free things to do in New York City
Free events for Friday, 12/17/10
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More
34 free events take place on Friday, December 17 in New York City.
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34 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Friday, December 17, 2010

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Conference | The Critical Gift of Design


A workshop-based conference. Friday’s events include introductory remarks by Swiss designer Ruedi Baur that respond to the keynote address and set a framework for the conference. The following four workshops will be conducted simultaneously in breakout groups and presented for general discussion: * The History and the Future of the Radical Gift of Design: Critical Design Discourse, Practice, and History and Their Influence on the Future of Design * The Critical Gift of Communication: The Limits and Extents of Design as Communication * The Gifted Theory of Design: Designing as Giving—Excess and Exchange * The Social Construction of the Gift of Design: Gender, Pluralism, and Design Futures
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 am
Free

Tour | Federal Reserve Bank Tour


Learn about central banking functions that Federal Reserve System performs and see Bank's vault of international monetary gold on bedrock of Manhattan Island, five stories below street level. Learn why Federal Reserve has "Federal" in its name, while it's a private bank, not Federal at all. Congressman Ron Paul considers the Federal Reserve "both corrupt and unconstitutional" Five tours daily on the hour.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:30 am
Free...

Other | Artists' Open Studios on Governors Island


Swing Space visual artists-in-residence open their studios at the culmination of their residencies. Sixteen individual artists and two collaborative groups have been working since August, developing new projects in a wide range of media. Come see the exciting work they have created. Resident artists include: Lee Arnold, Gretchen Bennett, J Carpenter, Rick Caruso, David Colosi, Shingo Francis, Mariam Ghani + Erin Ellen Kelly, Aoife Hand, Christina Kelly, Michael Krondl, Jessica Lagunas, Carolyn Lambert + Siobhan Rigg, Katherine McLeod, Joy Nagy, Kirsten Nelson, Evan Robarts, and Shino Soma.
   New York City, NY; NYC
10:00 am
Free

Workshop | Computer Surfing for 50+


Hands on using wireless laptops. Explore websites of special interest to active older adults.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free...

Tour | Cathedral Tour


Explore the Cathedral's newly cleaned and restored Nave. Learn about the art, architecture and history of this great sacred space from 1892 to the present.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
$6

Tour | Times Square Tour


Learn about history of world-famous neighborhood with its 40 miles of neon supersigns, prominent theaters, and multiple megastores. Rain or shine.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | A capella Holiday Music with the Big Apple Chorus


Festive music from the delightful Big Apple Chorus. This popular NYC ensemble will perform a cappella versions of your favorite holiday tunes.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Tour | Grand Central and Its Neighborhood


Discover architecture and social history of Grand Central neighborhood; learn secrets of Whispering Gallery in Grand Central Terminal; gaze upon hubcaps and roadsters on side of Chrysler Building; discover favorite Midtown Manhattan hangout of Mercury, Hercules, and Minerva; learn why Pershing Square isn’t really square; visit original Lincoln Memorial by Daniel Chester French. Award-winning tour led by urban explorer, historian, and storyteller Justin Ferate.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Tour | Cathedral Tour


Explore the Cathedral's newly cleaned and restored Nave. Learn about the art, architecture and history of this great sacred space from 1892 to the present.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
$6

Concert | Chamber Music Department Afternoon Concert


This concert is a chamber music recital featuring ensembles from the College Division Chamber Music Program.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Film | Ken Loach's The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2007): Brother vs. Brother


With Cillian Murphy. A sympathetic look at Republicans in early 20th century Ireland, and two brothers who are torn apart by anti-Brit rebellion. 127 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Screening | Short Films on Native Americans


Showing: Clay Beings and With the Grain: The Life and Art of Willard Stone. Starts at 1pm and 3pm.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Talk | French filmmaker Marie Losier discusses her work


Losier will discuss her whimsical, uniquely personal portraits of avant-garde artists such as Guy Maddin, Richard Foreman, Tony Conrad, and Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, among others. Her films have been presented at numerous international institutions including Tate Modern, London; the Whitney Museum of American Art; PS1 Contemporary Art Center; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; and screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, New York; the Berlin Film Festival; Cinemathèque Francaise; and the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Dance Performance | Open Rehearsal of the Faye Driscoll Dance Group


Driscoll and her dancers invite guests to experience rehearsals of early explorations of new work; a duet featuring Driscoll and Jesse Zaritt, which examines beauty through myth, ritual, masculine/feminine bleed of power, and the performance of dissolving selves. What is the beauty of real transformation? Is it like a snake shedding its skin versus a cultural obsession with self-improvement like botox lips? How are they indicators of the same urge?
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:30 pm
Free

Film | Phil Morrison's Academy Award Nominee Junebug (2005): Meet the In-Laws


A dealer in "outsider" art travels from Chicago to North Carolina to meet her new in-laws, challenging the equilibrium of this middle-class Southern home. 105 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Slide Lecture | Out of the Blacking Factory: Charles Dickens at the Library


Aside from Shakespeare, no writer has more thoroughly engaged the public’s imagination than Charles Dickens; no gallery of characters is more varied or memorable. This presentation covers various aspects of Dickens’s life and reputation, and the various illustrators who added a crucial visual element to his verbal design. Some notable editions of his work will be on display.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:15 pm
free, no reservation required

Workshop | Teach Yourself: Computer Self-Study


Hands on using wireless laptops. Discover free computer tutorials on the web. Search NYPL's Catalog for books, DVDs and eBooks to help you learn computer programs and concepts on your own. Find resources on Word, Excel, Office 2007, the Internet, typing and other topics.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:30 pm
Free...

Concert | Josephine Chan Yung, Piano & Norman Dee, Flute


PROGRAM Mozart Sonata in G Major, K. 301 for Piano Widor Suite for Flute and Piano Schubert Fantasy in C Major, D. 934 (Op. Posth. 159)
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Other | Friday Wine Tastings


Taste several wines from the selection of small-production California producers as well as hand-picked gems from other regions around the world. Join the lively after work and neighborhood crowd in toasting the start of another weekend.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Other | Holiday Lights


Please join a bright tradition, the holiday lighting of Ambrose, part of the Free Friday program. There will be ongoing holiday craft table in the museum lobby from 5-7:30pm. At about 6:15 pm we’ll gather on to watch as Ambrose is lit with hundreds of holiday lights. Cookies and cider will be served.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:15 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Annual Holiday Concert


Come and join the festivities in this annual holiday concert! Young talented musicians including Kristin Lee, violin (a member of Chmber Music Society of Lincoln Center II), Patrick Jee,cello (a member of Chicago Opera Orchestra), Kyung Sun Choi, soprano (Metropolitan Opera finalist), Yong Kyung Park, mezzo soprano (winner of many competitions and active singer in the city) present a night of holiday cheer, friendship and Christmas carols.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Theater | Dzieci Theatre presents Fools Mass


Fools Mass is set during the plague years, somewhere in medieval Europe. A group of village idiots are forced to enact their own mass due to the sudden death of their beloved pastor, an extraordinary man who had given them shelter and trained them to sing. The piece is full of buffoonery and comic audience participation, as well as choral singing of sacred hymns and chants from the 8th through the 17th centuries, producing a vigorous example of Sacred Theatre.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
$15 suggested donation

Concert | Evan Ginzburg’s Legends Radio presents music and readings


An eclectic mix of the arts: Vocalist Laura Fay Lewis; Vocalist Constance Taylor; The Mike McHugh Revue featuring Mike McHugh (songs and spoken word); Roger Blanc (guitar); Michael Sheehan (spoken word); Evan Ginzburg reads from his book Apartment 4B, Like in Brooklyn; Poet Jon Winell.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
No cover

Concert | Holiday Caroling Concert


The choirs of the Youth Chorus and the ISO-Trinity-Florentine Youth Orchestra (PS 89, PS 315, Chinatown-Florentine, Peppercorn, Junior and Senior Choristers) offer an informal concert of holiday music. There will be a reception after the concert. All are welcome!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Lecture | New Light on The New Moon - Plus Stargazing


Another great Friday night stargazing and public lecture series featuring Dr. Arlin Crotts, Columbia University Professor of Astronomy, giving a talk entitled: "New Light on The New Moon". The public talk starts at 7 pm and stargazing and telescope viewing starts at 7:30 pm. Remember, all of our events are free and open to all. The lectures are aimed at the lev...el of the layperson, so children should get something out of them too. Stay only as long as you want. Bring warm clothes for windy and cold conditions on the roof. Abstract for talk: In the past few years satellites have orbited the Moon sent from the U.S.A., Europe, Japan, India and China. They have found some amazing things. Let's look at some of them. Why is this happening now?
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Piano Works by Beethoven and Schumann


With John McCauley, piano.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Jazz | Vocal Blues Ensemble


Directed by Junior Mance.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Performance | Don't Touch Me There Comedy Show


Sketches, standup, live music, and holiday surprises! Hosted by Pat Stango & Blaine Perry. It's the special holiday spectacular, with lots of new short films and sketches, live music, plus special guests Sara Benincasa (Huffington Post; CNN) and Luke Cunningham (Comedy Central’s new Norm Macdonald sketch show).
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Faculty Performance: Joan Forsyth, piano


Faculty are superb instructors AND world-class performers! From classical to jazz to world music, this series presents some of the city's best artists in an intimate and acoustically beautiful environment. This concert features: Nadav Lev, guitar, and friends perform works by Boccherini and Reshef.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | An Evening of Chamber Music


Chamber Music Performed by Students.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Extension Sonata Class Concert


This recital features students from the Extension Division Sonata Class in an end-of-semester performance.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Vocal Chamber Ensemble


End of Semester Vocal Chamber Class Presentation.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Jazz | Instrumental Blues Ensemble


Directed by Junior Mance.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Songs with Cornelius Dufallo and Corey Dargel


Cornelius Dufallo is the violinist of vanguard new music group ETHEL. Corey Dargel is a composer-songwriter who has shared bills with names like Joanna Newsom, Grizzly Bear, and the International Contemporary Ensemble. Throw them together with a few dizzying digital loops and you get a fantastically dark, tight, witty song cycle about clinical depression (Every Day Is the Same Day), which, ironically enough, you’ll happily have stuck in your ears for days.
   New York City, NY; NYC
9:30 pm
No cover, no...
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Complimentary Tickets

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

Discussion | Major Political Correspondent in Conversation

Regular Price: $40
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Arias from Operas by Puccini & More

Regular Price: $40
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Play | Family Comedy at a Major Theater

Regular Price: $35
CFT Member Price: $0.00