Weekly roundup (September 3)

Note for anyone new here: This is from my weekly newsletter. Want the top events from this week in your inbox every Wednesday? Subscribe to the NYC for FREE newsletter here!

September 3, 2025 | Issue #122

NYC FOR FREE WEEKLY ROUNDUP

Note from Rebeka:

These next 2 weeks in September will be super busy with NYFW related pop-ups + events in general (September in NYC = everyone is back and weather is perfect!)! This week: Owala is taking over WTC, tons of beauty pop-ups (Elizabeth Arden, Neutrogena, Moroccanoil, amika, Prada), lots of celebrations for HamilTEN, broadway concerts, and more.

– Rebeka

UPCOMING EVENTS (THIS WEEK):

⛳️ Owala Owalafy It Pop-Up (September 4): Thirsty for a good time? Owala showing up big at the Oculus Plaza with spontaneous ways to play the day away and a chance to win free products.

🎾 US Open For All (September 4): The grounds at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center are free and open to the public during the day on Thursday, Sept. 4 to watch championship tennis + explore the activations!

🎤Founded By Broadway Concert (September 7): Enjoy a free live concert with 20+ Broadway shows to celebrate the 400th anniversary of New York City and spotlight Broadway’s vital role in the city’s history.

🏓Kith Ivy Padel at Grand Central (September 3 - 10): Kith is celebrating its luxury padel brand and club, Kith Ivy, with free padel in Grand Central. While timeslots sold out, limited walk-ins may be available.

🎶Hamilton in the Park (September 3): Head to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park to celebrate the 10th anniversary of HAMILTON with a one-night-only outdoor screening of the filmed Broadway production!

🎭 Free Shakespeare in the Park (September 3 – September 14): You have less than 2 weeks to catch this summer’s free Shakespeare in the Park at the newly revitalized Delacorte Theater!

🎶 Instacart Presents Third Eye Blind (September 4): Instacart is hosting a free, one-night-only Third Eye Blind concert in NYC with full-on 1999 nostalgia.

🧴 Backstage with Neutrogena (September 4 - 7): Backstage with Neutrogena  will highlight Tate McRae’s Miss Possessive Tour coming to NYC with  product + swag giveaways, R&D product demos, a photobooth, drink bar and more!

📕 MOO Back In The Room Pop-Up (September 4): Head to Bluestone Lane Hudson Yards for a “Back to Work” pop-up with free coffee and work swag you’ll actually use!

🛍️ Djerf Avenue Pop-Up (September 4 - 6): Walk into the world of Djerf Avenue in a cozy townhouse in the middle of Manhattan. Explore the collection, enjoy complimentary iced coffee, sticker stations, gifts & more! 

☁️Moroccanoil Treatment Mist Pop-Up at Maman (September 4): To celebrate the launch of the NEW Moroccanoil Treatment Mist, Moroccanoil is partnering with Maman on a custom dreamy, cloud-inspired latte and cookie. Try it free on Thursday! 

🍔NYU Block Party (September 4): Kick off the semester with a block party ft. free burgers from 7th Street and cookies from Thin Cookies!

🧴Elizabeth Arden The Capsule Lab (September 5 - 7): Elizabeth Arden is celebrating the launch of the latest addition to their iconic capsule collection, the Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides Ceramide Collection, with a three-day, immersive beauty experience!

🤑Kohl's Cash Cruiser Pop-Up (September 5): Catch the Kohl’s Cash Cruiser to celebrate 20 years of Kohl’s Cash with giveaways, free Kohl’s Cash, treats and more.

✨Liquid Death x ESW Beauty Pop-Up (September 5): Check out the new Liquid Death x ESW Beauty collab with complimentary Liquid Death, merch, and more!

🍝Gnocchi on 9th Park Slope Grand Opening (September 5): Gnocchi on 9th is opening in Park Slope, Brooklyn. First 100 people can enjoy free Gnocchi Alla Vodka with Burrata

🧺amika NYC Pop-Up Truck (September 6 - 7): Stop by the amika NYC Pop-Up Truck for a farm-stand-inspired moment that inspired amika:aura’s signature scent.

🎂Lattafa Perfumes Bite Me Bakery (September 6 - 7):  Enjoy a confectionary cloud nine, an immersive Lattafa Perfumes experience of carnival games, sweet treats, plush prizes and crave-worthy scents. 

✨Prada Paradigme Pop-Up (September 6 - 7): Prada is hosting a Paradigme Pop-Up to celebrate the new men’s fragrance in Washington Square Park.

🫒Into The Grazaverse (September 6): Graza delighted to invite you to join us "Into The Grazaverse" — a one-day-only tasting experience celebrating the launch of their new glass bottles.

🎤Broadway in Battery Park City (September 6): The bright lights of Broadway come to Battery Park City with a one-night-only concert ft. Ethan Slater, Richard Kind, and many more!
🏀The Brooklyn Dribble Fan Fest (September 7): The 2024 WNBA Champion New York Liberty‘s largest community event, The Brooklyn Dribble, will return for a second year at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

🎤MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) (September 7): Join your favorite artists for the 2025 MTV VMAs on CBS, a night dedicated to the year's biggest music videos, featuring incredible performances, special honors, tributes and more.

🎶The Hamilton Sing-Along with Lin-Manuel Miranda (September 7): Enjoy a special sing-along screening of the filmed version of Hamilton with Lin-Manuel Miranda. Note: tickets sold out, but walk-ins are often accommodated. 

ON THE RADAR:

🩲Soma NYFW Pop-Up (September 10): Soma is celebrating the launch of the Vanishing Edge Lace Back panty with a cheeky takeover of Iconic Magazines in NoLita.

❣️TIRTIR World Tour (September 12 - 13): Viral K-beauty brand TIRTIR is launching a K-Pop-inspired World Tour, ending in NYC!

🧴Only Olay Pop-Up (September 12 - 13): OLAY is hosting a two-day pop up experience in Bryant Park with $125 in complimentary skincare that you don’t want to miss!

🎉NYC for FREE 6th Birthday Party (September 14): Celebrate 6 years of NYC for FREE! We will be having a (free!) party at Electric Shuffle. RSVPs filled up, but join the waitlist + enter to win one of 3 amazing giveaways with Focus Groups!

MISC, RECURRING & DEALS:

💄La Beauté Louis Vuitton Pop-Up (through December 31): Louis Vuitton is celebrating their debut cosmetics collection with a one-of-a-kind, immersive pop-up store in SoHo where guests can explore and celebrate the brand’s beauty universe

🙇🏽‍♀️ 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. Check out a video here on the $225 Challenge.

🍽️ Nora Health: There’s a new app in NYC where you can get paid to eat healthy. Get $15 cash back for your first meal at your favorite healthy eateries with code NYCFORFREE, and up to 20% cash back after that!