Salute September at the Verdi Square Festival this month. See listing below.
Do you smell the scent of pumpkin lattes in the air? Just wait, it will soon be wafting around, and you’ll be wearing your light fall sweaters and jeans like you’re in a brochure for a prep school in New England. And you’ll be going to awesome events like these!
Sunday, September 7 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
The West Side County Fair: Riverside park hosts a “county fair” for the neighborhood in the park from 66th to 72nd streets, with acrobats, reptiles, bands, rides and games, and a green market. Learn more here.
Saturday, September 13 and Sunday September 14
Arts & Crafts Fair: The West Side Community Garden on 89th between Amsterdam and Columbus hosts a kid-friendly fair on Saturday and music and poetry on Sunday. Learn more here.
Sundays, September 14 and 21
Bloomingdale Family Days: On these two Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Amsterdam Avenue will be closed to motorized traffic between 106th and 110th Streets. Local restaurants set up cafes on the sidewalk, and the fair has showcased everything from domesticated pigeons to box mazes in the past. It’s a true local street fair. More here.
Sunday, September 14
Bloomingdale School of Music Instrument Discovery Day and Open House: The music school kicks off its 50th anniversary celebration with an instrument discovery day from 11 to 1 and an open house from 1 to 3 p.m. The instrument event, “offers students of all ages the chance to try out instruments and meet our dedicated and talented faculty.” More here.
Sundays, September 14, 21 and 28
Verdi Square Festival: For the ninth straight year, there will be concerts on Sundays at 5 in Verdi Square at 72nd street in the middle of Broadway. Check the site for info about the concerts and a poetry series they’re also holding this year.
September 18, 8 p.m.
Literary Death Match: Symphony Space hosts a battle between authors to read their most obscure work and then submit themselves to some ridiculous judging. On this night you’ll see writers Joshua Ferris (To Rise Again at a Decent Hour), Julie Klam (You Had Me At Woof), Rivka Galchen (American Innovations), and Bill Scheft (Late Show with David Letterman). More here.
September 19, 5 to 9 p.m.
Smorgasburg Central Park A hugely popular Brooklyn food festival is coming to Central Park, and will hopefully become a regular event next year. Smorgasburg will feature 30 vendors. “Stroll into the world’s loveliest city park before twilight on a late summer’s eve, watch the sunset amongst the tall trees, sip a lovely beer or fine wine, sway to a classy DJ, and munch on the finest munchies in town. It’s all so civilized in Central Park, right? Yes, and it’s also free.” AT Rumsey Playfield in Central Park around 72nd street. More here.
September 26 – October 12
New York Film Festival: The 52nd annual festival has a packed schedule with hotly anticipated films from major directors like David Fincher and Bennett Miller, but we hear that lots of movies have already sold out before going on sale to non-members. Act fast if you’re interested! More here.
And, as always, check out our weekly calendar for lots more events.
On Saturday, September 20th, the Lotus Garden (West 97th Street between Broadway and West End, above the parking garage) will have an Art Show, free to the public, from 12 to 3, and a 30th Anniversary Benefit with music, wine and hors-d’oeuvres from 4 to 6 (tickets available at http://www.thelotusgarden.org for $30, $50 per couple). Jeff Kindley’s new book, THE LOTUS GARDEN: A 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION will be on sale at both events. Rain date Sunday, September 21st.