Saturday 8/15/26: Weekend Sketchers at Grant’s Tomb

 

Grant's Tomb is the largest mausoleum in North America, dedicated to the 18th President of the United States and prominent Union general during the Civil War. Designed by architect John Hemenway Duncan, it was completed in 1897 and features a neoclassical design with a large dome and two granite sarcophagi that hold the remains of Grant and his wife, Julia.

If neoclassical architecture isn’t your style, how about Gothic? Right across the street from Grant’s Tomb is Riverside Church, the tallest church in North America! Modeled after the 13th century cathedral in Chartres, France, the church and visitor center are open on Saturdays and you can take a tour to the top of the tower!

HOST: Rowan Bordewieck- 718-926-6855 (Text preferred)
DATE: Saturday 8/15/26
TIME: Sketching 10am-3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.
SKETCHING LOCATION: Riverside Drive and W. 122nd Street, NY, NY

MEETING SPOT: There will be no official meeting to kick off the day, join your fellow sketchers and just start sketching.
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: On the front steps of the Tomb (or the nearest shady spot). Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location.
FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: There are restrooms and a bookstore in the visitor center across the street. There are plenty of food options in the neighborhood. There are benches and a low wall in the park surrounding the tomb, but a stool gives you more options.

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event. #nycurbansketchers.

THURSDAY, August 13, 2026: WESTCHESTER SKETCHERS Plein Air Day at the Blauvelt Library in Rockland

Join the Westchester Sketchers at the Blauvelt Free Library for a day of painting both indoors and outdoors, capturing the history, character, and beauty of the library and its grounds.

HOST: Cathy Gutterman  (914) 625-0766

DATE: Thursday, August 13, 2026

TIME: 10:00 AM

LOCATION: Blauvelt Free Library, 541 Western Hwy S, Blauvelt, NY 10913. Phone: (845) 359-2811.

DIRECTIONS: https://www.google.com/maps/dir//Blauvelt+Free+Library,+541+Western+Hwy+S,+Blauvelt,+NY+10913

NOTES:

• Bring your lunch and water or a drink.

• Dress for warm weather, bring a hat and sunscreen.

• Bring a stool for more options.

• There is parking behind the building.

• Restrooms are available.

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at westchester@nycurbansketchers.org.

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event.  #nycurbansketchers.

“Build it and they will come”  is an apt aphorism for the NYC HIghline. 

It was  an abandoned railroad line that was rotting away until some local residents saw the potential for regeneration of the elevated structure as well as the entire neighborhood.  Now one of the Must-Sees on every tourist’s list, the highline meanders from Gansevoort Street uptown to 31St street.

JOin us to capturing the foliage, the people and the vibe in your sketchbook. 

Karen will meet the group on the Highline at 10:30 AM where the elevator brings people up from 14th street.  Then everyone is free to find the spot that pleases them the most.  The group will meet up again at 1:00 PM at the large wooden stairs on the High line that look out at West 17th Street to share our sketches and discuss them.

For up to date information on where the entrances/stairs/elevators, and restrooms are located use this website:  https://www.thehighline.org/visit/#park-access.

DATE: Wednesday August 12 , 2026

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

TRANSPORTATION:Any subway to 14th Street.  Then walk or take the cross town bus to 105y Avenue and take the stairs or elevator up to the Highline. 

HOST: Karen Scheetz  914-548-5699  Text only 

NOTES: 

Water and bathrooms are available 

There is limited food service on the HIghline but lots of outlets on the streets below.  

Lots of seating available or bring you stool

Saturday 8/8/26: Weekend Sketchers at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine

 

We had a great time sketching St. John the Divine indoors in the winter, why not sketch this magnificent location from the outside? The world’s largest Gothic Cathedral sits on a historic, 11-acre campus and features serene gardens, a 40-foot monumental sculpture/fountain, intricate stone carvings, and wandering peacocks (this is unverified, but let’s hope it’s true!).

***Please note that this is a change of venue from what was previously listed in the Calendar of Events. Right now Saturday has a chance of rain later in the afternoon, but it’s also supposed to be very hot. This location gives us great indoor and outdoor options in case it rains, or people need a break from the heat. The originally scheduled Elizabeth Street Gardens, a crowd favorite, doesn’t really have an indoor option and will be rescheduled for a nicer day.

If you want/need to go indoors, admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students. Once you check in at the desk and receive your sticker you can come and go as you please throughout the day. You do not need timed tickets.

HOST: Leslie Sim: 516-633-2340
DATE: Saturday 8/8/26
TIME: Sketching 10am-3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.
SKETCHING LOCATION: 1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street, NY, NY

MEETING SPOT: There will be no official meeting to kick off the day, join your fellow sketchers and just start sketching.
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: Ideally in the garden by the fountain. If it is raining, the St. James chapel inside the Cathedral worked well last time. Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location.
FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: There are restrooms in the cathedral and plenty of food options in the neighborhood. A stool gives you more options.

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event. #nycurbansketchers.

8/14 NJ Sketchers at Skylands Museum

 

Friday, August 14^th at noon: Skylands Museum of Art, Lafayette

 

Join the NJ Urban Sketchers at the Skylands Museum of Art in Sussex County: Where art, nature, mythology and humanity harmonize beautifully indoors and out. 

Skylands Museum of Art focuses on enchanting and imaginative international 20th and 21st cntury sculpture, paintings and illustrations by leading artists including Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Leonor Fini, Brian Froud, Anne Bachelier, Brian Branch, Michael Parkes and Ailene Fields.

They have 3 floors (9 rooms) of art in the museum and an incredible outdoor sculpture garden.

For more information see the website:  Skylands Museum of Art

 

DATE: Friday, August 14th

STARTING TIME: Noon (this is when the museum opens)

FEE: Suggested donation $10

LOCATION: 15 Route 15, Lafayette, NJ 07848

TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING: no nearby trains; there is onsite parking

NOTES

• Please RSVP to Barbara Taylor at bat155155@gmail.com   

• Looking for us? Call or text Barbara at ‪(862) 207-4279

• Bring a stool for the best options

• If sketching indoors, dry materials only; no watercolor allowed in the museum

• We will conclude with a throw down around 2pm  

There are no fees. All drawing skill levels are welcome.

8/7 Friday NJ Sketchers at DeKorte Park Lyndhurst

Please join the NJ Urban Sketchers on Friday morning, August 7 at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst.

DeKorte is known for being a one square mile tranquil retreat in the center of Jersey's highways, airports, and industrial buildings. It has views of marshlands, the Hackensack River, and New York City There are 3.5 miles of easy-to-navigate trails where you will see bird watchers, photographers, people biking, and people just enjoying nature.

There are plenty of benches, but bring a stool.

Bring water, your lunch or snack, and if you like birds, your binoculars.

There is plenty of free parking. There is a port-o-potty in the first parking lot.

Start time: 10:30 AM - Julia will meet you at the gazebo.

RSVP and any questions to Julia: jazaz7658@gmail.com.
If you get lost, (551)206-1273. 

DeKorte Park
1 DeKorte Park Plaza
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071

All skill levels welcome, free to attend.

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