NYC Off Tech — NOVEMBER
change is a marathon, plus new printable calendars!
To all ye souls—
Another CEO showing AI psychosis—packed assemblies confronting apocalypse—talk of the internet dying—oh, & it's Halloween too—... & all these I VOTED stickers—
Don't you just feel like FREAKING OUT?
Bring that energy on Dec. 4 & 5—to a 24-hour-nonstop festival of Events (see below; more soon). But let's not get tooo ahead of ourselves—because there's so much to do in the meantime.
I just spent the morning watching the NYC Marathon outside my new apartment, & WOW—what declaration of the human spirit—& what a reminder that we're capable of so much more than we might think in our day to day. I thought back to my 3-hour training runs in 2024—to the feeling of finishing the race myself—gazing, gradually, into radical presence.
Everyone wants to see things change right now, but I still see a lot of grasping for a magic wand: a lot of "vote big tech out of here!" energy. Yay, but also, change starts with you.
I started running on a whim in the wake of covid & much personal grief, & that practice actually became a big part of my weening off my smartphone—long runs along the river with nothing in my pockets but a key, & so forth. I even deleted Instagram a little before the big race. It was HARD, & I felt like I was killing part of myself—but these leaps have made SO MUCH MORE possible.
Including this newsletter. NYC Off Tech will be in print all over the city soon. A humongous thanks to mr.E for designing these week-by-week pages in the meantime, to help you keep track of when things are happening as these emails continue to get longer—
Get set, & go—
—Nick
★ ★ ★
Resources & calls
★ NoSo November (... or ever again??!) — It's time again for No Social Media November—a month-long "detox" that might be a nice gateway for some to live with less big tech. I personally started with long breaks & deactivations before unplatforming my social life—though the waves to get off altogether are far mightier these days & still billowing. (You can meet a ton of other people who don't have social media at the Events on NYC Off Tech!)
★ Third Thursdays w/ SoRA — Anyone working on or considering a project in the vein of "Attention Activism"—that is, deepening our capacities & breaking mental habits trained by tech—can apply to join SoRA's coalition, which has monthly coalition calls (yes, a call, for those outside NYC!). At the most recent, Josh & Aaron talked about their journey starting Month Offline.
★ More newsletters out there — I'm hearing about more newsletters like this one—& I'm meeting awesome folks about to launch their own from Texas to the Bay to Philly & more. If you are working on one, LET ME KNOW by replying to this email! & If you're curious about what it takes to start one, consider joining my next workshop.
★ ★ ★
November Events, so far
Various Dates | November Sidewalk Studies: ROOTS
SoRA's SIDEWALK STUDIES convene members of the public at a group at a bar, park, or other semi-public space for a short close reading of a text. Participants then depart to conduct a Practice of Attention en route to a second location, where they reconvene to synthesize their experience.
In this fashion, SIDEWALK STUDY brings together analysis and embodiment, reading and walking, theory and practice … and does it all in PUBLIC SPACE. Union members, PHD graduates, activists, artists, teachers, students, and humans from all walks of life have gathered under the umbrella of SIDEWALK STUDY.
All of our SIDEWALK STUDIES are FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No homework required! Sign up for any here.
Sun., Nov. 1 | Songwriting Circle @ 3–6 p.m., Bushwick
Come with or without an instrument (we have a piano and some guitars) and prepare a song you have written recently.
Unfinished pieces and rough drafts are welcome—this is an open space to gather ideas and appreciate stories in whatever form they come! We will discuss the craft of songwriting through the lens of a mystery song (ooooh), do some lyric/word games, melody/harmony games, and then do a songshare at the end where everyone gets to play for the group!
There will be snacks, tea/coffee, paper and pencils, and new friends for you to meet! RSVP here for address.
Sun., Nov. 1 | EARTH CHXRCH @ 5 p.m., 36 Loisaida Ave.
The Church of Stop Shopping is back at its old space every day from Oct. 31 – Nov. 6 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Stop by anytime for spontaneous action, and be sure to join for Earth Chxrch on Sunday at 5 p.m.!!!!
1 preacher, 35 singers, and a crowd of earth loving humans. Step into the Fabulous Unknown.
Tues., Nov. 3 | On The Origin of Skibidi: A Teach-In on the Internet-ification of Our Everyday Words @ 6–7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Public Library Williamsburgh Branch
Join us for a teach-in/workshop exploring the roots of words we love to use (and abuse?) as we unpack more than just etymology to make sense of the vocabulary defining our era of digital globalization.
FREE—RSVP here.
Tues., Nov. 3 | Attention Lab GHOSTS @ 6:30–9 p.m., SoRA DUMBO
The School of Radical Attention's flagship "Attention Labs" are experiential, participatory workshops dedicated to the joint exploration of human attention. Through group attention practices and guided discussions, we create and test tools to rebuild the art of sustained attention, which has been under attack by persuasive technologies.
New for this season—each Lab now features Practices inspired by a common theme! THIS ONE'S GHOST THEMED—
Sign up for any lab here.
Tues., Nov. 3 | EMPTY SET Issue 2 Launch Party @ 7:30 p.m., Rodeo (1134 President St., Brooklyn)
Empty Set is an annual print magazine dedicated to technology criticism. It's among the best of the scene, if I may break the editorial seal and say so myself.
Replete with live readings & performances. Just show up.
Tues., Nov. 3 | REAL LIFE TONIGHT @ 9:30 p.m., Caveat
It's real life, tonight. Offline organizers Ian and Amelia cohost this fresh take on a late-night show.
★This special election night edition of Real Life Tonight will feature clown, music, tech critical comedy, and a visit from the first ever offline presidential candidate. ★
$15 presale and at the door.
Wed., Nov. 4 | No Lights, No Lycra @ 7–8 p.m., Prime Produce
DANCE IN THE DARK DON'T WORRY ABOUT GETTING IT RIGHT
NO PHONES
Thurs., Nov. 5 | HOW TO START A NEWSLETTER @ 10 a.m., online
ARE YOU IN ANOTHER CITY WONDERING HOW CAN WE HAVE AN EVENTS BULLETIN THAT HELPS PEOPLE FORM RELATIONSHIPS OUTSIDE OF THE PLATFORMS?
HAVE YOU FOUND YOURSELF AMONG OTHERS WHO ARE HOSTING FUN, PARTICIPATORY EVENTS, EXPERIMENTING WITH THEIR ATTENTION, & UPDATING THEIR USE OF TECHNOLOGY?
THEN COME TO THIS BRIEF WORKSHOP TO SEE IF, WHY &, HOW YOU MIGHT START A NEWSLETTER LIKE NYC OFF TECH.
apply here if this sounds like you.
Thurs., Nov. 5 | Andrew Yang's OFFLINE @ 9 p.m., Aura 57
Andrew Yang, who's working on Noble Mobile these days, is bringing back this phone-free party series that he started last year.
It's free. You can RSVP here if you're curious to learn more about Noble's phone plans or to see how the Yang Gang is doing.
Fri., Nov. 6 | Frontyard FM Dance Party @ 9 p.m. – late, Friends & Lovers
Frontyard FM is a grassroots music and community organization located in Brooklyn, NY since 2024. Frontyard is about fostering intergenerational community, collective joy, and supporting local aid through music.
FREE FOR ALL! Frontyard lives off community donations—
Sat., Nov. 7 | Pirates of Prospect Park ANNUAL TREASURE HUNT @ 11 a.m. – 3:30pm, Prospect Park
Come join us for a lively pirate themed treasure hunt in Prospect Park. Assemble your mates and form a crew of bold explorers to embark on a quest of puzzles, hidden surprises and a search for buried treasure. Navigate through the park's winding channels solving clues and challenges while competing for glory, bragging rights, and plunder along the way.
Teams can be 3–6 players, or come solo/with a friend and we’ll pair you up. Expect around 3–4 miles of walking in total.
Suggested donation $15 for those who are able. RSVP here.
Sat., Nov. 7 | Public Birthday Experiment @ 3–6 p.m., Tompkins Sq. Park
Despite my cravings to eat apple sauce and dangle my legs off the swing set, I (Lazlo) am still getting older! For my birthday this year, I want to gather in Tompkins (at the Hare Krishna tree) to create a short musical/play together! Our creation will combine one fairy tale and one historic event (to be drawn from a hat).
Come let your wildest ideas out and help us invent a new reality—the sillier the better! We will harness the power of collective creativity to perform for the public something never seen before and hopefully never to be seen again lol.
All materials provided, no acting/music/prop-making experience required, more details to come upon arrival. RSVP here, and see you there!
Sat., Nov. 7 | Dear Dear: An Afternoon with Poet Reuben Gelley Newman @ 4 p.m., Walt Whitman Initiative Tane Poetry Library (91 South Street, Manhattan)
Please join us in our cozy space for our celebration of Reuben's 2026 poetry collection, which renders queer love through the lens of music, art, nature, and politics.
Sat., Nov. 7 | "BRIGHT FIVE" PRESENTATION PARTY! @ 6 p.m., Pete's Candy Store
do you want to hear technologists, writers, & organizers come together to discuss ★VERY FUN THINGS★ like rogue ai, network states, prediction market addiction, & so forth? do you want to sit in a super sweaty historic stageroom in a former candy store?
yes ★★★★
then RSVP here, & email [email protected] if you want to present
Sun., Nov. 8 | JUNGLE GAMES 4.0 @ 4–6:30 p.m., TBD
Want to make a game together? Someone once defined play as the capacity to move lightly between worlds. Jungle Games is an ongoing experiment where we are making a game, using the city as our board, with one objective—to find these other worlds. Taking help from a variety of ideas offered to us by thinkers and philosophers and a bit of grounding in game design, we shall come together to tinker with rules.
The event is capped at 20, please RSVP here, only if you plan to be there the entire session. An email with more details will be sent soon!
This is hosted by Samvit, a design researcher and a facilitator who is always interested in your interest— contact him at [email protected].
Sun., Nov. 8 | A Poetic Encounter with a Public Artwork @ 4:30 p.m., MoMA PS1
What happens when we stop asking ourselves what an artwork “means,” and instead use our attention and creativity to encounter and respond to the art that surrounds us?
Join us in an experimental, poetic engagement with one of New York City’s many free and public artworks!
We’ll gather at a piece of public art (location to be shared with people who express interest) to participate in an attention practice, then respond to the artwork with some poetry composition- rather than explanation and analysis. We’ll be outdoors in fair weather, indoors if foul weather. The poetry writing will have a collaborative element, so bring an open heart and a willingness to share! All participants will receive a physical poetry zine, in the mail, of the work composed at this event <3
Hosted by Miranda McGough, a lover of poetry, artwork, and public places, and facilitator at the Strother School of Radical Attention. RSVP here, or email Miranda at [email protected] to learn more!
Sun., Nov. 8 | contact improv jam & open decks @ 6:30–9:30 p.m., Bushwick
All levels! In a cozy DIY loft with plenty of soft seating on the sidelines & food for purchase
6:30 doors
6:45–7:30: guided warmup $5+ sliding scale (highly recommended for beginners) with Nina, an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of touch, physics, gravity & get comfortable with folks in the jam
7:30–9:30: jam
If you are a DJ interested in open decks, reply to this email or DM the Event Runners on Luma (rather than IG)
Mon., Nov. 9 | Film Screening: Cobalt Rush @ 6 p.m., Carroll Gardens
The black mirror in your pocket is charged via a lithium ion battery. Within that battery lies a little substance called cobalt, mined from deep within the heart of what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. How does this metal move millions of miles, first up out of the Earth's crust and then West into your devices?
We will watch the documentary Cobalt Rush from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by dinner, discussion, and perhaps some awareness-raising zine-making.
★ In Carroll Gardens by the F/G stop—RSVP on Unplugg for address.
Mon., Nov. 9 | Nuit des Langues @ 6:30 p.m., Black Cat LES
An evening of reading, translating, and gushing over French literature. Whether you're francophone, français-curious, a polyglot, or a lover of foreign media, join us to explore the worlds that open up across languages. Texts provided! Reach out to [email protected] with "Nuit des Langues - RSVP" as subject line to join.
Mon., Nov. 9 | How to Start a Letter-Writing Circle @ 7–9:30 p.m., Bed-Stuy
When I (Connor) was a shy lonely person first living in NYC, I really benefitted from thoughtfully facilitated spaces with structured activities. Spaces like these helped me meet people and make friends, despite my phone-induced awkwardness and anxiety. They gave me permission to be myself.
The letter-writing circles I've hosted over the last couple months have been pretty popular and are an easy first step for someone who wants to host something for the first time but isn't sure where to start. I want to train anyone who's interested to run their own!
Reach out to [email protected] if interested. There will be roughly 15 min of homework beforehand, so please reach out at least a day in advance.
Tues., Nov. 10 | Bulletin Board Party @ 7–9:30 p.m., Tompkins Square Park
Artists, creatives, and luddites need places to promote their work off social media, but many local businesses don't have a bulletin board where we can put up flyers. So I (Connor) got some funding to give out FREE bulletin boards to businesses that are interested, and I need help handing them out!
We'll meet in Tompkins, then canvas the neighborhood in pairs, finding businesses that want bulletin boards and dropping them off. I imagine many walkie-talkies will be involved.
Bring your crush from Ludd Lovers, and shoot me an email if you're planning to be there [email protected] or just show up!
Tues., Nov. 10 | S.T.A.R.E.: A Digital Wellness Audit @ 8 p.m., Bar Heretic, Brooklyn
Join phone free adelphi's (and luddite candidate for President of the United States) Dan Fox for a communal digital wellness check up. There will conversations, interactive exercises, and delicious wine with complimentary Bar Heretic snacks. Come with a vague sense that your smartphone is ruining your life, leave with a plan to improve your relationship to tech... and perhaps a healthy buzz and/or a new friend.
Tues., Nov. 10 | Attention Activism CLOWN SHOW @ 9 p.m., Brooklyn Art Haus
Encounter BoNkQUE the Clown as the ATTENTION ECONOMY encounters him — at the 22nd annual New York Comedy Festival.
Key ingredients include radical game design, ritual theatre, alt drag, avant-clown, and attention activism.
Tickets $15—if cost is a barrier, assistance is available: please don’t hesitate to reach out to email [email protected].
Wed., Nov. 11 | Burner Phone Writing Group @ 7:30 p.m., Lalin's
This group meets every other week, sometimes in workshop style. Come work on a submission for the Burner Phone zine—which is entirely offline—or just hang out and free write.
Email [email protected] for updates.
Wed., Nov. 11 | Frontyard FM Vinyl DJ Set @ 11 p.m. – 4 a.m., Studio 151 (East Village)
Frontyard FM is a grassroots music and community organization located in Brooklyn, NY since 2024. Frontyard is about fostering intergenerational community, collective joy, and supporting local aid through music.
FREE FOR ALL! Frontyard lives off community donations—
Thurs., Nov. 12 | THE EMPIRE STATE STRIKES BACK @ 6:30–8 p.m., Collider NYC
A conversation with political leaders taking on those pesky Large Machines at the state level here in NY. Featuring State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Assemblymember Emerita Torres, and Assemblymember Elect David Siffert.
This is the launch event for the New York Tech Accountability Project (NYTAP). We'll discuss what states can do when the federal govt is asleep at the wheel on privacy, addictive algorithms, and AI; what it takes to pass progressive tech legislation in NY; and what legislators hope to accomplish in 2027.
Free RSVP here.
Thurs., Nov. 12 | Attention Lab MASKS @ 6:30–9 p.m., SoRA DUMBO
The School of Radical Attention's flagship "Attention Labs" are experiential, participatory workshops dedicated to the joint exploration of human attention. Through group attention practices and guided discussions, we create and test tools to rebuild the art of sustained attention, which has been under attack by persuasive technologies.
New for this season—each Lab now features Practices inspired by a common theme! THIS ONE'S MASK THEMED—
Sign up for any lab here.
Thurs., Nov. 12 | Silent Reading Circle @ 7–9:30 p.m., Bed-Stuy
For all those who love reading, hanging out, and hanging out with people who like to read!
We'll gather at 7, hang for a bit and drink tea, then have a dedicated hour to read together. This is a good, low-pressure way to meet new folks. ONLY ONE THIS MONTH, AND IT'LL BE AT A NEW LOCATION—
Email [email protected] if you're interested in joining for this or another session!
Thurs., Nov. 12 | Month Offline EXPO & PARTY @ –8 p.m. – 12 a.m., telos.haus
Come celebrate 60+ fellow NYers who went a full month without their smartphones. Performances, installations, and offline epiphanies will be on full display. DJ sets including ANAGOUTI from LET'S GET OFF TOGETHER, Soft & Lovely parties.
Bring ur offline curious, chronically online and every friend in between for an inspiring exhibition, participant fireside chat, raffle, & more.
Light FOOD & DRINKS provided. BYO encouraged.
Oh and LEAVE UR PHONE AT HOME or put it in a pouch upon arrival.
Sat., Nov. 14 | Atomic Politics and Cyanotypes @ 12 p.m., SoRA DUMBO
Join artist and activist elin o’Hara slavick for a lecture on atomic politics followed by a hands-on cyanotype workshop. Elin will discuss her research on the sociopolitical and environmental impact of nuclear weapons and powerplants. Later in the event, attendees will learn how to make their own cyanotypes—a slow-reacting printing technique that uses sunlight or UV light to create images of objects on photosensitive paper.
$12. Register here.
Sat., Nov. 14 | RITUAL WRITING GROUP @ 2–4 p.m., Cordelia Brooklyn
Do you enjoy writing but don't want to do it alone? Want to build community with other writers? Come for a chill writer's group at Cordelia in Crown Heights! Together, we'll explore the theme of Optimization & Ritual. In the age of AI, what are the dangers of hyper optimization & how can ritual be a way to restore meaning and bring us back to ourselves?
We'll start with a reading & freewrite prompt based on the theme to get the creative juices flowing. We'll then go into 30-40 mins. of extended silent writing time - I'll have prompts but you're welcome to bring your own writing projects to work on instead. Optional sharing at the end.
ALL GENRES & EXPERIENCE WELCOME! RSVP here or email Allison ([email protected]) for future writing groups.
Sat., Nov. 14 | CyPurr Session: Who's the Boss - Bossware, AI, and Workplace Surveillance @ 3–5 p.m., Brooklyn Central Library
In this session, we will discuss “bossware” and workplace surveillance: how digital tools are used to monitor, track and record employees, and what it means for workers’ privacy and autonomy.
Bossware includes a range of tools from keystroke tracking and screen monitoring software to biometric collection and facial recognition technology, meaning no industry is safe from its reach. Additionally, artificial intelligence is increasingly being used workplace surveillance tools to expand the scope of data being collected and analyzed, posing a risk of increased discrimination and bias in employment-related decisions.
Free—more here.
Sat., Nov. 14 & Mon., Nov. 16 | SPINSTER: Art-Curious Club @ 3 p.m. & 3:30 p.m., Christie's Rockefeller Center
For this meeting of the Art-Curious Club, we’ll go in a completely different direction than the last, which was at a top independent gallery. Instead, we’ll dive into the spectacle of auctions.
We expect this event to fill up, and capacity is limited, so RSVPs are required. It's free, but Platform and SPINSTER subscribers do not need to apply. If you are not a subscriber, learn more here.
Sun., Nov. 15 | Reading Rilke's "Duino Elegies" (a new translation) @ 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Greenpoint
There's a new translation of Rilke's "Duino Elegies" (translated by Mark S. Burrows, who has a great translation of Rilke's "Sonnets to Orpheus"). What better way to enter the gathering storm of winter than to congregate and savor each of the 10 elegies?
Some background: The elegies are "difficult poetry," according to some translators who brought them into English for the first time. Which is true, if the intent is to analyze and understand them with our minds.
But their deeper, perhaps hidden power lies in their ability to speak to us, in what they bring up in us. They are not a "puzzle to be solved, but a mystery to be experienced." After all, we "the living all make / the mistake of distinguishing too sharply."
FREE, but space is limited! RSVP here. Print copies will be provided.
Sun., Nov. 15 | Sunday Dérive @ 2:00 p.m., Park Slope/Prospect Heights
How much agency do we have over the paths we choose to take each day? The paths we walk? From how The Algorithm shapes our interests, to the transit route Google Maps designates as the most efficient, there is increasingly less room for spontaneity in our lives.
Drawing from Guy Debord’s concept of dérive, join us for a walk in the city that might offer a mode of resistance to Modern life, “optimized” life, and even boredom. We will attempt to take a walk that refuses “logic” and invites chance.
We’ll be meeting around Atlantic-Barclays, do a short reading to get us started, then drift towards Prospect Park (no walking in straight lines, taking streets you’ve never been down before, etc etc), and meet up to hang and chat in the park for a bit.
To learn more or to RSVP, email Katie at [email protected].
Sun., Nov. 15 | Dancing in Fire: Wisdom and Compassion Practices to Help Heal a Burning World @ 2–6 p.m., Balance Arts Center
A half-day meditation retreat hosted by Dharma Gates. Expect time for seated practice, connection, and reflection among young practitioners (18–35).
With the guidance of Tibetan Buddhist teacher Megan Mook, we will explore Buddhist foundations of samsara, karma, and emptiness, and their relevance for our world today.
Sliding scale & a deposit to sign up.
Mon., Nov. 16 & 23 | Letter-Writing Circles @ 7–9:30 p.m., Various
I like writing letters, but I (Connor) know it's something I'll never do without a bit of accountability and support, so I created this circle for those who feel similarly, and for those of you who write letters all the time but want a space to do it with others.
We'll gather around a table, snack on bread and goat cheese, then have a dedicated hour to write together. I'll provide stamps, envelopes, and paper. As we seal our envelopes, we'll reflect a bit on the experience of letter-writing, and talk about what we're able to say in this communication medium that we can't say in others. It's a good time, and an easy way to meet folks with a shared interest.
For Nov. 16, we'll meet in Bed-Stuy. Reach out to [email protected].
For Nov. 23, we'll meet on the UWS. Reach out to [email protected].
Tues., Nov. 17 | What Does Palantir Actually Do? @ 8 p.m., Producers Club Theaters
Michael Steinberger followed and interviewed the CEO of Palantir Alex Karp to write his biography The Philosopher in the Valley: Alex Karp, Palantir, and the Rise of the Surveillance State. Come learn the facts from the myths around Palantir and the day to day life of Alex Karp.
Pay what you can to enter; venue has a two drink minimum.
Thurs., Nov. 19 | The Drug in Our Pocket Screening & Conversation @ 5:30–7:30 p.m., NYPL Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Join NYPL for an evening screening of clips from the new documentary The Drug in Our Pocket (2026) followed by an expert panel conversation.
Learn more about how digital technology is shaping youth mental health and what families and schools can do together to reclaim their attention, agency, and time! Smartphones and social media are part of nearly every moment of young people’s lives—both at home and at school. Parents see it at the dinner table and at bedtime; teachers see the results manifesting in the classroom, in students’ attention, in friendships, and in their perception of themselves.
FREE! Tickets here.
Thurs., Nov. 19 | Offline Book Club: The Last Human Job @ 6:30 p.m., Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library Room 405
Stop scrolling and put down your phone… 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.
The Last Human Job: The Work of Connecting in a Disconnected World by Allison Pugh reveals connective labor as a particular kind of mutual recognition of each other's humanity, essential in so many professional relationships, whether teacher-student, coach-player, or doctor-patient.
FREE! Register to attend. Check out all past and upcoming discussion titles with links to borrow and download.
Thurs., Nov. 19 | Winter Solstice Lantern Workshop @ 7 p.m., Gowanus
Join puppeteer Wini and ritualist kyle in a hands-on crafty workshop, creating paper lanterns for a community Winter Solstice ritual. In this 2 hour workshop, you’ll learn how to craft a lantern, share stories to keep us warm through the winter, and enjoy warm tea & snacks. Your ticket (sliding, ~ $10–15 at the door) covers the cost of lantern materials.
RSVP on Pools for location closer to event date.
Thurs., Nov 19 | INFRASTRUCTURE PARTY! @ 7 p.m., Hex House
it's baaaack! 🕺💃🛜☎️🅿️
are you an infrastructure nerd? knowledgeable about the hidden workings of our world and itching to share what you know? dying to learn more about possible topics such as internet protocols/electricity generation/supply chains/ai datacenter pipelines/sewer systems/etcccc at brooklyn's coolest warehouse art studio? come to the infrastructure party!
format: anyone who wants to share some infrastructure knowledge should prepare a 5-10 minute presentation on a topic of their choice. slides are welcome but not necessary --if you just want to learn rather than present, that's ok too!
email [email protected] for the address or to sign up for a presentation slot ✨
Mon., Nov. 23 | Beaver Moon @ 6 p.m., Fort Greene Park
In November, we celebrate the Beaver Full Moon, as the time of year when beavers finish building their dams for the winter. Reflect in community on preparation for winter and closure through a full moon ritual. Bring an object that represents your dam/lodge/home as you prepare for winter to add to our communal altar.
We’ll meet to the East of the monument of Fort Greene Park. Ritual begins at 6:30 p.m. and goes until 8:00 p.m. Bundle up! Email [email protected] to RSVP, as if it’s too cold or rainy, we will move to an indoor location.
Mon., Nov. 30, Dec. 7 & 14 | Attention Activism 101 IN PERSON @ 6:30–8:15 p.m., SoRA DUMBO
SoRA's flagship class on the attention crisis and the power of collective attention.
In this course, we will survey the intellectual and practical foundations of the growing ATTENTION ACTIVISM movement. We'll draw on texts by Anna Tsing, Natasha Dow Schull, Shoshanna Zuboff, Tim Wu, and Jonathan Crary among others. What do the extractive incursions of the Attention Economy mean for shared life in the twenty-first century — and how are communities of activists already working to resist them?
Co-facilitated by yours truly. Sliding scale. Sign up here.
Fri., Dec. 4 – Sun., Dec. 6 | SHOULD WE FREAK OUT? @ 10 p.m. – sunrise, TBA
24HR FREAK CONVENTION + AFTERPARTY + SUNRISE
everyone seems to be freaking tf out rn
more details coming soon. you will hear about it. you will join.
★ ★ ★
Recurring Events
Every Sun. | Luddite Club @ 2 p.m., Tompkins Sq. Park
A new vehicle to bring your own Luddite events. Meet on the north side of Tompkins Sq. Park (through the gate between the bathrooms!).
Every Tues. and Thurs. | Druid School @ 5 p.m., Prospect Park
Classes in mysticism, sensory awareness, and deep nature connection on Tuesdays & on traditional crafts, anthropology, and wilderness survival on Thursdays. Meet at the Boathouse at Prospect Park at 5–10 p.m. The classes are free, but donations are welcome.
Every Tues. & Sat. | CDNY English Country Dance & Evening Contra @ Various Times, Church of the Village
All kinds of bands for all kinds of skill levels & a HALLOWEEN PARTY on the 31st!
Here's a PDF with the season's full Tuesday & Saturday schedule.
Learning sessions included, sliding scale always, & consider a membership!
Every Wed. | Phone-Free Adelphi @ 7 p.m., Fort Greene
Screen-free night of creativity from 7 to 10 p.m. We turn off our phones, work on something creative (or just read or meditate), then reflect on the experience.
Now capped at 20 people. Please only come if you can stay the whole evening!
Stay up to date and RSVP for any week through this Buttondown. Questions to [email protected].
Every Thurs. | Pick Up Pigeons TRASH CLEAN UP @ 8 p.m., All 5 Boros
Pick Up Pigeons was inspired by looking at trash on the street. We want to touch it and know everything about it. And also put it somewhere else!!!
🗑️🚮☺︎🗑️🚮☺︎🗑️🚮☺︎🗑️🚮☺︎🗑️🚮☺︎🗑️🚮☺︎
Clean up a different neighborhood every week. The meetings are organized off of social media and via a Proton Mail newsletter—more here.
Every Fri. | Crafternoon @ 1:30–3:30 p.m., Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library - 1st Floor Corner Space
Join us for two hours of freeform crafting and conversation. Bring your own project. We have tools and materials for sewing, fiber, and paper arts, and are always happy to assist you in finding books related to your creative interests.
More here.
Every Fri. | Phone Free Fridays @ 2 p.m. 'til close, Museum of the Moving Image
Museum of Moving Image, Light Phone, & Dan of Phone Free Adelphi) are holding PHONE FREE FRIDAYS through December. If you check your phone before purchasing a ticket, you get 50% off general admission.
There will be technocritical workshops every week from leaders in the movement off of big tech.
Every Fri. & Sat. | Fort Tilden & Breezy Point Beach Cleanup @ Fri. 10 a.m. & Sat. 11 a.m., Fort Tilden
Get outside, get some sun, help restore the habitat for the plovers, and meet new people offline! Leave feeling rejuvenated from soaking up nature together!
Fridays at 10:00 a.m. and Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.—trains & ferries can be hit or miss, so show up whenever you can and come look for the group!
Join this Signal chat to stay in communication, ask questions, and find our meeting place.
Every Sat. | Tompkins Distro @ 11 a.m., Tompkins Sq. Park
Eat / make / give out food, drink Tang, meet your neighbors, and also have a lot of fun. RAIN OR SHINE!
Every Sat./Sun. | PLG Trash Club @ Various, Prospect Lefferts Gardens
Clean up your neighborhood with your neighbors! Schedule here. The group also provides a list of trash clubs around the city with regular cleanups.
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Sign up for their newsletter so you don't have to keep checking the website or Instagram!
Every Sat. | Internet & Tech Addicts Anonymous @ 2 p.m., 208 W 13th St., Manhattan
Welcome to Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous! We're glad you've found us, and we hope our community can be as helpful to you as it has been for us. ITAA is a Twelve-Step fellowship of individuals who support each other in recovering from internet and technology addiction. This includes addiction to social media, smartphones, streaming video or audio content, games, news, pornography, dating apps, online research, online shopping, or any other digital activity that becomes compulsive and problematic.
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Well, hello from the bottom of the bulletin! If it was worth all that time to scroll through, perhaps you will consider sharing NYC Off Tech with a friend, foe, beloved, or a stranger ... and maybeeee you could spare a few for a coffee? :)