free things to do in New York City
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City! Read More
Are you looking for literary events like book readings, book signings, poetry readings? Then you came to the right place. Start using these unique New York City opportunities today!
Are you looking for literary events like book readings, book signings, poetry readings? Then you came to the right place. Start using these unique New York City opportunities today!
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!
51 free poetry readings, book signings, author readings in New York City (NYC) Mon, 10/13/2025 - and on...
Not a day goes by in New York City (NYC) without a free poetry reading or a book signing or a book reading by a famous or not yet famous author. Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides!
Author Reading | Discover New & Upcoming Mystery & Horror Books (with Free Advanced Copies)
Hear the "buzz" directly from authors and publishing industry professionals about new and upcoming titles in mystery and horror. Free and advance copies available while supplies last! This event will be a delightful evening filled with literature, engaging discussions, and opportunities to meet authors and fellow passionate book lovers. Here's what to expect:
Attend panels featuring mystery and horror writers
Learn about new and upcoming titles from Penguin Random House staff
Browse free and advanced reader copies of titles
Giveaways while supplies last
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Oct 14
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Musician Annie Lennox Discusses Her New Memoir, Annie Lennox: Retrospective
Join the iconic Annie Lennox for a special evening celebrating the release of Annie Lennox: Retrospective. This will be Lennox’s only New York City lecture on her book. Music journalist and SiriusXM radio host Lori Majewski will be in conversation with Lennox about her first illustrated memoir, which charts her life as a creative both in and out of the spotlight. The book will be available for purchase on site. In a career spanning nearly 50 years, Lennox has established herself as one of the true superstars of pop music. With Dave Stewart as Eurythmics, and later as a solo artist, she is responsible for some of the best-selling records of all time, as well as some of the most memorable imagery created around music. Retrospective brings together Polaroids from Lennox’s personal archives alongside iconic portraits, music video stills, and record covers from some of the great image-makers of our time, from Richard Avedon and Paolo Roversi to Bettina Rheims and Ellen von Unwerth.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Oct 14
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Two Nonfiction Authors Discuss Identity, Freedom, & Belonging in Brooklyn
The authors of two recent books—The Cities We Need by Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani and Brooklynites by Prithi Kanakamedala—talk about what it means to build freedom and belonging in place. Exploring people's stories in Brooklyn during two very different time periods—at the birth of the city in the 19th century and at the turn of the 21st century—these two books lay out the shaping of a city through a search for social justice and belonging, and the spaces that people make for themselves. In comparison, and companionship, these two books illuminate a future way forward to build more just and free communities. Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough by Prithi Kanakamedala uncovers the silences in the archive to bring to life the free Black community of the nineteenth century, which attracted people from all walks of life—businesswomen, church leaders, laborers, and writers—who sought to grow their city in a radical anti-slavery vision despite their freedom being threatened by racism. The Cities We Need: Essential Stories of Everyday Places by Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani builds on twenty years of residents’ oral history, and the author’s expressive photography, illuminating what's at stake through the lens of the everyday places they visit—from diners to churches to donut shops—which are threatened by the gentrification and large-scale development that are silently displacing these citizens.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Oct 15
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Book Launch Celebration: Poetry Is Not a Luxury Poetry Anthology
Participate in a launch party and reading by poets featured in the new anthology Poetry Is Not A Luxury curated by the creator of the @PoetryIsNotaLuxury Instagram account. Featuring Dorothea Lasky, J. Mae Barizo, Jason Schneiderman, Wendy Xu, Jose Olivarez, Thomas Dooley, Noelle Kocot, Elizabeth Metzger, and Nour Al Ghraowi.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 16
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Chiara Marchelli Shares Her New Novel, La Figlia di Lui (+ signing)
Enjoy conversation with Chiara Marchelli to celebrate her newest novel, La figlia di lui, which is a story of explosive minimalism that explores the complexity of contemporary relationships with dry elegance and an intimate gaze. She will be in conversation with Arianna Farinelli, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 16
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Nonfiction Author Discusses His Book Explioring English Linguistics and Spelling, Enough Is Enuf
Author Gabe Henry as discusses his new book, Enough Is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Easier to Spell. Synopsis: A brief and humorous 500-year history of the Simplified Spelling Movement from advocates like Ben Franklin, C. S. Lewis, and Mark Twain to texts and Twitter. If our system of writing words is so tragically inconsistent, why haven't we standardized it, phoneticized it, brought it into line? How many brave linguists have ever had the courage to state, in a declaration of phonetic revolt: "Enough is enuf"? The answer: many. In the comic annals of linguistic history, legions of rebel wordsmiths have died on the hill of spelling reform, risking their reputations to bring English into the realm of the rational. This book is about them. Henry takes his humorous and informative chronicle right up to today as the language seems to naturally be simplifying to fit the needs of our changing world thanks to technology--from texting to Twitter and emojis, the Simplified Spelling Movement may finally be having its day. Gabe's work has appeared in TIME, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, US News & World Report, and more. i
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 16
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | NYT-Featured Writer Celebrates Her New Memoir, Where Every Ghost Has a Name (In Person AND Online!)
Enjoy for a celebration of Where Every Ghost Has A Name by Kim Liao, featuring Anru Lee and Jimin Han! Kim Liao is the author of Where Every Ghost Has a Name: A Memoir of Taiwanese Independence. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Electric Literature, Lit Hub, The Rumpus, McSweeney’s, The Millions, and others. A cultural anthropologist, Anru Lee‘s research focuses on the Asian Pacific region and issues of capitalism, modernity, gender and sexuality, and urban anthropology. Jimin Han is the author of A Small Revolution and the Apology,;named a best audiobook of the year by Booklist, a best book of the summer by the LA Times, Vanity Fair, Shondaland, Apple Books and more.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 16
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Lit Mag Issue Launch
Readings by contributors to the latest issue of Washington Square Review, the NYU Graduate Creative Writing Program’s award-winning literary journal. The reading will be followed by a reception.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 16
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
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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Thu, Oct 16
8:00 pm
Free
8:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Poetry Open Mic: Share Your Work or Listen to Emerging Writers
Participants can share their original work for up to five minutes. Space is limited to 15 readers; show up on time to get a slot!
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, Oct 17
5:30 pm
Free
5:30 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Indigenous Literary Voices: Night 1
A multi-day forum exploring issues and ideas around language, translingual borders, and the environment as experienced by indigenous communities throughout the country. Day 1 Schedule:
6pm Welcome Reception
7-8pm James Welch Prize Reading: Chris Hoshnic, Desireé Bewley Dallagiacomo, dg nanouk okpik. Hosted by Keetje Kuipers
8-9pm Night One Reading: Kimberly Blaeser, Bonney Hartley, m.s. RedCherries. Hosted by Rob Arnold
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, Oct 17
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Indigenous Literary Voices: Day 2
A multi-day forum exploring issues and ideas around language, translingual borders, and the environment as experienced by indigenous communities throughout the country. Day 2 Schedule:
11:30am Session 1: Language Back & Translingual Poetics
1pm Session 2
2:30pm Session 3
4pm Session 4
7pm Night 2 Reading: Tacey Atsitty, Heid Erdrich, Joan Naviyuk Kane, Elise Paschen, Nicole Wallace, hosted by María Elisa Schmidt
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, Oct 18
11:30 am
Free
11:30 am
Free
Author Reading | Author & Art Historian Shares His New Novel, Mona's Eyes (+ Signing)
Enjoy a conversation with author and art historian Thomas Schlesser to launch his American debut, Mona's Eyes, a spell-binding novel about the beauty of life, art, perspective, and a special connection between granddaughter and grandfather. He will be in conversation with New York Times best-selling author Patrick Bringely, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Mon, Oct 20
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Media Expert Discusses Her New Book about Photography & Digital Art: Photo Obscura
Media theorist, researcher, and writer focused on the relationships between art, philosophy, and technologies, Natasha Chuk, discusses her new book, Photo Obscura: The Photographic in Post-Photography. As images become infinite and untethered from cameras, Natasha Chuk traces the evolving influence of photography in a world saturated with digital art. Photo Obscura brings a much-needed reflection on the radical transformations of photography in the digital age, where AI, computational media, and hybrid art practices challenge traditional definitions of the photographic image. Moving beyond nostalgia for analog or the simple embrace of digital, this book positions post-photography as a movement reshaping our visual culture. Through discussions of key artworks and a variety of artists, the book explores themes including AI-generated imagery and the blurred line between representation and perception. Grounded in art history and media studies, Photo Obscura offers a new outlook on photography's evolving role in contemporary art.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Mon, Oct 20
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Open Mic | An Evening of Prose, Poetry & Performance in the East Village
Writers and word lovers gather for this open literary salon, where each month features a new theme. Share or listen to original works of prose, poetry, memoir, or song in a supportive, creative space. Performers have five minutes to present, and all are welcome to attend. Please visit the website for more information on performing your work.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Mon, Oct 20
8:00 pm
Free
8:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Discuss Spooky Poetry
Participate with fellow poetry enthusiasts in unpacking the layered meanings of poetry through an informal group discussion. Trick or treat! This month, get ready for Halloween with poems that summon ghosts, ghouls, and vampires. Please note that contemporary poetry deals frankly with contemporary issues and all works discussed are artistic expressions selected for an adult audience.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Oct 21
2:30 pm
Free
2:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | Booker Shortilisted Journalist/Author Shares New Novel, We Are Green and Trembling (+ Signing)
Enjoy a conversation with Booker shortlisted author Gabriela Cabezon Camara to celebrate her third novel, We Are Green and Trembling, a stunning and surreal satire that brings themes of resilience, transformation, and courage up against the history of colonialism in Latin America . She will be in conversation with author Valerie Luiselli, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Oct 21
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Jonathan Liebson Discusses His New Memoir, Hello (and Goodbye) to All That
Hello (And Goodbye) To All That is explores the evolution of New York City from the days of Tower Records and The Village Voice through the era of cell phones and bike lanes, while also providing an up-close view of larger transformational events. The book combines funny and moving stories from daily life (the struggles of apartment living, the quirky routines of café-goers, the moral dilemmas of being a cyclist) with important historical moments: witnessing 9/11 from his roof deck and living through the city’s troubled aftermath; hearing Barack Obama in Washington Square Park with 20,000 people; and having an embarrassing encounter with Rudy Giuliani a few weeks before the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Home to some of the country’s worst tragedies and upheavals, New York has also been a place of national recovery and inspiration. The book presents intriguing encounters with everyday characters, celebrities, and writers; ironic intersections between the past and present; and a touching intergenerational story of father and son. Jonathan Liebson is an essayist and reviewer whose writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Review of Books, Time Out New York, The Georgia Review, and many other journals, and in the anthology Naming the World: And Other Exercises for the Creative Writer. “A unique, funny, and brutally honest perspective on living in New York City.”–Jonah Hill
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Oct 21
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | German Literature Festival: Discussion between Writers Khuê Pham & Monique Truong
The 2025 edition of Festival Neue Literatur kicks off with Vietnamese-German writer Khuê Pham and Vietnamese-American author Monique Truong in a discussion of their respective books Brothers and Ghosts and The Book of Salt. To mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, enjoy an evening of conversation between these two renowned authors, whose works explore the tangled legacy of war across generations and its effects on the search for identity. Pham’s debut novel follows a young woman in Berlin who uncovers family secrets rooted in the Vietnam War, revealing generational trauma and fractured loyalties, while Truong’s 2003 debut tells the story of a Vietnamese cook in 1920s Paris, entwining themes of exile, queer identity, and the legacy of colonialism. Together, these works reflect on displacement, memory, and the threads which connect past and present.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Oct 21
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Reading | Learn about John Updike's Published Letters
Enjoy an evening celebrating the publication of Selected Letters of John Updike; edited by James Schiff. Enjoy readings and discussion of this great man’s wonderfully wide-ranging correspondence over the course of his life.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Oct 21
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | Author Patrick Ryan Talks about His New Book, Buckeye
Patrick Ryan will speak about writing his novel, Buckeye, and read excerpts. Ryan’s newest work of fiction is, as author Tom Perrotta puts it, a novel about a small Ohio town, but with grand proportions. Buckeye follows the intimate lives of two midwestern families, from the aftermath of World War II to the end of the twentieth century. A brief encounter binds Cal Jenkins, a man wounded by his inability to serve, to Margaret Salt, a woman trying to obscure her past. The consequences of that encounter will ripple through the next generation of both of their families.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Oct 21
8:00 pm
Free
8:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | German Literature Festival: Writers Discuss Identity/Familiarity & Their Works
The Festival Neue Literatur presents "Strangers at Home," which will feature readings by and a conversation among authors Franz Friedrich, Alois Hotschnig, Ariane Koch, and Katie Kitamura, and will be moderated by the writer and translator Tess Lewis. What are the obligations and limits of hospitality? When and how does familiarity tip into contempt? Can we ever truly know the people closest to us? Can we truly know our own slippery selves? In this conversation, acclaimed German- and English-language authors will read from their recent work and discuss how they use literature to disrupt conventional notions of the familiar and the strange, of self and other, of identity, intimacy, belonging and estrangement. Identity is pressure-tested to surprising and unexpected effect in these stories of time travelers haunted by phantom memories, of a man trying to piece together his suppressed memories from a childhood under the shadow of the Nazi Lebensborn program, of a puzzling visitor who may be a tourist, a refugee, a colonizer, opportunist, lover, vampire or pet, of an actress whose roles ultimately upstage her. The conversation will be moderated by award-winning literary translator and writer and festival curator Tess Lewis.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Oct 22
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | Book Launch: Ghost Fish by Stuart Pennebaker
Enjoy a reading with Stuart Pennebaker as she sits down with Sidik Fofana to discuss her latest work, Ghost Fish. Ghost Fish is a tender coming-of-age novel about a young woman haunted by her sister’s death, who starts to believe that her beloved sibling has returned to her—in the form of a ghost fish, for fans of Sweetbitter and Our Wives Under the Sea.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 23
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Discover Contemporary European Literature
An evening of contemporary literary luminaries from 11 different countries addressing themes like time, authoritarianism, community, and more. European Literature Night (ELN) presents an evening of voices from across Europe through discussions, readings, and performances. Eleven award-winning authors from eleven countries celebrate the English translations of their latest books through readings, dialogue, and performance. LINEUP:
Austria–Alois Hotschnig
Czechia–Marek Torčík
Germany–Khuê Pham
Lithuania–Gabija Grusaite
The Netherlands–Tobi Lakmaker
Poland–Joanna Olczak-Ronikier
Portugal–Katherine Vaz
Romania–Liliana Corobca
Switzerland–Ariane Koch
Sweden–Jonas Hassen Khemiri
Ukraine–Artem Chapeye
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 23
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | NYT Writer Talks about Her new Nonfiction Book, The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum
Award-winning journalist Margalit Fox discuss her latest book, The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum: The Rise and Fall of an American Organized-Crime Boss, the true story of a once-infamous criminal mastermind and visionary businesswoman in Gilded Age New York. Synopsis: In 1850, an impoverished twenty-five-year-old named Fredericka Mandelbaum came to New York in steerage and worked as a peddler on the streets of Lower Manhattan. By the 1870s she was a fixture of high society and an admired philanthropist. How was she able to ascend from tenement poverty to vast wealth? The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum paints a vivid portrait of Gilded Age New York—a city teeming with nefarious rogues, capitalist power brokers and Tammany Hall bigwigs, all straddling the line between underworld enterprise and “legitimate” commerce. Combining deep historical research with the narrative flair for which she is celebrated, Margalit Fox tells the unforgettable true story of a once-famous heroine whose life exemplifies America’s cherished rags-to-riches narrative while simultaneously upending it entirely. Considered one of the foremost explanatory writers and literary stylists in American journalism, Margalit Fox retired in 2018 from a 24-year-career at the New York Times, where she was most recently a senior writer.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 23
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | Bestselling Author Discusses His New Book on Writer Peter Matthiessen’s Life (In Person AND Online!)
In conversation with New Yorker writer Philip Gourevitch, former Leon Levy Fellow Lance Richardson discusses his new book True Nature, which depicts Peter Matthiessen’s life. Matthiessen was an American novelist, naturalist, wilderness writer, zen teacher and onetime CIA agent. He also founded the acclaimed literary magazine, The Paris Review.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 23
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | Chigozie Obioma & Brandon Taylor Share Passages from Their Prize-Winning Books (+ Signing)
A reading by Chigozie Obioma (The Fishermen, An Orchestra of Minorities, The Road to the Country) and Brandon Taylor (The Late Americans, Real Life, Minor Black Figures, Filthy Animals), followed by a conversation/Q&A with Darin Strauss. The event will conclude with a reception/signing with books for sale.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 23
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
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
Join the Club!
Thu, Oct 23
8:00 pm
Free
8:00 pm
Free
Reading | Contemporary Poets Read from their New Collections (In Person AND Online!)
Enjoy a poetry reading and discussion with poet/translator Sasha Dugdale and poet/trnslator/scholar Oksana Maksymchuk. Moderated by Mark Andryczyk. Contemporary poetry can challenge, explore uncomfortable truths, and bear witness to unimaginable experiences. In Sasha Dugdale’s new collection, The Strongbox, recent history and Greek mythology meet. Her varied cast of characters are abducted to foreign lands, travel through war zones, and are haunted by conflicts. Oksana Maksymchuk’s Still City reflects life in the wake of extreme and unpredictable violence. Beginning as a poetic journal kept from her hometime in Ukraine, 2021-22, it chronicles events as the poet, her family and community prepare for airstrikes, as well as nuclear, chemical and biological warfare. Together, Oksana and Sasha discuss what it is to write poetry in these times of conflict.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, Oct 24
12:00 pm
Free
12:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Poets Share Their Works (+ Signing)
A reading by poets Jameson Fitzpatrick, Ariana Reines, and Emily Skillings, followed by a reception/signing with books for sale. Jameson Fitzpatrick is the author of Pricks in the Tapestry. Her poems have appeared in The New Yorker, The Poetry Review, The Sewanee Review, and elsewhere. Named one of Flavorwire's 100 best living writers and "a crucial voice of her generation" by KCRW’s Michael Silverblatt, Ariana Reines is an award-winning poet, Obie-winning playwright, performing artist, and translator. Her most recent books are The Rose and Wave of Blood. Her other books include A Sand Book, The Cow, Coeur De Lion, and Mercury, and The Origin of the World. Her Obie-winning play Telephone has been performed and published in Norwegian translation. Emily Skillings is the author of the poetry collection Fort Not. Her second book, Tantrums in Air, will be published this year. Skillings’ recent poems can be found in Poetry, Harper’s, Granta, FOLDER, jubilat, and the New York Review of Books.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, Oct 24
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Hear Original Material from a Literary Magazine
Playwright and actor Peter Carlaftes of Three Rooms Press reads from the new issue of the literary journal Maintenant: Journal of Contemporary DADA Writing and Art.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sun, Oct 26
1:30 pm
Free
1:30 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | National Book Award Winning Poet Martin Espada Discusses the Craft
Learn about American Book Award, PEN/Revson Fellowship, and Paterson Poetry Prize winning poet Martin Espada's writing journey and craft. Martin Espada is the author of more than twenty books as a poet, editor, essayist, and translator. Espada published his first poetry collection, The Immigrant Iceboy's Bolero, in 1982. Among his other books of poetry are Floaters (which received the National Book Award in Poetry in 2021), The Trouble Ball (recipient of the Milt Kessler Award, a Massachusetts Book Award, and an International Latino Book Award), The Republic of Poetry (finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), Imagine the Angels of Bread (winner of an American Book Award and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award), and other collections. Espada is the recipient of a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, an Independent Publisher Book Award, an International Latino Book Award, two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, and more. In 2018, he received the Academy of American Poets Fellowship, which recognizes distinguished poetic achievement.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sun, Oct 26
7:30 pm
Free
7:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | Artist & Author Shares New Book of Original Drawings, Bouquet
Enjoy a conversation with Abbie Zabar to celebrate her book, Bouquet, the first-time collection of a decade of illustrating the museum's iconic entrance bouquets. She will be in conversation with Matt Mattus, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Mon, Oct 27
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Explore the High Line's Beauty & History through Poetry
Poet and photographer Albert Dépas's book, The High, combines his talents to create an immersive experience of a unique park once part of the city’s industrial past now reclaimed by nature. The evening will begin with an introduction of the High Line by Robert Hammond, former Executive Director and co-founders of Friends of the High Line. Albert will then take the audience on a visual, poetic journey through one of New York City’s most iconic transformations. Through Albert Dépas’ vivid and thoughtful narration, the story of the High Line becomes a mirror of human experiences. Albert invites the reader to see and feel the High Line in ways they never imagined.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Mon, Oct 27
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | Art Historian & Journalist Shares Her New Book on Abstract Expressionist Narnett Newman
Enjoy a conversation with art historian and journalist Amy Newman to celebrate her new book, Barnett Newman: Here, a groundbreaking biography of one of America's leading abstract expressionists. She will be in conversation with Michael Brenson, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Oct 28
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Signing | Insights from a Leading Voice in Addiction Recovery
Join Dr. Sprouse, a pioneering physician and 12-Step recovery expert, for a 45-minute talk and Q&A, followed by a signing of her book, Fifty Years of 12-Step Recovery. Drawing on over five decades of experience in the field, she introduces a groundbreaking model of addiction and recovery that explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of healing. Combining medical expertise with personal experience, she sheds light on the lasting effects of trauma and offers practical strategies for achieving lasting recovery.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Oct 28
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | Breakout Contemporary Artist Danielle McKinney Celebrates Her New Book of Portraits (+ Signing)
Enjoy a conversation with breakout contemporary artist Danielle McKinney to celebrate her first book, Beyond the Brushstroke, an intimate collection of portraits of Black women resting, pondering, pausing in thought. Her book is a collaboration with her mother, Barbara Mckinney, whose journal prompts prompt reflection and creativity from the reader. Danielle will be in conversation with Imani Perry, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Oct 29
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Learn about Philip Roth's Life & Career with His Biographer (In Person AND Online!)
Enjoy a discussion with expert Steven J. Zipperstein on his new book about writer Philip Roth's life and career. In this groundbreaking literary biography, Philip Roth: Stung by Life, professor and author Steven J. Zipperstein captures the complex life and astonishing work of Philip Roth (1933-2018), one of America's most celebrated writers. Roth wrote with ambition and awareness of what was required to produce great literature. And yet, as much as Roth wrote about sex and self, he viewed himself as socially withdrawn, living much like an "unchaste monk" (his words). Drawing on extensive archival materials and over one hundred interviews, including conversations with Roth himself about his life and work, Zipperstein provides an intimate and insightful look at one of the twentieth century's most influential writers, placing his work in the context of his obsessions, as well as American Jewishness, freedom, and sexuality.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Oct 29
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Open Mic | Listen (or Recite) Poetry with Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Enjoy an exciting night of poetry! Come listen to (and recite!) some poetry and connect with your favorite poets. Across cities, islands, and generations, Boricuas remain connected - by memory, by struggle, by love. This open mic invites poets and performers to reflect on the relationships that shape us: to place, to each other, to freedom. Attendees will have an opportunity to recite their poetry, meet new poets, enjoy some delicious fritura, and celebrate the 52nd anniversary of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe!
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 30
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Halloween Readings with Local Writers
Enjoy a night of spooky readings! The theme is “To The Grave”. Read your own work or listen to other emerging and established local writers! If you'd like to participate, send the organizers your most bone-chilling stories about love. Tell them about a romance that still lives in your bones, exes you need to exorcise, and late night trysts that have taken over your psyche. Tell them how love possessed you, stalked you, and terrified you. Submit your sample by October 16th to be considered for the lineup.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 30
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Kimiko Hahn & Rickey Laurentiis Celebrate Their Works (+ Signing)
A reading by Kimiko Hahn (The Narrow Road to the Interior, Toxic Flora, and Foreign Bodies) and Rickey Laurentiis (Boy with Thorn, Whipped), followed by a reception/signing with books for sale.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Thu, Oct 30
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
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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Thu, Oct 30
8:00 pm
Free
8:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Filmmaker, Photographer, & Writer Shares His New Book of NYC Street Photography (+ Signing)
Enjoy a conversation with director, author, film composer, and photographer Mario Schneider to celebrate the photobook of his street photography that reveals the soul of the people of New York, New York Stories. He will be in conversation with Sergio Purtell, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Mon, Nov 3
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | "One of the Great Documenters of America" Discusses His New Photobook, Miles and Miles of Texas (+ Signing)
Enjoy a conversation with "one of the great documenters of Americana," (The Guardian) Henry Horenstein, to celebrate his book, Miles and Miles of Texas. This book is a collection of nearly 100 photographs taken all over the state of Texas. He will be in conversation with Nashville-born, New York-based country music artist Laura Cantrell, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Nov 4
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Landscape Architect Shares Her New Book about Gardens (+ Signing)
Enjoy a conversation with Italian landscape architect Anna Scaravella to celebrate her book, Gardens and Landscapes: 10 Spaces of Beauty, an exploration of ten gorgeous gardens that reflect her special ability to exemplify the natural beauty of a multitude of landscapes. She will be signing books after the conversation.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Nov 5
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Science Writer Talks about Her New Book, Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control
Science writer Mindy Weisberger discusses her new book Rise of the Zombie Bugs: The Surprising Science of Parasitic Mind-Control with neuroscientist Paula Croxson. Through the vivid descriptions and captivating storytelling of this book, Weisberger explains the sinister mechanics of nature's most cunning survival strategies, including the biological marvels and evolutionary intricacies behind zombie ants, mind-controlled beetles, and the fungi and viruses that reprogram their hosts' behavior. Blending scientific rigor with a flair for the macabre, Weisberger takes readers on a global journey—from Brazilian rainforests to European meadows—to uncover the dark secrets of parasitic manipulation.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Nov 5
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | New Yorker Journalist Discusses His New Book, The Spinach King
Longtime New Yorker journalist John Seabrook tells the tale of his own prominent family, which rose to riches and high-class status thanks to...creamed spinach. In his latest book, a New York Times Editor’s Choice, The Spinach King, he recounts the details of the “shocking but juicy” story. The founder of the family fortune, industrial farmer C.F. Seabrook, was known as “the Henry Ford of agriculture”. His son Jack, a keen businessman, was poised to take over what Life called “the biggest vegetable factory on earth.” But the Seabrooks’ carefully cultivated facade—glamorous outings in horse-drawn carriages, luxurious wine cellars, and movie star girlfriends—hid dark secrets that led to the implosion of the family, and its business. As compelling and nuanced as Succession, The Spinach King is “a tremendous tale” (Financial Times), a compulsively readable story of class and privilege, betrayal and revenge.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Fri, Nov 7
8:00 pm
Free
8:00 pm
Free
Author Reading | Historians & Writer Discuss Lamentations of Nezahualcóyotl: Nahuatl Poems
Scholar Ilan Stavans and writer Jordan Salama discuss the recently retold songs and poems of Aztec king, poet, and warrior Nezahualcóyotl and his illustrious 15th century court, based on the new book Aztec king Nezahualcóyotl was a revolutionary far ahead of his time. Born in 1402, the ruler—whose name means “hungry coyote” in the Uto-Aztecan language of Nahuatl—led the city-state of Texcoco through its age of enlightenment. His four-decade reign was among the most transformative and prosperous eras of the Aztec Empire. Today he is a hero in Mexico, seen as a mysterious, powerful, anti-colonial figure. Brimming with anguish and longing, this epic collection of songs and poems was composed by Nezahualcóyotl with members of his illustrious court.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Wed, Nov 12
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | Spoken Word, Poetry, & Other New Works from Major Writers & Emerging Local Talent
Mahogany L. Browne—a prolific writer and avid advocate for public art—has held the role of Lincoln Center’s inaugural Poet-in-Residence. Browne has written works of fiction, stage plays and critical essays, edited six anthologies, and authored another half-dozen poetry collections. For this event, Browne curates a thought-provoking evening of spoken word, spirited conversation, poetry, and presentations of new work, presenting major poets and emerging voices on the New York literary scene. Featured artists to be announced soon! There are two ways to access this event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track opening the Monday before the event at noon.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Sat, Nov 15
7:30 pm
Free
7:30 pm
Free
Poetry Reading | Indigenous Poem Readings for Native American Heritage Month
Mingle with fellow poetry enthusiasts as attendees unpack the layered meanings of poetry through an informal group discussion. This session's readings are selected from Poetry Magazine, Academy of American Poets, and Poetry Foundation. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, this event will feature poems by Native, Indigenous, and First Nations poets that orbit varied experiences of belonging, identity, and colonial legacies. Please note that contemporary poetry deals frankly with contemporary issues and all works discussed are artistic expressions selected for an adult audience.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Nov 18
2:30 pm
Free
2:30 pm
Free
Author Reading | Learn about the New Russ & Daughters Cookbook with the Authors
Enjoy a conversation with 4th generation Russ & Daughters co-owners Niki Russ Federman & Josh Russ about their book Russ & Daughters: 100 Years of Appetizing with fellow writer Joshua David Stein. From the legendary New York destination for Jewish appetizing comes a beautiful and inspiring cookbook that encompasses history, tradition, and absolutely delicious food.
New York City, NY; NYC
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Tue, Nov 18
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Play | Broadway Actor in a Play About a Towering Figure in Media
Regular Price: $59CFT Member Price: $0.00
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