Fall color has gone all subtle on us, with soft yellows, oranges and browns that create a rich backdrop for a day in the gardens. This is the lull before planning for Thanksgiving and obsessing over menus or special fares on cheaptickets.com. So come get distracted by peace and beauty in this oasis overlooking the Hudson. Take in the contemporary art in the gallery and on the grounds — the young Exhibition Interpreters offer tours three times a week — or join a garden walk that winds through the garden “rooms.” On Saturday, come for Charlie Day’s tuber tutorial, and watch Great Performances chef Marc Spooner put together a sweet potato pie with homemade cinnamon marshmallows. (See, your menu-planning is already underway.) Then come back on Sunday for Eric Nelson’s talk about the majestic Palisades. No need to make reservations, or pay extra beyond admission, for any event but Sunday Brunch, a scrumptious, farm-fresh buffet. (Let someone else do the cooking for a change.) Now there’s something to give thanks for!
By the way, you’ll also be grateful for the opportunity to get a quiet start on your holiday gift list: The Shop at Wave Hill has three trunk shows this weekend with products from artisans around the world, including adorable stuffed animals, brilliant jewelry and baby alpaca scarves.
Saturday, November 14, Tai Chi Chuan: Quiet like a mountain, moving like a river, Tai Chi is a sequence of gentle movements based on images found in nature. Classes are led by Irving Yee, an active member of the William CC Chen Tai Chi Chuan School. Classes are held out-of-doors. Inclement weather cancels; call 718.549.3200 x245 by 8AM the day of the session to confirm. Fee: $10. Pre-registration not required. Last session of the season, weather permitting, will be held November 21. Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 10 to 11 a.m. Beginners, 11 a.m. To noon. Intermediates
Saturday, November 14, Rhadi Living/Koko Company Trunk Show in the Shop at Wave Hill: Both women-owned companies that design handcrafted, contemporary products for the home in collaboration with artisans around the world, Rhadi Living and The Koko Company join forces for this special trunk show. Get a jump on your holiday shopping with folk-art quilts and pillows made by women in Rajasthan; kooky, stuffed animals crafted from wool, cotton and hand-sewn appliqués; a collection of bird-inspired, screen-printed and embroidered pillows; and floor mats ingeniously recycled from candy and cookie wrappers — how sweet! Perkins Visitor Center, 1 to 4 p.m.
Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15, Family Art Project: Harvest Time Hangings: Harvest Time Hangings/Decoraciones del otoño: Gather fall leaves, cones, pods and seed heads. Weave them together with other materials from gardens and meadows to create a decorative wall hanging that celebrates the bounty and beauty of the season. Free with admission to the grounds. The Sally and Gilbert Kerlin Learning Center, 1 to 4 p.m.
Saturday, November 14, Cooking Demonstration: Sweet Potatoes And Yams: Join Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day for a tuber tutorial and discover the difference between sweet potatoes (Ipomoea sp.) and yams (Dioscorea sp.). A chef from Great Performances, Wave Hill’s exclusive caterer, joins us to cook up some delicious harvest-themed dishes using these tasty tubers. Free with admission to the grounds. Wave Hill House, 1 p.m.
Saturday, November 14; Wednesday, November 18; and Thursday, November 19, Gallery Tour: Join an Exhibition Interpreter for one of our regularly scheduled tours of The Muhheakantuck in Focus: Contemporary artists look at “the river that flows both ways” through projects that explore the First Nations’ engagement with the river and the impact of Henry Hudson’s arrival. Also on view is John Morton and Jacqueline Shatz’s The Voyage Out, a collaborative installation based on the music box, a sonic and visual meditation on Darwin’s journey of exploration. Tours take place Wednesdays and Thursdays at noon, and at 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Free with admission to the grounds. Glyndor Gallery, 2 p.m.
Sunday, November 15, Sunday Brunch: Sunday Brunch features organic produce from Katchkie Farm, a project of Wave Hill’s exclusive caterer Great Performances. Reservations at 718.549.3200 x395 or by emailing wavehillcafe@greatperformances.com. $22 per person (not including admission to the grounds). Reservations by 4PM the Friday before each Brunch. Wave Hill House, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday, November 15, Artel Jewelry Trunk Show at the Shop at Wave Hill: Artěl Glass has its roots in founder Karen Feldman’s 12 years living in Prague, inspired by the wonderful objects she found while browsing its bazaars and antique stores. Today, the company lists Rolls Royce and Paul Smith among the many clients for its signature lead-free crystal, mouth-blown and then hand-engraved utilizing centuries of Czech craftsmanship. Artěl’s line of costume jewelry continues a brilliant tradition of playful and wearable gems. The jeweled creations feature stunning flowers in a wide array of rich and colorful garden colors. Its limited edition brooches, earrings and necklaces are a sumptuous addition to any jewelry chest and a bewitching accessory for any outfit. Perkins Visitor Center, noon to 3 p.m.
Sunday, November 15, Continuum Home Trunk Show In The Shop At Wave Hill: Continuum Home offers a comprehensive collection of home décor, personal accessories and gifts designed by Patti Carpenter and handcrafted by an international group of artisans and master craftspeople, using traditional techniques from around the world. Her work has been featured extensively in print: “O” The Oprah Magazine profiled her business in an article on women whose businesses give back. Her products can be found in fine retail stores, hotels and museum shops. Here at Wave Hill, you will have a chance to choose from among her baby alpaca scarves and hand-loomed, striped accessories. Perkins Visitor Center, 1 to 4 p.m.
Sunday, November 15, Nature Talk: The Unknown Palisades: Through images and narrative, Eric Nelsen, of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, brings the story of the Palisades to life. Learn about the villages that once dotted the shores, palatial estates that arose on the summit, the epic struggle to preserve the cliffs from destruction, the work of the New Deal agencies during the Great Depression and the oasis that the park has become in today’s busy world. Free with admission to the grounds. Wave Hill House, 1 p.m.
Sunday, November 15, and Tuesday, November 17, Garden Walk: Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds. Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 2 p.m.
Wave Hill is located at 675 W. 252nd Street. For further information call (718) 549-3200.
