Taste of Times Square

We had a rocking good time last year at this evening-long festival. Show up, buy a bunch of tickets, then walk around and trade them for whatever strikes your fancy. Go hungry. It will be your dinner. Seriously.

When: June 11, 2012
Where: Times Square west of Seventh Ave
Website:http://www.timessquarenyc.org/events/taste-of-times-square/index.aspx
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Come Out And Play

This string of fun  and games, to be played throughout Manhattan, is part flash mob, part cacophony, part giggly childish fun. Part of the River to River Festival, it deserves its own entry.

When: June 19 - July 16, 2011

Where: sites throughout Lower Manhattan

Website: http://www.comeoutandplay.org, http://www.rivertorivernyc.com/events/play?field_venue_nid=All

River to River Spreads Through Downtown Manhattan Again

Kicking off Sunday is the 10th annual River to River. Stretching out over a month and hitting venues all over lower Manhattan, this year's festival is pared down from last year but features a maddening breadth of acts, with a little theater, dance, an open artists weekend, and more thrown in.

When: June 19-July 16, 2011
Where: All Over Downtown Manhattan
Website: http://www.rivertorivernyc.com

Queens Art Express

Queens' multi-neighborhood art expo returns for another year. Use the interactive map to highlight venues in specific neighborhoods, then visit galleries, municipal beautification projects, museums and theaters.

When: June 16-21, 2011
Where: 7 neighborhoods throughout Queens
Website: http://www.queensartexpress.com

Dance Parade 2011 and Dance Fest!

A celebration of the complete dance spectrum, Dance Parade 2011 hits the streets Saturday and jiggles, high steps and shimmies it's way to Tompkins Square Park, where Dance Fest features dance classes, performances and a party until 7PM. Beware: the New York Dance Police will be issuing citations to anyone not swaying to the beat!


When: May 21 1PM; DanceFest 3-7PM
Where: Broadway and St. Marks Place to Tompkins Square Park (DanceFest)
Website: http://www.danceparade.org

Fifth Avenue Street Fair in Brooklyn

One of Park Slope's giant street fairs (the other is Seventh Heaven - guess which Avenue that goes down?), Fifth Avenue Frolic features your typical street fair fare (tee hee), but you don't have to go to Manhattan to get it!  The participating restaurants are local, and 3 stages will feature family friendly music and entertainment.

When: May 15, 12-5PM
Where: Fifth Avenue from Sterling Pl to 12th Street in Brooklyn

Ninth Ave Food Festival

Sometimes mistakenly lumped in with other "street fairs", the Ninth Ave Food Festival is an amazing sight to behold. Go hungry and try something you haven't tried before. This is no ordinary street fair. Best of all, it has no entry fee so if you're not hungry, or you're broke (and Hell's Kitchen is after all a neighborhood of actors and artists), just go to experience the crowds and free entertainment.


When: May 14-15th, 2011
Where:  Ninth Ave between 42nd and 57th Streets
Website: http://www.ninthavenuefoodfestival.com/

Affordable Art Fair

The biennial favorite returns with a variety of art originals with prices starting from $100.  Build out your collection or pick up a piece for Mother's Day. Tickets are $15-$20.

When: May 5-8
Where: 7W 34th Street (7 West 34th Street)

Website: http://www.aafnyc.com

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

Support PS 9 Arts Programs at Prospect Heights Arts Fair!

PS 9 in Prospect Heights is hosting its annual crafts fair April 9, 2011.  Artists of all ilk will be on hand to showcase and sell their creations. Be ready for a mix of jewelry, home decor, candles, clothing, accessories and much more.  Kids activities will be on hand as well.

FB supports another enterprising benefit for a local NYC public school: proceeds from this fair support arts programs at PS 9 in Prospect Heights. This year, even more than most, the help is needed. There is no door fee, so show up, support some great local artists, and help maintain arts in education.

When: April 9, 2011 11AM-6PM
Where: PS 9 80 Underhill Ave between St. Marks and Bergen Streets in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.
Website: http://www.prospectheightscraftfair.com

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

Buy Tickets Now: Greenwich Village Antiquarian Fair

The West Village annual fair season kicks off with the Greenwich Village Antiquarian Book Fair this weekend. Featuring over 50 antique booksellers who will wow you with everything from first edition Americana to medieval manuscript pages, it's hard not to while away a couple hours in search of something special. After all, first editions do qualify as a great gift for that someone who has everything... Entry fees ranging from $5-$12 (depending on the day) benefit arts programs at nearby PS 3. FB is very impressed with the creativity that local schools in the area have displayed. Tribeca local schools have a Taste of Tribeca, for instance. Book lovers will enjoy perusing books they may have only heard of.

When: February 25-27
Where: PS3 490 Hudson Street
Website: http://www.gvabf.org

Sausage Fest. No, Not That Kind!

I love Loreley Manhattan's ambiance and pretzels. I'm not as into German sausage as I am into German pretzels, but for those who are can head over to Loreley's Brooklyn location in Williamsburg.  12 types of German-style sausage are being sampled for free, with specials for platters. And if you order a platter for your table, you will get free beer. Not a bad gig for those who live nearby - I mean, it's going to be freezing tonight so who wants to venture far? Free concert Saturday night to drink to.

When: Tonight and Saturday January 28-29.
Where: Loreley Brooklyn 64 Frost Street @ Meeker St
Website: http://www.loreleynyc.com

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!

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

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
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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

Atlantic Antic Street Fair

The great Atlantic Antic Street Fair will take place Sunday, September 26 from 10AM-6PM. As with the Atlantic Ave Art Walk, the street fair reaches epic proportions as New Yorkers from all over the place head to what is billed as the largest street fair in the city. Perhaps San Gennaro in Little Italy feels more crowded, but the Antic packs in more people.

A walk down Atlantic Ave brings experiences as varied as any part of the city. From the delicious Middle Eastern treats to the accessible art galleries, to boutique bakeries and awesome bars, Atlantic Avenue has truly transformed into an experience. The Antic brings vendors of all ilks as well as performers on 10 different stages. If you've been looking for an excuse to discover Atlantic Ave, come on down.


When: September 26 10AM-4PM rain or shine
Where: Atlantic Avenue from Hicks Street to 4th Avenue in Brooklyn
Website: http://www.atlanticave.org/

Go Green: EcoArt Community Festival in Brooklyn

Learn simple ways to get greener at the EcoArt Community Festival. Kids activities and fine art vendors will also be there. And be sure to check out the scheduled activities at nearby Lefferts Historic House and the Prospect Park Zoo http://www.prospectpark.org.

When: July 25 11AM-4PM

Where: Prospect Park near the Carousel (Flatbush at Ocean Ave)

Website: None