Photo: Nicole Freezer Rubens

We are stepping into my favorite time of the year and an awesome season with a spectacular stretch of fall energy — a moment when every corner of the city feels alive with tradition, creativity, and pure joy. From the 100th Anniversary Feast of San Gennaro lighting up Little Italy with food, music, and old‑world charm, to the Flower Power finale at NYBG radiating 1960s color and optimism, the season is overflowing with can’t‑miss experiences. Add in the Brooklyn Book Festival’s citywide literary magic, heartfelt cabaret nights at The Green Room 42, a Finnish retreat rooted in Sisu, and a nostalgic Snoopy fashion exhibit in the Meatpacking District, and you have a lineup that captures everything we love about fall in New York — vibrant, soulful, and endlessly inspiring.

Sept. 17-27. Feast of San Gennaro 2026 100th Anniversary Celebration

Little Italy comes alive September 17–27 as New York City celebrates the 100th Feast of San Gennaro, the largest and longest‑running Italian festival in the United States. For 11 days, Mulberry Street transforms into a vibrant corridor of food, music, and tradition, with more than 300 vendors serving classic Italian street fare — from sausage‑and‑pepper heroes to powdered‑sugar zeppole and hand‑filled cannoli. Daily entertainment, religious processions, and a special centennial concert direct from Naples make this year’s feast especially memorable. Admission is free, the atmosphere is electric, and the neighborhood’s old‑world charm shines brighter than ever. GET THE DETAILS.

Brooklyn Book Festival 2026 — NYC’s Premier Literary Week

From September 20–28, the Brooklyn Book Festival returns with nine days of literary programming across all five boroughs. As the city’s largest free literary festival, BKBF brings together hundreds of acclaimed and emerging authors for conversations, readings, and community events. Families can enjoy Children’s Day on September 26, while the flagship Festival Day on September 27 fills Downtown Brooklyn with outdoor stages, publisher tents, and the Northeast’s biggest book marketplace. With appearances by major literary voices and dozens of Bookend events citywide, the festival remains a cornerstone of New York’s cultural calendar. GET THE DETAILS.

Oct. 10 & 11 — Catch Robin Lyon at The Green Room 42

We love when our Tomatoes Got Talent performers step into the spotlight with their own cabaret shows—especially when it’s for a meaningful cause. This October, we’re thrilled that Robin Lyon, one of our standout winners, is debuting her new show “Lasting Change,” a FUNdraiser supporting her son Michael Lyon Gardiner’s nonprofit, Lasting Change.

Robin will perform a mix of brand‑new songs, original works, and fan favorites from her hit show “Been There, Done That, Now What?” Plus, she’ll be joined by special guest performers who promise to make these two evenings even more unforgettable.

GET ALL THE DETAILS and mark your calendar for a show filled with heart, talent, and purpose.

December 11–13. A Finnish‑Inspired Women’s Retreat

December may feel far off, but it will be here before you know it — and if you want to be part of this extraordinary retreat, early registration is essential. Our friends at Mind Body and Spirit are creating something truly special.

There is a Finnish concept with no direct English translation: Sisu — the quiet, steady courage that carries you through challenge. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just unwavering strength, persistence, and grace.

This December, attendees will gather at Red Bird House in Bethel, NY for an intimate Finnish‑inspired women’s retreat that embraces the quiet magic of the changing season. Rooted in the philosophy of Sisu, the weekend invites creativity, reflection, nature, and meaningful ritual. The guest of honor is  w Reetta Ranta, visiting from Fiskars, Finland, who will guide participants through practices that connect inner resilience with outer stillness.

WHEN: Fri, Dec 11 – Sun, Dec 13, 2026 WHERE: Red Bird House, Bethel, NY

Reserve your spot now!

Roving with Snoopy

Nicole Freezer Rubens writes:

“Happiness is a warm puppy,” but it’s also finally reaching the front of the line and immersing yourself in the Snoopy In Style NYC show. This wonderful exhibit at 25 Little West 12th Street in the vibrant Meatpacking District coincided with Fashion Week and will remain open through September 26th. It is free of charge and a wonderful collection for anyone interested in fashion and for all who waited patiently from year to year for It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas to return to their bulky television sets to kick off the holiday season.

Snoopy In Style NYC examines the rich history of Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts cartoon characters that have escorted us through the decades starting in 1950 when the comic strip debuted. Snoopy was added on day 3 intended to be an unnamed temporary component, but Charlie Brown’s loyal companion, never left him or us.

The history of our nation is carried forth in this show through the framework of culture, history, sports and of course fashion. The displays include vintage archives and artifacts that tell the stories of the times. Snoopy and his sister Belle have been dressed by the best in unique designs by Levi’s, Coach, Zac Posen for the Gap, and even Gloria Steinem’s Foundation, with a nod to Ms. Magazine.

One of the most interesting aspects of this show is following the commercialization of Snoopy, for which we have Connie Boucher and Determined Productions to thank. In 1961, she encouraged Schulz to release a Peanuts date book. It sold out and paved the way for monetizing a cartoon character and endless, even posthumous licensing possibilities that we still embrace today. Snoopy became so popular that he was actually a write in candidate in the 1968 presidential election!

I highly recommend catching this tribute, Snoopy In Fashion NYC, for a quick dose of American history, nostalgia, and pure joy.

~Nicole Freezer Rubens is the author of The Long Pause and the Short Breath and the soon to be released, New York And Not New York, essays and photos.

Flower Power at NYBG — Ending Soon

Flower Power is entering its final days at the New York Botanical Garden, and it’s the moment to catch this radiant, joy‑filled celebration before it disappears. The exhibition transforms the Garden into a vivid homage to the 1960s—an era defined by color, creativity, and the belief that nature could inspire harmony. Psychedelic floral installations spill across the grounds, retro VW buses become whimsical photo backdrops, and immersive displays invite visitors to wander through a world shaped by peace, optimism, and bold botanical artistry.

Inside the Mertz Library Gallery, iconic works—including Andy Warhol’s Flowers—anchor the cultural heartbeat of the show, reminding visitors how deeply the decade embraced blooms as symbols of hope and expression. Evenings glow with Liquid Light Shows and live music, while weekends offer hands‑on workshops, family programs, and creative experiences that make the Garden feel alive with movement and color.

With the exhibition closing soon, this is the last chance to experience its full‑garden magic—an uplifting reminder of how nature and imagination can shape a brighter, more connected world. GET THE DETAILS.