17 Free Things To Do Around The Fashion Institute of Technology

Are you looking for free things to do around The Fashion Institute of Technology? Fortunately, there are plenty of free things to do around FIT! From going to the seaport, to touring free art galleries, you won’t be bored, even when you’re broke.

This is a collaborative piece by: Jacqueline Hanna and Mia Jenkins

1. Pier 15 South Street Seaport

Growing up 20 minutes away from the beach, then moving to a city where I am surrounded by beautiful skyscrapers can be a little overwhelming at times. Pier 15 is for all the beach lovers who have moved to the city and need to have the relaxing feel of the water. For the warmer months Pier 15 is perfect for lounging out and soaking up the rays with an amazing view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

2. SoHo

Ever wonder where all those Tumblr photos of cast iron buildings came from? Well the answer is SoHo, for which means South of Houston Street. This lower Manhattan neighborhood is home to trendy art galleries and every designer name store you could imagine from Chanel, Prada, and even Dior. SoHo is a perfect day trip for just walking around and taking those Instagram worthy pictures!

3. Highline

Elevated above the streets on the West Side of Manhattan, the Highline is a public park that was built on a historic freight rail line. Running from Gansevoort St in the Meatpacking District to W 34th St between 10th and 12th avenues, the Highline is another location to advantage of.

4. Whitney Museum of American Art

As seen from the Highline the Whitney Museum of American Art, referred to as The Whitney, focuses on 20th and 21st century American art. The Whitney was originally located on the Upper East Side on 75th St but relocated to the Meatpacking/West Village neighborhood in Lower Manhattan on 99 Gansevoort St.

5. Chelsea art galleries

Known for its emphasizes on contemporary art, Chelsea art district is one of the most highly influential art districts in the world. With hundreds of galleries primarily on W 18th and W 28th, and 10th and 11th Avenues, all art lovers will never get bored!

6. MoMA

MoMA? Free? Yes, every Friday evening from 4 to 8 o’clock MoMA offers free admission. Enough said, now go and explore modern art.

7. Central Park

Feeling stressed and confined in your dorm? Well taking a walk through Central Park is one way of the best ways to relax and take advantage of what the city has to offer. Having a picnic on the grass, reading a book, or running through the park are just some of the endless activities you can do in Central Park.

8. MET

Located on the Upper East Side on 5th Avenue The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a perfect day trip for appreciating over 5,000 years of art from all over the world!

9. Comedy Shows

Everyone in New York is aware of all the places to see a great comedy show, but what people may be unaware of is that there are plenty of comedy shows you can see without spending a penny. Poco restaurant in Alphabet City has local comedians perform every Wednesday at 8pm and admission is completely free!

10. Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Museum

Last but certainly not least, for all the fashion lovers out there visiting the Fashion Institute of Technology Museum is a must. The Museum at FIT creates exhibitions, publications, and programs that are entertaining and educational. Not to mention it is free!! Being a student here at FIT, the creativity I see every day inspires me and gives me a greater sense of pride to be attending such a prestigious fashion school.

11. Wednesday Movie Night in the Cafeteria

FIT itself holds a movie night in the cafeteria every wednesday around 8:00 pm, and it’s totally free. The movie selection ranges but they’re always pretty current and there’s free popcorn. Oh, and it’s nice if you go with a few friends to pass the time after classes or during finals week.

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12. Holiday windows on Madison/Fifth Ave

Holiday season in NYC is no joke and the stores on Madison and Fifth avenue don’t play when it comes to their window displays. Some of my favorite are Harry Winston and Bergdoff Goodman. However, if you’re in the area Macy’s in Herald Square has amazing holiday window displays too! Walking around and enjoying the windows is a great way to get in the holiday spirit and if you’re an FIT student you can totally appreciate the work put into them.

13. Roaming in Times Square

I think the main thing that comes to mind when people think of NYC is Times Square. City of bright lights and tons of billboards. I’ll admit, after you’ve lived here for a while Times Square loses a little bit of it’s excitment but if you don’t go too often it’s still nice to visit. My favorite time to walk around there is at night because all of the signs and lights are so much more magical. Another perk to the night time browsing is that street preforms tend to be out more during the evening than the day.

14. Food trucks in Williamsburg

Williamsburg, Brooklyn is one of my favorite places in NYC. There is literally endless things to do and especially in the warmer months it’s honestly just enough to walk around. The entire atmosphere is creative, free and fun. I love running into little street fairs happening there and then discovering amazing food trucks. If you run into a street tacos truck you have to try them!

15. Global Citizens Festival

The Global citizens festival as I mentioned before is a concert held in central park every year. It’s also completely free, all you have to do is go onto their website and do a few activities to win tickets. I went in 2015 when Beyonce preformed and it was amazing!

16. Street Fairs in Midtown

During the warmer months in the city there are always a ton of random street fairs going on. Especially in the fall time there’s always a lot of cool fall festivals and street market fairs going on. It’s a great way to pass time and find some cool things. And you totally don’t have to spend money if you don’t, walking around and seeing all the art is enough on it’s own.

17. Bike Riding around the city/roaming the big apple

Bike riding is not only a workout but a great way to pass time and see the city. If you have your own bike you can ride around with no problem, some of the best places to bike are the upper east side and anywhere near the river… and some areas of midtown too. However, if you don’t have a bike you can rent one from one of the many bike stands around the city. It’s super fun to do with friends… and it could also be a cute date idea.