New York City General Entertainment Venues

Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 Lafayette Ave. (☎718-636-4100; www.bam.org), between St. Felix St. and Ashland Pl. S 2, 4, 5, Q to Atlantic Ave.; M, N, R, W to Pacific St. Oldest performing arts center in the country, with a colorful history of magnificent performances. Pavlova danced, Caruso sang, and Sarah Bernhardt played here. The venue now focuses on new, non-traditional, multicultural programs, with the occasional classical music performance. Jazz, blues, performance art, opera, film, and dance available. Annual Next Wave Festival (Oct.-Dec.) features contemporary experimental music, dance, theater, and performance art. The Brooklyn Philharmonic performs here Nov.-May. Some opera performances as well; call for schedule. Tickets $20-50. Manhattan Express Bus (“BAM bus”) departs from 120 Park Ave., at 42nd St., 1hr. before performances (☎718-636-4100 for info and reservations; round trip $10).
The Kitchen, 512 W 19th St. (☎212-255-5793; www.thekitchen.org), between 10th and 11th Ave. S C, E to 23rd St./8th Ave. A world-renowned arts showcase in an unassuming Meatpacking District location. The center features experimental and avant-garde film and video, as well as concerts, dance performances, art exhibits, public lectures, and poetry readings. The Kitchen prides itself on its support of budding or underrepresented artists who are willing to take risks. Ticket prices vary by event. Performances Sept.-June. Box office open Tu-Sa 2-6pm.
Pregones Theater, 571-575 Walton Ave. (☎718-585-1202; www.pregones.org) between 149th and 150th St. S 2, 4 or 5 to 149th St./Grand Concourse. This award-winning Puerto Rican theater ensemble creates and stages bilingual productions at its home in the South Bronx. Founded in 1979, the company has been widely hailed for its commitment to Latino cultural creation. Along with performances, they also host artist-run workshops and lecture demonstrations. Tickets generally $20. Students and seniors 30% off. Call or check their website for a schedule of events and to purchase tickets.
92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. (☎212-996-1100; www.92y.org), at 92nd St. S 6 to 96th St. Upper East Side cultural center. The Y’s Kaufmann Concert Hall seats only 916 people and offers an intimate setting unmatched by New York City’s larger halls. Notable series include Jazz in July, Chamber Music at the Y (Tu and W nights), and Lyrics and Lyricists (M and Sa-Su nights). Also hosts ongoing series of literary readings at the Poetry Center and some of the most engaging lectures in New York City—Tony Kushner, Al Franken, E.L. Doctorow, and Anna Quindlen have spoken here. Tickets $15-100. Visit the website for updated schedules.
ABC No Rio, 156 Rivington St. (☎212-254-3697; www.abcnorio.org), between Clinton and Suffolk St. S F, J, M, Z to Delancey St./Essex St. A nonprofit, community-run space committed to political and social activism with a vibrant mural marking its entrance. Offers print-making studio, darkrooms, computer labs, and a library. Volunteer-taught classes available most weeknights. Center is open to the public and hosts many events, from art exhibitions to poetry readings to Sa afternoon all-ages hardcore punk matinees. No alcohol or beverages served. Cover $2-5. Call for changing schedule.
Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway (☎212-496-7070, www.beacontheatre.com; tickets ☎212-307-7171 or www.ticketmaster.com), at 74th St. S 1, 2, 3 to 72nd St./Broadway. Attached to the Beacon Hotel, this mid-sized venue hosts a variety of music acts, plus performances and plays—everyone from the Foo Fighters to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Check website for schedule. Tickets from $35. Box office open M-F 11am-7pm, Sa noon-6pm.
The Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery (☎212-614-0505; www.bowerypoetry.com), between Houston and Bleecker St. S F, V to Lower East Side/2nd Ave.; 6 to Bleecker St. Poetry for the people, and we mean all people—everything from an Emily Dickinson Marathon to a Beatbox Summit. During the day, readings and workshops are complemented with cupcakes ($3), sandwiches ($8-9), and coffee ($1.50) from the cafe. At night, the poetry gets increasingly opaque as you indulge in beers at the bar ($4-6). 3-5 events per day. Cover free-$10. Check the website for the schedule. Open M-F 9am until the last show ends, Sa-Su 11am until the last show ends.
Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts, 2900 Campus Rd. and Hillel Place (☎718-951-4500 or 718-951-4600; www.brooklyncenter.com), 1 block west of the junction of Flatbush and Nostrand Ave., on the campus of Brooklyn College. S 2, 5 to Flatbush Ave./Brooklyn College. Ray Charles, Luciano Pavarotti, and Harry Belafonte have performed at this neighborhood favorite, founded in 1954. A wide range of projects grace the Art Deco Walt Whitman Stage every year, including Su Broadway shows, ballets, Caribbean dance, and performances by Brooklyn College’s theater and music departments. Season Oct.-May. Wheelchair accessible. Tickets usually $15-40. 3-event subscriptions ($60-144) available for the Broadway, Dance, Celebrities, Virtuoso, and Caribbean Celebration series. Less expensive student rush tickets are also available. Box office open Tu-Sa 1-6pm and 1hr. before performances.
Cathedral of St. John the Divine (☎212-662-2133; www.stjohndivine.org). See for directions. This beautiful church offers an array of concerts, exhibits, lectures, plays, movies, and dance events. The NY Philharmonic performs here on occasion. Saxophonist Paul Winter gives annual Summer and Winter Solstice concerts ($35). Prices vary. Box office open M-F 10am-2pm, Sa-Su 9am-5pm.
Cultural Institutes: These cultural centers are valuable for their libraries, small but interesting exhibits, classes, and lectures. Some services are only open to members, but all the institutes have useful lists of cultural events throughout the city.
- Americas Society, 680 Park Ave. (☎212-628-8950; www.americas-society.org/as), between 68th and 69th St. S 6 to 68th St./Hunter College. Concerts and visual arts exhibitions showcasing North and South American photographers, experimental art, and famous musicians. Gallery admission free. Exhibits rotate bimonthly. Concerts are sometimes free, and almost always inexpensive. Gallery open Tu-Su noon-6pm; call for event schedule.
- China Institute, 125 E 65th St. (☎212-744-8181; www.chinainstitute.org), between Park and Lexington Ave. S 6 to 68th St./Hunter College. Promotes the understanding of Chinese culture and history through classes (including calligraphy, painting, and language), lectures, performances, and film series. Gallery showcases a broad spectrum of Chinese art and architecture from the Neolithic period to the present. Gallery open M, W, F-Sa 10am-5pm; Tu and Th 10am-8pm. Closed major holidays and between exhibitions. $5, students and seniors $3, children under 12 free; Tu and Th 6-8pm free. Call ahead or visit website for schedules.
- French Institute Alliance Française, Florence Gould Hall, 22 E 60th St. (☎212-355-6160 or 212-307-4100; www.fiaf.org), between Park and Madison Ave. S 4, 5, 6 to 59th St.; N, R, W to 5th Ave. This cultural arm of the French Embassy offers lectures, classes, programs, and films. Admission varies, but most events are inexpensive and give discounts to members. Film tickets available day of screening at box office. Doors open 20min. before screening. Box office open Tu-F 11am-7pm, Sa-Su 11am-3pm.
- Goethe-Institut, 1014 5th Ave. (☎212-439-8700; www.goethe.de), between 82nd and 83rd St. S 6 to 77th St.; 4, 5, 6 to 86th St. Imports Germanic culture via films, concerts, classes, and lectures. Many events and exhibits free. Closed much of July-Aug. Office open M-Th 9am-5:30pm, F 9am-4:15pm. Library open Tu and Th noon-7pm, W and F-Sa noon-5pm. Gallery hours depend on current exhibition.
- Italian Cultural Institute, 686 Park Ave. (☎212-879-4242; www.iicnewyork.esteri.it), between 68th and 69th St. S 6 to 68th St./Hunter College. Library open M-F 1-4pm. Reading room and institute open M-F 9am-1pm and 2-4pm.
- Spanish Institute, 684 Park Ave. (☎212-628-0420; www.spanishinstitute.org), between 68th and 69th St. S 6 to 68th St./Hunter College. Housed in a 1927 landmark townhouse, the institute was founded in 1954 to promote Spanish culture through lectures, symposia, language, and translation. Most events and lectures free; check website for the schedule. Open M-F 10am-6pm, Sa 10am-5pm.
Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard St. (☎212-219-3006; www.knittingfactory.com), between Broadway and Church St. S 1 to Franklin St. This multi-level performance space features several shows each night, ranging from avant-garde and indie rock to jazz and hip-hop. There are 3 shows nightly—1 at the bar, 1 on the main stage, and 1 at the old office. Cover $5-30. Tickets are available online, by phone, or at the box office (most from $8). Box office open M-Sa 10am-2am, Su 2pm-2am. Bar open daily 6pm-4am.
Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W 67th St. (☎212-501-3330; www.merkinconcerthall.org), between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave. S 1 to 66th St. Recently renovated to enhance its renowned acoustics, this intimate theater known as “the little hall with the big sound,” features an eclectic mix of blues, jazz, classical, and world music along with the occasional play or book reading. Season Sept.-June. Tickets usually $15-35. Advance student tickets available at the discretion of individual programs, generally on a ½-price basis. ½-price rush tickets for full-time students also available 30min. before most performances; cash only. Box office open Jan.-Oct. M-Th and Su noon-7pm, F noon-4pm; Nov.-Dec. M-Th and Su noon-7pm, F 3pm-close.
The Point, 940 Garrison Ave. (☎718-542-4139; www.thepoint.org), at the corner of Manida St., the Bronx. S 6 to Hunts Point Ave. This venue houses a growing artistic community. Unfortunately, it sits on the border of 1 of NYC’s poorest neighborhoods. Monthly Latin jazz and hip-hop performances; studio facilities; a theater; summer programs for neighborhood youth; and art classes. Community-based efforts like the annual South Bronx Film and Video Festival. Call or check online for events. Films generally $12. Open M-F 8:30am-7pm, Sa 10am-5pm.
Radio City Music Hall, 1260 6th Ave. (☎212-307-7171; www.radiocity.com), at 50th St. S B, D, F, V 47th-50th St./Rockefeller Center. See for directions. The list of entertainers who have performed here is impressive to say the least: Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Elton John, among others. The auditorium also hosts readings by the likes of Stephen King, JK Rowling, and John Irving. Tickets start around $35. Box office open M-Sa 10am-8pm, Su 11am-8pm; in summer M-Sa 11:30am-6pm.
St. Ann’s Warehouse, 38 Water St. (☎718-254-8779; www.artsatstanns.org, tickets www.ticketweb.com), near Dock St. S A, C to High St.; F to York St. In 2001, Arts at St. Ann’s moved from the Church of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity in Brooklyn Heights to its current warehouse in DUMBO, transforming this venue into a full-out theater and performance space. The theater is home to the renowned “Puppet Lab” that holds the annual spring Labapalooza! showcasing new projects and interdisciplinary collaborations. Volunteer ushers see shows for free; call ☎718-254-9601 or email housemanager@artsatanns.org for info. Check website for upcoming performances and prices. Main office at 70 Washington St. (☎718-834-8794, ext. 10). Box office open Tu-Sa 1-7pm and from 1pm until 1hr. before performances on show days.
St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, 131 E 10th St. (☎212-674-6377; www.stmarkschurch-in-the-bowery.com), between 2nd and 3rd Ave. S 6 to Astor Pl. Home to the Ontological-Hysteric Theater (☎212-420-1916; www.ontological.com), Danspace Project (☎212-674-8112; www.danspaceproject.org), and Poetry Project (☎212-674-0910; www.poetryproject.com). While the Ontological Theater pioneered the wackiness of playwright Richard Foreman, Danspace has provided a venue for emerging dancers and experimental styles of movement since the 1920s. Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham danced here. Poetry Project stages regular evening readings Sept.-May. For info on upcoming events, call, check the websites, or look for notices outside the church. Tickets for Danspace usually $15, $10 for members; Poetry Project $8, students and seniors $7, $5 for members.
Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (☎212-864-5400; www.symphonyspace.org), at W 95th St. S 1, 2, 3 to 96th St./Broadway. This diverse performing arts venue showcases film festivals, world music ensembles, classical orchestras, modern dance, and readings by authors like David Sedaris and Walter Mosley. Before and after performances, check out the Barocco at the Thalia Cafe to chow on Mediterranean sandwiches and to mingle with performers. Most movies $11, seniors $9. Other events $15-35. Student/senior discounts often available—call ahead for individual performances. Tickets available online. Box office open Tu-Su noon-7pm.
World Financial Center (☎212-417-7000; www.worldfinancialcenter.com), in Battery Park City. See for directions. A variety of festivals are held here year-round in the Winter Garden and in Rockefeller Park, but they are more common during the summer. Free concerts by big-name performers like Lyle Lovett. Check online for schedule.