New York Musical Theater Festival

Perhaps the next TONY winner will be found amongst this crop of 30 new musicals, debuting over 20 days starting July 9. Tickets ($25 per person) are still available to most musical performances. The festival also offers several free seminars as well as readings, workshops and concert performances. If you can't afford Broadway but want to see some great musical theater, this is a good place to go. When: July 9-29, 2012 Where: Various venues in the Theatre District, Manhattan Website: http://www.nymf.org

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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Westchester Square Arts Festival (Bronx)

This three-day arts festival will feature the work of musicians, theatre companies and visual artists from the Bronx, all around NYC and beyond.

 With local bands & delicious local eats, this festival is a celebration of the Westchester Square community, the Bronx and the arts.

Buy tickets or come to the free outdoor arts festival on Saturday. Tickets to some performances at Foster Hall are free but require reservations.

When: May 18-20, 2012
Where: St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 2500 Westchester Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461
Website:   http://westchestersquareartsfestival.org/

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Craicfest Irish Festival

The annual Irish festival of music & film returns to the Tribeca Film Center and Mercury Lounge in Manhattan. Kids Fleadh on March 10 with goodie bags, short films, step dancing and music.


When: March 8-10, 2012
Where: Tribeca Cinemas (Laight Street at Varick Street)
Website: http://thecraicfest.com/
http://www.tribecacinemas.com/craic2012.html

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

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/

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

Meditation Fair Inspired By Sri Chimnoy

Think there's something to meditation but want to get started with guidance? Or are you a practiced hand at dropping into bliss?  There is something for both at the upcoming Festival of Meditation and Spirituality. Hosted by nycmeditation.com, a site inspired by the teachings of the late Sri Chimnoy, the festival goes on for 8 days and addresses the idea of meditation, spirituality and self-awareness and discovery through different media, including a concert of mantra, art exhibits, a play based on Sri Chimnoy's early life, and a free 3 day workshop on meditation technique.  Those looking for a new path may find food for thought here. Most activities are free but reservations are required in advance.

When: March 5-13, 2011

Where: 166 Essex Street

Website: http://www.nycmeditation.org

ZZzzzz Zzzzz ZZZZzzzzzz

What? Leave me alone! FestBuzz has been hibernating!

What? Cabin Fever!  Oh, fine.

ChiliFest 2011 is happening at the Chelsea Market. A whole bunch of chefs will be serving up their interpretation of this TexMex classic, utilizing locally organically produced meat.  Brooklyn Brewery is pairing beer with Chili. Live music, and a nice neighborhood in the Chelsea Market on Ninth Ave.  Presales are sold out already. But if you show up early you might get one of the door tickets.

When: January 30, 2011 4PM-8PM
Where: Chelsea Market Ninth Ave at 15th Street
Website: http://www.chilifest2011.com

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

Brooklyn Soul Festival

Featuring some amazing soul musicians that you might not have heard of before as well as DJs spinning soul music in between sets. Catered by Five Spot Soul Food.

When: Friday and Saturday, October 8-9, 8 PM
Where: The Bell House, 149 Seventh St, Brooklyn
Website: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118390724136

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/

Barbeque Heaven: Pig Roast in FiDi

Ok, I hate the acronym FiDi. But it gets the point across. While this isn't exactly a festival it's a pretty cool party - how often do you really get a pig roast in Manhattan?  Join the folks at the Iron Horse for their annual Block Party. Then head down to the Seaport and do the tourist thing or try to elbow your way into a good spot to see the fireworks. Damn you Macy's for discontinuing the East River fireworks!

When: July 4, 2010 from 12-9PM
Where: Iron Horse NYC, 32 Cliff Street
Website: http://www.ironhorsenyc.com

Brooklyn Music Festival: July 4

Musicians Fabolous and Shabba headline the 3rd annual Brooklyn Music Festival, going off July 4 at Aviator Sports Arena in South Brooklyn. Numerous acts are slated to perform, from the national to the locally-based. We've passed the deadline for early purchase tickets - they are now $59 with kids 12 and under free. Vendors will also be present.

When: July 4 1PM
Where: Aviator Arena at Floyd Bennett Field
Website: http://www.brooklynmusicfestival.com

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

GET TICKETS NOW! Meatopia on Governor's Island

Sometimes you want to hang back to see how a new festival works out, but with Edible Brooklyn and the Slow Food Movement behind this, you don't want to wait. Meatopia is, well, all about meat, particularly barbeque. And where the Big Apple BBQ Block Party was about bringing out pitmasters from around the country, Meatopia features local pitmasters and barbeque teams.

Meatopia is particularly dedicated to local food. Meat is provided by local tri-state producers. Moreover, the beer and bourbon available for tasting will also be locally produced. (Apparently July is "Good Beer Month" according to Mayor Bloomberg.)

This event hasn't sold out yet, but that's probably just because it's the very first one. Tasting tickets are available to purchase through the website. Don't wait.

When: July 11, 2010
Where: Governor's Island
Website: http://www.meatopia.org

River to River

This weekend kicked off the annual River to River Festival - one of the more comprehensive arts festivals meant to get you out and checking out downtown Manhattan. 

Known mostly for its musical presentations, River to River (or R2R) sanctions arts performances ranging from theater to dance to spoken word, as well as other miscellaneous activities. August 21-22, for instance, has an automotive theme: a classic Volkswagen show paired with a day to have your car seats checked out by a certified technician.

R2R is so big it actually includes other festivals such as the J&R MusicFest and the 29th Annual Downtown Dance Festival. There's bound to be something for everyone. Head over to the website and print out the program, then start marking it up.

When: June 20-August 31
Where: Outdoor venues around Lower Manhattan
Website: http://www.rivertorivernyc.com

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

Make Music New York!!

In what's become a summer solstice tradition, Make Music New York kicks off summer with an overwhelming number of music acts, all performing around the city at public spaces both intuitive (Summer Stage at Central Park, Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn) and not so intuitive (Jackson Heights Post Office, Cortelyou Road Public Library in Brooklyn).

The schedule on the website reveals a huge number of spaces, places and genres of music where you can hear bands. Pick the one closest to you, pick the type of music you'll like best, or throw a dart to choose (but not at your computer screen!).

Take a look at the website for special events as well. The SecondLine New York caught my eye, as did the "Mass Appeal" project where you can show up with your own instrument and play in a band. Don't have an instrument? Find the pianos and play your own tune in "Play Me, I'm Yours".

And if punk is your thing, find your way to Governor's Island between 10AM and 5PM (Free ferries leave from Dumbo and downtown Manhattan) for Punk Island. You can guess what that is. A list of bands is on the website, as well as a reminder that no alcohol or weapons are allowed on Governor's Island. You can guess why that's there, too.

When: June 21, 2010 11AM-10PM
Where: All over the place in all 5 boroughs
Website: http://makemusicny.org/

Crest Hardware art show

Billed as a "local block party" to benefit the NYC Reliquary (a repository for all kinds of New York mundania throughout the ages), the Crest Hardware Art Show promises artist displays, vendors, kids' activity table, food (a 10 foot smoker will be on hand to provide mouth-watering barbeque - for those of us who are missing the Big Apple BBQ Block Party!) and music near the Lorimer Street stop on the L train.

When: June 19 from 12PM-11PM
Where:  558 Metropolitan Ave btw Lorimer and Union.
Website: http://cresthardwareartshow.com/