The Poe Park Visitor Center is home to the III Bienal de Artes Latino Americano del Bronx. Come and enjoy Visual Appearance. You will be amazed!

The title "Visual Appearance" refers to the elucidation of of what happens when we stand in front of an art work. The visual appearance of objects is given by the way in which they reflect and transmit light. The color of objects is determined by the parts of the spectrum of light, reflected or transmitted without being absorbed. Visual Appearance also relates to the meaning of symbolic reference constructed as an icon that stands for an object by signifying or representing it either concretely, or by analogy. In Visual Appearance you will experience conflict, contrast, wonder and especially question what you see.

The Latin American artists include Miguel Trelles, Leenda Bonilla, Rodolfo Edwards, Pepe Villegas, Aisha Sufe, Miguel Martinez, Marina Gutierrez and Ismael Checo. The curator is Luis Stephenberg. The next bienal will be in 2014.

The Poe Park Visitor Center is open from Tuesday-Saturday, 9am-5pm. We are closed Sundays and Mondays.

For your convenience, please call to schedule a visit for your group. We are closed on Thanksgiving.

Start time: 9:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 365-5516

Location: Poe Park Visitor Center (in Poe Park)

Join the Greenbelt educators for our annual day after Thanksgiving hike in the Greenbelt. Walk off all that turkey and stuffing on this two-hour hike and enjoy the serenity of the woods, including a brief visit to the LaTourette house. Suitable for ages 8 and up. Dress appropriately for hiking and for the weather conditions. This program is sponsored by Councilman Vincent Ignizio. Registration required.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 11:00 am

Contact phone: (718) 351-3450

Location: Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley)

Visit The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands exhibit and start exploring the North Woods on your own by borrowing a North Woods Discovery Kit stocked with binoculars, a hand lens, and flora/fauna guides. Accompanying adult with valid ID required. Purchase an optional Discovery Journal for $2 for a one-of-a-kind woodland adventure. Recommended for ages 8 – 12.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

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

The enchanting setting of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory showcases more than 140 scaled iconic buildings and structures under thousands of twinkling lights. Artistically crafted by Paul Busse's team at Applie Imagination, the landmarks are made of natural materials such as bark, twigs, stems, fruits, seeds, and pine cones and include the original Penn Station and Yankee Stadium, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The New York Public Library on 42nd Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time:

Contact phone: (718) 817-8700

Location: The New York Botanical Garden

Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call (212) 860-1370 for more information.

Start time: 10:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone: (212) 860-1370

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

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)

Find unique hand-made gifts! Avoid the crowds at the mall and o your holiday shopping in a Victorian cottage while supporting local artists! Vendors will offer handcrafted jewelry, handmade greeting cards, Shibori Dyed Silk Scarves, ceramic and clay art, knitted wears, embellished headbands,art on canvas, and various mixed media art.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor, please email sara@aliceausten.org for an application.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 5:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Alice Austen House Museum (in Alice Austen 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)

Volunteer to help clean and restore parks most affected by Hurricane Sandy. Join us as we repair the cafe lawn at Fort Tryon Park.

Registration is required for this event. Please register with NYC Service to join us.

Please dress appropriately. Remember to wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Bring a water bottle and snacks (water refills and restrooms will be available).

If you are able to, please bring work gloves and heavy duty trashbags. Additional materials that would be useful to the clean up effort include: fan rakes, snow shovels, wheelbarrows, large push brooms. These supplies are not required to participate. Gloves and supplies wil be provided for volunteers who cannot provide their own.

Start time: 11:00 am

End time: 2:00 pm

Contact phone:

Location: Jacob Javits Playground (in Fort Tryon Park)

Join us for a tour through Central Park in which you will see a hidden bench that tells time, miniature boats powered by the wind, a magnificent sculpture celebrating fresh water, and much more!

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: 12:30 pm

End time: 1:45 pm

Contact phone: (212) 772-0210

Location: East 72 Street and Fifth Avenue (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)

Sing and shake the turkey away during a fun-filled, family-friendly sing along with Patrick Raftery. Plenty of fun in the forest as we sing about animals, the outdoors, and the coming of the winter holiday season. Visit www.musicwithpatrick.com for information. Registration recommended.

Start time: 1:30 pm

End time: 2:00 pm

Contact phone: (718) 351-3450

Location: Greenbelt Nature Center (in Blood Root Valley)