Thursday, March 27
Side by Side by Sondheim
American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim is quoted as saying, “Music straitjackets a poem and prevents it from breathing on its own, whereas it liberates a lyric. Poetry doesn’t need music; lyrics do.” Sondheim turned 84 on March 22, and one way to hear the music and lyrics of this Broadway legend is to bring youth ages 10 and up to a performance of Side by Side by Sondheim at the Half Moon Theatre. This musical features songs from Company, West Side Story, Gypsy, Follies, Mad Show, A Little Night Music and more, presented by a professional, non-profit union theater company without having to go to New York City.
Tickets range from $25 to $30 for performances on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through April 5. Half Moon Theatre is located at 2515 South Road in Poughkeepsie, in the Oakwood Commons Building North, ground floor, behind the Red Robin Restaurant. For tickets or more information, call (845) 235-9885 or visit https://halfmoontheatre.org.
Friday, March 28
Parents’ Night Out
Check out Creative Co-Op’s new Parents’ Night Out series, taking place on Friday, March 28 and continuing in April on the first and third Fridays. On Friday, March 28, hours are from 6 to 10 p.m., for ages four and up, for $10. You supply your child with a snack, book and a blanket or sleeping bag, and Creative Co-Op does the rest.
Creative Co-Op is located next to the Rosendale Theatre at 408 Main Street, and behind the Big Cheese. For reservations or more information, call (845) 527-5672 or visit www.facebook.com/creativebcrosendale.
What to Expect
Maybe you’ve had the birds-and-the-bees conversation with your older teen, but could use an inroad to go even deeper. Maybe you missed this show when it performed in different venues last year. Maybe you’re looking for a bold night out with friends. Whatever your reason, here’s the event for you: On Friday and Saturday, March 28 and 29 at 8 p.m., the TMI Project presents What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting: True Stories of Slips, Surprises and Happy Accidents, a sequence of personal stories about reproduction and identity, shared by the women and men who lived them. Proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley and the TMI Community Outreach Initiative. If you like to save money, order your tickets online for $20 instead of taking a chance at the door for $25.
What to Expect takes place at the Morton Memorial Library, located at 82 Kelly Street in Rhinecliff. For tickets or more information, call (845) 658-8410 or visit www.notexpecting.org.
Children’s Community Theatre
I’ve been hearing some buzz about this event, so I wanted to pass the information along. This weekend, the Children’s Community Theatre of Dutchess County, Inc. presents The Emperor and the Nightingale, based on the book by Hans Christian Andersen. Performances take place at Spackenkill High School on Friday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, March 29th and 30th at 1 and 4 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults, and $8 for seniors and students. Spackenkill High School is located at 112 Spackenkill Road in Poughkeepsie. For tickets or more information, visit www.cctdc.info.
Saturday, March 29
FDR WPA poster silkscreening workshop
I feel so fortunate to have a presidential library located right here in the Hudson Valley. This weekend sounds like a great opportunity to round up the family to make a visit. On Saturday, March 29 at 11 a.m., the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum presents a Free Family Activity Day at the Henry A. Wallace Center, featuring a 90-minute Silkscreen Poster Workshop with Social Impact Studios founder and director Ennis Carter. Participants can print their own poster at this event, open to all ages, and children must be accompanied by an adult. At 2 p.m., Carter presents a book discussion and signing of her book, Posters for the People: Art of the WPA.
Both programs are free, but space is limited and preregistration is required. The FDR Library is located at 4079 Albany Post Road in Hyde Park. For reservations or more information, call (845) 486-7745 or visit www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu.
Sunday, March 30
Youth basketball at Marist
Softball and baseball season are rapidly approaching, so for a chance to squeeze in a little more basketball fundamentals, register your players from ages seven to 17 for Marist’s youth basketball clinic. The clinic takes place at the McCann Center on Sunday, March 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for boys, and from 2 to 5 p.m. for girls. The cost is $10 per child and benefits the Marist College Scholarship for Students with Disabilities. Preregistration is recommended. Bring recent college textbooks and DVDs up to five years old and receive up to five free tickets for the raffle held before each session. Snacks, water and Kids’ Day Out tee-shirts will be available for purchase.
Marist College is located at 3399 North Road in Poughkeepsie. To register or for more information, call (845) 575-3274 or e-mail specserv@marist.edu.
Wednesday, April 2
Sky Lake Lodge families
Been meaning to get to Sky Lake Lodge for meditation but wish you could include your child in the experience? Seeking community for your family’s spiritual side? Come on out to Sky Lake Lodge with your children ages five and under this Wednesday, April 2 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for conversation, play and to walk the meditation trail. Reservations are suggested by calling (845) 532-5797.
And save the date for Wednesday, April 23 from 6 to 7 p.m. for Parents’ and Children’s Meditation. Meditation instruction will be provided to parents and children who are old enough or motivated enough to participate. After a 15-minute children’s meditation, the children will join the younger kids in activities in another room, while parents finish 45 minutes of sitting and walking meditation.
Sky Lake Lodge is located at 22 Hillcrest Lane in Rosendale. For more information about the evening program, call (845) 255-9188. To learn more about Sky Lake Lodge, visit https://skylake.shambhala.org.
Erica Chase-Salerno is excited to introduce a new element to Kids’ Almanac starting April 3! Stay tuned! She and her husband Mike live in New Paltz with their two children: the inspirations behind www.hudsonvalleyparents.com. Erica can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
