Well not really free, but pretty damn close to it... If you have nothing to do all day, why not fill your belly with yummy Chinese food goodness. Spend your day exploring the Taste of Chinatown as 50 restaurants, bakeries, tea houses, and specialty shops will offer $1.00 tasting plates. "Sample dishes which have made Chinese cuisine the favorite world wide and marvel at the selections from Canton, Shanghai, Beijing, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Gorge on delicacies from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Japan, all in one afternoon." This is a perfect way to diversify your typical Chinese take out order of General Tao's chicken.
Date: Saturday, April 23rd Time: 1pm - 6pm Location: Various shops in Chinatown Cost: $1 per tasting plate
Last week was free Ben & Jerry's, today its free ice cream cake from Stone Cold Creamery. The cake is being given out in honor of their support for Make-a-Wish and is a "chocolate ice cream with cookie dough and chocolate shavings, layered with yellow cake and wrapped in a rich, fudge ganache." [found via Gothamist]
Just stop by Wendys and say "Yo Bitch! Gimmie my Free Frosty!" Okay, maybe not like that but "May I please have a free frosty" will probably due. Continues all weekend.
Date: Friday, May 13th Time: All Day Venue: Wendy's Cost: Free
So it seems at this point, I am doing the pilates not so much to be healthy, but to combat ALL of the food I consume on a daily basis. Today on your lunch break check out Dine Around Downtown. About 50 well known restaurants set up shop and serve signature menu items for $3 to $5 a plate. Yum! For a skinny girl, I sure do like food a lot.
Date: Tuesday, May 17th Time: 11am - 3pm Location: Chase Manhattan Plaza, between Liberty & Pine and Nassau & William Streets Cost: Admission is free; food is $3 - $5
I LOVE the Big Apple BBQ. A few years back I was lucky enough to make some great friends from Kentucky who taught me what it means to eat good 'cue. Now, NYC has some fine restaurants but - like its mexican food - it just does not hold up to the true stuff. So once a year, the crew over a Blue Smoke take up a couple of NYC blocks and throw this big street festival full of beer, hogs, cracklin's, and all other delicious treats. Its a two day fest so you get to stuff your face all weekend. Check the site for full info. The event is free but the food costs money.
Date: Saturday, June 11th & Sunday, June 12th Time: 12:00pm - 6:00pm Venue: Madison Square Park (Madison Avenue between 23rd & 26th) Cost: Free to Enter
I LOVE the Big Apple BBQ. A few years back I was lucky enough to make some great friends from Kentucky who taught me what it means to eat good 'cue. Now, NYC has some fine restaurants but - like its mexican food - it just does not hold up to the true stuff. So once a year, the crew over a Blue Smoke take up a couple of NYC blocks and throw this big street festival full of beer, hogs, cracklin's, and all other delicious treats. Its a two day fest so you get to stuff your face all weekend. Check the site for full info. The event is free but the food costs money.
Date: Saturday, June 11th & Sunday, June 12th Time: 12:00pm - 6:00pm Venue: Madison Square Park (Madison Avenue between 23rd & 26th) Cost: Free to Enter
Some of Time Square's best restaurants come together for an all stay steet-eats fest. Think about 20,000 tourists boiling in todays 90+ degree weather while they feast on gourmet treats. Food is not free, so you have to get tickets at the booth (The main ticket booth at 46th Street and Broadway opens at 3pm; other booths throughout the neighborhood at 5pm.) There is, however, a pretty serious list of restaurants and you know that the Cold Stone Creamery booth will be packed.
Date: Tuesday, June 14th Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm Venue: Times Square (West 46th Street between Broadway and Ninth Avenue) Cost: Free
Snapple is attempting to break the existing Guinness World Record for the "World's Largest Ice Pop" on June 21 by erecting a two and a half story, 20-ton kiwi strawberry-flavored, edible Snapple on Ice pop in New York City's Union Square. New Yorkers and tourists alike will be overwhelmed by the immense "ice scraper" which will stand 24-feet tall, 5-feet wide and 5-feet thick. There will be free samples for all who attend.
Date: Tuesday, June 21st Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm (pop unveiled at noon) Venue: Union Square (14th Street and Broadway) Cost: Free
Now, only if you are the truest of open bar junkies will you make it over to The Beat Club tonight. That means after drinking at Cut, the We Care A Lot, you can get some more free Red Stripe from 1-2 over at Capone's. Capone's also has free pizza - although usually with the purchase of a drink - throughout the night because you are going to need some doughy goodness in your belly at this point. Plus... PLUS... Roy Dank of the Pop Your Funk parties at APT will be the special DJ tonight to keep you dancing until last call.
Date: Friday, July 8th
Time: 10:00pm
Venue: Capone's (221 North 9th between Roebling and Driggs, Williamsburg)
Cost: Free
Truth be told my all time favorite convenient store has got to be Wawa (anyone who didn't grow up in Jers or Pennsy is like "what the heck is Wawa). But anyway, for one day only, 711 may be my new fave. Today is the 40th anniversary of the Slurpee, and in honor of this 711 is giving out some free slurpees. I can't seem to find any in Manhattan (there was a rumor that one was opening on 23rd and Park today), but Brooklyn has a bunch of them. It's supposed to be about 95 today, so brain freeze may be the way to go.
Date: Monday, July 7th (7-11 get it???)
Time: All day
Location: Various 711s
Cost: Free
Last year I missed the Chili Crab Fest because I was out of town. But this year, I will prevale in stainding in the hot sun and chowing down on a big pile of tasty chili crabs (and beer). Entertainment will include live band performances, souvenir vendors, children's street entertainment and petting zoo, caricaturists, face painters, massage therapy, traditional lion dancers, East-West horoscope readings by Madame Tiger and kickboxers from Gleason’s Gym.
Date: Sunday, August 7th Time: 12:00pm - 6:00pm Venue: 66 Water Street, Brooklyn, NY (between Dock and Main) Cost: Free to attend
Two things I could not like more. They tell me it is impossible to reproduce the taste of authentic BBQ in a NYC kitchen due to the health regulations. And while some come close (my personal favorite is Dinosaur BBQ but thats another conversation) nothing really matches. So when someone throws a local outdoor feast-ival, I am totally there. This afternoon, the local restaurants sell their specialties while bands perform a blues backdrop. There will even be fireworks near the end! A good way to enjoy the lazy days of summer.
Date: Sunday, August 28th
Time: 2:00pm - 9:00pm
Venue: Pier 54 (14th street and hudson river)
Cost: Free
Its time again for the Brooklyn Pie Social. Come out and try tasty pies all day along with face painting, lemonade, and fun for the whole family. The pies work on a price structure that involves you getting your crafty hipster self in the kitchen. Bake up 2 pies, and bring them along and you get to taste 5 pies for $5. Bake 1 pie and the 5 pies will cost you $10. Being too cool for school and arriving sans pie will cost you a big $25 for the tasting. Fill out the form here to apply. All event proceeds benefit the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy and help bring free public programming to Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Date: Saturday, September 17th Time: 12:00pm - 4:00pm Venue: Main Street at Brooklyn Bridge Park (directions) Cost: Free to attend
Take advantage of the good weather and hit up the Loreley outdoor beer garden for Oktoberfest today. There's a suckling pig roast and beer beer beer. Check the site for full info.
Date: October 1st Time: 3:00pm Location: Loreley (7 Rivington Street) Cost: Free to go.
Slow Food USA does food well... really well. As the name implies, the organization is dedicated to using unprocessed ingredients, time, and care to and it shows. Today is their Urban Harvest, a "festive tribute to the farmers and artisans who provide us with foods that are delicious, ecologically sustainable, and humanely produced." There will be "over 40 regional farmers and artisanal food producers – most of whom do not normally attend the City's Greenmarkets. Offerings will include pastured poultry from the Catskills; traditionally fermented sauerkraut and pickles from the Berkshires; custards and fresh dairy products from western New York; wines from the East End of Long Island; biodynamic apples from the Hudson Valley; and over 30 farmstead cheeses from Vermont." Visitors are welcome to shop the market for tasty treats or try out tasting plates design by NYC chefs at the cost of 6 tastings for $20. There is also a beverage version of this market afterwards dedicated to wine, beer, and cider.
Date: Sunday, October 2nd Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm Location: City Municipal Building (1 Center Street) Cost: Free to attend
Helping The Drunkards Get Drunk One Tasting at a Time
What better things are there to do a 2pm on Saturday afternoon than to start hittin' the booze. Stop of at Acker Merrall & Condit for the Piedmont Pleasures Free Italian Wine Tasting. They have "a lovely sampling to tempt your palate, from the big, bold Barolo to the delicate Dolcetto, to a lively Barbera." I'm not really sure hwat that means, but I think they are just trying to say "come drink this wine, it tastes good."
Date: Saturday, November 12th Time: 2pm - 5pm Venue: Acker Merrall & Condit, 160 W. 72nd St Cost: Free
Ok, so take a couple hours to sober up and cleanse your pallet. Now its 7pm and you can really start drinkin' the good stuff at the Bourbon Tasting with Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. "The handsome Drew Kulsveen from Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD) will be on hand to pour his whiskeys, sign bottles, and answer questions about how his bourbon is made, aged, and bottled. The Kulsveen family has bottled some of the finest private label small batch and single barrel bourbon and rye whiskeys on the market." Again I say I am not really sure what that means so my translation is the same, "come drink this bourbon, it tastes good."
Date: Saturday, November 12th Time: 7pm - 9pm Venue: LeNell's Ltd, a Wine & Spirit Boutique, 416 Van Brunt St, Red Hook Cost: Free
Its always nice when new restaurants open, its even nicer when the lure in customers by offering them free tasty treats. "High Chai, a new restaurant/bar in the East Village, will be sampling both complimentary exotic teas and Virgin Vines Wine for the public. Hors D’oeuvres will be provided by High Chai. Virgin Vines will be showcasing their new line of Chardonnay and Shiraz at this event." This is a great way to have a bite and a drink and still make it home to watch tonights episode of Lost!
Date: Wednesday, November 16th Time: 6pm - 9pm Venue: High Chai, 18 Ave B Cost: Free with RSVP
In case your keeping track lets add the following items to the list of things that FreeNYC loves... cheap maragritas, tacos and beer. So it looks like Taco Tuesday at Luke & Leroy is totally the way to go. You got $3 Margaritas, $10 Pitchers Margaritas, $3 Beer, and $1 Tacos (beef & veggie).
Date: Tuesday, January 10th Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm Location: Luke & Leroy, 21 7th Ave Cost: Free to get in, and cheep food and tacos
I am a beer guy. Not in the "Budweiser and Levi's" kind of way but in the "tasty microbrewed goodness" way. So when Stone Brewery, one of my favorite west coast breweries, is setting up shop at Mugs, one of my favorite Brooklyn beer bars, I get excited. The Stone crew will be on hand tonight with some special rare kegs for tasting including their 7th Anniversary Ale and an oaked cask of personal favorite "Arrogant Bastard Ale" which some feel was named after me. No free beer here but some rare tasty brews.
Date: Thursday, January 12th Time: ???, evening Location:Mugs Ale House (125 Bedford at North 10th, Williamsburg) Cost: Free to enter
Learn all there is to know about the art of cutting limes and glasswear at this tasting for Cachaca, the tasty liquor behind the delicious caipirinha. I am sure they will give you at least one tasty beverage throughout the demonstration.
Enjoy not only free cheese pizza with every alcoholic drink but tonight the Open Mic hosted by the sublime Beth Stine whilst you eat your free dinner. Featuring comedy, music, films, readings, cat-juggling, squat thrusting...anything goes. If you want to perform for the extra bonus of $1 Bud drafts for performers during the show. Pitch your act by emailing in.
Date: Tuesday, February 28th Time: 10:00pm Location: Capone’s (221 North 9th Street, Brooklyn) Cost: Free
Date: Saturday, March 4th Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm Location: See below Cost: Free Summary:Free Tasting of DOP Olive Oil and DOP Fontina Cheese. I guess you can make lunch out of it if you're broke.
MANHATTAN
* Fairway Market, 2127 Broadway at 72nd
* Zabar's, 2245 Broadway at 80th
* Dean and Deluca, 560 Broadway at Prince St.
* Balducci's, 81 Eighth Avenue at 14th
* DiPalo's, 200 Grand Street
* Murray's Cheese, 254 Bleecker Street
* Whole Foods Market, 4 Union Square South (cheese only)
BROOKLYN
* The Blue Apron Fine Foods, 438 7th Avenue
* The Blue Apron Fine Foods, 814 Union Street
Date: Saturday, March 4th Time: 12:00pm Location: Mugs Ale House (125 Bedford Avenue at North 10th) Cost: Free to enter Summary: Two days of high gravity barelywine drinking at one of Williamsburg's best beer bars.
As an avid beer drinker, this has become an annual event of sorts for me. For the seventh year, Mugs Ale House will present Split Thy Brooklyn Skull, a two day festival of high alcohol barley wines. Basically beer brewed to wine strength, the two days will feature over 20 different varieties ranging from 8% alcohol to a blinding 18%. Entry is free, food is served, and beers are sold in petite samplings ($3 I think).
Date: Saturday, March 4th Time: 12:00pm Location: Mugs Ale House (125 Bedford Avenue at North 10th) Cost: Free to enter Summary: Two days of high gravity barelywine drinking at one of Williamsburg's best beer bars.
As an avid beer drinker, this has become an annual event of sorts for me. For the seventh year, Mugs Ale House will present Split Thy Brooklyn Skull, a two day festival of high alcohol barley wines. Basically beer brewed to wine strength, the two days will feature over 20 different varieties ranging from 8% alcohol to a blinding 18%. Entry is free, food is served, and beers are sold in petite samplings ($3 I think).
Date: Monday, March 6th Time: 7:00pm - 1:00am (or later) Location: La Linea (1st Ave at 1st Street) Cost: Free Summary: Chill spot to relax and drink away your Monday blues on the cheap.
I'm sure your all totally stoked about the fact that it's Monday. 8am wake up calls, finishing all the stuff you slacked on on Friday, and yet another conversation about how Three 6 Mafia won an oscar. I mean what's not to love about Monday (please note the sarcasm). If you need to blow off some steam tonight like I do ('cause really I just didn't drink enough this weekend) head over to La Linea. There are 1/2 price drinks from 7 to 9, and beer is $3 all night!
Date: Thursday, March 23rd Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm Location: Mixx Lounge (84 7th Ave South) Cost: Free Summary: Earlier this week someone told me that "grown ups is tired." So whether you are looking to call it an early night from a hard days work or you just want so free food, join FreeNYC favorite, DJ Moe Choi, at Mixx for 2-for-1 drinks and free dinner buffet!
Date: Thursday, March 23rd Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm (the flyer says 5pm, but it has been changed to 6pm, food begins at 7pm) Location: Mixx Lounge (84 7th Ave South) Cost: Free Summary: Earlier this week someone told me that "grown ups is tired." So whether you are looking to call it an early night from a hard days work or you just want some free food, join FreeNYC favorite, DJ Moe Choi, at Mixx for 2-for-1 drinks and free dinner buffet beginning at 7!
Date: Saturdays Time: 1:00pm Location: Six Point Brewery (34 Van Dyke St, Brooklyn) Cost: Free Summary: Learn all the fine points of craft brewing as the Sixpoint team takes you on a tour of their brewery. Plus, you get a free beer in the tap room afterwards! Click here for full info and directions.
Date: Saturday, April 22nd Time: 11:00am - 3:30pm Location:Xing Restaurant (785 9th Ave bet. 52nd and 53rd) Cost: Free to first 50 people Summary: The Super Sheik Xing kicks off their new brunch service this weekend by offering free brunch to the first 50 people through the door. The Asian/American/Fusion menu looks insane (think five spiced french toast with lemongrass butter) and there is a $12 all you can drink option. Repeats Sunday.
Date: Saturday, April 22nd Time: 1:00pm - 6:00 pm Location: Mott, Mulberry, Baxter, Bayard, Pell, Doyers and Mosco Streets Cost: $1 and $2 a plate Summary:Tate of China town, mmmmm. "Back by overwhelming demand, over 50 restaurants, tea houses, bakeries and specialty food shops will offer $1 or $2 tasting plates throughout tasting corridors on Mott, Mulberry, Baxter, Bayard, Pell, Doyers and Mosco Streets in Chinatown, NYC. Mott Street will be closed to traffic from Canal to Worth for your strolling and munching pleasure. The only traffic will be from the other eaters and the occasional dancing lion!"
Date: Sunday, April 23nd Time: 11:00am - 3:30pm Location:Xing Restaurant (785 9th Ave bet. 52nd and 53rd) Cost: Free to first 50 people Summary: The Super Sheik Xing kicks off their new brunch service this weekend by offering free brunch to the first 50 people through the door. The Asian/American/Fusion menu looks insane (think five spiced french toast with lemongrass butter) and there is a $12 all you can drink option.
Date: Sunday, April 23rd Time: 4:00pm - 9:00pm Location: Laila Lounge (113 North 7th Street bet. Wythe & Berry, Williamsburg)
Cost: Free Summary: "Yeah, I know what Sundays are about. Sitting back, relaxing, laying low and prepping for that dam work week. But it's spring, so why not come out and lay low with the dudes (Kid Ankles and Chet Lemone). Eat some free BBQ and have a couple cheap drinks to eaze into monday."
Date: Saturday, March 4th
Date: Saturdays
