“The month of carnival of all the year/When Nature lets the wild earth go its way/And spend whole seasons on a single day.”
– Helen Fiske Hunt Jackson (1830–1885), “October”
Youth features at Woodstock Film Festival
Round up your crew this weekend and give them a chance to see what their peers have crafted for the 2016 Woodstock Film Festival! I caught up with Benny Rendell, age 13, whose work is included in this year’s “Youth Films – Shorts” program: “I was so excited and honored to get my two short films accepted for the 2016 Woodstock Film Festival. One is a short narrative film, Cracked, about a teen boy whose conspiracy theories may not be as far-fetched as they first seem. The second is a music video for the song ‘Listen,’ which is about teen bullying and its aftermath and which was written and performed by Archie Lewis-Harris and Maia Weiss [both 13 and from Woodstock]. It’s great that a high-profile festival like this one offers a teen program, and I’m excited to meet the other teen filmmakers. I also want to go to as many films and panels as I can during the festival and learn as much as I can from the professionals! The festival is also running a Career Day for teens at Onteora School, which I have been invited to attend. It seems like Woodstock Film Festival really encourages young filmmakers!”
The youth film screenings take place on Friday, October 14 at 7 p.m. at the Bearsville Theater, admission costs $10 per person. Here’s the complete lineup:
Benny Rendell, Cracked and Listen, www.mirroruptonaturefilms.com.
Nihal Dantluri, age 18, Day by Day: A football prospect now faces Division 1 college rejection due to his injuries; https://nihaldantluri.weebly.com.
Benjamin Ades, age 17, Domar: To Tame: the passion behind the work of a Uruguayan horse tamer and instructor; https://vimeo.com/benjaminades.
Maia Liebeskind, He, She: an exploration of the role that gender plays in human destinies; www.youtube.com/channel/UChWCya4WgXiQtoDFkYvtY-w.
Harrison O’Clair, age 18, The Last Night of the World: a retelling of the Ray Bradbury short story done in Quentin Tarantino style; www.youtube.com/user/HarrisonQuinnO.
Maya Suchak, age 16, Marquis: the story of a teen sentenced to nine years for stealing a pair of shoes, told from his mother’s perspective; www.youthfx.org/blog/2016/4/16/youth-fx-filmmaker-maya-suchak-interviewed-at-2016-big-sky-documentary-ff.
Azure Allen, age 16, One Day on Carver Street: A successful South Carolina music club is thrown into violence intended to thwart its history of racial unity; https://vimeo.com/azureallen.
Tatum Lenberg, age 16, Spiral: explores themes of alcoholism, child abuse and violence; www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/festival2016/details.php?id=35357.
The Bearsville Theater is located at 291 Tinker Street in Woodstock. For tickets, more information and a complete schedule of screenings and descriptions, visit www.woodstockfilmfestival.com.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14
Meet LEGO Pop-Up creator in Rhinebeck
Finally, a version of LEGOs that delights the senses but won’t hurt your feet by mistakenly walking on one! Matthew Reinhart has made your kids’ dreams come true with his new book, LEGO Pop-Up, which you can check out at his appearance this Friday, October 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Oblong Books. Matthew offers a pop-up demo, an interactive discussion with the audience and book-signing; and if you’re familiar with his other pop-up books like Frozen, Disney Princesses, Dragons & Monsters and more, you know you don’t want to miss this one. Oblong Books is located at 6422 Montgomery Street in Rhinebeck. For reservations or more information, call (845) 876-0500 or visit www.oblongbooks.com/event/matthew-reinhart-lego-pop. To learn more about the author, visit www.matthewreinhart.com.
Coming-Out Day Teen Dance in Kingston
October 11, 2016 is the 28th anniversary of National Coming-Out Day, a celebration of those coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or an ally, while promoting safety and advocacy for equality. And what better way to celebrate than to dance? This Friday, October 14 from 7 to 10 p.m. is the National Coming-Out Day Teen Dance at the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center. Open to youth ages 14 to 18 years, the dance offers free admission with student identification, plus light refreshments, and promises to be a terrific evening.
The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center is located at 300 Wall Street in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 331-5300 or visit https://lgbtqcenter.org.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15
Community Printmaking Day at Barrett Art Center
Three homecoming cheers for any seasonal art projects that will not make a mess in your home, right? So bring your budding Andy Warhol to Community Printmaking Day this Saturday, October 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Barrett Art Center. Participants will learn leaf-printing and can even try doing it with two or more colors! The cost is a suggested donation of $5 per person. The Barrett Art Center is located at 55 Noxon Street in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 471-2550 or visit www.barrettartcenter.org.
Alice-in-Wonderland Follies at Kaatsbaan
Did you promise yourself to take your kids to see some dance before Nutcracker season sugar-plummed around again? Here you go: The Alice in Wonderland story is already weird and wild, and now it’s in dance form! You and your crew are invited to the New York Theatre Ballet’s Alice-in-Wonderland Follies this Saturday, October 15 at 11 a.m. at the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center. A “ballet vaudeville,” this work combines a variety of styles of dance and music to create a turn-of-the-century romp, from vaudeville to classical to folk tunes, making it a performance for everyone. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for children.
The Kaatsbaan International Dance Center is located at 120 Broadway in Tivoli. For tickets or more information, call (845) 757-5106 or visit www.kaatsbaan.org.
Jonathan Kruk tells The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Um, historical storytelling by Jonathan Kruk? For free? And right here? Yes! If you’ve heard him before, you already know what I’m talking about. If not, just go! The Kingston Library presents The Legend of Sleepy Hollow this Saturday, October 15 at 10:30 a.m. Geared for ages 7 and up, this show is free and open to the public, who will be enthralled with Kruk’s voicings of the Headless Horseman, Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones and Katrina Van Tassel.
The Kingston Library is located at 55 Franklin Street in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 331-0507, extension 7, or visit www.kingstonlibrary.org/kids/supersat.php. To learn more about this epic storyteller, visit www.jonathankruk.com.
Ukrainian Children’s Day
Psssst: I heard that there will be kolacki pastry at Ukrainian Children’s Day – and believe me, that is worth going for all on its own! Throw in the best Ukrainian youth folk band ever, Korinya, and crafting like pysanky egg decorating and vyshyvky embroidery (plus learn how to say them!), and you’ve got the perfect afternoon for you and your family, no passports required. Ukrainian Children’s Day is presented by Arts Mid-Hudson at the Ellenville Public Library & Museum this Saturday, October 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. This program is free and open to the public of all ages, and I strongly suggest you ask that Korinya perform “Tsyhany” or “Ivanku, Ivanku” while you’re there.
The Ellenville Public Library & Museum is located at 40 Center Street in Ellenville. For more information or to make your reservation to attend, call (845) 647-5530 or visit https://allevents.in/ellenville/ukrainian-childrens-day/1110631628992633. To learn more about the musicians, visit https://korinyaband.bandcamp.com.
Mental Health Association Pumpkin Walk
Young Frankenstein’s “Walk this way” line takes on special charm at the tenth annual Columbia-Greene Mental Health Association Pumpkin Walk! The walk takes place this Saturday, October 15 at Columbia-Greene Community College from 4 to 8 p.m. Families will enjoy walking the path of illuminated pumpkins carved by local children and artists, as well as the entertainment and refreshments. Admission costs $5 per person in advance, $6 on the day of the event.
Columbia-Greene Community College is located at 4400 State Route 23 in Hudson. For tickets or more information, call (518) 828-4619 or visit www.mhacg.org or
www.facebook.com/columbia-greene-mental-health-association-pumpkin-walk-217706954960649.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16
Teddy Bear Open House at the Den of Marbletown
Whether your kids are into Freddy Fazbear, Fozzie Bear or the Care Bears, everyone has a soft spot for teddy bears. And while I submit that any time is a good time to visit the Den of Marbletown and all of its Steiff teddy-bear adorableness, this weekend’s festivities mean even more reasons to come by! On Sunday, October 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., come celebrate the Den of Marbletown’s Second Birthday and Teddy Bear Open House. The day includes free raffles of Steiff gifts, meeting Steiff USA guests, a preview of the upcoming Goodie Shop with samples of the featured treats, new museum displays of Steiff teddy bears and animals, a special Steiff gift-shop sale – plus the Mama Bear Lounge, the Kids’ Club Cave, Teddy Bear Picnic and birthday cake, of course! Enjoy an afternoon of good, free fun, and tell Nan that Erica sent you. I heard that there might even be a pony named Sparkles!
The Den of Marbletown is located at 1 Basten Lane in Kingston, right along Route 209. For more information, call (845) 687-6441 or visit www.facebook.com/teddybearmuseum or https://thedenofmarbletown.com.
Beacon Sloop Club’s Pumpkin Festival
You have celebrated 2016 strawberries along the shores of the Hudson River, then corn, and now it’s time for pumpkins! Round up your crew for the Beacon Sloop Club’s Pumpkin Festival this Sunday, October 16 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park. You know the drill: pumpkin-carving, live entertainment on two solar-powered stages, children’s activities, free admission, great music, delicious stone soup, chili and the pièce de résistance: homemade pumpkin pies with fresh whipped cream. And remember, they can always use more volunteers. Proceeds support this glorious estuary of ours.
The Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park is located at 1 Flynn Drive in Beacon. For more information or to volunteer, call (845) 463-4660 or visit www.beaconsloopclub.org.
Gender and Sexuality 101 for Parents in Rhinebeck
Confused about your child or grandchild’s gender preference? Wondering how to be supportive, but terrified of saying the wrong thing? Need help sorting out your own stuff about it? Come to “What’s Going on with Our Kid? Gender and Sexuality 101 for Parents and Grandparents” this Sunday, October 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Starr Library’s Mary Frazer Room. This informational program is led by Elijah Nella, a therapist who works with gender identity, and the afternoon includes a lot of time for questions and answers. This gathering is free and open to adults.
The Starr Library is located at 68 West Market Street in Rhinebeck. For more information or to register, call (845) 876-4030 or visit https://starrlibrary.org.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18
Mindfulness, Simplicity Parenting & Art Therapy in New Paltz
Short on time but still wish you could explore more mindfulness in your life and in your parenting? Take a look at this cool new offering from Wellness Embodied: A Center for Psychotherapy and Healing: “Weaving Mindfulness, Simplicity Parenting & Art Therapy Activities to Strengthen the Family Nest” on Tuesdays, October 18, November 1 and 15 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Through supportive dialogue and practical strategies, this series offers support and empowerment to parents interested in reclaiming their core values and joys of family life. The cost is $150 and includes supplies. Financial aid is available.
Wellness Embodied is located at 126 Main Street in New Paltz. For more information, a complete course description or to register, call (845) 532-6064 or visit https://wellnessembodiedcenter.com/mindful-creative-parenting.html.
Erica Chase-Salerno is bald again in 3…2…1… She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
