Ongoing Groups - Bloomingdale Aging in Place

City Excursions, Indoor Games, Wining and Dining

We support a large collection of city excursions, indoor games, dancing and a wide variety of wining and dining activities.

Breakfast Together

BAiP members can get together and meet over breakfast every Wednesday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Paris Baguette, located on Broadway between 96th and 97th Street. We sit at the table in the back.

Bridge

Some group members meet once a week on a regular basis, others irregularly by agreement. It takes four people to play bridge and most members prefer to play with partners who are on similar levels of expertise. The leader helps new members identify likely partners.

Meets in person, schedule and location vary

Chess

The group focuses on play-for-fun rather than on chess openings or game strategies. Games are 20 minutes, after which everyone switches opponents. Participants should have at least a basic knowledge of the game. If they can, players should bring to the sessions a chess set and/or a chess clock.

The group meets at 10:00 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Hex & Co., 2911 Broadway (between W 113 and W 114). Each participant pays Hex $12 per session and can stay for a third hour at no additional cost.

Cross-Eyed Cat Cafe

The Cat is an informal gathering of members that includes time to meet and a brief backstory or entertainment by a BAiP member. Games, snacks, soft drinks, and wine add to the fun.

It meets on Monday afternoons in the spring and fall at the Peter Jay Sharp Volunteer House in Riverside Park .

Dining in the Neighborhood

Members volunteer to host a meal, coffee, or drinks at a restaurant of their choice in the neighborhood. It’s an opportunity to socialize with neighbors and meet new people. Add your name to the list to receive an invitation.

Meets at a neighborhood restaurant, no regular schedule

Drop in Cocktails

Meet at The Ellington (Broadway and 105th St) from 4:30-6:00 p.m. on the 1st Friday and 3rd Thursday of the month.

Excursions

Any member of this group can host an outing. The host will choose a favorite place or somewhere new to explore. BAiP liaisons are available to assist in organizing and making arrangements. It’s a fun way to socialize with neighbors and meet new people. Add your name to learn about new excursions.

Variable times and locations

Gallery Gallivanting

This group visits art galleries in Manhattan, meeting at a designated subway or bus stop and traveling together to the first gallery. Members need to be comfortable walking between galleries and standing for up to three hours.

Meets in person at designated subway or bus stop, monthly on the second Thursday at 10 a.m.

Hidden Gems

This group explores the famous museums of NYC as well as the hidden gems. Outings last several hours. They go out to lunch after the visits.

Meets in person at designated place, monthly, usually on the second Friday

Last Minute Theater

Last Minute Theater is a group of theater lovers who welcome and embrace invites to free and low cost theater performances. Members enjoy both theater and the company. Members regularly monitor emails for our offers and respond quickly and can make arrangements on the spur of the moment for free theater, on and off Broadway.

Ping Pong

Group members meet weekly at various times for one hour in groups of two or four playing singles at a local Club for which they pay a $10/hour fee per person to the Club. Players are matched for their skill level and are expected to have some ping pong experience. Games are not scored; the objective is to keep the ball in play. Paddles are available at the Club. BAiP supplies the balls.

Meets in person weekly at a local Club, schedule varies

Poker

This group is for members who enjoy playing card games.

Meets in person, monthly, location and schedule vary

Square Dance Party

The Square Dance Party is an annual event in which members can get together, enjoy the music and dance.

Taverns/Neighborhood Dives

This group goes on lunch outings to either a local dive bar in the neighborhood or one of NYC’s historic taverns (the White Horse, Landmark, etc). Members pay for what they consume.

Meets in person, monthly, third Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

Wine Group Beta

The host chooses the tasting theme and provides a list of wines for the tasting. Group members sign up to purchase a bottle of one of the proposed types (for no more than $30 pre-tax), and they each research the wine they are bringing and present their wine to the group at the tasting.

Meets in person, monthly, third Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Wine Tasting

This is the original BAIP Group dedicated to the study and enjoyment of wines of the world. Each month, the focus is on a different wine producing region, with 5-6 members bringing different, representative bottles from the region for tasting. The group discusses and critiques each selection and ends the evening by enjoying the wines with complementary light foods brought by members.

Meets in person, monthly, at various members’ homes

Discussion and Language Groups

What better way to meet your neighbors than to have a great discussion with them. We offer a number of discussion groups, ranging from topical subjects to learning a new language.

Aging Conversations

The group discusses the social, emotional and physical challenges relevant to our lives as we age. Through discussions of pertinent articles sent before the meetings, we compare our ways of coping and handling our daily lives. The group first met in March, 2020 and we’ve maintained our connections ever since.

Meets on Zoom, monthly on second Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Aging Strong

Aging Strong focuses on current topics related to health and wellness with increasing age. Discussions focus on an article from the lay press or scientific literature. Through her extensive education and work background the group leader is able to explain physiology/metabolism in terms everyone understands, especially as they relate to their concerns.

Meets on Zoom, monthly on third Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Estamos Charlando (fluent speakers)

This is an in-person conversation group for fluent Spanish speakers. It meets in a local restaurant, and members discuss topics of their choice, such as current events, cultural activities, or books they’ve read.

Meets in person, monthly, second Friday, at 4 p.m.

French Conversation Club

This group is designed for French speakers at the early intermediate level or higher who are able to converse fairly easily (with some help from others in the group). Participation will be entirely in French on topics selected by the members.

Meets in person Wednesday at 4:00 PM on alternate weeks. The group meets at various sites on the UWS.

French Reading and Conversation

Each month there is a reading list of a few French short stories or a French novel. The group discussion is in French and members are quite fluent in the language.

Meets on Zoom, monthly, first Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Hablamos Espanol (advanced beginning to intermediate)

This is an in-person conversation group for advanced beginning to intermediate Spanish speakers. With the help of a fluent Spanish speaker, members discuss topics of their choice, such as current events, cultural activities, or books they’ve read.

Meets in person, twice monthly, Wednesdays at 12 noon

Hablamos Espanol (beginning to advanced beginning)

This is an on-line conversation group for beginning to advanced beginning Spanish speakers. Members discuss topics of their choice, such as current events, cultural activities, or books they’ve read.

Meets on Zoom, monthly on Thursday at 2 p.m.

Hot Topics in Public Policy

This discussion group will devote each session to a public policy issue of interest. Topics can include areas such as 1) healthcare access and anticipated changes in Medicare, Medicaid, and employer insurance, 2) the future of universities, including their research mission, and 3) the environment and the future of going green. Members will receive resources in advance of the session.

Meets on Zoom, monthly on a Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

It’s Easy Being Green

It’s Easy Being Green is a climate education and personal action group. It’s monthly newsletter informs readers about climate and sustainability issues and solutions both in the neighborhood and throughout the city. Review the scope of work on it’s website and read and sign up to receive newsletters here. Volunteers are always welcome to join the core group of active members. Time commitments are flexible.

To find out how to get involved, email itseasybeinggreen.uws@gmail.com

Not So Secret Science Club

This group is for people curious about science. Do you wonder about physics, biology, or any other topic under the broad umbrella of science? Do you want to talk to other people about these topics? Each month, we will discuss a book or other media on a specific topic. Books might be divided across multiple months. Other, shorter media (such as podcasts or documentaries) will be covered in a month. Members are encouraged to suggest books or other media for our next discussion and to rotate leading the discussion.

Meets on Zoom, monthly on 4th Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Singles Aging Creatively

Group members build a community of those living alone who are committed to a life of becoming ‘more than’ as we age. They do so through lively discussion about life’s challenges particular to aging alone; actively engage with and support each other in problem solving; and help each other to identify new, practical, creative solutions that often elude us when done alone. And, they have fun whenever they gather.

Meets in person, monthly on second Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.

Exercise and Sports

We know that movement equals medicine. We all live between two wonderful parks, and BAiP makes full use of them by offering a host of outdoor activities, ranging from easy walking or birdwatching to more strenuous group activities like softball and tennis. BAiP also offers in-depth exercise classes via zoom to increase strength and flexibility.

Afternoon Birdwatching

Join an experienced bird watcher and photographer to explore generally in northern Central Park.

Location is determined weekly based on current conditions

Meets in person weekly on Wednesdays at 2p.m. during the fall (Sept-Oct) and spring (April-June) migration seasons.

Balance & Flexibility classes from other Organizations

Balance and flexibility become much more important as we get older. While we no longer offer our own Balance and Tai Chi classes, our friends at DOROT, a NYC organization focused on aging services, offer a wide array of free exercise classes, both on Zoom and in person. You can sign up for them at: www.dorotusa.org/programs/health-wellness.

The Movement Speaks classes we previously offered are available for free via the Dances for a Variable Population website. Classes. Click here to view the calendar of classes and to join any of them by Zoom.

Also, another source of free exercise classes is Senior Planet, operated by AARP. You can view them at: seniorplanet.org/classes.

Basketball

Twice a year, in the Spring and in the Fall, we hold a Two-on-Two basketball tournament in Riverside Park.

Beginning Birdwatching

Join an experienced birdwatcher to learn about seeing and hearing the lovely birds in our neighborhood. During fall and spring migration seasons they watch for the birds that make Central Park a stopping point on their journey. In the winter, they meet based on conditions to enjoy the variety of ducks and winter birds. Binoculars and an adventurous spirit are required. Members should be able to walk for 2 miles at a leisurely pace with some stairs and uneven trails.

Meets in person, weekly in the Spring and Fall on Friday at 9 a.m., in winter it depends on weather conditions

Birdwatching

Experienced birders! Binoculars and an adventurous spirit are required.

Meets in person, weekly on Friday at 8 a.m. in the fall and spring migration seasons and monthly in the winter.

Early Walkers

This is an early morning walking group. We walk for an hour in Riverside Park. The pace is a flexible slow to moderate pace depending on the preference of those walking on a particular day.

Meets in person on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Flag Football

Just as in basketball, twice a year participants create teams of six players each and play a game of flag football at Riverside Park.

Gentle Yoga

This class expands on chair yoga with more standing and balance positions. The teacher provides guidance for those who want to remain seated.

On Zoom on Mondays at 4 p.m.

Additional information and registration: Yoga Classes

Hiking

This is a rigorous group with day-long hikes outside of Manhattan. Applicants need to meet with one of the leaders before being accepted into the group. Signed waiver required.

Late Morning Walkers

BAiP members meet for a regular, leaderless walking group in Riverside Park. Members walk for 45 minutes with whomever shows up. The pace is moderate.

Meets in person on Thursdays

Lively Walkers

This group walks for 3-4 miles in an hour in Central Park. The pace is lively. The group is intended for BAiP members who are comfortable walking for 60 minutes at a sustained pace of 3.5 miles an hour over uneven surfaces.

Meets in person on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. To be added to the group please send an email to telwert@hotmail.com for further information.

Pilates

Pilates is our most strenuous offering requiring weights. The first 1/2 hour is for standing exercises and the rest is for floor work. You will definitely increase your strength!

On Zoom on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

Additional information and registration: Pilates

Riverside Ramblers

This group meets in Riverside Park going north some days and south on others for about an hour. The pace is energetic.

Meets in person on Monday and Thursday

Softball Sluggers

Each week as the weather permits in Spring and Fall they play a game of softball on the fields in Riverside Park. Ten games in each season. They play a full game, and teams differ each week. Players of all levels of ability are welcome. Participants usually head up to Ellington in the Park for lunch at the conclusion of the game.

Meets in person on lower level fields in Riverside Park at 103-104 Street on Thursdays.

Tennis Instruction

Each Spring and Fall we are offered 6 free tennis lessons taught by RCTA coaching professionals on the clay courts on the Hudson River at 97th Street. We select three BAIP members who have not played in a long time and three members who have never played tennis before for the group.

Meets in person, seasonal dates to be announced

Graphic Arts, Crafts, Photography

Want to work on your creative side? We offer a number of groups focused on the arts, including graphic arts, photography, painting and much more.

Art on Paper

This drawing group creates art and intermittently chats in an informal setting. Work on whatever subject appeals to you, in pencil, oil crayon, charcoal, and more, as well as collage. Still lifes are set up, and all levels are welcome!

Meets in person, monthly, fourth Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Click and Talk: Photography

This group photographs the sights and scenes of New York City, taking photos each month in Manhattan as a group or individually and then meeting two weeks later to evaluate and discuss the work. Group members offer suggestions as they share their enthusiasm for photography.

Meets in person, twice a month, Tuesdays at 3 p.m.

Collaging

This group finds images and gives them a new life! Choose from books, magazines, newspapers, postcards, and many other materials to create collages that are representational, thematic, abstract, or even surrealistic. Express your artistic creativity! More about the Collage Group is available here.

Meets in person, monthly, second Monday at 2 p.m.

Knitting for Beginners

This is an established group for new knitters. If you’d like to learn to knit, this is for you!

Meets in person, weekly, Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m.

Knitting Group

Are you an experienced knitter? This group works independently on projects in progress and exchanges tips on special knitting classes, patterns, and yarn. Enjoy the company of other accomplished knitters.

Twice a month, second Wednesday on Zoom, fourth Wednesday in person at 7 p.m.

Let’s Sketch

This group allows sketchers to pursue an interest in sketching among new-found neighbors or friends. Meet in Riverside Park, a café, or a member’s apartment, and have fun talking and sketching! Instruction isn’t offered, but members may offer suggestions, if requested. A blog of the group leader’s work is available.

Meets in person, monthly, third Thursday at 4 PM

Photo Excursion

If you can ride public transit and walk a mile, this photo excursion group helps you improve your photography skills! Come with your cameras or mobile phones. Images are shared and suggestions offered for improvement.

Meets in person, twice a month, Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m.

Photography

This group lets you improve your photography skills as you focus on a monthly theme. Develop an eye for the essentials of a good photo as you learn some post-processing techniques. After receiving feedback in group meetings, you can make alterations and upload your photos to a monthly gallery! Go here for more info on the Photography Group and to view their monthly galleries.

Meets in person, monthly, second Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Tea & Stitchery

The group welcomes people doing any form of needle arts, including needlepoint, cross-stitch, knitting, quilting, embroidery, and crochet. Work on diverse and independent projects, all while socializing and sharing tips!

Meets in person, monthly, first Monday at 2 p.m.

Watercolors & Crafts

This group reflects members’ interests in both watercolor painting and related areas such as knitting, jewelry making, iPad drawing, and pastels. Share information about exhibitions, classes, and topics of interest as you explore your creativity!

Meets in person, weekly or biweekly, Wednesdays at 2 p.m.

Performance (drama, music, writing)

New York is one of the world's centers of performance arts, and our BAiP members endeavor to take full advantage of them with groups featuring music, theater, films and more.

Hooray for Hollywood

Audrey Hepburn or John Ford, Cary Grant or Film Noir, Romantic Comedy or character actors – talking about film can’t compare with watching extensive clips from the movies themselves. The group leader, Rick Harris, presents clips from classic Hollywood, believing that film and its history can be fun.

Meets on Zoom, monthly, third Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Additional information and registration: Hooray for Hollywood

Jazz Listening

Jazz aficionados gather on a monthly basis to listen to a variety of jazz instrumentalists and vocalists and discuss their influences. Group members on a rotating basis suggest pieces or genres to research and explore at the next meeting.

Meets in person, monthly, fourth Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Journaling Workshop

Explore journal writing as a way to increase self-awareness, foster personal growth, work on creative writing projects, preserve memories, and clarify what matters most in our lives. Through prompts, we write together as well as on our own. Sharing is encouraged but optional.

Meets in person, twice a month, first and third Tuesdays, at 5 p.m.

Memoir Writing

Members write about their lives and share their writing each month for comments from other members. The writing may be part of a larger memoir or autobiography or may stand alone.

Meets on Zoom, monthly, schedule varies

Play Reading on Zoom

Members read and act out parts in a play, any gender or age group. In light of the current state of affairs, we have of late been choosing lighter fare, such as Neil Simon, but may do any type of play from classic to contemporary.

Meets on Zoom, twice a month, second and fourth Tuesdays, at 2 p.m.

Players Salon

We read and may perform excerpts from mostly American plays written in our lifetimes that are in some way relevant to our lives. Consider joining if you like to read plays, or if you want to perform, or if you just love theater. And if you’ve never seen or read a play but think it might be fun, come and give it a try.

Meets in person, twice a month, first and third Thursdays, at 3 p.m.

Poetry Circle

This is a small, peer-to-peer poetry writers group for people who write poetry and are interested in learning more from each other by sharing their writings and giving each other supportive feedback. There is no instructor and members should have experience writing poetry.

Meets in person, monthly, second Tuesday, at 7 p.m.

Sing-Along Chorus

Do you remember the days when you used to sit around the campfire singing together? Here’s a chance to experience it again. You do not need to be a great singer: just enjoy the singing of popular songs, folk music, great American songbook, and more.

Meets in person at St. Michael’s Church, monthly, third Thursday

Soup and Movies Group

Everyone watches the movie at home before meeting over lunch at the leader’s apartment. Lively discussions guided by research follow.

Meets in person, monthly, second Wednesday, at 11 a.m.

Ukuleli Jammers and Lessons

Four two-hour session workshops to learn ukuleli basics and monthly two-hour ukuleli jams. All are encouraged to participate in the informal jams, even beginners. Easy ukuleli song charts will be provided, and participants are encouraged to bring their own music to share.

Meets in person at Bloomingdale Branch of the Public Library, schedule varies

Writing Circle

The Writing Circle aims to help members, both beginners and more advanced writers, frame and express ideas to improve their writing. At each meeting several members present work (poetry, essay, memoir, fiction) for comment from the group.

Meets in person, monthly, fourth Thursday, at 7 p.m.

Reading

No matter what your reading interest is, we probably have a group for you. We have over a dozen different groups and are always looking to add new ones.

Last Book Read

A twist on a regular reading group where members all read the same thing, this group exposes people to the tastes and recommendations of others as each one describes the last book they loved, hated or found so-so. Everything is on the table in terms of style, genre, and author. Members may talk about the last book that changed their life or their latest trashy beach read.

Meets on Zoom, monthly, first Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Literary Fiction

We are a group of devoted readers that has the distinction of being the first BAiP book club. Our list is long and eclectic and includes Willa Cather and Henry James as well as Colson Whitehead and Kate Atkinson.

Meets in person, monthly, third Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

New Yorker Short Fiction

The group has lively discussions about the first two short fiction pieces published in The New Yorker in the month prior to each meeting. All group members actively share their reactions, interpretations and personal associations.

Meets in-person, available on Zoom, monthly, second Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Reading Contemporary Fiction

Our group reads an eclectic assortment of 21st century fiction. This includes historical fiction, experimental work and international fiction. Recent novels have included How to Be Both by Ali Smith, The Friend by Sigurd Nunez, Trust by Hernan Diaz, Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck, and James by Percival Everett.

Meets on Zoom, monthly, second Thursday at 8 p.m.

Reading History

We read history, both US and global, in non-fiction and historical fiction genres. Past readings have included Grant by Ron Chernow, Team of Rivals by Dolores Kearns Goodwin, Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner, and My Antonia by Willa Cather.

Meets on Zoom, monthly, fourth Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Reading Mystery

A group for people who love a good mystery. Reading selections are drawn from classic mystery authors such as Raymond Chandler, Dorothy Hughes, and Dashiell Hammett. We also read contemporary mystery writers such as Jacqueline Winspear and Charles Todd.

Meets in person, monthly, third Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Reading Non-Fiction

We read and discuss a variety of recent non-fiction. Past readings have included The Swerve, The Warmth of Other Suns, The Sleepwalkers, and Behind the Beautiful Forevers.

Meets on Zoom, monthly, second Monday, at 4 p.m.

Reading Science

We read and discuss several articles which vary topics among science and science-related subjects. Sometimes we have several articles exploring a common topic from different perspectives, particularly when the field is developing along competing views.

Meets on Zoom, monthly, second Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Reading Science Fiction

This group is for people who love SciFi. Members share favorite classics such as Robert A. Heinlein’s Double Star and newer titles such as Terry Pratchett’s Making Money and John Scalzi’s Redshirts.

Meets in person or on Zoom depending on the season, monthly, days vary, at 7 p.m.

Reading Short Fiction

It is said that if a novel is like a full length film, then a short story is like a snapshot. This reading group is for lovers of the short form. Each session is devoted to two or three short stories from The Best American Short Story series.

Meets mostly on Zoom, occasionally in person, monthly, first Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Reading World Voices

This is a traditional book group where readings focus on authors from non-Western cultures, written in English or in translation. We choose a cultural area (Asia, South-East Asia, Latin America, Middle-East, Africa, etc) and read several titles from that group of countries before moving on to another area.

Meets in person, monthly, first Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Reading WWI and Beyond

Over nearly a decade, we have moved through WW1, inter-war Europe, WW2 and have now reached post-war U.S. Politics.The books mostly touch on the fractious nature of U.S. culture and politics.

Meets in person, monthly, third Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Finalists

Read and engage in lively discussions about winners and finalists of major book awards, nine novels or short story collections each year, including Pulitzer; Man Booker; Man Booker International; National Book Award; Women’s Prize for fiction; Dublin International Literary; Nobel; Pen/Hemingway Award for Debut Fiction; Giller Award.

Meets in person, monthly, second Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Time and Memory

We read fiction and non-fiction on the theme of time, memory and childhood. We’ve read Proust, Woolf, Nabokov, Morrison, Neumann, Baldwin, among others, and will continue to read and sometimes write about “patches of memory.”

Meets in person, monthly, third Wednesday at 2 p.m.

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