Weekly roundup (February 18)
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February 18, 2026 | Issue #146
NYC FOR FREE WEEKLY ROUNDUP
Note from Rebeka:
Stay busy this week with free food, world-record attempts, and Lunar New Year celebrations across NYC! Try Talenti’s new flavors at their tasting experience, grab a free dish at the new Xi’an Famous Foods, and flip your hair with K18 to set a Guinness World Record. Plus, there are a ton of Lunar New Year events to help you ring in the Year of the Horse! 🏮✨
– Rebeka
FEATURED EVENTS (THIS WEEK):
🌞Snowed In or Sun-Soaked: A Talenti Tasting Experience (February 19): Talenti is giving fans a free taste of new flavors! Guests will journey between two contrasting worlds, inspired by the global origins of Talenti’s newest flavors.
💁♀️K18 Guinness World Record Hair Flip Challenge (February 19): Get ready for a record-breaking moment in the heart of NYC. K18 is taking over Grand Central Terminal with its viral Hair Flip Challenge, inviting you to help set a Guinness World Record
💚Beacons x Mixik Spill the Matcha NYC (February 22): Celebrate Mixik's matcha milk skincare at Kitsby Studio. Join for an afternoon of matcha, treats, and thoughtfully curated pop-up moments, all rooted in supporting local businesses.
🐔Free Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit (through February 28): Enjoy a free breakfast on Chick-fil-A, nationwide for Chick-fil-A One Members! Open (or download) the Chick-fil-A app and redeem the Reward for a free Chicken Biscuit for breakfast!
🧧Lunar New Year at City Point (February 21): Join City Point for a family-friendly Lunar New Year celebration, featuring traditional Lion Dance performances, crafts, and more!
🏈Topps Rip Night at Dave & Adam's (February 21): Head to Topps Rip Night for an appearance from Jaxson Dart (Giants QB), $25 to spend on ANY Topps products for all attendees, and first 50 people will receive a FREE Topps Mega Box, plus more giveaways all night long!
⚽Manchester City Celebration of Year of the Horse (February 21): To celebrate the Year of the Horse collection with PUMA, Manchester City is teaming up with Derby Cup Coffee for a special one-day takeover in New York City.
🏮Flushing Lunar New Year Parade (February 21): Head to Flushing for its annual Lunar New Year Parade, with vibrant costumes, floats, dancing and traditional Chinese celebrations.
MORE EVENTS (THIS WEEK):
🥡Xi'an Famous Foods Fulton St Grand Opening (February 18)
🥪PIADI Grand Opening (February 18 - 19)
🪩African Rhythm, Roots & Diaspora (February 20)
✨Queens Botanical Garden Lunar New Year Celebration (February 21)
🎊Lunar New Year at Hudson Yards (February 21)
👶Bambi Baby Grand Opening (February 21 - 22)
🧧Bryant Park Lunar New Year Celebration (February 21)
🎊Lunar New Year Celebration at Lincoln Center (February 22)
🍗Charles Pan-Fried Chicken Giveaway (February 22)
☕️Spanish Sin Pena Cafecito (February 22)
🪩Genesis House X CFDA Showroom (through February 22)
✈️Microsoft x Stranger Things Flight Simulator (through February 26)
❄️Curling at Bryant Park (through February 27)
🩷Flatiron NoMad Glows Pink (through February 28)
ON THE RADAR:
🎮Pokémon Day Block Party with eBay (February 27): To celebrate Pokémon Day and 30 years of Pokémon collecting, eBay is hosting a free, fan-first Pokémon Day block party in NYC,
🧧Super Saturday Parade (February 28): Head to Chinatown to watch over 20+ lion dance groups parade throughout the streets of Chinatown for Lunar New Year.
🥞IHOP National Pancake Day (March 3): Save the date! National Pancake day with IHOP is back. Come celebrate and get a free short stack of their world famous buttermilk pancakes!
🏀 Brooklyn Nets NYC for FREE Night (March 10): Join NYC For Free for another community night at the Brooklyn Nets. Tickets are just $30 (plus fees), and include an exclusive free BrooklynWay snapback, plus all ticket holders will be entered to win raffles & courtside warmup passes!
MISC, RECURRING & DEALS:
🏡 How to Make Your Dream of Homeownership a Reality (February 24): Think buying a home is a distant dream, with soaring prices and high interest rates? Join Nikki R. Thomas of The Corcoran Group and guest Lanre Oladipo, Founder & CEO of Oladipo Wealth Management, on February 24 to learn a roadmap for home ownership, and what you need to know to make your dream of owning a home a reality (and how to prevent it from becoming a financial nightmare). (Sponsored)
🍫 Salon du Chocolat NYC (March 7 - 8): Indulge in the Ultimate Chocolate Experience with chocolatiers, cocoa producers and more from over 20 countries. For a limited time, use code NYCFORFREE26 for 20% off (and kids aged 5 and under are free!) You'll enjoy chocolate samplings, workshops, live chef demos, taste & learn sessions, a kids zone and so much more!
🧠 HITLAB Alzheimer's Study (Earn $200!): HITLAB is conducting an IRB-approved study to help advance research in neurodegenerative diseases. Participate and earn $200. See link for details on eligibility.
🙇🏽♀️ Get $225 for a Focus Group: Earn $225 in rewards to help to shape the future of technology! Sign up for a 3 hour in-person study in Midtown Manhattan and get $225 for your time and participation.