Golden Festival TONIGHT

The beautiful sounds of the Balkans (with Swedish and Norwegian thrown in) fill Brooklyn's Grand Prospect Hall tonight and tomorrow.

Come early (7:30) on Friday to get a free dance workshop so you can move your body to music from all the Balkan states, plus Ukraine, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, and Turkey to name a few. If you love Klezmer or Greek music, you will have a great time!

When: January 18-19, 2013
Where: Grand Prospect Hall 263 Prospect Ave btw 5th and 6th Ave, Brooklyn
Website: http://www.goldenfest.org
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

A-porkalypse Now!

The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival visits New York in a one-day, two-session pig celebration featuring local and visiting BBQ pitmasters. Come hungry!

Tickets are available as of today but in very limited quantities, so pick your session (both-session tickets are sold out) and get your tickets.

In addition to the main attraction, live Bluegrass Music and cigar-sampling (in a separate heated tent) are also promised. For true afficionados (and do-it-yourselfers), seminars from brewers, distillers and Mixologists are also on the schedule.

When: January 26, 2013 12-4PM (Session I) and 5:30-8:30 PM (Session II)
Where: 608 West 28th STreet (La.Venue/The Tunnel)
Website: http://www.beerandbourbon.com/new-york/show-info

If you aren't familiar with classical clowning (think Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Marcel Marceau), or if it's something you thought you left behind after a brief semester in college, this is a great way to appreciate the pure art form of classical clowning, and see it with a few twists. See one performance or buy a 5-pack.

When: September 7-30, 2012
Where: Brick Theater, 579 Metropolitan Ave Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Website: http://bricktheater.com/

DreamUp Theater Festival

Theater for the New City will present a lineup of wide-ranging and original theatrical visions embracing drama, poetry, music, and dance in the summer of 2012 from performing artists representing theater and performance companies in their theater complex in downtown New York.

The Dream Up Festival is dedicated to new works from both performance groups and individuals. Plays, dance theater, solo works and interdisciplinary material are included.  Theater for the New City prides itself on keeping ticket prices low - $12-15 each, which is a real bargain in NYC, where ticket prices routinely start at $50 for Off-Broadway shows.

When: August 19 - September 9, 2012
Where: Theater for New City, 155 First Avenue(between 9th and 10th Streets).
Website: http://www.dreamupfestival.org/

Taste Queens at Queens Taste!

The Queens Economic Development Corporation and lead sponsors Citi and Fairway Marketinvite you to Queens Taste 2012, the borough's premiere networking and culinary event. At least 50 restaurants and other food purveyors will provide delectables to more than 1,000 attendees, including some of the most powerful and best-connected Queens residents. The cuisine will feature everything from sweet to savory, Asian to Italian, and crunchy to creamy. But it will all be mouth-watering.

When: May 1, 2012
Where: Citi Field's Caesars Club 123-01 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing
Website: http://www.discoverqueens.info/queenstaste/about/

Taste of Fifth

Another fabulous taste event is coming up  - this one for the Restaurant Row on Fifth Ave in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  The setting, Grand Prospect Hall - is one of the great ironies in Brooklyn - a beautiful old world baroque-style banquet hall (complete with courtyard featuring rushing fountain) overlooking the Prospect Expressway. Hey, at least it's easy to get to!  Come, eat!

When: April 18, 2012 6:30-9:30 PM
Where: Grand Prospect Hall - 263 Prospect Ave, Brooklyn
Website: http://parkslopefifthavenuebid.com/tasteof5th

Second Moroccan Film Festival

A two-day film festival dedicated to the Moroccan film industry.

When: November 18-19, 2011
Where: Tribeca Cinemas (54 Varick at Laight Street)
Website: http://www.tribecacinemas.com/calendar/132317123.html

This week's pick: CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!

FB has been trying for years to attend this festival - a celebration of chocolate!  It's our free day, we have our ticket ($35 online or $40 at the door) and we plan to be there in the first hour of opening on Satuday.  Look out, chocolate world!!!


When: November 10-13, 2011
Where: Metropolitan Pavillion (125 West 18th St)
Website: http://www.chocolateshow.com

Big Apple Film Festival

Dedicated primarily to New York indie filmmakers, the Big Apple Film Festival kicks off November 1 at the extremely comfortable and clean Tribeca Cinemas on Varick and Laight. The sort of films playing here feature some great actors in the movies that make you say "huh?" when you see them listed on IMDB, and then have to add to your Netflix queue.  Go, see them in the theater! Often the actors themselves will come! It's a blast.


When: November 1-6, 2011
Where: Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street @ Laight Street
Website: http://www.bigapplefilmfestival.com/

Maker Faire

No it's not a True Blood convention. Come see oversized science fair projects that want to push the envelope. Maybe one of them is the next technological convenience we never knew we needed! One of them (hopefully more) just might save the world.

When: September 17-18
Where: New York Hall of Science (Corona Park, Queens)
Website: www.MakerFaire.com

Inaugural HELLS KITCHEN FILM FESTIVAL

The mission of the New York Hell's Kitchen Film Festival
is twofold: one is to revitalize and bring attention to New York's Hell's
Kitchen as a community of artists and film enthusiasts by way of a digital film
festival at the Producer's Club which is located at the heart of Hell's Kitchen;
and two, to provide a fresh and exciting New York festival audience and setting
for independent filmmakers in America and around the world whose voices may
still be new, undiscovered or unheralded, creating invaluable exposure for works
that may have fallen through the cracks, are waiting to break through, or demand
further attention.

When: September 1-11
Where: Producer's Club, 358 W.44th St, New York, NY
Website:  www.newyorkhellskitchenfilmfestival.com

St. Francis "The Art of Brooklyn"

A film festival celebrating Brooklyn premieres tonight! The Art of Brooklyn festival takes place at Founders Hall at St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights. Being all about the ART of Brooklyn, there are local exhibits and local food and drink from local merchants. Pre-show receptions and After-show parties also feature local musicians. A great way to find some new local talent, at a reasonable price of $12 (online) or $15 (at door).

When: August 20th-27th, 2011
Where: St. Francis College Theater (180 Remsen St, Brooklyn)
Website: http://www.theartofbrooklyn.com

Governor's Ball Music Festival

The Governors Ball Music Festival features headliners Girl Talk, Empire of the Sun and Pretty Lights, as well as many others. Check their website to see interviews with some of the headliners and sample their music.  In addition there will be many activities including beach volleyball and basketball, plus food and craft vendors.


When: June 18
Where: Governors Island
Website: http://governorsballmusicfestival.com/

SketchFest NYC 2011! June 8th-11th

SketchFest NYC will run from June 8 – 11, 2011 at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.  Troupes come from around the country and range from well-known acts to little-known gems. Be prepared to laugh.

When: June 8-11, 2011

Where: 145 W. 30th Street, 4th Floor | New York City, NY 10001
Website: http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/schedule/

NYC Photo Festival in DUMBO

Curated photo exhibits, lectures, and awards are presented throughout the NY Photo Festival.  Experience DUMBO's industrial chic. Portfolio reviews are conducted by photo editors, faculty and other qualified individuals - sign up on the website.

When: May 11-15, 2011
Where: Throughout DUMBO (F train to York, A train to High Street)
Website: http://www.newyorkphotofestival.com

Local Food & Travel Expo

Thinking you won't have much time to travel this year? EscapeMaker.com has you covered. Their Green Getaways Local Food & Travel Expo (whew, long name, not that catchy, but descriptive!) features 50 or so easy day and weekend getaway ideas within 3 hours or so of the 5 boroughs. Amtrak and Zipcar both will be on hand, and seminars and talks regarding green travel will be featured.  Kids activities are promised, and about a dozen local food vendors are slated to be on hand with free food samples and demos.

When: April 30, 2011 11AM-5PM
Where: The Old Williamsburg Savings Bang Building on Hanson Place and Flatbush Ave (also called Skylight One Hanson)
Website:  http://www.escapemaker.com/travel.php?vacation=travelexpo&trip=2011

New York International Children's Film Festival

Dedicated to making good children's film accessible, the 2011 New York International Children's Film Festival has begun and extends to March 27. Featuring child-accessible cinema from around the world (both short and full length features), you will find an appropriate, entertaining and enriching experience for your child, from toddler to teenager.  Coupled with talks aimed at making the elements of filmmaking accessible (such as green screen technology), the 2011 NYICFF is a smart approach to introducing the younger set to quality cinema.

When: March 4-27, 2011
Where: Various Theaters around Manhattan
Website: http://www.gkids.com

A Child Grows in Brooklyn Baby Expo at Toren 3/13!

Brooklyn blog A Child Grows in Brooklyn is organizing the Brooklyn Baby Expo March 13.  Hosted by the newly built Toren Condo, the expo features seminars on the cutting edge of parenting, and resources for parenting in the Big Apple, none of which is easy.

Seminars begin at 10:15. Topics include greening your home and forming parenting partnerships. Exhibits include demos and tryouts of the latest in toys and gear for both baby and mama (nursing bras anyone?).  Other fun activities include baby yoga, mini manicures and blowouts for the makeover set, and the ability to do those things you mean to but never get around to (get that Brooklyn Library Card!).

The Expo is heavy on the swag, promising a $120 value gift bag to the first 250 families, free gifts at each seminar by their respective sponsors, and a free subscription to Time Out NY Kids to every family that attends. The Expo is providing free parking as well, so don't be afraid to bring the family.

FB prefers festivals with low or no entrance fees. At $35 a ticket, this is not a particularly cheap festival, but the value of the free giveaways, combined with the breadth of seminars, activities and demos offered seems worth it.  And you can admire the amazing views from the Toren penthouses. Make yourself at home, and the nice folks at Toren will be all too happy to help you make it home.

When: March 13, 11AM-4PM
Where: 150 Myrtle Ave (Toren Condo), Brooklyn, NY 11201
Website: http://www.achildgrows.com/expo

NY Times Travel Show

Get a leg up on your latest travel destination, or just indulge your travel fantasies at the New York Times Travel Show.  The show - at the Javits Center - is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, February 26-27.  Expect colorful brochures from tourist bureaus from around the US and the world, chic travel accessories, and giveaways.  The popular quiz show Jeopardy is also there - you can take the test to see if you have what it takes to be a Jeopardy Champion! Tickets are $15 at the door or online.

When: February 25-27
Where: Jacob Javits Center
Website: http://www.nyttravelshow.com