New York City events: August 2012

That grinding, slouching-to-Bethlehem noise you hear grumbling up from lower Manhattan is the sound of thousands of theatergoers’ bellies digesting their yearly Fringe binge. This festival of 200 frantically repping companies includes straight-up dramas, solo comedies and the requisite quota of musicals with unlikely subjects. Sort through the offerings at fringenyc.org.

This annual uptown celebration began in the ’70s as Harlem Day, but the name is misleading—Harlem Week includes more than a month of performances, films, fashion and sports events in July and August. The centerpiece is the two-day street fair on the third weekend of August, which brings live music, art, activities for kids and educational booths to Harlem's W 135th St. Visit harlemweek.com for the full schedule.