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Free events for Thursday, 05/25/23
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City!  Read More

Are you looking for free things to do in New York City (NYC) on May 25, 2023?

39 free events take place on Thursday, May 25 in New York City. Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides! Exciting, high quality, unique and off the beaten path free events and free things to do take place in New York today, tonight, tomorrow and each day of the year, any time of the day: whether it's a weekday or a weekend, day or night, morning or evening or afternoon, December or July, April or November! These events will take your breath away!

New York City (NYC) never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment. Check out May 25 and see for yourself. Summer or Winter, Spring or Fall! Just click on any day of the calendar above and you'll find most inspiring and entertaining free events to go to and free things to do on each day of May . Don't miss the opportunities that only New York provides!

Some events take place all year long: same day of the week, same time there are there for you to take advantage of. One of the oldest free weekly events in Manhattan is Dixieland Jazz with the Gotham Jazzmen, which happen at noon every Tuesday. Another example of an event that you can attend all year round on weekdays is Federal Reserve Bank Tour, which takes place every week day at 1 pm (but advanced reservations are required). You can take at least 13 free tours every day of the year, except the New Year Day, July 4th, and the Christmas Day. If you are classical music afficionado, you can spend whole day in New York going from one free classical concert to another. If you love theater, then New York gives you an option to attend plays and musicals free of charge, or at deep discount. You just need to have information about it. And we are here to make that information available to you.
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The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.

So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!

39 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Thursday, May 25, 2023

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc The Days Beyond Today
free events nyc Choral Works by by Beethoven, Handel, Mendelssohn, Mozart at One of the Major NYC Cathedrals
free events nyc New York Philharmonic Performs Prokofiev and More (LIVESTREAM at an in-door public place)
free events nyc The Comedy of Errors: A Musical Adaptation of Shakespeare's Play
More Editor's Picks for 05/25/23
        

Workshop | Forest Fitness


This regular fitness class incorporates climbing multiple staircases, stretches and strengthening exercises, notable tree identification, and forest bathing. Led by instructor, Nancy Bruning\.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 am
Free

Workshop | Pick Up Pickleball


An exciting fusion of badminton and tennis, pickleball has been proven to strengthen muscles, boost cardiovascular health, and enhance brain function.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 am
Free

Tour | 13 Tours, All City Neighborhoods, Any Time Of The Day, Choose One Tour Or Many


These free tours take place at various times during the day, all day long. You can make reservations for as many tours as your schedule allows. SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Heights + DUMBO 3 Hour Lower Manhattan Harlem Chelsea and the High Line 6 Hour Downtown Combined Greenwich Village Central Park Lower Manhattan Midtown Manhattan Grand Central Terminal Graffiti and Street Art Tours World Trade Center
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Workshop | Ribbon Dancing


Combine cardio with artistry as you wave long ribbons in the air to create rainbows, waterfalls, dragons and ocean waves. Ribbon Dancing is as visually stunning as it is fun and easy to learn. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Ribbons will be available to borrow, but participants may also bring their own.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Fair | Street Fair


Free fun for the whole family, including arts, crafts, antiques, plants, entertainment, games, and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Tour | Tour of New York City Hall


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.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Gallery Talk | The Corrections Online 3D: Curatorial Tour (online)


Curator Sam Fein gives a 3D tour and discussion of the exhibition.   The Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) is a multibillion dollar industry claiming to modify the socially undesirable behavior of adolescents. The "delinquent" behavior used to justify TTI placement (ie "promiscuity", "losing temper", "sexual confusion") reflects our country?s legacy of institutionalizing female bodies for subverting traditional gender expectations. Although widespread abuse and death within TTI programs have been reported for decades, the industry remains largely unknown to the public and almost entirely unregulated. It is only recently, through survivor-led action, that the world is starting to pay attention. The Corrections presents a group of female artists who are TTI survivors-turned-activists. Through painting, digital media, installation, and personal ephemera such as journals and letters, these artists draw upon their first-hand experiences to expose the inner workings of this shadowy industry. Viewed collectively they share overarching themes: community dislocation, identity erasure, and the struggle to reintegrate in normative society after a period of prolonged captivity.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Workshop | Juggling in the Park


Jugglers use the park throughout the year to provide free classes to the public. Stop by for a quick lesson, stay for the whole time, or just enjoy watching them 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

Concert | Brazilian Trio Plays Forró Music


Forró is a rich example from northeastern Brazil of how the blending of different styles can create a musical genre that is truly for all. Featuring accordion, zabumba and triangle accompanying rhythmic vocal harmonies, Trio Arrebol explores the intersection of Indigenous Brazilian, African, Portuguese and Caribbean cultures to present a style that makes you want to dance and relax in equal measure.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Concert | Piano in the Park


Come on by and tap your toes to The Big Apple's finest ragtime, stride, and jazz pianists around! Featuring special events and performances by distinguished musicians.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free

Workshop | Mah Jongg Social


Players of all skill level are welcome to play! Socials are hosted and organized by Linda Fisher, and players play the National Mah Jongg League style. Participants are welcome to borrow equipment, or bring their own Mah Jongg sets. Mah Jongg lessons are currently unavailable at this time.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Gallery Talk | Museum Closer Look Tour


A public tour of current exhibitions, led by museum Gallery Guides.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Baroque Music and Dance (In Person AND Online)


Lisa Terry, viola da gamba; Ryan Closs, theorbo; Dongsok Shin, harpsichord; Dongmyung Ahn, violin; and Eugenia Forteza, mezzo-soprano. Dancers: Carlos Fittante, Yumiko Niimi, and Toshinori Hamada.
   New York City, NY; NYC
1:15 pm
Free

Film | The Gift of Love (1958) with Lauren Bacall


Physicist Bill Beck meets and marries doctor's receptionist Julie. Five happy years later, she develops a heart condition. Afraid of leaving Bill alone by her premature demise, Julie adopts a sirupy, fantasizing orphan, Hitty. It's an uphill battle forging a relationship between the equally self-absorbed physicist and child: will she have time? Director: Jean Negulesco Cast: Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack Lauren Bacall was an American actress named the 20th-greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute. She received an Academy Honorary Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2009 in recognition of her contribution to the Golden Age of motion pictures.
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:00 pm
Free

Film | Women Talking (2022): drama


The women of an isolated religious community grapple with reconciling their reality with their faith. The women come together to figure out how they might move forward together to build a better world for themselves and their children. Stay and fight, or leave. They will not do nothing. Director: Sarah Polley Cast: Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley and Rooney Mara
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Staged Reading | Pin.: Trans Athlete in High School


When nonbinary athlete Jo Wagner is kicked off the high school wrestling team for being on testosterone, rival MJ McKinnon comes up with a plan to stage a guerrilla final match. Flanked by new local radio DJs Ray & Jay, and factually bolstered by biology teacher Tom Rodgers, the event grows in scope, joy, imagination, and also complications. In a world structurally designed around ideas of binary gender and sex, what would it mean to not only protect trans-nonbinary kids, but to also let them thrive? Written by Sam Mueller.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Musical | The Days Beyond Today


It's 1966, and London is swinging. Into this world of artists and hedonists comes Helen on her 40th birthday, direct from a privileged Long Island life. Amid the swingers and the high flyers, the musicians, and the pleasure seekers, Helen seeks to discover her right place in The Days Beyond Today. Book, music, and lyrics by Michael Roberts Story by Michael Roberts and Shannon Hunt Produced and directed by Eric Krebs Reservation required
   New York City, NY; NYC
3:00 pm
Free

Birdwatching | Spring Birding Tour


Discover the surprising diversity of birds that call Bryant Park home during migratory season with guided tours by NYC Audubon, led by environmental educator and urban naturalist Gabriel Willow. Located in the heart of Midtown, 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

Discussion | Sustaining Arts Labor: Past and Present


Prominent cultural advocates–Ximena Garnica, Arlene Goldbard, Patrice Walker Powell–will come together to discuss past and present methods for situating the cultural class as a part of the American workforce and explore current efforts to create sustained investment in arts labor today. The conversation will be moderated by Tom Finkelpearl. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free

Opening Reception | 2 Art Shows: New Work / Current & Cloth


New Work Christine Mottau’s new body of abstract oil paintings, made in 2022 and 2023, are based on chakra meditation theory. The show represents a turn inward and are a highly personal exploration of the imagery envisioned through practicing meditation. The paintings record a visual expression of the transportive experience–a balancing of the physical, emotional, and spiritual self. Current & Cloth Nancy Quin’s interest in the versatility of steel guides her explorations in sculpture and abstraction. In this exhibition, her plasma-cut pieces accentuate the softer side of steel and their fluidity provides a counterpoint to the welded work. Accent pieces in clay and laser-cut acrylic complete the overarching theme of work created through processes requiring electric current.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Book Discussion | 2 New Cookbooks: The Cook You Want to Be / Korean American


Andy Baraghani and Eric Kim discuss their spectacular cookbook debuts, what they're cooking these days, and what comes next. Andy Baraghani is a cook, food writer, video personality, and the author of The Cook You Want to Be. Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Andy grew up watching a lot of cooking shows on PBS while learning to cook at home under the careful supervision of his mother (and with the help of a footstool). His experiences at the legendary Chez Panisse and Estela cemented his love for cooking, and his bold, highly achievable flavors became his signature cooking style during his time as a food editor at Bon Appétit. Andy lives in New York City with his extensive mortar and pestle collection. Eric KIm is a New York Times staff writer and essayist born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. His debut cookbook, Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home was an instant bestseller. A former digital manager for the Food Network, contributing editor for Saveur magazine and senior editor for Food52 (where he amassed a devoted readership for his "Table for One" column), he now hosts regular videos on NYT Cooking's YouTube channel and writes a monthly column for The New York Times Magazine.  
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Aglaé Bassens: Downtime


Aglaé Bassens is interested in the overlap of the private experience with the communal one. While her paintings stem from her own memories, the imagery feels approximate enough to belong to anyone else’s recollections. Calling attention to the overlooked and the everyday, each work begins with a photograph, either her own or found. Bassens siphons her personal memories, loading each image with feeling. At the same time, she edits and omits from each image, allowing it to be broad enough for anyone to identify with. Through her signature asymmetrical cropping and atmospheric treatment, she invites viewers to recognize something of their own in each painting.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Parampara: Lines of Transmission in the Traditional Arts


This exhibit presents ways of teaching and learning in a variety of cultures and art forms from ten artists who learned their art informally, in family and community settings, or in mentor and apprentice relationships. Includes a performance by featured artist Sidiki Conde.  
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Red: Group Show


This show brings to the forefront the emotions resulting from experiencing this controversial hue.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Valdir Cruz: Brazilian Landscapes


For more than four decades photographer Valdir Cruz has been exploring and documenting the landscape and people of Brazil. As did Gaugin’s famous painting, these photographs pose fundamental questions: Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? The magnetic center of Cruz’s work is Brazil’s southern Paraná state, where the vast network of tributaries and waterfalls erases the boundaries between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Especially in Iguaçu, with its gigantic waterfalls, one has the sense of the earth itself in constant motion. Water seems to come from every corner of the forest, not merely from the rivers that meet there. Water is a force.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Concert | Award-Winning Electroacoustic Duo


In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, see and hear Aekai, an award-winning electroacoustic duo that has inspired audiences around the world through their genre-defying string music.  
   New York City, NY; NYC
6:30 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Anna Pasztor: Beautiful Disasters


Anna Pasztor is a New York-based multidisciplinary artist. She was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary where she started her art career as an actress in independent productions. In 1991 she relocated to Lisbon, where she created and produced numerous pieces as a choreographer/director. In 2003 she received an achievement grant to study Laban Movement Analysis In New York City. After graduating, her interest moved toward the visual arts, multimedia, video, and film production. During the Covid-19 lockdown, she became a member of the NowNet Art Lab Ensemble - a group mainly comprised of musicians and sound artists. She contributed to the group’s weekly telematic presentations with visuals: video, live painting, and occasionally with movement improvisation. This collaboration inspired her most recent works and opened a new chapter in her artistic practice.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Video | Beaut: Her Blood Ran Cold (The Silent Lizards) (online thru Jul 9)


An online video premiere. Concept, script, lizard sightings and drawings by Marti Wilkerson to accompany the photographs in her exhibition and originally performed live by Beaut on October 9, 2022. Vocals and Lyrics: Marti Wilkerson Guitar: Paul Twinkle Technical Director and Video Editor: Itziar Barrio Cameras: Isaiah Davis, John Brattin, Itziar Barrio Lighting Design: Marti Wilkerson DMX Programming: Kai Sundermann WILDBLUR Master Audio Recording: Adam Wolcott Smith Production Manager: Marbles Producer: Lia Gangitano After Dark Director: Itziar Barrio After Dark Technical Associate: Caroline Mills
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Book Discussion | The Book of Eve: Her Version of Genesis


What if everything they've told us about the Garden of Eden was wrong? Faced with what appears to be an apocryphal manuscript containing ten books and 91 chapters, Eve decides to tell her version of the story of Genesis: she was not created from Adam's rib, nor is it correct that she was expelled for taking the apple from the serpent; the story of Abel and Cain isn't true, neither are those of the Flood and the Tower of Babel... In brilliant prose, Carmen Boullosa offers a twist on the Book of Genesis that dismantles patriarchy and rebuilds our understanding of the world--from the origin of gastronomy, to the domestication of animals, to the cultivation of land and pleasure--all through the feminine gaze. Based on this exploration, at times both joyful and painful, The Book of Eve takes a tour through the stories we've been told since childhood, which have helped to foster (and cement) the absurd idea that woman is the companion, complement, and even accessory to man, opening the door to criminal violence against women. Boullosa refutes this entrenched, dangerous perspective in her foundational and brazen feminist novel.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
$5

Film | CANCELLED: Hell's Kitchen Chronicle (1983): documentary


The film looks at the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood's many-sided struggle to save itself from becoming a "disposable community" as soaring rents and landlords force out longtime residents and small businesses. The inner life of this urban environment is seen through a series of human encounters, among them an aging opera singer's rooftop swan song, a homeless woman's observation of life, an ex-vaudeville performer's last act, and a street gang's violent iconography. Directors: Maren and Reed Erskine Registration required.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Choral Works by by Beethoven, Handel, Mendelssohn, Mozart at One of the Major NYC Cathedrals


Cathedral Choir and Organ. Featuring short sacred works by Beethoven, Handel, Hobby, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Yon and more.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Poetry Reading | New Poetry: Four in Hand / Year of the Dog


A poetry reading and celebration with Alicia Mountain for her newest collection, Four in Hand, and Deborah Paredez, author of Year of the Dog. 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free

Classical Music | Works by J.S. Bach, Beethoven, and Bartok for Piano


Knox Oakey performs solo piano in mind by J.S. Bach (1685-1750), Beethoven (1770-1827), and Bartok (1881-1945). The concert is followed by a drinks reception.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:00 pm
Free

Musical | The Days Beyond Today


It's 1966, and London is swinging. Into this world of artists and hedonists comes Helen on her 40th birthday, direct from a privileged Long Island life. Amid the swingers and the high flyers, the musicians, and the pleasure seekers, Helen seeks to discover her right place in The Days Beyond Today. Book, music, and lyrics by Michael Roberts Story by Michael Roberts and Shannon Hunt Produced and directed by Eric Krebs Reservation required
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Concert | A Quirky Blend of Cabaret, Folk and Jazz


At the heart of the Obie Award-winning musical No Place to Go and the Lortel Award-nominated The Outer Space, you'll find playwright and frontman Ethan Lipton with his fabulous three-piece Orchestra, featuring Eben Levy on guitar, Ian Riggs on bass, and Vito Dieterle on sax. The quartet, deemed NYC's "Best Lounge Act" by New York Magazine, have been playing quirky, lyric-forward, cabaret folk-pop with a jazz twist for over two decades. The band has appeared at Celebrate Brooklyn, MASS MOCA, Pitchfork Paris, SF Jazz, All Tomorrow’s Parties, and Grand Performances. They have been featured on NPR ("hilarious, twisted, sophisticated, schleppy and sad all at once") and as performers on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free

Classical Music | New York Philharmonic Performs Prokofiev and More (LIVESTREAM at an in-door public place)


This live-streamed performance is presented on the 50-foot Digital Wall at an in-door public place. New York Philharmonic; Marin Alsop, conductor; and Joseph Alessi trombone, perform Prokofiev and More. Program Samuel Barber (1910-1981), Symphony in One Movement Chick Corea, Trombone Concerto (US Premiere) Prokofiev (1891-1953), Romeo and Juliet Suite About the Performers The New York Philharmonic, one of the leading world orchestras, was founded in 1842 by the American conductor Ureli Corelli Hill, with the aid of the Irish composer William Vincent Wallace. The first concert of the Philharmonic Society took place on December 7, 1842 in the Apollo Rooms on lower Broadway before an audience of 600. It is the oldest major symphony orchestra in the United States in continual existence and one of the oldest in the world. Marin Alsop currently serves as chief conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra; the first music director of the University of Maryland's National Orchestral Institute + Festival (NOI+F); the first chief conductor and curator of Chicago's Ravinia Festival, where she curates and conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's summer residencies; and conductor of honor of Brazil's Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra (OSESP). Later this year she will assume the title of music director laureate of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, following a 14-year tenure as music director. In addition to enjoying longstanding relationships with the London Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestras, she regularly guest conducts major international ensembles such as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Orchestre de Paris, and The Cleveland, La Scala, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Philadelphia, and Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw orchestras. Joseph Alessi was appointed Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic in the spring of 1985. Before joining the Philharmonic, Alessi was second trombone of The Philadelphia Orchestra for four seasons, and principal trombone of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for one season. He has performed as guest principal trombonist with the London Symphony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall. This event is an in-person livestream of the concert.
   New York City, NY; NYC
7:30 pm
Free

Musical | The Comedy of Errors: A Musical Adaptation of Shakespeare's Play


Conceived by director Rebecca Martinez and composer Julian Mesri, a member of The Public Theater's 2022-23 Emerging Writers Group, this new adaptation rigorously embraces music from all over Latin America in this tale of separation and joyous reunion. With songs in English and Spanish, this new musical adaptation brings an energetic vibe to this age-old tale of two sets of twins separated by stormy seas as they overcome a baffling case of mistaken identity--and the mayhem and hilarious confusion that follows.
   New York City, NY; NYC
8:00 pm
Free

Comedy Club | Bomb Shelter Comedy Show


Bomb Shelter is a free weekly comedy show in New York City where you'll find some of the best comedians performing. Expect free pizza. With: Shaun Murphy - Comedy Cellar Adam Mamawala - Statistically More Relatable Comedy Album Courtney Maginnis - What Else Comedy Show Greg & Rob - Comedy Central 
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free

Movie in a Park | Fruitvale Station (2013): Gritty Drama with Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer


The story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old Bay Area resident, who crosses paths with friends, enemies, family, and strangers on the last day of 2008. Director: Ryan Coogler Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, Octavia Spencer 85 min.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 pm
Free
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