Other Mom: “I remember you!
You’re the mom on the field trip where you flapped your arms, jumped up and down and ran across the field, pretending to be a bird!”
– overheard in New Paltz
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3
Tour or sail on the Kalmar Nyckel
I’m brushing up on Swedish maritime history, so here are some fun “facts” about the tall ship of Delaware, the Kalmar Nyckel. She hails from Ikea country, so the name loosely means “Meatballs from Kalmar,” Kalmar being a municipality in Sweden whose logo is an Allen wrench. She’s also as versatile as my Ikea foldout couch: The Kalmar Nyckel brought settlers from Sweden to establish New Sweden in the 1600s (now Delaware-ish), and trade routes and military action are also part of her lifespan.
Come experience this piece of living history! A replica of the Kalmar Nyckel is visiting Kingston from Friday, August 3 through Sunday, August 12 at the Hudson River Maritime Museum. Deck tours take place on Saturday, August 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, August 5 from 2 to 6 p.m. Deck tour tickets, costing $10 for adults and $5 for ages 17 and under, are purchased on-site on the day of the tour. Hudson River day sails cost $60 for adults and $40 for ages 17 and under, and Pirate Sails cost $55 for adults and $35 for ages 17 and under; all sail tickets are purchasable in advance.
The Hudson River Maritime Museum is located at 50 Rondout Landing in Kingston. For sail tickets or more information, call (845) 338-0071 or visit www.hrmm.org/kalmar-nyckel.html. To learn more about the ship, visit www.kalmarnyckel.org.
Cardboard Explosion puppet show at PS21
What is a cardboard explosion, you ask? No, it’s not when your recycling got missed last week. It’s family entertainment! This Friday, August 3 at 1 p.m. at PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century, you and your car o’ kids can attend Just for Fun: Cardboard Explosion with puppeteer Brad Shur. Humor, art, story and audience participation make for a dynamic family show for all ages. And it’s free! Preregistration is requested.
PS21 is an open-air space located at 2980 Route 66 in Chatham. To register or for more information, call (518) 392-6121 or visit http://ps21chatham.org/event/just-for-fun-cardboard-explosion-with-puppeteer-brad-shur. To learn more about the performer, visit www.paperheartpuppets.com.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4
Arm-of-the-Sea Theater at Vassar
Pssst: Got any dirt? I do! Check this out… On Saturday, August 4 at 7 p.m., Arm-of-the-Sea Theater performs Dirt: The Secret Life of Soil at the Vassar College Barns. This troupe’s puppets range in size from handheld to 12-foot super-size, and skillfully blend entertainment with education about our environment. Come early at 6 p.m. for a tour of the Poughkeepsie Farm Project. This event is free and open to the public of all ages.
Vassar College is located at 124 Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 437-5370 or visit http://info.vassar.edu/news/announcements/2017-2018/180709-dirt-the-secret-life.html. To learn more about the performers, visit www.armofthesea.org.
Luminarium Dance Company in Concert at Clermont
It’s “Cler” to me that the Clermont State Historic Site and dance are a natural pairing – come see for yourself! On Saturday, August 4 at 3 p.m., catch the Luminarium Dance Company in Concert, family-friendly and featuring newly commissioned work highlighting the history and landscape of Clermont. Tickets cost $10 for adults and are free for children aged 12 and younger. The Clermont State Historic Site is located at 1 Clermont Avenue in Germantown. For tickets or more information, call (518) 537-4240 or visit www.friendsofclermont.org. To learn more about the company, visit www.luminariumdance.org.
March of Champions at Dietz Stadium
Q: What do you do with a drummer who can’t keep time?
A: Make them drum major.
For those of you who play drums or bugle, or simply enjoy listening to this regal style of music, this is your weekend! On Saturday, August 4 from 7 to 11 p.m., the March of Champions takes place at Dietz Stadium. A fundraiser for the Children’s Home of Kingston, this competition brings drum-and-bugle corps from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and all ages of fans to the audience. Tickets cost $20 per person and are available in advance. The March of Champions goes on rain or shine.
Dietz Stadium is located at 170 North Front Street in Kingston. For tickets or more information, call (845) 331-1448, extension 1140, e-mail ehoughtaling@chkingston.org or visit www.chkingston.org/events.
Young People’s Concert at Maverick with Gwen Laster’s Muse 4tet
No racism, no hate, no fear: These principles are the foundation behind the music of New Muse 4tet with violinist Gwen Laster. Bring your kids to hear this dynamic group this Saturday, August 4 from 11 a.m. to noon at the historic Maverick Hall, part of the Young People’s Concert Series at Maverick Concerts. This engaging, interactive concert is appreciated by all ages, but primarily designed for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade; they can even get up-close-and-personal to the musicians by sitting on cushions right near the stage! Admission is free for children, $5 for adults.
Maverick Concerts is located at 120 Maverick Road in Woodstock. For more information, call (845) 679-8217 or visit https://maverickconcerts.org/schedule/gwen-laster-2. To learn more about the performers, visit www.gwenlaster.com.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5
Pirate School at Unison
Yar-har, fiddle-dee-dee
Being a pirate is all right with me
Do what you want ‘cause a pirate is free
You are a pirate!
Robby Rotten’s favorite LazyTown song has made a resurgence since its debut in 2005. Has its catchy melody captured your buccaneer’s ears yet? Git yer swashbucklers to Unison this Sunday, August 5 from 1 to 3 p.m. for more pirate playtime at Pirate School! Created and performed by David Engler, this show is amusing for ages 4 and up. And encourrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrage your mateys to dress for the occasion!
Pirate School costs $20 for adults, $15 for ages 12 and under. Kids under 2 get in free! Unison is located at 68 Mountain Rest Road in New Paltz. For tickets or more information, call (845) 255-1559 or visit www.facebook.com/events/405055523320032. To learn more about the performer, visit www.mypirateschool.com.
La Guelaguetza Festival at Waryas Park
¡La Guelaguetza, ay que bueno! Couldn’t make it to Oaxaca this summer? Let this tenth annual festival come to you! This Sunday, August 5 from 1 to 7 p.m. at Victor C. Waryas Park, enjoy authentic dance (led in by a dancer representing the Corn Goddess), colorful costumes with decorative headpieces, vibrant music, children’s activities and more. When’s the last time you ate tlayudas, téjate or chapulines? Score these favorite treats at La Guelaguetza, too – fun for the whole familia!
Waryas Park is located at the base of Main Street along the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 380-7358 or visit https://artsmidhudson.org/event/tenth-annual-la-guelaguetza-festival or www.facebook.com/events/179759359516553.
MONDAY, AUGUST 6
Hudson Area Library hosts talk on youth incarceration
As a region with a number of youth detention facilities, are you curious about the patterns of our justice system, particularly with regard to young people? I know I sure am. This Monday, August 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., join author Alexandra Cox, PhD at the Hudson Area Library for “An Exploration of Youth Incarceration.” Cox’s discussion is Hudson Valley-relevant and based on material from her new book, Trapped in a Vise: the Consequences of Confinement for Young People. Free and open to the public, this talk sounds eye-opening to me about information that few of us seem to know.
The Hudson Area Library is located at 51 North Fifth Street in Hudson. For more information, call (518) 828-1792, e-mail brenda.shufelt@hudsonarealibrary.org or visit http://hudsonarealibrary.org/2018/07/alexandra-cox-phd. To learn more about the author, visit www.essex.ac.uk/people/coxal19809/alexandra-cox.
Young People at the Helm
Life-changing for youth? Cultivating environmentalism? Personally connecting with the Hudson River? Check, check and check! Young People at the Helm is a three-day youth empowerment program created for area 14-to-16-year-olds, and after the experience, many participants continue to volunteer or work as crew members on the Clearwater. It also needs money to run. Want to help equip our communities with the next generation of environmentalists? Consider supporting Young People at the Helm through the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater at https://bit.ly/2mTaumD or www.clearwater.org/education/youth-empowerment. For more information about the Clearwater organization, call (845) 265-8080 or visit www.clearwater.org.
Erica Chase-Salerno honors her son’s latest spin around the sun this week. I love you! She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
