If it’s ahead of the curve or the best of its kind, you can bet it’s happening somewhere in NYC–maybe right in your neighborhood!

Midtown West

Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra
The Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra combines the beauty of Chinese melodies with the precision and grandeur of the Western symphony orchestra, blending in traditional Chinese instruments. This new program offers all-original music from the world-famous Shen Yun production, masterpieces by Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, instrumental soloists and Shen Yun’s celebrated singers.
Saturday, October 5, 2 and 8PM
Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street at 7th Avenue
Tickets: $58-118

Korean Parade and K-town Festival
The Korean Parade and Festival have become an annual tradition offering an opportunity to observe and share the customs of the Korean culture. The parade begins on 42nd Street and Broadway at noon and heads down Broadway to 23rd Street with floats, marching bands, Korean traditional dances and martial arts exhibitions. The Festival will offer hot, spicy food sold by various vendors as well as traditional Korean performing arts and more.
Saturday, October 6th, 9AM-6PM
See site for parade route; festival will be on 32nd Street between 5th Avenue and Broadway

Bike MS NYC
On this two-wheeled journey you’ll be helping free the world of MS while experiencing New York City in a fun and exciting way. There are route options of 30, 55, or 100 miles and a fantastic Finish Line Festival with great food, music, a beer garden, massage tent and photo ops.
October 6, 6:30 AM
Starts/ends at Pier 92/94, 711 12th Avenue at 54th Street
Registration Fee: $75; fundraising minimum: $150

Flaming Lips with Tame Impala
Talented indie-rock enigma Wayne Coyne has been impressing music fans with his creative producing and mind-melting concepts with his band Flaming Lips as well as his solo endeavors for decades. Tame Impala made top-of-year lists recently with their Australian-born psychedelic, dreamy rock.
October 1-2, 8PM
Terminal 5, 610 West 56th Street
Tickets: $42.50-$45

Upper West Side

My Dog Loves Central Park Fair
The Central Park Conservancy invites dogs and owners of all ages to celebrate Central Park's vibrant dog community with events like a Best in Park show, canine good citizen testing, microchipping, a children’s corner and more.
Saturday, October 5 11AM-3PM (weather permitting, no rain date)
Central Park Bandshell (mid-Park at 72nd Street)
Free

Williamsburg

Big Boi and Killer Mike
Fans of both classic (Outkast partner Big Boi) and “underground” and Southern (Killer Mike) hip hop won’t want to miss this double-header.
October 1, 8PM
Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn
Tickets: $30

Chelsea

Affordable Art Fair
This annual art event offers an inspiring, friendly atmosphere in which you’ll find thousands of original paintings, prints, sculptures and photographs all under one roof, with more than half priced under $5,000. The work of young, emerging artists hangs alongside some of the biggest household names.
October 3-6 (private preview October 2), 11AM - 8PM
The Tunnel, 269 11th Avenue
Tickets: $15-$65

City-wide

New Yorker Festival
The best of New York’s cultural icons–and plenty of international contributors–in one three-day festival. Events include readings and book-signings, panel discussions and fun and games featuring heavy-hitters like Jonathan Franzen, Michael Chabon, Kim Gordon, Tavi Gevinson, Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, Marina Abramovic and many, many more.
October 4-6, see site for events, times and tickets