What To Do: Events Summer 2015

What To Do: Events Summer 2015: Seventy one summer what to dos for townies, foodies, and culture-vultures from biking to sailing, strawberry short cake to strawberry daiquiris, and everything al fresco including movies, music, Shakespeare and Yoga.

What To Do: All Summer Long

Bicycle Sundays: 60,000 people a year break out their bikes to “ride the parkway,” a Westchester tradition since 1974.  Sponsored by Con Edison and the Friends of Westchester County Parks, a 6.5 mile stretch of the Bronx River Parkway is closed for the exclusive use of bicyclists, joggers, scooters and strollers. Park your car at the County Center lot for $5 and bike from there to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers. Round trip 13.1 miles. Sun, 5/31, 6/7, 14, 21 & 28, 9/13, 20 & 27: 10am-2pm. www.westchestergov.com)

Sheffield Island Lighthouse Cruises: Board the 45-foot C.J. Toth catamaran for a cruise to Sheffield Island on the Long Island Sound for a lighthouse tour, a hike on the nature trail through Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, a picnic and other beach front activities. Sat-Sun, 5/23-9/27: 11am, 2 & 3:30pm. Mon, Thurs & Fri, 6/29-9/7: 11am & 3pm. Tues-Wed, 6/30-9/2: 11am. Check special holiday weekend times. Or take a Clambake Tour on Thursday nights: ferry over to the island, tour the lighthouse and enjoy a clambake on the shore. Clambake Tours: Thurs, 6/25-9/7: 6pm. On Friday nights they offer with dinner optional from Mama Boy’s Southern Table & Refuge. We’re talkng shrimp & grits, pecan roasted chicken, chicken and waffles, etc. Sunset Cruises: Fri, 6/26-828: 6pm.  (Sheffield Island Dock, Washington and Water Streets, South Norwalk, Ct.; www.seaport.org)

Schooner Soundwaters: Sail the Long Island Sound on the Schooner Soundwaters from Stamford’s Harbor Park Marina beginning on Sat, 6/27 through Sun, 8/2. The Schooner’s 2-hour afternoon family-sails offer a hands-on educational experience for kids 5 and up. Or pack dinner and a chilled summer quaff and watch the sun set on the horizon on one of their sunset-sails. Afternoon family-sails: Sat-Sun: 6/27-8/2: 3-5pm. Sunset-sails: Thurs-Sun: 6:30-8:30pm. Plus a special fireworks sail on Thurs, 7/2 : 7-10:30pm. (Stamford Harbor Park Marina, 333 Ludlow St., Stamford www.soundwaters.org)

Giving Back: Benefits

Food Bank of Westchester Hunger Heroes Breakfast: Honoring volunteers who have made exceptional efforts fighting hunger in Westchester County. This year’s event celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Hunger Heroes program. Last year’s honorees included Baldwin Mitchell Seventh Day Adventist Church Food Pantry of Yonkers, Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester, Regina High School, Stop & Shop and Shiloh Baptist Church of New Rochelle. Thurs, 6/4: 8:30am. (Tappan Hill Mansion, 81 Highland Ave., Tarrytown; www.foodbankforwestchester.org)

Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester’s Humanitarian Award Dinner: Food, music and an online and silent auction. This year’s event will honor Brian Skanes, the club’s Executive Director for 21 years. The John Beach Award will be presented to TD Bank for their financial support for the club. Sat, 6/6: 6:30pm. (Hilton Westchester, 699 Westchester Ave, Rye; www.bgcnw.com)

Local! Church of St. Mary’s 78th Annual Strawberry Festival: The 78th annual Strawberry Festival at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin features food, games, craft vendors, bluegrass music outside, chamber music inside, and strawberries, strawberries, strawberries. Including, strawberry smoothies, chocolate covered strawberries and St. Mary’s famous strawberry shortcake (fresh berries and cream on shortcake from the Susan Lawrence bakery in Chappaqua.) Sat, 6/6: 11am-4pm. (Church of St, Mary the Virgin, 191 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua)

12th Annual Ride for Crohns and Colitis: Get Your Guts in Gear organizes multi-day cycling events that benefit and support inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) organizations and patient advocacy groups. Since it’s first ride in 2004, GYGIG has raised over $1.5 million to support empowerment, research, awareness, and advocacy efforts for people with IBD and ostomies. This year’s ride will begin and end at West Point Military Academy. Register online. Sat-Sun, 6/13-14. (West Point Military Academy; www.igotguts.org)

Swing for the Arts Golf Tournament: This annual event raises funds to support ArtsWestchester, a not for profit organization that supports hundreds of arts organizations throughout Westchester County. The event includes a barbecue lunch before and a reception and awards dinner after the links. Mon, 6/15: 10:30am. (Wykagyl Country Club, New Rochelle; www.artswestchester.org)

Local! Summer Solstice Seventies Style – Party Off the Hook at Wildflower Farm: Celebrate summer seventies style with the Bedford Historcial Society. Funky dress with a twist of white optional.
Donna Summer Sizzle cocktails. You make me feel like Dancing DJ. All proceeds benefit the Bedford Historical Society’s Building’s Preservation Fund. Fri, 6/19: 6:30 pm (Wildflower Farm, Hook Rd., Katonah; www.bedfordhistoricalsociety.org)

Local! Paul Shaffer’s Moms & Dads Rock for Northern Westchester Hospital: Featured mommy and daddy bands The Shaves, Lawless and ONL are joined by Paul Shaffer of The Late Show With David Letterman and comedienne Christine O’Leary in a rockin’ M&D musical evening to support the Music Therapy program at Northern Westchester Hospital. Sat, 6/20: 7-10pm. (The Harvey School,Walker Center for the Arts, 260 Jay St., Katonah, 914. 242.8352; www.nwhconnect.org)

Local! Broadway comes out for Armonk’s Hudson Stage Company Gala: Broadway stars Liz Callaway and Michael McCorry Rose join three-time Academy Award winning composer Stephen Schwartz to perform music from his hit shows Wicked, Pippin and Godspell. Callaway made her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along and received a Tony nomination for her role as Lizzie in Baby and a Drama Desk Award nomination for The Spitfire Grill. Michael McCorry Rose played the role of Fiyero (the Straw Man) in Wicked on Broadway. He has also appeared as a soloist at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Allen Room. A reception follows the performance at Amore Italian Kitchen, next to the theater. Sun, 7/26: 4pm. Please reserve tickets online. (Whippoorwill Hall, North Castle Public Library, 19 Whippoorwill Rd. E., Armonk; www.hudsonstage.com)

Where To See: Cinema

Local! Friday Night Movies with Professor Valerie Franco at NCPL: 49 Up: Before there was reality television, there was Director Michael Apted’s work on the Up Series, the original documentary that examined the lives of several English children every seven years as they journeyed from adolescence into adulthood. Here they are 49. Fri, 6/5: 7pm. The Orator: Feted at the 2011 Venice Film Festival, and an international entry for the Oscars, this inspiring feature looks at a taro farmer as he faces the challenge of his life defending his family from outside forces. Fri, 6/12: 7pm. 56 Up: Michael Apted’s latest installment in his groundbreaking documentary, the Up series, looks at several individuals whose lives have
 been revisited every seven years since they were first interviewed 49 years ago. Fri, 6/19: 7pm. (North Castle Public Library, 19 Whippoorwill Rd. East, Armonk, www.northcastlelibrary.org)

Jacob Burns Film Center: Here’s some June highlights at J. Burns: Blake Edwards The Pink Panther Cartoon Shorts: Eight Pink Panther Cartoon shorts inlcuding the Academy Award winner, The Pink Phink. Sat-Sun, 6/6-7: 1pm. Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man: Director Jonathan Demme fields a Q&A session with his screening of this rarely seen masterpiece from Bernardo Bertolucci about the kidnapped son of the owner of a bankrupt Italian cheese factory who hatches a plot to use the ransom money to save the business. Sat, 6/7: 5pm. Indian Point: This documentary is“[A] cautionary tale about a technology once seen as an abundant and non-polluting energy source, but with downsides that could make oil spills and electrical brownouts seem as minor as a fender bender.” (The Daily Beast) Thurs, 6/11: 7:30pm. The Landlord: Hal Ashby’s 1970 comedy about a landlord who fails –to his ultimate happiness – in his attempt to evict low income tenants of a Park Slope tenement. Sat, 6/13: 7:15pm.  The Learning Tree: Gordon Parks’ 1968 sentimental coming-of-age story of a teen living in rural Kansas during the 1920’s, was the first major Hollywood studio film directed by an African-American. Sun, 6/14: 2pm. Field Niggas: Taking its title from Malcolm X’s lecture, Message to the Grassroots, Khalik Allah’s Field Niggas is a stunning piece of art, a hauntingly beautiful portrait of the nighttime denizens on the corner of 125^th Street and Lexington Avenue. The Gold Rush: The classic Charlie Chaplin comedy about a prospector’s search for gold in the Klondike, which forever cemented the iconic status of the Little Tramp character. In a newly restored print that includes Chaplin’s original music.
. Sat, 6/27: 3pm. (Jacob Burns Film  Center, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville; www.burnsfilmcenter.org)

Local! Menus in the Movies: Food author and film buff, Carol Durst presents Chef, the 2014 Indie hit by Jon Favreau, about a chef who loses his restaurant job and starts up a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative promise, while piecing back together his estranged family. With an all star cast including Favreau, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo, and Sofia Vergara. Homemade desserts and discussion to follow film. Fri, 6/19: 7pm. (Chappaqua Library, 195 S. Greeley Ave., www.chappaqualibary.com)

Local! Movie Night at the Bedford Memorial Park: The Bedford Village Chowder & Marching Club’s annual free movie night is a family event suitable for picnicking. Movie details will be available at the pools or online at Bedford Recreation.  Fri, 7/17: 8:30pm. (Bedford Village Memorial Park, 65 Greenwich Rd., Bedford; bedford recreation)

Downward facing dog alert!

Yoga With a View at Boscobel: Learn to breathe better in a place that promises to take your breath away. If you have an urge to do the downward facing dog overlooking the Hudson River than this one’s for you. Certified Yoga instructor, Ellen Forman’s class on the main lawn or west meadow at Boscobel is tailored for all levels, beginner through expert, and open to walk-ins. Mon, 6/1-9/7: 6-7:15pm. (1601 Route 9D, Bear Mountain Highway, Garrison; www.boscobel.org)

Local! Summer Solstice Yoga Celebration – John Jay Homestead: Here’s a new one from the Katonah Village Improvement Society. Head over to the bucolic grounds and historic buildings of the John Jay Homestead and do your best downward facing dog al fresco with friends and neighbors. All are welcome. Sat, 6/20: 9-10:30am. (John Jay Homestead, 400 Jay St., Katonah; www.katonahkvis.com)

Where To See: Fireworks

Fireworks! Kensico Fireworks & Music Fest: Pre-concert entertainment begins at 6 p.m. The dance band Gerard Carelli and his Orchestra (classical, swing, Motown and rock) performs at 8 p.m. A fireworks display in front of the dam follows at 9:15 p.m. Admission and parking are free. Carpooling is suggested. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Fri, 7/3: 6pm. (1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla)

Pops, Patriots and Fireworks for the Fourth of July: You can picnic before the show, leave your soccer chairs and coolers on the lawn during the concert and they’ll be waiting for you after the show when the fireworks begin. No hassle parking and a spacious lawn with lots of elbow room. Plus the Westchester Symphonic Winds, and Broadway’s Ryan Silverman perform “The Star Spangled Banner”, John Phillip Sousa’s “The Stars And Stripes Forever”, highlights, from Anything Goes, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and more. Sat, 7/4: 8pm.  (Caramoor, Venetian Theatre, 149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.com)

Fireworks! Sail on the Schooner Soundwaters: Pack a dinner and a chilled summer quaff and watch the sun set and the fireworks over the Long Island Sound on this special fireworks sail on the Schooner Soundwaters from Stanford’s Harbor Park Marina. Thurs, 7/2: 7-10:30pm. (Stamford Harbor Park Marina, 333 Ludlow St., Stamford www.soundwaters.org)

Fireworks! Playland
 Park: Fireworks displays, computer-fired and choreographed to a musical soundtrack, Fri, -Sat, 7/3-4: 9:15pm, Plus every Friday evening in July and August: 9:15 p.m. (100 Playland Parkway, Rye; www.ryeplayland.org)

What To Eat: Foodie Fun

Photo by Chad David Krauss

Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Festival: A week of food fashion, wine and burgers at five events: Fashion, Food & Wine: VIP shopping with Kathie Lee Gifford at Bloomingdales with wine, food from area chefs and music. Wed, 6/3: 6-9pm. Kensico Burger & Beer Blast: Sample and vote for the best burgers and stroll the beer garden at Kensico Dam Plaza. Thurs, 6/4: 6-10pm. An Evening with Westchester’s Tastemakers: Ten local chefs prepare two signature dishes paired with world-class wines at this one-night feast at 42 The Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton in White Plains. Fri, 6/5: 6:30-10:30pm. Jr. Chefs Academy: Kids ages 7-17 learn cooking and baking techniques with the pros at the Ritz Carlton in White Plains. Sat, 6/6: 10am-12pm, 1-3pm. Grand Tasting Village: Over forty local chefs serve up their best farm to table fare at Kensico Dam Plaza. With cooking demos, 200 top shelf wines, artisanal beer and mixology experts and more. Sat, 6/6: 12-5pm. www.westchestermagazine.com

Kensico Burger & Beer Blast: 30 Westchester chefs from local restaurants serve up their take on the better burger. You vote for the “Cadillac of Burgers.” Plus craft beer and wine and live music. Thurs, 6/4: 6-10pm. (Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla; www.westchestermagazine.com)

John Jay Homestead Farm Market: Opens on Sat, 6/13 and runs each Saturday through 10/31: 9am-1pm. See our Farmers Market Guide for more information. (John Jay Homestead, 400 Jay St., Katonah; www.johnjayhomestead.org)

Wine Pairing Dinner & Stargazing at Lasdon Park: Enjoy a Tuscan themed dinner and wine pairing under the stars prepared by Vincent Nicolosi, who will also share his home made cheeses. After dinner, stroll the grounds and do some stargazing with members of the Westchester Astronomy Club as your astral guides. All proceeds benefit Lasdon’s Glass House Conservatory. Tickets go on sale May 20 and seating is limited. Sat, 6/27: 6:30-9:30pm. (Lasdon Park, 2610 Amawalk Rd., Rt. 35, Katonah, 914.864.7268; www.lasdonpark.org)

Toast of the Town – Boscobel 1800s Cocktail Party Meet under the pavilion in Boscobel’s West Meadow to learn about libation concoctions of the 1800s and the toasts that accompanied them. Raise your glass to this year’s new guest speaker, food and drink journalist and published author, Max Watman. Mr. Watman will discuss the history of toasting traditions and the meaning of many popular selections throughout the 19th century, and Warwick Winery and Distillery will provide sample cocktails for all guests and explain what goes into each and why. With live period music by Thaddeus MacGregor. Your ticket includes 4 sample size cocktails, light fare, music and recipes. Sat, 6/27: 4-6pm.  (1601 Route 9D, Bear Mountain Highway, Garrison; www.boscobel.org)

Taste of Westchester – Stone Manor 101: Westchester Community College of Continuing Education’s A Taste of Westchester series offers cooking classes (and tastings) with top chefs at local restaurants. HelpChef William Lawrence of Stone Manor 101 steak house in Hawthorne prepare his famous meatballs made with ground filet, skirt, and NY strip steak in a feta béchamel sauce; a perfectly grilled 12-ounce skirt steak with a Argentinian chimichurri sauce; roasted red bliss potatoes tossed in rosemary, thyme, and paprika; panzanella salad with toasted Italian bastone bread, arugula, red onion, tomato, and cucumber tossed in a red wine vinaigrette; and warm, sugar dusted vanilla infused fritters with milk chocolate and liquid caramel dipping sauces. Thurs, 7/16, 23: 5:30-7:30pm. To register call: 914.606.6830 x1. For more information: A Taste of Westchester. (Stone Manor 101,101 Saw Mill River Road, Hawthorne; www.stonemanor101.com)

Taste of Westchester – DeCicco & Sons: Westchester Community College of Continuing Education’s A Taste of Westchester series offers cooking classes (and tastings) with top chefs at local restaurants. Step into DeCicco’s video enhanced demonstration kitchen to help Chef Angelo prepare a courgette fritter with roasted red pepper hummus, grilled soft shell crabs with a chermoula pesto sauce and the instructions for a lovely summer vegetable cous cous. With paired beer tastings, selected by Chris DeCicco who has won awards for his brews, and presented by Brendon, their in-house Cicerone. With mini cannoli for dessert. To register call: 914.606.6830 x1. For more information: A Taste of Westchester. Thurs, 7/24: 5:30-7:30pm. (DeCicco & Sons, 17 Maple Way, Armonk
)

20th Annual Bounty of the Hudson: Head up to Benmarl Winery in Marlboro, NY to sample wines from over 10 wineries, Hudson Valley cheeses, honey, epicurean delights from local restaurants, baked goods and Hudson Valley produce. Local food vendors will be on hand for you to make a full meal of it. With live music. Sat-Sun, 7/25-26: 12-5pm. (Benmarl Winery, 156 Highland Ave 
Marlboro: www.shawangunkwinetrail.com)

A Taste of Westchester – The Craftsman Ale House: The Westchester Community College of Continuing Education’s A Taste of Westchester series offers cooking classes (and tastings) with top chefs at local restaurants. Chef and brew master Joe Vicidomini , of The Craftsman Ale House in Harrison, demonstrates his house specialties: beer and cheese soup, fried beer kosher dill pickles, beer battered chicken Caesar salad, and a crispy beer battered dessert. With beer tastings. To register call: 914.606.6830 x1.  For more information: A Taste of Westchester. Mon, 7/27: 5:30-7:30pm. (The Craftsman Ale House,
235 Harrison Avenue, Harrison:
 www.the-craftsman-ale-house.com)

A Taste of Westchester – Crabtree’s Kittle House: The Westchester Community College of Continuing Education’s A Taste of Westchester offers cooking classes (and tastings) with top chefs at local restaurants. Executive Chef Jay Lippin will prepare a farm to table dinner featuring meat, cheese, and produce from local farms. He will discuss various cooking techniques and recipes utilizing seasonal ingredients at their peak. For dessert, a surprise from the chef incorporating the freshest fruits of the season. Host John Crabtree will select a wine to pair with the meal. To register call: 914.606.6830 x1. For more information: A Taste of Westchester. Wed, 8/5: 6-8pm. (Crabtree’s Kittle House, 11 Kittle Rd., Chappaqua; www.kittlehouse.com
)

Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival: Arts & Crafts show, harbor tour cruises, vessel tours, a Ferris wheel, a New England Seaport Village, Go Green environmental demonstrations, and a Kids Cove with circus and puppet shows, music, and arts & crafts (for the kids), an International Food Court with craft beer (for the adults), celebrity oyster slurping contests and … OYSTERS, OYSTERS, OYSTERS. With musical entertainment on Saturday night (last year the headliner JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS) and Family Day specials on Sunday including free admission, discount rides, kids’ specials at food courts and special entertainment. Yowza! How did we miss this all these years? Fri, 9/11: 6-11pm, Sat, 9/12: 11am-11pm, Sun, 9/13:11am-8pm. (Norwalk Veterans Park, 42 Seaview Ave., Norwalk: www.seaport.org)

Where To Hear: Music

Music in the Park – Lasdon Park: Gates open for picnicking at 5:30 and the music starts an hour later. Bring a blanket, lawn chair or grab a table around the patio for: Gerard Carelli’s jazz orchestra plays songs from the great crooners Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and more. Fri, 7/10: 6:30pm. Jon Doty and Friends play modern quintet jazz. Fri, 7/17: 6:30pm.  Members of the Ridgefield Symphony perform classical music. Fri, 7/24: 6:30pm. (Lasdon Park, 2610 Amawalk Rd., Rt. 35, Katonah; www.lasdonpark.org)

Local! Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce Summer Concerts: The Chappaqua Millwood Chamber of Commerce, with major support by Breezemont Day Camp, presents four summer concerts on Wednesday nights at 7pm at The Gazebo on Recreation Field. Here’s the line-up: Don DuPont’s Big Band: Wed, 7/8: 7pm; Chappaqua Orchestra: Wed, 7/15: 7pm: Tramps Like Us: 7/22: 7pm & The Ronald Reagans Big 80s Band: Wed, 7/27: 7pm. (Recreation Field, Chappaqua: 200 S. Greeley Ave. Chappaqua-millwoodchamber)

Caramoor Summer Festival: The Caramoor Summer Festival is so cool that on weekends they bus culture vultures up from Manhattan on The Caramoor Caravan. So what are you waiting for? Thirty-one nights of music under the stars in the Spanish Courtyard, in the Sunken Garden or under the big tent in the Venetian Theatre! And the party starts hours before the show on their picnic/Sauvignon Blanc friendly, Friends Field. There’s a jazz festival, headlined by Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, an American Roots Music Festival with Lucinda Williams, a renowned opera program, plenty of chamber music and they even have their own house band, the St. Luke’s Chamber Orchestra. Plus four Dancing at Dusk Events suitable for the whole family. Some events even offer Garden Listening tickets for just $16 for adults and kids are free. We have their full festival schedule right here. Wed & Fri-Sun, 6/21-8/6. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Photo by Anthony Pepitone

Hot Ticket Alert! Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival: This world-class outdoor music festival lives on after the death of its founder Pete Seeger. The festival attracts top roots musical talent each year to its seven stages. But it’s more than a music fest. There’s a host of river, field and educational activities for kids and families, including sloop and schooner rides, food, art, crafts, jugglers, clowns, a puppet show, and a petting zoo. There are more than 70 musical acts including David Crosby, Bela Flek and Elizabeth Washburn, Neko Case, Citizen Cope Band, Guster, The Mavericks, Los Lobos, Angelique Kudjo, Ani DiFranco, Shelby Lynne, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Kate Pierson of the B52s, The Lone Bellow, Bettye Lavette, Todd Snider, Joseph Arthur and The Felice Brothers. Sat-Sun, 6/21-22: 9am. (Croton Point Park, 1A Croton Point Ave., Croton-on-Hudson; www.clearwaterfestival.org)

Caramoor@KMA – Spuyten Duyvil: The amped-up, six-piece band Spuyten Duyvil offers an Americana mash of Olde Time, Blues, Bluegrass, and Folk Rock. Their new CD, The Social Music Hour, features traditional string band and blues harp songs like “Who’s Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet”, “O Babe It Ain’t No Lie”, and “Fishin’ Blues”. See them for just $15 in KMA’s Sculpture Garden. Wed, 6/24: 6:30pm. (Katonah Museum of Art, 134 Jay St, Rt. 22, Katonah; www.caramoor.com)

Sunset Jazz at Lyndhurst: These picnic friendly concerts are held outdoors at the Lyndhurst bowling alley hill on Thursdays at 6:30pm from 7/9-8/27. The musical line-up cuts a broad swath of musical genres from contemporary jazz to swing, samba, vocal and instrumental. Check back for the full line-up. (Lyndhurst Mansion, 635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown; www.lynhurst.org)

Local! Summer Concert at the Katonah Memorial Park: Last year’s concert featured The Mulligans performing high-energy classic rock hits from the Stones, Springsteen, U2, Talking Heads, Counting Crows, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and more. Details on this year’s band will be available online at Bedford Recreation. Fri, 7/10: 7-8:30pm. (The top of North St., Katonah; Bedford Recreation)

Hot Ticket Alert! Pleasantville Music Festival: Dubbed New York’s backyard jam, the Pleasantville Music Festival has attracted top folk, roots and Americana festival acts since its inception in 2005. Including Jakob Dylan, Joan Osborne, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, and Dar Williams. This year’s artists include the Gin Blossoms (“Follow You Down”); Marshall Crenshaw (“Someday, Someway”); the alt-hip-hop band G. Love and Special Sauce that famously covered the New Seekers 1971 hit “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” for a Coca Cola commercial; Lost Leaders, whose members have lineage to the Levon Helm Band and Ollabelle; the rising Hudson Valley act Rebecca Haviland and Whiskey Heart; and the ska band Beebs and Her Honeymakers. With food, crafts, and a kid’s area with face painting, games and food. Free parking and round-trip bus service between Pace University and the Festival site from 11:30 AM through 10:00 PM. Sat, 7/11: (Parkway Field, Village Ln. Pleasantville; www.pleasantvillemusicfestival.com)

Caramoor@KMA – The Swingaroos: NYC’s underground jazz sextet, The Swingaroos serves up a suitcase full of original songs and Hit Parade covers from the ’20s to the 2010s. Fronted by award-winning vocalist, Kimberly Hawkey, and pianist/arranger, Assaf Gleizner, the ‘Roos continue the tradition of the swing-era Territory Bands. See them in KMA’s Sculpture Garden for just $15. Wed, 7/15: 6:30pm. (Katonah Museum of Art, 134 Jay St, Rt. 22, Katonah; www.caramoor.com)

By Chansoda Rouen

Caramoor@KMA – Members of The Harlem Chamber Players: This ethnically diverse collective of professional musicians bring high-caliber, affordable and accessible live classical music to people in the Harlem community and beyond. They not only bring live chamber music to underserved neighborhoods in the Harlem community, but also create opportunities for classically trained minority musicians. This performance features a string trio from the broader Harlem Chamber Players group. Wed, 8/5: 6:30pm.  (Katonah Museum of Art, 134 Jay St, Rt. 22, Katonah; www.caramoor.com)

Norm Hathaway Swing Band – Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden: Norm Hathaway plays it like it was at this annual dancing and music event at the Hammond Museum. His twelve-piece band plays all the favorite tunes from the 30s and 40s. Brush up on your waltz, lindy and rhumba. Fri, 8/7: 8-11pm. (Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden, 28 Deveau Rd., N. Salem: www.hammondmuseum.org)

48th Annual Moonviewing Concert, picnic and tea ceremony:  The annual Moonviewing concert is a tradition that was begun by Natalie Hays Hammond in 1966. The Japanese Stroll Garden, lit by paper lanterns, is a magical setting for this ancient custom, which every August brings together people and traditions of the East and West. Traditional Japanese music will be played. Sat, 8/29: 6-10pm. (Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden, 28 Deveau Rd., N. Salem: www.hammondmuseum.org)

Boscobel Big Band Concert & Sunset Picnic: Celebrate the last days of summer on Boscobel’s great lawn overlooking the Hudson River. Enjoy a picnic supper – purchase food on site or BYO – and listen/dance to the swinging sounds of the 20-piece Big Band Sound orchestra as they take on Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and more. Swing dance/jitterbug demonstrations by the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Sun, 9/13: 6-8pm. (1601 Route 9D, Bear Mountain Highway, Garrison; www.boscobel.org)

What To Do: Smell the roses

Rose Garden Weekend at NYBG: The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden is a sea of warm color, flush with the reds, whites, yellows, and pinks of nearly 700 rose cultivars. In celebration of the delicate beauty that defines this collection, as well as the peak of its seasonal color, stop by for two days of live music, plant care demonstrations and tours with expert rosarians, and light summer refreshments in the shade of the garden’s overlooks. Sat-Sun, 6/6-7: 10am-6pm. (New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx; www.nybg.org)

Lyndhurst Rose Day: Lyndhurst’s spectacular rose garden is in full bloom and the Garden Club of Irvington hosts its annual rose day in the garden. Classical music performers and refreshments enliven the garden. Bring a camera as the display is not to be believed. Sun, 6/7: 12-3pm. (Lyndhurst Mansion, 635 Broadway, Tarrytown; www.lyndhurst.org)

Open Days Garden Conservancy – Bedford: Leslie and John Needham’s River Hills estate features a restored 1790s Dutch Colonial-style house overlooking the Mianus River Gorge. All of the terraces and gardens have been designed to complement this panoramic view. With dining terraces and seating areas, stone walls, a fruit orchard, and a woodland walk. For directions please call the Garden Conservancy office weekdays, 9am-5pm at 1-888-842-2442. Sun 6/7: 10am-4pm. www.gardenconservancy.org

Open Days Garden Conservancy – North Salem: The approach to Keeler Hill Farm is up a driveway of maple trees with horse paddocks. A courtyard reveals the house, a converted dairy barn. Gardens surround the many farm buildings with horses, geese, ducks, guinea fowl, dogs, and cats. The gardens closest to the house are broken into rooms providing privacy and visual surprises. There is a friendship garden filled with friends’ castoffs. The lilac walk has been expanded and is now a lilac lair with nice views of the farm fields. A path from the formal gardens leads to the vegetable gardens and an orchard. Sun 6/7: 10am-4pm. (64 Keeler Lane, N. Salem; www.gardenconservancy.org)

Open Days Garden Conservancy – Bedford Hills: The seven acre garden of Phyllis Warden includes perennial borders, three water gardens, a formal vegetable garden, a wildflower garden, a fern garden, a marsh garden, a tree platform overlooking the marshlands, a woodland walk, a hidden garden, and a formal croquet court. Please park at the Rippowam Cisqua School and walk to 531 Bedford Center Rd., Bedford Hills. Sun, 6/28: 10am-4pm. www.gardenconservancy.org

Open Days Garden Conservancy – South Salem: The Garden of Bernard Marquez and Tim Fish is a hybrid of design discipline and fun! It consists of several garden rooms on different levels. Plantings consist of a variety of boxwoods, some uncommon in the northeast. There are also a variety of conifer cultivars and other broadleaf evergreens. Water elements, stone work and a view of the Pound Ridge Reservation are highlights. Annuals, perennials, artifacts and containers complete the experience. Sun, 6/28: 10am-4pm. (74 Hemlock Rd., South Salem; www.gardenconservancy.org)

Open Days Garden Conservancy – Bedford Hills: The seven acre garden of Phyllis Warden includes perennial borders, three water gardens, a formal vegetable garden, a wildflower garden, a fern garden, a marsh garden, a tree platform overlooking the marshlands, a woodland walk, a hidden garden, and a formal croquet court. Please park at the Rippowam Cisqua School and walk to 531 Bedford Center Rd., Bedford Hills. Sun, 7/26: 10am-4pm. www.gardenconservancy.org

Open Days Garden Conservancy – Pleasantville: The garden of Jean and John Nonna, a gem tucked away in Pleasantville, features a large and varied dwarf conifer garden, forty varieties of Japanese maple, a miniature, white, fern, and hosta garden as well as a chartreuse-and-purple room. Summer will show off the dahlias, varied zinnias and marigolds along with the other annuals. The natural rock formations and garden ornaments lend interest and beauty. Sat, 8/8: 10am-4pm. (28 Ashland Ave., Pleasantville: www.gardenconservancy.org)

Shakespeare al fresco

Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival: With its breathtaking views of the Hudson River, Boscobel provides the perfect setting for the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival’s summer season. For more than 25 years, the Festival has been the only resident Shakespeare Company in the Hudson Valley. This year they will present Shakespeare’s The Winter Tale, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and a family friendly version of The Tempest. Plus, The Arabian Nights adapted from The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, and their first solo show, An Iliad, starring Kurt Rodes.  Tues 6/9-Tues, 9/1. (Boscobel, 1601 Rt. 9D, Garrison; www.boscobel.org)

Shakespeare on the Sound –All’s Well That Ends Well: Mary B. Robinson, author of “Directing Plays, Directing People: A Collaborative Art” that was hailed by Edward Albee, sets Shakespeare’s gender bending comedy in the early 1900s for this production. The play will be produced in the “round” as the “groundlings did at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater 400 years ago. You can stake out your picnic space for this presentation as early as 4pm. Tues-Sun, 6/11-28: 7:30pm. (Pinckney Park, 33 Highland Ave, Norwalk; http://www.shakespeareonthesound.org)

Shakespeare on the Green – The Merry Wives of Windsor: Stamford’s professional theatre company, Curtain Call’s annual free Shakespeare productions are performed on a scaled-down version of the Globe Theatre stage nestled among the pine trees of the Sterling Farms Complex in Stamford. The park opens 90 minutes before the performace for picnicking. This year’s production is The Merry Wives of Windsor. Seven performances, Thurs-Sun, 7/9-12, Thurs-Sat, 7/16-18: 7:30pm. (Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Ave., Stamford; www.curtaincallinc.com)

Shakespeare In the Garden – Hammond Museum & Stroll Garden: Details to be announced. Sat, 7/25. (Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden, 28 Deveau Rd., N. Salem: www.hammondmuseum.org)

Where To Shop 

Local! Armonk’s First Thursdays: The Armonk Chamber of Commerce presents art, music, in-store promotions, dining, wine tastings and more in downtown Armonk the first Thursday in June, July, August and September. You’ll find music in Armonk Square and Opus 465, special offers at Amore, Mariachi Mexico, Zero Otto Nove and other restaurants. Plus special activities, events and raffles at LOL Kids, LaGravinese Jewelers, Castle Cab, Framings, DeCiccos and more. Check online for a full list of promotions.  Thurs, 6/4, 7/2, 8/6 & 9/3: 5-9pm. www.armonkchamberofcommerce.com

Local! Bedford Village Sidewalk Sale: Stroll through one of the most beautiful downtowns in America, past the historic sites and shop till you drop. Local merchants offer discounts, samples and genteel conversation. Hosted by the Bedford Village Business Association. Fri-Sat, 6/12-13: during store hours. (Bedford Village, Main St., Bedford Village; www.bvba.org)

Local! Chappaqua Sidewalk Sale: This three day town-wide sales event, produced by The Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce, offers steep discounts, samples and bargains to die for up and down Greeley Avenue and beyond on Thurs-Sat, 7/23-25. Participating retailers will offer sales inside their stores and on the street. (Greeley Ave., Chappaqua; www.chappquamillwoodchamber)

Local! Katonah Sidewalk Sale: Special bargains and sidewalk sale prices on merchandise from the chain store free network of independent stores in this charming walking town with lots of Victorian gingerbread on Katonah Avenue and the surrounding residential area. Grab a bite at Blue Dolphin, NoKa Joe’s, Peppino’s, Willie Nicks or Pizza Station. Parking in the commuter lots is free after 12 on Friday and all day Saturday.  Fri-Sat, 7/24-5: 10am-5pm. (Katonah Ave., Katonah; www.katonahchamber.org)

More stuff to do

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