NYC Guide: Best Free & Cheap Things to Do In February, March & Beyond

Now that my hometown is back on top of the must visit destination list, here’s how to enjoy NYC on the cheap.

Things to do include FREE museum admission, Restaurant Week with discount menus and Broadway Week 2-for-1 Broadway and Off-Broadway show tickets, FREE Valentine’s Day events, citywide train and hotel discounts, a new museum exhibit honoring Flaco the owl, outdoor ice skating in all five boroughs,  FREE Lunar New Year and Black History Month events, FREE SuperBowl watch parties, and so much more.

It all helps make New York City the greatest city on the planet year-round, not just in February but all year.

Nearly everything here is FREE and family-friendly, and nothing is more than $25 per adult unless it is a free program with museum or zoo admission, supports a charity, or otherwise is a noteworthy special event. Some free events require registration.

Pick one, some or all and enjoy the best of New York City FREE or cheap.

This best things to do in NYC on the cheap guide is updated at the beginning and middle of each month, with at least six weeks of events to help you plan how to enjoy the greatest city on the planet.

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 News To Know – 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 went into effect on Sunday, January 5th.

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

A new toll 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.

Citywide Deals and Discounts

NYC Hotel Week Discounts

January 2-February 9 – NYC Hotel Week is really five weeks, each one filled with  discounts to NYC hotels, events and more.

Plan an epic stay during the five weeks of New York Hotel Week and enjoy 25% off* at some of the City’s best hotels. Unwind in stylish rooms, savor hot cocoa or cocktails in charming lobbies, and experience NYC’s world-class hospitality.

Plus, unlock special offers on everything from delicious restaurants to iconic attractions and Broadway shows to make your visit truly unforgettable.

Find out more on the NYC Tourism website.

NYC Broadway Week 2-for-1 Tickets

As with NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway week is three weeks, and it also started to boost ticket sales in the quiet days after the holidays, and there’s another round of BOGO deals in the summer.

Nearly 30 Broadway shows are participating, including long-running hits such as Chicago, Aladdin, Hamilton, Wicked, Six and The Book of Mormon, and new hit shows including Left on Tenth and Audra McDonald in Gypsy. 

Tickets are available through NYC Tourism, the member-supported organization which promotes everything wonderful about my hometown.  The website also lets you search by genre (drama, comedy, musical) or Tony Award Winner.

Or, you can choose your show and book through another source, including directly from the theater.

Top shows sell out first.  Matinees are easier to get tickets for than weekends.

• However you book, use code BWAYWK25 to get the 2-for-1 ticket deal.
• Opt for upgraded seats using code BWAYUP25.

LIRR and Metro-North Winter Weekend Discounts

Weekends Only, through March 30th – MTA LIRR monthly ticketholders can bring up to 2 guests for $1 each.

Both commuter lines  will honor all monthly tickets for travel to and from all stations within the LIRR or Metro-North territories regardless of which stations are printed on the ticket. y. Promotional $1 tickets can be purchased via the TrainTime app under Family Fares or on board without incurring an extra charge.

Note that there is no cross-honoring of these discounted tickets between the railroads, meaning LIRR customers cannot use their monthly tickets to travel on Metro-North, and vice versa.

More information on this MTA website page.

NYC Restaurant Week

January 21 to February 9 – It’s really three weeks but who is counting. This is your annual chance to sample more than 500 participating restaurants with a Prix Fixe lunch or dinner.  All but 100 are in Manhattan.

Reservations are now open. Menu pricing is –

• Two-course prix-fixe lunch: $30, $45 or $60 – restaurants can offer only one price for Restaurant Week, so choose accordingly.
• Three-course prix-fixe dinner: $30, $45 or $60 – restaurants can offer only one price for Restaurant Week, so choose accordingly.
• Beverages, taxes and gratuities extra.
• On site dining only, although some restaurants may offer take-out and delivery with special arrangements.

ecoXplorer tips

• Lunch reservations are easier to get than dinner
• Mid-week reservations are easier to get than weekends.
• Find the restaurant you want and contact them directly, or via a reservations system like OpenTable, instead of booking through the NYC Tourism site.

For more information and a full list of participating restaurants, click here.

Restaurant Reservations Simplified Under New NYState Law

Just in time for NYC Restaurant Week – Getting reservations at popular restaurants is easier with a new law that cracks down on the practice of selling reservations without the restaurant’s knowledge or approval. In recent years it has become even harder as a secondary market has prospered; reservations for two at popular restaurants have been seen selling for hundreds of dollars.

To combat that, a new law taking effect in February will crack down on the practice of selling reservations without the restaurant’s approval.

Most of the reservations are scooped up by bots, which in can cause chaos for restaurants, The New York Times reported because they don’t have a clear picture of how many diners they would be serving, and their bottom lines have suffered when reserved tables sit empty because a bot-reservation doesn’t show up.

It’s a serious enough issue that it was the subject of a recent “Elsbeth” show on CBS – (spoiler alert) the chef murdered the waiter when she found out he was selling reservations.

February Events to Put on Your Calendar

FREE Ice Skating Shows at Wollman Rink and Bryant Park

Thursday, February 6th and, March 6th – Wollman Rink already offers an iconic New York experience on ice, surrounded by the splendor of Manhattan’s city skyline. And now you can watch amazing skaters from the Ice Theatre of New York performing here on three dates, one each in January, February and March.

ITNY’s mission is to celebrate and advance dance on ice as a performance art.

ITNY was the very first ice dance company to receive dance program funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Admission is included with a skate session purchase.  You can also watch for FREE from one of the areas overlooking the skating rink.

• Performances are at 6:15pm.

Also Tuesday, February 11th at the Winter Village at Bryant Park.  Also FREE.

• Performance is at 12:30pm

See Also –

Where to Go Ice Skating in All Five NYC Boroughs

On the Calendar in February

Lunar New Year Celebrations

The Year of the Snake began on Jan. 29, but celebrations continue well into February.

Lunar New Year Family Festival at The Museum of Chinese in America

Saturday, February 1 – Welcome the Year of the Snake with a day of serpent-ine surprises for the whole family. Join for either thee morning session (10am-1pm) or afternoon session (2-5pm). 

Check here for full event schedule.

• 10am-1pm & 2-5pm
• $7 tickets
• FREE for children under 2

FREE Lunar New Year Celebration at The Seaport

Saturday, February 1 – Welcome the Year of the Snake with an exciting day of FREE cultural activities. In partnership with the New York Chinese Cultural Center and the South Street Seaport Museum, join this celebration of  Lunar New Year with live performances, crafts, and more.

• 12:00-12:30 & 1:00-1:30 – Lion Dance Performances at the Tin Building, 96 South Street
• 2:00-2:45, 3:00-3:45 & 4:00-4:45 – Calligraphy Workshops – at the Seaport Museum, 207 Water Street

Noon to 5pm, FREE, at the South Street Seaport in Lower Manhattan

Lunar New Year Celebration at Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Saturday, February 1 – Learn about the traditions of Lunar New Year through storytelling with authors Yobe Qiu and Ran Wei; live music, dance, and Kung Fu workshops with the New York Chinese Cultural Center; calligraphy workshops with artist Nelson Leung, Snake themed programs in Nature’s Engineers (BCM’s STEM MakerSpace).

The lion dance parades are led by the Chinatown Community Young Lions.

• 10am-5pm,  $15 admission

FREE Lunar New Year Celebration at City Point & Albee Square

Saturday, February 1 – Celebrate Year of the Snake at City Point with traditional Lion Dances, Kids Lunar New Year-inspired crafts and more! Free and fun for all ages.

Families are encouraged to come dressed in red. The event will take place in the gallery space on the Main Floor, next door to Rumi. Stroller parking is available.

Lion Dances with Downtown Brooklyn Partnership: Tradition! Tradition! Discover Chow Lay Fut and his dynamic team of lion dancers. Performances:

FREE, 12-2pm. Lion dances 1-4:30pm.  RSVP here

• 1:00pm & 1:30pm | City Point (ground floor | gallery space)
• 2:10pm, 2:40pm & 3:20pm | Albee Square
• 3:40pm & 4:10pm | DeKalb Market Hall at City Point

Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Lunar New Year Performance

There are two special Lunar New Year performances by this Asian-American troupe, both in the Bronx –

Thursday, February 11 at 11am – This FREE matinee is for schools and day-time groups at Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture.  Register here.

Sunday, February 16  at 3pm –  Ticket prices  are $12 for General Admission, $10 Seniors and $5 Student/Child Under 18. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

Nai-Ni Chen has been honored with over 20 awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, and prominent institutions including the Lincoln Center Institute, the Joyce Theater, Dancing in the Streets, New Jersey Ballet, Ballet Met, Dancing Wheels and Baraka Sele at NJPAC – all have commissioned notable works.

• Both performances are at Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, 450 Grand Concourse

FREE Concert of Music Composed in Secret in WWII

Valentine’s Day Events in NYC

FREE Concert at Marble Collegiate Church

Wednesday, Feb. 12th – To celebrate the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, Marble Collegiate Church will present a free concert featuring the Manhattan School of Music.

Manhattan School of Music has for the past 100 years upheld a tradition of excellence in music education, from its beginnings as a small settlement music school to its current state as an internationally renowned music conservatory.

• FREE, 1:15pm in the historic Sanctuary, 1 West 29th St. at Fifth Ave.
• More information here.

Get Married or Renew Your Vows in Times Square

Black History Month Events in NYC

FREE Events at the African Burial Ground National Monument

There are ongoing family-friendly events throughout February at this National Park Service site. Here is some of the schedule:

Black History Celebration at MCNY

Saturday, February 8 – This event will showcase the diverse narratives of Black New Yorkers, past and present, through a blend of storytelling, music, art, and discussion geared towards families and for adults and visitors of all ages. Attendees will also have the opportunity to see exhibitions highlighting the pioneering figures and communities that shaped the city, including pioneering politician Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for US President.

FREE with museum admission.  Some events require an additional RSVP. 11am to 5pm.  Events include –

• Arts and Crafts Activities for Families
• StoryTime for kids
• Gallery Tours of Changing the Face of Democracy: Shirley Chisholm at 100 and Activist New York
• I am Nobody’s Slave Book Talk with Author, Lee Hawkins – RSVP Here
• Panel Discussions on the African Burial Grounds of New York City and Early African Settlements. – RSVP Here
• Film Screenings (TBA) – RSVP Here
• Performances by Impact Reparatory Theatre and bites by Charles Pan Fried Chicken

FREE Harlem Chambers Players Concert in Harlem

Thursday, Feb. 13 – The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a branch of the NYPL, presents The Harlem Chamber Players’ 17th Annual Black History Month Celebration.

Terrance McKnight will open with Big Timer’s Blues, featuring poetry by Langston Hughes with a traditional spiritual, followed by one of the evening’s featured artists Candice Hoyes, performing Zora’s Moon for soprano with members of The Harlem Chamber Players. Featured artist, cellist-composer Akua Dixon, will make her Harlem premiere of We The People for string quartet. Join us for a delightful evening celebrating Black music.

• FREE, but registration is required.
• 8:30pm
• The Schomburg is at 515 Malcolm X Blvd., steps from the 135th St. #1 subway stop.

Buy Black Pop-Up Marketplace at Pier 57

Saturday, Feb. 15 – Celebrate Black History Month by supporting and shopping at Black-owned businesses when the vibrant atmosphere of Pier 57’s Living Room will be transformed into a lively pop-up market featuring a diverse array of talented artists, vendors, and makers.

Shoppers will find an impressive selection of goods, including exquisite handmade jewelry, delicious food and drinks, captivating paintings, unique crafts, and much more.

• 1pm to 6pm.  FREE admission.

Black History Month Event in Brooklyn

Thursday, February 20 – Join the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce for this annual celebration.

• FREE, 6pm, registration required.
• Click the link on the logo, or click here.

Black History Month at The Skyscraper Museum

Saturday, February 22 – The Harlem Renaissance in the 1930s was a period of cultural rejuvenation for Black communities in New York, giving rise to literary, artistic, and social movements that advocated for challenging segregation and for the adoption of civil rights.

This program, Architecture of the Harlem Renaissance, explores how these developments, including jazz poetry and musical theater, were reflected by Harlem’s architecture then and now. The program includes creating  collages using cutouts of New York buildings, art pieces and literature from the Renaissance.

This is an in-person children’s program that meets at the Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Pl.

This will forward you to Ticketstripe for registration. After registering, you will receive emails to confirm your attendance through a Google Form (you only need to fill this out once). If you do not confirm attendance by the Friday morning before the program, your places will be canceled. Every child should be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

• In person only at the Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place.
• FREE, but registration is required.  
• If you do not confirm attendance by the Friday morning before the program, your places will be canceled.

20th Anniversary of The Gates

Wednesday, February 12 – Sunday, March 23 – 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Christo and Jeanne-Claude Official’s The Gates, a groundbreaking and monumental public art installation  that transformed Central Park into a sea of fluttering orange curtains.

The Gates captured our imaginations and sparked conversations about the role of public art in cities. You either loved it or hated it, but you couldn’t ignore it.

It’s returning, but in updated form, as an exhibition at  The Shed,  in Hudson Yards and  an augmented reality experience in Central Park. The anniversary shows are in cooperation with the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation,

The free arts and culture app, Bloomberg Connects, is offering a unique augmented reality experience that will enable park visitors to relive the iconic 2005 installation by using their mobile device as a portal to see and interact with a section of The Gates where they once stood.

FREE SuperBowl Watch Party

Sunday, February 9th – Even though there’s no New York team in this year’s Big Game, you can still watch it, FREE, on a gi-normous screen at MetLife Stadium when Super Bowl LIX takes over the New Orleans Caesars Superdome.

Verizon is throwing massive watch parties at 30 NFL arenas across the nation, complete with interactive activations, local food and drink offerings, exclusive stadium access and more, to celebrate the super sporting event.

The NYC FanFest is going to kick off at 4pm at MetLife Stadium.

Expect a slew of football greats to be part of the fun as well, including Tiki Barber, Emmanuel Sanders, Patrick Willis and Derrick Brooks, plus local Ds will be spinning tunes to keep fans energized throughout the day, and tailgate games will keep everyone busy and pumped. Also on deck are exclusive locker room access, photo ops and the chance to snag some exclusive merchandise.

The actual game is scheduled to kick off at 6:30pm. Kendrick Lamar is set to take the stage for the half-time show around 8pm.

• Tickets are required and available on a first-come, first-served basis here.

Americans Who Saved European Jews in the Nazi Times

• Note – Holocaust Remembrance Day was Jan. 27th – the day Allied troops liberated the Auschwitz death camp.  While these events are not specifically Holocaust Remembrance Day events, the history of WWII and the on-going issue of anti-Semitism is an important one year-round in NYC, home of one of the largest populations of Jews in the world, many of whom are Holocaust survivors and/or their children and grandchildren.

Thursday, February 20th – Long before the USA joined the war, American aid workers were active in rescue efforts across Europe to save endangered Jews. Some, followed by Nazi agents, learned secrecy as they spirited people across borders. Others negotiated with government representatives.

In this presentation at the Mueum of Jewish Heritage, renowned Holocaust scholar Debórah Dwork will focus on such Americans, many of whom were women.  The presentation is based on her new  book Saints and Liars which illuminates the unpredictable circumstances and often fast-changing historical events with which these rescuers contended, while revealing the moral questions they encountered and the devastating decisions they had to make.

Drawing on a multitude of archival documents, from letters to diaries and memos, Prof. Dwork offers a rare glimpse into the lives of individuals who – at times with their organizations’ backing, but sometimes against their directives – sought to help people find safe-haven from persecution.

Debórah Dwork is director of the Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity at the Graduate Center—CUNY. Author (with Robert Jan van Pelt) of Flight from the Reich, Holocaust, and Auschwitz, among other works, she lives in New York.

• 7pm, in person only.  Register here. 
• FREE, but a a $10 donation is requested.
• The Museum of Jewish Heritage is at 36 Battery Place, just east of Battery Park.

After Hours at NYPL Celebrates 100 Years of The New Yorker

Friday, February 28 – As The New Yorker turns 100 in February 2025, The New York Public Library is mounting a new exhibition, A Century of The New Yorker, that draws on the Library’s extensive collections to illustrate the magazine’s fascinating history and expansive cultural reach.

Join the Library After Hours for special access to the exhibition, plus one-night-only events including curator talks, trivia, 16mm films, live music, and more.

Special access includes:

• Curator talks that go behind the scenes of A Century of The New Yorker, which draws on the Library’s rich collections
• Trivia night hosted by NYPL librarians to test your New Yorker knowledge
• Live music in the Rose Main Reading Room
• 16mm films curated from the Reserve Film and Video Collection spotlighting the cultural and literary reach of New Yorker writers and artists
• Crafts and coloring inspired by NYPL’s collections
• Unique library-related books and gifts in the Library Shop

Plus: Dance the night away with music by DJ Duane Harriott, try your hand at games and puzzles, or relax with crafts and coloring. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.

• For 21+ only.
• $15 guaranteed admission, or FREE to attend on space available basis. Registration required. 

March Events to Plan

FREE After-Hours Event at the Brooklyn Library

Saturday, March 8th, 7pm to 2am – Night in the Library returns with The Sky Above Brooklyn: The Philosophy of the Sublime.

Night in the Library is an after-hours invitation to discussions, performances and screenings that celebrate the free flow of ideas and the company of others.

The Sky Above Brooklyn: The Philosophy of the Sublime reminds us that the reality we experience is only a small part of a much bigger picture. It invites us to deepen our awareness, moving beyond the influences of social media and the narratives of our time by embracing the complexity of our lives and continually broadening our perspective.

Programs will introduce fresh ways of thinking about how to navigate the world around us with renewed attention, sensitivity, and curiosity.

The program includes \ thought-provoking presentations from the Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, the dancers Baye & Asa, the ACLU, reporter Hamilton Nolan, artist and musician Laurie Anderson, author Alissa Quart, and many others to be announced. All programs are free, with books, food and refreshments available for purchase.

• FREE, but registration is recommended to manage space.
• At the main Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza

Planing Ahead to Summer 2025

Hudson River Park’s Little Island has announced its lineup of FREE and $25 or less summer programming.

The Glade will have free performances from Wednesdays through Sundays in July and August, including by Suzan-Lori Parks, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Justin Vivian Bond.

Performances at the 700-seat amphitheater begin on June 6 with Twyla Tharp’s “How Long Blues.”  Tickets for performances at the Ampth will be capped at $25.

Best New NYC Park

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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Where to Go Ice Skating in NYC

It’s one of the great winter pleasures in NYC, especially at one of the outdoor rinks with picture postcard and romantic skyline views.

Read our full posting with prices and hours for each rink, including discounts for NYC residents.

FREE Ice Skating in Bryant Park

• The  17,000-square-foot ice-skating rink is FREE with your own skates.  There also are skates and lockers for rental.

Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center

• The Rink at Rockefeller Center is open daily through March.   Reservations recommended.

Ice Skating at the Wollman Rink in Central Park

• The iconic rink is open through March 2025. During the skating season, enjoy skyline views, rinkside igloos, an expanded skate school, and free access programs.

The Rink at Brookfield Place

• Brookfield Place has plenty of holiday activities under its iconic palm trees inside, but outside, you’ll find a seasonally appropriate winter wonderland.

The Rooftop at Pier 17

• Spice up skating season with a dash of Irish whiskey at the Rooftop at Pier 17; the venue is partnering with legendary Irish pub the Dead Rabbit for a holiday pop up dubbed “Jingle Jangle”, including  nostalgic Irish holiday festivities,  kitschy cocktails , private cozy dining cabins, over-the-top decorations.

Winter Whirl Roller Rink at the Shops at the Oculus

• Okay, it’s not ice skating – but it is skating. The Oculus’s much-loved Winter Whirl Roller Rink returns for its second season.

Ice Skating Under the Brooklyn Bridge

• The Roebling Rink is one of the newest additions to rinks in NYC parks where you can go ice skating – and this one is under the Brookyn Bridge, with memorable views of Manhattan.

Ice Skating in Domino Park in Brooklyn

• Another brand new ice skating rink this season is the new one in Domino Park, along the waterfront in Williamsburg, with reduced prices for NYC residents.

Ice Skating at LeFrak Center at Lakeside Prospect Park

• This is a unique space because there’s the choice of both outdoors and indoors.

Ice Skating at Industry City Ice Rink

• This rink is open through early March, Thursdays to Sundays only.  Industry City is a shopping complex in Sunset Park.

Best Current NYC Museum Exhibits

Museum of Art and Design (MAD)

Barbie^®: A Cultural Icon explores the 65-year history of Barbie and the doll’s global impact on fashion and popular culture through an expansive display of more than 250 vintage dolls, life-size fashion designs, advertisements, and other artifacts, including a full-size Corvette for selfies.  It’s a timeline also of how the American culture has changed with women’s rights, diversity and more – great fodder for discussion as you visit.

On view through Mar 16, the exhibition traces the evolution of Barbie from a child’s toy to a global icon, exploring the style trends, careers, and identities that Barbie has embodied and popularized since her debut in 1959.

There also are FREE docent tours (with admission), and before-hours and after-hours tours.

Year of Flaco the Owl at New York Historical

Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who captured the hearts of New Yorkers during his yearlong travels across Manhattan, is celebrated in a new exhibition at The New York Historical on view from February 7 – July 6, 2025.

The Year of Flacorevisits the remarkable journey of this resilient raptor, who became a New York City icon after escaping from the Central Park Zoo.

The exhibition features photographs and video documenting Flaco’s flight and his new life in the city, along with letters, drawings, and objects left at a memorial beneath Flaco’s favorite oak tree following his death one year ago on February 23, 2024. It also examines the dangers faced by birds in urban environments, legislation inspired by Flaco’s legacy, and practical steps for creating a safer city for wildlife.

As part of this tribute, a related installation in the Audubon’s Birds of America Focus Gallery highlights owls, primarily those native to New York, offering additional insights into these majestic creatures. Also on view is Pets and the City, a history of New Yorkers and their animal companions, featuring a specially commissioned portrait of Flaco.

A special public program, The Year of Flaco, takes place on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 6:30 pm.

Jacqueline Emery and David Lei, photographers and co-authors of Finding Flaco: Our Year with New York City’s Beloved Owl, join Rebecca Klassen in conversation to examine the legacy of Flaco, from his escape from the Central Park Zoo to his social media celebrity status and the slate of legislation proposed in his honor to make the city a safer place for urban wildlife.

• New York Historical is the new name of The New York Historical Society.  New name, but same fascinating museum a 77th St. and Central Park West.

Brooklyn Museum

The video says it all. Okay – almost all. This shimmering exhibit covers 200 years of gold jewelry, gold fashions and more.  It’s a feast for the eyes.

• Tickets are required. 

Through July 6th.

FREE All That Glitters at Museum at FIT

February 26 – March 23, 2025 – FIT’s School of Graduate Studies, in collaboration with The Museum at FIT, presents “All That Glitters…,” an exhibition conceived and organized by graduate students in FIT’s MA Fashion and Textiles Studies program.

All that glitters is not always gold—it can be any medium that catches the light, shines, and reflects. The post-World War II era saw a blossoming of new textiles and technologies that changed the relationship between fashion materials and light.

“All That Glitters…” explores surfaces that shine, focusing on themes of material production, social and financial values, and conservation. It examines not only the bright side of these materials, but also their darker side–including their environmental impact and their use in protests, such as “glitter bombing.”

• The Museum at FIT is FREE admission year-round.
• More information about the exhibit here.

9/11 Memorial and Museum

Remembering Sept. 11, 2001 – The World Trade Center redefined the city’s skyline and developed modern New York. Learn the story in a new exhibition at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

The 9/11 Museum is currently open six days a week, 9am to 7pm (plus select Tuesdays). Explore at your own pace, and plan to spend at least 45-90 minutes.

Bring tissues.  Some exhibits are not appropriate for very young children.

• The 9/11 Museum is adjacent to the FREE  9/11 Memorial Plaza, with the famous waterfalls.  That is open to the public 8am to 8pm daily.
• The museum is not free.  Tickets for the 9/11 Museum can be purchased here up to six months in advance. 

ICYMI – News Worth Noting

Fotografiska New York Has Closed

The photography museum has closed its location at 219 Park Avenue South to move to a new, larger space.  It is expected the museum’s well-regarded restaurant Verōnika and the Chapel Bar will re-open in the new space.

According to Crain’s, the architecturally stunning building is being put on the market.  The property was last listed in 2022 for $135 million.

Constructed between 1892 and 1894 for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church, the ornate building  features a Flemish Renaissance Revival style and a striking limestone facade. The building, known as the Church Missions House, was part of an area formerly known as “Charity Row.” It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

No details of a new location for the museum have been announced yet.

The Frick Collection Re-Opens in April

After three years at its temporary space called Frick Madison at 945 Madison Ave. while Henry Clay Frick’s historic and ornate Fifth Avenue mansion underwent a massive renovation, the artwork returns “home” to East 70th Street, and scheduled to reopen in April 2025

It has taken that long for curators and designers to re-install the precious items, which includes works by Fragonard, Holbein, Rembrandt, Turner, Vermeer, and Whistler, as well as significant sculptures, Chinese porcelain, Oriental carpets, bronzes, and other decorative arts objects.

I really enjoyed seeing the luscious historic collection in the stark, modernist setting of Marcel Breuer’s iconic building, formerly home of the Whitney Museum of American Art, before it moved downtown to new digs in Chelsea.  The “brutalist” architecture made the romantic, ethereal artworks feel so much more romantic and ethereal.

The building has been purchased by Sotheby’s, to become an exhibit area for auctions and offices.

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.

Gotham West Market Closes

Gotham West Market, a food hall that had been around for 11 years, will close at the end of the year after declining for several years, with the departure of popular tenants such as Ivan Ramen.

At its peak the  10,000-square-foot food hall in Hell’s Kitchen on 11th Avenue  was considered one of the city’s leading food halls, even proclaiming itself as the city’s best.

The Vessel at Hudson Yards Re-Opens

• The famous honeycomb sculpture has re-opened after shutting down in January 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.

Citi Bike Rate Increase

Lyft, the rideshare 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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It’s All Happening at one of the NYC Zoos

Bronx Zoo

One of the largest zoos in the USA, the beloved Bronx Zoo has been celebrating its 125th anniversary throughout 2024, with a combination of new exhibits and a yearlong schedule of special events – including –

Animal Chronicles: A NEW temp exhibit includes a walking trail of more than a quarter mile featuring life-size and gigantic, immersive eco-sculptures that showcase key achievements in the Bronx Zoo’s history of saving animal species and connecting New Yorkers to wildlife.

• Animal Chronicles will be available daily and is included with admission.

Monthly Birthday Celebrations: Weekend celebrations will be spread throughout the park on select days from April through September, including parades, performances, crafting, scavenger hunts, tours, Wildlife Theater, and much more.

• Each month features a different theme.
• Ticket prices are $37.75 for adults, $33.25 for seniors 65+ and  $28.75 for children 3-15.
• Purchase tickets online here. 

Wednesdays are FREE limited-admission

• Online reservations for timed tickets open on Mondays at 5 pm at the link.
• These tickets are for park entry only; individual-attraction tickets cost $7/person, per attraction.
• All visitors age 3 and up are required to have a ticket, and to reserve you must register with a valid email address.
• Limited tickets; first-reserved, first-served,

Prospect Park Zoo

The Prospect Park Zoo is open again after being forced to close for eight months due to  flood damage caused by the storm last September, which left 25 feet of water in the buildings’ basements.  No animals were harmed during or after the flooding. Repairs have cost  an estimated $20 million of federal funds, and repair projects are continuing even after the re-opening.

There are some new young animals, including baboons Bandari and Nyani and Pinnelopi the porcupette  plus Turtle Time and Conservation stations, sea lion feedings with narration, and more.

The animals are happy to have their humans, back, too.

• Adult tickets are $9.95, seniors are $7.95, children ages 3-12 are $6.95, and children 2 and under are free.
• Reserve tickets here

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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

• Jon Stewart Returns to The Daily Show 

• Tickets for Saturday Night Live (SNL)

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FREE Weekly & Monthly Museum Admission FREE Monday Admission to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum

First Monday of the Month  – This great opportunity is only 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.

Simply log onto 911memorial.org from 7am on the Monday morning of your intended visit and book your free ticket.

Tickets are always free to 9/11 families, and the outdoor memorial plaza is always free.

• More information here.

FREE Admission to Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Friday, Feb. 7, Mar. 7

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.

See new art in the galleries, enjoy music by DJs from The Lot Radio, grab a drink at the  pop-up bar, get creative with drop-in drawing sessions, see a film in the  theaters, and enjoy the spring weather in the lovely outdoor sculpture garden.

• Timed admission tickets  must be reserved online in advance.

FREE First Fridays at Neue Galerie, Friday, Fri., , Feb. 7, Mar. 7

First Fridays at Neue Galerie offer free admission and extra hours to closing, the first Friday of the month.

Visitors are  admitted free at 5 p.m. and the galleries remain open until 8 p.m.  No registration is required, and admission is first-come, first-served.

The Book Store and Design Shop stay open late, too.

FREE First Fridays at Poster House, Friday, Fri., Feb. 7, Mar. 7

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

Every First Friday is different, with tours, workshops, performances, and activities, to further engage visitors with the exhibitions.

• Poster House is at 119 West 23 St. in Chelsea. tel. 617-447-7453

FREE Fridays & Sundays at the Whitney Museum of American Art

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

The new program builds upon the museum’s free admission on Fridays and the second Sunday of every month, which launched earlier in 2024, replacing  its “pay-what-you-wish” system.

Now, admission is FREE for all visitors on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on the second Sunday of every mont.

Second Sundays offers free all-day admission to visitors and special programming for families. On the second Sunday of every month, guests can enjoy all-ages arts & crafts activities, tours, classes, and other special events connected to exhibitions on view at the Whitney or significant community events like Earth Day or Pride Month.

Also on view will be the museum’s permanent collection exhibitions, featuring artists such as Edward Hopper, Kara Walker, Georgia O’Keeffe, Kevin Beasley, Faith Ringgold, Lee Krasner, Jasper Johns, Alexander Calder, Jacob Lawrence, Carrie Mae Weems, Andrea Carlson, and Clarissa Tossin.

The Whitney hopes free admission will make the museum more enticing to potential visitors and open the doors to a wider audience.

Free admission tickets must be reserved in advance.

FREE Saturdays at the Jewish Museum

There is FREE admission every Saturday.

My personal favorite is the ongoing “Scenes from the Collection” exhibit, with the delightful yellow sculpture shown here.  From one side, it spells OY, the German and Yiddish phrase for “uh-oh”.  From the other side, it spells YO, now used by multiple cultures in NYC as a greeting.

Which one do you use – OY, or YO, or both?

• The Jewish Museum is at 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd St., in the former Warburg Mansion.

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 of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA),

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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