5yo: Wake up.
Dad: Uh.
5yo: Remember last year when
the dog ate that one Lego piece?
Dad: Uh huh.
5yo: Well I need it.
When will she poop it out?
~ Cooper, Hurley
February 3
DIY Valentine card factory at Poughkidskie
Miss the personal touch of handmade Valentine’s Day cards? Here’s your chance! And no mess at home! On Friday, February 3 at 3:30 p.m., or Sunday, February 5 at 11 a.m., get your family to Poughkidsie for DIY Card Factory. For $10 admission, children of all ages can make 25 cards, using a variety of art materials. Poughkidsie also has ample pretend-play space, if your artist wishes to take a break from creating and explore the fun Village area at a cost of $11.95 for access all day (remember that socks are required in the Village section). Poughkidsie is located at 50 Springside Avenue in Poughkeepsie. For more information or to register, call (845) 243-3750 or visit https://mkt.com/poughkidsie/valentine-card-factory or http://poughkidsie.com.
Throw soybeans at the Oni ogre in New Paltz
Quick, what’s the Japanese word for “seasonal division?” If you said, “Setsubun,” you are correct! Honor the tradition of Setsubun, the day before the beginning of spring in Japan, like a Japanese New Year’s Eve, by coming to Gomen-Kudasai Noodle Shop this Friday, February 3. At 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., kids will love throwing soybeans and shouting “Ogre get out! Fortune come in!” at Oni ogre, the personification of negative energy, evil spirits, and disasters of the past year. Afterwards, children can eat the number of soybeans to match their ages, plus one for health and good fortune in the new year. Gomen-Kudasai is located at 232 Main Street in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-8811 or visit http://gknoodles.com
February 4
Mini golf in the stacks of Elting Library
Itching to score a hole-in-one, or just looking for a chance to channel your inner Lexi Thompson or Tiger Woods? Elting Memorial Library invites you to come in from the cold and try your luck at Mini Golf in the Stacks! On Saturday, February 4 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, February 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., you and yours can play 9 holes of mini-golf, and each is a Magic School Bus adventure. Donate $5 for one round, or $10 for unlimited play either day. Call ahead for a tee time, or just show up: all ages are welcome and encouraged to play! Elting Memorial Library is located at 93 Main Street in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-5030 or visit http://www.eltinglibrary.org.
The Moonlights host release party in Kingston
The Moonlights, a new band consisting of Grammy-award winning producer Dean Jones and singer/songwriter/bassist Rachel Loshak, have a question for you: Would you like to make the whole world a better place for everyone? Hear this lyric in their song, “Bake A Cake,” along with a host of other original music. This collaboration is a blend of well-paired voices, enchanting instrumentals, and terrific, often whimsical verses, and our whole family loves this album, The Moonlights! I encourage you to order a copy, or even better, catch this great musical duo live at their release celebration on Saturday, February 4 at The Pivot Ground Cafe & Work Space, with performances at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets cost $8 ahead of time, $10 at the door, $25 for a family three-pack; $30 for a family four-pack; CDs cost $10 presale, $12.99 retail. The Pivot Ground Cafe & Work Space is located at 63 Broadway in Kingston. For tickets, a CD, or more information, email themoonlights@themoonlightsmusic.com or visit http://www.themoonlightsmusic.com. To learn more about the musicians, visit https://www.facebook.com/dogonfleas or https://www.facebook.com/rachelloshakmusic.
Mark DeDea leads bird walk in Woodstock
Looking for an alternative to games like Angry Birds or Flappy Bird? How about real, live feathered friends? Set your alarm extra early this Saturday, February 4 for an 8 a.m. bird walk at Thorn Preserve with Mark DeDea! Mark can talk any level of birds, from expert all the way down to my level of “That’s a robin! … That’s not a robin!” Watch out — a nature walk with Mark could turn you into a passionate birder. Mark brings 30 years of birding, decades of managing the Forsyth Nature Center in Kingston, and heading up the John Burroughs Natural History Society, to make compelling, fascinating connections around birds, habitats, and environments, turning ordinary landscape into a backdrop of possibility. Bring your questions, warm clothing, waterproof boots, and binoculars if you’ve got them. This bird walk is free and open to the public of all ages. Thorn Preserve is located at 55 John Joy Road in Woodstock. For more information or to register for the walk, visit https://www.woodstocklandconservancy.org/index.php/programs/first-saturdays-on-the-trail.
Snowman village and horse-drawn sleighs at Ice Harvest Festival
Ice ice, baby…. Understandable to have strains of this 1990 hit coursing through your brain during this frigid time of year, especially at an event like the Ice Harvest Festival at Hanford Hills Museum this Saturday, February 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before refrigeration, ice was needed to keep food fresh during the warmer months. You and your family can try your hands at collecting these blocks using historical tools and techniques, just like Kristoff and Sven in the movie Frozen! Other activities include ice sculpting, ice fishing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, cooking demonstrations, snowman village, and more. People are very enthusiastic about this event and some attend the festival every year. Admission costs $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and AAA members, $4.50 for active and retired military, and free for local neighbors and children 12 and under. Hanford Hills Museum is located at 51 County Highway 12 in East Meredith. For more information, call (607) 278-5744 or visit http://www.hanfordmills.org/programs-at-hanford-mills-museum/events/ice-harvest.
Birds of prey at Kingston library
Animals in nature can be exciting to encounter and learn about, but it’s cold outside! Wish you could show your children some cool wild animals but in an indoor setting? Kingston Library has got you covered! This Saturday, February 4 at 10:30 a.m., join Wildlife World with educator Bill Robinson and his birds of prey and reptiles. Kids will learn about how these critters eat, survive, and contribute to the ecosystem, while getting an up close and personal look at live specimens. Wildlife World is free and open to the public and children of school age. Kingston Library is located at 55 Franklin Street in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 331-0507 extension 7 or visit http://www.kingstonlibrary.org. To learn more about the presenter, visit http://www.robinsonswildlifelectures.com.
Free day at MASS MoCA
Has it been a while since you’ve been to MASS MoCA art museum? Well, now’s your chance to see pieces without payment! Have fun without spending a fortune! This Saturday, February 4 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. is MASS MoCA’s annual Free Day. Families and individuals of all ages can make art, tour the galleries and check out Nick Cave’s immense, immersive installation Until, enjoy pop-up performances, snap shots in the Sol LeWitt photo booth, and more! MASS MoCA is located at 87 Marshall Street in North Adams, Massachusetts. For more information, call (413) MoCA-111 or visit http://massmoca.org/event/free-day-2017.
Make some bowls at WSW
Is the Women’s Studio Workshop’s Chili Bowl Fiesta an annual ritual for your crew? Mark your calendars for the 20th Annual Chili Bowl Fiesta happening Saturday, February 25 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the cafeteria at SUNY-Ulster. But how do the bowls happen for an event like this? Be a part of the action at Community Bowl Day at the Women’s Studio Workshop this Saturday, February 4 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.; 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.; and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Participants of all ages and levels of experience are invited to build and decorate bowls, which will then be sold at the Fiesta fundraiser. Women’s Studio Workshop is located at 722 Binnewater Lane in Rosendale. For more information, call (845) 658-9133 or visit http://www.wsworkshop.org.
Cinderella with strings in Rhinebeck
Q: What did Cinderella say when her photos weren’t ready?
A: “Someday, my prints will come.”
Let your kids be regaled with tales of magical possibility, missing shoes, and more at Cinderella this Saturday, February 4 at 11 a.m. at the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. Staged with marionettes, these puppets are dressed up in 18th century garb and the characters you love are all there: the stepsisters, the prince, and, of course, Cinderella! Tickets cost $7 for children, $9 for adults and seniors. 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 http://www.centerforperformingarts.org/saturday-morning-family-series/item/cinderella-by-tanglewood-marionettes?category_id=25. To learn more about the performers, visit http://www.tanglewoodmarionettes.com/cinderella.html.
February 9
Sustainable spring cleaning tips at the Barn at Vassar
Why wait for spring cleaning? Got an urge to declutter, downsize and pass along items you don’t need to folks who could use them? Come to Bettering Our Community: Using Resources Wisely on Thursday, February 9 at 7 p.m. at the Barn at Vassar College and learn about sustainable solutions to promote growth and vitality, such as a smaller carbon footprint for hosting a party or sponsoring an event. You can even find out which places take specialty donated items not accepted elsewhere: http://www.aauwpoughkeepsie.org/uploads/PDFs/2017/How_to_Get_Rid_of_Stuff.pdf. The Barn is located at 50 Vassar Farm Lane in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 437-7435 or visit http://www.aauwpoughkeepsie.org/uploads/PDFs/2017/Bettering_our_Community.pdf.
Want to go to autism family camp?
Do you have a family member on the autism spectrum, or do any families you know experience autism? Families with children ages 3 to 11 years who are on the autism spectrum are invited to participate in a three-day summer camp retreat for the whole family! Interested families may register now for Camp Kaleidoscope: Celebrating Families with Kids on the Autism Spectrum, scheduled from Saturday, June 24 to Tuesday, June 27 at the Common Ground Center in Starksboro, Vermont. This is a camp made for families living with autism: universally accessible activities for all children; Family Partner volunteer support for each family by graduate students from related health fields; art, nature, relaxation, advocacy and autism education activities for adults; and gluten-free/casein-free food choices at every meal. The cost is a sliding scale from $250 to $500 per person. For more information, to volunteer, to donate in-kind or monetary contributions, or to complete a family camp application, call (800) 430-2667, email info@cgcvt.org, or visit http://www.cgcvt.org/programs-family-camps/camp-kaleidoscope.
Hope flags in Hudson
Got hope? Could you use some more? What symbol could represent your family’s commitment to hope and tolerance? Perhaps something homegrown? Time and Space Limited in Hudson introduces Keep Hope Alive, a three-by-five-foot white flag with a purple border, designed by Cheryl Roberts. Want to fly one at home? Just send an email to fyi@timeandspace.org to order. Each flag costs $45 including tax, plus $7 for shipping, or pick yours up at Time and Space Limited. TSL is located at 434 Columbia Street in Hudson. For more information, call (518) 822-8100, email fyi@timeandspace.org, or visit http://timeandspace.org/calendar/keep-hope-alive-flag.
Erica Chase-Salerno has discovered the joy of Mix N Mac in Middletown (gf lobster mac, no breadcrumbs). She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
