free things to do in New York City
Free events for Wednesday, 08/16/23
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More

Are you looking for free things to do in New York City (NYC) on August 16, 2023?

44 free events take place on Wednesday, August 16 in New York City. Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides! Exciting, high quality, unique and off the beaten path free events and free things to do take place in New York today, tonight, tomorrow and each day of the year, any time of the day: whether it's a weekday or a weekend, day or night, morning or evening or afternoon, December or July, April or November! These events will take your breath away!

New York City (NYC) never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment. Check out August 16 and see for yourself. Summer or Winter, Spring or Fall! Just click on any day of the calendar above and you'll find most inspiring and entertaining free events to go to and free things to do on each day of August . Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides!

Some events take place all year long: same day of the week, same time there are there for you to take advantage of. One of the oldest free weekly events in Manhattan is Dixieland Jazz with the Gotham Jazzmen, which happen at noon every Tuesday. Another example of an event that you can attend all year round on weekdays is Federal Reserve Bank Tour, which takes place every week day at 1 pm (but advanced reservations are required). You can take at least 13 free tours every day of the year, except the New Year Day, July 4th, and the Christmas Day. If you are classical music afficionado, you can spend whole day in New York going from one free classical concert to another. If you love theater, then New York gives you an option to attend plays and musicals free of charge, or at deep discount. You just need to have information about it. And we are here to make that information available to you.
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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!

44 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday, August 16, 2023

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc Trumpeter Who Has Peformed at Carnegie Hall
free events nyc Dance Festival in the Park (in-person and online)
free events nyc Harlem Music Festival
free events nyc Steven Spielberg's The Terminal (2004): Living at the Airport with Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones
More Editor's Picks for 08/16/23
        

Workshop | Core Body Boot Camp


A community-driven pop-up fitness group for an early-morning core body boot camp. Rotations through exercises like crunches, planks, push-ups, burpees, and mountain climbers ensure a mixture of cardio and strength training that will keep you coming back, and seeing results. No equipment necessary; smiles and high fives welcome.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 am
Free

Workshop | Yoga on the River


Rejuvenate your body and jumpstart your morning.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 am
Free

Tour | 13 Tours, All City Neighborhoods, Any Time Of The Day, Choose One Tour Or Many


These free tours take place at various times during the day, all day long. You can make reservations for as many tours as your schedule allows. SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights + DUMBO 3 Hour Lower Manhattan Harlem Chelsea and the High Line 6 Hour Downtown Combined Greenwich Village Central Park Lower Manhattan Midtown Manhattan Grand Central Terminal Graffiti and Street Art Tours World Trade Center
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Workshop | Figure Al Fresco


This event offers a unique setting to observe and sketch the human figure. Each week a model will strike short and long poses for participants to draw. An artist/educator will offer constructive suggestions and critique. Drawing materials provided, and artists are encouraged to bring their own favorite media.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Park Walk | Park Tour: From Freight to Flowers


Hear the story behind New York City's park in the sky: an insider's perspective on the park's history, design, and landscape.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Dance Performance | Dance in Honor of Hip-Hop's 50th


The festivities surrounding hip-hop’s 50th anniversary continue in Lower Manhattan with a dance performance with Melanie Aguirre and beatmaker/rapper Meccagozilla.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Learn Juggling in the Park


Jugglers use the park throughout the year to provide free classes to the public. Stop by for a quick lesson, stay for the whole time, or just enjoy watching them put their skills to the test. They're a friendly group and open to drop-ins, even if you catch them outside of the regular juggling lessons. All skill levels welcome. Equipment is provided.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Discussion | Portals of Light: The Stained Glass of the Cathedral (online)


Learn about the history of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine's stained glass windows and the future of their repair and preservation. Featuring: Jim Patterson - Director, Facilities and Capital Projects Jean Phifer - Director, Thomas Phifer and Partners Ruth Whaley-  Manager, Community and Educational Initiatives
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Concert | Singer-Songwriter's Vivid Genre-Blending


J. Hoard interweaves genres to articulate his vivid songwriting. This eclectic approach has yielded songwriting collaborations on two Grammy-award winning albums (Black Coffee - 2022 "Subconsciously" Dance Album & Chance the Rapper - 2017 "Coloring Book" Rap album). Additionally, he works closely with artists such as Brasstracks, Endea Owens, Jose James and the legendary Meshell Ndegeocello (credited vocalist on her 2019 Grammy nominated "Ventriloquism" album).
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Bach at Noon (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.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:20 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Author Panel: Debut Writers


Featuring: Christy Cashman, The Truth About Horses Javier Fuentes, Countries of Origin Eddie Ndopu, Sipping Dom Pérignon Through a Straw: Success as a Disabled Achiever Joshunda Sanders, Women of the Post
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Park Walk | Central Park Walk: Swimming (online)


Come on in, the water’s fine! Dive into the past, present, and future of swimming in Central Park.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Concert | Piano in the Park


Come on by and tap your toes to The Big Apple's finest ragtime, stride, and jazz pianists around! Featuring special events and performances by distinguished musicians. Today's pianist: Kuni Mikami.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Workshop | Adult Chorus


Directed by Church Street School of Music, the chorus is open to all who love to sing. Learn contemporary and classic songs and perform at community events throughout the year.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Jazz | Standards from the American Songbook


Jazz guitarist Bill Wurtzel and guests play standards from the American Songbook. Bill Wurtzel began playing guitar at age 9, and was a radio and TV country music performer by age 12. He attended art school and had a career as an award-winning advertising creative director. He continued to play professionally and switched to music full time in 1989. Bill has played worldwide with many jazz legends, including the Count Basie Countsmen, Wild Bill Davis, Bill Doggett, Jimmy McGriff, the Harlem Blues & Jazz Band, singers Gloria Lynne and Terri Thornton, as well as Paul Simon. Bill is a director of the Jazz Foundation of America.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Knitting Class Outdoors


Take part in beginner classes with Knitty City on the gravel across from the Bryant Park Grill. Volunteers are avalible to teach you how to cast, knit, purl, and more! Yarn and needles are provided.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:30 pm
Free

Film | Air Force One (1997) with Harrison Ford


After making a speech in Moscow vowing to never negotiate with terrorists, President James Marshall boards Air Force One with his family and advisers. When a group of terrorists led by Ivan Korshunov hijacks the flight, the President's principles are put to the test. Feigning escape, ex-solider Marshall stows away in the aircraft and must race against time to rescue his family and everyone else on board. Director: Wolfgang Petersen Cast: Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Wendy Crewson, Paul Guilfoyle, William H. Macy, Liesel Matthews, Dean Stockwell Harrison Ford is an American actor. He has been a leading man in films of several genres and is regarded as an American cultural icon. His films have grossed more than $5.4 billion in North America and more than $9.3 billion worldwide, making him the seventh-highest-grossing actor in North America. He is the recipient of various accolades, including the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2000, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2002, in addition to an Academy Award nomination.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Elements of Nature Drawing


A community of artists of all skill levels are inspired by our surroundings to create with drawing materials, pastels and watercolors. Embolden your artwork amidst the flower-filled and seasonally evolving palette of the verdant gardens. An artist/educator will provide ideas and instruction. Materials provided, and artists are encouraged to bring their own favorite media.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Gallery Talk | Ceija Stojka: What Should I Be Afraid Of?: Exhibition Tour


Comprised of ninety paintings and drawings culled from collections in Europe and the United States, the installation celebrates the extraordinary art and life of Romni artist, writer, activist, and educator Ceija Stojka, survivor of Auschwitz, Ravensbrück, and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps. A monograph will be published on the occasion of this exhibition. Born to a traveling horse trading family of the Lovara Romani group in Austria in 1933, Stojka first began to write down her recollections in the mid-1980s when she was fifty-six years old. Her memoir Wir leben im Verborgenen: Aufzeichnungen einer Romni zwischen den Welten (We Live in Secrecy: Notes of a Romani Woman between Worlds), which was released in 1988, distinguished her as a leading advocate for remembering the Porajmos (Devouring), the Romani Holocaust. The exhibition title, What Should I be Afraid of?, cites one of Stojka’s poems, in which she describes how her personal experience of the Porajmos resulted in her fearless and passionate embrace of life going forward.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Concert | Trio Blends Brazilian, African, and Portuguese Sounds


Forro is a rich example from northeastern Brazil of how the blending of different styles can create a musical genre that is truly for all. Featuring accordion, zabumba and triangle accompanying rhythmic vocal harmonies, Trio Arrebol explores the intersection of Indigenous Brazilian, African, Portuguese and Caribbean cultures to present a style that makes you want to dance and relax in equal measure!
   New York City, NY; NYC
3:30 pm
Free

Book Club | Poetry Discussion: Ariel by Sylvia Plath


Ariel is an acclaimed anthology of vivid and emotionally shattering poems, written during the last months of Plath's short life. Ariel was the second book of Sylvia Plath's poetry to be published. It was originally published in 1965, two years after her death.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:30 pm
Free

Concert | Experimental Music in the Heart of the City


Brooklyn-based leading nonprofit cultural center Pioneer Works, known for their experimental music program and residency, will curate and present a series of musical performances featuring past, current, and future musicians-in-residence across a variety of genres. Tonight: The Chutneys
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Kayaking in the Park


Glide along the water this summer and fall! Kayaking is offered throughout the summer. All levels are welcome including first-time kayakers - life vests and all equipment provided, as well as instruction. Children under 18 must have an adult guardian present.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Concert | Trumpeter Who Has Peformed at Carnegie Hall


Eganam "EGO" Segbefia got his start busking at the Grand Central Shuttle train station in 2015 as a member of MTA's Music Under New York program, and since then, has performed at notable venues across New York City such as The Greene Space, Cathedral of St. John The Divine, the much-revered Carnegie Hall and The Connaught in London Eganam was born in Lagos, Nigeria to Ghanaian parents, Moses and Dzineli, an Electrical Engineer and a Chef. His name comes from the Ewe language of Ghana, Africa.
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Wellness Wednesdays


Curated by Sputnik Yoga, Wellness Wednesdays will offer a variety of fitness and wellness themed classes on a weekly basis. Bring your own yoga mat or blanket. Wednesdays, May 3 - October 25, 2023.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson by Pulitzer Prize Winner Sally H. Jacobs


A conversation with prize-winning former Boston Globe reporter Sally H. Jacobs, author of the latest biography Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson, and Katrina Adams, the first African American to lead the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Following the book talk, there will be a book signing with Jacobs and Adams and a DJ reception to toast the many women in Harlem breaking barriers. Copies of Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson by Sally H. Jacobs and Own the Arena: Getting Ahead Making a Difference, and Succeeding as the Only One by Katrina Adams, will be available for purchase. About Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson In 1950, three years after Jackie Robinson first walked onto the diamond at Ebbets Field, the all-white, upper-crust US Lawn Tennis Association opened its door just a crack to receive a powerhouse player who would integrate "the game of royalty." The player was a street-savvy young Black woman from Harlem named Althea Gibson who was about as out-of-place in that rarefied and intolerant world as any aspiring tennis champion could be. Her astonishing performance on the court soon eclipsed the negative feelings being cast her way as she eventually became one of the greatest American tennis champions. Gibson had a stunning career. Raised in New York and trained by a pair of tennis-playing doctors in the South, Gibson’s immense talent on the court opened the door for her to compete around the world. She won top prizes at Wimbledon and Forest Hills time and time again. Althea became the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated and the second to appear on the cover of Time. In a crowning achievement, Althea Gibson became the No. One ranked female tennis player in the world for both 1957 and 1958. Seven years later she broke the color barrier again where she became the first Black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). About the Speakers Katrina Adams served as the first African American to lead the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the first two-term Chairman and President of the UTSA and the first former player to hold that honor. Under her tutelage, the USTA achieved a number of major milestones, including the opening of the 100-court USTA National Campus in Orlando, the strategic transformation of the $600 million USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. and an unprecedented outreach effort into underserved communities in an effort to share the sport of tennis with more people. She has spent time as vice president of the International Tennis Federation and the Executive Director of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program, to name a few. Sally H. Jacobs is a former reporter for the Boston Globe, a winner of the coveted George Polk Award, and the winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Reporting along with the Globe newsroom. She is the author of The Other Barack, a biography of Barack Obama’s father.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Columbia University MFA Summer Exhibition: Group Show


With Kai Oh, Shuai Yang, Julian Zehnder, Sangmin Lee, Conor Dowdle, Kevin Cobb, Ian Ha, Aristotle Forrester, Robbie Rogers, Benjamin Salesse, Garrett Ball, Paul Rho, Char Jeré, Roxana Kadyrova, Jing Harren, Amadeo Morelos Favela, Calvin Kim, and Meaghan Elyse Lueck.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Concert | Nine-Player Marimba Ensemble in the Garden


Polyphony Marimba was founded in 2010 and has grown steadily with six national tours, three albums, and an ever-expanding fan base. Their mission is to create and sustain an acoustic ensemble of nine players who want to make a life out of the roots music of southern Africa, while contributing their own creative expression to that tradition. A live concert by Polyphony Marimba with Kevin Nathaniel Hylton. This is a family-friendly concert, all are welcome! Bring your positive vibration to enjoy unique marimba instruments from Zimbabwe.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Dancing | Salsa Social in the Park


Salsa Social is back. Class 6:00p-6:30p Social 6:30p-9:00p Come as you are, everyone is welcome and dancers of all levels are encouraged to participate.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Sunset Yoga


Namaste! Unwind from the day with outdoor yoga. Immerse yourself in this meditative practice- surrounded by the Hudson's peaceful aura. Strengthen the body and cultivate awareness in a relaxed environment as your instructor guides you through alignments and poses. All levels are welcome. Bringing your own mat is encouraged, as provided accessories are first come first serve.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Wednesday Evening Yoga


End your day right with this rejuvenating class.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Movie in a Park | Arctic Ascent: Climbing High Cliffs in Greenland


Greenland. With more unclimbed walls and mountains than anywhere else on Earth, it’s the world’s last great climbing frontier. World-famous climber Alex Honnold has always wanted to explore this huge island and summit its most dangerous and remote peaks. Now he’s put together a team to help him climb one of the highest sea cliffs in the world. Called “Ingmikortilaq” or “The Separate One” by the Inuit, it’s made of the oldest and hardest rock on the planet. Rising 4,000 feet straight out of an icy fjord, it is the highest unclimbed rock wall in the world and will push Alex and his team to their limits.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Workshop | Yoga on the River


An instuctor-led class for all levels.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Workshop | Yoga: Evening Salute to the Sun


End your day with yoga in a beautiful sunset setting. Suitable for all fitness levels. Please wear comfortable and bring your own mat.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Book Discussion | Undaunted: How Women Changed American Journalism


An essential history of women in American journalism, showcasing exceptional careers from 1840 to the present Brooke Kroeger's book is a representative history of the American women who surmounted every impediment put in their way to do journalism’s most valued work. From Margaret Fuller’s improbable success to the highly paid reporters of the mid-nineteenth century to the breakthrough investigative triumphs of Nellie Bly, Ida Tarbell, and Ida B. Wells, Kroeger examines the lives of the best-remembered and long-forgotten woman journalists. She explores the careers of standout woman reporters who covered the major news stories and every conflict at home and abroad since before the Civil War, and she celebrates those exceptional careers up to the present, including those of Martha Gellhorn, Rachel Carson, Janet Malcolm, Joan Didion, Cokie Roberts, and Charlayne Hunter-Gault.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Dance Performance | Dance Festival in the Park (in-person and online)


Dozens of dance companies -- local, bational and international -- take to the outdoor stage in this annual event. Aug. 12-18, 2023
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Jazz | Harlem Music Festival


This is the 49th annual Harlem Week celebration. Audiences can expect a showstopping jazz performance that speaks to the genre's rich cultural history and legacy in NYC.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Jazz | Jazz at the Pier


As a spirited tribute to NYC's storied history of jazz, this park-favorite series features local legends in a lineup of free performances on Manhattan's riverfront. Combining smooth tunes with beautiful evenings, it keeps music an integral part of city life. Tonight: Camille Gainer Jones and the Immortals
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Film | Sommerfilme: 8 Under-the-Radar German Films (online thru Aug 31)


These eight summer films portray the warm season rarely as carefree as it’s supposed to be. Summer, in the popular imagination, is a sun-drenched, fun-filled time spent exploring and dreaming of the possibilities that life holds for us. It’s the days we might spend at the beach, by the lake, or in a too-hot city. Summer is also a time to enjoy cinema, whether it’s in an air-conditioned theater or under the stars. The past decades have brought us summer films we all know and love: iconic blockbusters, tender coming-of-age tales, stories of new beginnings, and feel-good movies to watch over and over again. Films: Thomas Arslan, Bright Nights (2017) Ilker Catak, I Am, I Was, I Will Be (2019) Leonie Krippendorff, Cocoon (2020) Sonja Kröner, The Garden (2017) Johannes Maria Schmitt, Neubau (2021) Tom Sommerlatte, Summers Downstairs (2015) Sven Taddicken, The Most Beautiful Couple (2018) Joya Thome, Queen of Niendorf (2017) All films in German with English subtitles.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Movie in a Park | Sabrina (1954): Brothers Vie for Chauffeur's Daughter with Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn


A playboy becomes interested in the daughter of his family's chauffeur, but it's his more serious brother who would be the better man for her. Director: Billy Wilder Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden 113 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Movie in a Park | The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023): Video Game Characters in Blockbuster Film


A plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother, Luigi, trying to save a captured princess. Directors: Aaron Horvath Stars: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day 92 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Concert | Broadway en Spanglish


Husband and wife duo Jaime Lozano and Florencia Cuenca create Mexican musical magic on Broadway en Spanglish. With live accompaniment from the renowned Mariachi Real de México de Ramon Ponce, they deliver fresh interpretations of some of musical theater’s most iconic tunes with new arrangements by Lozano. Florencia is a Mexican singer-actor-writer-director and has been performing on stage since she was three years old. Jaime is a Mexican musical theatre composer-arranger-orchestrator-writer-director. Their work has been performed in venues such as Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, 54 Below, MASS MoCa, among many others. Together Florencia and Jaime moved to New York City seven years ago. They are husband and wife, partners, collaborators, and they are parents of a beautiful five—year old son named Alonzo — their American Dream.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Movie in a Park | Eternals (2021): More Marvel Superheroes


The saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations. Director: Chloe Zhao Stars: Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie 156 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:15 pm
Free

Movie in a Park | Steven Spielberg's The Terminal (2004): Living at the Airport with Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones


An Eastern European tourist unexpectedly finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary residence there. Director: Steven Spielberg Stars: Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Chi McBride
   New York City, NY; NYC
8:30 pm
Free
Complimentary Tickets

to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)

Play | A Play with Tony Nominated Director

Regular Price: $60.55
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Performance | A New Play: Tragedy, Resiliance, Humor and Hope

Regular Price: $72
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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