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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
Take advantage of 188 free concerts, 26 free dance events, 111 free theater performances, 82 free tours, 23 free poetry readings, 72 free talks/lectures, 62 free art events, 182 free workshops, 103 free movies listed on the site right now.
.Free shows, concerts, movies, tours are New York (NYC) best kept secret! New York City 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 do not wot till tomorrow, start using these unique New York City opportunities today, October 22, 2026!
Join the Club!
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, October 22, 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, 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
.Free shows, concerts, movies, tours are New York (NYC) best kept secret! New York City 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 do not wot till tomorrow, start using these unique New York City opportunities today, October 22, 2026!
Join the Club!
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, October 22, 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 the City every day of the year are truly amazing. So if you're looking for something interesting to do today (October 22, 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, 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 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).
Editor's Picks
46 free things to do in New York City (NYC) today:
Thursday, October 22, 2026
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Tour | Hop-On Hop-Off Bus: Brooklyn Bridge, Financial District, 9/11 Memorial
This complimentary shuttle loops through more than 30 locations across Lower Manhattan, covering major sites from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Financial District and the World Trade Center area. Busses arrive about every 15 minutes throughout the day. Riders can board or exit at any marked stop, with unlimited trips at no cost. Daily service.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Screening | International Events on the Big (30-foot!) Screen Outdoors: Tennis, Golf, & Basketball
Today's Schedule:
10:00am - 1:00pm Tennis
1:00pm - 4:00pm Golf- PGA Tour Butterfield Bermuda Championship
4:00pm - 8:00pm Tennis
8:00pm - 10:00pm WNBA Finals- Game 3: Atlanta vs Golden State
*Scheduled programming subject to change. Seating is open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Wells Fargo customers receive priority seating.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Tour | New York City Hall Guided Tour
One of the oldest continuously used city halls in the nation that still houses its original governmental functions, New York's City Hall is considered one of the finest architectural achievements of its period. Constructed from 1803 to 1812, the building was an early expression of the City's cosmopolitanism. City Hall is a designated New York City landmark, and its rotunda is also a designated interior landmark. Note: When registering, choose the "Individual Tour" option.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free, registration required...
free, registration required...
Film | Obsession (2025): Supernatural Horror Film
After breaking the mysterious "One Wish Willow" to win his crush's heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price. Director: Curry Barker Cast: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter
Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Mat Pilates Session (Beginners Welcome!)
Sweet Water Dance & Yoga leads a session of mat pilates, a strengthening and lengthening exercise that focuses on conditioning your core muscles while also training your arms and legs. This class incorporates key Pilates principles such as postural alignment, breathing, strength, controlled movement, and flexibility. This class is perfect for beginners but intermediate and advanced movers will also benefit. Bring your own mat.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Multi-Level Yoga in the Park
A welcome multi-level yoga class in the park open to everyone. Bring your own mat.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:00 am
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Learn to Juggle in the Park
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.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | Organ Works by J.S. Bach in a Beautiful Church (In Person AND Online!)
Take a momentary respite from a busy day to enjoy a selection of organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach in an intimate venue.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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12:20 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Film | The Haunting (1999): Supernatural Horror Film
Four people go ghost hunting in an old mansion that is supposedly haunted, and they slowly begin to discover the horrific tales about the place may hold more truth than skeptics thought. Director: Robert Wise Cast: Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Russ Tamblyn
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Artmaking on the Plaza with a Professional Artist
Led by a local teaching artist, this drop-in class invites participants to explore creativity through hands-on artmaking. Past mediums have included plein-air drawing, printmaking, cyanotypes, and more. All materials are provided.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | Piano Trios by Mozart, Shostakovich, & More (In Person AND Online!)
The Salix Piano Trio (Joanna Maurer, violin; Parrini, (cello); Anna Stoytcheva (piano). Program: W. A. Mozart's Piano Trio No. 5 in C Major, Dmitri Shostakovich's Piano Trio in C Minor, Amy Beach's Piano Trio in A Minor, Inbal Segev's Piano Trio. The Salix Piano Trio was founded out of a desire to explore the rich and vast piano trio canon. For the past 20+ years, Maurer, Parrini and Stoytcheva have performed and toured together around the United States in different combinations, notably as members of the American Chamber Players.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | Curious, Comic & Sublime: Music and Dance of the 18th Century
Dongmyun Ahn ~ violin; Paul Shipper ~ recorder & guitar. Featuring four dancers. The New and Curious School of Theatrical Dancing from 1716 by Gregorio Lambranzi inspires dances for the Harlequin, a dancer with two fronts and no back, a 3-legged dancer, a shepherdess, etc. Masked and unmasked, the dancers, under the direction of Catherine Turocy, are sure to delight with curious, comic, and sublime works of the 18th-century fair and opera stage.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:15 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Film | Spielberg's Disclosure Day (2026): Sci-Fi Thriller with Emily Blunt
A television meteorologist and a cybersecurity analyst go on a mission to disclose the existence of extraterrestrial life to the world, while trying to evade the trail of a government contractor who tries to prevent them from getting the secret out. Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo Steven Spielberg is an American film director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. He is the recipient of various accolades, including three Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, and four Directors Guild of America Awards, as well as the AFI Life Achievement Award in 1995, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2006, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2009, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015. Seven of his films have been inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as "culturally, historically,or aesthetically significant." Emily Blunt is a British actress. She is the recipient of various accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and two Actor Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and four British Academy Film Awards. Forbes ranked her as one of the highest-paid actresses in the world in 2020.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | String Quartets by Haydn (In Person AND Online!)
Juilliard musicians. All Haydn (1732-1809) Program: String Quartet in D Major, Op. 71, No. 2 String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 20, No. 5 String Quartet in B Minor, Op. 33, No. 1
Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Museums | Thursday Evenings at a Living Memorial Museum
Explore a museum dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, Jewish life, and education. View expansive galleries, survivor testimonies, and tens of thousands of artifacts. The museum also offers a theater, a genealogy center, an outdoor memorial, and a cafe.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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4:00 pm
free, reservation required...
free, reservation required...
Dancing | Dance Party with 80s Iconic Hits in the Park
A live music celebration of the sounds of the 80s, featuring high-energy performances and standout cover bands that bring legendary hits and unforgettable anthems to life for a vibrant fall night.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Gallery Talk | Art Critic & Artist Explore Photography in the Age of AI
A conversation between Charlotte Kent and Danielle Ezzo about photography and AI from a historic, critical, and artistic perspective. Photography has always been troubled by its own expansion. From its inception, what it does and whether someone is doing it has been debated. It launched out of science experiments and landed in the field of art. Each new camera, lens, or product, from the daguerreotype to the Polaroid to the digital file, has renewed confusion and uncertainty about what the medium is, does, preserves, constructs, witnesses, and deteriorates. To what degree does a conversation about photography today devolve into the problems of "AI," and does "AI" need photography as a practice to define its lineage? Writing in The Brooklyn Rail, visual culture scholar and art critic Charlotte Kent traces these ambiguities to ask whether photography is the only appropriate lens to view this slippery emergent technology. Danielle Ezzo, an artist and writer whose practice is built within the territory that Kent theorizes, speaks to the embodied experience of straddling two media that are constantly connected yet often in conflict. Together, their live conversation will move between the historical and the material, the theoretical and the embodied to bring the paradigm shift into clearer focus.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Classical Music | Bass Works by Beethoven & More (In Person AND Online!)
Ruth Christopher, double bass. Program: Reinhold Gliere (1875-1956) 2 morceaux pour contrabasse et piano, Op. 9 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (arr. Paul Nemeth) Duet mit zwei obligaten Augengläsern, WoO 32 Jon Deak (1943-) Surrealist Studies Frantisek Hertl (1906-1973) Sonata for Double Bass and Piano
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Workshop | Full-Body Fitness Class in the Park (All-Levels Welcome)
An outdoor workout in the park for building strength, balance, and community. This full-body fitness class is designed to energize your week, boost your mood, and build community in the heart of Lower Manhattan. Every movement can be modified, making it perfect for beginners, returning exercisers, and parents looking to reset after school drop-off.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
5:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Jump into Double Dutch with the Pros
Learn the fundamentals of street-style and competitive jump rope with the Double Dutch Aunties.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Tour | Learn about the Architecture & Design of One of NYC's most Unique Parks
Take a deep dive into design and architecture—both on and off the park—with a 90-minute specialized tour led by a docent, a knowledgeable volunteer guide. In it, you’ll hear about the architectural and technological feats of the once-active railway, the tenets that guided the park’s architectural and landscape design, and so much more.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
5:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Classical Music | Piano Works by Chopin, Rachmaninoff, & More
Jialin Yao, piano. Program: Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) Sonata in D Minor, K. 213 Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) Sonata in A Major, K. 342 Arno Babajanian (1921-1983) Poem Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60 Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) Scherzo No. 4 in E Major, Op. 54 Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Moments musicaux, Op. 16
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Opening Reception | Cardboard Chapel: Solo Painting Exhibition Considering How Marketing Surrounds Us
A solo exhibition by Alexander Kaletski that includes a fifty year retrospective of his painting on cardboard. The title draws from the Sistine Chapel as a monumental example of how patronage of the arts has been used to shape and disseminate ideas, beliefs and stories throughout history. Kaletski considers how this powerful force operates today and he finds it in the marketing that surrounds us. Nowadays, financial support funds the creation of logos, packaging, and taglines that carefully construct narratives designed to make products recognizable, desirable, and memorable. Kaletski takes these commercial images and removes them from their original purpose. Working directly on discarded cardboard packaging, he transforms logos, forms, and fragments of design into paintings and collages of his own. He is drawn to boxes with a particular visual or spiritual character. Their folds, tears, stickers and design fragments become part of each work. Rather than obscuring the original packaging, he incorporates and amplifies its existing imagery, creating an interaction between the established identity of the brand and his own intervention. By doing so, he separates the visual language from the consumerist message it was created to communicate. Material originally created to contain and sell a product is transformed into a surface for painting, collage, and invention.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Film | The Plastic Age (1925): Silent Rom-Com
Hugh Carver is an athletic star and a freshman at Prescott College. He falls in love with Cynthia Day, a popular girl who loves to go to parties. He finds that it is impossible to please her and still keep up with his studies and his athletic training, and soon the two face some difficult decisions. Director: Wesley Ruggles Cast: Clara Bow, Donald Keith, Gilbert Roland, Mary Alden
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Book Discussion | MoMA-Featured Avant-Garde Artist Shares a New Monograph of Her Work, The Weather and Other Stories (+ Signing)
Pioneering multimedia artist Laurie Anderson and poet Paul Muldoon in conversation about more than forty years of Anderson’s work. They will celebrate her new monograph, featuring multimedia installations, performances, and recent projects. The conversation will be followed by a signing
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Book Discussion | Pushcart-Nominated Writer Shares Her New Book, Bone Symphony
Michelle Phuong Ho in conversation with Monica Sok. About the book: Bone Symphony mines the wreckage of colonialism and imperialist warfare in Vietnam and attempts to reassemble the bones. Told in three movements spanning lyric, documentary, and hybrid forms, Bone Symphony uncovers a world turned upside-down by war: evil is good, saviors are toddlers, children die before their mothers, and civil servants--like the poet's grandfather--become enemies of the state. The detritus of a shattered nation, family, and psyche serve as building blocks Ho rearranges with playful irreverence, giving rise to healing poetic turns. One can surrender not just to military powers, but to love. The prison cell where a dissident is held transforms into the womb of God
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Opening Reception | Selections from the Burger Collection, Hong Kong: Multi-Artist Exhibition Exploring Questions of Home, Migration, & Displacement
This exhibition is a visual essay on profound historical and philosophical concerns surrounding loss, disappearance, and identity. This group of works on paper by 20th and 21st century artists contemplates the histories and affinities of two cities, Hong Kong and New York, while exploring questions of home, migration, and displacement through abstraction and metaphor. Taking Eastern thought and Western philosophy as points of departure and inspired by a poem by the early Taoist poet T'ao Ch'ien (365-427 AD), this selection of thirty-three contemporary artworks reveals a quiet, poetic sensibility, offering meditations on consciousness, time, and our shared humanity.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Concert | Vocalist, Songwriter, & Multi-Instrumentalist Julia Easterlin
Easterlin creates lush, immersive sonic worlds with vocals, loop pedal, and stringed instruments. Easterlin pairs inventive musicianship with the earthly storytelling of her upbringing along Georgia’s Ogeechee River. Her singular artistry has been recognized by TED, the GRAMMY Foundation, and the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, and has led to collaborations with artists including Jacob Collier, Vieux Farka Touré, Bobby McFerrin, and Kris Bowers. She invites audiences into an intimate world shaped by experimentation, storytelling, and connection.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Screening | Sawyer Avenue, Sunday Afternoon (2026): Political Documentary (+ FIlmmaker Discussion)
October 12, 2025: masked and unidentified agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seize a man without a warrant on a residential street in Chicago. The film uses footage from phones and body cameras to dissect and reconstruct a neighbourhood’s struggle against impunity within a brutal administration. Director: Bill Morrison Following the documentary, Morrison will be joined by his co-producer Kalven and Devashish "Dave" Basnet, senior immigration policy strategist at the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), for a discussion about justice, surveillance, and the state-sponsored abuse of power.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Screening | The Glorias (2020): Biographical Drama Film on Gloria Steinem Starring Julianne Moore (+ Filmmaker Discussion)
Journalist, fighter, and feminist, Gloria Steinem is an indelible icon known for her world-shaping activism, her guidance of the revolutionary women’s movement, and her writing that has impacted generations. In this nontraditional biopic, against the backdrop of a lonely bus on an open highway, five Glorias trace Steinem’s influential journey to prominence—from her time in India as a young woman, to the founding of Ms. magazine in New York, to her role in the rise of the women’s rights movement in the 1960s and beyond. Director: Julie Taymor Cast: Julianne Moore, Alicia Vikander, Timothy Hutton, Lorraine Toussaint, Janelle Monáe, Bette Midler Julianne Moore is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Additionally, she is also the only actress - along with Juliette Binoche - to have won an acting award at the world's three major film festivals (a Volpi Cup, the Silver Bear for Best Actress, and the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress). Followed by a conversation with the film's director, Julie Taymor.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, tickets required
free, tickets required
Film | The Snow Woman (1968): Japanese Fantasy Horror Film
A handsome young sculptor meets an evil female spirit in a snowstorm, and his life is changed forever. Director: Tokuzo Tanaka Cast: Shiho Fujimura, Akira Ishihama, Machiko Hasegawa In Japanese with English subtitles.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Gallery Talk | Artists Discuss How Their Works Speak to One Another
In celebration of the exhibitions Arlene Shechet: She Said She Said, Torkwase Dyson: Seeing in Blue, and Lynda Benglis: KNOTTING, TYING, FOLDING, Torkwase Dyson, Nora Lawrence, and Sarita Dubin will participate in a conversation moderated by Katy Hessel. The conversation will center around each artist’s groundbreaking practice and the ways in which their works—from Benglis’s gestural forms to Shechet’s inventive sculptures and Dyson’s multivalent paintings—speak to one another across time and mediums.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Screening | Direct Cinema & Early Documentary FIlms Shown in Original 16mm Format
In this film program, organizers will screen a 1969 interview with members of the early documentary film movement. It features essential works from the Direct Cinema canon, including the groundbreaking film PRIMARY (1960), which captured the Wisconsin Democratic primary battle between John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey. All films will be shown in their original 16mm format. Documentary filmmaking was the first genre to emerge from the new medium when it was presented to the public in the late 19th century. Termed "actualities", these short recordings captured life as it was happening: workers leaving a factory, a family at an outdoor breakfast table, the arrival of a train at the station. And yet, simultaneously, crept in the possibility of fiction. The family had been strategically arranged to face the camera. The workers were instructed on how and when to leave the factory. With the presence of the camera, and then, later, editing, came the question: is objectivity possible? That question wouldn't be seriously addressed until the 1960s, with the emergence of Direct Cinema.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Intermediate Chess-Playing: Level-Up Your Game
Develop your strategies and take your game to the next level with chess expert Tamar Chanadiri from the Marshall Chess Club. Chess has many benefits, including:
Improving cognitive skills
Encouraging creativity
Building confidence
Developing problem-solving skills
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Book Discussion | James Beard Award-Winning TV Food Expert Shares Her New Book on Chinese Cuisine
Fuchsia Dunlop explores the magical complexity of one of the world's greatest cuisines. 'Fuchsia Dunlop has done more to explain real Chinese cooking to non-Chinese cooks than anyone', according to The New York Times. Dunlop, a four-time James Beard award winner and TV food expert (Chef's Table; Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown) has already explored Hunan cooking and Szechuan food with her large legion of readers. Now, in her latest book, she tackles the "five tastes" which a Chinese chef needs to be able to marshal harmoniously: salty, sweet, sour, bitter and pungent. The delectable result might be green beans with "strange-flavor" sauce, spicy peanut butter noodles, or a steamed fish that sings with citrus notes.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Gallery Talk | Kosovar Albanian Tea-Sharing Tradition: Exchange, Conversation, & Collective Reflection
Led by the New York–based artist-run initiative Brief Histories, this open conversation will reflect on how artist-led cultural spaces can uniquely respond to the needs of their communities. The session will take the form of Çaj Mali, a Kosovar Albanian tradition centered around the sharing of Albanian mountain tea—a caffeine-free herbal infusion made from wild ironwort (Sideritis), harvested at high altitudes in the Albanian Alps. Served within a social gathering, Çaj Mali offers a convivial setting for exchange, conversation, and collective reflection.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Classical Music | Spiritual, Dramatic, and Virtuosic Worlds of Liszt's Piano Music.
Hungarian pianist Csanad Barbarics performs a recital dedicated entirely to the music of the legendary composer. This concert is a part of the Concert Series which was created to introduce New York audiences to outstanding young Hungarian musicians.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Staged Reading | Hallway House: Original Romantic, Friendship Drama
Dianne, Emily, and Michael lived on the same coed freshman hallway at college, and when Emily and Michael's lives fall apart, they take refuge in the large house that Dianne, as a successful romance writer, owns. The friends are obsessed with the Algonquin Roundtable. They quote the witty Algonquinites: Dorothy Parker and so on. Emily and Michael worry that their odd, intense friendship and obscure reference points make it hard for them to have long-term relationships with "normal" people. Currently, Emily's marriage is falling apart, and she goes a final round with her soon-to-be-ex-husband when he stops by. Meanwhile, Michael, after years alone, is thinking of starting a new relationship with Connor, who is much younger and knows nothing of the literary figures the three friends admire. But maybe that does not matter, and maybe Connor should not be underestimated. Directed by Judy Klass. Written by David Barlow.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Screening | Film Fest: Animated Films from Africa and the African Diaspora
This event brings together animated films to celebrate the breadth and creativity of animation. Animation offers a powerful way to tell stories that might otherwise be difficult to capture through traditional forms of filmmaking. Across the continent and throughout the Diaspora, animators are using the medium to explore history, mythology, identity, politics, technology, migration, environmental change, and everyday life. The festival creates a space for these stories to be encountered by New York audiences while highlighting the growing community of African and African diasporic animation artists. Doors open at 6:30PM.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Museums | Thursday Nights at One of NYC's Leading Museums
Contemporary art is a vital social force that advances questioning, learning, and working towards a better society. This weekly program offers an accessible opportunity to explore groundbreaking exhibitions by emerging and established artists from around the globe. Engage with current artistic dialogues and help expand the definition of art.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Play | A Doll's House: Modern Adaptation of Ibsen's Classic Drama
Amy Herzog's A Doll's House follows Nora Helmer, a woman who secretly borrows money to save her husband Torvald's life. When her secret is threatened with exposure, Torvald's reaction reveals that he values his reputation more than Nora's sacrifice. Nora realizes that she has been treated as a "doll" rather than an equal partner. She therefore decides to leave her marriage and family to discover her identity, independence, and freedom. Originally written by Henrik Ibsen. Adapted by Amy Herzog. Directed by Elissa Goetschius
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Concert | Collaborative Music & Art Projects on Stage
The Poland-based Unsound Festival embraces the process of creative engagement across national borders. This concert spotlights two mixed pairs of Polish and American artists collaborating to construct original shared languages. The prolific experimental-ambient wunderkind claire rousay spent a week in 2024 composing overseas in a secluded village in the Polish countryside with the Kraków-based composer and musician Martyna Basta. Their resulting joint show and album, hotel room, is a rugged travelogue of loose musical fragments, autotuned vocals, and complex atmospheres. The U.S. performance debut of hotel room features projected visuals by German artist Theresa Baumgartner. Next up is a new collaboration between American electronic producer Keith "Giant Claw" Rankin, head of the pioneering label Orange Milk Records, and Warsaw soundtrack composer and performer Julek ploski. Together, they present a new A/V work called CONTROL FREAK, the result of an Unsound-commission and residency in Warsaw. There are two ways to access this event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track opening the Monday before the event at noon.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, fast-track available
free, fast-track available
Screening | Korean Film Festival: Rei's Winter Break (2025) -- Coming-of-Age Drama Film
Rei, a middle school girl living in Tokyo, begins her winter break. Around the same time, Gyuri, a Korean high school student, arrives in the city to visit her father, who is working there. With both of their parents busy and absent, the two girls are left to drift through their own quiet, aimless days. Director: Park Suk-young Cast: Kirika Kurosaki, Jung Joo-eun, Kozo Tsuruta
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Classical Music | Orchestral Tribute to Weather Report's Album, Heavy Weather
New School Studio Orchestra gives a nod to Weather Report's place in the pantheon of 20th-century composers in this genre-breaking evening that breathes new life into this legendary album. In 1977, the legendary band Weather Report released the landmark album Heavy Weather, featuring original members Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter, who had played together with Miles Davis, along with Jaco Pastorius, Alex Acuña, and Manolo Badrena. Fifty years later, this extraordinary group of international musicians continues to inspire and excite new generations of artists with their groundbreaking exploration of musical forms, fearless creativity, and virtuosic playing. The evening includes a performance of the entire Heavy Weather album as well as a selection of other Weather Report compositions.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Comedy Club | Standup Show
Catch some of the best comedians at this free weekly stand-up show, featuring a lineup of rising stars and seasoned favorites. Past performers include Sheng Wang, Mark Normand, Dan Soder, Annie Lederman, and more.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
8:00 pm
free, reservation required...
free, reservation required...
Classical Music | Viola Works by J.S. Bach, Robert Schumann, & More (In Person AND Online!)
Laura Liu, viola. Program: Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Violin Sonata No. 2, BWV 1003 Garth Knox (1956-) Fuga Libre Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) Viola Sonata
Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Classical Music | J.S. Bach and Beethoven by Prominent Orchestra
Regular Price: $30CFT Member Price: $0.00
Classical Music | A Crown of Glory: Divine Music in a Glorious Setting
Regular Price: $25CFT Member Price: $0.00
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