Travel Reference
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( 212/222-8222; www.picnicmarket.com ) every Monday from 6 to 7pm. There's a $10 cover, but it includes a
drink.
Main Campus, 2690 Broadway, entrance at 116th St. 212/854-9724. www.columbia.edu . Subway: 1 to 116th St.
Cooper Union Self-made entrepreneur and inventor Peter Cooper founded the Cooper Union for the Ad-
vancement of Science and Art in 1857 to allow underprivileged talents to receive free education. The college's
mission hasn't changed, and 1,000 students currently attend without tuition. Admission is based solely on
merit, and competition is, as you'd expect, fierce. The public can take advantage of the institution in other
ways, however. The Saturday Outreach Program ( www.saturdayoutreach.org ) helps high school students fur-
ther themselves in the arts with free classes (even the materials fee is waived). Student exhibitions can be seen in
free galleries, and free lectures are held in the Great Hall. Check online for an events calendar.
Cooper Sq., 8th St., btw. Bowery and Third Ave. 212/353-4120. www.cooper.edu . Subway: 6 to Astor Place; N/R to 8th St.
Downtown Boathouse Every Wednesday night in summer, the boathouse offers kayaking classes free to
the public. Most classes are held in the waters of Clinton Cove Park. Put your new knowledge to work by com-
ing back to borrow a kayak (free; see “Rollin' on the Rivers,” on p. 173). Classes start at 6pm, during the warmer
months (Apr-Oct). They'll be getting you in the water, so bring a bathing suit, and a lock if you want
to make use of the changing room.
Pier 96, West Side Hwy. at 56th St. 646/613-0375. www.downtownboathouse.org . Subway: A/B/C/D/1 to 59th St./Columbus Circle.
Eglise Français du St-Esprit This French-speaking Episcopal congregation has called New York home
since 1628. French classes are a century-old tradition here, held before Sunday's Morning Prayer. The classes are
free, at 10am every Sunday. Services start at 11:15am.
100 E. 60th St., btw. Madison and Park aves. 212/838-5680. www.stespritnyc.net . Subway: 4/5/6 or N/Q/R to 59th St.; F to Lexington Ave./63rd
St.
Etsy Labs The virtual DIY marketplace that is Etsy.com holds down a real-world address in DUMBO.
Inside the Etsy Labs you can take advantage of free craft fests and lectures from technical aces on the coding side
of crafting. Bring your own project and borrow some equipment and supplies, or learn from an expert (teacups,
hats, and finger puppets have been items of attention in recent sessions). See the website for updated schedules.
The Church of Craft ( www.churchofcraft.org ) also holds free creativity services the third Thursday of the month
from 5 to 8pm.
55 Washington St., Ste. 712, btw. Water and Front sts. 718/855-7955. www.etsy.com . Subway: F to York St.
The Frick Collection Inside the Gilded Age confines of this elegant art museum, you can catch Wed-
nesday evening lectures. Subjects tend toward painterly subjects like Albrecht Dürer's hands and Goya's black
paintings. A series called Artists, Poets, and Writers broadens the floor to include in-person luminaries like Frank
Stella and analysis of immortals like Henry James. Lectures start at 6pm, with seating at 5:45pm. Don't arrive
earlier than that, lest they have time to hit you up for the $18 admission fee.
1 E. 70th St., btw. Madison and Fifth aves. 212/288-0700. www.frick.org . Subway: 6 to 68th St./Hunter College.
Gotham Writers' Workshop The Microsoft of NYC's writing programs, Gotham coaches up some 7,000
writers a year. You can sample the goods free at frequent 1-hour workshops. The events are held at the major
bookstores around town (plus visits to Bryant Park), on topics like dialogue, travel writing, stand-up comedy,
and Creative Writing 101. (Of course, you'll be encouraged to sign up for their weekly and intensive and online
workshops, which do charge a fee.)
Various locations. 212-WRITERS (974-8377). www.writingclasses.com .
The Graduate Center at the City University of New York Continuing ed lectures, seminars, and panel
discussions can be found here, with more possibilities for finding cheap smarts than any other institution in the
city. Titles run from “Jewish Ethics Under Pressure” to “Unzipping the Monster Dick: Deconstructing Ableist
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