- ABOUT
- CONTACT
- FAQ
- REVIEWS
- GIVE A GIFT OF CFT!
-
Join the Club!
free things to do in New York City
| < | June 2026 |
> | ||||
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||
Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City! Read More
New York attracts world's best minds to its shores: they come here to interact with each other at conferences and seminars, and while they are here they are often invited to give a talk, a lecture, to be a part of a public discussion. We at Club Free Time give you an opportunity to be a part of it: to watch how those best minds in the world work! Don't miss the opportunities that only New York City (NYC) provides!
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!
51 free talks, lectures, discussions in New York City (NYC) Tue, 06/30/2026 - and on...
In New York City, you can talk with and listen to the best minds in the world without spending a dime! Just take a look at free talks, lectures, discussion, seminars, conferences listed on this page below!
Book Discussion | Headshot & Portrait Photographer Discusses His New Photobook & the Art of Photography
NYC based photographer Charles Chessler presents his lifelong personal project, Agreeable Strangers. Charles will show images from the project - some from the book and some that didn't make it. He will discuss:
Knowing your "why".
Hanging out in "good light".
How to ask/connect.
Having a business card.
Offering to send a good file.
Working with the book's publisher, Snap Collective.
A copy of the book will be available for attendees to check out and order if they wish.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jun 30
12:00 pm
Free
12:00 pm
Free
Gallery Talk | Curator Discussion on Photography, Transit, and Puerto Rican Cultural History (Online!)
Join Susanna Temkin, Interim Chief Curator, for a discussion on Sophie Rivera: Double Exposures, the first museum survey dedicated to pioneering Nuyorican photographer Sophie Rivera. The exhibition and accompanying monograph explore Rivera’s striking photographs of New York City’s transit system from the 1970s through the 1990s, capturing trains, commuters, transit workers, and everyday urban life. The talk will examine Rivera’s lasting impact on photography and Puerto Rican cultural history.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jun 30
2:00 pm
Free
2:00 pm
Free
Talk | Artist Sheila Pope DIscusses Received Knowledge, Opinions, & Taste
Enjoy a talk with Sheila Pepe, who is best known for crocheting her large-scale, ephemeral installations and sculptures made from domestic and industrial materials. For more than 30 years, she has accumulated a family resemblance (see Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations) of works in sculpture—installation—drawing, and other singular and hybrid forms. Some are drawings that are sculpture—or sculpture that is furniture, fiber works that appear as paintings, and table top objects that look like models for monuments, and stand as votives for a secular religion. The cultural sources and the meanings twisted together are from canonical arts of the 20th century, home crafts, lesbian, queer, and feminist aesthetics, 2nd Vatican Council American design, an array of Roman Catholic sources, as well as their ancient precedents. The constant conceptual pursuit of Pepe’s research, making, teaching, and writing has been to contest received knowledge, opinions, and taste.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jun 30
5:30 pm
Free
5:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Quiet Reading Meet Up
Bring a book or check one out of the library to read to yourself for one hour. After that, spend an hour socializing with those around you!
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 1
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Lecture | Rutgers, Delancey, and Revolution: 250 Years of History (Online!)
Celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary with Scott Brevda as he leads a special tour on the Lower East Side’s revolutionary past. This tour will delve into the history of the American Revolution in the area, highlight the few remaining traces of the war today, and tell the story of the Rutgers and Delancey families. Attendees will learn how the war and the differing revolutionary views of two prominent New York families changed the neighborhood’s streets and influenced its development over the next 250 years.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 1
6:00 pm
Pay-what-you-wish, registration required
6:00 pm
Pay-what-you-wish, registration required
Gallery Talk | Atists/Gallerists Discuss Their Craft
In this installment of Downtown Dealers, the series of podcasts and live conversations between the gallerists who have labored over the course of several generations to make New York the art mecca it is today, artists and gallerists Anton Kern and Elizabeth Dee explore the Kern's gallery’s multiple iterations and the experiences that have culminated.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 1
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Japanese Drink Store Umami Mart Owners Share Their New Book, Everyay Sake: The Go-To Guide for Choosing, Pairing, and Serving
Yoko Kumano and Kayoko Akabori in conversation with Kenta Goto about their new book, Everyday Sake. ABout the book: Sake is more than just a drink for sushi night—it’s aromatic, food-friendly, andendlessly drinkable. Whether you're pairing it with pizza, roast chicken, or pasta Bolognese, sake brings unexpected joy to any table. Everyday Sake makes this iconic Japanese beverage simple, delicious, and fun.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 1
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Library of Congress History Scholar Shares His New Book on the Declaration of Independence
Author Michael Auslin discusses his book, National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America. This book is the story of the Declaration and the first to take readers from its drafting by Thomas Jefferson to today—charting the many lives of a document that captures the soul of America and has united generations around its defiant ideals. As Jefferson had hoped, the principles enshrined in the Declaration became a beacon to the world. But what lessons should we take from it today? Can this statement of ideals in whose name the signers pledged their lives and sacred honor bring a disparate nation together? Auslin reminds readers that this enduring document was not just a call for freedom and equality but an eloquent statement of the principles that bind us together. Michael Auslin is the Payson J. Treat Distinguished Research Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. Previously, he was an associate professor of history at Yale. He wrote National Treasure as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Library of Congress’s John W. Kluge Center and an American Heritage Partners Fellow at the Society of the Cincinnati’s American Revolution Institute.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 1
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | New York Times Bestselling Author Shares His Latest Book, Burn Down Master's House (In Person AND Online!)
Award-winning journalist, radio host, and political analyst Clay Cane discusses his debut novel, Burn Down Master's House, a rallying cry for the disenfranchised, a reminder of the power of defiance, and a testament to the enduring spirit of resistance. A work of provocative historical fiction, it features four stories of resilience and grit, each based on the harrowing experiences of real individuals, form a single, intricate, and stunning narrative of identity, power, and resistance. About the book: As turmoil simmers within a divided nation, smoke from another blaze begins to rise. Sparked by individual acts of resistance among those enslaved across the American South, their seemingly disparate rebellions fuel a singular inferno of justice, connecting them in ways quiet at times, explosive at others. As these flames rise, so will they. Inspired by the true stories of the profoundly courageous men and women who dared to fight back, Burn Down Master’s House is a singular tour de force of a novel—breathtaking in scope, compassion, and a timeliness that speaks powerfully to our present era.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Thu, Jul 2
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Lecture | Naturalist Provides the Inside Scoop on Local Wildlife
Guest speaker Ryan Mandelbaum (author of Wild NYC, science writer, nature educator, and wildlife photographer) provides a new perspective on the surprisingly abundant living things all around you. New York City is wilder than you might think. Thousands of species of birds, mammals, insects, plants, fungi, and more are surviving, and thriving, in every part of our city.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Fri, Jul 3
12:00 pm
Free
12:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Debut Author Shares Her First Fantasy Novel, The Last Soldier of Nava
Yejin Suh in conversation with Yume Kitasei about her new book, The Last Soldier of Nava. About the book: A Korean-mythology-inspired sapphic fantasy: a young woman with shadow magic is awakened after a thousand years to heal her nation and her own troubled memory, even as she falls for the sister of a saint she killed in her past life.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jul 7
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Broadway & TV Entertainer Frankie Grande Shares His New Memoir
Actor, singer, dancer, television host, and producer Frankie Grande discusses his book, Supergay! A Memoir, with host Ilana Levine, actress and podcaster at Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine. Frankie Grande has performed on Broadway as Franz in Rock of Ages and in Mamma Mia!, and has played roles Off-Broadway, in regional theatre, and on tour. Grande has produced Broadway shows and both produced and appeared in cabaret acts, including his own one-man show Livin La Vida Grande. Grande has also been a contestant on reality TV series Big Brother 16 and a judge on the 8th season of America's Best Dance Crew. Hosted by Ilana Levine, actress and podcaster at Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 8
12:30 pm
Free
12:30 pm
Free
Talk | NYT & National Geographic-Featured Photographer Shares Her Experiences in an Artistic Career
Internationally renowned photographer Nancy Borowick presents an inspiring talk on building a resilient creative career. Nancy will share her journey from the fast-paced world of news photojournalism and long-form documentary work to her current life in the Caribbean. She'll discuss how she adapted her business to fit her life as a mother, finding new joy in capturing proposals and families. Through a showcase of her diverse work, you'll learn how to navigate life's big changes while staying true to your artistic voice. Discover how to use transition as a tool for growth and how to find meaningful work that aligns with whatever season of life you are in.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 8
4:30 pm
Free
4:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Read & Analyze the Landmark Free Verse Poem, "A Throw of Dice Will Never Abolish Chance"
At this poetry discussion, the group will be reading Stéphane Mallarmé’s 1897 poem, "A Throw of Dice Will Never Abolish Chance" (Un coup de dés jamais n’abolira le hazard), translated from French by Robin Mackay. You can also find a PDF copy at the link. Please bring your copy to our meeting! The group will be doing close readings and analysis of the poems.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 8
4:30 pm
Free
4:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Quiet Reading Meet Up
Bring a book or check one out of the library to read to yourself for one hour. After that, spend an hour socializing with those around you!
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 8
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Wall Street Journal-Featured Finance Expert Discusses Her Book, All the Presidents' Money
Bestselling author Megan Gorman shares her 2024 book, All the Presidents' Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money. An expert on presidential finances, she has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Post, and speaks regularly at presidential libraries. Her discussion at the Gerald Ford Museum was recently an episode of The Presidency on CSPAN. Megan is also the founding partner of Chequers Financial Management, a San Francisco-based firm specializing in tax and financial planning for high-net-worth individuals. She serves on the Board of Trustees for the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Foundation. Megan holds a B.A. in History from Bryn Mawr College and a J.D. from Rutgers School of Law.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 8
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Book Launch: Young Adult Graphic Novel Coming Out Perfect
Ignatz-nominated Richard Mercado in conversation with Danielle Chuatico about his new book, Coming Out Perfect. About the book: When Kevin's parents ignore his attempts to come out of the closet, he devises a plan to become more like Raymond, the popular gay kid at his high school. After all, if Kevin can do everything perfectly, too, then people will have to pay attention to him. But life under Raymond's wing isn’t easy: a dress code, new things Kevin can and can't do, and even abandoning his old "uncool" friends. Perfection comes at a cost, and Kevin must decide whether it's worth the sacrifice.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 8
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Lecture | Expert Explores New Geometric Discoveries in Well-Known Shakespeare’s Collection
Architecture historian Matthew Collins presents a thorough and novel geometric analysis of the 1609 cover-page of Shakespeare’s Sonnets (the “Aspley Edition”) synthesizing and resolving disparate discoveries of discrete circles made by other scholars. Publicly revealed in 2016 and 2022 respectively, it is asserted that two subtle, but meaningful figures can be found inherent to the graphic design of this artifact and a great many conclusions from them deduced. Through trial and error, Matthew has sought, using hi-definition practical drafting techniques, to confirm, refine, and resolve the geometries of these two circles into a single structure to demonstrate a formal relationship between them, with primary concern for legibility and reproducibility.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Thu, Jul 9
6:00 pm
$5, RSVP required
6:00 pm
$5, RSVP required
Discussion | Tech Experts Discuss the Basics of "Vibe Coding" with AI
A panel discussion exploring AI, presented in collaboration with Women TechExchange. Vibe coding allows anyone to create a functional app or website by simply describing the “vibe” or intent to an AI. This session explores how this shift could democratize or stifle innovation. This panel of experts will bridge the gap between theory and reality. This session will feature a live demonstration of vibe coding, showcasing how a simple concept can be transformed into a functional prototype in minutes.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Fri, Jul 10
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Discussion | Behavioral Neuroscientist & DJ Discuss What Music Taste Says about You
Susan Rogers, PhD--a behavioral neuroscientist and former record producer and engineer best known for her work with Prince--and filmmaker and DJ octomedusa lead a "record pull" to discuss what the music you love reveals about your sense of self. Listening to music excites the dopamine reward system and can trigger visuals and memories. What do you see in your mind's eye, and what memories does music conjure? Your "listener profile" is a Goldilocks zone--where features of the music you love best are just right: this is the music of you! Music lovers have sweet spots in their listener profile--Goldilocks zones where music's features feel just right. In a record pull organizers play and talk about songs you love, sharing your musical self with others. There are two ways to access this event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track opening the Monday before the event at noon for all.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Sat, Jul 11
11:00 am
Free
11:00 am
Free
Discussion | Death Cafe Discussion Group
An informal, group-directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. The purpose of Death Cafe is "to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives." This is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Sat, Jul 11
3:30 pm
Free
3:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | The New Yorker Comic Artist Shares His New Book, Declaration/Emancipation Illustrated
An in-person author talk from cartoonist R. Sikoryak, discussing his new book, Declaration/Emancipation Illustrated. This unique title features the unabridged text of the Declaration of Independence, alongside the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address in a double-sided book, rendered in the bright, bold, and iconic styles of over 100 different American comics, cartoons, and graphic novels from over a century. In a profusely illustrated talk, R. Sikoryak will show the development of his graphic novel: how it grew out of his previous book, Constitution Illustrated, how he researched American history, and how he reinterpreted 100 years of American comics. He'll also do live drawings, demonstrating the variety of cartoon styles and characters he incorporated into the book. The talk will be followed by an interview and an audience Q and A.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Sat, Jul 11
4:00 pm
Free
4:00 pm
Free
Discussion | Panel Exploring Creativity & Art As Activism at a Major NYC Concert Hall (with Guerilla Girls)
This conversation gathers the legendary Guerrilla Girls, whose groundbreaking interventions have reshaped discourse in the visual arts, with award-winning artist and writer Coco Fusco, whose interdisciplinary work interrogates identities imposed upon the body along racial, gendered, and colonial lines. This panel invites audiences to consider how creativity functions as activism, how collectivity amplifies impact, and how new cultural paradigms are forged by those willing to disrupt the norm. In a cultural landscape that continues to marginalize women and underrepresented voices, what does it mean to make noise -- and be heard? There are two ways to access this event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track opening the Monday before the event at noon for all.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Sun, Jul 12
3:00 pm
Free
3:00 pm
Free
Discussion | Award-Winning Author & Documentary Producer Shares His New Book on Alfred Hitchcock & His Producer
A discussion with author Steven C. Smith about his book Hitchcock and Herrmann: The Friendship and Film Scores that Changed Cinema. Often called the greatest director-composer partnership in film history, the eleven-year collaboration of Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmann produced such classic thrillers as Vertigo, North by Northwest, and Psycho. Steven C. Smith draws on four decades of research to create a riveting account of how the reserved, but deeply anxious, Hitchcock and the cantankerous, but deeply romantic, Herrmann bonded onscreen and off—and why their partnership came to a bitter end. Steven C. Smith is a four-time Emmy-nominated documentary producer and award-winning author. His over 200 documentaries about film and music include collaborations with Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, George Lucas, Stephen Sondheim, John Williams, Julie Andrews, and Sidney Poitier. His biographies of composers Bernard Herrmann and Max Steiner each received the ASCAP Foundation Deems Taylor / Virgil Thomson Award. He has lectured at the Library of Congress, American Film Institute, Academy of Motion Pictures Museum, and the British Film Institute. He lives in southern California.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Mon, Jul 13
12:30 pm
Free
12:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Artist/Photographer Celebrates Her New Photo Book, Sistermoon
A conversation with Siri Kaur to celebrate her new book, Sistermoon, a photographic chronicle of Kaur and her relationship with her family, her sister, and the act of observing transformation. She will be in conversation with Jennifer Sakai, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Mon, Jul 13
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | The Catcher in the Rye 75th Birthday Celebration with Award-Winning Author (+ Free Books)
This event celebrates the 75th anniversary of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. Host Megan Nolan will discuss this modern American classic with the author’s son, Matt Salinger. If you arrive early, you can sign up and receive a free copy of the book while supplies last. Megan Nolan is an Irish writer based in New York. Her debut novel, Acts of Desperation, was an international bestseller, the recipient of a Betty Trask Award, and nominated for the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. Her second, Ordinary Human Failings, was nominated for the George Orwell prize for Political Fiction, the Nero Prize, and the Women’s Prize, among others. She is the 2025 Sewanee School of Letters John Grammer Fellow.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jul 14
12:30 pm
Free
12:30 pm
Free
Discussion | Group Discussion: Ken Burns' The American Revolution
In recognition of the 250th anniversary of 1776, the group will be exploring Ken Burns’ expansive, evenhanded documentary, The American Revolution. Watch on your own and come to discuss! Series available on pbs.org. At this session, the group will be discussing The American Revolution, Episodes 5 and 6.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jul 14
1:00 pm
Free
1:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Art Critic Shares Her New Book, Museum in Transit: 10 Contemporary Artists in the NYC Subway (+ Signing)
A conversation with author Xhingyu Chen to celebrate the launch of her new book, Museum in Transit: 10 Contemporary Artists in the NYC Subway, a critical retrospective of the artists and stories behind the public art installations in our MTA system. She will be in conversation with Lester Burg, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jul 14
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Club | Reading & Analyzing the Classic Novella, Loser Takes All
At this novella discussion, the group will be discussing Graham Greene's 1955 novella, Loser Takes All. About the book: Bertram had no belief in luck. He was not superstitious. A conspicuously unsuccessful assistant accountant, he was planning to get married for the second time. Quite quietly: St Luke's, Maida Hill, and then two weeks in Bournemouth. But Dreuther, a director of Bertram's firm, whimsically switches wedding and honeymoon to Monte Carlo. Inevitably Bertram visits the Casino. Inevitably he loses. Then suddenly his system starts working...
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 15
4:30 pm
Free
4:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Paris Review Editor Speaks with Author about Her New Book, Salt Sisters
Lindsey Palmer will be in conversation with author Emily Nemens about her new book. About the book: Twin sisters Jocelyn and Maddy Marx grew up in a tight-knit family on Cape Cod, but they couldn't be more different. Jocelyn, laid-back and dreamy, still lives in their hometown as a Realtor. Maddy, intense and ambitious, left for New York after college and never looked back. Until the summer they turn thirty-one. After a dramatic fall from grace in her career, a pregnant Maddy returns to the Cape with her husband and announces she's back for good. For Jocelyn, it's less a reconciliation than a reminder of a life that was ripped away from her and the deep grief she's carried ever since. Back in each other's orbit, the sisters reopen old wounds and are forced to confront what it will take to heal.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 15
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Discussion | Panel of Curators & Art Historians Discuss the Significance of Tarot in Renaissance Italy
In this wide-ranging discussion about the exhibition Tarot! Renaissance Symbols, Modern Visions, curators Joshua O’Driscoll, Claire Gilman, and Frank Trujillo are joined by art historian Susan Aberth and artist Ali Banisadr to explore the origins of tarot in Renaissance Italy and its ongoing relevance as a source of inspiration for artists in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. While registration is required, seating is first come, first served.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 15
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Quiet Reading Meet Up
Bring a book or check one out of the library to read to yourself for one hour. After that, spend an hour socializing with those around you!
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 15
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | CNN & PBS -Featured Political Scientist Shares His New Nonfiction Title, Murder on the Mississippi: The Shocking Crimes That Shaped Abraham Lincoln
In Murder on the Mississippi: The Shocking Crimes That Shaped Abraham Lincoln, award-winning historian Saladin Ambar unearths the horrors that shaped a young Abraham Lincoln's worldview, pushing him to find his political voice. Murder on the Mississippi tells the story of three racially motivated murders in Mississippi River towns from 1835 to 1838 that inspired the speech that put Lincoln on the national map--the Lyceum Address. Confronted by lawlessness, racial terror, and his own inner demons, Lincoln's battle was political and deeply personal. Saladin Ambar is a Professor of Political Science and Senior Scholar at the Center on the American Governor at Rutgers University's Eagleton Institute of Politics. He is the winner of the Association of American Publishers' PROSE Best Book Award in Government and Politics for Stars and Shadows: The Politics of Interracial Friendship from Jefferson to Obama, and his Malcolm X at Oxford Union: Racial Politics in a Global Era is in development for a feature film. He is Co-Director of the Democracy Committee for New Jersey's Reparations Council and was a contributor for the Lincoln Presidential Foundation's docuseries on the Lyceum Address. He hosts the podcast This Moment in Democracy and has been a fact-checker and contributor for the Smithsonian Channel, CNN's Race for the White House, and PBS's MetroFocus.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 15
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Book Club | Luddite Book Club -- More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI by John Warner
This offline book club is a space for in-person conversation about the role technology plays in the world, where the group will be discussing More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI by John Warner. Synopsis: What is writing when large language models can generate text that provides an instant facsimile of thought? Calls for us to view this moment as an opportunity to reckon with how we work with words, and rethink our relationship with writing.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Thu, Jul 16
6:30 pm
Free
6:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | An Inside Look at the New Novel The Future Perfect
Author Cay Kim in conversation with Hannah Bae about her new book, The Future Perfect. About the book: A radiant portrait of a young woman caught between cultures, and what is lost and found in the struggle to succeed. Told in incandescent prose, Cay Kim's debut novel is a portrait of a brilliant young woman growing up between cultures, and a love letter to girlhood, family, and the great dreams we hold for ourselves, no matter where we're from.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Thu, Jul 16
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Discussion | Arts, Wellness, & Policy Experts Discuss Artistic Engagement & Wellbeing at a Major NYC Concert Hall (+ Live String Quartet Music)
Against the backdrop of the world's celebration of soccer, this conversation explores how creativity can be understood as a health-creating behavior alongside physical activity, supporting not only individual wellbeing, but the health of our cities. While sport and exercise are widely recognized for protecting physical and mental health, growing evidence shows that engagement in music, dance, storytelling, and the visual arts also strengthens stress regulation, emotional wellbeing, social connection, and community resilience. Bringing together voices from the arts, sports, public health, and policy, this event examines how creative participation can advance World Health Organization (WHO) global health targets while aligning with New York City's priorities around prevention, equity, and neighborhood-level wellbeing. The conversation highlights how arts engagement can support mental health, reduce health disparities, and foster the social cohesion that underpins healthy, thriving communities. This event will begin with members of the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center playing a selection from Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel's String Quartet in E-flat major.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Fri, Jul 17
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Club | Sapphic Book Club -- Lesbian Love Story: A Memoir in Archives by Amelia Possanza
At this event, attendees come ready to discuss, rant, and rave with other sapphic book lovers! This discussion will center around Lesbian Love Story: A Memoir in Archives by Amelia Possanza. Synopsis: When the author moved to Brooklyn to build a life of her own, she found herself surrounded by queer stories: she read them on landmark placards, overheard them on the pool deck when she joined the world's largest LGBTQ swim team, and even watched them on TV in her cockroach-infested apartment. These stories inspired her to seek out lesbians throughout history who could become her role models, in romance and in life. Centered around seven love stories for the ages, this is the writer's journey into the archives to recover the personal histories of lesbians in the twentieth century: who they were, how they loved, why their stories were destroyed, and where their memories echo and live on. *The term “Sapphic” comes from Sappho, the ancient Greek poet from the island of Lesbos (where we get the word “lesbian!”). Organizers use it here as an umbrella term to refer to women/nonbinary/genderqueer folks who experience attraction to others in that umbrella. All are welcome!
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Sat, Jul 18
2:30 pm
Free
2:30 pm
Free
Discussion | Journalist & FIlm Critic Shares His New Book, The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki
A talk with Nicolas Rapold, the author of The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki. A master animator and one of cinema's greatest artists, Hayao Miyazaki is able to imagine and populate worlds like no other director or animator—from My Neighbour Totoro to the Oscar-winning Spirited Away and The Boy and The Heron. The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki journeys through the rich mix of cultural, historical, and artistic influences that shape Miyazaki’s storytelling. From Japanese folklore and childhood memories to architecture, classic cinema, literature, and political commentary, it reveals how Miyazaki’s deeply personal vision creates layered worlds that somehow feel both fantastical and grounded in truth. With insight into his process, visual language, and recurring themes, including nature, flight, girlhood, resistance, and renewal, The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki offers fans and film lovers a deeper understanding of the imagination behind the magic. Nicolas Rapold is a journalist, critic, and the author of The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki. His writing is published in The New York Times, Sight & Sound, W magazine, Air Mail, Filmmaker, Criterion Collection, The Financial Times, and Screen Slate. He hosts the podcast The Last Thing I Saw with critics and filmmakers as guests, and served as editor-in-chief of Film Comment magazine, which won the Film Heritage Award from the National Society of Film Critics.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Mon, Jul 20
12:30 pm
Free
12:30 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Poetry Discussion: USA at 250
Poetry enthusiasts unpack the layered meanings of poetry through an informal group discussion. Discuss poems related to civic ideals and democracy as the group honors America at 250. Please note that contemporary poetry deals frankly with contemporary issues, and all works discussed are artistic expressions selected for an adult audience.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jul 21
2:30 pm
Free
2:30 pm
Free
Book Club | Award-Winning, NYT Bestselling Novel The City We Became Discussion
A book club centered around The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin. About the book: Three-time Hugo Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author N.K. Jemisin crafts her most incredible novel yet, a "glorious" story of culture, identity, magic, and myths in contemporary New York City. In Manhattan, a young grad student gets off the train and realizes he doesn't remember who he is, where he's from, or even his own name. But he can sense the beating heart of the city, see its history, and feel its power. In the Bronx, a Lenape gallery director discovers strange graffiti scattered throughout the city, so beautiful and powerful that it's as if the paint is literally calling to her. In Brooklyn, a politician and mother finds she can hear the songs of her city, pulsing to the beat of her Louboutin heels. And they're not the only ones.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jul 21
4:00 pm
Free
4:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Quiet Reading Meet Up
Bring a book or check one out of the library to read to yourself for one hour. After that, spend an hour socializing with those around you!
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 22
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Award-Winning Nonfiction Writer Shares Her New Biography on Angelica Schuyler
Angelica: For Love & Country in a Time of Revolution is a vivid biography of Angelica Schuyler “Carter” Church, a leading American woman whose web of influence spanned the American War for Independence, the formative postwar years, and the turbulent politics and rival ideologies that threatened to tear apart the nascent United States. Author Molly Beer is a documentary writer whose work grapples with the politics of place. After years of reporting from Central and South America, South Asia, and across the U.S., she returned to her roots to research and write Angelica, a book that chronicles the far-flung life of Angelica Schuyler “Carter” Church: the charismatic Founding Era networker and de facto diplomat who gave her name to Beer’s hometown of Angelica, New York. Beer has served as an Olive B. O’Connor Fellow in Creative Writing at Colgate University and currently teaches writing at the University of Michigan.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 22
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Book Launch: "Deeply Satisfying" Novel Unfinished Business
Clare Osongco in conversation with Lauren Kung Jessen about her new book Unfinished Business. About the book: In this funny, warmly chaotic novel, a floundering office worker discovers her mother's ghost is trapped in the company Slack server, and must free her by resolving her own troubled love life.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Thu, Jul 23
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Discussion | French New Wave Film Director in Conversation with Call Me By Your Name Author
Director Eric Rohmer has long been praised--and criticized!--for his wordy, literate films, in which conversation and flirtation are the main events. But Rohmer was a relatively late convert to film; his first love was literature, and the culmination of his early ambitions was the novel Elisabeth, written as the Allies were battling to retake Paris, and first published under a pseudonym in 1946, when Rohmer was 26 years old. Available in English for the first time this July, Elisabeth is a literary portrait of one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century as a young man: a beguiling, strangely timeless, and prematurely wise first draft of what we now recognize as a quintessentially Rohmeresque situation: a summer idyll whose placid surface roils with lust, resentment, wit, and even happiness. It was also the "matrix," as Rohmer himself later put it, of the images, ideas, and formal concerns of his first sequence of films, Six Moral Tales. Andre Aciman is the New York Times bestselling author of Call Me by Your Name, Out of Egypt, Eight White Nights, False Papers, Alibis, Harvard Square, Enigma Variations, Homo Irrealis, Roman Year, and Find Me. His most recent book is Room on the Sea. He's the editor of The Proust Project and teaches comparative literature at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Mon, Jul 27
12:30 pm
Free
12:30 pm
Free
Discussion | Dance Festival Panel with the Leaders of 5 Major NYC Dance Companies
A behind-the-scenes peek into the creative collaboration between the five iconic NYC dance companies! This panel discussion features the artistic leaders of all five companies: Ballet Hispanico New York, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. There are two ways to access this event: 1. General Admission, first-come first-served. Just show up! 2. Fast Track opening the Monday before the event at noon for all.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jul 28
5:00 pm
Free
5:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Discover a Collection of Never-Before-Seen VR Lang's Poetry with Her Editor (+ Signing)
A conversation with Rosa Campbell to celebrate the launch of The Miraculous Season Selected Poems by V.R. "Bunny" Lang, a collection of poems by the eccentric V. R. "Bunny" Lang. Most of the included poems are never-before-seen. She will be in conversation with Dorothea Lasky and Jameson Fitzpatrick, followed by a signing.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jul 28
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Club | Mystery Novel Discussion at a Fifth Ave Mansion: Tokyo Express
You are invited to discuss Tokyo Express by Seicho Matsumoto. To miss this would be a crime. About the book: In a rocky cove at Hakata Bay, the bodies of a young and beautiful couple are discovered. Standing on the cold beach, the police see nothing to investigate: The flush of the couple’s cheeks and the empty juice bottle speak clearly of cyanide, of a lovers’ suicide. But in the eyes of two men, senior detective Torigai Jutaro and Kiichi Mihara, a young gun from Tokyo, something is not quite right. Together, they begin to pick at the knot of a unique and calculated crime.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jul 28
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Book Launch: "Compulsive" Thriller The Night Hunter
Natalie Moss in conversation with Canwen Xu about her new book, Night Hunter. About the book: In a remote corner of the South African bush, two sisters reunite to bury a family secret once and for all, but when they’re stranded among the wild animals, they find a predator far more dangerous waiting for them in the shadows...
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Tue, Jul 28
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Quiet Reading Meet Up
Bring a book or check one out of the library to read to yourself for one hour. After that, spend an hour socializing with those around you!
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 29
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Book Discussion | Awrd-winning, NPR- Featured Historian Shares Her New Book on the Feminist Movement & Miss America Pageants
Liberation Summer: The Moment That Changed the Women's Movement and the Future of American Politics explores the road to the September 1968 protests of the Miss America pageant—one led by women’s liberationists and the other organized by the emergent Miss Black America pageant—and the birth of a new politics of beauty. The book unfolds the full scope of this history, detailing the shocking injustices and passionate debates that led to the demonstrations, as well as the broader social and political landscape that gave rise to some of the most iconic women on both sides of the ideological spectrum. Liberation Summer proves how the battle for beauty’s meaning has always been inextricably political, and how its enduring impact continues to shape our politics today. Author Micki McElya is a professor of history at the University of Connecticut, specializing in the histories of women, gender, race, and sexuality in the United States from the Civil War to the present. Her last book, The Politics of Mourning: Death and Honor in Arlington National Cemetery, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and received a number of other accolades; her 2007 book, Clinging to Mammy: The Faithful Slave in Twentieth-Century America, was the cowinner of a 2007 Outstanding Book Award from the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights. McElya has written for the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Boston Review, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, MSNBC, The Nation, Elle, and more.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Wed, Jul 29
7:00 pm
Free
7:00 pm
Free
Discussion | Panel of Experts Discuss the Benefits of Collective Singing (+ Orchestral Performance of Works by William Grant Still & George Gershwin)
Bringing together voices from music, neuroscience, public health, and community practice, this event explores how collective singing can be understood not only as cultural expression, but as a scalable public health resource. Audiences are invited to reflect on how raising our voices together can help build healthier bodies, stronger relationships, and more connected communities. What if singing together were recognized as a shared health practice for individuals and communities? Collective singing is one of the most powerful wellbeing practices humans share. From lullabies and community choirs to spontaneous public song, singing together is a universal behavior linked to stress reduction, improved mood, social bonding, and physiological regulation. A growing body of research shows that group singing can support mental wellbeing, reduce loneliness, and strengthen social connection—protective factors central to World Health Organization (WHO) priorities for population health and noncommunicable disease prevention. This event will begin with members of the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center playing selections from William Grant Still's Motherless Child and George Gershwin's Lullaby.
New York City, NY; NYC
Join the Club!
Fri, Jul 31
6:00 pm
Free
6:00 pm
Free
Join the Club!
Today's Events
All 1188 Events
Events This Week
Events This Weekend
Contact FAQ Reviews About Terms of Use Privacy Policy
All events are free unless otherwise stated. All programs subject to change. Please confirm before going.Contact FAQ Reviews About Terms of Use Privacy Policy
© Copyright Club Free Time. All rights reserved.