On November 7, 2014, the Symposium The Changing Nature of Nature in Cities was held to a sold-out crowd in Ross Hall. It was the 2nd Symposium hosted by The New York Botanical Garden’s new Humanities Institute. Organized in collaboration with Todd Forrest, Arthur Ross Vice President for Horticulture and Living Collections, and Jessica Arcate Schuler, Director of the Thain Family Forest, it brought together a diverse group of scientists, botanists, landscape and garden design professionals, urban planners, architects, and general public to discuss the development of novel ecosystems in our rapidly growing metropolitan areas—a timely and often contentious subject in current conversations on the topic.
With the holidays upon us and the New Year just around the corner, the Holiday Train Show begins the next season of winter fun on January 3 when All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™ pulls into the station! Everyone’s favorite train comes to life as Thomas and Driver Sam star in these fun-filled, sing-along, mini-performances each day at various times through January 25. Be sure to bring your camera for a photo-op with Thomas, or purchase a souvenir photo from our professional photographers.
Check the full schedule of upcoming performances, including special 9 a.m. Members-only performances on select dates. MasterCard cardholders can also enjoy priority VIP seating on January 4 & 11!
When purchasing your ticket, please be sure to select the All-Garden Passticket option that specifies All Aboard with Thomas & Friends Mini-Performance & All-Garden Pass. All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™ includes access to the Holiday Train Show through January 19. Thomas tickets purchased for January 23 through 29 include access to Wild Medicine in the Tropics. While there is no additional cost for the mini-performance, this is the only ticket type that allows access to All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™.
The holidays are in full swing! For the next two weeks—through January 4, to be specific—the Holiday Train Show will bring in more visitors than ever to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, with families gathering to take part in this 23-year New York tradition as part of their seasonal celebrations. And there’s no reason you and your loved ones shouldn’t join in the fun and make some magical memories together, too!
We would like to ensure that your Garden visit is as whimsical and worry-free as possible, so continue reading below for some simple tips to help you have the best possible experience at the Holiday Train Show! Follow these handy guidelines, and you’ll be riding First Class.
This weekend marks the beginning of peak season for the Holiday Train Show® as families from around the area come to celebrate this beloved tradition in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. Don’t wait another moment to get your tickets! Time slots remain available to come enjoy this beloved tradition this weekend, but the next couple of weeks are sure to sell out.
In fact, Bar Car Nights have already sold out for tonight and tomorrow, so don’t wait to reserve tickets for these special evenings in January—they’re sure to disappear.
Be sure to catch the final performance of our all-new Winter Harmonies Concert Series on Sunday afternoon, as well. An artful selection of classical favorites, inspired by the Holiday Train Show® and performed by Le Train Bleu, will complement your visit. Head below for more information about this unique musical experience, as well as the rest of this weekend’s programs and tours.
Tomorrow afternoon, join us in welcoming former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins to NYBG for a special reading of his most beloved works. Visitors to the Garden have enjoyed his poems that line the Holiday Poetry Walk, inspired by trains, winter, and New York. Tickets are still available, so plan your weekend at NYBG and come enjoy the Holiday Train Show alongside beautiful poetry.
The Holiday Train Show continues this weekend with holiday guides, live a cappella, and screenings of your favorite holiday- and train-related films. Other programs this weekend include a special in-depth tour of the latest exhibition in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library, Flora Illustrata: A Celebration of Botanical Masterworks. These treasures from the Library’s Rare Book and other Collections span centuries, so come explore botanical history with an expert guide. Or you can be an expert for a day and join professionals and aficionados alike for this Saturday’s Annual Winter Bird Count to learn about bird conservation and population health while observing the Garden’s birds. Keep reading to get the full details on this weekend’s programs at NYBG!
The poetry of Billy Collins has long bridged the gap between the generations with its evocation of all things New York. For those who live here, his verse is a painted representation of daily life in the city, winter trips along the Hudson, and workaday commuter rituals unchanged for decades. At large, he’s a classic American poet, something recognized by virtue of the fact that he’s a former U.S. Poet Laureate. But as timeless as his words are, the effect is all the more potent when you hear them read aloud by Collins himself.
This Saturday, December 13, Billy Collins returns to The New York Botanical Garden for an intimate reading of his works in our Ross Hall. For those of you who’ve enjoyed strolling the Poetry Walk that winds its way through the Perennial Garden—just outside the Holiday Train Show taking place in the Conservatory—this is a chance to hear these poems as they were intended by the writer. Of course, if you haven’t had the opportunity to stroll through Poetry for Every Season, you’ll have the best of both worlds. And it’s not a bad time to check out the Train Show, either.
This Sunday afternoon is the first of our all-new Winter Harmonies Concert Series! “American Journey” is the title of this unique performance that draws from classical and folk music, so enhance your visit to the Garden this weekend with a special live performance of music selected especially for the Holiday Train Show®.
Music is just one of many ways to appreciate NYBG in wintertime this weekend. Holiday Guides in the Haupt Conservatory illuminate the meticulous work that go into re-creating over 150 landmarks for Holiday Train Show®. Meanwhile, on grounds, this weekend’s tour schedule includes an insightful look into the historic landmarks that make up NYBG. Of course, some of the oldest and most unique fixtures here are the trees, and the Winter Wonderland Tree tour brings visitors along for a closer look at the gorgeous winter landscape.
Finally, Bar Car Nights are back tonight and tomorrow, with tickets still available for tonight, but Saturday night is sold out. Read on for details regarding tonight’s entertainment, Sunday’s live music ensemble, and seasonal activities for kids.
When the Garden is at the height of its wintertime beauty, the grounds are best enjoyed with poetry and music. This Sunday, December 7, the Winter Harmonies Concert Series begins with a special performance by the Cassatt String Quartet entitled “American Journey.” These talented artists were recently interviewed alongside the series curator and composer Laura Kaminsky for Living Arts in Westchester. Watch the video and hear the inspiration behind this special travel-themed performance that will coincide with NYBG’s Holiday Train Show®.
Laura Kaminsky will moderate post-performance conversations with the artists after each performance in Ross Hall, so audience members for this Sunday’s special performance will be able to hear directly from these acclaimed musicians. This unique interaction of folk and classical music is not to be missed!
Le Train Bleu
Laura Kaminsky then returns December 21 with another leading ensemble, Le Train Bleu, for a dynamic performance of Bach and Vivaldi entitled “A Winter’s Journey.” Get your tickets now for one of these two special musical performances and enjoy a live musical experience alongside your visit to the Holiday Train Show®!
Here’s to a happy Thanksgiving! As you tuck in to a hearty feast and a well-earned holiday, consider bringing your loved ones for some quality time at the Garden. NYBG will be open November 28, 29, and 30 with a full schedule of seasonal tours and special programs surrounding our 23rd annual Holiday Train Show®—including live a cappella singing and screenings of holiday- and train-themed films. Spend the day after Thanksgiving at NYBG and explore the grounds in all their winter splendor with two one-day-only tours. The Fruit & Berry Tree Tour will highlight the many beautiful berries of the season, and our Winter Tree Tour is best way to take in NYBG’s winter wonderland of conifers and more. For anyone on grounds today to enjoy the city’s first snowfall of the season, our film screening will feature Union Pacific (1939) in Ross Hall.
Don’t forget, there are still eight Bar Car Nights left this season! Last weekend’s kick-off was a great success, so get your tickets now before they sell out.
Head below for Saturday and Sunday’s schedule of film screenings, along with the rest of the weekend’s programming schedule.
Tonight is the first of ten special Bar Car Nights at the Garden. The Holiday Train Show provides the backdrop for these special evenings, with the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory aglow with festive lights and a number of stations around the Garden, from live music to delicious food. Sip on a complimentary cocktail as you admire the glittering miniature city and enjoy the magical atmosphere. Tonight’s inaugural Bar Car Night is also the first event of our new LGBT@NYBG campaign. Tickets are still available for tonight’s event geared towards the LGBT community, as well as for tomorrow’s Bar Car Night. However, tickets for the most popular dates and events do sell out quickly!
As the Holiday Train Show® continues to delight visitors of all ages in its 23rd year, the latest Garden News provides an overview of what you can expect to find this year. View the video below, and click through for the full schedule of programs for this weekend.
