New York City Blog

Film-lovers are already patiently awaiting the arrival of the 2011 New York Film Festival – the time to celebrate the most compelling new cinema from around the globe! This annual NYC festival has been celebrating the art of film-making since 1963 – putting favorite filmmakers on a pedestal, while introducing newbies into the film scene. Pedro Almodovar, Alain Resnais and Martin Scorsese are a few familiar names in past attendance that may ring a bell. 

The 49th annual Film Festival will stretch 17 days long from September 30th - October 16th in Lincoln Center NYC.  A wide range of films will be premiered, and others headlined, starting with Carnage by Roman Polanski and Michelle Williams will star in another early premier of My Week With Marilyn.  Check the official Film Festival schedule for all show times.  Aside from seeing showcases of independent, short, feature and foreign films and celebrity sightings, attendees will learn a lot about experimental film and have the opportunity to see presentations from a spectrum of directors.

In the world of theater, fall means more than the changing colors of leaves- it marks the rolling in of new Broadway plays, and the theater community is already buzzing about one new show in particular – Stick Fly, which will be produced by the Grammy Awarded Alicia Keys.  Stick Fly depicts African-American life in a passionate, personal, funny and relatable way for a wide audience.

The play follows the LeVay family on a weekend trip to Martha’s Vineyard as they engage in lively games, meals, drinks and conversations.  Both of the LeVay sons are introducing the rest of the family to each of their girlfriends – one is black, one is white. Themes of identity and race play a role in the play, but it’s as comedic and light-hearted as it is contemporary

Calling all fans of music, art, food, bikes and free fun in New York City; The Afro-Punk Festival at Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn is just around the corner (August 26-28, 2011.)  This weekend marks the 7th annual Afro-Punk music festival and the coordinators are out-doing themselves.  

Not only will festival-goers gain access to a FREE concert in NY, but they’ll have an up-close look at a motorcycle exhibit put on by a collaboration of Harley-Davidson and Denim and Chrome, the guys from the Brooklyn Black bike scene, as well as a BMX show.   Grub-lovers can choose from over 20 food trucks from all five boroughs bringing cuisine from around the globe, at the Bites & Beats area of the festival.  Art-lovers won’t want to miss the Afro-Punk Festival Skate Artwall with over 30 hand-painted skateboards built into a mural.