After much research, I am compiling my document for upcoming trip to New York. Apart from the usual (walk the Williamsburg bridge, Staten Island ferry etc), I have made this list of free activities in New York this summer. Thought it might interest some of you too...
• Bryant Park free activities/ movie screenings etc
http://www.bryantpark.org/plan-your-...ate=2013-08-04
• Broadway in Bryant Park
Every Thursday – 12:30-13:30 on the lawn, songs from Broadway shows
http://www.bryantpark.org/plan-your-visit/broadway.html
• Summer Streets
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/summerst...ome/home.shtml
• Harlem Week
http://harlemweek.com
• SummerStage
summerstage.org
• Rumble on the River
• Union Square greenmarket (on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday),
4, 5, 6 to Union Sq.
• Discover Central Park with a free, volunteer-led guided tour from the Central Park Conservancy.
www.centralparknyc.org
• Lincoln Center Out of Doors Free festival
24 July until 11 August
http://www.lcoutofdoors.org/
• Visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The $25 entry fee is actually a suggested donation.
1000 5th Ave. at 80th St 6 to 86th St.
. www.metmuseum.org
• MoMA is free on Friday between 4 and 8 pm.. Arrive as close to 4 as you can, and once you get your ticket (the line is long but fast), avoid the crowds by working your way down from the fifth floor. 11 W. 53rd St., between 5th and 6th Aves. www.moma.org E, M to 5th Ave./53rd St.; B, D, F to 47-50th St./Rockefeller Center.
• Shakespeare in the Park
Some free tickets are distributed on day of performance:
http://www.shakespeareinthepark.org/#!in-the-park/c21rq
http://www.shakespeareinthepark.org/#!calendar/cfvg
• Brooklyn Flea Market
Saturdays in Fort Greene and on Sundays in Williamsburg
http://www.brooklynflea.com/
• Smorgasburg Market
Williamsburg on Saturdays, DUMBO on Sundays, and South Street Seaport (daily)

Besides those, here are some suggestions.

You can walk the Williamsburg Bridge, but the views are better from the more majestic Brooklyn Bridge.

The South Street Seaport is a waste of time.

See if you can get the AIA guide from your library to choose what buildings may of interest.

NY is one of the great walking cities. Of particular interest are the stores and residences of the West Village, the life in Chinatown, the funky stores in The East Village and the varied and exquisite residences of the Upper East Side and Upper West Side.

Central Park which many think has the most elegant design in Manhattan is free.

The Highline is wildly popular.

There are buildings filled with art galleries in the high teens and West 20's between 10 Ave and the river.

Those are just a couple of suggestions.

Go to Time Out NY on-line or the Village Voice which lists hundreds of free or very inexpensive things that week including shows and concerts

Thanks for posting!

There are multiple websites that list free things. You can go kayaking for free on the Hudson.
http://www.glenwoodnyc.com/manhattan...ng-nyc-on-the/

Just one clarification. All the NYC museums are by donation, but you do have to pay something, if only $1. They are not free.

And during the summer, MOMA is so crowded on the free evenings that you may have to wait in line for up to 2 hours to gain entry. That still gives you a couple of hours to explore, but it makes the experience much less fun.

I thought MoMA had a madatory payment.

MOMA does, except for the above-mentioned free Friday hours.

Whitney , Rubin, Guggenheim etc are mandatory except of their Free or pay what you want times. Doug's statement is a bit misleading.

To clarify, I did not mean all museums in New York City. I meant that there are many New York City--supported museums that have suggested admission prices. These include the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, El Museo del Barrio, and others.

Many other important museums (the Guggenheim, MOMA, the Whitney, etc.) are owned and operated by private non-profit foundations that do not get major city support and have mandatory admission prices.

After walking the The Highline, walk the Hudson River Park down to the Battery.

Another great walk - Riverside Drive, south from around 110th St. to 72nd St.

Perfect on a cool, clear windy day.

Some more info on this year's summer streets. It should be interesting but I think that work is getting in my way this year.

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...t-3-10-17.html

>>> . It should be interesting but I think that work is getting in my way this year.>>>

Don't you hate when that happens!

early stages of planning a NYC trip - thanks for the great info

Shaespeare in the Park is free but tickets are limited and very difficult to get. People start lining up by 7 am to be able to get seats when they start distributing them at noon. (Some kids make a business of standing in line to get free tickets for others - for a set fee.)

Go to the web site for details on other limited options to ge tickets.

And agree that walking interesting neighborhoods can be fascinating. A fairly short walk along Riverside Drive will show you some incredible mansions of NY's wealthiest.

Bookmarking for good info.

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NYT, can you tell me specifically where you are referring to?