FIRST!! Kings County Fiber Festival

If you can't make it up to Sheep & Wool in Dutchess County this month, this first-ever fiber festival in Brooklyn will be a nice consolation. Artisans peddling their fiber-oriented wares, demonstrations and more. Knitters and crocheters (natch) will be joined by dyers, spinners, weavers and more. This is a first-year event and will sure to flesh out. There's quite a burgeoning fiber community in Park Slope now that will surely embrace this event!

Where: Old Stone House 3rd Street & 5th Ave, Park Slope Brooklyn
When: Sunday October 6, 10-6 PM
Website: http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2012/10/06/first-annual-kings-county-fiber-festival

Bronx - Native American Festival

Explore aspects of the beautiful cultures of the Native American Tribes at this day-long festival in Pelham Bay Park. Pelham Bay Park will host four hours of performances, exhibits, arts and crafts, delicious food, storytelling, nature programs, and more.

When: September 23, 2012 12-4PM
Where: South Picnic Area, Pelham Bay Park, Bronx
Website:  http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2012/09/23/native-american-festival?utm_source=bit.ly&utm_medium=smlink&utm_campaign=social-media

Four free shows of classical, chamber, choral and orchestral music, jazz and world are featured annually at the Washington Square Music Festival.  The festival is free and runs Tuesday through July.

The first performance is July 10 at St. Joseph's Church on Sixth Avenue and Washington Place in Greenwich Village and features the Festival Chamber Orchestra and West Village Chorale performing a concert of Music & Poetry. The concert is free but seating is first-come, first-served.

When: Four consecutive Tuesdays in July starting July 10, 2012
Where: St. Joseph's Church and/or Washington Square Park Stage
Website: http://www.washingtonsquaremusicfestival.org

Bike Expo New York

Starting tomorrow, the first ever Bike Expo New York  will precede this year's 5 boro bike tour. This event is refreshingly FREE and located along the New York green way - the bike path that runs along the East River - making it accessible to bike riders, of course.

Exhibitors will showcase bikes and biking gear, and you can be sure that lots of information about biking as a green and healthy transportation alternative will abound as well. This might just finally inspire FB to get her bike out of storage, fixed and into circulation!


When: May 3-5, 2012
Where: Basketball City (Pier 36 on Hudson River)
Website: http://www.bikeexponewyork.org

Downtown Dance Festival Starts This Weekend

For a free dose of culture head over to the Downtown Dance Festival every day from August 13-20 at various areas near Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan. Kicking off Saturday & Sunday and featuring modern and international dance performances, the festival should provide an interesting and light mix of enjoyable dance to enjoy.  Don't miss the talented teenage dancers from Dancewave Company, who kick off each of the first two days' performances this weekend.  

When: August 13-20, 2011 (check website for daily hours of performance)

Where: The Lawn at Battery Park, adjacent to State Street at Pearl Street (See website for directions); One New York Plaza (Whitehall & Water Streets, see website for directions)

Website: http://www.batterydanceco.com/ddf_festival.htm 

Family Arts Festival at Riverside Theatre

Free (but RSVP to make sur you get a seat) and geared for families, the Family Arts Festival makes diversity accessible by presenting an eclectic selection of culturally themed arts & musical acts.

When: June 11-26, 2011 (weekends)

Where: Riverside Theatre, 91 Claremont Ave, New York, NY

Website: http://www.theriversidetheatre.org/programs.php?p=family

Brooklyn Peace Fair

Given recent events, stopping by the Brooklyn Peace Fair might not be a bad idea. Local and national peace- and social subjects will be discussed.


When: May 7 12-5 PM
Where: Brooklyn College Student Center East 27th @ Campus Road
Website: http://www.brooklynpeace.org

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

Lincoln Center American Crafts Festival

Get inspired by the ingenuity of over 400 craft vendors at this annual outdoor craft fair, one of the largest in the city. The show is juried, meaning that vendors had to apply and have their wares judged high quality to be able to display. The festival actually stretches over 2 weekends, with different artists displaying each weekend. FB missed out on the first weekend of this show (sorry), but you'll be able to lose yourself for hours on this last weekend, and possibly find that perfect lamp for that one corner in your favorite room.

Music and food are promised, though no information on who exactly will be playing is given on the website.

When: June 26 12-9PM, 27 10AM-9PM
Where: Lincoln Center Plaza
Website: http://www.craftsatlincoln.org

Wimbledon at Rockefellar Center

So it may be a giant advertisement for HSBC (disclosure: FB is NOT a client of HSBC), but the tennis experience that has been built around the annual tennis tournament at Wimbledon is comprehensive. Starting June 21, Rockefeller Center will feature a host of tennis-centric activities.

Experience a free tennis clinic, given twice daily, or reserve a time to play on a real grass court (bring sneakers, but you can borrow their racquets and balls). Or bring your racquet in for restringing. Strawberries & cream (a tradition at Wimbledon) will be distributed daily as well. Kid-oriented clinics will also be given, sponsored by Police Athletic League.

When: June 21-25 7AM-7PM
Where: Rockefeller Center btw 5th & 6th Aves from 50th to 51st Streets.
Website: http://www.us.hsbc.com/tennis

Adventures NYC in Central Park

FB is seeing somewhat of a surge in interest in the outdoor lifestyle. In NYC, that's all but unthinkable. But the City of New York is jumping on the bandwagon, putting on AdventuresNYC, a 4 hour outdoor fair in Central Park designed to encourage people (especially kids) to enjoy the great outdoors more. Activities include a climbing wall, fishing activities, yoga and much more. Plus there will be music!  Stop by when you have a moment.

When: June 19 12-4PM
Where: Central Park Bandshell at 72nd STreet
Website: http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2010/06/19/adventures-nyc

Theater at Riverside Church: Family Arts Festival

This weekend is the second of three for the Theatre at Riverside Church's Family Arts Festival, which features a multitude of family-friendly and culture-enriching dance, music and spoken word experiences. All events are FREE.

When: weekends through June 27, performances starting around 7PM most days.
Where: Riverside Church Theatre (91 Claremont Ave at 120th Street)
Website: http://www.theriversidechurchny.org/theatre/programs.php?p=family

8th Cinefest PetroBras NY June 5-12

A little late on this one, sorry! But there's still time to buy tickets and check out some of the greatest films that came out of Brazil in the last year. One of them - Elvis and Madona - I recognize from the Tribeca Film Festival.

Tickets are still available for the films later in the week (from Wednesday on) via the website, and you can also walk up (at your own risk). Ticket prices are $10, a bargain in this town (and probably a better product too than most of the summer fare we can expect from the studios.)

When: 6-10PM showings June 5-11, closing concert and free screening June 12
Where: Scheduled screenings: Tribeca Cinemas at 54 Varick Street,
Closing concert and free screening: Central Park Summer Stage - 72nd Street @ 5th Ave
Website: http://www.brazilianfilmfestival.com/ny_en.html