Monday, March 31
Many people are surprised to discover there has been a significant slab of the East-West divide in our midst. In the small Midtown plaza of Paley Park, at 520 Madison Ave., you can discover five sections of the original Berlin Wall, measuring 12 feet high and 20 feet long. The western end of the wall acts as a canvas for striking murals by German artists Thierry Noir and Kiddy Citny, while the eastern side remains a blank, inspired by the political regime in the former East Germany.
Tuesday, April 1
Best-selling author and The New Yorker staff writer Malcolm Gladwell is appearing in conversation with Paul Holdengräber this evening as part of the acclaimed LIVE from the NYPL series of public conversations and interviews. Upcoming guests include Douglas Coupland ("Generation X") alongside Chuck Palahniuk ("Fight Club") on Friday, April 11 and filmmaker John Waters on Wednesday, June 4. It takes place at the New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, located on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, Midtown. $25 or $15 for Library Friends.
Wednesday, April 2
Apart from being inspired artists, what do Maurice Sendak, Mark Rothko, Robert Rauschenberg and Georgia O'Keeffe have in common? They all studied or taught at the Art Students League of New York, an institution dedicated to sustaining the tradition of training artists. Founded in 1875 by and for artists, the League has been instrumental in shaping America's legacy in the fine arts. Today, more than 2,500 students of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels study at the League each month. Classes can be started anytime.
Thursday, April 3
Visit the New York Fed on a free guided tour. The Federal Reserve Bank holds almost a third of the world’s monetary gold reserves in a maximum-security vault 80 feet below Liberty Street in lower Manhattan. In this location there is also a 3-story-high cash storage vault where robots are used to transport the loot. General public tours are held Monday through Friday at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and must be booked online. 44 Maiden Lane, Financial District.
Friday, April 4
Built for the 1964 World’s Fair, The Panorama of the City of New York is a scale model of the five boroughs featuring more than 800,000 of the city’s buildings. Conceived as a celebration of the city’s infrastructure by influential urban planner Robert Moses, the Panorama was built by a team of more than 100 people over three years. In 2009, the Queens Museum of Art launched its Adopt-a-Building program aimed at securing the future of the model and bringing it up to date. For as little as $50, real estate on the Panorama can be “purchased,” with property owners receiving a deed in exchange for their donation. See it at the Queens Museum of Art in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. Wednesday to Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m.; suggested donation $5, seniors and children $2.50, members and children under 5 free.
Saturday, April 5
Enhance your weekend with a visit to the Brooklyn Brewery. The Williamsburg brewery gives free tours, with no advance reservation from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. It's located at 79 N. 11th St. While you're in the neighborhood, check out gourmet food market Smorgasburg, which is set to reopen today at East River State Park for it’s outdoor spring season from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with more than 70 vendors offering ready-to-eat artisinal treats. East River State Park, 90 Kent Ave at North 7th Street.
Sunday, April 6
Dig for black gold at the Vinyl Revolution Record Show at the Bohemain Hall & Beer Garden, New York City’s oldest beer garden. 29-19 24th Ave., Astoria, Queens. Vendors include the Hooky Record Truck, the folks from Norton Records and Clockwork Records NY.
