33 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Sunday, August 31, 2014
All events are free unless otherwise noted.
The Park brings attention to its vital role in creating one of the scarcest resources in all of Manhattan ...
more >> — wildlife habitat. Learn about the Park’s wildlife by joining experienced naturalists on guided nature walks along the Park’s esplanade.
Please wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Loud noises and barking tend to startle wildlife and reduce viewing opportunities - please be considerate and leave your dog at home.
9:00 am
free, no reservation required
Join a free public tour of this historic U.S. Navy vessel that was originally deployed during Vietnam ...
more >> and later used to train U.S. helicopter pilots.
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
Brooklyn is New York City’s largest and most populous borough. Once a separate city from New York, ...
more >> Brooklyn still retains an independent streak and possesses an atmosphere quite unique from the island of Manhattan. And at roughly 70 square miles (180 sq. kilometers) it’s the city’s second largest borough. It’s so large, you could spend your whole trip to New York just here. If you want to get to know the Boogie Down, but you only have a short time to visit, then this is the Brooklyn tour for you.
Stroll through the park and tell the epic story of New York's green oasis. Once described as the lungs ...
more >> of the city, Central Park brings a breath of fresh air to New York's crowded urban terrain. What started out as the rocky and desolate northern fringes of a rapidly expanding city is today amongst the world's most famous and beloved public parks. Originally intended to bring people of all walks of life together -- a people's park -- Central Park lives up to it's original designs. With over 843 acres of meadows, hills, ball fields and bodies of water, it's impossible not to find
Stop by to play some brain games like chess, checkers, and other board games. All Ages.
New York City, NY; NYC
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
For nearly 100 years, the Beaux-Arts beauty known as Grand Central Terminal (a.k.a Station) has been ...
more >> a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of a great city, impressing both travelers and visitors with it's wonderful architecture and pulsating vibe. It's history is a story of immense wealth, great engineering, a few accidents, a planned sabotage and one terrific ceiling, but most importantly a story of survival and rebirth.
Join the Manhattan Community Boathouse for a paddle on the Hudson! Their free walk-up kayaking program ...
more >> operates on a first-come, first-served basis and is suitable for people of all ages and athletic abilities. Kayaks, paddles, lifejackets and basic instructions are provided. All participants must sign a liability waiver and know how to swim.
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
You've seen the iconic skyscrapers, attended a Broadway show, visited Lady Liberty and relaxed in Central ...
more >> Park. Looking for a little more of the Big Apple? Maybe it's time to visit some of Manhattan's oldest and most enchanting historic districts. Take a relaxing stroll through SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown.
Free fun for the whole family, including arts, crafts, antiques, plants, entertainment, games, and more.
New York City, NY; NYC
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
10:00 am
free, no reservation required
Join professional guides on a 90-minute journey through this vibrant neighborhood, viewing some of the ...
more >> city’s most notable landmarks, including the New York Life Insurance Building, the MetLife Clock Tower, the Appellate Courthouse and the famous Flatiron Building.
11:00 am
free, no reservation required
Take a historical three-hour journey through the Lower East Side and explore some of the rich history ...
more >> tracing the arrival of immigrants to modern times.
11:00 am
free, no reservation required
Manhattan’s favorite artisan market is back for a fifth season of amazing vintage finds, artisan creations ...
more >> and delicious local food.
11:00 am
free, no reservation required
About 30 minutes. Fortify your mind! Tour one of the best examples of classic star-shaped fort design ...
more >> anywhere in the country, including the oldest structure on the island.
Tours on the half hour.
11:30 am
free, no reservation required
Explore Castle Williams and get some history in the round at the best-preserved circular fortification ...
more >> in the nation.
Tours on the half hour. About 30 minutes long.
11:30 am
Free tickets required
View tumbling cascades, rustic bridges, and picturesque pools in the "Manhattan Adirondacks." Route involves ...
more >> many hills and stairs. 75 minutes.
12:00 pm
free, no reservation required
NYC‘s Unicycle Festival rolls across New York City on Labor Day weekend. Last year‘s festival brought ...
more >> over 300 riders to the Big Apple and hundreds of people tried to ride a unicycle. Even more one wheeling is expected at this year‘s event.
Activities include races, competitions, exhibitions, and a variety of unicycle sports including unicycle basketball and hockey. World-famous riders will display their skills, and members of the public will have the opportunity to try one—wheel riding.
All ages and abilities welcome.
12:00 pm
free, no reservation required
The exhibit consists of oils, pastels, watercolors, mixed media, graphics, photography, sculpture, and ...
more >> crafts including fabric, jewelry, glass, wood, and ceramics.
12:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Join docents on a tour to learn about the history of the Brooklyn waterfront, sustainable design, and ...
more >> how the park came to life.
12:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Fishing in New York City? You bet! Each summer, the Park offers Big City Fishing to those eager to learn ...
more >> how to fish and learn more about the Hudson River environment. Beyond learning how to fish, the program also provides participants with a first-hand opportunity to learn about river ecology and the many fish species that can be found in the river.
Participants can drop in a line and relax, or engage with environmental educators on such topics such as water quality, fish biology and more. Rods, reels, bait and instruction are provided.
1:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Enjoy an interactive and informative tour led by a knowledgeable museum educator. Material Histories ...
more >> is the most recent in a series of exhibitions featuring work of Kevin Beasley (b. 1985), Bethany Collins (b. 1984) and Abigail DeVille (b. 1981), three emerging artists who have been awarded eleven-month residencies at the museum.
From the Museum of the City of New York (pay what you want) to Sylvia’s for a late lunch or early soul ...
more >> food dinner. Walk past the Morris Park Historic District, 3 miles, easy pace, rest stops.
Once the turf of longshoreman and gangsters, Red Hook now offers boutiques, restaurants and restored ...
more >> 19th century warehouses.
New York City is a mecca for graffiti and street art, making it a very attractive playground for artists ...
more >> from around the world. Bushwick, in a working class district on the north side of Brooklyn adjacent to Williamsburg, has been attracting artists for some time now. The neighborhood has a fair collection of art studios and galleries, but it’s Bushwick’s industrial landscape that’s attracting the street artist. If you came looking for 1960′s Greenwich Village, you’ll find something brewing in Bushwick.
Although world famous, Harlem may be New York's best kept secret with some of the city's best architecture, ...
more >> food, music and people. Harlem's history is also one of the city's most dramatic, having gone through many ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic changes over the past roughly 400 years, which have resulted in a diverse array of places of worship, theaters, homes and eating establishments.
Arguably the world's most valuable, busiest and most crowded pieces of real estate, Midtown Manhattan ...
more >> is what most visitors think of when they think of New York City. Home to some of the city's most iconic architecture, from Gothic to Post-Modern and from Beaux-Arts to Art Deco (lots of Art Deco). it's not difficult to understand why. But just behind the massive facades, lie facinating histories just waiting to be unveiled.
Hammond B-3 organist Sarah McLawler champions jazz standards with her all women’s Les Femmes Jazz, ...
more >> keeping alive a style which is not to be forgotten.
2:00 pm
free, no reservation required
About 90 minutes. See the whole history of the island in one go. The most comprehensive program takes ...
more >> you to nearly every highlight in the historic district. Visitors should be prepared to stand for a full 90 minutes and walk a distance of about 1.5 miles.
2:30 pm
free, no reservation required
Originally a house and electronic music DJ, Tim Martell first hit the decks at the ripe age of 14. By ...
more >> 19, he held the main floor residency at New York City’s legendary Limelight, wowing the crowds with his seamless, lengthy, and perfect blends. Over the past decade, he’s expanded his music library to include genres and tracks of all flavors but has kept his mixing skills crisp and fluid. His cross-genre mixes are unparalleled and truly set him apart. With an almost endless resume, Tim is a featured DJ for the Tribeca Film Festival, visited over 30 cities on the AND1 Mixtape Tour, opened for Beyonce and Robin Thicke, performed at Shaun White’s X-Games Gold After Party, and spun at MTV’s official after party for the VMA’s.
4:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Known as America's first suburb, Brooklyn Heights is truly a gem. Travel and Leisure named it one of ...
more >> America's top 10 most beautiful neighborhoods, and its beauty is rivaled only by its place in American history. These quaint, tree-lined streets have been the sites of Revolutionary War battles, abolitionist activism and have inspired numerous novelists. Visit a stop on the Underground Railroad, or the home of Truman Capote, where he penned Breakfast at Tiffany's and where Jackie Robinson signed with the Dodgers.
A renaissance is taking place on the southern tip of Manhattan Island. Since the terrorist attacks of ...
more >> September 11th 2001, a concerted effort has been undertaken to redevelop this part of the city, with the redevelopment of the World Trade Center and the construction of the National September 11th Memorial and Museum. And from twilight into the night is the right time to pay a visit to this part of New York City. From the Memorial to the Woolworth Building, City Hall to the Brooklyn Bridge, some of the your most memorable experiences in the city await you.
7:30 pm
free, no reservation required
Stars: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris.
Bond’s loyalty to M is tested when her past comes ...
more >> back to haunt her. Whilst MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
143 min.
8:00 pm
free, no reservation required
Jonas Kaufmann stars as the tortured poet of the title in Massenet’s adaptation of Goethe, as seen ...
more >> in Richard Eyre’s new production. Sophie Koch sings Charlotte and Alain Altinoglu conducts.
8:00 pm
free, no reservation required