THURSDAY, September 4, 2025: Westchester Sketchers at Lasdon Park, Katonah

 

Lasdon Park, Arboretum, and Veterans Memorial is a magnificent 234-acre property consisting of woodlands, open grass meadows, and formal gardens.  During this season, there is so much to inspire your sketches, including the beautiful colors of the many flowers, shrubs, and historic trees which adorn the property.

The Westchester County Veterans Museum is excited to announce the debut of a new exhibit for 2025, “The American Civil War: A War of Firsts.” This exhibit will explore the significant innovations in warfare, medicine, weaponry, transportation, and other vital advancements that emerged during the Civil War, highlighting how these developments shaped the future of armed conflict and medical practices.

The Veterans Memorial is a pathway, known as The Trail of Honor, and is dedicated to the veterans of Westchester County, from The American Revolution to Desert Storm.  On this trail, you will walk among the natural surroundings and wildlife featured in Lasdon Park as you journey through our nation’s past.

The Fairy Hollow Trail is a one quarter mile woodland path that transports visitors on a magical journey in search of fairies and fairy homes. The trail is free for visitors to enjoy.  Dotting the pathways children young and old will enjoy more than 50 handmade houses and accessories that have been created with recycled and natural materials.

 

DETAILS:

WHERE: Lasdon Park, Aboretum, and Veterans Memorial https://www.lasdonpark.org/
2610 Amawalk Road (Route 35) Katonah, NY 10536 Phone: 914-864-7270.

WHEN: THURSDAY,  September 4, 2025. 

START TIME: 10:00 AM. Meet on the patio courtyard near the restrooms.  The park is open from 8 am to 4 pm, so you can come anytime during those hours.

DIRECTIONS: https://www.lasdonpark.org/directions/

Transportation from NYC: Metro-North Harlem Line to Southeast - get off at the Katonah Station.

The 8:43 AM peak train from Grand Central arrives in Katonah at 9:51 AM.

Please call Marianne to arrange for pick up and ride to the garden.

LUNCH: 12:30 PM Bring your own. Meet on the patio Conservatory Plaza near the gift shop.  

SHOW and TELL: Following lunch, we'll share stories and sketches during the social part of our day.

NOTES:
- The park has free admission, free parking, and restrooms. 

- Bring water, sunscreen and bug spray.

- Bring a stool for more options.

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

Please R.S.V.P. to Cathy Gutterman westchester@nycurbansketchers.org

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

Wednesday September 3 Snug Harbor

Weekday Sketchers at Snug Harbor and

Chinese Scholars Garden Wednesday

Can you get to China by Ferry?

Yes you can...at least to a garden that will "transport" you there!

Fabricated in Suzhou, China and brought to Staten Island, this oasis is based on Ming Dynasty gardens dating from 1369 - 1644, and features magnificent rocks resembling mountains, Koi ponds, waterfalls, a bamboo forest, a moon gate and eight pavilions.  You will leave feeling that more than one trip is needed to capture the beauty and intricacy of this lovely garden. 

For more information about the garden, click here: https://snug-harbor.org/botanical-garden/new-york-chinese-scholars-garden/

For information about Snug Harbor which offers many other drawing possibilities, click here: https://snug-harbor.org/

DATE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2025

STARTING TIME: 9:45 at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal (See note below for more information)

LOCATION: CHINESE SCHOLARS GARDEN, SNUG HARBOR 

                   1000 RICHMOND TERRACE, STATEN ISLAND , NY

TRANSPORTATION:  Staten Island Ferry to Staten Island then take the S40 bus to Snug Harbor.

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at President@NYCUrbansketchers.org
• Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445 
• We will meet at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan at 9:45 to take the 10:00 Ferry to Staten Island.  We will then take the S40 bus to Snug Harbor ( a 10 minute ride). If you want to come later, just follow these directions and meet us there. 
• NOTE:  Snug Harbor is open from 6 Am but the Chinses Scholars Garden is open from noon to 5 PM. We will be arriving in plenty of time to get tickets and walk through Snug Harbor, have lunch and be at the Garden when it opens.  Entrance to Snug Harbor is free but there is a $5 entrance ($4. for Seniors) to the garden. Limited food service s available at Snug Harbor or bring your own lunch. 

9/4 Thursday NJ sketchers at Macculloch Hall

New Jersey Sketchers at 
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum

Nestled in the heart of Morristown’s National Historic District, Macculloch Hall Historical Museum offers a unique setting for our sketching group. Built in 1810 as the first significant brick home in Morristown, the Federal-style mansion reflects the legacy of George and Louisa Macculloch, whose family played an influential role in local and national history. Transformed into a museum in 1950, Macculloch Hall now showcases preserved period rooms, fine art, and historic collections. Its beautiful outdoor garden provides a peaceful, inspiring space, making it an ideal sketching locale. 

 

For more information see their website: 

• https://maccullochhall.org/

 

DATE: Thursday, September 4th

STARTING TIME: 10:30 am

LOCATION: 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960

FEE: The museum charges $10 for adults and $8 for seniors.  

PARKING: Street parking is available (unmetered) and the museum fee will include a parking pass to put on your dashboard. Without the pass, you cannot park in the same spot longer than 2 hours. There is also limited space in the museum driveway for handicap parking.

MATERIALS: Dry materials (pen, pencil) only when sketching in the museum.

ADDITIONAL 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 is a bathroom in the museum

• We have reserved the museum just for us; it is not open to the general public during the week

• We will conclude with lunch (bring your own) and a throw down around 12:30 – 1:00 pm; likely outside the museum

All drawing skill levels are welcome.

CHANGE of LOCATION for THURSDAY, August 28, 2025: Westchester Sketchers at John Jay Homestead, Katonah

 

Come explore the John Jay Homestead State Historic Site and experience American History at the home of founding Father John Jay and 5 successive generations of the Jay family.  There are 62 acres to explore and enjoy.  These popular attractions are sure to inspire your artwork:

•  The Carriage Barn - Education & Visitor's Center
• The Farm Lane - the only original entrance to the historic farm once owned by John Jay
• The Formal Gardens - located through the white gate, a fountain and sundial form the centers, beautifully maintained by the Bedford Garden Club and Friends of John Jay Homestead
• The "Ha-has" - a unique landscape feature consisting of rock walls built to keep grazing livestock from getting near the house, but remain invisible when looking down the lawn
• The Herb Garden - created in 1991 on the site of a historic cutting garden and greenhouse.
• The Ice Pond - created for producing ice in the winter to use year-round, now a picturesque spot.

DETAILS:

DATE: THURSDAY, August 28, 2025

START TIME: 10:00 AM.   

LOCATION: John Jay Homestead State Historic Site  http://johnjayhomestead.org/

400 Jay Street, Katonah, NY 10536.  Phone: (914) 232-5651.  We'll meet by the parking lot entrance.

DIRECTIONS: http://johnjayhomestead.org/visit/directions-and-parking/

By TRAIN  Transportation from Grand Central Terminal, NYC: Take the Metro-North Harlem Line to the Katonah Station. The 8:43 AM peak train from Grand Central arrives in Katonah at 9:51 AM.  Please call Marianne to arrange for pick up and ride to the site.

LUNCH: 1:00 PM Bring your own.

SHOW and TELL: After lunch.  This is the social part of our day where we share our drawings, tips, and stories. It is a time not to be missed. 

NOTES:

• The grounds are open from sunrise to sunset.
• Restrooms are available.
• Parking is free.
• There are many picnic tables, but bring a stool for more options.

Please RSVP to Cathy (westchester@nycurbansketchers.org). 

Looking for us?
Call/text: Cathy at (914) 625-0766 or Marianne at (914) 355-6507.

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

Saturday, August 30th - sketch Central Park Conservatory Garden

 

It’s considered one of the most significant public gardens in New York City. Central Park’s formal garden is actually composed of three gardens, each one with its own unique style: the French-style North Garden, the Italianate Center Garden, and the English-style South Garden. Fun fact: the main entrance is marked by the ornate Vanderbilt gate, that once adorned the mansion of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, at 58th and Fifth.

Where: Enter through the Vanderbilt Gate at 5th Avenue at 105th Street, then walk left. 

Facilities: Bathrooms are located in the garden. Not many food options nearby; bringing your own is suggested. 

Show and tell: 3:00 pm; location tbd.

About 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

Host: Frieda Christofides. Contact: 917.747.6060

 

N J Sketchers at Liberty State Park August 28 

What does New Jersey have that New York doesn't?  ......Great views of the NY skyline!  

Join us for a day of sketching at Liberty State Park in Jersey City. If you have never been there you are in for a treat.  Great views of the NY skyline, up close and personal views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, open spaces, green spaces, estuaries and bird sanctuaries are just a few of the sites to sketch.  Then there are the NJ Central Railroad Terminal building, boat marinas, wildlife, salt marshes...and on and on. For more information about the park and its services, click here: https://nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/libertystatepark.html

DATE;  THURSDAY AUGUST 28, 2025

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION: LIBERTY STATE PARK, JERSEY CITY

                         We will meet on the plaza between the RR Terminal and the Empty Sky memorial

NOTE:   We will sketch at the north end of the park by the RR Terminal.  Follow the lunch break, if time allows we cab go to the southern end of the park by the Liberation Statue for views of the estuaries and Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island

DIRECTIONS: 

By Car: Check a map program for driving directions

By Pubic Transit: Check the website for ferry information or take the PATH to Exchange Place Jersey City and then the Hudson Bergen Light Rail to Liberty State Park.  

NJ Central RR Terminal

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie  Dunkel at President@NYCubansketchers.org, especially if using public transit from NYC to coordinate for pick up at Light Rail station.
• Looking for us? Call/text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• Entrance to the park and parking are free.  
• Meeting spot at the NJ Central RR terminal build.   Drive to the end of Audrey Zapp Drive and park in the free parking lot near the Open Sky Memorial.  Don't park in the pay parking area for the Statue of Liberty Ferry Cruises. 
• Bring a stool, sun screen and a hat
• Bring lunch and water.  There is no food service in the park
• Bathrooms are available

Wednesday August 27,2025 Manhattan Beach

Rescheduled Event

We were washed out last week. Let's try again! 

Weekday Skechers at Manhattan Beach

You've been to Coney Island and Brighton Beach....

but what about Manhattan Beach?  

Way at the end of the spit of land that Coney and Brighton Beaches occupy is a lesser known beach that, while a public beach, is almost a beach club for the residents of the area.  Manhattan Beach will offer us a day of sketching the beach, sun bathers, and nearby land formations.   The neighborhood offers views of private homes for you to sketch. 

Bonus Event:  Urban Sketcher and resident of Manhattan Beach, Madeline Sorel, will do a demo on painting waves! 

For information about Manhattan Beach, click here: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/manhattan-beach-park

DATE:  WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27, 2025

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION: WE will meet at the flagpole by the  Irwin Street Entrance to Manhattan Beach ( See map below) 

TRANSPORTATION:  B, Q train to Brighton Beach. Then take the B1 bus to Manhattan Beach

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at President@NYCurbansketchers.org
• Looking for us?  Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• Bathooms, water and sprinklers for washing off sand are available 
• Bring a towel and beach chair
• Limited food service is available, Bring lunch or buy something along the way
• Parking is available for a fee

CANCELLED! THURSDAY, August 28, 2025: Westchester Sketchers at Greenwich Botanical Center

THE CENTER IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED

EVENT WILL BE RE-SCHEDULED 

Get ready for an adventure in nature! 

Located in the 61-acre Montgomery Pinetum Park, Greenwich Botanical Center is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to promoting horticulture, conservation, and the arts through educational programs and outreach activities. It's mission is to connect people with plants and nature through horticulture, botany, and conservation education.

DETAILS:

DATE: THURSDAY, August 28, 2025

START TIME: 10:00 AM

LOCATION: Greenwich Botanical Center, 130 Bible Street, Cos Cob, CT
Phone: (203) 869-9242

DIRECTIONS: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/41.0812416,-73.7640448/Greenwich+Botanical+Center,+130+Bible+St,+Cos+Cob,+CT+06807    

LUNCH: Bring your own.  

SHOW AND TELL will follow lunch. It is a time for sharing and not to be missed.

NOTES:

• We will meet near the Gift Shop in the Center. 
• Parking is available.
• Bring your stools.

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at westchester@nycurbansketchers.org

Looking for us? 

Call/text: Cathy at (914) 625-0766 or Marianne at (914) 355-6507

There are no fees to attend. All art levels welcome.

Urban Sketch Like an Architect with Charles Cannizzaro

Have you ever wondered how the principles and techniques an architect uses in the studio can be applied to plein aire sketching? This is the workshop for you. Learn how to boil down the knowledge of an architecture studio into basics needed for sketching and painting on location. And enjoy the experience of learning from an architect with over 25 years of experience.

Where: Chelsea Triangle, 9th Avenue and 14th Street, New York, NY 10014

When: Saturday, September 20th, 10am-1pm

For more information and tickets, click below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1478174663209?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

Program Canceled due to Hurricane Warnings

Mayor Adams has closed the NYC beaches due to the impending hurricane.  We will try to reschedule the event in the near future.

Weekday Skechers at Manhattan Beach

You've been to Coney Island and Brighton Beach....

but what about Manhattan Beach?  

Way at the end of the spit of land that Coney and Brighton Beaches occupy is a lesser known beach that, while a public beach, is almost a beach club for the residents of the area.  Manhattan Beach will offer us a day of sketching the beach, sun bathers, and nearby land formations.   The neighborhood offers views of private homes for you to sketch. 

Bonus Event:  Urban Sketcher and resident of Manhattan Beach, Madeline Sorel, will do a demo on painting waves! 

For information about Manhattan Beach, click here: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/manhattan-beach-park

DATE:  WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20, 2025

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION: WE will meet at the flagpole by the  Irwin Street Entrance to Manhattan Beach ( See map below) 

TRANSPORTATION:  B, Q train to Brighton Beach. Then take the B1 bus to Manhattan Beach

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at President@NYCurbansketchers.org
• Looking for us?  Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• Bathooms, water and sprinklers for washing off sand are available 
• Bring a towel and beach chair
• Limited food service is available, Bring lunch or buy something along the way
• Parking is available for a fee

Weekday Sketchers Schedule for 

September and October

 

In an effort to help you plan to attend the Weekday sketch sessions, here is the lineup for September and October.  Please check the weekly announcements as the locations can change due to weather and availability. 

Wednesday September 3, 2025                        `    Snug Harbor and Chinese Merchant Garden 

Wednesday September 10, 2025                            Brooklyn Bridge Park

Wednesday September 17, 2025                            Forest Hills Gardens

Wednesday September 24, 2025                            North Cove and Wagner Park

WEdnesday October 1, 2025                                 Fragile Giants (Park Ave

                                

Wednesday October 8, 2025                                  Pier 62 Chelsea Piers and Carousel 

Wednesday October 15, 2025                                Forest Hills Gardens

Wednesday October 22 2025                                 The High Line Foot Fountain. 

Wednesday October 29 2025                                 Trinity Church Cemetery

Sunday August 24 Stuyvesant Town

Though it’s only a block away from bustling First Avenue, Stuyvesant Town feels tucked away from the traffic—like its own little village. Since 1949, more than 22,000 New Yorkers have called it home. At the heart of it all is the Oval, a green gathering place with endless everyday happenings.

This Sunday is no exception. There will be no shortage of activities or  sketching inspiration: a morning yoga class in the playground, a small farmers market, tree-lined paths, and people lounging, picnicking, playing chess, reading, and catching up with friends. For us, it’ll be a chillaxing place to connect with fellow sketchers.

Time:

11:00 AM –3:00 PM

Meeting Spot:

11 AM at the big fountain inside Stuyvesant Oval

Getting Here:

Take any subway that stops at 14th Street, then transfer to the L, heading east toward Brooklyn. Get off on the First Avenue stop, the stop before Brooklyn. Exit at First Avenue, walk north to 16th Street, turn right onto the loop, and head straight to the big lawn. You’ll see the fountain ahead.

Facilities:

Benches are located all around the fountain, and adirondack chairs and tables are plentiful on the lawn (popular items, so a stool or picnic blanket is recommended). There’s a café on the oval, a terrific French bakery on First Avenue, and other lunch spots on First Avenue–or pack a picnic. Restrooms are located just off the oval, and in the café.

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; in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event. #nycurbansketchers

Host:

Shawne Cooper: 917.880.9249

TUESDAY, August 19, 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: TUESDAY, August 19, 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.

Saturday August 16 Sketch East River Park

 

Play ball! Or perhaps, just sketch it.  

East River Park (aka John V Lindsay Park), is a location many of us sketched from the other side of the river, at Domino Park. This side ain’t too shabby either. This 57-acre public playground on the Lower East Side of Manhattan is bisected by the Williamsburg Bridge. It contains a track, tennis complex, eight baseball and softball fields, as well as soccer, football, fields, and basketball courts. There are paths for biking, lawns for sunbathing, grills for barecuing, and of course, dramatic views of New York’s Harbor.  

Time: 

11:00 AM to 2:30 PM

Getting to the meeting spot:

• By foot: Walk to the far east end of Delancey St and take the footbridge over FDR Drive to the East River (on the Manhattan side). 

• By subway: F or J train to Delancey/ Essex St Station and walk east to the FDR overpass (about 20 minutes)

• By bus: M21 to FDR Dr/ 555 FDR stop and walk to FDR overpass, or M14D-SBS to Delancey/ FDR.  The FDR overpass is across the street on South (downtown) side of Delancey

Please note:

• The section of East River Park south of Stanton Street is temporarily closed due to construction. 

• The FDR overpass is not to be confused with the pedestrian/bike walkway that goes completely over the East River to Williamsburg.

Facilities: 

There are benches and picnic tables with umbrellas available along the riverwalk, as well as a functioning drinking fountain, but little to no food vendors. Best to bring your lunch or snack, water, a stool and sun protection. Portable toilets are available.

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

Co-hosts: 

Bonnie Astor (425.652.9532) and Neil Landreville (646.541.0749). 

Weekday Sketchers at Manhattan Beach 8/20

Program Canceled due to Hurricane Warnings

Mayor Adams has closed the NYC beaches due to the impending hurricane.  We will try to reschedule the event in the near future.

Weekday Skechers at Manhattan Beach

You've been to Coney Island and Brighton Beach....

but what about Manhattan Beach?  

Way at the end of the spit of land that Coney and Brighton Beaches occupy is a lesser known beach that, while a public beach, is almost a beach club for the residents of the area.  Manhattan Beach will offer us a day of sketching the beach, sun bathers, and nearby land formations.   The neighborhood offers views of private homes for you to sketch. 

Bonus Event:  Urban Sketcher and resident of Manhattan Beach, Madeline Sorel, will do a demo on painting waves! 

For information about Manhattan Beach, click here: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/manhattan-beach-park

DATE:  WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20, 2025

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION: WE will meet at the flagpole by the  Irwin Street Entrance to Manhattan Beach ( See map below) 

TRANSPORTATION:  B, Q train to Brighton Beach. Then take the B1 bus to Manhattan Beach

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at President@NYCurbansketchers.org
• Looking for us?  Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• Bathooms, water and sprinklers for washing off sand are available 
• Bring a towel and beach chair
• Limited food service is available, Bring lunch or buy something along the way
• Parking is available for a fee