When the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum opened in 1959, critics panned the design, likening it to a beehive, a washing machine & an inverted oatmeal bowl, etc. Today, however, it has become one of New York City’s most beloved buildings.

Join museum educator Sharon Vatsky for this interactive slide talk/chat that considers more than 6 decades of changing attitudes toward this architectural icon by examining how it has been depicted in cartoons, illustrations & artworks. In addition to being a Museum Educator for the Guggenheim Museum, Sharon teaches graduate courses in museum education at NYU & Teacher’s College, Columbia University.

She holds graduate degrees from SUNY at Albany & Hartford Art School. She is the author of 2 books: Museum Gallery Experiences: A Handbook and Interactive Museum Tours. Sharon Vatsky supervised school, youth, teacher & family programs at the Guggenheim Museum for twenty years, leaving that position in 2021(her last title was Director of Audience Engagement).

Join Barbara for Chair yoga movements done with breath. The class is designed for anyone to participate. No experience necessary, and there will be modifications offered if needed. The goal of the class is to help you relax and enjoy movement!

Barbara started her yoga journey in 2010. She studied and received a 200-hour teaching certificate at Yoga Sutra, NY. She additionally received a 700-hour teaching certificate and a 50-hour Vedic Chanting certificate at The Yoga School, NY.

Join Tyler to learn about different forms of written communication, from centuries ago to today.

Tyler is a student at Pace University and is majoring in Game Development. He enjoys playing video games and going out with friends. He lives in Southold, New York, and hopes to pursue a career as an Independent Game Developer.

Join Alice to discuss the impact of current events and cultural trends on our daily lives. Discussions of current topics ranging from what's going on in schools, to the internet and our privacy, to fashion, to scientific breakthroughs in Israel, to how what's going on in China affects us. News items are interspersed with travelogues from trips taken around the world.

Formerly a corporate attorney building and financing major pipelines, storage terminals, and power plants, and negotiating derivatives documentation, Alice now takes history classes through Northwestern University and Florence Melton, practices tai chi, plays mahjong, and indulges in an addictive travel habit. She has visited and photographed places on all seven continents (yes, including Antarctica). Alice also avidly follows the Chicago sports teams and thoroughbred horse racing.

Join Ramon for a fun time figuring out puzzles, testing your trivia knowledge and much more!

Ramon is an intern Social Work student at Capella University and lives in the Bronx, New York. He loves reading mythology, cooking new meals, and spending time with family.

Join Anna for a discussion about Breast cancer, OB/GYN cancers, screenings, surgeries, diagnoses, waiting rooms, second opinions, caregiving, survival, loss, and medical memories.

Anna Kruse is a midlife Master’s in Social Work student at Columbia and a Master’s in Divinity student at Union Theological Seminary. She has led groups for people experiencing all kinds of life transitions. She is an avid reader, walker & traveler. She believes storytelling, community, laughter & practical care can create joy and meaning.

Join Charles for a lot of musical potpourri and a little of “other”! The musical content will include some basic teaching of how to play a piano, singing as a group, viewing music videos to include songs and teaching about music. Then, if time, Charles takes class requests and will devote some time to discussing or finding interesting things on the internet. Enjoy the Entertainment hour!

Charles has always been a music lover and his earliest memories of loving music are hearing his beloved Mom humming, singing and listening to a transistor radio, challenging as it was to tune in to a radio station. Today he wants to bring joy to you by helping you to build a simple toolbox for playing the piano (a super user friendly and approachable instrument), that will enable them to play a lot of song as well as just enjoy the pleasures of singing and listening to Music!

Join Lisa to learn about yourself by tuning in to your ‘soma,’ which is defined as your body when experienced from within. Somatic yoga is a yoga practice that uses a mindful approach to movement called “somatics.” It prioritizes thoughts, feelings, and body awareness over form. The process is what matters, not athletic proficiency.

Lisa has been teaching mindful practices in NYC for about 20 years & was certified in 2021. This same year, she completed her certification in Trauma-Informed Yoga Therapy with Sundara Yoga.

More recently, she completed a certification with the HeartMath Institute in Trauma-Sensitive Healthcare & several certifications in Interpersonal Neurobiology w/ Dr. Dan Siegel. This prepared Lisa to develop class curricula for oncology, general medical & psychiatric patients in her connection to Weill Cornell Center for Health & Wellbeing. Lisa lives w/her husband, Seán, & they care for their dog, Finn MacCool. She enjoys nature & enjoys concocting in the kitchen!

Join Ross for: Was there a schoolteacher who made a difference for you? A favourite toy (no batteries)?

Every person has a fantastic life story that needs to be told. In this series of classes, we look at our memories and explore questions, both big and small. Our lives are so different, and we celebrate how different we each are. Our classes usually have a shorter, more straightforward question and a more involved question afterward. All of us share our stories. There are lots of smiles and laughter.

Ross lives in Sydney, Australia, and enjoys hearing how our lives differ. He has been working with Seniors for some time now. Ross continues working part-time in a nursing home, trying to help people live happier, better lives, and very much looks forward to the VSC weekly sessions.

Join Ramon for great recipes from around the world; Learn how to cook and bake desserts from different cultures.

Ramon is an intern social work student at Capella University and lives in the Bronx, New York. He loves reading mythology, cooking new meals, and spending time with family.

Grief, Lightly is a gentle space to explore loss in all its forms—people, places, experiences, and roles. Our goal is to find more joy without burying our grief. We’ll talk about how grief ebbs and flows, how reminiscence can help, and what to do with those folks who keep telling us to “get over it.”!

We’ll take a look at how grief is shown (and sold) in our culture and at movies, music, and figures like Yo-Yo Ma, Lena Horne, Anderson Cooper, and Coretta Scott King for what they have to say about grief and loss. Think culture and conversation, not crying and Kleenex, though those are okay, too!

Anna Kruse is an MSW student at Columbia and a Master’s in Divinity student at Union Theological Seminary. She has led groups for people experiencing all kinds of life transitions. Having lost many people close to her, she knows what it’s like to feel like you’re doing grief wrong! She believes storytelling, community, laughter, and practical care can help create more joy.

Join Joslyn and Jillian as they explore the life and legacy of Princess Diana, from childhood and through her marriage and legacy as a British royal and humanitarian. Learn about her work with charitable causes such as HIV/AIDs awareness and the campaign against landmines, as well as her relationship with the media. Discuss her influence on the royal family, popular culture, and the world even after her death.

Joslyn is a third-year student at Stony Brook University majoring in Biology and minoring in developmental genetics. When she has free time, she enjoys trying new foods, shopping, and travelling.

Jillian is a student at Stony Brook University studying Biology and Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends, going to concerts, and exploring new foods and places.

This is an excellent class for students with mobility issues. All welcome – We will focus on physical movement, flexibility, balance, and breath work. This gentle form of yoga is practiced in a chair. Some standing poses will be practiced.

Cristina is a SoCal native seeking to expand her yoga practice among several specialized groups, including senior communities.

Join Maegan for weekly classes focusing on the achievements of women in all fields of life!

Maegan is an editor and French translator by profession. Both of these positions allow her to work with writers, artists, nonprofits, and businesses worldwide. Her work combines two passions: helping people build relationships through communication and learning new things.

Maegan moved to NYC in 2011 for the Publishing and Digital Media program at NYU. She was excited to discover an online community center for older adults--something she had longed to see in her home city of Montreal while working for HelpAge Canada. She has been leading VSC classes ever since and cherishes the bond she shares with the participants over women leaders throughout history and their influence on our lives today. She loves to spend time in nature and has two small dogs, Cindy and Tucker (who sometimes pop in on classes!)

Join Tyler as he reviews The Beatles & The Rolling Stones during the 60s and Michael Jackson & Guns N' Roses during the 80s.

Tyler is a student at Pace University and is majoring in Game Development. He enjoys playing video games and going out with friends. He lives in Southold, New York, and hopes to pursue a career as an Independent Game Developer.

Are you surrounded by clutter? Either a little or a lot? Do you wish you could use your dining room table to eat off of and not be a catch-all for stuff? Then come to this class...and bring your clutter!

Felice will motivate you (who are we kidding, the push!) to start saying "Buh-bye!" to your clutter during class. She will also offer great tips for doing it on your own if you want.

Felice is an award-winning author, motivational speaker, and professional organizer with extensive experience helping people get rid of stuff and live the lives they want.

Buon Appetito, Buona Salute! Eating for Great Health with Italian Roots. Will also cover A Senior’s Guide to Buying, Cooking, Storage, and the Superfood Health Benefits of Olive Oil. In the Kitchen: Easy Italian Dinner Favorites, lightened up.

Anna DiMaggio, MS, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist with over 25 years of experience in the field. She is a specialist in Nutrition for older adults and offers evidence-based, easy-to-understand Nutrition and general health information, and LIVE Cooking Workshops. Her true passion lies in understanding the interconnectedness of Food as Fuel and Medicine, & how that relates to Chronic Diseases. Her mission is to empower Older Adults with the knowledge, motivation, & kitchen skills that help them live their happiest and healthiest Life.

Join Barry to look at and discuss paintings, sculpture and decorative art in and around New York, the museums and other places in which they are found. Our goal is to learn a bit more about art and enjoy it a lot.

Barry is a retired attorney who has since March 2020 taught the VSC's “Exploring and Enjoying Art” class. He had been a volunteer at ArtWorks NYC, giving virtual art classes to NYC 4th graders and conducting tours at the Metropolitan Museum.

Join Barry to look at and discuss paintings, sculpture and decorative art in and around New York, the museums and other places in which they are found. Our goal is to learn a bit more about art and enjoy it a lot.

Barry is a retired attorney who has since March 2020 taught the VSC's “Exploring and Enjoying Art” class. He had been a volunteer at ArtWorks NYC, giving virtual art classes to NYC 4th graders and conducting tours at the Metropolitan Museum.

A judge gets the whole story and all the time in the world. A bystander gets ten seconds and a bad angle. Some weeks we'll read real court cases, talk through the facts, and see how each one was decided. Other weeks we'll watch hidden camera scenarios and ask a harder question: would you have stepped in? Bring your reasoning. Nobody has to agree.

Christa is a writer and MSW student (intern) with a background in clinical research and end-of-life work. They spent previous years working with older adults at an eye doctor, and at a memory clinic doing Alzheimer's research.

Join Tim for the story of what led up to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor and its immediate aftermath.

Tim graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Political Science from Carson-Newman College in 1980 and from law school, with honors, at the University of Tennessee in 1984. He worked with a regional bank, managing a real estate investment fund for retirement plans.

Until retiring in 2019, Tim worked for over twenty years as a self-employed consultant, dealing with issues related to new retail developments and major remodeling projects.

Join Norman for a thoughtful discussion on purpose and joy as an Older Adult. What are your thoughts, and how have you brought joy and purpose into your life?

Norman Reiss has long been an advocate for older adults, starting with when he helped older relatives deal with issues involving residence changes and addressing health issues.

Since 2019, Norman has helped clients at DOROT, GetSetUp, and Greenwich House, creating and promoting programs, both in person and online. He is also a veteran Virtual Senior Center facilitator, having led classes since 2012.

Join Ceania and Rebecca on a tour of Asia. We welcome you to explore different textures, flavors, and exciting, mouth-watering recipes! We will be showing you the ins and outs of how to go about preparing a variety of culinary creations, including Adobo from the Philippines, Pad Thai from Thailand, and so much more!

We can't wait for you to join us on this appetizing adventure! Rebecca B. is a junior Biology major in college. In her free time, she likes to play tennis, swim, and spend time with her friends and family. She is passionate about making her classes fun, inviting, and engaging for all!

Ceania G. is a Junior in college studying Biology and Journalism. She loves to read, play tennis, and sing! In her free time, she enjoys visiting local coffee shops and bakeries and taking walks outside with her family. She is excited to meet new people and share her love of food and culture through this class!

Join Educator Jim Tardiff to learn about the Artemis II mission, which ignited global curiosity. We'll explore this new era of space exploration and the questions it raises about what's next.

Jim Tardiff is a born-and-raised New Yorker and has worked at the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum as an educator since 2013. Currently, as Senior Educator, he is a specialist in space and aeronautics.

Join Danny for part 3 of this trip to South America and Antarctica! Places we have visited during this cruise include Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, Falkland Islands, and Montevideo. Danny teaches statistics and became a travel agent after planning a few trips for his family. Almost every trip he has taken within the last 15 years involves taking a cruise.

Join Danny for part 3 of this trip to South America and Antarctica! Places we have visited during this cruise include Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, Falkland Islands, and Montevideo.

Danny teaches statistics and became a travel agent after planning a few trips for his family. Almost every trip he has taken within the last 15 years involves taking a cruise.

Join Dave as he plays and sings popular tunes from a variety of genres, including Blues, Bossa, Country, Folk, Motown, 60s-90s Pop, Reggae, Rock, and American Songbook. He may even throw in some surprise holiday favorites! He loves requests, and if he doesn't know it (or can't fake it), he'll learn it.

Dave has been playing and singing for over 30 years with various groups in the Chicago area. He volunteers with Musicians On Call, performing for patients at pediatric and adult hospitals, and with the Village to Village / Share Network, performing for dementia patients and caregivers.

Join Sarah Chen & Nicole Yu and get ready for a song-tastic day of fun with music jeopardy. Test how well you remember some of your favorite hits and get a blast from the past! From unforgettable singers and classic songs to lyrics that never left your head, put your music knowledge to the test as you compete across different categories and decades. Sing along, reminisce, and see who will be crowned the ultimate music expert!

Nicole is a junior studying Biology with a second major in Psychology at Stony Brook University. She loves all things crafty, especially crocheting, and especially loves exploring different food spots. If there’s a cuisine you want to try, she probably has a place! Sarah is a biochem and AMS major at Stonybrook. She loves to sing, dance, and pretty much anything that has to do with art. She is always chasing new experiences, stories, and songs with a smile on her face. She loves a good laugh, so feel free to crack a joke!

Join Johanna to learn how Meta smart glasses can assist people with vision disabilities in everyday activities, from identifying objects and reading text to navigating their surroundings. This hands-on class will explore key features, practical tips, and real-world ways to use the glasses with greater confidence and independence.

Join Johanna of Smarter Service for Tech tips, including using your device, surfing the internet, using email, and many more relevant tips to keep up with today's technology trends. Johanna brings over a decade of experience in the tech industry and a true passion for helping older adults navigate technology and build confidence.

Originally from Texas—a place she still fondly calls home—Johanna now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband of over 12 years and their three beautiful children. When she's not spending time with her family, Johanna enjoys baking and decorating cakes!

Join Allen for the 2nd part of the trip that will explore the great sites to see in Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park. The class will also explore some of the Park’s history as well as stories about Jackson Hole Wyoming which lies between these 2 major attractions. Finally, you’ll discuss some of the problems that have come out about the unfiltered growth in this area.

Allen is a former high school math teacher who enjoys leading virtual classes on a variety of topics.

Deborah Brandt, Doctor of Physical Therapy and retired dancer, developed it for the movement education and well-being of seniors. During each class, participants will lubricate joints and muscles through their full range of motion, stimulate balance, and practice mindful movement.

Whatever your strength or ability, enjoy this opportunity to explore the elements of functional movement while you energize and surprise your mind and body in a fun, creative environment!