55 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Saturday, August 5, 2017
All events are free unless otherwise noted.
The “Spirit of the Game” lives on. Enjoy drop-in, organized games of Ultimate Frisbee and learn why ...
more >> this is becoming a fast-growing sport all around the world.
8:00 am
free, no reservation required
This is a 3-hour tour that begins with a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, an icon of New York City for ...
more >> over 125 years, with spectacular views of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The tour then moves on to a stroll of Brooklyn Heights, America’s and New York City’s first suburb. The tour then explores the neighborhood DUMBO before ending at the Fulton Ferry landing.
The 3-hour walking and subway tour covers the Financial District including Wall Street and the World ...
more >> Trade Center, SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown. These are neighborhoods that simply can’t be fully appreciated from a bus. There will be one or two opportunities to sample tasty treats.
Greenwich Village is among Manhattan's most desirable and expensive residential neighborhoods. It's history, ...
more >> however, betrays it's monied status. The Village, with it's quiet, shaded streets, lined with lovely brick and brownstone townhouses, was once the incubating ground of artistic, social and political movements that have helped shape US history. From the Beats to the Folk Movement, from workers rights to gay rights, the Village has often been the center of it all.
Although world famous, Harlem may be New York's best kept secret with some of the city's best architecture, ...
more >> food, music and people. Harlem's history is also one of the city's most dramatic, having gone through many ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic changes over the past roughly 400 years, which have resulted in a diverse array of places of worship, theaters, homes and eating establishments.
Editor's Pick
Paint in watercolor, or use pastels, chalk, and charcoal to capture the magical vistas of the Hudson ...
more >> River and the unique landscape. An artist/educator will help participants of all levels with instruction and critique. Art materials provided. Please note that this program is for adult participants (age 18 and up).
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
Hear the story behind New York City's park in the sky. Weekly guided 75-minute walking tours led by knowledgeable ...
more >> volunteer guides will offer you an insider's perspective on the park's history, design, and landscape. Takes place Saturdays May 2 -October 31 2017.
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
Editor's Pick
Glide along the water while kayaking with the boathouse at the floating dock. Children under 18 must ...
more >> have an adult guardian present. All levels are welcome and no experience is necessary. Additional Rules for Kayaking: - Singles are for adults, or any kayaker with a parent/guardian present that is at least 14 years old. - Doubles are for one adult and no more than one child under 14 or paddler that needs assistance. - Please show up at least 1 hour before closing, as that is when the line closes and the last boats go out. - Weather permitting. Thursdays 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm and Saturdays 10 am - 3 pm, June 3 - August 26, 2017.
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
Experience the joy of dance with dancers from the Limón Dance Company. Open to all levels.
New York City, NY; NYC
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
Editor's Pick
New York City-based choreographer and dancer Netta Yerushalmy will use the park as a site for creation ...
more >> and experimentation in dance. Offering a dynamic schedule of performances, Danspace Project‘s Yerushalmy will use the outdoor space to express the limits of her craft by spending entire days dancing in the park.
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
Free fun for the whole family, including arts, crafts, antiques, plants, entertainment, games, and more.
New York City, NY; NYC
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
Veteran Donald Calliste leads a class to tone and define your core, lower back, and glutes combined with ...
more >> cardio exercises that will maximize your fat-burning potential. This event repeats every Saturday until September 30, 2017.
10:30 am
free, no reservation required
This open level Gentle Flow class, led by teacher Jess Cambronero, will begin with the postures and dialogue ...
more >> that introduce the physical theme of the class and set an intention for the practice. Students will move through a slower-paced vinyasa flow with postures integrated into the sequence. Classes will be sequenced in a way that leads the practitioner to stretch and strengthen the body gradually. Modifications to ease or advance a posture will be offered to students throughout the class, as well as thoughtful suggestions for alignment, technique, and self-inquiry. The closing asanas will focus on calming the body and mind, incorporating breathing techniques, body scans, and guided meditation. Please bring your own mat, as well as any props you wish to use, such as blankets or blocks.
10:30 am
free, no reservation required
5 miles at moderate pace. Walk around the park by following the orange trail. Then continue walk along ...
more >> Austin St. to the subway station, where you can take E, F, or R train back to the City. Bring lunch and water. Call on Friday evening for hiking status.
Join Shape Up NYC for Zumba in the park. Dance in the sun and get fit with friends. Colorful outfits ...
more >> are encouraged! This event repeats every Saturday until Sept. 30, 2017.
11:00 am
free, no reservation required
Distance: 4 1/2 miles. Mostly flat, at moderate pace along the East River's Shore Road in Brooklyn. Following ...
more >> Shore Road to Owl's Head Park, continue to 48th Street, in Sunset Park section, for an optional late lunch/early dinner. Bring snacks, food and water. Call leader for hike status or information.
Travel from Grand Army Plaza, past the Pond and Gapstow Bridge, and stop at the Dairy on this trip through ...
more >> the southern Park highlights. Route involves moderate inclines and some stairs. 45 minutes.
11:00 am
free, no reservation required
Stretch it out with this free beginner’s yoga class for Adults 19+ with the staff of the Chinatown ...
more >> YMCA. No experience is necessary. Wear loose fitted clothing. It is recommended not to eat two hours before the class. Please bring your own yoga mat and a block. Participants will be required to sign a waiver. July 22nd and 29th and August 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th, 2017
Steeped in artistic, political and progressively social history, Greenwich Village today remains a cultural ...
more >> melting pot. The ‘Village’ has been, and remains a bohemian capital, a center of the modern LGBT movement and one of the birthplaces of the ‘Beat’ and 60’s counter cultures. See for yourself the places where so much history has been made, and the places where today’s locals continue the Village vibe. Led by a licensed guide, the tour lasts about 90 minutes and features unique and interesting information on the various social, architectural and/or historic aspects of the neighborhood.
11:30 am
free, no reservation required
John Crant shows you how to build and manage your Professional Network with LinkedIn. Learn about networking ...
more >> and how to do it effectively; how to get started with LinkedIn.com’s networking personal profiles; how to expand your network; and how to utilize your new network in your search for your next career challenge. Don’t wait until you are looking for a new job –today is the day you should be building your network for tomorrow so that you don’t get left behind.
11:30 am
free, no reservation required
Featuring more than 150 lovable dogs and cats from more than a dozen different rescue organizations. ...
more >> Free personalized pet tag giveaways and free photos of pets and their people. Free face painting and temporary tattoos for kids. Fees for pet adoptions vary by rescue organization. Dog licenses for only $8.50 ($34 for animals that have not been spayed/neutered) will be available from the NYC Department of Health. Important information to help pet owners prepare for emergencies will be provided by New York Emergency Management (EM) / Ready New York. Vetco, which provides wellness services for dogs and cats at Petco and Unleashed stores, will offer free microchipping for dogs and cats. The event takes place rain or shine.
12:00 pm
free, no reservation required
An afternoon of theater as Piney Fork Press /Equity Library Theater presents their Summer Play Festival ...
more >> in New York! Part one of thirty short plays over three weekends. Selections will include the following: Mark Blickley - Telemachus Triumphs Lora Danley - A Midnight Rose Josiah Mullins - Will You Marry Me? Linda Kampley - The Lamp Danny Mig - The White Room Anghus Houvouras - Penmanship Olivia Reevell - Food That is not from a Can Susan Masters - Going Home Rosemary Frisino Toohey - Grace Goes To Sea Steve Fogleman - The Glove
12:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Through poetry, music, and stories, a remarkable group of artist activists give voice to the movements ...
more >> working to uphold and extend LGBTQ, women’s, civil, immigrant, and human rights. Poetry: Safia Elhillo, Denice Frohman, Patricia Spears Jones, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Venessa Marco, Tracie Morris, Urayoán Noel, Gabriel Ramirez, Paul Tran, and Crystal Valentine Music: Haleh Liza, James Lovell, Melvis Santa & Ellas-Son, Orquesta Criolla Nacional de Puerto Rico, Mapeyé, and Be Steadwell
12:00 pm
free, no reservation required
A celebration of 8th Street, its rich cultural history, businesses and institutions, featuring live music, ...
more >> food, pop-up gardens, arts, culture and fun for the whole family.
12:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Editor's Pick
1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Stars: Rosalind Russell, Forrest Tucker, Coral Browne. An orphan goes to live with his free-spirited ...
more >> aunt. Conflict ensues when the executor of his father's estate objects to the aunt's lifestyle. 143 min.
1:30 pm
free, no reservation required
New York City is a mecca for graffiti and street art, making it a very attractive playground for artists ...
more >> from around the world. Bushwick, in a working class district on the north side of Brooklyn adjacent to Williamsburg, has been attracting artists for some time now. The neighborhood has a fair collection of art studios and galleries, but it’s Bushwick’s industrial landscape that’s attracting the street artist. If you came looking for 1960′s Greenwich Village, you’ll find something brewing in Bushwick. Tour takes place Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Editor's Pick
The musical pits a Catholic school girl and a subway conductor against a Monster Puppet as they fight ...
more >> for the health and safety of all New Yorkers, the civil rights of America and finally, the future of our planet. This is the story of the awakening of America's true Patriots to do battle with the Monster of Apple Pie fascism and the Pumpkin Head of state, whose mission lies in golf courses and hotels, Russian dances, corporate princes and the power of money.
2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Speaker, trainer, and certified professional coach, Barbara Phillips, will help you define, design and ...
more >> experience the life of your dreams. Turn your greatest possibility into your reality!
2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
The 3-hour walking and subway tour covers the Financial District including Wall Street and the World ...
more >> Trade Center, SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown. These are neighborhoods that simply can’t be fully appreciated from a bus. There will be one or two opportunities to sample tasty treats.
Statistics show that criminals scam victims out of billions of dollars every year using various types ...
more >> of fraudulent activities. Avoid becoming a victim yourself. Learn how to recognize the tricks of a con artist and the tell-tale warning signs of a scam.
2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Editor's Pick
Get out in the sun and dance at the Silent Summer Dance Party with the help of Quiet Events. Put your ...
more >> headphones on and the sounds of the party pulse to life as you groove to your choice of live DJs or a set playlist. Headphones are free. Deposit is required.
2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
You've seen the iconic skyscrapers, attended a Broadway show, visited Lady Liberty and relaxed in Central ...
more >> Park. Looking for a little more of the Big Apple? Maybe it's time to visit some of Manhattan's oldest and most enchanting historic districts. Take a relaxing stroll through SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown.
A dramatic overview of the darkest chapter in Hollywood history: the blacklist of the 1940s and 1950s ...
more >> Cold War years when hundreds of entertainment industry artists were rendered unemployable as anti-communist hysteria rocked the nation.
2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
The tour explores the social and political history of the Union Square neighborhood through discussions ...
more >> of the people, history, architecture, and forces that have shaped this community. You’ll hear how Union Square got its name, see where the legendary Tiffany & Co. once stood, and learn how to read the clock (yes, it’s a clock!) on “The Metronome” sculpture and so much more! This tour takes place every Saturday.
2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Discover some of the Central Park secret sites that West Siders know and love: a lost village, a poetic ...
more >> garden, and a bridge with a spectacular view. Join Central Park Conservancy guides on this tour through Central Park's historic and picturesque west side. Highlights of this tour include Winterdale Arch, Delacorte Theater, Shakespeare Garden, the Swedish Cottage, and Ladies' Pavilion. Tour ends near 72nd Street and Central Park West.
2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Is the news in your newsfeed trustworthy? How do you differentiate between fact and falsehood? There ...
more >> is an abundance of information available online, accessible through Google searches, news apps, and social media “news feeds” like the one you see on Facebook. The constant, rapid proliferation of information online can be overwhelming and confusing, and not everything that you see is accurate, credible, fact-based information. In this single, interactive session you will learn some practical tips and tricks for combatting information overload and developing a healthy media diet in the current, chaotic climate.
Editor's Pick
A family-friendly gathering of community, cultures, and music lovers of all ages. Vibe to sounds spun ...
more >> by a collection of North America’s renowned sound architects.
3:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Editor's Pick
Norte Maar returns for its 5th season bringing dancemakers and their companies to the Park’s main stage ...
more >> set on the East River waterfront. Internationally recognized for its large-scale sculpture and multi-media installations, Socrates partners with Norte Maar, renowned for their cross-disciplinary collaborative projects, to present this choreographic residency in the Park dedicated to the creation and presentation of dance.
4:00 pm
free, no reservation required
4:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Editor's Pick
Decorate your own palm leaf lamp and release it in the East River as part of the traditional Aarti ceremony ...
more >> for peace and harmony. The Aarti ceremony is traditionally presented each morning and evening in order to convey gratitude and ask for protection from mother river. As we enter Hurricane season, please join us to decorate palm leaf lamps and set them assail along the East River. Audience members are also invited to join in the traditional percussion ensemble led by Paulomm which accompanies the ceremony. Guest performing artists will also present their work.
4:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Editor's Pick
Performers: - The Jimmy Heath Big Band with Special Guests Three-time Grammy Award nominee Jimmy Heath ...
more >> takes the stage with his 14-piece swinging big band. - The Allan Harris Band International award-winning jazz vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Allan Harris performs ballads reminiscent of Nat King Cole and swinging Frank Sinatra standards. - Matthew Whitaker Trio A 16-year-old organist and pianist, Matthew Whitaker began playing music at the age of three. His resume is outstanding for any young musician; for a blind musician, it is even more impressive. Bring a picnic blanket, snacks, and dancing shoes for the fun event! Weather permitting.
4:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Editor's Pick
At the monthly First Saturdays, thousands of visitors enjoy free programs of art and entertainment, including ...
more >> dynamic performances and participatory experiences.
5:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Elza Soares Elza da Conceição Soares has achieved what most people can only dream of. She has remained ...
more >> a superstar in her field for over six decades, melodically soaring through the ages. A native of Rio de Janeiro, Soares began her professional singing career in the 1950s, when she joined Mercedes Batista on a dazzling samba tour of Argentina. Her popularity grew exponentially when she released her debut Se Acaso Você Chegasse, in which she invoked a Louis Armstrong flavor as she incorporated jazz into samba-scat riffs. Liniker e os Caramelows Deep in the lush countryside of Brazil, a gifted gang of like-minded musicians came together. Led by the effervescent Liniker Barros, a transgender vocalist, Liniker e os Caramelows was assembled – never dreaming that they would one day tour the world, spreading their uplifting music. The first tracks that they ever recorded were based off Liniker’s personal letters, and thanks to the far-reaching power of Youtube, this band’s up-tempo songs spread like wildfire (over 10 million collective views). Teleseen Teleseen (DJ set) Special project of global underground DJ, a mix of deep & afro-house, samba and baile funk The primary project of nomadic DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Cyr, Teleseen weaves together musical influences from the global underground into a refreshingly unique mix.
6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
The Hudson Warehouse presents Shakespeare's history play, directed by Nicholas Martin-Smith. July 27 ...
more >> – Aug 20, Thursday through Sunday nights.
6:30 pm
Pay-what-you-can admission policy
Following his father's early death and the loss of possessions in France young Henry VI comes to the ...
more >> throne, under the protection of the duke of Gloucester. July 27-August 12, 2017, Thursdays through Saturdays.
7:00 pm
free, no reservation required
The Bard's tragedy of power and treacherous ambition comes to life in a panormic outdoor professional ...
more >> production.
7:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Editor's Pick
Rickytee and his CCB Reggae All-Stars are back. Bring your drums and any percussion instruments you might ...
more >> have down to the river and join in fun. Dancing, singing and audience participation is encouraged. Calling all blankets, picnic baskets, and candles!
7:00 pm
free, no reservation required
New York Ghost tours capture the spiritual side of the Big Apple through stories. famed explorers, native ...
more >> tribes, lost opportunities and political intrigue. With almost every step one takes through the West Village, one encounters the ghosts and spirits of New York City’s past. Every corner has its stories, every building has its haunted spirits.
Editor's Pick
On his latest album, Nels Cline tackles a combination of originals and American Songbook standards in ...
more >> a big-band jazz setting, which he’ll perform live at the bandshell. Also: Sam Amidon
7:30 pm
free, no reservation required
Editor's Pick
British music legend Nick Lowe, who rose to fame in the late ’70s with his Top 40 single “Cruel to ...
more >> Be Kind,” is a venerated songwriter and producer of classic albums by Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, and The Pretenders. Lowe’s latest musical persona—the mesmerizing, silver-haired pop poet who’s been holding audiences rapt across the world—joins forces with Nashville-based, luchador-masked surf rockers Los Straitjackets. Hailed for its fantastic live show, Brooklyn band Cut Worms evokes The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, and early Beatles harmonies in an opening set. “Elegant and nearly devastating.” – New York Times on Lowe’s performance "Live is best way to hear this stuff...exhilaration and fury.” – Pitchfork on Los Straitjackets
7:30 pm
free, no reservation required
Young Dancemakers Company is a unique summer ensemble of 17 ethnically diverse New York City teens, creating ...
more >> and performing their original choreography under the direction of founder and Bessie-award winner Alice Teirstein and music director William Catanzaro. Every year the ensemble also performs a dance by a noted choreographer, and this year they will appear in an excerpt from Jose Limon's "A Choreographic Offering," taught by Kristen Foote, a principal dancer with the Limon Dance Company. Performances end with the lively "Dance With Us," in which audience members with dancing feet are invited onto the stage to improvise with the dancers.
7:30 pm
free, RSVP required
New York is a skyscraper city and there is no better time to view Manhattan’s icons than after the ...
more >> sun sets and the lights go on. Fueled by competition and a dash of audacity, New York City is still producing one of mankind’s most remarkable skyline. NOTE** THIS TOUR SPENDS MUCH TIME INDOORS OR IN SUBWAYS AND GREAT FOR ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS. Please note they do utilize the subway on this tour so you will need $5 for subway.
Dr. Stephen Strange's (Benedict Cumberbatch) life changes after a car accident robs him of the use of ...
more >> his hands. When traditional medicine fails him, he looks for healing, and hope, in a mysterious enclave. He quickly learns that the enclave is at the front line of a battle against unseen dark forces bent on destroying reality. Before long, Strange is forced to choose between his life of fortune and status or leave it all behind to defend the world as the most powerful sorcerer in existence. Arrive by 7:30 p.m. to get your spot. Feel free to bring a blanket to sit on; there will be a limited supply of chairs available. Bottled water is OK, but no glass.
8:00 pm
free, no reservation required
The theater will transform into the most enchanted forest in all of theater in Shakespeare’s beloved ...
more >> comedy. When the merry sprite Puck meddles with a magical love potion, young lovers lost in the woods mysteriously find themselves infatuated with the wrong person in this hilarious, fairytale fantasia that proves the course of true love never did run smooth. Lear deBessonet, founder of The Public Theater’s groundbreaking Public Works program and Resident Director, brings her electric theatrical vision to the classic romance about the supernatural nature of love. July 11-15; July 17-22; July 24-29; July 31-August 6; August 8-13.
8:00 pm
Free tickets required