A Guide to Living Your Best Life For the Low This Fall & Winter

The kids are back in school, the leaves are starting to change colors and pumpkin spice lattes have arrived. All of this can only mean one thing— fall is officially here!

Now for some, fall may mean that your social life is beginning to die and your seasonal depression is starting to kick in, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Just like summers in the city, fall is filled with a ton of cute and free events that you can wear your best turtleneck to.

My favorite part of fall is the men in the cream turtlenecks with a very good jacket.

— Action Brownskin (@LifeWithJRDN) September 12, 2017

From free days at the MoMa to street fairs and food festivals, here’s a guide to living your best life for the low this fall and winter!

Note: This list will be updated with more events once a week!

Art:

The Free Black Women’s Library: October 22nd; Studio Museum in Harlem

If you’re a book lover or writer, this event is just for you. On Sunday, the Black Women’s Free Library is heading to Harlem. There will be a creative writing exercise at 2PM and over 900 books written by black women to choose from. Bring books by black women authors to donate or swap!

50 Years of Public Art in NYC Parks: October 19th, 2017 11AM to 3PM; Central Park

This Saturday, NYC Parks is transforming Central Park into a stage, museum, and art studio for a free day of public art to celebrate this milestone. The event will feature free art exhibits, performances, and hands-on art workshops in Central Park’s East Pinetum field at the East 84th Street Entrance.

Items: Is Fashion Modern: MoMa; October 1, 2017–January 28, 2018

Items: Is Fashion Modern? is an exhibit that explores the present, past, future of 111 items of clothing and accessories that have had a strong impact to our world in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter: American Museum of Natural History; October 7th – May 28th, 2018

Ready for the butterfly effect? The American Museum of Natural History is opening its doors for the Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter exhibit. Starting October 7th, you can learn about hundreds of butterflies from Florida, Costa Rica, Kenya, Thailand, Malaysia, Ecuador and Australia. Tickets online will run you about $23 online, but the museum offers “pay-what-you-wish” admission if you purchase your tickets directly at the location.

Uptown: Nasty Women/ Bad Hombres: El Museo del Barrio; September 27th – November 5th

The Uptown: Nasty Women/ Bad Hombres exhibit features artists expressing themselves through their work as they protest sexism, racism, homophobia, the power of the media, the state of health care and our natural environment, and violence in various ways. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday and admission is only $9!

Parties:

The Close Up: October 27th; Kinfolk 90.

Shapes Halloween Edition: October 27th; Louie & Chan

RSVP here.

Wingz in the Trap 2: October 27th; Brooklyn

No Service: October 27th; The Mockingbird

Backyard Bumps – Halloween Edition: October 28th, Mr. McGoos

Drake Night: October 28th; Baby’s All Right 

A Drake themed Halloween party may seem like a dream (or nightmare) to some, but it’s very real. On October 28th, bring out your best Drake costume as it might make you $250 richer. Tickets for Drake Night are only $10 and can be purchased here.

Back in the Day: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 90s Halloween; October 31st, Cantina Rooftop

If you’re looking for a move on Halloween, all roads lead to Cantina Rooftop in midtown. For just $15, you can travel back to the 90s for a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air themed Halloween. Tickets are available for purchase here.

Food:

Pierogi Day: October 21st, 139 Second Ave

If you’ve never had a pierogi or swear by them, this is where you want to be. The event will give out free samples of different types of the Polish delicacy—including a pumpkin pierogi.

Hester Street Fair Harvest Day: October 21st 11AM- 6PM, Hester Street

Pumpkin painting, Five Boroughs Brewing Co, and many more vendors will be taking over the Hester Street Fair this Saturday for Harvest Day. If you’re in need of some vintage looks, a cup or cider(or beer) and just so happen to be in the L.E.S. area, this is where you’ll want to be.

Hester Street Fair Very Special Sunday with Let’s Panic and Fun Vulture: October 22nd 11AM – 6PM; Hester St

Enjoy some food, booze, books, clothes, objects, and music by 1-800-VALENTINE, Supernatural Psycho, Maria Zoe, Matt McCauley (TV Baby). Isaiah Barr (NYXO/Onyx Collective) on Sunday.

New York African Restaurant Week: October 1st – October 22nd; Brooklyn/Manhattan

If you’ve got a taste for new food, look no further. New York African Restaurant Week has officially kicked off. This Sunday in Industry City, the founders of NYARW will be hosting an African food festival! For only $15, you get to taste the many flavors of the continent! Tickets are available here.

Music:

BRIC Jazz Festival: October 19th to October 21st; Brooklyn

If you’re in a “Sentimental Mood,” this year’s third annual BRIC JazzFest is where you need to be. Over the course of the weekend, films, dances, panel discussions, and a live music marathon featuring legends and emerging jazz artists to Brooklyn. For tickets and a full schedule, click here.

Manifest 1.0: October 16th – October 27th; Founder’s Lab- 972 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn

If you want to get your fill of music and art, all road lead to Founder’s Lab for Manifest 1.0. Manifest 1.0 is a multi-sensory exhibit in collaboration with Testu which will feature performances from singer, Sunni Colon. The exhibit is open and free from 11AM to 3PM, but tickets for exhibit and Sunni Colon’s show will only cost $14. Tickets can be purchased here.

Halloween Special:

For all the real spooky shorties, this is for you..

Boutique Bazaar: Halloween Edition; October 22nd, House of Yes

Boutique Bazaar brings you seasonal jewelry, crafts, vintage, handmade goods, arts, textiles, festival wear, costumes, lingerie, menswear and more. The bazaar is free and from 1PM to 7PM!

A Night to Dismember: October 26th; Kingsland in Greenpoint

Tattoos, tarot readings, and a party all at the same damn time? October 26th will be a “Night to Dismember” in Greenpoint and is set to feature Chiinky on the decks and multiple performances. Tickets to one of the most creative Halloween parties this year are available here.

Forgotten Dark Histories of Lower Manhattan: September 30th 7:30PM to 9:30PM

If you’re into ghost stories, this one is for you. For only $25 you can join a guided tour of the most haunted spots in the LES. For more haunted tours including one that tells horrific stories of NYC’s most beautiful parks, click here.

Giant Pumpkin Weekend: October 21st and October 22nd, New York Botanical Garden

Perfect for the kids and grown folks (thanks to the spiked apple cider) in your life, Giant Pumpkin Weekend is a great time to make a trip to the Bronx. For one weekend, take in all that fall has to offer in the Botanical Garden’s huge pumpkin garden.