Tag Archives: UpTownNYC

Inwood Hill Park: iNaturalist Together Week – Evening Plant ID Walk

Join NYC Parks and Macaulay Honors College to celebrate iNat Together Week, for an evening bioblitz at Inwood Hill Park, which is part of the Old-Growth Forest Network and accessible via subway. Tina Cuevas, natural areas outreach coordinator at NYC Parks, will discuss restoration activities within NYC Parks and how monitoring plays a large part in how Parks works within our city’s natural areas and beyond. Kelly O’Donnell, lead NYC organizer for City Nature Challenge & director of Science Forward at Macaulay Honors College, will contextualize the data that iNaturalist captures and becomes part of a larger global dataset that helps scientists with their research all over the globe. Participants will learn how to use the iNaturalist app to take data observations of local plants and wildlife. They will be able to learn how to lead their own bioblitzes and engage with the iNaturalist community. Come dressed in sturdy boots or shoes, long sleeves, long pants, and clothing that can get dirty (since we might crouch down on the ground to look at plants).

Meeting Location: Payson Playground in Inwood Hill Park
Dyckman Street and Payson Avenue

Free — Registration is required on the NYC Parks Stewardship page

Click here for more information!

Fort Washington Library: Friday Matinee “Casablanca”

This week’s screening will be “Casablanca” starring Humphrey Bogart,  Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid.

A cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco.

Considered one of the best films ever made by many critics. Is it because of Bogart, Bergman, or its locale? You decide.

Running Time: 1 hr 42 mins

 

 

 

Inwood Art Works: Harvest of the Heart – An Uptown Poetry Social

Harvest of the Heart: An Uptown Poetry Social
Featuring the poetry and prose by local artists.

Join Inwood Art Works as we celebrate Fall with a curated poetry and open social to connect with fellow poets and community members. Featuring the poetry and prose of Tabs, Bryon Gordon, Deadpan Lizzie, and J-Nix. Curated by R.M. Thomson.

Followed by a social hour and a limited open mic, in which the audience is invited to read a short poem or story on stage! (3 to 4 minutes per reader, signup sheet will be at the welcome table, first-come, first-served.)

Attend to observe and enjoy, and/or to participate! Drinks and merchandise are also available for purchase in our studio.

1:30 PM – Doors open
2:00 PM – Show begins
3:00 PM – Open mic and social begins.

Admission is Pay-What-You-Will. Online and at the door. All are welcome!

Dyckman Farmhouse: Fall Festival 2026

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER!  The Annual Fall Festival returns to Dyckman Farmhouse Museum with exciting new activities plus the all-time favorites you’ve been waiting all year for:
* Unleash your inner artist with fall-inspired stop motion animations and mind-bending optical illusions! Yes, you read that right! Come create your very own thaumatropes and spin your drawings to life!
* Sip on apple cider fresh from the press and crafted right before your eyes!
* Dance to LIVE MUSIC performed by your favorite local musicians!
* Enjoy some neighborly competition! Put your steady hand to the test with giant Jenga and see how long your tower can last! We’ll have plenty of lawn games out for anyone up for a challenge…
* Explore our historic Hessian Hut and the iconic Dyckman Farmhouse Museum FREE OF CHARGE! Come experience the magic of our latest contemporary exhibition by Jamaican-American artist Jhanique Lovejoy, collections-based exhibition on Revolutionary War history in Inwood, and permanent collection objects showcasing early Upper Manhattan history.
* Freshly popped popcorn? Sign me up! Refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase all day long

And that’s just the tip of the haystack! So, start rounding up your friends, family, nieces, and nephews for a fall-tastic day at Dyckman Farmhouse Museum.  Trust me, it’s going to be gourd-geous!

Are you a community organization and/or local business interested in sponsoring the Fall Festival? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities  here.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council. Dyckman Farmhouse Museum Alliance’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Word Up: Rising in the Heights with artists Randy Mason & Jamell Ogbanna

Hip-hop artist Randy Mason and keyboardist Jamell Ogbanna join Leadlights Ensemble for a hopeful afternoon of hip hop, rhyme, and string music, featuring Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman.

Free copies of the book will be available.

Rising in the Heights is a festival of free outdoor public arts performances curated by Leadlights Ensemble in partnership with Word Up Community Bookshop. The festival celebrates the rich artistic contributions of Latinx and Black cultures and promotes children’s literacy through music and bilingual storytelling.

Randy Mason is a Bronx hip hop artist, songwriter, cajón percussionist, educator, pastor, and family man whose life and art reflect the heartbeat of faith, rhythm, and community. Fusing the raw energy of New York City hip hop with the rich traditions of Afro-Peruvian percussion, Randy creates a one-of-a-kind sound that inspires, educates, and uplifts.​

​Born and raised in the Bronx, the birthplace of hip hop, Randy’s music embodies his Puerto Rican and African American heritage. His performances blend storytelling, live instrumentation, and lyrical depth — a celebration of culture, creativity, and hope. Whether performing on stage, teaching in classrooms, or preaching from the pulpit, Randy brings the same message.

​As a hip hop educator and founder of R.H.Y.M.E. (Rhymes Help Young Minds Excel), Randy uses rap, writing, and rhythm to mentor youth throughout New York City. His innovative programs help students discover their voices, develop confidence, and dream beyond their circumstances.

Beyond the mic, Randy is a devoted husband, father, and arts and mentoring program director committed to empowering communities through creativity. With every beat, rhyme, and classroom moment, Randy Mason continues to prove that hip hop is more than music — it’s ministry, mentorship, and movement.