NYC on the Cheap Free & Cheap Things to Do This Weekend in NYC

There’s always so much to do on a NYC weekend, including this first three-day holiday weekend of the New Year.

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Here’s what to do in NYC

Friday, Jan. 21 through Sunday, Jan. 23

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free and cheap things to do in new york city in october

Photo: Thunderbird American Indian Dancers

Friday to Sunday – Thunderbird American Indian Dancers

This group of Native Americans from various tribes, who live and work in the NYC area, present their 47th annual concert of music, dance and storytelling this weekend and next, January 21-23, 2022.

The Thunderbirds perform authentic dances of the Iroquois, Southwest and Great Plains Native American peoples. Each dance is introduced with a complete explanation of the dance and its cultural context and is accompanied by live music. My personal favorite is the Hoop Dance.

Shows are Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, with ticket prices of $15.

There are also special matinee performances for children on Saturday and Sunday at 3 PM, with tickets for children under 12 only one dollar (children must be accompanied by an adult paying the regular $15 price). Children are invited on the stage after the performance to learn the basics of traditional Native American dancing.

Performances are at the Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue at East 10^th Street in Manhattan. Phone (212) 254-1109 for reservations or www.TheaterForTheNewCity.net for advance ticket purchases.

For more information, check the Thunderbird website at ThunderbirdAmericanIndianDancers.org.

Free on Friday – Webinar: Selling to the Government

This FREE webinar is sponsored by the NYC Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA)

Learn how and what the Federal Government buys, the certifications you need, how to market to the government agencies, subcontracting and how to expand your small business to the global market.

FREE, 11am to Noon
RSVP to www.chamber.nyc to receive ZOOM meeting link

FREE on Friday – Violins of Hope Concert

Attend this virtual concert at the Temple Emanu-el Streicker Center, commemorating the 77th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and Birkenau.

A VIOLIN OF HOPE

Virtual Congregational Worship Services*

Friday, January 21 | 6:00 PM | Free


REGISTER

Friday Night Live is sponsored by the Tisch family.

We are grateful for support of Violins of Hope programming from:

Robert B. Menschel and Richard Menschel

Betsy Cohn, in loving memory of Alan B. Cohn
The Rahm Family Fund

Max Beker played his violin in some of the world’s most unusual musical ensembles, from the Tango Orchestra in Stalag VIIIA prisoner of war camp to the Ex-Concentration Camp Orchestra in Bavaria.

The instrument that made that journey with him – and wound up in his post-WWII home in Brooklyn – is one of the treasured Violins of Hope that Temple Emanu-El expected would be on display this month at our Bernard Museum and played in a special concert in our sanctuary.

Although the arrival of these instruments that survived the darkest days of the Jewish people is delayed until 2023, we are honored to welcome Max’s precious violin as a preview at a special service commemorating the 77th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and Birkenau.

Hear from Auschwitz survivor Rosa Plawner, hear the stirring melodies this precious violin still produces, and feel the emotions it evokes.

FREE on Saturday – Webinar: The Mind of Abraham Lincoln

Before his birthday on Feb. 12, learn how this poor, self-educated, frontier lawyer transformed himself into a political leader who defended democracy, preserved the nation, and abolished slavery – in this FREE two-hour virtual livestream program with One Day University.

Rutgers Professor Louis Masur discusses Lincoln’s remarkable speeches and other writing, with biographical information and context, and some of the time in this class will be devoted to discussion and analysis.

Register in advance to receive a packet of writings to read before class. These readings include some of Lincoln’s most important speeches and writings: debates with Stephen Douglas, the First and Second Inaugural, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address – as well as some less known but important works..

FREE, Saturday, 2pm to 4pm
Register here for the livestream link

See our calendar of daily events

NYCOTC Free & Cheap Events Page

Now Open –

Now Open – Governors Island Winter Village

There’s a new destination in town, at Governors Island, which is now open year-round.

The Village includes a 5,000-square foot skating rink, with FREE skating on Fridays, plus seasonal activities, festive winter lights, games and food and drinks alongside warming fire pits, and more.

Full information here.

HotBox Mobile Sauna is an NYC-born, wood-burning sauna on wheels celebrating community, wellness and conversation. The queer-owned sauna has been popping up all over the city since 2018, and will start a weekend winter residency in Colonels Row on Sunday, January 2.

Learn more and inquire about booking a group sweat session

The NYC Ferry service will supplement daily ferries run by the Trust that departs from Lower Manhattan, and peak season weekend service from Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6 and Red Hook.

NYCFerry will add additional service to Governors Island on weekdays and non-summer weekends via the South Brooklyn route. On peak weekends, NYC Ferry will serve Governors Island via dedicated shuttle to Yankee Pier from Wall St./Pier 11.

Full information here

Take the Kids – AMNH Butterfly Conservatory

butterfly conservatory_american museum of natural history

Photo: American Museum of Natural History

The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter

Celebrating its 23rd year, this popular attraction returns to the American Museum of Natural History and transforms the coldest day into a summer escape.

Walk through a special area to be greeted by up to 500 fluttering, iridescent butterflies among blooming tropical flowers and lush green vegetation in 80-degree temperatures.

NYCOTC Editor Evelyn Kanter got a preview, and it’s both fascinating and delightful. They are every color of the rainbow, and range from the size of a large coin to an Asian moth the size of your palm.

AMNH is at 79th St. and Central Park West

Puppets of New York exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York

Photo of Lamb Chop: MCNY

Museum of the City of New York – Puppets of New York

Get up close with New York City’s quirkiest residents—puppets! At the Museum of the City of New York.

Puppets of New York examines the extraordinary, surprising, and diverse history of the puppetry traditions, practices, and languages that made New York City home.

This wonderful new exhibit features more than 100 puppets that span the city’s history from theater, television, and street life—including Lamb Chop, Sesame Street, Avenue Q, The Lion King on Broadway, avant-garde theater, parades, and more, and poised to bring joy and awe to people of all ages.

Seriously – who doesn’t love puppets?

Purchase timed tickets here.
220 Fifth Ave at 103rd St.,
Open Friday–Sunday, 10am–6pm

Museum Exhibits We Recommend

Photo: Rubin Museum

Rubin Museum

Shrine Room Projects: Rohini Devasher / Palden Weinreb

There’s always good karma at this museum specializing in East Asian art and history.

The newest exhibition features two contemporary art installations in dialogue with the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room:

Rohini Devasher presents a new, mesmerizing two-channel video installation, 300 Km or the Apparent Path of the Sun (2020), a powerful visual meditation on the movement of the sun across the sky.
Palden Weinreb presents two mixed-media artworks, Offerings (2014) and Untitled (Stupa) (2013), that at first glance look like Buddhist-inspired objects but then invite you to look beyond the Satursurface where deeper layers of meaning are revealed.

There s FREE admission on Friday evenings

Reserve free timed entry tickets

Georgia O’Keefe painting courtesy New York Historical Society

New York Historical Society

Scenes of New York City: The Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld Collection

Celebrate a dynamic and multifaceted New York City from the 19th century to the present day with 130 stunning works from artists like Marc Chagall, David Hockney, Edward Hopper, Jacob Lawrence, Louise Nevelson, Georgia O’Keeffe, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, and more.

The exhibition showcases the extraordinary promised gift to New-York Historical from philanthropists and art collectors Elie and Sarah Hirschfeld, whose collection encompasses many views of an ever-evolving city.

On view through Feb. 27. The New York Historical Society is at 77th St. and Central Park West, across the street from the American Museum of Natural History.

Purchase timed entry tickets here.

For the same admission, you can see another important exhibit at NYHS:

Notorious RBG

This extensive new exhibit features personal artifacts, archival photographs and documents, historical artifacts, contemporary art, media stations, and interactives spanning RBG’s varied roles as student, wife to Martin “Marty” Ginsburg, mother, lawyer, judge, women’s rights pioneer, and internet phenomenon.

The Notorious RBG was born in Brooklyn.

Clothing Recycling

Clean out your closet, recycle unused clothing and keep it out of landfills with Helpsy, the Northeast’s largest clothing collector.

Helpsy is at Chelsea Flea every Saturday in Fall, where they’ll accept clothing and shoe drop-offs through the fall-winter season. They make it easy to free up space in your place, with the added peace of mind that your clothing will be recycled, upcycled, and reused.