food events / street fairs / markets / shopping events:
► sat: 25th annual free comic book day: at participating local comic shops across the country. >>
► sat 9am-5pm: manhattan rare book + fine press fair: st. vincent ferrer church (ues). $10 with promo code ‘skint’ (reg. $20). >>
► sat 11am-5pm: designing women market: the new york historical nyhistory store (uws). free admission. >>
► sat 4pm-midnight (saturdays thru 8/22, + 9/19-10/31): queens night market: behind the new york hall of science at flushing meadows corona park. $5 admission for 5/2 sneak preview day (rescheduled from 4/25 due to weather), free admission starting 5/9. >>
► sat + sun (10am-6pm, + various dates thru the season): dragon fest chinese food street fair: saturday @ 2nd ave bet 72nd + 73rd sts; sunday @ broadway bet 80th + 81st sts. free admission. >>
► sat + sun (10am-6pm, + various dates thru the 10/25): japan fes japanese food street fair: saturday @ 2nd ave bet 82nd + 83rd sts; sunday @ broadway bet 75th + 76th sts. free admission. >>
► sat + sun (12-6pm): fad (fashion art design) market: brooklyn brewery (williamsburg). >>
► sun 10am-4pm: 5 borough bazaar: made in nyc bazaar at grand bazaar nyc: 100 w 77th st at columbus ave (indoors + outdoors). free admission. >>
► sun 12-6pm: 5th annual gjergj kastrioti skenderbeu fair: corner of crescent ave + arthur ave (bronx). free admission. >>
► sun 12-6pm: brooklyn pop-up x made in nyc makers market: strong rope brewery (red hook). free admission. >>
► sun 12-6pm: nyc tape (vhs, cassette, and more) fair: selva (bushwick). free admission. >>
film fests / series:
► sponsored: thru sun: prismatic ground experimental film festival: brooklyn academy of music (fort greene), dctv firehouse cinema (chinatown), light industry (east williamsburg), anthology film archives (east village), and metrograph (les). $10-20. >>
► thru sun: 26th annual coney island film festival: coney island usa. $10+. >>
► thru sun: 50th margaret mead film festival: the american museum of natural history (uws). $15-20 general, $13-15 students/seniors. >>
► thru mon: 16th annual lower east side film festival: village east cinema, international center of photography, sofaclub cannabis, and kbg bar. get 2-for-1 tickets with promo code ‘skintles50’ >>
► thru 5/14: ‘wild tales: remarkably bright creatures + other unlikely friendships’ series: the black stallion, my octopus teacher, steel magnolias, wendy and lucy, and more. paris theater (midtown). $17 general, $15 seniors. >>
► thru 5/15: ‘the dog dies’ series: a fish called wanda, all dogs go to heaven, cujo, john wick, the thing, and more. metrograph (les). $18. >>
► thru 5/30: 33rd new york african film festival: the africa center (east harlem), st. nicholas park (harlem), film at lincoln center (uws), maysles documentary center (harlem), brooklyn academy of music (fort greene), and library for arts + culture (fort greene). various prices. >>
may the fourth be with you at these star wars day events:
► fri + mon (fri 9pm, mon 8pm): the drunk texts: star wars: a hope renew’d (fri) and the empire doth protest (mon). the rat nyc (dumbo), $12. >>
► sat 7pm: star wars trivia night: the tiny cupboard (bushwick), free. >>
► mon 6pm: galactic empire prog-metal band: the meadows (east williamsburg), $25. >>
sponsored
The Rainbow Book Fair, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ literary event, returns to New York City on Saturday, May 9, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM at The LGBT Community Center (208 West 13th Street).
Under the 2026 theme, “BOOKS CHANGE OUR LIVES,” the fair serves as a vital act of cultural resistance. Featuring over 100 exhibitors, authors, and publishers, the event showcases the full spectrum of queer storytelling, from indie poetry to scholarly works and graphic novels.
“The Rainbow Book Fair is more than a marketplace; it is a sanctuary,” say organizers. “At a time when queer literature is under fire, we stand firm in the belief that we are building a future where every voice is heard.”
Admission is FREE, with a $5 suggested donation.
The 14th Annual Rainbow Book Fair
Saturday, May 9, 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
The LGBT Community Center
208 West 13th Street, NYC
friday
thru october: summer on the hudson: riverside park’s annual arts and culture festival returns with nearly 400 free events between 59th + 153rd streets, including festivals, concerts, dance parties, movies, fitness classes, and more. >>
thru the season: backyard at hudson yards: the public square and gardens at hudson yards opens up for a full season of free outdoor programming, from movies (starting 5/2 with the lion king and carnegie hall’s ensemble connect) and sports (madrid open and yankees games start 5/1) on a 30-foot screen, to live concerts (starting 5/13 with aly + aj) and fitness classes (dance cardio starts 5/12) and family activities. >>
thru 5/31: les history month: founded in 2014, lower east side history month is an annual celebration of the history and people of the les. this year’s fest features over 60 les-based cultural and community groups, small businesses, and residents hosting a variety of public events, exhibits, and tours. various prices. >>
thru 5/31: let’s be frank: artist brandon sines’ latest frank ape exhibition takes over cycol gallery’s two floors with painting, sculpture, and immersive installation. centered on an eight-foot sculpture titled home is all of us, the show playfully explores community, identity, contemporary life, and what it means to belong. the opening reception (5/1 6-10pm) will feature limited-edition releases and free tattoos by mira mariah (@girlknewyork). cycol gallery (les), free admission. >>
thru sun: jane’s walk nyc: inspired by urbanist, author, and activist jane jacobs, the municipal art society’s annual jane’s walk nyc presents over 250 in-person, virtual, and on-demand walking tours across the five boroughs. the tours are led by new yorkers from all walks of life, sharing places and stories that make neighborhoods unique. free. >>
thru sun: long play festival: bang on a can’s multi-day music fest returns with 70+ concerts across downtown brooklyn, spanning contemporary, experimental, and genre-blurring sounds. most shows require a festival pass, and only a few venues will be selling single tickets, but a series of free performances will pop up at fort greene park, betty carter park, and bric, including an outdoor performance of john luther adams’ crossing open ground for 40 percussionists, winds, and brass (fort greene park, sunday at 12pm). >>
sponsored: thru sat: pen america: world voices festival: the world voices festival is returning to nyc! featuring 140+ writers and 40+ events, there are panels and performances for every kind of reader, from poetry lovers to sci-fi fans. this year’s lineup includes beloved authors and exciting international voices including judith butler, cory doctorow, eddie glaude jr. renya grande, siri hustvedt, katie kitamura, laila lalami, bill mckibben, rivers solomon, and abdellah taïa. join us for conversations about political fables, the erasure of black histories, dark academia, the changing role of the translator, plus a whole lot more. check out over 20 free events like the translation slam, artlords’ public mural, the unbannable library, and the tenth annual indie lit fair. the rest of the events are priced at no more than $20! don’t miss out on this celebration of global literature. use code ‘penpal26’ for 20% off tickets. >>
sponsored: thru sat: you’re invited to emerge125’s 2026 season: save 40%!: emerge125, a black, female-led dance company based in harlem, presents its 2026 nyc season at el museo del barrio, celebrating 10 years of artistic director tiffany rea-fisher’s leadership. this season features three dynamic new works choreographed by rea-fisher, exploring themes of progressive social change through powerful, physically charged movement. save 40% on standard view and preferred view tickets with promo code ‘skint’ (offer not valid on the full gala experience and dinner). >>
sponsored: fri + sat (fri 5pm, sat 1pm): movies under the palms at brookfield place: catch a free movie with friends, family, or co-workers at the movies under the palms event at brookfield place (230 vesey st, lower manhattan)! the series features a lineup of feel-good, nostalgic films that both kids and grown-ups will enjoy, including annie (friday, 5/1 at 5pm) and the wizard of oz (saturday, 5/2 at 1pm). bonus: complimentary popcorn at each event (while supplies last). no rsvp necessary – seating is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. >>
sponsored: fri + sat (various times): flop house comedy club: nyc’s friendliest indie comedy club—with great comics and a cozy atmosphere—has some incredible lineups this weekend! save 50% with promo code ‘skint’ on tickets to these shows at 362 grand street in williamsburg: friday 8pm, 9:30pm, and 11pm; and the east village location is back at 83 1st ave saturday at 8:30pm. new: monthly member’s pass ($20) to see as many shows as you want + happy hour drinks + secret drop in announcements! >>
fri 5-8pm: sva print slam 24: print sale and exhibition: scoop up fresh prints, zines, books and editions made by the community of artists and students at the sva riso lab, nyc’s only dedicated educational risograph printing facility. all exhibited works will be for sale, and 100% of proceeds go to the artists. free admission (rsvp required here). >>
sponsored: fri 5:30pm: first fridays at the frick collection: join us at the frick for free evenings of art and culture, on the first friday of each month (except january and september). explore our galleries after hours, grab a drink or a bite to eat, and enjoy exciting talks, live music in the garden court, and art making. this month’s installment coincides with ‘fashion week at the frick’ (april 28 to may 4), a celebration of art and dress inspired by our special exhibitions. timed tickets are fully booked, but a limited number of walk-up tickets will be available. >>
fri 6pm (+ sun 7pm): the east village then and now with daniel root: the east village then and now with daniel root: photographer daniel root discusses his new book pairing 1980s images of the east village with present-day shots of the same locations, tracing the neighborhood’s transformation over four decades. rizzoli in the flatiron (friday) and book club bar in the east village (sunday). free admission. >>
fri 6pm: first novel friday at the center for fiction: join the center for fiction for an evening celebrating a selection of notable debut novels. the night begins with a happy hour reception in the lounge (cash bar), followed by author readings, discussion, and signings in the auditorium. tonight’s featured authors include juliet faithfull (liar’s dice), hafeez lakhani (abundance), gabrielle sher (odessa), and moderator naeem murr (every exit brings you home). the center for fiction (fort greene), $5+ admission. >>
fri 6:30pm (monthly): lower east stories: p+t knitwear bookstore + café (les) presents a storytelling salon where each month brings a fresh theme and fresh tales. tonight’s theme: ‘may i?’ hosted by matt storrs. $10 admission. >>
fri 7pm (monthly): immigrant jam comedy: german-born, nyc-raised comedian and actor lucie pohl (overwatch) celebrates all things cross-cultural, international, and delightfully different at the immigrant jam stand-up show, featuring immigrant and first generation comedians. tonight’s lineup reps bangladesh, canada, china, germany, pakistan, romania, and south korea with performers pat burtscher, shafi hossain, ben kim, sabeen sadiq, jamie wang, and more. a portion of the proceeds will go to new women new yorkers. caveat (les), $15.67 with promo code ‘skint’ (reg. $24-25). >>
fri 7:30pm: friend island comedy: castaway your worries at the friend island comedy show, hosted by pals by alex murdoch and kevin mulharin. featuring performances by shaunak godkhindi, dan yang, hannah jones, amber singletary, and ethan mead. fiction bar/cafe (williamsburg), $10 adv, $15 door. >>
fri 7:30pm: ¡vaya! latin music series: oscar dudamel y su orquesta: venezuelan trombonist and bandleader oscar dudamel takes over lincoln center’s david rubenstein atrium (uws) with an evening of music and dancing. free admission. >>
fri 8:30pm: bitches brew comedy show: this women-produced and-hosted comedy show conjures up big laughs in the back room of halyards (gowanus). tonight’s performers include moss perricone (snl), shenuque tissera (hbo max), alison leiby (the marvelous ms. maisel), and sabeen sadiq (sirius xm). free admission (a tip jar will be passed around at the end of the show). >>
saturday
sat thru october (weekends): live in the lot: free outdoor concerts return to the lot at culturelab lic every weekend, kicking off with l train brass band, uncle brother, gentleman brawlers, liftoff brass, and tony santos band. >>
sat thru 8/15 (various fridays + saturdays at 7pm or 7:30pm): green-wood after hours: explore green-wood cemetery under the night sky, walking past gravestones and monuments while hearing stories of notable new yorkers along the way. the tour ends with a stop inside the catacombs—an underground space that’s usually closed to the public. byo flashlight. $30. >>
sat thru 7/31: carnegie hall citywide: carnegie hall steps out of midtown to bring a mix of live performances to venues throughout new york city. the annual series features artists of all genres including classical, broadway, jazz, latin music, and beyond. kicking things off: hudson yards hosts ensemble connect for a short concert inspired by musical ideas from the world of the lion king, followed by a screening of the disney classic on a 30-foot screen. >>
sat thru 5/17: regina opera: carmen: brooklyn’s regina opera presents a fully-staged performance of bizet’s carmen at our lady of perpetual help auditorium (sunset park). the performance, sung in french with english supertitles, will be presented with sets, costumes, and live orchestral accompaniment. free open dress rehearsals 5/2 and 5/7; performances 5/9-17 are $25 general, $20 seniors/students. >>
sat + sun (sat 10am-2pm, sun 11am-3pm): free bike helmets: the department of transportation keeps its free bike helmet program rolling, with personally fitted helmets available for riders of all ages at the cathedral of saint john the divine (morningside heights) and holy cow playground (fresh meadows). while supplies last. >>
sat + sun (1-3pm): 16th annual westfest dance festival: seven dance artists take you on a site-specific journey through the courtyards, vestibules, hallways, and stairwells of westbeth artist housing (west village). tours run every 30 minutes starting at 1pm. free admission. >>
sat (various times): 152nd kentucky derby watch parties with free or low-cost admission:
► 230 fifth rooftop (flatiron). $15 admission includes a drink. >>
► amity hall (greenwich village and upper east side locations). free admission. >>
► parklife (gowanus). food/drink purchase required. >>
► pete’s candy store (williamsburg). free admission. >>
► the big screen at hudson yards. free admission. >>
sat (various times): 15th annual riverkeeper sweep: join a community-powered cleanup along the hudson, with volunteers picking up trash, removing invasive plants, and logging plastic waste during this annual day of environmental service. various locations throughout nyc and the hudson valley. >>
sat 8:30am: 28th annual blessing of the bikes: kick off biking season with a blessing at the cathedral of st. john the divine (morningside heights), where cyclists, skaters, and other self-propelled riders of all backgrounds gather the day before the five boro bike tour for a brief non-denominational service featuring words from dean winnie varghese, a sprinkling of holy water over bikes, a moment of silence for cyclists lost in the past year, and a collective ring-out of bicycle bells to send everyone rolling into the season. free (donations accepted). >>
sat 11am-5:50pm: jane’s carousel day: take a spin at brooklyn bridge park’s jane’s carousel with free rides and face paint for all at this annual family-friendly event. >>
sponsored: sat 4:30pm, 7:30pm: 50% off – classical violin + piano stars randall goosby + zhu wang at peoples’ symphony: peoples’ symphony concerts presents the ‘exquisite’ violinist randall goosby and ‘superb’ pianist zhu wang (new york times) in works by pioneering american composers harry burleigh and amy beach, plus beethoven, debussy, and dvořák, at high school of fashion industries (chelsea). a free open rehearsal and fun q+a session with the artists from 4:30-6:00pm will precede the 7:30pm evening concert, and skint readers can use the code ‘skint’ to get 50% off tickets for the 7:30 pm concert (regular: $20 general admission, $10 for students and essential workers). >>
sat 5-10pm (monthly): first saturdays at brooklyn museum: ‘inkwells’: this month’s edition of first saturdays at brooklyn museum celebrates aapi heritage month with an evening of live music, performances, readings, talks, art-making, and more. free admission includes museum general admission (rsvp required). >>
sat 6-9pm: of grit and grid: a one-night art exhibition: a former real estate office is briefly transformed into a pop-up exhibition featuring work by 36 artists across sculpture, painting, installation, and mixed media. the show exists for just three hours before disappearing, a short takeover of a space shaped by the same market forces that have made such spaces harder to find. 123 s 4th st (williamsburg), free admission. >>
sat 7pm (monthly): tom d’s big new york show: comedian and licensed nyc tour guide tom delgado takes you through different aspects of nyc each month, with history, comedy, trivia with prizes, and special guests. tonight’s show features doriann debose (comedian, evil shark tank) and debby applegate (pulitzer prize-winning author, most famous man in america). save $5 with promo code ‘tomdnyc’ >>
sat 7pm (monthly): ucblk: a variety show spotlighting black performers: join hosts justin catchens, dominique kaplowitz, and shem pennant for a night of improv, sketch, stand-up, and more—featuring a dynamic lineup of black performers. ucb (east village), $15. >>
sat 7pm doors: catch performance series: the obie award-winning catch performance series returns to life world (bushwick) for a night of dance, theater, music, performance art, and video art from emerging and established artists. $20 admission (cash only). >>
sat 7:30pm (monthly): feel the news with marcela onyango: in this monthly anti-capitalist, anti-fascist comedy show, ‘radical lefty’ comedian marcela onyango breaks down the latest headlines—helping you decide whether to be mad, glad, or just deeply confused. each show supports direct action efforts, raising funds for mutual aid projects. tonight’s guests include shannon keye, tyrez keaton, isabelle pierre, eman el-husseini, and winter. friends and lovers (crown heights), $10. >>
sat 8pm: jesus f*cking christ! confessions of a horny recovering evangelical: phyllis jackson’s one-woman show about a southern belle’s experience with purity culture and discovering her sense of bodily autonomy as she walked away from her evangelical christian upbringing. new stage performance space (uws), $10 with promo code ‘skint10’ (reg. $35). >>
sat 8pm-midnight: bechdel project’s eat the patriarchy party: step into an immersive evening of art, ritual, and performance at the bechdel project’s annual fundraiser. guests move through interactive spaces with live performances, participatory theatre, an open mic, tarot readings, postcard writing to change-makers, a self-portrait studio, collective art-making, and music and dancing throughout. proceeds support the nonprofit feminist arts incubator’s programming. bechdel project (greenpoint), sliding scale admission (starting at $20) includes themed finger foods, cocktails, and mocktails. >>
sponsored: sat 10pm-4am: aionia x italomatic @ house of yes presents: cosmic drive: a late-night takeover of cosmic house, italo disco, and synth-led club music across 2 rooms with perel, hammer, franz scala, justin strauss b2b facets, and more. house of yes (bushwick), $21+. >>
sunday
sun (first wave starts at 7:30am, last wave starts at 10:30am): 48th five boro bike tour: 32,000 cyclists of all skill levels take to the streets for the annual five boro bike tour, a 40 mile car-free ride through manhattan, the bronx, queens, brooklyn, and staten island. >>
sun 10am: grave beginnings: walking green-wood: discover green-wood cemetery’s stunning landscape and remarkable history on this free 90-minute walking tour. this introductory tour takes you on a leisurely walk to hear about the lives of pioneering figures such as physicians abraham and mary putnam jacobi, scientist eunice newton foote, inventor and artist samuel morse, and others who contributed to the city’s cultural, scientific, and civic life. >>
sun 10:30am-4pm (+ 5/10): weekends in bloom at brooklyn botanic garden: celebrate the spring blooms at brooklyn botanic garden with afternoons of pop-up music and dance performances, garden tours, and programming for kids and families. included with garden admission ($22 general, $16 seniors/students, free community tickets may also be available). >>
sun 1-4pm (monthly thru 10/4): pawp-up in the lot: meet adoptable dogs and cats and shop treats and gear from local vendors at culture lab lic’s monthly outdoor pet-friendly hang. already have a furry bestie? bring ’em along and meet other pet owners in the community. free admission. >>
sun 2pm (season finale): the broadway bach ensemble: spring concert: the broadway bach ensemble, a community orchestra that presents four free concerts of music from the 16th to the 21st centuries each year, wraps its 41st season with an afternoon program featuring works by ralph vaughan-williams, franz joseph haydn, george walker, and serge koussevitzky at the broadway presbyterian church (morningside heights). >>
sun 3pm: fifth annual friends of bogardus plaza tribeca dog show: local pups of all ages, sizes, and breeds compete for trophies, prizes, and neighborhood glory at tribeca’s bogardus plaza. proceeds support the community-run public space. rain or shine. $20 to compete, free to watch. >>
sun 7-10pm: the people’s ball: held on the eve of the met gala, brooklyn public library’s annual people’s ball offers an alternative to expensive, exclusive galas with a participatory showcase of the diverse styles that make up new york city’s urban runway. this year’s guests of honor are model and activist bethann hardison, creative director and costume designer june ambrose, and designer patricia michaels. the evening will feature a performance by tony award winner and three-time grammy nominee melba moore, and dj sets by dj fritzo. pose on the plaza at 6pm, doors at 6:30pm. free admission. >>
monday
mon thru 10/5 (6:30pm, monthly thru 10/5): fit + lit on the high line: get fit and lit at the high line’s outdoor dance cardio classes, led by instructor janeil mason. rain or shine (the space is covered). free admission (rsvp encouraged). >>
mon thru 9/30 (except holidays and holiday weekends): waterfront workouts at brooklyn bridge park: brooklyn bridge park’s season of free outdoor workout classes with a view returns: zumba (mondays), sunset yoga (tuesdays), amp’d bootcamp (wednesdays), morning yoga (saturdays), and pilates (sundays). open to all ages and abilities. registration opens at the beginning of each month for that month’s classes. >>
mon 5pm: the pet gala: dress up your pet and hit the red carpet at nyu faculty housing’s annaual pet gala, held at bust of sylvette plaza, nyu silver towers (greenwich village). rain or shine. free admission. >>
mon 5:30pm: mass reading of howl with adam aleksic: linguist adam aleksic (@etymologynerd) leads a collective reading of allen ginsberg’s howl in washington square park (greenwich village), inviting attendees to take part in a live, communal recitation of the beat-era classic. bonus: free books for the first 300 attendees. >>
mon 6-9pm: sva bfa fine arts open studios: school of visual arts senior students will open their studios for public viewing, along with other exhibition spaces throughout the fine arts building (chelsea). free admission. >>
mon 7pm (monthly): biology on tap: bio and beer blend at the biology on tap speaker series, featuring talks, trivia, and prizes. pete’s candy store (williamsburg), free admission ($5 suggested donation). >>
mon 7pm (monthly): living radio: contemporary radio drama, with a revisionist twist: living radio stages live performances of five short radio plays inspired by the news, with results ranging from wacky to reflective. under st. marks theater (greenwich village), pay-what-you-can admission ($7 min). >>
mon 7:30pm: turning to birds: lili taylor with christian cooper: actor lili taylor celebrates the paperback release of her book of birding essays, turning to birds: the power and beauty of noticing, at a launch event with christian cooper, author of better living through birding and host of extraordinary birder on national geographic. presented by greenlight bookstore at st. joseph’s university (clinton hill). free admission, $20 ticket option includes a copy of the book. >>
mon 7:30pm (monthly): miss manhattan non-fiction reading series: elyssa goodman and r.c. gstaad iii’s monthly showcase pairs up with the queer love project for an evening of readings from writers michael narkunski (hippocampus), alex alberto (entwined), jenine holmes (creative nonfiction), samantha mann (dyke delusions), lawrence everetts forbes (the new york times), and court stroud (the washington post). niagara bar (east village), free admission. >>
mon 9pm (monthly): you are not alone: an uplifting show about depression: improvisers and artists that battle depression and mental illness in their day-to-day lives create scenes inspired by personal experiences, showing how laughter can be the best medicine. hosted by aaron gold and michael serpe. magnet theater (chelsea), $10. >>
ongoing
our roundup of 40+ ongoing events: rooftop cinema club, bryant park dance parties, bargemusic, and more. >>
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– the skint
