cultural fests / street fairs / food events / markets / shopping events (free admission, unless noted otherwise): >>

► fri thru 9/12: the first-ever curbside restaurant week: 39 participating restaurants with outdoor seating. >>

► sat 10am-3pm: nyc labor day parade: fifth avenue from 44th to 64th street. >>

► sat 12-5pm: taiwanfest: 6th ave (bet, 39th + 40th st), manhattan. >>

► sat 12-9pm (season finale): korea fest: culture lab lic (queesn). >>

► sat + sun (10am-5pm): 51st annual gracie square art show: carl schurz park (yorkville). >>

► sat + sun (1-5pm): thx it’s thrifted day-to-night market: brooklyn roots collective (east williamsburg). $15+ admission. >>

► sun 12-6pm: 28th annual ferragosto festival: arthur avenue between east 187th st + crescent ave (bronx). >>

► sun 1-6pm (rain date 9/14): west side county fair: pier i in riverside park south (uws). >>

► mon 5-9pm: the annual taste of times square: get ‘tastes’ from 30 restaurants for under $10 each. save 20% when you purchase a wristband in advance. duffy square and the broadway plazas between 43rd + 48th streets. >>

friday

thru sun: armory arts week: another fall art season kicks off with a weekend of major shows featuring artists and galleries from around the world, including the armory show (thru sun), art on paper (thru sun), clio art fair (thru sun + 9/18-21), duet at wsa (thru mon), independent 20th century (thru sun), open invitational (thru sun), salon zürcher (thru sun), and 
u-haul art fair (thru sun). various venues and prices (free-$59).

thru sun: neurotica fest: comedian and actor iris bahar presents the inaugural neurotica fest, a four-day lineup of storytelling, solo comedy shows, book talks, and more at under st. marks theater and parkside lounge (east village/les). $15-25 (several shows offer pay-what-you-can tickets). >>

sponsored: fri thru sun: swap your usual plans for a one-of-a-kind city experience with new york adventure club: trace new york’s titanic connections, from astor place to chelsea piers; explore morningside heights: from the tallest church in the united states to the final resting place of civil war general and u.s. president ulysses s. grant; get a rare look inside the gertrude whitney studio—first site of the whitney museum; uncover the secrets of the east river by ferry; and more! >>

fri thru sun: 12th brooklyn wildlife summer festival: the brooklyn wildlife summer fest returns for an 12th year with indie and diy musicians, artists, and creatives over three days. various locations, $5+. >>

sponsored: fri + sat: flop house comedy club: nyc’s friendliest indie comedy club—with great comics, a cozy atmosphere, and no drink minimums—has some incredible lineups this weekend! save 33% with promo code ‘skint’ for any of these shows: at 362 grand street in williamsburg – coleen genevieve, eddie morrison, anthony moore (friday 8pm + 9:30pm); mia wilson, shane torres, kitty reynolds, sureni weerasekera (saturday 8pm); at 83 1st ave in the east village – caitlin peluffo, brendan sagalow, alvin kuai, joey rinaldi (saturday 8:30pm). food, snacks, and drinks will be available for purchase. >>

fri various times (weather permitting): free outdoor movies:
ratatouille at nelson a. rockefeller park (tribeca) >>
up at corporal john a seravalli playground (west village) >>

fri 6pm: first novel friday at the center for fiction: join the center for fiction for an evening celebrating a selection of notable debut novels. the night begins with a happy hour reception in the lounge (cash bar), followed by author readings, discussion, and signings in the auditorium. tonight’s novels explore questions of belonging and the effects of systems of power, with authors addie e. citchens (dominion), yiming ma (these memories do not belong to us), eliana ramage (to the moon and back), and moderator jacqueline woodson (brown girl dreaming). the center for fiction (fort greene), $5+ admission. >>

fri 6:30pm (monthly): lower east stories: p+t knitwear bookstore + café (les) presents a storytelling salon where each month brings a fresh theme and fresh tales. tonight’s theme: ‘sick days.’ hosted by matt storrs. $10 admission ($5 of the ticket price can be applied towards any item in the bookstore or café). >>

fri 7pm, 8:15pm (monthly): nerd nite: 20th season premiere: nerd is the word at nerd nite nyc, where you’ll hear fun-yet-informative presentations on a wide range of subjects. tonight’s topics: the science of stand-up comedy and our brains, the history of new york trash, and why namibia is obviously the best country on earth. hosted by matt wasowski. littlefield (gowanus), $12 for the presentations at 8:15pm, add $4 to play pre-show trivia at 7pm. >>

fri 7pm (monthly): immigrant jam comedy: german-born, nyc-raised comedian and actor lucie pohl (overwatch) celebrates all things cross-cultural, international, and delightfully different at the immigrant jam stand-up show, featuring immigrant and first generation comedians. tonight’s lineup reps colombia, germany, italy, the philippines, romania, somalia, south korea, and more with performers francesco de carlo (netflix), kathleen kim (sesame street), isa medina (don’t tell comedy), christian escoto, mo mussa, and more. a portion of the proceeds will go to new women new yorkers. caveat (les), $14.64 with promo code ‘skint’ (reg. $24-25). >>

fri 7pm: bryant park picnic performances: bryant park’s annual summer performance series is back with 25 evenings of free live music, theater, and dance in the heart of midtown. bring your own picnic or purchase food and drinks from on-site vendors. blankets and bistro chairs are provided for use. next up: new york city opera presents a fully-staged production of bizet’s carmen. >>

fri 7:30pm + 9pm (ongoing): free friday at magnet theater: catch premiere: the improvised musical or the friday night show for exactly zero dollars on the first friday of every month at magnet theater (chelsea). first come, first served. (reg. $17 for guaranteed entry) >>

fri 8:30pm: bitches brew comedy show: this women-produced and-hosted comedy show conjures up big laughs in the back room of halyards (gowanus). tonight’s performers include yemi afolabi, christine o’dea, alan fitzgerald, and denise taylor. free admission (a tip jar will be passed around at the end of the show). >>

fri 9pm: what i did for love: improv based on your love story: ucb improvisers interview an audience member about their love life, then turn their stories into a fully improvised performance. $15 adv, $20 day of. >>

fri 9pm: the drunk texts: the devil weareth prada or, a wintour’s tale: random access theatre celebrates new york fashion week with the return of maura lefevre’s the devil weareth prada or, a wintour’s tale, a shakespearean retelling of the devil wear’s prada that combines drinking games, improvisation, and audience participation. the rat nyc (dumbo), $12. >>

fri 9:30pm: three-day champion: three-day champion is a comedic storytelling podcast wrapped inside game show where comedian contestants are asked, ‘if you were a three-day champion on a game show, what three stories about yourself would you choose to tell?’ comedian guests, chris redd, erin jackson and chris gethard will compete to tell their favorite, funniest, most revealing anecdotes for bragging rights and real prizes. host christine walters, with the help of an expert celebrity judge, determines who wins, and who ‘least wins’ the title of three-day champion champion. caveat (les), $18.76 with promo code ‘champpodlive25’ (reg. $24-25). >>

fri 10:30pm: judith fair: a drag tribute show: the judy drag party presents a tribute to the alt lesbian and lesbian-adjacent divas of the 1990’s, featuring performances by cherry jaymes, crust duchess, hazyl, fefe fo fum, darling nikki, wraith hill, and sesbian lex. c’mon everybody (bed-stuy), $16.25. >>

saturday

sat thru 10/26 (saturdays + sundays): the amazing maize maze: aw, shucks! get lost at the amazing maize maze, new york city’s only corn maze. this three-acre labyrinth of corn stalks challenges visitors to solve puzzles and follow clues on their way to victory bridge, where a full view of the maze awaits. queens county farm museum (floral park), $16 general, $10 children aged 4-11. >>

sat thru 10/18 (saturdays 12-6pm): the six foot platform: big ideas. small stage. iconic view. the six foot platform returns to car-free washington + water streets (dumbo) with experimental art and performance presented on a 6×6 platform. each saturday brings a new performance or installation, transforming the street into an open-air stage. free admission. >>

sat (ongoing): the twisted spine grand opening: the twisted spine, nyc’s first bookstore and café dedicated to horror and dark literature, opens in williamsburg. >>

sat 7pm (monthly): tom d’s big new york show: comedian and licensed nyc tour guide tom delgado takes you through different aspects of nyc each month, with history, comedy, trivia with prizes, and special guests. tonight’s show features greg stone (the late late show), courtney fearrington (don’t tell comedy), and author lynn ellsworth (wonder city). save $5 with promo code ‘tomdnyc’ >>

sat 7:30pm: broadway in battery park city: broadway stars ana gasteyer, darlesia cearcy, richard kind, ethan slater, tamkia lawrence, mary louise parker, and more bring the bright lights of broadway to battery park city with a one-night-only concert featuring showtunes that celebrate the big apple. directed by kevin cahoon (shucked), with music direction by alex ‘goldie’ golden (the notebook), the concert will be hosted by jeff hiller (somebody somewhere) and rachel dratch (snl). free admission. note: the eventbrite page currently says ‘sold out’ but it is not clear if rsvp is required for entry. >>

sat 7:30pm (monthly): feel the news with marcela onyango: in this monthly variety comedy show, ‘radical lefty’ comedian marcela onyango breaks down the latest headlines—helping you decide whether to be mad, glad, or just deeply confused. each show supports direct action efforts, raising funds for mutual aid projects. tonight’s guests include asha ward, adam hmada, saheim patrick, kendra dawsey, molly brenner, and winter. friends and lovers (crown heights), $10. >>

sunday

sun thru 9/22 (sundays + mondays at 7pm): right before i go: to mark suicide prevention month, the tank hosts a limited run of stan zimmerman’s right before i go, a play that raises awareness around mental health and suicide through stories drawn from real letters. each week features a rotating cast that includes performers like maulik pancholy (30 rock), peppermint (rupaul’s drag race), marilu henner (taxi), hill harper (the good doctor), emily kuroda (gilmore girls), danny pintauro (who’s the boss?), nik dodani (atypical), christine taylor (the brady bunch movie), and more. every performance is followed by a moderated talkback, and ticket proceeds will benefit sl24 unlocke the light, a foundation dedicated to empowering young people with tools and resources for mental health. the tank (garment district), $23+. >>

sun 11am: founded by broadway concert: in celebration of new york city’s 400th anniversary and broadway’s role in the city’s history, stars more than 20 broadway shows will come together for a free outdoor concert in times square. participating shows include the book of mormon, buena vista social club, death becomes her, harry potter and the cursed child, hell’s kitchen, operation mincemeat, the outsiders, six: the musical, stranger things: the first shadow, wicked, and more. rain or shine. >>

sun 12pm doors: hamilton sing-along with lin-manuel miranda: united palace (washington heights) wraps up its hamilton 10th anniversary celebration with a special screening of the documentary hamilton’s america, followed by a sing-along screening of the filmed version of hamilton introduced live on stage by lin-manuel miranda. update: free tickets are sold out, but there will be a standby line outside the theater. >>

sun 1:30-6pm: free show brain concert: show brain returns to tompkins square park (east village) with a free, all-ages concert featuring nabihah iqbal, puzzled panther, crazy + the brains, grace bergere, 95 bulls, and bubbles. >>

sun 3pm: can’t look away: the case against social media: the museum of the moving image (astoria) hosts a screening of can’t look away: the case against social media, matthew o’neill and perri peltz’s 2025 documentary that exposes the dark side of social media and its devastating impact on young people. director o’neill, attorney matt bergman, and investigative reporter olivia carville will be in person. free admission (rsvp). >>

sun 7:30pm (+ 10/6, 11/5): green-wood moonlight tour: under the glow of the full moon, explore green-wood cemetery’s monuments and catacombs on this walking tour led by historian jeff richman. $30. >>

sun 8pm: tina friml and gang: comedian tina friml (@tinafriml, fallon) hosts a night of her favorite local comics at littlefield (gowanus). $12 adv, $15 day of. >>

sun 9pm (monthly): you are not alone: an uplifting show about depression: improvisers and artists that battle depression and mental illness in their day-to-day lives create scenes inspired by personal experiences, showing how laughter can be the best medicine. hosted by aaron gold and michael serpe. magnet theater (chelsea), $10. >>

monday

mon thru 1/1/2026: screen deco: commemorating the 100th anniversary of the art deco movement, film forum presents over 25 films from the 1920s and 1930s, including grand hotel, our dancing daughters, the black cat, girls about town, metropolis, pandora’s box, and more. film forum (south village), $17. >>

mon thru 9/28: emerging artists theatre company’s spark theatre festival: the biannual spark theatre festival presents 65 new ‘work-in-progress’ plays, solo shows, musicals, and dance performances with audience feedback at chain theater (midtown west). $20+. >>

mon thru 9/21: 2-for-1 broadway week tickets: score broadway show tickets for less during this seasonal promotion! 2-for-1 tickets are now on sale for more than 20 productions, including cabaret, death becomes her, hadestown, hell’s kitchen, oh, mary!, operation mincemeat, six: the musical, stranger things: the first shadow, the book of mormon, the outsiders, wicked, and more. >>

mon 4pm, 7pm (monthly): 35mm series at angelika: experience a series of ‘classic’ films in their original 35mm format at village east by angelika (east village). tonight: elia kazan’s a streetcar named desire (1951), starring marlon brando, vivien leigh, karl malden, and kim hunter. $21. >>

mon 7pm: secrets of publishing: back to school panel with pen america: author susan shapiro hosts a panel discussion of insider tips and tricks for navigating the publishing world, joined by author and editor miya lee (new york times modern love), author and agent alia hannah habib, author and teacher rob cameron, vp of hachette krishan trotman, and editors paul whitlatch (penguin random house) and rachel kahan (harpercollins). p+t knitwear bookstore (les). $5 admission can be applied towards any book or item in the café. >>

mon 7:30pm (monthly): miss manhattan non-fiction reading series: elyssa goodman and r.c. gstaad iii’s monthly showcase for nonfiction writers returns for an evening of readings by elena sheppard (the eternal forest: a memoir of the cuban diaspora), vivian manning-schaffel (vanity fair), and dale corvino (afterlife of a kept boy). niagara bar (east village), free admission. >>

mon 8pm (monthly): franklin park reading series: the crown heights bar and beer garden’s reading series kicks off the fall season with an evening of new fiction from authors marie-helene bertino (exit zero), cleyvis natera (the grand paloma resort), denne michele norris (when the harvest comes), halle butler (banal nightmare), crystal hana kim (the stone home), and benedict nguyen (hot girls with balls). books will be available for purchase from indie bookseller unnameable books. free admission. >>

ongoing

our roundup of 60+ ongoing events: free shakespeare in the park (thru 9/14), 2-for-1 broadway week tickets, free outdoor fitness classes, and more. >>