Game boards, including chess, backgammon, checkers, and Scrabble, are available for a small fee. Provided by the Marshall Chess Club.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 7:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Fountain Terrace (in Bryant Park),Chess Area (in Bryant Park)

Le Carrousel was specially created to complement the park's French classical style, featuring brightly colored animals and French cabaret music.

$2 per ride, or buy a discount card to enjoy 10 rides for $15.

Weather permitting. Also available for parties.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 8:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Le Carrousel (in Bryant Park)

Dyckman Farmhouse Museum will be open for free all weekend! Take a self-guided tour, view the Collecting the Kitchen exhibit and take a quiz to see if you can identify the historic kitchen artifacts. Visit on Sunday between 11 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. for the annual cider pressing.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Dyckman Farmhouse Museum (in Dyckman House Museum)

Attention neighborhood foodists: it’s your favorite time of year! Mad. Sq. Eats is returning to Worth Square Friday, September 21! This month-long outdoor market will bring you 26 vendors from some of the city’s most raved about eateries, including returning Mad. Sq. Eats favorites as well as some newbies to keep things feeling fresh.

With the extensive line-up of vendors, be sure to stop by early and often and try it all! All are welcome to stop on by, grab a drink and EAT! Mad. Sq. Eats is open daily September 21 through October 19 from 11am to 9pm.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone:

Location:

For more than ten years, the Corinne May Botz searched for ghost stories in buildings across the United States. She ventured into these haunted places with both camera and tape recorder in hand; her photographs, accompanied by first-person narratives, reveal a rare glimpse into American interiors, both physical and psychological.

She says, “The first thing that inspired the project were writers like Edith Wharton, Charlotte Bronte and even Toni Morrison. Often these ghost stories were written by women as a means of articulating domestic discontents. I was interested in the idea of a woman being trapped in the home or by domestic space and how this was expressed in history."

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Alice Austen House Museum (in Alice Austen Park)

It's Summertime and no better time to be a part of The In Crowd. Performances by internationally-acclaimed ragtime, jazz, boogie-woogie, and stride pianists playing the likes of Ella, Ramsey & Scott. Please Say You Will!

Produced in partnership with the Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians and Sam Ash Music Stores.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 2:30 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Upper Terrace (in Bryant Park)

Walk through a scenic area on the western edge of the Park, much of which is off the beaten track for most visitors. See rolling meadows, lake views, bridges of different styles, and a garden with flowers and plants mentioned by Shakespeare.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Moderate inclines and stairs, paths clear and negotiable - only parts accessible to people with disabilities

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (in Central Park)

Free tours of the Conference House on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. There is a charge for group tours which are booked separately. Please visit www.conferencehouse.org or call 718-984-6046 for more information.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: 718-984-6046

Location: Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park)

Join the Greenbelt Natural Resources Team in exploring our native and non-native plant species. A great opportunity to learn plant ID skills and explore our parks. We will be inside for an overview and then outside for an exploration. Bring Lunch. Suitable for ages 16 and up. Free program. Registration recommended.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 667-2165 ext 301

Location: Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley)

Marja Samsom (the Dumpling Diva and chef of famed, now historic, downtown restaurant The Kitchen Club) will serve up 'batter cakes and lemon cream', based on the mid-19th century recipe. Reportedly a favorite of Thomas Jefferson, batter cakes were often served at tea time. The original recipe, with Marja's adaptation for modern cooks, is featured in the museum's newest publication "The Little Book of Tea."

Free admission, includes a self-guided tour of the Merchants' House Museum.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 777-1089

Location: Merchant's House Museum

Make the most of your visit and stop by the High Line Field Station to chat with High Line Greeters. These dedicated volunteers can answer your questions and provide information about the park’s unique design, history, horticulture, art, and more.

The High Line Field Station is open every Thursday and Friday afternoon between 3:00 and 7:00 PM, and every Saturday and Sunday between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

Start time: 3:00 pm

End time: 7:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 206-9922

Location: Chelsea Market Passage (in The High Line)

Join us opening night in this historical garden for a neighborhood centric event of music, dance, performance and visual art.

Start time: 5:00 pm

End time: 9:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: La Plaza Cultural

OSA Presents the Lacoste L!VE Concert Series featuring Animal Collective. Tickets available here!

Start time: 5:30 pm

End time:

Contact phone:

Location: Williamsburg Park

Tours of the 1799 country house - home to New York City mayors since 1942 0 are usually not offered in the evenings, making this a special treat for people who can't make the regular Wednesday tour hours. Take a tour and sample cider and gingersnaps based on a historic recipe.

Reservations are required.

Start time: 5:30 pm

End time: 8:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Gracie Mansion (in Carl Schurz Park)

FLOW returns to Randall's Island Park for 2012 with five new artists and five new site-specific installations along the Park's southern shoreline.

FLOW is a project of the Randall's Island Sports Foundation and the Bronx Museum of the Arts (BxMA), suported by the Rockefeller Foundation and Made Event.

Start time: 6:00 am

End time: 9:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 830-7722

Location: Waterfront Pathways along Ward's Island (in Randall's Island Park)

At this monthly event, FIDO in Prospect Park will offer free goodies for dogs and their owners, and provide information pertaining to off-leash activities and issues.

Meet in the Meadow beside the Picnic House. Enter at Prospect Park West and 3rd Street. This event is rain or shine.

Sponsored by FIDO (Fellowship in the Interest of Dogs and their Owners).

Start time: 7:00 am

End time: 9:00 am

Contact phone:

Location: Picnic House (in Prospect Park)

Good Morning! Come join the Van Cortlandt Track Club for regular morning group runs through and around the Yonkers-Bronx border in small groups each Saturday morning at 8AM!

We break into various groups based on different paces and distances, starting with a loop of the Parade Grounds, then some peel off through the trails for various length and speed runs in smaller groups.

Be sure to meet back up after the run for breakfast!

Visit www.vctc.org for details & local running tips.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time:

Contact phone:

Location: Van Cortlandt Stadium (in Van Cortlandt Park)

Bird Walks focus on wildlife happenings in the park and are led by NYC Audubon experts or the Urban Park Rangers.

Wear comfortable shoes, and bring water and a light snack.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 430-1890

Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park)

We offer birding programs throughout the year and our Exploration series focuses on unique wildlife viewing opportunities during particular seasons. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. To enhance your experience we encourage you to bring binoculars and field guides, or ask a Ranger to borrow a pair.

Start time: 8:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 548-0912

Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park)

Come out and lend a hand to help us rake, weed and do various gardening chores. Join us for coffee and doughnuts in the am. Bring a rake or use one of ours and have some fun.

To volunteer in Westerleigh Park call (718) 442-0336.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 12:00 pm

Contact phone: 718-442-0336

Location: Westerleigh Park

Visit the farm stand to purchase organic farm-fresh produce grown on-site at the Decker Farm. Then head down the hill to enjoy all the specially planned programming taking place in the historic village.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 351-1611

Location: Historic Richmond Town

On It's My Park Day, join the Hendrick I. Lott House Preservation Association to clean, rake, and weed the grounds at this historic house from 9am to 11am. There will be tours of the house from 11am-3pm, wood-turning demonstrations throughout the day, Dutch treats, as well as live music in the afternoon.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 965-8902

Location: Hendrick I. Lott House

On It's My Park Day, the Friends of Westerleigh Park will be cleaning, raking, and weeding at Westerleigh Park. Then join the excitement by designing, building and bringing your own version of a soap box cart for the Parks' Annual Soap Box Derby. You must be over seven years-old to race. NO motors allowed. Helmets and some type of brakes are required for all cars.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 442-0336

Location: Westerleigh Park

On It's My Park Day, the Natural Resources Protective Association will be cleaning debris from the beach at Lemon Creek.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 12:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 873-4291

Location: Lemon Creek Park

The Central Park Conservancy offers weekly moderate to brisk walks led by the NY Walkers Club for people 18+ years of all abilities. This low-impact fitness program is perfect for those who want to get in shape, build muscle tone and strength, and increase cardiovascular health while enjoying Central Park’s beautiful landscapes.

Free and no pre-registration is required.

Start time: 9:30 am

End time: 11:00 am

Contact phone: (212) 348-4867

Location: North Meadow Recreation Center (in Central Park)

Join the Downtown Boathouse for 20-minute instructional paddles, and explore the Hudson River first-hand. Please wear a bathing suit or shorts and a t-shirt, and know how to swim.

Weather permitting. No registration required. Kayaks and life vests provided.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: 311

Location: Kayaking on the Hudson Meeting Point (in Riverside Park)

Quiet like a mountain, yet moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. Short and long form classes are led by Irving Yee, an active member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call (718) 549-3200 ext. 245 by 8:00 a.m. on the day of the class for weather updates. Registration opens on-site at 9:00 a.m.

Photo credit: Joshua Bright

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Wave Hill

Join us for local, national, and international pétanque tournaments organized by La Boule New Yorkaise.

Spectators welcome

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Bryant Park

This multifaceted exhibition examines the life and work of the Impressionist master by highlighting his passion for gardening and the inspiration he drew from his living masterpiece, the garden on the grounds of his home in Giverny, France. Monet's Garden has components in several venues throughout the Garden and has a rich assortment of programming, including concerts and family activities. The curator for this exhibition is Professor Paul Hayes Tucker, the World's foremost authorities on Monet and Impressionism.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: 718-817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

Garden along Brooklyn's beautiful waterfront! The Green Team provides essential horticultural care to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Weekly projects may include planting, mulching, and removing invasive plants. The Green Team is a wonderful opportunity to learn about gardening, enjoy nature, and make the park look its best.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 12:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Brooklyn Bridge Park: Main Street (in Brooklyn Bridge Park)

The Morris-Jumel Mansion will host the second annual Culture and Arts Festival (CAFé) on October 6, 2012 from 10am to 6pm. The air will be filled with music, performers and artists who will share their talents with all who attend and restaurants will have tasty treats that visitors can buy. Performers, artists and restaurants already confirmed are: The Harlem Swing Dance Society, Singer/Reenactor Rich Bala, Diaspora Now, Cherrymae Designs, Bistro Latino and many more will be announced!

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 923-8008

Location: Morris-Jumel Mansion (in Roger Morris Park)

Join us to view a series of ornamental textiles inspired by the beauty of Staten Island’s Greenbelt.

This exhibit is made possible in part by a DCA Art Fund Grant from the Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island, (COAHSI), with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Silk Painting Workshop and Reception on Sunday September 29th from 2:00 PM -5:00 PM. For information and registration visit www.statenislandarts.org

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley)

Wth his ailing wife Virginia confined to her bed and his writing consuming his rare free moments, how did Edgar Allan Poe make sure that his family was well fed? On your tour of Poe Cottage, you'll hear about new technologies that eased food preparation and daily life in the mid-19th Century. An assortment of fall festival treats will be available throughout the weekend while supplies last.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 881-8900

Location: Edgar Allen Poe Cottage (in Poe Park)

Come experience what 18th Century Bronx residents feasted on in this food-based tour of the Valentine-Varian House. Learn about how our Bronx forebears grew, prepared and consumed their food without modern comforts upon which today's world relies. An assortment of fall festival treats will be available throughout the weekend while supplies last.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 881-8900

Location: Valentine-Varian House (in Valentine Varian House)

Hosted on the grounds of the Old Stone House of Brooklyn, Washington Park. between 4th and 5th Avenues and 3rd and 4th Streets in Park Slope, Brooklyn - originally built in 1699 as the Vechte family farm - the Kings County Fiber Festival includes crocheters, dyers, rug makers, felters, knitters, quilters, spinners, and weavers, as well as artists creating design works that incorporate fiber as an integral material and celebrates both historic and contemporary approaches to the fiber arts.

The festival includes:

• A juried selection of vendors from up and down the east coast.
• A marketplace with a wide variety of hand dyed yarns, fiber-inspired artisans, sheep fleece, hand-crafted winter accessories, and holiday gifts.
• Master-level demonstrations by fiber experts.
• Symposium on spinning and dyeing.
• A yarn spinning cycle demonstrating the manual arts - from fleece to wheel and drop spindle.
• An exhibit of fiber influenced art works on display in the Old Stone House.
• Live performances in tribute to the crafts.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 768-3195

Location: Old Stone House (in J.J. Byrne Playground)

Look for migrating hawks soaring, circling and gliding above the Hudson, then create your very own windsock or raptor and take flight.

Photo credit: Joshua Bright

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Wave Hill

Build your own soapbox, and race it against the competition! Awards will be given for the fastest time, best design.

Registration begins at 10:00 am. Racing begins at 11:00 am.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 816-5558

Location: Westerleigh Park

Parents and children can enjoy an afternoon of free fitness activities such as basketball, jump rope, soccer, hop-scotch and more! Youth ages 17 & under will receive a free annual recreation center membership card. All ages are welcome. Please call 718-263-1163 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 12:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location:

From Saturday, October 6, through Wednesday, October 31, The Haunted Pumpkin Garden at The New York Botanical Garden will treat visitors to frightful Halloween fun. Experience the thrills and chills of the season with a garden full of intricately carved pumpkin sculptures, bugs, bats, parties, and parades. On October 20 and 21, master carver Ray Villafane of Food Network fame will transform humongous pumpkins into zombies and other unearthly creatures. Pumpkin sculptures of spooky scarecrows, frightening spiders, sneaky snakes, and more await discovery at every turn in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Every day, youngsters can play inside a “gourd-geous” Pumpkin House, put on a scary show at the Pumpkin Puppet Theater, learn about owls, and join a Halloween Parade, while every weekend offers even more treats.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

Join us for special programs as part of Open House New York (OHNY) Weekend. For more information on Open House New York, please visit www.ohny.org

Registration is required. Please visit our registration page.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone:

Location: Eltingville Transit Center

Take a walk around the lands dominated by Belvedere Castle, situated high on Vista Rock. Visit the 55 acre realm on an eclectic tour of history and nature.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Moderate inclines and stairs, paths clear and negotiable - only parts accessible to people with disabilities

Start time: 10:30 am

End time: 11:30 am

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: Belvedere Castle (in Central Park)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Join us at the Van Cortlandt Park Nature Center to help plant trees, wildflowers, and shrubs to beautify the park.

All ages welcome. Students can earn community service hours.

Layers, shoes, long pants and long sleeves are highly recommended.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 2:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 543-1429

Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park)

Come get lost in our three-acre interactive corn maze. The adventure begins with a “Stalk Talk” to prepare you for the challenge of finding clues, solving puzzles, and making your way out of the maze.

To add to the adventure, join us for Maze By Moonlight on Saturday, October 6th and 13th, when the maze will be open until 9:00 PM.

Feel up to the challenge? Then join us for the fun of getting lost and loving it!
$9 adults; $5 children (ages 4–11)
Group Rates available for 10 or more people. For details and reservations, visit www.queensfarm.org or call (718) 347-3276

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 4:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 347-3276

Location: Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park)

Pick Your Own Pumpkin

October is Pumpkin Month at the farm! Enjoy the crisp autumn air as you wander through the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin. A fun farm treat for the whole family!

Prices are based on size of pumpkin.
This event will take place each weekend in October.

*On weekdays, pumpkins will be available for purchase in our Gift Shop.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 4:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 347-3276

Location: Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park)

Come to Central Park and marvel at 2,000 Korean chrysanthemums in full multi-colored bloom while touring the autumn Conservatory Garden with curatorial staff!

Provided at no cost to you! No advance registration. No groups please. Weather permitting.

More details, including rain plans and directions, are on the Conservancy's website: centralparknyc.org/calendar

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 12:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

Location: Conservatory Garden (in Central Park)

Analyze an instructional game with Women’s FIDE Master Laura Ross for new tactical insights, then pit your newly acquired skills against other players of your level tournament-style. Recommended for ages 6+.

Boards and pieces are available to borrow at the Chess & Checkers House for anyone who wishes to play.

Free. No advance registration. No groups please. Weather permitting. For more details, including information on accessibility for people with disabilities, call 212-794-4064.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 794-4064

Location: Chess & Checkers House (in Central Park)

Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. Short and long form classes are led by Irving Yee, an active member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi School. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call (718) 549-3200 x245 by 8:00 a.m. on the day of the class for weather updates. Registration opens onsite at 9:00 a.m.

Photo credit: Joshua Bright

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Wave Hill

Come play ping pong at Bryant Park!

Paddles and balls will be provided free of charge to all skill levels.

Visit the park and sign up with an attendant, who can arrange a friendly game.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Ping Pong Court (in Bryant Park)

Game boards, including chess, backgammon, checkers, and Scrabble, are available for a small fee.

Provided by the Marshall Chess Club

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 7:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Fountain Terrace (in Bryant Park),Chess Area (in Bryant Park)

Le Carrousel was specially created to complement the park's French classical style, featuring brightly colored animals and French cabaret music.

$2 per ride, or buy a discount card to enjoy 10 rides for $15.

Weather permitting. Also available for parties.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 8:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Le Carrousel (in Bryant Park)

Make the most of your visit and stop by the High Line Field Station to chat with High Line Greeters. These dedicated volunteers can answer your questions and provide information about the park’s unique design, history, horticulture, art, and more.

The High Line Field Station is open every Thursday and Friday afternoon between 3:00 and 7:00 PM, and every Saturday and Sunday between 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 7:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 206-9922

Location: Chelsea Market Passage (in The High Line)

The diverse habitats of the Botanical Garden offer visitors a chance to see dozens of species of birds throughout the year. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with an expert.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: 718-817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

Join Van Cortlandt House Museum's Director Laura Carpenter Myers as she presents the basics of baking without an oven - from corn bread to small yeast-raise loaves - and pies.

Participants must register no later than October 3 via email to: info@vancortlandthouse.org. A valid email address must be used for registration so that we may contact participants in the event of rain.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 543-3344

Location: Van Cortlandt Park

This 1719 farmhouse will be serving traditional Dutch treats.

The menu includes:

• Hot and Cold Cider
• Zandkoekjes (Sand Cookies)
• Friese Dumkes (Frisian Thumbs)
• Boterkoek (Butter Biscuits)

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Hendrick I. Lott House

Take this rare opportunity to see the attic of a 17th Century Dutch colonial dwelling, featuring post-and-beam construction, as well as the original root cellar. The guided tour shows you the interior of the oldest structure in New York City as well as a document from August 1670 on display.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 629-5400

Location: Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum (in Fidler-Wyckoff House Park)

Dyckman Farmhouse Museum will be open for free all weekend! Take a self-guided tour, view the Collecting the Kitchen exhibit and take a quiz to see if you can identify the historic kitchen artifacts. Visit on Sunday between 11 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. for the annual cider pressing.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Dyckman Farmhouse Museum (in Dyckman House Museum)

Come bring an old lamp and swap it for another new old lamp! Plue, enjoy tastes of Victorian American pies and mulled apple cider.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 961-8585

Location: Lewis H. Latimer House (in Lewis H Latimer House)

Visit the 1800s Decker Farm and enjoy a guided tour through the 1810 farmhouse and a hayride. Purchase a pumpking to bring home. Free shuttle bus service from the Historic Richmond Town parking lot to the farm.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 351-1611

Location: Historic Richmond Town

Discover the beauty of Seguine Mansion, which overlooks Prince's Bay. Learn about the family's oyster harvesting business and the significance of the estate in Staten Island's agricultural and farming history.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 360-8012

Location: Seguine Mansion

Join us for special programs as part of Open House New York (OHNY) Weekend. For more information on Open House New York, please visit www.ohny.org

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 722-3218

Location: Fort Greene Park Visitor Center (in Fort Greene Park)

Here's your chance to see inside the Fort Tryon Cottage! The 1908 cottage flanking the garden was originally the gatehouse of the C.K. G. Billings Estate. Today the cottage houses the offices of the park administrator. The cottage is only open to the public on Open House New York (OHNY) weekend. Tours are every 30 minutes.

Donated to NYC in 1935 by John D. Rockefeller Jr and designed by the Olmsted Brothers, Fort Tryon Park encompasses 67-acres with majestic views of the Hudson River. Its three-acre Heather Garden is one of the finest in the Northeast. Vistors can stroll through the garden or attend one of the tours led by a member of the horticulture staff every 20 minutes.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Margaret Corbin Circle (in Fort Tryon Park)

For more than ten years, the Corinne May Botz searched for ghost stories in buildings across the United States. She ventured into these haunted places with both camera and tape recorder in hand; her photographs, accompanied by first-person narratives, reveal a rare glimpse into American interiors, both physical and psychological.

She says, “The first thing that inspired the project were writers like Edith Wharton, Charlotte Bronte and even Toni Morrison. Often these ghost stories were written by women as a means of articulating domestic discontents. I was interested in the idea of a woman being trapped in the home or by domestic space and how this was expressed in history."

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Alice Austen House Museum (in Alice Austen Park)

Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird! But what kind? Take a tour and learn about the magnificent array of birds that call Prospect Park home.

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 287-3400

Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park)

Sharpen your dribbling skills with this interactive clinic focusing on skills development, sportsmanship, and team play.

Clinics are free of charge and open to players of all abilities, aged 9 to 17. Clinics are held every Saturday from April to October at the North Meadow Recreation Center (mid-Park at 97th Street).

For more information check www.centralparknyc.org/visit/recreation/.

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 2:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 348-4867

Location: North Meadow Recreation Center (in Central Park)

Come revel in the splendor of this 19th Century Mansion and learn about the lives of the past inhabitants. Free guided tours from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tours start at quarter past the hour.

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 885-1461

Location: Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum (in Pelham Bay Park)

In the 1930s, Alice and her partner Gertrude opened up their home and started a business serving refreshments. Come to their Victorian Tea House, relax on their porch, and bask in the amazing view of the Verrazano Narrows.

Last seating at 3:00 p.m.

Reservations are required.

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 816-4506

Location: Alice Austen House Museum (in Alice Austen Park)

On Saturday, October 6 from 12-4pm, the 20th Anniversary Little Red Lighthouse Festival will take place in Fort Washington Park, to celebrate the only remaining lighthouse in Manhattan. Sponsored by Benjamin Moore Paints, this year’s event is hosted by New York Restoration Project (NYRP), Historic House Trust, NYC Parks, Riverside Park Fund and Urban Park Rangers. The free event will include tours of the lighthouse, live music and theater performances, arts and crafts, fishing clinics, readings and activities for the family. There will even be an up-close reptile experience! The Festival celebrates the area and pays tribute to the popular children's book, "The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge” by Hildegarde H. Swift.

Participating partners include:

• CityScience
• I Fish NY
• Erik the Reptile Guy
• Jan Bell & The Maybelles
• MillionTreesNYC
• MoMA
• Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance
• NY Sea Grant
• Renaissance EMS
• Word Up Bookstore

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 333-2552

Location: Fort Washington Park

The “Harvest Arts Festival in the Gardens” will take place the first weekend of October in community gardens on the Lower East Side. Each participating garden is designing its own unique and multidimensional arts program, and it’s going to be a very eclectic mix from jazz to comedy to making mud balls to an “Art Rumble.”

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: El Jardin Del Paraiso (in El Jardin Del Paraiso Park),6th St & Ave B Comm. Garden (in 6th St and Ave B Community Garden),Firemen's Memorial Garden,La Plaza Cultural,Generation X Cultural Garden (in Generation X),El Sol Brilliante Jr. (in El Sol Brilliante Jr),Campos Garden,11 BC Garden,11th Street Community Garden,Toyota Childrens Garden,9 C Garden,De Colores Community Yard and Cultural Center,Earth People Garden,Green Oasis and Gilbert Sculpture Garden,Parque Tranquilidad,Orchard Alley,Kenkeleba House Garden,La Petit Versailles,Childrens Magical Garden

An open competition for youth and children focusing on football skills. This event will allow members and the general public to participate in an instructional program followed by actual competition. Age categories will be 14-16, 12-14, and 10-12.

Start time: 12:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: 212-242-5228

Location: Tony Dapolito Recreation Center

Seneca Village was Manhattan's first known community of African-American property owners, on land that would become Central Park. Learn about the history of the village, the property owners, and what New York City was like at the time.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or e-mail tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Moderate inclines and stairs, paths clear and negotiable - only parts accessible to people with disabilities.

Start time: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: 85th Street and Central Park West (in Central Park)

Free tours of the Conference House on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. There is a charge for group tours which are booked separately. Please visit www.conferencehouse.org or call 718-984-6046 for more information.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: 718-984-6046

Location: Conference House Museum (in Conference House Park)

View significant artifacts from 19th-century family life and walk into a fully furnished 1820s bedroom. There will be tours every half hour.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 789-2822

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

Enjoy crafts, stories and learn about the history of tea! Bring your favorite stuffed animal or doll for this fun afternoon at King Manor! This program is in partnership with the Historic House Trust of New York City and Open House NY.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: 718 206 0545 x13

Location: King Manor Museum (in Rufus King Park)

City Parks Foundation is serving 30 free seats at its opening weekend performance of "Hansel & Gretel's Halloween Adventure." There will be a Backstage tour and Swedish refreshments served after the performance.

For reservations, please visit ohny.org.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone:

Location: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre (in Central Park)

Built in 1785, Kingsland Homstead is now the home of the Queens HIstorical Society. Tour the homestead and visit the gift shop to find out more about historic foodways in Queens.

Two exhibitions will be on display: Uncovering the Cemeteries of Queens, and The Disappearing Art of the Written Word.

Free with admission.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 939-0647

Location: Kingsland Homestead

Visit the Guyon-Lake-Tyson House at HIstoric Richmond Town, New York City's most comprehensive museum complex. Originally sited about 2 miles from its present location, this 1740s farmhouse represents life on a large prosperous farm. Cooking demonstrations on the open hearth offer a taste of the luxuries available there. Recipes used in the demonstration come from Margaret Poillon Garretson's recipe book which is part of the on-site archive. Samples of the dessert recipe will be available warm from the tin reflector oven until 4:45 p.m. each day.

Included with regular village admission.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 351-1611

Location: Historic Richmond Town

With its battlements and gothic features, this historic Fort once guarded the East River waterfront. Join the Urban Park Rangers for a special tour as part of Open House New York (OHNY) Weekend.

Start time: 1:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: 718.352.2176

Location: Fort Totten Visitor's Center (in Fort Totten Park)

There will be free art demonstrations for children and young adults by Cristina Cipriani in the Latimer House's fall garden.

Start time: 1:30 pm

End time: 2:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 961-8585

Location: Lewis H. Latimer House (in Lewis H Latimer House)

Spend time outside enjoying nature while helping to keep Prospect Park clean. Families can take a tour of the Park and its waterways and help keep it clean along the way. Gloves, garbage bags and trash grabbers will be provided.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 287-3400

Location: Audubon Center at the Boathouse (in Prospect Park)

Join an exhibition interpreter for one of our regularly scheduled tours of Wave Hill’s fall exhibition Foregrounding the Palisades, sculptural installations by artists Isidro Blasco, Blane de St. Croix and Paula Winokur that focus on the cliffs across the Hudson River, a quintessential feature of Wave Hill’s vista—and history. In the Sunroom, Crystal Z. Campbell and Yeon Ji Yoo fill the space with site-specific works inspired by local social and natural history.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Wave Hill

Local poet John Maney offers a free poetry series for teens and adults. Read and discuss poetry with your peers, and work to create your own poetry in a group setting.

Start time: 2:00 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

There will be free art demonstrations for children and young adults by Cristina Cipriani in the Latimer House's fall garden.

Start time: 2:30 pm

End time: 3:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 961-8585

Location: Lewis H. Latimer House (in Lewis H Latimer House)

Imagine living as a 19th century New Yorker taking a journey through Central Park. Along the way, you will learn about the Park's history and hear how its designers, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, struggled to turn their visions into our reality.

Groups of seven or more people should call (212) 360-2726 or email tours@centralparknyc.org to schedule a custom tour.

Accessibility level: Easy to negotiate; paths and few stairs - mostly accessible to people with disabilities

Start time: 2:30 pm

End time: 3:30 pm

Contact phone: (212) 794-4064

Location: Outside the Dairy Gift Shop (in Central Park)

Imagine yourself in the past. Learn games, pastimes and tasks that were common 200 years ago. At Lefferts Historic House, you can try your hand at needlepoint, games, and more.

Start time: 2:30 pm

End time: 3:30 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Lefferts Historic House (in Prospect Park)

THE DEADLY GENTLEMEN

Led by Greg Liszt, acclaimed Crooked Still banjo player, and originally formed as an experimental spoken word bluegrass band, this wildly innovative group has evolved into master purveyors of epic folk and grasscore. The Deadly Gentlemen use nonstop orchestration of somewhat unconventional vocals, with everybody in the band doing everything they can. Expect a lot of three-part harmony singing, group shouting, really dense rhymes and an almost rap-like phrasing. Rounding out The Deadly Gentlemen with Liszt is Stash Wyslouch, guitar and vocals; Mike Barnett, fiddle and vocals; Dominick Leslie, mandolin and vocals; and Sam Grisman, double bass and vocals. Their versatile songs can be described as a kind of a rock ‘n’ roll feel, despite the acoustic bluegrass instrumentation with a splash of the punk or hardcore mentality.

THE VESPERS

The Vespers are one of those lucky young bands who are becoming a word of mouth sensation though they’ve only quietly self-released one record. With two sisters on lead vocals and two brothers filling out the sound, the foursome are distinguished by an arsenal of instruments and the kind of harmony only siblings can create. They have toured from Boston to Austin, hitting everything from festivals to college campuses in between. On The Fourth Wall, out April 3rd, they create infectious folk-pop with both the buoyancy of youth and deeper spiritual themes. They believe “folk and roots music tend to draw from spiritual themes. We don’t run away from our faith when writing, because that’s where our hearts are planted.”

Start time: 3:00 pm

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 325-2101

Location: Southern End (in Madison Square Park)

Charles McKinney, principal urban designer for NYCParks, reveals the challenges and rewards of creating master plans for urban parks in collaboration with their stakeholders.

Start time: 4:00 pm

End time:

Contact phone: 718 430 1890

Location: Woodlawn Station: Last Stop of #4 Train (in Van Cortlandt Park)

Enjoy a true Victorian low tea in Bartow-Pell Mansion's Orangerie served by docents in period dress. Learn about low versus high tea, tea history and etiquette, all while delighting in delicious, traditional team-time treats. Appropriate for ages 10 and up. Registration is required.

Start time: 4:30 pm

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 885-1461

Location: Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum (in Pelham Bay Park)

FLOW returns to Randall's Island Park for 2012 with five new artists and five new site-specific installations along the Park's southern shoreline.

FLOW is a project of the Randall's Island Sports Foundation and the Bronx Museum of the Arts (BxMA), suported by the Rockefeller Foundation and Made Event.

Start time: 6:00 am

End time: 9:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 830-7722

Location: Waterfront Pathways along Ward's Island (in Randall's Island Park)

In its second year, Fit for All 5K will continue to bring awareness to the community about childhood obesity and the Y’s effort to combat the problem. The fun-filled family event in Riverside Park raises the necessary funding to support the Y’s programs to fight childhood obesity. Varying length races, lots of fun give-a-ways and awesome prizes provide something for everyone.

This race will be professionally timed.

Time:

• Registration 8:00 a.m.
• Race Start 9:00 a.m. (Kids welcome)
• Kids’ Race 11:00 a.m.
  

Start time: 9:00 am

End time:

Contact phone:

Location: Terrace Promenade South (in Riverside Park)

Please note: this event has been cancelled.

Join the Downtown Boathouse for 20-minute instructional paddles, and explore the Hudson River first-hand. Please wear a bathing suit or shorts and a t-shirt, and know how to swim.

Weather permitting. No registration required. Kayaks and life vests provided.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: 311

Location: Kayaking on the Hudson Meeting Point (in Riverside Park)

Release stress and find refuge from city life by practicing seasonal yoga, surrounded by the beauty of Wave Hill. Hatha Yoga involves the use of physical postures, breath control and meditation to create a supple, strong and relaxed body-mind. Classes are led by Neem Dewji, certified in Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga from The Yoga for Health Foundation in Bedfordshire, England, and The Integral Yoga Institute in NYC.

Participants should bring a mat, dress in loosely fitting clothing and come to class with their breakfast well digested. All levels are welcome. Sessions are held outdoors only and are weather dependent. Call (718) 549-3200 x245 by 8:00 a.m. on the day of the class for weather updates. Registration opens on-site at 9:30AM.

Photo credit: Joshua Bright

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 11:15 am

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Wave Hill

Join us for local, national, and international pétanque tournaments organized by La Boule New Yorkaise.

Spectators welcome

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 6:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Bryant Park

This multifaceted exhibition examines the life and work of the Impressionist master by highlighting his passion for gardening and the inspiration he drew from his living masterpiece, the garden on the grounds of his home in Giverny, France. Monet's Garden has components in several venues throughout the Garden and has a rich assortment of programming, including concerts and family activities. The curator for this exhibition is Professor Paul Hayes Tucker, the World's foremost authorities on Monet and Impressionism.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: 718-817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

Bring the kids and visit one of New York City’s richest bird habitats with New York City Audubon guides. Learn how to spot and identify our feathered neighbors in their natural surroundings on a tour through the North Woods.

Bring you own binoculars, if you have; binoculars are also available to borrow in a limited number at the visitor center. Space is limited; please arrive early to sign in. Ages 5+.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 11:00 am

Contact phone: 212-860-1370

Location: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center (in Central Park)

Join us to view a series of ornamental textiles inspired by the beauty of Staten Island’s Greenbelt.

This exhibit is made possible in part by a DCA Art Fund Grant from the Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island, (COAHSI), with public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Silk Painting Workshop and Reception on Sunday September 29th from 2:00 PM -5:00 PM. For information and registration visit www.statenislandarts.org

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley)

Look for migrating hawks soaring, circling and gliding above the Hudson, then create your very own windsock or raptor and take flight.

Photo credit: Joshua Bright

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 1:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 549-3200

Location: Wave Hill

From Saturday, October 6, through Wednesday, October 31, The Haunted Pumpkin Garden at The New York Botanical Garden will treat visitors to frightful Halloween fun. Experience the thrills and chills of the season with a garden full of intricately carved pumpkin sculptures, bugs, bats, parties, and parades. On October 20 and 21, master carver Ray Villafane of Food Network fame will transform humongous pumpkins into zombies and other unearthly creatures. Pumpkin sculptures of spooky scarecrows, frightening spiders, sneaky snakes, and more await discovery at every turn in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Every day, youngsters can play inside a “gourd-geous” Pumpkin House, put on a scary show at the Pumpkin Puppet Theater, learn about owls, and join a Halloween Parade, while every weekend offers even more treats.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: Watson Building, Room 302 (in Bronx Park)

Come get lost in our three-acre interactive corn maze. The adventure begins with a “Stalk Talk” to prepare you for the challenge of finding clues, solving puzzles, and making your way out of the maze.

To add to the adventure, join us for Maze By Moonlight on Saturday, October 6th and 13th, when the maze will be open until 9:00 PM.

Feel up to the challenge? Then join us for the fun of getting lost and loving it!
$9 adults; $5 children (ages 4–11)
Group Rates available for 10 or more people. For details and reservations, visit www.queensfarm.org or call (718) 347-3276

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 4:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 347-3276

Location: Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park)

Pick Your Own Pumpkin

October is Pumpkin Month at the farm! Enjoy the crisp autumn air as you wander through the pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin. A fun farm treat for the whole family!

Prices are based on size of pumpkin.
This event will take place each weekend in October.

*On weekdays, pumpkins will be available for purchase in our Gift Shop.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 4:30 pm

Contact phone: (718) 347-3276

Location: Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park)

Fall is apple season in New York!

Come to the farm to buy a variety of apples, donuts, freshly-pressed cider, and apple pie. See cider-pressing demonstrations and watch as the nation’s largest apple cobbler bakes on site! Treat yourself to unique collectibles & local food items for sale, take a hayride, and participate in free children’s games.

Gate admission to this event is free.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 4:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 347-3276

Location: Queens County Farm Museum (in Queens Farm Park)