Best of New York

Best of New York
Tribeca Family Festival (tribecafilm.com)
4/19/2014
Updated:
4/24/2016

Fun with Film and Cars in the Big Apple

This coming week two big events are taking place here, the Tribeca Film Festival and the New York International Auto Show. Neither is terribly expensive and both promise many hours of enjoyment.

Film: After 13 years, the Tribeca Film Festival has come into its own. Started by Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal, the festival now premieres A-list films and over 80 feature films, as well as having special events like the Tribeca Family Festival and drive-in movies. Films being screened this year include a documentary featuring Brooklyn-born rapper Nas on opening night April 16 at the Beacon Theatre and runs through April 27. Info available at: Tribeca.com/festival.

The Tribeca Family Festival is a free street fair and takes place Saturday April 26 from 10am-6pm in downtown Tribeca. You can be sure they will have lots of innovative specials to keep the whole family entertained.

Cars: The New York International Auto Show offers a myriad of treats. In addition to the stunning premieres and new models, it is a pleasure to see the luxury auto makers in production of  “green vehicles” like the hot blue BMW i8, the Mercedes Benz B Class Electric Vehicle, the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid, 6 count ‘em 6 LEXUS Hybrids and the Cadillac Escalade. The BMW i3 is the World Green Car Winner for 2014.

In addition to the car eye candy there are special events planned all week including Sports Stars, Contests, and prototypes like the futuristic Toyota Fit.

PLEASE DON'T BET AGAINST THE DRIVERLESS CAR. Almost all manufacturers have at least one model in the oven. Leave it to Google to start a landslide! Info for the Auto Show is available at autoshowny.com. It runs from April 18-April 27.

Perhaps the only special that may have a philanthropic slant is ASIMOshort for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility—was designed to help people, in cases of reduced mobility. The Honda robot that might have been seen on Live with Kelly and Michael on the Tuesday, April 15 show if you weren’t too busy doing the last minute tax return polka.

The latest demonstration highlighted the robot’s increased .functions. It walks and runs, even up and down stairs. Earlier models at 6 feet tall were found to be intimidating, so ASIMO now stands a mere 4 feet, 3 inches. It can open a bottle and serve a drink, and politely tries to shake hands with a stranger.

Time to get your tickets and start your engines!