Look, listen, sing, and have fun with storytime at the Met cloisters. The museum and Literacy INC shares tales through picture-book readings in English and Spanish connected to objects in the  Cloisters’ collection.

     Recommended for families with children ages 18 months to 6 years. Participants will receive a free book with onsite registration.

     Space is limited; first come, first served.
     Free with Museum admission; admission is pay as you wish for New York state residents, and free for children under 12 with an adult. Tuesday mornings at 11:30 at the museum in Fort Tryon Park.

     Lift your words off the page, and breathe life into them through rhythm, rhyme, and improvisation.

     In the Spoken Word workshop, everything you are is all that you need. Want to dance? Make your poetry move. Love to rap or write songs? Use your musical impulse. Your body, your voice, your beat — they are the story. 
     Guided by poets past and present, you’ll find inspiration in the words of Mahogany L. Brown, Elizabeth Acevedo, Rudy Francisco, and many more. Presented by Uptown Stories.

     Pay what you can. Thursday afternoons starting from 4 to 6 at the Cornerstone Center in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue at 179th Street. No meetings on October 2 or November 27. Through December 11.

     Join Aida Rodriguez as she speaks with debut author Alejandro Heredia, the author of Loca. The conversation will be recorded for Rodriguez’s podcast, Say What You Mean. The talk will be followed by a book signing; books signed must be purchased from Word Up at the event or in advance at WordUpBooks.com.

     A Bronx native, Rodriguez received his MFA from Hunter College. Loca is his first book. Tickets available at WithFriends.co/WordUp.

     $6; with a copy of the book, $32. Thursday evening at 6:30 at Recirculation in Lower WaHi at 876 Riverside Drive (near 160th Street). 

     Do you want to be wild and break out of the limitations that are always being set? Poetry is the answer.

     You’ll strap on our shoes, grab your pen, and head to the park for a poet’s adventure.

     Poetry is a way of seeing things outside the boxes they are always being put in. You’ll be rejuvenated by the nature of Fort Tryon Park and emboldened by the resilient neighborhood. Presented by Uptown Stories.

     Pay what you can. Friday afternoons from 4 to 6, meeting at the Hudson Cliffs/P.S. 187 school yard in Hudson Heights on Cabrini Boulevard just above 181st Street. No meetings on October 17 or November 28. Through December 19.

     If you can’t wait to turn the page, the writer has succeeded in telling you a great story.

     What does it take to develop characters, settings, dialogue, and plot elements that have you on the edge of your seat?

     The Elements of Fiction workshop answers those questions and more. The group will break down the parts of fiction writing each week and test out what we’ve learned with some on-the-spot writing. You’ll work with your peers, too — giving advice and feedback, while hearing what they have to say about your work. Presented by Uptown Stories.

     Pay what you can. Saturday mornings from 10 to noon, at the Cornerstone Center in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue and 179th Street. No meetings on October 11 or November 29. Through December 13.

     We welcome you to Snobby Poetry, should you be up for the challenge.

     If so, you’ll join a self-motivated, uber-supportive band of misfits who read, write, and share poems. They love words, rhyme (only when used sparely, thank you), observation, and Walt Whitman (obviously).

     Poetry is an illogical measuring device, filled with seemingly impossible comparisons and instructions; that is why we are called to write it. We are the liars who tell the truth. If this sounds like you, or if you’ve already taken a class with Jane LeCroy and want more, Snobby Poetry is the workshop for you. Presented by Uptown Stories.

     Pay what you can. Saturday afternoons from 1 to 3 at the Cornerstone Center in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue and 179th Street. No meetings on October 11 or November 29. Through December 20.

     The kids from Cocomelon are coming out way.

     This live, sing-along performance features the loveable kids singing their favorite songs — and they want you to join in.

     $49.50 to $86.90. Saturday afternoon at 2 at the United Palace in Lower WaHi on Broadway at 175th Street.

     Share ideas and enjoy hands-on gallery activities that bring medieval works of art to life, as inspired by the galleries of the Cloisters.

     The one-hour presentation is recommended for families with children ages 3 to 11 years. First-come, first-served.

     Free with museums admission. Saturday afternoon at 2 in the main hall of the Cloisters Museum in Fort Tryon Park. On the first Saturday of the month through December.

     Character is the root, leadership is the fruit.
     Get the message yourself from Regina Jackson, who shares ideas from her new book, Unleashed Potential: A Mentoring Journey from East Oakland to National Impact. Jackson will show inspiring examples of the legacy of leadership. Spanning three decades of youth development, resilience, and mentorship, the book shows how character-based leadership and community investment create lasting change.

     Jackson is the former president & CEO of the East Oakland Youth Development Center. Save your spot here.

     Free. Sunday afternoon at 3 at the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial in Lower WaHi on Broadway at 165th Street.

     Like all New Yorkers, wildlife in the city loves to explore the parks, like this peregrine falcon near the Hudson River.

     Use the city’s wildlife calendar to learn about what’s happening with Uptown wildlife neighbors each month, and find parks where you might be able to better see them in action.

     Most of New York’s wildlife is not dangerous; however, maintaining a safe distance is the best way to protect your safety and the safety of your wild neighbors. If you see an injured animal, leave the animal where it is, give it some distance, and call 311.

     Can you find the flora and fauna in an Uptown park?

     The next time you’re exploring Isham Park, head to Bruce’s Garden. Then, click this link on your cell phone for clues to find the treasures in this prized patch of greenery.

      Isham Park is in Inwood, at 213 Park Terrace East (not West!) and is open every day.

     Where are you going?

     Use a compass rose to help you get there. A video from the Hispanic Society will show you how to make one with a potato, some paint and a few more household objects.

     You’ll also learn a bit about maps through the centuries and how explorers used them to travel to places they’d never seen.

     Here’s a way to make your next outing with the kids a little different.

     Print out a family scavenger hunt booklet and take a walk through Fort Tryon Park’s historic estate remnants.

     Find, draw, and map natural marvels and constructed treasures while you explore the path network that leads from Billings Lawn to the Palisades Overlook.

     The booklet is provided by the Fort Tryon Park Trust.

     Need something new for the kids to do?

     The Hispanic Society of America offers several coloring pages, each based on one of the most famous paintings in the museum’s collection. Recognize the Duchess of Alba? Download the pdf below.

      For adults, the society has posted several lectures here.

¿Necesita algo nuevo para que hagan los niños?
      La Hispanic Society of America ofrece varias páginas para colorear, cada una basada en una de las pinturas más famosas de la colección del museo. ¿Reconoces a la duquesa de Alba? Descargue el pdf a continuación.
       Para los adultos, la sociedad ha publicado varias conferencias aquí.

     The NYPL’s bookmobile provides access to the library’s riches, but in Manhattan its service is temporarily suspended.

      Of course, there are the branch libraries waiting for your visit. In Fort George you can visit the Fort Washington Branch, which re-opened last year after an extensive renovation.

      The hours are here, and the library’s on 179th Street between St. Nicholas and Audubon Avenues.

     Don’t try these books! They may be dangerous.

     This month the NYPL features reading around the theme of banned books.

     Sample a variety of stories that governments around the country think kids shouldn’t read. The staff will have ready short excerpts to browse so you can make up your mind for youself.

     Free. Wednesday afternoon, October 8, at 3:30 in the Fort Washington branch of the public library in Fort George on 179th Street between St. Nicholas and Audubon Avenues.

     Beetlejuice is back!

     After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside-down when her rebellious teenage daughter discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened.

     Costumes are encouraged for this outdoor screening of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Take a blanket, snacks, and enjoy a spooky comedy with friends and neighbors.

     Free. Wednesday evening, October 9, at 6:30 on the Dongan Lawn in Fort Tryon Park.

     Learn the ins and outs of how to grow vegetables, flowers, culturally relevant crops, and more.

     On this volunteer gig, you can help the New York Restoration Project care for twenty raised beds, a three-bin compost systems, and its famous mushroom cultivation operation. The Riley-Levin Demonstration Garden includes peach trees, blueberry bushes, and strawberry patches. 

     Free. Saturday morning, October 11, from 10 to noon at Sherman Creek just off Tenth Avenue between Academy Street and Harlem River Drive. On the second Saturday through November.

    Do some digging, then get in some riding with your BMX buds and ride the most progressive urban bike park in America, with the help of the New York City Mountain Bike Association.

     There will be light trail maintenance tasks for all ages in the morning. Every volunteer receives a free 20-minute clinic and, in the afternoon, a guided ride throughout the trails from 12:30 to 3. Even better, bikes and helmets are provided, so you don’t need your own.  

     Uptown is the home of the city's first mountain biking course, 3 miles of trails of varying difficulty and a free-ride trail that includes drops, steeps, and berms. The park also features a dirt jump park and pump track, making it a good place to develop different skills at all levels.

     Free. Saturday morning, October 11, from 10 to 3 in Fort George at the BMX trailhead in Highbridge Park, on Fort George Avenue, just northwest of the Buczek Ballfield. Monthly on the second Saturday.

     Returning from Princeton for last week’s conference opener, Columbia returns Uptown for its next gridiron battle.

     The Lions’ second home game this year puts the Lehigh Hawks in their sights.

     Saturday, October 11, at noon in Wien Stadium at the Baker Athletic Complex in Inwood on 218th Street.

     Sketch from works of art in The Met Cloisters galleries and experiment with different drawing approaches. Build your skills with a teaching artist and share your works of art with other teens.

     Thinking of applying to an art high school or college? These classes are a great way to build a portfolio. For ages 12 to 18.

     Museum admission is free, with registration, for teens as part of this program. All experience levels welcome; all materials provided.

     Free with registration. Saturday afternoon, October 11, at 1 in Fort Tryon Park. On the second and last Saturdays of the month.

     Let your kids explore life in colonial New York at Manhattan’s oldest remaining house, where the Morris-Jumel Mansion offers family-day programming with a fun, hands-on activity for children and their care-givers.

     Last month kids created their own carnival mask, in collaboration with Leadlights Ensemble and Word Up Community Bookshop.

     All materials will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. 

     Free. Saturday afternoon, October 11, from 1 to 3 at the mansion on Jumel Terrace in Lower WaHi. On the second Saturday of the month.

     Join a vibrant day of bilingual activities to celebrate Día de Muertos, a time to honor loved ones who have passed away.

     You and your family will enjoy art making, story time, music, the medieval gardens, and more. For all ages.

     Acompáñanos en un animado día lleno de actividades bilingües para celebrar el Día de Muertos, una fecha en la que conmemoramos a nuestros seres queridos que han fallecido.

     Disfruta haciendo arte, el cuentacuentos, música e historias comunitarias, y los jardines medieval. Para todas las edades.

     Free with museum admission. Sunday, October 12, from 11 to 4 at the Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park.

     Conference play continues in women’s soccer this autumn weekend.

     The Lions host the Quakers on the pitch in the Ivy League matchup.

     Sunday afternoon, October 12, at 1 in Commisso stadium at the Baker Athletic Complex in Inwood on 218th Street.

     It’s been ninety years!

     Fort Tryon Park opened to the public on October 13, 1935, with remarks by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., whose family donated the land.

     The park’s design was entrusted to the Olmsted Brothers, the renowned landscape architecture firm led by the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park. Their vision transformed the rocky terrain into a scenic retreat featuring rolling lawns, curving pathways, and meticulously planned gardens.

     Spend some time this month exploring the park that’s called a crown jewel of Manhattan. Here are resources from the Fort Tryon Park Trust and from the NYC Parks.

     Pay what you can. Tuesday evenings starting October 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Cornerstone Center in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue and 179th Street. Through December 16.

     Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations feature Día de los Muertos festivities presented in collaboration with Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture Without Borders.

     Come by for artmaking, live music, face-painting and fun.

     Free. Saturday afternoon, October 18, at the Hispanic Society on Audubon Terrace at Broadway and 155th Street.

     Celebrate the harvest at a farmhouse’s fall festival.

     Stop by for hands-on activities including a thaumatrope (make your own stop-motion animation), musical performances, fresh cider from the apple press, and more. The annual festival celebrates the season and recognizes the diverse cultures that have shaped the neighborhood.

     Free Saturday, October 18, from 10 to 3 at the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum in Inwood on Broadway at 204th Street.

     Conference rivalries resume Uptown this week on the gridiron.

     Columbia’s first home Ivy League game sees Penn competing for another notch toward winning the trophy.

     Saturday afternoon, October 18, at 1:30 in Wien Stadium at the Baker Athletic Complex in Inwood on 218th Street.

     Compartan sus ideas y disfruten participando en actividades en las salas para dar vida a las obras de arte medieval.

     Share ideas and enjoy hands-on gallery activities that bring medieval works of art to life.

     Presented in Spanish and English. Recommended for families with children ages 3 to 11 years. Presentado en español e inglés. Recomendado para familias con niños de 3 a 11 años.

     Free with museum admission. Saturday afternoon, October 18, at 2 at the Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park. Also on November 15 and December 20.

     A story of temptation, trust, and escape comes to life when the Prelude Opera and the Leadlights Ensemble join to present Hansel and Gretel, by Engelbert Humperdinck.

     The opera company performs specifically for kids, and children’s music is core piece of the Leadlights’ repertoire. 

     $17.30; children, $12.10. Four afternoon performances, all at 4:30, around Hudson Heights: Saturday, October 18, Our Saviour's Atonement Lutheran Church on Bennett Avenue at 189th Street; Sunday, October 19, on the lawn of Mother Cabrini Shrine (inside the chapel in case of rain) on Fort Washington Avenue at 190th Street; Saturday, October 25, also at Our Saviour's Atonement Lutheran Church, and on Sunday, October 26, at the Hebrew Tabernacle on Fort Washington Avenue at 185th Street. 
 

     Ivy rivalry returns Uptown this week when the Elis and Lions battle.

     It’s women’s soccer action, with Columbia hosting Yale.

     Saturday night, October 18, at 7 in Commisso stadium at the Baker Athletic Complex in Inwood on 218th Street.

     How did they do that?

     In these special sessions you can peek at technique and learn—through handling tools and materials—how works of art were created.

     This month the topic is ivory carving. Stop by for hands-on demonstrations and conversations with educators and conservators.

     Demonstrations repeat every 30 minutes. For visitors of all ages. 

     Free with museum admission. Sunday afternoon, October 19, from 1 to 4 at the Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park.

     Scat like Ella or improvise like Coltrane in an eight-week bilingual WeBop series for infants and children.

     Young ones will discover core concepts of jazz such as swing, blues, and improvisation, developing their imagination, creativity, and musicality while swinging to nursery rhymes in  Spanish and English. They will do it all with a live jazz band, thanks to help from Jazz@Lincoln Center.

     The 45-minute program is limited to 12 children. Please arrive on time: Latecomers are not guaranteed to find space.

     Free. Monday morning, October 20, at 11 at the Fort Washington branch of the public library in Fort George on 179th Street between St. Nicholas and Audubon Avenues. Through December 15.

     Are you a junior or senior in high school and unsure about your next step? Ask one of the Young Adult Librarians for advice.

     They will be on hand in person to help answer your questions about careers, jobs, and college applications. Just drop in—registration isn’t required.

     Free. Monday afternoon, October 20, at 3:30 at the Fort Washington branch of the public library in Fort George on 179th Street between St. Nicholas and Audubon Avenues.

     Get some stress out during a creative session of arts and crafts.

      It’s collage night, when you can repurpose old book materials, magazines, and more.

     Supplies & vibes will be provided. 

     Free. Thursday evening, October 23, at 6:30 at Recirculation in Lower WaHi at 876 Riverside Drive near 160th Street. Monthly on the third Thursday.

     Learn the ins and outs of how to grow vegetables, flowers, culturally relevant crops, and more.

     On this volunteer gig, you can help the New York Restoration Project care for twenty raised beds, a three-bin compost systems, and its famous mushroom cultivation operation. The Riley-Levin Demonstration Garden includes peach trees, blueberry bushes, and strawberry patches. 

     Free. Friday morning, October 24, from 10 to noon at Sherman Creek just off Tenth Avenue between Academy Street and Harlem River Drive.

     Autumn garden maintenance is an important step to a successful growing season.

     Help the friends of Inwood Hill Park maintain the pollinator garden by preparing it for a dormant winter. You’ll also learn more about the ways pollinator species help plants flourish in our parks.

     Wear clothes to get dirty in.

     Free. Sunday afternoon, October 26, at 1; meet at 218th Street and Indian Road.

     If your child has a creative spirit, consider an audition for Jazzy Fairy Tales, the next production from Pied Piper Children’s Theatre.

     There will be two seperate casts and on the day of the audition, you will have the chance to choose which cast you prefer. One rehearses in Inwood, and the other in Hudson Heights.

     Performances are scheduled for the Inwood cast on Saturday, December 13, and for the Hudson Heights cast on Sunday, December 14.

     Auditions: Tuesday evening, October 28, from 5 to 7 at The Inwood Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, on Riverside Drive between Payson and Seaman Avenues.

 

     Celebrate All Hallow’s Eve with a mysterious fantasy featuring astonishing acrobatics and unforgettable thrills in this family-friendly spectacle.

     Step into The Vampire Circus, a mesmerizing theatrical experience that fuses artistry, technology, and twisted acrobatics. It’s a world that pushes the boundaries of human performance with acrobatics performed by international artists with multidisciplinary skills in theater, dance, and gymnastics. 

     $49.50 to $86.90. Halloween night at 9 at the United Palace in Lower WaHi on Broadway at 175th Street.

     Celebrate with the seniors as the end of the soccer season arrives.

     An Ivy battle marks 2025’s closing match between the Crimson and the Lions as Columbia hosts Harvard. The conference championship starts Friday with the semi-finals.

     Saturday afternoon, November 1, at 2 in Commisso stadium at the Baker Athletic Complex in Inwood on 218th Street. 

     A birth, a death, and a marriage. Thornton Wilder’s classic drama tells the story of growth and change in Our Town.

      The Uptown troupe for kids, Pied Piper, presents the story with a cast of Uptown actors.

     Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2, at times to be announced later at the Hebrew Tabernacle in Hudson Heights on Fort Washington Avenue at 185th Street. Also on November 8 and 9.

     When you don’t give sports scholarships, how much does federal funding matter, anyway?

     Find out when Ivy rivals Harvard and Columbia battle for gridiron supremacy.

     Saturday night, November 7, in Wien Stadium at the Baker Athletic Complex in Inwood on 218th Street.

     Celebrate with the seniors as the Lions close out the autumn season at home.

     For the final Uptown game this year, Columbia hosts Brown for an autumn gridiron classic.

     Saturday, November 15, at noon in Wien Stadium at the Baker Athletic Complex in Inwood on 218th Street.

     Take the whole family to meet the instruments at a petting zoo, when even the youngest listeners can get up close and personal with their favorite instruments before seeing them come alive onstage.

     The Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra invites their curiosity before performing an enchanting family concert.

     Narrator Sarah Ziegler will guide you through musical selections from the evening concert, The Music that Inspires Us.

     Best for children ages 1 through 10 and their families.

     $16.25. Saturday afternoon, November 15, with the petting zoo beginning at 2:45 and the concert at 3. At Our Saviour’s Atonement Lutheran Church in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue at 179th Street.

     Share the joy of Nutcracker, the Christmas ballet for everyone. Tchaikovsky’s timeless score sets the stage for a family holiday.

     In this production, an international cast, whimsical puppetry and opulent costumes and sets from Europe will delight your senses.

     $47.30 to $211.20. Friday night, November 28, at 7:30 at the United Palace in Lower WaHi on Broadway at 175th Street.

     A performance featuring Uptown kids, Jazzy Fairy Tales is the latest production from Pied Piper Children’s Theatre.

     With two complete casts, you can choose which actors to watch. Ticket prices and locations will be announced later.

     Inwood cast on Saturday afternoon, December 13, at 4 and 6.

     Hudson Heights cast on Sunday afternoon, December 14, at 4 and 6.

 

     Take the whole family to meet the instruments at a petting zoo, when even the youngest listeners can get up close and personal with their favorite instruments before seeing them come alive onstage.

     The Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra invites their curiosity before performing an enchanting family concert.

     Narrator Sarah Ziegler will guide you through musical selections from the evening concert, The People Who Inspire Us.

     Best for children ages 1 through 10 and their families.

     $16.25. Saturday afternoon, January 10, with the petting zoo beginning at 2:45 and the concert at 3. At Our Saviour’s Atonement Lutheran Church in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue at 179th Street.

     Is your teen interested in the sciences? Maybe she’s thinking about a career in medicine?

     If so, consider the Lang Youth Medical Program at the Columbia Medical Center. It’s a free opportunity to expose high school students to the science of medicine and aims to inspire teens to achieve their college aspirations through hands-on learning and mentorship.

     It’s open only to students in WaHi who attend a Community School District 6 school. The program meets on seventeen Saturdays through the year and during the entire month of July. Find out more here.

     The deadline for the next session is in March.

     Take the whole family to meet the instruments at a petting zoo, when even the youngest listeners can get up close and personal with their favorite instruments before seeing them come alive onstage.

     The Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra invites their curiosity before performing an enchanting family concert.

     Narrator Sarah Ziegler will guide you through musical selections from the evening concert, The Places That Inspire Us.

     Best for children ages 1 through 10 and their families.

     $16.25. Saturday afternoon, April 18, with the petting zoo beginning at 2:45 and the concert at 3. At Our Saviour’s Atonement Lutheran Church in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue at 179th Street.

     The annual Drums Along the Hudson began in 2002 as a traditional Pow Wow to celebrate Native American heritage and culture, and also to commemorate the Lenape people who first inhabited Inwood Hill Park, or Shorakkopoch (“edge of the water”).

     This 2025 celebration featured the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, Kalpulli Huehuethlatholi Aztec Dancers, drummers from around the world, international food, and crafts.
     Free. Usually on the first Sunday in June from 11 to 6 in Inwood Hill Park at Indian Road and 218th Street.