Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best things to do in Manhattan on Friday night, Sep 18: 21 picks, refreshed weekly.
21 picks · checked Sep 7
Broadway theaters (various), Theater District, ManhattanLast call on 2-for-1 Broadway: Wicked, Hadestown, Oh, Mary! and 20-plus more at half price before the fall window slams shut this weekend.
Broadway theaters (various), Theater District, ManhattanLast call on 2-for-1 Broadway: Wicked, Hadestown, Oh, Mary! and 20-plus more at half price before the fall window slams shut this weekend.
Delacorte Theater, Central Park, ManhattanAcabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTaylor Mac and Matt Ray's queer rock-opera song cycle lands at the Delacorte in concert form — free, one weekend only, closing Central Park's season.
Delacorte Theater, Central Park, ManhattanAcabashi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTaylor Mac and Matt Ray's queer rock-opera song cycle lands at the Delacorte in concert form — free, one weekend only, closing Central Park's season.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanThe China Dance Lotus Award-winning dance drama MULAN makes its New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater for four performances only, staged on a 15-meter revolving stage.
Lincoln Square, ManhattanThe China Dance Lotus Award-winning dance drama MULAN makes its New York premiere at the David H. Koch Theater for four performances only, staged on a 15-meter revolving stage.
Lower East Side, ManhattanDietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA dense repertory weekend on Ludlow Street: a 35mm Left-Handed Girl with director Shih-Ching Tsou, Pumping Iron on 16mm with its editor, Zidane with Darius Khondji and Anja Breien's Wives trilogy in one Sunday.
Lower East Side, ManhattanDietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA dense repertory weekend on Ludlow Street: a 35mm Left-Handed Girl with director Shih-Ching Tsou, Pumping Iron on 16mm with its editor, Zidane with Darius Khondji and Anja Breien's Wives trilogy in one Sunday.
Webster Hall, East Village, ManhattanSelena Gomez and benny blanco squeeze arena-scale pop stardom into 1,500-cap Webster Hall — the married hitmakers playing a rare, tiny club night.
Webster Hall, East Village, ManhattanSelena Gomez and benny blanco squeeze arena-scale pop stardom into 1,500-cap Webster Hall — the married hitmakers playing a rare, tiny club night.
Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, ManhattanCoumba Samba turns the Whitney lobby into an installation on nuclear power and African resource extraction, free to walk into.
Whitney Museum of American Art, Meatpacking District, ManhattanCoumba Samba turns the Whitney lobby into an installation on nuclear power and African resource extraction, free to walk into.
Midtown, ManhattanDean Wareham's Luna — the New York band he started in 1991 after Galaxie 500 — plays Sony Hall's basement cabaret with Sub Pop songwriter Lael Neale opening.
Midtown, ManhattanDean Wareham's Luna — the New York band he started in 1991 after Galaxie 500 — plays Sony Hall's basement cabaret with Sub Pop songwriter Lael Neale opening.
Midtown, ManhattanEvery Friday evening MoMA stays open late, free for New York State residents who reserve ahead, with drop-in drawing, Friday Night Talks and films alongside the collection.
Midtown, ManhattanEvery Friday evening MoMA stays open late, free for New York State residents who reserve ahead, with drop-in drawing, Friday Night Talks and films alongside the collection.
Midtown, ManhattanThe Egyptian satirist once called the Jon Stewart of the Arab world brings his Belly of the Beast tour to The Town Hall for a solo night of political stand-up.
Midtown, ManhattanThe Egyptian satirist once called the Jon Stewart of the Arab world brings his Belly of the Beast tour to The Town Hall for a solo night of political stand-up.
Gramercy, ManhattanRosebud Baker brings the Paper Bag Princess Tour to Gramercy Theatre for a hometown night of unsparing, dry-as-a-bone stand-up.
Gramercy, ManhattanRosebud Baker brings the Paper Bag Princess Tour to Gramercy Theatre for a hometown night of unsparing, dry-as-a-bone stand-up.
Radio City Music Hall, Midtown, ManhattanFrank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSara Bareilles brings Good Grief home to Radio City for two nights — her first tour in seven years, in the city where Waitress was born.
Radio City Music Hall, Midtown, ManhattanFrank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSara Bareilles brings Good Grief home to Radio City for two nights — her first tour in seven years, in the city where Waitress was born.
SummerStage, Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, ManhattanRage-rap phenomenon Yeat takes over Central Park's SummerStage for a rescheduled LOVE/LYFE night — a sold-out open-air mosh under the trees.
SummerStage, Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, ManhattanRage-rap phenomenon Yeat takes over Central Park's SummerStage for a rescheduled LOVE/LYFE night — a sold-out open-air mosh under the trees.
The Rooftop at Pier 17, Seaport, ManhattanGravel-voiced country riser Sam Barber sings 'Straight and Narrow' on Pier 17's open-air rooftop, with the Brooklyn Bridge glowing behind the stage.
The Rooftop at Pier 17, Seaport, ManhattanGravel-voiced country riser Sam Barber sings 'Straight and Narrow' on Pier 17's open-air rooftop, with the Brooklyn Bridge glowing behind the stage.
Greenwich Village, ManhattanDrummer Chris Dave, bassist Meshell Ndegeocello and blues guitarist Eric Gales convene as a trio at the Blue Note for a three-night stand, two sets a night.
Greenwich Village, ManhattanDrummer Chris Dave, bassist Meshell Ndegeocello and blues guitarist Eric Gales convene as a trio at the Blue Note for a three-night stand, two sets a night.
Financial District, ManhattanThe 2026 Oculus Outdoors series closes with a free 35th-anniversary screening of The Addams Family on the North Oculus Plaza at the World Trade Center.
Financial District, ManhattanThe 2026 Oculus Outdoors series closes with a free 35th-anniversary screening of The Addams Family on the North Oculus Plaza at the World Trade Center.
Mercury Lounge, Lower East Side, ManhattanThis photo was taken by participant/team Team Dustizeff as part of the Commons:Wikis Take Manhattan project on Octobe... · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMontreal psych-rockers Elephant Stone swirl sitar into fuzzed-out grooves at Mercury Lounge, the LES's essential 250-cap rock room.
Mercury Lounge, Lower East Side, ManhattanThis photo was taken by participant/team Team Dustizeff as part of the Commons:Wikis Take Manhattan project on Octobe... · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMontreal psych-rockers Elephant Stone swirl sitar into fuzzed-out grooves at Mercury Lounge, the LES's essential 250-cap rock room.
Carl Schurz Park: John Finley Walk, ManhattanFree Shakespeare with an East River backdrop — The Comedy of Errors' twin-fueled mayhem plays Carl Schurz Park's John Finley Walk at golden hour.
Carl Schurz Park: John Finley Walk, ManhattanFree Shakespeare with an East River backdrop — The Comedy of Errors' twin-fueled mayhem plays Carl Schurz Park's John Finley Walk at golden hour.
Sol Bloom Playground: Basketball-01, ManhattanMovies Under the Stars comes to Sol Bloom Playground — NYC Parks' free outdoor screening lights up the Upper West Side court after dark.
Sol Bloom Playground: Basketball-01, ManhattanMovies Under the Stars comes to Sol Bloom Playground — NYC Parks' free outdoor screening lights up the Upper West Side court after dark.
Riverside Park: Lawn-99th Street-RSP, ManhattanRiverside Park closes out movie season with a free film on the 99th Street lawn — blankets, river breezes and the Hudson glowing at dusk.
Riverside Park: Lawn-99th Street-RSP, ManhattanRiverside Park closes out movie season with a free film on the 99th Street lawn — blankets, river breezes and the Hudson glowing at dusk.
Irving Plaza, Union Square, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons'Sun and Moon' singer anees brings his sunbeam blend of pop, rap and love-drunk sincerity to Irving Plaza's storied thousand-cap ballroom.
Irving Plaza, Union Square, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons'Sun and Moon' singer anees brings his sunbeam blend of pop, rap and love-drunk sincerity to Irving Plaza's storied thousand-cap ballroom.
United Palace, Washington Heights, Manhattan809 NEW YORK MAGAZINE · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLatin star Dalvin La Melodia headlines Washington Heights' gilded United Palace, the uptown movie-palace-turned-concert-hall.
United Palace, Washington Heights, Manhattan809 NEW YORK MAGAZINE · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLatin star Dalvin La Melodia headlines Washington Heights' gilded United Palace, the uptown movie-palace-turned-concert-hall.
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