Normal Thursday: 8 events, all free — free lunchtime piano, three free things tonight (Greeley Square sunset fest, the Brass Queens jazz trail concert in Queens, the Guggenheim block party on the UES), Miles Davis in Harlem Friday, the PIGEONS! art show Saturday, and the last free SummerStage of the season Sunday with Angélique Kidjo. ⚠️ Heavy rain/thunderstorms are possible this evening — check before heading to the outdoor shows.

Live Music

  • Piano in Bryant Park — TODAY 12:30–2:30pm, Upper Terrace, Bryant Park: the free weekday lunch series is still on, day 3 (mentioned yesterday) — ragtime, stride and jazz; bring a sandwich (web · NYC Parks)
  • Golden Hour at Greeley Square Park — TONIGHT 6:30–8:30pm, Greeley Square (33rd & Broadway): event day for the free sunset music festival announced earlier this week — Americana, jazz and emerging indie acts (web · NYC Parks)
  • Queens Jazz Trail: The Brass Queens — TONIGHT 7–8pm, Cunningham Park Parking Lot, Queens: a free, must-see brass-jazz set in the heart of Queens — a fresh find for tonight (web · NYC Parks)
  • The Voice of Miles: A Symphonic Celebration — Fri 8/21, 7–9:30pm, Richard Rodgers Amphitheater, Marcus Garvey Park, Harlem: still on — the free SummerStage Miles Davis symphonic show with Jazzmobile, in the neighborhood (mentioned yesterday) (web · City Parks Foundation)
  • Angélique Kidjo / Cimafunk / DJ Freshy K — Sun 8/23, doors 6pm, show 7–10pm, Rumsey Playfield, Central Park: the season’s last SummerStage freebie — five-time Grammy winner Kidjo with Cuban funk from Cimafunk, first come first served (web · City Parks Foundation, verified; lead from the r/nyc free-this-week roundup, which was since removed)

Art Openings

  • PIGEONS! An Art Show Inspired by Pigeons — Sat 8/22, 4–9pm, Cloud City, 85 N. 1st St, Williamsburg: still on as announced earlier this week — 26 artists in photography, painting, collage and sculpture; draw-your-own-pigeon station, photo ops, live pigeon feeding at 5:45 — free, works $25–$1,000 (r/Williamsburg)

Festivals & Outdoor

  • Guggenheim Late Shift: Block pARTy — TONIGHT 5–8:30pm, East 88th St outside the Guggenheim: event day — free with RSVP; the museum’s end-of-summer street party with live music (Debit, A.B.E.L.A., Fogo Azul), drop-in art-making, giant chess/Connect 4/Jenga and an outdoor Barbie screening (web · Time Out, verified on guggenheim.org)

Film & Performance

  • Tyondai Braxton in dialogue with Michael Azerrad — TONIGHT 7pm, Record Grouch, 986 Manhattan Ave, Greenpoint: event day for the free listening party + conversation with the composer (Battles, Splayed Werks on Erased Tapes) and the author of Our Band Could Be Your Life; records available for purchase and signing (Bluesky · Erased Tapes, verified on recordgrouch.com)
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