Socrates Sculpture Park combines two of my favorite things about New York City: outdoor public spaces, and ambitious inventive art. Located on the shore of the East River, with beautiful views of Manhattan and Roosevelt Island, it is my oasis and a vital cultural center for the Astoria community.

Socrates Sculpture Park is an outdoor museum that invites local artists to create site-specific artwork for their spring and fall seasons. Between seasons, I love to watch the sculptors at work in the park’s open-air studio. As I watch the artwork grow from raw materials into beautiful sculptures, I can feel the creative vibe pulsing throughout the entire park. 

In addition to its biannual sculptural exhibitions, Socrates Sculpture Park offers a huge variety of cultural events. Farmers’ markets, folk dance performances, kayaking, and outdoor foreign film screenings, are all among my favorite activities at Socrates Sculpture Park.

Socrates Sculpture Park seems to hibernate during the winter. While you can still visit the park for the nice outdoor space and great East River views, you’ll have to wait until springtime for new sculptures and outdoor events.