The Brooklyn Botanical Garden might have overshot the scheduling for their annual Cherry Blossom festival. Though it's happening in two weeks, the city seems to be at peak bloom right now! The full "Hanami" celebration lasts the full month between April 3rd and May 2nd, and according to their map, most of the park is in peak bloom right now, with some trees even in the middle of post bloom. The Sakura Matsuri cherry blossom festival will feature contemporary and traditional Japanese music and dance, as well as fun projects for kids like origami folding and tea bag making. Until then, check out these gorgeous photos of cherry blossoms blooming all over New York. more ›

May 3: Cheezapolooza III: Naked vs Cooked more ›

Another wet April day. Friday is off to a rainy start. So much so that the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for the city and much of northeastern and central New Jersey. The warning is in effect until 11:00 a.m. as a large area of moderate to heavy rainfall passes over already saturated ground. Taking a cue from Jesse Jackson the Weather Service reminds us "when encountering flooded roads make the wise choice… turn around… don't drown." If the warning's not enough a flood watch, a flood statement and a special weather statement have also been issued. more ›

Earlier this week, when Gothamist was looking at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's CherryWatch Blossom Status Map, things didn't look too promising for the weekend. But with yesterday's update, we see that the buds on the 'Kanzan' (the trees in a row on the left) are starting to open. Just in time for this weekend's Sakura Matsuri (cherry blossom festival). more ›

Patrick Cullina is the VP of Horticulture and Facilities at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and New York's go-to guy for cherry trees (there are over 200 trees and 42 species at BBG alone!). Anita Jacobs is responsible for all of the programs that go along with the garden, speaking of which... more ›

Don't say we didn't warn you that this weekend was the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival. Look at how pink it was! more ›

Don't forget that the Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival is going on all weekend at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden! more ›

ART: The 10th annual Tribeca art walk is this weekend. Toast, the Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tour, is a free, self-guided tour of approximately 100 artists' studios throughout Tribeca. Talk to the artists in their own spaces, and of course - check out their art while you're at it. more ›

The cherry blossoms along the Cherry Walk and Cherry Esplanade at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden are at peak and this weekend is the Garden's Sakura Matsuri, or Cherry Blossom Festival. The weather should be perfect for blossom viewing. more ›

April 13: Alpine Cheese & Wine Tasting more ›

If you aren't in Indio, California this weekend then you aren't seeing Nine Inch Nails, the Arcade Fire or Spoon. You also aren't going to be suffering from heat stroke in a desert and buying $8 bottles of water, so we think you made a wise decision to skip Coachella. This weekend in New York we say goodbye to April, which if the old saying is correct - no more rain! Right? So throw away your umbrella and head to the May Day Festival in Tompkins Square Park this Sunday. And in the meantime, check this stuff out: more ›

The next big event at the BBG are the roses in June. And if anyone went to the Cherry Blossom Festival and has photographs, let us know and/or trackback to this post. The Times has a gorgeous photograph of kids enjoying the Cherry Festival from James Estrin. more ›

This weekend, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is celebrating Sakura Matsuri - the Cherry Blossom Festival! Gothamist is going to try to make it out there for fresh air and some beautiful nature. Check out the activities on Saturday and Sunday, but just walking around the gardens is fun and lying on the ground in the esplanade is blissful. more ›