Things to Do in NYC, May 2025
The May 2025 edition of the Blankman List
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, for residents and tourists alike.
I especially seek out artistic and cultural events like concerts, plays, and art exhibits, along with anything that is high-quality, notable, and/or free. There is at least one event for every day of May 2025, and no borough or event type is off limits.
Creating this list is a lot of work for me! Thus, seeing events past the first week requires a paid subscription. All subscribers, however, will receive a free highlights post.
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.
Thursday, May 1
Death metal concert featuring Cradle of Filth, Fleshgod Apocalypse, and others; 5 pm (4 pm doors)
$56–$143
Palladium Times Square
1515 Broadway (Times Square, Manhattan)
Classical double bass recital by Juilliard conservatory student Thomas Green; 5:30 pm
Free
The Juilliard School, Morse Hall
155 W 65th St (Lincoln Square, Manhattan)
Cult Gaia New York Sample Sale
Discounted sample products from Cult Gaia, a women’s fashion brand dedicated to “heirloom pieces that will live in your closet forever”; 11 am–7 pm; Apr 30–May 4
Free entry (there may be a long queue)
260 Sample Sale, Lafayette
148 Lafayette St (SoHo, Manhattan)
Friday, May 2
Small, independent play about two skateboarding rappers produced by National Black Theatre, an organization dedicated to supporting Black artists; 7 pm; May 1–Jun 8
$38–$107
Vineyard Theatre
108 E 15th Street (Union Square, Manhattan)
Performance by singer Kim Gordon, best known as a cofounder of the rock band Sonic Youth; 8 pm (7 pm doors); part of Long Play Festival 2025
$59–$69
Pioneer Works
159 Pioneer St (Red Hook, Brooklyn)
Saturday, May 3
Sake tasting with Japanese performances and vendors; 3–7 pm
$31–$123
Japan Village Courtyard
934 3rd Ave (Industry City, Brooklyn)
Family Tours at the Guggenheim
Interactive guided tour of the Guggenheim Museum for families with children; 12:30–1:30 pm; first Saturday of every month
$45 adult and up to 3 children / $25 additional adult
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
1071 5th Ave (Upper East Side, Manhattan)
Party at a tucked away nightclub that “brings the trippy, bizarre, and scandalous to center stage”; 11 pm doors
$24–$42 entry; every Saturday
The Stranger NYC
311 W 57th St (enter through newsstand near Columbus Circle, Manhattan)
Sunday, May 4
Third and final day of the Margaret Mead Film Festival dedicated to “storytelling and documentary films from diverse voices”; screenings from 1 pm through 7 pm
$12 screening / $75 weekend pass
American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park W (Upper West Side, Manhattan)
Monday, May 5
Library book sale with children’s, adult, and Russian books available for $1 each; 11 am–1 pm
Free entry
Brooklyn Public Library - Kings Bay Branch
3650 Nostrand Ave (Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn)
Tuesday, May 6
The Libyan Pharaohs of Egypt and Their Rediscovery
Talk by Egyptologist Aidan Mark Dodson on the often-ignored era of Egypt being ruled by a series of pharaohs of Libyan ancestry; 6–7:30 pm
Free
Salmagundi Club, Smith Library
47 5th Ave (Union Square, Manhattan)
Wednesday, May 7
Writing workshop aimed at supporting LGBTQ+ writers of all skill levels in a low-key environment; 6:30–8 pm
Free
Brooklyn Pride Center
1561 Bedford Ave (Crown Heights, Brooklyn)
An Evening with Tania León: A Fundraiser for the Harlem Chamber Players
Fundraiser featuring a conversation with famed Cuban-American composer Tania León, with performances by the Harlem Chamber Players; 6–9 pm
$150+ (includes food and wine)
The Africa Center
1280 5th Ave (East Harlem, Manhattan)