free things to do in New York City

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33 free events take place on Sunday, May 17 in New York City.

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Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides!

33 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Sunday, May 17, 2009

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

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Workshop | Kayaking on the Hudson

Join 20-minute instructional paddles, and explore the Hudson River first hand. Please wear a bathing suit or shorts and a t-shirt, and know how to swim.

New York City, NY; NYC

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10:00 am
free, no reservation required

Lesson | Pilates in the Park

Classical Pilates encourages proper breathing, spinal alignment, core strengthening, muscle flexibility and balance in the body. Taught in the Park by Courtnie Vitali.

New York City, NY; NYC

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10:00 am
free, no reservation required

Other | Free admission for seniors to a major Museum

Visitors age 65 and over can show a valid ID at the Information Desk in the museum’s lobby to obtain a free ticket. (Regular admission for seniors is $16). Take your grandchildren to the museum - admission for children 16 and under is always free.

New York City, NY; NYC

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10:30 am
free, no reservation required

Reading | Design and Management Thesis Presentation

A selection of thesis work by students in the BBA Design and Management program. The presented work was nominated for its excellence by the Design and Management faculty. The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion by academic and industry leaders.

New York City, NY; NYC

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Tour | Historic Flatiron District

View some of the City’s most notable landmarks, including the New York Life Insurance building, the MetLife tower, the Appellate Courthouse and the famous Flatiron Building.

New York City, NY; NYC

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

City Walk | Historic Orchard Street Tour

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

New York City, NY; NYC

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

City Walk | Neighborhood walk: BROOKLYN HEIGHTS

Enjoy breathtaking views of Manhattan and visit one of Brooklyn’s oldest communities.

New York City, NY; NYC

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Fair | Street Fair

New York City, NY; NYC

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Fair | Street Fair

The fair will feature crafts, antiques and collectible exhibitors plus a wide array of international foods. R Performances from 1 PM – 5 PM. Included are: the Voxare String Quartet: Red Peralta, an acclaimed singer-songwriter who will perform with her band Rebel Red; and the All City High School Jazz Band of New York.

New York City, NY; NYC

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Lesson | Tai Chi in the Park

Led by members of the Taoist Tai Chi Society, participants will have the opportunity to relax and exercise among the changing exhibitions of contemporary outdoor sculpture. Classes are designed for all experience levels. Participants should wear comfortable clothing.

New York City, NY; NYC

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11:00 am
free, no reservation required

Tour | “A Road Once Traveled”

Holding the Park's northern highlands was key in the American Revolution and the War of 1812 because armies could see their enemies approach as they sailed down the East River. History buffs will love this tour of the Harlem Meer and its strategic environs.

New York City, NY; NYC

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12:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Park Walk | Orchard Beach History

Learn about the history of Orchard Beach and the surrounding islands, from Native American inhabitants to the impacts of Robert Moses.

New York City, NY; NYC

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1:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Gallery Talk | Tour of the exhibition “Valentina”

Join co-curators Phyllis Magidson and Kohle Yohannan as they lead a special tour of "Valentina: American Couture and the Cult of Celebrity," the first-ever retrospective of a woman who dominated the New York City worlds of fashion, society, and celebrity from the 1920s through the 1950s.

New York City, NY; NYC

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

Concert | Voice of the Whale Concert

The mysterious underwater world of whales comes to life in a special event uniting poetry, projected images, a chamber music concert featuring a world premiere work by the celebrated American composer Ingram Marshall, and a lively discussion with the grandchildren of legendary marine explorer Jacques Cousteau.

New York City, NY; NYC

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1:00 pm
$15 suggested admission

Concert | Extension Division Chamber Music

Informal recital featuring ensembles from the Extension Division chamber music class.

New York City, NY; NYC

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1:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Piano Students' Recital

This recital is a semester-end presentation by the piano students who study with Hugo Goldenzweig.

New York City, NY; NYC

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1:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Tour | Cathedral Tour

Explore the Cathedral's newly cleaned and restored Nave. Learn about the art, architecture and history of this great sacred space from 1892 to the present.

New York City, NY; NYC

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2:00 pm
$5

**Video | Nathaniel Kahn's My Architect, a Son's Journey (2003)**

Kahn documents the life and works of his father, Louis Kahn. 116 min.

New York City, NY; NYC

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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Tour | Roosevelt Island- “A New Town In Town” Tour

Once called Blackwell's Island and Welfare Island. A place where the city's undesirables were sent. Now a residential community with beautiful views of Manhattan. Highlights : A ride on the Tramway, The Chapel of the Good Shepherd, The Blackwell Farmhouse and the Octagon Building.

New York City, NY; NYC

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

Park Walk | West Side Stories Tour

Walk through a scenic area on the western edge of the Park, much of which is off the beaten track for most visitors. See rolling meadows, lake views, bridges of different styles, and a garden with flowers and plants mentioned by Shakespeare.

New York City, NY; NYC

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2:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | A Salute to Broadway

A concert of selections from favorite Broadway musicals will be presented.

New York City, NY; NYC

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2:30 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | ANGELICA Women Chamber Singers perform Scarlatti, Poulenc and others

This program features music written by and/or for women and spans nine centuries. Highlights: Codex Las Huelgas (selections); “Kyrie” from Delia Bonito’s Mass (1723); and works by Casulana, A. Scarlatti, Duruflé, Poulenc, Eleanor Daley & Matthew Harris. Musicians: Marie Caruso, Artistic Director; Melanie Anderson; Charlotte Ford; Ann Foster; Colleen Kiel; Kathleen McClafferty; Wilma Messenger; Susan Saslow; Carolyn Summers; Mary Varchaver.

New York City, NY; NYC

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3:00 pm
$15 suggested donation

Concert | Downtown Symphony performs Verdi's La Traviata

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

New York City, NY; NYC

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3:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Rorianne Schrade performs from her CD Homage to Chopin

The pianist takes on Chopin, Flagello and Rachmaninoff on this new recording.

New York City, NY; NYC

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3:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Handel and Bach at a beautiful church with wonderful acoustics

Ryan Walsh, oboe; Liv, Heym violin; Ariadne, Greif, soprano; Raphael Fusco, harpsichord; Anneke Schaul-Yoder, cello; Sasha Gee Enegren, bassoon; Anna Hiemstra, violin; Rose Hashimoto, viola; Julian Anderson, bass; Program Alessandro Marcello Oboe Concerto in C Minor Handel Trio Op. 2 No. 6, HWV 391,/i> Handel Cantata "Mi palpita il cor" HWV 132b (soprano-oboe version) Bach Sonata No. 2 for Violin Solo; BWV 1003 Telemann Duet for Cello and Bassoon

New York City, NY; NYC

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4:00 pm
Regular $10...

Workshop | Knitting Circle

Come in and knit, make new friends, drink some tea, and learn a craft at a self-help and member-led group event. Open to all levels of experience. Bring yarn and needles.

New York City, NY; NYC

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4:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Jazz | Lucas Pino, saxophone

A senior recital.

New York City, NY; NYC

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4:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Jennifer Curtis, violin

New York City, NY; NYC

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5:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Jazz | Michael Bailey, saxophone

A senior recital.

New York City, NY; NYC

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6:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Author Reading | Jessica Valenti reads from her book The Purity Myth

American culture is plagued with concerns about the sexual purity of young women. Join Valenti in a reading and discussion of her new book in which she brings the full powers of her wit and intelligence to a critique of the problematic cultural appraisal of girls and women based on their sexual worth. Valenti is also the author of Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Matters and He’s a Stud, She’s a Slut…and 49 Other Double Standards Every Woman Should Know.

New York City, NY; NYC

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7:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | make theater with SLAM Theater

SLAM Theater invites artists and audiences to get involved in the process of making theater. Playwrights bring fresh scripts, and actors are called out of a hat to perform timed segments, completely unrehearsed. After each round, the judges score the plays, moving the top-scoring plays to the next round. Winning writers get to unveil more of their work, acting as director or bringing one in to give timed notes. SLAM is an evening of theater with impromptu performance, spontaneous collaboration, and friendly competition.

New York City, NY; NYC

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7:00 pm
$5

Theater | William Shakespeare's Othello

The Bard's classic directed by Rebecca Guy and featuring Juilliard's third-year actors.

New York City, NY; NYC

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7:00 pm
free, no reservation required

Concert | Voice Students' Recital

This recital is a semester end presentation by the voice students who study with Kennith Kamal Scott

New York City, NY; NYC

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7:30 pm
free, no reservation required

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Complimentary Tickets

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

Discussion | Major Political Correspondent in Conversation

Regular Price: $40
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Arias from Operas by Puccini & More

Regular Price: $40
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Play | Family Comedy at a Major Theater

Regular Price: $35
CFT Member Price: $0.00