free things to do in New York City
Free events for Sunday, 05/04/14
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46 free things to do in New York City (NYC) on Sunday, May 4, 2014

All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Editor's Picks

free events nyc The Broadway Bach Ensemble performs works by Monteverdi and Beethoven
free events nyc The Omega Ensemble performs works by Beethoven, Debussy and Ravel
free events nyc Violin and Piano Works by Bach, Bartok and More
More Editor's Picks for 05/04/14
        

Workshop | Morning Tai Chi


Join Silvana Pizzuti to learn and practice Tai Chi, a slow moving martial art with health benefits for more all fitness levels. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 am
Free

Park Walk | Brooklyn Bridge Park: Pier 2/Pier 4 Beach Tour


Catch a sneak peak of Pier 2 and the Pier 4 Beach, the newest additions to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Opening more later this spring, Pier 2 will feature courts for basketball, handball, shuffleboard and bocce, as well as fitness equipment, picnic tables, play turf and a roller rink. The Pier 4 Beach will provide visitors with a unique waterfront experience and establish new habitats for native species using tidal pools. The tour will highlight the park’s commitment to public access to the waterfront, sustainability and continuity of the industrial heritage of the site. All guests will need to sign a release form. Please arrive ten minutes prior to the start time. Matthew Urbanski, Principal at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, will lead the walk. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 am
Free

Tour | The History of the Lower East Side Tour: Immigration, Religion and Culture


Starting on East Broadway, and continuing on to the Henry Street Settlement, the “Little Fuzhou” more Chinatown under the Manhattan Bridge, and ending at Foley Square, site of the old Five Points, this walk revolves around the cultural history of Lower Manhattan. Exploring 18th and 19th century history, learn of early Christian churches near the great seaport, Jewish immigration of the 19th-20th centuries, the public housing movements of the 1930's, modern Buddhist temples, and sites of Puerto Rican influx in the 1960s and 70s. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 am
Free

Tour | Tour: The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces


This walk is based on the Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, a book and movie by William H. Whyte analyzing more what makes some plazas enjoyable and teeming with life, while other plazas lay empty and windswept. This is a group walk, not a guided tour. The walk will visit half of the plazas evaluated by Whyte in Midtown, including the Seagram's Building, Rockefeller Plaza, Greenacre Park, and Paley Park. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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9:00 am
Free

Birdwatching | Birding for Families


Experience the park as a precious bird habitat and learn how to spot our feathered neighbors on a walk more with a bird expert from NYC Audubon. Binoculars available to borrow; space is limited. Please arrive early to sign in. Ages 5+. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Park Walk | Central Park Tour


Stroll through the park and tell the epic story of New York's green oasis. Once described as the lungs more of the city, Central Park brings a breath of fresh air to New York's crowded urban terrain. What started out as the rocky and desolate northern fringes of a rapidly expanding city is today amongst the world's most famous and beloved public parks. Originally intended to bring people of all walks of life together -- a people's park -- Central Park lives up to it's original designs. With over 843 acres of meadows, hills, ball fields and bodies of water, it's impossible not to find less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Tour | Grand Central Terminal Tour


For nearly 100 years, the Beaux-Arts beauty known as Grand Central Terminal (a.k.a Station) has been more a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of a great city, impressing both travelers and visitors with it's wonderful architecture and pulsating vibe. It's history is a story of immense wealth, great engineering, a few accidents, a planned sabotage and one terrific ceiling, but most importantly a story of survival and rebirth. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free

Tour | SoHo, Little Italy & Chinatown Tour


You've seen the iconic skyscrapers, attended a Broadway show, visited Lady Liberty and relaxed in Central more Park. Looking for a little more of the Big Apple? Maybe it's time to visit some of Manhattan's oldest and most enchanting historic districts. Take a relaxing stroll through SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown. less
   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 | Flatiron District Walking Tour


Join professional guides on a 90-minute journey through this vibrant neighborhood, viewing some of the more city’s most notable landmarks, including the New York Life Insurance Building, the MetLife Clock Tower, the Appellate Courthouse and the famous Flatiron Building. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Tour | Historic Orchard Street Tour


Take a historical three-hour journey through the Lower East Side and explore some of the rich history more tracing the arrival of immigrants to modern times. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free

Fair | Street Fair


Manhattan’s favorite artisan market is back for a fifth season of amazing vintage finds, artisan creations more and delicious local food. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 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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11:00 am
Free

Park Walk | Mid-Park Welcome Tour


Explore the Park’s central features including the Lake and Ramble woodland, then marvel at the views more from Belvedere Castle. Route involves many hills, stairs, and uneven paths. 45 minutes. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Tour | The Brooklyn Waterfront Tour


Join docents on a tour to learn about the history of the Brooklyn waterfront, sustainable design, and more how the park came to life. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Tour | Tour: Freewheelin' Through Dylan's Greenwich Village


Historically, Greenwich Village has been a magnet for writers, activists, musicians, artists, and outcasts. more Its allure attracted creative souls from all parts of this country, including Minnesota. Bob Dylan "landed up on the downtown side" in 1961 on the heels of the Beats and the revival of the folkies. This walk will follow the footsteps of Dylan, visiting places he gathered, lived, and performed. Transversing the Village streets, relive the forces that influenced his formative years. The ghosts of Village past including Poe, Whitman & Kerouac, and the presence of Guthrie, Ginsberg & Van Ronk nourished Dylan and fueled his work. This synergy between place and genius will be the focus of the journey. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free

Tour | Hell’s Kitchen-'Midtown West' Tour


Once the turf of gangs and gangsters, now gentrified with international restaurants and Off-Off Broadway more theaters. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
$15...

Dance Performance | Irish Dance Festival


The Irish Arts Center returns with its 13th annual daylong celebration featuring performances by hundreds more of the best Irish dancers with opportunities for the whole family to join in. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Other | Open Studios


Meet the artists who have been developing work in their studios since September.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Tour | Talkin' about TriBeCa Tour


This tour will explore TriBeCa's history dating back to its the 1860s, when it was a hub for the wholesale more of dry goods, textiles, hardwares and other local businesses. Explore the area's building typologies, as well as one of TriBeca's historic curiosities like the Staple Street Bridge. Pass through some of the neighborhood's shops and businesses which reveal its historically mixed-used character. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free

Concert | College Piano Recital


Rodrigo Lucius Derzie Luz, piano. Experience the freshness and excitement of a solo performance by a more gifted young artist - a uniquely rewarding experience for music lovers. The program for this event is TBA. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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1:30 pm
Free

Film | Alfred Hitchcock's Young and Innocent (1937): Man on the Run


Starring Nova Pilbeam, Derrick De Marney, and Percy Marmont. A man on the run from a murder charge more enlists a beautiful stranger who must put herself at risk for his cause. 84 min. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Tour | Bushwick Graffiti and Street Art Tour


New York City is a mecca for graffiti and street art, making it a very attractive playground for artists more from around the world. Bushwick, in a working class district on the north side of Brooklyn adjacent to Williamsburg, has been attracting artists for some time now. The neighborhood has a fair collection of art studios and galleries, but it’s Bushwick’s industrial landscape that’s attracting the street artist. If you came looking for 1960′s Greenwich Village, you’ll find something brewing in Bushwick. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Tour | Harlem Tour


Although world famous, Harlem may be New York's best kept secret with some of the city's best architecture, more food, music and people. Harlem's history is also one of the city's most dramatic, having gone through many ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic changes over the past roughly 400 years, which have resulted in a diverse array of places of worship, theaters, homes and eating establishments. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Tour | Midtown Manhattan Tour


Arguably the world's most valuable, busiest and most crowded pieces of real estate, Midtown Manhattan more is what most visitors think of when they think of New York City. Home to some of the city's most iconic architecture, from Gothic to Post-Modern and from Beaux-Arts to Art Deco (lots of Art Deco). it's not difficult to understand why. But just behind the massive facades, lie facinating histories just waiting to be unveiled. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Concert | The Broadway Bach Ensemble performs works by Monteverdi and Beethoven


Program: Monteverdi Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, SV 153 Beethoven Symphony No. 6 in F Major, more Op. 68, the "Pastoral" With: Michael F. Tietz, conductor; Dana Boll, choreographer; Richard Slade, tenor; Carl Erik Fisher, baritone; Laura Winslow, soprano. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
2:00 pm
Free

Concert | The Columbia Wind Ensemble


Jason Noble, Conductor. Fifty woodwind, brass and percussion players fill the air with the finest wind-band more music from the Renaissance to the present. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Tour | Tour: A People's History of Wall Street


This 1.5 hour tour tells the story of American capitalism from the people's point of view, from the mouths more of Occupy Wall Street activists, workers, and scholars of finance. This tour will undo the mystique of this infamous street, allowing us to see past the grand institutional facades of this neighborhood and lay bare the lies, injustice, and fraud committed everyday. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Park Walk | Tour: Imagining, Creating and Constructing the Park


Landscape Architect and Principal with Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Matthew Urbanski designs imaginative more places for children and adults, including this enchanting park. All ages welcome for this park tour. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free

Talk | Mad Men star John Slattery discusses his film God's Pocket


Join director John Slattery for a conversation about making God’s Pocket, a comedy starring Philip more Seymour Hoffman and Christina Hendricks. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
3:00 pm
Free

Performance | Preofessional Storytelling: 'The Mountain King: Norse Legend'


A young girl with too much curiosity and a strong wish to experience life meets the Mountain King, part more troll, part incredibly handsome guy. This delicious version of the old Norse legend is brought to life by Swedish storyteller Johanna Hongell-Darsee and musician Scott Darsee, illustrated by Bronze Age chants, Finnish tango and Medieval ballads. It parallels the Greek story of Persephone, but this bold young woman walks right into the adventure herself. Who will rescue her? Appropriate for adults and children 9 and older. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Concert | The Omega Ensemble performs works by Beethoven, Debussy and Ravel


Program: Ludwig van Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major "Spring" Claude Debussy Cello Sonata more in D minor Maurice Ravel Sonata for Violin and Cello With: Kristin Lee, Violin; Andrew Janss, Cello; Doris Konig, Piano; Mieu Imai, Next Generation Artist less
   New York City, NY; NYC
3:00 pm
Free

Concert | World Instruments Concert


Join Darius Kaufmann and Ron Pizzi, the musicians of Journeys with Sound, on an unforgettable multicultural more journey with exotic instruments from around the globe, as they explore the music, customs and folklore of world cultures throughout history. This “May Day” performance will feature dozens of instruments from North and South America, Australia, Egypt, China, India, Ireland, Scotland and more. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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3:00 pm
Free

Concert | A Taste of Honey: Contemporary Meditations on the Timeless Songs of Israeli Folk Pop Queen Esther Ofarim


By the late 1960’s, Esther Ofarim, one of Israel’s most revered and celebrated singers, had established more a worldwide presence that made her into a cultural icon in Israel and around the world for years to come. Ofarim sang songs in Hebrew, Ladino, English, German and French. She connected with diverse audiences through her unique compositions and charismatic deliverance. In A Taste of Honey, accomplished NYC-based jazz artist and Israeli expat Nadav Remez meditates on Ofarim’s timeless songs through his hauntingly soulful arrangements for a jazz quintet and a singer. This musical project is a meeting point between modern jazz and popular music that is loved across generations in Israel and all over the world. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Jazz | College Jazz Bass Recital


Student Thomas Wall will be performing her senior recital.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Talk | Director Atom Egoyan discusses his film Devil’s Knot


Join director Atom Egoyan for a conversation about his latest film, starring Reese Witherspoon and Colin more Firth. This gripping movie is based on the true story of the murder of three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, and the murder trial that shocked the nation. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Concert | Sunday Afternoon Organ Meditation


The program features the great repertoire of the Organ on the 101 rank Pipe Organ built by Herman Schlicker more and the 5 stop chamber organ built by Taylor & Boody Organ Builders. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free

Concert | The Argento Chamber Ensemble performs works by Webern and others


Program: Georg Friedrich Haas: für Hans Landesmann (US PREMIERE) Arthur Kampela: Phalanges Erin more Gee: Mouthpiece XIX (NEW VERSION) Aaron Cassidy: the green is where (WORLD PREMIERE) Anton Webern: Two Songs on Poems by Rainer Maria Rilke, Op. 14 Alvin Lucier: In Memoriam John Higgins Anton Webern: Six Songs on Poems by Georg Trakl, Op. 8 The Argento Chamber Ensemble is a virtuoso ensemble dedicated to innovative musical performance and discovery of daring artistic paths. Championing cutting-edge contemporary composers, as well as framing classical repertoire in new contexts, Argento inspires musical inquiry through education, mentorship, technology, and dialogue. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
$10 suggested donation

Concert | College Horn Recital


Eric Vanderlaan, horn. Experience the freshness and excitement of a solo performance by a gifted young more artist - a uniquely rewarding experience for music lovers. The program for this event is TBA. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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4:30 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Sculpture by British Artist Chris Jones


Jones' sculptures are constructed from materials most have come to disregard, abandon due to the rise more of the internet and technology – books, magazines, atlases, and encyclopedias. With these soft materials, the artist spawns sculptures that tell a story. The objects Jones delicately fashions force the observer to look deep into each layer, beyond the surface, to create a personal narrative based on the carefully selected and precisely placed imagery. Chris Jones earned an MA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design, London 2002. Jones was awarded an artist residency at the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art (Peekskill, NY) in 2008 followed by a solo show at the museum. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free

Concert | Violin and Piano Works by Bach, Bartok and More


Program: Bach, Beffa, Klein, Rolla, Hersant, Bartok, Hermann With: Sarah Badavas, violin; James more Pedersen, piano. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
5:00 pm
Free

Concert | John Scott, Organist


Today's recital is by John Scott, Organist and Music Director of the Church.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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5:15 pm
Free

Tour | Brooklyn Heights Tour


Known as America's first suburb, Brooklyn Heights is truly a gem. Travel and Leisure named it one of more America's top 10 most beautiful neighborhoods, and its beauty is rivaled only by its place in American history. These quaint, tree-lined streets have been the sites of Revolutionary War battles, abolitionist activism and have inspired numerous novelists. Visit a stop on the Underground Railroad, or the home of Truman Capote, where he penned Breakfast at Tiffany's and where Jackie Robinson signed with the Dodgers. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Jazz | College Jazz Guitar Recital


Student Matt Heister will be performing her senior recital.
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Opening Reception | Paintings: Michael Bauer's Creme Wars - Snoopie


This show will include the largest paintings that Bauer has presented in a gallery exhibition, as well more as a new series of screen prints. Caterpillar-like arms, crawling fingers, swung-around legs, and booted feet race through and around dark orbs of painted, abstract, smoky protrusions, many of which are festooned with cartoonish eyes, suggestions of noses and mustaches, and the odd tiny sock or giant German helmet. Michael Bauer was born in 1973 in Erkelenz, Germany and currently lives in New York. He has had several museum exhibitions in Europe, including Villa Merkel in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany (2011); Anthem, Kunsthaus Baselland, Basel (2009); Stadtische Galerie, Delmenhorst, Germany (2007); and Bonner Kunstverein, Bonn, Germany (2007). Other exhibitions include Alison Jacques Gallery, London (2013); Lisa Cooley, New York (2012); Peter Kilchmann, Zurich (2011); Norma Mangione Gallery, Turin (2011); Jack Hanley Gallery, San Francisco (2007); and HOTEL, London (2006, 2009). He holds a degree from the Hochschule fur Bildende Kunst in Braunschweig, Germany. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free

Park Walk | The Haunted High Line Tour


The skeletal remains of the High Line’s elevated tracks set the perfect scene for a spooky evening. more Join a journey to the creepier side of New York City’s most unique park. On this tour you’ll hear tales of the strange eccentric who lived below the tracks and saved them from demise, the curse of a West Side Cowboy who fell to his death from the elevated track, and the children who haunt the street formerly known as Death Avenue. If the moon hangs right perhaps you’ll witness the spectacle of a ghostly ship floating down the Hudson River; is it the long forgotten crew of Henry Hudson’s Half-Moon warning sailors not to go to sea? Or is it Captain Kidd protecting the treasure he buried on Liberty Island? Venture at your own risk through the dark side of High Line. less
   New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
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Musical | Hit Show Musical Parody

Regular Price: $58.50
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Theater | Storytelling at its Best from Far Away

Regular Price: $51
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