free things to do in New York City

Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City! Read More

38 free events take place in New York City on Sunday, May 23, 2010.

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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.

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that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
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free things to do in NYC
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38 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Sunday, May 23, 2010

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

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Hike | Freylinghuysen Arboretum, NJ Hike

About 6 miles, easy/moderate steady pace, hilly, trails, road-walking. Bring lunch/water. Heavy Rain cancels. CALL FOR FOR MEETING TIME AND TO CONFIRM ON 5/21 BEFORE 10PM.

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5:00 am
$3 plus train...

Other | Kayaking on the Hudson

Join 20-minute instructional paddles, then explore the Hudson River firsthand. Please wear a bathing suit or shorts and a t-shirt, and know how to swim. Weather permitting. Daily Weather Status: 1-646-613-0740.

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10:00 am
free, no reservation required

City Walk | Lower Manhattan Walking Tour

New York City's best and funniest walking tour. This high-energy tour will take you through the heart of the Lower Manhattan, entertaining you, your friends and family with stories, hidden secrets and relevant information about the Big Apple. The USA’s first capital city, a center of global finance and a tribute to over two centuries of immigration and the American experience - New York City's history is the history of America. And on every step of our tour, expert guides - part professors, part performers - will explain why.

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10:00 am
Free

Fair | Street Fair

A breath of fresh air in an our urban landscape dominated by mass-produced items and chain stores, this five-block street fair provides a reasonably priced venue for artists and independent designers coming from as far away as Florida to sell in the Big Apple.

New York

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10:00 am
free, no reservation required

Workshop | Viola da Gamba Workshop

Renowned musician and teacher José Vázquez is going to give a viola da gamba workshop. The participation is possible not just for viola da gamba players, but rather open to other instruments as well. Existing ensembles are welcome too.

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10:00 am
Free

Festival | Drums Along the Hudson

Native American Festival

New York

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

City Walk | Historic Orchard Street Tour

Take a journey down historic Orchard Street and discover the origins of New York's first discount retail district. The two-hour tour highlights the integral role that the shopping district has played in the history and development of the Lower East Side.

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Birdwatching | Redtail Reunion

Reconnect with the adored pair of redtailed hawks that continue to raise their young in this part of the Park.

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Parade | Salute to Israel Parade 2010

Looking toward Israel's 62nd year, we will once again be joined by tens of thousands of participants cheered on by an expected one million spectators. Parade spectators will watch a sea of blue and white, kachol v'lavan, as community leaders, American and Israeli dignitaries, celebrities, floats and marching bands come together with spirit, joy and enthusiasm. Rain or shine. Participants will include: * Shofar blowers opening the Parade * Celebrities, dignitaries, and politicians * Beautifully decorated floats * Lively marching bands * Street performers, clowns and jugglers * Scores of motorcycle riders bearing Israeli flags * Israeli flags and decorative banners

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Fair | Street Fair

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Fair | Street Fair

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Park Walk | Foraging in the Park Tour

Naturalist/author "Wildman" Steve Brill will lead one of his world-famous foraging tours of the park, which includes so many varied habitats. It's loaded with shoots and greens in mid-spring, and many of these are edible and medicinal.

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11:45 am
$15 suggested adult...

Concert | 7th Annual Mamapalooza Outdoor Extravaganza

Moms Rock! Celebrate mothers and the people who love them at this annual music and art-filled afternoon featuring mom bands Swingset Mamas, KORE, AudraRox and Moey’s Music Party, Catholic Girls, Jump With Jill, Skye ‘The Soul Poet’, Nancy Lombardo ‘Momedy’ MC, as well as a Gymboree Play Tent, arts & crafts, eco-environmental information, Smart4Kidz, food, vendors, interactive fun, and more! A yoga-thon pre-event takes place at 11am.

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12:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Author Reading | Colson Whitehead reads from his book Sag Harbor

Kick back to 1985 and feel the breeze, with Whitehead (The Colossus of New York) and his PEN/Faulkner-nominated “autographical fourth novel” full of 80’s pop-culture and stories aplenty.

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12:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Screening | Pacific Heritage Films

Daily screenings of films including "Rolling Down Like Pele" and "American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai'i "

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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Performance | Theatre for One

This is a portable, 4-foot-by-9-foot performing arts space for one performer and one audience member that turns public events into private acts, making each performance a singularly intimate exchange. Theatre for One will be presenting magic, poetry, dance, puppetry and theatre pieces created specifically for this venue. Open Hours are 1—3, 4—6 and 7—9pm. Performances are 5-10 minutes long. Weather permitting. Entrance inside the booth is on a first come first serve basis.

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1:00 pm
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.

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2:00 pm
$6

**Screening | Documentary: Chris Paine's Who Killed the Electric Car (2006)**

Investigates the development and demise of the fuel-efficient, environment-friendly electric car. Examines the Bush administration's role in the car's being pulled from production, the influence of the automobile industry and oil interests, and implications for the future of sustainable energy in the United States.

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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Other | Doggie Pedal Parade

Bring your dog and bicycle to the third annual Doggie Pedal Parade. They will ride their dogs in baskets and trailers attached to bikes, listen to doggie tunes playing on the "music bike", and end with a party complete with free snacks and drinks for all, including tofu dogs & vegan chocolate bars donated from Earth Matters & Rescue Chocolate. The ride will highlight bicycles adapted to transport pets as well as the benefits of adopting homeless animals. If you don't have a dog you're encouraged to still come on the ride or join the Safety Pooch Patrol to help escort the ride. If you don't ride a bike, you and your dog can still join at the end-of-the-ride party at Washington Square dog run, starting at approximately 3:30 PM. To prevent any Ruff Riding and for the fun and safety of the group, non-social pets are asked to stay at home.

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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Tour | Green Fields, Green Visions: Irish Poetry and Nature

Walking tour led by poet Jonathan Curley.

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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Let the Sunshine In! The Youth Chorus Spring Concert

Celebrate the season of spring with the Youth Chorus as they sing songs of sunshine. This fun and inspirational concert will feature the music of Natasha Bedingfield, Glee, The Beatles, The Fifth Dimension, Stevie Wonder, and others.

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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Tour | Murray Hill-“Remnants of a Gilded Age” Tour

The former B. Altman Building, Sniffen Court, the first home of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt, the Morgan Library and Museum, Scandinavia House and more!

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2:00 pm
$15, but only...

Theater | Workshop Presentation of CollaborationTown Theater Company's The Play About My Dad

Larry Killebrew is a man of few words. Written by his daughter Boo Killebrew, The Play About My Dad is a look at Larry, including his select words, family, job, friends, community of Gulfport, Mississippi, and the hurricane that almost turned Gulfport into a coral reef.

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2:00 pm
Free

Tour | “Amble Through the Ramble”

Over streams, under arches, through the woods along a maze of pathways in a 38-acre woodland respite. Tour will be approximately one hour.

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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Sinsabaugh/Hall Duo: Violin and Viola

Featuring Katherine Sinsabaugh, viola and Howard Hall, violin.

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2:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Downtown Symphony performs Rossini's La Cenerentola

Performance by the Downtown Symphony, the college-community orchestra of the college consisting of students, faculty, and staff and members of the downtown business and residential communities.

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3:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Screening | Pacific Heritage Films

Daily screenings of films including "Rolling Down Like Pele" and "American Aloha: Hula Beyond Hawai'i "

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3:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Book Discussion | Reading between the Lines: African-American Autobiography

This New York Council for the Humanities' adult book discussion program is centered around autobiographies by extraordinary African-Americans. The discussion series is led by Dr. George White, Jr., professor of history at York College. Participants are expected to commit to all five discussion dates. Call for further info.

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3:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Saint Andrew Chorale and Orchestra performs Bach

Program: Bach: Two Cantatas for Pentecost (Cantata 172 “Erschallet ihr Lieder” and 34 “O ewiges Feuer”), with the Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D

New York

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3:00 pm
$20 suggested donation...

Open Mic | SOS: The Sunday Open Series

An open poetry reading.

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3:00 pm
$3

Concert | Almost Fantasy: Works by Mozart, Chopin, and Brahms

With Katsura Tanikawa, piano.

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5:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Bach Vespers Benefit Concert for Haiti Relief

The Bach Choir & Bach Players, and soloists: Jennifer Bates, soprano; Sarah Brailey, soprano; John Kawa, tenor; Joe Damon Chappel, bass; under the direction of Cantor Rick Erickson.

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5:00 pm
Free-will offering

Staged Reading | Dirk Burrows' Flip a Coin

During this series, sit-down readings of new and revisited scripts are presented, generally followed by a moderated dramaturgical discussion.

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6:00 pm
Free...

**Staged Reading | Carlo Gozzi's King Stag: Commedia dell'Arte**

A king. A magic spell. Marriage. A talking stag. A scheming courtier. Transformation. A smiling statue. A broken heart. Pantalone, Tartaglia, Smeraldina and Truffaldino. What else could it be but commedia del'arte--and not just any commedia, but the fantastical imaginations of Italian master Carlo Gozzi. Director Edward Einhorn and Untitled Theatre Company #61 present a staged reading exploring love and comedy in its many forms.

New York

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7:00 pm
$5 suggested donation

**Staged Reading | Diana Son's Jane Says: Amnesiac Obsession**

A new work by the author of Satellites and Stop Kiss in which a reporter becomes obsessed with a woman who doesn't know who she is or where she came from.

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7:00 pm
Free

Concert | Experimental Music: Guitarist Dom Minasi & Sax Player Blaise Siwula / Sax Player Same Newsome

Followed by an open session.

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7:00 pm
$5

**Staged Reading | Roberto Saviano & Mario Gelardi's Gomorrah: Based on an Italian Bestseller**

The play is based on the international bestseller Gomorrah written by Roberto Saviano and will feature Rocco Sisto, Edoardo Ballerini, Vincent Piazza, and the theater's resident acting company, The Bats. The reading will be followed by a post-reading discussion.

New York

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7:00 pm
Free

Discussion | Wings & Dreams: 4 Elements of a New Feminism

History and philosophy meet and new thinking around old challenges is found in Wings & Dreams: 4 Elements of a New Feminism, an English-German collection of essays. Join Bettina Schmitz and Maria-Anna Foohs for a dialog on emerging definitions of international feminism(s).

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7:00 pm
$5 suggested donation

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Complimentary Tickets

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

Classical Music | Holiday Concert at a Landmark Venue

Regular Price: $40
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Dance Performance | "Astonishing" Choreographer

Regular Price: $54
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Performance | Mysticism and Music from Broadway Creators

Regular Price: $55
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Performance | Comedy by 13-time Emmy Winner with Broadway Actors

Regular Price: $69
CFT Member Price: $0.00