj2010.com

Thursday, October 14, 2010

New York Bead Show

Exactly the sort of event that FestivalBuzz loves to promote: for all you crafters and jewelry makers out there (or aspiring crafters and jewelry makers). The Whole Bead show promises access to a wide variety of lovely beads, baubles and stones for jewelry making, along with other types of jewelry making tools. In addition, you can sign up on the website for one of several jewelry making classes, to whet your appetite. No more breakfast at Tiffany's, you can make your own bling now!

Look for coupons in AM New York for $2 off admission. There's also one on the website.

When: October 15-17
Where: Metropolitan Pavillion, 125 West 18th St.
Website: www.wholebead.com
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Get Free Tickets Now: Fordham Film Festival

Fordham Law School hosts this legal-themed week of films, including current and past narrative and documentary works. Each night a special guest (from Jack Kevorkian to Sonia Sotomayor) will appear to comment on the film.  The event does require tickets, most of which are already down to rush (but which you can still register for... after the rush gets a certain amount of reservations, a waitlist begins), but the documentary Worse Than War still has general admission seating available. Get tickets now!

When: October 15-21
Where: Fordham University Law School 

140 West 62nd Street

Website: fordhamfilmfestival.org

Friday, October 8, 2010

St. John's In the Village Parish Bazaar

FestivalBuzz has fond memories of the annual St. James church bazaar that happened the second weekend of every November when we were kids. Many stuffed animals were won, and several craft reindeer were donated to the craft shop. There was always something sweet at the bake shop, and bingo was fun too. Well, it seems this bazaar may not have so many games with stuffed animals, but there is going to be one heck of a rummage sale, plus plenty for the kids to do. Check it out if you're in the neighborhood - it's the kind of neighborhood thing that makes the West Village what it is.

When: October 9 10AM-4:30PM and October 10 12:30PM-4PM
Where: St. John's in the Village (218 West 11th Street)
Website: http://www.stjvny.org

Brooklyn Soul Festival

Featuring some amazing soul musicians that you might not have heard of before as well as DJs spinning soul music in between sets. Catered by Five Spot Soul Food.

When: Friday and Saturday, October 8-9, 8 PM
Where: The Bell House, 149 Seventh St, Brooklyn
Website: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118390724136

Church Ave Spectacular

Street fair sponsored by the Kensington Merchants Association also has rides and food. Explore this growing neighborhood just off the southwest corner of Prospect Park.

When: October 10 10AM- 6PM
Where: Church Ave btw Ocean Parkway and Mcdonald Ave
Website: none

Friday, October 1, 2010

Brewtopia: Great World Beer Festival - Eventbrite

Yet another chance to sample beer, this fest focuses on world beers.

When: October 2 12-4PM
Where: Center548, 548 West 22nd Street
Website: Brewtopia: Great World Beer Festival - Eventbrite

Buy Tickets Now: NYC Wine and Food Festival

Some of the most fun looking tastings have sold out already but there are still chances for you to get involved. It's not the cheapest event in the world but you'll have a hard time remembering when you ate this well!

When: October 7-10
Where: All Over Manhattan
Website: http://www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com

Brooklyn Chile Pepper Fiesta

Horticulturalists and spicy food lovers unite!  The Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosts its annual Chile Pepper Fiesta this Saturday. Bands. Dancing. Chocolate. Enjoy!

When: Saturday October 2, 2010 12-6PM
Where: Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Website: http://www.bbg.org/chilepepperfiesta

Last Weekend: Craft Beer Week

As if you needed a reason to drink, here's a reason to drink some great brews instead of your usual swill. If you hadn't seen any craft beer yet, here's your chance. Get out there to a tasting. It's not cheap but if you love beer, it's worth it.

When: Through October 3, 2010
Where: Throughout New York City
Website: http://nycbeerweek.com/events/

Westbeth 40th Anniversary Arts Festival

This is the last weekend of the Westbeth 40th Anniversary Arts Festival. Drop by to experience a range of New York works (performing and visual) from artists housed in or affiliated with this artists' housing settlement.

When: September 25-October 3
Where: 155 Bank Street
Website: www.westbeth.org

Wizard World : Big Apple Comic Con

Geeks, dorks, nerds, trekkies, etc., etc., etc. Find them all at Big Apple Comic Con, where I once met Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca from the original Star Wars movies). This year's stars include Jake Lloyd from the newer set of Star Wars Movies as well as the original Batman and Robin.

When: Friday, October 1 - Sunday October 3, 2010
Where: Penn Plaza Pavillion (Seventh Ave & 33rd Street across from Penn Station)

Korean Parade and Festival

A good excuse to learn the ins and outs of Little Korea (the low 30s near Herald Square), come explore this celebration of Korean culture. Featuring a Korean food festival, street fair, music festival and kids' activities. Saturday is rumored to be a great day to get outside.

When: Saturday, October 2nd 9AM-6PM, 12-2 PM (Parade)
Where: 32nd st between Fifth and Broadway, Parade Route on Sixth Ave from 38th to 27th Street
Website: http://www.nykorean.org