Panoramic views of the river have been part of the history of Wave Hill since native Americans first settled here―and of enduring importance to the Perkins family, the last to own Wave Hill before it became a public garden. This week, we focus on a slippery resident of the river, one whose springtime journey up the river’s estuary is a dramatic one. Combine the nature program with a birding walk, or the eel-themed Family Art Project, add in a light lunch in The Café and make a day of it.
If you have youngsters in your care this week, check out the three afternoons of vacation art we have in store, a perfect setting for combining some outdoor time with art-making.
SAT, APRIL 8 FAMILY ART PROJECT: EELS AND HUDSON RIVER THEATERS
The Hudson River is seen through beautiful vistas at Wave Hill, but what is life really like inside the river? Hear about the relationship between eels and the health of the river and our role as good river stewards. Create drawings, maps and images of river residents, then create a diorama with movable parts—a thriving river theater! Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM
SAT, APRIL 8 GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK
Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM
SUN, APRIL 9 SPRING BIRDING
Welcome migratory birds back to Wave Hill this spring! Explore the gardens and woodlands with naturalist Gabriel Willowon a quest to spot some of our favorite feathered friends as they return to the Hudson Highlands. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Severe weather cancels. NYC Audubon Members enjoy two-for-one admission. Free with admission to the grounds.
ON THE GROUNDS, 9:30AM
SUN, APRIL 9 FAMILY ART PROJECT: EELS AND HUDSON RIVER THEATERS
The Hudson River is seen through beautiful vistas at Wave Hill, but what is life really like inside the river? Hear about the relationship between eels and the health of the river and our role as good river stewards. Create drawings, maps and images of river residents, then create a diorama with movable parts—a thriving river theater! Free with admission to the grounds.Hudson River Eel Day event.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM
SUN, APRIL 9 FAMILY NATURE WALK
Join naturalist and educator Gabriel Willow on a family-friendly walk through the gardens or woodlands. Ages six and older welcome with an adult. Severe weather cancels. No registration required. Free with admission to the grounds.
MEET AT WAVE HILL HOUSE, 12:30PM
SUN, APRIL 9 NATURE PROGRAM: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF THE AMERICAN EEL
An environmental educator from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Eel Project shares the incredible journey of Anguilla rostrata with images, artifacts and live eels. Hear how scientists, students and community volunteers are working together to gather vital information about local eel populations by catching, counting and releasing thousands of tiny “glass eels” as they make their way up the Hudson River estuary each spring. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Free with admission to the grounds. Hudson River Eel Day event.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 2PM
SUN, APRIL 9 GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK
Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM
MON, APRIL 10
Closed to the public.
TUE, APRIL 11 GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS WALK
Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM
TUE, APRIL 11 VACATION ART: SKETCHING SPRING–CAPTURING NATURE’S CONTOURS
Spring marks a new cycle of life—trees are leafing out, buds are bursting and migrating birds are returning to their summer homes at Wave Hill. Spend one, two or three afternoons exploring Wave Hill’s grounds and gardens and practicing methods for recording your observations, then constructing a nature journal. Harness your powers of observation to closely examine the budding leaves, flowers and insects of spring. Today’s program: Modeled on tried-and-true nature-journaling practices, learn accessible techniques like blind and sighted contour drawing to record the details of spring growth in your new nature journal, and label them to help you remember your experience. This program is geared toward families with children between the ages of six and 10. Space is limited. $25/$15 Wave Hill Member per session includes one child and one adult. Additional child or adult is $10.Registration is required, online at wavehill.org, or onsite at the Perkins Visitors Center.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 1:30–3PM
TUE, APRIL 11 GALLERY TOUR
Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow will lead a tour of the spring exhibitions in Glyndor Gallery. The group show, Outcasts: Women in the Wilderness, explores how women have been treated and portrayed as outcasts in history, myth and biblical legend. In the Sunroom Project Space, Borinquen Gallo’s imaginary hive interior is informed by Wave Hill’s beehives. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM
WED, APRIL 12 VACATION ART: SKETCHING SPRING–COLORFUL SPRINGSCAPES
Spring marks a new cycle of life—trees are leafing out, buds are bursting and migrating birds are returning to their summer homes at Wave Hill. Spend one, two or three afternoons exploring Wave Hill’s grounds and gardens and practicing methods for recording your observations, then constructing a nature journal. Harness your powers of observation to closely examine the budding leaves, flowers and insects of spring. Today’s program: Celebrate the colors of the season by rendering your observations of Wave Hill’s gardens with colored pencils and pastels in your newly constructed nature journal. Inspired by the expressive use of color in Japanese prints and European Post-Impressionist paintings, we also explore the emotive powers of color and express our responses to nature through hue. This program is geared toward families with children between the ages of six and 10. Space is limited. $25/$15 Wave Hill Member per session includes one child and one adult. Additional child or adult is $10.Registration is required, online at wavehill.org, or onsite at the Perkins Visitors Center.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 1:30–3PM
THU, APRIL 13 VACATION ART: SKETCHING SPRING–WATERCOLOR VISIONS
Spring marks a new cycle of life—trees are leafing out, buds are bursting and migrating birds are returning to their summer homes at Wave Hill. Spend one, two or three afternoons exploring Wave Hill’s grounds and gardens and practicing methods for recording your observations, then constructing a nature journal. Harness your powers of observation to closely examine the budding leaves, flowers and insects of spring. Today’s program: Watercolor paints are a great way to capture the delicacy of new spring growth. Master a simple underpainting technique for achieving a cohesive image, then complete a watercolor painting inspired by Wave Hill’s grounds to create an impressive cover for your nature journal. This program is geared toward families with children between the ages of six and 10. Space is limited. $25/$15 Wave Hill Member per session includes one child and one adult. Additional child or adult is $10.Registration is required, online at wavehill.org, or onsite at the Perkins Visitors Center.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 1:30–3PM
A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.
HOURS Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–5:30PM, starting March 15. Closes 4:30PM, November 1–March 14.
ADMISSION $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.
PROGRAM FEES Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.
Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/
DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.
Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.
