Editor’s Note: Hi all + welcome to the new version of Cheap Chick in the City! A BIG WARM WELCOME to all my faithful followers and to any new friends who stumbled upon my website after my appearance on The Rehearsal with Nathan Fielder. If anyone wants to wish me a belated happy birthday, buy me a cup of coffee, or orange juice, no pulp 😉 or just support this website, you can Venmo me via @Patricia-Couture-3. The Cheap Chick in the City is also on the Cameo app if anyone wants to request a message, holiday or otherwise.
Well, the holidays are finally here; lots of great cheap and free holiday things to do in NYC. You’ll notice A LOT of tree lightings this week in NYC (including the BIG one @ Rock Center) and as a special holiday treat, I have included six additional cheap and free things to do in NYC this week and expect to continue adding extra NYC events during the 2022 holiday season.
Additionally, I am still working on separate NYC 2022 Holiday Guide and Things to do in NYC for New Year’s Eve 2023 posts.
And now on to this week’s list of free and cheap things to do in NYC (with bonus NYC art exhibits and streaming specials, including a Broadway show):
“Monday Matinee: Blade Runner (1982)”
Monday November 28th, 2022
12 to 2 p.m.
Bloomingdale Library, 150 West 100th Street, Manhattan
“Join us for an in-person film screening of the classic sci-fi film Blade Runner (1982).
A blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space, and have returned to Earth to find their creator.
Director: Ridley Scott
Runtime: 117 minutes “
Cost: Free!
“Seinfeld Trivia“
Monday November 28th, 2022
7 to 8:30 p.m.
Slattery’s Midtown Pub, 8 East 36th Street, Manhattan
“‘Do you ever get down on your knees and thank God you know me and have access to my dementia?’
Well, there’s nothin’ more sophisticated than diddlin’ the maid and then playing Seinfeld Trivia…Use your katra to dominate the dojo during all FIVE unique and challenging rounds on cockfighting, mail fraud, headfirst parking and pee-stained couches.”
Cost: Free to play, but there’s a $20 food/drink minimum. For more info and to get tkts, go here.
“Central Park Nature Hike Series”
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
1 to 2 p.m.
Entrance – East 106th Street and Fifth Avenue in Central Park, Manhattan
“Join the Urban Park Rangers for a series of hikes through the NYC’s most iconic park, Central Park. This week’s program will explore the route from the Pool to the Harlem Meer, focusing on water on Central Park water quality. The Rangers will bring activities for water sampling.”
Cost: Free!
“South Street Seaport Museum Holiday Tree Lighting Activities”
Tuesday November 29th, 2022
4 p.m.
South Street Seaport Museum,12 Fulton Street, Manhattan
“Kick off the holiday season in the Seaport Museum galleries with special open hours from 4pm to 8pm during the neighborhood tree lighting! Watch the annual lighting of the tree on the cobblestones at 6pm, and drop in for some seasonal fun in the galleries where families and guests of all ages will be invited to create paper boat baubles—great decorations for the holiday—using colorful holiday paper.”
Cost: Free! Get tkts here.
“Tavern on the Green’s 6th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony”
Tuesday, November 29th, 2022
5:30 to 8 p.m.
Tavern on the Green W. 67th Street, Manhattan
“Enjoy complimentary drinks, snacks, and musical performances.”
Cost: Free!
“House of Yesterday Launch”
Tuesday November 29th, 2022
6 p.m.
Books of Wonder on 17th Street, 42 West 17th Street, Manhattan
“An exciting YA debut about an Afghan-Uzbek girl who confronts the ghosts of her family’s past!
DEEBA ZARGARPUR makes a powerful debut with House of Yesterday, a novel inspired by her own immigrant family’s history. She’ll be in conversation with KAT CHO, author of Once Upon a K-Prom.
Sixteen-year-old Sara is reeling from her parents’ impending divorce when she first stumbles upon a haunting apparition of her grandmother in a house her family is renovating. Except her grandmother is still alive, though as her beloved Bibi Jan’s dementia progresses, it feels that she is less present with each day.
As Sara desperately clings to the living memories in the house, her huge Afghan-Uzbek family’s secrets and her grandmother’s complicated history begin to rise to the surface. But she knows she’ll have to face the present eventually, no matter how much it hurts to leave her grandmother’s younger self behind—that is, if the house lets her leave at all.”
Cost: Free! Buy House of Yesterday here and Buy Once Upon a K-Prom here.
“SECRETS OF THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAYS WITH OSCAR ISRAELOWITZ“
Tuesday November 29th, 2022
6 p.m.
Online, join here, Access Code: 823 9427 7484 Password: 036290
“Join us for a virtual journey underground! Historian and author Oscar Israelowitz is offering a tour of the artworks displayed throughout New York City subway stations. There are sculptures designed as man-eating alligators coming out of manholes, color and vivid sepia images dating from the 1880s to the present, and sculptures of “little creatures” on the 14th street stations and the palatial City Hall stations, among numerous others.”
Cost: Free!
“CBH Talk | Sewers: Messages from the Underground”
Tuesday November 29th, 2022
6:30 p.m.
Online
“Sift through the muck below our streets and you will discover a wealth of information about public health, climate change, sustainability, consumerism, infrastructure failures and more. Jessica Leigh Hester does just that in her new book, Sewer. Join her as she moderates a discussion with scientists from London, Toronto, California and New York’s own Hudson River Park. They dig into fatbergs, microplastics, Covid sampling and cutting-edge sewage technology, and will forever change how you think about what we flush.
Cost: Free! Get tkts here.
“The History of Antisemitism: Blood Libel”
Tuesday November 29th, 2022
7 to 8 p.m.
Online
“Throughout history, Jews have been accused of using the blood of non-Jews for “rituals.” This accusation, which as come to be called ‘blood libel,’ dates to the second century BCE and continued to grow with the spread of Christianity. In the Middle Ages, the motif made its way into art and literature like Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. These charges continued through the Nazi era; there was even an accusation in upstate New York in 1928. Today, the Roman Catholic Church repudiates blood libel, but accusations continue throughout the world.
Join the Museum for a panel discussion about this history and the role it plays in contemporary antisemitism with Edward G. Berenson, author of The Accusation: Blood Libel in an American Town; Magda Teter, author of Blood Libel: On the Trail of an Antisemitic Myth; and Francois Soyer, author of Popularizing Anti-Semitism in Early Modern Spain and its Empire: Francisco de Torrejoncillo and the Centinela contra Judios (1674). Moderated by Sara Lipton, author of Dark Mirror: The Medieval Origins of Anti-Jewish Iconography.”
Cost: Free or “A $10 suggested donation enables us to present programs like this one.” Get tkts here.
“Light Up Brooklyn Commons”
Wednesday November 30th, 2022
5:30 to 7 p.m.
Brooklyn Commons Park, A.K.A. The Commons (Outside of 100 Myrtle Ave in Downtown Brooklyn)
“Celebrate the start of the holiday season while enjoying a variety of festive outdoor activities at the Light Up Brooklyn Commons event, presented by Brookfield Properties.
Attendees can explore an exhibition of exquisitely carved ice sculptures in the theme of “Mystic Creatures,” by the talented NY-based Okamoto Studio, behold a joyful performance by Brooklyn United, sample holiday treats, and watch with wonder as Santa lights the treasured Brooklyn Commons Christmas tree. The Rink at Brooklyn Commons also spreads the holiday cheer with free ice skating during the time of the event.* The evening’s activities are all free and open to the public.”
Cost: Free! For more info, go here.
“Opening Reception: 40th Annual Wreath Interpretations Exhibition”
Wednesday November 30th, 2022
6 to 8 p.m.
The Arsenal, 830 5th Avenue – 3rd Floor, Manhattan
“Please join NYC Parks for the opening of the 40th annual Wreath Interpretations exhibition, which returns to the Arsenal Gallery with almost 40 inventive, handcrafted wreaths that celebrate the holiday season. Created by artists, designers, and creative individuals of all ages who have used inventive and unexpected materials, these wreaths re-envision the traditional holiday decoration.
This year’s wreaths use unusual materials, including caution tape, traffic light reflectors, safety pins, bath sponges, rulers, Mardi Gras beads, and sugar meringue, and explore a wide range of themes, such as family history, volunteerism, endangered animals, and chemistry.”
Cost: Free!
FIRELEI BÁEZ: ALEX KATZ CHAIR IN PAINTING ARTIST TALK‘”
Wednesday November 30th, 2022
6:30 p.m.
Frederick P. Rose Auditorium, 41 Cooper Square, Manhattan
“Fall 2022 Alex Katz Chair in Advanced Painting Firelei Báez A’04 presents a talk about her practice. Through her process of painting and drawing in layers of material and narrative, Báez unearths women’s stories in the African Diaspora. Image and literary research inform conversations about resistance, climate, and healing while making connections between humans and nature. In recent years, Báez’s work has expanded into immersive installations providing critical interventions across disciplines.”
Cost: Free! For more info and to get tkts, go here.
“Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting”
Wednesday November 30th, 2022
Time TBD, check back for an update on time, however, “You are always invited to view the live national broadcast “Christmas at Rockefeller Center” from home on NBC…[@]8 p.m.” So maybe that’s a clue about the start time??? 😉
“NBC News’ TODAY co-anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Access Hollywood’s Mario Lopez will co-host the highly anticipated holiday special where viewers will be treated to festive performances!
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton will perform a duet of their holiday single, ‘You Make It Feel Like Christmas,’ additional performances will be from Jimmie Allen, Andrea Bocelli along with Matteo Bocelli and Virginia Bocelli, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Brett Eldredge, Mickey Guyton, Alicia Keys, the Muppets of Sesame Street, Dan + Shay, The Shindellas, Louis York and more.”
Cost: Free!
“Housing Works: World AIDS Day 2022: Reading of the Names”
Thursday December 1st, 2022
1 p.m.
“This year, we bring back a version of the Reading of the Names, a powerful exhibit to honor those we have lost to HIV/AIDS in New York. Volunteers will read from a list of names for four hours at the AIDS Memorial Park. There will also be an opportunity to memorialize your own loved ones in an interactive art exhibit at the park.
We will kickoff the day with a press conference, calling on Governor Hochul to take action on ending the epidemic in New York State through the equitable access of housing for all New Yorkers with HIV, and increased access to and usage of housing vouchers.
Please join us for the following events on World AIDS Day:
Housing Works World AIDS Day Events
Date: Thursday, December 1, 2022
Kick-off Press Conference: 1p.m.
Reading of the Names/ Interactive Art Exhibit: 2-6 p.m.
Where: AIDS Memorial Park (76 Greenwhich Ave, Manhattan)
Subways: L/F/M to 14th Street.
Please feel free to join other Non-Housing Works events taking place at the Park following our events. Please note we will not be taking attendance at these events:
Rally and March led by VOCAL-NY (begins at Hudson River Park): 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Free soup provided by Queer Soup Night: 5-7 p.m.
Out of the Darkness Vigil & March: 6-6:30 p.m.
Performance by Tapestry Choir: 6:30 p.m.”
Cost: Free! For more info and to volunteer @ the event, go here.
“Music from China with Wang Guowei”
Thursday December 1st, 2022
2 to 3 p.m.
Webster Library, Auditorium, 1465 York Avenue, Manhattan
“Erhu artist Wang Guowei performs masterworks of the Chinese 2-string
fiddle, bringing his unique voice to this iconic instrument. Mr. Wang will
introduce the erhu and playing techniques, performing in solo and at times
accompanied by a recorded sound track that he created. Additional
commentary will be provided by Susan Cheng.
About the Artist
Wang Guowei is performer on the Chinese two-string fiddle erhu and a
composer. He studied at the Shanghai Conservatory and was concertmaster
and soloist with the Shanghai Traditional Orchestra. Becoming Artistic
Director of Music From China in 1996, he has been hailed as a “master of
the erhu” by the American press. Wang Guowei has appeared with such
artists as the Shanghai Quartet, Amelia Piano Trio, Continuum, Third Angle
New Music Ensemble, Virginia Symphony, Post Classical Symphony,
Ornette Coleman, Butch Morris, Yo-Yo Ma, and has performed at colleges,
universities, cultural institutions and music festivals across the U.S. and
internationally.
For all ages.
‘Phases of the Moon’ is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement, a
regrant program supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership
with the City Council and administered by LMCC.“
Cost: Free!
“Virtual Zumba”
Thursday December 1st, 2022
7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Online
“Zumba is a fusion of Latin, International and popular music dance themes creating a dynamic, exciting, effective fitness system! The routines feature aerobic, fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the body with easy to follow dance steps. The Zoom link will be sent out two hours before the class and again right before the class starts to registered participants.
Instructor: Ashley Thompson.”
Cost: Free! Get tkts here.
*BONUS NYC MUSEUM EXHIBITS*
“no existe un mundo poshuracán: Puerto Rican Art in the Wake of Hurricane Maria” is now on @ Whitney Museum through Sunday April 23, 2023 and “Edward Hopper’s New York,” is also there thru Sunday March 5, 2023.
“‘Shadows’ is a sculpture and sound installation project commissioned by the Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance for the Bella Abzug Park in Hudson Yards. Shadows is an installation of 10 site-specific sculptures depicting the workers who maintain the park on a daily basis. Shadows also includes an audio component, accessible with a QR code, in which the 10 participants sing songs, whistle, hum, laugh, and share stories about their work.” by Fanny Allié.
A new pop-up in the East Village called “Sonya,” features the works of Ukrainian artists, only through Friday December 2, 2022, so hurry before it closes!
[R]Evolution of Hip Hop exhibit is @ the Bronx Terminal Market through summer 2023.
The Skyscraper Museum is hosting “Residential Rising: Lower Manhattan since 9/11”
“She Who Wrote: Enheduanna and Women of Mesopotamia, ca. 3400–2000 B.C.” is on @ the Morgan Library thru Sunday February 19, 2023.
Bask in history AND comics…and George Washington??? @ this new exhibit @ the Fraunces Tavern Museum, “Cloaked Crusader: George Washington in Comics and Pop Culture.”
*BONUS: FREE ONLINE CHRISTMAS SHOWS*
Watch “JOHNNY CARSON READS LETTERS TO SANTA” here.
And check out Albert Finney as “SCROOGE” in a free Broadway musical recording here.
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If you’re an org or individual with an event that you’d like to promote on “Cheap Chick in the City,” either in a “Top Ten” list or highlighted in a “Cheap Chick Bargain Bulletin,” please contact me via the website.
The Cheap Chick in the City realizes that this new format is not as all-encompassing as her old one, but this is about all she has time for now, esp with the busy holiday season approaching. *Fingers Crossed* that maybe she can revert to the old format sometime next summer.
And as always, please be sure to follow the Cheap Chick in the City on Twitter via @cheapchicknyc for everything cheap and free New York City.
Cheap Chick in the City 