free things to do in New York City

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

45 free events take place in New York City on Sunday, May 1, 2011.

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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!

45 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Sunday, May 1, 2011

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

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Workshop | Sunday Tai Chi with Silvana Pizzuti

Join Silvana Pizzuti each Sunday to learn and practice Tai Chi, a slow moving martial art.

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8:00 am
free, no reservation required

Park Walk | Hudson Park-Five Islands Park-Manor Park Walk

7 miles, easy walk with small hills through two nice parks in New Rochelle. Then another lovely park on the shore passing Beautiful Victorian Architecture at end. Bring lunch/water. Optional dinner in Larchmont upon return. NO SMOKING ON HIKE. Return from Larchmont by train $7.75 and $5. (cheaper to Fordham, Bronx near D train).

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10:20 am
$3 plus train...

City Walk | Flatiron District Walking Tour

Join professional guides on a 90-minute journey through this vibrant neighborhood, viewing some of the city’s most notable landmarks, including the New York Life Insurance Building, the MetLife Clock Tower, the Appellate Courthouse and the famous Flatiron Building.

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Tour | Hallet Nature Sanctuary Unlocked!

Discover what lies behind the usually closed gates of the Hallet Nature Sanctuary.

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

City Walk | Historic Orchard Street Tour

Take a historical three-hour journey through the Lower East Side and explore some of the rich history tracing the arrival of immigrants to modern times.

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Workshop | Ping Pong in the Park

Test your skills at state-of-the-art tables. Paddles and balls are provided free of charge.

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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

Discussion | Music, Philosophy and Evil

Human history has been replete with various forms of evil, showing itself as expanding and dismaying brutality. The Crusades, the Inquisition, the French Revolution’s descent into terrorism, the savage displacement of Native Americans, slavery, and on and on. This address confronts evil (prejudice, discrimination, and violence) as it has infected our serious art. Come and be a part of this interesting discussion.

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11:15 am
free, no reservation required

Tour | Tavern and Its Green Tour

Discover the sheepfold that became a world famous restaurant, a parade ground that became the Sheep Meadow, the Children's District, The Mall including its statues.

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12:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Gallery Talk | The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Room

An expert leads informal discussions in the room and answers questions.

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12:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Discussion | A Talk with German Filmmakers Florian Cossen and Philip Koch

The filmmakers will speak about their highly acclaimed feature debuts The Day I Was Not Born and Picco. The talk will be moderated by Prof. Noah Isenberg and is presented in the context of Kino! 2011: New Films from Germany, The Museum of Modern Art’s annual series of new German films. In English.

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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Discussion | Identity, Gender and Sexuality

Abdellah Taïa, a young, Paris-based Moroccan writer and intellectual figure, will discuss identity, gender, and sexuality with Dale Peck, American critic and acclaimed author. In English.

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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Festival | Irish Dance Festival

The Irish Arts Center is back with its 10th annual celebration of traditional Irish dance and music, featuring performances by stars of the Irish dance world and NY area dance schools. Join in on the fun with live music, workshops in traditional Irish dance for all skill levels, a singer’s circle, Irish language classes, face-painting, children’s craft table and more!

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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Screening | Short Films on and by Native Americans

Featuring Cry Rock, ?E?anx/The Cave and Shimásání. Start times are 1pm and 3pm.

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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Discussion | The History and Archaeology of the Commons: New York’s City Hall Park

Join the Professional Archaeologists of New York City for their 31st annual public program, as they explore the history and archeology of City Hall Park. Currently New York City’s only designated archaeological historic district, the African Burial Ground and the Commons Historic District have for three centuries been the site of civic functions, including not only burial grounds, but also institutions providing succor to the poor, Revolutionary War barracks housing British soldiers, and the seat of New York City’s government.

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1:00 pm
Pay-what-you-wish admission policy

Other | TriBeCa Open Artist Studio Tour

For a few short days every spring, New Yorkers are invited to enter the fascinating world of some of Manhattan’s finest artists. Now in its 15th year, The TriBeCa Open Artist Studio Tour (TOAST) is an open invitation to the public to take a free, self-guided tour through artists’ studios in TriBeCa. TOAST attendees are able to visit the artists’ studios, view their work and talk to the artists themselves. Those who take the tour will also have the chance to purchase work directly from the artists, helping to support them in the pursuit of their craft. This year, the 15th Annual TriBeCa Open Artist Studio Tour features approximately a 100 artists of varying genres and will be held in 36 different buildings in TriBeCa. The tour will also take participants through TriBeCa art galleries and exhibits, including those at the New York Academy of Art.

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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Chamber Music Department 2010/2011 - Concert 10

This concert is a chamber music recital featuring ensembles from the College Division Chamber Music Program.

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1:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Student Recital - Piano Students of Hugo Goldenzweig

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1:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Lecture | Collective Guilt in Post-Holocaust Poland: Do Nations Feel Guilty for Their Past Crimes?

Patrycja Slawuta will be the guest speaker at a meeting of the Jewish Historical Society of New York. This presentation will examine the psychology of collective responsibility. One specific question will be addressed: What happens when nations are reminded about their morally troubling past? The case of Poland is especially important to the Jewish community, as it was home to over three million Jews before the war. Nowadays Jews and Poles share the same emotions toward each other – love and hate. Recent research on psychological and historical roots of these emotions will be explored and discussed. Slawuta is a PhD candidate in experimental social psychology at New School University and an adjunct professor at City College CUNY. Born in Poland, she has been investigating the role of collective guilt among the Poles as part of research done by the Center on Research of Prejudice at Warsaw University. Her research in New York City focuses on dynamics of inter-group relations with an extreme case being genocide. Ms Slawuta has published papers and given numerous talks on the topic of collective guilt in post-violence context. She finds this research topic particularly important, as it explains existing inter-group animosities and serves as an insurmountable obstacle to reconciliation.

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2:00 pm
$5

Workshop | Pickling Vegetables with Brooklyn Brine Co.

Learn creative techniques and tasty tips for pickling your own vegetables. Participants will get an early glimpse of the exhibition, Vista, featuring artists creating work that deals with visual alignment and the ways in which methods of viewing determine the assessment or evaluation of an object or situation.

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2:00 pm
Free

Poetry Reading | Poetry Place

Meet by the benches for an afternoon of poetry readings. Bring a poem to share or just come and enjoy the selections of others. Poets of all ages are welcome. Some chairs will be available, but please feel free to bring your own chair or blanket to relax on. In case of rain, this event will be held in the lobby of 310 Riverside Drive.

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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Park Walk | The Art of the Park Tour

Walk from the Tavern on the Green to Belvedere Castle and learn about the intricate design of Central Park's web of pastoral landscapes and formal romantic vistas.

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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

**Film | Volker Schlöndorff's The Ogre (1996): Child of Nazism**

With John Malkovich. A grotesque fairy tale about Hitler's Germany in which a naïve mechanic comes to symbolize the seductive appeal of the Nazi regime. 117 min.

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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Violinist Sara E. Geller, Plus Tango Dancers

Geller will present a scintillating program tracing the evolution of the tango through a series of Latin American scenes. Performing with Geller will be pianist Kathleen Landis and an ensemble of tango dancers. NYPL Family Programs

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2:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Chamber Choir of Queens College

The Chamber Choir of Queens College, accompanied by string ensemble, piano, and organ, will perform works of Bach, Buxtehude, Rutter, Duruflé, Saylor, and Santonga. Prince Nyatanga, Director.

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3:00 pm
Donations requested

Open Mic | SOS: The Sunday Open Series

An open poetry reading. No Sign-Up. No Time Limit. No BS.

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3:00 pm
$3

Concert | Lied'er On: Music from Around the World

Music in Spanish, German, French, Italian, English, Catalan, and Latin. The concert will conclude with a premiere of Daniel Leo Simpson's Ave Maria. With: Amocanti, featuring Carla Thelen Hanson, soprano; Debra Patchell, mezzo; Timothy Linwood, countertenor; David Michael Schuster, tenor; Joost Van Berge, baritone; and Douglas Martin, pianist.

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4:00 pm
$10 suggested donation...

Jazz | Spring 2011 Ensemble and Recital Series: Faiz Lamouri

Jazz student Faiz Lamouri (saxophone) presents his senior recital.

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4:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Sunday Afternoon Organ Meditation

The program features the great repertoire of the Organ on the 101 rank Pipe Organ built by Herman Schlicker and the 5 stop chamber organ built by Taylor & Boody Organ Builders.

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4:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Student Recital - Desiree Abbey, cello

A uniquely rewarding experience for music lovers - the freshness and excitement of a solo recital by a gifted young artist at one of the world's leading conservatories.

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4:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Scott F. Foppiano, Organist

Scott F. Foppiano is Director of Sacred Music at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Kansas City, Missouri.

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4:45 pm
free, no reservation required

Discussion | A Conversation with Morrocan Novelist Mahi Binebine

Prominent novelist and artist Mahi Binebine will talk with Anderson Tepper about the value of Moroccan cultural heritage, identity, empowerment, and women. In English.

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5:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Piano Works by Beethoven, Schubert and Ravel

With Lisa Joy Sitjar, piano.

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5:00 pm
Free

Discussion | The Meaning of the Human Soul in the Light of New Technologies

Picked playwright Christopher Shinn, lead actor Michael Stahl-David, and neuroscience researcher Andrew Gerber, MD, PhD, lead a discussion.

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5:30 pm
free, no reservation required

**Staged Reading | Play Reading: First Love. Ever by Eddie Antar**

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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Jazz | Spring 2011 Ensemble and Recital Series: John Collinge

Jazz student John Collinge (saxophone) presents his senior recital.

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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required

**Staged Reading | Workshopped Reading: The Haven by Richard Etchison**

They take a brand new script by InViolet's playwrights and give them a director, a cast, a month to rewrite, a handful of rehearsals, and two nights to bring it to life in front of an audience. "The Haven. It's a safe house. A warm place in the night. Respite from the storm. And when you find her, hold on with everything you got."

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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Performance | Student Graduation Comedy Show

Tonight, brilliant students take the stage. The legends of tomorrow show you they're actually the stars of today.

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7:00 pm
$5

Dance Performance | WestFest Site-Specific Dances

A guided tour through the location mysteries of the building – the roof, the halls, the laundromat, the courtyard, and secret corners. Eight promising choreographers create dances for these sites.

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7:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Student Recital - Hsiao-Chun Lin, Viola

A uniquely rewarding experience for music lovers - the freshness and excitement of a solo recital by a gifted young artist at one of the world's leading conservatories.

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7:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Theater | Theatre Group Dzieci performs a “gypsy” Macbeth

Theatre Group Dzieci performs their ever-evolving Gypsy Macbeth, Makbet . “With the combination of ceremony, improvisation, and Shakespeare, Dzieci has created a fascinating, risky, and original work.”  - Mitchell Conway

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7:30 pm
$10 suggested donation

Concert | An Evening of Film Music

Steinhardt/Tisch Collaborations & Emerging Songwriters from the Program in Scoring for Film and Multimedia.

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8:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Performance | Student Graduation Comedy Show

Tonight, brilliant students take the stage. The legends of tomorrow show you they're actually the stars of today.

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8:00 pm
$5

Other | Reading of the Names: A Yom HaShoah Commemoration

For the 13th consecutive year, the Upper West Side community gathers to read the names of Jews among the six million murdered during the Second World War. The reading will begin on Sunday night, continuing throughout the night with representatives of Upper West Side congregations and other members of the community. It will resume Monday morning and end with the recitation of Kaddish. Come to read or to witness by your presence.

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10:00 pm
Free

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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