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.