Editor’s Pick: Summer Activities at VC Park 

Van Cortlandt Park, West 242nd Street and Broadway, offers a variety of summer activities including:

Rowboating on VC Lake: Fridays through Sept. 1 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., free. Enter the park at VC Park South and Bailey Avenue. Meet near the lake.

Barefoot Dancing: Thursdays through Aug. 3, on the VC House Museum lawn (details under “Events”).

Horseback Riding Instruction: Daily lessons by the Riverdale Stables. For more information, visit riverdalestables.com.

Fishing: Join the Rangers on Aug. 13 at noon for free fishing program catch and release only. NYS fishing license is required.

Swimming: Outdoor pool open daily through the summer from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (closed from 3 to 4 p.m.). Also offered are learn to swim programs (info: (718) 760-6969 ext. 0); details under “Events.”

Learn to Play Tennis: For beginners, through Aug. 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at Indian Field Courts (info/register: (718) 760-6999).

Art Classes: Tuesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. from July 19 to Aug. 9 at Woodlawn Playground for Painting Nature; and on Fridays through Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m., for Twilight Hike & Draw (meet at Nature Center).

For more information and a detailed schedule, call (718) 601-1553.

Onstage
Bronx Council on the Arts presents free concert, July 18 from 7 to 9 p.m., featuring Ginetta’s Vendetta, at the Amalgamated Train Park, Orloff Avenue and Gale Place. For more information, call (718) 931-9500. 

Bronx Arts Ensemble presents free concerts: July 9 – Golden Oldies, songs of the ‘50s and ‘60s, in Van Cortlandt Park, Rockwood Drive Circle at Mosholu Avenue and Broadway, at 2 p.m.; and July 16 – Mozart in the Afternoon, at Fordham University, Keating Hall, 1st floor, at 4 p.m. For more information, call (718) 601-7399.

New York Botanical Garden presents Celebrating 100 Years of Jazz, July 14 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $40/member; $45/non member. For more information, call (718) 817-8700.

Events
Williamsbridge Oval presents free special events: July 13 – Morning Yoga at 9:15 a.m.; and July 17 – Tiny Prints: Toddler Day (ages to 5 years), to play games and sing songs, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. For more information, call (718) 543-8672.

NYC Department of Parks offers free swimming at outdoor swimming pools through Sept. 10. The nearest outdoor pool to Norwood is Van Cortlandt Park Pool at West 242nd Street and Broadway. The second nearest outdoor pool is Mapes Pool at East 180th Street and Prospect Avenue. Outdoor pool hours are from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. with a break for pool cleaning between 3 and 4 p.m. For more information, call 311.

Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy presents Barefoot Dancing, featuring demonstrations and teaching, on the VC House Lawn from 6:30 to 8 p.m.: July 6 – Bulgaria music & dance; July 13 – West African; July 20 – American Indian dancers. For more information, call (718) 430-1890. 

Wave Hill, a Bronx oasis at 675 W. 252nd St. in Riverdale, offers Family Art Projects: Wet Felting Florals, to make a floral-fabric landscape, July 9 and 10; and Handmade River Rafts, to make rafts out of foam trays, foam sheets, and reeds, July 15 and 16; both in the WH House from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also scheduled is Lyndon Achee Quintet, July 12; and Gretchen Parlato (jazz singer) & Alan Hampton (strings and vocals), July 19; both at 7 p.m., on the grounds ($10/ticket; $6/students/seniors 65+; $4/ages 6 to 18). Grounds admission is free until noon Saturdays and Tuesdays all year. For more information and a schedule of events including tours and walks, call (718) 549-3200.

Library Events
The Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Rd., presents for children: Macaroni: (ages 3 to 12), summer reading program, band, dance and puppet, July 15 at 2 p.m. Adults can enjoy: Computer Basics: July 18 at 2 p.m. (online registration required). For more information, call (718) 579-4244/46/57 or visit www.nypl.org.

The Mosholu Library, 285 E. 205th St., offers for children: Bilingual Birdies: Spanish: (ages to 12 years), summer reading program, including music, puppets and games, July 7 at 10:30 a.m.; Tie-Dye: (ages 5 to 12), to create a shirt (limited amounts available), July 12 at 1 p.m. (phone or in-person registration required); and Crafts: (ages 3 to 12), July 19 at 1 p.m. Teens/adults can enjoy: Craft-eens!: Different craft projects each Wednesday at 3 p.m., July 12 and 19. Materials will be provided. Adults can attend: Knitting Circle: Thursdays at 3 p.m. For more information, call (718) 882-8239.

The Jerome Park Library, 118 Eames Place (near Kingsbridge Road), offers for children: Kids Get Active Fridays at 2:45 p.m.: (ages 5 to 12), dance moves on the Wii game console, July 7 and 14; Preschool Story Time and Craft at 11:15 a.m.: (ages 3 to 5), featuring books, puppetry, dramatics, crafts and flannel boards, July 6, 13 and 20; and What is Transportation: (4-part series for ages 3 to 12), to learn how we get around by land, air and water, in addition to hands-on activities including creating boats and airplanes, July 12 and 19 at 11:15 a.m. Adults can attend: Computer Basics: July 6, 13 and 20 at noon. For more information, call (718) 549-5200.

NOTE: Items for consideration may be mailed to our office or sent to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org, and should be received by July 10 for the next publication date of July 20.