“To read a poem in January is as lovely as to go for a walk in June.”
– Jean-Paul Sartre
FRIDAY, JANUARY 6
Peanuts at Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
If you didn’t score Hamilton: An American Musical tickets this holiday season, don’t despair; stay local and see another quality, live performance right here in the Hudson Valley, such as You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck! In this musical, you and your family will see familiar characters such as Lucy, Schroeder, Sally, Linus, Snoopy and of course, Charlie Brown, along with some new songs, which means that everyone will have a great time. The show runs from Friday, January 6 through Sunday, January 22 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $26 and are available online or via telephone.
The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck is located at 661 Route 308 in Rhinebeck. For tickets or more information, call (845) 876-3080 or visit https://centerforperformingarts.org/mainstage/item/you-re-a-good-man-charlie-brown?category_id=34.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 7
Kakizome workshop at Arts Mid-Hudson in Poughkeepsie
What are your resolutions for 2017? Did you happen to resolve to learn more about New Year traditions from around the world? Well, whether you set an annual intention or just appreciate the blank canvas of a new calendar, families will have a good time trying out “Kakizome: The First Writing of the Year.” Kakizome means “first writing” and is a Japanese tradition celebrating the creation of the first calligraphy writing of the year, and Arts Mid-Hudson invites you to try it!
On Saturday, January 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Arts Mid-Hudson, families can drop in at any time and discover how to write kanji characters to honor a positive sentiment or a wish that they would like to carry throughout the year, such as good health or patience. Open to all ages, this program is free and open to the public of all ages, and all supplies and instruction are provided.
Arts Mid-Hudson is located at 696 Dutchess Turnpike (Route 44) in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 454-3222 or visit www.artsmidhudson.org/kakizome-2017.
Winter Animal Tracking in Woodstock
Do your kids leave a trail behind them whenever they enter the house, like mine do? This weekend, your family can follow a different type of trail, and no cleanup is necessary! On Saturday, January 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Julie Seyfert-Lillis leads “Winter Animal Tracking: Let’s Piece Together Animal Stories” at the Thorn Preserve. All ages are welcome to find clues left by animals such as bear or mink, including scat, tree markings, dens and more. This program is free and open to the public, and waterproof winter boots are the best footwear.
The Thorn Preserve is located on Joy Road in Woodstock. For more information, call (845) 679-6481 or visit www.woodstocklandconservancy.org/index.php/programs/first-saturdays-on-the-trail.
Winter Open Barn at Stony Kill Farm in Wappingers Falls
You have attended your share of Open Houses, but have you ever been to an Open Barn? Here’s your chance! Head over to the Winter Open Barn at Stony Kill Farm this Saturday, January 7 between 3 and 6 p.m. Your kids can see real farm animals, participate in hands-on outdoor activities, and if you made a New Year’s resolution to help out more in your community, consider filling out a volunteer application while you’re there!
Stony Kill Farm is located at 79 Farmstead Lane in Wappingers Falls. For more information, call (845) 831-3800 or visit https://stonykill.org or www.facebook.com/events/1025409897586695.
Snowpeople drawings at Kingston’s Storefront Gallery
Wish there were a way to experience snow without getting cold or wet in it? Drop in at the “Let It Snow: Opening Reception” this Saturday, January 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Storefront Gallery. A terrific, manageable space for even young art aficionados, give your crew inspiration about drawing their own snowpeople by seeing the whimsical sketches in this show. Artist and curator Jennifer Schimmrich explains, “Think Calvin and Hobbes and Steampunk, and you have a good idea of what you will see in this pencil-work show.”
The Storefront Gallery is located at 93 Broadway in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 338-8473 or visit www.facebook.com/events/1440256876015306 or www.thestorefrontgallery.com.
Join FeederWatch, learn to snowshoe at Sam’s Point
The bird is the word this weekend at the Sam’s Point area of the Minnewaska State Park Preserve! Gather your flock of all ages and levels of birding experience for Project FeederWatch and use binoculars to observe birds and identify them; then feed them by making your own pinecone birdfeeder to take home and keep the fun going for your budding-birder citizen scientists. Project FeederWatch takes place this Saturday, January 7 from 10 to 11 a.m., and again from 1 to 2 p.m.
And if snowshoe lessons are what you want, you can do that here, too! Every Saturday at 11 a.m. from January through March, beginning Saturday, January 7, is a chance to learn to snowshoe at the Sam’s Point area of the Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Instruction is free, and snowshoes are available for a discount rental of $5.
These programs are free with park entry, which costs $10 per vehicle, or free for Empire Passport holders; but registration is required. The Sam’s Point area of the Minnewaska State Park Preserve is located at 400 Sam’s Point Road in Cragsmoor. For more information or to register, call (845) 647-7989 or visit www.nysparks.com/parks/193.
Bengali Cultural Celebration at Hudson Area Library
Were you as blown away by the Lion movie as I was? Wow, what a story! Whether you are brushing up on your Bengali knowledge or you are simply curious to learn about the culture, make a plan to attend “A Bengali Cultural Celebration” this Saturday, January 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hudson Area Library. Sample authentic Bengali food and enjoy Bengali entertainment, including music, dance and more!
The Hudson Area Library is located at 51 North Fifth Street in Hudson. For more information, call (518) 828-1792 or visit h.
Winter Wildlife Walk at Hand Hollow
Need to walk off those holiday carbs? Make it a nature outing with you and your crew! Join the Winter Wildlife Walk at the Hand Hollow Conservation Area this Saturday, January 7 at 10 a.m. for a guided hike exploring winter wildlife. Open to all ages, this program is free and open to the public, but registration is required, and remember to dress warmly for this outdoor experience.
The Hand Hollow Conservation Area is located at 4079 County Route 9 in New Lebanon. For more information or to register, call (518) 392-5252 or visit https://clctrust.org/events/133/winter-wildlife-walk.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8
Ice harvesting programs at Hudson River Maritime Museum
With automatic icemakers, or even regular freezers, we can enjoy a cold drink whenever we like; but back in the day, this process was a little more involved. Learn more about ice harvesting along our great estuary at the January installment of the new Sunday series of programming for children at the Hudson River Maritime Museum (HRMM). On Sunday, January 8 at 1 p.m., kids will hear the story The Ice Horse, perform a science experiment comparing modern and historical insulation methods, see real-life ice-harvesting tools and enjoy light refreshments. This program is open to all ages with paid museum admission, and advance registration is requested.
Additional children’s programs take place on Sunday, February 12, “Craft a Sailor’s Valentine from Sea Shells”; Sunday, March 12, “Make Scrimshaw from Soap and Learn about the Local Whaling Industry”; and Sunday, April 9, “Create a Micro-Watershed and Learn about the Hudson Estuary Ecosystem.” Admission costs $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and children aged 18 and under, $20 family rate for two adults and children under age 18 and free for members, active-duty military with identification, and HRMM members.
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 www.hrmm.org/for-kids.html or www.facebook.com/events/343549886023453.
Birding for Children at Mohonk Preserve
As parents, our kids will eventually leave the nest. So, let’s help them earn their wings – through nature! Join “Winter Wings: Birding for Children” this Sunday, January 8 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. the at Mohonk Preserve. Kids will learn about winter adaptations, flight patterns and field marks to identify birds, and they will even use binoculars (borrow theirs, or bring your own). This program takes place indoors, with a brief outdoor component, and is free and open to the public, but reservations are required.
The Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center is located at 3197 Route 44/55 in Gardiner. For more information or to register, call (845) 255-0919 or visit https://mohonkpreserve.org/events/winter-wings.
MONDAY, JANUARY 9
“Teen Visions ‘17” art show at Vassar
Do you like to get a jump on up-and-coming artists? Could your kids use some artistic inspiration from area peers? Make it a point to check out “Teen Visions ‘17” between Monday, January 9 and Tuesday, January 24 at the Palmer Gallery at Vassar College. The exhibit features more than 60 paintings, drawings and photographs from youth at more than 30 regional high schools! Criteria for selection include “artistic statement, vision and visual acuity, as well as individual accomplishment.” The show is free, and the Palmer Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; but you are encouraged to call the Office of Campus Activities at (845) 437-5370 before coming to be sure that the gallery is open. Or attend the opening reception on Thursday, January 12 from 5 to 7 p.m.
While you are there, why not double down on art and visit the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, too? Its excellent collection features a number of famous artists such as Picasso and Matisse, and countless others. Vassar College is located at 124 Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 437-5370 or visit https://arts.vassar.edu/news/announcements/2016-2017/170109-teen-visions.html.
Children’s Theatre Program at Mid-Hudson Civic Center
With the Academy Awards coming up next month, perhaps you would like to encourage your own young resident thespians to cultivate their art. Have you heard about the new Children’s Theatre Program offered at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center? Offered to children ages 8 to 12, this weekly workshop takes place for eight Mondays from January 9 through February 2 from 4 to 5:15 p.m., and culminates in a February performance. The series costs $200 per person, or $375 if you register with a friend.
The Mid-Hudson Civic Center is located at 14 Civic Center Plaza in Poughkeepsie. For more information or to register, call (845) 454-5800, extension 1208, or visit www.midhudsonciviccenter.org/event-listing.php#.WGLd8bYrLow.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10
Yarn: The Movie at Hudson Valley Mall
Calling all ages of knitters, crocheters and anyone interested in the fiber arts: Yarn: The Movie is coming to Kingston! Give your family a chance to see this handcraft highlighted on the silver screen this Tuesday, January 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hudson Valley Mall’s Regal Cinemas; but you need to purchase your tickets in advance, since it’s a special independent showing. You may get “hooked” on the trailer; it’s easy to catch the enthusiasm of these women from around the world who bring this work into public spaces in innovative, interesting ways. Tickets cost $12.
The Hudson Valley Mall is located at 1300 Ulster Avenue in Kingston. To reserve your tickets, which are required in advance for this film, visit www.tugg.com/events/yarn-oira. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/1441179982573769. To see the Yarn movie trailer, visit https://yarnthemovie.com.
Erica Chase-Salerno can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2017! She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
