free things to do in New York City
Free events for Wednesday, 08/12/15
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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 12, 2015?

51 free events take place on Wednesday, August 12 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 12 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!

51 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Wednesday, August 12, 2015

All events are free unless otherwise noted.
        

Festival | Setting the Guiness World Record for the Longest Team Barbecue Marathon


Celebrity chef and Food Network star Tyler Florence, alongside the winners of the Ball Park Finest Grillathon, are out to set the Guinness World Record for the “Longest Team Barbecue Marathon.” Donations of the food will be made to the City Harvest food rescue organization. The Finest Grillathon winners will spend 38+ hours attempting to set the record. The previous record was 30 hours set by Barry Croxall and Dave Skeldon from the UK on June 20th-21st, 2015. This event will begin Tuesday, August 11th at 7pm and will be ongoing until Thursday, August 13th at 9am.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 am
Free

Workshop | Park FitClub: Boot Camp with The Rise NYC


Energize your day with a workout before work. Join The Rise NYC, a community-driven pop-up fitness group, for a Boot Camp. Rotations through exercises like crunches, planks, push-ups, burpees, and mountain climbers ensure a mixture of cardio and strength training that will keep you coming back - and seeing results. No equipment necessary; smiles and high-fives encouraged. Rain or shine.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 am
Free

Concert | LunchMoney Lewis, Hiphop Newcomer


The Miami hiphop artist had a hit overseas this year with his song "Bills. Currently he's trying to repeat that success here in the US. Attendees are advised to get there early.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 am
Free

Workshop | Walking Meditation


Start your day with a contemplative walk around the park, led by a meditation guide.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 am
Free

Workshop | Wednesday Meditation


Join neighbors from the Integral Yoga Institute, the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, and two surprise guests, for weekly guided meditations. Rise above the city streets and start your day focused, centered, and connected with nature. Beginners welcome.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 am
Free

City Walk | Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo Tour


This is a 3-hour tour that begins with a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, an icon of New York City for over 125 years, with spectacular views of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The tour then moves on to a stroll of Brooklyn Heights, America’s and New York City’s first suburb. The tour then explores the neighborhood DUMBO before ending at the Fulton Ferry landing.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Tour | Greenwich Village Neighborhood Tour


Greenwich Village is among Manhattan's most desirable and expensive residential neighborhoods. It's history, however, betrays it's monied status. The Village, with it's quiet, shaded streets, lined with lovely brick and brownstone townhouses, was once the incubating ground of artistic, social and political movements that have helped shape US history. From the Beats to the Folk Movement, from workers rights to gay rights, the Village has often been the center of it all.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Tour | SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown Tour


You've seen the iconic skyscrapers, attended a Broadway show, visited Lady Liberty and relaxed in Central 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.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Workshop | Elements of Nature Drawing


Get inspired by the beautiful expanse of the Hudson River and New York Harbor and by the verdant park, with its very special Hot and Cool gardens; each flower-filled and colorful throughout the season. All art materials are provided. Participants can practice already known techniques or try new ones using water colors, pastels, colored pencils, and other media. An artist/educator will offer ideas,instruction and critiques regarding technique.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Park Walk | Mid-Park Welcome Tour


Explore the Park’s central features including the Lake and Ramble woodland, then marvel at the views from Belvedere Castle. Route involves many hills, stairs, and uneven paths. 45 minutes.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Park Walk | Experience Fort Jay: An Island Star


At the top of the island sits a fortification that has seen nearly as many uses as it has years of completion. From war fort to music school to housing Confederate prisoners of war, to family housing, Fort Jay is the real star of the show. They say that because from the air, it is shaped like a star. This is a 30-minute tour. Start times: 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:30 am
Free

Tour | Explore Castle Williams Tour


Castle Williams, the centerpiece of the system of fortifications designed to guard New York City just prior to the War of 1812, has long been off-limits to the public. After an extensive rehabilitation project in 2011, the National Park Service opened the Castle's to the general public for the first time in the fort's 200-year history. Tours of the Castle take visitors through all three levels and the roof. Tours are approximately 30 minutes in length. Visitors are advised that tours require climbing three flights of stairs. The Castle's upper floors are not handicap-accessible. Start times: 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:30 am
Free

Workshop | Learn Juggling in the Park


Test your coordination and dexterity with free juggling lessons in the park. All skill levels are welcome to join in the fun. Equipment is provided. Lessons are weather permitting.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Book Signing | Today Show weatherman Al Roker signs copies of his book The Storm of the Century


The NBC weatherman brings the story of the Great Gulf Hurricane of 1900 to life.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Concert | Ayako Shirasaki, Virtuoso Pianist with a Tender Touch


Ayako Shirasaki is a virtuoso pianist who performs in and around the New York City area. Her techniques range from a “tender touch” (like the late Tommy Flanagan) to “brisk runs” (like Bud Powell) – which can be heard on her recent piano trio CD "Some Other Time".
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Gallery Talk | Exhibition Tour: Public Eye, 175 Years of Sharing Photography


Join a 45-minute docent led tour of the exhibition.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Tour | Federal Reserve Bank Tour


Learn about central banking functions that Federal Reserve System performs and see Bank's vault of international monetary gold on bedrock of Manhattan Island, five stories below street level. Learn why Federal Reserve has "Federal" in its name, while it's a private bank, not Federal at all. Tour times: 1:00pm, 2:00pm.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Workshop | eBook Help Hour: Get Started with eBooks


Need help getting started with eBooks? Bring your laptop, eReader, tablet or smart phone to eBook Help Hour. Get assistance loading electronic library books on your Kindle, create your free Adobe ID, learn about 3M Cloud Library, and so much more. Make sure you bring your library card and any necessary access passwords for your devices so they can help you as quickly as possible.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:15 pm
Free

Jazz | Jazz Wednesdays with the Bill Wurtzel Trio


Bill Wurtzel’s trio will set the mood of the swing era every Wednesday for the run of the exhibition Folk Art and American Modernism.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Figure al Fresco


Many people are challenged when trying to draw the human figure. This workshop offers everyone a chance to improve their skills through a wonderful outdoor figure drawing class. Each week a different model will strike both short and long poses for participants to draw. An artist/educator will be on hand to offer suggestions and give critiques throughout the class. All drawing materials are supplied.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:30 pm
Free

Workshop | Uncovering Your Family History: Researching Immigration Records


Discover genealogical resources at the New York Public Library. This class offers an introductory exploration of passenger lists and naturalization records, their history, and the history Castle Garden, Ellis Island, and the Port of New York as a site of immigration to the United States.
   New York City, NY; NYC
3:00 pm
Free

Gallery Talk | Exhibition Tour: Public Eye, 175 Years of Sharing Photography


Join a 45-minute docent led tour of the exhibition.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:30 pm
Free

Park Walk | Central Park Tour - Lower Section


Once described as the lungs 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 among the world's most famous and beloved public parks. With over 843 acres of meadows, hills, ball fields and bodies of water, it's impossible not to find something to enjoy in Central Park.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Tour | Harlem Tour


Although world famous, Harlem may be New York's best kept secret with some of the city's best architecture, 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.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Talk | Director Guy Ritchie discusses his upcoming movie The Man From U.N.C.L.E.


Join filmmaker Guy Ritchie and co-writer/producer Lionel Wigram for a discussion and Q+A. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a fresh take on the popular 1960s TV series, following a CIA agent and a KGB agent who reluctantly team up to stop a mysterious international criminal organization trying to proliferate nuclear weapons.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Party | Game On Summer Block Party


Music, drinks, food, games and films.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Olafur Eliasson's The Collectivity Project, an Interactive Installation


Learn more about urban planning, architecture, and community using LEGOs and your imagination. Led by an educator, these special programs for adults are part of Olafur Eliasson's work.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Settlers of Catan Game Social


Join us at our weekly Game Socials to meet up with like-minded players interested in the same games as you. On Wednesdays, play the popular strategy game Settlers of Catan.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Compassion: For the Animals Great and Small, an Interdisciplinary Project by Mary Ting


Coinciding with World Elephant Day, the exhibit is in response to the current plight of elephants, rhinos, tigers, bears and other animals due to poaching for the Chinese market. The exhibition features a series of drawings and an installation of recycled cardboard animal sculptures by the artist and her John Jay College students.
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:00 pm
Free

Concert | Accordions Around the World


Take a cross-cultural musical journey - from France to Colombia, from the Balkans to Louisiana, from Cumbia to Jazz, and more - with accordions, harmoniums, concertinas, and bandoneons.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Group Show: Intaglio


Exhibiting Artists: Gloria Askin, Scott Baird, Karin Bruckner, Jazmine Catasus, Yuchen Chang, Madeline Daversa, Paul DeRuvo, Myles Dunigan, Michael Eade, Yuji Hiratsuka, nif hodgson, Andy Hoogenboom, Carolyn Hulbert, Leslie Kerby, T. Oliver Peabody, Martin Kruck, Elizabeth Langer, Elizabeth Rose, Dominique Saks, and Johanna Winters.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Sunset Yoga


Open space, fresh sea air, and the floral scent of the gardens will help you stretch away the stress of the workday and allow you to let go of the hectic buzz of city life. Whether you’re still learning Child’s Pose or have mastered the Twisted Half Moon, instructor Mary Ryan Barnes, who has been teaching Yoga for over twenty five years, will guide you through a routine that works for you. Bring your own mat or borrow one from us.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Party | Uptown Bounce: Summer Nights


A series featuring musical performances, gallery talks, art-making workshops, renowned DJs, festive summer drinks, local food vendors, and more. There will be a variety of events, including a guided tour of both the venue and the Museum of the City of New York, brief artist talks in the galleries featuring artists from the exhibition PRESENTE! The Young Lords in New York. In the courtyard, Alicia Grullón presents her interactive performance Pick It!, in which she invites audience members to create signs protesting an issue of their choice. Also outside, enjoy sidewalk shenanigans by FEEGZ and crew. The cafe features the musical stylings of DJ Turmix, a specialist in Boogaloo, which was a favorite of the Young Lords and their generation; and video projections by Louis Cameron.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Volleyball After Work


An after-work volleyball game for adults. The scorekeeper and the ball will be provided and will instruct newcomers in the basics of the game. This good-natured game has been going for over a decade, and although many people have been attending year after year, players of all experience levels are welcome. Coming by after work is a great way to relax and make new friends.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Evening Yoga


End your day with relaxing Hatha yoga with instructor Hollis Lewis in a beautiful sunset setting. Suitable for all fitness levels. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring your own mat.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Workshop | Lolë/FITiST Meetup


Lolë and FITiST bring you a summer of movement and well-being. A wide range of classes are offered, but space is limited to 75 people per class.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Tour | Photography Tour: Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Sunset


Are you looking for images of the Lower Manhattan Skyline and sunsets? This photo tour is for you. A licensed guide, renowned photographer, and a downtown Manhattan resident of 40 years will guide you during what photographers call “the golden hour.“ You will tour Brooklyn Bridge Park and Dumbo as you strategically set up your shots for the evening sunset. The tour will finish with a walk back over the Brooklyn Bridge to Lower Manhattan providing you many photo opportunities as nightfall and the city lights up. You will be directed in how to get your shots no matter what’s the evening sky. Learn a bit about the the skyline of Lower Manhattan and the history that has connected Brooklyn and Manhattan for over 500 years as you hone your photographic skills. Open to all levels of photographers and all cameras – yes, cell phones and any smart devices too. Even people without cameras will enjoy tagging along for this unique point of view of the end of the day in New York City.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Talk | The Resilience Advantage


With Jaymie Meyer, a certified stress management specialist. This two-hour program offers easy self-regulation and resilience-building practices that help individuals become more physiologically and emotionally balanced. Participants will learn how their response to events, inter-personal communication and circumstances can deplete or renew their resiliency.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free

Performance | The Wiz: A Celebration in Dance and Music


George Faison, internationally celebrated producer, writer, composer, director, choreographer and dancer, made history in 1975 when he became the first African American to win a Tony Award for Best Choreography for The Wiz. In honor of the Broadway hit’s 40th anniversary this year, Faison will present performances of original songs and dances from the show. Faison also heads the Faison Firehouse Theater in Central Harlem, which he founded in 2000 along with Tad Schnugg.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Jazz | Danny Mixon, Jazz Pianist Extraordinaire


A prolific piano virtuoso who has performed in the U.S. and internationally, Daniel Asbury Mixon was born in Harlem and raised in Brooklyn. He also recorded and played extensively with Charles Mingus and Dannie Richmond in the late 70’s. He began playing the organ at Brooklyn’s Baby Grand with Carlos Garnet, and accompanied Big Maybelle at the Blue Coronet. In the mid 90’s, he appeared regularly at Showman’s as an organist.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Author Reading | Jonathan Horn reads from his book The Man Who Would Not Be Washington: Robert E. Lee’s Civil War and His Decision That Changed American History


The riveting true story of Robert E. Lee, the brilliant soldier bound by marriage to George Washington’s family but turned by war against Washington’s crowning achievement, the Union.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Concert | Mobile Mondays! Live with Roy Ayers


Vibraphonist/vocalist Roy Ayers is among the best-known, most-loved and respected jazz/R&B artists on the music scene today. Now in his fifth decade in the music business. Ayers, known as the Godfather of Neo-soul, continues to bridge the gap between generations of music lovers. In the ’60s he was an award-winning jazz vibraphonist, and transformed into a popular R&B bandleader in the ’70s/’80s. Mobile Mondays! is a NYC Music Movement founded by Operator Emz & take place every Monday at The Bowery Electric. The MM Mission is to keep real music alive, preserve and celebrate DJ culture and bring back the vibe and soul of NYC. Operator Emz is a DJ, music producer & hop hop expert. He is a noted collector & curator based in New York and Mobile Mondays! Founder. In the 90’s Greene went from college radio to co-host one of the first commercial hip hop radio shows in LA. The Joint on KBET, Emz combined his encyclopedic knowledge of music with sardonic humor earning fans and making “King Emz”. For well over a decade Natasha Diggs has been digging deeper to provide the soundscape for events across the globe in cities such as New York, Tokyo, Sydney, Beijing, Prague, Los Angeles and Berlin. As resident of New York City’s premiere all-vinyl 45 party, Mobile Mondays!, Diggs has become a force to be reckoned with and one of the most sought-after DJs in the 45 game.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Film | Saudi Film: Haifaa Al-Mansour's Wadjda (2012)


The first film directed by a Saudi woman tells the charming, poignant story of a 10-year-old girl who longs for a bicycle so she can race her best friend (a boy) and attain some measure of independence in a society whose restrictions on women begin early. Without a hint of didacticism or bitterness, this child’s tiny rebellion, ironically, leads her to compete in a Koran-reciting contest. 98 minutes. Film starts at dusk. PRE-SCREENING PERFORMANCE at 7pm: Nashaz with Shelley Thomas
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Sunset Pilates


Join Lou Cornacchia, founder of Cobble Hill’s Body in Balance Studio, for her amazing Pilates Mat Class. Students will learn proper technique, core muscle strength, spinal alignment and shoulder stabilization. This dynamic class is intermediate/advanced and done to upbeat music, emphasizes stretching, good posture, upper body and serious core strength. Classes are open to ages 16 and older. Participants must bring their own mat and dynaband. You are required to fill out a release form and bring one to every class. Beginners are welcome to go at their own pace.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Theater | Theater in the Park: Shakespeare's Measure for Measure


New York Classical Theatre presents this outdoor production of Shakespeare's timeless comedy.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

City Walk | Brooklyn Bridge Ghost Tour


An icon of New York City and one of the world's most famous man-made structures, the bridge is must-see attraction on most visitors’ Big Apple itineraries. A walk along its pedestrian promenade, with its wonderful views of Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and Brooklyn—not to mention the bridge's Gothic arched towers—is priceless. It truly lives up to its nickname as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Yet behind all its physical beauty and charm lie darker truths. The bridge has been bad luck for some and a curse for others. Mysterious illness to a stampede to faulty construction and outright murder have claimed the lives of dozens, including the bridge's designers.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:30 pm
Free

Performance | Alexa Kelly's Shakespeare's Presidential Primary: An Original Comedy in One Act


This hilarious new play, portrays a political primary that has been modeled on the X FACTOR, AMERICA’S GOT TALENT, and the traditional LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS format. Nothing is sacred.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Film | Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda's The Lorax (2012): Dr. Seuss Adaptation


Stars: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito. A 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world. 86 min. Pack a picnic, bring a friend and settle in for a night at the movies on the pier.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Film | Blake Edward's Oscar-Winning Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961): Capote's Novel


Stars: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal. A young New York socialite becomes interested in a young man who has moved into her apartment building. 115 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 pm
Free

Film | Richard Linklater's Oscar-Winning Boyhood (2014): 12 Years in the Life


Stars: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke. The life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college. 165 min. Movie begins at dusk (around 8:30pm). Free popcorn.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 pm
Free

Performance | Gandhi, Is That You? Comedy Show


Stand-up comedy show (that has been featured on MTV, and that fills to standing-room only each week). The show is produced by Brendan Fitzgibbons (The Onion, McSweeney's) and Lance Weiss (Carolines on Broadway) with comedians from David Letterman, Vh1, MTV, The Onion, and Comedy Central. Free pizza!
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 pm
Free
Complimentary Tickets

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

Concert | Christmas Concert

Regular Price: $55
CFT Member Price: $0.00

Classical Music | Works by Mozart, Dvorak and More

Regular Price: $50
CFT Member Price: $0.00
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