free things to do in New York City
Free events for Saturday, 05/04/24
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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 May 4, 2024?

39 free events take place on Saturday, May 4 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 May 4 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 May . 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!

39 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Saturday, May 4, 2024

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc October 7th, 06:29AM: An Immersive Exhibition on Nova Music Festival Massacre
free events nyc Grand Art Fair: Over 130 Artists from Around the World Showcase their Work
free events nyc Wall to Wall Prince: Tribute to a Musical Genius (in-person and online)
free events nyc An Evening of Hawaiian Guitar
        

Workshop | Breathwork and Sound Bath


Breathwork and Sound Bath unite to create a symphony of bliss that will leave you feeling invigorated, creative, and ready to conquer your day! Set your alarm and let the magic unfold! After just one hour, you'll be fully present for your kids, work or whatever life has instore for you. Embrace your day, embrace your life. With controlled breathing techniques, you'll release emotional stress, reduce inflammation, strengthen your immune system, ignite your creativity and rejuvenate your soul. Feel the rush of energy and liberation as you shake off the remnants of yesterday, making room for the spectacular day that lies ahead. Then close your eyes and surrender to the enchanting sounds of crystal singing bowls. These therapeutic instruments help to balance the chakras. Let the vibrations dance through your being, washing away stress, and elevating your spirit to new heights.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:15 am
Free

City Walk | Jane’s Walk NYC Festival: Walks Across the Five Boroughs


The annual Jane’s Walk NYC festival presents dozens of free walks exploring NYC history, culture, advocacy, and more. This volunteer-led celebration of city life and Jane Jacobs has always been a time to come together and share our love for New York City. During the festival weekend, explore a new part of town or learn more about your neighborhood.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 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

Fair | October 7th, 06:29AM: An Immersive Exhibition on Nova Music Festival Massacre


To celebrate the end of his two years of service as a medic in the Israel Defense Forces' paratrooper division, Tomer Meir joined 13 of his friends at the Nova Musica Festival on the weekend of October 6 in Re'im in southern Israel. It was his first ever music festival. "It was the best moments of my life. I can't explain the state we were in," the 21-year-old told the New York Jewish Week. "It was pure love -- people dancing, laughing, smiling. All the good stuff that we're living for." Until 6:29 a.m. on Saturday morning. The red alerts, the rockets and the running. "The music stopped. The rockets started. We started running for our lives," Meir said. Meir is a survivor of the Nova Music Festival Massacre, where Hamas militants killed 364 festival-goers and took at least 40 hotstages on the morning of Oct. 7. Six months after the attack, Meir is in New York sharing his story as part of an interactive exhibit about that day, which he says is helping him heal. The Nova Musical Festival exhibition, titled October 7th, 06:29AM, is an immersive step into what it was like to be at the festival when it was attacked. Screens show clips from the attack on Nova are displayed next to personal and camping items taken from the festival recreating the festival layout. The exhibit, which debuted in Tel Aviv for 10 weeks in December, was created by Israeli designers and cultural producers, many of whom were producers with the Nova Music Festival itself. It was brought to New York with the help of Scooter Braun, the Jewish-American music producer and philanthropist. The exhibit recreates the visuals and sounds of the Nova Music Festival massacre. But the New York version is in some ways "more intense," according to Yael Finkelstein, a volunteer who collected items from the Nova site and helped set up both the Tel Aviv and New York exhibit. New elements at the New York exhibit include dozens of video testimonies from survivors, Zaka volunteers and family members, as well as graphic raw footage taken on Oct. 7 from both festival-goers and Hamas militants. In addition, survivors of the massacre such as Meir and Sassi will be at the exhibit every day to share their stories and answer questions. Their goal, Meir said, is to show New Yorkers that the horror they experienced could happen to anyone.
   New York City, NY; NYC
10:00 am
$3

Fair | Street Fair


Free fun for the whole family, including arts, crafts, antiques, plants, entertainment, games, and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Fair | Street Fair


Free fun for the whole family, including arts, crafts, antiques, plants, entertainment, games, and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Book Discussion | Negotiating Legality: Chinese Companies in the US Legal System


Despite escalating geopolitical rivalry, the US and China continue to be economically intertwined. Numerous Chinese companies have made substantial investments in the US and are reluctant exit this strategically important market. While the global expansion of Chinese companies has ignited intense policy and academic debates, their interactions with complex host-state legal systems have largely escaped systematic examination. To fill this knowledge gap, Negotiating Legality introduces a dual institutional framework and applies it to analyzing extensive interviews and multi-year survey data, thereby shedding light on how Chinese companies develop in-house legal capacities, engage with US legal professionals, and navigate litigation in US courts. As the first comprehensive investigation of these crucial topics, this book is indispensable for anyone interested in China's rise, its global impacts-especially on legal systems of developed nations like the US-and the intricate dynamics of US-China relations. With author Ji Li.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:15 am
Free

Tour | Garment District Tour: Factories, Gangsters, Labor Unions and More


Hear an unusual perspective from somebody who spent the greater portion of his life working in the GARMENT industry. You will learn how the apparel industry developed in NYC through the years, and how it came to be located in its current District. Watch the development of the industry from sweatshops in the old tenement buildings on the Lower East Side, to giant factories in China and Bangladesh. See how immigrants were the backbone of the industry and in NYC, still are. Five minute flow chart "From Fibers To Garment". Learn about Calvin, Ralph and Oscar, as well as Labor Unions and Gangsters. A Factory Visit When Available. See "The Garment Worker'' by Judith Weller, The Fashion Walk of Fame. The Giant Button and Needle artwork on Seventh Ave. And much more. Rain or shine.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Workshop | Learn Juggling in the Park


Get in 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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11:00 am
Free

Workshop | Shape Up NYC Dance Fitness


A fitness class to help New Yorkers get and stay fit.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Fair | Grand Art Fair: Over 130 Artists from Around the World Showcase their Work


The 3-day art fair (May 3-5) presents cutting-edge works by over 130 artists from New York City and around the world. Expect hands-on live art demos, performances, panel discussions and soundtrack of tunes from Byrne to Bossa to Bowie (and everything in between).
   New York City, NY; NYC
12:00 pm
$23...

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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12:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Print Your Own Mother's Day Card


Looking for a special Mother’s Day gift? Come to the talented designers to create a festive Mother’s Day card using the Museum’s 19th century historical printing equipment.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Workshop | HIIT The Deck Workout


It’s time to HIIT The Deck – in the studio – with boxing-inspired high intensity workouts. Get your blood pumping. Strengthen your core. Getting 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise a week can help reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, say NewYork-Presbyterian experts. HIIT The Deck makes it fun.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:15 pm
Free

Open Studios | Open Studios


2023–24 artists in residence sonia louise davis, Malcolm Peacock, and Zoë Pulley open their studios to the public. Visitors are invited to meet the artists and be among the first to see what they've been working in the residency.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Park Walk | Shoreline Stroll


Take a tour from salt marsh to tide pools. Gansevoort Peninsula, which opened in 2023, is the largest stand-alone recreational space in the Park with its 5.5 acres of incredible public green space. From a sandy shoreline beach with tide pools to a pine grove, pile field and salt marsh, it is also one of the most fascinating sites to learn about local ecology. You’ll have the chance to learn more about these fascinating ecosystems from the River Project team. Grab your binoculars and try to spot some of the shorebirds seen regularly dabbling in our salt marsh, or see if you can spot some of the resident hawks that use the light poles (and sometimes even on the inspiring Day’s End public art installation, which was donated by the Whitney Museum of American Art) as a perch to find their next meal.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Play | Phantasmagoria: A Work of Horror Theater


9 college students gather for an unforgettable evening under the guise of a group project. An apartment party ensues where shenanigans, witchcraft, and secrets unfold in unforeseen events. Phantasmagoria was the first practical iteration of “horror theater” where special lighting effects were used to scare the audience into thinking there were spirits in the room. Come join a night of debauchery and truth telling. Devised by Amelia Baker, Jack Cavanaugh-Gialloreto, Katty Gisselle Christian, Willa Falvey, Rachel Gerhard, Ryen Hilton, Annabel McConnachie, Mana Noda, and Allison Tichavsky Directed by Ana Marganieu Cast: Amelia Baker, Jack Cavanaugh-Gialloreto, Katty Gisselle Christian, Willa Falvey, Rachel Gerhard, Ryen Hilton, Annabel McConnachie, Mana Noda, and Allison Tichavsky
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Film | The Joy Luck Club (1993): drama


Adaptation of Amy Tan's bestseller about four immigrant Chinese women and their American-born daughters. The story begins in San Francisco, where three of the women have gathered to bid farewell to their deceased friend's daughter, who's departing for China to meet her long-lost half sisters. Director: Wayne Wang Cast: Tsai Chin, Kieu Chinh, Lisa Lu, France Nuyen, Rosalind Chao, Lauren Tom, Tamlyn Tomita, Ming-Na Wen, Michael Paul Chan, Andrew McCarthy, Christopher Rich, Russell Wong, Vivian Wu
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Birdwatching | Island Bird Tour


Nearly 240 bird species have been spotted on the island, which provides excellent habitat all year round. Whether you’re an expert birder or a beginner, these tours will help you discover all of the birdlife the island has to offer. Binoculars are available to borrow.   
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Tour | Urban Farm Tour


Dis­cov­er a world of bees, com­post, and organ­ic gar­den­ing right in New York City! The Bee Con­ser­van­cy, Earth Mat­ter NY, and GrowNYC lead a tour of the Urban Farm on the island, and teach about each orga­ni­za­tion’s work. Tours take place on the first Sat­ur­day of every month from 2 – 3:30pm (weath­er per­mit­ting). Meet at Gate 14 (Urban Farm entrance near Yan­kee Hang­er and Liggett Ter­race) at 1:55pm to join the tour.  Can’t make the tour? The Urban Farm is open every week­end from May 4 through the end of Octo­ber from 12 – 4pm for indi­vid­ual explo­ration!  
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Dance Performance | Choices: Bodies Navigating Space


Choreographer Kim Brandt’s new work Choices is a performance for six dancers staged within Tara Donovan’s exhibition Stratagems. It is the culmination of an ongoing dialogue between the two artists over the course of their 12-year friendship. In her practice, Brandt explores collective actions and counter isolations through a vocabulary of minimal movements that are often pedestrian in nature. By employing an incremental, site-specific, process-oriented approach, she draws our attention to individual bodies as they negotiate space and together create kinetically charged, multi-person atmospheres.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Concert | The Spiritual Side of Prince


Troy Anthony & The Fire Ensemble; and Morley in a musical exploration of the spiritual side of Prince. Includes a sing-along, original choreography, and an exclusive conversation with the team bringing Purple Rain to Broadway.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Concert | Wall to Wall Prince: Tribute to a Musical Genius (in-person and online)


Enjoy this unforgettable extravaganza of music, film, dance, stories, and more, as an incredible roster of artists pays tribute to the legendary Prince through a nonstop celebration and exploration of the icon and the work he created, championed, and inspired. 3-5PM: SPIRITUAL PRINCE Featuring: Troy Anthony & The Fire Ensemble o Morley Kick off the celebration with a musical exploration of the spiritual side of Prince. Includes a sing-along, original choreography, and an exclusive conversation with the team bringing Purple Rain to Broadway. 5-7PM: THE WOMEN OF PRINCE Featuring: Kendra Foster o Felice Belle o Nia Drummond o Amma Whatt A joyful look at the art and artists who inspired and were/are inspired by Prince, including Prince deep cuts, spoken word, and some of the greatest hits written by Prince for incredible women performers. 7-9PM: PRINCE REIMAGINED Featuring: Jeffery Miller and the Hollywood South Brass Bando It's Showtime NYC! o The Rakiem Walker Project with GLR?A & special guest, YahZarah o Sun Kim Dance Prince continues to be a beacon of inspiration. From an exuberant brass performance, to soulful cello & dance, and a fresh look at Prince's early work, we explore Prince from all angles and with a festive, creative spin. 9-11PM: PURPLE RAIN & MORE Featuring: The Hawtplates o joseph webbwith Lafayette Harris Jr. o Joe McGinty & The Loser's Lounge Prince's later works get a conceptual live vocal twist, a tap dance artist presents percussive Prince, and the full Purple Rain album is performed live as we end the Prince extravaganza with an all-out, soul-fulfilling celebration of the 40th anniversary of one of the greatest albums of all time! All this & more ... including live DJ sets with Stormin' Norman throughout the day.
   New York City, NY; NYC
3:00 pm
Free

Play | Leo's Requiem: The Grief of the Young Black Man


Darius M. Buckley's play follows the story of a young black composer/conductor in residence at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra who's searching for words to set for his next commission. When he rediscovers a notebook of his late childhood friend’s poetry, he unearths a rainstorm of pain, memories and inspiration. This play with music, structured as a requiem mass itself, explores grief in young men of color, and the divine power of music that heals those wounds. A student production.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:30 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Aliza Nisenbaum: New Paintings and Drawings


Four recent small-scale paintings and four watercolors by Aliza Nisenbaum, all of which depict familiar subjects in intimate moments of repose. This selection of work deviates from her current exhibition at the Metropolitan Opera House and recent survey at The Queens Museum, both of which featured large-scale mural-like tableaus and extensive time spent getting to know her sitters and researching their communities. Here, the artist returns to the studio, focusing on her immediate relationships—her sister, members of the gallery’s circle, and her personal archive of people already painted. Scaling down and looking inward, Nisenbaum examines those close to her during their moments of rest and contemplation, using this observation as a mirror for her own self-reflection in the interstitial moments within her studio.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Gallery Talk | Francesc Tosquelles: Avant-Garde Psychiatry and the Birth of Art Brut: Exhibition Tour


Co-curators behind the scenes of Francesc Tosquelles: Avant-Garde Psychiatry and the Birth of Art Brut, which explores for the first time in the United States the legacy of Catalan psychiatrist Francesc Tosquelles. The four curators will walk through the exhibition's artworks, archival documents and films, opening up a new window on psychiatry and its connections to art, literature and French theory.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Serene organ meditations in an intimate venue (In Person AND Online)


Enjoy a program of hymns, anthems, and voluntaries for the organ.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Festival | First Saturdays: Free Programs of Art and Entertainment


At the monthly First Saturdays, thousands of visitors enjoy free programs of art and entertainment, including dynamic performances and participatory experiences.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Concert | The Women of Prince


Kendra Foster; Felice Belle; Nia Drummond; and Amma Whatt provide a joyful look at the art and artists who inspired and were/are inspired by Prince, including Prince deep cuts, spoken word, and some of the greatest hits written by Prince for incredible women performers.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Jazz | Jazz Vocals


Haley Driver, Voice.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Concert | An Evening of Hawaiian Guitar


An evening of ki ho'alu, or Hawaiian slack key guitar, featuring renowned Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) guitarist Keola Beamer and his wife, Moanalani, distinguished Japanese guitarist Yuki 'Alani Yamauchi, and award-winning Kanaka Maoli guitarist Patrick Landeza.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Concert | Prince Reimagined


Jeffery Miller; It's Showtime NYC!; Sun Kim Dance. Prince continues to be a beacon of inspiration. From a brass performance, to soulful cello & dance, and a fresh look at Prince’s early work, this event explores Prince from all angles and with a festive, creative spin.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Play | Phantasmagoria: A Work of Horror Theater


9 college students gather for an unforgettable evening under the guise of a group project. An apartment party ensues where shenanigans, witchcraft, and secrets unfold in unforeseen events. Phantasmagoria was the first practical iteration of “horror theater” where special lighting effects were used to scare the audience into thinking there were spirits in the room. Come join a night of debauchery and truth telling. Devised by Amelia Baker, Jack Cavanaugh-Gialloreto, Katty Gisselle Christian, Willa Falvey, Rachel Gerhard, Ryen Hilton, Annabel McConnachie, Mana Noda, and Allison Tichavsky Directed by Ana Marganieu Cast: Amelia Baker, Jack Cavanaugh-Gialloreto, Katty Gisselle Christian, Willa Falvey, Rachel Gerhard, Ryen Hilton, Annabel McConnachie, Mana Noda, and Allison Tichavsky
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Festival | Illumination Light Art Festival


Immerse yourself in a one-of-a-kind outdoor light festival. See the neighborhood in a whole new light, interact with light-based creations, dance to DJs under the stars, and catch a surprise performance or two.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Dancing | K-Pop Dance Night


K-Pop music has already influenced every kind of contemporary sound, from the Billboard charts to the Broadway stage. Now, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center New York, K-Pop's unstoppable beats and powerful melodies take over for a dance party series designed for all fans of the genre. Daniel Jeong, aka DJ Alter Kilo, drops beat after beat, bringing live mash-ups mixing K-pop and electronic dance music representing his one-of-a-kind style. The evening begins with a short movement tutorial and a dazzling showcase presentation, so bring a friend or meet a new one on the dance floor and prepare to live out all your K-Pop dreams.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Play | The Queen of the Living Room: Long-Held Secrets Exposed


On the day of May’s daughter’s 1st birthday, May’s old friends Ran and Zhuzi come over for what was supposed to be a party. Gathered in the living room, May announces that she is going to have vaginal reconstruction surgery and the group slowly descends into discourse and chaos as each woman reveals secrets that they have been hiding from each other for many years. Written by Mijuan Ye. A student production.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Jazz | Jazz with Upright Bass


Connor Sondergeld, Upright Bass.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Star Gazing


A summer evening in Manhattan is made complete with the stars, planets, and moon in full view. Manhattan provides a great backdrop as we peer heavenward to see celestial wonders with the help of the Amateur Astronomer's Association.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Concert | Prince's Purple Rain and More


The Hawtplates; Joseph Webb; Joe McGinty & The Loser's Lounge. Prince’s later works get a conceptual live vocal twist, a tap dance artist presents percussive Prince, and the full Purple Rain album is performed live, ending the Prince extravaganza with an all-out, soul-fulfilling celebration of the 40th anniversary of one of the album.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 pm
Free
Complimentary Tickets

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

Musical | Broadway Actors in a Musical by a Prominent NYC Company

Regular Price: $50
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Performance | Holiday Burlesque Show!

Regular Price: $115
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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