OCTOBER FOOD FESTIVAL: HERBED SALT

Our 2023 calendar theme, Preservation, is an ode to the art of preserving the harvest as well as a salute to the self-preservation of body and spirit. These have been challenging years! It’s fair to say we have been pickled and fermented, but that life goes on. It is the celebratory moments and the opportunities to come together that we relish.

This month we’re celebrating with an Herbed Salt recipe that’s the perfect addition to any pantry.

Keep this recipe on hand for those times that you have extra herbs lying around and can’t think of a way to use them before they go bad. Herbed salt makes a delicious and colorful finish to a dish. It also makes a lovely host gift or stocking stuffer when packaged in a small jar and tied with a bit of ribbon or twine. When making the herbed salt, feel free to combine a variety of herbs to create your own unique blend!

Herbed Salt

by Liz Neumark, Founder and CEO

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 cup loosely packed herbs
  • 1/2 cup coarse salt

PROCEDURE

  1. Thoroughly wash and dry the leaves of the herbs and combine with salt in a food processor. Pulse to blend, being careful not to turn into a puree.
  2. Allow to air dry for several hours or bake on shallow baking sheets for about 20 minutes at 200°F, until the herbs are completely dry.

The fresh salt blend will last 2-3 weeks in the fridge.

Pro Tip: Allowing the salt to sit for 2-3 days before using can help develop the flavors.

More Food Festival Recipes

EXCITING EVENTS AROUND NEW YORK: OCTOBER 2023

By Great Performances

Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!

[AT] THE INTERSECTION

Friday, October 6th through Sunday, October 8th

Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater

Tickets: start at $75

THE APOLLO’S FESTIVAL OF ARTS & IDEAS

CURATED BY TA-NEHISI COATES

From art, pop culture, politics and consumerism Black creatives are impacting the global consciousness like never before. Meet us [at] The Intersection for a weekend-long festival to explore the incredible range of Black innovation shaping our world. Curated by The Apollo’s Artist in Residence Ta-Nehisi Coates. Don’t miss this convening of artists, creatives, and thinkers at the center of Black creativity—where art and ideas come to life.

#ATTHEINTERSECTION

Click here to learn more

The Apollo Theater's soundstage can be rented to host your special event

APOLLO MUSIC CAFE

Location: Apollo’s Soundstage

Tickets: $30 (Plus $10 food and beverage minimum)

Perfect for date night, or a night out with friends, the Apollo Music Café series has served as a launching pad for numerous artists including Grammy winners Tank & the Bangas, PJ Morton and Samara Joy showcasing their unique artistry in an intimate nightclub setting. The series features diverse performances across a myriad of genres (R&B, hip-hop, soul, jazz, latin, pop, funk and rock) and showcases artists drawn from the independent music scene who are making their mark in the industry.

rum.gold – October 6th at 10:00pm

R&B singer-songwriter rum.gold opens the Apollo Music Café with a mesmerizing set that bridges his U Street Washington D.C. home to the avenues of Harlem. With a genre-defying voice and heady mix of ambient soul, settle into this spellbinding night of acoustic music with rum.gold on our intimate soundstage.

Ali Caldwell – October 7th at 10:00pm

R&B Ali Caldwell has a voice that can both soothe and thrill, and has shared vocals alongside some of the most respected names in music including Usher and Christina Aguilera. Don’t miss Ali as she evokes the spirit of a “sanger’s room” and effortlessly lays out the blueprint of the Vocal Bible.

NOW OPEN: LEO CAFÉ

We are excited to open the new Leo Café!

Welcome to the Leo Café at Asia Society Museum, located at 725 Park Avenue in New York City.

The Leo Café features dishes representing the diversity of Asian cuisine, drawing from Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and more. The menu includes small plates, salads, noodle bowls and rice bowls, sandwiches, and sweets. Beverage service includes tea, coffee, and Sanzo Asian-inspired sparkling water.

With a mix of counter and table service, you can relax and enjoy a midday meal in the Asia Society’s airy and sky-lit Garden Court, among trees and flowering vines or take your meal to go.

The Leo Café is operated by Great Performances, crafting globally inspired menus using seasonal ingredients, including organic produce from Katchkie Farm in upstate New York.

Click here to learn more

Kishi Chikudō (1826–1897) Tigers by Mountain Streams (verso), ca. 1892–5 Pair of six-panel folding screens Minneapolis Institute of Art, Gift of Harriet and Ed Spencer, 2012.1.2.1–2

EXHIBITION – MEIJI MODERN: FIFTY YEARS OF NEW JAPAN

October 3rd, 2023 through January 7th, 2024

Asia Society is proud to present Meiji Modern: Fifty Years of New Japan. This exhibition reevaluates a seminal era of turmoil, creativity, and transformation in Japan spanning the mid-nineteenth to early-twentieth centuries.

Comprising over 80 works—including paintings, prints, photographs, sculptural works, and objects in various media, such as enamel, lacquer, embroidery, and textiles—this exhibition presents some of the finest examples of Meiji-period artworks in American collections, both public and private. Arranged around traditional Japanese motifs, such as the sea and nature, Buddhist deities, beauties, and mythical animals, Meiji Modern highlights these themes as they are transformed by the introduction of newly imported techniques, materials, and objects, surprising the viewer with works of technical virtuosity, unexpected scale, and sheer beauty.

Click here to learn more

BROKEN CHORD

Thursday, October 19th through Saturday, October 21st

Location: BAM Strong, Harvey Theater

Tickets: start at $35

Part of Next Wave 2023

Near the end of the 19th century, a group of South African singers embarked on a tour of the UK and the US under the stage name “The African (Native) Choir,” hoping to raise funds to build a school in the city of Kimberley. Though the tour was profitable (and even included an audience with Queen Victoria), proof of the Choir’s performances was thought forever lost—until glass plates of the singers emerged in 2014, 125 years later.

The internationally acclaimed South African dancer and choreographer Gregory Maqoma revisits this forgotten moment in history to cathartic and uplifting effect in his BAM debut. Combining dance, song, and storytelling, the piece vividly reimagines the tour using a chorus of 16 singers and a quartet of musicians, all led by Maqoma himself. As the choir confronts racism at every turn, Maqoma and co-creator Thuthuka Sibisi use prejudice as a creative engine for a theatrical experience that pulses with hard truths and infinite creativity.

Click here to learn more

CORPS EXTRÊMES

Friday, October 27th through Sunday, October 29th

Location: Peter Jay Sharp Building, BAM Howard Gilman Opera House

Tickets: start at $35

BAM and Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels
Present

Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse
Choreography by Rachid Ouramdane

Part of Next Wave 2023

Choreographer Rachid Ouramdane comes to BAM for the first time with Corps extrêmes, his new gravity-defying piece of aerial dance. Athlete-performers traverse the stage together and alone, sometimes in ethereal white light, and sometimes while footage of death-defying outdoor activities is projected over them. As a study of the precipices of our world—both literal and figurative—this sweeping, meditative work invites us to find calmness in the space between earth and sky. It’s a piece of staggering scale and vision, a work of interior physicality seeking escape, miraculous for its ability to bring about a jolt of adrenaline and follow it up with an ebb of still quietude.

Click here to learn more

Brooklyn-Museum_Spike-Lee_Crooklyn-Film
Behind the scenes of Crooklyn (Spike Lee, 1994, 115 min.).
Photo: © David C. Lee

BROOKLYN TALKS: SPIKE LEE AND DELROY LINDO

Thursday, October 12th from 7:30pm to 9:00pm

Location: Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium, 3rd Floor

Tickets: for the in-person event are $50 and include after-hours access to Spike Lee: Creative Sources. Member tickets are $30.

Enter the world of Spike Lee in this intimate conversation between the influential filmmaker and one of his frequent collaborators, actor Delroy Lindo. Lindo has played prominent roles in four of Lee’s films: West Indian Archie in Malcolm X (1992), Woody Carmichael in Crooklyn (1994), Rodney Little in Clockers (1995), and Paul in Da 5 Bloods (2020), which earned him multiple awards for best actor.

The conversation celebrates the opening of Spike Lee: Creative Sources, offering a rare glimpse into objects from Lee’s personal collection. It is moderated by Ashley Clark, curatorial director at the Criterion Collection and author of Facing Blackness: Media and Minstrelsy in Spike Lee’s “Bamboozled” (2015).

Click here to learn more

Pheeroan akLaff’s New African Brew. (Photo: courtesy Jazz Foundation of America)

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN: PHEEROAN AKLAFF’S NEW AFRICAN BREW

Sunday, October 22nd from 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Location: Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, 1st Floor

Tickets: This program is free; registration is encouraged. Reserve tickets to visit the galleries.

Swing by the Museum’s backyard Sculpture Garden for our Jazz in the Garden series, featuring performances by some of the city’s best musicians. In October, hear innovative drummer Pheeroan akLaff pay homage to our exhibition Africa Fashion on its closing day. akLaff’s New African Brew project takes inspiration from his time living and performing in West Africa and incorporates a range of musical styles.

Presented in partnership with Jazz Foundation of America.

Click here to learn more

CELEBRATE DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

Sunday, October 15th at 3:00pm

Tickets: Free!

Overview

For the third year in a row, Caramoor celebrates the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, with a lively, family-friendly afternoon of music and dance. Calpulli Mexican Dance Company returns with its passionate performers, colorful costuming, and cultural stories to our grounds for guests of all ages to enjoy, along with arts, crafts, and snacks.

Please bring a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy the many festivities.

Click here to learn more

CAROLE J. BUFFORD

ROAR! Music of the Jazz Age
Cabaret in the Music Room | A Benefit Concert

Friday, October 20th at 8:00pm

Tickets: start at $75

Overview

Carole J. Bufford is a true sensation on the American vintage pop and cabaret scene, and it’s no wonder why. With her inimitable delivery and magnetic stage presence, this Broadway World Vocalist of the Year will transport you to a world of pure musical delight with her powerhouse vocals, captivating stories, and unforgettable renditions of classics from the Jazz Age songbook made famous by the likes of Sophie Tucker, Louis Armstrong, Al Jolson, Fats Waller, Bessie Smith, Helen Morgan, Ruth Etting, and more. Come join Carole as she travels back to a time when flappers, vamps and, sheiks were shimmying in gin joints as a whirl of great social and political change happened all around them.

Continue the celebration with a festive post-concert reception.

Click here to learn more

ROY HARGROVE BIG BAND: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROY!

Saturday, October 14th through Monday, October 16th

Tickets: start at $25

ABOUT THE SHOW

Dizzy’s Club continues its week-long celebration of the legendary Roy Hargrove. Trumpet player, composer, and beloved talent scout of the New York scene, he generously passed on his legacy to each new generation of artists. This week, the Roy Hargrove Big Band celebrates what would have been his birthday — and the magnitude of his contribution — by sharing his expression with new listeners and longtime fans. Always energetic, always swinging, the outfit’s repertoire includes Hargrove originals, standard tunes, and new music from current band members. Come celebrate a true champion of the music.

PERFORMANCE LINEUP

Willie Jones
Danton Boller
Saul Rubin
Freddie Hendrix
Wayne Tucker
Duane Eubanks
Camerahn Alforque
Jason Jackson
James Burton
Rashaan Salaam
Max Seigel
Bruce Williams
Mark Gross
Mike Lee
Keith Loftis
Jason Marshall

Click here to learn more

KENYA’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE

WITH AARON RIMBUI SWAHILI NATION

Wednesday, October 18th at 7:30pm and 9:30pm

Tickets: start at $20

ABOUT THE SHOW

New York-based Kenyan pianist, composer, and producer Aaron Rimbui presents Swahili Nation at Dizzy’s Club. With a career spanning over two decades, Rimbui has made significant contributions to the jazz scene in Africa and beyond. Known for his virtuosity and innovative style, he combines traditional jazz elements with Kenyan rhythms, creating a captivating and unique sound. Prepare for an unforgettable concert experience as Aaron Rimbui and Swahili Nation showcase their collective talent and the sheer joy of their music.

PERFORMANCE LINEUP

Aaron Rimbui, Piano/keyboards
Kanjii Mbugua, Vocals
Michael Olatuja, Bass
Lumanyano Mzi, Drums & Percussion
Yunie Mojica, Saxophone

Click here to learn more

CHARLES LLOYD AT 85

Friday, October 13th and Saturday, October 14th at 8:00pm

Location: Rose Theater

Tickets: start at $40.50

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • A spellbinding performance from NEA Jazz Master and saxophone legend Charles Lloyd.

  • On Friday, he performs with Sangam, featuring Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland.

  • On Saturday, a performance by Lloyd’s New Quartet featuring Harland, Jason Moran, and Reuben Rogers.

  • A free pre-concert lecture precedes each performance at 7pm.

  • Keep the party going after the show by taking your ticket stub to Dizzy’s Club for a complimentary cover to that evening’s Late Night Session at 11:15pm.

ABOUT THE CONCERT

NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd celebrates his 85th birthday at Rose Theater with two very special all-star bands. Friday evening he performs with Sangam, featuring iconic Indian percussionist Zakir Hussain and drummer Eric Harland, while on Saturday night Lloyd’s New Quartet takes the stage, featuring Harland, pianist Jason Moran, and bassist Reuben Rogers.

Click here to learn more

SHERMAN IRBY’S MUSINGS OF COSMIC STUFF

THE JLCO WITH WYNTON MARSALIS

Friday, October 27th and Saturday, October 28th at 8:00pm

Location: Rose Theater

Tickets: start at $40.50

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • Hosted by special guest Neil deGrasse Tyson featuring the JLCO with Wynton Marsalis.

  • An otherworldly suite of music from JLCO saxophonist Sherman Irby.

  • The jazz journey of a lifetime.

  • A free pre-concert lecture precedes each performance at 7pm.

  • Keep the party going after the show by taking your ticket stub to Dizzy’s Club for a complimentary cover to that evening’s Late Night Session at 11:15pm.

ABOUT THE CONCERT

Hosted and narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, this world premiere of saxophonist and composer Sherman Irby’s newest work unveils its celestial inspiration, from supernova stars and black holes to the formations of galaxies and life itself.

Click here to learn more

FIRST FRIDAY

Friday, October 6th from 10:00am to 9:00pm

Tickets: Free all Day!

Join Poster House on the First Friday of every month for free admission and extended hours! Explore the museum’s latest exhibitions and get in on the fun by attending a tour, workshop, performance, or activity throughout the day. Every First Friday is different, offering unique opportunities to engage with rotating exhibitions and the permanent collection.

Click here to learn more

EDUCATORS HAPPY HOUR

Thursday, October 12th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Tickets: Free for Educators!

Poster House welcomes Pre-K through university educators to view the museum’s new exhibitions, Art Deco: Commercializing the Avant-Garde and We Tried to Warn You! Environmental Crisis Posters,1970–2020, and to learn more about our upcoming educational programming! Join us for a complimentary happy hour at the museum, and chat with the Education team about field trips, in-school residencies, teen programs, and CTLE-certified teacher professional development. Drop in anytime between 4pm and 6pm and raise a glass with your fellow educators!

This is a drop-in event for PreK–12 teachers, college/university professors, and Pre-K through university administrators. Advanced registration is required with a school email address; attendees can arrive anytime between 4pm and 6pm. Beer, wine, and light refreshments will be served, as well as a raffle for some Poster House swag.

Click here to learn more

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S WEEKEND

October 7th through October 9th

Location: on the grounds

Tickets: free, with admission to the grounds

This weekend, celebrate Indigenous People’s Day, a holiday that honors Indigenous American peoples and recognizes their histories and cultures. In Glyndor Gallery, on Saturday, October 7, hear from exhibiting artists and a guest curator about art on view in the gallery, as they hold a conversation centered on envisioning our relationship to the land from an indigenous perspective. On Sunday, October 8, go on an indigenous themed birding walk. On both days, from 10AM to 1PM, make corn husk dolls at the Family Art Project and learn about the important role of corn in indigenous cultures.

This event series continues on October 7, 8 and 9, 2023.

Click here to learn more

DAY OF THE DEAD/DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

Sunday, October 29th from 10:00am to 2:00pm

Location: Wave Hill House

Tickets: Free with admission to the grounds

Join us to celebrate our first annual Day of the Dead at Wave Hill. Enjoy live music with Son Pecadores and share in the cultural traditions of Veracruz, Mexico. Create nicho boxes honoring loved ones in a favorite Family Art Project, sample refreshing hibiscus iced tea, and craft giant paper flowers to take home as a keepsake of the day.

Súmese a nosotros para celebrar nuestra primera jornada anual del Día de los Muertos en Wave Hill. Disfrute de la música en vivo de Son Pecadores y comparta las tradiciones culturales de Veracruz, México. Cree un altar con cajas en honor a sus seres queridos como parte de uno de los proyectos favoritos de arte en familia, pruebe el refrescante té helado de hibisco y confeccione manualmente flores de papel gigantes para llevar a su casa como recuerdo de la jornada.

Click here to learn more

CITYPICKLE AT WOLLMAN RINK

April 7th through October 9th

As reported in the New York Times:

CityPickle is bringing the country’s fastest growing sport to Wollman Rink in Central Park! The rink will house 14 courts – the largest pickleball offering in the Northeast – with 196 hours of pickleball daily. Come play with us!

Whether you’re a pickleball pro or a newbie looking for a fun way to stay active this season, we’re welcoming all skill levels. Lessons, clinics, open play, leagues, and private events are also available. Grab a friend, grab a paddle, and meet us on the court!

CityPickle is proud to offer a professional playing experience with the court surface provided by Pickleball United USA, the official court partner for MLP and APP professional leagues and the nets provided by CD Pickleball Nets, the official net partner of the PPA and APP.

Click here to learn more

ICE SEASON RETURNS!

October 28th, 2023 through March, 15th, 2024

Wollman Rink NYC in iconic Central Park will open for ice skating daily from Saturday, October 28th, 2023 to March 15, 2024.

Don’t miss your chance to skate at Wollman Rink NYC, the perfect place to enjoy an iconic New York experience!

Tickets go on sale starting October 3rd!

Click here to learn more

EXCITING EVENTS AROUND THE BRONX: NOVEMBER 2023

By Great Performances

Explore exciting community events around the Bronx this month.

THE BRONX VEGAN BAZAAR

Every Wednesday from 4:00pm to 9:00pm

August 23rd through December 27th

Wellness leaders and local vegans come together again to host at the Andrew Freedman Home in The Bronx.

The vegan food expo will feature more than 20 vegan vendors serving food, natural juices, delicious pastries, and just spreading wellness.

Our founding members consisted of a vegan chef, a seasoned food vendor, an award-winning event planner, a native Bronx DJ, community residents, and a common goal to spread wellness, food, and love to the Bronx.

With each experience our members grow along with the community.

Click here to learn more

Image: Installation view of Michael Richards: Are You Down?.
Photograph by Argenis Apolinario.

CURATOR TOUR

MICHAEL RICHARDS: ARE YOU DOWN?

Saturday, November 18th from 2:00pm to 3:00pm

Join curators Alex Fialho and Melissa Levin for a drop-in tour of the retrospective Michael Richards: Are You Down?. They will discuss Michael Richards’s visionary artworks, highlighting his incisive sculpture and drawing practice as well as themes he engaged throughout his body of work including Blackness, flight, diaspora, spirituality, police brutality, and monuments. Levin and Fialho will also speak to collaborating with Richards’s family and friends to honor his life and legacy and to continue to share his artwork. Richards’s cousin Dawn Dale, longtime steward of his estate, will also be present for the event.

Click here to learn more

TREE PLANTING IN BRONX PARK

Thursday, November 16th from 9:00am to 12:00pm

Location: Bronx Park entrance, 204th street & Webster Ave

Help preserve vital habitat along the river by planting native trees in Bronx Park!

Find our team at the 204th street & Webster ave entrance in Bronx Park on Wednesday, November 16th from 9:00am-12pm.

Please wear protective clothing that can get dirty (long pants and closed toed shoes), and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated.

All planting materials and equipment will be provided.

Click here to learn more

HOLIDAY LIGHTS

November 17th, 2023 through January 7th, 2024

Join us for a family holiday festival at the Bronx Zoo.

During the evenings, the park comes to life with holiday cheer as immersive light displays, custom-designed animal lanterns and animated light shows sparkle across the zoo. This year, you’ll experience NEW lantern displays showcasing the wildlife of New York’s ocean waters and wetlands, plus a new interactive experience celebrating bioluminescent creatures.

Activities include:

  • Holiday Train
  • Ice Carving Demonstrations
  • Illuminated Performers
  • Wildlife Theater
  • Seasonal Treats

Click here to learn more

FALL FOLIAGE HIKE

Saturday, November 11th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Location: Crotona Nature Center in Crotona Park

Discover the nature and beauty of Crotona Park on a colorful autumn hike with the Urban Park Rangers. We will take in the scenic views of autumn while learning how to identify some of the foliage.

Click here to learn more

AUTUMN PUPPET SHOW

Sunday, November 26th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Location: Crotona Nature Center in Crotona Park

The Urban Park Rangers welcome you for some seasonal themed puppet shows! Learn more about the autumn season from our local wildlife puppets.

Click here to learn more

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November 1st through 30th

Location: at the Garden

 

Join NYBG to celebrate Native American Heritage Month. On-site programming in and around the Thain Family Forest as well as digital offerings highlight the plant-based traditions of Native Americans from the Northeast and throughout the Americas.

NYBG is located on land that is part of Lenapehoking, the traditional homeland of the Lenni Lenape people, which extends from northern Delaware north to the Hudson Valley, and from eastern Pennsylvania to western Connecticut. The Lenape lived in this territory for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans, and still maintain their communities and cultural practices in this area today.

Click here to learn more

HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW®

November 17th, 2023 through January 15th, 2024

Location: at the Garden

New York City’s Most Beloved Holiday Tradition Is Back!

The Holiday Train Show returns bigger than ever with more trains and an all-new, outdoor train display. Start on the lawn to capture your perfect holiday photos at our outdoor mountainscapes and then watch trains zip past nearly 200 iconic New York landmarks under the warmth of the Conservatory. After dark, join us for NYBG GLOW and discover the beauty of our landscape and historic buildings, illuminated across the grounds. And don’t miss the return of our fan-favorite Bar Car Nights, 21-and-over evenings featuring the Holiday Train Show and curated cocktails. These special evenings feature music, experiences, food, and more—making for the ultimate night out this season.

Click here to learn more

THE PELHAM BAY SUPER HIKE

Saturday, November 18th from 11:00am to 2:00pm

Location: Pelham Bay Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park

Urban Park Ranger hiking guides will introduce you to the hidden gems of New York City. Urban Park Rangers will lead hikers through some of the hidden gems of Pelham Bay Park on a lengthy journey through the park’s diverse forests and ecosystems. Please wear comfortable walking shoes.

Click here to learn more

SEAL EXPLORATION

Sunday, November 19th from 10:00am to 11:00am

Location: Orchard Beach Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park

New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best wildlife viewing spots in the urban jungle. This is an amazing time of year to observe seals in the Long Island Sound. You may be surprised by what looks like a rock in the distance, is actually a healthy seal.

Click here to learn more

THE SOUNDVIEW GARDENER’S CLUB

every Tuesday from 3:00pm to 6:00pm

Location: Soundview Field House – 1550 Lafayette Avenue, Bronx

The Soundview Gardener’s Club is a space where After-School students from local schools and community volunteers come together to clear invasive plants, plant trees/native plants, and spread mulch as part of our forest restoration efforts in Soundview Park in The Bronx.

Click here to learn more

POST-THANKSGIVING DAY HIKE: CASS GALLAGHER TRAIL

Friday, November 24th from 11:00am to 1:00pm

Location: Broadway and Mosholu Avenue in Van Cortlandt Park

On this Friday, work off your Thanksgiving feast while enjoying the great outdoors. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a hike! This hike will be in the north woods of the park on the Cass Gallagher trail. Comfortable walking footwear highly recommended.

Click here to learn more

HISTORIC NEW YORK: OLD CROTON AQUEDUCT

Saturday, November 25th from 11:00am to 12:30pm

Location: Entrance – 242nd Street and Van Cortlandt Park East in Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx

Urban Park Rangers specialize in the interpretation of historic turning points, both natural and man-made, in our city’s long history. Our Historic New York programs highlight the history and architecture of selected neighborhoods or parks. Join the Urban Park Rangers to explore what remains of New York City’s first water supply system.

Click here to learn more

Did you know that Great Performances is headquartered in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx? We love being a part of the Bronx community, supporting other Bronx-based companies, and giving back to our community.

Read more about it here.

SEPTEMBER FOOD FESTIVAL: HOT SAUCE

Our 2023 calendar theme, Preservation, is an ode to the art of preserving the harvest as well as a salute to the self-preservation of body and spirit. These have been challenging years! It’s fair to say we have been pickled and fermented, but that life goes on. It is the celebratory moments and the opportunities to come together that we relish.

This month we’re celebrating with Liz Neumark‘s signature Hot Sauce recipe.

You might say that Liz Neumark has a thing for preserved foods. Pickled, fermented, jammed, canned, and dehydrated, she loves it all. But of all things, we’ve noticed an especial affinity for heat and tanginess. Cabbages become kimchi and peppers turn into hot sauce. Each year she prepares Katchkie Hot Sauce from the crops of peppers grown on the farm, and each year they’re a hit at our venues and – if you’re lucky enough – as a special gift from Liz. Try your hand at making her hot sauce, using whatever chilies you like, and let us know the results!.

Katchkie Hot Sauce

by Liz Neumark, Founder and CEO

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb fresh chilies
  • 1 Tbsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 c diced onion
  • 2 Tbsp Kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 c distilled white vinegar

PROCEDURE

  1. Pulse chilies, garlic, onion, salt in food processor until rough. Transfer to a glass jar, cover loosely, and let sit overnight.
  2. Stir in vinegar, cover loosely, and let sit 1-7 days at room
    temperature.
  3. Blend until smooth and store in refrigerator for up to 4 months.

More Food Festival Recipes

EXCITING EVENTS AROUND NEW YORK: SEPTEMBER 2023

By Great Performances

Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!

AMATEUR NIGHT AUDITIONS

Saturday, September 9th at 9:00am to 5:00pm

Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater

Amateur Night at the Apollo is looking for the best singers, dancers, comedians, rappers, spoken word artists, variety acts and musicians for 2024.

Adults aged 18+ who are chosen from the audition will have the chance to perform and compete for the grand prize of up to $20,000. Performers ages 5-17 can compete to be recognized as a “Child Star of Tomorrow” for an opportunity to win a prize of $5,000.

Live auditions will be held at the Apollo Theater located at 253 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027. Please arrive early. Only the first 200 acts will be seen.

Click here to learn more

AMATEUR NIGHT AT THE APOLLO

Every Tuesday at 7:30pm

Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater

Tickets: start at $30

Known as one of New York’s most popular live entertainment experiences, Amateur Night at the Apollo attracts performers and audiences from around the world in a classic talent competition that has launched the careers of countless legendary artists, from Ella Fitzgerald, Luther Vandross, Lauryn Hill, H.E.R, Machine Gun Kelly, Jazmine Sullivan and more.

Join the fun with the weekly classic competition that sheds light on the careers of a whole new roster of stars. Be a part of the notoriously “tough” audience in an interactive evening unlike any other and lend your voice to decide who will “Be Good or Be Gone!” to win the triumphant grand prize.

Amateur Night at the Apollo sponsored by Coca-Cola, is hosted by the comedian Capone. Each show begins with a festive pre-party featuring video and music by DJ Jess and Set It Off Man Greginald Spencer. Keep a lookout for C.P. Lacey, the resident Executioner who sweeps bad talent off the stage!

Click here to learn more

JLF NEW YORK

Presented in partnership with Teamwork Arts

Wednesday, September 13th from 4:00pm to 10:00pm

Tickets: $30 Nonmembers; $25 Seniors and Students; $20 Members (please contact membership for the discount code)

Celebrating books, ideas, and dialogue, the Jaipur Literature Festival — described as “the greatest literary show on Earth” — returns to New York, presenting a series of conversations and performances examining the human experience through the imaginations of some of the world’s leading authors, thinkers, and performers. Speakers include Shashi Tharoor, Manil Suri, Dominique Townsend, Tsering Wangmo Dhompa and Tenzin Dickie.

Click here to learn more

THE SEVENTH ANNUAL LAST GIRL AWARDS

Honoring grassroots activists fighting child sex trafficking

Saturday, September 30th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Save the date for the Seventh Annual Last Girl Awards, hosted in partnership with Apne Aap. This year’s event will highlight global grassroots constructive action to eradicate child sex trafficking, recognize individuals who have stood up for The Last Girl, and feature a keynote conversation with writers and activists.

Agenda:

4 PM: Workshop

6 PM: Performance, Panel Discussion, Awards Ceremony

7 PM: Reception

Click here to learn more

dapperQ Presents Pursuit, 2019. (Photo: The Street Sensei)

DAPPERQ PRESENTS MUSE

Thursday, September 7th from 6:00pm to 11:00pm

Location: Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, 1st Floor

Tickets: Non-member tickets are $16. Member tickets are $14. Tickets, including admission to Africa Fashion, are $25.

Digital queer style magazine dapperQ returns to present Muse, the eighth annual edition of the largest LGBTQIA+ fashion show during New York Fashion Week. Begin the night with a happy hour hosted by Henrietta Hudson, New York City’s longest-standing brick-and-mortar lesbian bar, and browse pop-up shops featuring some of the evening’s designers before the runway showcase. The presentation features new work from Hesta by Hester Sunshine, SUN SUN, DANITHREADS, LLESSUR NYC, FreeMen by Mickey, Kirrin Finch, Buckethead Productions, Guvanch NYC, and Soid Studios New York by José González. Hosted by Dev Doee.

Schedule:

6–8 pm Sip and shop with Henrietta Hudson
8:15–9:15 pm Runway show
9:15–11 pm Music by M.O.

dapperQ is sponsored by Meow Wolf.

Click here to learn more

Willie Martinez. (Photo: courtesy of the Jazz Foundation of America)

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN: WILLIE MARTINEZ AND HIS LATIN JAZZ COLLECTIVE

Sunday, September 24th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Location: Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, 1st Floor

Tickets: This program is free; registration is encouraged. Reserve tickets to visit the galleries.

Swing by the Museum’s backyard Sculpture Garden for our Jazz in the Garden series, featuring performances by some of the city’s best musicians. In September, hear Willie Martinez and his Latin Jazz Collective, which blends Afro Caribbean rhythms with the harmonic vocabulary and improvisational spirit of jazz. Martinez, a percussionist and vocalist, holds a long-running monthly show at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe with his band La Familia. He was named “New Yorker of the Week” by NY1 for his weekly outdoor concerts that enlivened his Brooklyn neighborhood throughout the pandemic.

Presented in partnership with Jazz Foundation of America.

Click here to learn more

EMMET COHEN TRIO

with special guest Lucy Yeghizaryan

Presented in Collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center

Friday, September 29th at 8:00pm

Tickets: Start at $29.50

Overview

Get ready for a riveting evening of musical brilliance with the multifaceted American jazz pianist and composer, Emmet Cohen, who has been described by All About Jazz as: “Thirty years old and one of the finest piano players to emerge in decades …” With his nimble touch on the keys, and his incredibly talented trio alongside him, Cohen effortlessly weaves together intricate melodies and harmonies, taking you on a journey through the rich tapestry of jazz. Live From Emmet’s Place, a weekly livestream that he created during the pandemic, has received millions of views worldwide. Joining him will be one of today’s most intriguing up-and-comers — American-Armenian jazz vocalist Lucy Yeghiazaryan.

Click here to learn more

BILLY HARPER QUINTET

Friday, September 8th through Sunday, September 10th

Tickets: start at $25

ABOUT THE SHOW

Billy Harper is a rare gift. At 80, the saxophonist, composer, and electrifying band leader continues to mesmerize New York audiences and listeners across the world with a fiery warmth and the truly melodic vocabulary he’s developed and refined in service of spontaneity and musicality. Harper’s storied career includes pivotal associations with Art Blakey, Lee Morgan, and Max Roach, and his current quintet features creative improvisers whose collective artistry is at once thoughtful and expressive. Expect a spirited set of hard swinging tunes, lyrical ballads, and plenty of fun for every listener.

PERFORMANCE LINEUP

Billy Harper, tenor saxophone
Freddie Hendrix, trumpet
Francesca Tanksley, piano
Ben Young, bass
Aaron Scott, drums

Click here to learn more

BEN ALLISON QUARTET

Thursday, September 28th through Saturday, September 30th

Tickets: start at $25

ABOUT THE SHOW

Ben Allison continues his outward expansion as a bassist, composer, and producer with his latest lineup, which includes two masters of modern guitar: Chico Pinheiro and Steve Cardenas. Together with increasingly sought drummer Allan Mednard providing rhythmic and textural propulsion, the group crafts a lyrical and cinematic sound, engaging discerning listeners and first-time club goers alike. The quartet issued their acclaimed debut Moments Inside in November 2021.

PERFORMANCE LINEUP

Ben Allison, bass
Steve Cardenas, guitar
Chico Pinheiro, guitar
Allan Mednard, drums

Click here to learn more

EXHIBITIONS

Where Time Runs Backwards

by Daniel Shieh, With Chia-Lun Chang and Arleene Correa Valencia

Upper Gallery at The Arts Center at Governors Island

____

ANTI•VENOM

Presented by Allies in Arts

Lower Gallery at The Arts Center at Governors Island

____

there is nothing you can think that is not the moon

by Rhonda Weppler and Trevor Mahovsky

The Café at The Arts Center at Governors Island

____

Click here to learn more

ALLIES IN ARTS PRESENTS MICRODOSES

Saturday, September 16th from 2:00pm to 7:00pm

Join Allies in Arts and LMCC on Saturday, September 16 from 2-7pm for a full day of artist talks, performances, readings, and a special DJ set to celebrate the exhibition ANTI•VENOM. Each of the programs featured offers a microdose toward collective healing.

ANTI•VENOM is curated by Sophia Wallace and Drew Denny of Allies in Arts.

Allies in Arts is a trans and queer led 501c3 non profit organization dedicated to supporting artists of all mediums who identify as women, BIPOC and LGBTQQIA2S+ through exhibitions, screenings, grants, and fairly paid commissions. Allies in Arts also houses Transanta, a trans led mutual aid project that supports trans youth through the holiday season. In 2023, Allies in Arts is launching our first ever educational program, the Transanta writing workshop, in which a class from the 4,000 trans youth who have participated in Transanta thus far will be given college level writing instruction, given an opportunity to read their work aloud at the Hammer Museum, and have their work published in our first book.

Click here to learn more

FIRST FRIDAY

Friday, September 1st from 10:00am to 9:00pm

Tickets: Free all Day!

Join Poster House on the First Friday of every month for free admission and extended hours! Explore the museum’s latest exhibitions and get in on the fun by attending a tour, workshop, performance, or activity throughout the day. Every First Friday is different, offering unique opportunities to engage with rotating exhibitions and the permanent collection. This month, Poster House’s CMYK Council is taking over to bring a fun and educational lineup of activities all day long!

Click here to learn more

Left: Esteban Cabeza de Baca, "8 Fold Way", 2023, acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of the artist and Garth Greenan Gallery. Right: Heidi Howard, "Collaborative Self", 2022, acrylic on canvas. Courtesy of the artist.

FALL ARTS OPENING DAY

Sunday, September 17th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Location: Glyndor Gallery

Tickets: free, with admission to the grounds

Join us for the opening of two new exhibitions in Glyndor Gallery this fall, including Light from Water: Heidi Howard and Esteban Cabeza de Baca with Liz Phillips, and new site-specific exhibitions in the Sunroom Project Space. Light from Water features new collaborative works by Heidi Howard and Esteban Cabeza de Baca, as well as Cabeza de Baca’s layered landscape paintings, Howard’s self-portraits that incorporate plant life, natural settings and a sound-responsive sculpture by Liz Phillips. Many of the works on view were created at Wave Hill and inspired by the views and vegetation growing in the Aquatic Garden. Opening in the Sunroom Project Space are site-specific installations by New York Community Trust Van Lier Fellows Max Sarmiento and Jill Cohen-Nuñez.

Click here to learn more

2023 GARDENERS’ PARTY

Thursday, September 21st from 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Location: Great Lawn; Rain Site: Wave Hill House

Tickets: Ticket levels vary. Early access to the Gardeners’ Party Plant Sale at 5:00PM is available for Garden Champion ticket levels.

Join us for an evening to celebrate the art of gardening and to honor Margaret Roach. Margaret is a champion of Wave Hill, having served as both a member of our Board of Directors and as Chair of the Friends of Horticulture Committee. Her passions are closely aligned with Wave Hill’s mission—to train a new generation of high-caliber, environmentally conscientious horticulturists, and help them hone a keen plant person’s palette. With her popular New York Times column and A Way to Garden podcast, Margaret provides a platform for many varied and informed voices, educating audiences from novice to nuanced expert.

We hope you will join us as we honor Margaret and her unwavering commitment to horticulture at this gourd-eous event. By purchasing tickets or donating, you help care for Wave Hill’s world-class garden and train the next generation of horticulturalists through the John Nally Intern Program. You make a big difference to Wave Hill!

Click here to learn more

CITYPICKLE AT WOLLMAN RINK

April 7th through October 9th

As reported in the New York Times:

CityPickle is bringing the country’s fastest growing sport to Wollman Rink in Central Park! The rink will house 14 courts – the largest pickleball offering in the Northeast – with 196 hours of pickleball daily. Come play with us!

Whether you’re a pickleball pro or a newbie looking for a fun way to stay active this season, we’re welcoming all skill levels. Lessons, clinics, open play, leagues, and private events are also available. Grab a friend, grab a paddle, and meet us on the court!

CityPickle is proud to offer a professional playing experience with the court surface provided by Pickleball United USA, the official court partner for MLP and APP professional leagues and the nets provided by CD Pickleball Nets, the official net partner of the PPA and APP.

Click here to learn more

NEW YORK CARES PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT 2023

Saturday, September 23rd from 10:00am to 1:00pm

Adult and Family teams of two are invited to join New York Cares for our first annual Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, September 23 from 10:00am-1:00pm at CityPickle in Central Park! Two brackets are available. Register to play as an Adult Team, or a Family Team (minimum age is 12) of two. Great for pickleball enthusiasts and beginners alike!

By participating, you enable New York Cares to continue to deploy over 20,000 volunteers across the five boroughs, serving over 83,000 New Yorkers, 12.9 million meals, 365 days a year.

Click here to learn more

VEGAN NIGHT MARKET

Every Tuesday through the summer

Get ready to taste the best of plant-based cuisine at NYC’s first-ever Vegan Night Market!

Starting June 6th, Wollman Rink will host the weekly series, from MHG Events, featuring the city’s top vegan vendors, live music, and rotating food and product tastings until October 10th. Every Tuesday from 4-10pm!

Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or just curious about the lifestyle, there’s something for everyone at the Vegan Night Market.

Come for the food, stay for the fun, and leave feeling inspired to make positive changes in your life and the world around you. Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to celebrate all things vegan in the heart of the city!

Click here to learn more

EXCITING EVENTS AROUND THE BRONX: SEPTEMBER 2023

By Great Performances

Explore exciting community events around the Bronx this month.

SUMMER UNDER THE STARS GALA

Thursday, September 7th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Location: The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers

Celebrate the children of the Bronx, inspirational honorees and the fun of summer! Join us on September 7, 2023 at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers for an incredible evening in support of Bronx Children’s Museum.

EMCEE:
Samara Osae-Asare

EVENT CO-CHAIRS:
Sunny Hostin and Sonia Manzano

EVENT COMMITTEE (in formation):
Arlene Bascom, Rafael Collado, Kate Green, Hope Harley,
April Horton, Lee Michel and Paul Ramirez

Click here to learn more

Image: Michael Richards: Are You Down? Installation view at Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, 2021. Photograph by Oriol Tarridas. Photograph courtesy of the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami and The Michael Richards Estate.

OPENING RECEPTION MICHAEL RICHARDS: ARE YOU DOWN?

September 8th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Join us to celebrate the opening of the exhibition Michael Richards: Are You Down? This event will include light refreshments and music provided by Uptown Vinyl Supreme.

RSVP is not required to attend.

Click here to learn more

INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP DAY

Saturday, September 16th from 9:00am to 12:00pm

Location: Soundview Park (Morrison ave & Lafayette ave)

Join the Bronx River Alliance for one of our biggest cleanup events of the year, International Coastal Cleanup Day! Volunteers throughout the U.S. and more than 100 countries come together each year to participate in a cleanup event near them on this day of environmental stewardship.

Volunteers will check in at 9:00 AM at the entrance of Soundview near the intersection of Lafayette Ave and Morrison Ave. We’ll break up into teams and head to the Soundview Park shoreline (at the mouth of the Bronx River) together for the cleanup. All cleanup materials needed, such as grabbers, gloves, and bags will be supplied. We’ll also be recording the type and quantity of trash we pick up, using data sheets.

At the end of the event we’ll have prizes for the volunteers with the “Most Trash Collected” and “Strangest Trash Collected”! And bring a reusable water bottle to be entered into a raffle drawing!

Click here to learn more

ENVIRONMENTAL CAREER PANEL: PIZZA PARTY – RENEWABLE ENERGY

Thursday, September 21st from 4:00pm to 5:30pm

Location: 1490 Sheridan Boulevard, Bronx NY 10459

Interested in learning about green careers? Come join our EELS interns and real environmental professionals to learn what it’s really like to work in the field! Enjoy free pizza, free soda, and make new friends.

Click here to learn more

BOO AT THE ZOO

Saturdays & Sundays

September 30th through October 29th

Our annual family-friendly Halloween tradition is back at the Bronx Zoo. Come dressed in your Halloween best and enjoy!

Activities Include:

  • Spooky Stories to Ticket Your Spine (new!)
  • Bones Tell a Story: Animal Skeletons (new!)
  • Costume Parade
  • Halloween Crafts
  • Magic & Mind Reading
  • Pumpkin Carving Demos
  • Wildlife Theater: The Wildlife Witch’s Super Scary Halloween Show

Click here to learn more

PUMPKIN NIGHTS

Thursdays – Sundays, 6:00pm to 10:00pm

September 28th through October 29th

Bronx Zoo Pumpkin Nights, an ALL NEW nighttime family Halloween event, will take place on select evenings this fall! Follow an animal-themed illuminated jack o’lantern trail and learn about animal behavior after dark, plus enjoy games and treats.

Pumpkin Nights will feature gorgeous scenes of more than 5,000 illuminated pumpkins, together with atmospheric sounds and colored lights, to provide a festive family atmosphere as you follow a half-mile trail to holiday excitement right here in NYC.

Click here to learn more

OUT TO BIRD! FALL MIGRATION BIRD WALK

Sunday, September 3rd from 10:00am to 11:00am

Location: Crotona Nature Center in Crotona Park

Birding is a fun and all-inclusive activity for all to enjoy and experience. Join the Urban Park Rangers as we explore the park in search of some Fall migratory birds featuring the colors of the LGBTQ+ pride flag, among others.

Click here to learn more

NATURE’S WORKSHOP: NATURAL DYES WORKSHOP

Sunday, September 24th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Location: Crotona Nature Center in Crotona Park

The art of tie dying has been used since the earliest century in Asia from dying silk and hemp. Join the Urban Park Rangers in making and using natural dyes from berries, fruits, and roots.

Click here to learn more

FORDHAM PLAZA

BRONX NIGHT MARKET

9/30, 10/28

Location: 1 Fordham Plaza

RSVP required

The Bronx’s renowned cuisine and culture festival is back for its 6th season, bringing with it an array of flavors and cultural experiences that represent the city’s diverse heritage. As a beloved event, it’s a must-attend festival for any food lover in the Bronx. With an average of 4k patrons per event, the festival gathers at the Fordham Plaza, providing an exciting and unique experience.

This year’s festival is even bigger and better, offering a curated selection of local Bronx and NYC-based food, beverage, arts & crafts, and packaged goods vendors. These vendors come together to provide an incredible culinary journey, showcasing a wide range of cultures and flavors.

Click here to learn more

THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED: INTERACTIVE ART PROJECT

Now through October 22nd from 10:00am to 6:00pm

Location: 4th Floor Rotunda of LuEsther T. Mertz Library

Take a moment to reflect. What have you witnessed or felt during your visit today? The adjacent display shows the remains of extinct plants, and reminds us what has been lost and what should be remembered. We invite you to add your sketches, notes, and thoughts to an always-evolving collective artwork that will remain on view for the duration of the exhibition.

Click here to learn more

…things come to thrive…in the shedding…in the molting…

extended through October 22nd

This summer, experience the seductive beauty of gardens through the eyes of celebrated contemporary artist Ebony G. Patterson. Known for her lavishly detailed mixed media installations, Patterson brings her signature style to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, and NYBG’s landscape and galleries, in a major site-specific exhibition featuring breathtaking and provocative displays of art and nature.

Patterson’s work will captivate Garden visitors with the beauty of exotic flora and garden-inspired installations—from a monumental peacock sculpture to swarms of glitter-encrusted vultures. Inspired by her immersion in NYBG’s collections, Patterson’s work explores entanglements of race, gender and colonialism while inviting visitors to contemplate their own relationships with gardens and the natural world.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the most exciting contemporary artists of our time transform one of the most stunning settings in New York City like never before. Ebony G. Patterson’s summer exhibition at NYBG is a must-see.

Click here to learn more

NOCTURNAL CREATURES AND WILDLIFE HIKE

Saturday, September 2nd from 8:00pm to 9:30pm

Location: Pelham Bay Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park

Join the Urban Park Rangers for an exploration of nighttime insects and other nocturnal forest creatures. We will explore the trails of Pelham Bay Park under the cover of darkness and will also be setting up a moth attracting sheet.

Click here to learn more

BIRDING: FALL MIGRATION

Saturday, September 30th from 11:00am to 12:00pm

Location: Orchard Beach Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park

Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see spring migratory birds. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Please bring your own binoculars.

Click here to learn more

HONORING OUR AFRICAN ANCESTORS

Saturday, September 9th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm

Location: Enslaved Burial Ground in Van Cortlandt Park

Batá Drummers will dedicate an Oro for Égun ceremony at the Enslaved African & Kingsbridge Burial Ground in Van Cortlandt Park.

Master Batá Drummer Anthony Carrillo, Awo Juan Usera, and Awo Xavier Rivera will play the sacred Batá drums and dedicate an Oro for Égun ceremony to the ancestors who are buried in the Enslaved African & Kingsbridge Burial Ground in Van Cortlandt Park. Egún is the Yoruba word for ancestors and it refers to the collective spirit of all ancestors, emphasizing the interconnectedness between the ancestors and their living descendants.

Following the Égun ceremony, we will continue to honor and celebrate the ancestors with a Bombazo led by Juan Usera and the Sambuco Tribe with interactive drumming and dancing. Featured music in the Bombazo is Bomba, the most representative music and dance form of all African-derived cultural expressions in Puerto Rican folklore and one of the oldest Black cultural practices with connections to other Caribbean nations. Bomba also connects Puerto Ricans and people of Puerto Rican heritage to our ancestors and it is played to celebrate our departed.

This event is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Click here to learn more

WOODLAWN FAMILY FUN DAY

Saturday, September 23rd from 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Location: Indian Field, East 233rd Street and Jerome Avenue in Van Cortlandt Park

Join Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and the Women of Woodlawn for family fun activities in Indian Field.

Activities will include:

– Divi Roxx Kids
– Confetti Face Painters
– Woodlawn Family Walks
– Nature Crafts
– And much more!

Special thank you to our partners:

– Council Member Eric Dinowitz
– NYC Parks
– Women of Woodlawn

Click here to learn more

Did you know that Great Performances is headquartered in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx? We love being a part of the Bronx community, supporting other Bronx-based companies, and giving back to our community.

Read more about it here.

Sip Your Way Through Summer:
Delectable Cocktail Recipes from our Venues

By Great Performances

Summer is still in session and there’s no better way to beat the heat than with a refreshing and tantalizing cocktail in hand. Whether you’re lounging by the pool, hosting a backyard barbecue, or simply unwinding after a long day, we’ve got you covered with an array of mouthwatering summer cocktails from our venues. Prepare to embark on a journey of taste and discover a delightful assortment of libations that will elevate your summer experience.

At our venues, mixology is an art form, and our talented bartenders have crafted a selection of cocktails that capture the essence of the season. We’re sharing a curated collection of our favorite summer cocktails brought to you by our Venue Managers, Garvey Dutes of Asia Society Café, Elijah Wilkins of Mae Mae Café + Plant Shop, Danny Newman of Café des Affiches at Poster House, and more.

These easy-to-follow recipes are perfect for crafting a cocktail for yourself or to share with loved ones. Get ready to impress your friends and family with these show-stopping beverages, as we lift the curtain on the secrets behind our venue’s most beloved drinks. So, let the clinking of ice and the muddling of fresh herbs transport you to a summer paradise, where every sip is a celebration of the sun-kissed season.

RECIPE: KIWI RASPBERRY MIMOSA

by Garvey Dutes, General Manager of Asia Society Café

Great-Performances_Summer-Cocktails-2023_Kiwi-Raspberry

For One:

4 oz Sauvignon Blanc
2 oz Raspberry Syrup
6 oz Casa Del Mar Cava
1 oz Kiwi Juice

Add Sauvignon Blanc, raspberry syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Strain the mixture into a bulb wine glass filled with ice. Top it off with Cava and kiwi juice.

Garnish glass with 1 kiwi cube in-between two raspberries.

Batched for Sharing:

8 oz Sauvignon Blanc
4 oz Raspberry Syrup
12 oz Casa Del Mar Cava
2 oz Kiwi Juice

Add Sauvignon Blanc and raspberry syrup to a pitcher. Stir the mixture rapidly to ensure the Sauvignon Blanc and raspberry syrup are well combined. Fill vessel with ice then slowly pour in Cava, while stirring gently to maintain the carbonation. Top the mixture with kiwi juice, but do not stir.

Garnish each glass with 1 kiwi cube in-between two raspberries.

RECIPE: WHITE COSMO

by Garvey Dutes, General Manager of Asia Society Café

For One:

2 oz White Cranberry Juice
2 oz Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka
0.75 oz Lime juice
0.50 oz Elderflower

Add white cranberry juice, Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka, lime juice, elderflower and ice to a cocktail shaker and shake. Strain the mixture into a coupe glass.

Garnish with a lime twist.

Batched for Sharing:

9 oz White Cranberry Juice
9 oz Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka
3.5 oz Lime Juice
2 oz Elderflower

Batch without alcohol (zero proof):
Add white cranberry juice, lime and elderflower to a pitcher and stir lightly.

Batch with alcohol:
In a cocktail shaker add 3.25 oz of zero proof mixture above, 2 oz Charbay Meyer Lemon Vodka and ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass.

Garnish with a lime twist.

RECIPE: GRAPE VALLEY

by Garvey Dutes, General Manager of Asia Society Café

Great-Performances_Summer-Cocktails-2023_Green-Grapes

For One:

2 oz Hendrick’s Gin
2 oz Sweet White Vermouth
1 oz Velvet Falernum
1 oz Lime Juice
Green Seedless Grapes

Muddle 3-4 grapes in a cocktail shaker. Add Hendricks Gin, Sweet White Vermouth, Velvet Falernum, lime juice and ice. Shake, then strain the mixture into a coupe glass.

Garnish with a grape on a skewer.

Batched for Sharing:

7 oz Hendrick’s Gin
7 oz Sweet White Vermouth
3.5 oz Velvet Falernum
3.5 oz Lime Juice
2 large clusters of Green Seedless grapes

Muddle 1 large cluster of Green Seedless Grapes and Velvet Falernum in a pitcher. Add Hendrick’s Gin, Sweet White Vermouth, and lime juice to the pitcher and stir vigorously.

Top the pitcher with ice and garnish with the other cluster of green grapes.

RECIPE: THE LAVO (ZERO-PROOF)

by Elijah Wilkins, General Manager of Mae Mae Café + Plant Shop

Great-Performances_Summer-Cocktails-2023_Aloe-Vera

For One:

4 oz Aloe Vera
2 oz Lemon Juice
1 oz Lavender syrup

Add aloe vera juice, lemon juice, and lavender syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Stir together well.

Serve over ice with a lemon wheel garnish or dried lavender.

To Share:

12 oz Aloe Vera
6 oz Lemon Juice
3 oz Lavender syrup

Add aloe vera juice, lemon juice, and lavender syrup to a pitcher with ice. Stir together well.

Serve in glasses garnished with a lemon wheel or dried lavender.

RECIPE: FRENCH QUARTER FIZZ

featured at Dizzy’s Cafe, Jazz at Lincoln Center

Great-Performances_Summer-Cocktails-2023_Lemon-Passionfruit

For One:

0.75 oz Simple Syrup
0.75 oz Lemon Juice
0.25 oz Chinola Passion Fruit
2 oz Dorothy Parker Gin
1.5 oz Club Soda

Add syrup, lemon juice, chinola passion fruit, and gin to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake briefly. Strain the mixture into a collins glass with ice. Top off the collins glass with soda.

Garnish with a lemon wedge.

RECIPE: PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (ZERO-PROOF)

featured at Dizzy’s Cafe, Jazz at Lincoln Center

Great-Performances_Summer-Cocktails-2023_Pineapple-Express

For One:

0.75 oz Ginger Syrup
0.75 oz Lime Juice
2 oz Pineapple Juice
1.5 oz Club Soda

Add ginger syrup, lime juice, and pineapple juice to a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain the mixture into a collins glass with ice and then top with club soda.

Garnish with a mint sprig pulled through candied ginger.

RECIPE: NOT YOUR GRANNY SMITH

featured at The Banker’s Club, Equitable Life Building

Great-Performances_Summer-Cocktails-2023_Granny-Smith-Apples

For One:

3 oz Whiskey
3 oz Apple Juice
1 oz Sour Mix

Add whiskey, apple juice, and sour mix to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain the mixture into a tall glass with ice.

Garnish with a lemon wheel or apple wheel.

Make your own Sour Mix:

3 oz Hot Water
3 oz Sugar
3 oz Lemon Juice
1.5 oz Lime Juice

Combine water and sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Allow the syrup to cool. Add strained lemon and lime juices. Store in an air-tight vessel in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.

RECIPE: MAIN SQUEEZE

featured at The Banker’s Club, Equitable Life Building

Great-Performances_Summer-Cocktails-2023_Oranges_Main-Squeeze

For One:

1.5 oz Gin
2 oz Orange Juice
0.5 oz Lemon Juice
2 oz Tonic

Add gin, orange juice, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain the mixture into a collins glass with ice. Top with Tonic.

Garnish with an orange wheel.

RECIPE: PANTHER PRIDE

by Danny Newman, General Manager of Café des Affiches at Poster House

Great-Performances_Summer-Cocktails-2023_Limes

For One:

2 oz Bacardi Rum
1 oz Triple Sec
0.5 oz Lime Juice
0.5 oz Sprite

Add rum, triple sec, and lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain the mixture into a collins glass with ice. Top with Sprite.

Garnish with a lime wheel.

RECIPE: WHISKEY MATCHA HIGHBALL

by Danny Newman, General Manager of Café des Affiches at Poster House

Great-Performances_Summer-Cocktails-2023_Matcha-Powder

For One:

2 oz Suntory Toki Whiskey
0.25 tsp Matcha Powder
0.25 oz Lemon Juice
Dash of Honey Ginger Simple Syrup
0.5 oz Club Soda

Add whiskey, matcha powder, lemon juice, and simple syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain the mixture into a tall glass with ice. Top with club soda.

Garnish with a Lemon Wheel.

Hungry for more?

AUGUST FOOD FESTIVAL: TOMATO JAM

Our 2023 calendar theme, Preservation, is an ode to the art of preserving the harvest as well as a salute to the self-preservation of body and spirit. These have been challenging years! It’s fair to say we have been pickled and fermented, but that life goes on. It is the celebratory moments and the opportunities to come together that we relish.

This month we’re celebrating with a Tomato Jam recipe brought to you by our Executive Chef of Catering Operations, Mike Deuel.

We love preserving our fresh tomatoes from Katchkie Farm using this recipe. This sweet and savory jam is a great addition to any cheese board or sandwich, used as a pizza topper or glaze for meats…truly, the possibilities are endless! We hope you love it as much as we do.

Tomato Jam Recipe

by Mike Deuel, Executive Chef of Catering Operations

Chef Mike is a huge fan of fresh, summer tomatoes – check out his recipe for a Tomato and Onion Curtido Salad on our website – but his not-so-guilty pleasure is a fresh tomato sandwich with bread, sliced ripe summer tomatoes, Hellmann’s mayonnaise, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. At his home garden, he and his wife have more than 100 tomato plants growing. Most are volunteers that grew on their own rather than being deliberately planted. When they come across an especially delicious tomato, they will sacrifice it for seeds to grow the next year.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 1/2 lbs cherry tomatoes
  • 1 3/4 c sugar
  • 2 limes, juiced and zested
  • 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

PROCEDURE

  1. Combine tomatoes, sugar, zest of 1 lime, lime juice, ginger, sinnamon, cloves, salt, and red pepper flakes to a non-reactive pot.
  2. Boil and simmer uncovered for 1-2 hours, stirring till soft, sticky, and jammy.
  3. Jar and allow to cool completely before storing in a fridge or freezing.

More Food Festival Recipes

EXCITING EVENTS AROUND NEW YORK: AUGUST 2023

By Great Performances

Explore Great Music, Art and More at Our Partner Venues This Month!

TONTON PAL AND BINGUINI BAKHAGA

Saturday, August 5th at 8:00pm

Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater

Tickets: start at $120.90

The event is a concert featuring Tonton Pal and Biguini Bagaga from Mali, West Africa.

Click here to learn more

TALLER MUJER COMPLETA FOR ALL

Saturday, August 26th at 6:00pm

Location: Apollo’s Historic Theater

Tickets: start at $117

PRESENTED BY SOY LA PROTA SHOP
Taller Mujer Completa is a yearly inspirational panel catered but not limited to women. World known panelists will each have a presentation based on their expertise. The main panelist and creator of Mujer Completa is Orquidea De Leon also known as @orquiss La Prota in all her platforms with a following of over 1 million. Here are some of the subjects which Mujer Completa covers: Finances, relationship management, wellness and health, mental health, how to start and maintain a business, social media presence, beauty, parenting, etc.

Click here to learn more

BOOK TALK | EAT THE BUDDHA: BEING TIBETAN IN 21ST CENTURY CHINA

A conversation with award-winning author Barbara Demick

Tuesday, August 8th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm

Tickets: $15 Nonmembers; $8 (please contact membership for the discount code)

Award-winning journalist Barbara Demick’s most recent book, Eat the Buddha: Life and Death in a Tibetan Town reveals what it is really like to be a Tibetan in the twenty-first century China, striving to preserve one’s unique cultural, religious, and linguistic identity against the policies of a seemingly unstoppable superpower, including forced assimilation of Tibetan children at state-run residential schools.

Join us for a conversation with the author and Asia Society’s Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Journalism on Asia awardee Barbara Demick. She will be in conversation with Philipp Ivanov, Asia Society’s Chief Programming Officer. The Q&A session will be followed by book signing.

Click here to learn more

FIRST SATURDAY: CELEBRATING CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY

Saturday, August 5th, all day

Kick off the countdown to Labor Day and celebrate the global influence of the Caribbean diaspora!

This program is free; registration is required and includes Museum general admission. Tickets are released on a rolling basis. Sign up for the Brooklyn Museum newsletter to be notified of the next release.

Click here to learn more

Brooklyn-Musuem_Drag_and_Draw_20220609_PUB_101_Kolin_Mendez_2151-Medium_JPEG_600_900
Jenn D’Role poses at Drag and Draw, 2023. (Photo: Kolin Mendez)

DRAG AND DRAW

Thursday, August 17th from 7:00pm to 9:30pm

Location: Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, 1st Floor

Tickets: $35 and include after-hours admission to It’s Pablo-matic, your own Brooklyn Museum tote, and a complimentary drink. Member tickets are $25.

Sip and sketch in our backyard Sculpture Garden this summer with a monthly series of life drawing classes. Drink and Draw is open to all levels and accompanied by a refreshing beverage and musical vibes by local DJs.

In August, sketch from live models and enjoy after-hours access to our special exhibition Africa Fashion. Experiment with materials in this casual class led by teaching artist Mellasenah Nicole Edwards while listening to vibes by DJ InO.

Click here to learn more

Ronnie Burrage. (Photo: courtesy of the Jazz Foundation of America)

JAZZ IN THE GARDEN: RONNIE BURRAGE’S HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCIPLE

Sunday, August 27th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Location: Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, 1st Floor

Tickets: This program is free; registration is encouraged. Reserve tickets to visit the galleries.

Swing by the Museum’s backyard Sculpture Garden for performances by some of the city’s best musicians, and enjoy a range of creative styles incorporating blues, jazz, and international sounds. Presented in partnership with Jazz Foundation of America.

In August, catch St. Louis–born drummer, percussionist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and educator Ronnie Burrage, who draws from jazz, funk, and soul. Burrage performed with Duke Ellington at the age of nine and later collaborated with many acts that informed his style, including the Oliver Sain Band, Defunkt, and the Burrage Band. His current group, Holographic Principle, performs Burrage’s own compositions and imaginatively reworked standards.

Click here to learn more

MICHAEL OLATUJA: LAGOS PEPPER SOUP

Concert on the Lawn

Wednesday, August 16th at 7:00pm

Tickets: Adults $39 / Children $19

Just like the pepper soup from his hometown of Lagos, Nigeria, Michael Olatuja’s most recent album Lagos Pepper Soup is packed with a rich array of tantalizing flavors. The composer, bandleader, and bassist blends the sounds of Lagos, London (his birthplace), and New York (his current home) into what he describes as a “cinematic Afrobeat.” Join him and his band for a high-energy evening of hard-hitting Afrobeat, jazz, and fun. Yeah, we know, it’s August … but it’s never too hot out for a soup this good!

Click here to learn more

NEAL FRANCIS

Presented in Collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center

Concert on the Lawn

Friday, August 18th at 7:00pm

Tickets: Adults $39 / Children $19

Overview

Cap off Caramoor’s summer season with singer-songwriter Neal Francis who, according to Rolling Stone Magazine, “is making piano rock cool again.” Enjoy a picnic and chill out on our lawn while he performs songs from his new album, In Plain Sight, which he wrote over the course of a tumultuous year spent living in a possibly haunted church in Chicago. The evening sky above Friends Field will become even more enchanted and vast as the backdrop for such endlessly absorbing kaleidoscopic sounds.

Click here to learn more

CELEBRATING MULGREW MILLER: WINGSPAN REUNION

Thursday, August 10th through Saturday, August 12th

Tickets: start at $25

ABOUT THE SHOW

Bandmates of iconic pianist and composer Mulgrew Miller commemorate what would have been his 67th birthday weekend, for their first reunion since his untimely passing in 2013. This hard swinging and celebratory event presents a reincarnation of Wingspan, one of Miller’s final bands, featuring Steve Nelson (who also celebrates a birthday on opening night), Steve Wilson, Duane Eubanks, and Rodney Green, with guests Danny Grissett and Nat Reeves. The artists freshly interpret repertoire from 2002 Wingspan album The Sequel. Says Nelson, “it is with great joy that I anticipate this reunion.”

PERFORMANCE LINEUP

Steve Nelson, vibraphone
Steve Wilson, alto saxophone
Duane Eubanks, trumpet
with
Danny Grissett, piano
Nat Reeves, bass
Carl Allen, drums

Click here to learn more

JOHN BEASLEY & MAGNUS LINDGREN LEAD BIRD LIVES

FEAT. STUTTGART’S SWR BIG BAND

Thursday, August 24th through Sunday, August 27th

Tickets: start at $25

ABOUT THE SHOW

Trailblazing soloist and iconic architect of the music’s tradition, Charlie Parker became one of the first bebop artists to perform with a jazz orchestra. To celebrate what would have been his 103rd birthday, Stuttgart’s SWR Big Band brings Bird Lives to Dizzy’s Club. Earning a 2023 Grammy Award and three nominations, SWR Big Band presents a complete reimagining of Bird’s vital repertoire from acclaimed recording Bird Lives which features arrangements from co-conductors John Beasley and Magnus Lindgren. Lush and lyrical, endlessly swinging — these selections also serve as vessels for creative improvising from Miguel Zenón and more surprise guests. Don’t miss this energetic and textural event.

PERFORMANCE LINEUP

Magnus Lindgren, director, tenor saxophone, flute John Beasley, piano/keyboard
Klaus Grafas, alto saxophone
Matthias Erlewein, alto saxophone
Jörg Kaufmann, tenor saxophone
Andi Maile, tenor saxophone
Pierre Paquette, baritone saxophone
Nemanja Jovanovic, trumpet
Felice Civitareale, trumpet
Karl Farrent, trumpet
Martin Auer, trumpet
Rudolf Reindl, trumpet
Marc Godfroid, trombone
Juergen Neudert, trombone
Ian Cumming, trombone
Georg Maus, trombone
Frank Kuruc, guitar
Christian Diener, bass
Guido Jöris, drums
with special guests
TBA, tenor saxophone (8/24)
Chris Potter, tenor saxophone (8/25-8/27)

Click here to learn more

EXHIBITIONS

Where Time Runs Backwards

by Daniel Shieh, With Chia-Lun Chang and Arleene Correa Valencia

Upper Gallery at The Arts Center at Governors Island

____

ANTI•VENOM

Presented by Allies in Arts

Lower Gallery at The Arts Center at Governors Island

____

there is nothing you can think that is not the moon

by Rhonda Weppler and Trevor Mahovsky

The Café at The Arts Center at Governors Island

____

Click here to learn more

THE TAKE CARE SERIES

The Take Care Series offers audiences of all ages an opportunity to actively engage in performances, workshops, talks, and other interactive events that embrace ideas of caretaking. This series of free public programs aims to find artfulness in the everyday by exploring creative practices and community projects that emphasize care for ourselves, our communities, and our planet.

Through performance, workshops, talks, and Open Studios with our artists-in-residence and partnerships with local arts and cultural organizations, we explore creative practices and different ways to care for ourselves, our communities, and our planet and world around us. Past partners have included Little Sun, The Climate Museum, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Earth Celebrations, the poet Asiya Wadud, and many others.

Earth Matter, Make an Herbarium: Plants Can Live Forever

Saturday, August 12th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm

Meet 12 farmers who have captured the ephemeral nature, from seed to flower (or vegetable), of common, everyday plants. Experience 12 collages of preserved specimens, from roots to shoots, and then learn to make your own flower press to take home. You can create a library of plants and flowers (herbarium) that will delight you forever.

FIRST FRIDAY

Friday, August 4th from 10:00am to 9:00pm

Tickets: Free all Day!

Join Poster House on the First Friday of every month for free admission and extended hours! Explore the museum’s latest exhibitions and get in on the fun by attending a tour, workshop, performance, or activity throughout the day. Every First Friday is different, offering unique opportunities to engage with rotating exhibitions and the permanent collection.

Click here to learn more

RADICAL SIPS: AN EVENING OF BLACK PANTHER-INSPIRED COCKTAILS

Thursday, August 10th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Tickets: $45 General / $35 Members

Did you know that the Black Panther Party had their very own cocktail? Panther Piss was the official drink of the BPP and would often make appearances at newspaper distribution events, community gatherings, and other important meetings. Taking note from the Party, Poster House is pleased to welcome DC-based restaurateur Andra “AJ” Johnson for an evening of cocktails inspired by Black Power to Black People: Branding the Black Panther Party. Enjoy three different cocktails developed by this expert mixologist, paired with an exclusive tour of the powerful exhibition led by Curator Es-pranza Humphrey! Come for the cocktails, stay for the posters!

Click here to learn more

Paloma McGregor, "Building a Better Fishtrap/A’we deh ya" at Loophole of Retreat in Venice, Italy, October 7 & 8, 2022, Photo: Glorija. Courtesy of the artist.

PERFORMANCE:

PALOMA MCGREGOR: BUILDING A BETTER FISHTRAP / A’WE DEH YA

Sunday, August 6th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Tickets: free, with admission to the grounds

Paloma McGregor’s latest iteration of Building a Better Fishtrap is commissioned by Wave Hill as part of the exhibition This Place We Once Remembered. In the inter-disciplinary performance A’we deh ya—a Crucian phrase translating to “All of us are here”— the artist explores her father’s vanishing fishing tradition through the activation of a choreographic call-and-response between body and place, colony and the United States mainland, art and activism. Having left St. Croix, her birthplace, decades ago, McGregor uses performance and collaboration as inquiry-based research and asks: “What do you take with you? Leave behind? Return to reclaim?” Building a Better Fishtrap has been performed at venues across New York City, including at the BronxAcademy of Arts and Dance, Brooklyn Arts Exchange in Red Hook and along the Bronx River. Through these various iterations, McGregor has developed a “Fishtrap Method,” a way of developing communal collaborations through movement. In the same way that her father’s resourcefulness allowed him to transform the industrial materials available to him into long-lasting fish traps, McGregor collaborates with and draws from the people, traditions and spaces that are available to build long-standing collaborations and impactful performances.

Click here to learn more

Photo: Joshua Bright

DROP-IN CANDLE-MAKING WORKSHOP

Saturday, August 12th from 11:00am to 2:00pm

Location: Wave Hill House (Armor Hall)

Tickets: $15 materials fee per kit

Drop by Armor Hall and try your hand at creating rolled beeswax candles with Instructor Olivia Kalin to to take home and enjoy. Materials fee collected upon entry to workshop; each kit includes enough supplies to make several candles. Appropriate for adults and children 5 and up with an adult companion. Space is limited—you may be asked to wait if all workspaces are full. Bees, Butterflies and Blooms Weekend event.

Click here to learn more

COOKING DEMO: A TASTE OF HONEY

Sunday, August 13th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Location: Wave Hill House

Tickets: Free, with admission to the grounds

Honey is a sweet liquid produced by honeybees from the nectar of flowers. Discover fascinating facts about honey and compare the complex tastes of honey with a Wave Hill beekeeper and Chef Nick Acosta of Great Performances, Wave Hill’s exclusive caterer. Sample delicious recipes using local honey and take home recipes designed to take advantage of honey harvest season.

Click here to learn more

CITYPICKLE AT WOLLMAN RINK

April 7th through October 9th

As reported in the New York Times:

CityPickle is bringing the country’s fastest growing sport to Wollman Rink in Central Park! The rink will house 14 courts – the largest pickleball offering in the Northeast – with 196 hours of pickleball daily. Come play with us!

Whether you’re a pickleball pro or a newbie looking for a fun way to stay active this season, we’re welcoming all skill levels. Lessons, clinics, open play, leagues, and private events are also available. Grab a friend, grab a paddle, and meet us on the court!

CityPickle is proud to offer a professional playing experience with the court surface provided by Pickleball United USA, the official court partner for MLP and APP professional leagues and the nets provided by CD Pickleball Nets, the official net partner of the PPA and APP.

Click here to learn more

VEGAN NIGHT MARKET

Every Tuesday through the summer

Get ready to taste the best of plant-based cuisine at NYC’s first-ever Vegan Night Market!

Starting June 6th, Wollman Rink will host the weekly series, from MHG Events, featuring the city’s top vegan vendors, live music, and rotating food and product tastings until October 10th. Every Tuesday from 4-10pm!

Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or just curious about the lifestyle, there’s something for everyone at the Vegan Night Market.

Come for the food, stay for the fun, and leave feeling inspired to make positive changes in your life and the world around you. Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to celebrate all things vegan in the heart of the city!

Click here to learn more

EXCITING EVENTS AROUND THE BRONX: AUGUST 2023

By Great Performances

Explore exciting community events around the Bronx this month.

ON EXHIBIT: DIANNE SMITH: TWO TURNTABLES & A MICROPHONEREAD

July 7th though August 20th

One two, one two…Party people in the place to be…Let me hear you say, hey, ho…

When you hear these lyrics at a hip-hop party you know it’s about to be a good time filled with music, dancing, joy, and community. Dianne Smith’s exhibition Two Turntables & a Microphone celebrates Black joy and expressions of identity that hip-hop has fostered through its community-building power. Hip-hop parties during the 1970s, created with virtually nothing more than two turntables and a microphone, have played a large role in the lives of Bronx youth, especially in the early days of hip-hop. Through these gatherings Bronx-native Smith, like many others, found a space filled with creativity, freedom, hope, and love. With this year marking the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Smith celebrates this milestone by paying homage to hip-hop’s Bronx roots and its role in empowering communities across the world through a large-scale and site-specific interdisciplinary installation.

Click here to learn more

OLD-SCHOOL CHAT & JAM!

Friday, August 4th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Dust off your boomboxes. Shine your gold chains. Lace up your Adidas. We’re keeping it old-school to celebrate the new exhibition Dianne Smith: Two Turntables & a Microphone and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

Before the party gets started join us from 6–6:45 PM for an engaging conversation about the communal and creative elements of hip-hop and the Bronx with Smith and hip-hop legends: Easy A. D. (The Cold Crush Brothers), Sparky D and Pete Nice (3rd Bass). Moderated by guest curator, Souleo.

Afterward, the party officially gets started with DJ Kevie Kev Rockwell spinning old-school tunes.

Old-school hip-hop attire and dance moves are not required, but are highly encouraged.

Click here to learn more

BRONX RIVER WATER & WOODLANDS FESTIVAL

Saturday, August 5th from 11:00am to 3:00pm

Location: Burke Avenue Bridge

Come celebrate the Bronx River with us! On Saturday, August 5th, join us in the Bronx River Forest at Burke Avenue Bridge for an exploration of the Bronx River’s beautiful biodiversity. Become an ecologist for a day and learn about the major parts of this amazing urban ecosystem: the water, soil, plants, and of course the wonderful wildlife that calls this river home. Some activities include:

  • Bird watching
  • Plant ID tour
  • Wildlife showcase and investigation
  • Hands-on science demos
  • Free community soil testing
  • Nature scavenger hunt
  • Arts and crafts station
  • and more!

This event is free and open to all ages. We hope to see you there!

Click here to learn more

TEXTILE TALES

Every Saturday through August 19th from 12:00pm to 3:00pm

Location: Burke Avenue Bridge in Bronx Forest

Join textile artists from the New School in this FREE series centered around community storytelling through textile making. Learn about natural dyes, basketry, embroidery, and crochet! Supplies and materials provided. No registration is needed!

Click here to learn more

SUMMER CAMP AT THE BRONX ZOO

All Summer!

Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm

Bronx Zoo is WILD about camp! Our summer camp allows campers to explore our 265-acre zoo and learn about animals and nature like never before! Campers will be engaged all week with fun activities, exhibit explorations and animal encounters.

Click here to learn more

NATURE PUPPET SHOW

Sunday, August 6th from 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Location: Crotona Nature Center in Crotona Park

The Urban Park Rangers welcome you for some nature themed puppet shows! Learn more about animals that can be found in our local parks.

Click here to learn more

IT’S MY PARK AT CROTONA PARK

Friday, August 11th from 10:00am to 1:00pm

Location: Clinton Playground in Crotona Park

This It’s My Park season, volunteer with Future Star Productions: Performing Arts & Youth Enhancement Program to remove litter and paint park benches at Clinton Playground located within Crotona Park. We look forward to cleaning up the park with you!

Click here to learn more

FORDHAM PLAZA

BRONX NIGHT MARKET

7/29, 8/26, 9/30, 10/28

Location: 1 Fordham Plaza

RSVP required

The Bronx’s renowned cuisine and culture festival is back for its 6th season, bringing with it an array of flavors and cultural experiences that represent the city’s diverse heritage. As a beloved event, it’s a must-attend festival for any food lover in the Bronx. With an average of 4k patrons per event, the festival gathers at the Fordham Plaza, providing an exciting and unique experience.

This year’s festival is even bigger and better, offering a curated selection of local Bronx and NYC-based food, beverage, arts & crafts, and packaged goods vendors. These vendors come together to provide an incredible culinary journey, showcasing a wide range of cultures and flavors.

Click here to learn more

THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED: INTERACTIVE ART PROJECT

Now through October 22nd from 10:00am to 6:00pm

Location: 4th Floor Rotunda of LuEsther T. Mertz Library

Take a moment to reflect. What have you witnessed or felt during your visit today? The adjacent display shows the remains of extinct plants, and reminds us what has been lost and what should be remembered. We invite you to add your sketches, notes, and thoughts to an always-evolving collective artwork that will remain on view for the duration of the exhibition.

Click here to learn more

…things come to thrive…in the shedding…in the molting…

extended through October 22nd

This summer, experience the seductive beauty of gardens through the eyes of celebrated contemporary artist Ebony G. Patterson. Known for her lavishly detailed mixed media installations, Patterson brings her signature style to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, and NYBG’s landscape and galleries, in a major site-specific exhibition featuring breathtaking and provocative displays of art and nature.

Patterson’s work will captivate Garden visitors with the beauty of exotic flora and garden-inspired installations—from a monumental peacock sculpture to swarms of glitter-encrusted vultures. Inspired by her immersion in NYBG’s collections, Patterson’s work explores entanglements of race, gender and colonialism while inviting visitors to contemplate their own relationships with gardens and the natural world.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the most exciting contemporary artists of our time transform one of the most stunning settings in New York City like never before. Ebony G. Patterson’s summer exhibition at NYBG is a must-see.

Click here to learn more

FAMILY CAMPING: BRONX

Friday, August 18th, 7:00pm to Saturday, August 19th, 8:00am

Location: Section 2 Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park

We camp to create lasting memories, connect with the natural world, and bond with our families. The Urban Park Rangers celebrate the tradition of camping and we look forward to welcoming your family. Families are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday August 9th.

Click here to learn more

SEINING AND SHORE EXPLORATION

Sunday, August 27th from 11:00am to 12:00pm

Location: Section 2 Orchard Beach

Explore the shore of Orchard Beach and get ready to get your hands wet; seining program participants don waders and use large nets to catch fish and other marine life. All equipment is provided; this program is recommended for ages 8 years and older.

Click here to learn more

STARLIGHT CINEMA: OUTER SPACE

Every Tuesday, starting July 11th through August 8th

Location: Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground

  • 7:00pm: Music of 1956, 1968, 1977, 2014
  • 7:30pm: Movie-themed Crafts
  • 8:30’ish pm: Movies Begin at Last Light

July 11: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

July 18: Planet of the Apes (1968)

July 25: Star Wars (1977)

August 1: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

August 8: Story Ave (2023) * Presented by Rooftop Films. Meet Bronx born filmmaker Aristotle Torres! *

Click here to learn more

WATER CHESTNUT WEDNESDAYS: VOLUNTEER IN VAN CORTLANDT PARK

July 12th through August 9th

Every Wednesday from 3:30pm to 5:30pm

Location: Van Cortlandt Golf House in Van Cortlandt Park

Join the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance for Water Chestnut Wednesdays as we work together to maintain the health of Hester and Miro’s Mill Pond. Water chestnuts are an invasive aquatic species that, if left unchecked, can disrupt the local ecosystem.

Throughout the summer, we’ll meet every Wednesday from 9 am – 12 pm at the Van Cortlandt Park Golf Clubhouse. From there, we’ll head out to the pond with waders and gloves, getting in the water to tackle this invasive plant’s spread.

No previous experience is required, and we will provide all necessary equipment. Bring your adventurous spirit, plenty of water, a hat, and an extra pair of socks. Make sure to RSVP as spaces are limited – we are taking the first 30 respondents for each Wednesday.

This is a great opportunity to get your feet wet (literally!) in conservation work, learn more about your local ecosystem, and make a positive impact on your park. We look forward to seeing you there!

Click here to learn more

Did you know that Great Performances is headquartered in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx? We love being a part of the Bronx community, supporting other Bronx-based companies, and giving back to our community.

Read more about it here.