GOGOBOT FOR DOWNTOWN: MON SEP, 12TH-MON SEP, 19TH

statue-of-liberty-1001310_960_720 — Courtesy of Pixabay.com

Gogobot is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.” Gogobot’s GoGo This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week.

Visit the website or download the app for more GoGo This Week upcoming events. Here are some exciting events and sites to check out in downtown New York this week, courtesy of Gogobot:

1. Coffee Festival
69th Regiment Armory (Flatiron)
Friday, Sept. 16 – Sunday, Sept. 18 (check website for times)

Perk up coffee lovers, the New York Coffee Festival is here! Java jivers can enjoy bottomless coffee tasting, workshops, demos from famous baristas, street food, competitions, live music and lots more. And, if that’s not enough of a pick-me-up, 50% of the standard ticket value will be donated to Project Waterfall (an international charity which brings fresh water to coffee growing communities). Tickets start at $20.

2. Pizza Run
Tompkins Square Park (East Village)
Saturday, Sept. 17 at 11:00 AM

The NYC Pizza Run is definitely an eating-on-the-run event! Two miles, three slices of pizza–will you able to keep it down and reach the finish line? If you want to win this race, you better start training soon because the competition here, oddly enough, is pretty fierce! $50 entry fee includes goody bags, pizza and a drink at the after party.

3. Asian Cocktail Party
The Bowery Hotel (East Village)
Friday, Sept. 16 from 10:00 PM to 12:00 AM

NY Moon Festival Cocktail Feast is a our perfect way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Harvest Festival. The finest New York bartenders will be pouring elaborate cocktails inspired by Asian flavors. This year’s standouts include B Flat’s Silk Journey, (Bombay Sapphire® East Gin, Fresh Lime Juice, Pomegranate Syrup, Oolong and Mandarin Tea) and Macao Trading Company’s Bashful Maiden, (Bombay Sapphire® East Gin, St –Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Velvet Falernum, Lemon Juice, Boiron Melon Purée, Mint Crown). Tickets start at $50.

4. San Gennaro Feast
Mulberry Street (Little Italy)
Thursday, Sept. 15 – Sunday, Sept. 25 (Check website for times)

The Feast of San Gennaro, now in its 89th year, is the OG of Italian street festivals. This year, there will be the traditional blessing of the statue, a procession, an opera performance, Doo Wop bands, a Frank Sinatra tribute, and a cannoli and pizza eating contest, respectively. And, of course, a ton of those sausage and zeppole stands we all love to hate but can’t stay away from. FREE

5. Book Fest
Check website for complete list of venues
Monday, Sept. 12 – Sunday, Sept. 18 (Check website for times)

The Brooklyn Book Fest is like the Oscars of literary world. This year the star studded list includes Margaret Atwood, Margo Jefferson, Salman Rushdie, Marjorie Liu, Sayed Kashua, Esmeralda Santiago, Ralph Nader, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Yusef Komunyakaa, Joyce Carol Oates, A.O. Scott, Hua Hsu and hundreds more. Don’t miss the dozens of Bookend events (now taking place across the boroughs) like the boozy literary shindig Readings, Rum & Reasoning – A Caribbean Literary Lime at South Oxford Space. Free and paid events.

If you know of great events happening in your neck of the woods that might be a fit for a future GoGo This Week column, please send details about the event to events@gogobot.com

-Courtesy of Gogobot

https://youtu.be/DrxNt1QU3z4

Alexander White

From August 5th to 7th, The Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFaNY) held its New York Shoe Expo at the Hilton Midtown Hotel. With over 300 footwear manufacturers, representing 800 brands, DOWNTOWN was able to get a first hand look at the upcoming Spring/Summer 2015 collections.

Among the hundreds of unique designers putting their creativity to work, DOWNTOWN has narrowed our favorites down to four designers to keep an eye on: Alexander White, Pikolinos, Ivylee, and Carolinna Espinosa.

If Carrie Bradshaw was still walking the streets of New York, Alexander White heels would surely be found on her feet. This London designer was our biggest find during FFaNY. He debuted his new collection, pairing classy heels with the perfect amount of edge. Coming from a very strong background in fashion, White has previously worked in the design department at Kurt Geiger. White incorporates strappy sandals, pointed toes, and leopard prints in daily wear. We especially love his criss-cross strap sandals, versatile for both work and play! Make sure to keep an eye on the look out for this up-and-coming designer.

Pikolinos

For a more casual shoe, check out Olivia Palermo’s preferred sandals (she was even in the campaign), Pikolinos: the best daytime sandals and wedges made from the finest, quality leather. When picking a shoe up, it felt lighter than air. If you’re into the laid back look, we seriously recommend these. Unlike Alexander White, Pikolinos was founded in 1984, and we’re starting to see more and more of their sandals. Nordstrom is a primary location to snag a pair, but you can also find them online on Zappos.com or the Pikolinos website.

Ivylee

Ivylee, another lovely leather brand seriously reeled us in. Based in Copenhagen, these boots, sandals, and heels are not only cool and hip, but they’re also high-quality shoes, made to last. Ivylee boots were worn in the Hunger Games, so you know they’re killer. Sticking with neutral colors, designer Kristine Holgaard, makes her footwear diverse; you can wear them anywhere, with anything.

Carolinna Espinosa

Last, but certainly not least, we checked out what Carolinna Espinosa had in store for this upcoming Spring/Summer ’15 season. Carolinna Espinosa is a brand that sticks with the classics. The heels and flats are quite simple, yet always feature a small detail like a thin silver strap across a nude heel. Carolinna Espinosa completely transforms each shoe, keeping it modern and sleek, yet dainty and elegant. Carolinna Espinosa heels can be worn by teens, adults, and the more seasoned ladies, making them a go-to for any occasion.

DOWNTOWN Magazine was thrilled to be at the FFaNY last week and cannot wait to attend next year’s shoe expo to see what’s to come!

– Irene Bogdan