8 Ideas for Fall Entertaining in New York

Voilà Chocolat founder Peter Moustakerski has recruited Christophe Toury as master chocolatier (formerly of Jacques Torres Chocolates) and Dennis Teets as head of chocolate technology (formerly a chocolate scientist for Hershey’s) to create an artisanal, interactive chocolate-making experience. Opening in early November on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the shop will allow guests to make high-end chocolates, like gourmet truffles, chocolate bars, and more, in 30- to 60-minute sessions. Pricing for classes ranges from $39 to $79, with special advanced classes and projects ranging from $100 to $150.

The 2014 CBGB Music & Film Festival, which takes place October 8 to 12, will showcase a lineup of artists, including Jane’s Addiction, Devo, Macy Gray, and We Are Scientists, along with music-focused films, such as the East coast premiere of Like Sunday, Like Rain, starring Leighton Meester, Debra Messing, and Billie Joe Armstrong. The five-day festival will be held at venues across Manhattan and Brooklyn, including Times Square, Center548, Bowery Electric, City Winery, Pianos, and Knitting Factory. Each event is individually priced, starting at $10.

Since denim is a big trend for fall events, Taylor Creative has expanded its Lounge Modular and Mercer collections to include washed dark denim options. The rental company has also added new tufted items—the Griffin cube, $95, and bench, $175—in a micro-striped denim. Prices for the Lounge Modular Denim and Mercer Denim pieces range in price from $115 to $225; all items are available in New York for events throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.

In honor of Oktoberfest, Belgian Beer Café NoMad will offer a Bavarian-inspired dish: Boudin Blanc and Boudin Noir sausages steamed in Brunehaut Bio Amber from October 1 to 31. The new menu item comes accompanied by roasted apple stoemp—a tradition in Belgium where leftovers are mixed into mashed potatoes—and hard cider mustard.

Chef Michael Psilakis will open two different restaurants, both housed in the same space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in November. The first is a yet-to-be named drinking hall, offering local beers, do-it-yourself cocktails, and Greek street food. The space will also be home to the fourth location of Psilakis’s popular MP Taverna—his modern interpretation of a traditional Greek tavern, which offers meze plates, lamb burgers, and more.

Maman, a bakery and café opening in SoHo on October 6, will serve family-inspired recipes from the South of France and North America. Designer Elisa Marshall, one of the bakery's partners, plans to bring a homey, vintage aesthetic to the space.

Guests of Bar 21 at the 21 Club can raise their beer steins to celebrate Oktoberfest now through October 31. The festivities feature German and American Oktoberfest drafts, such as Warsteiner Oktoberfest from Warstein and Hofbräu Oktoberfest from Munich, as well as local Blue Point Oktoberfest from Long Island. Plus, executive chef Sylvain Delpique serves a new German-inspired lunch menu and bar bites, including homemade pretzels and pork schnitzel with lemon-thyme fingerling potatoes and haricot verts.

Jason Bauer of Crumbs Bake Shop and entrepreneur Elisabeth de Kergorlay recently opened Babeth’s Feast on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The premium frozen food store offers 360 products, including breakfast items, hors d’oeuvres, appetizers, soups, side dishes, and main courses, allowing party planners to stock up on menu items ahead of time. The selection ranges from traditional French dishes, such as mini Provencal quiches, aubergines gratin, and coq au vin, to American favorites, including franks in a blanket, lobster mac 'n' cheese, and three-berry crumble. Dishes feed two to six people, with appetizers priced at $3.50 per serving and main courses, $7 per serving. Citywide and national home delivery is also available.