- ABOUT
- CONTACT
- FAQ
- REVIEWS
- GIVE A GIFT OF CFT!
-
Join the Club!
free things to do in New York City
Join the Club!
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!
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!
24 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Monday, November 3, 2025
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Editor's Picks
Workshop | Start the Day with Morning Meditation
Start your day by balancing your mind, body, and spirit during instructor guided meditation. This renowned practice lowers blood pressure, reduces stress, and strengthens the immune system.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
9:45 am
free...
free...
Tour | Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors
In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named Archibald Gracie built a country house overlooking a bend in the East River, five miles north of the then-New York City limits. Little did he know that, more than 200 years later, his home would serve as the official residence of the First Family of New York City - a place where history is made, not merely recorded. As a historic house museum run by the Parks Department, sitting on 11 acres of grounds now known as Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion has served as the home of 11 mayors, beginning with Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in 1942. Each tour is one hour, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session with an assigned docent.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
10:30 am
$10
$10
Tour | Discover One of New York's Most Famous Parks
Discover how Bryant Park Corporation successfully transformed "Needle Park" of the 1970s into Manhattan's Town Square of today. The guides are loaded with expertise on the park's rich history, award-winning design, distinct amenities, and ongoing maintenance efforts. Tours will continue as scheduled in light rain, but will be cancelled in heavy rain or inclement weather. Bring an umbrella if needed!
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
11:00 am
free, registration required
free, registration required
Tour | Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors
In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named Archibald Gracie built a country house overlooking a bend in the East River, five miles north of the then-New York City limits. Little did he know that, more than 200 years later, his home would serve as the official residence of the First Family of New York City - a place where history is made, not merely recorded. As a historic house museum run by the Parks Department, sitting on 11 acres of grounds now known as Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion has served as the home of 11 mayors, beginning with Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in 1942. Each tour is one hour, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session with an assigned docent.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
12:00 pm
$10
$10
Party | Fiber/Textile Arts Meetup
Are you a knitter? Do you like to crochet? Maybe you like a different type of fiber art? Whichever it is, bring your supplies and lose yourself in the meditative world of creating art with fiber. Invite your friends, or make new connections there. This is a meet-up, not a class.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Tour | Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors
In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named Archibald Gracie built a country house overlooking a bend in the East River, five miles north of the then-New York City limits. Little did he know that, more than 200 years later, his home would serve as the official residence of the First Family of New York City - a place where history is made, not merely recorded. As a historic house museum run by the Parks Department, sitting on 11 acres of grounds now known as Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion has served as the home of 11 mayors, beginning with Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in 1942. Each tour is one hour, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session with an assigned docent.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
1:30 pm
$10
$10
Book Discussion | I Seek A Kind Person: Children Saved from the Holocaust (Online!)
A gripping family memoir of grief, courage, and hope, Julian Borger traces the hidden stories of Jewish children who escaped the Holocaust through newspaper ads in 1938 Vienna. From Europe to Shanghai, Britain, and New York, Borger uncovers their astonishing journeys, revealing trauma, survival, and the kindness of strangers across generations and continents.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
2:00 pm
free, registration required,...
free, registration required,...
Workshop | Learn Photography Tips & Tricks: Lighting, Shadows, & Metering
Photographer Derek Fahsbender guides you from the basics to better photos, from settings and gear to photo theory--and everything in between. Taking photos should be fun and getting the results you want should be easy, so make this part of your photography learning journey and be on your way to creating images you love. In part three, we will be focusing on:
Natural vs. artificial light
Using shadows and highlights creatively
Exposure compensation and metering modes
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
4:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Screening | Notations (2025): Pierre Boulez Documentary
Celebrate the 100 year birthday of Pierre Boulez (1925–2016), French composer, conductor, writer, and the founder of several musical institutions. The celebration will start with a screening of Notations. The central voice in the film is that of Pierre Boulez. In the spring of 2005, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, the composer, conductor, and theorist sat down for an extensive interview in Paris. The result is a unique historical document: four hours of conversation about a life devoted to and shaped by music. Marion Kalter has transformed this material into an independent film through a tightly edited, rhythmically structured montage. Director: Marion Kalter
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
5:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Discussion | Panel of Scholars in Exile Speak on Their Experiences
"The Impact of Exile" panel talk will feature five New University in Exile Consortium Scholars. Each speaker will share their experience of working and living as a scholar in exile.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
5:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Museums | Remembrance, Reflection and Resilience
A place of commemoration: exhibition, artifacts, photographs, stories and more. Reservations available starting each Monday at 7:00 a.m.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
5:30 pm
free, reservation required
free, reservation required
Screening | Drop Dead City (2024): Documentary on the 1975 NYC Fiscal Crisis
Revisit a city with embattled leadership, abandoned by the federal government, and on the brink of fiscal collapse–pulled back when an unlikely alliance of rookies, rivals, fixers, and flexers found common ground. Directors: Michael Rohatyn & Peter Yost
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Film | Ethan Frome (1993): Historical Romantic Drama Film with Liam Neeson
A new pastor arrives in a stark Vermont village and is intrigued by crippled, misshapen Ethan Frome living on an isolated, hardscrabble farm with his sickly wife Zeena. Based on the book by Edith Wharton. Director: John Madden Cast: Liam Neeson, Patricia Arquette, Joan Allen, Tate Donovan, Katharine Houghton Liam Neeson is a Northern Irish actor. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and two Tony Awards. He rose to prominence portraying Oskar Schindler in Steven Spielberg's holocaust drama Schindler's List (1993) for which he earned an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination. He followed by starring in Nell (1994), Rob Roy (1995), Michael Collins (1996), and Les Miserables (1998). He took blockbuster roles portraying Qui-Gon Jinn in George Lucas' space opera Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), Ra's al Ghul in Batman Begins (2005) and Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia trilogy (2005-2010).
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Author Reading | Filmmaker, Photographer, & Writer Shares His New Book of NYC Street Photography (+ Signing)
Enjoy a conversation with director, author, film composer, and photographer Mario Schneider to celebrate the photobook of his street photography that reveals the soul of the people of New York, New York Stories. He will be in conversation with Sergio Purtell, followed by a signing.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:00 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Workshop | Learn & Practice Chess with an Expert
Learn to play chess or develop your strategies with chess expert Tamar Chanadiri from the Marshall Chess Club. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions, as each one builds on the previous. Bring a friend or join on your own--all levels and ages are welcome! Chess sets are provided but you're welcome to bring your own. From 6-7 PM Tamar will provide instruction for beginner-level players. From 7-8 PM there will be open play for all levels.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:00 pm
free, registration recommended
free, registration recommended
Discussion | Authors Discuss International Literary Experiences
Author Kathryn Scanlan (Kick the Latch, The Dominant Animal) will sit down with novelist and critic Kate Zambreno (The Light Room, To Write as if Already Dead) to reflect on her experiences in Germany and consider the question of how these experiences can be reinterpreted through a transatlantic lens. In a joint initiative between the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, the "international literature festival berlin", and the Goethe-Institut New York, American author Kathryn Scanlan was invited to participate in the two-month "EXI(S)T - Literature Residency" in Chemnitz this fall.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Author Reading | Book launch: Pulitzer Prize-Winning Writer Shares Her Debut Novel: Deeper than the Ocean
Journalist and author Mirta Ojito presents her debut novel, Deeper than the Ocean. Moderated by NBC News Anchor Morgan Radford. Introduction by CUNY Senior Vice Chancellor Maite Junco. Mirta Ojito is a journalist, professor and author of two previous non-fiction books. She is the recipient of an Emmy for the documentary Harvest of Misery as well as a shared Pulitzer for national reporting in 2001, for a series of New York Times articles on race.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Screening | Music, Memory, and the Great War: A Living Documentary Experience
Experience a powerful blend of music, film, and storytelling that brings World War I to life through the intertwined stories of fictional and historical figures, from The Great Gatsby’s Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway to real-life heroes like Harlem Hellfighter James Reese Europe and pilot Quentin Roosevelt. Featuring performances filmed at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, this moving production combines narration, historical imagery, and live performance to explore courage, loss, and the enduring impact of war.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, registration required...
free, registration required...
Concert | Musicians from Broadway's Buena Vista Social Club Perform Works from the Musical
Enjoy an evening with musicians from Broadway's Buena Vista Social Club. This event invites us into an immersive exploration of a people--their origins, their community, and the enduring transformation of their musical legacy.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, RSVP required
free, RSVP required
Talk | Restoring a Landmark: The Art and Care of Historic Preservation
Witness a special conversation about the intricate process of restoring a historic building’s façade. Hear directly from the team behind this remarkable transformation as they share insights into the craftsmanship, challenges, and inspiration behind preserving architectural heritage while preparing it for the future.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
6:30 pm
free, reservation required...
free, reservation required...
Classical Music | Chamber Music Inspired by New York City
The North/South Chamber Orchestra inaugurates its 46th season performing four works inspired by New York City. Music by Christopher James, Max Lifchitz, Alexandro Rodriguez, and Andrew Thomas will be performed. Violinist Claudia Schaer will be the featured soloist. Doors open at 6:40pm.
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
7:00 pm
free, no reservation required
free, no reservation required
Discussion | Education Experts Discuss Labor, School Choice, Accountability, & the Future of American Education (In Person AND Online!)
Critics argue they can stand in the way of reform, limit school choice, and put adult interests ahead of children's needs. The conversation features Kate Dias, President of the Connecticut Education Association, the state's largest teachers union; and Tommy Schultz, CEO of the American Federation for Children. These two prominent voices bring sharply different perspectives to a discussion about labor, school choice, accountability, and the future of American education. The conversation will be moderated by Jonathan Lemire, co-host of MSNOW's Morning Joe and a staff writer at The Atlantic. At a moment when debates over public education have become increasingly polarized, this conversation offers a chance to move beyond familiar talking points and examine what's really at stake. What do teachers, families, and students need from our schools -- and what role should unions play in delivering it?
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
7:30 pm
free, registration required
free, registration required
Classical Music | Grammy-Nominated Violinist & String Quartet Perform Eclectic Works by Vivaldi, Radiohead, & More
The "intriguing and hugely enjoyable" (Washington Post) string quintet Sybarite5 (violinists Simone Porter and Ariel Horowitz, Jessica Meyer, viola, Amanda Gookin, cello, and Louis Levitt, double bass) blends eclectic blend of classical, post-classical, and new music, joined by six-time GRAMMY-nominated violinist & composer, Curtis Stewart, known for "combining omnivory and brilliance" (New York Times). Program: Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) Seasons of Change Alma Mahler (1879-1964), (arr. Sybarite5) Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 Additional selections by Aleksandra Vrebablov and Radiohead
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
7:30 pm
free, tickets recommended
free, tickets recommended
Classical Music | Orchestral Works by Stravinsky & More at Lincoln Center
The New School's Mannes Orchestra performs a program devoted to icons and iconoclasts, known, unknown, and rediscovered. Program: Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) Symphonies of Wind Instruments Hale Smith (1925-2009) Ritual and Incantations Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959) Symphony No. 4
Manhattan, New York, NY
Join the Club!
7:30 pm
free, tickets required
free, tickets required
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Classical Music | J.S. Bach and Beethoven by Prominent Orchestra
Regular Price: $30CFT Member Price: $0.00
Today's Events
All 798 Events
Free Events This Week
Free Events This Weekend
Contact FAQ Reviews About Terms of Use Privacy Policy
All events are free unless otherwise stated. All programs subject to change. Please confirm before going.Contact FAQ Reviews About Terms of Use Privacy Policy
© Copyright Club Free Time. All rights reserved.