As tempting as zeppoles, fruit magnets and gym socks are, there's still a movement to re-think the city's street fairs (which cost the city much more in police overtime than what it makes in permits). City Councilman Daniel Garodnick told the Daily News, "These have become monothematic corporate enterprises with very little local or community flavor and the system is in need of reform." But the heads of those corporate enterprises are saying they are helping the little guy! more ›

Just as the Center for an Urban Future released its report on how NYC street fairs could benefit from a makeover, Mayor Bloomberg said, yes, the fairs aren't really adding anything—"It's all the same stuff"—and wants to limit them further, since it costs the city a lot in police overtime. In spite of street fairs being at a six-year low of 321 in 2009, Bloomberg still wants that number to go down, "I think the answer is to limit them and have them only in certain places." more ›

Mayor Bloomberg has found a new ally in his war against those ubiquitous, seemingly identical street fairs that clog large sections of Manhattan all friggin summer. Today the Chardonnay-swilling tube sock haters at Terroir Tribeca have stepped into the fray, posting an online screed [pdf] hating all over street fair season. They rant: more ›

The San Gennaro Festival, the Romania Day Festival and the 6th Avenue Summerfest could all fall under Bloomberg’s latest category of cuts. To save the considerable cost of manning city street fairs with NYPD officers (last year there were 321 fairs costing $4 million in overtime) the mayor wants to reduce their numbers. Bloomberg is a long-time fair opponent—he’s said that they’re too numerous and they they’re all the same—but others argue the festivals are integral to city life. “Festivals give people an opportunity to take back the streets so they can walk, listen to music, see their neighbors and buy something if they want," argued fair producer Mort Berkowitz. more ›

Andre Balazs of the Standard Hotel claims he's not the one behind keeping the West Village Leather & Bear Street Fair off his turf. After reports came in that the hotelier was anti-Bear (despite fully supporting his guests baring it all for visitors of the High Line), he now says it's the mayor's fault! His hotel is actually "headquarters for the big NYC Wine and Food Festival happening that same weekend, so the mayor's office wants the bears to reschedule." Robert Valin, executive director of the Leather Weekend, told the Villager that the "hotel’s managing director, Ian Nicholson, reached out to him, and that a sit-down was set for this week. The hotel people now claim they had no idea the leather fest was being booted off the block—though Valin the previous week had told us the Mayor’s Office clearly said the hotel didn’t want the S&M confab there." Looks like no one wants to be on the bear's bad side! As for staying at the hotel, Valin told the paper: “I think I would request that the bears get higher floors—we are sexual men." [via Curbed] more ›

An out-of-control livery cab careened into a street fair in Queens yesterday, injuring 13 people. According to WABC 7, "The car struck at least one food booth when it crashed into the street fair at Junction Boulevard and 37th Avenue about 1 p.m. Sunday." more ›

Yesterday, Gothamist attended the 34th annual Atlantic Antic along Atlantic Avenue between Hicks Street and Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. For the uninitiated, this not your typical New York "tube sock" street fair. Sure there are some of the typical food vendors (gyros, roasted corn and Mozzarepas, natch). But unlike most other street fairs, there is a strong neighborhood presence in both food (including freebees from the new kid on the block Trader Joe’s) and vendors, along with many Brooklyn community groups and a wide variety of live music. As an added bonus this year, the New York Transit Museum had free admission along with its annual bus festival. more ›

Last week a group of parents in the West Village were up in arms about the S&M street festival hitting a street too close to home. Yesterday the fest, which was part of New York Leather Weekend, hit Weehawken Street -- or shall we say whipped? Those in attendance perused a plethora of whips, chains, blindfolds and other S&M garb. more ›

Yesterday, Gothamist attended the 33rd annual Atlantic Antic along Atlantic Avenue between Hicks Street and Fourth Avenue. It is not your typical New York street fair with actual local groups, business and restaurants getting involved. Plus the New York Transit Museum had free admission as well as its annual vintage bus festival. more ›

On tap for this year’s 33rd Annual Atlantic Antic festival, taking this Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM (rain or shine, buddy) is the usual bonanza of pony rides, live music, and balloon animals. This year’s Antic has an added emphasis on food, which should hopefully make it a remedy to all the street fair food fatigue that’s been going around recently. more ›

No more Drown the Clown? No more zeppoles, chased down by some gelato? Or walks through Little Italy in a crushing sea of humanity? The Daily News reports that Community Board 2's street events committee is recommending that the board reject permits for San Gennaro. more ›

September 16: Waldemar and Nadia at Telepan - Late Summer Cheeses more ›

Celebrate Ben Franklin's 300th birthday with the Bikini Bandits and Phillyist! (NSFW). Speaking of Mr. Franklin, send in a picture of Ben (or Ed Rendell) with a red tongue and win a free t-shirt. And they might have the next YearlyKos in Philly. more ›

Tribeca just doesn’t rest. Without even a brief reprieve from the Film Festival, this bustling neighborhood geared up this past Saturday for the Taste of Tribeca, a culinary street fair created to raise money to support P.S. 150 and P.S. 234. In its 12th year, this festival has gained popularity with over 70 top local restaurants showcasing a flavor of what they offer – Bouley, Megu and Nobu just to name drop a few. more ›

Apparently some kids chalked the cube at Astor Place yesterday and got arrested. Here's the account from Gothamist Contribute: more ›

Street Fair Tacos more ›

- Rob more ›

Tickets for Robert Deniro’s lovechild have gone on sale, offering over 150 films, documentaries, a free movie “drive in”, and an outside street fair. While movies range from the highly praised and much hyped Mad Hot Ballroom, be aware that acclaimed home video actress Paris Hilton’s horror opus House of Wax will also debut. So please, don’t drink and buy tickets. Highlights include: more ›

beat.So while the humble street fair will never be abandoned by Gothamist, we can't help but make the more upscale Chile Pepper Fiesta part of our annual autumn ritual.Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1000 Washington Avenue, (718) 623-7200 more ›

Gothamist doesn't miss the tired, Yuppie whining and complaining which spewed from Michael, Hope, Elliot and company in the 1980's TV hit "thirtysomething." But, we do recognize the importance of that landmark time in life. more ›

We were strolling through a relatively predictable street fair on Columbus Avenue yesterday when we came across this sign: more ›

The team at Gothamist Food will be sans internet for the long weekend, so we wanted to make sure you were all set with food ideas and options for the next few days: more ›

It was with high hopes for spicy seafood and fun that Gothamist trekked to the waterfront of DUMBO this past Sunday to partake in The First NYC Tiger Beer Singapore Chili Crab Festival. And while Gothamist is most definitely a sucker for a street fair, we were disappointed to find that by 2:30pm (only a third of the way through the 6-hour festival) all the chili crabs had sold out. Still on offer were butter crabs, chicken with peanut sauce, beef with coconut milk sauce, hot dogs, hamburgers, and a soupy red dessert. Unfortunately, the food and beer lines were confusing and tremendously long, making Gothamist newly appreciative of your more run-of-the-mill street fair in which you can grab and go. more ›

Gothamist is a sucker for a street fair. We're not talking about the neighborhood-based, culturally-themed festivals that pop up from time to time. Those are great, but we'll take the tired old generic street fair - factory-second underwear and all - that pops up on a different Manhattan avenue every Saturday and Sunday from March through November. Sure, they're all the same, but who can resist the predictable variety of these so-bad-for-you-but-so-good movable feasts? Among our favorites: more ›

To be on the safe side, you should consider your designs art. It's probably a good idea to apply for a permit to sell anything on the streets, just in case. of Ask Gothamist have applied for permits in the past; the process takes a few weeks, but is generally painless. It's worth it to avoid getting shut down or being forced to pay fines. more ›

Gothamist loves the summer solstice! We love the music, the meditation, and the elegant astronomical sculpture in Midtown that is a tribute to the Earth's revolution around our Sun. Astronomical sculpture in Midtown? The sculpture stands in the McGraw-Hill building plaza on Sixth Ave between 48th and 49th Streets. We braved a street fair, which Gothamist deluded itself into thinking was for the solstice, and were the only curious tourist taking photos of the sculpture at solar noon yesterday. more ›