Things to do on a Sunday in New York

Admit it, are you a nosy New Yorker? Same here. Then you can't miss Open House New York this year. The annual event opens the doors of typically off-limit spaces during its festival running from October 17 through 19.

This year, more than 300 sites are on the roster, including an exclusive rooftop garden in Rockefeller Center, a city compost facility, an Ellis Island boat and a private gallery in the World Trade Center. Even sites that are public, like Wagner Park and Astoria Pool, offer special behind-the-scenes experiences. Nearly half of the festival is fully free and open to the public—no advance registration or tickets are required.

On Open House New York's website, you can filter to find places that fit your area of interest, such as affordable housing, building with steel and family-friendly spots. Plus, you can search for places in your borough, at certain times and that offer accessible features. 

One of the borough's most celebrated musical events, BRIC JazzFest promises performances across two days, welcoming over 150 artists and 15,000 attendees to date.

The 2025 BRIC JazzFest lineup brings together jazz world legends, rising stars, and emerging musical geniuses at BRIC House in Downtown Brooklyn on October 17-18. These artists are pushing the boundaries of the jazz genre, some through the lens and influence of hip hop and others through a musical style all their own.

This year’s lineup features GRAMMY-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, Afrofuturist trumpeter Chief Adjuah, London saxophonist Nubya Garcia, bassist/composer Endea Owens, Afro-Cuban duo OKAN and more, all curated by Adrian Younge.

Stroll through Gowanus to visit the art studios of more than 500 artists, offering a rare glimpse inside former factories, warehouses and studio buildings of this vibrant neighborhood at the 29th Annual Gowanus Open Studios on October 18 and 19.

Artists will be on hand to discuss their work, share their processes and showcase their latest projects. This year, get a chance to explore the first group of subsidized art studios as part of the Gowanus Rezoning are open; artists have moved in and ready to show visitors what they're working on. 

Gowanus Open Studios will feature venues and studios from Pacific St. to 19th St. and from Smith St. to Fifth Ave. More than 10,000 printed maps will be distributed across the neighborhood to help visitors navigate the various locations. A digital map and directory of artists is available on artsgowanus.org.

Peek inside some of Brooklyn's most stunning historic homes during The Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant Inc.'s 47th Annual House Tour on Saturday, October 18. Bedford-Stuyvesant is one of Brooklyn’s most historically significant neighborhoods, known for its largely intact 19th and early 20th-century architecture. 

The tour begins with a free homeowners and buyers panel covering various topics from understanding home inspections to finding grant opportunities for down payments and closing costs.

Tickets are on sale now for $40, or can be purchased day of for $45. All proceeds from the event go towards college scholarships for local students.  

Reading Edgar Allan Poe’s goosebump-inducing poems and stories in print is creepy enough. But this October, you can see them performed live at two New York City performances. British actor Stephen Smith will perform his rendition of several of Edgar Allan Poe's best blood-curdling pieces this month as part of his One Man Poe series.

— Friday, October 17: See The Tell-Tale Heart and The Pit and the Pendulum at Under St Marks Theater. 
— Saturday, October 18: See The Black Cat and The Raven at The Poe Cottage in the Bronx where Poe himself lived in the 1840s. 

Smith, of Threedumb Theatre, has long been a Poe fan, recalling reading Poe's work as a child. But it wasn't until the pandemic that he felt compelled to perform The Tell-Tale Heart, a one-man show set in one room that worked well on Zoom and eventually moved to bigger stages. He admired the richness of Poe's language, both for the audience and the actor.

"I don't adapt the stories in any way. I just have memorized 13,000 words of original Poe, and I perform that live on stage," Smith told Time Out. "I like to think that my show is the most faithful theatrical adaptation that you could ever get. It's not adapted; it's exactly what Poe intended but live on stage."  

Renoir’s sketchbook is moving into the spotlight. The Morgan Library & Museum is about to do something no New York institution has attempted in more than a century: dedicate an entire exhibition to Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s works on paper.

“Renoir’s drawings reveal an artist of tremendous sensitivity and range,” said Colin B. Bailey, the Morgan’s director and curator of the show. And he’s not exaggerating. Renoir Drawings will bring together more than 100 works—pastels, watercolors, prints and even a plaster sculpture—offering a rare chance to see the Impressionist master beyond his sun-dappled oils.

The last time anyone staged a show like this was in Paris in 1921, which makes the Morgan’s exhibition a bona fide art-world event. Renoir Drawings runs October 17, 2025, through February 8, 2026, at the Morgan Library & Museum.

For the past 50 years, the Queens County Farm Museum has served as a rural oasis within the New York City limits. And what better way to celebrate an anniversary than by creating a complex corn maze for New Yorkers to get delightfully lost in?

The Amazing Maize Maze is back this fall with a sunburst design celebrating five decades of the museum's existence. Expect plenty of twists, turns and tricks inside this three-acre living labyrinth. It's available to visit on select days through October 26.  

Prepare your costumes and your crosswalks—Halloween is about to take over the streets. The city’s Department of Transportation just announced the return of Trick-or-Streets, its annual Halloween celebration that turns Open Streets and plazas across the five boroughs into car-free zones for candy, costumes and community. This year’s edition will be the biggest yet, with a record 137 events (and counting) planned between October 17 and October 31.

Expect everything from pumpkin patches and hay bale photo ops to live performances, games and Día de los Muertos celebrations. A full list of Trick-or-Streets events and participating locations will be available on the NYC DOT website—because in this city, Halloween is best celebrated curbside.

Clear your calendar, grab your casserole dish and prepare to dine al fresco under one of New York’s most iconic landmarks. On Saturday, October 18, Gotham Park will transform the space beneath the Brooklyn Bridge into one uninterrupted, communal dining table for the first-ever Longest Table at Gotham Park, a free afternoon potluck where the only ticket required is something to share.

From noon to 3:30 pm, the park’s north side will transform into a four-acre public space filled with tables, chairs and neighbors, all gathered to celebrate connection through food. Guests are encouraged to bring a dish, a drink or even a decorative centerpiece to add to the mix. After lunch, the festivities will continue with a performance by Teatro Grattacielo’s opera ensemble and a guided conversation on community, culture and creativity.