free things to do in New York City
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City! Read More
New York attracts world's best minds to its shores: they come here to interact with each other at conferences and seminars, and while they are here they are often invited to give a talk, a lecture, to be a part of a public discussion. We at Club Free Time give you an opportunity to be a part of it: to watch how those best minds in the world work! Don't miss the opportunities that only New York City (NYC) provides!
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!
65 free talks, lectures, discussions in New York City (NYC) Wed, 04/30/2025 - and on...
In New York City, you can talk with and listen to the best minds in the world without spending a dime! Just take a look at free talks, lectures, discussion, seminars, conferences listed on this page below!
Lecture | Dance Historian on NYC’s 'Dancemobile,' a Revolutionary Project in African American Dance (In Person AND Online!)
New York City’s Dancemobile was a groundbreaking project in African American dance, created by Carole Y. Johnson and produced by the Harlem Cultural Council. For over two decades, between 1967 and 1989, this flatbed- truck-turned-stage traversed the city’s five boroughs, bringing free performances by Black choreographers to streets, parks, and community spaces. Reaching more than 1 million New Yorkers, Dancemobile showcased the work of well-known, influential choreographers. During this talk, Dr. Emily Hawk delves into Dancemobile’s history and legacy, sharing rare documents, videos, and oral histories from the Jerome Robbins Dance Division. She explores Dancemobile’s significance for choreographers, dancers, and audiences alike, revealing how the program transformed the way dance could educate, entertain, and engage communities across New York City.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Apr 30
1:00 pm
Free
1:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Fire Island Modernist: Horace Gifford and the Architecture of Seduction
Featuring new houses, many additional photographs and a new afterword, Fire Island Modernist offers a fascinating look at the history and culture of this "gay paradise" through the life and work of Horace Gifford. Author Christopher Rawlins in conversation with Charles Renfro, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Apr 30
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Talk | Inaugurating a New Artpiece, Discussion with the Artist
Celebrating the inauguration of a new sculpture, Requiem (an homage to György Kurtág). This event is a new conversation about arts and culture with multidisciplinary artist Alexander Polzin and Art, Prints, and Photographs Director, Clare Bell.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Apr 30
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Anansi's Gold: The Man Who Looted the West, Outfoxed Washington, and Swindled the World
Author Yepoka Yeebo discusses her acclaimed book. When Ghana won its independence from Britain in 1957, it instantly became a target for home-grown opportunists and rapacious Western interests determined to snatch any assets that colonialism hadn't already stripped. A CIA-funded military junta ousted the new nation's inspiring president, Kwame Nkrumah, then falsely accused him of hiding the country's gold overseas. Into this big lie stepped one of history's most charismatic scammers, a con man to rival the trickster god Anansi. Born into poverty in Ghana and trained in the United States, John Ackah Blay-Miezah declared himself custodian of an alleged Nkrumah trust fund worth billions. You, too, could claim a piece--if only you would “invest” in Blay-Miezah's fictitious efforts to release the equally fictitious fund. Over the 1970s and '80s, he and his accomplices-including Ghanaian state officials and Nixon's former attorney general--scammed hundreds of millions of dollars out of thousands of believers. Blay-Miezah lived in luxury, deceiving Philadelphia lawyers, London financiers, and Seoul businessmen alike, all while eluding his FBI pursuers. American prosecutors called his scam “one of the most fascinating--and lucrative--in modern history.” Yeebo chases Blay-Miezah's ever-wilder trail and discovers, at long last, what really happened to Ghana's missing wealth. She unfolds a riveting account of Cold War entanglements, international finance, and postcolonial betrayal, revealing how what we call “history” writes itself into being, one lie at a time.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Apr 30
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | The Rachel Incident: Comic Novel Set in Ireland
Author Caroline O’Donoghue in conversation with Taffy Brodesser-Akner A brilliantly funny novel about friends, lovers, Ireland in chaos, and a young woman desperately trying to manage all three.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Apr 30
6:30 pm
$5
6:30 pm
$5
Talk | On the Eve of May Day: Labor Then and Now
This year, on the eve of May Day, a panel of New York City union representatives consider the continued importance of labor unions in a space resonant with labor history. Moderated by Claudia Irizarry Aponte, senior reporter covering labor for THE CITY, panelists will explain the work they do and reflect on why they do it. Panelists include Nkosa Barrett, Women's Committee President, Plumbers Local 1; Harry Donas, 1st Vice President, Civil Service Technical Guild Local 375 and alumnus of The Cooper Union Albert Nerken School of Engineering; Christopher Erikson, Business Manager, IBEW Local 3; Thelma-Louise Fernandes, Executive Board Member, Sheetmetal Workers Local 28; and Zishun Ning, Chinese Staff and Workers' Association. Labor historian Joshua B. Freeman, Distinguished Professor of History (Emeritus), Queens College and the Graduate Center, will also offer historical perspective. Registration is required. However, a ticket does not guarantee entry as this is a first-come-first-served free event.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Apr 30
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Talk | Etymology of Modern Hebrew: Hebrew Roots and History (online)
Explore Hebrew’s deep Semitic roots and uncover how its ancient origins shaped the language we speak today. Join Elon Gilad and Hebrew at AJU for a special Yom Haatzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) program exploring the roots of modern Hebrew! Gilad will take you on an exploration of Hebrew etymology, tracing the fascinating evolution of the Hebrew language from its ancient Semitic roots to contemporary Israeli slang. Through carefully chosen examples, we’ll uncover the hidden stories behind everyday Hebrew words and discover how they reflect the rich cultural and historical journey of the Jewish people.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 1
2:00 pm
Free
2:00 pm
Free
Discussion | Exploration and Resonance: Chinese Music in the West
Part of the seventh annual US-China Music Institute conference, this opening day discussion features distinguished speakers sharing their insights on leadership in Chinese music performance and studies outside of China. The conference focuses on how Chinese music resonates in the West through three pivotal areas: music leadership, academic research, and Chinese-instrument teaching. Speakers to include: - Jindong Cai, Director, US-China Music Institute - Frank Kouwenhoven, Director and Cofounder, CHIME (Chinese Music Europe) - Li Zhong, Vice Chairman, University Council, Central Conservatory of Music, China - Ye Xiaogang, Dean, School of Music, Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen); Chairman of the China Musicians Association Moderated by author and China cultural expert Sheila Melvin.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 1
3:30 pm
Free
3:30 pm
Free
Talk | Public Health, Public Responsibility: Confronting Severe Mental Illness in Urban Spaces
At this event, Brian Stettin—Senior Advisor on Severe Mental Illness for the New York City Mayor's Office—will discuss his collaborative efforts to develop and implement policies prioritizing psychiatric care and support for New Yorkers in greatest need. He'll be in conversation with Stephen Eide—a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and 2024–25 Public Scholar at The City College of New York’s Moynihan Center—who will introduce the public to his research on homelessness and mental illness.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 1
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Slide Lecture | May Day with Eric Drooker: A Graphic Novel Comes to Life
Eric Drooker, renowned for his iconic New Yorker covers and author of Naked City: A Graphic Novel, presents a special May Day Cartoon Concert. Drooker will explore the changing landscape of Manhattan’s East Side and wrestle with the question, “Is it possible for an artist to survive in the 21st century?” The performance will feature his striking visuals alongside live music, as Drooker accompanies himself on various instruments.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 1
8:00 pm
Free
8:00 pm
Free
Lecture | Eyeing Moscow from Kishinev: Brezhnev on Stage in Moldavia
The Columbia campus is currently open only to Columbia-affiliated guests (with a CUID). Outside guests who register to attend a public event will be allowed to enter campus for the event if we provide their names and emails to Public Safety the day before. Please be sure to register for any events at least 48 hours ahead of time and you will get an email from caladminnoreply@columbia.edu with a unique QR code giving you access to the campus. Don't forget to bring your ID with you. Donald Raleigh speaks about Brezhnev's 26-month tenure as first secretary of the Communist Party of Moldavia between 1950 and 1952, focusing on the problems he encountered in this non-Slavic republic, how he dealt with them, and his leadership style. Drawing on Moldavian archives, Raleigh shows how, despite some temporary setbacks reflecting infighting among Stalin's would-be successors in Moscow, Brezhnev's success in running Moldavia, his first such assignment, secured him a coveted, if for now precarious, slot within the USSR's top leadership. Donald J. Raleigh is an author and the Jay Richard Judson Professor Emeritus of History at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, May 2
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Forum | World Voices Festival: Translation Slam
The Translation Slam puts different translations of the same text side by side and invites the translators, authors, and audience members to join in a lively critical debate of how each version meets its creative challenges. A new text, previously untranslated into English, will be provided by German author Daniel Kehlmann. Translating Kehlmann's work from German will be translator Geoffrey C. Howes and a second translator. A translation of Kehlmann's work will also be provided by ChatGPT. Translations will vie for audience approval and the event will end with a brief Q&A.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, May 2
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Talk | Panel Discussion with Prize-Winning Authors on Changing Political Environments and Identity
Divides shape our lives–across eras, borders, and political landscapes. But how do these shifts of time, place, and circumstance impact who we are? Authors Daniel Kehlmann (The Director), Amitava Kumar (My Beloved Life), and Reyna Grande (A Ballad of Love and Glory) participate in an exciting conversation with writer Sam Sussman. Together, they’ll explore how changing political environments reflect the shifting nature of personhood. Following characters going from Hollywood’s golden age to Nazi propaganda offices, from pre-independence India to a newly independent nation, and from 19th-century America to a Mexican battlefield--these stories span nations and generations, united by one question: How do the worlds around us shape our choices, identities and our lives?
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 3
12:30 pm
Free
12:30 pm
Free
Discussion | World Voices Festival: Shifting Perspectives, From One World to Another
Divides shape our lives-across eras, borders, and political landscapes. But how do these shifts of time, place, and circumstance impact who we are? This event features authors Daniel Kehlmann (The Director), Amitava Kumar (My Beloved Life), and Reyna Grande (A Ballad of Love and Glory) in an exciting conversation with writer Sam Sussman. Together, they'll explore how changing political environments reflect the shifting nature of personhood. Following characters going from Hollywood's golden age to Nazi propaganda offices, from pre-independence India to a newly independent nation, and from 19th-century America to a Mexican battlefield - these stories span nations and generations, united by one question: How do the worlds around us shape our choices, identities and our lives?
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 3
12:30 pm
Free
12:30 pm
Free
Discussion | An Inspiring Dialogue between Two Women who Shaped Today's Chinatown
In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, this museum and New York Archives Magazine are hosting a special conversation honoring two trailblazing Chinese American women: Virginia Kee and May Ying Chen. This inspiring dialogue will highlight their groundbreaking contributions from advancing education and social services in Chinatown to championing immigrant rights across New York City. Kee and Chen will reflect on decades of civic engagement and activism, and explore the vital role of personal archives in preserving community history.
Virginia Kee's story is featured in the Spring issue of New York Archives Magazine in the article Chinese American Women Pioneers: Theodora Chan Wang and Virginia Kee. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the magazine. Following the conversation, there will be a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum's archives.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 3
2:00 pm
Free
2:00 pm
Free
Gallery Talk | In Conversation: Artists Jim Shaw and Tony Oursler
This event is a conversation between Jim Shaw and fellow artist Tony Oursler inside an exhibition of Shaw's drawings . Made between 2012 and 2024, the works on view find the artist continuing his journey through the maelstrom of American society, taking inspiration from such sources as vintage advertisements and borrowing from the aesthetics of comic books and album covers. Moderated by gallery director Jessica Beck, the conversation will focus on Shaw's practice of dream drawing and on drawing in general as a consistent aspect of his work, the two artists' shared interest in spiritual and religious histories and propaganda, and their time as students at CalArts in the late 1970s. Doors open at 2:30.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 3
3:00 pm
Free
3:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Celebrating the Launch of A Handbook of Latinx Art with Contributors and Editors (In Person AND Online!)
This conversation celebrates the publication of A Handbook of Latinx Art, a curated selection of key texts and artists’ voices exploring US Latinx art and art history from the 1960s to the present. Co-editors Rocío Aranda-Alvardo and Deborah Cullen-Morales along with contributors Joiri Minaya, Chon Noriega, and Yasmin Ramirez discuss the book’s intervention into the diverse field of Latinx art and its relationship to the history of art in the United States. A Handbook of Latinx Art is the first anthology to explore the rich, deep, and often overlooked contributions that Latinx artists have made to art in the United States. Drawn from wide-ranging sources, this volume includes texts by artists, critics, and scholars that reflect the diversity of the Latinx experience across the nation, from the West Coast and the Mexican border to the Midwest, New York, and Miami. The anthology features essential writings by Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban American, Dominican American, and Central American artists to highlight how visionaries of diverse immigrant groups negotiate issues of participation and belonging, material, style, and community in their own voices. These intersectional essays cut across region, gender, race, and class to reckon with different histories, geographies, and political engagements and, ultimately, underscores the importance of Latinx artists to the history of American art.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Mon, May 5
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Discussion | Let's Talk Democracy: Is Privacy Under Threat?
Privacy, a cornerstone of liberal democracies, faces increasing challenges in today's world. From issues surrounding data protection in the digital age to its intersection with rights like free speech and reproductive freedoms, privacy shapes our lives as citizens, consumers, and individuals. In this conversation, Prof. Alexander Görlach, journalist and adjunct professor for democratic theory at NYU Gallatin School, and Prof. Martin Eiermann, postdoctoral fellow at Duke University, explore the evolving role of privacy in the U.S. and Germany, highlighting key differences. How have legal frameworks, cultural values, and historical contexts shaped personal freedoms across the Atlantic?
New York City, NY; NYC
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Mon, May 5
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Talk | The Last Ships from Hamburg Author on the Escape of Russia’s Jews before WWI
During this talk, historian and author Steven Ujifusa presents the fascinating, little-known facts about the Jewish exodus that spared millions from persecution before World War I. He offers insights into the American experience, connecting banking, shipping, politics, immigration nativism, and war, and delivers crucial perspective into the burgeoning refugee crisis of our own time. From 1890 to 1921, 2.5 million Jews fled discrimination and violence in Eastern Europe. Many settled on the Lower East Side and today’s East Village. How such migration was possible is complicated. It would have been impossible except for the unusual collaboration of three titans of business: Jacob Schiff, managing partner of Kuhn, Loeb, and Co., Albert Ballin, managing director of the Hamburg-American Line, and J.P. Morgan, the master mind of the International Mercantile Marine trust.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 6
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Club | BookTok NYC Talks Perfect Beach Reads
Some of BookTok’s most beloved NYC voices partake in a lively discussion on the ultimate beach reads of the season—plus the timeless summer favorites that continue to captivate readers. This event is more than just a conversation—it’s a celebration of books, community, and the power of storytelling. Whether you're a casual reader or a devoted bibliophile, you’ll walk away with fresh recommendations and insider tips from some of the book world’s biggest digital Tastemakers. Please arrive early! Guests who pre-registered through will be given priority seating; however, beginning at 5:55 PM, any remaining seats will be offered to walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 6
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Talk | Exhibition Panel Conversation and Video Screening with Artists and Curators
Artists Beatriz Cortez and rafa esparza will share insights into their work and artistic practices, in the context of the exhibition Beatriz Cortez x rafa esparza: Earth and Cosmos. The program also features videos created by both artists. The program is be followed by a small cocktail reception.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 6
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Lecture | Rediscovering the Libyan Pharoahs of Egypt with Renowned Egyptologist
This evening, world-renowned Egyptologist and historian Aidan Mark Dodson will explore some of the strands of history of an often-ignored era of Egyptian history, including the way in which a buried history was rediscovered by modern historians and archaeologists. During the tenth through seventh centuries BC, Egypt was ruled by a series of pharaohs of Libyan ancestry. Early in the tenth century BC the first of a long series of pharaohs of Libyan descent ascended the Egyptian throne. Although the earlier Libyan pharaohs seem to have maintained the tradition of a unitary Egyptian state, as time went by Libyan ideas of decentralised control became more prevalent. So, historians find individuals holding both Libyan and Egyptian titles controlling distinct territories around Egypt, some of whom assumed the names and titles of a pharaoh. A single Egyptian state would not be restored until the middle of the seventh century.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 6
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Talk | Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Celebrates Women in Engineering with Astronaut & TikTok Personality Kellie Girardi and More
Society of Women Engineer’s (SWE) returns to The Cooper Union, which hosted SWE's founding meeting 75 years ago for a Founder’s Day Celebration. This special milestone event honor SWE's history, celebrates its accomplishments, and shares a vision for SWE's future. The event features a keynote from astronaut and TikTok star Kellie Girardi and a panel discussion with SWE collegiate and professional members sharing stories of women in engineering past, present, and future. Panelists include Jill Tietjen, PE, F.SWE, a SWE past president, Inaas Darrat, SWE president-elect, Troy Eller English, SWE archivist, and Lizelle Ocfemia, president of The Cooper Union's SWE student chapter.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 6
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Talk | Storyteller Party
An evening of live storytelling and music, hosted by Jeff Rose. Featured guests include writers Emily Hespeler, Matt Storrs, Ria Spencer, and musician Carlo Fortunato. The night also includes a “Magic Hat Open-Mic,” offering audience members a chance to share their own stories.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 6
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Forum | Shaping the Village: City Council Candidates on Preservation (Online)
Join a live virtual forum featuring candidates for New York City Council’s District 3, a district that includes Greenwich Village west of 6th Avenue, from Canal Street to 55th Street. This public event provides a unique opportunity to hear directly from candidates about their positions on key preservation, development, and planning issues affecting the neighborhood.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, May 7
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Discussion | Artificial Intelligence: Panel Talk and Puppetry
A compelling event exploring artificial intelligence through the lenses of psychology, science, and the arts. Panel: - Professor Martina Mara of Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU); - Professor Marc Streit of Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU); - Professor Katharina Pistor of Columbia Law School. Moderator: Airan Berg, Artistic Director of the Circus of Knowledge--a theater dedicated to connecting the arts and sciences.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, May 7
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Besselling Authors Discuss Techniques for Caturing "A Living Past" in Their Work
This book conversation explores how authors André Aciman and Rich Benjamin chronicle “a living past”—and excavate history— in recent acclaimed works. How do authors like them successfully interweave big history with personal narrative? How do they convey a poetry of place? This conversation examines how private experience can contribute to collective understanding, the better to enlighten and entertain readers. André Aciman is the author of Call Me by Your Name, Homo Irrealis, Find Me, Eight White Nights, Out of Egypt, False Papers, Alibis, Harvard Square, and Enigma Variations, and is the editor of The Proust Project. Rich Benjamin is a cultural anthropologist and the author of the acclaimed family memoir, Talk to Me: Lessons from a Family Forged by History. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The New York Review of Books. He is also a sought-after lecturer and a public-facing scholar often interviewed in international media, including on MSNBC, CNN, and BBC.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, May 7
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
Book Discussion | Cinema History Book Launch: Toward a More Perfect Rebellion
Toward a More Perfect Rebellion tells the riveting story of the socially engaged filmmakers of color who studied in the Ethno-Communications Program at UCLA between 1969 and 1973. While the program is best known for training the trailblazing group of Black directors known as the L.A. Rebellion, this book also includes the radical Asian American, Chicana/o, and Native American filmmakers who collaborated alongside their Black classmates to create one of the most expansive and groundbreaking bodies of work of any US university cohort. Through extensive interviews with the filmmakers and cross-racial analysis of their collective filmography, Josslyn Jeanine Luckett sheds light on a largely untold history of media activists working outside Hollywood yet firmly rooted in Los Angeles, aiming their cameras with urgency and tenderness to capture their communities' stories of power, struggle, and improvisational brilliance.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, May 7
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Talk | Learn about the Wild World of Sea Slugs & Their Toxic Defenses
In the underwater arms race, some organisms don’t just hunt—they steal their prey’s best defenses. This event features Jessica Goodheart, zoology curator, who explores the world of sea slugs and nudibranchs, extraordinary marine animals that have evolved the ability to “borrow” chemical defenses from sponges, anemones, and other prey. Like real-life pirates, these soft-bodied creatures compensate for their lost protective shells by hijacking venomous stingers and potent compounds, turning their meals into powerful tools for survival. This phenomenon isn’t just a marvel of evolution. It has real-world applications in medicine. Discover how these tiny ocean nomads draw fascinating parallels to other species including poison dart frogs and flatworms! Event is 21+
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, May 7
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Talk | Metropolitan Museum of Art-Featured Photojournalist Reads from His New Book
Photojournalist Stephen Shames has had a long, distinguished career. He has created award-winning photo essays on social issues for the media, foundations, advocacy organizations, and museums. The author of dozens of photography books and zines, and the winner of countless major exhibitions, fellowships, grants, and awards, Shames' work is in the permanent collections of forty-three different museums and collections as widely varied as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, ICP, the Schomberg Center, the Native American Hall of Fame, The Elton John Foundation, The Ford Foundation, and the George Eastman Museum. He will be reading from his book, Stephen Shames: A Lifetime in Photography, and be part of a Q&A.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, May 7
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Talk | Climate & Histrory Talk on New York City's Seaport
New York City is made up of over 40 islands. By looking to Manhattan’s seaport and its deep history of commerce and cultural exchange, professor and D.J. Tao Leigh Goffe explores how climate change has long impacted New York’s deep shorelines. Sharing insights from her climate research lab, Dr. Goffe will draw on Black, Asian, Indigenous, and European histories in this discussion. From Lenapehoking to Chinatown to Dutch New Amsterdam to the site of the Auction Block of chattel slavery, what has the harbor and its ecologies witnessed? Looking to literature from Toni Morrison to Herman Melville, she will prompt the audience to ask an emotional question about NYC and the climate crisis. Tao Leigh Goffe is a London-born, Black British award-winning writer, theorist, and interdisciplinary artist who grew up between the UK and New York. Her research explores Black diasporic intellectual histories, political, and ecological life. She is a member of NEW INC, the New Museum’s incubator for art and technology in New York City. Her writing has been published in or is forthcoming from peer-reviewed academic and more public-oriented journals including South Atlantic Quarterly, Small Axe, Women & Performance: A Journal of Feminist Theory, Vulture, and Boston Review.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 8
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
Discussion | Women's Voices Between Rebellion and Silence in Southern Italy with My Brilliant Friend Actress
A thought-provoking conversation on how women challenge and redefine their space in societies that still struggle to fully embrace them. Taking inspiration from Lila, the iconic character from My Brilliant Friend, this talk explores themes of misogyny, independence, and defiance in different realities in Southern Italy. Actress Irene Maiorino, who played Lila in the acclaimed TV series based on Elena Ferrante’s bestseller, and journalist Angela Vitaliano will discuss the similarities and differences between the world portrayed in the series and other contexts—perhaps less desperate, yet still marked by oppressive structures that seek to silence disruptive voices.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 8
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Talk | NYT Bestselling Author Talks about Her Inspirations and Journey (In Person AND Online!)
This event is a captivating conversation with Abigail Hing Wen—New York Times bestselling author, producer, and director—as she shares her multifaceted journey across literature, film, and artificial intelligence. Best known for her breakout Loveboat series and her latest bestseller Kisses, Codes and Conspiracies, Wen is a trailblazer at the intersection of storytelling and technology. From Silicon Valley to Hollywood, Wen will reflect on how her experiences as a creative producer and woman-in-tech leader have shaped her bold and imaginative body of work. She’ll also offer an exclusive first look at her exciting upcoming projects: The Vale — Origins, a hybrid live-action and animated short film starring award-winning actress and singer Lea Salonga, and her forthcoming middle-grade novel The Vale—both of which explore the healing power of imagination through a virtual reality world crafted by a grieving inventor family. From AI-generated fantasy realms to teen thrillers, Wen’s storytelling continues to push boundaries and inspire audiences of all ages.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 8
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Talk | Renowned Translator Emily Wilson on Translating The Iliad’s Violence
Dr. Emily Wilson, renowned translator of Homer's epic poems and Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, will speak on "Translating The Iliad’s violence”. This talk will argue that there is a large gap between modern and Homeric approaches to physical violence and agency. This difference is legible, she suggests, in influential critical analyses of The Iliad, such as that of Simone Weil, and in prominent translations of the poem. She will suggest that awareness of this difference can help us understand the distinctiveness of modern assumptions about power, force, individuality and humanity. She will also discuss my own approach to translating The Iliad, with particular attention to scenes of massacre.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, May 9
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Lecture | Political Art During the Reformation Talk by Art Scholar
In the turbulent years before the Schmalkaldic War of 1547, the Bohemian town of Joachimsthal (now Jachymov, Czech Republic) was a major center of coinage and medal production. Among its most skilled medalists were Wolf Milicz and his son Nickel, who created medals that satisfied both Protestant and Catholic patrons, as the town's mint came to be controlled by both the staunchly Lutheran Schlick family and King Ferdinand I of the Catholic Habsburgs, brother of Emperor Charles V. This delicate balance is particularly striking in the father and son's commemorative medals of Elector Johann Friedrich of Saxony, a powerful Protestant leader and fierce opponent of Ferdinand and Charles. Rich in subtle symbolism and carefully worded inscriptions, these medals reveal the artistry and diplomacy required to navigate the Reformation's political fault lines. This lecture will explore how these works reflect the era's religious and political tensions, offering a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of power, faith, and artistic expression. Attendees may enjoy free admission to the galleries following the talk.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, May 9
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Talk | Exploring Wikipedia: "The Last Best Place on the Internet"
Annie Rauwerda, Michael Mandiberg, and Stephen Harrison discuss the challenges and opportunities for Wikipedia, a.k.a. "The Last Best Place on the Internet." The conversation will explore Wikipedia's role as an open-source archive, address questions of bias and reliability, examine the relationship between editors and the Wikimedia Foundation, and discuss the politics of "notability." Annie Rauwerda is a Wikipedia editor and enthusiast in New York City. She posts unusual Wikipedia articles on social media on accounts called "Depths of Wikipedia" and is writing a book about the behind-the-scenes drama and delight of creating the world's largest and most accessible information source. Michael Mandiberg is an interdisciplinary artist who created Print Wikipedia, edited The Social Media Reader, and co-founded Art+Feminism. Their work has been exhibited at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Whitney Museum of American Art, and Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, amongst others. Stephen Harrison has covered Wikipedia as a freelance journalist for the New York Times, The Guardian, WIRED, and Slate. Known as the leading reporter on the Wikipedia beat, he is also a tech lawyer and the author of The Editors, a novel inspired by Wikipedia and its volunteer contributors.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, May 9
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
Book Discussion | Art Book Talk: Tom Wesselmann: The Great American Nude
This event is a conversation about leading American pop artist Tom Wesselmann, in celebration of the first comprehensive publication devoted to his most famous body of work, the Great American Nudes (1961-73). Featuring the book's author, curator and art historian Susan Davidson; Lauren Mahony, a gallery publications director; and Jeffrey Sturges, director of exhibitions for the Estate of Tom Wesselmann. Tom Wesselmann: The Great American Nude is the first comprehensive publication dedicated to the artist's most famous body of work. Written by Susan Davidson, the book combines sensual depictions of the female figure with references to art history and popular culture. It will include full-color reproductions of each artwork in the series (totaling one hundred numbered works, plus proofs, and all color variations for editioned works), as well as related drawings, studies, and relevant works from associated series. Seating is limited and will be first come, first served. Doors open at 4:30 pm.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 10
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Gallery Talk | Unveiling the Legacy of the Visonary Founder of the Whitney
The ceremonial unveiling of a plaque honoring Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the visionary founder of the Whitney Museum of American Art, marks the site where she made significant contributions to the American art world. Whitney’s impact as an artist, collector, and patron reshaped the American art world. She provided a lasting platform for contemporary artists, establishing the first museum dedicated to American art. Her dedication to supporting artists and her groundbreaking vision for art institutions in the U.S. remain central to her enduring legacy. This plaque commemorates her extraordinary contributions to the arts. This is the 26th plaque unveiling in an ongoing series celebrating the lives and legacies of influential figures who shaped our community, including Jane Jacobs, James Baldwin, Allen Ginsberg, Frances Perkins, and others.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Mon, May 12
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Talk | Palestinian Writers Discuss the Limitations of Narrative during Genocide
What does it mean to write the story of a self amidst a collective legacy of loss? Palestinian writers Hala Alyan and Sarah Aziza discuss their debut memoirs, and confront the possibilities and limitations of narrative in the context of historical erasure, and ongoing genocide, in Palestine. Hala Alyan is the author of the novels Salt Houses—winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and the Arab American Book Award, and a finalist for the Chautauqua Prize—and The Arsonists’ City, a finalist for the Aspen Words Literary Prize. She is also the author of five highly acclaimed collections of poetry, including The Twenty-Ninth Year and The Moon That Turns You Back. Her work has been published by The New Yorker, the Academy of American Poets, the New York Times, The Guardian, and Guernica. Sarah Aziza is a Palestinian American writer, translator, and artist with roots in ‘Ibdis and Deir al-Balah, Gaza. She is the author of The Hollow Half, a genre-bending memoir of Palestinian diaspora and return. She is the recipient of a Fulbright fellowship and numerous grants from the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, and has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, South Africa, the West Bank, and the United States. Her award-winning journalism, poetry, essays, and experimental nonfiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The Baffler, Harper’s Magazine, Mizna, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and The Nation, among other publications.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Mon, May 12
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
Discussion | Congressman on Israel Relations, Antisemitism, and More (online)
With 28 years in Congress, Rep. Brad Sherman has been a key advocate for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. He'll share insights on U.S.-Israel relations, the Middle East, and the rise of antisemitism.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 13
3:00 pm
Free
3:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism
In the interwar decades, American architecture schools enrolled increasing numbers of women. But as architectural historians Mary Anne Hunting and Kevin D. Murphy recount in their book, professional success did not come easily. Focusing on the Cambridge School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture in Massachusetts and several coeducational architecture schools, Hunting and Murphy profile women designers who pursued careers in architecture, describing how these innovative practitioners leveraged social, educational, and professional ties to achieve success and address social concerns. Some joined women-led architectural firms, while others partnered with men or contributed to Modernism as retailers of household furnishings, writers and educators, photographers and designers, or fine artists. With stunning illustrations, Women Architects at Work offers new histories of recognized figures, while recovering the stories of previously unsung women, all of whom contributed to the modernization of American architecture and design.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 13
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Lecture | Art Historian Explores Muralist Francis Davis Millet 's Influence on the American Renaissance
Art historian and Millet scholar Gina M. D’Angelo discusses the American artist Francis Davis Millet (1846-1912). Gina presents an overview of Millet’s career while concentrating on one of his signature achievements: his mural decorations and supervision of the mural program at the 1893 World’s Fair, which revitalized the American mural movement and enhanced the stature of mural painting in the United States.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 13
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | How New York Rose: Skyscrapers, Subways, and the Workers Who Built a City (Online)
Historian of American architecture and urbanism Alexander Wood, author of Building the Metropolis: Architecture, Construction, and Labor in New York City, 1880-1935, brings to life the era that transformed New York into a global metropolis. A former Helen and Robert Appel Fellow at the New York Historical Society and a Ph.D. graduate from Columbia, Wood examines the period that saw the rise of the skyscraper, the birth of the subway, and the unification of the five boroughs. Drawing on archives, firm records, and labor union documents, Wood explores how visionaries, tradespeople, and communities together shaped the city's jagged skyline and bustling infrastructure. His research highlights the often-overlooked labor and ingenuity behind nearly a million buildings, landmark bridges, and miles of city streets--all constructed during a time of breathtaking urban ambition.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 13
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Club | Reading Rhythms Party: Socialize with Other Bookworms
Unplug and unwind at Reading Rhythms, a unique outdoor reading party designed to build community through books. With live music, structured reading time, and guided discussions, this mindful gathering blends solo reflection with social connection. Bring your own book and a mat or blanket for added comfort.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 13
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Talk | History's Lessons for Today with Writers and Editors for The New Yorker
What are history’s lessons for today? Writers from The New Yorker make sense of the backlash against immigrants, the war on "wokeism," and other aspects of the second Trump presidency by looking back. Michael Luo is an executive editor at The New Yorker and writes regularly for the magazine on politics, religion, and Asian American issues. He joined The New Yorker in 2016. Before that, he spent thirteen years at the New York Times, as a metro reporter, national correspondent, and investigative reporter and editor. He is a recipient of a George Polk Award and a Livingston Award for Young Journalists. His new book, Strangers in the Land, is a masterful narrative history of the Chinese in America, tracing their more than century-long struggle to belong. Jelani Cobb joined the Columbia Journalism School faculty in 2016 and became Dean in 2022. He has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2015 and was a finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Commentary. Dr. Cobb has a B.A. in English from Howard University and completed his M.A. and doctorate in American History at Rutgers University in 2003. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Journalism Project and the Board of Trustees of the New York Public Library. In 2023, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Geraldo Cadava, PhD, is a historian of the United States. He focuses on Latinos in the United States, the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, and Latin American immigration. Cadava is the author of two books. Most recently, he wrote The Hispanic Republican: The Shaping of An American Political Identity, from Nixon to Trump. He is a Contributing Writer for The New Yorker, Co-Editor-in-Chief of Public Books, and author of the Substack newsletter Latinos in Depth. David Remnick was named the editor of The New Yorker in 1998. He is the author of seven books, including King of the World, Resurrection, and Lenin’s Tomb, for which he received both the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction and a George Polk Award for excellence in journalism. Remnick has written hundreds of pieces for the magazine and, in 2015, became the host of “The New Yorker Radio Hour,” a national radio program and podcast. In 2016, Remnick was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 13
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
Talk | MoMA-Featured Artist & Photographer Discusses His New Book
This event is a talk with Tim Soter. Soter is an artist, photographer, book designer, and publisher operating under the imprint The Ship Escaped. A common underlying thread in his work is the act of mythologizing—whether it’s an already famous photographer, a decades-old music scene, or even an artistic process. His most recent book, DFA Records: The Early Years, documents the raw energy, underground spirit, and formative moments of New York’s DFA music scene from 2003 to 2007. His work is held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, the International Center of Photography, and Tate Modern.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 13
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Book Club | Discussing the Poetry of National Book Award Winner Diane Seuss
In this Poetry Discussion meeting, the group will be reading Diane Seuss' 2024 poetry collection, Modern Poetry. This collection was: Finalist for the 2024 National Book Award for Poetry Winner of the 2024 Heartland Booksellers Award for Poetry A New York Times Book Review Notable Book of 2024 A New Yorker Essential Read of 2024 A Library Journal, Literary Hub, and Electric Literature Best Poetry Collection of 2024 Diane Seuss’s signature voice—audacious in its honesty, virtuosic in its artistry, outsider in its attitude—has become one of the most original in contemporary poetry. Her latest collection takes its title, Modern Poetry, from the first textbook Seuss encountered as a child and the first poetry course she took in college, as an enrapt but ill-equipped student, one who felt poetry was beyond her reach. Many of the poems make use of the forms and terms of musical and poetic craft—ballad, fugue, aria, refrain, coda—and contend with the works of writers overrepresented in textbooks and anthologies and those too often underrepresented. Please bring your copy to the discussion; the group will be doing close readings and analysis of the poems. A PDF of the collection is available on the organizer's website.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, May 14
4:30 pm
Free
4:30 pm
Free
Talk | Bestselling Author of The Body Scout Speaks on His New Book with Fellow Writers
Author Lincoln Michel presents Metallic Realms, in conversation with Helen Phillips, Chloe Cooper Jones and Kevin Nguyen. In the novel, Perennially single, socially awkward, and drowning in debt, Michael Lincoln finds his life has turned out nothing like the intergalactic lives of the pulp heroes of his youth. But these are pedestrian concerns—he has a higher calling, and that is to preserve for all posterity the greatest series in the history of the written word: The Star Rot Chronicles. Written collectively by Michael’s best (and perhaps only) friend Taras K. Castle and his misfit science fiction writing group, the Orb 4, the stories follow Captain Baldwin and his fearless crew on their mind-bending adventures across the Metallic Realms. But the most urgent story Michael must tell takes place in the more intimate (if no less dramatic) confines of literary Brooklyn. Behind the greatest universe ever created, there are the all-too-mortal people who wrote it. As Michael chronicles the personal melodramas of the Orb 4 as well as the fun house reflections in their fiction, the line between real and unreal becomes dangerously thin, and the true reasons for the group’s fallout begin to emerge.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, May 14
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
Gallery Talk | Contemporary Artists Speak on Willem de Kooning's Career and Influence
This event is a talk on Willem de Kooning with artists John Currin, Jenny Saville, and Dana Schutz, moderated by Cecilia Alemani. This conversation will take place inside an exhibition of Willem de Kooning;s work. It will center around de Kooning's enduring artistic legacy and the continued impact of his techniques and processes on artists today. The exhibition presents works spanning five decades--paintings dating from 1944 through 1986 and two sculptures--and foregrounds visual motifs that recurred throughout the artist's career. Doors open at 2:30 pm. Capacity is limited. Seating is first come, first served. Advance registration does not guarantee admission once the event reaches capacity.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 15
3:00 pm
Free
3:00 pm
Free
Talk | Remembering Your "Higher Self" Discussion/Book Launch with Life & Leadership Coach
Mory Fontanez is launching her book, Higher Self, with a panel conversation between herself and other writers and creators. Mory Fontanez is a sought-after Intuitive Life & Leadership coach and the Founder of Eight22 Group, a consultancy that helps organizations elevate their consciousness. She will be speaking about remembering the "higher self" with Alok Vaid-Menon (a poet, comedian, actor, and public speaker) and Chani Nicholas (a New York Times bestselling author and astrologer with a community of over one million monthly readers) Refreshments provided.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 15
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Book Launch and Conversation: On the Legacy of Magnus Hirschfeld
This May marks the 90th anniversary of the death of groundbreaking German physician, sexologist, and LGBTQ advocate Magnus Hirschfeld (1868-1935). This event is a double book launch and conversation on Hirschfeld's legacy and its relevancy today with authors Daniel Brook and Brandy Schillace. In 1919, Hirschfeld opened the Institute for Sexual Science, the world's first sexology research center, in Berlin. The Institute led the way in studying and treating various aspects of gender and sexuality, including topics related to gay, transgender, and intersex individuals. Additionally, the Institute championed sex education, contraception, the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, and women's rights. By 1933, the institute was closed permanently, having been ransacked by Nazis, its library and archives burned. Hirschfeld had fled Germany in 1930—embarking on a global research tour that took him to the United States, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East—before settling in France, where he would die of heart attack on his 67th birthday. In his new historical biography, The Einstein of Sex: Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, Visionary of Weimar Berlin, journalist Daniel Brook has retraced Hirschfeld’s life and legacy. Hirschfeld publicly advocated for gay rights while privately counseling patients toward self-acceptance, helping turn Weimar Berlin into the world’s queer capital. In The Intermediaries: A Weimar Story, historian Brandy Schillace tells the story of the Institute for Sexual Science through the eyes of Dora Richter, a patient of the Institute whom we follow in her quest to transition and live as a woman. Copies of both books will be available for purchase and signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 15
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Talk | Experts Explore the Forensics System of the Rape Kit in 2025
In the 1970s, an activist named Marty Goddard pioneered a new crime-solving tool — a kit that could help rape survivors fight for justice. Now, five decades after its invention, the rape kit is used in almost every corner of the world. The data inside these kits has revealed the existence of serial predators and helped to free innocent men from prison. Panelists will discuss the enormous potential of this forensic system — along with the chilling threats to its very existence. Experts discuss the history and future of the rape kit.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 15
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
Talk | Exploring the Unexpected and Fascinating Pockets of History Seaport
Art historian Prudence Peiffer and geographer Joshua Jelly-Schapiro give a short tour of unexpected and fascinating pockets of history in New York's downtown Seaport neighborhood that inspired their own books: from Coenties Slip, the three-block street that hosted a modern art community in its sail-making lofts, to the long history of naming places in Manhattan, and the stories we uncover and bring to our own personal portraits of the city.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 17
10:30 am
$5 per RSVP
10:30 am
$5 per RSVP
Talk | Historical Exploration of Feminism and Chinoiserie Art
Explore how the decorative style of chinoiserie shaped both European women's identities and racial and cultural stereotypes around Asian women in this critical look at the historical style and its afterlives. This event features dynamic conversations, presentations, and readings by leading scholars, designers, and writers. Free with museum admission (advance registration is required). Please note: Space is limited; first come, first served.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, May 17
10:30 am
Free
10:30 am
Free
Talk | Author Discusses Her New Book about Food and Death: Aftertaste
Author Daria Lavelle presents Aftertaste in conversation with Julia Phillips. What if you could have one last meal with someone you’ve loved, someone you’ve lost? Combining the magic of Under the Whispering Door with the high-stakes culinary world of Sweetbitter, Aftertaste is an epic love story, a dark comedy, and a synesthetic adventure through food and grief. Set in the bustling world of New York restaurants and teeming with mouthwatering food writing, Aftertaste is a whirlwind romance, a heart-wrenching look at love and loss, and a ghost story about all the ways we hunger—and how far we’d go to find satisfaction. Daria Lavelle is an American fiction writer. Her short stories have appeared in The Deadlands, Dread Machine, and elsewhere. Julia Phillips is the author of the bestselling novels Bear and Disappearing Earth, which was a finalist for the National Book Award and one of The New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Books of the Year.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Mon, May 19
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
Book Club | Book Club Discussion: Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
Book Synopsis: Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks. So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I. So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree. But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves. With its totally immersive first-person voice, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 20
4:00 pm
Free
4:00 pm
Free
Book Club | Novella Discussion Joseph Roth's Rebellion
During this novella discussion, the group will focus on Joseph Roth's 1924 novella, Rebellion. "Rebellion is reminiscent of Chekhov in its uncluttered, melancholy simplicity, while its sense of the larger, crushing incomprehensibility of things echoes Roth's older contemporary, Frank Kafka." --Richard Bernstein, The New York Times Synopsis: When Andreas Pum returns from World War I, he has lost a leg but gained a medal. But unlike his fellow sufferers, Pum maintains his unswerving faith in God, Government, and Authority. Ironically, after a dispute, Pum is imprisoned as a rebel, and all that he believed in is now thrown into upheaval. Moving along at a breakneck clip, Rebellion captures the cynicism and upheavals of a postwar society. Its jazz-like cadences mix with social commentary to create a wise parable about justice and society.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, May 21
4:30 pm
Free
4:30 pm
Free
Lecture | Women Who Shaped NYC’s Nightlife and Cultural Revolutions (Online)
From Billie Holiday’s haunting performance of Strange Fruit to Sylvia Robinson’s game-changing introduction of hip hop at Webster Hall, women have long transformed nightlife into a platform for cultural and political change. This virtual lecture explores the legacy of female nightlife activists who, through taverns, clubs, speakeasies, and dance floors, challenged norms, united communities, and influenced the city’s cultural landscape. The program highlights icons such as Norma Miller, who revolutionized swing dance, and Patti Astor, who brought graffiti and New Wave art into the mainstream. These vibrant figures used nightlife as a powerful stage to amplify voices, celebrate subcultures, and reshape the social fabric.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, May 21
5:30 pm
Free
5:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | The Art Spy: The Woman who Saved Art Masterpieces from Nazis (online)
Based on newly uncovered documents, The Art Spy tells the true story of Rose Valland, a brave Frenchwoman who risked her life during WWII to save priceless art from Nazi looting. Author Michelle Young talks about Valland's heroic efforts to protect cultural treasures.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 22
3:00 pm
Free
3:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | A Century of LGBTQ+ Life in NYC
Celebrate the launch of Queer Happened Here: 100 Years of NYC’s Landmark LGBTQ+ Places with author and historian Marc Zinaman, joined by special guest Ande Whyland, contributor and acclaimed documentarian of 1980s East Village nightlife. This vivid, visual journey through a century of queer spaces in Manhattan chronicles how bars, clubs, bathhouses, and protest sites became the heart of LGBTQ+ community, culture, and resistance. The evening features firsthand stories and rare archival materials from the book, including 1920s drag balls, the Stonewall uprising, AIDS activism, and the explosive art scene of the 1980s. Whyland’s candid photography, featured in her monograph Shots, 1980–1986, captures iconic venues like Club 57, The Pyramid Club, and Jackie 60, offering a personal lens on a revolutionary era. Signed copies of Queer Happened Here and Shots, 1980–1986 will be available at the event.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 22
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Talk | Photographer and Creator of Journal and Travel Show Brown Passport Discusses Her Professional Journey
This event is a talk with photographer, director, and DP Samantha Isom. Isom spent years as a photo assistant and digital tech to some of the top image-makers in the business, all while shooting on her own. Since then, she’s incorporated more motion/video into her image-making, going out not only as a photographer but also as a camera operator/DP. She has shot all over the world and has created the online journal and travel show Brown Passport. In 2015 she began training to shoot underwater and received her PADI divemaster certificate. Isomhas lived and worked in Chicago, New Orleans, Miami, Philadelphia, and spent a few months living and shooting in Hawai’i, and Indonesia.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, May 27
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Talk | Dance Historian on the Legacy of the Dance of Isadora Duncan (In Person AND Online!)
Lori Belilove, artistic director and founder of the Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation & Company, has worked to pass on Duncan's grace, power, and mastery of weight to future generations. Belilove received direct instruction from Duncan's original troupe of six young dancers, known as her "Isadorables." The group included Anna Duncan, born Anna Denzler, who was one of the most dedicated of the six--she never studied another dance technique, and was called "a key keeper of the flame." In this program, Belilove explores the life story of Anna Duncan through images and rare films, from Anna's early age of five auditioning for Isadora Duncan's school in Grunewald, Germany to her last days as a saleswoman at Saks Fifth Avenue and Brentano's bookstore. The program honors her contribution to the legacy of Isadora Duncan with surprise performances that were Anna's signature.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, May 28
1:00 pm
Free
1:00 pm
Free
Discussion | Israel on Our Minds with Ambassador Ido Aharoni (in-person and online)
Even those of us who follow the news from Israeli regularly are left with more questions than insight: How should we think about Israel security in the face of a rapidly changing Middle East? What is the government doing in response to the worldwide condemnation of the Jewish State . . . and what could it do? Has the Start-Up Nation sputtered out? Can the breach between the religious and the secular populations be healed — and how? Does the Israeli government take the concerns and opinions of the Jewish diaspora seriously enough? Should it? With so many questions — and so much confusion — they have recruited the ideal person to pull back the curtain on the complicated situation: an Israel diplomat, university professor, writer and investor, Ido Aharoni.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 29
11:00 am
Free
11:00 am
Free
Discussion | Understanding the Influence of Broadway Scenic Designer Robin Wagner
Robin Wagner was one of the most inventive and prolific scenic designers on Broadway in the last decades of the 20th century. From the deceptively simple set of A Chorus Line, which allowed for the use of Tharon Musser’s first-of-a-kind computerized lighting design, to the boundary pushing automated scenery in Dreamgirls, Wagner helped to bring scenic design into the digital age. In 2023, months before his death, Wagner released his papers and designs, and they are now processed and available for researchers to use. Several of Wagner’s closest colleagues gather for a panel discussion of Wagner’s influence on the artform to celebrate his gift and his remarkable career.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, May 29
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Talk | Ground Zero Rescue Commemoration Ceremony (In Person AND Online!)
To commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the formal end to rescue and recovery operations at Ground Zero, we will honor the courage and sacrifice of 9/11 rescue, recovery, and relief workers; commemorate those who have died due to 9/11-related illnesses and injuries; and recognize the spirit of survivors and members of the downtown community with a special ceremony that is open to the public.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, May 30
10:30 am
Free
10:30 am
Free
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Classical Music | Sacred Choral Works at a Landmark Venue
Regular Price: $50CFT Member Price: $0.00
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