NJ Sketchers Schedule

 

Saturday 7/18/26: Weekend Sketchers at 1 Bryant Park Atrium

1 Bryant Park features a large, open public atrium on the ground floor that serves as a welcoming indoor extension of Bryant Park, offering a bright, accessible space for visitors and building occupants. 

Please note that this is a location change due to the forecasted weather. We were originally supposed to sketch Governor’s Island, but with a 90% chance of rain this location will give us more options. If the rain holds off we can sketch Bryant Park, the NYPL, Times Square, etc. If/when it rains this will be our home base. We will try to reschedule Governor’s Island for another weekend. 

HOST: Leslie Sim: 516-633-2340

DATE: Saturday 7/18/26

TIME: Sketching 10am-3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm. 

SKETCHING LOCATION: 1 Bryant Park on the corner of 42nd Street and 6th Avenue.

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:  1 Bryant Park Atrium

FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: All available nearby. There are tables and chairs in the atrium. 

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.

Infamous or famous, the Christopher St Pier has been a part of life in Greenwich Village for decades.  Once a rotting hulk, it has been turned into a green respite for all to enjoy.  Join us to capture the river views or the skylines on both sides of the river.  Or focus on the people relaxing and recreating on the pier.  Need more?  Wander the West Village to sketch the iconic street scenes of lower Manhattan. 

DATE: Wednesday July 22 , 2026

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

TRANSPORTATION: 1 train to Christopher St/Stonewall

HOST: Kristine Zimmermann  917 673 6867 

NOTES: 

Water and bathrooms are available 

There is limited food service in the park.  Bring your own or purchase from local outlets

There are trees and shady spots but bringing a hat is a good idea

Bring a stool 

7/24 NJ Sketchers at Leonia Sculpture Garden

Join us to sketch in the Erika and David Boyd Sculpture Garden, where a rotating array of public art in on loan from its sculptors. This art has also been placed in many other locations throughout town, so that the entire borough can be seen as a sculpture garden.

The church across the street is also great to sketch. 

Both locations have shade.

Time: 10:30am

Date: Friday, July 24

Location: 305 Beechwood Pl, Leonia, NJ 07605

Parking: free angled street parking 

Host: Margaret Casagrande

margaret.casagrande@gmail.com

646-515-9913

No facilities, bathroom in nearby Dunkin’ Donuts 

Some seating, but a stool is useful. 

Bring water, lunch

All skill levels welcome, no fee to attend.

THURSDAY, July 16, 2026: WESTCHESTER Sketchers at Muscoot Farm in Katonah CANCELED due to extreme heat

DUE TO EXTREME HEAT THIS PROGRAM IS CANCELED.

Watch for future announcements 

Muscoot Farm was originally a gentleman's farm owned by the Hopkins family and used as their summer estate and dairy farm from 1880 to 1924. In 1924 the family moved to the farm year-round and continued the dairy business until 1967 when Westchester County acquired the property.

Today, Muscoot Farm has many of the original buildings, some of which were moved to accommodate the Muscoot Reservoir. Visitors can walk through the dairy barn, milk house, ice house, blacksmith shop, and several other barns and buildings. Livestock and poultry are breeds typical of an early 20th-century gentleman's farm and many represent minor rare breeds. The Main House is used to exhibit art shows by local artists.

HOST: Cathy Gutterman (914) 625-0766 

DATE: Thursday, July 16, 2026

START TIME: 10 AM 

LOCATION: Muscoot Farm 51 NY-100, Katonah, NY.

DIRECTIONS: Muscoot Farm is on Route 100 nestled between Somers, Katonah, and Yorktown. The farm is located about 1 mile south of the intersection of Route 100 and Route 35. 

Transportation from NYC: The closest Metro-North train station is Katonah, on the New Haven line. Please contact Marianne at (914) 355-6507 to arrange a ride from the station.

LUNCH: Bring your lunch. 

SHOW and TELL : After lunch, we will share our drawings and tell stories. This is the social part of our day and not to be missed.

NOTES:

- Come early for the best parking spots.

- Bring a stool if you have one. It gives you more options.

- Dress for sunshine. Bring a hat and sunscreen.

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.

Canceled 7/18 NJ Sketchers at Van Vleck Gardens

Canceled due to rain.

Join the NJ Urban Sketchers as we make a visit to the
Van Vleck House and Gardens at
21 Van Vleck Street in Montclair NJ.

Saturday, July 18 at 10:30

This unique and well-tended property belonged to a Brooklyn family who bequeathed it to Montclair. It features a u-shaped Italianate villa, a children's butterfly garden, a wisteria courtyard, an azalea walk, and a visitor's center. There are many painterly subjects, and also nice pockets of shade. Bring a stool for greater choices.
RSVP and any questions to Julia:

RSVP and any questions to Julia: jazaz7658@gmail.com.
If you get lost, (551)206-1273. Small parking lot on premises and free on the street parking.

We are scheduled to start at 10:30, but come at 10:00 if that's better for you, as Julia will be there early. The property is open from dawn to dusk.

All levels welcome, free to attend.

Saturday 7/11/26: Weekend Sketchers at The Museum of Natural History and the Upper West Side

 

What do the buildings pictured above have in common? They’re all the same building!! Well, the same museum anyway…. The American Museum of Natural History spans 21 buildings with 45 exhibition halls, a planetarium, and over 32 million specimens.

We sketch inside museums all winter, why not sketch the beautiful buildings that house them in the summer? Starting on the corner of 77th and Central Park West you can choose your favorite iteration of the Museum of Natural History, or turn to the Historical Society across the street. There is also the beautiful neighborhood surrounding these institutions, as well as lots of interesting stuff just inside Central Park.

Right now the weather looks like it will hold up, but luck has not been on our side this year. The good news is, if it rains we can sketch inside the museum! See the alternative Show and Tell Location below.

HOST: Shawne Cooper: 917.880.9249
DATE: Saturday 7/11/26
TIME: Sketching 10am-3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.

SKETCHING LOCATION: The American Museum of Natural History and the UWS.
MEETING SPOT: Meet on the corner of 77th Street and Central Park west, on the Northwest corner (closest to the museum).
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: If the weather cooperates meet on the same corner: 77th and CPW. If it rains meet in the entrance atrium to the new Gilder Center which is closest to 79th Street and Columbus Ave.

FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: There are benches along 77th St and CPW. There are restrooms and food in the museum and the surrounding neighborhood.

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.

Weekday Sketch Canceled due to 

Extreme Heat

Built in the Ruskinian Gothic style this building has a long history.  Originally built as a fire watchtower on a farmer’s market,  the structure was replaced with this beautiful building that served as a courthouse and jail. Decommissioned early in the 20th century it was going to be torn down but preservations prevailed.  The building eventually became a library.  For more information about this site and the building, click here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Market_Library,  The more modern women’s prison was built and eventually torn down and replaced with a beautiful garden that now surrounds the building.  

And for some extra sketches, walk over to Patchin Place, the shortest street in NYC to sketch the victorian cottages. 

Join us this week as we capture the unusual architecture of the building and the lush garden in our sketch books. 

DATE: Wednesday July 15 , 2026

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

MEETING SPOT:  We will meet in the garden. Enter on Greenwhich St behind the building near 10th St. 

TRANSPORTATION: A,B,C,D,E,F,M to West 4th Street

HOST: Raylie Dunkel 201 273 0445

NOTES: 

Water and bathrooms are available in the building

Food is available at numerous outlets 

THURSDAY, July 9, 2026: WESTCHESTER Sketchers at MoCA\CT in Westport

 

Westport, Connecticut is home to Anne Hathaway, Christopher Lloyd, Joanne Woodward and MoCA\CT (Museum of Contemporary Art\CT). Exhibitions feature contemporary visual art from local, national and international artists. The museum’s mission is to present relevant and thought -provoking art that positively impact the community. The current exhibition, “Looking for History” features monumental landscape drawings and installations that comment on borders, ambition and history.

HOST: Cathy Gutterman (914) 625-0766 

DATE: Thursday, July 9, 2026

START TIME: 10 AM  (Note: The Gallery normally opens at 12 Noon on Thursday but will be open for us at 10 AM).

LOCATION: Museum of Contemporary Art/ CT 19 Newton Turnpike, Westport, CT.

DIRECTIONS: https://mocact.org/about/visit/

Transportation from NYC: Metro North to Westport Station (1 Railroad Place). A public-ride service such as Uber/Lyft is recommended for the 3.8 mile drive to MoCA\CT.

LUNCH: Bring your lunch. We will eat in the museum lobby or outdoors.
SHOW and TELL: After lunch, we will share our drawings and tell stories. This is the social part of our day and should not be missed.

NOTES:

- Admission - $10 adults, $8 senior citizens.
- AAM is not accepted. Fairfield Westchester Museum Alliance is accepted.
- There is ample parking.
- Stools are allowed.

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.

Sunday 7/5/26: Weekend Sketchers at Brookfield Place

 

With the Fourth of July on Saturday, let’s sketch on Sunday this weekend! Brookfield Place gives us great outdoor and indoor options. Along the outdoor promenade on the river side of the Winter Garden Atrium there are tables, chairs, and benches all along the waterfront should the weather hold up. There are boats, the Irish Hunger Memorial, and great views of Jersey City. If it rains, we can all comfortably sit in the Winter Garden.

**Please note that this was originally scheduled to be at the Christopher Street Pier, and even though it looks like it will cool off a bit on Sunday, there is a high chance of rain. Brookfield Place has very similar views to Christopher Street Pier, but a better indoor option should it rain, or if we need a break from the heat. Sorry that the weather has been so uncooperative so far this summer.

HOST: Charles Cannizzaro (914) 552-3658
DATE: Saturday 7/5/26
TIME: Sketching 10am - 3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.
LOCATION: Brookfield Place Winter Garden, 230 Vesey St, NY, NY

MEETING SPOT:  Join your fellow sketchers on the promenade on the river side of the Winter Garden Atrium. There will be no official meeting to kick off the day, join your fellow sketchers and just start sketching.
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: In the Winter Garden Atrium- on the west side of the space at the tables in the large windows facing the river. Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location.
SEATING: There are plenty of tables and seating inside and out.
FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS: There are restrooms and lots of food 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.

What would summer be without a trip to Coney Island?  So much to see, so much to do and so much to capture in our sketchbooks.  Join us to sketch the Wonder Wheel,  the beach or the boardwalk.  Enjoy a hot dog at Nathan’s or some cotton candy from a vendor.  No matter what you do, it will be part of your summer memories.

DATE: Wednesday July 8 , 2026

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

MEETING SPOT:  We will meet in front of the Coney Island Museum at 1208 Surf Avenue and West 12th Street across from the subway station. 

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

HOST: Lorraine Smith 929-614-1930

NOTES: 

Water and bathrooms are available at Nathan’s 

Food is available at numerous outlets 

Bring a stool 

7/11 NJ Sketchers at Laurelwood Arboretum

Laurelwood Arboretum is a 30 acre botanically diverse property featuring woodland trails and gardens, wildlife, ponds, streams and hundreds of varieties of rhododendrons, azaleas and other unusual species of plants and trees. Gravel paths wind and connect through the arboretum showcasing hidden nooks that draw attention to artist created sculptures.

DATE: Saturday, July 11, 2026

START TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION: 725 Pines Lake Dr W, Wayne, NJ 07470

RSVP: Kim Maniscalco
KJM.artistry@gmail.com
201-424-6777

NOTES:

• Kim and Joey will greet sketchers infront of the gated entrance located between the Parking Lots by the Sensory Garden.

• PARKING: Two parking lots are offered on Pines Lake Drive West and Vale Road. Both lots provide access to the trails, but they are relatively small and can fill up quickly. Possibly consider ridesharing.

• PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Most public transportation routes to the arboretum require a bus trip followed by a short taxi or rideshare to reach the entrance. NJ Transit bus lines 197 and 194 serve nearby Pompton Lakes and the surrounding Wayne area.

• BATHROOMS: Wheelchair-accessible bathrooms are located in the Knippenberg Center and a porta-potty is on site.

• Benches on site but a stool is always helpful

• Consider bringing a hat, sunscreen, walking shoes and water. 

All skill levels welcome, free to attend.

Saturday 6/27/26: Special Event: Weekend and Westchester Sketchers co-hosting at Van Cortlandt Park

 

Van Cortlandt Park boasts more than a thousand acres in the Bronx and is New York City's third largest park. The park is home to the country's first public golf course and the borough's largest freshwater lake.

The Van Cortlandt House Museum, the oldest house in the Bronx, will be our home base for the day. The 18th-century fieldstone and brick Georgian style manor house is both a New York City Landmark and a National Historical Landmark.

Not far from the Museum, the Grand Central Stones are another interesting and sketchable part of Van Cortlandt Park. In the early 1900s, Grand Central Terminal’s architects, Reed & Stem and Warren & Wetmore, tested 13 stone mockups in Van Cortlandt Park to determine the most durable materials, ultimately selecting Stony Creek granite and Indiana limestone- choices still evidenced by the surviving test monoliths today.

HOST: Frieda Christofides (917) 747-6060
DATE: Saturday 6/27/26
TIME: Sketching 11am-3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.
SKETCHING LOCATION: Van Cortlandt House Museum- 6036 Broadway, Bronx, NY

MEETING SPOT: There will be a kickoff meeting in front of the The Van Cortlandt House Museum at 11am.
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: We will meet at 3pm in front of the Museum. Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location.
FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: There are restrooms near the museum. There is food in the neighborhood, but not in the park. Bring a stool, it will give 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.

Workshop ADDED: July 18 • Loose Colored Lines. Discovering a new way to draw with Santi Sallés

Morning session sold out!

AFTERNOON SESSION ADDED-2pm-5pm

Practice drawing in a different way, painting with watercolor and making marks on top with colored pencils in a loose and casual style.

Santi Sallés is a great lover of fresh, emotional, colorful drawings and especially ones that could have been created by a child. He is currently teaching urban sketching at a private university in Barcelona and he regularly participates in travel sketchbook festivals. Join this workshop to experience his exciting approach to urban sketching.

No experience is necessary for this workshop - all are welcome.

Every attendee will receive a free Stillman & Birn beta series sketchbook, containing 180 pound natural white paper in a soft cover.

Saturday July 18, 2-5pm 

Tickets and more information available on Eventbrite.

 Sitting in the middle of the East River, Roosevelt Island offers us wonderful views of both Manhattan and Queens. Choose the view of the United Nations, the Queensboro Bridge on the west side, or the iconic Coca Cola sign on the East side.  Wander to the south end of the island to capture the Roosevelt Memorial or the old hospital complex. No matter what, you will have a great time sketching the sites and leaving with wonder pictures in your sketchbooks. 

DATE: Wednesday June 24 , 2026

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

MEETING SPOT:  We will meet on the plaza in front of the Cafe at Cornell Tech.  Walk south from either the subway or tram station. Pass under the bridge.  Cornell Tech will be on your left.  The plaza is on the east side of the building. 

TRANSPORTATION: M train to Roosevelt Island or the Tram at 59th St and 2nd Ave

HOST: Mila Genkin 718-909-3606

NOTES: 

Water and bathrooms are available 

There is limited  food service in the park.  Please bring your own lunch and snacks, or purchase something on the island

Bring a stool 

Saturday 6/20/26: Weekend Sketchers at Green-Wood Cemetery

 

Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery, in a time of rapid urbanization when churchyards in New York City were becoming overcrowded. Described as "Brooklyn's first public park by default long before Prospect Park was created", Green-Wood Cemetery was so popular that it inspired a competition to design Central Park in Manhattan, as well as Prospect Park nearby.

The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a National Historic Landmark. In addition, the 25th Street gates, the Weir Greenhouse, and the Fort Hamilton Parkway Gate & Green-Wood Cemetery Chapel were separately designated as city landmarks by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. So there’s lots to sketch at Green-Wood!

HOST: Susan Toplitz (631) 948-3233
DATE: Saturday 6/20/26
TIME: Sketching 10am-3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.
SKETCHING LOCATION: Green-Wood Cemetery- 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY. The Main Entrance is at 5th Avenue and 25th Street in Brooklyn (not in Manhattan, for any out-of-towners). The R train stops one block away from the entrance on 25th Street.

MEETING SPOT: There will be no official meeting to kick off the day, join your fellow sketchers and just start sketching. If you are new, look for people with sketchbooks and say hello, we are a friendly bunch.
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: We will meet at 3 just inside the main Gothic entrance. Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location.
FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: There are restrooms on the premises, and parking, although be mindful if there is a burial that day. There is food in the neighborhood, but you can picnic on the grounds.

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.

SATURDAY, June 20, 2026: WESTCHESTER Sketchers at the Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Gardens

A visit to The Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden is a chance to experience the peace of nature and the wisdom of Eastern culture, right in Westchester County. These weeks are the most colorful in the Japanese Stroll Garden with the many azaleas, Japanese primrose, yellow iris, and water lilies all blooming brightly.

Located in North Salem, New York, The Hammond Museum serves visitors worldwide with Japanese art and a beautifully-preserved 3.5-acre Japanese stroll garden. Come take a walk and sketch in the gardens, or see the art on show in the museum's galleries. The museum offers changing exhibits, lectures, and programs that reflect the intersection of Eastern and Western cultures.

Currently on exhibit in the main gallery: 

Threads of Connection: Traditional Forms, Contemporary Stories. Featured Artists: Mohamed A. Yakub and Jane Wilson-Marquis. AND Falling from the Floating World: Tattoo Art by Geoff Horn.

HOST: Cathy Gutterman (914) 625-0766 

DATE: Saturday, June 20, 2026

Start time: 11 AM (Note: Later start time)

LOCATION: The Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden28 Deveau Road, North Salem, NY 10560-2115 Phone: 914-669-5033

DIRECTIONS: Take I-684 to Exit 7. Take Route 116 East to Salem Center. Follow signs for the Hammond Museum on June Road north until reaching Deveau Road. https://www.hammondmuseum.org/visit

Transportation from NYC: Take METRO NORTH Harlem line trains to Croton Falls. From the Croton Falls station, the museum recommends taking a Taxi or Car Service to the museum.

LUNCH: Since we will be starting later, we will not stop for lunch, please bring your own lunch/snack and water.

SHOW and TELL: 3:00 PM. We will share our drawings and tell stories. This is the social part of our day and should not be missed.

NOTES:

- Museum hours: 11-5 PM   

- Admission: Adults $12, Seniors $8.

- Bring a stool if you have one.  It gives you more options.

- Dress for sunshine and warm temperatures.  

- Bring a hat and sunscreen.

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.