As you have probably come to realize, you can enjoy a rich cultural lifestyle in New York City even when you’re penny pinching. We’ve again combed many cultural calendars and come up with some great free things to do this week. Our picks include the US Open Qualifying Tournament matches, a bike-in movie, the Brooklyn Comedy Festival and more.

Monday, August 24
MUSIC: August at the Inn with Sam Cohen, Big Thief & Keenan O’Meara
Hypnocraft presents another great line-up of musicians at the Manhattan Inn tonight. Topping the bill is Sam Cohen, whose previous projects included Apollo Sunshine and Yellowbirds. Cohen released his stellar debut solo LP Cool It earlier this year. You can get a sampling of it here.
Time: 8:30pm
Location: Manhattan Inn, 632 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
RSVP

FILM: Back to the Future
After an amazing summer of screenings, HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival comes to a close tonight with Robert Zemeckis’ time-traveling classic Back to the Future. It’s hard to believe that 30 years have past since Michael J. Fox took his maiden voyage in the DeLorean and headed for 1955. As with past screenings, Bank of America will be handing out treats for early arrivers and the screening will be preceded by classic Warner Bros. cartoons.
Time: Sunset
Location: Bryant Park

Tuesday, August 25
FILM: Citi Bike // Bike-in Movie Night – E.T.
Citi Bike is celebrating its expansion into Williamsburg with a bike-in movie. No, you aren’t expected to sit on your bike during the entire screening, valet bike parking is available. The main feature is a film that took bikes to a new level, Steven Spielberg’s E.T.. In addition to Citi Bike, sponsors of the evening include Antiwater, Two Trees and Reese’s. A bike skills class proceeds the screening.
Time: 6pm-7:30pm Bike Skills, 8pm screening
Location: 50 Kent, Williamsburg Brooklyn
RSVP

SPORTS: 2015 US Open Qualifying Tournament
Wondering how you can get in on some US Open tennis action on the cheap? Attend one of the qualifying tournament matches that are played this week, August 25-August 28. Tickets aren’t required.
Time: Gates open at 10am (August 25-August 28)
Location: Flushing Meadows, Queens

BOOKS: Bourbon Curious: A Simple Tasting Guide for a Savvy Drinker Book Launch
If you partake of the brown stuff, Fred Minnick’s new book, Bourbon Curious: A Simple Tasting Guide for a Savvy Drinker, should be on your wish list. In it, the award-winning whiskey writer lays out the principles for selecting a bourbon based on flavor preferences. It promises to change how you enjoy bourbon forever. At this event at The Copper Still, the author will sign copies of the book and free bourbon samples will be poured. If you can’t make this party, Minnick will be doing another event at Greenlight Bookstore on Thursday, where he will be speaking about the history and future of whiskey with Bill Samuels Jr., the chairman emeritus of Maker’s Mark. A guided tasting accompanies the talk. For more details visit Greenlight Bookstore’s website.
Time: 6pm
Location: The Cooper Sill, 151 Second Ave, New York, New York 10003

Wednesday, August 26
FILM: Central Park Conservancy Film Festival: The Blues Brothers
Just as other outdoor screening series are packing it in for the summer, Central Park Conservancy arrives refreshed and ready to show some films. The group look back at the year of their inception, 1980, for inspiration for this year’s programming. For this, the second night of the series, they unspool the cameo-filled comedy classic The Blues Brothers. The film is preceded by a DJ set. For the complete line-up of films visit the Central Park’s website.
Time: Gates open at 6:30 PM, movies begin at 8:00 PM, a DJ will perform from 6:30 PM — 8:00 PM.
Location: The landscape between Sheep Meadow and the 72nd Street Cross Drive, Central Park

COMEDY: The Brooklyn Comedy Festival: The Front Room: BKCF Edition
Bring on the funny. The Brooklyn Comedy Festival, which kicked off Sunday, is invading venues all over the borough this week with both paid and free events. This show, which goes down at the Knitting Factory, is hosted by Joyelle Johnson, and features stand-up sets by Anthony DeVito, Megan Gailey, Ryan Beck, Sean Patton, Monroe Martin and Shane Torres, as well as some surprises. For a full line-up of all fest activities, visit the BKCF website.
Time: 8:45pm
Location: Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Thursday, August 27
FESTIVAL: Life’s a Picnic
Leave your cynical hat at home this week and head to Grand Central for their “Life’s a Picnic” extravaganza. Now in it’s second year, the event transforms the normally stone-y appearanced Vanderbilt Hall into a summer scene. The floors are lined with Astroturf, and the room outfitted with checkered picnic tables. During the afternoon hours the week-long fest features food vendors, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment. For Thursday, the lunchtime line-up includes musical performances by the Broadway casts of On the Town and Finding Neverland and come 4pm, dance music trio Receta Secreta prances in. Visit the Grand Central Terminal website for more details.
Time: 12pm-7pm
Location: Vanderbill Hall, Grand Central

BOOKS: Fred Minnick & Bill Samuels, Jr.
(see Tuesday’s Bourbon Curious: A Simple Tasting Guide for a Savvy Drinker Book Launch)
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Greenlight Bookstore, 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217

ART: Brian Leo Is Not A Zombie Formalist Closing Party & Silkscreening Event
Brian Leo’s style has been referred to as “Garage Pop Surrealism”. He combines brightly colored images with clever and sometimes poignant social and political commentary. This party marks the closing of his current show at Amy Li Projects, Brian Leo Is Not A Zombie Formalist, and features silkscreening. Those interested in taking part in the adorning should bring an article of clothing along with $5.
Time: 7pm-9pm
Location: Amy Li Projects, 166 Mott St, New York, New York 10013