Events in August 2026

Petals and Pushcarts: A Floral District Walking Tour - August 19

9:30 am – 11:00 am
Aug 19, 2026

Warm toned flowers in buckets for sale on sidewalk, people pointing

Petals and Pushcarts: A Floral District Walking Tour

Wednesday, August 19th, 2026
9:30-11AM
In-Person
Midtown, Manhattan

Tucked into the West Twenties of Manhattan is the lesser-known Floral District. For generations, families have been growing plants and designing bouquets for New York City in this area, from small-scale pushcart florists to large-scale wholesale shops.

Join us for a 90-minute in-person walking tour in Manhattan’s Floral District led by James Francois-Pijuan - an artist with over 30 years of experience working in the floral industry, deep roots in the neighborhood, and founder of the Floral District Museum.

During the tour, you will learn about the workers, designers, immigrants, and entrepreneurs who built the Floral District, step inside working flower shops, and speak with florists to understand how the district is fighting to survive.

The Floral District is one of HDC's 2026 Six to Celebrate awardees- New York's only targeted citywide list of preservation priorities that provides strategies and resources to neighbourhood groups at a critical moment to reach their preservation goals.

The tour route covers a total distance of 0.4 miles at a moderate pace and will take place rain or shine.

Please e-mail [email protected] with questions about accessibility.

General Admission $15
Friend of HDC / Senior $10

Six to Celebrate is generously supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by New York City Council Members Gale Brewer, Virginia Maloney, Christopher Marte, and Lincoln Restler.

Image Credits: James Francois-Pijuan

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Preservation School - Terminal Warehouse and Adaptive Reuse - August 25

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Aug 25, 2026

Tuesday, August 25th, 2026
6 - 7 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Zoom

1 AIA LU Credit

Join Charu Chaudhry, HDC Board Member and Principal at Thornton Tomasetti, for an inside look at the restoration and adaptive reuse of Terminal Warehouse. Originally constructed between 1890 and 1891 and expanded over the following decades, the massive waterfront warehouse served as a critical hub for the storage and movement of freight along Manhattan's west side. Chaudhry led Thornton Tomasetti's historic preservation team, working in collaboration with COOKFOX Architects and the broader project team to help transform this industrial landmark into an award-winning mixed-use destination.

Participants will explore the technical and preservation challenges involved in rehabilitating a severely deteriorated landmark while adapting it for contemporary office, retail, and public use. The seminar will examine how the project balanced historic integrity with structural innovation and sustainability through the retention of the historic building fabric, the reuse of original timber to reduce embodied carbon, the creation of New York City's largest fully interior park, and the restoration of the warehouse's remarkable 670-foot rail tunnel. Through this case study, attendees will gain insight into how interdisciplinary collaboration can successfully reconcile preservation goals with the demands of twenty-first-century development.

General Admission $5
AIA Credit $25

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Preserving the People’s Playground: A Coney Island Walking Tour - August 29

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Aug 29, 2026

Preserving the People’s Playground: A Coney Island Walking Tour

Saturday, August 29, 2026
1 - 2:30 PM
In-person
Coney Island, Brooklyn

Discover the history, thrills and perseverance of one of New York City’s most iconic neighborhoods on this 90-minute in-person guided walking tour. Coney Island’s legendary streets are home to the birthplace of America’s amusement industry, and its rides have been a hallmark of New York City summers for over 100 years. On this tour you will see icons like the Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel, smell local classics like Nathan’s and Williams Candy, and hear stories of vaudeville legends, landmarks lost and a few still fighting to survive today.

The tour will be led by Marissa Solomon - community member, activist and docent at the Coney Island Museum.

Extend your visit with a trip to Coney Island USA’s Sideshow - the last permanently housed Circus Sideshow in the USA - for an additional fee.

Coney Island Museum is one of HDC's 2026 Six to Celebrate priorities - New York's only targeted citywide list of preservation priorities that provides strategies and resources to neighbourhood groups at a critical moment to reach their preservation goals.

The tour will take place outdoors, rain or shine and covers a total distance of 1 mile at a moderate pace.

Please e-mail [email protected] with questions about accessibility.

General Admission $15
Friend of HDC / Senior $10

Image Credit: Carol M. Highsmith. Entrance to the Wonder Wheel. 2018.

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