November 14, 2025

NYC Off Tech Mid-November Updates

Meeting of the minds tonight, some more events, & GET INVOLVED!

I'll make this quick as I prepare for tonight's public discussion, "SHOULD WE GET OFF?" I'm excited to see many of you there!

Check out the new events on the calendar—and give special attention to new opportunities to shape the culture that's emerging here.

The more we gather away from the tech that exhausts us, the stronger we are to build anew.

In gratitude—

—Nick

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Fri., Nov. 14 | SHOULD WE GET OFF? @ 7 p.m., 875 Third Ave., Manhattan

Join us TONIGHT for a moderated discussion about tech hopes and fears, featuring some fierce tech critics and writers: Adam Aleksic, Caitlin Begg, August Lamm, and Nick Plante.

Expect some audience participation—and maybe a new perspective on what we can do together in the movement against phone obsession.

Sat., Nov. 15 | BE A NEW YORKER 101 @ 2 p.m., Tompkins Sq. Park

Lamp Club is introducing a pro-social alternative to addictive digital media by introducing a better street-life culture, which will de-alienate the neighborhood and help us create interdependent friendships and networks.

Now more than ever, new New Yorkers need to know how to live in the city that hosts all cultures of the world. The spirit of New York is in turmoil amongst the dull gentrification of historical neighborhoods, automated dining experiences, uninspired art students in debt, and the further isolation of individuals in a city that could connect us all.

STUDENTS WILL LEARN more about the neighborhood they’ve chosen to live in, and how they can play a different role in it than what society might be pulling them into. Conversation topics will include finding a sense of belonging, gentrification, shopping local, talking to neighbors, speaking up about issues, and gathering in public space. 

For more information, contact cowboyscience@proton.me.

Sun., Nov. 16 | DELETE DAY PHILLY @ 4 p.m., Philadelphia

The second U.S. stop of the Time to Refuse campaign is Philadelphia!

If you happen to be in the area, or if you want to make the trip down for a deletion x Eagles double whammy, reach out to Mark: mark.bernstiel@gmail.com.

Don't worry if you missed out on these first two—more Delete Days to come. (Or host your own!)

Tues., Nov 18 | Passion Party: Parallel Play @ 6 p.m., Bushwick

Work on your passion projects alongside curious & creative people! Bring something fun (not work/school related): writing, coding, painting—whatever excites you.

Format: Intros → Focused work → Optional show & tell

Hosted by Rebecca Lipsitch, who curates connection through public-space events and play with groups like How Do We Play and Street Lab.

Email rebecca.lipsitch@gmail.com to join!

Wed., Nov. 19 | SoRA TRAIN-the-TRAINER @ 6:30 p.m., DUMBO

The School of Radical Attention offers facilitation training for anyone in our community interested in leading attention practices, hosting intentional events, and becoming more comfortable with public speaking.

This is a GREAT way to pick up some skills and identify some ways you might contribute to the Movement.

Sign up for this or any session here.

Questions to peter@sustainedattention.net. 

Thurs., Nov. 20 | Design It for Us: Monthly Coalition Call @ 5:30 p.m., online

Design It for Us (DIFU) is a community of young people (26 and under) from around the world fighting to hold Big Tech accountable and improve our digital ecosystems.

Members are encouraged to attend monthly calls to learn more about state and federal tech policy, join campaigns, and directly advocate for legislative change.

Join here.

Thurs., Nov. 20 | Offline Book Club: FILTERWORLD @ 6:30 p.m., Stavros Library (SNFL) 4th Floor, Room 405

SNFL’s Offline Book Club is a space for in-person conversation about the role technology plays in our world. Each month highlights a different book on the topic of technology’s impact on our individual lives as well as society as a whole, followed by an open discussion to share recent experiences and observations.

This month, we’re focusing on Filterworld by Kyle Chayka (2024) → a book about how algorithmic recommendations have taken over, and “flattened” our cultural distribution in the last decade.

Space is limited. Walk-ins welcome, but priority will be given to those who register in advance: https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2025/11/20/offline-book-club-filterworld.

Nov. 21 & 24 | Stash Your Sell-Phone with Zing

Join Zing on upcoming phone-free walks and museum trips. Maybe see how long you can last without your phone with an overnight valet.

All of this is in anticipation of a larger launch event coming soon.

Email lior@gozinging.com with "NYC events" in the subject line to stay up to date on these actions and more.

Fri., Nov. 21 | dumb.co Phone-Free Afterparty @ 10:30 p.m., Fulton Hall (RSVP)

dumb.co is infiltrating NYC in January w/ their very DC-famous Month Offline program.

Come meet some dumb ppl and learn about Month Offline NYC in January, a community gathering of people learning to live w/ the dumb phone I ...

dumb ppl are throwing a kickoff party for NYC by attending Nov 21st Geese concert at Paramount in Brooklyn and then hosting the Geese afterparty across the street late nite Friday Nov 21st @ Fulton Hall.

come party w/ dumb ppl.

geese.dumb.co.

Sat., Nov. 22 | Consumption Book Club: Land of Milk and Honey @ 6:00 p.m., telos.haus ($)

Consumption Book Club is where literature meets the dinner table. Each event centers on one book exploring a form of consumption—from food to fashion to futures. We’ll dig into these themes through guided discussions and embodied activities while working through a tasting menu inspired by the book itself. Feed your consumer habits with things that will actually leave you satisfied: community, connection, and cuisine.

​This gathering will dive into Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang, exploring overconsumption, desire, and decadence without destroying the planet.

Fri., Nov. 28 | BUY NOTHING DAY @ Tompkins Sq. Park

Buy Nothing Day is a nationwide response to Black Friday, and we’ll be celebrating it in public. With music by Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir, public poetry, group activities, and economic/ housing resource tables, we will rejoice in spontaneous community.

See how it feels not to be a consumer for a day, and hear from Village locals about the good old days of self-sufficiency.

Contact cowboyscience@proton.me for more details. 

Sun., Nov. 30 | ‘Monthly Molting’ Ecology Workshop @ 1 p.m., Fort Greene Park

In Monthly Moltings, join us to shed our human-centered perspectives and investigate the intimate lives of nonhumans in NYC. Each month, we’ll reflect and learn from the wisdom of how one species changes and adapts to change as autumn arrives.

Our November edition highlights the Ginkgo Biloba—living fossil, golden carpet weaver, survivor of ice ages.

​Come explore the lessons these fan-leafed time travelers have for our own lives as we consider what it means to endure and transform.

Hosted by Chimeras Collective. Sign up here.

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GET INVOLVED

If you have events to share—or if you're interested in hosting your first one—please email nickplante@proton.me.

And individual groups are always looking for help. For example:

• School of Radical Attention (SoRA) — Looking for volunteers for upcoming tabling and poster parties. And open to submissions for spring/summer seminars. peter@sustainedattention.net
• Reconnect NYC — Hosts phone-free social experiences. Looking for chapter leads and event volunteers. nycreconnectclub@gmail.com
• The Luddite Club Documentary — This promises to be the most detailed look at our budding movement. The filmmaker has been around since day one. She's seeking donations (tax-deductible!) and post-production assistance. amanda.hannamcleer@proton.me, or learn more here.
• Deplatforming Parties — Hosting celebratory events for people to migrate off of old platforms. Looking for event volunteers. knavehaven@pm.me