Wave Hill Weekly Events (Jul 24 – Jul 31) | Elderflora & Hanging with the Herps

 

Our gardens work to act as a bastion of culture by evolving into a garden of voices. Meaningful stories come to life, and those who uphold them honor their rich histories — from the nurturing hands of our gardeners to the bold brushstrokes of our featured emerging artists in Glyndor Gallery. Wave Hill invites you to experience the beauty of life, art, music, and the natural landscapes that strengthen our connections with our communities and nature.  

 

Sunset Wednesdays 2025 

Wed, Jul 9–Aug 6 7:00PM – 8:00PM 

Registration Encouraged 

Wave Hill’s annual summer tradition is back, bringing five exciting performances Wednesday evenings to our Great Lawn! Pack a picnic and bring your favorite blanket or chair for an unforgettable summer evening as the sun sets over the Hudson. Delectable food and drinks also available for purchase. Premium admission is in effect from 4PM to 8PM each Sunset Wednesday.  

 

Wild at Night: Evening Nature Encounters 

Fri, Jul 11–Aug 1 8:00PM – 10:00PM 

Registration Encouraged 

After the sun sets, Wave Hill belongs to the creatures of the night. Bats, fireflies, katydids, and more emerge from their daytime slumber to animate the grounds far from human eyes and ears. The Garden is open late for all visitors until 8PM. Exclusive evening programs for ages 12 and older welcome with an adult.  

 

Gardens & Nature: 

 

Garden Highlights Walk 

Sun, Jul 27, 1:00PM – 1:45PM 

Free with admission to the grounds   

Registration not required.   

Take a leisurely guided walk with a Wave Hill Garden Guide to observe early summer garden highlights. All are welcome! 

 

Hanging with the Herps 

Fri, Jul 25, 8:00PM – 10:00PM 

Registration Encouraged 

Reptiles and amphibians are among the most misunderstood species of the animal world, and many of them live right here in the Bronx! Environmental educators from Tenafly Nature Center explore the differences between these fascinating critters with live animal ambassadors in this fun and engaging nature program for adults and older kids.    

 

Tree Folklore Walk 

Sun, Jul 27, 11:00AM – 12:00PM 

Registration Encouraged 

The history of the trees in our landscapes tells a story of ornamental value. Examine the history of Wave Hill trees in a guided talk and tour with naturalist Levi O'Brien. Honor their wisdom through discussing the importance of trees in our landscapes, as well as the major roles people have played in preserving, protecting, and celebrating our green spaces.   

 

Art: 

 

Public Gallery Tour 

Thur, Jul 24, 2:00PM – 3:00PM 

Sat, Jul 26, 2:00PM – 3:00PM 

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

Visitors can expect an in-depth look at artworks on view in Glyndor Gallery and in the Sunroom Project Space, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists in the unique context of a public garden between nature, culture and site. 

 

Meet the Artists: Trees we breathe 

Sun, Jul 27, 1:00PM – 2:30PM 

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

Gain insight on the artwork featured at Wave Hill as curators introduce the exhibition and the themes that tie the pieces and artists together. Then, join a walk-through with exhibiting artists who will speak to their creative practices, processes, and works on view in the exhibition.  

 

Family: 

 

Stories in the Garden 

Thurs, Jul 24, 10:00AM – 12:00PM 

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration encouraged. 

Join Wave Hill and Literacy in Community Educators for storytime in the garden! Stories will come to life through interactive book readings and related activities, providing learning opportunities for children and preparing them for success in and out of the classroom. 

Family Art Project: Garden Guardians 

Sat, Jul 26, 10:00AM – 1:00PM 

Sun, Jul 27, 10:00AM – 1:00PM   

Free with admission to the grounds  

Registration not required. 

At Wave Hill, the gardens are cared for by our amazing gardeners. Use your imagination to come up with your very own garden guardian and  bring your dream to life in a sculptural form.   

 

Special Events: 

 

Concert: Majel Connery: Elderflora 

Sun, Jul 27, 3:00PM  –  4:00PM 

Registration encouraged  

Narrated from the perspective of the tree itself, composer and vocalist Majel Connery presents Elderflora, an oratorio on the life and death of a tree. Created by Connery and performed with guitarist Matthew Walsh, Elderflora invites the audience on a musical journey experiencing the inside of its mind, thoughts, and feelings in hyperreal detail. 

 

Sunset Wednesdays: Fabiola Méndez 

Wed, Jul 30, 7:00PM  –  8:00PM 

Registration encouraged  

Puerto Rican singer, educator, and Emmy-nominated composer, Fabiola Méndez, sheds her artistic vison on Borikén culture and her identity. Méndez's mission is to share and celebrate the cuatro, folk music through her performances. Fabiola Méndez brings collective storytelling to places like NPR Tiny Desk, Fred Rogers Productions, and Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, and now, to Wave Hill! 

 

Afternoon Tea 

Thur, Jul 24, 11:00AM – 1:30PM 

Tue, Jul 29, 11:00AM – 1:30PM 

7 Day Advanced Booking Required 

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00AM or 1:30PM, enjoy delicious tea sandwiches and delectable pastries with a specialty tea selection served on our Kate French Terrace, provided by our exclusive partner Great Performances. Due to the nature of the event, no substitutions or changes are available. 

 

HOURS STARTING MARCH 15: 10AM–5:30PM, Tuesday–Sunday  

Shuttle Service Free from Subway and Metro-North, Saturday–Sunday 

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at wavehill.org. 

Eight Young Mob Gang Members Indicted in Memphis on Racketeering, Murder, Robbery, Firearm and Drug Charges

  

Larry Wilson, of Memphis, Tennessee, made his initial appearance in federal court for his role in Young Mob (YM), a violent street gang that allegedly commits crimes including murder, assault, arson, drug trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, and narcotics trafficking. Wilson is the last of eight Young Mob defendants charged to make his initial appearance related to this case.

“As alleged, this gang shot and killed a member of a rival gang in a restaurant drive-through and robbed customers at gunpoint at another Memphis establishment, recklessly endangering innocent bystanders,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence that spills into our community spreads fear and insecurity in our neighborhoods. The Criminal Division, in partnership with our federal and local law enforcement colleagues, remains steadfast in our pursuit of gangs that inflict senseless violence in our country.”

“This gang engaged in numerous unlawful activities, including acts of extreme violence, which demonstrated a blatant disregard for human life,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Through a coordinated effort, the ATF and its local, state, and federal partners worked tirelessly to dismantle the organization and ensure that its members are held accountable.”

Larry Wilson, 35, Brian Lackland, 35, Paul Nelson, 32, Mohamed Samba, 25, Braxton Beck, 33, Edgar Smith, 39, Jerrod Cox, 32, and Cedric Jackson, 33, all Tennessee residents, were charged for their membership and association with YM. YM members signify their membership by wearing red and/or black clothing and jewelry with an “Eight Ball” or the letters YM or YMM. YM members and recruits are required to commit acts of violence to gain membership and maintain their status in the gang.

On May 28, 2022, Samba and other, not-yet-identified, YM members, shot suspected rival KSBG gang members ─ murdering one and attempting to murder two others ─ in a McDonald’s restaurant drive-through in Memphis. After the shootings, YM members burned the stolen car used in the shooting.

The indictment further alleges that on May 13, 2023, at Tug’s Casual Grill, a Memphis restaurant, Nelson, Cox, and another unnamed YM member robbed customers at gunpoint. The unnamed member was shot and killed. Nelson and Cox left the mortally wounded man in a nearby fire station parking lot and then drove their stolen vehicle to another location and burned it. 

The indictment also alleges that on March 17, 2024, Lackland and Beck attempted the murder of a suspected gang rival, which was thwarted in part due to police presence in the area. In addition, on June 11 and June 12, 2024, Lackland, Wilson, Beck, and Jackson attempted to rob customers at a Memphis tattoo shop before abandoning the scene because of police presence. Undeterred, the same group, along with Smith this time, returned to the tattoo shop after police left the area and robbed multiple customers.

As alleged, YM receives money and income from drug trafficking, kidnappings, and robberies. Such funds are used for gang purposes, including obtaining weapons and narcotics and providing support for YM gang members, including those in prison serving time for various crimes. YM also receives money and income from various musical interests, with defendant Lackland being a well-known rapper who goes by the stage name “Stupid Duke.”

YM members and associates are also separately charged as part of a drug conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Multiple members are also charged with various firearm offenses.  

If convicted, Lackland, Samba, Nelson, Smith, and Cox face a maximum penalty of life in prison. If convicted, Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison, Beck faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison, and Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The ATF, Memphis Multi-Agency Gang Unit, and Memphis Police Homicide Unit are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and their associates in Memphis.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.