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Free events for Monday, 04/28/25
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More

Mon, April 28, 2025. New York is full of wonderful things to do beyond the Empire State Building, Metropolitan Museum, Ellis Island, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, etc. Go off the beaten path and find hidden treasures which cost you nothing, but are extremelly enjoyable and much less crowded then famous tourist spots.

Experience New York with no lines and no hassle.  Our site tells yiou all about free tours, free concerts, free movies, free theater performances, free dsicussions, etc. you can take advantage of whether you live in the city or spend just a couple of days here.

DOWNTOWN
First, go Downtown and see where New York began: visit City Hall, view the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline, walk by the fortification that was intended to prevent a British invasion in 1812, bike (or just walk) along Hudson River passing all those beautiful Battery Park City Parks with their impressive open space design and public sculptures, sit down for a pleasant meal at one of small Financial Center eateries, go inside the Palm Atrium and take a look at the 9/11 memorial from there.

Then tour New York's beautiful City Hall free of charge. New York City Hall is one of the oldest continuously used City Halls in the nation that still houses its original governmental functions. New York's City Hall is considered one of the finest architectural achievements of its period. Constructed from 1803 to 1812, the building was an early expression of the City's cosmopolitanism. City Hall is a designated New York City landmark, and its rotunda is a designated interior landmark as well. The tours that do not require reservations, but do require a signup, are run on Wednesdays at noon. The registration takes place on the day of the tour between 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM. You will need an advanced reservation for Thursday tours. They take place at 10 am for groups and at 10:30 am for individuals.

Your next adventure is to see the Statue of Liberty, but we do not reccomend to take the Statue of Liberty Ferry.
The best way to see the Statue of Liberty is to take a 25-minute water trip from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island by free-of-charge Staten Island Ferry. On a way there the Statue of Liberty will attract your undivided attention. On the way back (another 25 min) you will not be able to take your eyes off the stunning vistas of New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline. The ferry runs every 30 min most part of the day. It runs more often during rush hours: 7 am - 8:45 am and between 5 pm and 6:45 pm; but the ferries are packed during rush hour trips; this is not a good time to take a leisurely ride.

Go West young woman (or man) once you are back on Manhattan Island: pass Battery Park (you may want to stop at the Castle Clinton - no connection with the President's family).

UPTOWN
Your Uptown trip should include a walk around Columbia University Campus, visit to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and mostly overlooked gem that the Riverside Church is.

Walk around Columbia University Campus
The University founded as King’s College in 1754. It's historic main campus consists of 71 buildings on 36 acres and was originally designed by the famous architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White. Low Memorial Library is our favorite building there. If you are not sure you want to go all the way uptown to see it, you may take a virtual tour at http://www.columbia.edu/acis/tour/start.html

And if you decide that Uptown does worth your time, then there are two other sites you do have to pay a visit to: Riverside Church and The Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
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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!

80 Best Free Events, Best Free Things to Do in New York City, NYC

We all know that best things in life are free, but nowhere it's true more than in New York (NYC).  Take a look at those free events that our editors think are the best things to do to in New York City at this point -- April 28, 2025 and on...
Please keep in mind that all those best things to do are free unless otherwise noted.

        

Monday, April 28, 2025

Museums | Art from All Over The World: Modern and Contemporary
Discover a vast collection of art from a diverse range of countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Russia, France, Spain, Japan, India, United States and more.    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, Apr 28
4:00 pm
to 5:30 pm
$1 min pay-what-you-wish,...

Museumss, April 28, 2025, 04/28/2025, Art from All Over The World: Modern and Contemporary
Classical Music | Award-Winning Pianist Performs Works by Chopin, Ravel, and More (In Person AND Online!)
Baron Fenwick, piano, performs a repetoire of pieces from the Romantic period through today. Program Yuko Uebayashi Les Souvenirs des Fleurs de Pervenche Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52 Elizabeth Younan Piano Sonata No. 2 Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) Three Mazurkas, Op. 63 Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) "Ondine" from Gaspard de la Nuit Henri Dutilleux (1916-2013) "D'ombre et de silence" from Trois Preludes Leonard Fu Confession Matthew Aucoin (1990-) The tracks have vanished    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, Apr 28
5:00 pm
Free

Concerts, April 28, 2025, 04/28/2025, Award-Winning Pianist Performs Works by Chopin, Ravel, and More (In Person AND Online!)
Film | Naughty Girl (1956): French Musical with Brigitte Bardot
Nightclub entertainer Jean Clery discovers too late that the 'baby' he agreed to take care of is a wild, shapely sex kitten. In French with English subtitles. Director: Michel Boisrond Cast: Brigitte Bardot, Jean Bretonniere Brigitte Bardot is an internationally renowned French former entertainer and animal rights activist. She is one of the best known symbols of the global sexual revolution, given that she often portrayed liberated, pleasure-seeking characters. Retiring from entertainment in 1973, her film career spans 47 films, her singing carer encompassing over 60 songs. In 1985, she was awarded the Legion of Honour. She was also nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress.    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, Apr 28
6:00 pm
to 8:00 pm
Free

Films, April 28, 2025, 04/28/2025, Naughty Girl (1956): French Musical with Brigitte Bardot
Book Club | Historic Museum Maritime Book Club: When the Astors Owned New York by Justin Kaplan
For April, the book club will read the anecdotal history account, When the Astors Owned New York: Blue Bloods and Grand Hotels in a Gilded Age by Justin Kaplan, which vividly brings to life a grand story from the glittering Gilded Age in a combination of biography, history, architectural appreciation, and pure reading pleasure. In this book, Justin Kaplan--Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of Mark Twain--shares the history of cousins John Jacob Astor IV and William Waldorf Astor who were endowed with the largest private fortunes of the day. Attendees will read how each vied for primacy in New York society, producing the grandest hotels ever seen in a marriage of ostentation and efficiency that transformed American social behavior. You don't have to read the full book to enjoy the book club, all are welcome.    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, Apr 28
6:30 pm
Free

Book Clubs, April 28, 2025, 04/28/2025, Historic Museum Maritime Book Club: When the Astors Owned New York by Justin Kaplan
Dance Performance | Dance Works-in-Progress
A high visibility low-tech forum for experimentation, emerging ideas, and works-in-progress held in the Fall and Spring seasons. Artists are selected by a rotating committee of peer artists. With: Enya Kalia Creations, RACHEL:dancers, Sacha Vega    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, Apr 28
7:00 pm
Free

Dance Performances, April 28, 2025, 04/28/2025, Dance Works-in-Progress
Classical Music | Prize-Winning Violinist Performs Works by Debussy, Tchaikovsky, and More (In Person AND Online!)
Hannah Song, violin, performs a series of pieces by significant composers of the Romantic and 20th Century periods. Program Eugene Ysaye (1858-1931) Solo Sonata No. 5 Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Violin Sonata in G Minor Eugene Ysaye (1858-1931) Poeme elegiaque Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Valse-Scherzo    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, Apr 28
8:00 pm
Free

Concerts, April 28, 2025, 04/28/2025, Prize-Winning Violinist Performs Works by Debussy, Tchaikovsky, and More (In Person AND Online!)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Talk | Artist Talk on Reimagining Mythologyical Archetypes to Confront Dominant Narratives
This event is an in-depth conversation with artist Rosana Paulino and curators as they discuss Paulino's artwork, The Creation of the Creatures of Day and Night. The conversation will delve into Paulino's practice, process, imagery, and personal iconography, exploring themes of memory, ancestry, and feminism. It will also examine how her work engages with broader discussions on the lasting effects of colonialism and the threats facing not only Brazil's biome, the Amazon rainforest, and Indigenous ways of life but also the significance of bringing this dialogue to an international audience in New York City. Paulino's work confronts Brazil's colonial past and its enduring impact on Black and Indigenous communities. The Creation of the Creatures of Day and Night, expands on her Mangrove series, which portrays tree-women as mythological archetypes and symbols of the Brazilian biome. Paulino draws parallels between mangroves and Brazil's Black and Indigenous people, both of whom have been historically mistreated and exploited. Reimagining mythological archetypes, the artwork places Black and Indigenous figures at the center of a new cosmology. Through her work, Paulino challenges dominant narratives, creating space for reflection and resistance.    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, Apr 29
12:30 pm
to 1:30 pm
Free

Talks, April 29, 2025, 04/29/2025, Artist Talk on Reimagining Mythologyical Archetypes to Confront Dominant Narratives
Lecture | The Intolerance of Monotheism: Towards a Religious History of Antisemitism (in-person and online)
Because of their minority status in Medieval Islamic and Christian societies, Jews became the persecuted other who justified Christian and Muslim belief in their own supersession or replacement theology. Even in the modern, more secular era, baked-in religious prejudices informed the dynamics of racial antisemitism. The Nazis freely drew upon Christian imagery in their propaganda. Similarly post-Holocaust Islamic and Western antisemitism today still rely on these notions of religious superiority. Perhaps the only hope for an end to this 2500-year hatred is for each monotheism to renounce the intolerance inherent in their religious traditions and truly appreciate each other's value. Speaker Bruce Ruben was raised in Portland Oregon. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music (1975) and a Master's in Religion (1978) from Indiana University. He went on to the Jewish Theological Seminary where he became a cantor in 1981. A year later he began a twenty-four-year tenure at Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York City. While serving as the congregation's cantor, Cantor Ruben earned a Ph.D. in history from thae Graduate School of City University. He has taught Jewish history at Hunter College from the early 1990s. He continues to teach Jewish history at Hunter and serves as the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Am in Parsippany New Jersey.    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, Apr 29
1:00 pm
to 2:00 pm
Free

Lectures, April 29, 2025, 04/29/2025, The Intolerance of Monotheism: Towards a Religious History of Antisemitism (in-person and online)
Film | Brewster's Millions (1985): Comedy Film with Richard Pryor
A minor league player inherits hundreds of millions... if he can spend $30 million in 30 days in this madcap remake starring Richard Pryor and John Candy! Director: Walter Hill Cast: Richard Pryor, John Candy, Lonette McKee, Stephen Collins, Hume Cronyn Richard Pryor was an American comedian and actor who's recognized as one of the greatest and most influentialt stand-up comedians of all time. Over the course of his career, Pryor won a Primetime Emmy Award and five Grammys. He was ranked first in Comedy Central's list of all-time greatest stand-up comedians. In 2017, Rolling Stone ranked him first on its list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, Apr 29
1:00 pm
to 3:00 pm
Free

Films, April 29, 2025, 04/29/2025, Brewster's Millions (1985): Comedy Film with Richard Pryor
Staged Reading | Ravage: Vampire Hunter Seaches for Sister
Yuli, a self-described teenage vampire hunter, moves from California to New York after what she believes was a run-in with a powerful vampire, who has kidnapped her sister. As Yuli learns to open up again, she is haunted by visions of her sister and embarks on a quest to seek revenge--only to instead come face-to-face with the fractured remnants of her past. Written by Nina Ki.    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, Apr 29
3:00 pm
Free

Staged Readings, April 29, 2025, 04/29/2025, Ravage: Vampire Hunter Seaches for Sister
Classical Music | Carnegie Hall-Featured Cellist Performs Works by Ligeti, Ravel, Brahms, and More (In Person AND Online!)
Ari Peraza-Webb, cello, performs a series of pieces by composers of the Romantic period through today. Program Gyorgy Ligeti (1923-2006) Sonata for Solo Cello Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Sonate pour violon et violoncelle Ari Peraza-Webb, Issac Cortifo, Oriana Hawley Conversations Johann Brahms (1833-1897) Intermezzo, Op. 116 No. 2 Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Three Romances for Oboe and Piano, Op. 94 Gyorgy Ligeti (1923-2006) Sonata for Solo Cello    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, Apr 29
5:30 pm
Free

Concerts, April 29, 2025, 04/29/2025, Carnegie Hall-Featured Cellist Performs Works by Ligeti, Ravel, Brahms, and More (In Person AND Online!)
Discussion | Adventures in Italian Opera with Conductor Corrado Rovaris
The eighth and final Adventure in Italian Opera with Fred Plotkin of this season features the conductor and Music Director of Opera Philadelphia Corrado Rovaris.    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, Apr 29
6:30 pm
to 8:00 pm
Free

Discussions, April 29, 2025, 04/29/2025, Adventures in Italian Opera with Conductor Corrado Rovaris
Book Discussion | Warsaw Testament: Memoir of a Yiddish Literary Community Before the Holocaust (in-person and online)
Born in Lanowitz, a small village in rural Podolia, author Rokhl Auerbach was a journalist, literary critic, memoirist, and a member of the Warsaw Yiddish literary community before the Holocaust. Upon the German invasion and occupation of Poland in 1939, she was tasked by historian and social activist Emanuel Ringelblum to run a soup kitchen for the starving inhabitants of the Warsaw Ghetto and later to join his top-secret ghetto archive, the Oyneg Shabes. One of only three surviving members of the archive project, Auerbach’s wartime and postwar writings became a crucial source of information for historians of both prewar Jewish Warsaw and the Warsaw Ghetto. After immigrating to Israel in 1950, she founded the witness testimony division at Yad Vashem and played a key role in the development of Holocaust remembrance. This is a lecture by historian Samuel Kassow about Auerbach’s memoir, Warsaw Testament, which paints a vivid portrait of the city’s prewar Yiddish literary and artistic community and of its destruction at the hands of the Nazis.     New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, Apr 29
7:00 pm
Free

Book Discussions, April 29, 2025, 04/29/2025, Warsaw Testament: Memoir of a Yiddish Literary Community Before the Holocaust (in-person and online)

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Museums | History, Culture, and Arts of Indigenous Peoples
This cultural institution showcases a vast collection of Native artifacts, such as objects, photographs, archives, and media.    New York City, NY; NYC

Wed, Apr 30
10:00 am
to 5:00 pm
Free

Museumss, April 30, 2025, 04/30/2025, History, Culture, and Arts of Indigenous Peoples
Tour | New York City Hall Guided Tour
One of the oldest continuously used city halls in the nation that still houses its original governmental functions, New York's City Hall is considered one of the finest architectural achievements of its period. Constructed from 1803 to 1812, the building was an early expression of the City's cosmopolitanism. City Hall is a designated New York City landmark, and its rotunda is a designated interior landmark as well. Note: When registering, choose the "Individual Tour" option.    New York City, NY; NYC

Wed, Apr 30
12:00 pm
Free

Tours, April 30, 2025, 04/30/2025, New York City Hall Guided Tour
Museums | Tiffany Glass and Other Exhibitions
The museum is dedicated to showcasing the history, art, and culture of its area with a permanent collection of 10,000 items. One of the exhibitions includes famous Tiffany's leaded glass objects and a valuable insight into the development of the inuctry in the US at the turn of the 20th century.    New York City, NY; NYC

Wed, Apr 30
12:00 pm
to 5:00 pm
Pay-what-you-wish, reservation required

Museumss, April 30, 2025, 04/30/2025, Tiffany Glass and Other Exhibitions
Museums | Afternoon in a Magnificent Museum
Internationally recognized as a premier museum and research center, this museum is known for its distinguished Old Master paintings and outstanding examples of European sculpture and decorative arts.    New York City, NY; NYC

Wed, Apr 30
2:00 pm
to 6:00 pm
Pay-What-You-Wish, reservation required

Museumss, April 30, 2025, 04/30/2025, Afternoon in a Magnificent Museum
Book Discussion | Fire Island Modernist: Horace Gifford and the Architecture of Seduction
Featuring new houses, many additional photographs and a new afterword, Fire Island Modernist offers a fascinating look at the history and culture of this "gay paradise" through the life and work of Horace Gifford. Author Christopher Rawlins in conversation with Charles Renfro, followed by a signing.    New York City, NY; NYC

Wed, Apr 30
6:00 pm
to 8:00 pm
Free

Book Discussions, April 30, 2025, 04/30/2025, Fire Island Modernist: Horace Gifford and the Architecture of Seduction

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Film | Shanghai Express (1932): Classic Adventure Romance
In Peking, China, during a civil war,a notorious woman rides a train through a dangerous hostage situation with a British captain she loved and rebel army leader Henry Chang. Director: Josef von Sternberg Cast: Marlene Dietrich, Clive Brook, Anna May Wong, Warner Oland    New York City, NY; NYC

Thu, May 1
11:00 am
to 1:00 pm
Free

Films, May 01, 2025, 05/01/2025, Shanghai Express (1932): Classic Adventure Romance
Museums | Film and Television Industry: History, Artifacts, Interactive Displays
This museum is dedicated to the art, history, and technology of film, television, and digital media. It houses a diverse collection of industry related objects, including cameras, scripts, costumes, production materials, as well as interactive displays, and themed installations.    New York City, NY; NYC

Thu, May 1
2:00 pm
to 6:00 pm
Free

Museumss, May 01, 2025, 05/01/2025, Film and Television Industry: History, Artifacts, Interactive Displays
Opening Reception | Triad of Openings: Sculptures, Stories, and Moving Portraits
Anne Mondro presents a series of intricate woven wire sculptures that explore the emotional bonds and resilience forged through caregiving (Gallery I). Francine Perlman unveils new sculptural and mixed-media works that confront urgent social issues -- from homelessness to peaceful coexistence -- while celebrating art's power to inspire hope and activism (Gallery I). Shirley Steele debuts a video-based exploration of human identity as an ongoing, imperfect construction, blending traditional art with digital technology to reflect the evolving nature of life itself (Gallery II).    New York City, NY; NYC

Thu, May 1
6:00 pm
to 8:00 pm
Free

Opening Receptions, May 01, 2025, 05/01/2025, Triad of Openings: Sculptures, Stories, and Moving Portraits
Concert | Latin Grammy-Winning Musician Performs in the Park
Experience the Latin Grammy winning vocalist, musician, composer, producer, arranger and founder of Flor de Toloache, Mireya Ramos, who's versatility, natural improvisational skills, and beautiful tone has made her one of the top Latin artists in NYC.    New York City, NY; NYC

Thu, May 1
6:30 pm
to 7:30 pm
Free

Concerts, May 01, 2025, 05/01/2025, Latin Grammy-Winning Musician Performs in the Park
Classical Music | 'Made in Austria': Works by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and More for Orchestra
The Haydn Chamber Ensemble showcases Austria's rich musical heritage, from the Classical era to contemporary compositions, with a program highlighting the evolution of Austrian music through the works of Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, and Johanna Doderer. Program Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Hob. XV:29 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Piano Trio in E Major, KV 542 Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Adagio for Piano Trio in E-flat Major, D 897 "Notturno" Johanna Doderer (1969-) 5th Piano Trio DWV 110 10 Musical Images on the Fairy Tale Howl's Moving Castle    New York City, NY; NYC

Thu, May 1
6:30 pm
Free

Concerts, May 01, 2025, 05/01/2025, 'Made in Austria': Works by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and More for Orchestra

Friday, May 2, 2025

Tour | Walking in the Footsteps of New York's Founders
Ever since New York was founded, its strength and beauty have drawn people from around the world, seeking to be part of a truly spectacular city. Underneath this facade, however, is an interesting history revealing itself in small bits and overlooked hints. This walk will explore New York's history through the story of Battery Park, on Manhattan's southern tip. What were the forces that shaped the city, making it what it is today? The park holds clues to some of the pillars that the city stands on today, and character traits that were formed by the city's (and its dwellers) struggle for survival in its early years. Wear your comfy walking shoes as the group walks around the park, admires its monuments, takes a look at the bay, and continuse to Bowling Green and the Museum of Native Americans. Did anyone say Alexander Hamilton? He'll be there too! The walk is relatively slow paced. Dogs are NOT ALLOWED. Battery Park is accessible, considering some of the paths are dirt pathways. In any case, the guide will make it work for anyone who joins the tour!    New York City, NY; NYC

Fri, May 2
1:00 pm
to 3:00 pm
Free

Tours, May 02, 2025, 05/02/2025, Walking in the Footsteps of New York's Founders
Museums | Tour - Arts and Cultural Heritage of Spain and Portugal: Goya, El Greco and Others
Explore the best items this museum has on display with this guided tour. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, antiquities, and more by world-famous artists.    New York City, NY; NYC

Fri, May 2
2:00 pm
Free

Museumss, May 02, 2025, 05/02/2025, Tour - Arts and Cultural Heritage of Spain and Portugal: Goya, El Greco and Others
Forum | World Voices Festival: Translation Slam
The Translation Slam puts different translations of the same text side by side and invites the translators, authors, and audience members to join in a lively critical debate of how each version meets its creative challenges. A new text, previously untranslated into English, will be provided by German author Daniel Kehlmann. Translating Kehlmann's work from German will be translator Geoffrey C. Howes and a second translator. A translation of Kehlmann's work will also be provided by ChatGPT. Translations will vie for audience approval and the event will end with a brief Q&A.    New York City, NY; NYC

Fri, May 2
6:30 pm
to 7:30 pm
Free

Forums, May 02, 2025, 05/02/2025, World Voices Festival: Translation Slam
Classical Music | Modern Latin American and Chinese Musical Landscapes for Guitar and Piano
Guitarist Dr. Jose Maldonado and pianist Dr. Weiwei Zhai perform a series of pieces from Chinese and Latin American composers of the Modern and Contemporary musical periods. Program Manuel Maria Ponce (1882-1948) Preludio para guitarra y clavecin Ernesto Cordero (1946-) Cinco Preludios Ernesto Cordero (1946-) Allegro Moderato, Concierto Evocativo Jianzhong Wang (1933-2016) Liuyang River Jianzhong Wang (1933 - 2016) Song of the Yue Boatman Jianzhong Wang (1933 - 2016) (arr. Weiwei Zhai & Jose Maldonado) Ancient Chinese Song Alonso Torres Matarrita Recordando un Bolero, Concierto de los Litorales    New York City, NY; NYC

Fri, May 2
7:00 pm
to 8:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 02, 2025, 05/02/2025, Modern Latin American and Chinese Musical Landscapes for Guitar and Piano
Concert | American Premiere of Genre-Bending Album: Escalator Over the Hill (1971) with Orchestra and Vocal Ensemble (In Person AND Online!)
This event is a special presentation of a rarely seen, iconic work. The New School Studio Orchestra & Vocal Ensemble presents the U.S. premiere performance of Carla Bley's landmark 1971 album, Escalator Over the Hill. Released in 1971, this album announced itself as a "Chronotransduction" -- an invented term meaning, roughly, "a transference of time" -- but was otherwise thought of as a jazz opera, in the vein of rock operas like Tommy or Jesus Christ Superstar. Except the music on Escalator Over the Hill goes well beyond the usual boundaries of genre. In addition to bracing bursts of free jazz, there are cabaret songs, snatches of country music, deep dives into jazz fusion, an excursion into Hindustani pop, elements of ambient music and nods to New York minimalism. Not to mention a fair amount of stuff that simply falls under none of the above." -TIDAL Magazine Program Carla Bley (1936-2023) Escalator Over the Hill Space is limited.    New York City, NY; NYC

Fri, May 2
7:30 pm
to 9:30 pm
Free

Concerts, May 02, 2025, 05/02/2025, American Premiere of Genre-Bending Album: Escalator Over the Hill (1971) with Orchestra and Vocal Ensemble (In Person AND Online!)
Jazz | Jazz Festival: Bluegrass Ensemble
Jazz performance by the Bluegrass Ensemble.
    New York City, NY; NYC

Fri, May 2
8:00 pm
to 9:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 02, 2025, 05/02/2025, Jazz Festival: Bluegrass Ensemble

Saturday, May 3, 2025

Tour | Supremely Slender Supertalls: Exploring Billionaire's Row
What is Billionaires' Row--and how did it reshape the NYC skyline? On this walk, the group will explore the rise of the city's super-skinny skyscrapers along the 57th Street corridor and their dramatic impact on the skyline, streetscape, and public realm. Attendees will unpack the architectural innovations that made these towers possible, how zoning laws shaped their form and why this stretch of Midtown became known as "Billionaires' Row." Along the way, the group will consider the public and critical response to these striking additions to the cityscape. The walk is approximately 2 miles and will take place entirely on paved sidewalks and park pathways.    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 3
9:00 am
to 10:30 am
Free

Tours, May 03, 2025, 05/03/2025, Supremely Slender Supertalls: Exploring Billionaire's Row
Tour | Brutal Architecture of the Upper East Side
From the imposing to the inspiring, this tour delves into the Brutalist gems--both known and overlooked--of the Upper East Side. Over the course of a 2 mile walk, the group will explore five buildings, examining the architects' visions, their original purposes, and how they function today. Through discussion and interior imagery, attendees will gain a deeper appreciation for this architecture's place in the city's architectural landscape. This tour is all street level but the group will be walking or standing for 90 minutes.    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 3
11:00 am
to 12:30 pm
Free

Tours, May 03, 2025, 05/03/2025, Brutal Architecture of the Upper East Side
Discussion | World Voices Festival: Shifting Perspectives, From One World to Another
Divides shape our lives-across eras, borders, and political landscapes. But how do these shifts of time, place, and circumstance impact who we are? This event features authors Daniel Kehlmann (The Director), Amitava Kumar (My Beloved Life), and Reyna Grande (A Ballad of Love and Glory) in an exciting conversation with writer Sam Sussman. Together, they'll explore how changing political environments reflect the shifting nature of personhood. Following characters going from Hollywood's golden age to Nazi propaganda offices, from pre-independence India to a newly independent nation, and from 19th-century America to a Mexican battlefield - these stories span nations and generations, united by one question: How do the worlds around us shape our choices, identities and our lives?    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 3
12:30 pm
to 1:45 pm
Free

Discussions, May 03, 2025, 05/03/2025, World Voices Festival: Shifting Perspectives, From One World to Another
Classical Music | Music on the Water: Violinist with 'Technique, Temperament, and Taste' Performs Works of Mozart with Ensemble
Violinist Mark Peskanov and the Semplice Players perform Mozart quintets. All-Mozart Program: Quintet in B-flat Major, K. 174 Quintet in G minor, K. 516    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 3
2:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 03, 2025, 05/03/2025, Music on the Water: Violinist with 'Technique, Temperament, and Taste' Performs Works of Mozart with Ensemble
Classical Music | Uplift Your Spirit with the Musicians of the NY Philharmonic
Explore how music influences and shapes our sense of well-being with the NY Philharmonic musicians.
    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 3
2:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 03, 2025, 05/03/2025, Uplift Your Spirit with the Musicians of the NY Philharmonic
Screening | Raymond Griffith's Silent Films, Featuring Live Music & Discussion with Film Historians
The Silent Clowns Film Series is New York's longest-running regularly scheduled silent film showcase. The programming reaches the serious film buff by including rarely-screened titles and rare prints, yet it also introduces kids and new audiences to the classics of the silent screen. Screenings feature live piano accompaniment by MoMA's Ben Model, with an introduction and Q&A by film historians Model and Steve Massa. Silent film actor Raymond Griffith is one of the most overlooked silent comics of the 1920s. You'd Be Surprised (1926) stars the top-hatted bon vivant as a police coroner who's called in to solve the murder of an important district attorney. Dorothy Sebastian plays the leading lady who helps sort through the numerous red herrings to find the killer. The film Movie Night (1929) sets the stage as our feature--its the last silent short from fan favorite Charley Chase.    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 3
2:30 pm
to 4:30 pm
Free

Screenings, May 03, 2025, 05/03/2025, Raymond Griffith's Silent Films, Featuring Live Music & Discussion with Film Historians
Tour | Exploring the Harlem Renaissance in Sugar Hill
During the Harlem Renaissance, the Harlem neighborhood was where some of the biggest names in music, art, literature, politics, and philosophy thrived. The synergy of the African American community in the Sugar Hill neighborhood during this era has impacted American culture in lasting ways. You may have noticed that various buildings in the neighborhood are marked by vibrant purple plaques highlighting the groundbreaking individuals who lived there, placed by the organization While We Are Still Here, to preserve African American history. This Harlem museum is hosting a neighborhood walking tour with While We Are Still Here to that attendees can experience it through the stories of the many legends who made this their home, like Paul Robeson, Sonny Rollins, Langston Hughes, Faith Ringgold, and more! At the conclusion of the tour, step into the museum for a self-guided tour of its history.    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 3
3:00 pm
to 4:00 pm
Free

Tours, May 03, 2025, 05/03/2025, Exploring the Harlem Renaissance in Sugar Hill

Sunday, May 4, 2025

Tour | Art Hopping on the Upper West Side
Visit a few beautiful art sites on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The guide will focus on telling attendees about the history and story behind the sites. Attendees will walk a distance of about a mile.    New York City, NY; NYC

Sun, May 4
9:00 am
to 10:00 am
Free

Tours, May 04, 2025, 05/04/2025, Art Hopping on the Upper West Side
Jazz | Spring Jazz Festival with Multiple Acts
This festival day's performances will feature: 1 PM - Christine Correa Vocal Jazz Ensemble 4 PM - Brazilian Ensemble 6 PM - Leo Traversa, Paul Bollenback, and Dave Gibson Jazz Ensembles    New York City, NY; NYC

Sun, May 4
1:00 pm
to 8:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 04, 2025, 05/04/2025, Spring Jazz Festival with Multiple Acts
Classical Music | Orchestral Works by Beethoven, J.S. Bach, and More
The Broadway Bach Ensemble performs three pieces, premiering Emmy Lindstrom's Clarinet Concerto At the Hills of Hampstead Heath with soloist Adrian Gutierrez. Program J.S. Bach (1685-1750) Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C Major Emmy Lindstrom (1984-) At The Hills of Hempstead Heath Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphony No. 8    New York City, NY; NYC

Sun, May 4
2:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 04, 2025, 05/04/2025, Orchestral Works by Beethoven, J.S. Bach, and More
Classical Music | Brahms, Debussy, Rachmaninoff and More: Piano and Voice Recital
Guigla Katsarava, piano; Chao Tang, piano; Judith Bettina, soprano; James Goldsworthy, piano Program Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune, L.86 Carlos Guastavino (1912-2000) Tres Romances Argentinos: I. Las Ninas William Bolcom (b. 1938) The Garden of Eden: I. Old Adam, III. The Serpent's Kiss Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Ruhe, Sussliebchen, Op. 33, No. 9 Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) O wusst ich doch den Weg zuruck, Op. 63, No. 8 Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Standchen, Op. 106, No. 1 Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Abendregen, Op. 70, No. 4 Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Fantaisie (Tableaux), Suite for Two Pianos No. 1, Op. 5    New York City, NY; NYC

Sun, May 4
5:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 04, 2025, 05/04/2025, Brahms, Debussy, Rachmaninoff and More: Piano and Voice Recital
Play | New Original Play: RICELAND
At a rural Arkansas factory, five coworkers discover rice, romance, Kodachrome 35mm film, and extraterrestrial activity converging in a seemingly forgotten post-Y2K landscape. Baltimore is the new hire, building back from personal tragedy. Sabrina is an energetic intern trying to keep it together. Brigham has been at Riceland for a long time now - at least that's what his time sheet says. Management is management... Maybe. What starts as a simple 9 to 5 quickly spirals into a unique exploration of time, love, and the human condition Playright: Jonathan Barbee    New York City, NY; NYC

Sun, May 4
8:00 pm
Free

Plays, May 04, 2025, 05/04/2025, New Original Play: RICELAND

Monday, May 5, 2025

Tour | Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors
In 1799, a prosperous New York merchant named Archibald Gracie built a country house overlooking a bend in the East River, five miles north of the then-New York City limits. Little did he know that, more than 200 years later, his home would be serving as the official residence of the First Family of New York City - a place where history is made, not merely recorded. As a historic house museum run by the Parks Department, sitting on 11 acres of grounds now known as Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion has served as the home of 11 mayors, beginning first with Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia in 1942. Start times: 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, May 5
12:00 pm
to 1:00 pm
$10

Tours, May 05, 2025, 05/05/2025, Tour of Gracie Mansion, Home of New York's Mayors
Jazz | Saxophonist Blends Jazz, Soul, and Blues
Saxophonist, vocalist, and composer Camille Thurman, a frequent collaborator with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, performs virtuosic saxophone solos and soulful vocals.    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, May 5
1:00 pm
to 2:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 05, 2025, 05/05/2025, Saxophonist Blends Jazz, Soul, and Blues

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Classical Music | Chamber Ensemble & A Band Performs an Unconventional Program Featuring Works of "Queen of Gospel", 12C Benedictine Mystic, and More
The Copland House Ensemble is joined by members of the West Point Band to play music about hope, love, loss, perseverance, and courage. The program features pieces by 12th-century German Benedictine mystic and polymath Hildegard von Bingen, Jacob Druckman, the Queen of Gospel, Jazz, and R&B Nina Simone, and rising stars Viet Cuong, Jessica Meyer, and Anthony Banfield -- complete with the suite to Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring. The performance will be followed by a lively Offbeat/Onstage post-concert talk with the artists.    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, May 6
6:30 pm
to 8:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 06, 2025, 05/06/2025, Chamber Ensemble & A Band Performs an Unconventional Program Featuring Works of "Queen of Gospel", 12C Benedictine Mystic, and More
Staged Reading | Birth of a Mother: A Brutal Look at Parenthood
Amita is reckoning with the overwhelm and spill of emotions that accompany new motherhood, rendering her broken and powerless. That is, until she discovers the power--and other women--that she has carried all along. A coming-of-age story through parenthood, this play is a bold, brutally honest, and divine journey through motherhood and ancestry. Written by Amita Sharma.    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, May 6
7:00 pm
Free

Staged Readings, May 06, 2025, 05/06/2025, Birth of a Mother: A Brutal Look at Parenthood

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Museums | Afternoon in a Magnificent Museum
Internationally recognized as a premier museum and research center, this museum is known for its distinguished Old Master paintings and outstanding examples of European sculpture and decorative arts.    New York City, NY; NYC

Wed, May 7
2:00 pm
to 6:00 pm
Pay-What-You-Wish, reservation required

Museumss, May 07, 2025, 05/07/2025, Afternoon in a Magnificent Museum

Friday, May 9, 2025

Screening | Screening & Discussion: Two Documentaries about the Women Who Shaped Jazz History
Learn about the first racially-integrated all-female band in the US and more for this year's Black History Month! In conjunction with the Music and Recorded Sound Division's exhibition Rhythm Is My Business: Women Who Shaped Jazz, the Reserve Film and Video Collection host an evening of film and discussion delving into the history of female jazz musicians. This event is a screening two documentary films: International Sweethearts of Rhythm, which tells the story of the first racially-integrated all-female band in the United States, and Tiny and Ruby: Hell Divin' Women, which profiles jazz trumpeter Tiny Davis and her partner, drummer-pianist Ruby Lucas. The screening is followed by a conversation with filmmaker Greta Schiller and author Linda Dahl (Stormy Weather: The Music and Lives of a Century of Jazz Women).    New York City, NY; NYC

Fri, May 9
5:30 pm
to 7:30 pm
Free

Screenings, May 09, 2025, 05/09/2025, Screening & Discussion: Two Documentaries about the Women Who Shaped Jazz History
Jazz | Grammy-Winning Musician Blends the Sounds of Jazz, Funk, Soul, and More
Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Payton is a visionary artist who defies categorization. He is deeply connected to the traditions of Black American music and the rich musical heritage of his native New Orleans. His sound blends jazz, funk, soul, and more. With his signature ability to play trumpet and keyboards simultaneously, Payton creates music that is both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition. This event is a free performance by this groundbreaking musician.    New York City, NY; NYC

Fri, May 9
6:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 09, 2025, 05/09/2025, Grammy-Winning Musician Blends the Sounds of Jazz, Funk, Soul, and More
Performance | New Humorous Performance Piece by 'Major Vocal Talent' Joseph Keckler
"Phenomenal. Major vocal talent ... with a range that shatters boundaries ... and a trickster's dark humor." --The New York Times Part site-specific concert, part impressionistic essay, A Good Night in the Trauma Garden positions the court as a space of blended times and mythologies, populated by gods and monsters; heroes, hybrids and historical figures; and moments of human suffering and sacrifice. The evening-length work weaves together original compositions with narrative vignettes that meditate on lives and deaths in New York City, the slipperiness of reality in contemporary America, and a perennial longing for the arrival of some god.    New York City, NY; NYC

Fri, May 9
7:30 pm
Free

Performances, May 09, 2025, 05/09/2025, New Humorous Performance Piece by 'Major Vocal Talent' Joseph Keckler

Saturday, May 10, 2025

Parade | Celebrate Japan with a Parade and Street Festival
Celebrate Japan Day in New York City by attending the Japan Day Parade and/or Street Fair! This year, the parade's Grand Marshal is Chef Masaharu Morimoto -- known to millions as the star of Iron Chef and Iron Chef America, and now executive producer and head judge for Roku's Sushi Master. He has garnered critical and popular acclaim for his seamless integration of Western and Japanese ingredients. And, special guests at the parade are the Attack on Titan: The Musical cast and musician Sayaka Yamamoto!    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 10
11:00 am
to 5:00 pm
Free

Parades, May 10, 2025, 05/10/2025, Celebrate Japan with a Parade and Street Festival
Museums | Spring Afternoon at the Museum: Art Workshops, Live Music, and Gallery Exploring
This event is dedicated to celebrating Earth and the spring season! Visit the galleries to see current exhibitions and enjoy live music during art-making workshops led by various teaching artists on the terrace. You can also sign up for a free claymaking workshop!    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 10
2:00 pm
to 6:00 pm
Free

Museumss, May 10, 2025, 05/10/2025, Spring Afternoon at the Museum: Art Workshops, Live Music, and Gallery Exploring
Play | New Original Play by Award-Winning Writer: I Hope This Letter Reaches Mictlan
I Hope This Letter Reaches Mictlan follows Sarai mourning the loss of her brother, whose soul is deported back to Mictlan, the Aztec underworld. Using her newly found shaman powers, Sarai attempts to transcend to help him, only to realize the journey begins with her. This play explores the complexity of grief and how it changes those who experience it. Playwright: Amalia Oliva Rojas    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 10
3:30 pm
Free

Plays, May 10, 2025, 05/10/2025, New Original Play by Award-Winning Writer: I Hope This Letter Reaches Mictlan

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Performance | Playing with Social Codes through Performance Art: The Pin
Artist Pilvi Takala presents The Pin, a new performance that continues her work playing with social codes. Takala's work is set in motion by actors--identifiable only by a pin fastened to their shirts--who canvass the park, blending in with the public until they spontaneously approach unsuspecting passersby. Each performer is trained to improvise based on a script written by the artist, following the responses of the participating public. The seemingly happenstance interactions expose our preconceived expectations of how we engage with others in public spaces, and what might bring strangers to either connect or disengage. In setting up these exchanges, Takala makes visible how we grapple with polite contact, inclusion, and exclusion, while blurring the line between reality and fiction. Pilvi Takala's practice is centered on poking, prodding, and questioning conventions and codes in an effort to lay bare the social frameworks of our offices, parks, shopping malls, and other public spaces. The artist disrupts the experience of daily routines, using performative interventions as a means to push the audience to confront its own assumptions and behaviors. Often humorous--and almost always perplexing--her actions and interactions reveal our inherent discomfort with discomfort.    New York City, NY; NYC

Sun, May 11
1:00 pm
to 2:30 pm
Free

Performances, May 11, 2025, 05/11/2025, Playing with Social Codes through Performance Art: The Pin
Jazz | A Night of World-Class Jazz with Legendary Bassist Buster Williams
This concert features renowned bassist, composer, and bandleader Buster Williams, whose profound influence has shaped the genre for more than six decades. Born in Camden, New Jersey, Williams began his career in the early '60s, quickly rising to prominence with his impeccable technique, deep tone, harmonic innovation, and lyrical sensitivity. He has performed and recorded with a long list of jazz greats, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Nancy Wilson, Art Blakey, Chick Corea, and Mary Lou Williams. A cornerstone of Herbie Hancock's groundbreaking Mwandishi band and a first-call bassist for both traditional and avant-garde giants, he bridges eras with elegance and power. Williams's ensemble, Something More, showcases his visionary spirit and brilliance as a bandleader and composer. Event organizers suggest arriving 45 minutes before start time. Admission is first-come, first-served, with ticket holders receiving priority (although not guaranteed entrance if the venue reaches capacity).    New York City, NY; NYC

Sun, May 11
4:00 pm
to 5:15 pm
Free

Concerts, May 11, 2025, 05/11/2025, A Night of World-Class Jazz with Legendary Bassist Buster Williams

Monday, May 12, 2025

Jazz | Grammy-Nominated Jazz Artist Godwin Louis Serves Up Afro-Caribbean Rhythms and More
Saxophonist, composer, arranger, and educator, Godwin Louis is a trailblazer in the music world and beyond. Born in Harlem and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Port au Prince, Haiti, Louis taps into every corner of his multicultural background to create his work. The result is a diverse palette of jazz, gospel, classical, and world music bolstered with Afro-Caribbean rhythms. A professor at Berklee College of Music, Louis received a Grammy nomination for his composing and arranging contributions to vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant's album Melusine. He has also been awarded a Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Grant and received a Jazz Gallery Residency Commission.    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, May 12
1:00 pm
to 2:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 12, 2025, 05/12/2025, Grammy-Nominated Jazz Artist Godwin Louis Serves Up Afro-Caribbean Rhythms and More
Jazz | American Symphony Orchestra's Jazz Ensemble Performs Louis Armstrong's Hits
Experience the music of Louis Armstrong! American Symphony Orchestra's jazz ensemble performs the greatest pieces by this iconic jazz musician. ASO's jazz ensemble has performed numerous concerts dedicated to the great jazz composers of both the past and present, including Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, Count Basie, Charles Mingus, and many others. The ensemble's program will honor jazz trumpet virtuoso, innovator, and composer of more than fifty original compositions, including Cool Cart Blues, Don't Forget to Mess Around, Here Me Talkin' to Ya, If We Never Meet Again, and New Orleans Stomp, Louis Armstrong.    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, May 12
5:30 pm
to 6:30 pm
Free

Concerts, May 12, 2025, 05/12/2025, American Symphony Orchestra's Jazz Ensemble Performs Louis Armstrong's Hits
Classical Music | Lincoln Center-Featured Jazz Trio Plays Reinterpretations of Iconic Tunes
Yang's Zodiac Trio employs its distinctive sound in their interpretation of Mary Lou Williams's Zodiac Suite (1945), creating a new album under the title Zodiac Suite: reassured (2022). Williams's original record is well known for its inventiveness and compositional genius, it has been inspirational to numerous musicians. Yang's unique interpretation has the bass upfront and center. This iteration will include Jeong Lim Yang on bass, Santiago Leibson on piano, and Tom Rainey on drums. Hear the trio perform tracks from Reassured!    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, May 12
6:00 pm
to 7:30 pm
Free

Concerts, May 12, 2025, 05/12/2025, Lincoln Center-Featured Jazz Trio Plays Reinterpretations of Iconic Tunes

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Book Club | Reading Rhythms Party: Socialize with Other Bookworms
Unplug and unwind at Reading Rhythms, a unique outdoor reading party designed to build community through books. With live music, structured reading time, and guided discussions, this mindful gathering blends solo reflection with social connection. Bring your own book and a mat or blanket for added comfort.    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, May 13
6:00 pm
to 8:00 pm
Free

Book Clubs, May 13, 2025, 05/13/2025, Reading Rhythms Party: Socialize with Other Bookworms
Jazz | Lincoln Center-Featured Musician Showcases Bold, Modern Jazz
Experience the vibrant pulse of modern jazz as Alan Bartus New York Trio takes the stage. Featuring Alan Bartus, piano, Dezron Douglas, bass, and Martin Valihora, drums, this performance showcases a bold fusion of innovation and tradition. The trio's upcoming album was composed during Bartus's time in New York, where he has been living, studying, and making his mark on the jazz scene. This music reflects the journey of a young artist carving his path in one of the world's most dynamic musical landscapes. A semi-finalist in the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition 2023, Bartus is recognized as one of the most exciting jazz pianists of his generation. His compositions were first presented at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, where he performed alongside jazz legends Jeff "Tain" Watts and Robert Hurst.    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, May 13
6:30 pm
Free

Concerts, May 13, 2025, 05/13/2025, Lincoln Center-Featured Musician Showcases Bold, Modern Jazz
Staged Reading | Perreo: Perils of Stardom
When aspiring reggaetonera Vicki suddenly goes viral, she begins to see stardom before her. With her bestie Yesica and skeptical cousin Alicia along for the ride, Vicki's journey unfolds amid the heat of a Miami summer and pulse of the infectious dembow rhythm. But who gets to claim an ever-changing and ever-blending culture? And what will Vicki have to sacrifice to claim what's hers? Written by Valen-Marie Santos.    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, May 13
7:00 pm
Free

Staged Readings, May 13, 2025, 05/13/2025, Perreo: Perils of Stardom

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Classical Music | The Queen's Heart: A Distilled Performance of Handel's Opera, Radamisto (In Person AND Online!)
Performed by Opera Essentia musicians (Jeffrey Mandelbaum, countertenor; Kristin Renee Young, soprano; Hans Tashjian, bass-baritone; Rebecca Pechefsky, harpsichord; Serafim Smigelskiy, violoncello; and Amelia Sie, violin), this opera event is a meditation on obsession, betrayal, and self-sacrifice. The Queen's Heart is a distillation of George Frideric Handel's Radamisto, an opera seria, is a saga of familial treachery and marital love which unfolds in bittersweet beauty, one ravishing aria after another. What's in store for the hounded Zenobia or the wretched Queen?    New York City, NY; NYC

Thu, May 15
1:15 pm
to 2:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 15, 2025, 05/15/2025, The Queen's Heart: A Distilled Performance of Handel's Opera, Radamisto (In Person AND Online!)
Staged Reading | Uncommon Scent: A New Play by Award-Winning Playwright Vern Thiessen
Two perfumers battle each other to create a scent that will defeat the Nazis during WW2. Based on the lives of Jean Carles and Germaine Cellier.    New York City, NY; NYC

Thu, May 15
3:00 pm
to 5:15 pm
Free

Staged Readings, May 15, 2025, 05/15/2025, Uncommon Scent: A New Play by Award-Winning Playwright Vern Thiessen
Gallery Talk | Contemporary Artists Speak on Willem de Kooning's Career and Influence
This event is a talk on Willem de Kooning with artists John Currin, Jenny Saville, and Dana Schutz, moderated by Cecilia Alemani. This conversation will take place inside an exhibition of Willem de Kooning;s work. It will center around de Kooning's enduring artistic legacy and the continued impact of his techniques and processes on artists today. The exhibition presents works spanning five decades--paintings dating from 1944 through 1986 and two sculptures--and foregrounds visual motifs that recurred throughout the artist's career. Doors open at 2:30 pm. Capacity is limited. Seating is first come, first served. Advance registration does not guarantee admission once the event reaches capacity.    New York City, NY; NYC

Thu, May 15
3:00 pm
Free

Gallery Talks, May 15, 2025, 05/15/2025, Contemporary Artists Speak on Willem de Kooning's Career and Influence
Classical Music | "Spanish Landscapes" Concert in a Museum Gallery: de Falla, Granados, Sarasate, Turina.
Prize-Winning violinist Leticia Moreno, acclaimed by critics for her profound interpretative strength, will join Antonio Galera, piano, in a program with pieces by Manuel de Falla, Enrique Granados, Pablo de Sarasate, and Joaquin Turina. The recital will take place in a museum gallery with the stage located in the center of the room so that attendees can enjoy the canvases commissioned from Joaquin Sorolla by Archer Milton Huntington. Pianist Enriqueta Somarriba, Doctor in Music from Rutgers University, will introduce the performance and contextualize the repertoire, territorially and culturally linking these pieces with the different scenes represented in the gallery.    New York City, NY; NYC

Thu, May 15
6:00 pm
to 8:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 15, 2025, 05/15/2025, "Spanish Landscapes" Concert in a Museum Gallery: de Falla, Granados, Sarasate, Turina.

Friday, May 16, 2025

Concert | Mambo Legends Orchestra Celebrates the Music Legacy of San Juan Hill (In Person AND Online!)
Enlivening dance halls and stages across the neighborhood, music and dance were a part of everyday life in San Juan Hill from the early 1900s when vaudeville, ragtime, James Reese Europe and the Castles, and the Charleston whirled through the area. As the neighborhood's Puerto Rican population grew significantly in the 1940s and '50s, Latin music and dance styles took root. Jazz ensembles, Latin music bands and Mambo Nights were featured in and around San Juan Hill at venues like the Lincoln Square Center and the St. Nicholas Arena, as well as the nearby Palladium Ballroom. This event celebrates the storied history of Latin music and dance in this area. Featuring live music by the Mambo Legends Orchestra, an ensemble dedicated to keeping the sounds of the Mambo tradition and the great Afro-Cuban bandleaders Machito, Tito Puente, and Tito Rodriguez alive and thriving. Comprised of several former members of these renowned bands of the 1950s and '60s, the Mambo Legends Orchestra bridges past to present, celebrating an era of music in mid-20th century New York City when big band popular music fused with the rhythms and sounds of music from Africa, Cuba, and Puerto Rico to create a musical genre that's beloved worldwide.    New York City, NY; NYC

Fri, May 16
7:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 16, 2025, 05/16/2025, Mambo Legends Orchestra Celebrates the Music Legacy of San Juan Hill (In Person AND Online!)

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Play | New Original Play: The Ana Project
Ana, arrived in NYC alone, as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic in 1960, to attend college and develop her talent as a math prodigy. She worked nights at a textile factory in Manhattan and fell in love with a charming stranger. She helped the rest of her family emigrate from the Dominican Republic to escape a violent dictatorship and they struggled with the transition to their new life in the US, when Ana's life and dreams fell apart. Years later, Ana tries to help her daughter avoid the same mistakes as the generations of women clash in irreconcilable differences and are drawn together again by the love that binds them. Playwright: Dacyl Acevedo    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 17
3:30 pm
Free

Plays, May 17, 2025, 05/17/2025, New Original Play: The Ana Project

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Play | New Play from Kennedy Center-Featured Writer: We the People of these Fifty Acre Woods
Inspired by A.A. Milne's classic characters, the beloved 100 Acre Wood is in the midst of a civil war. Throughout this multi-year conflict, childhood friends Winnie, Christopher, and H.P. Piglet find themselves on different paths. H.P. struggles with the moral dilemmas of being a soldier, Christopher discovers what can happen when the powerless gain power, and Winnie is on the run for dodging the draft. Part war epic, part whimsical absurdism, this play looks at how people justify violence, the lengths you'll go to defend what you believe in and if fire is fought with fire - will the acres just burn to the ground? Playwight: Andrew Michael Reid    New York City, NY; NYC

Sun, May 18
8:00 pm
Free

Plays, May 18, 2025, 05/18/2025, New Play from Kennedy Center-Featured Writer: We the People of these Fifty Acre Woods

Monday, May 19, 2025

Museums | History, Culture, and Arts of Indigenous Peoples
This cultural institution showcases a vast collection of Native artifacts, such as objects, photographs, archives, and media.    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, May 19
10:00 am
to 5:00 pm
Free

Museumss, May 19, 2025, 05/19/2025, History, Culture, and Arts of Indigenous Peoples
Staged Reading | The Care and Keeping of Schizophrenia (and Other Demons): Controlling Pressure
Charity has just turned 25 and plans to move to California with her 41-year-old girlfriend, despite her family being in shambles after her brother's mental health emergency. But Charity is visited by an obnoxious, bossy Sleep Demon who demands Charity "deal with her shit." An absurdist, humorist romp, this play asks: can Charity take control of the pressures bearing down on her or will she succumb to the waves? Written by Gloria Oladipo .    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, May 19
7:00 pm
Free

Staged Readings, May 19, 2025, 05/19/2025, The Care and Keeping of Schizophrenia (and Other Demons): Controlling Pressure

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Staged Reading | Potliqka: Black in the Antebellum South
A three-act epic about Black history in the Antebellum South, spanning from 1790-1820, following James Hemmings, the founding father of soul food; a southern family--Esther, Freeman, and Missy (based on young Malinda Russell, the first Black woman to publish a cookbook in 1866); and Abina Kisi, Yawo Abayie, and Ama Nanny, a family who remembers the Middle Passage and their stolen Ghanaian culture. It's a story of love, loss, and freedom, told one plate at a time. Written by Celeste Jennings .    New York City, NY; NYC

Tue, May 20
6:00 pm
Free

Staged Readings, May 20, 2025, 05/20/2025, Potliqka: Black in the Antebellum South

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Jazz | Jazz Standards from The American Songbook in an Art Gallery
Guitarist Bill Wurtzel has played worldwide with many jazz legends, including the Count Basie Countsmen, Wild Bill Davis, Bill Doggett, Jimmy McGriff, the Harlem Blues & Jazz Band, singers Gloria Lynne and Terri Thornton, as well as Paul Simon. Capacity for this program is limited; to ensure your space, organizers strongly recommend you arrive early.    New York City, NY; NYC

Wed, May 21
1:00 pm
to 2:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 21, 2025, 05/21/2025, Jazz Standards from The American Songbook in an Art Gallery

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Opening Reception | Group Show Pulsing with the Life of the Metropolis: City Spots
This event is an exhibition and sale in all media expressing the hustle and bustle of the big city: from towering skylines to hidden corners, and bustling streets to quiet moments. This special exhibition pulses with the life of the metropolis. Experience the spirit of the city yourself. Free soft drinks and platters. Drinks for sale.    New York City, NY; NYC

Thu, May 22
6:00 pm
to 8:00 pm
Free

Opening Receptions, May 22, 2025, 05/22/2025, Group Show Pulsing with the Life of the Metropolis: City Spots
Screening | World Premiere of Hip-Hop Documentary: Fat Beats, Performance by Fat Beats DJ, and Talk Back Panel
Back in the mid-nineties, DJ Jab (aka Joseph Abajian) opened Fat Beats, New York City's first Hip-Hop specialist music store in the Lower East Side. The shop rapidly became a nexus for the city's burgeoning underground rap community, evolving from cipher spot and culture matrix into an influential label and distributor in a matter of months. A list of artists releasing LPs on Fat Beats over the past three decades reads like a Mount Rushmore of indie rap, including Atmosphere, Black Milk, ILL BILL, Organized Konfusion, Talib Kweli, Madlib and Kool Keith to name only a few. Now headquartered on the west coast, Fat Beats remains a crucial part of NYC Hip-Hop history. In celebration of Fat Beats' 30th Anniversary, guest curator and the voice and personality of Spotify's AI DJ, Xavier "X" Jernigan, introduces the premiere of the new Fat Beats documentary film, accompanied by an opening set from a Fat Beats DJ and followed by a talk back panel, from the names that made the scene come to life.    New York City, NY; NYC

Thu, May 22
7:00 pm
Free

Screenings, May 22, 2025, 05/22/2025, World Premiere of Hip-Hop Documentary: Fat Beats, Performance by Fat Beats DJ, and Talk Back Panel

Friday, May 23, 2025

Concert | Cuban Charanga Ensemble Performs Unique Combination of Charanga and Conjunto Musical Styles
The eclectic Cuban charanga ensemble Son Del Monte, led by Manuel Rivera, formerly of the Yambu Orchestra and Sonsublime, performs for a night of free social dance! The 12-piece Son Del Monte band incorporates trombones alongside lively vocals and soaring contributions from flute, violin, piano, and congas to merge charanga and conjunto musical styles into a uniquely New York sound that Rivera has dubbed chajunto. You'll call it "perfecto" as this talented cadre of musicians perform a hard-driving whirlwind of melodic power that pays homage to the son cubano greats of past and present. Featuring Featuring DJ Elviria.    New York City, NY; NYC

Fri, May 23
7:30 pm
Free

Concerts, May 23, 2025, 05/23/2025, Cuban Charanga Ensemble Performs Unique Combination of Charanga and Conjunto Musical Styles

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Museums | Tour - Arts and Cultural Heritage of Spain and Portugal: Goya, El Greco and Others
Explore the best items this museum has on display with this guided tour. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, antiquities, and more by world-famous artists.    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 24
2:00 pm
Free

Museumss, May 24, 2025, 05/24/2025, Tour - Arts and Cultural Heritage of Spain and Portugal: Goya, El Greco and Others

Monday, May 26, 2025

Concert | Piano in the Park: Memorial Day Celebration with Kennedy Center Musician
A five, six, seven, eight... Come on down and swing along to the best ragtime, stride, and jazz the Big Apple has to offer. The park is pleased to present a special performance in honor of Memorial Day, led by Isaac ben Ayala. Isaac ben Ayala has performed and recorded with many notable bands and greats, from Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Louis and Bellson, to the New York City Ballet and The Sultans of Swing. He has scored numerous films and can be heard on the piano in Block Party, Evening, "The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Honors - Carol Burnett", and more. His orchestral arrangement, Basin Street Blues, premiered at The Kennedy Center with The National Pops Orchestra and is currently being performed by orchestras around the world.    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, May 26
12:30 pm
to 2:30 pm
Free

Concerts, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Piano in the Park: Memorial Day Celebration with Kennedy Center Musician
Concert | Outdoor Memorial Day Concert Featuring Music by Leonard Bernstein and More
Grab a blanket, pack a picnic, and bring your friends to enjoy this beloved tradition that marks the unofficial start of summer. This year, organizers welcome back the talented musicians of the ISO Symphonic Band at Third Street, led by music director Paul Corn and guest conductor Brian P. Worsdale. The concert will feature stirring works that honor those who have served in the armed forces, while also spotlighting music by local stars, including James Weldon Johnson, Fred Ebb, and Leonard Bernstein. Plus, enjoy a selection of contemporary pieces by a diverse range of composers. It's a perfect way to commemorate the past while celebrating the beauty of music and community!    New York City, NY; NYC

Mon, May 26
2:00 pm
to 4:00 pm
Free

Concerts, May 26, 2025, 05/26/2025, Outdoor Memorial Day Concert Featuring Music by Leonard Bernstein and More

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Talk | Dance Historian on the Legacy of the Dance of Isadora Duncan (In Person AND Online!)
Lori Belilove, artistic director and founder of the Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation & Company, has worked to pass on Duncan's grace, power, and mastery of weight to future generations. Belilove received direct instruction from Duncan's original troupe of six young dancers, known as her "Isadorables." The group included Anna Duncan, born Anna Denzler, who was one of the most dedicated of the six--she never studied another dance technique, and was called "a key keeper of the flame." In this program, Belilove explores the life story of Anna Duncan through images and rare films, from Anna's early age of five auditioning for Isadora Duncan's school in Grunewald, Germany to her last days as a saleswoman at Saks Fifth Avenue and Brentano's bookstore. The program honors her contribution to the legacy of Isadora Duncan with surprise performances that were Anna's signature.    New York City, NY; NYC

Wed, May 28
1:00 pm
to 3:00 pm
Free

Talks, May 28, 2025, 05/28/2025, Dance Historian on the Legacy of the Dance of Isadora Duncan (In Person AND Online!)

Saturday, May 31, 2025

Tour | Historical House of The Distinguished American President of the Early 20th Century
This historic site honors the early life of a renowned American figure. The restored brownstone reflects late 19th-century architecture and offers insights into the family's daily life. Learn about various exhibits and artifacts that showcase the cultural and historical context of the era, providing a glimpse into the formative years of this visionary leader-to-be. First-come, first-served; this guided tour may reach capacity before your desired tour time, so please be sure to arrive early. Tour duration: 45 minutes. This tour takes place at 11 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm.    New York City, NY; NYC

Sat, May 31
12:00 pm
Free

Tours, May 31, 2025, 05/31/2025, Historical House of The Distinguished American President of the Early 20th Century

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Concert | Punk and Hard Rock Music with Traditional Caribbean Rhythms: Riccie Oriach with DJ Ultra Violet
Dominican singer, guitarist, percussionist, and sound engineer Riccie Oriach has forged a distinctive musical style that fuses punk and hard rock with traditional Caribbean rhythms like merengue, bachata, and samba. Collaborating with eminent artists including the illustrious producer Eduardo Cabra, formerly of Calle 13, Oriach has created a signature sound deeply rooted in tradition, but always looking to the future--and guaranteed to make listeners move on the dance floor.    New York City, NY; NYC

Wed, Jun 4
7:00 pm
no cover &...

Concerts, June 04, 2025, 06/04/2025, Punk and Hard Rock Music with Traditional Caribbean Rhythms: Riccie Oriach with DJ Ultra Violet
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