Classical music is often associated with stiff tuxedos, silent audiences, and ornate concert halls. But on November 18, 2026, a very different kind of performance is coming to Upper Manhattan — one where sweatpants are not just allowed but encouraged, and where the venue is a candlelit farmhouse built in 1784.
Cellist Sasha Ono and violinist Emily Garrison are bringing their “Comfy Classical” series to the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum, located at 4881 Broadway in Inwood. The event runs from 6 to 8 PM, with doors opening at 5:45 PM. It is free to attend, though advance registration is strongly recommended due to limited space. Seating will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Cellist Sasha Ono and violinist Emily Garrison play classical, tango and pop favorites for a loungewear-clad audience at Dyckman Farmhouse Museum
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The evening is designed to feel like a gathering at a close friend’s home. Guests are invited to arrive in their comfiest clothes — the official dress code is “comfy clothes” — and may bring a blanket or pillow if they prefer to sit on the floor. Tea and assorted refreshments from local vendors will be available throughout the night.
Ono and Garrison will perform a varied program that spans classical repertoire, tango, and string arrangements of popular songs. The music will fill the historic farmhouse, which is the last remaining farmhouse on Manhattan island and the oldest in the borough.
Bringing Comfy Classical to Dyckman Farmhouse will be one of the most cozy fall experiences we’ve put together yet!”— Sasha Ono
Ono founded Comfy Classical on the belief that rest, comfort, and creative socializing are essential to a fulfilling life. The series pairs top-tier chamber musicians with a low-pressure, multi-sensory setting. It has already introduced many first-time listeners to classical chamber music, and organizers expect this event to continue that tradition.
The event is open to all ages. Those planning to attend should note that visiting Dyckman Farmhouse Museum requires ascending and descending multiple flights of stairs to enter the park and museum, access all floors inside, and navigate the surrounding grounds. Visitors with accessibility concerns are encouraged to contact info@dyckmanfarmhouse.org.
Ono is an award-winning cellist and concert curator based in New York City. She has performed alongside Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Itzhak Perlman, Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua Bell, and Michael Bublé, and her recordings have appeared on GRAMMY-winning tracks. She is currently touring as a member of Zach Bryan’s band and recently recorded on “Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs.” She can be found on Instagram at @cellosasha.
Garrison is a violinist who has performed at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. She plays with orchestras across the Tri-State area, including the Albany Symphony, Hudson Valley Philharmonic, and Binghamton Philharmonic, and serves as assistant principal second violin of the NEPA Philharmonic. With her partner, jazz saxophonist and composer Matt Garrison, she explores unconventional instrumentation in the duo Scroll and Reed. She is on Instagram at @emilyrfred.
Built around 1784, the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum is a Dutch Colonial style historic landmark owned by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and operated by the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum Alliance. It serves as a community resource and educational museum, dedicated to preserving historic Upper Manhattan and engaging the public through cultural programming. The site is also committed to researching and telling the comprehensive history of the farm — including the vital contributions and lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked on the land.
This project is made possible in part with funds from UMEZ Arts Engagement, a regrant program supported by the funding agency Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ) and administered by LMCC.
For more details and to register, visit the Eventbrite page at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comfy-classical-at-dyckman-farmhouse-tickets-2003720894133.
Why it matters: Comfy Classical represents a growing effort to break down the formal barriers that often keep new audiences away from chamber music. By combining world-class musicianship with a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere, events like this one may help reshape how classical music is experienced in the 21st century — starting in a 240-year-old farmhouse in Upper Manhattan.
