Archtober–New York City's Architecture and Design Month–is fast approaching. The anticipated festival from Oct. 1-31, 2013 continues to grow with an amazing variety of exhibitions, conferences, films, tours, and other activities to celebrate the importance of architecture and design in everyday life.

Now in its third year, we at Archinect & Bustler are proud to once again be Archtober's digital media sponsors.

From the long list of Archtober events, here are some exciting highlights you should not miss in the first week, Oct. 1-8:

• Practical Utopias: Global Urbanism in Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo Exhibition Opening | Oct. 1
  An exhibition presenting a body of recent work by American and other international firms in five cities across East Asia. Though occurring in culturally, economically, politically, and geographically diverse environments, these projects exhibit similar characteristics that while not unique in themselves, combine in ways that distinguish this work from that being done anywhere else in the world.
   
• Around Manhattan Boat Tour: NYC Architecture (ongoing) | Oct. 1
  Step aboard the teak decks of the Manhattan, Classic Harbor Lines' elegant, 1920s-style yacht, for an educational around-Manhattan architecture tour, hosted by architects and members of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY). Online promo code ARCHOB5 for $5 off.
   
• Innovation Conference 2013, Smart Cities: Design, Technology & Urban Life | Oct. 3
  

  This year’s Architectural Record Innovation Conference will bring together top design and construction professionals to address critical issues in the design and planning of buildings and cities.  With the growing demands of a hyper-connected urban society, architects must be armed with the most current technological information to ensure their practices continue to look to the future.

• 3C (Comprehensive Coastal Communities) Competition Exhibition of Top 32 Finalists | Oct. 3
  3C Competition is a global competition to rethink coastal habilitation post Hurricane Sandy – Sponsored by ORLI (Operation Resilient Long Island).

• World Habitat Day 2013: Resilient Design for Sustainable Urbanization | Oct. 4
  This event will bring together high-level experts and representatives from national and local governments, non-governmental organizations, institutes, foundations and industry, who will present case studies from around the world that respond to natural disasters and identify the resilient design challenges and opportunities that cities might face from disasters.

• Walking Tour – West Side Story: The Evolution of Lincoln Center | Oct. 5
  Discover the evolution of this pioneering cultural complex of the mid- 20th Century. Explore its origins as a Robert Moses’ urban renewal project announced in 1956, through its design and construction by some of our most iconic Modern architects in the turbulent 60’s, to its reimagining by Diller, Scofidio and Renfro in this past decade for the New York of the 21st Century.
   
• The Urban Dialogues Lecture Series "A Home in the City: Strategies for 21st-Century Housing" | Oct. 7
  New housing construction has yet to catch up with 21st century lifestyles. This discussion will be an opportunity to broaden the dialogue of urban housing alternatives from micro-housing to multi-generational and extended-family designs, affordable housing, smart and green design, hybrid designs, reconversions, and salvaging buildings. How can we bring the best design thinking to the housing needs of New Yorkers in the 21st century?
   
• What to Expect When You’re Renovating | Oct. 8
  Contemplating a renovation project and not sure how to get started? Start here! This could be the most useful two hours you spend preparing for this important event.
   

Make sure to check back soon for our week 2 recommendations.

For the complete list of events from October 1st through 31st, head over to the Archtober online calendar, download & print the Archtober guide, like the Facebook page, or follow Archtober on Twitter, YouTube, and its blog.