tuesday

thru 6/29: (tues-sun 11am-8pm): ‘the forest within’: step into ‘the forest within,’ a new immersive installation at genesis house (meatpacking district) created in collaboration with gwyneth paltrow, floral designer heff leatham, and genesis house. inspired by the infinite power of nature, the installation reimagines the korean forest-offering thought a blend of physical and digital design—offering moments of reflection along the way. free admission, no tickets or reservations required. >>

tues thru 5/25: fit graduating student exhibition: the fashion institute of technology’s 2025 graduating student exhibition presents the work of more than 600 graduates in 16 areas of study from the school of art and design. the exhibition will be on view in several spaces on fit’s campus on west 27th street in chelsea. free admission. >>

tues 4:30-7:45pm: free dead in the park concert: stella blue’s band brings the spirit of the grateful dead back to central park’s naumburg bandshell—the same spot where the dead played to a crowd of 5,000 in 1968. for the sixth annual free dead in the park concert, the cover band will perform two sets to raise awareness and funds for riverkeeper’s efforts to help clean the hudson river. free admission (donations welcome). >>

tues 7:30pm: booze + build: let your inner kid run wild (with a drink in hand) at booze + build, a playful night of building brick fun for grown-ups where you use a set of freestyle bricks to bring your wildest ideas to life. plus, enjoy games, challenges, and prizes along the way. come solo or team up. building sets are available for purchase if you would like to take your creation home. q.e.d. (astoria), $12 admission. >>

tues 7:30pm (season finale): central chamber series: ‘dreams and passions’: the central chamber series at central presbyterian church (ues) presents an evening concert featuring works that touch on the themes of dreams, passions, and memories. tonight’s season finale program includes boccherini’s quintet no. 4 for guitar and strings ‘fandango’ and tchaikovsky’s ‘souvenir de florence.’ $20 general, free for students with id. >>

tues 7:30pm: forbhidden people: an elven burlesque: let bitsy brûlée, persé fanny, and rosie tulips cast a spell on you at their burlesque and variety show celebrating the mystical and magical realm of icelandic folklore. footlight underground at the windjammer (ridgewood), $10-20 sliding scale admission (no one turned away for lack of funds). >>

sponsored – giveaway

We’re giving away an eight-week package of summer lessons! To enter to win, just drop us a line via this form by 11:59pm Tuesday, 5/13/2025. The winner will be picked at random and notified on Wednesday, 5/14/2025. Good luck!

Bantam Studios is bringing booze back for beginner classes this summer! Each class, students will learn the basics on their instruments in a group setting, and learn a piece to play for a recital on Friday, August 22nd. Group classes are held in the instructor’s private studio in Park Slope, are limited to 9 students, and include 2 drinks* (wine + beer) per student each class. *Must be 21+.

Bantam Studios Music Lessons for Adult Beginners was created by Ginger Dolden and Pete Lanctot in 2012 to address the growing needs from their adult private students and to provide the opportunity to many of the people in their community who always “wished they could learn.” Beginner guitar, ukulele, and violin classes are designed for adults who want to join a community of students looking to incorporate music into their lives in a fun and casual environment.

To celebrate 10+ years of booze beginner classes, we’re opening up 10 slots — at 2015 pricing! Use code SUMMEROF2015 for $250 tuition!

Summer 2025 Schedule
First week of class: June 30 – July 2
Last week of class: August 18 – August 20
Recital: Friday, August, 22
Tuition: $360

Guitar Beginner Classes
Monday: 7pm – 8pm, June 30 – August 18
Tuesday: 8:15pm – 9:15pm, July 1 – August 19
Teacher: Pete Lanctot

Violin Beginner Classes
Tuesday: 7pm – 8pm, July 1 – August 19
Wednesday: 8:15pm – 9:15pm, July 2 – August 20
Teacher: Ginger Dolden

Ukulele Beginner Classes
Monday: 8:15pm – 9:15pm, June 30 – August 18
Wednesday: 7pm – 8pm, July 2 – August 20
Teacher: Pete Lanctot

Instrument rentals are available for students who do not own one.

Questions? email: hello@bantam-studios.com

wednesday

weds thru 5/28: new york studio school 2025 mfa thesis exhibition: new york studio school of drawing, painting and sculpture (greenwich village) opens its doors for the annual mfa thesis exhibition, showcasing work from 13 graduating artists across two floors. opening reception 5/15 5-8pm. free admission. >>

weds + thurs (6-8:30pm weds, 6-10pm thurs): dance party at bryant park: meet at the bryant park fountain for the 11th annual themed outdoor dance party series. this week’s finale: brazilian samba and forró with bossa brazil band (weds 6-8:30pm) and a latin festival with sebastian natal + the orchestra and flaco navaja + the razor blades (thurs 6-10pm). both evenings include a dance lesson at 6pm, and thursday’s event features an additional lesson at 8pm. all experience levels are welcome. free admission. >>

weds various times (weather permitting): free outdoor movies:
becoming astrid at stuyvesant square (manhattan) >>
in the mood for love at fort greene park (brooklyn) >>

weds 10:30-11:30am (monthly thru 10/15): tai chi on the high line: get elevated at this monthly series of free, morning tai chi sessions on the high line at little west 12th street. advance registration is encouraged, but walk-ups are welcome. >>

weds 6pm: amy larocca: how to be well: journalist amy larocca presents her new book, how to be well, a researched and personal exploration of the wild world of the $3.7 trillion wellness industry and its impact on women. the corner bookstore (carnegie hill), free admission. >>

weds 7pm (monthly): fantastic fiction: the speculative-fiction reading series, hosted by editor ellen datlow and writer matthew kressel at kgb bar (east village), welcomes daryl gregory (when we were real) and carol gyzander (discontinue if death ensues: tales from the tipping point contributor). free admission. >>

weds 7pm: artists + beers: pair cinema with cervezas at ‘artists + beers,’ a semi-monthly screening series highlighting short films, docs, and music videos by local filmmakers. hosted by nancy pop and chip parham. all night skate (bed-stuy), free admission. >>

weds 7:30pm: we have fun: a stand-up show: hosts zach sims and dan wilbur bring the fun-ny to young ethel’s (south slope), with stand-up by kath barbadoro (comedy central), caitlin reese (hbo), trey galyon (showtime), and michael miller (external use only comedy). free admission. >>

weds 7:30pm: well well well! comedy: chuckles for charity. co-hosts griffin leeds and nora jefferies present an all-lgbtq+ comedy show at the rosemont (williamsburg), with proceeds benefiting the ali forney center. featuring jay jurden (fallon), spike einbinder (los espookys), allison o’conor (decadence), and indigo asim (reductress). $9 suggested donation. >>

weds 8:30pm: top shelf stories: julia whitehouse serves up an evening of carefully crafted storytelling at ucb (east village). tonight’s show features guests jeff hiller, andrew mcgill, jake cornell, and seth herzog, plus one open mic slot reserved for an audience member. $10 adv, $15 day of. >>

weds 9:30pm (weekly): friends with caveats: expect everything from stand-up and character performances to music and even powerpoint presentations at caveat’s weekly comedy show, ‘friends with caveats.’ tonight’s lineup includes emily menez, molly brown, paula croxson, josh gondelman, kurt cruz, andy vega, kat thek, ben lillie, and brian morabito. hosted by mckenna moore. caveat (les), $10 adv, $15 door. >>

thursday

thurs thru august (thursdays thru saturdays from 8pm-11pm): ‘path of liberty: that which unites us’: walk through a six-acre outdoor art exhibition featuring featuring more than 40 large-scale portraits, landscapes, and personal stories that offer a look at what it means to be american. located next to united nations headquarters at freedom plaza (between east 38th street and east 41st street and first ave and fdr drive). free admission (timed reservations are encouraged). >>

thurs thru 5/21: nycxdesign festival: the annual nycxdesign festival celebrates all things design with exhibits, talks, tours, and trade shows across nyc. many free. >>

thurs thru sun: annual queens new music festival: random access music presents four days of concerts highlighting music by 50 contemporary composers, with performances from ram composers/players, vox novus fifteen minutes of fame, hypercube, queens school of music guitar studio, nakedeye ensemble, mantra percussion, and pianist ju-ping song. secret theatre (woodside), $20 general, $10 students/seniors. >>

thurs 5-8pm: pretty in thrift: shop a collection of vintage clothing and accessories curated by pretty in thrift’s stefany mohebban at housing works (soho). prices start at $10. free admission, $15-20 ticket option includes an open bar. >>

thurs 6pm: building the metropolis with alexander wood: in a discussion on his new book, building the metropolis: architecture, construction, and labor in new york city, 1880–1935, historian alexander wood spotlights the architects, laborers, and political forces who literally built new york city during a transformative half-century—when nearly a million buildings, dozens of bridges and tunnels, hundreds of miles of subway lines, and thousands of miles of streets were erected to meet the needs of a booming population. the new york transit museum (downtown brooklyn), $15 admission. >>

thurs 7pm (monthly): facts machine: science, comedy + trivia: scientists and comedians share the stories behind their favorite facts, ‘conduct experiments’ (play drinking games), and probe their knowledge with a trivia challenge loosely inspired by tonight’s theme: flowers. hosted by scientists and pub trivia hosts em costa, noah guiberson, and rob frawley. caveat (les), $14.64 with promo code ‘theskint’ (reg. $24-$25). >>

thurs 7:30pm: when we’re in charge with amanda litman: run for something cofounder amanda litman celebrates the launch of when we’re in charge, her no-nonsense guide for millennials and gen zers ready to shake up the status quo. she’ll discuss the book—which draws on advice from over 100 next-gen changemakers—with teen vogue editor-in-chief versha sharma, with a q+a and signing to follow. greenlight bookstore (fort greene), free admission, $28 ticket option includes a copy of the book. >>

thurs 7:30pm (monthly): pete’s reading series: hear from literary icons and newcomers alike at this long-running reading series, hosted by temim fruchter and brian gresko. tonight’s event features anelise chen (clam down) and emma smith-stevens (the australian). pete’s candy store (williamsburg), free admission. >>

thurs 7:30pm: friends of mozart: friends of mozart, a nonprofit organization dedicated to performing mozart’s music, works from his era, and pieces inspired by his infuence, celebrates its 50th anniversary season with an all-mozart concert at christ + st. stephen’s episcopal church (uws). free admission. >>

thurs 8pm: constellation prize: an astrology-based comedy game show: stand-up meets the stars at constellation prize, a show where comedians perform short three-minute sets—then a panel of astrologers and other comedians try to guess their zodiac sign. hosted by obo gilmore. starr bar (bushwick), free admission. >>

thurs 8pm (monthly): mean girls entirely from memory: watch as blindly-cast ten bones theatre company performers attempt to recreate mean girls (2004)—without the help of scripts or rehearsals. as chaos ensues, drinks are drunk while the players are challenged to incorporate lines written by the audience and create ‘deleted’ scenes. littlefield (gowanus), $12 adv, $14 day of. >>

thurs 10pm: ‘we fix u’ with dina hashem and matt koff: comedians dina hashem and matt koff (the daily show) host an evening of standup comedy and ‘therapy’ at union hall (park slope). after the jokes, audience volunteers are invited to talk out a personal problem—and receive some questionable guidance in return. tonight’s guest performers: mike recine, liza treyger, and emmy blotnick. $10 adv, $15 door. >>

ongoing

our roundup of 60+ ongoing events and attractions: rooftop cinema club, summer on the hudson, the met fifth ave’s new roof garden commission, brooklyn cyclones baseball season, bargemusic, and more. >>

stay safe and healthy
– the skint