Susan Miele

Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

Weekday Picks for Westchester Kids: Firefly Festival, Mexican Dance, Fidget Spinners

Submitted by Susan Miele on

One of the (many) great things about summer is the longer days and the easy schedule. With no need to race home to do homework or wake up early for school, it's the perfect time to linger late and soak up the fun. Most of our top picks this week are evening programs!

As mentioned in our July GoList, the Dancing at Dusk series has returned, with a dazzling lineup of exotic music and dance performances that also include instruction. This week’s edition introduces families to Mexican performing arts. Another hallmark of summer is catching fireflies, and the Annual Firefly Festival is devoted to that joy (along with some ice cream). And if your kids are obsessing over fidget spinners, you’ll all be glad to create your own (for FREE!) at Design and Print Your Own 3D Fidget Spinner (only a few spots are available).

So pack a picnic and push back bedtime—the fun runs till all hours! Check out our Event Calendar for many more activities at all times of day, and follow us on Facebook!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: County Fair, Kids' Night, Family Day

Submitted by Susan Miele on

A bounty of fun continues this weekend for Westchester and Hudson Valley families, with a mix of live performances, carnival action and hands-on arts exploration.

The Orange County Fair, first held in 1840, brings thrills and chills of various sorts—from carnival fun to demolition derbies. The Upright Citizens Brigade returns for an encore performance of zany humor at Arts in the Amphitheater: Comedy Night. 

In addition to the big-band entertainment that Kid's Night with Quintette 7 & Instrument Petting Zoo provides, kids also have an opportunity to get hands-on with the instruments. If your future star is looking for performance experience (or to combat stage fright), sign them up for Kids' Open Mic Night, and all ages are encouraged to think like an artist at Family Day.

Read on for more details and more great options to choose from—then consult our Event Calendar for our daily selection of activities. Also consult our Summer Activity Guide for ideas all season long!

Dutchess Destination: 20 Things to Do with Kids in Hyde Park

Submitted by Susan Miele on

Hyde Park in Dutchess County—not to be confused with New Hyde Park on Long Island—may be best known as the former home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, but it boasts many other attractions that make it a fun family day-trip spot.

In addition to FDR, the Vanderbilts also planted roots and left behind a magnificent estate for public viewing. The Culinary Institute of America has a campus in Hyde Park, offering not only instruction but several student-run restaurants. And with its proximity to the Hudson River and other neighboring towns like Rhinebeck and Poughkeepsie, there’s a ton to do.

Read on for our top picks and cost-saving tips for visiting Hyde Park with families, based on first-hand experience! Looking for more family fun? Consult our Event Calendar and follow us on Facebook.

Weekday Picks for Westchester Kids: Mary Poppins, Fondue, Eww…Gross!

Submitted by Susan Miele on

Summer weekdays are a great time to pile on the fun, and this week there are plenty of ways to do so!

Hailing from Carnegie Hall is a performance by the National Youth Orchestra, which will be recorded for playback on National Public Radio. Also inspiring is a showing of the environmentally conscious and humorous film Oddball. For less high-brow entertainment, sink low at Eww...Gross!

There's more! Read on for details plus a lot more fun to choose from. Then visit our Event Calendar and sign up for our newsletters to stay in the know!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Imagination Movers, County Fair, Jazz Festival

Submitted by Susan Miele on

With so much to celebrate this summer, the weekend ahead is sparkling with fun for Westchester and Hudson Valley families, including Food and Farm Day, celebrating farm life and tasty food. The Orange County Fair does this as well, with the added hoopla of carnival fun, thrill shows, a demo, an indoor safari and more.

Lots of entertainment is in store, both live and cinematic. Among these is an encore performance by the Imagination Movers, who made a name for themselves on Disney Junior and incorporate music and comedy into their act. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the return of the annual Jazz Festival, a 10-hour smorgasbord of performances, including newly added ones for kid audiences.

On the heels of American Independence Day comes the French version and the multi-faceted Bastille Day Celebration, featuring all things francais. Another bash is set at the Play Place Birthday Party, where FREE admission and added attractions are offered.

But that’s not all! Read on for more details as well as additional options—plus our Event Calendar includes other events you’ll want to review before choosing what to do. Don't forget to consult our July GoList for our top picks for the rest of the month. 

Why the Caramoor Jazz Festival has a Leg Up on Lincoln Center

Submitted by Susan Miele on

One of the best reasons to live in Westchester is the close proximity to Manhattan, with an abundance of high culture just a short car or train ride away. What if some of that culture were to relocate to Westchester? The Caramoor Jazz Festival brings high-caliber music right to our backyard in Katonah.

Though Caramoor is no slouch in the world of fine music, its alliance with Jazz at Lincoln Center lends extra clout. Now an annual event—this year's festival takes place on Saturday, July 15, 2017—it remains under the artistic direction of Wynton Marsalis and features some 20 performances on multiple “stages.” Some of these are just a shady spot under a tree, inches from the audience and lending an intimacy not enjoyed in a large concert hall. 

Read on for our first-hand experience in attending this event with kids. Looking for more things to do with kids? Check out our Event Calendar and follow us on Facebook.

Weekday Picks for Westchester Kids: Pool Movie, Slavic Soul Party

Submitted by Susan Miele on

Activities for Westchester kids this week scream summer, and we've rounded up some great events to take your family to—most of which are FREE!

Entertainment heads outdoors with movies, concerts and assorted performances. One is the Turtle Dance Music Show, combining bubbles, interactivity and even technology. Slavic Soul Party takes the outdoor stage at Arts in the Amphitheater: Music Nights, and the first of a series of movies at the pool kicks off at Evening Pool Party & Movie, one of our top picks for July. 

For details and a lot more fun to choose from, read on, visit our Event Calendar, and sign up for our newsletters!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Hot Air Balloons, Concerts, Free Shakespeare

Submitted by Susan Miele on

Summer celebrations are in full swing throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley with headliners like the Hudson Valley Balloon Festival and the Pleasantville Music Festival—along with numerous performances and other family fun that are sure to please.

Some pretty great FREE events are also happening this weekend, including the West Point Band’s Independence Day Celebration, an outdoor production of Romeo and Juliet and hands-on art exploration at Dia:Beacon Community Free Day.

Read on for details and for additional weekend highlights—then explore our Event Calendar for many more options for fun events throughout the weekend and all summer long! Don't forget to consult our July GoList for our top picks for the rest of the month, and follow us on Facebook!

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