Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best free things to do in New York City on Columbus Day Monday, Oct 12: 46 picks, refreshed weekly.
46 picks · checked Sep 17
American Academy of Arts and Letters, Washington Heights, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Final Fantasy artist's first New York institutional solo show: a Pandora frieze of drawings, free at Audubon Terrace from opening day.
American Academy of Arts and Letters, Washington Heights, ManhattanBeyond My Ken · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Final Fantasy artist's first New York institutional solo show: a Pandora frieze of drawings, free at Audubon Terrace from opening day.
Add to calendar
Wave Hill, Riverdale, BronxWave Hill's Hudson-view gardens open to everyone for nothing on the holiday, with a walking tour on Lenape women leaders called Saunksquas.
Wave Hill, Riverdale, BronxWave Hill's Hudson-view gardens open to everyone for nothing on the holiday, with a walking tour on Lenape women leaders called Saunksquas.
Add to calendar
Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanBronze, stone and concrete dogs on leashes take over the Central Park entrance at 60th and Fifth — Camille Henrot's first public show in New York.
Doris C. Freedman Plaza, Central Park, ManhattanBronze, stone and concrete dogs on leashes take over the Central Park entrance at 60th and Fifth — Camille Henrot's first public show in New York.
Add to calendar
Hauser & Wirth, 542 West 22nd Street, Chelsea, ManhattanWikipettanko · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsKorean icon Lee Bul fills Hauser & Wirth with major new sculptures — cyborg bodies and glittering future ruins probing technology, nature and history.
Hauser & Wirth, 542 West 22nd Street, Chelsea, ManhattanWikipettanko · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsKorean icon Lee Bul fills Hauser & Wirth with major new sculptures — cyborg bodies and glittering future ruins probing technology, nature and history.
Add to calendarIt lands the Friday before, plus every Friday until then. Unsubscribe anytime.
City Hall Park, Civic Center, ManhattanNielsoncaetanosalmeron · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsConcrete birds pluck pennies from the City Hall Park fountain and two bronze Lady Justices preside — Genesis Belanger's first big public show.
City Hall Park, Civic Center, ManhattanNielsoncaetanosalmeron · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsConcrete birds pluck pennies from the City Hall Park fountain and two bronze Lady Justices preside — Genesis Belanger's first big public show.
Add to calendar
MoMA PS1, Long Island City, QueensKing of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA 22-ton wall of rubble from a Ciudad Juárez home anchors Teresa Margolles's first large US museum show, free across PS1's third floor.
MoMA PS1, Long Island City, QueensKing of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA 22-ton wall of rubble from a Ciudad Juárez home anchors Teresa Margolles's first large US museum show, free across PS1's third floor.
Add to calendar
Prospect Park, BrooklynKing of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA free outdoor morning exploring nature in Prospect Park, starting at 10am.
Prospect Park, BrooklynKing of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA free outdoor morning exploring nature in Prospect Park, starting at 10am.
Add to calendar
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynIndustry City Gourmet Food and Drinks Tour at Industry City.
Industry City, Sunset Park, BrooklynIndustry City Gourmet Food and Drinks Tour at Industry City.
Add to calendar
Green-Wood Cemetery, Greenwood Heights, BrooklynRide a trolley past the graves of William Colgate and John Draper on Green-Wood's free hour-long intro tour of the Brooklyn landmark.
Green-Wood Cemetery, Greenwood Heights, BrooklynRide a trolley past the graves of William Colgate and John Draper on Green-Wood's free hour-long intro tour of the Brooklyn landmark.
Add to calendar
The Museum at FIT, Chelsea, ManhattanAn original 1980 Black Barbie beside Margiela and Moschino looks: 170-plus dolls and garments fill FIT's fashion museum in Chelsea, free to walk in.
The Museum at FIT, Chelsea, ManhattanAn original 1980 Black Barbie beside Margiela and Moschino looks: 170-plus dolls and garments fill FIT's fashion museum in Chelsea, free to walk in.
Add to calendar
First Street Green Cultural Park, Lower East Side, ManhattanTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsBassist William Parker leads PocketWatch and Luke Stewart's big band closes Arts for Art's free garden jazz festival on the Lower East Side.
First Street Green Cultural Park, Lower East Side, ManhattanTdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsBassist William Parker leads PocketWatch and Luke Stewart's big band closes Arts for Art's free garden jazz festival on the Lower East Side.
Add to calendar
The Museum of Modern Art, Midtown, ManhattanDietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThirty works of digital and analog information design in MoMA's street-level gallery, which is free and open to the public.
The Museum of Modern Art, Midtown, ManhattanDietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThirty works of digital and analog information design in MoMA's street-level gallery, which is free and open to the public.
Add to calendar
Watermark, Pier 15, South Street Seaport, ManhattanBillie Grace Ward from New York, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHofbräu, Weihenstephan and giant pretzels on a 10,000-square-foot East River pier with Brooklyn Bridge views — free to walk in, all ages.
Watermark, Pier 15, South Street Seaport, ManhattanBillie Grace Ward from New York, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHofbräu, Weihenstephan and giant pretzels on a 10,000-square-foot East River pier with Brooklyn Bridge views — free to walk in, all ages.
Add to calendar
MoMA PS1, Long Island City, QueensPosters, film and sculpture from Nobel Peace Prize winner ICAN's artist campaign fill PS1's Homeroom and museum admission is free for all.
MoMA PS1, Long Island City, QueensPosters, film and sculpture from Nobel Peace Prize winner ICAN's artist campaign fill PS1's Homeroom and museum admission is free for all.
Add to calendar
Element Brooklyn Gallery of Scent, South Street Seaport, ManhattanSniff 30 perfumery notes from touch-activated misters and leave with a Polaroid scent portrait at this free Front Street gallery near the Seaport.
Element Brooklyn Gallery of Scent, South Street Seaport, ManhattanSniff 30 perfumery notes from touch-activated misters and leave with a Polaroid scent portrait at this free Front Street gallery near the Seaport.
Add to calendar
Loreley Beer Garden, Lower East Side, ManhattanLiter steins, liter boots, pig roasts and twelve kinds of sausage fill Loreley's heated LES beer garden for a six-week Oktoberfest, no cover.
Loreley Beer Garden, Lower East Side, ManhattanLiter steins, liter boots, pig roasts and twelve kinds of sausage fill Loreley's heated LES beer garden for a six-week Oktoberfest, no cover.
Add to calendar
The Kitchen, Chelsea, ManhattanHumming glass gongs and a pulsing drum honoring Milford Graves fill The Kitchen's loft in Josiah McElheny's free ode to experimental musicians.
The Kitchen, Chelsea, ManhattanHumming glass gongs and a pulsing drum honoring Milford Graves fill The Kitchen's loft in Josiah McElheny's free ode to experimental musicians.
Add to calendar
The FLAG Art Foundation, Chelsea, ManhattanPrison-stool sculptures, neon text and a new bodycam-style video fill FLAG's Chelsea floor in Sable Elyse Smith's free prize show.
The FLAG Art Foundation, Chelsea, ManhattanPrison-stool sculptures, neon text and a new bodycam-style video fill FLAG's Chelsea floor in Sable Elyse Smith's free prize show.
Add to calendar
David Zwirner Tribeca, Tribeca, ManhattanRising painter Emma McIntyre debuts lush new abstractions at Zwirner's Tribeca space — poured, stained canvases where chemistry meets gesture.
David Zwirner Tribeca, Tribeca, ManhattanRising painter Emma McIntyre debuts lush new abstractions at Zwirner's Tribeca space — poured, stained canvases where chemistry meets gesture.
Add to calendar
Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park, BrooklynA free Prospect Park exhibit honors Shirley Chisholm through seven life lessons, Al Johnson portraits and rare campaign memorabilia.
Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park, BrooklynA free Prospect Park exhibit honors Shirley Chisholm through seven life lessons, Al Johnson portraits and rare campaign memorabilia.
Add to calendar
Union Pool, Williamsburg, BrooklynWwwhatsup at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsRev. Vince Anderson and his Love Choir fill Union Pool's back room for a free, 21-and-over holiday Monday night in Williamsburg.
Union Pool, Williamsburg, BrooklynWwwhatsup at en.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsRev. Vince Anderson and his Love Choir fill Union Pool's back room for a free, 21-and-over holiday Monday night in Williamsburg.
Add to calendar
Ralph Ellison Plaza, Hamilton Heights, ManhattanDeans Charbal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLocal jazz musicians and vocalists jam beside Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man memorial on Riverside Drive at 150th Street — free.
Ralph Ellison Plaza, Hamilton Heights, ManhattanDeans Charbal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLocal jazz musicians and vocalists jam beside Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man memorial on Riverside Drive at 150th Street — free.
Add to calendar
Wave Hill, Riverdale, BronxOleana Whispering Dove leads a free Wave Hill walk on Saunksquas, the Indigenous women chiefs who negotiated treaties with settlers.
Wave Hill, Riverdale, BronxOleana Whispering Dove leads a free Wave Hill walk on Saunksquas, the Indigenous women chiefs who negotiated treaties with settlers.
Add to calendar
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, Pelham Bay Park, BronxJohnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952, photographer · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsWalk the route of the Siwanoy Trail with Urban Park Rangers and learn how the Siwanoy lived along Pelham Bay's shore.
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, Pelham Bay Park, BronxJohnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952, photographer · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsWalk the route of the Siwanoy Trail with Urban Park Rangers and learn how the Siwanoy lived along Pelham Bay's shore.
Add to calendarIt lands the Friday before, plus every Friday until then. Unsubscribe anytime.
Big weekends coming up — save them now, plan later.
