“You give me premature ventricular contractions. That’s Nerd for
‘You make my heart skip a beat.’”
– Emma, No Strings Attached
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Kingston High School hosts TMI Project’s Locker Room Talk
I believe that each of us can make a difference. If I desire change, I feel that it’s on me to learn more by asking better questions and then truly hearing the responses: authentic listening. The TMI Project is doing exactly that with its Locker Room Talk performance, taking place this Friday, February 9 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Kingston High School auditorium. After a keynote speech by Tony Porter of the organization A Call to Men, Kingston High School football players will share true stories. This project is in the process of becoming a documentary, and this is a chance to experience these powerful stories live.
This performance is free and open to the public, but reservations are strongly recommended. Kingston High School is located at 403 Broadway in Kingston. For more information or to reserve your tickets, e-mail info@tmiproject.org or visit www.tmiproject.org.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Celebrate 50th anniversary of The Snowy Day in Poughkeepsie
Happy 50th birthday to the classic children’s book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats! Why does this book matter? Because Peter’s dark skin color was an uneventful, unmentioned element in the story, and it caused a seismic reaction. Our society’s backgrounds and skin tones vary, but our storybooks do not reflect that well – not yet, anyway. One teacher wrote to author Keats, sharing, “The kids in my class, for the first time, are using brown crayons to draw themselves. These are African-American children. Before this, they drew themselves with pink crayons. But now, they can see themselves.”
Give your family a new chance to see themselves and attend a reading of The Snowy Day and other books that reflect more of our community’s diversity this Saturday, February 10 from 10 a.m. to noon at SUNY-Dutchess in the Library Quiet Study Area. This gathering is part of the college’s Black History Month events, and is free and open to the public.
SUNY-Dutchess is located at 53 Pendell Road in Poughkeepsie. For more information and for a complete schedule of SUNY-Dutchess Black History Month events, call (845) 431-8424, e-mail jordan.bell@sunydutchess.edu or visit http://bit.ly/2DGoCX9. Afterwards, how about doing some sledding together? See more in my Clermont Sledding Party bit!
Bubble Trouble at Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
You may be familiar with bubble gum, bubble baths, Power Puff Girl Bubbles or Michael Jackson’s Bubbles the Chimp, but now it’s time to check out Bubble Trouble! Jeff Boyer buoys your mood with spherical surprises that you’ve never seen before. This interactive slippery and soapy show is suitable for all ages, and takes place this Saturday, February 10 at 11 a.m. at the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. Tickets cost $7.
The Center for Performing Arts is located at 661 Route 308 in Rhinebeck. For tickets or more information, call (845) 876-3080 or visit http://bit.ly/2GVF1Je.
Sledding Party at Clermont
A perfect follow-up to The Snowy Day storytime event at SUNY-Dutchess or an adventure all on its own, there’s nothing like winter fun at the Clermont State Historic Site. This Saturday, February 10 from noon to 3 p.m., join the Sledding Party festivities, including a snowperson contest, a bonfire, special treats for sale like hot cocoa and, of course, sledding! This event is free and open to the public.
The Clermont State Historic Site is located at 1 Clermont Avenue in Germantown. For reservations or more information, call (518) 537-4240 or visit http://on.ny.gov/2E5IymI or www.friendsofclermont.org/events.
DanceFest at Rondout Valley High School
In the mood for a dance concert, but don’t know which style to choose from? Ballet, modern, folk? The Vanaver Caravan’s DanceFest has got you covered! DanceFest includes these genres and more, with performances by talented youth from a variety of dance schools in our region. Chances are that your family will recognize familiar faces from school, the neighborhood and the community. What fun!
Performances take place this Saturday, February 10 at 3 and 7 p.m. at Rondout Valley High School, located at 122 Kyserike Road in Accord. Tickets are available at the door and cost $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and children aged 12 and under. For more information, including a list of participating dance schools, call (845) 256-9300 or visit https://vanavercaravan.org/dancefest.
Cappella Festiva, Cor Capriccio & Stringendo at Vassar’s Modfest
Do your youth feel seen? Or heard? Give your children the gift of seeing and hearing peers perform in the Cappella Festiva Treble Choir, Cor Capriccio and Stringendo at Modfest at Vassar College. Perhaps they’ll be inspired to join! The concert takes place this Saturday, February 10 at 3 p.m. at the Skinner Hall of Music, and is free and open to the public.
Vassar College is located at 124 Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 853-7765 or visit www.cappellafestiva.org.
Sailors’ Valentines workshop at Maritime Museum in Kingston
Got a Moana, Little Mermaid or Aquaman wannabe in your crew? How about enhancing their Valentine’s Day festivities with personalized sentiments through Sailors’ Valentines? Constructed with shells, wood and glass, these greetings became popularized in the 1800s as gifts to loved ones from seafarers returning from their long voyages. Your shipmates ages 5 to 12 years can learn all about Sailors’ Valentines this Saturday, February 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hudson River Maritime Museum. The cost is $5 for each child; parents and museum members get in free, but all must register.
The Hudson River Maritime Museum is located at 50 Rondout Landing in Kingston. For more information or to register, call (845) 338-0071 or visit http://bit.ly/2E4DAdX.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11
“Fibonacci & Nature” workshops at Unison in New Paltz
According to science and philosophy writer Guy Murchie, “The Fibonacci Sequence turns out to be the key to understanding how nature designs…and is…a part of the same ubiquitous music of the spheres that builds harmony into atoms, molecules, crystals, shells, suns and galaxies and makes the Universe sing.” For your 6-to-14-year-olds who want to quest for examples in the natural world, sign them up for Unison’s Art, Math & Nature Series: “Fibonacci and Nature” workshops taking place this Sunday, February 11 from noon to 2 p.m.
The session for 6-to-10-year-olds is hands-on, employing manipulatives, found objects in nature and a related craft. The 10-to-14-year-olds will work with similar elements, but will also delve more deeply into the formulas and the Golden Ratio. The cost is $20. And keep your calendar open for the following Saturday, February 18, for “Medicine Wheel by Numbers,” the final event in this series.
The Unison Arts Center and Sculpture Garden is located at 68 Mountain Rest Road in New Paltz. For more information or to register, call (845) 255-1559 or visit http://bit.ly/2BfgBKz.
Fishkill Model Train & Railroad Hobby Show
Our area boasts tons of train fans, from tots to teens to retirees, so get out of that kitchen, blow your horn and transport your family to the Fishkill Model Train and Railroad Hobby Show this Sunday, February 11! The show takes place at the Fishkill Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes model train displays, memorabilia, literature and hobby items to browse through or buy. Children will especially appreciate the LEGO city exhibits, the Thomas the Tank Engine display and the Kids’ Corner with activities just for them. Admission costs $7 for adults and $2 for kids under 12.
The Fishkill Recreation Center is located at 793 Route 52 in Fishkill. For more information about the Hudson Valley’s largest show of its kind, or to inquire about vendor tables, call (845) 616-0931 or visit http://bit.ly/2GVFY4f.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14
Valentine’s No-Sew Pillows workshop at Children’s Museum
With Valentine’s Day immersing us in hearts and cupids, how about letting your littles gift their beloveds with something more permanent than flowers and candy and cozier than cards? Preschool-aged children and their caregivers are invited to the Valentine’s No-Sew Pillows workshop taking place this Wednesday, February 14 at 2:30 p.m. at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum. Each child co-creates with the parent a heart-shaped pillow with real fabric and stuffing and gets to take it home. All materials are provided. The activity fee is $5 plus museum admission, which costs $9 for everyone 1 year of age and up.
The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum is located at 75 North Water Street in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 471-0589 or visit http://mhcm.org/event/making-masterpieces-valentines-no-sew-pillows.