Saturday 8/22/26: Weekend Sketchers on Governors Island

 

Get set for a day of sketching on what is becoming a veritable playground across Buttermilk Channel. The Hills, a hammock grove, water features, picnic areas, historic forts, Victorian houses, parade grounds, and the list goes on. Don't like the views on the island? Then turn your view across the water to the Manhattan Skyline or the Statue of Liberty. There is no end to sketching potential in this unique place.

The weather right now doesn’t look great, but there are plenty of indoor, or covered, options on the Island. The closest to the arrival spot is the LMCC Arts Center- Building 110 (free admission, and has a coffee shop inside), the victorian houses along Colonel’s Row are open on the weekends (and have deep porches, bring a stool), the houses surrounding Nolan Park are open, a small welcome center pavilion, and there are several cafe’s, coffee shops, and other businesses that offer shelter if it is raining…and the ferry ride itself offers incredible views.

HOST: Gabriel Foreman- (415) 810-1056
DATE: Saturday 8/22/26
TIME: Sketching 10am-3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.
SKETCHING LOCATION: Governors Island- Take the ferry from the Battery Maritime Building (10 South Street, NY, NY) and arrive at Soissons Landing. $5 round-trip.

MEETING SPOT: There will be no official meeting to kick off the day, join your fellow sketchers and just start sketching.
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: If it is not raining we will meet on the grassy hill directly ahead of you as you exit the ferry. There is a low wall for seating. If it is raining let’s try the Arts Center, and/or the Yellow Sun Cafe in the Arts Center, directly to the right as you exit the ferry. Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location.
FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: There are restrooms, seating and food options on the Island. A stool gives you more options.

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event. #nycurbansketchers.

 

Once working docks which were abandoned for years, this area became a concrete wasteland. But incredible vision, hard work and dedication has turned this forgotten waterfront into an amazing ecosystem, recreation park, beach and foodie destination.  Join us as we explore the many, many facets of this urban oasis nestled between the two most icon bridges in the city. 

For information about the park, maps, etc.  click here: https://brooklynbridgepark.org

DATE:     WEDNESDAY August 26, 2026

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

HOST: Lorraine Smith 929 614 1930

LOCATION: BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK

                        We will meet at the entrance to the park on Fulton Landing.

TRANSPORTATION:  A or C train to High Street. Walk down the street towards the water to Fulton Landing.  Or the F train to York Street  Or the East River Ferry to DUMBO/Fulton Ferry

• Bring a stool for best sight lines, but there are plenty of benches available

• Water and bathrooms are available.

• Food service is available in the park and surrounding area, or bring your own.

Saturday, August 29^th at 10:30: Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morris Township

The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township offers sketchers a wonderful mix of architecture and nature. The centerpiece is the historic Frelinghuysen mansion, a striking Colonial Revival home built in 1891, with elegant columns, distinctive architectural details, and views across the Great Lawn and formal gardens. The mansion and its surrounding landscape provide plenty of opportunities to explore composition, perspective, and architectural details.

Beyond the mansion, the arboretum’s gardens, mature trees, winding paths, and seasonal plantings offer an abundance of natural subjects to sketch. Whether capturing the sweeping view of the estate, focusing on architectural details, or settling into a quiet garden corner for a botanical or landscape sketch, there are plenty of possibilities to discover throughout the grounds.

For more information see the website: Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum

DATE: Saturday, August 29th

STARTING TIME: 10:30 am; meet at the Haggerty Center and then you can spread out from there

LOCATION: 353 East Hanover Ave, Morris Township, NJ 07960

TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING: no nearby trains; there is onsite parking

NOTES

• Please RSVP to Barbara at bat155155@gmail.com   
• Looking for us? Call or text Barbara at (862) 207-4279
• Bring a stool for the best options
• There is a bathroom onsite at the Haggerty Center
• We will conclude with a throw down to share our work around 12:30 pm. Feel free to bring a lunch  

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

Join the NJ Urban Sketchers as we make a visit to the Van Vleck House and Gardens at 21 Van Vleck Street in Montclair on Saturday, August 22nd.

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

RSVP and any questions to Julia: jazaz7658@gmail.com.

21 Van Vleck St, Montclair, NJ 07042

If you get lost, (551) 206-1273. Small parking lot on premises and free on the street parking.

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

 In an effort to help you plan to attend the upcoming events for the Weekday Sketchers, here is the schedule for the rest of the summer and the fall.  Look forward to seeing you at these events. Watch for weekly announcements with details about the meetings. 

Wednesday August 19 Woodlawn Cemetery

Wednesday August 26 Brooklyn Bridge Park

Wednesday September 2 Jefferson Memorial Library

Wednesday September 9 Great Hill, Central Park

Wednesday September 16 Bethesda Fountain, Central Park  

Wednesday September 23 Derfner Museum and Sculpture Garden (joint meeting with Westchester)

Wednesday September 30  St. Patrick;s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center (joint meeting with Westchester) 

Wednesday October 7 Lincoln Center 

Wednesday October 14 NY Botanical Garden

Wednesday October 21 Riverside Park, Pier 1 

Wednesday October 28 Elizabeth Street Garden

Founded in 1863, Woodlawn Cemetery is part of the historic cemetery movement in America.  It’s 300 acres will offer us multiple views of the Victorian era funerary architecture to capture in our sketch books.  The list of notable “residents” can provide a great opportunity to meander through the beautifully landscaped grounds looking for their resting places.   Additionally, Woodlawn Cemetery is home to some of the most notable trees in NYC. 

Information about Woodlawn Cemetery: https://www.woodlawn.org/

Link to notable residents : https://www.woodlawn.org/conservancy/notable-residents/ 

DATE: Wednesday August 19, 2026

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

MEETING SPOT:  We will meet near the main gate on Bainbridge Ave. 

HOSTS: Carol Kreider 949 929 2616  Cathy Gutterman  914 625 0766

TRANSPORTATION

:You can travel by subway, Metro North train or car. .  If traveling by car, there is free limited parking available.

• Metro North: Exit at the Harlem Station.   You will be at the north end of the cemetery.  Use a local map to reach the meeting space at the main entrance on Bainbridge Ave.  

• Subway: Take the #4 train to the Woodlawn stop.  It is the last stop on the line.  The entrance is across the street. 

• Car: Please consult a maps program. Parking is available near the main entrance.

NOTES: 

Westchester sketchers please communicate with Cathy Gutterman

Weekday sketchers please communicate with Carol Kreider

Water and bathrooms are available in the building

There is no food service in the Cemetery.  Bring your own.

Bring a stool 

Saturday 8/15/26: Weekend Sketchers at Grant’s Tomb

 

Grant's Tomb is the largest mausoleum in North America, dedicated to the 18th President of the United States and prominent Union general during the Civil War. Designed by architect John Hemenway Duncan, it was completed in 1897 and features a neoclassical design with a large dome and two granite sarcophagi that hold the remains of Grant and his wife, Julia.

If neoclassical architecture isn’t your style, how about Gothic? Right across the street from Grant’s Tomb is Riverside Church, the tallest church in North America! Modeled after the 13th century cathedral in Chartres, France, the church and visitor center are open on Saturdays and you can take a tour to the top of the tower!

HOST: Rowan Bordewieck- 718-926-6855 (Text preferred)
DATE: Saturday 8/15/26
TIME: Sketching 10am-3pm | Show and Tell beginning at 3pm.
SKETCHING LOCATION: Riverside Drive and W. 122nd Street, NY, NY

MEETING SPOT: There will be no official meeting to kick off the day, join your fellow sketchers and just start sketching.
SHOW AND TELL LOCATION: On the front steps of the Tomb (or the nearest shady spot). Check with the host day-of for the exact show-and-tell location.
FOOD, DRINK, RESTROOMS, SEATING: There are restrooms and a bookstore in the visitor center across the street. There are plenty of food options in the neighborhood. There are benches and a low wall in the park surrounding the tomb, but a stool gives you more options.

About NYC Urban Sketchers Events: All are welcome–no fee, no registration. Just look for folks with sketchbooks at the meeting spot and say hello. If you have trouble finding us, contact the host; their contact info is in the NYC Urban Sketchers blog post for this event. #nycurbansketchers.