Chances are if you are a college student in NYC, you’re always looking for things to do that don’t put a hole in your wallet. Here are some cool exhibits, events, and places that are free to enjoy.
Free Art Exhibits:
“Riopelle | MirĂł: Color”– Acquavella Galleries
“Acquavella Galleries is pleased to present Riopelle / Miró: Color, an exhibition of painted bronze sculptures by Joan Miró and oil paintings by Jean Paul Riopelle, on view from October 1 to December 11, 2015. The exhibition highlights how the artists’ lives and works intersected through professional relationships, overlapping literary and artistic groups, personal experiences, and intellectual inquiry. Riopelle and Miró worked with the same dealers on both sides of the Atlantic, traveled in the same circles, and even shared a studio in the South of France. Their ideas and approaches to art differed considerably, but as contemporaries, colleagues and friends, it is compelling to view their work side by side in conversation.”
Open until December 11, 2015.
“Unorthodox”- The Jewish MuseumÂ
“Unorthodox does not comment on Jewish religious orthodoxy or critique it, but takes its inspiration from the Jewish tradition of dialogue and debate to investigate the impact of unorthodox concepts on orthodox systems. Unorthodox aims to break with a cultural and artistic uniformity that has developed over the last century among artists and museums, proposing a nonconformist engagement with art as a means to disrupt the status quo.” – Jens Hoffman
Open from Friday November 6, 2015 – Sunday March 27, 2016.
Jeppe Hein, “Please Touch the Art”– Brooklyn Bridge ParkÂ
“Danish artist Jeppe Hein’s parkwide installation, Please Touch the Art, presented by Public Art Fund, features 17 playful sculptures designed specifically for public interaction. Jeppe, now based in Berlin and Copenhagen, studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Art and the Stadelschule in Frankfurt. His works have appeared all over the world. This exhibition includes two distinct bodies of work: a large Mirror Labyrinth, featuring evenly-spaced vertical elements of varying heights made from mirror-polished stainless steel that multiply the surrounding landscape; and 16 Modified Social Benches that upend the idea of a traditional park bench with their unconventional angled, curved, twisted, and bent forms.”
Open until Thursday December 31, 2015.
Events:Â
Columbus Circle Holiday Market – Central Park South
“The Columbus Circle Holiday Market is located in one of the most stunning locations in New York City: historic Central Park. Situated at 59th Street and Central Park West, near the southwest entrance of the park, the market is the perfect place to enjoy bites from some of the city’s finest, shop for holiday gifts from artisans and designers, and soak in the splendor of winter in New York.”
Runs from Tuesday December 1, 2015 – Thursday December 24, 2015.
Brooklyn Brewery Tour
“Grab a snack or meal to go as you walk a few blocks along the waterfront, staring at the vista of Manhattan, before finding your way to our Tasting Room. Weekends at The Brewery are an all-day affair. Come in for a beer, grab a ticket for a free tour (limited to 40 people every half hour) and enjoy. On Saturday we open promptly at noon with free tours on the half hour from 1pm – 5pm and start shutting down around 7:30 for closing time at 8pm. There’s an awful lot of stellar bars in Williamsburg to visit, after all. Sundays open at noon sharp as well, with free tours on the half hour from 1pm – 4 pm before we start shutting down around 5:30 for closing time at 6pm to make it home in time for all the good television shows. ID is required for all guests over 21 to purchase beer. Advance day reservations are not available for tours or tables.  Tickets are released on the day of the tour only. Please check out our “Before You Visit” tab below for more details and FAQs.”
Whiplash @ UCB Theatre
“’Whiplash is like a magical kingdom where laughs run free and jelly beans are the main form of currency,’ says comedian Aparna Nancherla, of UCB’s late night standup show. For half a decade, Whiplash has consistently proven itself as an exciting and eclectic show that stands out even in the city’s buzzing comedy scene, a favorite of megastar names like Louis C.K. and Chris Rock as well as a reliable well-spring for the next big stars — the likes of Pete Holmes and Kumail Nanjiani were once regulars.”  Â
Runs from Monday, November 2 2015 – Monday December 28, 2015 (Every Monday at 11 PM).
Places:
New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
“The New York Public Library has been an essential provider of free books, information, ideas, and education for all New Yorkers for more than 100 years. Founded in 1895, NYPL is the nation’s largest public library system, featuring a unique combination of 88 neighborhood branches and four scholarly research centers, bringing together an extraordinary richness of resources and opportunities available to all.”
Battery Park
“Its beautiful waterfront and flower gardens make The Battery a lovely place to wander. For those who’d like a longer stroll, the park’s location at the southern tip of Manhattan makes it a classic starting point for walking tours through the city.”
The High Line
“The High Line is an elevated freight rail line transformed into a public park on Manhattan’s West Side. It is owned by the City of New York, and maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line. Founded in 1999 by community residents, Friends of the High Line fought for the High Line’s preservation and transformation at a time when the historic structure was under the threat of demolition. It is now the non-profit conservancy working with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation to make sure the High Line is maintained as an extraordinary public space for all visitors to enjoy.”
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Free on Tuesdays, Saturday’s 10-12 noon, and Winter Weekdays (December-February).