By Tracy Zwick
February 6th through 8th
Spanish Style: Fashion Illuminated” – Curator Conversation at The Hispanic Society, 3741 West Broadway (between 155th and 156th streets); Friday, February 6th at 10 a.m.; free but RSVP required
If you can make it to a moderated conversation with curator Amanda Wunder this morning at 10 o’clock, you’ll get expert insights into the exhibition “Spanish Style: Fashion Illuminated, 1550-1700.” If not, you can tour the show on your own through Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m. It features “elite clothing” that reflected Spain’s global and artistic ambitions at the time. Objects in the show incorporate materials from across the Spanish Empire into opulent garments and accessories that continue to inspire fashion well in the 21st century.
Iconic Views of Central Park Tour: Saturday and Sunday, February 7th and 8th, starting at 10 a.m.; tickets here (prices start at $28 with 2-for-1 offer available)
Spend 90 minutes covering about 1.3 miles of Central Park with a Central Park Conservancy guide, visiting and learning about some of the park’s most famous attractions. From the Sheep Meadow to the Mall, Bethesda Terrace, the Lake and its famed boathouse, this guided experience takes visitors all around the world-famous park that defines the eastern border of the UWS. It offers information on how the architects and designers behind the park transformed what was once rocky, swampy land into the work of art so many UWSers enjoy today.
AKC Meet the Breeds: Saturday and Sunday, February 7th and 8th, beginning at 9 a.m. at Javits Convention Center, 429 11th Avenue (between West 34th and 37th streets); tickets start at $10
Did you see Penny the Doberman win “Best in Show” at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night? Even if you missed the competition, it’s not too late to get in on the world-class dog action! The country’s largest in-person dog breed educational showcase starts Saturday, and it’s just down the west side at Javits Center. Dog lovers, along with the dog-curious, can meet, play with, and learn about hundreds of dogs, including where they’re from, their historical roles, and lifestyles. Visitors can also watch demonstrations of dogs at work and play, on agility courses, doing scent work, and more. Open to all ages, “Meet the Breeds” will offer games, an art station, photo ops and a Kids Zone. The UWS’s own Councilmember Gale Brewer is the event’s honorary chair, so say hi to Gale while you’re there!
Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Met: Saturday, February 7th from 12 to 5 p.m.; 1000 Fifth Avenue (between East 80th and 84th streets); pay-what-you-wish for New Yorkers
Celebrate the Year of the Horse, one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, with a lion and dragon dance, art-making, storytelling, and more at the Met this Saturday. There’ll be live performances, including one by the Sesame Street Muppeteers, and traditional music from cultures that celebrate Lunar New Year. Art stations will be set up so that visitors can create their own horse ornaments and Chinese and Korean calligraphy. Get a family portrait in the Met’s photo booth, and, of course, dive deeper into works of art in the Met’s encyclopedic collection.
Free Fitness Open House at the JCC: Sunday, February 8th from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; 334 Amsterdam Avenue at West 76th Street; free
Mingle and move at the JCC Fitness Center this Sunday for free! Pilates, salsa dancing, tai chi, yoga, and more classes are all on offer, gratis, but you must register in advance using this link. Listen to HSS sports medicine doctor Jordan Metzl kick things off at 9:15 a.m., talking about fitness and longevity. Or sit with authors Gila Pfeffer and Rebecca Bloom as they close things out at 2 p.m. with a conversation about prevention, genetics, and self-care. If you need a nosh after working out, the Manishewitz food truck will be parked outside from noon to 3 p.m.
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