With the Fort Washington branch of the NYPL closed for renovations, the library’s bookmobile provides access to the its riches.

     At the bookmobile you can sign up for a library card, browse a small collection of books for people of all ages, speak with a librarian to get reading recommendations, reference services, and return and renew books.

     What’s more, the bookmobile is proof that reading takes you places!

     Mondays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the YM & YWHA in Fort George at 54 Nagle Avenue. Also in Hudson Heights on Wednesdays. The Fort Washington branch was expected to reopen in the summer but the work continues.

     The Uptown Writers’ group calls on the brave and bold for a creative adventure.

     This autumn you can join other inventive souls who will write stories that have multiple choices for the reader: different story lines that lead them down alternative paths or to alternative endings. You’ll take inspiration from a few examples like Jason Shiga’s Meanwhile and Ryan North’s To be or not to be, then you’ll build worlds of your own.

     For ages 10 to 14.

     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.

    Become the DJ as you learn to use audio editing software in this one-day workshop.

     Record your own music, beats, poetry, stories, or lyrics while discoving the tools of the recording process at the same time.

     Registration required.

     Free. Tuesday afternoon from 3:30 to 5:30 in the recreation center in J. Hood Wright Park in Lower WaHi on Fort Washington Avenue at 175th Street.

      Take a journey into the deepest, darkest corners of your mind, where your imaginations make you shiver, squirm, and silently scream. 

     Yes, you’ll be writing your own page-turning horror story and screenplay, the kind that make your pulse race and your hair stand on end.

     In this Uptown Writers’ workshop, you’ll visit works by masters of the genre, like Edgar Allen Poe, Shirley Jackson, and Stephen King, while discovering newer voices like Steven Graham Jones, Victor LaValle, and Carmen Maria Machado. And because horror can’t be contained to the written page, we’ll check out selected scenes from movies like Psycho, Nightmare on Elm Street, Shaun of the Dead, and Get Out.

     For ages 12 to 18.

     $99. Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Cornerstone Center in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue at 189th Street. No meet-up on All Hallow’s Eve. Through November 21.

     With the Fort Washington branch of the NYPL closed for renovations until summer 2024, the library’s bookmobile provides access to the its riches.

     At the bookmobile you can sign up for a library card, browse a small collection of books for people of all ages, speak with a librarian to get reading recommendations, reference services, and return and renew books.

     What’s more, the bookmobile is proof that reading takes you places!

     Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the Moriah Center in Hudson Heights at 90 Bennett Avenue. Also in Fort George on Mondays.

     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? This workshop answers those questions and more.

     With the Uptown Writers, you’ll break down the parts of fiction writing each week and test out what you’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.

     For ages 8 to 12.

     $99. Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:30 at the Cornerstone Center in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue at 189th Street. Through November 15.

     There’s always more to learn, fiction writers!

     Come build on the skills you’ve already got and dig deeper into the qualities that give all the best stories that extra pop.

     Whichever genre of fiction you prefer (historical, fantasy, realistic, etc.) is welcome with the Uptown Writers. This workshop focuses on the fine details that will take your writing from good to great: Natural, character-driven dialogue; proper pacing; inciting incidents; raising the stakes; plot-twists; and, of course, the art of the satisfying ending.

     You’ll also look to your favorite fiction writers for inspiration, and discover new works worthy of your attention.

     For ages 12 to 16.

     $99. Wednesday evenings from 5:45 to 7:45 at the Cornerstone Center in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue at 189th Street. No meet-up on Thanksgiving week. Through November 29.

     Learn the basics of comic creation and build on your skills in this workshop.

     Young artists will learn cartooning and storytelling with world-championship manga artist Gabriel Castillo. The classes are focused on developing your creativity and drawing skills and learning the tools to design unique characters and visualize imaginary worlds.

      Sponsored by Word Up Bookshop. For ages 10 through 17.
      $40, but the fee is optional. Wednesday nights through October 18, from 6:30 to 8:30 at Recirculation, in Audubon Park at 876 Riverside Drive (at 160th Street).

     Prefer outdoors to in? Do you want to be wild and break out of limitations?

     Poetry is the answer.

     Strapping on your shoes and grab a pen, then meet at the P.S. 187 schoolyard to go on 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 our resilient neighborhood.   You’ll explore the wilds of language out in the world, watching the seasons change, allowing a stream of poetry to flow from the river of possibility.

     For ages 8 to 10.

     $99. Thursday afternoons from 4 to 6, meeting at Hudson Cliffs School in Hudson Heights on Cabrini Boulevard just above 181st Street. No meet-up on Thanksgiving. Through November 30.

     Get ready to run faster and jump higher, one frame at a time.

     The Uptown Writers are taking your stories and transforming them into comics.

     You’ll start with an ordinary day (or the wildest story you can imagine) and use comic book language, illustration, and frames to share with everyone the next super-adventure.

     You don’t need to be a sequential artist to join us. Just bring your best ideas. You’ll learn all the steps to comics illustration and development, including pin-ups, single-frame and multi-frame pages, using any pencils, pens, paints, and other art materials.

     For ages 10 to 14.

     $99. Friday afternoons from 4 to 6 at the Cornerstone Center in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue at 189th Street. Through November 17.

     If you’re the kind of person who can’t stand staying inside, consider this: Nature has inspiration even for the most urbane New Yorkers.

     Observing how the natural world works will link you to the life you lead and the challenges you face. In this group for pre-teens and young teens, Jane LeCroy will help you see what’s in front of you and put it in verse.

     For ages 11 to 13.

     $99. Friday afternoons from 4 to 6, meeting at Hudson Cliffs School in Hudson Heights on Cabrini Boulevard just above 181st Street. No meet-up on November 24. Through December 1.

     Enjoy the autumn with an outdoor film.

     This one tells the true story of Selena, a Texas-born Tejano singer who rose from cult status to performing at the Astrodome, as well as having chart-topping albums on the Latin music charts.

     Starring Jenifer Lopez, Selena is rated PG.

     Free. Friday night at 8 on the pool deck of the Highbridge Recreation Center, on Amsterdam Avenue.

     Families and the NYPD meet together to foster positive relationships and promote understanding at the Partnership Walk.

    Join the event to walk side by side with local police officers, building bridges of trust as you get to know the men and women who serve and protect our neighborhood.

     A resource fair will feature booths and exhibits showcasing resources and services from the NYPD, from educational programs to community organizations.

     Free. Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Lower WaHi on Audubon Avenue at 166th Street.

     Take a tour of Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse at the  Little Red Lighthouse Festival. You can climb to the top for the view and learn about the structure and the importance of its location, on Jeffrey’s Hook, from the Urban Park Rangers.

     Puppet shows, vendors, and even readings of The Little Red Lighthouse and The Great Gray Bridge will be among the entertainment.

     Enter the park at 158th or 181st and walk down under the GWB. Arrive early for lighthouse tours. Timed tickets will be distributed beginning at noon, and with the expected crowds you would be wise to before noon.

     Free. Saturday from noon to 4 on Jeffrey’s Hook in Fort Washington Park on the Hudson under the great gray bridge.

     Columbia continues its football season returning home to host Marist. The Red Foxes come down the Hudson from Poughkeepsie for the match-up.

     Saturday afternoon at 12:30 at Wein Stadium in Inwood on 218th Street.

     Share ideas and enjoy hands-on gallery activities that bring medieval works of art to life in this program for families at the Cloisters.

     Recommended for families with children ages 3 to 11 years. Space is limited; first-come, first-served.

     Free with Museum admission; admission is free for children under 12 with an adult. Saturday afternoon at 1 at the museum in Fort Tryon Park.

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

     It’s 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.)

     After all, poetry is an illogical measuring device, filled with seemingly impossible comparisons and instructions; that is why we are called to write it. Poets are the liars who tell the truth.

     If this sounds familiar, or if you’ve already taken a class with Jane LeCroy and want more, Snobby Poetry is the workshop for you.

     For ages 14 to 16.

     $99. Saturday afternoons from 1 to 3 at the Cornerstone Center in Hudson Heights on Bennett Avenue at 189th Street. No meet-up on November 25. Through December 2.

     Discover tales of brave knights, courageous princesses, and the legend of the unicorn while exploring medieval art and architecture at the Cloisters.

     Kids will get to listen, learn, and get creative during this interactive in-gallery program.

     This drop-off program is for ages 5 to 8. Classes are limited to 21 children and registration is required.

     $330; members, $275. Saturday afternoons through December 9 from 2 to 4 at the Cloisters. No classes on October 21, November 11, or November 25.

     Come to the Manhattan’s oldest standing house for an after-dark tour of the historic museum by candlelight.

     You’ll carry a candle (it’s electric) to guide you through the grounds and house while learning about the mansion’s history and hearing spooky stories of the spirits who may still inhabit the house.

     This spooky ghost tour includes exclusive access to the third floor attic with original flooring.

     The tour lasts 75 minutes and strictly for those 13 and older; individuals under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

     $39.19. Saturday evening at 6:30 at the mansion in Lower WaHi on Jumel Terrace. Also on Friday, October 27.

     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.

      And here’s a recap of the Society’s summer camp for kids.

      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.

     Enjoy the autumn with an outdoor movie.

     When a Colombian teenage girl has to face the frustration of being the only member of her family without magical powers, she sets out to make a change.

     Encanto, from 2021, is rated PG.

     Free. Friday night, October 13, at 8 on the pool deck of the Highbridge Recreation Center, on Amsterdam Avenue.

     Conference competition at home begins on the gridiron this weekend.

     Columbia hosts Penn for an afternoon of Ivy League college football.

     Saturday afternoon, October 14, at 12:30 at Wein Stadium in Inwood on 218th Street.

     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.

     All materials will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Masks are not required outdoors; masks are optional inside the Museum.

     Free. Saturday afternoon, October 14, from 1 to 3 at the mansion on Jumel Terrace in Lower WaHi.

      College soccer continues its autumn competition when Ivy League rivals, the Lions and the Bears, meet in Columbia’s den.

      Saturday evening, October 14, at 6 at Comisso Stadium in Inwood on 218th Street.

      When a boy named Miguel dreams of becoming a famous guitar player, he has to cope with the misgivings of his close-knit family. His lofty ambitions run afoul of a curse, leading him on a journey into the Land of the Dead to seek forgiveness from his ancestors.

     This screening of Coco will be in Spanish with English subtitles. Take a blanket and snacks, but no glass bottles or alcohol.

     Free. Saturday evening, October 14, at dusk (around 6:45) in Fort Tryon Park on the Dongan Law.

     Get in step for the Day of the Dead in advance as the Hispanic Society and Inwood Art Works celebrate Hispanic Heritage month.

     Frida’s Revenge kicks off the evening with a performance before the screening of Coco.

     Free. Saturday evening, October 14, with the music at 6 and the film at 7:30 on the plaza of Audubon Terrace at Broadway and 155th Street.

     Peek at technique and learn—through handling tools and materials—how works of art were created.

     In this workshop, you can stop by for hands-on demonstrations and conversations about knitting in medieval times and now. 

      Demonstrations repeat every 30 minutes. For visitors of all ages. Space is limited; first-come, first-served.
     Free with Museum admission; admission is free for children under 12 with an adult. Sunday, October 15, from 1 to 4 at the Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park.

     Come to the Manhattan’s oldest standing house for an after-dark tour of the historic museum by candlelight.

     You’ll carry a candle (it’s electric) to guide you through the grounds and house while learning about the mansion’s history and hearing spooky stories of the spirits who may still inhabit the house.

     This spooky ghost tour includes exclusive access to the third floor attic with original flooring.

     The tour lasts 75 minutes and strictly for those 13 and older; individuals under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

     $39.19. Friday evening, October 20, at 6:30 at the mansion in Lower WaHi on Jumel Terrace.

    Do some digging, then get in some riding with your BMX buds.

      Meet up for a day of work and play in the woods and learn what it takes to build, maintain, 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.

     Updates on trail work posted are on the New York chapter’s web site.

     Free. Saturday morning, October 21, 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.

     Families can share ideas and enjoy hands-on gallery activities that bring medieval works of art to life in this bilingual program.

     Presented in Spanish and English, the Cloisters guides your exploration through the medieval world.

     Recommended for families with children ages 3 to 11 years. Space is limited; first-come, first-served.

     Free with Museum admission; admission is free for children under 12 with an adult. Saturday afternoon, October 21, at 1 in the museum in Fort Tryon Park.

     The regular season comes to an end at home for women’s soccer.

     Columbia hosts Yale in the final conference match before the Ivy League tournament (which starts the first Friday in November).

      Saturday afternoon, October 21, at 2 at Comisso Stadium in Inwood on 218th Street.

     Prepare for your Halloween celebration on an evening of ghoulish excitement and jack o’ lantern carving.

     Take a pumpkin to carve on the historic grounds, where you can enjoy the crisp autumn air and the spooky atmosphere. Carving tools will be provided, and some pumpkins will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

     Costumes are welcome, but not required.

     Free. Wednesday evening, October 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum in Inwood on Broadway at 204th Street.

     Let your little ones enjoy a non-scary Halloween event at Dyckman After Dark.

     Spooky tunes set the tone for an evening of apple cider and treats. You can also explore the history Dyckman Farmhouse Museum.

     Thursday evening, October 26, from 6 to 8 at the museum in Inwood on Broadway at 204th Street.

     Kids ages 6 through 13 are invited to audition for a role in the Pied Piper’s autumn musical, 12 Dancing Princesses.

     Rehearsals will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesays, and Saturdays starting November 4, with performances on December 16 and 17 at the Hebrew Tabernacle in Hudson Heights. 

     Participating in the show costs $375 tuition; tuition assistance is available.

     Wednesday evening, November 1, from 5 to 7:30

at the Hudson View Gardens’ Lounge, in Hudson Heights on Pinehurst Avenue at 183rd Street.

     The Lions defend their den against the Crimson in this conference match-up.

          Saturday afternoon, November 4, at 12:30 at Wein Stadium in Inwood on 218th Street.

     The fall play from Pied Piper is Shakespeare’s As You Like It, featuring a cast of kids from Uptown neighborhoods.

     Saturday and Sunday, November 4 and 5, at times to be announced later at the Hebrew Tabernacle in Hudson Heights on Fort Washington Avenue at 185th Street. Also on November 11 and 12.

     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.

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

     Free with registration. Saturday, November 11, at noon in Fort Tryon Park. On the last Saturday of the month.

     Uptown college football comes to an end this season with an in-state college competition.

      Ivy League rival Cornell makes the trek from Ithaca to challenge Columbia at home.

      Saturday afternoon, November 11, at 12:30 at Wein Stadium in Inwood on 218th Street.

     The Pied Piper’s autumn musical, 12 Dancing Princesses, arrives with Uptown performers ages 6 through 13.

     Saturday and Sunday, December 16 and 17, at times to be announced later from 5 to 7:30 at the Hebrew Tabernacle in Hudson Heights on Fort Washington Avenue at 185th Street.

     Peek at technique and learn—through handling tools and materials—how works of art were created.

     In this presentation on printmaking, you can stop by for hands-on demonstrations and conversations with  conservators and artists.

     Demonstrations repeat every 30 minutes. For visitors of all ages. Space is limited; first come, first served.
     Free with Museum admission; admission is free for children under 12 with an adult. Sunday afternoon, December 17, from 1 to 4 at the Cloisters musuem in Fort Tryon Park.

     Kids with an interest in learning the basics of basketball but who are too young for the school team can join an instructional series to practice a variety of skills, participate in conditioning exercises, and play practice games.

     The YM & YWHA hosts the series, with instruction from Asphalt Green coaches. Participants should wear comfortable athletic attire including sneakers, and should take a water bottle.

     Four Sunday classes:

4th–6th grade girls: 10:30–11:30
4th–6th grade boys: 11:45–12:45
Kinder and 1st grade coed: 11:45–12:30
2nd and 3rd grade coed: 12:45–1:30

      $275; members, $250. Sundays from January 21 through March 25 at the Y’s gym in Fort George at 54 Nagle Avenue. No classes on February 18 or March 11.

     Peek at technique and learn—through handling tools and materials—how works of art were created.

     In this presentation on leatherworking, you can stop by for hands-on demonstrations and conversations with  conservators and artists.

     Demonstrations repeat every 30 minutes. For visitors of all ages. Space is limited; first come, first served.
     Free with Museum admission; admission is free for children under 12 with an adult. Sunday afternoon, January 21, from 1 to 4 at the Cloisters musuem in Fort Tryon Park.

     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 at meets on seventeen Saturdays through the year and during the entire month of July. Find out more here.

     The deadline for next year’s session is in March.

     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 Shorakapok (“edge of the water”).

     The twenty-first anniversary event will feature Mohawk Elder Tom Porter, the Thunderbird American Indian dancers, Sri Lankan dancers and drummers, storytelling, crafts, food and more.
     The event has attracted a growing audience, numbering from 400 in the first year to over 8,000 in pre-Covid years.
     Free. On a Sunday in early June in Inwood Hill Park at Indian Road and 218th Street.

    The Medieval Festival is the most famous event in the Heights, drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the neighborhood, but its sponsor, the Washington Heights & Inwood Development Corporation, announced in the spring that it will be canceled. The budget itsn’t big enough.

     The corporation hopes that in 2024, lords, ladies, knights, and commoners will return to bring to life the customs and spirit of the middle ages, transforming a slice of Upper Manhattan into a medieval market town decorated with bright banners and processional flags. Visitors are greeted by period music, dance, magic, and minstrels, as well as jugglers and jesters. The day concludes with a joust among four knights on horseback.

     The festival brings tens of thousands of people to the neighborhood, so expect crowds and limited parking.

     Free. A Sunday in late September or early October from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Fort Tryon Park.