free things to do in New York City
Free events for Thursday, 04/16/26
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More

Are you looking for free things to do in New York City (NYC) on April 16, 2026?

49 free events take place on Thursday, April 16 in New York City. Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides! Exciting, high quality, unique and off the beaten path free events and free things to do take place in New York today, tonight, tomorrow and each day of the year, any time of the day: whether it's a weekday or a weekend, day or night, morning or evening or afternoon, December or July, April or November! These events will take your breath away!

New York City (NYC) never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment. Check out April 16 and see for yourself. Summer or Winter, Spring or Fall! Just click on any day of the calendar above and you'll find most inspiring and entertaining free events to go to and free things to do on each day of April . Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides!

Some events take place all year long: same day of the week, same time there are there for you to take advantage of. One of the oldest free weekly events in Manhattan is Dixieland Jazz with the Gotham Jazzmen, which happen at noon every Tuesday. Another example of an event that you can attend all year round on weekdays is Federal Reserve Bank Tour, which takes place every week day at 1 pm (but advanced reservations are required). You can take at least 13 free tours every day of the year, except the New Year Day, July 4th, and the Christmas Day. If you are classical music afficionado, you can spend whole day in New York going from one free classical concert to another. If you love theater, then New York gives you an option to attend plays and musicals free of charge, or at deep discount. You just need to have information about it. And we are here to make that information available to you.
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The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.

So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!

49 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Thursday, April 16, 2026

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Forum | City Leaders Discuss NYC's Affordability Crisis (In Person AND Online!)


Attend a discussion on solving New York City’s affordability crisis, which will require more than just tackling the soaring cost of living. City leaders will also need a plan for the other side of the equation—raising incomes, building wealth, and expanding pathways to the middle class—so that a lot more New Yorkers can afford to live here. This policy forum will advance concrete ideas, opportunities, and strategies for city and state leaders to address this side of the affordability crisis. Speakers will discuss specific steps that city leaders can take to help more New Yorkers achieve financial security, access well-paying jobs, grow businesses, build assets, save for retirement, and achieve upward mobility.   Confirmed speakers include: Council Member Eric Dinowitz, Chair, Committee on Education Council Member Rita Joseph, Chair, Committee on Higher Education Lauren Andersen, Vice Chancellor for Career Engagement & Industry Partnerships, CUNY Debra-Ellen Glickstein, Executive Director, NYC Kids RISE Reuben Ogbonna, Executive Director & Co-Founder, The Marcy Lab School Justine Zinkin, CEO, Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 am
Free
Forums, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, City Leaders Discuss NYC's Affordability Crisis (In Person AND Online!)

Open Studios | A Ballad to Puerto Rico


Armig Santos unveils a new series of paintings that explore Puerto Rico’s landscapes and histories, utilizing archival and ecological sources. The exhibition is titled after José Luis González’s Baladas de otro tiempo (1978). Each canvas serves as its own homage to Puerto Rico, showing how the past can shape the present. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Open Studioss, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, A Ballad to Puerto Rico

Workshop | Learn How To Play Mah-Jongg


Mah-Jongg is a four-person tile game of skill, strategy, and luck! Learn the rules and mechanics of American Mah-Jongg. Attend a two hour group lesson with instructor Susan Richards. Sets and a few cards provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own cards.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Workshops, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Learn How To Play Mah-Jongg

Master Class | Learn the Ins & Outs of Great Chamber Music Performance


Nicholas Mann, founding member of the Mendelssohn String Quartet and music educator, imparts skills and techniques for chamber music mastery, via distance learning.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Concerts, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Learn the Ins & Outs of Great Chamber Music Performance

Tour | New York City Hall Guided Tour


One of the oldest continuously used city halls in the nation that still houses its original governmental functions, New York's City Hall is considered one of the finest architectural achievements of its period. Constructed from 1803 to 1812, the building was an early expression of the City's cosmopolitanism. City Hall is a designated New York City landmark, and its rotunda is also a designated interior landmark. Note: When registering, choose the "Individual Tour" option.
   New York City, NY; NYC
10:00 am
Free
Tours, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, New York City Hall Guided Tour

Park Walk | Explore a Beautiful Park with an Outdoor Educator 


Take a stroll with outdoor educator Marieke Bender and explore your connection to the great outdoors! See what makes NYC parks an important refuge for humans, animals, and plants, and search for signs of Spring along the Hudson River.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free
Park Walks, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Explore a Beautiful Park with an Outdoor Educator&nbsp;

Dance Performance | Immersive Building-Wide Dance Experience


Moving throughout the building, audiences wear headphones for the hour-long performance, tuning them into the personal stories and meaningful movements that may dwell in any corner of the Library’s collections. Hailed in the New York Times as one of the “best dance performances of 2025.”  Written by Robbie Saenz de Viteri and choreographed by Monica Bill Barnes.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:30 am
Free
Dance Performances, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Immersive Building-Wide Dance Experience

Workshop | Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome


This juggling class is ideal for a quick lesson, an extended practice session, or just enjoy watching jugglers put their skills to the test. They're a friendly group and open to drop-ins, even if you catch them outside of the regular juggling lessons. All skill levels welcome. Equipment is provided.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Workshops, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome

Classical Music | Afternoon Bach


Take a momentary respite from a busy day to enjoy a selection of organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach in an intimate venue.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:20 pm
Free
Concerts, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Afternoon Bach

Workshop | Learn To Write Poetry with Award-Winning Writers


Poetry writing workshop with some of the best, award-winning poets across NYC. Participants will learn about/from relevant works, engage in discussion, write, and share their work. They will also learn a brief history of the Nuyorican, and if relevant/possible, life as a professional artist/poet. Workshop leaders: Karl Iglesias and Elisabeth Velasquesz.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free
Workshops, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Learn To Write Poetry with Award-Winning Writers

Classical Music | Baroque German Ensemble Works (In Person AND Online!)


The Fooles ensemble performs an exploration of the instrumental works of three of Germany’s most important composers from the 17th century: Schein, Scheidt, and Schmelzer. These pieces come from important publications and collections of instrumental music, including the Kromeriz archive in the Czech Republic, which serves as one of the greatest sources of instrumental and vocal music from Germany in the 17th century.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:15 pm
Free
Concerts, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Baroque German Ensemble Works (In Person AND Online!)

Dance Performance | Immersive Building-Wide Dance Experience


Moving throughout the building, audiences wear headphones for the hour-long performance, tuning them into the personal stories and meaningful movements that may dwell in any corner of the Library’s collections. Hailed in the New York Times as one of the “best dance performances of 2025.”  Written by Robbie Saenz de Viteri and choreographed by Monica Bill Barnes.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:30 pm
Free
Dance Performances, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Immersive Building-Wide Dance Experience

Jazz | Live Concert in the Galleries


Enjoy live performances by talented young jazz musicians, bringing rhythm and improvisation to the museum’s musical instrument galleries. This series showcases the energy of jazz while connecting music to the artistry of the instruments on display.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Concerts, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Live Concert in the Galleries

Workshop | Learn about Photography Portfolio Reviews, Critiques, & Audiences


Photographer and filmmaker Stephen Mallon discusses portfolio reviews, critiques, and presenting your work to a particular audience. Stephen will bring his portfolios to demonstrate how he presents his body of work to curators at review sessions, while helping you gain valuable insight from the perspective of both reviewer and artist. Learn what to look for, how to prepare for reviews, and more!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Workshops, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Learn&nbsp;about Photography Portfolio Reviews, Critiques, & Audiences

Film | It Happens Every Spring (1949): Sci-Fi Sports Comedy Film


A college chemistry professor, Vernon Simpson, invents a substance that keeps insects away from wood. But after a baseball crashes through the window and gets coated in the fluid, Simpson discovers that the ball repels wood. To further his experiment, Simpson tries out as a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals and becomes a master of the screwball, propelling him into the spotlight as a star player, much to the confusion of his fiancée, Deborah. Director: Lloyd Bacon Cast: Ray Milland, Jean Peters, Paul Douglas
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Films, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, It Happens Every Spring (1949): Sci-Fi Sports Comedy Film

Museums | Thursday Evenings at a Living Memorial Museum


Explore a museum dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, Jewish life, and education. View expansive galleries, survivor testimonies, and tens of thousands of artifacts. The museum also offers a theater, a genealogy center, an outdoor memorial, and a cafe.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Museumss, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Thursday Evenings at a Living Memorial Museum

Film | The Tempest (2010): Fantasy Comedy-Drama Adapted from Shakespeare, with Helen Mirren


Shakespeare's epic play is translated from page to screen, with the gender of the main character, Prospero, changed from male to female: Prospera. Director: Julie Taymor Cast: Helen Mirren, Russell Brand, Reeve Carney, Tom Conti, Chris Cooper, Alan Cumming Helen Mirren is a British actor. She is the recipient of numerous accolades and is the only performer to have achieved both the American and the British Triple Crowns of Acting. Mirren has received an Academy Award and a British Academy Film Award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, a Tony Award and a Laurence Olivier Award for portraying the same character in The Audience, three British Academy Television Awards for her performance as DCI Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect, four Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Children's and Family Emmy Award.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:30 pm
Free
Films, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, The Tempest (2010): Fantasy Comedy-Drama Adapted from Shakespeare, with Helen Mirren

Discussion | Law Expert Discusses American Gerontocracy


Samuel Moyn, Chancellor Kent Professor of Law and History at Yale University, discusses American gerontocracy with Mira Siegelberg. As Americans debate President Biden’s infirmities and President Trump’s erratic behavior, we’ve neglected the bigger problem before us: a massive transfer of power and wealth to the oldest among us, and the curtailment of the prospects of the young. Even apart from the presidency, in legislatures, businesses, and the courts, the average leader’s age has risen dramatically. The elderly predominantly fund campaigns and dominate their agendas, often with the intent to block any challenge to their status. The tax code is rigged on their behalf, as is an economy geared to sheltering financial and housing assets. The United States was founded on the promise of generational renovation but has become an increasingly febrile country of old men. Fortunately, there is a problem to confront the consequences of the extension of life for our political order.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Discussions, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Law Expert Discusses American Gerontocracy

Museums | Three Floors of Photography:The Power of the Image


This museum is the world's leading institution dedicated to photography and visual culture. It was founded in 1974 to champion "concerned photography"--socially and politically minded images that can educate and change the world. Through its exhibitions, education programs, community outreach, and public programs, the museum offers an open forum for dialogue about the power of the image.
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:00 pm
$5, tickets required
Museumss, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Three Floors of Photography:The Power of the Image

Lecture | Antiquity Reimagined: Karl Lagerfeld’s Greek Obsession


Christophe Kone explores Karl Lagerfeld’s fascination with Ancient Greece. Using Chanel’s "The Modernity of Antiquity" 2017/18 Cruise collection as a starting point, the talk examines the recurrence of Greek Antiquity in Lagerfeld’s work for both Chloé and Chanel, as well as in the designer’s photography. Discover how the designer wove classical themes into modern fashion, creating a dialogue between ancient history and contemporary style.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Lectures, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Antiquity Reimagined: Karl Lagerfeld&rsquo;s Greek Obsession

Concert | "Consistently Invigorating" Singer-Songwriter Natalie Tenenbaum


Composer, pianist, and singer-songwriter Natalie Tenenbaum starts a special five-week residency. Each week, Tenenbaum will guide audiences on a sonic journey, traveling fluidly between classical, jazz, pop, and experimental soundscapes. Natalie Tenenbaum has premiered works worldwide, collaborated with artists including Lang Lang, Pentatonix, and David Byrne, and created arrangements for Broadway's Mean Girls. Her recent albums--Duos/Solos and Standard Repertoire Vol. 1--reimagine everything from Bach to Stravinsky through her post-classical lens. Tenenbaum's performances have been praised by The New York Times as "sparkling... consistently invigorating," and her boundary-crossing approach is sure to make each evening of this residency a thrilling opportunity to hear familiar music in a wholly new way.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Concerts, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, "Consistently Invigorating" Singer-Songwriter Natalie Tenenbaum

Opening Reception | On Foot: Photographic Journey Exhibition  (+ Artist Discussion)


Experience Esther Levine’s exhibition On Foot, a photographic journey along an invisible line, following memories, family history, and stories Esther Levine grew up with. The story unfolds through landscapes, roadsides, and encounters alongside the path where nothing seems to happen, yet everything does. Each photograph marks a pause in the movement (act of walking). The walk follows a line that is both geographical and internal, tracing histories buried beneath the surface of the landscape. The repetition of views mirrors the rhythm of walking, slow attentive and accumulative. What emerges is not a document of a route, but a visual record of memory made tangible through the act of walking, noticing, seeing and recording. The exhibition opening will include a conversation between Esther Levine and Sarah Girner.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Opening Receptions, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, On Foot: Photographic Journey Exhibition&nbsp; (+ Artist Discussion)

Opening Reception | Your #1 Fans: Multi-Artist Exhibit on Animation & Nostalgia


Explore Your #1 Fans, an exhibition of prints, videos, photographs, costumes, and merchandise by 55 BFA Animation and BFA 3D Animation and Visual Effects students and faculty members. Your #1 Fans celebrates animators’ inspirations and their nostalgia through fan art and fandom alongside personal stories of their emotional connections to these beloved works. Creating fan art is an entry point to artmaking for so many young artists, as it shapes and commits them to practicing their craft. The exhibition will also feature a merch table, often known as an artist alley table at conventions, highlighting independently made works inspired by fandoms. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Opening Receptions, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Your #1 Fans: Multi-Artist Exhibit on Animation & Nostalgia

Discussion | Artist/Writer Discusses NYC's Artistic Movements of the 1980s & 1990s 


Artist and writer Gregg Bordowitz will present a lecture followed by a conversation with Benoît Loiseau on the "French Theory" and New York's artists in the 80s and 90s. During the 1980s and 1990s, many New York artists felt a sense of permission granted by semiotic, structuralist, and post-structuralist theory read in English translations of works written in French by Roland Barthes, Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, and many others. The wide-spread effects of these readings were both energizing and limiting. Artist Gregg Bordowitz recalls that so-called “French Theory” suggested artistic methods that did indeed result in genuine alternatives to established contemporary gallery practices. These alternatives were claimed by both artists and activists, combining a variety of different approaches—including visual arts, writing, performance, street activism, and models for institution-building—that defeated inherited distinctions among disciplines. Are those developments relevant to present circumstances? What can we learn from the past?
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Discussions, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Artist/Writer Discusses NYC's Artistic Movements of the 1980s & 1990s&nbsp;

Book Discussion | Cartoonist Shares Her New Comic Memoir, Bury Me Already (It's Nice Down Here)


Attend a conversation with cartoonist and writer Julia Wertz to celebrate her new book, Bury Me Already (It's Nice Down Here), a comic memoir of pregnancy and motherhood in all of its pains and all of its joys. She will be in conversation with Roz Chast, followed by a signing.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussions, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Cartoonist Shares Her New Comic Memoir, Bury Me Already (It's Nice Down Here)

Opening Reception | Dalí: Innovation and Identity, 1929–1939


This major exhibition focuses on Salvador Dalí’s most transformative decade, showcasing the years when he redefined artistic limits and reshaped his public image. From 1929 to 1939, Dalí created some of his most daring, psychologically intense works, pushing boundaries across painting, film, design, and literature. Featuring collaborations with Luis Buñuel and connections to icons like Coco Chanel, the exhibition emphasizes Dalí’s cross-disciplinary influence and cultural significance. It displays pieces from top institutions alongside rare archival materials that illustrate his rapid development during this crucial period. Arranged chronologically, the exhibition traces Dalí’s journey from Spain to New York, highlighting how innovation, ambition, and self-reinvention molded both his art and lasting legacy.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Opening Receptions, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Dal&iacute;: Innovation and Identity, 1929&ndash;1939

Discussion | Dance Artists Share a Discussion with Sara Rudner on the Craft


In this program, JodyMelnick and Wendy Perron, two dance artists who worked with Rudner in different decades, will present video excerpts of Sara Rudner in Tharp’s Eight Jelly Rolls, Bix Pieces, and The Catherine Wheel, as well as in her own works like Dancing Parttime, Heart Beat, and the 1999 version of the Dancing-on-View. Perron and Melnick will be in conversation with Sara Rudner (founding member of Twyla Tharp’s dance company) about her long dance life and the ways in which she challenged the conventions of concert dance.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Discussions, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Dance Artists Share a Discussion with Sara Rudner on the Craft

Opening Reception | Documenting Human Experiences Through Painting


An exhibition of works by British artist Leon Kossoff gathers paintings from across his career, making it one of the most significant showcases of his work in New York in recent decades. This exhibition provides insight into Kossoff's ongoing engagement with London's changing urban landscape and his dedication to using art to document lived experiences. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Opening Receptions, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Documenting Human Experiences Through Painting

Lecture | Historical Researcher Explores the Life & Career of Gilded Age Artist Amalia Kussner 


Author and historical researcher Kathleen Langone presents the full arc of artist Amalia Kussner's amazing life, many images of her stunning portraits, and some new research Ms. Langone has uncovered since publishing the Kussner biography.  Throughout the latter half of the Gilded Age and up until WWI, Amalia Kussner was the sought after artist to render exquisite miniature portraits of many of the Who’s Who of that era. Her impressive list of portraits included, among many others: Edward VII, Mrs. Astor, Czar Nicholas II,Cecil Rhodes, and the Duchess of Marlborough (born Consuelo Vanderbilt). As she became more famous in the Edwardian Era, her popularity was compared with John Singer Sargent, and both their works were seen in the Royal Academy of Arts. But, paralleling her astonishing career, were scandals, such as a sudden and mysterious marriage in 1900, followed by a lawsuit whose contents were never revealed.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
$5, RSVP required
Lectures, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Historical Researcher Explores the Life & Career of Gilded Age Artist&nbsp;Amalia Kussner&nbsp;

Workshop | Inspiring Hope Through Storytelling


This program welcomes people from all backgrounds to come together in a safe, open space to share ideas, reflect on personal experiences, and engage in meaningful dialogue. Through guided writing exercises and discussions, participants will find new ways to express their thoughts about life and society while developing tools for genuine self-expression. Whether attending a single session or the entire series, each gathering provides an opportunity to connect, listen, and grow within a diverse and supportive community. This workshop offers a space to rediscover creativity, work through the challenges of modern life, and participate in a collective exchange of ideas rooted in empathy, understanding, and human connection.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Workshops, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Inspiring Hope Through Storytelling

Lecture | Scholar Discusses German Fascist Propaganda Films


This talk (by Ian Fleishman, Chair of Cinema & Media Studies and Associate Professor in the Department of Francophone, Italian & Germanic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania) seeks to excavate the ecological erotics of propaganda films produced by the Hitler Youth and Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Core. Common across these archives is pastoral imagery of homosocial bonding: strapping young men stripped to the waist while frolicking in nature or cheerfully laboring outdoors. Arguing that these images are intended in part to titillate, and tracing these tropes through the visual imaginary of contemporary nationalisms, the lecture will engage this media history to theorize the role of arousal in an eco-imperialist politics attracted to both racial and environmental homogeneity.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Lectures, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Scholar Discusses German Fascist Propaganda Films

Author Reading | Beauty Doesn’t Reach Me: Investigating Ernst Toller’s Life and Legacy


Richard Byrne presents his new book, exploring the life, exile, and mysterious death of German antifascist dramatist Ernst Toller. Drawing on long-neglected archives, Byrne uncovers hidden secrets, from abandoned ashes and Manhattan leftist politics to Hollywood gossip and Toller's final days in New York. The event offers an intimate look at Toller's art, personal struggles, and enduring cultural impact.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Beauty Doesn&rsquo;t Reach Me: Investigating Ernst Toller&rsquo;s Life and Legacy

Screening | Ziyara (2021): Documentary on Jewish Community of Morocco (+ Discussion)


Celebrated filmmaker Simone Bitton embarks on a personal road trip across Morocco, tracing the remnants of the country’s once-thriving Jewish community. In the 1950s, Morocco was home to 300,000 Jews; today, only a small fraction remain, yet their saints’ tombs endure—cared for by Muslim guardians who preserve their memory. Through close examination of synagogues, shrines, and village records, Bitton uncovers stories of coexistence, loss, and endurance. Ziyara is both a meditation on migration and a hopeful reflection on shared heritage, revealing a delicate thread between past and present, tradition and modernity. As the camera gathers stories, smiles, and blessings, it patiently repairs connections long thought severed. Director: Simone Bitton Screening followed by a discussion with Benjamin Berman-Gladstone and Sami Everett. In Arabic, French, and English with English subtitles.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Screenings, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Ziyara (2021): Documentary on Jewish Community of Morocco (+ Discussion)

Classical Music | Harlem Chamber Players & Harlem Opera Theater Perform Lecture-Concert Celebrating Black & Brown Composers


The Harlem Chamber Players presents a lecture-concert celebrating Arturo Schomburg and Black and Brown classical composers of his era. The program includes a world premiere preview of an opera about Arturo Schomburg by composer Dr. Carlos Carillo and librettist Dr. Vanessa Valdés. Dr. Zuly Inirio will join members of The Harlem Chamber Players in performing Cinco canciones negras by the Spanish composer Xavier Montsalvatge, and members of Harlem Opera Theater will join in selections from Verdi's Aida and Meyerbeer's L'Africaine in a nod to the soprano Caterina Jarboro, whom Schomburg reviewed when she gave her debut at the Hippodrome in 1933. The concert will be followed by a panel discussion with the artists led by Dr. Valdés, author of the biography Diasporic Blackness: The Life and Times of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Concerts, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Harlem Chamber Players & Harlem Opera Theater Perform Lecture-Concert Celebrating Black & Brown Composers

Party | LGBTQ+ Publishing Award Ceremony (In Person AND Online!)


Honoring the best LGBTQ+ books published in 2025, The Publishing Triangle Awards celebrate outstanding achievement across a wide range of literary categories. The ceremony will be hosted by Emanuel Xavier, with a reception to follow. Founded in 1988, The Publishing Triangle is dedicated to promoting LGBTQ+ literature and supporting LGBTQ+ authors, editors, agents, publishers, and other publishing professionals. Through literary programming, awards, and community-building initiatives, the organization works to increase awareness, recognition, and appreciation of LGBTQ+ voices and stories.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Partys, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, LGBTQ+ Publishing Award Ceremony (In Person AND Online!)

Book Club | Luddite Book Club--Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age by Vauhini Vara


This offline book club is a space for in-person conversation about the role technology plays in the world, where the group will be discussing Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age by Vauhini Vara. Synopsis: Using internet search history as raw material, explores the seduction and the danger of corporate-owned language machines. Through several deeply personal essays, attempts to answer the question, "could a chatbot write my memoir?"
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Book Clubs, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Luddite Book Club--Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age by Vauhini Vara

Classical Music | 250 Years of Works for Piano & Vocals Celebrating America's 250th Birthday


David Witten, pianist, with Grace Renee Pfleger, mezzo-soprano. American pianist David Witten celebrates America's 250th birthday with music by American and Italian-American composers. The program includes works by musicians who were personal friends of George Washington.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free
Concerts, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, 250 Years of Works for Piano & Vocals Celebrating America's 250th Birthday

Museums | Contemporary Art, Open Doors: Thursday Nights at NYC's Leading Museum


Contemporary art is a vital social force that advances questioning, learning, and working towards a better society. This weekly program offers an accessible opportunity to explore groundbreaking exhibitions by emerging and established artists from around the globe. Engage with current artistic dialogues and help expand the definition of art.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Museumss, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Contemporary Art, Open Doors: Thursday Nights at NYC's Leading Museum
7:00 pm
Regular: $20
Member: $0
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Staged Readings, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Drama - The Price of Fame

Classical Music | Handel's Masterpiece for Choir & Orchestra


Trinity Choir and Trinity Baroque Orchestra present Parts II and III of George Frideric Handel’s beloved and timeless work — including the much-celebrated “Hallelujah” chorus. Hailed by The New York Times as “the gold standard” by which all Messiah performances are measured, Trinity’s historic version has thrilled audiences since 1770. Led by Director of Music Melissa Attebury
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Concerts, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Handel's Masterpiece for Choir & Orchestra

Concert | Lena Dardelet Performs Caribbean & Dominican Music with Multicultural Influences


Artist Lena Dardelet infuses Caribbean and Dominican music with her multicultural influences and modernity. A trilingual singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Dardelet has performed on local and international stages with artists such as Vicente Garcia, iLe, Monsieur Perine, Techy Fatule, Simon Grossman, and Alex Ferreira.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free
Concerts, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Lena Dardelet Performs Caribbean & Dominican Music with Multicultural Influences

Author Reading | Prize-Winning Author Shares His New Novel, My Lover, the Rabbi


Wayne Koestenbaum, an American artist, poet, and cultural critic who has received an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature, My Lover, the Rabbi.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Author Readings, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Prize-Winning Author Shares His New Novel,&nbsp;My Lover, the Rabbi

Poetry Reading | Pushcart Prize-Winning Poets Share Their New Work


A reading by Cameron Awkward-Rich, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, and Carey Salerno, followed by a reception/signing with books for sale. Cameron Awkward-Rich is the author of three poetry collections: Sympathetic Little Monster, Dispatch, and An Optimism. Cameron’s creative work can be found in POETRY, American Poetry Review, Kenyon Review, and elsewhere, and has been supported by fellowships from Cave Canem, The Watering Hole, and the Lannan Foundation. Gabrielle Calvocoressi is the author of The Last Time I Saw Amelia Earhart, Apocalyptic Swing (a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize), and Rocket Fantastic, winner of the Audre Lorde Award for Lesbian Poetry. Calvocoressi is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships including a Stegner Fellowship and Jones Lectureship from Stanford University; a Rona Jaffe Woman Writer's Award; a Lannan Foundation residency in Marfa, TX; the Bernard F. Conners Prize from The Paris Review; and a residency from the Civitella di Ranieri Foundation, among others. Carey Salerno serves as the executive director & publisher of Alice James Books where she has been dedicated to broadening the spectrum of the American poetic voice since 2008. She is the author of The Hungriest Stars, Tributary, Shelter, and a co-editor of Lit From Inside: 40 Years of Poetry from Alice James Books. She is the recipient of a 2025 Pushcart Prize and a 2025 Individual Artist Fellowship from the New Jersey State Arts Council.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Poetry Readings, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Pushcart Prize-Winning Poets Share Their New Work

Screening | Spanish Film Festival Opening Night featuring Belle Epoque (1992)


Attend the opening night of the Spanish Film Festival, with a special tribute to Rafael Azcona and a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Spanish Film Academy. The evening features a special screening of Belle Epoque (1992), directed by Fernando Trueba, winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The screening will be followed by an opening cocktail reception with special guests, industry professionals, scholars, members of the press, and representatives from cultural institutions.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free
Screenings, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Spanish Film Festival Opening Night featuring Belle Epoque (1992)

Concert | Urban Ballads by New Yorkers


Experience a monthly showcase featuring original songwriters from New York City. Curated and hosted by renowned Irish songwriter Niall Connolly, this series has been a warm space for both emerging and established artists. Past performers include Lana Del Rey, Anais Mitchell, Lucius, Mundy, Mick Flannery, and Susan O'Neill. This month's performance features international touring singer/songwriter, Megan Burtt. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Concerts, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Urban Ballads by New Yorkers

Master Class | Learn the Ins & Outs of Great Piano Performance


Puerto Rican pianist Jose Ramos Santana--a leading interpreter of Spanish repertoire and recipient of the 2020 Isaac Albeniz Medal--imparts skills and techniques for piano mastery.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Concerts, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Learn the Ins & Outs of Great Piano Performance

Screening | 3 Bad Men (1926): Silent Western with Live Ensemble Score


Experience a live-to-picture performance of John Ford's 1926 silent western, 3 Bad Men. The film sets its narrative against a fictionalized Dakota land rush, where three outlaws find unexpected redemption when they protect a young woman seeking a new life on the frontier. This presentation features the world premiere of an original orchestral score. Director: John Ford Cast: George O'Brien, Olive Borden
   New York City, NY; NYC
8:00 pm
Free
Screenings, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, 3 Bad Men (1926): Silent Western with Live Ensemble Score

Open Mic | Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)


Join a weekly online showcase featuring poems, songs, and comedy. Performers can sign up for a 4-minute spot by reserving one of 20 Artist-RSVP tickets, available starting Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET. If all spots are filled, performers may join the “good-luck round” at the end of the session. Audience members are welcome to watch live via Zoom.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Open Mics, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)

Comedy Club | Standup Show


Catch some of the best comedians at this free weekly stand-up show, featuring a lineup of rising stars and seasoned favorites. Past performers include Sheng Wang, Mark Normand, Dan Soder, Annie Lederman, and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Comedy Clubs, April 16, 2026, 04/16/2026, Standup Show
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Complimentary Tickets

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

Musical | Family Show Where Things Come to Life!

Regular Price: $71.50
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Play | Tony Nominee in a Play From a Broadway Director

Regular Price: $61
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Folk-Rooted, Upifting Songs at a Landmark Venue

Regular Price: $85
CFT Member Price: $0.00