“Sleep No More”
530 W. 27th St. | sleepnomorenyc.com
A show unlike anything you will see on Broadway, “Sleep No More” is based on William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, but with many surprising twists. (Hint: You can eat the candy in the candy room)
“Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind”
85 E. Fourth St.
Performed by the Neo-Futurists at the Kraine Theatre in the East Village, this bi-weekly show features 30 plays conducted in 60 high-energy minutes. The performance is an emotional roller coaster with valleys and dips decided by menu-wielding audience members.
Fat Cat
75 Christopher St. | fatcatmusic.org | 212.675.6056
Check out New York’s great jazz scene on a weekend night instead going to the same old bar or club. Try Fat Cat for a fun, informal vibe.
Lincoln Center
10 Lincoln Center Plaza | lc.lincolncenter.org | 212.875.5000
Lincoln Center is famous for its theater, but the real entertainment happens twice a year during Fashion Week. Regardless of your sartorial inclinations or lack thereof, anyone can appreciate the bizarre array of characters who stroll around the courtyard silently begging to be photographed.
Shakespeare in the Park
81 Central Park West | publictheater.org | 212.539.8500
A warm-weather tradition in the city, Shakespeare in the Park offers the best way to see classic plays performed — for free. Featuring performances from celebrity actors, be sure to get in line early to see your favorite comedy or drama.
Shea Stadium BK
20 Meadow St., Brooklyn | liveatsheastadium.com
Founded by a group of indie rock mainstays, including Brooklyn punks the So So Glos, Shea Stadium (named for the shuttered Mets Stadium) is probably the best place to see indie music right now. They’ve got cheap indie, punk, rap and even comedy shows almost every night and an exhaustive catalogue of live shows available on their website. The entrance — often guarded by Titus Andronicus frontman Patrick Stickles — is notoriously hard to find, but once you’re in, you won’t want to leave.
Smalls Jazz Club
183 W. 10th St. | smallsjazzclub.com | 212.252.5091
A tiny jazz club in the West Village that’s great if you’re even moderately into jazz. It’s hit or miss in terms of whether the crowd will be young and fun or old tourists types, but that’s half the fun.
Sunshine Cinema
143 E. Houston St. | landmarktheatres.com | 212.260.7289
Sunshine Cinema offers artsy indie films and non-traditional studio programing. The theater features five modern screens and stadium seating.
The Apollo Theater
253 W. 125th St. | apollotheater.org | 212.531.5300
While the historic Harlem theater now also hosts things like film premieres and concerts, they still run the famed amateur nights every Wednesday where brave contestants are subject to the audiences cheers or boos.
The Bowery
Bowery St.
Possibly one of the coolest places in the city, the Bowery boasts Indie movie theaters, local boutiques and art museums.
The Studio @ Webster Hall
125 E. 11th St. | websterhall.com/calendar/thestudio.php | 212.353.1600
A favorite place for concerts with its intimate atmosphere. Head out there on any given night, and you’ll see plenty of underground artists, before they make it big.
The Uncommons
230 Thompson St. | uncommonsnyc.com | 646.543.9215
Located right in the heart of Greenwich Village, The Uncommons offers an eclectic selection of board games that you can pay $5 to play while enjoying a cup of coffee with friends.
Upright Citizens Brigade
307 W. 26th St. | ucbtheatre.com | 212.366.9176
Improv and sketch comedy theater with locations in Chelsea and the East Village, both of which have $5 to $10 comedy shows seven nights a week with some of the funniest people in New York City.
Webster Hall — Rachel Kaplan/WSN, The Bowery — via wikipedia, all others — via yelp.com