As it turns out, your waiter probably capable of accomplishing other things than trying to scare up some gluten-free croutons for you Caesar salad. Crazy, right?

The second annual The Not My Day Job Talent Show on Sunday, Sept. 18 is more than just an important exercise in self-esteem building for underemployed actors and musicians; it also benefits Wellness in the Schools.

Plus, it’s going to kick ass. The restaurant crews of Marc Forgione, Fatty Crew, Kuma Inn, Market Table, L’Artusi, dell’anima, Shake Shack and other killer culinary destinations will be flaunting their skills in feats of dance, music and art.

Snacks from the kitchens, plus cocktails from Ward III, Anfora and PDT, beer from the Brooklyn Brewery and vino from Vinifera will be served as well. Butchery classes, dinners, wine tastings, and other good karma-earning activites will also be auctioned off. Tickets are $30-$80, with 10 percent discounts for folks in the restaurant industry.

Below, check out Marc Forgione give Food Republic the scoop on the day-to-day realities of kitchen work:

Untitled from Food Republic on Vimeo.

UPDATE: Afro-punk has been canceled as the City of New York has rescinded all event permits due to safety concerns regarding the impending Hurricane Irene. A reschedule date has not yet been announced.

Cee Lo Green, Gym Class Heroes, Santigold, Janelle Monae, Fishbone, Das Racist, Toro Y Moi, Res, Kenna, Cerebral Ballzy, Ninjasonik and more rock Brooklyn’s Afro-punk Festival this weekend.

Opening at 11a.m. both days, there are also skate and BMX competitions, art on display and 15 food truck vendors. And oh yeah, it’s free. Check the full lineup and set times at the Afro-punk website.

Das Racist told us about their influences, rap and otherwise.

How do you take your Bon Iver? Not sure what goes best with Kendrick Lamar? Voila, professional aesthetes are at our service to tell us what we should be listening to, eating and craving.

Turntable Kitchen has combined the process of finding good music and good eats, offering a $25 monthly subscription for their services, aka “a curated food and music discovery experience.”

Customers receive a limited edition 7-inch vinyl with one of the editor’s favorite bands, a downloadable digital mix with cool up-and-comers, three seasonal themed recipes, a few artisanal ingredients featured in the recipes, plus tasting notes and pairing advice for the food and music.

For a taste of what’s in store, check out one of their top picks, the Bare Wires’ video for “Don’t Ever Change.”

CSS, Neon Indian, The Wombats, Wild Flag, Zola Jesus, Class Actress, Dum Dum Girls, Jean Grae and Pharoahe Monch are among the acts playing the 2011 CMJ Music Marathon, taking place October 18-22 in venues across New York City.

More acts will be announced between now and the festival, which also includes panels, film premieres and College Day for college radio stations and non-commercial programmers. For complete lineup and ticket information, head to the CMJ website.

Elizabeth Harper of Class Actress sounds off on the kinds of deals record labels are now offering (especially after bands play at festivals like CMJ), and why it’s a good idea to consider the future.

Chipotle cannot just leave delicious alone, and coolness be damned, there’s just no avoiding their clarion brilliance. The mega-chain has launched a new music festival called “Cultivate Chicago,” set for Oct. 1 with celebrity chefs, sommeliers and musical acts.

“We’re bringing together farmers, chefs, thought-leaders, artisans and musicians on a journey that not only celebrates wholesome food, but that also champions the like-minded people who share our vision to create a better food supply and a more sustainable future,” said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle.

Get the scoop on the lineup (including chefs like Jonathan Waxman and Amanda Freitag, and bands like the White Rabbits and the Cave Singers) here. Oh, and did we mention the festival’s free?

Weigh your options and watch self-proclaimed foodie Mayer Hawthorne talk about his favorite foods (hint: he likes them all).

Even the NYPD, a crop of professionals not typically prone to taking a sunny view of human nature, think Aretha Franklin is a woman of legendary, almost mystical powers. But does she use those powers for good or for evil?

Franklin recently illegally parked outside of Pat and Gina Neely’s Neely’s Barbecue Parlor, just as the 5-0 was issuing her a ticket. But Franklin busted out her best bribe and serenaded the meter maid; needless to say, no ticket was issued.

The 69-year-old has pledged to give up chitterlings, pigs’ feet, ham hocks and other soulful food after her surgery this year. Check out her interview with Wendy Williams on giving up hot sauce and how a carrot just doesn’t satisfy.

Asobi Seksu have announced a North American fall tour starting in September, playing select dates with BORIS and White Birds. The duo also hit Pop Montreal and the Fun Fun Fun Fest along the way.

Download “Perfectly Crystal” from their fourth album, Fluorescence, released earlier this year. There’s also a Beach Fossils/Spirit Animals remix here, or a Xiu Xiu remix here.

We sat down with the band, who told us about everything from politics to their adoring/crazed fans. And they’ve also been holding down the NYC scene for quite some time.