NYC Guide: Best Free & Cheap Things to Do In July, August & September

FREE Shakespeare in the Park

July 25 to August 8 – Free Shakespeare in the Park, in the newly upgraded Delacorte Theater in Central Park, returns after a three-week break from it’s widely panned bi-lingual English/Spanish version of  Shakespeare’s classic Romeo & Juliet,  which reset the warring Montague and Capulet families into American and Mexican families warring across a border wall.

The Public’s new production is  The Winter’s Tale 

Synopsis – When the King of Sicilia becomes convinced his pregnant wife has been unfaithful, the royal baby is smuggled to the coast of Bohemia where an old shepherd finds her and renames her Perdita. Sixteen years later, Perdita falls in love with another young shepherd, Doricles, who turns out to be a prince in disguise. Honesty is a fool and true love is the only answer in this mysterious, romantic tale of defiance and destiny.

• Hopefully, there will be a more traditional Shakespearean staging, in the language in which Shakespeare wrote it.
• Tickets are completely free.
• You’ll need to create or confirm your online account at PublicTheater.org/register to arrange tickets.

Tickets are released several ways, outlined here, including separate ticket lines for seniors 65+ and those qualifying for ADA assistance, for easily accessible seats.

FREE – Car-Free Summer Streets Returns

Five Saturdays in July and August starting July 26 – The popular Summer Streets program returns to all five boroughs, closing streets to motor vehicles in favor of  pedestrians and cyclists.

The new hours are 7Am to 3PM in Manhattan and from 9AM to 5PM in  Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island,  to help more New Yorkers enjoy these locations.

More than 500,000 people walked, ran, cycled, or played on Summer Streets during last year’s events in all five boroughs. Summer Streets will return to all five boroughs for five Saturdays spanning July and August. NYC DOT Art will present dynamic installations throughout Summer Streets.

More details on each Summer Streets route can be found below and on NYC DOT’s website: nyc.gov/SummerStreets.

Saturday, July 25: Queens and Staten Island

Queens: Summer Streets will run along Vernon Boulevard, from 44th Drive to 30th Drive. The program will allow users to enjoy the entire Queens waterfront in Long Island City and Astoria.

Staten Island: Summer Streets on Staten Island will return to Broadway, from Richmond Terrace to Harvest Avenue. This location will run through West Brighton, connecting attendees from Corporal Thompson Park to one of the borough’s most popular commercial corridors.

Saturday, August 1, 8, and 15: Manhattan

Manhattan: Summer Streets will run from the Brooklyn Bridge all the way into Inwood at Broadway and Dyckman Street.

Saturday, August 22: Brooklyn and The Bronx

Brooklyn: Summer Streets will take place along Eastern Parkway, from Grand Army Plaza to Buffalo Avenue, connecting Prospect Heights and Brownsville along the same route as the Labor Day Caribbean Day Parade — one of the city’s most popular annual events.

Bronx: Summer Streets will follow Grand Concourse, from East Tremont Avenue to Mosholu Parkway, opening a major car-free corridor to people from the west to the north Bronx.

As part of this year’s Summer Streets programming, NYC DOT is partnering with New York Road Runners (NYRR) to expand the NYRR Start Line Series, an initiative bringing free, community-based running and walking events to Summer Streets. Geared towards beginner athletes, the series will return to Queens on Saturday, July 25. For the first time in the series, NYC DOT and NYRR will also host events in Manhattan on August 1 and The Bronx on August 22. Registration for the NYRR Start Line Series events opens on Friday, July 10, at nyrr.org/startlineseries.

FREE – Flaco the Owl Movie Screening

Wednesday, July 29 – Attend the world premiere of the documentary Wild Inside, about the Eurasian Eagle-Owl named Flaco, who escaped from the Central Park Zoo in 2023 and sets off on an odyssey through the island of Manhattan.

His story charmed the world, including the devoted New Yorkers who photographed him regularly.  Enjoy how Flaco overcomes his years of captivity and lack of survival skills to answer the call of the wild—and discovers he was wild inside all along.

The film opens two days later, on July 31, at the IFC Center.

• Free; 7:30PM
• Central Park’s Great Hill (Central Park West, between 103 and 107 Streets)
• RSVP at the link, although space is first-come, first-served.  Bring a blanket.

Ongoing Music, Movies and More

FREE – Carnegie Hall Citywide

This is one of the best spring and summer freebies, a combination of FREE concerts and movie screenings in parks throughout NYC.

Carnegie Hall+, the Hall’s video streaming channel, returns to Bryant Park with a FREE outdoor concert series in collaboration with Bryant Park Picnic Performances. .

On Fridays in July, Carnegie Hall Citywide continues its exciting collaboration with Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America with five free concerts in the park. The wide-ranging lineup features –

• Innovative chamber music collective The Knights (July 3);
• celebrated Broadway actress Aisha Jackson (July 10);
• Louisiana based creole band Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas (July 17);
• 20-piece jazz and soul band NYC Ska Orchestra (July 24)
• Afro–Puerto Rican bomba fusion innovators El Laberinto del Coco (July 31).

On Wednesday evenings in July, enjoy Carnegie Hall Citywide concerts Madison Square Park.

Concerts are 6PM to 7:30PM on the Oval Lawn.  Bring a blanket or a lawn chair.

• July 8: Ivalas Quartet, known for performing with “tremendous heart and beauty” (The Strad) and for enriching the classical music world with its dedication to the works of BIPOC composers.
• July 15: American Patchwork Quartet, led by multiple Grammy-winning guitarist and vocalist Clay Ross, blends timeless American folk song with jazz, country twang, West African influences, and East Asian ornamentation. It’s a modern American musical mosaic that recently earned the group’s debut recording a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album.
• July 22: Cerus Quartet, a saxophone quartet with a vast repertoire of contemporary compositions and imaginative transcriptions of classical masterworks.

Concert at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park in Upper Manhattan – 

Another major highlight will be a July 11 performance led by Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra celebrating 15 years of Carnegie Hall’s Musical Connections program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, showcasing the power of music to foster creativity, connection, and community.

The concert will open with a special set of original songs by The Freedom Trap, a dynamic New York-based ensemble of musicians whose artistry was developed through Musical Connections and who carry this work forward today.

• Find out more here, including performance time.

FREE Live at the Gantries Concerts

Tuesdays in July and August at 7PM –  Set against the stunning waterfront backdrop of Gantry Plaza State Park in LIC, this beloved summer series features an eclectic new lineup of outstanding local and international artists spanning global sounds, jazz, soul, Latin music, indie, folk, and more.

Each Live at the Gantries evening pairs unforgettable live performances with breathtaking sunset views over the East River and the Manhattan skyline, offering one of NYC’s most memorable summer experiences.

FREE Movies in Brooklyn Bridge Park

Thursdays, July 2 to September 18 – Movies With A View, back for its 26th season with a mix of family favorites and other recent popular films, several of which are  themed to important news events.  Here’s the full schedule –

• Thursday, July 2: Hamilton (PG-13, 2020, 160 minutes) – a perfect choice for the Fourth of July weekend. RESCHEDULED because of weather
• Thursday, July 9: When Harry Met Sally (R, 1989, 95 minutes)
• Thursday, July 16:  Bend it like Beckham (PG-13, 2002, 112 minutes) – timed for start of the FIFA world championship games in NYC.
• Thursday, July 23: The Talented Mr. Ripley (R, 1999, 139 minutes)
• Thursday, July 30: Clueless (PG-13, 1995, 97 minutes)
• Thursday, August 6: Jurassic Park (PG-13, 1993, 122 minutes)
• Thursday, August 13: Do the Right Thing (R, 1989, 120 minutes)
• Thursday, August 20: Bridesmaids (R, 2011, 125 minutes)
• Thursday, August 27: Public Choice: Vote for your favorite movie from three options, to view on August 27! Selections include Challengers (R, 2024, 131 minutes), The Great Gatsby (PG-13, 2013, 143 minutes), and Ocean’s 11 (PG-13, 2001, 116 minutes).  Voting will open in early August on our website, and the winning title will be announced at the August 20 screening.
• Friday, September 18: How to Train Your Dragon (PG, 2010, 93 minutes)

You can vote for your favorite, and/or find out more at brooklynbridgepark.org

• The lawn opens at 6PM, and movies start at sunset. Seating is first-come, first-served.
• You can bring blankets and food, but no lawn chairs, glass bottles, or outside alcohol are allowed in the park.

FREE Movies in Bryant Park

Mondays, July 13 to September 14 – Once again, Paramount+ Movie Nights take over the Bryant Park Lawn for one of New York City’s longest-running FREE summer film traditions, which dates back to 1992.
As always, the 2026 film lineup is a broad mix of blockbuster hits, nostalgic 1980s favorites, cult classics and widely popular films across genres on a gi-normous screen.

• Check the link for information about each movie.

The lawn opens at 5PM.  Seating rules are strictly enforced.

Chairs, tables and plastic ground coverings such as tarps or yoga mats are not permitted on the lawn, with attendees typically sitting on blankets or directly on the grass.

No dogs allowed.

Food items for sale curated by Hester Street Fair are available 4pm-8:30pm on the Fountain Terrace, and beer and wine can be purchased on the western end of the lawn beginning at 5pm.

Best Things to Do in NYC in August

Harlem Week

August 1-16 –Celebrate one of the most vibrant destinations in New York City at Harlem Week, an annual festival highlighting the rich heritage of the neighborhood and the people who call it home.

What started as a “onetime” and one-day-only affair in 1974 has grown into a two-week-plus signature. After more than five decades, Harlem Week continues to showcase the African, Caribbean and Hispanic history of the district, this year under the theme “Honoring Our Legacy” in celebration of its success as one of NYC’s most enduring cultural institutions.

The schedule includes music and dance performances, a health fair, Seniors Day, events for kids, restaurant discounts and more.

Click here for the daily schedule. 

FREE – NoMad Jazz Festival

FREE – Blues & BBQ in Hudson River Park

Saturday, August 15, 1PM to 9PM at Pier 76 – Save the date for the 26th annual Blues BBQ Festival.  The music and dance lessons are FREE, the BBQ isn’t, but it’s from some of the best smokers in town, and a perfect accompaniment to the music.

Grammy-winning 92-year-old Blues legend Bobby Rush will headline the free, daylong celebration, bringing world-class live blues music along the Park’s scenic Hudson River.

A beloved summer tradition dating back to 1999, this festival features performances from acclaimed blues artists and standout local acts, alongside some of New York’s finest barbecue pitmasters and refreshments from popular local vendors. Music lovers can enjoy performances across two live stages, take part in dance lessons, test their mettle in Hot Sauce Alley, browse the festival marketplace and enjoy family-friendly activities and games for all ages.

This year’s mainstage headliner is Bobby Rush, a three-time Grammy-winning legend and Blues Hall of Famer, making his only New York City appearance of the year. A cultural icon with a decades-long career, Rush recently contributed to the soundtrack of the Oscar-winning film Sinners and is the subject of the upcoming documentary King of the Chitlin’ Circuit. His career includes multiple gold-certified records, including his breakout hit Chicken Heads in 1971.

Joining Rush on the main stage this year are soulful electric blues singer Sugaray Rayford, accordion and zydeco legend Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band, Southern soul and roots-rock powerhouse Bywater Call, and Howlin’ Hurd, whose raw energy and blues-driven sound make him a local favorite.

The second stage, which is curated and presented by the Jazz Foundation of America, will bring sounds from local artists, including musicians Radam Schwartz on the iconic Hammond B3 organ, bassist Melvin Davis, vocalist Kathryn Farmer, and Gregory Lewis’ Organ Monk Sings, celebrating the rich traditions and evolving sounds of blues and jazz.

Iconic BBQ staples, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Jase’s BBQ, Kimchi Smoke Barbecue, Tikkun BBQ, and Dickson’s Farmstand Meats are back to serve up fantastic food at this year’s festivities, offering a wide range of barbecue favorites and regional specialties. Newcomers to this year’s food lineup include Bark BBQ, showcasing Dominican flavors cooked with Texas techniques, and Monk’s Meats, serving plant-based barbecue alternatives.  Attendees will also be able to enjoy a variety of desserts from La Newyorkina and Fan Fan Doughnuts, along with refreshing local beers throughout the day.

This year also marks the return of the popular Hot Sauce Alley, where you can sample a variety of hot sauces from small-batch, NYC-based makers and take home your favorites, and a hot sauce competition for those who can – literally – drink the stuff. .

Additional festival programming include interactive activities, including a touch tank of Hudson River critters and family-friendly offerings throughout the day.

• 1PM to 9PM at Pier 76, at 36th St.

Best Things to Do in NYC in September

Climate Week NYC Returns

September 20-27 – This year’s Climate Week NYC will focus on the energy, the impact, and the action that we drive together.

In times of economic and climate uncertainty, collaboration, and learning from one another is key.

Climate Week NYC is the world’s largest climate event, bringing together more than 100,000 people across 1,000+ events throughout New York City.

From global leaders shaping markets and policy, to communities driving change on the ground, it connects the people and ideas transforming how we live, work and build a low-carbon economy and a more secure future.

Climate Week NYC connects you to the ideas, decisions and partnerships shaping the global transition.

Climate Week NYC is organized by Climate Group, an international organization that has driven climate action for over 20 years by convening leaders across business and government.

Taking place alongside the UN General Assembly, our event brings together the decision-makers and experts shaping capital, policy and markets across sectors and regions.

We’ll have the schedule of events closer to September.

NYC Transit Report

Multiple subway lines face planned service changes for track work, especially on weekends.

Get there on time by checking online at new.mta.info before traveling.

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Where to Eat in Times Square and Theater District

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NYC Museum News

Tang Wing at New York Historical Opens

It’s the largest expansion of this museum in decades.  Its full name is Tang Wing for American Democracy, because it focuses on our democratic history and ideals, from the American Revolution onward.

They’re also hosting “Songs of America,” a live-music series presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Through July 4th, the museum will be open until 8PM Thursdays-Saturdays with pay-as-you-wish admission starting at 5PM.

Photo courtesy Neue Galerie

Neue Gallerie Closed for Renovations

Through Autumn –   Visitors from around the globe flock here to visit the Klimt Gallery, which features several of Gustav Klimt’s most important works. The gallery is a part of  the “Austrian Masterworks from the Neue Galerie,” exhibition that features highlights from the museum’s extensive collection of Austrian art from the period 1890 to 1940.

Neue Galerie New York is closed for renovations from May 27, 2026 through Autumn. It is housed in a century-old historic home, which requires careful, loving, ongoing upkeep, including electrical and security systems.

This autumn marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Neue Galerie’s founding, and the Klimt Gallery will reopen to the public in Autumn 2026.

• Neue Galerie is at 1048 Fifth Ave.

Clothing Art @ Metropolitan Museum of Art

Through January 10, 2027 – The new exhibition of the Met’s Costume Institute explores depictions of the dressed body across the museum’s collection,  pairing garments with artworks to reveal the inherent relationship between clothing and the body.

Focusing primarily on Western art from prehistory to the present, Costume Art presents connections between garments from The Costume Institute and objects from other collecting areas. Pairings between fashions and artworks will present a spectrum of connections and experiences: from the formal to the conceptual, the aesthetic to the political, the individual to the universal, the illustrative to the symbolic, and the playful to the profound.

Multiple cultures and centuries are represented, to explore the intersection of  fashion and art.

Costume Art is the inaugural exhibition in the new, nearly 12,000-square-foot galleries adjacent to the Great Hall.

• FREE with Museum admission.
• Exhibit open through January 10,2027

New NYC Exhibit @MCNY

Now Open – Joe Macken’s gi-normous balsa model of New York City called “He Built This City” made out of everyday materials over the last two decades is opening at the Museum of the City of New York.

Pay what you wish for New Yorkers, free for everyone on Wednesdays.

The New Museum Re-Opens

Now Open – The contemporary art museum New Museum has reopened,  after  a two-year $80+ Million dollar renovation that expands its space substantially for video installations and other artwork.

• Read a review of the new space and new exhibits in the NYTimes.

More Ongoing FREE Events in NYC Through Fall

FREE – Stargazing @ The High Line

Every Tuesday through October 27th –  Immerse yourself in the wonders of the night sky every Tuesday on the High Line, thanks to the friendly team from the Amateur Astronomers Association.  Watch the sunset and see the stars.

The High Line has been partnering with this knowledgeable group since the park’s opening.  They show up with high-powered telescopes, eager to share the secrets of the cosmos.

No experience is necessary.  and telescopes will be provided between sunset and park closure.

No RSVP is required. Stargazing is offered every Tuesday – weather permitting – between sunset and park closure at 10pm.

Stargazing on the High Line is subject to cancellation due to overcast conditions or inclement weather.

Check the High Line website on Tuesday afternoon for a go or no-go alert.

Brooklyn Flea

Weekends through Autumn – The popular outdoor flea market under the Manhattan Bridge re-opens for the season with a treasure  trove of vintage clothing, antiques and more. It’s a mix of returning dealers and independent sellers and new discoveries, from rare collectibles to handmade goods, home decor and unexpected  finds.

Wander around and see what turns up.  And if you miss opening weekend, no worries – Brooklyn Flea is open weekends through Fall.

• 10AM to 5PM Saturdays and Sundays
• 80 Pearl St., under  the Manhattan Bridge

JapanFes

Weekends through October – This popular celebration of Japanese food, fashion and culture moves around Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens with multiple dates and locations.

Now in its 10th year – it began in NYC in 2016 – these street fairs have expanded to Miami, Paris and even Tokyo, where they know a thing or two about Japanese food, fashion and culture.

Each date and location is a gi-normous street fair, including entertainment.  Foods, from ramen to sushi, are generally $8 or less.

Smorgasburg

Each Thursday through Sunday Through October – This popular outdoor food fair now has several destinations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, with as many as 70 vendors per location, from Korean BBQ and Mumbai street snacks to Mexico City-style tacos, Colombian arepas and wood-fired Neapolitan pizza.

• Thursdays  – WTC (North Oculus Plaza)
• Fridays –  WTC (North Oculus Plaza)
• Saturdays – Williamsburg (Marsha P. Johnson State Park
• Sundays – Prospect Park (Breeze Hill)

Street Fairs on the UWS

Various Sundays through October – Street fairs are back in season, including on the Upper West Side, with a half-dozen events through fall.

These block fairs started in June.  Here’s the remaining 2026 calendar –

• Sunday, August 16 — Broadway, 86th to 93rd.
• Sunday, September 20 — Broadway, 86th to 96th.
• Sunday, October 4 — Columbus Avenue, 66th to 72nd.
• Sunday, October 11 — Broadway, 72nd to 82nd.

Street fairs are 10AM to 6PM

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NYC Transportation Deal

NYC Ferry is making it easier than ever to explore New York City by ferry with an Unlimited Two-Day Ticket, for just $15 per ticket.  Since individual fares are $4.50, this pays for itself after just three rides.

For a limited time, the Unlimited Two-Day Ticket is available for purchase in the NYC Ferry app.  Once activated, it is valid for unlimited trips across all NYC Ferry routes and landings for 48 hours.  Tickets are valid for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase if they have not been activated.

NYC Ferry also continues to offer riders single-ride, one-way tickets for $4.50 per ticket, a 10-trip pass for $29.00, and discounted $1.45 tickets for eligible and approved seniors, people with disabilities, Fair Fares NYC participants, and NYC high school students.

All tickets can be used for a free transfer to another route within 120 minutes of activation.  For complete ticketing information and pricing, visit ferry.nyc or the NYC Ferry app on Android or iOS.

For visitors – The NYC Ferry is not the same as the Staten Island Ferry, which is FREE.

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MoMA PS1 Now is Free Admission

MoMA PS1 is celebrating their 50th anniversary in a very special way, offering all visitors free admission through 2028.

Free admission expands the museum’s recent efforts to bolster accessibility, including language access initiatives in English, Spanish, and Chinese.

This initiative is being launched for MoMA PS1’s 50th anniversary in 2026, offering all visitors free entry to signature programming, including Greater New York, opening on April 16, 2026.

Located in Long Island City, Queens, at the site of a nineteenth-century public school building,  MoMA PS1 opened in 1976 and has since become a cultural landmark and a place where artists can express their creativity. The museum has long played a major role in New York City’s alternative art space movement.

It is a branch of MoMa, the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan.

• Read more about the three-year free initiative here

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NYC Tourism Facts

In 2024, New York City welcomed nearly 65 million visitors, the second-highest figure in city history and a 3.5 percent increase from the previous year.

The city is on pace to break city records in 2025 during the celebration of New York City’s 400th anniversary, marking a full economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York remains the most visited city in the United States and a top destination for international markets and major events.

NYC Film Industry Facts

A “Made in NY” movie won a “Best Picture” Oscar in 2025 for the first time in 10 years.

Not only did “Best Picture” winner Anora put our city on the big screen, showcasing neighborhoods like Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach and Coney Island, but 48 other awards were also received by “Made in NY” productions during the 2025 TV and film award show season.

New York City’s film and TV industry supports 185,000 New York City jobs. Congratulations to all the New Yorkers whose work has been nominated for an Oscar, Tony or Grammy  — you make us proud

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Congestion Pricing

If you are driving into the center of Manhattan, including as a passenger in a car service like Uber or Lyft, be aware that so-called “congestion pricing” tolls remains in effect despite a Trump Administration order to rescind it.

The goal is to reduce gridlock, reduce pollution and raise money for public transit.

The toll went into effect in 2025 and applies for the most congested part of Manhattan, south of Central Park.

Cost varies depending on the day of the week, the hour of the day, and whether the vehicle is equipped with E-ZPass, the electronic toll collection system used in many states.

Congestion Pricing Costs

• $9 for peak traffic hours, 5am to 9pm weekdays and 9am to 9pm weekends.
• $2.25 for off-peak overnight hours
• Vehicles without E-ZPass will be receive bills by mail, for $13.50 for peak hours and $3.30 for off-peak,
• Motorcyclists pay half the amount that cars pay during peak hours but the same off-peak
• Trucks, buses and large vans (including airport shuttle vans) pay more, depending on their size.
• The cost is once per day.

According to local TV station NY1, Congestion Pricing raised $45 Million in March 2025, to be used to support public transportation.

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Best New NYC Parks & Museums

Studio Museum in Harlem Re-Opens

After being closed for construction since 2018, the Studio Museum in Harlem reopened mid-November 2025 in a bright and airy new seven-floor, 82,000-square-foot building on West 125th Street.

Studio Museum houses art exhibitions, educational opportunities, program spaces and an expansive lobby. The first show features the work of the late sculptor Tom Lloyd, who was part of the institution’s opening back in 1968. Another debut show will draw from the museum’s vast collection, underscoring the museum’s role as a steward of art by artists of African descent.

• • Read a complete preview of the all-new Studio Museum in this NYTimes article.

Wagner Park Re-Opens After Two Years

Wagner Park, at the southern tip of Manhattan adjoining Battery Park, has re-opened after two years of reconstruction to protect it from rising tides of climate change.

There’s a long list of FREE events celebrating the re-opening, from jazz and salsa dancing to comedy and sunset yoga.  The park was created 29 years ago as part of the construction of Battery Park City.  It has a picture-postcard view of the Statue of Liberty, along with great sunset views, and it adjacent to two of our favorite museums – The Museum of Jewish Heritage and the Skyscraper Museum.

The upgrades as part of the overall South Battery Park City Resiliency Project. This massive undertaking across all of Lower Manhattan aims to fortify the southern edge of Manhattan island against the catastrophic flooding that wallopped much of the city during Hurricane Sandy.

The park’s lawns have been raised in elevation, while maintaining great views across the river. The pavilion at the park has been upgraded, with a classroom for education and events, a rooftop with outdoor seating and plans for a new restaurant in 2026.

• See the full line up — which includes even more activities for families, kids and fitness buffs — here.
• No tickets required; just show up ready for a good time.

Harlem Meer Re-Opens After Renovation

The new Davis Center at the Harlem Meer has re-opened after a four-year, $160 Million renovation and re-invention.

The new facility features an all-new public pool which will convert into an ice rink in the winter, “and in contrast to the old Lasker pool and ice rink it replaces, it will also transform into the Harlem Oval – a public green – in the shoulder seasons, ensuring year-round community access,” according to a press release.

The new Davis Center is hosting a variety of  FREE or affordable programs throughout the year, including wellness and fitness classes, nature programs, ice time for youth sports, and swim programming, managed by the NYC Parks Department.

• View the Harlem Meer on a map.
• Visit the Davis Center website for a schedule of events

The new Davis Center also is home to the newest and one of the best FREE outdoor swimming pools in NYC, the Gottesman Pool.

Pier 97, Hudson River Park

Move over, High Line and Little Island  you’ve got competition.

Pier 97, the northernmost pier in Hudson River Park is now open, following a $47.5 million transformation from a parking lot and Dept. of Sanitation storage facility into a gleaming and appealing public park with multiple facilities.

Pier 97 – at 57th St. and the Hudson River – has  2.5 acres of public open space, complete with a playground, athletic field, sloping sun lawn, and more—all surrounded by over 16,000 square feet of vibrant flowers and plants. A new building with restrooms and concessions is expected to open this winter.

Constructed between 1921 and 1934, Pier 97 served as a hub of the Swedish America Line and remained an active dock through the 1970s. Then it became a parking lot used by the city’s Department of Sanitation until 2011.

Pier 97 features include –

• The playground features a 26-foot-high rope climbing structure, a ship’s hull, and seasonal water spray features.
• The 120-foot-long synthetic turf field can accommodate a range of sports and activities, while the 7,600-square-foot sloping lawn offers a relaxing green space, providing a shady place of respite on the pier.
• A granite slide for guests of all ages connects the new elevated overlook and shaded belvedere section on the pier’s northern edge with the main pier below.
• The sunset deck, equipped with bistro tables, chaise lounges, and two-tiered walls with seating, offers breathtaking views of the Hudson River and skyline.
• Flexible gathering areas framed by flowers and plants offer tranquil spaces for socializing, and a walking promenade along the pier’s southern edge invites visitors for a relaxing stroll.

Work on a new park building directly north of Pier 97 containing public bathrooms, concessions, and a small maintenance area will open this winter. Solar panels will be installed on the roof, and the Hudson River Park Trust will issue a request for proposals (RFP) to select a food concessionaire. The Trust also plans to attract a historic vessel for docking on the south side of Pier 97.

Construction of the pier was primarily funded by $40.8 million from the NY State capital budget, plus  $6.7 million in proceeds from a Transferable Development Rights Sale completed by the Trust in 2018.

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Who is a real New Yorker?  It depends on who you ask.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter was interviewed by

Time Out New York

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ICYMI – News Worth Noting

Michelin Guide Adds 12 NYC Restaurants

Fine dining just got more fine with the addition of 12 NYC restaurants to the famous Michelin Guide, bringing the number to 142.

• The new additions include French, Italian, seafood, Thai and Filippino choices
• See the full list here.   Reservations recommended.

Landing Day

On Sept. 15, 1654,  a group of 23 Sephardic Jews arrived on the shores of New York — then called New Amsterdam — and created the first organized Jewish community in the city. Today, 350 years later, NYC is home to the largest Jewish population of any city in the world.

• The City Council has voted on a resolution to honor both, turning Landing Day from an event marked by a few Jewish leaders into an official date on the city’s calendar. That’s just short of making it a holiday, like Juneteenth.
• The resolution aims to “commemorate the arrival of the first Jewish community in New Amsterdam in 1654 and to celebrate the continuing importance of the Jewish community in the City of New York.”

New Food Hall in Former Lord & Taylor Building

NYC’s newest food hall, Shaver Hall, is set to open in the iconic former Lord & Taylor building on Fifth Avenue between 38th and 39th Sts., now housing Amazon.  According to a press release, it will “celebrate the rich heritage of the iconic Lord & Taylor building and promises to redefine the culinary landscape of Midtown Manhattan.”

• Shaver Hall is named in honor of Dorothy Shaver, the trailblazing president of Lord & Taylor and first woman to head a multimillion-dollar business.
• The first two announced tenants are Chick Chick, featuring Korean-inspired chicken, and Taqueria Al Pastor, with Mexican cuisine.

About the Lord & Taylor building –

• Originally constructed in 1914, the Lord & Taylor Building is an 11-story commercial masterpiece in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, designed by renowned architects Starrett & van Vleck.
• The building’s granite, brick, and limestone facade and copper cornice have symbolized elegance and sophistication for over a century, including for its famous and famously inventive holiday windows.

The Vessel at Hudson Yards

• The famous honeycomb sculpture has re-opened after shutting down in 2024 following three suicides, but it is no longer FREE to visit.
• The 150-foot Vessel now has safety netting to safeguard visitors, and the once-free architectural sculpture now costs $10 per person.
• Visitors must buy at least two tickets and will not be allowed to visit alone.
• Hudson Yards is “installing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline signage and messaging” and increasing security, CNN reported.

NEW – New York City residents with ID can visit for FREE  Thursdays.

• Tickets are available at 9am on the last Friday of every month at 9am for the following month.
• Register here, with proof of an NYC ID.
• A limited number of free, day-of tickets are available  every Thursday on that same website.

Citi Bike Rate Increase

Lyft, the ride share company which now owns and operates the bike share program, has raised rates again, especially for the popular battery-assisted e-bikes.

• Unlocking a Citi Bike now costs $4.79.
• E-bike fees are now approximately $10 for 15 minutes.
• A day pass for a manual bike is now $19.

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See Also

More FREE Things to Do in NYC

Things to Do in Staten Island

Best NYC Airport Transportation

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See Also

Best FREE Things in NYC Year-Round

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FREE – Late Night Shows Taped in New York City

The late night shows taped in NYC are one of the most popular tickets in town. Here’s how to get FREE tickets to be in the audience.

• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

• Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon

• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart & Co-Hosts

• Tickets for Saturday Night Live (SNL)

FREE Weekly & Monthly Museum Admission

Some free admission days require advance reservation, others don’t.  See the links for specific information.

FREE First Mondays at 9/11 Memorial and Museum

First Monday of the Month for NYC residents.  You will have to show proof of NYC residency for free admission.

Everybody can get FREE admission every Monday, from  from 5:30pm to 7pm.

• More information here.

FREE First Fridays at Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

UNIQLO NYC Nights are the first Friday of each month,  4–8 pm.

New York City residents get free admission courtesy of UNIQLO, but everyone can enjoy an evening out in our galleries with paid admission.

• More information here.

FREE First Fridays at Neue Galerie

First Fridays at Neue Galerie offer free admission 5pm to 8pm on the first Friday of the month.

• More information here.

FREE First Fridays at Poster House

Poster House is the first museum in the United States dedicated to the global history of posters.

First Fridays free admission is all day, 10am to 9pm

• More information here.

FREE Fridays & Sundays at Whitney Museum of American Art

The Whitney Museum of American Art now offers free admission for all visitors 25 and under.

Admission is FREE for all visitors on Fridays from 5pm to 10pm  and all day on the second Sunday of every month.

• More information here.

FREE Saturdays at the Jewish Museum

Free admission all day.

• More information here.

FREE Tours of Hart Island

Hart Island is now open to the public.  Since 1869, more than 1 million New Yorkers have been laid to rest on the island.

NYC Parks is now offering visits twice per month so New Yorkers can learn about its important history and see the beauty of the island and enjoy picture postcard views of the city.

You can put your name in the lottery for a free walking tour here.

Read about the history of Hart Island in this article in The City.

• Tours are Tuesdays, 10am to 1pm

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This NYC Best Things to Do Calendar is updated at the beginning and middle of each month.

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ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter, a native and lifelong New Yorker, also is the author or editor of numerous NYC guidebooks and apps, including for Fodor’s and Rand McNally.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President Emeritas of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), after serving two years as President.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA) and the North American Snowsports Journalists Assn. (NASJA) and a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW).

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.

Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter

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