A weekly report on the best events, openings and happenings in New York.

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Week of April 20, 2009:

Another Year, Another Tribeca Film Festival

It all started with 9/11 when the planes that hit the twin towers devastated lower Manhattan, affecting one of the neighborhoods--TriBeCa (the TRIangle BElow CAnal Street). Originally an industrial area, artistic types moved into inexpensive lofts in the 1970s, turning them into luxury housing two decades later.

One local resident-- megastar actor Robert DeNiro-- decided to start a film festival in the area to revive the neighborhood and city. So, in the fall of 2001, mere weeks after the attack, he and producers Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff announced that the first Tribeca Film Festival would happen the following May. In 2002, the initial Tribeca Film Festival was a major success. Unlike most film festivals in New York City, the emphasis was as much on "festival" as on film, and the event included a rock concert in Battery Park and a children’s street fair.

Now eight years later, with the exception of the street fair, the festival has all but abandoned Tribeca itself. For this year's Tribeca Film Festival, most of the screenings take place either in Chelsea or the East Village; and there are a bunch of screenings at the DGA theater on West 57th street, (the opening night is at the Ziegfeld Theater on west 54th Street), miles away from the neighborhood it had originally promoted.

P-Star Rising

This year there are only about half the films that were there last year, which may be better idea if these are more hits than misses-- plus you usually get the directors and cast doing Q & A's after the screenings. And the free outdoor films-- The Drive-In-- are going to be at the World Financial Center Plaza, so no one has to cross the West Side Highway.

There are free things as well: A couple of panels-- some at the Apple Store in SoHo-- plus the aforementioned Drive-In. And there's the one event that actually takes place in Tribeca-- the Family Festival Street Fair on Greenwich Street between Hubert and Chambers Streets on May 2nd.

But most people come here for the movies, so there are 45 World Premieres, 15 North American Premieres, 12 New York Premieres, 5 International Premieres, and 3 U.S. Premieres. If you go, there are lots of new films to see.

Whatever Works

The festival is divided up into categories: The Galas (which includes the opening night film, Woody Allen's "Whatever Works"-- to be seen at midtown's Ziegfeld Theatre, Spike Lee’s “Kobe Doin' Work”, and the Nia Vardalos starrer “My Life In Ruins”), World Narrative Competition; World Documentary Competition; Encounters; Showcase; Midnight; Restored/Rediscovered; Shorts; and the ESPN Sports Film Festival track.

Then there are other things like panel discussions for those who are into the mechanics of filmmaking and the issues surrounding it; they have famous people talking about the craft which is always more fun to see live than on screen. Plus, there's just all those people that come to town to remind us that NYC is Hollywood East!

The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 22nd to May 3rd, 2009.

For more infomation--check out the website or call (646) 502-5296.

- Brad Balfour and Eric Lurio

Week of April 13, 2009:

The Coffee and Tea Festival
is Your Cup of Tea

Join the crowds at the Metropolitan Pavilion to celebrate everything related to coffee and tea. The 4th annual Coffee & Tea Festival NYC brings beverage and confectionary vendors together to introduce them to sophisticated enthusiasts.

Attendees can sample products from dozens of exhibitors over the two-day event. Well-known industry pros and pioneers provide demonstrations featuring the proper methods of preparing and tasting varieties of coffees and teas. Goodie bags with samples will be distributed to attendees each day.

An all day pass includes sampling of the international lineup of coffee and tea exhibitors, and admission to the special presentations. Located at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit CoffeeAndTeaFestival.com

The Coffee & Tea Festival NYC runs Saturday, April 18th (11 AM-6PM) and Sunday, April 19th (11AM-5PM).

Week of April 6, 2009:

New York International Automobile Show
Showcases The Universe of Cars

Given the state of the automobile industry, the world of cars needs a boost to add some drama and sexiness to the whole auto experience. The annual New York Auto Show offers this fun way to review and compare the world's finest cars and trucks through state-of-the-art displays, celebrity appearances, prizes, giveaways, interactive exhibits and vehicle test drives.

For 109 years, NYIAS has stirred the the passion of car lovers with displays of futuristic concept cars, the latest editions of classic brands and advances in new technologies. With every new car on the market under one roof without any pressure to buy, anyone can peruse the state of the automotive arts in one day.

It's not so much about coming to the Javits Center to buy a car but to get excited about being in one and feeding off the act of motion--at whatever speed. The Show is the only place locally that one can explore the technological breakthroughs that are changing the way we drive and how we drive. And in recent years, the show has been helping to promote alternative fuels, green technologies and ways in which the established industry is incorporating these developments in the business at hand.

From revolutionary safety equipment that automatically brakes the vehicle if it senses an impending crash to features that allow your car to park itself, you can experience the new developments in the cars of tomorrow. Be at the forefront of how the future driving experience will be radically different from the way you are driving today. Or visit the show to discover just how different the super rich live when you feast your eyes on a six-figure Lamborghini, Maserati or Bentley.

The best thing about the show is that it's really a day-long experience--come early and stay late--for it runs from from 11 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Sundays.

The New York International Auto Show runs April 10-19, 2009.

For more info, visit NY International Auto Show

- Brad Balfour