Hey!
This week is asking you a question: do you want to make something, or do you want to sit back and let someone else do the creating?
If you're in a creative mood, Dog Crafts at Bryant Park kicks things off on Wednesday. Friday brings a Cooking and Treat-Making Class at the Institute of Culinary Education and a Sip and Paint session at Barking Dog. Sunday wraps it up with an Art Class with Andrea Caceres at Boris & Horton.
If you'd rather let someone else do the work, there's a Cello Concert in Central Park on Wednesday evening and Ratatouille on a Midtown rooftop on Sunday morning.
And if you just want to get outside and let your dog run the show, there are block parties on both sides of the weekend. Rise and Bark and Paws in the City on Saturday, and Barkfest on Third in the Bronx on Sunday.
Make something, watch something, or just show up. This week has all three covered.
Wednesday August 19th
Pup Cups in the Park @ Petco Union Square, on Wed, 19 Aug, 09:00–14:00
A walk-up National Dog Month activation outside Petco Union Square — free nitro cold brew for owners, complimentary pup cups for dogs. A Wednesday morning errand that earns itself.
Dog Crafts @ Bryant Park Art Cart, on Wed, 19 Aug, 11:30–13:30
A new dog-themed craft each week on Bryant Park's Upper Terrace — all materials provided, no registration needed, dogs welcome as your creative muse throughout. One of the final sessions of the summer series.
Cello at Sunset: Spanish Virtuosity Picnic Concert @ Central Park, on Wed, 19 Aug, 19:00–20:00
A ticketed sunset cello concert near the West 66th Street entrance — part of the MusicTalks picnic series, with blankets, a picnic, and your dog all part of the plan. A Wednesday evening that slows everything down.
National Treasure @ Pier I, on Wed, 19 Aug, 20:30–22:30
A free outdoor screening of National Treasure on the Hudson River pier, part of NYC Parks' Summer on the Hudson series — bring a blanket and settle in at dusk with your leashed dog and the river at your back.
Trivia @ Other Half Brewing Domino Park, on Wed, 19 Aug, 19:00–20:00
Weekly trivia on the Williamsburg waterfront where dogs are explicitly part of the welcome — a free Wednesday night with the East River behind you and your dog under the table.
Thursday August 20th
Canine Court Volunteer Clean Up @ Van Cortlandt Park, on Thu, 20 Aug, 13:00–16:00
A community stewardship morning organized by the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance — weeding, cleaning, and spreading fresh woodchips inside the park's dedicated dog run. All supplies provided; the kind of afternoon that pays forward every off-leash hour you've ever had there.
Puppy Party @ JustFoodForDogs, on Thu, 20 Aug, 18:30–19:30
A free weekly session for puppies in a sanitized, supervised play environment — structured enough to build real social skills, relaxed enough that it doesn't feel like work. Email RSVP required.
Friday August 21st
Foodie Friday: Cooking & Treat Making @ Institute of Culinary Education, on Fri, 21 Aug, 18:00–20:00
A culinary workshop at ICE demonstrating dog-safe ingredient prep, homemade jerky, and build-your-own pup cups with Muddy Paws Rescue — everything you make goes home with you. A Friday evening that makes you a better dog parent by 20:00.
Paws and Pints @ Sixpoint Brewery, on Fri, 21 Aug, 17:00–20:00
A weekly Friday dog happy hour at the Brookfield Place beer garden — free pup cups and treats for dogs, cold beer for everyone else. A Battery Park City Friday that doesn't need much more than that.
Shuck & Sip for Socrates @ Château Le Woof, on Fri, 21 Aug, 16:00–20:00
Fresh oysters and drinks at the Astoria dog café, with dogs welcome throughout as usual — a Friday happy hour that runs four hours and gives you something to eat while you're at it.
Sip & Paint a Pet Portrait @ Barking Dog UES, on Fri, 21 Aug, 17:30–19:30
Michele Cahill pre-sketches your dog's portrait from a photo sent in advance — you arrive, settle in, and paint while your dog lounges on the leashed patio beside you. Advance registration required.
Saturday August 22nd
Rise and Bark @ Memorial Gore Plaza, on Sat, 22 Aug, 08:00–11:00
A free morning block party for dog owners in East Williamsburg — vendors, activities, and a neighborhood crowd that shows up early. A Saturday that starts before the city gets loud.
Korean K9 Rescue Fundraiser Photoshoot @ Boris & Horton, on Sat, 22 Aug, 12:00–15:00
Ticketed pet photo sessions hosted by Poodle Doods NYC and Sunbean inside the East Village café — professional shots of your dog with proceeds going directly to Korean K9 Rescue. A Saturday afternoon that produces something worth framing.
Paws in the City @ NYC Pet, on Sat, 22 Aug, 12:00–18:00
An outdoor market of local pet brands, artisan makers, and food vendors in Williamsburg — a full afternoon of shopping and wandering with your dog alongside. Six hours of reasons to stay longer than planned.
Healing Dogs Through Diet @ Stephanie Zimmer Animal Photography, on Sat, 22 Aug, 19:00–22:00
A ticketed workshop on preparing balanced raw and home-cooked meals for your dog, held inside a DUMBO pet photography studio. A Saturday evening that changes how you think about what goes in the bowl.
Frenchies of Chelsea Meetup @ Madison Square Park, on Sat, 22 Aug, 09:00–10:30
The weekly Saturday morning French Bulldog meetup at Madison Square Park — an early start, a familiar crowd, and the park at its most manageable. All Frenchie owners welcome.
Summer Streets: Brooklyn & The Bronx, on Sat, 22 Aug, 09:00–17:00
NYC DOT opens miles of Eastern Parkway and the Grand Concourse to foot traffic — walking, running, and strolling with your dog across two boroughs with no cars in the way. A Saturday that belongs to the city.
Beer Pong Tournament @ D.B.A., on Sat, 22 Aug, 16:00–18:00
A competitive beer pong tournament at this East Village dog-friendly bar — loud, social, and exactly the kind of Saturday afternoon that doesn't need a reason. Best suited to dogs who don't mind a crowd and some noise.
Sunday August 23rd
Barkfest On Third @ Third Ave, Mott Haven, on Sun, 23 Aug, 12:00–15:00
Dogs of Mott Haven's South Bronx street festival doubles as a back-to-school drive — a free afternoon on Third Avenue with the community that's been building the Bronx dog scene all summer. A Sunday with a reason behind it.
Ratatouille (Wooftop) @ Rooftop Cinema Club, on Sun, 23 Aug, 11:00–13:00
A dog-friendly matinee screening of Ratatouille on the Midtown rooftop — the right movie for a city that takes its food seriously, watched from above it. Doors open at 10:30.
She Was Here x Women of Astoria @ Château Le Woof, on Sun, 23 Aug, 15:00–17:00
A community event at the Astoria dog café spotlighting local businesswomen — dogs welcome throughout as usual, crowd skews neighborhood and switched-on. A Sunday afternoon worth showing up to.
Art Class with Andrea Caceres @ Boris & Horton, on Sun, 23 Aug, 16:00–18:30
A dog-friendly pet portrait art class brought by Small Door Vet — paint alongside your pup in the East Village café with an instructor guiding the session. A Sunday afternoon that produces something worth keeping.
Paddle Pups Kayak Tours @ Urban Paddle, on Sun, 23 Aug, 11:00–12:00
One of the final weeks of the season — dogs and owners kayak together on New York Harbor with PFDs provided, pups up to 90 lbs paddle free, and 10% of proceeds go to a local shelter. A Jersey City Sunday worth making the trip for.
Un Verano Sin Leash: Bad Bunny Brunch @ Boris & Horton, on Sun, 23 Aug, 11:00–14:00
The Bad Bunny-themed Sunday brunch continues through August — a dog entrée comes alongside your own, and the East Village café does the rest. One of the last weekends to catch it before the series wraps.
Doggy Paddle on the Hudson @ Manhattan Kayak Co., on Sun, 23 Aug, 14:00–16:00
Social Paws leads a kayak and paddleboard afternoon off Pier 84 on the Manhattan side — dogs welcome whether they're regulars or first-timers, and borrowed pups are in the mix too. A Sunday afternoon on the Hudson that gives your dog a story.
Monday August 24th
Yappy Hour @ KCBC Brewery, on Mon, 24 Aug, 16:00–19:00
A weekday happy hour at this dog-friendly Bushwick brewery — $6 select pours Monday through Thursday, no agenda required. A Monday that earns its place on the calendar.
Tuesday August 25th
E.T. Movie (Wooftop) @ The Ditty, on Tue, 25 Aug, 20:30–22:30
An outdoor dog-friendly screening of E.T. at this Astoria bar — a summer Tuesday night in Queens with one of the best movies ever made about a creature that doesn't belong here but fits in perfectly.
Café y Chisme: Tuesday Turn-Down Yappy Hour @ Boris & Horton, on Tue, 25 Aug, 18:00–19:00
The weekly Tuesday yappy hour continues — supervised dog interactions, drink specials, and anonymous "Chisme Box" submissions read aloud to whoever's in the room. A $5 cover and a Tuesday that runs longer than you planned.
Pet First Aid & CPR Workshop @ Boris & Horton, on Tue, 25 Aug, 18:30–20:00
A hands-on monthly training session covering CPR, choking response, and wound care using a practice CPR dog — the kind of Tuesday evening that actually changes what you're capable of in an emergency. Everyone leaves with a take-home kit.
Woofbowl Food Truck @ 675 Monmouth St, on Tue, 25 Aug, 17:30–19:30
The Woofbowl dog food truck pops up in Jersey City for an early evening stop — a cross-river errand that your dog will consider the highlight of the week.
Make something, watch something, or just get out there with your dog. Either way, NYC has you covered this week.
And if something's been on your mind about your pup, hit reply and send it in. It might be the next question we take to an expert.
See you out there 🐾
