August 27, 2018: Fall is upon us, which is good news, because it’s our favorite season in New York City*. Why? In addition to comfortable sweater weather and the natural splendor of leaves changing color and crunching underfoot, the autumn brings a bevy of brilliant events for all types of visitors. Whether you’re into sports, art, music, comedy, food or some combination thereof, you’ll find much to delight you across the five boroughs. Read on for details.
01
MoMA’s back. The City’s premier modern art museum will reopen after a four-month closure. On October 21, brand-new spaces for exhibitions, performances and events will be ready for the public along with seven new installations. One displays the prints of Betye Saar; another showcases the groundbreaking work of visual artist Pope.L. – Christina Parrella
02
We wanna see Madonna. And thanks to her residency at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (September 12–October 7), we’re gonna. With a new album and a new look, Madonna (aka Madame X) kicks off her latest concert tour in her hometown. She’s forgoing arenas for a more intimate theatrical setting as she takes over BAM’s Gilman Opera House, performing 18 shows over three-plus weeks. – Brian Sloan
03
If you think Tina Turner is simply the best, you’re covered too. Starting October 12, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical comes to Broadway. A hit in London, the show follows the pop star’s successes and struggles, and is packed with Top 40 hits. Adrienne Warren is slated to reprise her star-making performance as the diva herself for the NYC production.- BS
04
Plus, there’s tons more music on the way. Vampire Weekend (September 6) and Post Malone (October 14) are both big enough to headline Madison Square Garden. Some fella named Billy Joel (September 27, October 25 and November 15) is popular enough to do that every month. In other arena news, Blink-182 plays Enema of the State in full at Barclays Center in honor of its 20th anniversary (wait, what?) along with Lil Wayne on September 20. Elsewhere in Brooklyn (specifically, at Brooklyn venue Elsewhere), the reunited Phantom Planet rocks out on September 18. Sleater-Kinney plays the Kings Theatre on October 30 and Hammerstein on Halloween. Other fall shows include Lizzo at Radio City (September 22 and 24), Janelle Monae at Pier 17 (September 25) and the Rolling Loud Festival, with Wu-Tang Clan and ASAP Rocky, at Citi Field (October 12–13). – nycgo.com staff
05
Things will move in reel time at NYC’s fall film festivals. There’s the biggie, late September’s New York Film Festival, with new works from Scorsese, Almodóvar and other auteurs. There are celluloid celebrations devoted to architecture and design, food, anthropology, wildlife, science, the LGBTQ+ experience, indie films and, of course, cats. Then there’s the most far-out of all, the Coney Island Film Festival, highlighted by a late-night showing of The Warriors. Come out and play. – Andrew Rosenberg
06
It’s about to get real. Reality show stars will descend upon Manhattan from November 15 through 17 for the first-ever BravoCon. Attendees can meet Bravo’s best and messiest cast members, eat at a Top Chef–curated food hall and check out a museum dedicated to the Real Housewives. – Gillian Osswald
07
A briny Lower East Side tradition returns. Pickle Day comes but once a year, and in 2019 that’s October 6. Look out for scores of gherkins, half-sours and more ex-cucumbers lining Orchard Street alongside vendors, bands and DJs. Don’t like pickles? Dill with it. – GO
08
We’ll raise the steaks with Gage and Tollner’s comeback. Brooklyn’s landmark restaurant, which dates to 1879, dusts off the mahogany and starts shucking oysters and grilling chops again in its old space on the Fulton Street Mall. – AR
09
There will be plenty more to eat. Start working up an appetite for all the new restaurants and markets on the way this fall. Among them: F&F Pizzeria from some serious pizzaiolos; a much-anticipated Wegman’s in the Brooklyn Navy Yard; and the World Artisan Market, a new food hall in Astoria. – GO
10
New York City is bookish all year round, but particularly so after Labor Day. Seasonal highlights include the Brooklyn Book Festival (September 16–23), featuring appearances by the literary world’s best and brightest, including Alexander Chee, Rick Moody, Marlon James, Mira Jacob and Meg Wolitzer. Bookworms can also look forward to The New Yorker Festival (October 11-13), which features The New Yorker’s writers and editors in conversation with a host of notables from the worlds of literature, politics and entertainment. -Jonathan Durbin
11
Architecture nerds have a fun weekend ahead. If you’re one of ’em, go behind the scenes at nearly 300 structures – including private homes, cultural institutions and historic forts-for tours, walks and events during Open House New York (October 18–20). Most of the events are free or low-cost, but spaces can fill up quickly; sign up online when the lineup debuts October 1. – BS
12
The New York Comedy Festival is coming (and so is lots of other comedy). The season’s biggest comedy event (November 4–10) features the likes of Norm Macdonald (who gives a great interview) at Carolines, Stephen Colbert at Carnegie Hall and Nicole Byer in Tribeca. Other notable fall shows include Jen Kirkman (September 11) at the Bell House; Eric Andre at the Kings Theatre (September 15); and Mystery Science Theater 3000 cracking wise on bad sci-fi at the same Brooklyn venue (September 19–20). Michael Che and Colin Jost (September 19), Nick Offerman (November 3) and Phoebe Robinson (October 10) help fill out the lineup. – nycgo.com staff
13
Fashion will flourish with the return of Spring/Summer Fashion Week (yes, it’s in the fall). The event offers an exclusive peek at runway looks from Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs and Cynthia Rowley. Sui and her career will be feted by the Museum of Arts and Design at The World of Anna Sui opening (opening September 12), with more than 100 looks from her archives on display. – CP
14
Sports are happening. In addition to the New York City Marathon, which hits all five boroughs on November 3, we’ve got NFL football from the Jets and Giants, season openers for the NHL’s Rangers and Islanders and NBA’s Knicks and Nets (the latter of which acquired Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in the offseason, though Durant won’t appear on the court just yet), and stretch runs for MLS squads the Red Bulls and NYCFC and Major League Baseball’s Yankeesand Mets. The Yanks’ division title is all but inevitable, while the Mets find themselves in the thick of a very crowded race for a playoff spot. – nycgo.com staff
15
We’re going to feast. Celebrated every September since 1926, the feast of Naples’ patron saint, San Gennaro, takes place along Mulberry Street and brings with it musical performances, parades, religious processions…and, of course, food. Sausage and peppers, torrone (a sweet nougat candy) and cannoli are some of the delicious specialties on offer. – CP
16
Oh, what a knight. The Medieval Festival is slated for September 29 in Fort Tryon Park. Jousters and jesters will gather to strum lyres, lift goblets of mead and engage in all manner of jubilant japery. Forsooth, this is the holy grail of fall festivals that involve costumed people fighting on horses and eating giant turkey legs. Hie thee hither! – AR
*All seasons in New York City are equally awesome and tied for first.
Photo Credit: www.moma.org
