Are you shaving this November? Celebrating no-shave November is certainly free. What else is free to do this November? You don't know? Well that's what we're here for, isn't it?
We know the only thing New Yorkers love more than popped off, completely wild activities is when those popped off activities are without charge.
Let's face it: it's expensive to live in New York City, and we can't really get around that fact.
We can, however, ease the strain on rent and cost of living by getting ourselves out to all the free events we can.
Who wants to pay admission fees when there are a ton of cool activities you can do for free? Oh, you were wondering what those free activities were?
Will you look at that, we've got a handy list right here! Read on to find out what free events you absolutely need to take part in during November in NYC.
1. NYC's holiday markets
boundandglossy Went to the #unionsquareholidaymarket to get a book for my niece & ended up getting @breadsbakery babka & #momofukumilkbar cookies for myself #whoops #fail / #win #babka www.boundandglossy.com/2014/12/how-to-win-in-laws-and-influence-people.html #gifts
Okay, you do have to pay for food and gifts at the holiday markets, but you definitely don't have to pay for the splendid holiday cheer that will infiltrate the air at all of NYC's holiday markets.
Just about all of them are outdoors, almost every one except the Grand Central Holiday Fair. It doesn't matter, though. Grand Central is a palace, and we'd love to browse for presents amidst winter cheer within its walls.
[anad]
Anyway, our point is that these holiday markets are filled with carolers, amazing food, and some of the most thoughtful, handmade gifts you could ever imagine. Does this holiday cheer cost a thing? No, it doesn't. It's absolutely priceless.
Browsing the 125 boutique-like shops at Bryant Park's Winter Village is totally free, and it opened on October 30th. Union Square's Holiday Market opens on November 19th, and Brooklyn Flea/Smorgasburg's Holiday Market opens on November 1st.
Get to them, will you?
2. The ice rink at the Bryant Park's Winter Village
dig_ny Hoje é o ultimo dia pra quem quiser aproveitar a pista de patinação no gelo do Bryant Park! Happy Sunday :)) #dignyexperience #bryantpark #winterinnyc #experienceny #viajeny #visiteny #guianyc #roteiropersonalizado #novayork #nyc #ilovenyc #iloveny #wintervillage #nyclovers #bryantparkicerink #viajeny #dicasny #dicasnyc #nyctips #Lonelyplanet #lonelyplanetnyc #instanyc #NYC #digny #dicasdenovayork #bestofnyc #magariblu #melhoresdestinos #roteirosdeviagem Dignyexperience@gmail.com
The whole "holiday markets" thing brings us to our next point, which is the absolutely free ice rink at the Bryant Park Winter Village.
We're sad to report that there is again a caveat to this free activity. If you don't already have ice skates you do have to rent them for $15 ($19 from November 20th to January 3rd), but if you own your own pair of skates then the rink is completely, blissfully, totally free.
They've also got skating shows, special events, and skate sharpening offered in the Skating Pavilion. They've also got lockers free of charge to store your stuff, and locks available for purchase.
It's open during evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and it's surrounded by some of the most delicious food in the whole universe. They've also got ice bites beside the rink, with a wide selection of comfort foods, hot and cold drinks, and delicious treats.
3. Art gallery openings
littlejohncontemporary Visit us today. New Paintings by Sarah Hinckley through October 3rd. #chelseaart #chelseaartgallery #hinckley_sarah
Do you love paintings? Yeah, we do too. Paintings are great, and they affirm our existence as humans and translate emotions into colors and shapes and everything. Paintings are great.
What do we love more than paintings? Well how about seeing those paintings we mentioned for free, and how about throwing a splash of free wine into the mix?
[anad2]
Yeah, we thought that would get your attention. There's a great concentration of art galleries in Chelsea, most of which are in the West 20s between 10th and 11th Avenues. Most of them have free wine-and-cheese openings on Thursday evenings.
Check out Gallery Guide's schedule of events to see when there's a gallery opening convenient for you.
4. Comic Arts Brooklyn (November 7th - November 8th)
Going down on November 7th and November 8th and presented by Desert Island, Comic Arts Brooklyn is an insanely cool comic book event with over 100 exhibitors.
On November 7th, there will be book sales and signings at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Brooklyn. On November 8th, there will be talks and interviews from artists like Derf Backderf, Charles Burns, Brian Chippendale, and many more.
The talks and interviews part will be going down at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn and it's totally free. If you're a comic book enthusiast, you have absolutely no reason not to go.
,5. Artists' Studio Tour (November 8th)
deenboutique Hoboken Artists Studio Tour #hoboken #hobokenartistsstudiotour #artistsstudiotour #artists #art
Yeah, we're still all about that free art scene. Its splendor has not, in any way, worn off for us at all.
So when we found out the Artists' Studio Tour on November 8th in Hoboken was absolutely, 100% gratis, we were more than stoked.
[anad]
It's going down from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and it's a city-wide, self-guided walking tour of artists' studios, galleries, and group exhibitions. Did we mention it's completely free?
It'll feature the work of over 100 local artists, and will probably be completely mind opening. You can get a free tour map at City Hall on the day of the tour. Click here for more information.
6. Canstruction (November 5th - November 16th)
pearlridge Today is the LAST DAY to see #CANstruction 2015! Bring a can to vote for your fave. All cans will be donated to @hawaiifoodbank!
Have you ever imagined some completely gorgeous, wild sculptures made completely of cans?
Well, now you don't need to imagine any more. The 23rd annual Canstruction NYC/Design Build Competition is storming the city this fall, and it'll be open from November 5th to November 16th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Where can you see the crazy can sculptures? Check out Brookfield Place at 250 Vesey Street in lower Manhattan.
As you may have guessed, at the close of the competition, all food from Canstruction will be donated to City Harvest. You can also donate your own cans, to feel like you're both a part of the charity effort and the sculptures. Sounds pretty great, right?
7. Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar (November 28th - November 29th)
barcelonalovesnewyork Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar! @union501 #brooklynholidaybazaar #holidaymarket #brooklyn #market #carrollgardens #barcelonalovesnewyork
From 11 a.m. through 6 p.m. on November 28th and November 29th, the Brooklyn Holiday Bazaar will be completely popped off at 501 Union in Brooklyn.
It'll bring together the best of Brooklyn under one roof. There will be more than 35 handpicked makers, food and drinks, a DIY workshop corner, a free gift wrap station, a live DJ set, and a photo booth.
[anad2]
It sounds like a pretty excellent weekend activity to us, if you're asking. Click here to check out their vendor lineup, and make sure you get your friends together to enjoy some hot jams, some delicious food, and some seriously off the chain shopping.
Check out 13 Events in NYC That'll Rock You Through November.
[Feature Image Courtesy ComicsBeat]