Things to Do in NYC, May 2026

Afro Latino beats, cosmology Q&As, and more happening this May in New York City

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 2026, and no borough or event type is off limits.

Creating this list is a lot of work for me! Seeing events past the first week requires a paid subscription. All subscribers 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.

Friday, May 1

• Casa Mantequilla

  • Concert by the NYC-based musical collective Casa Mantequilla, mixing “West African, Latin, and American beats”; 7:30–9:30 pm

  • $18

  • Friends and Lovers

  • 641 Classon Ave (Crown Heights, Brooklyn)

Saturday, May 2

• View Finding: Selections from The Walther Collection

  • Highlights from Artur Walther’s expansive collection of photographs donated to the Met Museum in 2025; 10 am–9 pm; through May 3

  • Free with museum admission, which is pay-what-you-wish for NYC residents and NY, NJ, CT students, otherwise $30 adult / $22 senior / $17 student

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art Fifth Avenue, Gallery 851

  • 1000 5th Ave (Upper East Side, Manhattan)

• The Less Popular Brooklyn Half Marathon

  • Half marathon running race hosted by Trimara Sports through Brooklyn, with waterfront views; 8–11:30 am

  • $75+ (price increases closer to race date)

  • American Veterans Memorial Pier

  • 6901 Shore Rd

Sunday, May 3

• Shinrin-Yoku United presents: Forest Bathing Nature Therapy

  • Guided shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing” therapy, where mindfulness is connected to nature; 9:30–11:30 am; monthly

  • Free

  • Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden

  • 1000 Richmond Terrace (Randall Manor, Staten Island)

• 100 Years of the Schomburg Center

  • Exhibition of highlights from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture collection; 1–5 pm; through May 3

  • Free

  • New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Gottesman Hall

  • 476 5th Ave (Bryant Park, Manhattan)

• Children’s Book Drive at Books Are Magic

  • Book drive to collect new or gently used books as part of the Brooklyn Book Bodega’s mission to increase access to books for kids 0–18; 12–2 pm

  • Free (this is for book donations, though they organize book giveaways, too)

  • Books Are Magic

  • 225 Smith St (Cobble Hill, Brooklyn)

Monday, May 4

• New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles

  • Regular season MLB [Major League Baseball] game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles; 7:05 pm

  • $7–$88+

  • Yankee Stadium

  • 1 E 161st St (Concourse, The Bronx)

• From Theory to Mechanism: Armin Strom’s Approach to Resonance

  • Lecture by watchmaker and Armin Strom co-founder Claude Greisler on “the journey from theory to mechanism”; 6–9 pm (5:30 pm doors)

  • Free

  • Horological Society of New York [HSNY], General Society Library

  • 20 W 44th St

Tuesday, May 5

• Cosmic Happy Hour: An Interactive Q&A

  • Moderated conversation and public Q&A with cosmology students and researchers at NYU; 8–9:30 pm

  • $17 (includes $8 off drink at bar)

  • Book Club Bar

  • 197 E 3rd St (East Village, Manhattan)

Wednesday, May 6

• Passwords: Jawid Mojaddedi on Rumi

  • Talk by translator and Islamic studies professor Jawid Mojaddedi on the 13th-century poet Rumi’s unique narrative style; 7–9 pm

  • $10 suggested

  • Poets House, Kray Hall (also streamed online)

  • 10 River Terrace (Battery Park City, Manhattan)

Thursday, May 7

• Denis Behr: King of Cards

  • Comedic magic show featuring German card magician Denis Behr; 7:15 pm

  • $136–$218

  • 69 Atlantic

  • 69 Atlantic Ave (Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn)

• Civic Advocacy: Lessons Learned in the Aftermath of 9/11

  • Conversation between author John Feal, law professor Rupa Bhattacharyya, and others about 9/11 responders who “took on congress”; 6–7 pm

  • Free

  • National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Auditorium

  • 180 Greenwich St (Financial District, Manhattan)

• Frontiers 2026

  • Life sciences entrepreneurship networking event with this year’s NYU Stern School of Business’ Endless Frontier Labs program cohort; 8 am–5:30 pm

  • Free

  • NYU Stern School of Business

  • 40 W 4th St (Washington Square Park, Manhattan)