free things to do in New York City
Free events for Saturday, 08/18/12
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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 August 18, 2012?

49 free events take place on Saturday, August 18 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 August 18 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 August . 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 Saturday, August 18, 2012

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Hike | Closter Dock Road Hike


NJ TO PIERMONT, NY-Palisades 9-10 miles, moderate to brisk pace. Mostly level, mild hills, range of up and down steps. Pass through the Long Path by State-Line, Tallman Mountain State Park, Piermont. Optional dinner in Piermont. Bring lunch, water.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 am
$3 plus bus...

Jazz | Creatures! Family Day


From bunnies to butterflies to single-cell organisms, come meet some native creatures and find out how they coexist with humans on our shared home, the planet Earth.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Workshop | Drawing in the Park


Sketch and paint the Hudson River and neighboring parks with an artist/educator. Materials provided. For adults.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Birdwatching | Feathered Friends Tour


Join Audubon New York Educators in a walk as you learn to spot and identify common NYC birds.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

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. Weather permitting. Kayaks and life vests provided.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Screening | Daily Screenings: Arctic Summer, Part I


For their Celebrating American Nations! series, they present three works from Arctic Canada, two animations and a short documentary on the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics. Start times: 10:30am and 11:45am.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free

Workshop | Kayaking and Community Rowing


Get out on the water for kayaking and community rowing. Children under 18 must have an adult guardian present. Last sign-up is an hour before closing time.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free

Park Walk | The Art of the Park Tour


Walk and learn about the intricate design of the Park's web of pastoral landscapes and formal romantic vistas.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free

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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11:00 am
$6

Workshop | Chess Program: Advanced Players Lecture/Simul


Get tips from a master to improve your chess game, and then test your new skills at the Chess & Checkers House. Thirteen-year-old National Master James Black Jr. will give the last of three Advanced Players Lectures & Simuls in the annual series of summer chess programs. After a lecture, James who earned his title before his 12th birthday and just recently led his junior high school team to a victory in the high school championships will play up to 30 players simultaneously, moving from board to board, making one move at a time.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Park Walk | Garden Tour


Experience the Park's only formal garden with the Garden staff. See exuberant perennial and annual beds, and delight in an abundance of color and fragrance while learning about the Garden's history and design.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Other | Harlem Honey & Bears


Senior citizens as well as the entire family, enjoy swimming and exercises demonstrations.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Hike | Rockaway Beach Park Hike & Swim


10 miles, Moderate Pace, Flat Terrain. Walk from Beach 116th street to Beach 5th Street and return. Convenient dropout points to get subway. Bring lunch & water. Swim at Beach 5th Street. Eat lunch on beach or boardwalk. Rain cancels. Please call or email to make sure that walk is on.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
$3

City Walk | Roosevelt Island Walk


This very engaging slim strip of land is like being on a ship going up the East River. The “Roosevelt Tramway” has been modernized in the last several years. It is an exciting way of visiting New York history. Pace is easy, no hills, duration 3 to 5 hours. You will walk south then through main streets around on “east” side up to lighthouse. You will cross over the bridge into Queens and walk to “Socrates Sculpture Park” and Rainey Park” and back to Manhattan over the Mayor Koch/Queensboro Bridges. Bring lunch, water, binoculars or cam with optical lens. Heavy rain cancels.
   New York City, NY; NYC
11:00 am
$3 plus $2.50...

Fair | Street Fair


   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Performance | Write Out Front: A Playwright Happening


Watch emerging and emerged playwrights, book writers and lyricists create new work right in front of your eyes. During two hour time slots, a writer or writer's team will write a new play in the storefront window with a screen shot of their computer projected behind them, visible to the street. See writers create new worlds, find inspiration and try to avoid Facebook (or not). Come see playwrights from shows coming up or currently playing at venues around town including the NY International Fringe Festival.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

City Walk | 8th Street and St. Mark's Place Tour


Highlighting the unique, bizarre and beautiful bohemia we call Greenwich Village. Tours are led by licensed guides who focus on the various social, architectural and/or historic aspects of the neighborhood, and last approximately 90 minutes.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:30 am
Free

Poetry Reading | Musical Adaptation of Bram Stoker's The Lair of the White Worm


Silly-scary musical adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic. Book by Krista Knight, music & lyrics by Dan Kitrosser (a.k.a. Flaubert Frog.)
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Other | Vintage Baseball: Gotham BBC of New York vs Hoboken 9


Watch baseball as it was played almost 150 years ago! The Gothams are playing their 11th season of Vintage Baseball in New York City, with their home games currently being played on Governors Island. Games are free to watch. Cheering is highly encouraged.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Film | Gary Ross' The Hunger Games (2012): Death Match on Live TV


With Jennifer Lawrence, Willow Shields and Josh Hutcherson. Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match. 142 min. Start times at 12:15pm and 3pm.
   New York City, NY; NYC
12:15 pm
Free

Park Walk | “Amble Through the Ramble” Tour


Over streams, under arches, through the woods along a maze of pathways in a 38-acre woodland respite. Tour will be approximately one hour.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

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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1:00 pm
$6

Screening | Daily Screenings: IndiVisible


In conjunction with the exhibition “IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas,” they present two documentaries that explore the history, culture and contemporary reality of people who share African American and Native American ancestry. Start times at 1pm and 3pm.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Opera | New York Opera Forum performs Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore


New York Opera Forum performs the complete opera L'elisir d'amor by Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848). A live musical recital performed in concert with piano accompaniment.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:00 pm
Free

Theater | Street Theater: Theater for the New City's 99% Reduced Fat, or, You Can Bank On Us


Theater for the New City's award-winning Street Theater Company opens its 36th annual tour with 99% Reduced Fat, or, You Can Bank On Us, a rip-roaring musical which will tour City streets, parks and playgrounds. The production will have book, lyrics and direction by Crystal Field (it's in-progress as of this writing) and musical score composed by Joseph Vernon Banks. TNC's award-winning Street Theater always contains an elaborate assemblage of trap doors, giant puppets, smoke machines, masks, original choreography and a huge (9' x 12') running screen or "cranky" providing continuous movement behind the actors. The company of 27 actors, twelve crew members, two assistant directors and five live musicians shares the challenge of performing outside and holding a large, non-captive audience. The music varies in style from Bossa Nova to Gilbert & Sullivan. Complex social issues are often presented through children's allegories, with children as the heroes, making these free productions a popular form of family entertainment.
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:00 pm
Free

Gallery Talk | Tales of Social Activism


Activist New York includes an astonishing array of documents, historic artifacts, and personal items that transport us to iconic moments when grassroots movements changed the city's history and culture. But the stories of New York activism are also woven through the lives and memories of countless New Yorkers. This is a gathering during which they invite you to bring along a photograph, or just a story, that tells about your or your family's involvement in the democratic process of change that occurs when citizens unite for common goals.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Pay-what-you-can admission policy

Tour | Union Square: Crossroads of New York


The tour explores the social and political history of the Union Square neighborhood through discussions of the people, history, architecture, and forces that have shaped this community. You’ll hear how Union Square got its name, see where the legendary Tiffany & Co. once stood, and learn how to read the clock (yes, it’s a clock!) on “The Metronome” sculpture and so much more!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

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
2:30 pm
Free

Concert | Australian Musicmakers: Emma Donavan / High Highs / George Byrne / DJ Ashley Feraude with Jonty Hall


Celebrate Australia with a program showcasing the hottest acts in contemporary music from Down Under. Emma Donovan (pictured) has established herself as one of Australia’s finest indigenous singer/songwriters. With the inclusion of her traditional language Gumbayngirr in her songs, Donavan is committed to educating the global community to understand more about Aboriginal culture and spirituality. Oli Chang and Jack Milas started making music together as the High Highs in Sydney while working at the same music production company. The band became an underground sensation, and has given rise to popular confusion about where they should be pigeonholed, not to mention a broad and varied list of published comparisons likening them to Simon & Garfunkel, because of their very quiet singer-song writing approach but with an occasional borderline-psychedelic sound or an ambient Hall & Oates. George Byrne is a Sydney-born singer-songwriter, MTV composer, and photographer. Described my MOJO UK as “Pink Floyd Americana by way of the Antipodes” it’s doubtlessly melodic and high quality. Australia-based DJ and musician Ashley Feraude shares his passion for house, disco and soul through residencies and regular spots in premier lounges and nightclubs throughout the country. Feraude’s gift for picking the right tracks, building a set for any occasion and connecting with audiences propelled him to work with a number of famed Australian artists as well as become well known as a musical tastemaker.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Concert | Concert on Water


The concert is at the coolest classical music concerts location in New York City. Program and musicians TBA.
   New York City, NY; NYC
3:00 pm
Free

Tour | Sculpture Dérive: An Artist-Led Tour


Sculptor Jory Rabinovitz will lead a dérive. Popularized by French theorist Guy Debord, a dérive is an unplanned journey through a landscape, usually urban, on which the subtle aesthetic contours of the surrounding architecture and geography subconsciously direct the traveler(s), with the ultimate goal of encountering an entirely new and authentic experience. In the spirit of the dérive, Rabinovitz will create sculptural footwear for participants' peregrination through the landscape.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Tae Kwon Do Workshop


Teaches the fundamentals of discipline, balance, health and wellness.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Group Exhibition: Paint & Fiber


With Ines Fagalde, Sheila Hecht, Kim Heinlein, Marilyn Henrion, Bruce Laird, Daniele Marin, Pat Feeney Murrell, Dino Pazzanese, Tina Rohrer, Joy Saville, Martine Villandre.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Performance | Stark Reality Open Mic


SIGN UP 4:00 pm--- Come Early!! it gets crowded!! POETS, SINGERS, SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS, PERFORMANCE ARTISTS, COMICS, SINGER/SONGWRITERS Not a Slam but a BANG!! Everyone is a star!!! SHARE YOUR POETRY, SONGS, SPOKEN WORD & PERFORMANCE ART !!!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
No cover, one-drink...

Jazz | Summer Jazz Concert


Bring your picnic blanket for an afternoon of live music and outdoor fun. Steve Kroon will start off the program with Latin Jazz music, followed by vocalists Alyson Williams and Brianna Thomas, winners of the reknown Jazzmobile Vocal Competition. The evening's performance will culminate in a performance of Wycliffe Gordon with a special tribute to Louis Armstrong. Make a unique eco-postcard inspired by jazz musical instruments in a hands-on workshop for families (Ages 4+) led by community artist Iandry Randriamandroso. Just walk over to the family area on the concert ground, design your own eco-postcard, and take some unique concert memorabilia home with you.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Dance Performance | Downtown Dance Festival 2012


The 31st Annual Downtown Dance Festival is New York City’s longest-running public dance festival and is Battery Dance Company’s gift to its home community. International highlights this year include Sri Warisan, a 15-member troupe from Singapore that is known for its authentic presentation of Malay ethnic dance, music and theater; Vanaver Caravan, the dance and music ensemble from New Paltz performing a tribute to Woody Guthrie on the legendary American folk musician’s centenary year; Philadelphia-based Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers, and ten New York companies showcasing various genres ranging from modern ballet to fusion.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:00 pm
Free

Theater | Outdoor Presentation of Shakespeare's Richard III


After a long civil war between the royal family of York and the royal family of Lancaster, England enjoys a period of peace under King Edward IV and the victorious Yorks. But Edward’s younger brother, Richard, resents Edward’s power and the happiness of those around him. Malicious, power-hungry, and bitter about his physical deformity, Richard begins to aspire secretly to the throne—and decides to kill anyone he has to in order to become king. No tickets required; Just show up and choose a seat on the steps and benches.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Performance | Comedy: Johnny Velvet and the Moonbeams


Johnny Velvet and the Moonbeams is an improv group featuring Michelle Ciotta, Dylan Donahue, Keith Kingbay, Justin Lamb, and Sean O’Reilly. Johnny Velvet himself is currently teaching children in the Sudan to Rollerblade.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
$5

Performance | Comedy: Let Them Eat Jokes


If Marie-Antoinette were alive today she’d want people to eat jokes not cake. Less carbs, more fun and far less chance of a beheading. Hosted by Marianne Schaberg (no relation), this night of stand-up will leave you fuller than a basket of brioche.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
$5

Screening | Documentary: Kevin Macdonald's Marley (2012)


A documentary on the life, music, and legacy of Bob Marley. 144 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Dance Performance | Eleone Dance Theatre / Niles Ford/Urban Dance Collective


Eleone Dance Theatre (pictured), a Philadelphia-based dance company, embodies exceptional artistry and a profound sense of spirituality that evokes an aura of healing in the audiences whose souls they touch. An exhilarating and soul-stirring company that presents a spectrum of works that are multicultural, intergenerational, socially and visually appealing to all audiences, Eleone has been called “[Philadelphia’s] hottest dance company” by The Philadelphia Weekly. Celebrating their 15th anniversary, the company will premiere The Dunham Progressions, a new work that highlights the famed dance technique. Niles Ford/Urban Dance Collective is a dance company working in more than one dimension. Dealing with the social issues of the day through visual art, spoken word, and music, the company communicates the psychological effects of poverty, war, sexism, religion, and homosexuality through physical movement. With a choreography aesthetic that blends many techniques including ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, club dancing and pedestrian movement, Dance Magazine says of the company, “They look good, move with power, and make the audience scream.” Master Class 7 – 8pm: Join acclaimed fitness and dance choreographer, Calvin Wiley for a high energy, stylistically diverse dance class.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Concert | Steve Tarshis and His Instrumental Trio


Calling all blankets, picnic baskets, and candles! Steve Tarshis and his Instrumental Trio, with special guests. Live music at its best! Jazz, folk, blues & rock, with special guest vocalists.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Screening | Documentary: Macarena Aguiló's The Chilean Building (2010)


It's a story never before documented: While their parents battled the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, a group of children were raised in Europe, safely and communally. The 20 adults who supervised "Project Home" saw over sixty children through to adulthood, children whose mothers and fathers-militant MIR members-fought in their homeland to fight for freedom, many never to be seen again. In The Chilean Building, patriotic duty took another form-childcare rather than warfare-as these adoptive, communal parents assumed responsibility for their charges for years to come. 99 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
$10 suggested donation

Film | Mike Disa's Hoodwinked Too (2011): Animated Kids Fare


With Hayden Panettiere, Glenn Close and Patrick Warburton. Red Riding Hood is training in the group of Sister Hoods, when she and the Wolf are called to examine the sudden mysterious disappearance of Hansel and Gretel. 86 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Theater | Shakespeare in the Park(ing) Lot presents Coriolanus


The play is presented in a working parking lot, so you can drive there but you should expect to pay the Muni-meter. The show is offered while the lot is in use. The action sometimes happens around a parked car which drives away during a performance. At such times, the players stop and the audience moves its chairs, pausing the performance the same way a show would stop for rain uptown in Central Park. It's all part of the fun. Seats are available on a first come first serve basis, with audience members often arriving as early as 7:00 PM to secure a place. You are encouraged and welcome to bring your own chair. Once seats are gone, blankets are spread out.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Theater | Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine's Into the Woods, the Broadway Smash


A witch's curse condemns the Baker and his Wife to a life without children. They embark on a quest to find the four items required to break the spell: the cow as white as milk, the cape as red as blood, the hair as yellow as corn, and the slipper as pure as gold. Will they succeed? And what happens after "happily ever after?" A masterpiece by musical theater giants Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, Into the Woods is a witty and irreverent reimagining of beloved classic fairytales: Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Cinderella. Featuring Amy Adams, Jack Broderick, Gideon Glick, Cooper Grodin, Ivan Hernandez, Tina Johnson, Josh Lamon, Jessie Mueller, Donna Murphy, Laura Shoop, and Tess Soltau.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Opera | Juniper Tree Operetta Showcase


The narrative is a re-telling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale called "Juniper Tree." In this version they've rearranged a few elements, added a few characters, and developed the psychological intrigue, taking the plot to a position in which the characters are slightly more dynamic and "real" than in traditional fairy tales....though there is definitely still magic.
   New York City, NY; NYC
8:30 pm
$10 suggested donation

Performance | Comedy: The Tarantino


Check out some of the top improvisers performing an improvised Quentin Tarantino movie before your eyes. If you like Grindhouse, Kung Fu, Spaghetti Western, Noir, and the entire 1970s, you’ll want to check out The Tarantino.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 pm
$5

Performance | Comedy: Totally Requesty


A parody song showcase hosted by Justin Perez and Shaina Stigler. Some of the finest comedians and musicians showcase their finest fake songs. A night of Weird Al songs that are not written or performed by Weird Al. Also drinking games. It’s totally fun! It’s really requesty! It’s Totally Requesty!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 pm
$5
Complimentary Tickets

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

Broadway | Broadway Show!

Regular Price: $101
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Piano Works by Chopin and More

Regular Price: $30
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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