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free things to do in New York City
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City! Read More
Where else but in New York City can you listen to a world-class musician, discuss a book with a famous author, take a part in poetry reading, have a glass of wine at an art exhibition opening, and all that on the same day, and all that free of charge, and all of that on any day of the year, whether it's December or July, April or November!
The trick is to know about those free events, free things to do BEFORE they happen, not after the fact. That's where Club Free Time comes in handy! Become a Club Free Time member and start using these unique New York City (NYC) opportunities today, March 23, 2026!
Join the Club!
Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.
Join the Club!
In addition to providing information about free events, free things to do in New York City (NYC), Club Free Time offers its members complimentary tickets to classical music concerts, dance performances and theater: when a producer wants that special buzz of the 'full house' - Club Free Time members are welcomed for their enthusiasm and sophistication!
Join the Club!
Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!
Join the Club!
Experience an entirely new perspective on New York. 'Open up a whole new cultural world... in one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world, sampling cultural delights beyond anyone's wildest dream.' Rupert Parker, journalist, photographer, cameraman, and TV producer
March 23, 2026. Free shows, free concerts, free movies, free tours, free readings, worshops, lectures, etc. are New York's best kept secret! Learn all about it and do not miss the unique opportunities that only New York provides: NYC never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment whether it's day or night, weekday or weekend, summer or winter, spring or fall, January or June, May or September. If you are looking for inexpensive things to do and where to go in Manhattan today, tonight, tomorrow, or any other time, or any other day of any week - you came to the right place: just click on any day on the calendar dispayed on the every page of our site and you will see how many events you can attend in Manhattan free of charge on that very day.
New York's cultural scene is at its busiest in October and March (and the same goes for free events, free things to do), but other months of the year still offer incredible amount of high quality, off the beaten path, unique free events, free things to do which will take your breath away! So if you looking for something to do in April or November, December or February, you will find tons of free things to do, free events to go to. (In June, July and August lots of those free events take place outdoors, of course).
So start using these unique New York City opportunities today, March 23, 2026!
Where else but in New York City can you listen to a world-class musician, discuss a book with a famous author, take a part in poetry reading, have a glass of wine at an art exhibition opening, and all that on the same day, and all that free of charge, and all of that on any day of the year, whether it's December or July, April or November!
The trick is to know about those free events, free things to do BEFORE they happen, not after the fact. That's where Club Free Time comes in handy! Become a Club Free Time member and start using these unique New York City (NYC) opportunities today, March 23, 2026!
Join the Club!
Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.
Join the Club!
Free things to do, free events that take place in New York City every day of the year are truly amazing. So if you're looking for something interesting to do today (March 23, 2026) or on any other day of the year don't miss those free-of-charge opportunities that only New York provides! You can find lots of high quality, off the beaten path, unique free events, free things to do which will take your breath away!
In addition to providing information about free events, free things to do in New York City (NYC), Club Free Time offers its members complimentary tickets to classical music concerts, dance performances and theater: when a producer wants that special buzz of the 'full house' - Club Free Time members are welcomed for their enthusiasm and sophistication!
Join the Club!
Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!
Join the Club!
Experience an entirely new perspective on New York. 'Open up a whole new cultural world... in one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world, sampling cultural delights beyond anyone's wildest dream.' Rupert Parker, journalist, photographer, cameraman, and TV producer
Join the Club!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
Let New York City surprise, stimulate, entertain and excite you! Read More
Don't miss the unique opportunities that only New York provides:
- free concerts in NYC
- free movies in NYC
- free jazz in NYC
- free poetry readings in NYC
- free tours/hikes in NYC
- free city walks in NYC
- free Yoga /Tai Chi in NYC
- fairs and parades in NYC
- free theater in NYC
- free tickets to concerts, theater and dance performances in NYC
'New York is abuzz with so much culture that they're giving it away.' (The New York Times article about Club Free Time).
37 free things to do in New York City (NYC) today:
Monday, March 23, 2026
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Workshop | Start the Day with Morning Meditation
Start your day by balancing your mind, body, and spirit during instructor guided meditation. This renowned practice lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and strengthens the immune system.
New York City, NY; NYC
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9:45 am
Free
Free
Workshop | Chess Open Play
Make your move at a chess event featuring strategy, fun, and friendly competition for players of all ages and skill levels. Explore the game through open play. Grab a friend or co-worker and play the game on our giant indoor chess board underneath the palm trees. Whether you're making your first move or mastering your endgame, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Free
Workshop | Dance Workout for Cathartic Release (Beginners Welcome)
Experience bodyroll, a dance practice pulsing with pure joy. Classes ignite embodied empowerment and energize a cathartic release. The experience is designed to alchemize a playful perspective for rolling, releasing, and reinventing yourself. Together, the group will tap into the spiral rave through body rolling, movement energetix, embodiment practices, and aerobic dancing. No dance experience needed!
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Free
Museums | Exploring Art, History, and Global Cultures in a Landmark Museum
Spend time exploring a world-renowned collection spanning centuries of art, design, and cultural history. From ancient artifacts to iconic masterpieces, these galleries invite slow looking, discovery, and reflection across works that connect global traditions, artistic innovation, and human stories. Note: Some galleries are closed for installation.
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
pay-what-you-wish for NY...
pay-what-you-wish for NY...
Master Class | Explore the Ins & Outs of Great Violin Performance
Violinist Peter Herresthal, musician with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, imparts techniques and skills for violin mastery via distance learning.
New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Free
Tour | NYC Famous Park Tour
Discover how Bryant Park Corporation successfully transformed "Needle Park" of the 1970s into Manhattan's Town Square of today. The guides are loaded with expertise on the park's rich history, award-winning design, distinct amenities, and ongoing maintenance efforts. Tours will continue as scheduled in light rain, but will be cancelled in heavy rain or inclement weather. Bring an umbrella if needed!
New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Free
Workshop | Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome
This juggling class is ideal for a quick lesson, an extended practice session, or just enjoy watching jugglers put their skills to the test. They're a friendly group and open to drop-ins, even if you catch them outside of the regular juggling lessons.
All skill levels welcome. Equipment is provided.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Piano Works by Debussy, Ravel, & More (In Person AND Online!)
Pianist Joseph Vaz performs works by Unsuk Chin, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Ann Southam, and Yike Zhang.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
Screening | Seen Unseen: An Anthology of (Auto) Censorship (2024) -- Film Project Exploring Turkish Political Climate (+ Filmmaker Q&A)
Experience a screening and Q&A with Firat Yücel and belit sağ to discuss their filmmaker-group project Seen Unseen: An Anthology of (Auto) Censorship. A group of filmmakers and artists from Turkey collaborated to create videos on “(auto)censorship” in response to the increasingly repressive climate in Turkey. The result is Seen Unseen: An Anthology of (Auto)censorship, a collective reflection on the limits of freedom of expression. Six videos intertwined with each other, reframing the history of censorship from the perspective of those who experienced it. Through diverse forms—desktop documentaries, video essays, photography, letters, chats, reenactments and CCTV footage—Seen Unseen: An Anthology of (Auto)Censorship revisits recent histories of censorship from the perspective of those who have lived them. From prison writings and unsent letters to unfinished documentaries and a painting barred from print, the anthology explores a central question of filmmaking: to show, or not to show. Director: Serra Akcan, Hakan Bozyurt, Sibil Cekmen, Can Memis, Erhan Örs, Belit Sag, Nadir Sonmez, Firat Yücel Following the screening, filmmakers will join remotely via Zoom for the Q&A.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Free
Party | Fiber/Textile Arts Meetup
Are you a knitter? Do you like to crochet? Maybe you like a different type of fiber art? Whichever it is, bring your supplies and lose yourself in the meditative world of creating art with fiber. Invite your friends, or make new connections there. This is a meet-up, not a class.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Walk and Creative Writing Session
This walk and writing session is led by Author and Poet Jon Curley. Participants will be encouraged to use observations as a way to enhance their writing styles in any preferred mode.
New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | French Horn Works by J.S. Bach, Rachmaninoff, & More (In Person AND Online!)
Cade Araza, French Horn. Program: Antonio Rosetti (c. 1750-1792) Concerto for Two Horns, M.C56 Reinhold Gliere (1875-1956) 11 Pieces, Op. 35 J.S. Bach (1685-1750) (arr. Cade Araza) The Well-Tempered Clavier Lili?uokalani (1838-1917) (arr. Gabe Cruz) Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Sonata for Piano and Cello Cade Araza Memory Music
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Free
Party | Community Plant Exchange
Meet other plant enthusiasts for a plant swap. Share tips, advice, and plants in this community event.
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:30 pm
Free
Free
Staged Reading | The Collectivists: Care, Community, and the Search for Utopia
Jaclyn Backhaus’s The Collectivists explores caregiving, community, and daily life on a live-work farm. Through the lens of family, neighbors, and strangers, the play examines how collective life intersects with personal responsibility and idealism. Written by: Jaclyn Backhaus Directed by: Zoë Adams
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Learn the Basics of Street Portraiture
Explore all things street portraiture. From candid photos to engaging with your subject, the group will discuss what makes an impactful street portrait. The culture of street photography has changed over the past few decades, from an art that thrived on stories told through a voyeuristic lens to a socially burgeoning genre centered around interaction and connection. Photographer Derek Fahsbender opens the door to street photography, from tips for beginners to more nuanced conversations about the philosophical side of the art.
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Free
Lecture | Expert Discusses Conformity in Casting & Performance
Dr. Ryan Donovan, writer of Broadway Bodies: A Critical History of Conformity, hosts a lecture on Broadway Bodies, how ability, sexuality, and size intersect with gender, race, and ethnicity in casting and performance.
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:30 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Historical and Modern Design Spanning Centuries
The museum is dedicated to showcasing the history, influence, and importance of design in everyday life. Housed in a historic mansion, the museum features a diverse collection of design objects, including decorative arts, architecture, graphic design, textiles, and industrial design.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish from 5pm...
pay-what-you-wish from 5pm...
Classical Music | Art Songs & Arias by Britten, Brahms, & More (In Person AND Online!)
Scarlett Jones, Soprano. Program: Katie Jenkins (arr. David Bottomley) Two Songs from The Mabinogion Meirion Williams (1901-1976) (arr. Crwys) Gwynfyd Dilys Elwyn-Edwards (1918-2012) (arr. Alafon) Caneuon Natur R.S. Hughes (1855-1893) (arr. J. Ceiriog Hughes) Wyt Ti'n Cofio'r Lloer? R.S. Hughes (1855-1893) (arr. Rev T.C. Edwards) Y Dymestl Modest Mussorgsky (1839 -1881) (arr. Arseny Golenishchev-Kutuzov) Pensi i pljaski smerti (Songs and Dances of Death) Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) (arr. W.H. Auden) On This Island, Op. 11 Morfydd Llwyn Owen (1891-1918) (arr. Thomas Williams) Gweddi y Pechadur Johann Brahms (1833-1897) (arr. Joseph von Eichendorff) 6 Gesägne, Op. 7 Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) (arr. Montagu Slater) Peter Grimes Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) (arr. Goethe) Sechs Lieder, Op. 48 Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) (arr. Arrigo Boito) Otello John Henry (1859-1914) (arr. E. Jenkins & T E Griffiths) Gwlâd y Delyn
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Talk | Discover How the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Affected the Current Workplace
Attend this event, two days before the anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, to talk about that historical event and about workplace safety and health today, both hazards and actions to keep workers safe. The Triangle Fire was a horrific event in which 146 garment workers died. It also gave rise to a movement for government inspection of factories and workplace safety nationwide.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Explore Memorial Museum and Reconnect with History
Reconnect with the feeling of community and cohesion that blanketed our city and nation in the wake of 9/11. This is a monument to human dignity, courage, and sacrifice. This museum honors the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993, recognizes the courage of those who survived, and salutes those who risked their lives to help others.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Viola Works by J.S. Bach & More (In Person AND Online!)
Madeleine Pintoff, viola. Program: J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857) Viola Sonata in D Minor York Bowen (1884-1961) Viola Concerto in C Minor Modest Mussorgsky (1839 -1881) Hopak
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Film | Big Brown Eyes (1936): Mystery Crime Comedy Film with Cary Grant
A mystery crime comedy centered around a sassy manicurist turned brassy reporter who helps her police detective boyfriend break a jewel theft ring and solve the murder of a baby. Director: Raoul Walsh Cast: Cary Grant, Joan Bennett, Walter Pidgeon A well-known figure of Classic Hollywood, Cary Grant was nominated twice for the Academy Award, received an Academy Honorary Award, and received the Kennedy Center Honors. In 1999, Grant was named the second greatest male star of the Golden Age of Hollywood by the American Film Institute.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Dance Performance | An Intimate Journey Through Dance and Human Aspiration
Join the artists for an intimate glimpse into the creative process behind their evolving dance performance. The piece examines the persistent human drive to ascend physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It explores the bravery and self-awareness required to transcend limitations and rise above. On stage, the dancers will transform the environment into a playground filled with semi-transparent steps and screens that hide, distort, challenge, invite, and test resilience. Moving from being restricted and hidden among obstacles, they eventually unburden themselves and soar, embracing growth and potential.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Discussion | Curators & Art Historians Discuss Humor and Horror in Art
Enjoy a conversation between independent curator and art historian Lynn Gumpert and Susanne Rohr (Professor Emerita or North American Literature and Culture at the University of Hamburg), which will be moderated by Reiner Leist (Professor and Photography Area Head at Hunter College). This conversation is presented in the context of the exhibition Speaking in Pairs. The exchange among Lynn Gumpert, Reiner Leist, and Susanne Rohr which will discuss the pairing of “Horror and Humor,” with a special focus on Christian Boltanski’s work, will be preceded by short presentations by Adrienne Keller (Hunter College) and Vivek Sebastian (Hunter College), based on their work for the exhibition. Speaking in Pairs, looks at the aesthetic, material, social, and political layers that portraits offer, revealing how the people they portray, their makers and viewers, and the changing world they exist in connect and conflict in shifting cycles over time.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Concert | Jam Session: Play with the House Band
Calling all musicians and vocalists! Bring your instrument, sign up to play, and jam with fellow peers. The legendary Kim Clarke will lead the house band. This event offers a unique opportunity to perform alongside experienced musicians in a supportive environment.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Learn & Practice Chess with an Expert
Learn to play chess or develop your strategies with chess expert Tamar Chanadiri from the Marshall Chess Club. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions, as each one builds on the previous. Bring a friend or join on your own--all levels and ages are welcome! Chess sets are provided but you're welcome to bring your own. From 6-7 PM Tamar will provide instruction for beginner-level players. From 7-8 PM there will be open play for all levels.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Viola Works by Beach, Robert Schumann, & More (In Person AND Online!)
Violist Rosemary Nelis performs works by Thomas Ades, Amy Beach, Alban Berg, Bohuslav Martinu, and Robert Schumann.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Lecture | Activist & Educator Kwanza Musi Dos Santos Explores the Legacy of Italian Colonialism
This lecture, by activist and educator Kwanza Musi Dos Santos, will explore the enduring legacies of Italian colonialism as they manifest in the urban landscape of Rome, a city whose monuments and architecture often silently perpetuate a history of empire and racial erasure. Through an anti-colonial lens, we will examine how the city’s public spaces, statuary, and street names function as a contested terrain, reflecting the nation’s unaddressed colonial past and its impact on contemporary Italian society. Drawing on research and grassroots initiatives, the discussion will shift focus to the dynamic strategies of activism and resistance employed by academics and Afro-diasporic communities.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Festival | Irish-American Heritage Month Cultural Performances (Live Music & More)
Celebrate Irish-American Heritage Month with a night full of beautiful performances. Irish-American Heritage Month was designated in 1991 to recognize the rich history and cultural impact the Irish brought to America through their deep devotion to the arts. Tonight, we celebrate these contributions with multiple mediums and performers--the great Irish-born chanteuse Mary Deady, who has appeared with us before, and her talented musical director, Jeff Cubeta, presents a medley of poignant Irish and American songs, while the program also features a scene reading from Brian Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Open Studios | Listening Session: Vietnamese Bolero & Counter-Archives
During the final week of Alison Nguyen's exhibition, Nguyen and ethnomusicologist Bryan Le (Lê Thanh Lâm) present a listening session exploring Vietnamese bolero music, once censored for its Western influences. The program highlights bolero as a sonic counter-archive, carrying memories and testimonies excluded from official histories. Collective listening invites reflection on how music preserves affect, political traces, and alternative narratives.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Staged Reading | DONE!: Absurdist Comedy
Vivacious Jackie Dunne is 35, chronically ill, and officially over it. “Done!” reveals the hilarious absurdity of keeping a life-or-death secret while holding onto a normal routine amidst potential chaos. Written by Bara Swain. Directed by Kim T. Sharp. Starring Ella Dershowitz and Christopher Lee.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Screening | Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen: Creator & Cast Q&A
Attend a sneak preview screening of the first episode of Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, a new horror series from the Executive Producers of Stranger Things and the Director of Baby Reindeer, created by Haley Z. Boston. If Carrie is horror's version of a girl becoming a woman, and Rosemary's Baby is the horrific version of a woman becoming a mother, this series is horror's take on a woman becoming a wife. Rachel (Camila Morrone) is getting married in five days. Together with her fiancé, Nicky (Adam DiMarco), she embarks on a road trip to his family's vacation home, secluded in a snowy forest. Prone to superstition and paranoia, Rachel can't shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen. The screening will be followed by a post-screening conversation with creator Haley Z. Boston and cast members Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Dance Performance | Dance Works-in-Progress
A high visibility low-tech forum for experimentation, emerging ideas, and works-in-progress held in the Fall and Spring seasons. Artists are selected by a rotating committee of peer artists.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Historian Shares Her New Book, People without History are Dust: Queer Desire in the Holocaust
Dr. Anna Hájková, author of People without History are Dust: Queer Desire in the Holocaust (2025), explains why the history of same-sex desire in the Shoah, that is, queerness among Jews persecuted by the Nazis for their race, has been excluded and marginalized, and how its return to our understanding of the Holocaust can offer an inclusive and feminist history of this genocide. Based on original and extensive archival research, Dr. Hájková's book offers groundbreaking insight into the queer history of the Holocaust. Dr. Hájková, Reader of Modern European Continental History at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, will introduce her book – winner of a National Jewish Book Award – in conversation with Benjamin Carter Hett, Professor of History, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York. Content Advisory: This book talk includes sensitive material related to sexual violence, which may be distressing. Attendee discretion is advised.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish, registration required
pay-what-you-wish, registration required
7:30 pm
Regular: $30
Member: $0
Regular: $30
Member: $0
Join the Club!
8:00 pm
Regular: $30
Member: $0
Regular: $30
Member: $0
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Classical Music | Violin Works by Brahms, Prokofiev, Felix Mendelssohn, & More (In Person AND Online!)
Abby Ko, violin. Program: Johann Brahms (1833-1897) Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100 Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (1932-2004) Blue/s Forms Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Sonata for Two Violins, Op. 56 Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) String Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Free
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Performance | Award-Winning Play That Defies Expectations
Regular Price: $40CFT Member Price: $0.00
Classical Music | Choral Masterpieces by Brahms and More at a Landmark Venue
Regular Price: $65CFT Member Price: $0.00
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