WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6, 2025 CONEY ISLAND

 

Weekday Sketchers Go to Coney Island

What is summer without a trip to the beach?? 

Join us this Wednesday as we travel to iconic Coney Island to sketch the rides, the concession stands on the  boardwalk, the beaches, Nathan's Hot Dog stand and people, people, people.  Bring your stool, sunscreen, a hat and your brightest colors to be best able to capture the scene.

Please RSVP directly to Lorraine Smith at thipph16@gmail.com. Looking for us?  Call Lorraine at 929-614-1930.

NOTE:  We will meet in front of the Coney Island Museum at 10:30 AM  From there everyone will fan out and sketch on their own.  We will meet at the picnic tables by Nathan's Hot Dog Stand at 1:00 PM  If you don't meet up with us at the start you can catch up with us at lunch. 

 

DATE:  WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6, 2025

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION:  We will meet in front of the Coney Island Museum

                        1208 Surf Avenue, Coney Island NYC

                        The museum is located diagonally across the street from the subway station on Surf Ave.

TRANSPORTATION:  D, F, N, Q to Coney Island/Stillwell Ave Station

NOTES

Coney Island Museum 

• Please RSVP directly to Lorraine Smith at thipph16@gmail.com.
• Looking for us?  Call Lorraine at 929-614-1930
• Bathrooms on Boardwalk at Stillwell Ave. and Nathans
• Bring a stool

 

August 3rd Sketch the Steps of The Met

 

How many times have you said to a friend, “Meet me on the steps of The Met?” This time, let’s stop and stay for awhile. Since the TWA Hotel wasn’t feeling groovy about our upcoming visit, we’ve moved on to this glorious gathering spot. 

According to the NY Times, this entranceway is commonly used for “guitar playing, peach-eating, orange-peeling, sun-bathing, poetry-reading, cigar-smoking, book-reading, newspaper-browsing, frankfurter-eating, soda-sipping, postcard-writing, scene-sketching, picture-taking, small-talking, studying, staring, debating, deep-thinking, waiting for Godot and two of the six stages of flirting," And then there’s the fountains, grand townhouses on Fifth Avenue, and foodtrucks: plenty of fodder for our sketchbooks.

Meeting Spot: 10:00 am on the south side of the steps, near the education entrance

Lunch: 1:00 pm in the cafeteria, far back on the left side

Show and Tell: 3:00pm, in the plaza near the education entrance

Host: Frieda Christofides: 917.747.6060

About our NYC Urban Sketchers Events:

All are welcome–no fees and no registration. Just look for folks at the designated location carrying sketch pads and introduce yourself. If you can't find the group, contact the host; their contact info is on the Urban Sketchers blogpost for this event. #nycurbansketchers

NJ Sketchers August 3, 2025

New Jersey Sketchers at Overpeck Park

Join the NJ sketchers this week as we explore Overpeck Park in Bergen County.  With over 800 acres, stretched over 5 municipalities, a river , a creek, playgrounds,  a golf course, and kayak center there should be plenty to keep us busy! 

We will meet at the kayak center and plan the day from there. 

Kayak Center

DATE:  SUNDAY AUGUST 3, 2025

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION:  OVERPECK KAYAK CENTER. (see note below)

TRANSPORTATION, PLEASE CHECK A MAPS PROGRAM

NOTES

Please RSVP directly to Julia Bazaz at jazaz7658@gmail.com

Looking for us? Call or text Julia at 551-206-1273

Meeting information:

Enter Overpeck Park on south side of DeGraw.  You will see a very big sign that reads Leonia South/ Equestrian Center.  Bear right and go over the wooden bridge.  Almost immediately you will see kayaks and the river on the left side.

Park there or in the next parking lot near the restrooms.

  

Sunday August 3rd, sketch the TWA Hotel

 This location canceled! New location added to new post.

Celebrate the 60’s at the out-of-sight TWA Hotel. Designed by the architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1962, you won’t find even one 90-degree angle in the entire trippy building. It has indoor and outdoor sketching locations galore, food vendors, a giant twister board, an exhibit of flight crew uniforms, and a retro beauty parlour. All in all, quite a groovy scene.

Please note, this is a Sunday sketch day, August 3rd. We’ll meet at 11am inside the terminal in front of the flight board. Show and tell is at 3pm; location tbd.

To get there, it’s 4 stops on the Air Train to JFK from Jamaica. Or, you can drive and park in the JetBlue parking lot.

Event coordinator is Frieda Christofides: 917 747-6060

Be there or be square.

Wednesday: July 30, 2025 Derfner Museum

Weekday and Westchester Groups at Derfner Judaica Museum 

Can you imagine a world class art collection and a beautiful sculpture garden with Hudson River views in a long term care facility?  Hard to conger up?  Agreed, expect that it does exist.... and we are going there on Wednesday.

The Derfner Judaica Museum is located on the main campus of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale and is just that place: a world class museum with a sculpture garden on the Hudson River. The collection of Judaica is excellent and extremely well curated. The art collection is exhibited through the building and the sculpture garden is on a green lawn that stretches down to the river....perfect for sketching!

For more information about the museum and the collection, click here: https://derfner.org

DETAILS:

DATE: WEDNESDAY JULY 30 2025

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOACATION: DERFNER ART MUSEUM

                           5901 Palisade Avenue,  Riverdale, New York 10471

DIRECTIONS:  

• Public Transit: 1 train to 231 St, then take the BX 7 bus to Riverdale Ave. 263 Street 
• By Car: please check a maps program

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly directly to CathyGutterman at Westchester@NYCurbansketchers.org
• Looking for us? Call or text Cathy at 914-625-0766
• This is a residence, please be respectful of the people who live there.
• Bathrooms and water are available.  
• There is a cafe if you would like to purchase lunch. 
• Bring a stool.
• You can work in wet medium outside on the lawn. Dry media inside the museum.
• Photo ID is required for admission to the Hebrew Home campus at all times. 
• Please let the guard know that you are with the NYC Urban Sketchers group.

Walking directions from bus stop

SAT JULY 26th, 2025•Sketch Paley Park and 6 1/2Avenue

 

Take advantage of NYC's privately owned public spaces (POPS) and draw Paley Park & 6 1/2 Avenue.

There are sketchable vantage points noted on this map, many with public seating, including the two food courts. The prettiest section of all, though, may well be the quintessentially French restaurant, La Grande Boucherie, where public seating is also available in front of the restaurant.

DATE: SAT JULY 26th, 2025

STARTING TIME: 11 AM 

LOCATION: Paley Park & 6 1/2 Avenue

We will meet at Paley Park 

TRANSPORTATION: E and M to 5 Av/53 St

Helene's phone number: 202-320-2166

July 23, 2025 Weekday Sketchers at Rockaway Beach

Weekday Sketchers at Rockaway Beach

Join us this week as we explore the outer edge of the outer boroughs!  

NYC never ceases to amaze us.  In addition to world class culture and food there are fabulous beaches lining the edges of the city.  This week we will travel by ferry to the Rockaway Beaches. The Rockaway are a barrier island at the south end of Queens, with beaches running for miles along the Atlantic Ocean. The Boardwalk is lined with concession stands and public restrooms are available. 

We will meet at the Ferry Terminal at the foot of Wall Street and ride around the edge of Brooklyn and Queens.  Shuttle buses will take us to the various beaches.   Bring your sketch materials and your bathing suit for this day long outing!

For information about the ferry and buses, click here: https://www.ferry.nyc/routes-and-schedules/rockaway/

DATE: WEDNESDAY JULY 23, 2025

STARTING TIME: 9:20 AM (See note below)

LOCATION:  ROCKAWAY BEACH

                                At approximately Beach 90th Street

TRANSPORTATION: ROCKAWAY FERRY AND SHUTTLE BUS

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at President@NYCurbansketchers.org
• Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• Travel Information:  The Rockaway ferry leaves Pier 11 once an hour.  We will meet as a group to catch the 9:20 ferry arriving at Rockaway at about 10:30 AM. We will take the shuttle bus to the 86th Street beach and find a convenient spot to sketch along the Boardwalk.  If you can't make this ferry just take one that is convenient for you.   The return ferries run approximately every hour back to Pier 11. 
• The Ferry can be very crowded. Please arrive early to assure a place on the boat 
• Food, water and bathrooms are available along the Boardwalk
• Bring whatever you need for a day at the beach! 

THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025: Westchester Sketchers at Lyon Park, Port Chester

 

 

Lyon Park is a local neighborhood park in Port Chester, NY. It has many features that offer opportunities for sketching: a 9/11 Memorial, the Bush Lyons Farmstead historical farmhouse and outbuildings, a Firefighters Memorial, Veteran’s Memorial Walk, Vietnam War Memorial, and a garden, bandstand, and beautiful old trees.

DETAILS:

DATE: THURSDAY, July 24, 2025

LOCATION: Lyon Park, 331 Putnam Ave, Port Chester, NY 10573

TIME: 10:00 AM We will meet by the bandstand (near Putnam Avenue).

DIRECTIONS: https://www.mapquest.com/us/new-york/lyon-park-407509938

Additional Notes:

• Street parking is free.  It is best to park on the Putnam Avenue side of the Park.
• Bring your own/snack or lunch and water.
• Bring your own chair or stool for the best sketching options.
• Restroom facilities are available.

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman, westchester@nycurbansketchers.org, so we will know who to expect.

Looking for us? Call Cathy (cell 914-625-0766) or Marianne (cell 914-355-6507)

New Jersey Sketchers at the historic Morristown Green

Thursday, July 24^th

The Morristown Green is a charming, historic park nestled in the heart of Morristown, New Jersey. Dating back to 1715, it has served as a grazing pasture, a military parade ground during the American Revolution, and a gathering place for the community. Today, it remains a vibrant hub, hosting cultural events and offering a picturesque setting for artists. We will find plenty of sketching inspiration here—from the Patriot’s Farewell fountain and the Soldier at Rest statue to the Alliance sculpture featuring Washington, Hamilton, and Lafayette. The granite medallion, Liberty Flag Pole, and historic plaques add layers of storytelling to your artwork. Whether capturing the lush greenery, the architectural beauty of nearby churches, or the lively atmosphere of the town square, the Morristown Green is a treasure trove of artistic possibilities. 

This location is easily accessible via public transit from NYC or Newark NJ

For more information see these websites:  

• https://morristowngreen.org/ 
• https://morristourism.org/the-morristown-green/ 

DATE: Thursday, July 24th

STARTING TIME: 10:30 am

LOCATION: the address for Google Maps is 10 North Park Place, Morristown, but the Green is basically a square, surrounded by four streets. We will meet by the Patriot’s Farewell Statue (and fountain) on the side of the park near South Street

TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING: there is metered street parking and the Morristown train station is less than a 10-minute walk from the Green

NOTES

• Please RSVP to Barbara Taylor at bat155155@gmail.com  
• Looking for us? Call or text Barbara at (862) 207-4279
• Bring a stool; there are some benches available but a stool will give you more options
• Bathrooms available in local businesses; there is a Starbucks nearby (purchase may be required)
• Bring your lunch or purchase something from the many outlets along the street
• We will conclude with lunch and a throw down around 1pm; location TBD

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

THURSDAY, July 17, 2025: Westchester Sketchers at the Newington-Cropsey Foundation, Hastings-on-Hudson

We will be sketching on the grounds of the Newington-Cropsey Foundation, which was founded in 1977 for the purpose of preserving and displaying the home and paintings of Jasper F. Cropsey (1823-1900), Hudson River School artist. The Cropsey home, Ever Rest has been on the National Register of Historic Homes since the early 1970's. In 1994, the Gallery of Art was completed, enabling the foundation to display more of the permanent collection of Cropsey's paintings, in addition to providing exhibition space for temporary and traveling exhibits. The new building also houses the archives of Cropsey's writings and papers as well as a small research library.

DETAILS:

Attendance is STRICLY LIMITED to 15 - Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman  (westchester@nycurbansketchers.org)

DATE: THURSDAY, July 17, 2025

START TIME: 10:00 AM.

LOCATION: Newington-Cropsey Foundation 

25 Cropsey Lane Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706 (914) 478-7990

DIRECTIONS: https://www.google.com/maps/dir//25+Cropsey+Ln,+Hastings-On-Hudson,+NY+10706

PARKING on site is extremely limited.  Please try to car pool or take the train.

TRANSPORTATION from NYC: Use the Hudson Line of the Metro-North Railroad to arrive in Hastings-on-Hudson.  The Cropsey Foundation is located on the other side of the street, walk through the commuter parking lot to the property on Cropsey Lane (under the Warburton bridge).

  

LUNCH/SHOW and TELL: 12:30 PM.  Bring your own.  During lunch we will share our drawings. 

NOTES:
- Bring a stool for the best sketching options.

Looking for us? 

Call/text: Cathy at (914) 625-0766 

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

THURSDAY, July 17, 2025 : Sketch the Waterfront

Late Afternoon Sketch at the Jersey City Waterfront

Here’s something a bit different ... an early evening NYC  NJ USk event

What does New Jersey have that New York doesn't? 

Fabulous views of the skyline from the Jersey City Waterfront!

Join us for this early evening event to capture the NYC skyline at dusk. As the sun sets in the west the skyscrapers, with all the glass windows, pick up the colors of the setting sun to give us a fantastic light show. Come across the river, bring you picnic dinner and all the beautiful golds, reds and oranges in your paint sets, for an evening of basing in the reflected light of the evening sun.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 17, 2025

TIME: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

LOCATION: Jersey City Waterfront

TRANSPORTATION: PATH Train to Exchange Place. Exit the station and walk out on the adjoining Grundy Pier

7/16/25 Sketch Elizabeth Street Garden

Weekday Sketchers at Elizabeth Street Garden

Over the years the Elizabeth Street Garden has been a favorite sketch site for our group.  Always threatened by impending development, we have gathered to say good-bye to this quiet corner of New York many times.  But this year is different.  Join us to celebrate the reprieve from demolition granted through hard work by many, many individuals and organizations.  Come and capture this unique spot in your sketchbook. 

For more information about the garden, click here: https://www.elizabethstreetgarden.com

DATEL. WEDNESDAY JULY 16, 2025

STARTING TIME:  11:00 AM

LOCATAION: ELIZABETH SSTREET BETWEEN PRINCE AND SPRING STREETS

TRANSPORTATION: R, W TO PRINCE STREET, J, Z TO BOWERY OR 6 TO SPRING STREET

NOTES

• PLEASE RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at President@nycurbansketchers.org
• Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• The garden opens at 11:00 AM
• There is no food, water or bathrooms in the garden.  You can access facilities in local businesses
• Some seating is available but bring a stool for best site lines
• Bring your lunch or purchase it from local vendors

New Details on Mario Linhares Workshop on July 12th in Battery Park

New Details have been added on what the student can expect to learn at Mario Linhares Workshop on July 12th. 

Candle and Drawing Interaction with Mario Linhares

When: Saturday July 12, 2025 from 10am-1pm

Where: Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park

Mario Linhares is a noted lecturer, teacher and author who currently is on the Faculty of the University of Lisbon. He was the founder of Urban Sketchers Lisbon and served on the international Board of Urban Sketchers from 2011 to 2019. For examples of his work on instagram, see: @linhares.mr

Click Here for More Information and To Purchase a Ticket

Saturday, July 12, 2025 - Bethesda Fountain

 

The Bethesda Fountain is one of the most iconic gathering spots in Central Park. Measuring 26 feet high by 96 feet wide, it’s one of New York’s largest fountains and the gorgeous focal point of the Bethesda Terrace.  

DETAILS:

Meeting spot: The fountain is located mid-park around 72 Street. We’ll gather at 11:00 at the south side of the fountain, near the tunnel of Bethesda terrace. If it rains, we can paint inside the tunnel.

Sketch hours: 11 am-3 pm

Show and tell location: To be TBD day of the event

Host: Rene Barkett (917) 699-2751‬

WEDNESDAY, July 9, 2025: NYBG

 

 WEEKDAY and WESTCHESTER SKETCHERS 

JOINT MEETING

Join us this Wednesday for a very special join meeting with the Westchester chapter at the New York Botanical Garden.  In addition to the wonders that the garden offers on a daily basis year round, there is a special exhibit recreating Van Gough's paintings of flowers  ...So many sunflowers!! If you want purchase a ticket for the indoor exhibit you can do so, but the grounds sprout (pun intended) many facsimiles of what he painted,  so you will dee them with a general admission ticket.  

Please take note of the following:

• For more information about the garden, exhibits and facilities click here: https://www.nybg.org
• Your RSVP is much appreciated so we know who will be coming. RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at Westchester@nycurbansketchers.org or Marianne Milzoff at Secretary@nycurbansketchers.org
• Bring a stool, sun block and a hat
• Looking for us?  Call Cathy Gutterman at 914-625-0766 or Marianne Milzoff at 914 355 6507. 

Entrance Info:

• There is fee to enter the garden, as well as a fee for parking. Check the web site for costs.
• The garden is FREE on Wednesday to NYC residents with proof of address
• The Garden is free for non-NYC residents on Wednesday BETWEEN 10 and 11 AM. If you are not a NYC resident try to arrive in time not to pay an entrance fee
• The American Alliance of Museum card is accepted for free admission.
• If you are a member of the NYBG, and willing to share a guest pass, please do so that those who don't have a pass can get a guest entrance. Let us know that you are holding passes.
• If you need a guest pass, please let us know. 

Meeting instructions:

• We will meet in two locations:
• Cathy Gutterman will meet members who are coming by car at 10:30 AM OUTSIDE the Main Entrance on Southern Boulevard (see map on the NYBG web site).
• Marianne Milzoff will meet members coming by train or subway at the at 10:30 AM OUTSIDE the entrance at the Mosholu Entrance  (see map on the NYBG web site).
• We will meet for lunch and a throw-down at 1:00 PM location TBD.
• You can stay as long as you wish after lunch but there will not be a final gathering. 

DATE:  WEDNESDAY JULY 9 , 2025

LOCATION:  NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 

                       2900 SOUTHERN BLVD, BRONX, NY

TIME:  10:30 AM (see Meeting info above)

TRANSPORTATION: Click here for information on NYC subway, Metro North and driving directions https://www.nybg.org/visit/directions

NOTE: Please check the NYBG web site for information on dinning options, what is in bloom, special exhibits and much more https://www.nybg.org

 

Workshop on August 2 with Mel Barranco

 

When: August 2, 2025 at 10am

Where: Meet in front of the New York Public Library at 476 Fifth Avenue, by the lion Fortitude, which is the one on the right as you face the Fifth Avenue entrance.

For More Details and To Sign Ups Click Here:

Description: In this workshop students will learn to fuse observation of details with a colorful interpretation of the overall scene. Three parts of the bus stop scene will be explored in sequence:

1. Inanimate details of the bus stop setting, including those you imagine,
2. Moving objects - how to capture a fleeting moment, especially people in motion, and
3. Combining all elements onto a previously marked sheet of paper.