r/WhatsHappeningNYC

Okay, real question—how many of us keep saying “I should meet more people” and then just… don’t?

We’re hosting a Skip the Small Talk night at Common Space Brewery!!

You’ll rotate through a series of short conversations using prompts that make it way less awkward than standard networking energy.

It’s low pressure. No weird icebreakers. No forced vulnerability. Just good questions and good people.

Come solo. Bring a friend. Either works.

Happy to share more details if helpful!

Here’s the link if you’re curious: 

• Wed, 5/27 - https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-common-space-brewery-hawthorne-wednesday-may-27-2026

I started the Maspeth/Ridgewood Mutual after I started putting stuff outside that my family did not want anymore and we couldn't sell on the Marketplace. I noticed the items would disappear and my neighbors would bring items to replace them. My friend who helps shut ins in Glendale brings over whatever food she has left and leaves that on the table for people to take who visit my mutual aid table.

Thursday August 6th, I received 6 deliveries of donations (clothes, food, toys, housewares, books, DVDs). By Saturday August 8th the table is empty.

Items that are in high demand:

FOOD FOR PEOPLE OR PETS

CLOTHES

TOILETRIES

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

DIAPERS FOR BABIES & ADULTS

TOYS

BACK PACKS, LUNCH BOXES & POCKET BOOKS

Books really don't go on my table, so when I get a donation of them I wait a few days then I bring them down to the Little Free Library in PS 153's school yard.

Donations can be dropped off, and you can take what you need 24 hours a day & 7 days a week:

5938 60TH ROAD, MASPETH

Donations can be dropped off at certain businesses during business hours. Just label them Maspeth/Ridgewood Mutual Aid Table.

ASSEMBLYMAN STEVEN RAGA'S OFFICE, 60-14 QUEENS BLVD., CELLAR, WOODSIDE

COOK'S ARTS & CRAFTS SHOPPE, 80-09 MYRTLE AVE., GLENDALE

SCHWILLE-D'ANGELO FUNERAL HOME, 66-32 MYRTLE AVE., GLENDALE

STATE SENATOR JOSEPH ADDABBO'S OFFICE, 66-85 73RD PLACE, MIDDLE VILLAGE

HARISCH STUDIOS, 57-44 MYRTLE AVE., 2ND FLOOR, RIDGEWOOD

For people who cannot donate in person I created an Amazon Wishlist:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/JY7U8QQZ8BBU?REF\_=wl\_share

Thank you for all donations. And if you are near the Maspeth/Ridgewood border and are in need please check out table and take what you need. No questions asked. Please spread the word. Thanks.

Hi
I’ve been building a side project called YourScene.

It’s a local discovery app for finding events, watch parties, bars, venues, and things happening nearby.
The problem I’m trying to solve is that local discovery still feels scattered. In places like NYC, Brooklyn, Jersey City, and Denver, people are checking Instagram, Reddit, Eventbrite, venue calendars, Google Maps, group chats, and word of mouth just to figure out what’s happening tonight.
I’m trying to make something that answers:
“What’s actually worth going to near me right now?”

A few things I’m building toward:

smaller local events, not just huge promoted ones
watch parties and fan spots
neighborhood-based discovery
filters for low-key / not touristy / small crowd / 30+ / family-friendly
live local posts through Pulse, so it’s not only scraped listings
better trust signals for venues and events
It’s still early, but I’d love feedback from other builders.

What would you focus on first: better event supply, better maps, stronger filters, community/Pulse, or onboarding?

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/yourscene/id6777555961
Bugs/feedback: support@yourscene.app
Appreciate any honest feedback.

I put together a list of upcoming free events across NYC where free food or drinks will be provided.

A few examples:

• Centralize: NYC Series A Launch Party with Brex & Profound — August 19th in Chelsea — Casual bites and drinks
• Paint, Sip, And Ship — August 20th in Brooklyn — Drinks
• Codédex Presents: Gen Z Builders Networking Nite — August 25th in Greenwich Village — Light bites and drinks

I’m tracking the complete list at On the House. You can filter events by date, location, food, coffee/tea, alcoholic drinks, and whether host approval is required. All events are free but some do require host approval so keep that in mind.

I built the site because everyone likes free food! Ideally, it shouldn't be the sole reason of going to an event but it can make an event more appealing and worthwhile. I manually review each listing to check that both admission and the listed refreshments are free. I also update the list daily.

The site is free and doesn’t use affiliate links. I don't make any money off this and don't require any personal data to use. If you know of an event I missed—or have feedback—you can submit it through the site. Cheers!

Hey Everyone!

Friday is coming up and we're back for another night out!

This week we're heading through Bushwick with a mix of drinks, good vibes, and dancing to end the night.

We've been getting a lot of new people coming out lately, and it's been great watching the community grow and seeing people make new friends along the way.

Us:

A group of people in our 20s and 30s looking to enjoy NYC, meet new people, make friends, and have a good time. The more the merrier!

You:

Also in your 20s to 30s looking for a good group of both friends and strangers to meet, mingle, drink, dance, and enjoy a Friday night with.

Where:

🌙 The Tiny Cupboard → Purgatory → Nowadays

We'll be starting at The Tiny Cupboard at 8:30 PM and hanging out there for around an hour and a half before continuing the crawl.

🍻 MIDNIGHT SOCIAL PERK:

The Tiny Cupboard is officially partnering with us for this event! Anyone attending with Midnight Social will receive 10% off their tab.

We'll then head to Purgatory before making our way to Nowadays to finish the night.

🎟️ Nowadays is FREE before midnight with an RSVP through their website. Otherwise, admission is $25. We're planning the route so that we arrive before midnight, so make sure you RSVP ahead of time!

When:

8:30 PM — Friday

We go out every Friday night!

TLDR:

We're hitting Bushwick this Friday!

The Tiny Cupboard → Purgatory → Nowadays

🍻 10% off at The Tiny Cupboard for our group
🎟️ Free entry to Nowadays before midnight with RSVP
💃 Dancing to finish the night

Come solo or bring a friend. A lot of people come by themselves, so don't worry if you don't know anyone!

Our Discord community is 800+ members and growing, and you can follow us on Instagram.

You can find the Partiful: https://partiful.com/e/vI85Z3ys8xyQNJZyH1V5?c=52aZv-Kl

Looking forward to another great night! 🌙

Hi! We’re hosting a free community reading gathering on the LIC Waterfront on Monday, August 17 from 6:30-8:00PM.

BYO Book is a casual and welcoming gathering for anyone who loves reading or has been meaning to get back into it. We read side by side as the sun sets over Manhattan, then come together to share what stood out - characters, themes, big questions, or unexpected tangents.

There’s no assigned reading! Bring whatever you want to read: the novel on your nightstand, that nonfiction you keep meaning to finish, poetry that stays with you, a library book due this week, or an old favorite worth revisiting. This is a space to slow down, be present, and enjoy the simple pleasure of reading alongside others.

BYO Book @ LIC Waterfront
🗓️ Monday, August 17
🕡 6:30–8:00 PM
📍 Gantry Plaza State Park, LIC Waterfront
🎟️ Free RSVP on Luma: https://luma.com/vuruul59
💛 Hosted by Jenny Jiang @collective.ripples

What to bring:
📖 Your current book (any format)
🧺 A picnic blanket or towel
🍿 Snacks & beverages of your choice
✨ A curious mind

(We’ll have a limited number of lanterns to share!)

The evening:
6:30–6:45 PM— Welcome & introductions
6:45–7:30 PM — Quiet reading as the sun sets
7:30–8:00 PM — Group sharing & conversation

Come solo or bring a friend! We hope to see you on Monday! 💛

I spent way too much time digging through class schedules, community calendars, and studio websites, so I figured I'd share the highlights.

If you've been saying "I need a hobby," here's what's on offer this summer. This directory covers the following hobbies:

• Pottery/ceramics
• Woodworking/carving
• Jewelry making/Silversmithing
• Sewing/crocheting/knitting
• Quilting
• Watercoloring/figure drawing
• Making collages/mosaics/stained glass
• Glass fusing/flameworking
• Zine making
• Darkroom photography
• Fiction writing
• Memoir writing
• Creative writing
• Pole dancing
• Tango and other dance courses
• Yoga
• Archery
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Shuffleboard
• Pétanque
• Roller dance
• Hockey
• Disc golf
• Surfing
• Kayaking
• Canoeing
• Guitar
• Violin
• Ukulele
• DJing
• Mushroom identification
• Plant identification
• Breathwork
• Craniosacral therapy
• Plus lots of recurring craft nights and open studios.

The full guide includes prices, neighborhoods, and start dates (there are 70+ listings across Brooklyn).

Hope many of you find it helpful or inspiring!

If I missed any great classes or recurring meetups, I'd love to add them for the next edition.

Hey VJs! We’re looking for VJs and video artists to come play visuals at an experimental art event in NYC.

Technical Difficulties is a new series pairing VJs, video artists, DJs, and electronic musicians for live audiovisual experimentation.

The idea is pretty simple: come test new work, try weird things, experiment, collaborate, and see what happens in front of a real crowd. Nothing needs to be finished or polished. This is meant to be a place to beta test work live. Each VJ will be matched with a DJ/musician for a 20 to 40 minute set!

Looking for:

• VJs / Video and Projection artists
• DJs and Musicians
• Anyone interested in experimenting with live audiovisual performance

📍 H0L0, Ridgewood, Queens
📅 Wednesday, August 19
⏰ 8PM to 2AM
🎟️ $15 advance / $20 door

Interested in playing visuals or DJing? Submit here:

https://technicaldifficulties.nyc/

💌 If cost is a barrier, DM us. We’ll figure something out.

Would especially love to connect with other VJs and video artists in NYC who want a space to try out new stuff.

RESIDENT ADVISOR LINK: https://ra.co/events/2506628

(Video is visuals on the walls of the H0L0 main room, with the Technical Difficulties title up, we want YOUR visuals painting these walls next week!)

I put together a list of upcoming free events across NYC where free food or drinks will be provided.

A few examples:

• RevGenius IRL: Panel and Happy Hour — August 12th in World Trade Center — Drinks and appetizers
• Liquid Assets: An HR & Ops Happy Hour — August 13th in Downtown NYC — Cocktails and other drinks
• Memory & Mayhem: NYC Agent Builders Happy Hour — August 13th in Williamsburg — Pizza and drinks
• Centralize: NYC Series A Launch Party with Brex & Profound — August 19th in Flatiron — Casual bites and drinks

I’m tracking the complete list at On the House. You can filter events by date, location, food, coffee/tea, alcoholic drinks, and whether host approval is required. All events are free but some do require host approval so keep that in mind.

I built the site because everyone likes free food! Ideally, it shouldn't be the sole reason of going to an event but it can make an event more appealing and worthwhile. I manually review each listing to check that both admission and the listed refreshments are free. I also update the list daily.

The site is free and doesn’t use affiliate links. I don't make any money off this and don't require any personal data to use. If you know of an event I missed—or have feedback—you can submit it through the site. Cheers!