NYC Free and Cheap This Week May 22-26

POSTED BY
Evelyn Kanter

Cheap is good, free is better, as we tell you often here on NYC on the Cheap. Take advantage of one or more of these free and cheap things to do this week, because NYC doesn’t have to be expensive when you know where to find freebies, and we do. Here’s where to be a NYC cheapskate Monday to Friday this week:

Monday, May 22

Bawatch – Only for the 80 lucky winners of our FREE ticket giveaway for tonight’s preview in Midtown.

Tuesday, May 23rd

Meet the Fishes – Join the River Project Weblab on dry land for a FREE program to meet local sea life that flourishes in the natural ecosystem of New York Harbor, including seahorses, striped bass, blackfish and oysters, plus food and beverages local merchants, and a chance to win raffle prizes. 4pm to 7pm at Pier 40, at Houston St.

Dine Around Downtown – The Downtown Alliance’s fifteenth community tasting event showcases more than a dozen local restaurants in this popular outdoor weekday event. Signature menu items are priced between $3-$7. Restaurants include Blue Smoke, Bavaria Bier Haus and Stone Street Tavern. 28 Liberty Plaza, 11am to 3pm, rain or shine, so let’s hope for shine.

Wednesday, May 24

Fleet Week New York – This annual extravaganza begins with the Parade of Ships into New York Harbor, FREE to watch from points along Shore Parkway in Brooklyn and the Hudson River in Manhattan.

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

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.