Tickets for the Nomading Film Festival in New York go on sale Friday

After a successful run this past June, the Nomading Film Festival is returning to New York this summer, June 23, 2012. Nomading Film Festival is an event that showcases stories caught on film during peoples’ travels, giving new talent a chance to share their stories and viewers a chance to travel all over the world without leaving Brooklyn.

The really early bird tickets will be sold at a very discounted price this Friday, November 11, 2011. Not only that, but travelers of all ages from all over the world can begin submitting their travel videos (must be under 15 minutes). Until April 30, 2012, submissions are only $10, and selected filmmakers will be notified by May 15, 2012. Prizes, such as trips, flights, and gear, are awarded in three categories:

  • The nomad I want to travel with
  • The most enlightening trip
  • Simply put, that trip makes me want to travel, now!

Guest speakers, workshops, games, and music will also be part of the fun. For more information, visit their official website. To get a better idea of what to expect, check out one of Nomading’s travel-inspired films:


4 days of Halloween in New York

Wondering when and where to go this Halloween to get the most out of your costume? In New York, there are events for every night you want to go out.

Friday, October 28, 2011, 9PM-3AM
Nightmare Between 17th and 18th Streets
Union Bar, 204 Park Ave. S., between 17th and 18th

After years of successful event planning, David Shapiro, who owns the leading social networking company in New York City, hosts his annual Halloween bash again this year. Union bar will be closed to the public as 300 plus party-goers come together for a night of scary fun. Guests are encouraged to get as creative as they can with their costumes, as the best will win prizes. The event is co-sponsored with Party With Shari and will include a DJ, Dancing, and 2-for1 drinks from 9PM-11PM.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Click here to purchase.Saturday, October 29, 2011, 12PM-9PM
NYC’s Official Halloween Bar Crawl
Begins at McFadden’s Saloon, 800 Second Ave. at 42nd St.

Get ready for some hardcore day drinking. Hop from bar to bar in full costume and dance like crazy in front of those sober folks who’ve decided to wait until the sun goes down to begin getting inebriated. Tickets include a wristband, cup, and drink specials at each bar.

Tickets are $10. Click here to purchase.

Sunday, October 30, 2011, 10:30PM-4AM
5th Annual Halloween Masquerade Midnight Cruise
Ship leaves from Pier 10, Emmons Ave. at E. 21st

Rest up during the day, because on Sunday night you better be ready to dance all night aboard the Amberjack V Yacht. On the fully-heated charter boat guests will party to music by MGM Squad, Supa Don, Mr. Goggles, and Supa Sound while pigging out on a complimentary buffet. Just make sure you don’t eat so much that your costume doesn’t fit. Dressing up is mandatory, and prizes will be awarded to the best get-ups.

Tickets are $40. Click here to purchase.

Monday, October 31, 2011, 9PM-4AM
NYC’s Official 10th Annual Halloween Masquerade Ball
Capitale, 130 Bowery, at Bowery and Grand

After the Village parade, head over to Capitale for their annual masquerade bash to continue the festivities. Arrive by 9PM to enjoy a full hour of free vodka. Costume prizes, giveaways, and a variety of music from hip hop to rock to dance to 80’s will be blasting all night long. This event is so huge there have even been celebrity attendees in the past years, including Heidi Klum, Jay Z., Sean Diddy Combs, and Nicki Hilton, to name a few.

General admission is $15, but there are a ton of high end package choices if you want. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

The Chocolate Show comes to New York

Did you know that the largest chocolate bar on record weighed 9,722.39 pounds and was created by JV “Grand Candy” Co Ltd., on September 10, 2010?

The 14th annual Chocolate Show will be held in New York from November 10-12, 2011, at the Metropolitan Pavilion. This show is the largest event in the world dedicated to chocolate, featuring more than 65 fine chocolate companies who will present an array of various chocolates and chocolate-inspired products. There will also be book signings by award-winning authors, workshops, cooking demonstrations, lectures, and fun chocolate-related activities for children, such as cupcake decorating, chocolate art & drawing, and creating delicious chocolate pasta.

A few of the many chocolate exhibitors you can expect to see include:

And, many more. Tickets are $30-$35 and can be purchased by clicking here.

5 terrifying haunted houses in New York

What’s Halloween without a good old-fashioned haunted house? While that may be true, there is nothing old-fashioned about these terrifying haunted houses in New York.

Blackout Haunted House
54 W. 39th St. (between 5th and 6th)

Just based on the fact that you are required to go in solo is scary enough. Some things to expect as you make your way through this dark house of horrors include sexual and violent situations, physical contact, fog, complete darkness, crawling, water, and more. You must be 18 to enter and tickets are $30-$55.

Blood Manor
163 Varrick St. at Charlton St.

This haunted attraction is comprised of horror-themed rooms, dark hallways, and terrifying labyrinths and takes about 20-25 minutes to complete. According to Time Out New York, some things you will encounter include creatures, serial killers, twisted sideshow acts, and gruesome scenarios, like a blood drenched slaughter house with hanging pig carcasses. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and tickets are $28.50-$50.

Nightmare: Fairy Tales
Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center, 107 Suffolk St. (between Rivington and Delancey)

The focus of this haunted attraction is taking the most gruesome scenarios from original children’s fairy tales (not the the one’s that evolved into bedtime stories for kids, but the one’s that were first created to keep children from acting out). Make your way through a dark, scary forest in this interactive experience as you become one of the characters in the story and live out a real life nightmare. While Nightmare: Fairy Tales is definitely scary, it is more disturbing and creepy than your usual haunted house. Children under 10 will not be admitted and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets range from $30-$100.

Trapped in Purgatory
2 Locations: Wizard of Gore is located at 2449 Veterans Rd. W., Staten Island. Hotel 666 is located at 5050 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island

You can choose the storyline behind your terrifying experience with this haunted attraction. Hotel 666 is based on a woman and her daughter who once stayed at a haunted hotel, never to be seen again, while Wizard of Gore will send you through a disturbing corn maze. Small children should go before 6PM when visitors are allowed to enter without the actors around. After 6PM, general admission is $18, or $30 if you want to do both attractions.

Nightmare Z-Day
1157 Commerce Ave., at Gleason Ave., Bronx

Experience the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. Prepare to scream while you are chased around this haunted house by the undead who seem hungry for some flesh. No children under 10 will be admitted, and children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. General admission is $15, while students will pay $10. For $30, you can buy a VIP ticket and jump to the front of the line.