Fall is one of the most perfect times of the year in NYC. Head to the NYBG for all things pumpkin and fun-filled activities to celebrate fall. Celebrate Veterans Day at the Met Museum (vets get in free!) The elephants are coming to town at the Museum of Natural History. Bryant Park’s Winter Village is back, signaling the start of the holiday season with the ice-skating rink, igloos and holiday shopping! Speaking of holiday shopping, get your tickets to our Sip, Shop, and Mingle Holiday Event. The beautiful songstress, Lynn Henderson has a new show. And our roving photographer takes us to Ashley Longshore’s new studio gallery.

Anne Akers and I invite you to a fun Holiday Celebration. Join us at the Scandinavia House in NYC on December 5 for an evening of wine, fabulous hors d’oeuvres, holiday shopping from fabulous vendors, music, door prizes (including an island vacation) good cheer, and a few surprises! GET THE DETAILS.

Now-Nov. 12. FALL-O-WEEN at the NYBG

NYBG is pumpkin headquarters this fall! The tricks and treats of the season come to life with plentiful pumpkins, gourds, and ghouls—and all sorts of fun-filled activities to celebrate this season of frights and foliage! Day or night, there’s something for everyone.  There are special weekends of pumpkin parades and pumpkin carving face-offs, as well as the return of the popular beer sampling weekend, Bales & Ales! Evening events give kids (and adults!) the chance to show off their Halloween costumes in New York City’s most beautiful landscape.  And make sure to capture picture-perfect fall photos at the Reflecting Pool and on the adjacent lawn, where you’ll find hundreds of pumpkins and gourds of all shapes, sizes, and colors!

Metropolitan Museum and Cloisters to Observe Veterans Day Weekend with Free Admission

On Veterans Day (Sunday, November 11) and the following day (Monday, November 12), active and retired members of any branch of the U.S. armed forces will be admitted free of charge, along with one guest each, to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Cloisters museum and. November 12 is a Met Holiday Monday, when the Metropolitan’s main building and The Cloisters—which have historically been closed on Mondays—will both be open to the public. Regular admission policies will apply to all other visitors. GET THE DETAILS.

What to See on November 11 and 12
In the Metropolitan Museum’s main building, at 82nd Street and Fifth Avenue, the New American Wing Galleries for Paintings, Sculpture, and Decorative Arts allow visitors to experience the history of American art from the 18th through the early 20th century. A suite of 26 renovated and enlarged galleries provides a captivating setting for many well-known and well-loved masterpieces.

The Cloisters museum and gardens displays masterpieces of the Museum’s renowned collection of medieval art, including the famed Unicorn Tapestries, and hundreds of examples of exquisite stained glass, metalwork, enamels, ivories, and paintings, all in a magnificent architectural setting along the Hudson River that evokes the Middle Ages. The Cloisters museum and gardens is located in Fort Tryon Park, in northern Manhattan.

Roving in Ashley Longshore’s Studio Gallery

Our roving photographer, Nicole Freezer Rubens, says:

For a good time visit Ashley Longshore’s new studio gallery at 43 Crosby Street in Soho. She knows how to make a statement on pop culture, celebrity and glamour. Ashley’s keen sense of humor will envelop and maybe even shock you as you walk through the space, loaded with bold colorful and shiny paintings as well as some larger-than-life sculpture and a selection of more affordable merch for those that want a smaller piece of the action. GET THE DETAILS.

The New York Times has described Longshore as an “avatar of pop feminism to thousands of followers”, and “fashion’s latest art darling”. She most certainly is all of that! She is a self-taught artist who created a global brand utilizing a non-traditional business model. She is a social media heavyweight and inspirational to me, in that she gets her message across loud and clear and leaves you laughing as you think.

~Nicole Freezer Rubens is the author of poetry/photo book, “The Long Pause and the Short Breath.” Follow her on https://www.instagram.com/nfrconsult/

Bryant Park’s Winter Village Is Now Open

Seems like it was just outdoor movies and entertainment on the lawn. But now Bryant Park is in full holiday mode. The park has been turned into an enchanting winter wonderland. At the center of it all is the dazzling ice skating rink, where visitors of all ages can gracefully glide on the ice beneath the towering skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan. The rink is surrounded by an enchanting array of cozy, alpine-style holiday shops, all housed in charmingly decorated kiosks. Plus there are pop-up eateries and food stalls serving delicious winter-themed treats, from gourmet hot chocolate to freshly baked pastries. The village frequently hosts live performances, caroling, and seasonal events that infuse the air with an extra layer of festive cheer. GET THE DETAILS.

Nov. 13. The Elephants Are Coming

If you are fascinated with elephants, a new exhibit called, “The Secret World of Elephants” is coming to the Museum of Natural History. It reveals new science about both ancient and modern elephants, including elephants’ extraordinary minds and senses, why they’re essential to the health of their ecosystems, and inspiring efforts to overcome threats to their survival. You’ll learn fun facts like, how elephants “hear” with their feet, and  ow they use the 40,000 muscles in their trunks, and reshape the forests and savannas they live in. GET THE DETAILS.

The beautiful and very talented Lynn Henderson has a new show at Don’t Tell Mama, proving, “there’s still a little starch left” as she reflects on aging, downsizing, and…mascara. Accompanied by the brilliant musical director, Douglas Cohen. Get your tickets.