Ships ahoy! Today is the start of Fleet Week New York, with the annual Parade of Ships into New York Harbor. Watch FREE from pints along Shore Parkway in Brooklyn and Battery Park and the Hudson River in Manhattan.
The Parade of Ships is due to pass under the Verrazano Bridge around 9am, past the Statue of Liberty around 9:30am, and past the World Trade Center 15 minutes later, depending on the weather and the tides. The visiting US Navy and Coast Guard Ships, and one visiting Royal Canadian Navy ship continue sailing up the Hudson River as far as the Intrepid, before turning to berth in Manhattan and Staten Island.
The ships open for public visits beginning tomorrow.
The visiting Sailors, Marines and Coast Guard members start visiting Times Square and other NYC must-see attractions later today.
See the full Fleet Week schedule of events here
See the full Fleet Week schedule of events at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum here.
And here are free and cheap events for the rest of this week, through Friday.
More Today, Wednesday, May 24
Bryant Park – FREE dancing to a live band, at Fountain Terrace. This week, it’s cumbia. Next week it’s a disco party. Family-friendly, starting at 6:30pm.
SEE ALSO Midsummer Night Swing outdoor dancing to live bands in Lincoln Center in June/July
Hollywood on Hollywood – Film lecturer Max Alvarez highlights the best of Hollywood films and filmmakers in this illustrated lecture at the Mid-Manhattan Library, Fifth Ave. at 40th Street, across from the main branch with the lions out front. Author talks are at 6:30pm.
Thursday, May 25
Books – Amazon opens its first brick-and-mortar bookstore in New York City today, at the Shops at Columbus Circle, in the space where Borders used to be. We’ve been told it will have an extensive section of NYC and regional travel books. I’ll e checking to see if they’re carrying my most recent NYC book, Peaceful Places New York City, which is available on the Amazon website as both a paperback and Kindle version. Amazon is planning to open another bookstore soon, near Macy’s.
Mammograms – Get FREE mammograms and breast exams in Brooklyn today, to spot early warning signs of cancer. This free health screening is for women over 40, with or without health insurance.
Fleet Week New York – Fleet Week FREE programs today include tours of visiting US Navy and Royal Canada Navy ships, and a performance by the US Coast Guard Silent Drill Team.
Friday, May 26
Fleet Week New York – Fleet Week FREE programs today include a Navy band concert in Times Square
Shakespeare in Bryant Park – See a performance of the comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor. Additional performances Saturday and Sunday
Have a tip about a FREE event in New York City? Email us at tips@nyconthecheap.com
Daily through June 1
Immigrant Songs – This is a special film festival about the immigrant experience, mostly about the immigrant experience in NYC, with such films as The Godfather, Moscow on the Hudson, Hester Street and America, America, the 1961 film about a Turkish family’s efforts to get to America. Also on the roster is Superman, because he was an immigrant to Gotham from another planet. Immigrant Songs is at the newly-renovated Quad Cinema, 34 West 13th St. in the Village. Tickets are $15 and screenings begin as early as 9:30am.
What do you think about this? We welcome your comments.