Here’s why I think Two Row matters to families today. Not only is Two Row an example of living history, but it also requires us to ask ourselves tough questions about where we’re going: as a person, as a family, as a people. What remains to be done after these last 400 years? Are we living authentically? In truth with ourselves and our community? Oren Lyons, council chief of the Turtle Clan among the Onondaga people of western New York, quotes the philosophy of life given to his people by a spiritual being they call the peacemaker: “Counselors, leaders,” he said, “now that we have raised you here, now that you are who you are,” he said, “when you counsel for the welfare of the people, then think not of yourself, nor of your family, nor even your generation.”
This Two Row series of events honors more than seven generations before us, probably closer to twice that. It’s a chance to recommit ourselves to living in alignment with a larger whole. For more information about the events, activities, and history of the Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign, visit https://honorthetworow.org or www.facebook.com/HonorTheTwoRow.
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This Saturday, August 3 at 11 a.m., Maverick Concerts presents its final Young People’s Concert of the season with Marc Black, whose music is classified as folk, folk-rock and Americana. Give him a listen. Black’s themes are relevant, his music feels alive and accessible to my ears, and I always want another one after each song ends. Maverick’s Young People’s Concerts are free for children and youth under 16 years and $5 for adults. Tickets are available at the door. Try to arrive a little early so the kids can sit up front on the floor in front of the stage. Black returns to the Maverick as part of its regular concert series for Jazz at the Maverick, with Warren Bernhardt, on Saturday, August 31 at 8:30 p.m. Maverick Concerts is located at 120 Maverick Road in Woodstock. For more information, call 679-8217. Or visit https://maverickconcerts.org.
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Mark your calendars for two musical events in Millbrook. This Thursday, August 1 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. the Singing Songbirds perform their end of season concert, bringing together “seniors, people with disabilities, and anyone who loves to sing into a glorious, musical whole.” Next Monday, August 5 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Institute for Music and Health announces its Second Singalong Jamboree program, given for and by people with disabilities: “A cross between a concert and a good old-fashioned singalong, the event is ideal for people with disabilities and their friends, families and caregivers – or just anyone who loves old-time singing.” Both events are free and open to the public and take place at The Fountains at Millbrook main auditorium, located at 79 Flint Road in Millbrook. For more information or Singalong song lyrics, call 677-5871 or visit https://musichealth.net.
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This summer marks the fourth year of the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, which “promotes the human voice as an instrument of healing, peace and artistic expression through presenting world class performances in Phoenicia and surrounding areas. From opera to gospel, world music to Broadway, the festival celebrates the human voice in all its multi-faceted glory.”
Here are some of the all-ages and more youth-oriented events and activities during this magnificent festival. On Friday, August 2 at 11:30 a.m., Story Laurie is joined by upright bass and tuba player David Winograd for “Summertime,” a performance of tales and tunes for all ages. On Saturday, August 3 at 11:30 a.m., Story Laurie presents “Grandma’s Story Room,” featuring tales from Grandma Avis “who took the fledgling Story Laurie under her wing 20 years ago. Laurie is honored to now be the keeper of Grandma Avis’ vast collection of tales, from which she will draw her repertoire for this performance.” Both events take place at the train museum at 70 Lower High Street in Phoenicia. Tickets are $5 for each performance.
On Friday, August 2 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., bring your older crew to join Cat Guthrie for a Community Sing. Singers and non-singers alike are invited to harmonize at Wesleyan Church located at 24 Main Street in Phoenicia. For tickets or more information about the Phoenicia Festival of the Voice, call 688-1344 or visit www.phoeniciavoicefest.org.
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I love a good festival, but one thing that endears me even more to this year’s 5th annual La Guelaguetza Festival is the way it began and evolved into the colorful fiesta it has become. Ten years ago, some local women in Poughkeepsie wanted to present a Mexican folk dance and invited others to join them. The problem? The youth were not familiar with the dances, so the parents had to do it, to show them.
Slowly, the movement grew into this colorful, popular event: “Around 50 dancers from four different groups of the tri-state area, wearing more than 100 colorful costumes present 14 traditional dances, including the favorites such as the Danza de la pluma (Feather Dance) or Flor de piña (Pineapple Flower), on a stage in front of the Hudson River, organized in a span of five hours so that audience members can enjoy them. This is the fifth annual Poughkeepsie Guelaguetza, promising tradition, culture and flavor so we can all be Oaxacans for a day.”
La Guelaguetza takes place this Sunday, August 4 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Waryas Park at the base of Main Street in Poughkeepsie. For information, visit www.facebook.com/pokguelaguetza or call 380-7358.
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For families looking for animal-based festivals or just an excuse to check out the trailside museums and zoo at Bear Mountain State Park, head over this Saturday, August 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Bird Festival. This celebration of New York State birds includes live exhibits as well as bird-themed nature activities and games. As regular readers know, I always seem to miss eagle sightings during hikes or visiting the nest in Bowdoin Park, so Bear Mountain’s eagle exhibit is the closest I get. I also appreciate the size and stroller-friendly pathways through the zoo, and I recommend the scenic lookout during your visit, near the zoo entrance.
The suggested zoo donation is $1 per person, and if you don’t have a current Empire Parking Passport on your car, parking is $8 per vehicle. Parking for Bear Mountain State Park is located at Seven Lakes Drive in Bear Mountain. For more information, call 786-2701 or visit the website.
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It’s Spiegeltent time at Bard College, and this year’s attraction for kidlets is the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus series of performances which opens this weekend. Bindlestiff Family Cirkus performs on Friday and Saturday August 3 and 4; Piccolini Trio’s Circus in a Trunk performs on August 10 and 11; and Concrete Temple Theatre’s Geppetto performs on August 17 and 18. Recommended for ages twelve and older. All Kinder Spiegel performances take place at 11 a.m. Tickets are $10 for children 3 and up; $15 two-for-one adult tickets. Bard College is located at 60 Manor Avenue in Annandale-on-Hudson. For tickets or more information, visit the Fisher Center website.
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If your young people love larger than life drama and action, you may already be fans of Arm of the Sea Theater. Here’s a neat opportunity to get a hands-on, behind the scenes experience at some of the preparation behind the characters! On Monday, August 5, children and youth ages nine and up and adults are invited to do free mask and puppet-building for the upcoming Arm of the Sea show. The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to noon at Fiberflame Studio, and activities include paper mache, painting, and puppet construction. This session is free, but registration is required. Fiberflame Studio is located at 1776 Route 212 in Saugerties. For more information or to register, email art@armofthesea.org or call 380-6559.
Erica Chase-Salerno celebrates another year of rich, raw, bewildering and powerful mothering this week. She lives in New Paltz with her husband Mike and their two children: the inspirations behind HudsonValleyParents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
