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.
Happy Holidays NYC! Here’s a link to the Cheap Chick in the City 2022 NYC Holiday Guide, with LOTS of NYC events happening this weekend!), which will be updated with new events regularly. A few new things to do in NYC for the holidays have already been added + look for more cheap and free NYC holiday events to be added there too.
And now, on to this weekend’s cheap and free NYC events (plus four bonus events! And there may be more 😉
P.S. Sunday December 11th. 2022: Apologies for incorrect date on the yo-yo contest + no date on no-pants party 😦 will be more careful in future.
1. “Grand Central 1, 2, 3”
Friday December 9th, 2022
11 a.m.
Online
“No, we don’t mean the 1, 2, and 3 subway lines (we know those are on the West Side) – we mean the three different train facilities all called “Grand Central” that have been located on 42nd Street at Park Avenue. Join us for this virtual tour of the history of train facilities on this site from the mid-1800s to today.
For all tours, there are no refunds, cancellations, or exchanges unless we cancel a tour. Online registration closes one hour prior to the tour start time.”
Cost: $15, get tkts here.
2. “Movies @ Kips Bay Library Presents Documentary Film Series: Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones”
Friday December 9th, 2022
1 to 3 p.m.
Kips Bay Library, 446 Third Avenue, Manhattan
“A compelling portrait of the artist whose résumé ranges from jazz trumpeter to composer to record and film producer. Includes interviews with Frank Sinatra, Jesse Jackson, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand and Ella Fitzgerald. Directed by Ellen Weissbrod.
Directors: Ellen Weissbrod, Production Year: 1990, Rating: PG-13, Studio: Warner Bros., Runtime: 114 minutes
Cast: Quincy Jones, Frank Sinatra, Ice-T, Ray Charles.”
Cost: Free!
3. From Gotham Writers Writers Workshop, “Start your weekend off right, at “the Write-In!” For those of you who haven’t been to a Write-In before…A teacher gives an interesting writing prompt.
We write.
We share.
We snack… bring your own!
No matter what type of writing you favor, this class is sure
to shake up some fresh ideas, for free!
Next “Zoom Write-Ins”
Friday December 9, 2022, 2:00-3:15 pm, Eastern Time
Friday December 9, 2022, 6:30-7:45 pm, Eastern Time
Please only sign up for one Write-In on a given day. Sign up here.”
4. “Opening Reception – December Exhibition at Studio Artego”
Friday December 9th, 2022
5:30 to 8 p.m.
32-88 48th Street Astoria, Queens
“Our purpose for December show is to acknowledge all of artists who helped Artego to make 2022 a success. This show will be a great opportunity to get together and showcase their works and achievements to the public. In addition, we also invited artists who will be part of our 2023 show. Please come and appreciate their artworks.”
Cost: Free! Get tkts here, starting @ 5:30 p.m., but the Cheap Chick isn’t sure it’s necessary.
5. “Party with no pants (for a good cause)“
Friday December 9th, 2022
8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Secret location, see below
“If you love parties but hate pants we have the event you’ve been waiting for. Former mayoral candidate Paperboy Love Prince host the Anything but Pants Party, fundraiser and winter clothes drive at a secret location. You can wear skirts, shorts, boxers etc. just no pants, okay? Keep an eye on Paperboy’s Instagram for details like the secret location and performers. We assume it’s 21+? Location TBA.”
Cost: $17
6. “Nature’s Workshop: Fireside Painting”
Saturday December 10th, 2022
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Crotona Nature Center in Crotona Park, Crotona Park East and Charlotte Street, Bronx
“Join the Urban Park Rangers for the Nature’s Workshop series. Each program in this series explores its topic in-depth and allows you to develop a skill, participate in a hands-on project, and indulge your curiosity. Join the Urban Park Rangers at the Crotona Park Nature Center for nature inspired painting session beside a calming campfire. Follow step by step instructions on how to create a beautiful painting you can take home. We will be offering tea, hot chocolate, and s’mores making supplies just outside by the fire to keep participants cozy while they paint.”
Cost: Free!
7. “Historic New York: Chinatown Parks and Monuments”
Saturday December 10th, 2022
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Entrance – East Broadway & Essex St in Seward Park, Manhattan
“The Urban Park Rangers will guide you through Chinatown parks, highlighting significant events and commemorations.”
Cost: Free!
8. “Discovery Hike: Winter Wildlife”
Saturday December 10th, 2022
1 to 2 p.m.
Audubon Center at the Boathouse in Prospect Park, Brooklyn
“Hundreds of animal species spend their winters in New York City parks. Learn how animals such as birds, squirrels, chipmunks and others survive the cold and the snow in this educational wildlife viewing adventure.”
Cost: Free!
9. “Birding: Bald Eagle Watch”
Saturday December 10th, 2022
1 to 2 p.m.
Palisade Avenue and Spaulding Lane in Riverdale Park, Bronx
“New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots. Winter is a spectacular time for observing bald eagles in New York City parks. See if you can spot any on this adventure with our Urban Park Rangers. Bring your own binoculars.”
Cost: Free!
10. “Instant Shakespeare”
Saturday December 10th, 2022
1 to 4:30 p.m.
Morningside Heights Library, 2900 Broadway, Manhattan
“Join us for a free reading of ‘The Winter’s Tale.'”
Cost: Free!
11. The “New York Jewish Book Festival” is on Sunday December 11th, 2022, and kicks off a full day of events @ 10 a.m.” featuring talks, panels, and author signings. The daylong event will touch on themes of Jewish heritage including culture and history, modern life and literature, the Holocaust, food and cookbooks, and books for kids and families.”
12. “Sixth Annual East Village Arts Festival”
Saturday December 10th, 2022
3 to 7 p.m.
Tompkins Square Library, 331 East 10th Street, Manhattan
“Please join us for the sixth annual East Village Arts festival happening on Saturday, December 10th from 3 pm to 7 pm.
This year’s theme is “ALL ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD” and we will have local artists, writers and makers.”
Cost: Free!
13. “The New York State Yoyo Contest“
Saturday December 10th, 2022
1208 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn
“The New York State Yoyo Contest happens at Coney Island’s Sideshows by the Seashore on Saturday. Come see incredible, world class yo-yo performers and contestants from all over the country compete for prizes. According to the event organizers, ‘Much like in figure skating or gymnastics, timed routines choreographed to music are evaluated by a panel of judges who consider complexity, creativity, and trick execution.’”
Cost: Cheap-Chick friendly cost to watch only $20, get tkts here.
14. “Ten MORE Buildings I Love”
Sunday December 11th, 2022
2 p.m.
Online
“Francis Morrone is back, and once again he will discuss ten New York buildings – some well-known, some quite obscure – that he has fallen in love with in his 40 years in the city. These aren’t his ten favorites, or his idea of the ten best – just ten that he loves. And he will try to say why (thereby running the risk of falling out of love). (The buildings in the composite photo do not necessarily represent the buildings on Francis’s list!)
For all tours, there are no refunds, cancellations, or exchanges unless we cancel a tour. Online registration closes one hour prior to the tour start time.”
Cost: $25, get tkts 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.
Apologies for wonky formatting.
Cheap Chick in the City 