New York Comedy Festival

The headliner names have been sold out for this annual laugh fest, but you can still get into some of the lesser known, more local names. Nothing free, unfortunately, this is pretty establishment - nothing experimental. But market-tested means probably sure to please.

When: November 8-11, 2012
Where: Venues around the City
Website: http://www.nycomedyfestival.com

2012 Chocolate Show

If you hate Hershey's, can't stand Cadbury's and think Dove is weak, go to the Chocoloate Show this weekend. Some of the strongest chocolate I've ever tasted - no milk and little sugar here!  Plus some of the latest chocolate products make their debut - last year I saw Silly Cow Farms Hot Chocolate Mix, and this year it's all over Whole Foods! The quirky No Chewing Allowed also had some delicious foods, and Barnes & Noble brings an excellent selection of dessert-related books to browse. Samples galore! Find the holiday's cutest niche gift or plan something special for your next occasion. Or just enjoy all those antioxidents. Yeah, sure, that's why you'll go: the health benefits.

When: November 9-11, 2012
Where:  Metropolitan Pavillion - 125 West 18th Street, New York, NY
Website: http://www.chocolateshow.com/accueil.aspx

Ancient Drama Theater Festival

The Ancient Drama Festival is held under the auspices of the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture, The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York and New Greek TV. This unique festival is a celebration of the theatre community and citizen’s exploration of the relationship between today’s artist and audience with the ancient texts.

The annual Festival boasts 12+ productions.

Where: Hellenic Cultural Center, 27-09 Crescent Street, Astoria, NY 11105
When: November 4-18, 2012
Website: http://ancientdramafestival.blogspot.com/

United Solo Festival Features One-Man Shows

United Solo is the world's largest solo theatre festival. . Highly experienced performers and untried new talents perform solo shows in many categories (e.g. storytelling, improv, stand-up, magic, puppetry, dance, multimedia, drama: tragedy or comedy).

When: October 11-November 18, 2012
Where: Theater Row - 42nd Street, New York City
Website: www.unitedsolo.org

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HEALTH: Living by Numbers

Ok, so not really a festival, but a celebration of something very specific: living by numbers means tracking as many measurables as possible. Tim Ferriss and J. Craig Venter are two speakers. The fact is that when you track things about yourself, you can improve a lot of things about yourself that seemed hard or impossible to do. Numbers are being pushed in a lot of frontiers, from fitness to genomics and beyond.

You can't go to this conference, but you can watch it online. Log on and check out some cutting edge conversations.

When: October 15-16, 2012
Where: Online only
Website: http://www.wiredhealthconference.com/

Feast for Good

The Feast gathers remarkable innovators from across industries to engage each other in creating world-shaking change.The Feast has hosted its annual conference since 2008 in New York City as well as in New Orleans during 2009. For 2012, The Feast is expanding its format to host the inaugural Social Innovation Week, a series of events in October including our flagship conference and two new happenings: The Feast Worldwide dinner party and The Feast Pavilion.

The Feast Pavilion will be open to the public from 10AM-6PM on Saturday October 6 and will feature artists, designers and other exhibits based on doing good through innovation. Food will also be present from some well-known food truck purveyors.

Where: 121 Delancey Street, Manhattan
When: October 6, 2012 10AM-6PM
Website: http://www.feastongood.com/pavilion/

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