Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Moonviewing Concert, Wildlife Adventure, Renaissance Faire and More, August 9-10

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 08/07/2014 - 11:00am

There's something for every taste this weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, with a variety of offerings--culture, nature, entertainment and a good cause. For starters, and adding to the numerous events this summer that expose Westchester residents to international culture, the Annual Moonviewing Concert allows visitors to experience Japanese culture and arts.

Get in touch with nature at the Wildlife Adventure or the hands-on workshop Preserving the Harvest: Canning. Additionally, the Art & Science Workshops continues with a nature theme.

Also on tap this weekend, there’s Family Fun Night, the South Salem Fire Department's Carnival, Worldfest: Free Performing Arts Series and the final installment of Arts in the Amphitheater: Movie Nights, which presents a twist on the traditional movie under the stars. Additionally, the New York Renaissance Faire continues this weekend.

To support a good cause—and quench your thirst—patronize Annual Lemonade for Leukemia, which offers more than just lemonade!

Read on for more on these events and be sure to click through to the event listing to get full details. Also, our August Go List highlights our top picks for the month! And be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay informed about area events every weekend. Don't forget: our event calendar includes suggestions for every day of the week, so check back often to keep your kids engaged and having fun this summer!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Renaissance Faire, Hip-Hop Shakespeare, Pow-Wow and More, August 2-3

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 07/31/2014 - 11:00am

You'll feel like you've traveled the globe (and back in time) after attending the events on tap this weekend in Westchester and the Hudson Valley! For starters, the beloved New York Renaissance Faire returns this weekend and if that's not enough Renaissance fun for you, indulge further at Hip-Hop Shakespeare. Also on the global itinerary are the Native American Heritage Celebration of the Hudson Valley and the Indian Heritage Festival. Another throwback this weekend is a showing of the Marx Brothers’ Duck Soup.

For an entirely different excursion, the Lighted Boat Parade lights up the night in New Rochelle this weekend and Rye Playland is celebrating International Friendship Day with discounted admission, fireworks and more.

Read on for more details on our top weekend picks--many of which are FREE. Be sure to click through to the event listing for full details. Making plans weeks in advance? Check out our August Go List for our best bets for fun outings happening throughout the month. And remember to check out the myriad of weekday and weekend events we've captured in our event calendar--you'll find there's no shortage of fun things to do this summer in Westchester!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Music Festivals, Icelandic Fun, Mexican Dance and More, July 26-27

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 07/24/2014 - 11:00am

This weekend is all about cultural events in Westchester. Families can take in the two-day Peekskill Music Festival, which includes way more than just music, as well as a Jazz Festival that includes performances by up-and-coming young artists (including a 12-year-old piano virtuoso!).

Other cultural events this weekend include Midsummer Day, an afternoon-long immersion into all things Icelandic in honor of an ongoing exhibition of Icelandic art as well as a FREE performance by the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company.

Three recurring events this weekend are worth noting because each weekend features a different focus. For Arts in the Amphitheater: Movie Nightsthis week’s showing will be of Dirty Dancing--and includes a special added feature! Puppet Shows in the Amphitheater returns with a new performance, and the Art & Science Workshops has kids working with water. Best of all, all of these are FREE!

Read on to learn more about the above, and click through the links for full details. Let Mommy Poppins help you keep your kids busy this summer--not only this weekend, but every day! Our event calendar is loaded with diverse ways to keep kids busy, and many of them are FREE. Also be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep current with our latest posts, news and events.

Weekend Fun With Westchester Families: Youth Orchestra, Comedy, Song Circle and More July 19-20

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 07/17/2014 - 11:00am

So many performances are worth seeing this weekend, it’s hard to prioritize! Two are by national troupes—the National Youth Orchestra, an ensemble of kids under the auspices of Carnegie Hall, and The National Comedy Theatre, which is sure to provide a good laugh for young audiences. As an adjunct to this month’s Seeger Fest, join in the Song Circle and Potluck Supper in Honor of Pete and Toshi Seeger to pay tribute to the Hudson Valley’s beloved champions. Returning this week for the second of the four-part series is Puppet Shows in the Amphitheater.

There are also great workshops scheduled for Saturday that are both artsy and practical (and adults would love them too!). One is Create Your Own Blog or Website, and the other is Art & Reuse in the Studio, where participants upcycle used materials.

Keeping kids busy in the summer when school is out can be tricky—but not with the Mommy Poppins event calendar! There you'll find daily listings of options throughout the county, many of which are FREE. If you're willing to venture beyond Westchester, we also have editions in NYC, Connecticut, Long Island, and New Jersey.

Read on for our top picks for this weekend, then click through for further details and additional events. Also be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep current with our latest posts, news and events.

Weekend Fun With Westchester Families: Puppets, Concerts, Festivals, Movies and More, July 12-13

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 07/10/2014 - 10:30am

With Independence Day behind us and summer in full force, there's no shortage of fun activities for families in Westchester and the Hudson Valley! As part of this Summer of Play, check out our July Go List for some of the top events for this month and read on for our suggestions for this weekend.

Celebrate 60 Years of Summer at a FREE, all-day family event that includes a "decades" fashion show, concerts and a slew of kid-friendly activities. For a special outdoor concert, venture to West Point for the FREE Kid's Night with Quintette 7 and "Instrument Petting Zoo" which entirely caters to kids; they can meet the musicians and instruments, hear music based on children's stories, sing along and march in a parade!

Two new series kick off this weekend: Puppet Shows in the Amphitheater, the first of four weeks of different puppet shows performed by regional artisans, and Arts in the Amphitheater: Movie Nights takes outdoor movies to a new level, with a different theme each week. Meanwhile, a couple fun series continue this weekend that are worth highlighting: this week's edition of the Art & Science Workshops allows families to get creative with flowers, and the Polish Heritage Celebration continues the cultural celebration series that transports attendees to a different country each week.

Our event calendar provides additional details on all the above, plus extensive listings for both mid-week and weekend—all summer long! Plus, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep current with our latest posts, news and events.

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Disney, Science Parties, American Music, Art, Carnivals and More, June 28-29

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 06/26/2014 - 11:00am

School's out for the summer, and Mommy Poppins has you covered! Our June Go List features a few fantastic events happening this last weekend in June and we've got even more great ideas below.

Westchester libraries are starting their annual Summer Reading Games to inspire kids to read throughout the summer. This year's theme—Fizz, Boom, READ!—focuses on science. The various libraries' big (FREE!) kickoff events vary throughout the week, with Summer Reading Kickoff Party and Dr. Gravity taking place this weekend. And speaking of fun and FREE library programs, there are two standout events this weekend for both kids and adults: Dan Krugman: Luthier offers an opportunity to learn about guitars from a master craftsman and The Great Library Sleepover unites the community for a ginormous slumber party!

Spend the afternoon at the American Roots Music Festival to enjoy the full span of American musical styles on tap from both well-established and up-and-coming artists. Or head to the annual Fireman's Carnival at Harbor Island Park for classic carnival fun. This is also the last weekend to catch Disney's On The Record at White Plains Performing Arts Center.

Two art events this weekend--Self-Portrait Silhouette and Family Day: Mandy Greer--The Ecstatic Moment invite visitors to be inspired by an exhibit and then create their own masterpiece.

For summertime fun in and around Westchester, look no further than our Events Calendar, where you'll find oodles of ideas—many of which are FREE. Check back often, as new events are added frequently! Plus, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter to keep current with weekend happenings.

For more details, click through to the event listings below. Also, don't forget to check out the other great weekend events we've captured!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Clearwater Festival, Shows, Workshops and More, June 21-22

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 06/19/2014 - 11:00am

Celebrate the Summer Solstice this weekend with a wide array of fun events for families in and around Westchester. The big headliner of the weekend, and one of our top picks for June, is the annual Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival—the first since the death of beloved founder Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi. Other fairs and festivals this weekend include the Palisades Fair, the Holy Rosary Church Annual Bazaar and the African American Heritage Celebration.

Two performances this weekend allow optional audience participation: Bring your own brass to jam with Latin Meets Jazz Workshop and Jam Session, and teens can perform in an annual Teen Talent Show. Even if performing isn’t for you, both of these events are equally suitable for spectators.

More of our top picks are below. For more details, click through to the event listing. Also, don't forget to check out the other great weekend events we’ve captured-–plus tons of weekday events--on our Events Calendar. And if you haven't done so already, sign up for our weekly newsletter--it's FREE!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Festivals, Art, Food and More, June 7-8

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 06/05/2014 - 11:00am

There's no shortage of festivals, art and food in Westchester this weekend. In fact, three of our top picks for June are taking place, including the Fol de Rol County Fair and Festa Italiana.

The 17th Annual Peekskill Open Studios runs all weekend, offering studio tours, gallery visits, meet-the-artist opportunities and special features that kids will enjoy. If you go on Saturday, you can also check out the Light Painting Photography family art workshop, also in Peekskill.

Looking to enjoy fresh air, get some exercise and support a good cause? Sign up to raise funds for SunriseWALKS, a walk-a-thon whose mission is to continue providing free camp for kids with cancer (and even their siblings!).

Read on for details about the above, as well as other enticing options (many of which are FREE). For more options, peruse our Events Calendar. And if you haven't done so already, sign up for our weekly newsletter--it's FREE!