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free things to do in New York City
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City! Read More
Where else but in New York City can you listen to a world-class musician, discuss a book with a famous author, take a part in poetry reading, have a glass of wine at an art exhibition opening, and all that on the same day, and all that free of charge, and all of that on any day of the year, whether it's December or July, April or November!
The trick is to know about those free events, free things to do BEFORE they happen, not after the fact. That's where Club Free Time comes in handy! Become a Club Free Time member and start using these unique New York City (NYC) opportunities today, April 23, 2026!
Join the Club!
Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.
Join the Club!
In addition to providing information about free events, free things to do in New York City (NYC), Club Free Time offers its members complimentary tickets to classical music concerts, dance performances and theater: when a producer wants that special buzz of the 'full house' - Club Free Time members are welcomed for their enthusiasm and sophistication!
Join the Club!
Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!
Join the Club!
Experience an entirely new perspective on New York. 'Open up a whole new cultural world... in one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world, sampling cultural delights beyond anyone's wildest dream.' Rupert Parker, journalist, photographer, cameraman, and TV producer
April 23, 2026. Free shows, free concerts, free movies, free tours, free readings, worshops, lectures, etc. are New York's best kept secret! Learn all about it and do not miss the unique opportunities that only New York provides: NYC never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment whether it's day or night, weekday or weekend, summer or winter, spring or fall, January or June, May or September. If you are looking for inexpensive things to do and where to go in Manhattan today, tonight, tomorrow, or any other time, or any other day of any week - you came to the right place: just click on any day on the calendar dispayed on the every page of our site and you will see how many events you can attend in Manhattan free of charge on that very day.
New York's cultural scene is at its busiest in October and March (and the same goes for free events, free things to do), but other months of the year still offer incredible amount of high quality, off the beaten path, unique free events, free things to do which will take your breath away! So if you looking for something to do in April or November, December or February, you will find tons of free things to do, free events to go to. (In June, July and August lots of those free events take place outdoors, of course).
So start using these unique New York City opportunities today, April 23, 2026!
Where else but in New York City can you listen to a world-class musician, discuss a book with a famous author, take a part in poetry reading, have a glass of wine at an art exhibition opening, and all that on the same day, and all that free of charge, and all of that on any day of the year, whether it's December or July, April or November!
The trick is to know about those free events, free things to do BEFORE they happen, not after the fact. That's where Club Free Time comes in handy! Become a Club Free Time member and start using these unique New York City (NYC) opportunities today, April 23, 2026!
Join the Club!
Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.
Join the Club!
Free things to do, free events that take place in New York City every day of the year are truly amazing. So if you're looking for something interesting to do today (April 23, 2026) or on any other day of the year don't miss those free-of-charge opportunities that only New York provides! You can find lots of high quality, off the beaten path, unique free events, free things to do which will take your breath away!
In addition to providing information about free events, free things to do in New York City (NYC), Club Free Time offers its members complimentary tickets to classical music concerts, dance performances and theater: when a producer wants that special buzz of the 'full house' - Club Free Time members are welcomed for their enthusiasm and sophistication!
Join the Club!
Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!
Join the Club!
Experience an entirely new perspective on New York. 'Open up a whole new cultural world... in one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world, sampling cultural delights beyond anyone's wildest dream.' Rupert Parker, journalist, photographer, cameraman, and TV producer
Join the Club!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
Let New York City surprise, stimulate, entertain and excite you! Read More
Don't miss the unique opportunities that only New York provides:
- free concerts in NYC
- free movies in NYC
- free jazz in NYC
- free poetry readings in NYC
- free tours/hikes in NYC
- free city walks in NYC
- free Yoga /Tai Chi in NYC
- fairs and parades in NYC
- free theater in NYC
- free tickets to concerts, theater and dance performances in NYC
'New York is abuzz with so much culture that they're giving it away.' (The New York Times article about Club Free Time).
69 free things to do in New York City (NYC) today:
Thursday, April 23, 2026
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Workshop | Learn How To Play Mah-Jongg
Mah-Jongg is a four-person tile game of skill, strategy, and luck! Learn the rules and mechanics of American Mah-Jongg. Attend a two hour group lesson with instructor Susan Richards. Sets and a few cards provided, but you are encouraged to bring your own cards.
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Free
Open Studios | Monochrome Paintings and Cross-Cultural Imagery
This exhibition highlights the late Balinese artist Oototol’s bold monochrome compositions, blending Balinese visual traditions with Western art-historical references. Through flattened, expressive scenes, the works explore themes of playfulness, eroticism, and tension, drawing on diverse sources to create a distinct and highly personal visual language.
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Free
Tour | All About the Garment District: Fashion, History, Immigrants -- TOUR
Join born and raised New Yorker, Mike, in exploring the Garment District of New York. Learn about the apparel industry developed in New York and how it came to be located in its current district. Expect to hear about iconic designers Ralph, Oscar, and Calvin, as well as the Gangsters and Labor Unions that shaped New York and this District. Tour Guide Mike has spent the greater portion of his life working in the Garment industry himself -- expect first-hand anecdotes and wisdom
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free
Free
Workshop | Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome
This juggling class is ideal for a quick lesson, an extended practice session, or just enjoy watching jugglers put their skills to the test. They're a friendly group and open to drop-ins, even if you catch them outside of the regular juggling lessons.
All skill levels welcome. Equipment is provided.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
Open Studios | Self Portraits of Intimacy, Power, and Performance
Artist Olivia Reavey presents photographic works that explore intimacy, authorship, and shifting power dynamics. Through self-portraiture and spontaneous performances with collaborators, her images stage charged, often ambiguous encounters that blur control and vulnerability. Reavey’s work frequently engages the body, alongside industrial elements, using humor, abstraction, and presence to challenge symbolic forms and reframe histories of representation. The resulting photographs navigate tension, desire, and the fluid boundaries of connection.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Afternoon Bach
Take a momentary respite from a busy day to enjoy a selection of organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach in an intimate venue.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:20 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Learn To Write Poetry with Award-Winning Writers
Poetry writing workshop with some of the best, award-winning poets across NYC. Participants will learn about/from relevant works, engage in discussion, write, and share their work. They will also learn a brief history of the Nuyorican, and if relevant/possible, life as a professional artist/poet. Workshop leaders: Karl Iglesias and Elisabeth Velasquesz.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free
Free
Jazz | Piano in the Park with "The Best Performer of Classic Ragtime"
Come on down and swing along to the best ragtime, stride, and jazz the Big Apple has to offer with Charlie Judkins. "Charlie Judkins is the best performer of classic ragtime in the country!" - Terry Waldo, Ragtime Connoisseur Charlie Judkins is a practitioner of ragtime, jazz and blues piano. His piano playing has been in demand at various public and private events in the New York City area since debuting as a professional bar-room pianist in 2010. Currently, he works most often with singer and multi-instrumentalist Lauren Sansaricq (Miss Maybell) as a duo and in various trio combinations.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free
Free
Film | The Tarnished Angels (1957): Black-and-White CinemaScope Drama Film with Rock Hudson
A WWI barnstorming pilot, Roger Schumann, settles for work as a stuntman for airshows and takes out his frustrations on his wife LaVerne. Journalist Burke Devlin seeks to write a piece on Schumann and is drawn to LaVerne. Based on the novel "Pylon" by William Faulkner. Director: Douglas Sirk Cast: Rock Hudson, Robert Stack, Dorothy Malone Rock Hudson was one of the most popular movie stars of his time. He had a screen career spanning more than three decades. A prominent heartthrob in the Golden Age of Hollywood, he achieved stardom with his role in Magnificent Obsession (1954), followed by All That Heaven Allows (1955), and Giant (1956), for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Free
City Walk | Manhattan Bridge Photowalk
Sony Artisan of Imagery and award-winning photographer Tony Gale leads a walk across the iconic Manhattan Bridge. The group will explore one of the more overlooked East River bridges, with fantastic views of the bridge itself as well as lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, and more.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | String Quintet Piece by Schubert (In Person AND Online!)
Quintessence ensemble unites to present a seminal work of the 19th-century chamber music repertoire: Franz Schubert’s String Quintet in C Major. This exquisite piece is seldom performed on period instruments equipped with gut strings, making this a truly unique and authentic interpretation.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:15 pm
Free
Free
Performance | Dramatic Arts Showcase
The School of Drama BFA Dramatic Arts Class of 2026 presents their culminating performances of their degree program with this showcase. Directed by School of Drama faculty member ChiChi Anyanwu. Featuring: Pinhsien Chen, Annabel Cummings, Jabari Elzie, McKenna Flekman, Isabella Graziadei, Eylul Hancilar, Lucie Higuera, Ava Jaffe, Tess Johnstadt, Lebron Kenney, Kristyn Lyman, Iona Mckidd, Callie Okun, Sadie Redmond, Arya Alexander Samini, Sariya Sealey, Dune Streeter, Eva Weitzman
New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | A Day of Interactive Math Exploration
Enjoy a day of hands-on discovery in a space where math comes alive through play and imagination. Explore interactive exhibits and creative activities for all ages. Note: Admission is first-come, first-served, and early arrival is recommended, as capacity is limited.
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Afternoon Tunes for Jazz Saxophone by Debussy & More (In Person AND Online!)
Veronica Leahy, jazz alto saxophone. Program: Claude Debussy (1862-1918) (arr. Madeline Hall) Suite Bergamasque Veronica Leahy Trust Fall Veronica Leahy Flooding the Zone Geri Allen (1957-2017) Unconditional Love Veronica Leahy Never Just Hoagy Carmichael (1899-1981) Two Sleepy People Jule Styne (1905-1994) (arr. Veronica Leahy) Just in Time
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Cello Pieces by Beethoven, Hindemith, Poulenc, & More (In Person AND Online!)
Gloria Lee, cello. Program: Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) Cello Sonata No. 1 in F Major, Op. 5, No. 1 Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) Phantasiestück in B Major, Op. 8, No. 2 Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) Cello Sonata, FP. 143 Franz Waxman (1906-1967) (arr. David Gregorian) Carmen Fantasie
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Free
Gallery Talk | Inside the Declaration of Independence and the Transatlantic Circulation of News
Join museum experts, including curators, conservators, scientists, and scholars, for an in-depth look at selected exhibition objects in the galleries. Gain new insights and hear untold stories from insiders in the Department of Drawings and Prints, and examine the artworks more closely. A Q&A will follow the talk.
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free
Free
Film | Singin' in the Rain (1952): Classic Musical Romantic Comedy with Gene Kelly & Debbie Reynolds
When the transition is being made from silent films to `talkies', everyone has trouble adapting. Don and Lina have been cast repeatedly as a romantic couple, but when their latest film is remade into a musical, only Don has the voice for the new singing part. After a lot of practise with a diction coach, Lina still sounds terrible, and Kathy, a bright young aspiring actress, is hired to record over her voice. Directors: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen Cast: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, Cyd Charisse Gene Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, director, and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessible to the general public, which he called "dance for the common man". He starred in, choreographed, and, with Stanley Donen, co-directed some of the best-regarded musical films of the 1940s and 1950s. Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer and entrepreneur. Her acting career spanned almost 70 years. Reynolds performed on stage and television and in films into her 80s. She was nominated for several Golden Globes, and a Tony Award. She won an Academy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Learn the Basics of Classic Portrait Photography
Before mastering the craft of portraiture, you must start at the basics--working with your subject, finding/creating the right light, and putting the finishing touches on the portrait in the edit. In this hands-on workshop, photographer Derek Fahsbender will explore the simple basics of classic, intentional portraiture with a live shoot and editing session. Learn how to confidently get into the portrait game, whether for love of the craft or for paid assignments. The group will be covering:
Pre-visualizing/collaborating with your subject
Simple lighting techniques
Light editing for a natural look
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Researcher Shares Her New Book, Shadows into Light: A Generation of Former Child Soldiers Comes of Age (In Person AND Online!)
Enjoy an engaging discussion with social work researcher and professor Dr. Theresa S. Betancourt, author of the newly released Shadows into Light: A Generation of Former Child Soldiers Comes of Age. In this conversation, Dr. Betancourt will share insights from her 22-year-long research on the intergenerational impacts of war-affected youth in Sierra Leone. Her study reveals a remarkable story of resilience, as former child soldiers navigate their personal journeys in the aftermath of the civil war. Through vivid personal stories, Shadows into Light offers a profound look into the deep psychological and developmental effects of war and violence, while also expanding our understanding of resilience in the aftermath of conflict. Building on these insights, Dr. Betancourt explores how service-strengthening initiatives can leverage naturally occurring sources of strength and how culturally informed interventions can support the healing of children exposed to war-related separation and violence.
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Thursday Evenings at a Living Memorial Museum
Explore a museum dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, Jewish life, and education. View expansive galleries, survivor testimonies, and tens of thousands of artifacts. The museum also offers a theater, a genealogy center, an outdoor memorial, and a cafe.
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Archivist Shares Her New Book, The House Archives Built and Other Thoughts on Black Archival Possibilities
This talk focuses on the work of Dorothy Berry, author of The House Archives Built and Other Thoughts on Black Archival Possibilities, which is currently sold out in its third printing since being published in October 2025. Berry discusses family materials offered up to “the altar of higher learning” and struggles for access, accuracy, and locating joy in family photographs stewarded by institutional archives.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Birdwatching | Evening Birding Tour
Discover the surprising diversity of birds that call the park home during migratory season, with guided tours led by environmental educator and urban naturalist Gabriel Willow. The park is a hotspot for avian visitors and birders alike. Past sightings include warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, and even a Chuck-will's-widow!
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Organ Fugue by J.S. Bach
Enjoy the magical music of Johann Sebastian Bach performed by organist extraordinaire Bálint Karosi! Program: J.S. Bach (1685-1750) The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Three Floors. Hundreds of Images. One Unforgettable Way to See
This museum is the world's leading institution dedicated to photography and visual culture. It was founded in 1974 to champion "concerned photography"--socially and politically minded images that can educate and change the world. Through its exhibitions, education programs, community outreach, and public programs, the museum offers an open forum for dialogue about the power of the image.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
$5, tickets required
$5, tickets required
Classical Music | Cello Pieces by Beethoven & More (In Person AND Online!)
Lillian Yim, cello. Program: Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) Cello Sonata No. 4 in C Major, Op. 102 No. 1 Andrea Casarrubios (1988-) SEVEN for solo cello Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) Cello Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 102 No. 2
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Violin Pieces by Clara Schumann, Prokofiev, & J.S. Bach (In Person AND Online!)
Clara Neubauer, violin. Program: Clara Schumann (1819-1896) Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22 Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Violin Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 80 J.S. Bach (1685-1750) (arr. Charles Gounod) Ave Maria
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Discussion | Voices of Resilience: Indigenous Leadership & Community Care
Join a lively discussion on how Indigenous leadership, law, and youth visions safeguard community health, restore land, and enhance care.
The evening includes a fireside chat and panel discussion with Indigenous advocates, youth leaders, and policy experts from around the world, showcasing solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental health.
Finish with a networking reception to continue conversations and build connections toward more just and resilient futures.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:45 pm
Free
Free
Film | Crossroads (1942): Mystery Film Noir with Hedy Lamarr
An amnesiac French diplomat and his wife become victims of a blackmailer's ruse about his past. Director: Jack Conway Cast: William Powell, Hedy Lamarr, Claire Trevor, Basil Rathbone Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian and American actress and inventor. After a brief early film career in Czechoslovakia, she fled from her first husband, Friedrich Mandl, and secretly moved to Paris. Traveling to London, she met Louis B. Mayer, who offered her a film contract in Hollywood. Lamarr became a film star with her performance in the romantic drama Algiers (1938). She achieved further success with the Western Boom Town (1940) and the drama White Cargo (1942). Lamarr's most successful film was the religious epic Samson and Delilah (1949). She also acted on television before the release of her final film in 1958. She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Prince: Black, White, Color (+ Signing) - Photographer Shares His New Book
Enjoy a conversation with photographer Steve Parke to celebrate his new book, Prince: Black, White, Color, a collection of over 250 exclusive photographs of the iconic Prince. The conversation will be followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | Upon a Machine: Indonesian Art Collective's Immersive Exhibition on Hyperreality & AI (+ Performance)
Discover a newly commissioned project by Tromarama, an Indonesian art collective known for their investigations into hyperreality and the porous boundaries between virtual and physical worlds. Tromarama creates immersive, multimedia environments that merge video, installation, and algorithmic processes. Marking the collective’s first institutional exhibition in the United States, this project extends Tromarama's ongoing inquiry into the blurred lines between labor and leisure through the use of artificial intelligence. Departing from earlier works that mined social media data, Tromarama will develop a new work using context conditioning to an AI model, using their personal literary and music archives. This more intimate dataset becomes a lens through which the artists examine how personal and social histories are reinterpreted and remixed by generative technologies.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Screening | Urukurenda: In Search of the Land Without Evil (2025) -- Documentary on Guarani Community of Bolivia (+ Filmmaker Discussion)
Enjoy a screening of Urukurenda and a conversation about indigeneity, displacement, migration, and new beginnings with Penelope Anthias (human geographer and filmmaker, Durham University – UK) and Gloria Tadii Ángeles Cruz (founder of Rebeldía Radio – La Voz Migrante de Nueva York). Urukurenda: en búsqueda de la Tierra Sin Mal (Ĩwĩ Maraëï) portrays the experiences of the residents of a Guaraní community from Southeast Bolivia. Theirs is a story about the “struggle for land access and legal recognition against a backdrop of debt peonage, state abandonment, and the development of important new gas fields.” Theirs is also a story about the legacy of colonialism, how indigenous people became disempowered through legal and administrative mechanisms that displaced them physically and socially into subservient spaces, and their continued efforts to overcome marginalization. Director: Dr. Penelope Anthias
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Between Motion & Stasis: Life Drawing Session
Dive into the tension between movement and rest that defines the exhibition at hand. This session provides all drawing supplies and a relaxed environment for participants to capture the nuanced poses of the featured works. Share ideas with fellow artists and discover new ways to render the human figure beyond anatomical precision.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Contemporary Chamber Works (In Person AND Online!)
Rebecca Moranis, flute, Thea Mesirow, cello, and Joseph Vaz, piano. Program: Yike Zhang (1993-) Three Flows in Quartet Julian Bennett Holmes (1991-) Seven phrases
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Performance | Dramatic Arts Showcase
The School of Drama BFA Dramatic Arts Class of 2026 presents their culminating performances of their degree program with this showcase. Directed by School of Drama faculty member ChiChi Anyanwu. Featuring: Pinhsien Chen, Annabel Cummings, Jabari Elzie, McKenna Flekman, Isabella Graziadei, Eylul Hancilar, Lucie Higuera, Ava Jaffe, Tess Johnstadt, Lebron Kenney, Kristyn Lyman, Iona Mckidd, Callie Okun, Sadie Redmond, Arya Alexander Samini, Sariya Sealey, Dune Streeter, Eva Weitzman
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
6:00 pm
Free
Free
Talk | Multidisciplinary Artist Explores Her Practice & Poetry (+Q&A)
Hear from multidisciplinary artist Pamela Sneed! Pamela currently has a show open at Leslie Lohman Museum of Art, Sacred and Profane. During the talk, Pamela will reflect on the show at Leslie Lohman as well as her other visual and performance work, speak about her multi-disciplinary practice, and give a poetry reading from a new manuscript titled 9:29 for George Floyd: poetry, criticism, protest, and mourning. The talk will be followed by a Q/A moderated by Professor Fred Moten.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | Multimedia Installation and AI-Driven Environments on Labor and Hyperreality
A new multimedia installation explores the changing lines between virtual and physical worlds through video, sound, and algorithmic processes. Using artificial intelligence trained with personal archives, the piece reflects on how generative technologies reshape memory, culture, and identity.
Referencing pop culture stories and critical theory, the exhibit explores myths of labor, wealth, and aspiration, creating an immersive experience that combines sound, projection, and participation.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Award-Winning Author Jaquira Díaz Shares Her New Novel, This is the Only Kingdom
Jaquira Díaz, Assistant Professor of Writing at Columbia University and Lambda Literary Award Finalist, discusses her new novel, This is the Only Kingdom, with Edwidge Danticat, African American and African Diaspora Studies. Book Synopsis: When Maricarmen meets Rey el Cantante, beloved small-time Robin Hood and local musician on the rise, she begins to envision a life beyond the tight-knit community of el Caserío, Puerto Rico—beyond cleaning houses, beyond waiting tables, beyond the constant tug of war between the street hustlers and los camarones. But breaking free proves more difficult than she imagined, and she soon finds herself struggling to make a home for herself, for Rey, his young brother Tito, and eventually, their daughter Nena. Until one fateful day changes everything. Fifteen years later, Maricarmen and Nena find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation as the community that once rallied to support Rey turns against them. Now, Nena, a teenager haunted by loss and betrayal and exploring her sexual identity, must learn to fight for herself and her family in a world not always welcoming.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Discussion | Bestselling Authors Discuss Writing Stories on Immigration (In Person AND Online!)
Enjoy a panel discussion on writing stories about immigration across fiction and non-fiction with authors Karla Cornejo Villavicencio, Grace M. Cho, and Ruben Reyes Jr., along with moderator Maria Hinjosa! New York City, a city founded by immigrants, has always been enriched by the groups and communities of immigrants who make up its population. This event will put modern stories of immigrants in dialogue with each other to highlight the experiences that make them unique while also highlighting commonalities between the experiences that immigrants face when entering the United States. The conversations will grapple with the dissonance of keeping one's sense of self while assimilating into a different culture.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Documentary Photographer Shares His Perspective on the Black Cowboy in America
Documentary photographer and videographer Brian Branch-Price brings his own historical perspective to the story of the Black cowboy in America. Brian will show and discuss his 30-year-plus project, focusing on this little-known facet of American culture. His photographs document the life of the Black cowboy from New York to California, at rodeos, trail rides, bull riding, and steer wrestling. Brian will also cover the Buffalo Soldiers, United States Army regiments composed exclusively of Black American soldiers, formed during the 19th century to serve on the American frontier. Brian will show you the importance and power of this marginalized, underprivileged group, including outlaws and lawmen, and the very story of the term “cowboy.”
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Discussion | Experts Discuss Recognizing & Protecting Trans Cultural Histories
This event convenes a panel of scholars preserving and celebrating trans cultural histories today. Daisy Thursday (Sex Change USA, 2025), Jamie Lauren Keiles (The Third Person, FSG 2026), and Cat Fitzpatrick (GenderTrash From Hell, LittlePuss 2025) present their work and address their subjects’ significance both in their own time and as they reverberate through the present. As trans life endures another wave of reactionary backlash, its history is threatened with erasure again, even while in living memory.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Explore the Life & Work of Walter Benjamin with His Award-Winning Biographer (+ Book Signing)
Award-winning author Peter E. Gordon will present his new biography, Walter Benjamin: The Pearl Diver, and discuss the intersection of Benjamin's life and work with Dean Whiteside. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) is widely considered one of the most creative cultural critics of the twentieth century. Esteemed for his literary acumen and capacious imagination, he developed a unique style of criticism—his friend Hannah Arendt called it pearl-diving—that sought out fragments of redemption in the ruins of bourgeois civilization.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Hear about Homesick for a World Unknown, a Book on Ape Researcher George B. Schaller (In Person AND Online!)
Hear about Homesick for a World Unknown, in which Miriam Horn draws on thousands of pages from George B. Schaller's journals and letters, globe-spanning interviews, and two journeys into the field with the legendary scientist himself to trace his emergence as the founding father of modern wildlife conservation. Schaller and his wife, Kay, established a home in the jungle and came to share apes' rhythms and rules. After more than two years of immersive research--a groundbreaking methodology he would spend his life honing--Schaller transformed how the world viewed gorillas; they were not murderous brutes but tender creatures, and more like humans than any twentieth-century scientist had recognized. His mission to revolutionize our perceptions of wild animals would propel him across four continents and inspire generations of scientists.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Historian Shares his New Book on Journalist & Activist Hubert Harrison
Explore Dr. Brian Kwoba's research on journalist, activist, and educator Hubert Harrison. In Hubert Harrison: Forbidden Genius of Black Radicalism, Kwoba illuminates Harrison's philisophical journey to solutions that many find relevant today. Harrison "witnessed staggering luxury for the few alongside crushing poverty for the many. White mob violence continually haunted Black communities, while imperial conquest and world wars wrought wanton destruction upon entire nations of people." Kwoba will be in conversation with Dr. Brian Jones, author of The Tuskegee Student Uprising: A History and Black History is for Everyone. A book signing with Dr. Kwoba will follow the program.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Perspective and Visual Storytelling: Drawing Environments for Comics
Designer and visual storyteller Charles Houghton leads a session on drawing environments that feel immersive and spatially convincing. Focusing on freehand perspective techniques, the workshop explores how perspective and shot design work together to strengthen visual storytelling across comics and illustration.
The session includes a lecture, hands-on sketchbook practice, and an open Q&A. Participants should bring a sketchbook and drawing materials.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Discussion | Scholars Explore the Evolution of Global Academic Institutions
Attend an evening of lectures and conversation exploring the evolving role of universities as arbiters of society. Bringing together perspectives from the University of Vienna and the University of Chicago, the event offers a timely reflection on how leading academic institutions shape higher education, foster public dialogue, and guide society through periods of global disruption. With long-standing traditions and global reputations, both universities have played pivotal roles in advancing research, promoting critical inquiry, and responding to the challenges of their times. The University of Vienna, with a history spanning over 650 years, and the University of Chicago, one of the foremost research institutions in the United States, each exemplify the enduring importance of academic excellence, intellectual exchange, and international collaboration. In conversation, Professor John W. Boyer, Senior Advisor to the President at the University of Chicago, and Markus Stadlmann, Director of Development at the University of Vienna, will examine how these two institutions have navigated global transformations while shaping the broader landscape of modern higher education.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Play | To the Unknown Soldiers: Original War Drama
This new play travels from 1922 Harlem to the 1918 trenches of France. It follows a young woman's journey to uncover the history of Black soldiers who fought for liberty and equality on the front lines, despite being treated as second class citizens at home. This production is a moving tribute to individuals who were more than just numbers in a ledger. It explores their dreams, their sacrifices, and the enduring search for a place to truly call home. Written by Krystle N. Adams. Directed by Lori Ann Kee.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
7:00 pm
Regular: $63.50
Member: $0
Regular: $63.50
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Museums | Contemporary Art, Open Doors: Thursday Nights at NYC's Leading Museum
Contemporary art is a vital social force that advances questioning, learning, and working towards a better society. This weekly program offers an accessible opportunity to explore groundbreaking exhibitions by emerging and established artists from around the globe. Engage with current artistic dialogues and help expand the definition of art.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
7:00 pm
Regular: $30
Member: $0
Regular: $30
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Reading | Literary Salon Featuring Catherine Lacey & Ben Lerner
A reading by Catherine Lacey and Ben Lerner followed by a conversation/Q&A with Darin Strauss. The event will conclude with a reception/signing with books for sale. Catherine Lacey's most recent work, The Mobius Book, is half pure fiction and half pure memory. She is also the author of four novels: Biography of X, Pew, The Answers, Nobody Is Ever Missing, and a short story collection, Certain American States. Ben Lerner is the author of four books of poetry (The Lichtenberg Figures, Angle of Yaw, Mean Free Path, and The Lights), four novels (Leaving the Atocha Station, 10:04, The Topeka School, and Transcription), and a work of criticism (The Hatred of Poetry). His newest novel, Transcription: A Novel, is forthcoming in April 2026.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Book Discussion | Media Theory & Video Art in The Society of the Screen
Join an evening screening and conversation exploring experimental video art and media theory in relation to the new book The Society of the Screen: Vilém Flusser’s Radical Prescience. The program examines how early video, broadcasting cultures, and artistic experimentation shaped modern ideas about images and communication.
The event features a discussion of Flusser’s media philosophy and its connections to artistic movements across New York, Europe, and Brazil, along with a screening of works by Czech experimental artist Fred Forest, a collaborator of Flusser. Together, the program considers how visual media evolved toward what Flusser described as a “post-history” shaped by technical images.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
7:00 pm
Regular: $35
Member: $0
Regular: $35
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Film | Oscar-Nominated Documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin Screening & Conversation
A free showing of the Oscar-nominated film that follows Russian teacher Pavel "Pasha" Talankin as he covertly records the brutal realities of Putin's regime, while risking his own life to escape. After the screening, New York Times opinion columnist M. Gessen will interview directors David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin about their daring collaboration and the dangers of state propaganda.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | Tom Sachs: Furniture, Sculpture, and Material Experimentation
Tom Sachs presents a multidisciplinary exhibition spanning furniture, ceramics, lighting, sculpture, and painting, tracing the evolution of his practice across materials and forms. Known for his hands-on approach and emphasis on construction and process, Sachs treats all media as extensions of a unified sculptural language.
The works reflect his belief that furniture and sculpture share a common lineage, linking historical design to contemporary making. Through plywood, bronze, and found materials, the exhibition highlights experimentation, craft, and the idea that everyday objects and fine art arise from the same creative impulse.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
7:00 pm
Regular: $35
Member: $0
Regular: $35
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Book Discussion | Writer Che Yeun Discusses Her New Novel, Tailbone
Che Yeun in conversation with Sanaë Lemoine and Courtney Zoffness on her new novel, Tailbone. A fierce and gorgeous debut novel about a teenager who runs away from her abusive home to live in a boarding house for single women as a global financial crash threatens the people of Seoul.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Play | The Wolves: Drama on Surviving Girlhood
A turf field at the edge of town. Any Saturday morning. Nine girls warm up for the next soccer game. While the world is not watching, they talk about global politics, body image, sex, periods, genocide, knee injuries, fear, and ambition, often at the same time. They team up to survive inside a culture that rarely makes room for their complexity. The Wolves listens to the big-league richness of girlhood and the survival value of playing as a team. Written by Sarah DeLappe Directed by Miguel Bregante Cast: Kimberly Huang, Summer Hayes, Samantha McGhee, Olivia Weir, Tomoka Takahashi, Merryn Poole, Aurélie Drago, Rosie Wagner, Duru Hamutcu, Gabriella Marzetta
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Free
Master Class | Grammy-Winning Musician Teaches the Ins & Outs of Great Guitar Performance
Grammy-winner Jason Vieaux--“among the elite of today’s classical guitarists” (Gramophone), described by NPR as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation”--leads a class on better practice and performance for guitar mastery.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Cello Pieces by Haydn & More (In Person AND Online!)
Amanda Vosburgh, cello. Program: Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) Cello Concerto in A Major, H. 439 Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
8:00 pm
Free
Free
8:00 pm
Regular: $20
Member: $0
Regular: $20
Member: $0
Join the Club!
8:00 pm
Regular: $20
Member: $0
Regular: $20
Member: $0
Join the Club!
8:00 pm
Regular: $45
Member: $0
Regular: $45
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Open Mic | Poetry, Music, and Comedy Showcase (Online!)
Join a weekly online showcase featuring poems, songs, and comedy. Performers can sign up for a 4-minute spot by reserving one of 20 Artist-RSVP tickets, available starting Wednesdays at 8:00 PM ET. If all spots are filled, performers may join the “good-luck round” at the end of the session. Audience members are welcome to watch live via Zoom.
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Free
Comedy Club | Standup Show
Catch some of the best comedians at this free weekly stand-up show, featuring a lineup of rising stars and seasoned favorites. Past performers include Sheng Wang, Mark Normand, Dan Soder, Annie Lederman, and more.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
8:00 pm
Free
Free
8:30 pm
Regular: $38.62
Member: $0
Regular: $38.62
Member: $0
Join the Club!
9:30 pm
Regular: $35
Member: $0
Regular: $35
Member: $0
Join the Club!
Join the Club!
Complimentary Tickets
to shows, concerts ... (CFT Deals!)
Classical Music | Highly-Acclaimed Orchestra Performs Tchaikovsky & More
Regular Price: $55CFT Member Price: $0.00
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