It's Fall. Okay, so not JUST yet. But you've got to be ready. Fall is everything in New York City. Oh, you disagree with Meg Ryan's rhetorical question in the momentous blockbuster film of the late '90s, You've Got Mail?!
"Don't you just love New York in the fall?" Yes. Yes, we do. It makes us want to buy school supplies.
At any rate, fall is generally (hopefully) the ideal season to have your out-of-town friends come and visit for the weekend.
But what are you going to do while they're in town?
We'd like to think that you and your friends want some new things to check off those Fall Bucket Lists.
Summer ends and fall begins in the same spot, however, and that's aboard World Yacht's absolute beaut, the Duchess.
Yes, we're saluting our shorts, and saying bon voyage to Summertime '16 with one last epic booze cruise on the Hudson. Get your tickets here.
As for the rest of fall in New York City? Well, read on. It's going to be great.
Goodbye Summer Sunset Sail (September 17th - Manhattan)
On Saturday, September 17th, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., we’re getting lit just like we did for Cinco de Mayo and 4th of July Weekend, and saying goodbye to summer once and for all (or until next year, at least).
We’re hitting up World Yacht’s absolute beaut, Duchess, for three hours of boozin’, cruisin’, dancin’, and incredible views.
We’re talkin’ a gorgeous three-level yacht, live DJs all night long, passed hors d’oeuvres, and, of course, an open bar courtesy of Belvedere Vodka, Bud Light, and The Hidden Sea wines.
Hors d’oeuvres. Loads of Bud Light. Dancing. Views. Yachts. Booze. Cruise. Damn straight, skippy, we’re doin’ it again! The question is, are you in?
Then get your tickets right here.
Ridgewood Market Sunday Brunch Bazaar (September 18th - Queens)
Ridgewood Market is back and better than ever!
That’s right! Shop local with over 40 independent and local artisan vendors. Enjoy your Sunday Funday brim with good vibes, music, food, drinks and much much more.
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Entry is FREE so feel free to bring your whole crew. Down to go? Then RSVP here.
“Arcade Classics” at the Museum of The Moving Image (until September 18th - Queens)
Are you a huge gamer, super competitive or into vintage finds? If you are then you’re in for a treat!
The Museum of the Moving Image is featuring more than 30 video arcade games released between 1971 and 1993.
Challenge your friends, family or date to some ultimate fun with games like Mortal Kombat, Ms. Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Star Wars, and much more! This exhibit's movin' out September 18th, so if you haven't checked it out yet, you absolutely have to.
Wine Riot (September 23rd-24th - Manhattan)
Wine Riot is a ridiculously fun wine event that's reimagining wine tastings as something actually worth going to.
But wine tastings are stuffy. They're sometimes hella fancy, definitely pretentious, sometimes worth it, but generally, not the best way to experience wine. And it's certainly not the only way to experience wine.
September 23rd & 24th are going to be jam-packed with tastings of over 250 different wines from around the world, experts without a pretentious bone in their body to give you the lowdown, four hours of booty bumping on a dance floor with thousands of wine-loving drink tasters, and, possibly the low-key best part: temporary tattoos!
Head down to the 69th Regiment Armory for Opening Night, on September 23rd from 7-11 p.m., or September 24th from 1-5 p.m. and 7-11 p.m. Get your tickets right here!
Festa D'Italia (September 24th - Staten Island)
If you didn't make it to Ferragosto or The Feast of San Gennaro, you have another chance to celebrate Italian culture (Italian food. You want to celebrate Italian food.) this year on Staten Island.
There will also be an Italian car and motorbike show, so a good enough reason to hop on the ferry as any.
This annual event, at Casa Belvedere, The Italian Cultural Foundation, will be chock-full of the BEST food, live music, wine tastings, and more.
Admission is $10.
The Great Big Bacon Picnic (September 24th-25th - Brooklyn)
Bacon! You either love it or are a vegetarian. Vegetarians, you keep your veggie bacon handy when you accompany your bacon-loving friends to The Great Big Bacon Picnic September 24th and 25th.
The deliciousness has been divided into three separate sessions, each lasting two-and-a-half hours. A general admission ticket gets you ALL THE BACON NOMS YOU CAN EAT. Obviously, there’s a Bacon Bar, as well as actual beverages to imbibe with said bacon.
Are you drooling? So are we. Even better, ten percent of the net proceeds are going to charities like City Harvest, and the Brooklyn-based High & Mighty Brass Band will provide music.
This event will be so good, you’ll be bacon for more. (GET IT?)
Prepare to feast after you’ve snagged your tickets here.
The Bronx Native American Festival (September 25th)
Celebrate the unique native cultures of the Americas at Pelham Bay Park's annual event with four hours of performances, exhibits, arts and crafts, delicious food, storytelling, and more.
Take this opportunity to educate yourself about the traditions and lifestyles of native groups such as the Taino, Ojibwe/Onieda, and Matinecock/Wamapnoag.
This event is also totally free, all you have to do is head to the South Picnic Area in Pelham Bay Park between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Atlantic Antic (September 25th - Brooklyn)
You definitely have to stop by the oldest and largest street festival in NYC. The Atlantic Antic runs from Hicks Street to Fourth avenue, spanning through four Brooklyn neighborhoods: Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Downtown Brooklyn.
This epic celebration of the many heritages that coexist in Brooklyn will live music that showcase different cultural genres, feature food from local restaurants, and attracts boutiques and vendors from all over the country.
Expect over 100,000 people but this one is definitely worth the crowds.
Maritime Visions, Sea Tales and Lighthouse Legends (October 1st - Staten Island)
Ahoy, seafarers!
This Maritime-themed outdoor arts & crafts festival will feature retail merchants, food vendors, live music, and a tour of the historic site of the newly opened National Lighthouse Museum, which is just a two minute walk from the Staten Island Ferry.
Local writers and poets will also be reading their work in a public spoken word event inside the museum at 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
The festival begins at 11 a.m. and lasts until 5 p.m.– the rain date is the next day, October 2nd. Also, the suggested donation is $2.00, so if you need a cheap date, here ya go.
Chile Pepper Festival (October 1st - Brooklyn)
Feel the bern– no, burn (sorry, it's a habit now) at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden this October.
This festival, celebrating your favorite fiery fruits– yeah, according to Wikipedia, Chile Peppers are fruit, so let us know if that changed– will feature tastings from 62 artisanal food vendors. You'll be able to sample a variety of hot sauces, chile-chocolate (YAS), some other sweets, salsas, and pickled spicy treats like kimchi.
There will also be musical performances from 6 "scorching" global bands– listen to some clips over at their website.
Grab your tickets here, they're $20 each but if you have a student ID, they're $15.
The Meadows Music & Arts Festival (October 1st & 2nd - Queens)
Citi Field is getting TURNT this October with the inaugural Meadows Music & Arts Festival. Kanye. The Weeknd. Empire of the Sun. Pretty Lights. SO MANY MORE.
It's going to be ridiculous. Oh, and we'll be there. ROLLIN' SO DEEP. Don't miss this one. It's going to be absolutely epic. Get your tickets right here.
New York Comicon (October 6th-9th - Manhattan)
There’s no throwdown like New York Comicon. The Cosplay game is fleek, the cameo appearances are countless, and the swag bags are dope.
Seriously, why are you still reading this? Get your tickets here.
NYC Wine & Food Festival (October 13th-16th - Manhattan)
Really, how much do you need to know about this epic event? It's four days long with more than 100 different events you can attend.
You'll have access to more than 500 world-renowned chefs, culinary personalities, entertainers, wine and spirit producers and all of your favorite Food Network and Cooking Channel stars.
It's in its 9th year, and if last year's festival is any indication of what to expect, well, you might want to come dressed in your sweatpants. You're going to be full. And drunk.
But, let's not forget that it's for a good cause. 100% of the net proceeds benefit the No Kid Hungry campaign and the Food Bank for New York City. Get your tickets here!
Queens Beer Festival (October 15th & 16th)
Mark your calendars because it’s going down! Queens is having their first-ever beer festival in Long Island City.
LIC Flea & Food will be hosting the festivities so prepare to eat, drink and enjoy music that celebrates the ethnic diversity of Queens. Attendees will be able to sample all Queens-based breweries as well as sampling beers from Brooklyn, The Bronx, Staten Island and Long Island.
Tickets range from $29 to $68 and the 2-day event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Interested? Then snag your tickets here.
Dessert Goals (October 23rd)
"Wait, how is this the first dessert festival in NYC?! How has no one thought of that?" You might be asking. WE DON'T KNOW EITHER, so definitely do NOT miss Dessert Goals, the Dessert Fest of your dreams.
They'll be selling sweet treats, with an average price point of $5 per dessert, from 20 vendors. The first round-up includes Boba Guys and Baba Cool beverages like bubble tea, Hong Kong egg waffles from Wowfulls, ice cream sandwiches from Melt Bakery, and artisinal twinkies (um, yes pls) from Jae NYC Eats.
These guys also know our priorities, which start and end with our 'gram game. They'll be setting up a photo garden specifically for Instagram and will offer dessert photo styling workshops so you can rack up the likes.
The early bird tickets released last Tuesday, which were going for $10, sold out just hours later. The next batch, which will go for $15, are going to drop on September 27th at noon, so set that phone alarm RN!
Giant Pumpkin Carving at The New York Botanical Garden (October 24th & 25th - The Bronx)
If you haven't been around for this Botanical Garden tradition– or even if you have– definitely be a part of this year's Halloween celebration.
"Master Carver" Ray Villafane, who you've probably spotted on The Food Network, will transform giant pumpkins from all around the world into a Day of the Dead tableau.
Both days there will also be a question & answer session with Villafane's additional carvers. And if past years have been any indication, expect some seasonal treats to munch on, as well.
Brew at the Zoo (October 29th - The Bronx)
ICYMI, The Bronx Zoo is hosting this dope, adults-only overnight camping party but unfortunately, it sold out.
Brew at the Zoo is no consolation prize, though– you might not be able to stay at the zoo the whole night, but drown your sorrows with 100 varieties of beer samples from over 40 beer vendors, and munchies from a bunch of food trucks.
DJ's will be spinning the soundtrack for this fun-filled night, where you'll also get to see lemurs, sea lions, snakes, and more... because well, you're gonna be at the zoo, duh.
It'll be Halloweekend so if you come to this bash decked out in costume, you have a chance to win a costume contest too.
There are three types of tickets available, General Admission, VIP, and Designated Driver (snaps for the Bronx Zoo!). Grab them here– and soon, because we have a feeling this one will fill up too.
Annual Halloween Masquerade Ball (October 31st)
Better call Q, ‘cause you’ll need to some serious state-of-the-art costume for this shindig.
We’ll refrain from making too many Bond-themed puns and references, we promise.
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There’s a complimentary vodka open bar, live music, a best of Bond highlights reel, a costume contest, and a view to kill for.
Get your tickets here, and have your Bond-inspired quips at the ready.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (November 24th)
Sure, you could watch this on your tv like a normal person, but that wouldn’t be nearly as much fun as seeing this annual balloon-based hullaballoo in person.
You can expect a slew of new character balloons this year, including Mario, Batman, Courage the Cowardly Dog, and Joy (yeah, you know, from Inside Out).
[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]