Outings

Member Outings for 2024

Leader: Charles Dexter, 917-593-8381, call before 10:30 pm.

Wear clothing appropriate for the weather (layers are best), a hat, and good walking shoes. Bring rain gear if rain is possible. Bring snacks and water. The March 28, May 1 and May 9 outings require carpooling. Call Charles for meet up location and to offer help with carpooling. For transit to all NYC meeting locations, see https://mta.info.

April 10, 2024 (Wednesday)
Roosevelt Island and FDR Four Freedoms Park

Explore the southern half of Roosevelt Island, including the new Cornell Tech Campus. Photograph city skyline, 59th Street Bridge and river views, and hopefully, cherry blossoms.
Meet 2:30 pm outside the Roosevelt Island subway station exit for the F train. Shoot until sunset (7:30 pm). Dinner on the island afterward. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Island and FDR Four Freedoms Park Conservancy: https://fdrfourfreedomspark.org

April 11, 2024 (Thursday)
Central Park – Spring Blossoms

Explore Central Park East Drive, walking from 66th St. north to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photograph spring magnolia and/or cherry blossoms.
Meet 2:45 pm at the East 66th St. and 5th Ave. pedestrian entrance. Shoot until dark (about 7:45 pm) with possible dinner afterward. Bring snacks and water. Bring equipment including a tripod, telephoto and normal lenses. Dress for a possibly cold, windy day.
Reach location via bus lines M1, M2, M3, M4, or M66, or via the N/R/W or 4/5/6 lines on East Side. See https://centralparknyc.org for maps and information. To explore Central Park on your own, check out the visitors’ guides including the Spring Guide to Central Park at https://centralparknyc.org/activities.

April 18, 2024 (Thursday)
Riverside Park

Photograph crabapple blossoms and springtime river views.
Meet 2:45 pm at West 79th St. and Riverside Drive pedestrian entrance. Explore north to the the 91st St. crabapple grove and beyond. Shoot until dark (about 7:40 pm), possible dinner afterward. Bring snacks and water.
Reach location via the 1 subway line to West 79th St./Broadway or via bus lines M5 or M79 SBS. See https://www.riversideparknyc.org for an overview of the park.

May 1, 2024 (Wednesday)
New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), Bronx, NY.

Photograph spring blossoms, tulips, magnolias, dogwoods and much more. Hike easy paved paths and dirt paths on wooded trails. Meet between 10:00 am – 10:30 am (see below) and shoot all day until 5:30 pm. Dinner afterward at Emilia’s Restaurant on Arthur Avenue, Bronx.

Admission: NYBG Admission is free between 10:00 am and 11:00 am for most outside grounds; after 11:00 am, entrance fees apply. See NYBG website for fees, policies, and maps to entrance gates and restaurant.

Travel by MetroNorth train: take 9:55 am from Grand Central Station to Botanical Garden station. Walk across street from the station and meet 10:20 am inside the Moshulu Gate Entrance. See Metro North Schedules.
Travel by car: meet Charles at 10:05 am inside admission windows at the Fordham Gate parking lot on Southern Boulevard ($22 parking for non-members).

We’ll connect for lunch at 11:45 am at the NYBG Pine Tree Cafe by Fordham Gate. At that time, those who want to go for dinner will make arrangements. We leave the Garden at 5:45 pm for Emilia’s Restaurant. Drivers with cars needed for transportation from NYBG to Emilia’s & back to NYC or train station. NYC Return: 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm.

May 9, 2024 (Thursday)
Ken Lockwood Gorge (Hunterdon County, NJ)

Photograph spring scenes along wooded stream, maybe a blue heron. Hike two miles along flat trail. After a long afternoon, dinner in the area afterwards.
Meet 11:30 am for car pick up. NYC return about 10:00 pm. For pick up location and to volunteer as a carpool driver, call Charles Dexter. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Lockwood_Gorge.