Free Highlights: Things to Do in NYC, November 2025
NYC from A to Z: An abecedarian tour of New York City this November
In practice this is a terrible idea, but in theory you can take an “NYC from A to Z” tour specifically on November 9, when you could observe the Sun with the Amateur Astronomers Association, take the B train to Chinatown, head over to Delancey-Essex, take the F train towards Greenwich, pass the now Insolvent (sadly) Juku as you walk through Lower Manhattan and NOho, get a Pain Quotidien Rosé or Serafina Tribeca Ubah, then Vigorously Walk by the BrainXcape Escape Room to Your destination: Zizi Wine Bar by the Z train for a Zardetto, Zenato, or if you’re bold, Zuccardi.
I don’t actually recommend this extremely contrived tour, or even a “Pain Quotidien Rosé” for that matter, but for this month, I offer a better curated tour of NYC, from Alphabet City to to the JMZ. Most of events below come from the more expansive (and orthographically agnostic) November 2025 Blankman List.
Disclaimer: Before going anywhere, please confirm the date, time, location, cost, and description using the listed website. Any event is at risk of being rescheduled, relocated, sold out, at capacity, or canceled. Costs are rounded to the nearest dollar and may change. I try to vet quality and describe accurately, but I may misjudge. All views are my own.
A is for Astronomy
Tuesday, November 18: Astronomy Live: Grand Tour of the Universe
Guided planetarium “tour” of the observable universe using visualization software; 7:30 pm (6 pm in Spanish)
$20
Hayden Planetarium Space Theater, American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park W (Upper West Side, Manhattan)
B is for Broadway
Previews begin Saturday, November 1: Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York
New two-person Broadway musical rom-com originally from England about two people attending a wedding
$59–$299
Longacre Theatre
220 W 48th St (Times Square, Manhattan)
C is for Chess
Wednesday, November 12: Free Chess Night at Alphaville
Social, casual chess open play and tournament for players of all skill levels; 8:30 pm tournament (7 pm doors)
Free open play / $5 tournament buy-in with cash prizes
Alphaville
140 Wilson Ave (Bushwick, Brooklyn)
D is for the Declaration of Independence
Sunday, November 23: The Greatest Sentence Ever Written: The Revolutionary Text of the Declaration of Independence
Talk between lawyer David Rubenstein and historian Walter Isaacson on Isaacson’s latest book about the sentence beginning, “We hold these truths to be self-evident . . .”; 5–6 pm
$40 (includes book)
The New York Historical
170 Central Park W (Upper West Side, Manhattan)
E is for Experimental Piano Music
Wednesday, November 19: Anthony Braxton’s Composition 95 and Composition 38
Performance of contemporary classical works for two pianos by experimental composer Anthony Braxton; 8 pm (7 pm doors)
$25 advance / $30 doors / $20 student/senior
Roulette
509 Atlantic Ave (Boerum Hill, Brooklyn)
F is for Fashion
Wednesday, November 12–Saturday, November 15: Fashion for Action 2025
Fundraising benefit with apparel and accessories sold at a discount to benefit Housing Works’ services for New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS
$40–$500+ for Nov 12 opening night / free entry Nov 13–15
Housing Works Chelsea Thrift Shop
143 W 17th St (Chelsea, Manhattan)
G is for Genetics
Thursday, November 20: How Basic Science Led to Treatment of a Deadly Heart Disease
Talk by biologist Leslie Leinwand on the genetics and treatment of heart disease; 8–10 pm (7:30 pm doors); part of the Harvey Society lecture series
Free
The Rockefeller University, Caspary Auditorium
1230 York Ave (Upper East Side, Manhattan)
H is for Hank Williams
Friday, November 28: Hanksgiving at The Owl Music Parlor
Sixth annual, and final, Hanksgiving, honoring the music and 100th birthday of Hank Williams; 8 pm (7:30 pm)
Ticket info coming (includes pumpkin pie)
The Owl Music Parlor
497 Rogers Ave (Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Brooklyn)
I is for Indonesian Jazz
Wednesday, November 12–Sunday, November 16: Joey Alexander & Friends
Jazz trio performance led by Indonesian-born pianist Joey Alexander
$25–$65, plus 1 entree minimum (or $20 minimum for 10:30 shows)
Smoke Jazz & Supper Club
2751 Broadway (Manhattan Valley, Manhattan)
J is for Japanese Rock
Tuesday, November 4: Elsewhere Presents: Shintaro Sakamoto Band
International tour stop of the band led by Shintaro Sakamoto, the former frontman for the Japanese psychedelic rock band Yura Yura Teikoku; 6:30 pm
$43
Knockdown Center
52-19 Flushing Ave (Maspeth, Queens)
K is for the Knicks
Monday, November 24: Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks
Regular season NBA [National Basketball Association] game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks; 7:30 pm (6 pm doors)
$106–$558+
Barclays Arena
620 Atlantic Ave (Prospect Heights, Brooklyn)
L is for Labubu
Friday, November 7: Labubu Rave
Late-night Labubu-themed rave with vendors, giveaways, and KPOP/EDM music; 11 pm
$25–$41
Webster Hall
125 E 11th St (East Village, Manhattan)
M is for Money
Monday, November 17: The Hidden Economic Beliefs That Cost You Money
Lecture by economist Howard Yaruss about myths surrounding government taxes and spending, and how they connect to the stories we tell ourselves about money; 6:30–8:30 pm
$35 (use code “Blankman” for 15% off)
Fabrik NYC
12-16 Vestry St, 4th Floor (Lower Manhattan)
N is for The Nutcracker
Performances begin Friday, November 28: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
New York City Ballet company performance of The Nutcracker with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreography by George Balanchine; through Jan 3
$142–$392
David H. Koch Theater
20 Lincoln Center Plaza (Lincoln Square, Manhattan)
O is for Opera
Various days through Wednesday, November 12: La Fille du Régiment
Classic nineteenth-century opéra comique by composer Gaetano Donizetti about an orphan raised by a regiment of French soldiers; Oct 17–Nov 12
$35–$470
Metropolitan Opera House
30 Lincoln Center Plaza (Lincoln Square, Manhattan)
P is for Pancakes
Thursday, November 13: The Pancakes & Booze Art Show
Pop-up art show with a “welcoming vibe for up-and-coming artists” that serves free pancakes; 8 pm–12 am
$19
The Brooklyn Monarch
23 Meadow St (East Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Q is for Queens Zoo
Sunday, November 2: Día de los Muertos at Queens Zoo
Family-friendly Day of the Dead celebration, with animal meet-and-greets and activities focused on Latin American cultures; 11 am–4 pm; Nov 1 & 2
Included with zoo admission, which is $11 adult / $9 senior / $8 child
Queens Zoo
53-51 111th St (Corona, Queens)
R is for Rap
Sunday, November 16: Nine Vicious
Concert with “slime-spitting, gender-bending” Georgia-based rapper Nine Vicious; 8 pm (7 pm doors)
$70–$222
Racket NYC
431 W 16th St (Chelsea, Manhattan)
S is for Stand-Up Comedy
Tuesdays, November 11, 18 & 25: Chris’s Comedy Cash Mic at Q.E.D.
5-minute stand-up comedy set competition with voting and prizes
$5, plus one item minimum
Q.E.D.
27-16 23rd Ave (Astoria, Queens)
T is for Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 27: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
99th annual New York City parade in celebration of Thanksgiving; 8:30 am–12 pm
Free
Begins at 59th St & Central Park W; ends at Macy’s on 6th Ave & 34th St
Upper East Side and Midtown, Manhattan
U is for Uruguayan Art
Through Saturday, November 1: José Gurvich: Sense of Place
Exhibition of paintings and other works by Uruguayan artist José Gurvich; 11 am–5 pm
Free
Hutchinson Modern & Contemporary
47 E 64th St (Upper East Side, Manhattan)
V is for Vintage
Saturday, November 8: A Current Affair: Pop-Up Vintage Marketplace
Pop-up market with vendors focused on “the best vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry on the planet”; 10 am–6 pm
$22
The Box Factory in Industry City
51 34th St (Industry City, Brooklyn)
W is for Witches
Sunday, November 16: 2025 Salem Witch Trial
One-woman comedy show with Gretchen Wylder about a “tarot-reading lesbian forced from her home”; 9 pm; part of New York Comedy Festival Nov 7–16
$21
Club Cumming
505 E 6th St (East Village, Manhattan)
X is for Xanadu
Saturday, November 1: Xanadu Day Disco
Family-friendly Xanadu-themed roller disco at the “wildest roller rink the universe”; 12 pm
$19 adult / $14 child (rental not included)
Xanadu Roller Arts
262 Starr St (Bushwick, Brooklyn)
Y is for Yoga
Every Monday: Yoga at Park Slope Library
One-hour yoga class designed to be accessible for all skill levels; 4–5 pm
Free
Park Slope Library, auditorium
431 6th Ave (Park Slope, Brooklyn)
Z is for Zombies
Sunday, November 2: Romero & Juliet
Concert premiere of the rock musical Romero & Juliet about zombies who resent filmmaker George Romero for revealing their existence; 7 pm (6 pm doors)
$48
The Cutting Room
44 E 32nd St (Murray Hill, Manhattan)