Festival Season in New York!
This is an exciting time to be New York City, with so much to do – the options are endless. And right now, it’s Festival Season in New York! A few marked on our calendars are …
TriBeCa TV Festival (Sept. 12-15)
The festival returns this fall for the third year with a lineup packed with world premieres and celebrity chats to help New Yorker’s, honor the shows they love and find their next small-screen obsession. Great way to experience NYC like a local.
It includes the world premiere of EPIX’s mob period drama and chats with comedian Hasan Minhaj and actor James Spader. Here is a day-by-day schedule of must-see picks. ($30; Regal Battery Park, Manhattan; tribecafilm.com/TVfestival)
New York Film Festival (Sept. 17 — Oct. 13)
Don’t miss this year’s New York Film Festival, presenting 40 short and feature films, representing 21 countries with six world premieres, six North American premieres and 19 U.S. premieres. Be sure to check out Thomas Heise’s monumental essay film “Heimat Is a Space in Time,” that uses both new material and archival footage to reflect on the evolution of Germany’s national identity; a new 35 mm restoration of avant-garde film pioneer Pat O’Neill’s 1974 film “Saugus Series,” which is a showcase for his work with the optical printer; and a special free program dedicated to the memory of the late filmmaker and Projections alum Jonathan Schwartz, featuring seven of his 16 mm films, among others. There will also be three films on 35 mm celluloid shown, including the North American premiere of George Clark’s “Double Ghosts,” inspired by an unfinished film by Raúl Ruiz, and Joshua Gen Solondz’s lyrical travelogue.
Harvest in the Square (Sept. 19)
Romance your taste buds with the best of Union Square eateries have to offer at this local foodie festival in September. Chefs from eateries like Almond, Barbounia, Boccie, Croque Monsieur, Gramercy Tavern, Hill Country Barbecue Market, Kyma, Nur, Gupshup, Barbacon by Union Square, Ole & Steen, Nutella Cafe and others will serve up tastings of signature dishes featuring fresh produce from the Union Square GreenMarket. Food will also be paired with wine and microbrews from New York State and beyond. ($99-$500; 6 to 9 p.m.; Union Square Park’s North Plaza; harvestinthesquare.nyc)
The Harlem Comedy Festival (Sept. 23-30)
Laugh until you cry at The Harlem Comedy Festival, which showcases and celebrates people of color in the New York City comedy scene through stand-up showcases, sketches, competitions and more across Harlem. While comedians will be announced at a later time, previous lineups have included Pat Brown, Kerry Coddett, Ashton Womack, Donnell Rawlings, Julia Shiplett, Elsa Waithe and others.
Chile Pepper Fest (Sept. 28)
Not for the faint of heart – or taste buds …. Head to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for a day of hot and spicy bites and New Orleans-inspired fun, including live music by John “Papa” Gros, Walter “Wolfman” Washington and New Orleans’ queen of soul, Irma Thomas.
More than 40 food purveyors from Brooklyn and from around the country will be on hand with chile pepper tastings, demos, horticultural talks and more. ($30; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 445 Flatbush Ave. and 990 Washington Ave., Brooklyn; bbg.org)
Global Citizen Festival (Sept. 28th)
Held annually on the Great Lawn in Central Park, this year’s free-ticketed music festival will be headlined by Queen + Adam Lambert, Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, OneRepublic, H.E.R. and Carole King. The festival’s goals include the steep goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030.
Free tickets for New Yorker’s who participate in action journeys, like calling local officials. Fans can start earning their way into the festival by downloading the Global Citizen app or visiting globalcitizenfestival.com The festival will also be live streamed on YouTube and Twitter.
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