Fall is the best season in New York City. The summer humidity relents, and the air turns crisp in the morning and pleasantly warm during the day so you can comfortably sit outside and enjoy your lunch watching the leaves change colors. The city crowd comes back to town from the beaches, resorts, and trips to Europe hungry for entertainment – and there's always plenty to do, ranging from sold-out Broadway star shows to the funky downtown dives to the art scenes known only to well-connected locals. While they're busy filling up their calendars, here's 20 things you can add to yours.

1. Come to a New York Indie film festival

October 22 - 24, 2010. If you missed the New York Film Festival at the end of September, don't worry - another one is coming up. Astoria, New York City's most international neighborhood, will host an International Film Festival over the weekend of October 22-24, 2010, featuring over 50 indie films from and about England, Hungary, Australia, China, Darfur, Ecuador, Russia, Spain, Bhutan and Cape Town as well as "best of every NYC borough's" pick. And it's a total bargain! A $10 ticket gets you a full-length feature, a short and a supershort; a $75 Superpass buys you three-day non-stop fun. Dayspasses are $35. For tickets and more info go to www.astorialicff.com.

2. Halloween Parade

October 31, 2010. The Village Halloween Parade is the nation's largest public Halloween celebration and a New York institution. It's as crazy, crowded, and chaotic as it is fun. It is also one of those things you have to experience at least once – same as going to Times Square for New Year's Eve. Select the most outrageous costume so that you blend in the crowd and join the riot of more than 35,000 costumed revelers. Or just line up on 6th Avenue between Spring and 21st St. to watch the parade. But arrive early and don't leave your spot – if you want to be able to see anything.

The Village Halloween Parade © peanutian on Flickr

3. Southampton Pumpkin Festival

Through October 31, 2010. Missed your summer in the Hamptons? Do take a trip there in the fall to visit Hank's Pumpkintown right next to Southampton where the posh New York crowd flocks for its harvest decoration, roasted corn, caramel apples, and children's attractions. Great family place. While there, don't miss the Theatrical Face Painting by Denise Serina, the best face painter on Long Island.

4. New York Comedy Festival

November 3 - 7, 2010. Having autumn blues? Feeling under the weather as the leaves fall? Dive into the laugh out loud November comedy week featuring such stars as Jerry Seinfeld, Rosie O'Donnell, Margaret Cho, and Luis Jimenez as well other performers like Tony Bennett, and Bruce Springsteen. Can't make it to New York during that week? Comedy Cellar and Eastville Comedy Club feature stand up comedians every weekend – but make your reservations in advance.

5. ECO-friendly fashion exhibition at Fashion Institute of Technology

Through November 13, 2010. If you missed the fashion week, do not despair – there's always something fashionable going on in fashionable New York City. The Museum at FIT presents an eco-friendly clothing exhibition featuring posh garments made from bio-degradable fabric such as cotton, silk or wool, treated with planet-friendly chemicals and dyed with organic hues. Featuring more than 100 garments, accessories, and textiles from the mid-18th century to the present, the exhibition examines both positive and negative environmental practices over the past two centuries, providing historical context for today's eco-fashion movement. Admission is free.

6. See a Burlesque show

Open dates. Burlesques made a super-popular comeback in the last decade. If you have never seen it, give it a chance this fall. If you're a returning enthusiast, here's a couple of New York's best burlesque and cabaret shows starting with Le Scandal, created and hosted by Bonnie Dunn and New York's longest-running cabaret show. It's posh, sassy, fun and a popular bachelorette's party place. Every Saturday at 10:30 pm. For reservations call 212-388-2988 or visit SmartTix. Tickets are $25 with a $15.00 food and/or beverage minimum.

Cheaper and a bit more bold and daring is Revealed Burlesque, hosted by hilarious Bastard Keith and featuring full nudity – yet fun and very much couple-friendly. It runs on the third Wednesday of every month at 10pm at UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Ave and Ave A). Tickets $20 at 212-868-4444, Smarttix or online at www.horseTRADE.info.

7. See a new Broadway play

Open Dates. No Broadway performance fits the fall and Halloween theme better than the long-awaited production of The Addams Family starring Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth as Gomez and Morticia Addams. This new twist on the old classic doesn't need much introduction – but hurry to get your tickets. $51.50–$126.50 www.ticketmaster.com.

The Addams Family Musical © bytegirl24 on Flickr

8. See a new off-Broadway play

Open dates. With dozens of independent theater companies in New York, the choices range form drama to comedy and from old classics to modern avant-garde. In New York, indie performances have special charm: less glitz, more edge; less grandeur, more controversy. The off-Broadway level of acting is just as good, plus the stars sometimes choose to grace the little theaters with their appearance – if they like the part or the playwright. Considering an off-Broadway show? Check out www.curtainup.com which lists a fare share of Broadway and off-Broadway accompanied by reviews.

9. Book signing/reading with a literary NY crowd

Open dates. Years ago, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg patronized the little Village dive The Kettle of Fish, which later became a legendary literary bar, still much favored by the local literary crowd and the city's writers. The Kettle of Fish hosts readings by writers every last Wednesday of the month at 7p.m. No website; just drop in like in the good ol' times. Another literary spot, The KGB Bar (don't let the name spook you!) hosts readings every Sunday at 7.m. For mid-week events, check Cornelia Street Café, Bowery Poetry Club and Bar 82.

10. Dine in a Historic Restaurant (Pó)

Any time – that is when you can get a reservation. So many restaurants, so little time. How to choose the best, the most interesting and the most memorable? Try Pó – a Posh and Piquant hearty Italian gem located in a West Village historical building. Once New York's first off-off Broadway theater, which saw the early careers of Al Pacino and Sam Shephard, Pó serves fresh, simply prepared tasty seasonal food in an inviting neighborhood setting. From the outside Pó looks small and cozy, but it's always packed, and getting a reservation may be a hassle.

11. See the leaves turn in Central Park

All season long.

You can stroll, hide, and hold hands under the colorful branches. You can hire a carriage to take you around while you watch the picturesque foliage from the comfort of your seat. Or you can do something a bit unusual and get on a horse yourself. The Central Park bridle path is more than six miles long and goes around the Reservoir as well as the North Meadow, and The Bronx Riverdale Equestrian Centre offers riding tours of Central Park and the Bronx. Other New York City parks offer equestrian tours as well: Brooklyn, Prospect Park and Forest Hills Park, Queens.

Fall Foliage in Central Park © Ed Yourdon on Flickr

12. Coney Island and Brighton Beach

All season long. Everyone's heard of Coney Island, but not everyone realizes that it's right next door to the famous New York Russian enclave – Brighton Beach. This fall, kill two birds with one stone. Hop on a train to Coney Island, take a few rides, and then stroll through the Russian quarters, ending on the beach for a few bites of rich and tasty Russian food on the wooden boardwalk overlooking the ocean. Just don't bother counting the calories. Bring back a Matrioshka – the painted nested Russian dolls, for only a few dollars.

13. Visit an outdoor art show

Open dates. Once an abandoned landfill and an illegal dumpsite and now a giant art exhibition under the sky, the Socrates Sculpture Park is the only New York Metropolitan space that provides artists with opportunities to create and exhibit large-scale work in a unique urban environment. Named after the great philosopher as a tribute to the Greek community of Astoria, the park hosts revolving exhibitions all year around. In the fall, when the New York air is crisp and clear, the park is a perfect place to go for a leisurely stroll to enjoy the new exhibit that opened on Sept 12 as well as the fall foliage and the spectacular view of Manhattan skyline across the Hell's Gate.

14. See an opera at the Met

Open dates. Every fall, New York opera lovers buy their box seats for a series of performances at the famous Met, paying hundreds of dollars for the season. Yet, the tickets don't have to be that expensive, and seeing a Metropolitan opera is more affordable than one thinks. Look for sales and special offers, and try the box office the day of the show that you have your heart set on. More so, sometimes people sell their extra tickets outside the doors ten minutes before the show starts for half the price. For the 2010 schedule, visit: www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/

An Opera at the Met © ralph and jenny on Flickr

15. See an indie rock band

Open dates. Seeing a rock concert can be expensive, plus pushing through the crowds alone can get crazy enough. But, coming to a bar where a New York indie band is getting its start is a totally different experience. Those places are usually small and intimate, and the performers often engage in conversations with their audience. Famous for Jimmy Hendrix, Talking Heads, The Ramones, and Blondie who got their start at CBGBs, Filmore East, Gaslight A GoGo, and Village Vanguard, New York is as full of emerging talent as ever. Today, you will banter with them as they are setting up to play. Ten years from now you may be able to say: "I knew them when…" For an indie rock calendar, visit www.ohmyrockness.com.

16. See an off-the-beaten path art exhibit

Open dates. While MOMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are swarming with crowds who are back in town after summer and seeking entertainment, there are smaller, more intimate art enclaves and private galleries that often feature rare exhibits. Stop by the Morgan Library and Museum at 225 Madison Ave to see Degas: Drawings and Sketchbooks. Or visit the Frick Collection to see The Spanish Manner: Drawings from Ribera to Goya.

17. See a concert at Carnegie Hall

If you enjoy classical music, this is a can't miss. A New York landmark, Carnegie Hall features music performances ranging from classical to modern and from choral classics to keyboard virtuosos. This fall, it also offers Japanese Series, a gamut of orchestras visiting from Philadelphia, St. Luke's and the Met, as well as World Series, Mini Series and gala performances. For the performance schedule, visit: www.carnegiehall.org.

Carnegie Hall © Burningphotography on Flickr

18. Lounge at a Hookah Bar

Hookah Bars are huge! Every generation looks for something new and exciting and Hookah bars seem to be it. The traditional Middle-Eastern lounges serve food, soft drinks, Hookas, but no alcohol. The modern versions serve booze as well. If you never tried Hookah, here's your chance! It's relaxing, a touch psychedelic, and eccentric. Plus, many lounges feature belly dancers – and that is an experience in itself. Here's a list to choose from: Karma Lounge, Cozy Cafe Hookah Lounge, Le Souk and Horus Cafe, which has multiple locations.

Open dates. Think your vacation is too short to see a play, a cabaret, a concert, an art exhibit, and what now – all in the few short vacation days you got in the Gotham City? Then your best choice in Galapagos Art Space, a art-gallery/theater that had recently moved form Williamsburg to Dumbo, the new hot Brooklyn neighborhood. Galapagos features everything from avant-garde abstract painting to Cabaret and from Nerd Night to Circus. One of the oldest and funkiest New York art enclaves, Galapagos is inexpensive and creative and will never fail to shock you. Just a bit.

20. Revolving lounge at Marriott Marquise

Any Time. Once you had had your share of entertainment and are ready for a breather, escape to the quiet posh elegance of The Time Square Marriott Marquise 48th-floor revolving lounge – the only in the city. The glass elevators whisk you 48 stories above the city in seconds, literally and physically taking your breath away. Settle in your chair with a drink while watching the city sparkle with autumn colors as you slowly float by such famous landmarks as the Chrysler Building, Carnegie Tower, MetLife and The Intrepid.