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“Let Me Tell You” is a series of columns from our expert editors about NYC living, including the best things to do, where to eat and drink, and what to see at the theater. Last time, Things to Do Editor Rossilynne Skena Culgan asserted that the summer solstice is the best day of the year.
Living in New York City has long been an expensive endeavor, but this year it feels like someone is plucking the cash from our wallets bill by bill. Rents are going up at least 3 percent for 1 million rent-stabilized apartments this fall. And if you aren’t lucky enough to live in a rent-stabilized unit, there’s no limit on how much your landlord can raise your rent—literally the sky is the limit, folks! The average one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan already costs a staggering $5,309 a month, per RentCafe.
Just leaving the house seems to cost $100, as TikTokers have joked about—and that’s especially true in NYC. There’s a lot to lament about our city’s affordability crisis, but it’s not an intractable situation; it’s one our city leaders can improve if we demand it. In the meantime, these circumstances have made me even more thankful for NYC’s long list of free events this summer. So allow me to highlight five of my favorite free things to do this summer and how to make the most of the experience because even if your wallet is feeling light, the summer fun doesn’t have to be.
RECOMMENDED: Best free things to do in NYC
Visit The Whitney during free hours
Not only are NYC’s museums bastions of culture, they’re also oases of air conditioning. Visiting can cost a pretty penny, but not if you know when to go to take advantage of free hours at NYC’s best museums. This summer, my top pick is The Whitney in the Meatpacking District. This American art museum is now free for visitors every Friday evening from 5 to 10pm and on the second Sunday of every month. Even better, visitors 25 and under are always free. Just be sure to reserve your tickets in advance.
Go see: “Amy Sherald: American Sublime” open through August 10 with nearly 50 paintings, including the artist’s famous Michelle Obama portrait
What else to do: Before or after your museum visit, take a stroll on the beautiful High Line—also free.
Hit the beach in The Bronx or Queens
While I adore Brooklyn’s Coney Island, it’s easy to overspend there—the amusement park rides, the funnel cakes, the Boardwalk vendors, it all adds up. So for these purposes, I’m going to recommend one of the city’s quieter beaches. My top picks are Rockaway Beach in Queens and Orchard Beach (a.k.a. The Riviera of New York) in The Bronx.
Keep it cheap: If you go to Orchard Beach, food options are limited with just concession stands, so you’ll definitely want to pack a cooler with your lunch. As for Rockaway, head to Tacoway Beach where you can get two excellent tacos for $12.
Celebrate all the fun of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn
Seeing great live music doesn’t have to require taking out a personal loan, even if that’s what some influencers will have you believe. Forget Coachella and Glastonbury and have your own festival experience right here in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park at the Lena Horne Bandshell. Most of the shows in BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn’s lineup are free—and pretty impressive, too.
On the lineup: A Tribute to Quincy Jones: The Wiz (July 26), Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices (August 1), Gogol Bordello (August 2), Nick Hakim (August 16)—all completely free.
Bring with you: Blankets, food and factory-sealed plastic bottles are allowed (no alcohol, though!), so pack a picnic to keep costs down.
Catch a free movie at Brooklyn Bridge Park
The aptly named Movies with a View series is back at Brooklyn Bridge Park with stunning views and a solid lineup on Thursdays in July and August. This year’s theme is “Women in Hollywood,” with movies made by and starring famous leading ladies like Judy Garland, Sigourney Weaver, Meryl Streep and more.
Where and when to go: It’s at Pier 1 Harbor View Lawn. The series draws big crowds, so it’s best to arrive early. The lawn opens at 6pm, with opening credits rolling at sunset.
On the lineup: July 10: Bottoms; July 17: Alien; July 24: Waitress; July 31: The Matrix; August 7: The Wizard of Oz; August 14: Trainwreck; August 21: Hidden Figures; August 28: Public Choice: Vote for Julie & Julia, Marie Antoinette, or Pretty in Pink.
For even more free flicks: Here’s our full list of free movies around NYC this summer, including movies on an aircraft carrier!
Meditate in this Manhattan park
One of the best free amenities in the city? NYC’s vast system of parks. Of course, you know about the big ones—Central Park, Prospect Park and whatever patch of grass is within walking distance of your apartment. But it’s worth strolling through Madison Square Park this summer where artist Lily Kwong created a beautiful oasis called Gardens of Renewal in the Flatiron District of Manhattan. Now through Labor Day, you wan walk along spiral paths that invite reflection and solitude.
Go deeper: Maybe you’ve noticed how unbearably hot it’s been this summer? That’s climate change, baby, and Kwong doesn’t shy away from highlighting the crisis in her work. As you walk through, you’ll encounter a planting palette made up of increasingly rare—and nearly disappearing—native species.
What to bring: An open mind, a sketchbook or journal.