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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, October 1, 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
October 1, 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, October 1, 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, October 1, 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 (October 1, 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).
Editor's Picks
47 free things to do in New York City (NYC) today
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Workshop | Outdoor Full-Body HIIT Class
Lululemon instructor Jah Washington leads a 45-minute bodyweight circuit focused on mobility, muscular endurance, and strength. Optional ankle weights can be brought for an added challenge. A limited quantity of mats will be provided for use during the event. After class, you can join a post-workout experience, including David Protein Bars, product education, and time to connect with the community.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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8:30 am
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Tour | Explore Floral Structure Built for Jewish Harvest Festival
Step into this sanctuary and experience a sukkah, a beautiful celebration of Sukkot and the fall harvest. See the temporary structure adorned with elaborate florals and autumnal crops, built each year for the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot. Take photographs and enjoy a special glimpse of this beloved tradition. Sanctuary tour at 10:30 AM.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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10:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Screening | International Events on the Big (30-foot!) Screen Outdoors: Tennis, Soccer, & Golf
Today's Schedule:
10:00am - 12:45pm Tennis
12:45pm - 5:00pm UEFA Women's Champions League Soccer
5:00pm - 7:00pm Golf- PGA Tour
*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
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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 | Night of the Living Dead (1968): Classic Zombie Horror Film
A ragtag group barricade themselves in an old Pennsylvania farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of flesh-eating ghouls ravaging the Northeast. Director: George A. Romero Cast: Judith O'Dea, Duane Jones, Marilyn Eastman, Karl Hardman
Manhattan, New York, NY
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11:00 am
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation 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
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 | An Afternoon of Italian Notturno Romances (In Person AND Online!)
Teatro Nuovo: Amalia Crevani, soprano, Gabrielle Barkidjija, mezzo-soprano, Matt Zucker, cello, and Will Crutchfield, fortepiano. A staple of chamber music in the late Classical and early Romantic era (circa 1780-1830) was the Italian Notturno for two voices with continuo or fully-composed keyboard part. This genre, a descendant of the Baroque chamber cantata, remains very little explored today; hundreds of gems await rediscovery. Teatro Nuovo's concentration on early Romantic opera poises its musicians to lead this revival. Teatro Nuovo's 1804 Lonsdale fortepiano (plus cello as appropriate) provides the ideal period accompaniment.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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1:15 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Film | Project Hail Mary (2026): Sci-FI Film with Ryan Gosling
In the near future, astronaut Ryland Grace wakes from a coma afflicted with amnesia. He gradually remembers that he was sent to the Tau Ceti solar system, 12 light-years from Earth, to find a means of reversing a solar dimming event that could cause the extinction of humanity. Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller Cast: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Huller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce Ryan Gosling is a Canadian actor. Prominent in both independent film and major studio features of varying genres, his films have accrued a worldwide box office gross of over 1.9 billion USD. He has received various accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, and nominations for two Academy Awards and a BAFTA Award.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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2:00 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...
Gallery Talk | Artist Discusses Her New Work Inspired by Hotel Chelsea's Cultural History
Hear from artist Tiffany Shlain about her new artwork "If These Walls Could Talk: Women of the Chelsea." Inspired by her stays at the Hotel Chelsea in her twenties, the work draws on the hotel's rich cultural history and the remarkable women who have created within its walls. Shlain will speak about the work and news about upcoming projects.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Birdwatching | Evening Birding with NYC Audubon
Discover the surprising diversity of birds that call the park home during migratory season, with guided tours led by environmental educator and urban naturalist Gabriel Willow. The park is a hotspot for avian visitors and birders alike. Past sightings include warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, and even a Chuck-will's-widow!
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:00 pm
free...
free...
Classical Music | Art Songs by Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, & More
Adriana Stepien, Soprano, Will Kim, Baritone, and Ina Jun, piano. Program: Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Beau Soir Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Spring Waters, Op. 14, No. 1 Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) Fleur jetee Carlos Guastavino (1912-2000) La rosa y el sauce Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5 Hector Berlioz (1803-1869) Le spectre de la rose Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Der Doppelganger Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) Whither must I wander? Ernest Chausson (1855-1899) Le temps des lilas
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
Tour | Horticultural Tour of One of NYC's Most Unique Parks
Dig deep into the park's green areas with a garden-focused tour! An immersive look into the park's rich and distinctive horticulture. Participants will gain a deep understanding of legendary garden designer Piet Oudolf's naturalistic approach to plant selection, how the park's over 500 species of plants contribute to the thriving ecosystems of New York City.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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5:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Talk | Japanese Kawaii Subculture as a Mode of Rebellion & Resistance
FIT Professor Yuniya Kawamura will be in conversation with fashion and art creator Sebastian Masuda. He is internationally recognized as the leading figure in Japan’s kawaii (cute) subculture. Masuda understands kawaii not merely as an aesthetic, but as an explicit, nonviolent mode of rebellion and resistance—one comparable to other Japanese youth subcultures that assert identity through unconventional forms of dress and self-presentation. A book signing follows the event.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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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
Opening Reception | Humanist Modernity: Exhibition Exploring the Legacies of Significant Figures of American & Polish Architecture
This event showcases the work of Stanisława Sandecka-Nowicka and Maciej (Matthew) Nowicki. They were two significant figures in the history of American and Polish architecture. Named for a concept developed in the 1940s by architects Maciej (Matthew) Nowicki and Stanisława Sandecka-Nowicka, Humanist modernity explores their vision of modernism as a human-centered approach to design—one concerned with understanding who a building is really for, and how it binds a human being to the space around them. The exhibition follows this idea across their work and asks what their architecture offers us today.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Film | Tamango (1958): French/Italian Drama Film
The film concerns a slave ship on its crossing from Africa to Cuba, the various people that it carries and the slaves' rebellion while on board. Director: John Berry Cast: Dorothy Dandridge, Curd Jurgens, Alex Cressan, Jean Servais
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Opening Reception | The Carver's Order: Immersive Exhibition in Historic Greenwich Village Townhouse
Artist Gedi Sibony has created an intervention in the venue's historic spaces, integrating his work while also making adjustments to the historic installation. He creates an immersive reinvention of one of New York City's hidden gems. According to the artist, "The home and studio express an integrated approach to life and art-making with an organization of space and dynamism that reflects an era. The Carver's Order is a joyful interaction with, and celebration of, these objects and their home cast through my applied fictional interpretation."
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Classical Music | Flute & Piano: Works Bridging the Gap between the Material & the Unseen World (In Person AND Online!)
Land of Naad is inspired by the concept of sound and vibration. Playing Bennett's compositions written especially for the virtuoso flutist Nagarajan, the duo seeks to create music that bridges the gap between the material and the unseen world. This performance marks their debut. Visveshwar Nagarajan is the youngest bansuri flutist to receive All India Radio's prestigious A Grade. This year he performed with Indian legend A.R. Rahman on his US tour. Over the course of his career, Nagarajan has performed in more than 1,800 concerts. Pianist and composer Richard X Bennett plays modernistic and soulful music. He has six critically acclaimed raga-based records on Indian labels as well as seven jazz and electronica releases on Ropeadope Records. His latest album Amaryllis 2 with Paula Jeanine Bennett is being released in October.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required...
free, registration required...
Classical Music | Grammy-Winning Quartet Performs Works by Beethoven, William Grant Still, & More
The Harlem Quartet offers a program that highlights differences and similarities among these composers and brings to focus the importance of both tradition and innovation. It intersperses movements from Beethoven's "Serioso" Op 95 string quartet with movements from works by William Bolcom, Wynton Marsalis, William Grant Still, and others. The Quartet.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, tickets required
free, tickets required
Discussion | Mental Health Experts Discuss & Demo Breakthroughs in Brain Health Tech (In Person AND Online!)
This event brings together leaders in psychiatry and technology to discuss what’s next, and what it means for treating mental illness. The future of mental health is being rewritten. Breakthroughs in gene therapy, AI, and brain stimulation are creating new possibilities. Featured speakers will include Dr. Alexander Charney with Dr. Nicole Simons, who will discuss what we know about serious mental illness, how our understanding is changing, and introduce emerging approaches including gene therapy, AI, and deep brain stimulation. Dr. Benjamin Glicksberg and Dr. Matteo Danieletto will demonstrate vision wearables and discuss how audiovisual data, along with AI analysis, may support clinical assessment and symptom monitoring. Sandip Trivedi, who built an AI companion chatbot for his brother struggling with a mental health diagnosis, will discuss the app’s development, safety features, and ethical guardrails as it is tested with a larger audience to explore its potential to support people living with schizophrenia and their families. Finally, Dr. Nicola Cascella and Erin Decker will discuss deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, including a conversation about the experience of undergoing DBS treatment.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Try Out Age-Old Printing Techniques in a History Museum
This open house features a breadth of printing equipment that you are invited to use. See how the designers at Bowne lock up limited-edition designs that showcase some of the more eccentric parts of the museum’s printing and graphic arts collection. Established in 1775, the original Bowne & Co., Inc. was one of New York’s oldest printing firms. The Bowne that you experience today at the museum is an offshoot of the original and continues the age-old tradition of job (or small-batch) printing. All participants get to take home the items they print during the afternoon.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
$5, tickets required
$5, tickets 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 Toure, Bobby McFerrin, and Kris Bowers. She invites audiences into an intimate world shaped by experimentation, storytelling, and connection.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Book Discussion | New York Times Journalist Shares His New Book, The Yahoo Boys
Carlos Barragan discusses his work of immersion journalism about four young romance scammers in Lagos, Nigeria, exploring how and why they scam, and the moral dilemmas they face. Through the Yahoo Boys' twisting fortunes, Barragan discovers the psychological tactics they perfect, the brutal economic realities that drive them, and the moral dilemmas they confront. A work of radical empathy, this book reveals the human face behind a global phenomenon, and shows how loneliness in the West and poverty in Nigeria are two sides of the same screen.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Evening Yoga on the Water: Relax, Stretch, & Reset
Unwind and find your balance along the waterfront with Chelsea Piers Fitness. This class is the perfect place to relax, stretch out and reset. A great fit for any fitness level.
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. All ages are welcome! Chess has many benefits, including:
Improving cognitive skills
Encouraging creativity
Building confidence
Developing problem-solving skills
Manhattan, New York, NY
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6:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Dancing | Sunset Salsa on the Pier
Get ready to dance the night away! Sunset Salsa returns for summer rhythm, hosted by acclaimed dancer and choreographer Talia Castro-Pozo, hailed by Latina Magazine as "The Woman of Salsa." Each evening begins with a beginner-friendly salsa lesson and a vibrant open dance party under the setting sun. Whether you're a seasoned dancer or a curious first-timer, all are welcome to join this joyful, high-energy celebration of Latin dance. 6:30 PM: Beginner Lessons 7:15 PM: Open Dance
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Staged Reading | Covenant: Original Interfaith Drama
A Vatican guesthouse meeting room. A long table, four chairs, a window overlooking a walled courtyard garden that hasn't seen rain in weeks. Over thirty-six hours, four people - a Filipino Cardinal, a British-Ghanaian climate lawyer, a Lakota spiritual leader, and a young Vatican aide - discover that the interfaith climate dialogue they were convened to conduct is not the conversation they actually need to have. What follows is a reckoning: with what each tradition has enabled, what each person has privately failed to do, and whether language adequate to the crisis they are gathered around actually exists. Written by William A. Smith. Directed by Maria Mileaf.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Performance | or do it explode?: Surrealism, Music, and Movement Exploring Gentrification, Grief, & Love
“or do it explode?” takes place in the portal that is Spanish Harlem, New York City - right on the intersection of all our timelines. The characters teeter on the edge of unfulfilled dreams and battle rainstorms of memories as they prepare for their championship stickball game. They realize quickly that there's more at stake than just bragging rights as they work to save the neighborhood they know and love. Surrealism, music, and movement take the audience through the day as characters battle floods of gentrification, grief, and love.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish, tickets required
pay-what-you-wish, tickets required
Opening Reception | OUT OF LINE: Solo Exhibition of Compositions Centered on the Line
The Award-Winning San Francisco-based artist brings four bodies of work together in an exhibition tracing the evolution of line as structure, emotion, and identity. The exhibition brings together paintings from The Art of Code Switching (2023), I Am a Barn (2024), Urban Abstraction (2025), and Still/Still (2025) to reveal the evolution of a singular visual language centered on the line. Across barns, city surfaces, still lifes, and portraiture, Hershman uses repeated and overlapping lines to build color, rhythm, atmosphere and emotional resonance.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Gallery Talk | Art Historian/Art Critic Shares Her New Book on Philosopher & Writer Vilém Flusser
Martha Schwendener hosts a talk and launch of her recently released title, The Society of the Screen: Vilém Flusser’s Radical Prescience. The author will be in conversation with Eileen Quinlan and Liz Deschenes. In this book on the idiosyncratic and prescient Czech-Brazilian philosopher, Schwendener explores the profound effect of art on Vilém Flusser’s thought. The Society of the Screen reveals how Flusser’s lifelong engagement with experimental practices—from abstract painting and concrete poetry in Brazil to video, cybernetics, and photography in Europe and the United States—as well as his extensive involvement with the São Paulo Biennial informed his belief that we were moving from “history”—a civilization informed by linear writing—into “post-history,” dominated by technical images
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Book Discussion | Prize-Winning Author Shares Her New Hybrid-Memoir, Mud on the Moon
Nita Noveno in conversation with Nina Sharma. Mud on the Moon is a hybrid memoir that weaves a daughter’s journey of discovering her Filipino immigrant father’s hidden past with imaginative storytelling, offering a look into migration, identity, and the intergenerational legacies that shape who we are.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Poetry Reading | Pushcart Prize-Winning Poets Share Their Work(+ Reception & Signing)
Aracelis Girmay, Donna Masini, and Malena Mörling poetry reading, hosted by Catherine Barnett. The event will conclude with a reception/signing with books for sale. Aracelis Girmay is the author of four full-length poetry collections, including the recently published Green of All Heads. Donna Masini is the author of the collections Did You Find Everything You Were Looking For? and 4:30 Movie, among others. Malena Mörling is the author of two books of poetry: Ocean Avenue and Astoria. Her third book, Lumina Station, was published in 2026.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
7:00 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Museums | Thursday Nights at One of NYC's Leading Museum
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
Join the Club!
7:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Author Reading | Translator Shares Her New Translation of 20th-Century Surrealist Short Story Collection
C. Francis Fisher reads her translation of Joyce Mansour's Satisfied Sarcophagi.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
7:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Performance | Cookie: Italian Picaresque-Inspired Performance Unfolding around a Sculpture
The play follows the traditional picaresque format, a literary style developed during the height of Spain's Golden Age in which a clever but poor hero, a picaro, uses their wits and tricks to survive in a corrupt and crumbling society. Drawing inspiration from 16th-century picaresque novellas like Lazarillo de Tormes and Francisco de Quevedo's The Swindler, Cookie is a story of desperation disguised as elite ambition. At its center is Gunnar Churchwell, a sleazy yet charismatic suit salesman who arrives in Madrid, only to be recruited by the egomaniacal ringleader of a grifting crew of makeshift "tailors." Their baseline rule for survival is simple: "never let them know you are hungry." Cookie unfolds around The Lair, a twisted aluminum sculpture resembling a street scaffold. The performance is a story of desperation disguised as elite ambition, highlighting anti-heroes who maneuver through the cracks of a glittering superpower purely to secure their next meal. Georgia Gardner Gray works across painting, performance, and theater. Her vivid canvases depict exaggerated figures in social spaces--bars, apartments, rehearsal rooms, city streets--each imbued with the comedy, absurdity, instability, and contradiction inherent in our modern lives. As an accomplished playwright, Gray captures the tension between intimacy and display, self-awareness and satire.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
7:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Screening | House of the Seasons (2023): Family Mystery Drama
On the day of an ancestral memorial rite, three generations of an extended family gather under one roof. As the family clashes over the future of their tofu factory--the business their livelihood depends on--the eldest grandson, Seong-jin, declares that he has no intention of carrying on the family trade. To make matters worse, an unexpected farewell pushes the family's tensions to a breaking point... Bound together by blood and livelihood, a family's 70-year-old secret slowly comes to light. Director: Oh Jung-min Cast: Kang Seung-ho, Woo Sang-jeon, Son Sook, Cha Mi-kyeong, Oh Man-seok, An Min-young
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
RSVP required, free
RSVP required, free
Jazz | Bessie Award-Winning Jazz, House, Soul & Swing
Brooklyn-based jazz vocalist and songwriter Spilata has takes the New York City scene by storm with his sophistication, soul, and nonstop energy. He and his band host a birthday bash celebration--an evening of vocal acrobatics, swing, house music, and fearless artistry. A familiar face at Dizzy's Club, Birdland, Smoke Jazz Club, and the historic Minton's Playhouse in Harlem, Spilata is redefining jazz for a new generation with his electrifying performances, commanding stage presence, and songwriting that bridges timeless traditions with contemporary culture. Pop on your dancing shoes and come prepared for a glamorous night that will shake your spirit loose! 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
Classical Music | Modern & Contemporary Chamber Works
Axiom music ensemble. Program: Elliott Carter (1908-2012) Instances Arlene Sierra (1970-) Game of Attrition Ruth Crawford Seeger (1901-1953) Music for Small Orchestra John Adams (1947-) Gnarly Buttons
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, tickets required
free, tickets required
Opera | Puccini's Suor Angelica: One-Act Opera with All-Women Cast
This gorgeous opera--one of the composer's personal favorites, yet rarely performed as he intended, with the visceral resonance of a genuine pipe organ--will be performed with a newly commissioned chamber orchestration. Suor Angelica takes place entirely inside a 17th-century convent cloister, lending a site-specific, immersive nature to this performance. A story of family, lies, and heartbreak set within the restrictive world of cloistered nuns, this is the only opera in Puccini's entire canon that features no men onstage (the male chorus sings offstage). It offers a fascinating, intimate look into female relationships and the dynamics of a religious order. Guest artist Mikhaela Mahony directs.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, tickets required
free, tickets required
Classical Music | String Chamber Music
Volunteer chamber music groups among musicians from The Doctors' Orchestra - The Doctors' Orchestral Society of New York - offer a night of small group music. Musicians will offer a variety of pieces in a musical buffet and offer some chat about the music.
Manhattan, New York, NY
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7:30 pm
free, donations welcome
free, donations welcome
Poetry Reading | Evening of Local Poetry
Enjoy an evening of poetry with local poet and playwright Galinsky, with "Five Minute Features" from a dozen poets of all styles.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
8:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
8:00 pm
Regular: $20
Member: $0
Regular: $20
Member: $0
Join the Club!
8:00 pm
Regular: $30
Member: $0
Regular: $30
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Performance | Award-Winning Actor in Critically-Acclaimed Performance
Regular Price: $60CFT Member Price: $0.00
Classical Music | "Virtuoso" Pianist Performs Works by Liszt & More
Regular Price: $50CFT Member Price: $0.00
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