Happening In New York City: September 2016

BreakFestival
Extra Crispy and CookOut NYC are bringing BreakFestival to the Manhattan Waterfront this Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 3 and 4. New York City loves breakfast (brunch) — that's a fact —  so in celebration of everyone's favorite meal, four different tasty sessions will take place on the East River waterfront (enter at 23rd Street). 

The BreakFestival will bring breakfast-lovers together for two full days of breakfast-centric events featuring all-star chefs, influencers, and live music. Things to look forward to include: more than 20 chefs showcasing their best breakfast bites and drinks; paying homage to breakfast and brunch essentials with themed booths, tournaments, and tastings ranging from creative French toast, the best bacons, and bespoke cocktails; and breakfast beer. For more information, click here.

Pig Island
Everyone's favorite whole-hog festival is around the corner. The Seventh Annual Pig Island returns to Red Hook, Brooklyn, at Erie Basin Park (next to Ikea) on Saturday, September 10th, from 11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Brooklyn waterfront will welcome over 20 chefs serving up fabulous snout-to-tail dishes, alongside craft beer, cider, whiskey, and — new this year mezcal! The lineup of new and returning chefs will be picking up their hogs from Flying Pigs Farm at the annual Pig Pickup at Union Square Greenmarket on September 7. For more information, click here.

Beauty Bar Presented by Cottonelle
Make sure you're looking your best during New York Fashion Week, by stopping by an exclusive,​ ​luxury beauty lounge, ​​Beauty Bar Presented by Cottonelle, ​on September 8 and 9 from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tito's Vodka and Owl's Brew will be providing cocktails and guests can reenergize at a custom Nonni's Biscotti and THINaddictives bar featuring Corso Coffee. Swing by for a suite ​of ​​experiences alongside PRIV spa services & treatments ​​​​that include​​ ​​blowouts, makeup touch-ups, manicures, ​​and waxes​.​ For more information, click here.

New York Coffee Festival
In a city as busy as New York, it's no surprise everyone is constantly clamoring for quality coffee and coffee innovations. So get ready for the New York Coffee Festival, returning to the 69th Regiment Armory in Manhattan for the second year in a row, Sept. 16 to 18.

More than 70 vendors will be present at the caffeine festival, including Bluestone Lane Coffee, Devoción, La Marzocco, Califia Farms, and more. Additionally, the New York Coffee Festival marks the official launch Coffee Week NYC, which promotes the coffee industry while raising money for clean water and sanitation projects in coffee-producing communities around the world.

Events during the festival include: The Latte Art Live, where visitors will be able to learn first-hand how to make latte art in demonstrations by some of the best baristas around; and the  Espresso Martini  Bar,  which will  provide  a  range  of  coffee  cocktails  that  will excite even the most casual coffee-drinker.

Taste of East Village 
Taste of East Village on Sept. 17 is a first-time event touring old and new restaurants that keep this neighborhood's food scene exceptional. The festival will feature dishes and cocktails from Jimmy's No. 43, Luke's Lobster, Veselka, Butter Lane Cupcakes, Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, Porchetta, and many more. Live entertainment by local musicians and cultural groups will accompany tastes of the signature no-fuss food for which people clamor to the East Village.

The Brew Hop
The Brew Hop 5K + Craft Beer Festival is taking place on Randall's Island on Sunday, Sept. 18. The first-time event gives attendees the chance to combine perfectly compatible pastimes — running and beer. Following a 5K around Randall's Island, runners (and folks who just want to indulge in the beer fest) can enjoy complimentary beer samples from breweries that include Brooklyn Brewery, Third Rail Beer, Bronx Brewery, KelSo Beer Company, and more.

The post-race festival will feature live music, lawn games, brewery row, art installations, local food trucks, vendor village, and seating areas. The Brew Hop will benefit City Harvest, the world's first food rescue organization, by donating 10 percent of the proceeds directly to the charity.

Sagra del Maiale Outdoor Pig Roast and Block Party
On Sept. 18, il Buco is holding its annual Sagra del Maiale outdoor pig roast and Bond Street block party. These talented chefs wake up before the sun rises to start slow roasting a whole pig over an open fire outside the restaurant. Come the afternoon, a buffet feast lines the sidewalk and the block party begins. il Buco owner Donna Lennard has been holding the event every September for more than 20 years as a way to bring the community together and celebrate the neighborhood and the start of the fall season. This year, a portion of the proceeds will go toward Italy earthquake relief efforts. For more information, click here.

21st Annual Harvest in the Square
For over two decades Union Square chefs and sommeliers have come to at this annual park event This celebration will feature chefs from over 50 of Union Square's most prestigious restaurants preparing signature dishes using fresh produce from the Union Square Greenmarket. Restaurants include Union Square Cafe, Tarrallucci E Vino, and Gramercy Tavern.  Unlimited tastings are paired with local wines and microbrews. In addition, all proceeds benefit the ongoing beautification, maintenance, and programming of Union Square Park. This event takes place Thursday, September 22 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, click here.

Brooklyn Pour Craft Beer Festival 
The Village Voice's Brooklyn Pour Craft Beer Festival will be returning for the sixth year on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Brooklyn Expo Center from 3 to 6 p.m. Enthusiasts throughout the tri-state area will enjoy more than 100 samples of the best seasonal, micro, and reserve brews from regional and national breweries. For more information, click here.

The Great Big Bacon Picnic
Attention all bacon lovers: the second annual pork-focused food extravaganza—The Great Big Bacon Picnic— is back at The Old Pfizer Factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Sept. 24-25. This gourmet bacon festival features unlimited bacon and booze from over 100 of the best chefs, brew masters, and craft distillers in the NYC area. Think Oreo-bacon cookies, lobster-bacon spring rolls, and bacon bloody Marys. There also will be live music from the High & Mighty Brass Band to jam to. For more information, click here.

Harlem Shake
Neighborhood burger and milkshake joint Harlem Shake has opened its second location in East Harlem at 2162 2nd Avenue & East 111th. Harlem Shake classics — milkshakes, Pat LaFrieda burgers, and Sunday brunch — will be joined by by East Harlem specific dishes including a pulled pernil sandwich with sour orange mojo, refried black beans, and chipotle mayo; a frita cubana featuring a seasoned pork and beef patty topped with shoestring fries; and tostones served with mojo and chipotle dips. Celebrate the soul of Harlem with tasty food in a fun atmosphere.

ReViVer​
ReViVer, a fast-fine American restaurant redefining the meaning of eating healthy, is opening its second location at 303 Park Avenue South this month. Chef Scott Leibfried, a 10-year veteran of Hell's Kitchen and host of Food Network Challenge, along with licensed nutritionist Monica Reinagel, will feature clean-sourced ingredients in its dishes — free of all antibiotics, hormones, refined flours, and sugars. 

The ReViVer Score equation makes it simple to calculate the balance of nutrients in each meal (in store), allowing customers to track the intake of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, electrolytes, fatty acids, and probiotics.

Squares
This month, premier hospitality group Quality Branded (Quality Eats, Quality Meats, and Quality Italian) will open Squares, at the former Riff Raff's location (360 Park Avenue South). Squares will be a 2,000-square-foot nightclub adorned with a glazed tile mosaic-inspired design and antique wood and leather in warm monochromes.

Squares will offer a cocktail program by Bryan Schneider (Quality Eats, Monkey Bar, and Clover Club), small bites, and a rotation of musical guests and live performances.

Avra Madison
Avra Madison is opening its second location on Sept. 9 at 14 E 60th Street and will feature a mix of Mediterranean dishes and authentic Greek fare similar to Avra Estiatorio, but the new restaurant will have a more extensive fish selection. The bi-level restaurant will be designed to create an atmosphere similar to that of an open-air villa in Greece, with fresh lemon trees, imported limestone, and stone washed walls. Avra's focus is "traditional Greek food with an emphasis on specialty seafood." The open kitchen, with its impressive fish display, prepares the selections right from the sea. The restaurant specializes in offering fresh seafood options, by the pound with prices ranging from $29.50 to $53.50. 

For more New York City dining and travel news, click here.