TonightMusic1:00 AM
Smalls Late Night Jam Session
Smalls Jazz Club · West Village
"The ultimate late-night jazz hang, provided you don't mind rubbing elbows with Juilliard kids in a sweaty basement."
$25Venue ↗
Wednesday, October 7
Tonight Nearby NYC
Autumn in NYC: Jazz, Art, and Nonstop Dancing
Tonight, quickly
Wednesday night in NYC is for the locals. Catch early cabaret sets at Joe's Pub, drop into the Village Vanguard for a world-class jazz residency, or hit Smalls for the legendary 1am jam session to close out the night.
This weekend · Oct 9–Oct 11
This weekend brings peak October energy to the boroughs. Pace yourself for the legendary 24-hour Nowadays Nonstop, catch open studios during Pioneer Works' Second Sundays, or start Friday night right with live music and cocktails at The Met.
What's on tonight
Comedy7:30 PM
Comedy Cellar Nightly Showcase
Comedy Cellar · Greenwich Village
"Surrender your phone at the door and prepare for relentless, top-tier standup where surprise drop-ins are practically guaranteed."
$15-$25Venue ↗
Drag & Cabaret7:00 PM
Joe's Pub Evening Cabaret
Joe's Pub · East Village
"A perfectly intimate, plush room where Broadway weirdos and downtown icons try out their wildest new material."
$20-$40Venue ↗
Music8:00 PM
Village Vanguard Weekly Residency
Village Vanguard · West Village
"Walking down the steps of this historic jazz temple on a Wednesday night remains a quintessential New York rite of passage."
$40Venue ↗
FilmCheck venue
Film Forum Repertory Screenings
Film Forum · West Village
"Skip the multiplex and catch a gorgeously restored 35mm classic surrounded by the most fiercely opinionated cinephiles in town."
$15Venue ↗
FilmCheck venue
Metrograph Independent Screenings
Metrograph · Lower East Side
"Come for the immaculately curated indie film, stay for a negroni at the upstairs commissary bar where everyone is dressed better than you."
$17Venue ↗
TheatreCheck venue
St. Ann's Warehouse Fall Season
St. Ann's Warehouse · DUMBO
"Always pushing boundaries with stunning international theater imports housed in a beautifully raw converted tobacco warehouse."
Check venueVenue ↗
Comedy8:00 PM
Union Hall Local Comedy Showcase
Union Hall · Park Slope
"Cheap beers, indoor bocce, and Brooklyn's finest alt-comedians working out their existential dread in a cozy basement."
$15Venue ↗
The weekend ahead
ArtFri · 5:00 PM
Date Night at The Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art · Upper East Side
"Live string quartets and a cocktail bar in the Great Hall make this the absolute best way to kick off a Friday evening."
Free for NY residentsVenue ↗
MusicFri · 8:00 PM
Brooklyn Bowl Live Music
Brooklyn Bowl · Williamsburg
"Because sometimes you want to listen to an incredible funk band while eating fried chicken and throwing a gutter ball."
$15-$25Venue ↗
NightlifeFri · 10:00 PM
House of Yes Weekend Party
House of Yes · Bushwick
"Put together your best costume and surrender to aerialists, glitter, and uninhibited house beats at Brooklyn's wildest queer playground."
$30-$45Venue ↗
MusicFri · 10:00 PM
Baby's All Right Late Gig
Baby's All Right · Williamsburg
"The definitive spot to say you saw your favorite new indie band before they blew up and got too expensive."
$20Venue ↗
ArtSat · 12:00 PM
MoMA PS1 General Admission
MoMA PS1 · Long Island City
"Get lost in a former public school filled with boundary-pushing contemporary art that feels far edgier than its Manhattan parent museum."
Free for NYC residentsVenue ↗
NightlifeSat · 10:00 PM
Public Records Sound Room
Public Records · Gowanus
"An audiophile's dream where strictly vinyl DJs spin immaculate sets through custom sound systems in an old ASPCA building."
$25-$35Venue ↗
NightlifeSat · 10:00 PM
Nowadays Nonstop
Nowadays · Ridgewood
"A marathon 24-hour party with a famously friendly door, a strict safer-spaces policy, and a backyard for when you need to see the sun."
$20-$30Venue ↗
FestivalSun · 12:00 PM
Pioneer Works Second Sundays
Pioneer Works · Red Hook
"Roam through massive artist studios, listen to live music, and soak up the creative Red Hook vibes before catching the ferry home."
FreeVenue ↗
NYC going-out FAQ
✦What's on in NYC tonight?
Wednesday nights are perfect for comedy cellars, jazz residencies at the Village Vanguard, or low-key cabaret at Joe's Pub.
✦Free things to do in NYC this weekend?
Pioneer Works' Second Sundays is totally free (suggested donation), and MoMA PS1/The Met are pay-what-you-wish or free for NYC/NYS residents.
✦Best live music in NYC tonight?
Smalls in the West Village has an incredible late-night jam at 1am, while Baby's All Right is your best bet for indie gigs.
✦Where to find cheap comedy tickets?
Skip the Times Square hawkers and head to Union Hall in Brooklyn or check weeknight lineups at the Comedy Cellar (around $15-$25 plus a two-item minimum).
✦How late does the subway run for clubbing?
The subway runs 24/7, but expect longer waits and reroutes on weekends. If you're out late at Nowadays or House of Yes, double-check the MTA app for L or M train weekend service.
✦Best LGBTQ+ friendly nights this weekend?
House of Yes is the gold standard for queer-friendly, maximalist dance parties, while Public Records and Nowadays have excellent safer-space policies and heavily feature queer DJs.