Taste Brooklyn... Mmmm... Tastes Good

Another of the popular "Taste" series features restaurants from Park Slope, Williamsburg and other points in Brooklyn, coming together for your gastronomic pleasure.  Tickets, often over $100 at swanky Taste events in Manhattan, start at $50.

When: April 3, 2012 5:30-9PM (VIPs enter at 5:30, public enters at 6:30PM)
Where: 155 Water Street at Pearl Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn
Website: http://www.brooklynexposed.com/index.php/tastingbrooklyn

American Craft beer festival NYC

75 craft brewers will be sampling their work at the Armory in Murray Hill. Gourmet versions of traditional food paired with beer will also be available. There will be some brewing seminars from well known experts as well (schedule on website).  Tickets will get you in for one of two tasting sessions - in the afternoon and in the evening.

When: Saturday, March 3, 2012
Where: Lexington Ave Armory (68 Lexington Ave)
Website: nyccraftbeerfest.com

KidsCafe Goes To College - Modern Dance in College and Beyond

 Dancewave's Kids Cafe Festival offers serious high school dancers an opportunity to see dance departments from professionally-based college dance programs in the metropolitan area and beyond.

The college theme is a twist on Dancewave’s annual Kids Cafe Festival, a popular community event now in its 19^th year that invites high school dancers from all over New York City to perform dances created by both student and professional choreographers.


When: March 3-4, 2012, 3PM
Where: LIU Kumble Theater
Website: http://dancewave.org/kidscafe.php

NYC Bulgarian Film Festival

Bulgaria is not a part of Europe we pay a lot of attention to (mercifully they are not directly in the crosshairs with the current European debt crisis), but many films have won good reviews at festivals around the world. The New York version of the Sofia Independent Film Festival (also called The Bulgarian Film Festival over here) showcases 10 of the best films to come out of this small country in the past 2 years - veterans of Toronto and Cannes as well as smaller festivals.

When: February 21-25, 2012
Where: Tribeca Cinemas (Varick and Laight Streets)
Website: http://soindependentfilmfest.com/ny-2012/index.php

BAM Kids Film Festival

6 charming feature films are showcased in the 14th annual BAM Kids Film Festival. For the more fidgety, 6 shorts programs are also available, based on whimsical themes such as Who Knew?  and Let's Play! to the self-explanatory Animation Nations.  Free kid-friendly musical performances at BAMCafe help kill the time between screenings. Take your little one to some quality cinema and get them started early. Some or all showings  may sell out before the showing dates, so buy sooner rather than later if this is how you're planning to amuse the family.

When: February 4-5, 2012
Where:  BAM Rose Cinemas (30 Lafayette Ave in Brooklyn)
Website: http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=3935

2012 Brooklyn Israel Film Festival

This year's Brooklyn Israel Film Festival - hosted by Kane Street Synagogue in Carroll Gardens - features 3 Israeli films.  The first is The Debt, which I saw a month ago. It was very good.  The other two - Restoration and Dolphin Boy - received high marks at the 2011 Jerusalem Film Festival.

Tribeca Film Festival has had some other Israeli films that were fantastic over the past few years. The one I think of first is A Matter of Size, a lovely story about some overweight guys who find their niche in Sumo.  Netflix it. It's adorable.

When: January 26-29, 2012
Where: Kane Street Synagogue 236 Kane Street Brooklyn, New York 11231
Website: www.kanestreet.org/IFF

New York City Wine & Food Festival: September 29 - October 2 , 2011

Celebu-chefs and professional foodies will be on hand to introduce you to new foods, help you master old ones, and talk about different aspects of the restaurant industry. The website lists several free events, as well as paid events from $25-$150 and up. Favorite events do fill up quickly, buy tickets now!

When: September 29-October 1, 2011

Where: Throughout NYC

Website: http://www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com/2011/index.php

Get Tickets September 1: 2011 Forum Film Festival

Heads-up!  This year the screenings at the Forum on Law, Ethics & Culture Film Festival are $12-$15 each, with an overall pass available for $200. Quite a long way we've come from last year's online reservation no-charge system.  The opening night, where Too Big To Fail will screen at the HBO Theater, will feature Andrew Ross Sorkin. But really, the festival gets us talking about the sort of things we need to talk about: law, ethics, culture, etc. Half the fun is sticking around for the panel discussions with the special guests.

Ticket sales start September 1. Mark your calendars.


When:   October 14-20, 2011
Where:  Fordham University Law School (Lincoln Center), Premiere to be held at Time Warner Center HBO Theater
Website:  http://www.forumonlawcultureandsociety.org/film-festival/2011

2011 Taste of Tribeca

It's back!  Sample delectable dishes from restaurants in one NYC's most celebrated foodie zones - Tribeca.  Tickets at $45 will benefit local Tribeca public schools. Don't wait on this one - it will sell out before the date.

When: May 21, 2011
Where: Greenwich Street in Tribeca
Website: http://www.tasteoftribeca.com/

CRAICFest: Irish Cinema and Music Festival

An Irish themed music and film festival, the CRAIC features the best coming out of Ireland, with their unique sounds and perspective on life.  Films screen at Tribeca Cinema (54 Varick Street) while musical acts (a steal at $15 per night) perform at Mercury Lounge. March 9th, the festival's musical opener  -  internationally acclaimed Julia Feeney - will perform at Joe's Pub.

Kids are not forgotten. The Kid's Fleadh (pronounced FLAH) will go off March 12 at Tribeca Cinemas. Featuring the best of Irish short films, this event is free.

When: March 10th-14th, 2011
Where: Tribeca Cinemas (Film) 54 Varick Street, Joe's Pub (Music) Lafayette Street at Astor Place, Mercury Lounge (Music) 217 E Houston Street
Website: http://www.thecraicfest.com

BUY TICKETS: Brooklyn Uncorked 2011 | Edible Manhattan

EARLY BIRD ALERT

Early bird tickets are available for the 2011 Brooklyn Uncorked event at Brooklyn Academy of Music until March 15, 2011. More than just a wine tasting, Brooklyn Uncorked is all about local food and wine, with wine makers from all over the 5 boroughs and Long Island, and local fresh food restaurants offering pairings. Among our favorites, Applewood and Buttermilk Channel.

Early bird tickets are $30, discounted 25% from the $40 regular price. This event will sell out, so save money and plan ahead.

When: May 10, 2011 6-9PM

Where: Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Website: Brooklyn Uncorked 2011 | Edible Manhattan

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

African Diaspora Film Festival

Films celebrating the African Diaspora. Both narrative fiction and documentaries from around the US and other countries are presented. Topics addressed include all aspects of life for people living in different parts of the African Diaspora. Most, if not all, of the directors themselves are African American. A unique perspective and a celebrated collection of moving stories.

When: December 2-4, 2010
Where: The Riverside Theatre @ 91 Claremont Ave @ W 120th Street
Website: The Riverside Theatre

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

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

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

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/

New York Film Festival

Hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, this uptown stalwart finishes out the second half of the year, complimenting the Tribeca Film Festival more market-minded fare. Look for famous European masters as well as some more mainstream fare making its debut here (THE SOCIAL NETWORK and HEREAFTER open and close the festival, respectively). Wish we had an all access pass. Go see something that WON'T likely be coming to a theater near you anytime soon.

When: Friday September 24- October 10, 2010
Where: Lincoln Center
Website: http://www.filmlinc.com/nyff/2010/

Happening Now: NYC Fringe Festival

Every year the Fringe Festival packs in hundreds of performances all over the city. Try finding the most cutting edge shows without it. Envelope-pushing commentary, media and artistry is on display in what has grown to an all encompassing festival of the far edge of theater. Come, see something you think you might like, support theater at its tenderest of grassroots, and experience something you might never ever see on Broadway.

Can't even afford the $15 advance tickets for this year's Fringe?  Hey, we've all been there, but you can still get a taste of what you're missing. FringeTeasers, part of the FringeAlFresco portion of the program, will run 7AM-1PM on August 21. Head to the Fringe NYC Stage at Spring and Lafayette. Also, if you just want to bask in the ecstatic ambiance created by the power of sheer creativity, You can check out Fringe Cafe, located at 1 East 8th Street, for advance tickets and maybe a refreshment or two.

Parents, FringeNYC isn't just for adults. Be sure to check out the FringeJR schedule for age-appropriate programming!


When: August 13-29, 2010
Where: 20 Venues throughout the City
Website: http://www.fringenyc.org

Latin American Music Conference

Part music celebration, part serious industry conference, Latin American Music Conference states its objective is to create opportunities for the growing number of Latin music acts in the United States and beyond. Conference registration ($99 if pre-registered) gives admission to all performances, exhibits and panels.

Two events (July 9 and 10) are outdoor performances open to the public as well as a semi-open (but admission will be charged) showcase on July 8.


When: July 6-10
Where: Various Locations in Manhattan
Website: http://www.latinalternative.com/