January 6, 2009 - The economic outlook is uncertain, and the thermostat had dropped, but smart New Yorkers know how to warm their spirits and weather the storm. On any given day in neighborhoods across the City, there are exciting free performances and exhibitions to discover. The following is a list of free programs offered by members of New York City’s dynamic cultural community. Pick a borough and start exploring today.

Brooklyn
Date Night at BAMCafé
Enjoy an evening with family and friends on Fridays at BAMCafé. Every Friday, enjoy music, dance, and spoken word performances. 30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn. FREE on Friday evenings at 9 pm.

Dancing with the Arts and “The Black List Project” at the Brooklyn Museum
On Saturday, January 3, 2009, explore the documentary exhibition, “The Black List Project,” which depicts the faces and voices of prominent African Americans, such as Colin Powell, Toni Morrison, Serena Williams and Chris Rock. After your gallery stroll, put on your dancing shoes and get ready for an evening of international music and boogie fever. 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn. FREE the first Saturday of every month from 11am to 11pm. January 3, events begin at 5 pm.

Bronx
Henry Moore Sculptures at the New York Botanical Garden
Take the stroller or a friend to see the iconic, monumental sculptures of world-renowned artist Henry Moore installed across the Garden’s 250-acre campus. Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road. Bronx. On view until January 11, 2009. FREE on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10 am to 12 noon

Swing with the Lemurs at the Bronx Zoo
Bundle up and head to the Bronx Zoo. Visit the penguins, or swing with the lemurs at the new Madagascar exhibition. 2300 Southern Boulevard. FREE on Wednesdays from 10 am to 4:30 pm.

Manhattan
Identity by Design: Indigenous Dress at the National Museum of the American Indian
Observe intricate Native American women’s dresses and accessories from the early 1800s to the present. One Bowling Green, Lower Manhattan. Open everyday from 10 am to 5 pm (8 pm on Thursdays). FREE.

Seniors Free on Mondays at the Rubin Museum of Art
On the first Monday of every month, seniors age 65 and up are offered free admission to the Rubin Museum of Art in Chelsea. This is a great chance to meet Buddhist monks in residence for the Sacred Arts of Bhutan exhibition. 150 West 17th Street, Manhattan. FREE.

Queens
Space out at the New York Hall of Science
Visit the rocket park and use microscopes to examine tiny organisms that were seen for the first time over 300 years ago at the New York Hall of Science’s Microbial Zoo. 47-01 111th Street, Queens. FREE on Fridays from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and Sundays from 10 am to 11 am.

Queens Museum host a Carnegie Neighborhood Concert with Miro Quartet
Queens Museum hosts one of America’s highest-profile chamber groups in an afternoon of Carnegie Hall’s Neighborhood program. Saturday, January 24, 11 am – 12 pm. Queens Museum of Art – Flushing Meadows Corona Park. FREE.

Staten Island
Explore the beautiful grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Visit the beautiful grounds of one of Staten Island’s oldest cultural institutions, featuring iconic Georgian Revival architecture. 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island. FREE.

Staten Island Ferry
Take the Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan for FREE and enjoy a 5 mile boat ride with incredible views of New York City’s harbor. When you land at St. George Terminal on Staten Island, spend the day exploring nearby cultural institutions for free or at low-cost admission pricing. Stop by the Snug Harbor Cultural Center (grounds are FREE), the St. George Theater, the Alice Austen House Museum, the Staten Island Zoo, or the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, which are all a short walk or bus ride away! Staten Island Ferry ride FREE, seven days of the week.