Happy Thanksgiving!

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Balloon Inflation

Handlers steer Thomas the Tank Engine balloon through the parking lot at CitiField, Saturday, Nov. 8.Photo: AP

Macy's Balloon Inflation takes place on Wednesday, November 26^th, 2014 from 3pm to 10pm around the American Museum of Natural History. Visitors are herded into a procession that starts at 79th Street and Columbus Avenue, and circles the museum. There are police barricades and cops in an effort to control the inevitable crowds, and the line increases as the night wears on.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade #MacysParade

What: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of the biggest events the City has to offer.
When: November 27th, 2014  |  9am
Where: Central Park West and West 77th Street

Official NY State Arm Wrestling Championships

What: Brute force, sheer power, and exceptional endurance are all present at the 37th Annual Empire State Golden Arm Tournament of Champions a.k.a the official New York state arm wrestling championships. Over a hundred men and women battle for the title of New York State's Strongest Arm. You can watch and cheer for a mere $5 or, if you're feeling particularly potent, you can participate. The entry fee is $30 for male pros, $25 for male amateurs, and $10 for women in either category. The competition is divided into categories based on weight classes, there are 25 amateur and pro categories for men and four classes for women. Weigh-ins are from 9:30 am to 12:50 pm. 

When: Sunday, November 23, 1:00pm

Where: Cheap Shots Sports Bar & Lounge: 149-05 Union Turnpike, Flushing, NY 

Cost: $5 (Pay at the door).

LAST Smorgasburg Food Festival of the Year

What: Smorgasburg takes place with about 100 different vendors with a wide variety of food to offer along with other related vendors (housewares, utensils, etc)

Some food items include pizza, meats, noodles, cheesecake, seafood, other pastries, and so much more. The event takes place at the East River State Park giving you nice waterfront views.

When: Saturday 11am – 6pm  |  Rain or Shine

Where: 90 Kent Ave Brooklyn, NY 11249

Teengirl Fantasy Record Release

What: Abstract electronic duo Teengirl Fantasy, consisting of Logan Takahashi and Nick Weiss, are celebrating the release of their new four track EP Thermal with a party at Palisades featuring the duo and a spectacular lineup of DJs including Gatekeeper, Lafawndah, and Pictureplane. Thermal features vocal tracks by Korean R&B artist Hoody and emerging singer Lafawndah and a trippy website with four distinct, interactive environments that complement each song.

When: Thursday, November 20; 11:55pm

Where: Palisades: 906 Broadway, NY 
FREE RSVP

Laser Cat Brooklyn

What: Laser Cat is a giant inflatable feline head that projects art through its eyes. It also makes a "pew pew" sounds as it projects. The cat is a collaboration between the Art Directors Club and the public-art team Hungry Castle, who are also responsible for a giant inflatable sculpture of Lionel Richie’s head that you can walk inside and a big bird sculpture that poops goo for good luck. Laser Cat comes to Williamsburg for a street party, following visits to Barcelona, Miami Beach, and Calgary.

When:Thursday, November 20  |  6:30pm - 9:30pm

Where: 87 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 
FREE RSVP

Uniqlo FREE Tickets to MoMA

What: Every Friday Uniqlo presents Free tickets to the Museum of Modern Art. The Uniqlo Free Friday Night ticket permits you to other Museum galleries, exhibitions, and films.

Arrive around 3:30pm as people tend to line up around that time. It’ll take an estimated 20+ minutes to make it in the museum OR
Arrive around 6pm as there is usually a shorter wait. The downside to this is you will only have about 2 hours to enjoy MoMA as it closes at 8pm.
When: Every Friday 4:00pm – 8:00pm.
Where: Museum of Modern Art: 11 West 53rd Street Manhattan, NY 10019

Art & Fashion Runway Show above Lincoln Center

What: You are invited to attend a one night  public art exhibition and fashion show at the "Rooftop Art Exhibition & Fashion Show above Lincoln Center " at the spectacular Empire Hotel Rooftop, as seen on tv's "Gossip Girl".
This high profile art show is curated by John McMullen founder of The Art Of Fashion Arts Group (Since 2004)  our art salon events have reached over  35,000+ affluent New Yorkers interested in art events and have featured over 1,200 artists with our affiliate partners  selling over $25,000 worth of art! 
When: Saturday, November 22, 2014  |  7-10PM
Where: The Empire Hotel Rooftop On the West Terrace: 44 W. 63rd St New York
Cost: FREE (must say bizbuzz at door for admission!)

Nitehawk Shorts Festival

What: Nitehawk Cinema's second annual Nitehawk Shorts Festival includes five days of short films under twenty-minutes in an opening nite, weekend matinee, and midnite screenings along with a special presentation of works by Aldo Tambellini. There will also be an opening night celebration and Filmmakers Gathering in our downstairs bar. Programs consist of short films in all forms (animation, documentary, narrative, non-narrative) by local, national, and international filmmakers.

The mission of the Nitehawk Shorts Festival is to highlight exceptional short-form film and videos by artists and filmmakers. With a focus on those working in New York, Nitehawk Shorts Festival provides a platform for local, national, and international filmmakers to engage with new audiences and to establish a dialogue with the New York/Brooklyn film community.

When: November 19, 2014 9:30 pm - Sunday, November 23, 2014 11:45 am

Where: Nitehawk Cinema: 136 Metropolitan Ave Brooklyn, NY 11211

Cost: $11

Union Square Holiday Market

What: More than 100 red-and-white booths will fill Union Square Park for its annual holiday market. You'll find plenty of affordable quality items, so your wallet will thank you—and friends and family on your list will, too.

When: November 20 – December 24, 2014  |  Weekdays 11-8  |  Sat. 10 -8  |  Sun. 11-7

Where: 14th St to 17th St between Broadway and University Place Manhattan, NY 10003

Brooklyn Chili Takedown 2014

What: This is the Most Important Takedown you guys.  The classic! The no-rules chili bonkatron that started it all!!!!  The extra special one that hugs your guts so friendly! FREE COCKTAILS FEATURING CALEB’S KOLA!

When: Nov 16th, 2014  |   2-4PM

Where: The Bell House: 149 7th Street Brooklyn, New York, 11215

Cost: $20 Buy Here

The Renegade Craft Fair

What: Do some amazing holiday shopping with over 200+ indie makers from near and far. Shoppers will find an array of outstanding handmade goods at the Fair, perfect for checking off Holiday gift lists – ranging from holiday inspired stationery and gift wrap, unique and one-of-a-kind jewelry, apparel and shoes, to Eco-friendly furniture, prints and posters, housewares and much more.

When: November 15 & 16, 2014  |  11am-6pm

Where: Metropolitan Pavilion: 125 West 18th Street

FREE

American Fine Craft Show Brooklyn

What: Now in its second year, the American Fine Craft Show Brooklyn fills the Brooklyn Museum's picturesque Beaux Arts Court with wares crafted from wood, ceramic, decorative fiber, glass, leather, jewelry and mixed media—each item created by one of the more than 90 different local and nationally known artisans participating in the show.

When: Sat. Nov 22, 12pm – 6pm  |   Sun. Nov 23, 11am – 6pm

Where: Brooklyn Museum: 200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11238

Cost: Adults $12  |  Seniors $11  |  Students $6  |  Brooklyn Museum Members $6
Children under 10 free! Cash only at the door

New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show

What: Model trains navigate painstakingly crafted miniatures of New York City's built environment, all made entirely out of plant parts. The Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium and more than 150 other landmarks form a fantastically rendered City landscape built from seeds, bark, leaves and twigs, serviced by a robust quarter mile of track, all nestled underneath the glass ceilings of the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

When: November 15, 2014 – January 19, 2015 
Where: New York Botanical Garden: 2900 Southern Blvd. Bronx, NY 10458

Protohack: The "Code-Free" Hackathon

What: ProtoHack exists to show "non-coders" that they too can create something amazing from nothing. We want to empower you with the tools, knowledge and community to help you bring your idea to life and communicate it visually through prototyping.
How Does it Work?
No coding is required. Instead you will use prototyping tools, drag and drop editors, mockups, wireframes and anything else you can think of to VISUALLY demo your idea on stage. (We've put together the best tools for non-coders, so don't fret if you've never prototyped.)
You will have 9 hours to produce a prototype. (Remember, you are creating a lean prototype of your idea and it doesn't need to be perfect. The focus should be on visually showing what the idea is.) 
When: Saturday, November 15, 2014 9:30 am - 10:00 pm  
Where: Wix Lounge: 235 W 23d St 8th Fl New York, NY 10011  |  (646) 862-0833 
FREE

Party With Santa!

What: Santa's magical workshop is coming to Historic Richmond Town! Come join the fun with arts and crafts, face painting, games, sticker books and more! Enjoy pictures with Santa and his elves! Eat pizza, cupcakes and other holiday treats with Christmas cheer! 
Sorry, we cannot accommodate strollers.
Reservations required! Please RSVP by Nov. 20th
Call Mrs. Claus at 718-494-1533 (Helen) 
When: Saturday November 29th, 2014  |  12 PM - 3 PM  |  RAIN or SHINE
Where: Historic Richmond Town: 441 Clarke Avenue Staten Island, NY 10306
Cost: $15 per Person  |  3 years old and younger - FREE 

A Night at the Museum Sleepover for Grown-Ups

What: The American Museum of Natural History will again host its wildly popular adults-only sleepover adventure. Built on the successful A Night at the Museum sleepover program, adults ages 21 and up will enjoy a more sophisticated version of the popular event. 

The overnight adventure will begin with a champagne reception and music provided by the 12th Night Jazz trio in the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall.  Explorers can expect to roam through the nearly empty halls of the Museum, where they might run into a herd of elephants in the Akeley Hall of African Mammals or come face to face with looming dinosaur skeletons, including a 65-million-year-old Tyrannosaurs rex.

As the evening winds down, guests will be able to unroll their sleeping bags and curl up under the beloved 94-foot-long blue whale in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life.

When: December 13, 2014 | February 13, 2015 | April 18, 2015 | June 19, 2015

           6:30 pm–9 am

Where: The American Museum of Natural History : 79th Street and Central Park West 

Cost: $350 per person (Members: $300 per person)

Tickets on sale Wednesday, November 12 at noon.

"In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place, and in the sky,

The larks, still bravely singing, fly,

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead; short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe!

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high!

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Veterans Day Freebies for Vets

Get a free haircut:

Veterans who visit Great Clips shops on Nov. 11, can either receive a free haircut -- or a card for a free haircut to redeem by Dec. 31.

Eat a free meal: 

At Hooters, the freebie meal on Veterans Day can be worth up to $10.99, with any drink purchase. Applebee's, Chili's and California Pizza Kitchen all offer free meals from a special menu to vets and active military.

Eat a free buffet: 

Golden Corral is serving free dinner buffets (with beverages) from 5 P.M. to 9 P.M. on Monday, Nov. 17, at all restaurants, to anyone who is serving or who has served in the military. That same date, Bonanza Steakhouses also will offer free buffets for vets and active military.

Down a free burger: 

Shoney's offers its signature All-American Burger, free, to vets or active duty military all day on Veterans Day. Or, you can head to Red Robin and get a Red's Tavern Double burger with Bottomless Steak Fries, on the house. Max & Erma's offers a free cheeseburger combo and dessert to vets and active military.

Drink a free coffee: 

Starbucks is offering a free, tall brewed coffee on Tuesday to all U.S. military veterans and active duty service members — and their spouses.

Scarf down free pancakes: 

IHOP offers vets and active military free Red, White and Blue pancakes from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. on Tuesday. Bob Evans also has all-you-can-eat hotcakes on Veterans Day for veterans and active military.

Lick a free cone: 

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt shops are giving away free single scoop ice cream cones to all veterans and military personnel on Nov. 11.

Work-out for free. 24-Hour Fitness offers free use of the health club to vets and active military through Nov. 11th.

Enjoy a free appetizer: 

Red Lobster, Nov. 10 through Nov. 13, is offering free appetizers to veterans and active duty military.

Sip a free beer: 

Restaurants owned by CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries (including Gordon Biersch Brewery, Rock Bottom, Old Chicago Pizza and ChopHouse & Brewery) offer a free craft beer to active and retired military on Tuesday.

Down a free doughnut — and coffee. 

Krispy Kreme will give a free doughnut and small coffee to anyone who identifies themselves as a veteran or active duty military on Veterans Day.

Get free game tokens: 

Chuck E. Cheese will give 20 free tokens to U.S. military vets and active-duty military through Saturday, Nov. 15.

Get your junk hauled, free. 

For disabled veterans, JDog Junk Removal & Hauling locations, will offer free junk removal to disabled vets who book on Veterans Day.

Join The One & Only Alicia Keys As She Launches Her New Children's Book

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What: Join the one and only Alicia Keys as she reads from and signs her new children's book, Blue Moon: From the Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee, a story inspired by her childhood relationship with her own grandmother.

When: Wednesday, November 12th, 2014  |  6:00PM - 7:00PM

Where: Barnes & Noble Tribeca: 97 Warren Street

FREE

Scavenger Hunt for the Holiday Shops

What: We give you the clues, you find the shops. First to find all 10 items in their respective shops, wins! One winner receives a grand prize, but all participants can enjoy complimentary cider from Big Apple Cider. Kid-friendly scavenger hunt is also available.
Please sign up for your booklet at Southwest Porch.

When: Sunday November 16th, 2014  |  2:00PM - 4:00PM
Where: Bryant Park: Southwest Porch

FREE