September 13-23: A Real Italian Feast

It’s Italian food lovers favorite time of year. The 86th Feast of San Genarro will take over Manhattan’s Little Italy for 11 days, filling the streets with wafting scents aromas of grilled meats, vegetables and fresh pastry. A commemorative parade, music and street performances will accompany the multitude of street food offerings. Trust me, you haven’t experiences a real Italian festival until you’ve experienced Mulberry Street for San Genarro. Full event info can be found by visiting the festivals official site here. Nolita /Little Italy (Mulberry St. between Canal and Houston, Grand St. between Center and Mott), times vary.

September 13- Nov 4: Cloud City

The Metropolitan Museum of Art‘s latest roof-top installation premiers this week. Tomas Saraceno’s Cloud City transports visitors into another space as they interact with the perception-changing kaleidoscope-esque installation.  The 16 attached modules of Cloud City provide for a unique experience visitors will not soon forget. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, Tues- Thurs & Sun 9:30 AM- 5:30 PM, Fri & Sat 9:30 AM- 9 PM, suggested donation $25, $17 for students, $12 for members

September 15: An Eating Contest from the Far East

The Chef One’s Ninth Annual Dumpling Easting contest will take over Smorgasburg this Satruday from 1- 4 PM. Head on over to Williamsburg if you think you can beat last years record of 69 dumplings in two minutes, or if you just want to watch others try. Te contest will be broken up into both men and women’s divisions. For those just spectating, a variety of dumpling will be on offer for purchase. Smorgasburg, 27 North 6th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 1- 4 PM.

September 15- 27: First there was the Highline…

… and now there is the Lowline. The Lowline is perhaps the opposite of Manhattan’s now iconic Highline, as the world’s first underground park. Imagining the Lowline: A First Glimpse of a Future Underground launches this weekend with the transformation of the Delancey Street trolley terminal into a subterranean public space.  To celebrate the opening, entrance to the exhibit opening is free. Essex Street Warehouse, entrance at the corner of Essex and Broome, Sat & Sun 12-5, closed Mon- Tues for Rosh Hashana, Wed- Sun 12-6, free

September 16- 18: A Sweet New Year

Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, begins this Sunday at sundown. Apples and honey, matzah balls, brisket and tsimis will be on Jewish tables across New York. Need recipes for your Rosh Hashana favorites? The Mile End cookbook is out just in time! Don’t feel like cooking? The restaurant will cater your meal (shhhh no one has to know). Want to dine out?  GrubStreet has a great list of restaurants serving up High Holiday meals.

September 19- 23: Le Grand Brooklyn, Le Grand Fooding

Le Grand Fooding is back! This year’s event focuses on Brooklyn and the “Brooklandia” food tradition. The “dollar-hungry, rapidly yuppy-fying” neighborhoods of the borough has birthed a new breed of chef. Fans of everything from street-food to the avant-garde these tatooed foodies are leading the nation in culinary creativity. The four day festival will feature multiple events for you to feast and try these new culinary creations.

• Le Clicquot Brooklyn Tour: September 19 7 & 9:30 PM @ the Vinegar Hill House, September 20 7 & 9:30 PM @ Frankies 457, September 21 7 & 9:30 PM @ Maimonide of Brooklyn, September 22 7 & 9:30 PM @ the Intercourse, $75 including a tasting menu and half bottle of Veuve Clicquot 

• Darkness With a Chance of Piperade: September 22 & 23, 11 AM @ NiteHawk Cinema, $20 including brunch tasting menu and movie

• The Luncheon in the Dust: September 22  11 AM @ the Fort Greene Brooklyn Flea, September 23 11 AM @ the Williamsburg Brooklyn Flea, $15 including lunch tasting menu and S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna waters

• Campfire Session #02: September 23 7 PM @ the Williamsburg Brooklyn Flea, $60 for standard entry, $100 for Mastercard® VIP, including food tasting, two Jameson based cocktails, live music and more

Reservations to the above can be made at www.legrandfooding.com

(20% of each ticket goes to Action Against Hunger | AFC International )

Sunday September 23: A Taste of the Village

Taste the West Village is not your typical neighborhood street fair. More then 25 of the neighborhoods acclaimed restaurants will take to the streets for this tasting event. Unlimited samples from joint like the Meatball  Shop, Red Farm and Gramercy Tavern will be available with purchase of the $40 ticket.  While a limited amount of tickets will be available day of, it is recommended you purchase yours in advance by clicking here. For full event info, visit the Taste the West Village Official Site.  The Yard at P.S. 41, Greenwich Ave. and Charles St., 12- 4 PM, individual ticket $40, family pack $100, children $25, unlimited alcohol $25.