Culture Pass

Culture Pass allows free access to participating NYC cultural institutions to residents aged 13 and older and who possess a Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, or Queens Public Library card. Passes must be reserved in advance to receive the free admission and shown along with a form of identification belonging to the pass holder. Depending on the institution, each pass will allow admission for either two adults or a family of four. The program allows one to reserve one pass per cultural institution per calendar year and you can have up to four active reservations at one time. 

To reserve a pass, go to the Culture Pass website. You will need your library card number and your library account PIN number to continue; so if you don’t have an account with your library system, you will have to create one. Passes are limited and released on the first of every month for the following month. I’m sure some institutions are more popular than others. I was able to reserve a pass for the Museum of the City of New York on December 18 for a visit the following day.

Open House New York Weekend

Open House New York Weekend is an annual festival that began in 2003 where hundreds of venues of various kinds open their doors to the public for the purpose of understanding how design can strengthen communities and improve quality of life. In the past, the emphasis was on architecture and interior design with just some of the offerings available free of charge; but a decision was made for this year’s festival to be completely free to the public. Although most events offer open access ticketing, some tickets are available through a lottery system. Participating venues provide talks, tours, and grant behind the scenes access. 

I have known about the festival for many years and finally took advantage of it with a visit to the Frick Collection. I was also granted a ticket to the Hip Hop Museum by lottery.

The festival ends on Sunday, October 23, 2022. If you can’t make it this year, watch out for it next October.

Bird Watching

During my travels, I developed an interest in birds. Their sizes, shapes, colors, and singing amazed me. I thought it a good idea to begin learning about the birds I hear outside my bedroom windows in the morning and those I see around the neighborhood. What are they and how can I tell them apart?

I have expanded that interest and discovered free guided walks and apps that help me develop birdwatching skills. NYC Audubon offers weekly guided walks in several parks. City Island Birds is a club created by one individual to share his wealth of knowledge with others, and his walks take place in Pelham Bay Park and Van Cortlandt Park. All walks are free to the public.

When I go birding on my own or with friends, the Merlin ID Bird app helps me to identify birds by description, photo, or sound. It is free to download, easy to use, and helps me immensely.

I found this lovely female Northern Cardinal at the New York Botanical Garden.

Governors Island

Since the city and state of NY acquired the 172 acre island in 2003, it has been developed into a space the public can visit free of charge to enjoy the outdoors and nature, take in the views of NYC, learn about the history of the island with guided tours, visit art galleries, and enjoy recreational activities for example.  The ferry is free to NYCID card holders and others as listed on the website, and all passengers ride free before noon on weekends.  There is no charge to bring a bicycle, but there is a limited number allowed on the island.  Reservations must now be made in advance.

Opening day is set for May 1, 2021; and a schedule of available programs and festivals, some of which are free, is listed on the website.  There are a number of food options consisting of one restaurant and a variety of food trucks, and bringing your own food for a picnic is allowed as there are shaded green spaces available to do so.

Taken during my visit in 2019.

Take a Walk

My favorite place to go for a nature walk in my neighborhood is the New York Botanical Garden’s Thain Family Forest, which is the largest original wooded landscape in New York City.  I’m currently a member, so I can go as many days as I want for free.  Wednesdays are also free to the public, so one does not need to be a member to enjoy the grounds. 

Visits to NYC parks are always free, and a section of the forest is situated across the Moshulu Parkway Greenway inside Bronx River Park.  There are two main paths in the park that support walking, jogging, and bicycling and many narrower trails for walks through the forest areas and along the two miles stretch of the Bronx River.  Besides squirrels, I’ve spotted chipmunks and rabbits along with several varieties of birds.

Find hiking trails in your neighborhood on the NYC Parks website, and go take a walk.

Yoga Class

I was in India when the United States began to shut down.  After my return, I got in one workout at my gym before all fitness centers in New York were ordered to close that night at 8 p.m.  My ballet class had already been cancelled.  I now needed to determine how I would exercise my body during this COVID-19 crisis.

On the last day of my India tour, I participated in a yoga class offered at the hotel.  Before returning to ballet classes five years ago after an absence of over two decades, I had been practicing yoga; and now seemed like a good time to return to that practice.    I recently heard about free yoga lessons on YouTube that were offered by a woman named Adriene.  She offers a variety of single class videos  from which to choose that are designed for all levels.  Among the offerings are several 30-days series of which I chose the latest, Home.  I am now up to a second series.  

My home setup

Yoga class in India at the hotel in Varanasi.

Please stay safe, healthy, and free of COVID-19.

Lehman College Art Gallery Tour and Workshop for Adults

The Lehman College Art Gallery is open free to the public five days a week.  It specializes in thematic group exhibitions, and education is an integral component of the programming.  Free programs are made available to the community one of which includes a one-hour guided educational tour of the current exhibit followed by a sketching session and hands-on art making workshop using one of the exhibit pieces as inspiration.

The event is held Sunday afternoons beginning at 1 p.m., and guests are free to stay until 4 p.m.  The next one is scheduled for February 23, 2020.

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Perlmutter Cancer Center

NYU Langone Health, which offers inpatient and outpatient services throughout New York City and its surrounding suburbs as well as Florida, is home to the Perlmutter Cancer Center and New York University’s Medical School.

The center offers free educational forums  in an effort to inform the community on ways to prevent cancer as well as gain a better understanding of how to recognize symptoms and  treat the disease.   Most last 1-1/2 hours with a few half day and full day events, and registration is required.

The fall/winter catalog lists the scheduled forums from September-December.  For more information, call  212-263-2266 or send an email to cancerevents@nyulangone.org.

 

 

Night at the Museums

Museums and historic landmarks located in Lower Manhattan and within walking distance of each other will again be open to the public free of charge one night this year on June 25, 2019. Details and a guide are available to help you plan your evening. Free special events are also offered at many of the venues.  I visited the China Institute, the Skyscraper Museum, and the 9/11 Tribute Museum last year.

 

Night at the Museums is produced by the Downtown Cultural Association and is part of the River to River Festival, which features free arts events from June 18 to 29 throughout Lower Manhattan.  I registered for one of the events, a walking tour offered by Black Gotham Experience, and will start my evening on June 25 with the tour near the South Street Seaport before taking in a couple of museums.

If you don’t want to walk between museums, the Downtown Connection, a free Downtown Alliance shuttle bus, is available.

 

Jane’s Walk

“No one can find what will work for our cities by looking at … suburban garden cities, manipulating scale models, or inventing dream cities. You’ve got to get out and walk.” 

— Jane Jacobs, ‘Downtown is for People’ (Fortune Classic, 1958)

Jane Jacobs was a writer and activist who believed in a community-based approach to city building and encouraged people to familiarize themselves with the places where they live, work, and play.  In 2006 a group of her friends and colleagues created The Jane’s Walk Project as a way to honor her, and the walks are organized and led by volunteers around the world.

Sam Goodman, an urban planner in the Office of the Bronx Borough President, leads tours in the Bronx that includes a brief history of the Grand Concourse and an explanation of the development of its neighborhoods and communities.  Two years ago, I went along on one of his walks that took us inside some iconic buildings.

Jane’s Walks are held each year in May.  Find one in your community, or venture out to learn about a different neighborhood.