Music and books and politics, oh my! Welcome back to The New Yorker Festival

Grab your limited edition tote bag because the The New Yorker Festival is back, baby. Founded in 1999, the long-running festival gives attendees a chance to hobnob with the best and brightest minds of the culture. The multi-day event went virtual in 2020 and returns this year from October 4-10 with a mix of digital and IRL experiences. Including a just-announced concert with Billie Eilish and her dreamy pop stylings. If Eilish isn’t your particular ish, there’s also Dave Grohl, Aimee Mann, a drive-in movie screening and tons of panels. Topics include climate action, women cartoonists and race in America. Festival organizers are striking a Covid-cautious note this year with proof of vaccination required for all in-person, outdoor events. Virtual attendees can get an all-access pass for $69, which includes livestreams of all IRL events — with the notable exception of the screening of “The Humans,” Stephen Karam’s debut film. Only residents of the five boroughs have the option of purchasing tickets to the festival’s “Dining In” series, featuring curated menus from NYC chefs paired with on-demand conversations between the chefs and food writer Helen Rosner. Legacy media institutions like The New Yorker have moved to digital and hybrid events......