6 Cool Things to Do in NYC This Month

Now in its 18th year, the New Yorker Festival is one of fall’s most eagerly-anticipated events. The three-day-long festival brings together speakers and discussion panels on a variety of subjects ranging from politics and entertainment to food and design. This year’s highlights include a spotlight on Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross; Dana Goodyear’s interview with designer-of-the-moment Dries Van Noten; a conversation with controversial contemporary Chinese artist Ai Weiwei; and David Remnick’s interview with Jerry Seinfeld.

What to expect at the 55th annual New York Film Festival? A stellar lineup including the world premiere of Richard Linklater’s Last Flag Flying; Woody Allen’s nostalgia-tinged Wonder Wheel; Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut, Lady Bird; and the Todd Haynes-directed Wonderstruck. And those are just the highlights from the main slate of films. There is also a slew of special events, including conversations with Kate Winslet, Richard Linklater, and Ava DuVernay, as well as new restorations of classic films like Pandora’s Box and The Old Dark House.

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Most New Yorkers will never be able to afford a million-dollar Manhattan penthouse, but thanks to Open House New York, a two-day long architecture and design tour series, you can get a behind-the-scenes look at city’s swankiest private residences for a wallet-friendly price of $5. And it’s not just private homes that are opening up to the public; this year’s edition features more than 200 buildings and projects, including the skybridge connecting the two towers of the American Copper Buildings; Governors Island’s Ligget Hall, a former military barrack with a secret archway gymnasium; and Lisson Gallery, housed in a building directly below the High Line.

It’s not every day you get to have dinner with celebs like Lance Bass, Mario Batali, and Ayesha Curry. But at this year’s NYC Wine and Food Festival, hobnobbing with your favorite chefs and culinary celebrities is but one element of the three-day fest. There are also cooking classes, including a hands-on master sushi rolling class with Morimoto; happy hours (we can’t wait for the one hosted by Scott Conant at The Standard Biergarten); and late-night soiree’s like this ladies-only craft cocktail event hosted by Food Network star Anne Burrell.

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Get your cosplay costume ready: New York Comic Con is back and better (not to mention, bigger) than ever. After a turnout of more than 200,000 people last year, the 2017 edition has grown beyond the Javits Convention Center, and will also host programs at venues like the Hammerstein Ballroom, Madison Square Garden, and the Jewel cruise ship. Yup, that’s right— at CEG Cosplay cruise, guests can glimpse some of the best costumes of the year while rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kristen Hughey and LeeAnna Vamp and enjoying panoramic views of the city. Don’t have your sea legs? Check out ‘Artemis,’ a conversation with Andy Weir and Rosario Dawson; see the world premiere of ‘Batman vs. Two-Face’; listen to the New York Philharmonic perform the memorable score from Star Wars: The Force Awakens; or go on a boozy Brooklyn Defender Pub Crawl.

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If you can’t make it all the way to Germany, the Dumbo Oktoberfest is the next best thing. On October 6 and 7th, the archway under the Manhattan Bridge will transform into a tradition German beer hall, with twinkling lights, live music from the Polka Brothers, the Oompahs, and the Street Beat Brass, and traditional bites like pretzels, brats, and draft beer served in traditional DUMBO steins. Don’t forget to wear your lederhosen!