Everything You Need to Know About Socrates Sculpture Park

Socrates Sculpture Park has always been a favorite of mine. I’ve enjoyed a lot of what the park has to offer, including visiting with friends to check out the art of display (yes, you guessed it, sculptures, often massive ones!), walking over with my friend’s dog while dog-sitting (and meeting lots of other dogs!), to their free fitness classes and the Saturday farmer’s market.

If you haven’t been there yet, it’s time you checked it out. And if you’ve been there before, you can bet there’s more for you to take advantage of than you realize! One example: LIC Community Boathouse offers free kayaking and canoeing in Hallets Cove (tide & weather permitting) on select Saturdays and Sundays.

A fun arts event (including a concert, face painting, an instrument-making workshop ) happens this month on the 21st starting at 5pm (also Father’s Day): Summer Solstice Celebration.  The day includes special boating opportunity from 2-6.

Here’s everything you need to know about this gorgeous Queens park.

 

The Basics

Location: 32-01 Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City, Queens at the intersection of Broadway.

Open: 10am through dusk.

Free & open to the public, along with lots of free programs throughout the year.

Good for: dogs, checking out exhibits, Instagram photos, group picnics, tossing a disc or ball

Not good for: big group sports games (often sculptures get in the way), late night strolls (gate closes at dusk)

Bonus: Did you know there’s an LIC ART BUS that will take you between Socrates, MOMI, and more? Check out the schedule here.

Outdoor Cinema

We all love the opportunity to set out a blanket and some food with friends and watch a great movie with a nice outdoor breeze, right? Well, Socrates offers that, but with a unique twist. Starting July 1st with DONT LOOK BACK / U.S.A, a Bob Dylan documentary, this 8-week long festival will focus on international films. Plus, all these events have pre-screening live performances. Admission is free.

Fitness Classes

Take A Breath! A Deep One! As part of its Healthy Living initiative, the park offers free yoga and tai chi every weekend, spring summer and fall, no registration needed.  You can help the park stay healthy too by volunteering.  (Info and an application here.)  It’s hard to believe the park is less than 30 years old, founded for artists by artists, literally turning a dump into a treasure.

GrowNYC Green Market

Get yourself fresh fruit, veggies, local meats, coffee, and more at this local market open every Saturday through November 21, 2015 | 8 AM – 4 PM. Everything sold is 100% brought to you by farmers! Fun note, if you’ve ever considered composting, you can bring your compost to the park to be collected by BIG!Compost – Every Saturday, 8:00 am to 2:00pm.

Art!

The park is dedicated to presenting large-scale sculpture and multi-media installations in a unique outdoor environment that encourages strong interaction between artists, artworks and the public. Featuring renown artists and innovators, exhibits run concurrently and can be viewed as a self guided tour, or by registering at least 3 weeks in advance, with an artist as your guide (fees apply). The current artwork is on display through August 30th.  You can also make you own art at any of the free classes.

What’s your favorite part about Socrates? What events have you been to? Share in the comments!