Vertoe your bags in New York City during Fall
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With summer on its way out and a definitive chill in the air, NYC transitions to fall with a whole slew of exciting events in the city. As the cultural calendar kicks into high gear, September brings forth street festivals, art events, performances, and more — all against a natural backdrop of gorgeous autumn foliage. Whether you are drawn to the spectacular outdoors, the glitz of high-profile events or the quiet essence of the artistic — NYC has reserved some of its best for the last of September! Here are our top picks.
BRING ON THE CELEBRATION
With authentic décor, music, and games reminiscent of a traditional German celebration, not to forget overflowing steins of beer and sumptuous local fare, the Oktoberfest at South Street Seaport’s Watermark Bar is the place to be. Spanning 3 consecutive weekends, this ticketed, (but free!) event features the traditional Hofbrau beer as well as Weihenstephan and Radeberger, all served at picnic tables alongside brats, pretzels & much more — all priced at a flat $8. A sport that lederhosen and revel in the easy spirit as you enjoy amazing views of New York at this 3,500-square-foot venue.Sep 24–25, 12pm — 12am. Tickets available on Eventbrite
For all you micro-brew connoisseurs, the sixth annual Brooklyn Pour Craft Beer Festival at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint promises to be the largest one-day beer-tasting festival in NYC. Take your pick from over 125 seasonal, craft, and reserve brews from 70 local and international breweries, and indulge in the outpouring of deliciousness.Sep 24, 3–6 pm. Tickets available on Ticketfly
LET THE RHYTHM RING
NYC is host to some of the best music events all year round, but few combine supreme star power with social change. Curated by Chris Martin, the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park’s Great Lawn brings together the likes of Coldplay, Rihanna, Major Lazer, Eddie Vedder, and Metallica in a bid to raise awareness in the fight against poverty, hunger, climate change, and other causes. What’s more? Do your bit by signing petitions for various social issues, earn points, and attend the event for free!Sep 24. For details, visit globalcitizen.org
Fancy something a little more cultural? The San Gennaro festival around Little Italy in Lower Manhattan with its colorful parades, free music entertainment, ethnic delicacies, charming restaurants, and cafes, and even a world-famous cannoli-eating contest is the place to be. An ode to Italian-American heritage, the feast brings the world to Little Italy and Little Italy to the world!Sep 15–25, 11.30am-11pm/12am
REVEL IN THE ARTS
The theatre scene has never been more affordable. NYC Off-Broadway week features not only some of the best in theatre but also innovative new plays, musicals, and performances — all at 2-for-1 ticket prices and some even for a meager $20! With a plethora of performances to choose from, across 40 venues on Great White Way, our top picks are Stomp, Blue Man Group, Avenue Q, Cagney and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Sep 26-Oct 9. Visit broadway.com for info and tickets
Being one of the city’s most anticipated cultural offerings, the New York Film Festival, in its 54th year promises tickets to the hottest new films and more. Highlighting the best in world cinema, top films from celebrated filmmakers, and riveting new talent, with a line-up of 25 cutting-edge ‘main slate’ features, NYFF showcases the crème de la crème of the year. The 13th, Paterson, Personal Shopper, Moonlight, Elle, and The Lost City of Z are our festival favorites with plenty of Cannes crossover and Sundance premieres.Sep 25-Oct 11. Visit filmlinc.org/nyff2016 for trailers, schedules, and tickets
With the Metropolitan Opera, NYC Ballet, NY Philharmonic, and Jazz commencing their new season in September, be among the first on the scene as you catch the stellar premieres.The Met Opera, in its golden year, will feature Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde and Rusalka at Lincoln Centre, beginning Sep 26, with a live broadcast at Times Square at 5 pm.
The NY Philharmonic, in its 175th season, opens on Sep 21 with ‘Premieres Past and Present’. Honoring the storied legacy and championing new masterpieces, NYPO features the acclaimed Scheherazade and Dvořák’s New World Symphony and pays homage to iconic NY cinema classics — Manhattan, West Side Story, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s by bringing to life legendary scores, as you watch films on a towering screen above the Orchestra.
The NYC ballet kicked off in a celebration of ballet and fashion with the Fall Gala on Sep 20th and will continue its season with NYCB’s signature black and white Stravinsky-inspired performances, and Viennese-influenced acts with perennial NYCB favorites such as Firebird, Jewels, The Nutcracker, and Serenade.
Starting Sep 22, Jazz at Lincoln Center will bring together familiar collaborators and jazz centenaries in a diverse lineup and new configurations, including artists Wynton Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, and Dee Dee Bridgewater.
For schedules and tickets, visit the official websites.
Showcasing an array of original work from over 500 artists through 48 local, national, and international galleries, Affordable Art Fair NYC at Metropolitan Pavilion aspires to create a unique, inspiring, and unintimidating atmosphere for all art lovers alike. New galleries such as HOV, Eye Buy Art, and Galerie Youn, and engaging tours notwithstanding, the fair offers thousands of paintings, prints, sculptures, and photographs for sale, including pieces by Yann Guitton, Orson Kartt, and Dennis Redmoon Darkeem, ranging from $100-$10,000, with more than half, under $5,000.Sep 28-Oct 2. Visit affordableartfair.com for tickets and art previews
GET YOUR SPORT ON
Sports fans, rejoice! September brings with it a host of great sporting events in the city. Boasting 8 super-bowl titles under their belt, catch the New York Giants play at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just 30 minutes away from Midtown Manhattan, on Sep 25. Baseball, more your go? One of the most successful sports franchises, having won a staggering 27 world series titles, nothing quite matches watching the Yankees play a home game (Sep 27 to Oct 2) at the Yankees Stadium. NYC’s National League Franchise, ‘The Mets’ advance their season with home games on Sep 24–25 at Citi Field in Queens.Visit official websites for schedules and tickets.
Alternately, relax and soak up the game while you soak up some suds, as you head to one of the city’s excellent watering holes — Farrell’s, Foley’s, Finnerty’s, and McFadden’s
From early fall celebrations to incredible art and cultural events to sporting frenzies — September brings forth a slew of activities you can enjoy without breaking the bank. Need a convenient location to store your bags, while you navigate the boroughs? Log in to vertoe.com and choose from these convenient luggage storage locations, and drop your luggage off, hassle-free!
Submitted by Shwetha Shanthakumar. To discover her work, you can check her blog here.