The Blankman List: October 2023 Edition

Your Monthly List of Things to Do in NYC

The Blankman List is a monthly curated list of things to do in New York City. It showcases the full range of what there is to do across the city, for residents and tourists alike. I especially seek out artistic and cultural events like concerts, plays, and art exhibits and in general hunt for events that are notable, high-quality, and/or free. There is at least one event for every day of the month, and no borough or event type is off limits.

Seeing events past the first week requires a paid subscription.

Disclaimer: before going anywhere, please confirm the date, time, and location using the listed website. Any event is at risk of being rescheduled, relocated, sold out, at capacity, or canceled. Some events require advance registration. I try to vet quality, but I may misjudge, plus I recognize that all events are not for all people. If you are visiting NYC, please double-check how long it will take to get to the venue.

Sunday, October 1

• Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction (Manhattan)

  • Broadway-themed flea market with silent auction; 10 am–7 pm

  • Free entry

  • Around Shubert Alley

  • W 44th St & W 55th St through Shubert Alley (Times Square)

• Brooklyn Book Festival & Literary Marketplace (Brooklyn)

  • Literary festival with book vendors; 10 am–6 pm

  • Free entry

  • Brooklyn Borough Hall and surrounding venues

  • 209 Joralemon St (Downtown Brooklyn)

• New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies (Queens)

  • Major League Baseball game; 3:10 pm; final Mets game of season

  • $13–$191+ on SeatGeek

  • Citi Field

  • 41 Seaver Wy (Flushing)

Monday, October 2

• Amicable Separation: A Dialogue of Czech and Slovak Artists 30 Years After Independence (Manhattan)

  • Art exhibition featuring Czech and Slovak artists; 10 am–5 pm; through October 5

  • Free

  • Czech Center Gallery

  • 321 E 73rd St (Upper East Side)

Tuesday, October 3

• Fashion’s Role in Black Protest, 1863–1963 (Manhattan)

  • Public conversation about fashion history; 5:30 pm

  • Free

  • Fred P. Pomerantz Art and Design Center, Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology

  • 227 W 27th St (Chelsea)

• Olivier Tarpaga Dance Project (Manhattan)

  • Burkina Faso-influenced modern dance performance; 7:30 pm; October 3–8

  • $27–$62

  • The Joyce Theater

  • 175 8th Ave (Chelsea)

• Community in the Kitchen (Manhattan)

  • Guided workshop on cooking with plants; 5–6 pm; every Tuesday

  • Free

  • The Greenhouse and Education Center at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park

  • 679 Riverside Dr, Greenhouse (Hamilton Heights)

Wednesday, October 4

• Juilliard Drama Presents Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” (Manhattan)

  • Drama conservatory theater performance; 7:30 pm; September 30–October 4

  • $25

  • The Juilliard School, Stephanie P. McClelland Theater

  • 155 W 65th St (Lincoln Square)

Thursday, October 5

• Explosions in the Sky: The End Tour (Brooklyn)

  • Texas-influenced post-rock concert; 8 pm (7 pm doors)

  • $50–$72

  • Kings Theatre

  • 1027 Flatbush Ave (Flatbush)

• Japanese Breakfast with Special Guest Ichiko Aoba (Manhattan)

  • Indie pop concert; 8 pm (7 pm doors) (Japanese Breakfast videos)

  • $83–$339+

  • Radio City Music Hall

  • 1260 6th Ave (Midtown)

• Unplugged: A Queer BIPOC Variety Show (Brooklyn)

  • Comedy and variety show by people of color; 8 pm (7:30 pm doors); first Thursday of every month

  • $10 entry (food and drink menu available)

  • Den of Splendor

  • 42 Albany Ave (Bed-Stuy)

Friday, October 6

• The Revolution Will Be Digitized: Typefaces from Emigre & FUSE (Manhattan)

  • Typography and graphic design art exhibition; 10 am–9 pm; through November 5

  • Free (free admission every Friday, $12 otherwise)

  • Poster House

  • 119 W 23rd St (Flatiron)

• Scavenger Hunt with Watson Adventures (Manhattan)

  • Puzzle-filled scavenger hunt guiding a historical tour; 6–8 pm

  • $15

  • The New-York Historical Society

  • 170 Central Park W (Upper West Side)

Saturday, October 7

• Mat Pilates (Brooklyn)

  • Beginner pilates exercise class; 10:30–11:30 am; every Saturday

  • Free

  • Brooklyn Public Library - Clinton Hill

  • 380 Washington Ave (Clinton Hill)

• Brooklyn Museum First Saturdays (Brooklyn)

  • Art museum with music and vendors; 5–11 pm

  • Free (free evening entry on first Saturday of selected months; reservation required)

  • Brooklyn Museum

  • 200 Eastern Pkwy (Prospect Heights)

• Walking Tour: Contemporary Architecture and Historic Landmarks in NoHo (Manhattan)

  • Architecture-themed walking tour; 10 am–12 pm

  • $30

  • Meet at the South Facade of the Cooper Union Foundation Building

  • 7 E 7th St (NoHo)