Ferragosto

It may have crowds, but Ferragosto is THE NYC Italian festival to go to. Why? It’s simply that this festival, unlike San Gennaro, still has heart. You feel like family there. There’s no Times Square characters busking for money, instead, the streets are lined with restaurant extensions, roasting pigs, wine samples, and the crooning sounds of wonderful opera and folk Italian singers.
It feels like how I grew up. Loud, but not obnoxious, crowded but not suffocating, and most importantly, authentic. The food is to die for and many of the local business do samples. You’ll drool over Teitel’s prosciutto, what La Cantina has to offer in their wine selection, and gelato will also be passed around the street.
It may be tough to find parking, but just go!