What: NYC Vegetarian Food Festival
When: May 19-20, 2017
Where: Metropolitan Pavilion
Why: You don’t have to be a vegetarian to want to learn more about plant-based eating. Our current levels of meat consumption are not sustainable, so if you’re concerned about the health of our planet, you’ve probably considered increasing your meat-free options. Perhaps you’re a “reductarian” aspiring to eat less meat, reducing your carbon “foodprint”?
Even if you’re a confirmed carnivore committed to bi-weekly Shake Shack burgers, it’s likely that you’ve ponder the ecological and ethical dimensions surrounding your food choices.
At the NYC Vegetarian Food Festival, you may sample goodies from the scores of plant-based vendors that will fill the festival space. Main courses, desserts, snacks and condiments should appeal to your taste buds.
Speakers include vegan chefs, vegetarian athletes and cookbook authors. A variety of panels, including one on vegan parenting, are sure to be popular.
If you’re yearning to meet that special meat-free someone, don’t miss the Veg Speed Date session.
There will be a variety of entertainment, including a performance by the Edward Morgan Ballet and a range of children’s activities, so bring the entire family.
For more information on the upcoming festival or to purchase tickets, visit nycvegfoodfest.com.
Photo credit: Micolo J
Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish and laughably adequate in French. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow. She firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom, on the road, around the world. She never misses a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. Follow Allison at @gourmetrav.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram