February Highlights
Three museums, two parks, one church, and a taste of Mexico City!
This winter has felt like a seemingly endless stretch of cold weather, ice, and snow. I've found myself searching out more places to escape the cold while still doing things I love to do. One of the unexpected benefits of starting these monthly roundups is that I’ve been pushing myself to seek out new experiences, no matter what it looks like outside my window.
New York Botanical Garden, Bronx
I love orchids – who doesn't? When I saw this year's NYBG orchid show, "Mexican Modernism," which pays homage to Mexican architect Luis Barragán, I knew I had to go. I first learned about him last year on a trip to Mexico City, where I discovered his minimalist, brightly colored buildings. At the show, thousands of orchids are installed alongside replicas of Barragán's signature walls, waterfalls, and buildings – all painted in bold shades of pink, orange, and purple. You can't help but smile as Mexican music plays in the background. Plus, walking through the rainforest section on a super cold NY day kinda felt like going on vacation. Bonus: all that humidity helped my dry winter skin come back to life.
Hudson River Museum, Yonkers
The Hudson River Museum lately has gotten a major makeover since the new director took over a couple of years ago. The planetarium is still there where I used to take my kids when they were little, but now there is so much more!
The current show, "Smoke in Our Hair: Native Memory and Unsettled Time.” brings together work from Native American, Alaska Native, First Nations, and Métis artists. The show's title is a metaphor for how memories stay with us like smoke lingering in your hair long after a fire burns out. The 27 works of art explore how time is not always linear and how past and present are constantly mixing.
When I first walked in, I spotted a guy sitting in an armchair in front of a TV next to a lit-up Christmas tree. I actually thought he was the artist and part of the installation! Turns out the chair is meant for visitors to sit in and experience the setup. Once I realized that and sat down myself, it hit me differently. Being part of the installation forced me to really feel how holidays can be very difficult, and I found myself thinking about my own past Christmas’s.
Another clever piece called "High-Tec Peace Pipe" – a beaded water pipe sitting on an old school push button telephone – made me laugh. I remember using that exact same phone at my dad's gallery in the 70's. It seemed so cool and special back then. Now, I've got my iPhone, keeping me connected to my family all the time. The peace pipe juxtaposed with the telephone made me think about who gets access to what technology and when. Almost all of the pieces in the show will make you think about time, privilege, and memories that stick with you.
If you haven't checked out the new HRM yet, this show is a good excuse. Even the Red Grooms piece looks fresher now in its new installation. Trust me, it's not the same museum you remember.
Matisse and Chagall Stained Glass Windows at Union Church, Pocantico Hills
For those familiar with Kykuit (the Rockefeller estate) or Stone Barns, you already know Pocantico Hills – just above Tarrytown, east of Sleepy Hollow. You might not know Union Church, a small church with stained glass windows by both Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall. Matisse’s Rose Window has extra special significance as it turned out to be Matisse's final work, completed literally two days before his death. Seeing these windows typically requires a guided tour, but now the church has opened its doors to the public on Saturdays through April.
Even more special right now, they’re doing a companion exhibition at the David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center called "Sketching Light." The show explains Chagall's creative process in designing his nine windows through multiple detailed sketches and drawings. It's fascinating to see how these works evolved from initial concept to creation.
Visitor Tips: You'll need to make a reservation at the DR Center – not so much for crowd control (there's always space) but for parking logistics. You park below and shuttle to the museum in a van-sized golf cart. I visited the church first and then the exhibition, but afterward, I found myself wanting to check out the windows again now that I knew more about them. Either way works – it's incredible to see both the sketches AND the completed windows in person.
Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art, Peekskill
Art collectors Livia and Marc Straus opened the HV MoCA with a mission to bring art to a struggling community outside of the city. They chose Peekskill at a time when no one wanted to open a business in the downtown area. The 12,000-square-foot former industrial building feels very raw and almost unfinished. There is nothing fancy or polished about it, which I actually love. The current show, "The Way We Live Now," pulls pieces from their permanent collection, while the upstairs hosts temporary jury shows.
Since opening in 2004, the Museum seems to have helped turn all of Peekskill into a legit art destination. "The Diver," a sculpture down at the waterfront, is a 13-foot bronze piece that curves like a perfect "C" against the mountains and Hudson. They're doing amazing work in the community and with local schools.
Winter Walks Along the Sound
My usual go-to when wanting a water walk that isn't the Hudson River is Greenwich Beach, but in my effort to get to know the other side of Westchester a bit better, I found two very different parks along the Long Island Sound.
Edith Read Sanctuary, Rye
Edith Read Sanctuary is easy to miss if you don't know it's there. You have to park at the very far end of the Rye Playland parking lot and then walk across a path. The 179-acre sanctuary brings in serious bird watchers – apparently, 5,000 ducks make this their winter home. Being that it was a snowy winter day when I went, Playland was, of course, closed, but walking along the boardwalk next to the abandoned rides was a little eerie but also special. I felt like the little kid in Big – I half expected to run into the Zoltar fortune-telling machine!
Marshlands Conservancy, Rye
Just down the road is Marshlands, one of New York's public salt marshes. With three miles of walking trails and 1.5 miles of shoreline along the Atlantic migratory flyway, it's a prime spot for birding. But I came more for the views –. Instead of typical Westchester woods, you make your way through sandy-colored winter grasses that open to an expanse of the Long Island Sound. I went on a cold but sunny morning when the bright blue sky made the water shimmer. The whole loop took about 45 minutes.
Even though we're still in what feels like a never-ending winter, I hope this gives you a little escape, if just for an afternoon.
Got any suggestions for other local escapes? Leave them in the comments!