Events & Things To Do

July 28, 2023

NYC memorial honoring Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire victims to be unveiled this fall

A permanent memorial in Greenwich Village honoring the lives lost to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire will finally be built. Designed by artists Richard Joon Yoo and Uri Wegman and commissioned nearly a decade ago by the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition, the tribute will feature the names of all 146 workers who died, cut into steel panels outside of 23-29 Washington Place, the building where the tragedy happened over 100 years ago. As first reported by the New York Times, a dedication ceremony for the new memorial is scheduled for October 11.
Details here
July 27, 2023

You can board a pre-World War II vessel at the South Street Seaport

New Yorkers are invited to board a pre-World War II United States Coast Guard ship as it docks at the South Street Seaport this weekend. Known as the Eagle, the vessel is America's largest tall ship and the only active square-rigger currently in the country's service. The Coast Guard is inviting New Yorkers to board the Eagle, which will be docked at the Heineken Riverdeck at Pier 17 from Saturday, July 29 through Monday, July 31.
See more here
July 26, 2023

8 ways to stay cool (and safe) during NYC’s heat wave

Another heat wave is here. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for New York City starting this week, with temperatures expected to reach over 90 degrees. Staying cool on a hot day is no joke, as heat contributes to the deaths of roughly 350 New Yorkers each year. Ahead, find some ways to beat the heat, from taking a swim in one of the city's free outdoor pools to running through spray showers and sprinklers at your local park.
Beat the heat
July 24, 2023

The best free museum days in New York City

When living in one of the most expensive cities in the country, it’s helpful to know the places in New York City that offer discounts and freebies. Thankfully, many of the Big Apple’s world-class museums and galleries offer free admission on certain days, from the tiny Mmuseumm in Chinatown to the iconic Guggenheim Museum. Ahead, we've rounded up some of the best free museum days in NYC to let you pinch pennies and get your culture fix at the same time.
See the full list
July 20, 2023

A pop-up ‘beach’ returns to the Seaport this month

New Yorkers don't have to travel far this summer to bury their feet in the sand and bask in the sun. The Seaport Beach Fest is back for 2023, with oversized sandboxes for lounging, food trucks, live performances, and DJ sets. The event takes place at Seaport Square, located at 89 South Street between Piers 16 & 17, from Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30.
Get the details
July 20, 2023

NYC launches first-ever subway performer contest

New Yorkers now have the opportunity to vote for their favorite New York City subway performer. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday helped launch the first-ever "Riders' Choice Award," a competition among artists who are in the MTA's Music Under New York program to win a free recording session with Atlantic Records. New Yorkers can cast their votes for their favorite performer here through July 26 with a winner announced on July 27.
Cast your vote
July 19, 2023

Alamo Cube returns to Astor Place in full spinning glory

Astor Place's beloved Alamo Cube has returned to its rightful place and is ready to be spun once again. After removing the sculpture to repair its spinning mechanisms in May, the city reinstalled the public art sculpture in the East Village this week. Officially called "Alamo," the 1,800-pound cube was sculpted by artist Tony Rosenthal and first installed at Astor Plaza Place in 1967. Rosenthal's estate paid for the sculpture's repair bill, estimated to be $100,000, according to EV Grieve.
See more here
July 18, 2023

NYC approves design for Shirley Chisholm monument in Prospect Park

New York City this week approved the design for a monument to Shirley Chisholm, a Brooklyn native who became the first Black woman to serve in the United States Congress. The city's Public Design Commission on Monday unanimously approved plans for the monument: a 32-foot-tall sculpture depicting the congresswoman designed by artists Amanda Williams and Olalekan B. Jeyifous installed at the southeast entrance of Prospect Park. The artists were selected for the monument's design in 2019, but the process was delayed because of the pandemic.
Take a look
July 17, 2023

NYC Restaurant Week returns this summer with nearly 500 restaurants

Hungry New Yorkers will be thrilled to hear New York City's Restaurant Week is back this summer. NYC Tourism + Conventions, the city's tourism agency, announced that the program, which allows patrons to eat at hundreds of the city's best restaurants with discounted, prix-fixe menus, would return to the five boroughs this summer with nearly 500 participating establishments. The four-week program will run from Monday, July 24 through Sunday, August 20.
Plan your Restaurant Week rendezvous
July 14, 2023

Brooklyn Public Library opens surprise installation honoring Jay-Z

The Brooklyn Public Library on Friday opened a new installation celebrating the life and legacy of Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, from his beginnings in Bed-Stuy's Marcy Projects to worldwide fame. Located at the library's Central Branch next to Prospect Park, the exhibition, titled "The Book of HOV," features art, images, ephemera, and memorabilia from the rapper's archives that pay tribute to his incredible life and career and highlight the ways he helped redefine hip-hop, music, and culture on a global scale. The experience is free and open to the public for a limited time starting July 14.
See more here
July 14, 2023

Rise Up NYC returns to the five boroughs with 8 free concerts

"Rise up NYC," a series of free concert events, is returning to New York City after debuting last summer. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced the second year of the event series, which will bring eight easily-accessible live performances to all of the five boroughs. This year's Rise Up NYC will kick off on Wednesday, July 19, and run through Sunday, August 20, featuring critically acclaimed artists like K. Michelle, Stokley, Farmer Nappy, and Hot 97 Disc Jockey Funk Flex, with more performers to be announced.
Find out more
July 11, 2023

Global Citizen reveals lineup for its 2023 festival in Central Park

The lineup for the 11th annual Global Citizen Festival in New York City has been revealed. Taking place on Central Park's Great Lawn on Saturday, September 23, this year's event includes headliners the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ms. Lauryn Hill, with Megan Thee Stallion, Conan Gray, and the Stray Kids also set to perform. The free ticketed event connects music and activism, with a focus on tackling issues related to extreme poverty around the world, including empowering women and girls, fighting climate action, and alleviating the hunger crisis.
See the lineup
July 10, 2023

NYC libraries celebrate 50 years of hip-hop with special edition library cards

The New York Public Library (NYPL) and Queens Public Library (QPL) are releasing new limited-edition library cards in celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. The new cards honor the genre and commemorate New York City's integral role in its rise to global fame. The cards will be available at branches across the NYPL and QPL systems starting on Friday, July 14.
See more here
July 7, 2023

How to celebrate Bastille Day 2023 in NYC

Bastille Day is a celebration of the day French revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison in Paris, a pivotal moment in the French Revolution. Taking place on July 14, Bastille Day, or La Fête Nationale, is France's national holiday, and many of New York City's French businesses and institutions host exciting celebrations to honor the day. Ahead, find a round-up of Bastille Day celebrations across the five boroughs, from street fairs and concerts to French automobile parades and specials at French restaurants throughout the city.
See more here
July 6, 2023

A crew of weed-eating goats returns to Riverside Park this week

A voracious crew of goats will return to the Upper West Side on Friday to help clear out hard-to-reach weeds in Riverside Park. Known as "Goatham," the event marks the fourth consecutive year that the Riverside Park Conservancy has welcomed in a team of goats to clear out invasive species. This year's celebration has been made more grandiose with the first-ever Goatham Festival on Friday, July 7 at 11 a.m., which will host four esteemed goats as guests for a "ribbon chewing" ceremony for the opening of the new Compost Compound on 95th Street.
See more here
July 5, 2023

New Louis Armstrong Center opens in Corona

A new center dedicated to jazz legend Louis Armstrong has opened in Queens. Located at 34-40 107th Street in Corona, the Louis Armstrong Center will feature a 60,000-piece permanent collection of historical items relating to Louis and Lucille Armstrong, a rotating exhibition space, and a 75-seat venue for performances, lectures, films, and educational experiences. Part of the existing Louis Armstrong House Museum, the new building opened on Thursday, July 6.
See more here
July 3, 2023

Where to find free outdoor fitness classes in NYC

"New York City has different changes and energies throughout the seasons," says Robert Atterbury, executive vice president of relationships and programs for the Hudson River Park Trust. And the summer season is the time when parks and outdoor public spaces come alive. New Yorkers come out from apartments, offices, and coffee shops to run, stroll, picnic, hang out — and work out for free — in the city's beautiful outdoor spaces. "It's part of what makes New York New York — the outdoor gathering. It is important, and I think it shows off the diversity that NYC offers," Atterbury said.
Where to get fit for free
June 30, 2023

Manhattan Park’s annual Pop-Up Pool Party gets new art that imagines a bright and sustainable future

Roosevelt Island luxury rental community Manhattan Park has unveiled its ninth annual outdoor pool art transformation. Colorful, transformative art has graced the community’s Pop-Up Pool Party each summer, beginning on Memorial Day. This year's artist, James Gortner, was selected for his artistic and colorful vision; Gortner's themes for this year's art are the joy of existence and sustainability.
See more of the pool's colorful murals
June 30, 2023

NYC’s best spots to watch the Macy’s 4th of July fireworks for free

America's biggest and boldest Independence Day celebration returns to New York City for its 47th year. Macy's annual fireworks show will ring in the Fourth of July with 60,000 shells launched from five barges in the East River from East 26th Street to East 40th Street. There are plenty of firework watch parties being hosted across the city, but Macy's has announced seven official viewing locations where you can enjoy the show for free, including spots in Midtown, Long Island City, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg with unobstructed views.
Where to watch
June 29, 2023

18 best places to see 4th of July fireworks in NYC

On the Fourth of July, Americans all across the nation will be celebrating the country's independence alongside friends and family with good food, cold drinks, and of course, fireworks. Luckily enough for New Yorkers, New York City offers the country's most awe-inspiring Independence Day celebrations, featuring the 47th annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Show over the East River and Jersey City's display over the Hudson River. Ahead, find a selection of some of the best-ticketed events across the five boroughs to enjoy this year's July 4th fireworks celebrations, from the top of observation decks soaring 1,000 feet above Manhattan to luxury yachts parked in the East River.
See the list
June 28, 2023

Hypnotizing flower-themed sculptural exhibit coming to Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is hosting a new sculptural exhibition in three of its most well-known garden spaces this summer. Created by French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel, "The Flowers of Hypnosis" consists of six separate flower-like sculptures inspired by Othoniel's passion and observations of nature and work on a landscape scale. The sculpture series, Othoniel's largest exhibition in the United States since 2012, will be on view at the BBG from July 18 through October 22, 2023.
See more here
June 20, 2023

Kick off summer with hundreds of free concerts across NYC

In celebration of the summer solstice, the streets of New York City will be filled with the sounds of live music on June 21. Make Music Day returns to the five boroughs for its 17th year on Wednesday, bringing with it hundreds of free outdoor concerts taking place on corners, stoops, sidewalks, and in public spaces all across NYC on the longest day of the year.
See more here
June 19, 2023

NYC’s first-ever Chinese food festival debuts this weekend

New York City's first-ever outdoor Chinese food and culture festival kicks off this week. Dragon Fest will take place over four days throughout the summer, with the debut event happening in Washington Square Park on Saturday, June 24. The festival will offer a selection of cuisine, art, and cultural traditions from China. Festival attendees can indulge in over 100 varieties of Chinese food from top local vendors like MáLà Project, Pecking House, and Nom Wah, and browse through Han-style clothing and Miao embroidery and jewelry.
Get the details here
June 16, 2023

Williamsburg’s City Reliquary to host yard sale with unusual antiques and oddities from local collectors

The City Reliquary museum is hosting a yard sale next month with a variety of antiques, oddities, and ephemera as part of a Pride celebration. Located at 370 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, the sale will take place on Saturday, July 29 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the museum's backyard. Local artists and collectors will sell a diverse selection of unique vintage items, unusual collectibles, and one-of-a-kind arts and crafts. The event includes live music provided by Kyle Supley and DJ Yestergay, resident DJ at Julius’ Bar, and refreshments and pastries from Yardsale Cafe.
Find out more