Free talks and tours

Central Park

Tour of the Plaza Hotel
Take a 45-minute guided peek into the luxurious Plaza (including some areas normally off-limits to tourists) on this tour led by art and architecture critic-cum-author Francis Morrone. (Call ahead; reservations are required.) The Plaza Hotel, 768 Fifth Ave at Central Park South (212-546-5477, fairmont.com/theplaza). Tue, Sat at 3pm.

Central Park Conservancy Walking Tours
The Conservancy offers volunteer-led walking tours of the gardens near Belvedere Castle, strolls around the Harlem Meer and musings on the park’s 19th-century history. Times, dates and locations vary; visit centralparknyc.org.

Village Alliance free walking tours
On select Saturdays, the Village Alliance offers free guided strolls of St. Marks Place/8th Street. You’ll see Jackson Pollock’s former abode and stand on the spot where Abe Lincoln declared, “Right makes might.” Tours depart from the northwest corner of Second Ave and St. Marks Pl (212-777-2173, villagealliance.org). June 13, 27, July 11, 25, Aug 8, 22, 29, Sept 12, 26, Oct 10 at 11:30am.

“In the Flesh” reading series
This night of nookie-themed poetry and prose readings hosted by Voice sex columnist Rachel Kramer Bussel ranges from smut to LGBT tales. Happy Ending, 302 Broome St between Eldridge and Forsyth Sts (212-334-9676, happyendinglounge.com). Third Thursday of the month at 8pm.

Chelsea Brewing Company Tours
The guided tours at Manhattan’s only active brewery take you up close to the grain silos, copper barrels and bottling system, which caps 2,000 bottles an hour. Chelsea Brewing Company, Chelsea Piers, Pier 59, W 19th St at the Hudson River (212-336-6440, chelseabrewingco.com). Sat 2–6pm on the hour.

Walking tour of Grand Central neighborhood
Acclaimed guide Justin Ferate not only dissects the lore and legends of Grand Central Terminal’s history, but places them within the context of its lesser-known neighborhood. Meet inside the lobby of the Altria Building, Park Ave at 42nd St (212-697-1245, grandcentralpartnership.org). Fri 12:30pm.

Jonathan Miles talks with Dwight Garner
Miles, author of the bitter, hilarious novel-in-the-form-of-a-letter Dear American Airlines, speaks with New York Times star lit critic (and Salon.com book editor) Dwight Garner. McNally Jackson Booksellers, 52 Prince St between Lafayette and Mulberry Sts (212-274-1160, mcnallyjackson.com). Thu 4 at 7pm.

Out Magazine Presents… Anthony Goicolea, Fictions
The queer rag hosts this talk by artist Anthony Goicolea, whose most recent book of photographs and drawings of male subjects in dreamlike settings is aptly titled Fictions. The Strand Book Store, 828 Broadway at 12th St (212-473-1452, strandbooks.com). Wed 10 at 7pm.

The L.E.S. Is More. Explore! PodTour
This downloadable podcast tour of the Lower East Side offers a vividly descriptive, hour-long virtual stroll down Orchard Street, beginning at the Eldridge Street Synagogue and ending at the Essex Street Market. lowereastsideny.com/podtour.htm

“Studs Terkel’s Working: A Graphic Adaptation Panel Discussion”
Communist-themed KGB Bar’s talk on Harvey Pekar’s Studs Terkel’s Working: A Graphic Adaptation (Pekar’s comic-book version of Terkel’s 1974 best-seller) brings together big-name contributors like Danny Fingeroth and Bob Hall from Marvel Comics, up-and-coming writers like Emily Nemens, and seasoned talents Joan Reilly and Tuli Kupferberg. KGB Bar, 85 E 4th St between Second Ave and Bowery (212-505-3360, kgbbar.com). Sat June 20 at 7pm.

—Kathryn O’Shields

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