Sarah Trapani in Highland: “On one side of my family there are 20 grandchildren! Most of us are grown now and have our own families, but we still miss getting together for the holidays like we did as children, so six years ago we started ‘Cousins’ Thanksgiving.’ We get together a couple of weeks before the real holiday, and it has become a family favorite tradition.”
Eileen Gumbel in Saugerties: “It was always a rule growing up that there was no Christmas music until we saw Santa on TV at the end of the parade. So every year I have Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ set and ready to go and hit ‘Play’ as soon as we see him.”
LeeAnne Kouhout in Cottekill: “One of our family traditions is preparing for a big day of shopping on Friday!”
Danielle Sidarous in Saugerties: “We start our day with ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ by Arlo Guthrie, just like my father always did when I was a kid. We also do a Thankful Tree or turkey each year. I love Thanksgiving!”
Kerry Pilott: “I am looking to start a new tradition with my kids this year. I will be taking my sons down to New York City the night before Thanksgiving to see the inflation of the parade balloons. They do it in Columbus Circle from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., and you can just come and go as you please and see them inflate. I hope the boys love it.”
Performances
Charlotte’s Web onstage at Newburgh Free Academy
This weekend, the Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) presents Charlotte’s Web. Director Terry Sandler says, “I chose this play for two reasons: the first being that it’s a great play to bring the community out; and second, it fits directly in with the curriculum and will bring back the joy of learning, experiencing and living through the theatre arts – something that the Common Core has sadly taken away from us. So we’re thrilled to be sharing the story by bringing it to life. For some children, this will be their first theatre experience, and we’re honored to play that role.”
Charlotte’s Web takes place on Thursday and Friday, November 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, November 23 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets cost $8 for general admission, students and kids get in for $5 and children under 5 for free. Tickets will be sold at the door of the NFA Black Box Theatre, located at 201 Fullerton Avenue in Newburgh. For more information, visit www.newburghschools.org.
Hypnotist Lucas Handwerker at the Kleinert in Woodstock
Lucas Handwerker wowed us last year in his film The Mentalist at the Woodstock Film Festival (see Kids’ Almanac, www.ulsterpub.wpengine.com/2012/10/11/kids-almanac-october-11-18). Handwerker debuts a new, much darker performance this Saturday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts. Handwerker explains, “The new show is much darker than previous and touches on the nature of belief, life after death and tribal spiritualism.”
I asked what other new projects he is involved with: “As far as what I am working on now, I am starting to give hypnosis sessions one-on-one. And I’m beginning to give hypnosis presentations, essentially demonstrating the more therapeutic uses of hypnosis.”
There is a dress code for this weekend’s performance: formal or semi-formal attire is encouraged; no jeans or tee-shirts, sneakers or baseball hats. Tickets are available at the door for $20, cash or check.
The Kleinert/James Center for the Arts is located at 36 Tinker Street in Woodstock. For more information, call (845) 679-2079 or visit ulsterpub.staging.wpengineguild.org. To learn more about the performer, visit www.lucashandwerker.com.
Magic of the holidays with Jim Vagias at Unison in New Paltz
With so many holidays taking place this time of year, how about getting the opportunity to learn about and celebrate them in just one afternoon? On Saturday, November 23 at 2 p.m. at the Unison Arts Center, magician Jim Vagias leads children on a train ride around the world to experience the holidays of Kwanzaa, Diwali, the Solstice, Ramadan, Hanukkah and Christmas. People of all ages seem to love his humor and audience participation during the show. Tickets at the door cost $14 for adults, $7 for youth and $10 for Unison members (advance tickets are discounted by $2 each).
Unison is located at 68 Mountain Rest Road in New Paltz. For tickets or more information, call (845) 255-1559 or visit https://unisonarts.org. To learn more about the performer, visit www.educationalproductions.com.
Join the family! 
