From now until my next quarterly newsletter, there is plenty to see and do around the city as the weather warms up. From enjoying a preview of Fall 2018 fashion while it’s still cold out during Fashion Week, to watching the cherry blossoms bloom at the Botanical Gardens, here is what is still in store for late winter and early spring.
Restaurant Week
January 22 – February 9, 2018
Various Locations
Instead of firing up the grill during Restaurant Week, take advantage of the wide range of restaurants offering lunch and dinner specials for a limited time. A three course lunch is $29 and dinner is $42 at any of the 377 participating restaurants.
Fashion Week
February 8 – 16, 2018
Click here for Tickets / Locations / Designers / Runway Show Times
Get a sneak peak at Fall 2018 fashions at this year’s Fashion Week, now in its 75th year. Designers will include Adam Selman, Helen Anthony, and Yajun.
Philip K. Dick Science Fiction Film Festival
February 15 – 18, 2018
Click here for a full schedule, locations, and to purchase tickets.
The Science Fiction Film Festival, now in its 6th year, screens films that “push the cinematic form to new levels of creativity…” and “…challenge the viewers reality with ideas and concepts not normally found in conventional stories.”
New York Wild Film Festival
February 22 – 25, 2018
Click here for a full schedule, locations, and to purchase tickets.
All films screened at the NYWFF have to do with wildlife, the environment, exploration, and adventure. The festival is now in its fourth year and has been lauded as an exceptional film festival by attendees of years past, many of whom are outdoor athletes and nature lovers such as Angie Payne, 3 time bouldering national champion (she is also featured in one of the past films). The festival’s sponsor list includes The Explorers Club, Wildlife Conservation Society, and National Geographic.
Children’s Film Festival
February 23 – March 18, 2018
Click here for a full schedule, locations, and to purchase tickets.
The Children’s Film Festival is perfect for families of children aged 3 – 18. The 100 films include animation, documentary, live action, and experimental genres, and represent over 300 countries and more than 15 languages.
Athena Film Festival
February 25 – 28, 2018
Barnard College
3009 Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets
New York, NY 10027
The Athena Film Festival exposes people to a plethora of films, features, and shorts that depict stories of ambition, courage, fortitude, and moxie from remarkable women in fiction and in real life.
Film Comment Film Festival
February 23 – 27, 2018
Walter Reade Theater
The Film Comment Film Festival showcases premiers of eminent new films alongside older ones with strong voices and bold visions that should be featured on the silver screen.
Chinese New Year Lunar Parade and Festival
Fireworks over the Hudson River
February 14, 2018
The Chinese New Year Lunar Parade and Festival is a lavish fireworks show that ushers in the new year with a colorful display.
New York Dance Festival
Grand Ballroom, Roosevelt Hotel
February 22 – 25, 2018
Click here for a full schedule and to purchase tickets ranging in price from $15 for kids to $650 for a VIP Package
Valentine’s Day
February 14th
Take your honey for an after hours tour of the Museum of Modern Art, a beginner’s dance class, Romance Under the Stars at the Haydn Planetarium or put on your best formalwear and mask for an immersive performance with live music, opera, circus, and burlesque at the Venetian Valentine Commedia Masked Ball.
Saint Patrick’s Day
March 3, 2018
Choose from a boozy St. Patrick’s Day or ham it up sober-style this year. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade extends along 5th Avenue from 44th to 79th Streets on March 17 starting at 11 AM and Time Out has a list of bars along the parade where you can say cheers to the Saint. Sober St. Patrick’s Day 2018 features a long list of world-class musicians, singers, and dancers who are ready to make the special day one that fully exhibits the breadth and depth of Irish culture through fun and family-friendly events.
Affordable Art Fair
The Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th Street
New York NY 10011
March 21 – 25, 2018
Now in its 25th year, the Affordable Art Fair features over 400 local , national, and international contemporary artists. The beautifully curated pieces range in price from $100 to $100,000. The fair also offers complimentary workshops, talks, and tours.
Havana Film Festival New York
April 6 – 17, 2018
The Havana Film Festival New York puts on on a number of shorts, feature films, and documentaries from across Latin America, all with English subtitles.
Bacon and Beer Classic
Date TBD: Check here for updates
Citi Field
Come to the Bacon and Beer Classic to explore the storied Citi Field while indulging in craft beer from nearby breweries and bacon-infused dishes from local chefs.
Downtown Urban Arts Festival
Check the website for April dates
The Downtown Urban Arts Festival treats locals and visitors alike to a wide range of theatre, film, music and poetry over a period of several weeks. Those involved share the stories and sagas that have shaped history and the events around us.
Easter Parade
April 1st, 2018
Fifth Avenue from 49th to 57th streets
The Easter Parade is an annual tradition where people dress and walk along Fifth Avenue in a variety of colorful costumes, elaborate bonnets, and modern fashionable clothing.
The Photography Show
April 5th-8th, 2018
Pier 94, New York City
The Photography Show is an exhibition of leading photography from some of the finest galleries in the world.
Folk Music Festival
April 6th-8th, 2018
St. Ann’s Church
157 Montague Street Brooklyn
Ticket prices range from $20-$85
The Brooklyn Folk Festival is an energetic affair that includes musical workshops, film screenings, square dancing, and lots of folk, blues, bluegrass and string bands.
Pillow Fight in the Park
April 7th, 2018
Washington Square Park
The Pillow Fight in the Park attracts people of all ages who come ready to send their pillows and teddy bears soaring into a cloud of feathers or filling at Washington Square Park.
Coffee Festival
April 7th-8th 2018
Tribeca 360
10 Desbrosses Street, New York
Tickets range from $20-$50
CoffeeCon is heralded as the globe’s first consumer coffee festival where attendees can learn from top experts, taste samples, take classes on coffee brewing methods, and crown the best local barista.
Taste of Brooklyn
April 10th, 2018
Fifth Avenue, Park Slope
Tickets to be released in the future.
A Taste of Fifth is a great way to get a feel for the food and drink options across Brooklyn in a fun and festive atmosphere.
Earth Day
April 15th, 2018
Union Square West, New York
Earth Day New York is one of the most popular Earth Day events in the world, and is home to a number of activities, exhibitions from green businesses, and information about the work that over 70 environmental organizations do.
TriBeCa Film Festival
April 18th– April 29th, 2018
Tickets range in price from $55-$6,000+
The Tribeca Film Festival features an almost-endless amount of film, music, and cultural offerings across Lower Manhattan.
Artexpo New York
April 19th-22nd, 2018
Pier 94
711 12th Avenue, New York
Tickets range from $15-$40
Artexpo New York is one of the largest gatherings of qualified buyers in the world, who are all on the lookout for the ‘next big thing’ in the art world. Visitors to the expo are exposed to a dizzying array of unique and dynamic art.
New Voices in Black Cinema
April 26-29, 2018
BAM Rose Cinemas: 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn NY
New Voices in Black Cinema showcases some of the newest and most exciting feature films and shorts from across the globe.
New York Travel Festival
April 27th-29th
Multiple Locations
Tickets range from $125-$200
The New York Travel Festival is a three-day event that empowers attendees to promote destinations, encourage sustainability, and sample cuisine from across the world.
Focus on French Cinema, French Film Festival
April 27th to May 1st
Multiple Locations.
Tickets range from $145 to $180
The Focus on French Cinema French Film Festival exhibits a wide variety of the leading French language films from around the globe.
Wine on Wheels
April 28th, 2018
City Winery
155 Varick Street, NYC
The Wine on Wheels tasting and silent auction showcases some of New York City’s preeminent sommeliers in conjunction with over 200 wines that are ready to be served.
Cherry Blossom Festival
April 28th-29th, 2018
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn
The Cherry Blossom Festival is the Botanical Garden’s yearly celebration of Japanese culture from the past and present through more than 60 events and performances.
