Awesome things happening in NYC this weekend.

Every weekend, New York is full of awesome things.  Awesome things that are unique to the city and truly personify the city.  Like anything in the city, they can be frustratingly difficult to find.  I realized there aren't enough websites that help you seek out these awesome things.  I would like to fix that. I'm talking about real New York-y things, things you can only find in New York that will give you a unique experience and help you understand the city a little better.   I do not know if I will have enough discipling to make this a weekly "column" in the blog, but I certainly think I should try. This weekend has THREE AWESOME THINGS HAPPENING IN NYC that fit this bill. Here they are!

The first AWESOME THING HAPPENING IN NYC is the DUMBO Arts Festival.  This is a FREE arts festival celebrating art, music, and performance in DUMBO, Brooklyn.  The festival's official mission statement is "to highlight Brooklyn's commitment to and presence in the arts community by presenting the best local, national, and international art amid the breathtaking backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Skyline."  The DUMBO Arts Festival is one of the most diverse in the world.  Highlights this year range from  "The Ship of Tolerance"  which currently sits out in the East River and contains over 500 drawings by school children expression their interpretations of tolerance, to Theatre of the Oppressed presenting "Concrete Justice" which addresses the issue of homelessness in the city, to "Bubbles of Hope" that lets wishes and dreams parade and dance the the street.  There is is really something for everyone of every age and background to enjoy at the DUMBO Arts Festival.  The above listed projects are just a tiny sampling of what you will see.  The Arts Festival contains work from over 400 artists being shown over the course of three days, September 27-29th.  The arts festival is celebrating its 17th year!

The second AWESOME THING HAPPENING IN NYC is the New Amsterdam Market!  From 11a.m.-5p.m., there will be a "fantastic food market" at the South Street Seaport.  The New Amsterdam Market is "leading the redevelopment of the South Street Seaport in Lower Manhattan by revitalizing the historic Old Fulton Fish Market as a Public Market."  The poor South Street Seaport has been undergoing some hard times.  It was very badly hit by the infamous Hurricane Sandy, and Pier 17, the Seaport's main attraction in many people's eyes, was just closed so that is could be torn down and then rebuilt better than before.  (This is a much more controversial topic than I care to explore at the moment since I am blogging about awesome things to do this weekend and not Pier 17.)  The New Amsterdam Market will be taking place once a month for the next four months.  If you venture into its den of deliciousness, you will find the sidewalks paved will all sorts of local food vendors.  Think of it as a greenmarket on steroids.  The event, that was originally starts in 2005, aims to promote a thriving society of small businesses, responsible agriculture, regional economies, fair trade, and equitable access to real food.  So if you are visiting New York and want "real New York food," this is the place to get it.  All food at this market is grown and made locally.  Sure, get a pastrami sandwich at Carnegie Deli, but then check out the New Amsterdam Market as well.

The third AWESOME THING HAPPENING IN NYC this weekend has a slightly bittersweet undertone.  It is actually the last weekend that Governors Island is open to the Public.  This year, for me, has been the year of Governors Island.  I went out there for several events including the Jazz Age Lawn Party, Fete Paradiso, and the Unicycle Festival.  There are several events happening on Governors Island this weekend and you can read about them all here: http://www.govisland.com/html/visit/calendar.shtml  If you get a chance, get yourself over to the Governor's Island Ferry.  It's free.  It's lovely.  Enjoy the last day of summer on this quixotic island just off the southern tip of Manhattan.

Ship of Tolerance in the East River!