Riverdale Rep's The Drowsy Chaperone (November 13-21)

On the heels of their wildly successful production of THE MUSIC MAN last spring, the Riverdale Repertory Company at the Riverdale Y is one of the first amateur theatres in our area to present

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE!

This Tony Award winning musical is a throw back to a time of the old fashioned musical, but with a twist; the charming show is told through the imagination of a New Yorker. While sitting in the comfort of his apartment, he plays the record for the audience as we "literally" watch the musical come to life. With a jazzy score and a cast of zany characters that include Star-Crossed Lovers, a couple of Gangsters (disguised as Pastry Chefs), the "Drowsy" chaperone, a tap-dancing Best Man, Aldolpho (the King of Romance!), the cigar-smoking Producer and his Chorine, a Ditsy Socialite and her Butler, an Aviatrix that shows up in time for the happy ending and so much more.

Come and escape to the 1920's!

TIMES AND DATES
Saturdays, November 13 & 20 at 8 pm
Wednesday, November 17 at 7:30 pm
Thursday, November 18 at 7:30 pm
Sundays, November 14 & 21 at 2:00 and 5:00 pm

Tickets can be purchased online at the Riverdale Y's website:
http://riverdaley.tix.com/Schedule.asp?OrganizationNumber=1681

Tickets are $10 (students), $15 (seniors) $18 everyone else.

Yonkers Science Barge Appreciation Party October 10

The Yonkers Science Barge is throwing a party in honor of their volunteers, and true to form, they are inviting everybody who wants to come!


Check out the new gizmos on the barge, see what it's all about, attend the awards ceremony, and who knows, you might even get to sign up to volunteer for next year!
October 10 from 2-6 pm.

It's a potluck, so bring something to share.

Philipse Manor House stays open!

Well, they couldn't keep it closed for long!

I'm glad to report that, at least for the summer, Philipse Manor House is back open for business.

Here's the press release:

Philipse Manor Hall Open for Business!

from Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site by Frederick Philipse

We are pleased to announce that beginning Saturday, May 29, 2010, Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site is once again open to the public. (see press release below for details)

Our regular tour times apply: Tuesday - Sunday at 12PM, 2PM, and 3PM The museum is available by guided tour only.

Admission fees: $5 for Adults, $3 for Seniors/Students, FREE for children 12 years old and under

State Parks Welcome Visitors for Memorial Day Weekend

Commissioner directs staff to open the gates to all facilities immediately

Urges New Yorkers to take full advantage of wonderful system of parks and historic sites

State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Carol Ash today directed agency staff to open the gates at all state parks for the Memorial Day weekend and expeditiously get campgrounds, golf courses and historic sites into full operating status.

“The agency staff is thrilled to get back to doing what they do best – which is running the finest state park system in the nation. I know that New Yorkers across the state worked very hard to support their public parks over the last few months. Now I hope they will get out and enjoy these beautiful places this Memorial Day weekend and throughout the upcoming season,” Ash said. “I am grateful to Governor Paterson and the Legislature for finding a way to fully open our great park system this summer, which was an extremely difficult challenge in this struggling economy.”

Ash said staff will immediately reopen gates to parking lots and unlock the facilities to make them available for normal day-use activities, including picnicking, hiking, cycling and fishing. Other amenities will become available over the next few days as workers who have been reassigned return to their regular work sites and normal levels of seasonal park workers and lifeguards are hired.

To coincide with the full opening of the state park system, the holiday weekend also marks the beginning of a new summer campaign to encourage New Yorkers to visit their state parks and historic sites and take full advantage of the more than 213 properties across the state. The initiative will utilize the agency website, http://www.nysparks.com/, as well as Facebook and Twitter.
Beaches and pools: Park beaches and pools are expected to open on-schedule. Beaches and pools open between Memorial Day weekend and late June. Efforts are being made to open all facilities on schedule.

Campgrounds: Fifty-five campgrounds encompassing 9,400 campsites, cabins and cottages are open for the season. Ash noted that those campgrounds are 85 percent booked for the Memorial Day weekend. At 11 other campgrounds, with about 285 sites, park managers will take immediate steps to comply with health and safety regulations to allow the campgrounds to open for visitors. Reservations at Canoe Point, Cedar Island, Eel Weir, Hunt’s Pond, Keewaydin, Macomb Reservation, Mary Island, Max V. Shaul, Newtown Battlefield, Oquaga Creek and Rudd Pond will be accepted beginning Friday, May 28. Check the agency website for campground availability. Reservations are accepted for campsites and cabins from one day to nine months in advance of the planned arrival date by calling toll free 1-800-456-CAMP or online, http://www.nysparks.com/.

Ash noted that there are over 74,000 campsites, cabins and cottages reserved for nearly 313,000 nights so far for the 2010 season, a level that is slightly ahead of last year’s record pace. Advance reservations at state parks campgrounds have been steadily increasing in recent years.

Historic sites: Tours at historic sites shut by the fiscal crisis will resume the week of June 6, but the grounds will be open for Memorial Day weekend.

Golf: Bonavista and Springbrook Greens golf courses will open on or about June 7.

Riverbank State Park: The park will return to normal operating hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. beginning this weekend. The outdoor pool will open on schedule on June 28. Senior classes will resume at a date to be determined.

Park visitors are advised to call the parks directly for information on the availability of specific services. Information on each of the 178 state parks and 35 historic sites operated by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is available at http://www.nysparks.com/.

A Tour of St. John’s, Getty Square: May 1

A Tour of St. John’s, Getty Square:
The Most Interesting 19th Century Church in America

Noted architect Stephen F. Byrns maintains that St. John’s Church, Getty Square, is the most
interesting 19th century church in America, and he will make his case at a tour and lecture on
Saturday, May 1 at 4:30 PM. A wine reception follows the tour.

St. John’s was founded as a parish of the Church of England in 1693 and predates every other institution in Yonkers with the exception of Philipse Manor Hall. The American architect Edward Tuckerman Potter, hired because he submitted the only plan preserving a large part of the original 1752 church, is responsible for the striking edifice you see today. Situated in the heart of historic Yonkers, it is widely understood that the church presents opportunities for an appealing revitalized downtown.

Mr. Byrns, one time resident of Yonkers and partner at BSKS Architects in New York, currently
serves as a Landmarks Preservation Commissioner in New York, appointed by Mayor
Bloomberg. A graduate of Princeton University, where he majored in history, he played
leadership roles in Yonkers at the Park Hill Residents’ Association, Yonkers Landmarks Board,
Yonkers Planning Board, Yonkers Historical Society, Philipse Manor Hall Coalition and the
Racquet Club on Park Hill. He is also a graduate of Columbia University.

For further information or to purchase tickets, contact the church office at 914-963-3033, email
parish@stjohnsgs.org or visit www.stjohnsgs.org and click on the “Reservations for Spring
Tour” link. Advance tickets at a discounted price are available until Thursday, April 29th. Space
is limited.

All proceeds go to the continued maintenance and restoration of the church.

St. John’s Church is at One Hudson Street, between Riverdale Avenue and South Broadway in downtown Yonkers.

Blue Door Gallery Events

Saturday, April 17, 2pm WOMAN SPEAKING THROUGH US: Performing Women's Writings Professors Kathleen Fowler and Ellen Dolgin will be presenting dramatic readings followed by a discussion of letters, diaries, poems, speeches by a variety of women writers and activists, primarily from the 19th century and maybe some earlier voices as well. The idea will be to trace patterns of women's inspiration and achievement as well as frustration and longing for freedom. Free admission, donations welcome at Blue Door Gallery (see address below) ---------------------and---------------------- Saturday, April 21 POETRY  OPEN MIC 6:30-8:30PM RSVP 914-375-5100 OR poetry@bluedoorgallery.org

Feel free to visit their website at  bluedoorgallery.org or  call them at the Gallery at 914.375.5100.

Philipse Manor House in Danger of Closing

According to this article in Lohud:

http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20102200328



the historic Philipse Manor House is in danger of closing.

While I understand the state is in a deficit and that cuts need to be made, this seems VERY shortsighted.

They produce tons of events in their historic house, and do a lot with very little.  To cut them down to nothing is to diminish the history of this area, and quite frankly, it leaves another black hole in the middle of downtown Yonkers.

I don't know how much it costs to maintain two staff members, but it's got to be a drop in the bucket of 8 billion dollars (or even 6 million dollars, which is the parks department's proposed cutting) but there's got to be something else that could be cut.

If you'd like to do something about it, the best thing to do is write your State Representatives.
Tell them how much Philipse Manor Hall means to you, and why you think it would be a shame to close such a historic building that adds so much to our community.

Find your state representatives here:
http://nymap.elections.state.ny.us/nysboe/

You can also let the Yonkers City Council and the Mayor's Office know how much it means to you too.

Find your Yonkers City Council Representative here: 
http://www.cityofyonkers.com/Index.aspx?page=1162

Mayor's Office
Mayor Philip A. Amicone
City Hall  40 South Broadway  Yonkers, New York 10701
(914) 377-6300

Banish Modern Slavery- Exhibit Starting January 9

BANISH MODERN SLAVERY!
YONKERS, N.Y. (December 1, 2009) – Between September and December 2009, four children have been producing an unusual product as the result of their studies: a museum exhibit entitled Banish Modern Slavery!
We invite you to attend the free opening of Banish Modern Slavery! on Saturday, January 9^th from 12-4 p.m.  The exhibit features the interpretations of these four children, who participated in a ten-week class covering exhibition design and the study of both modern and historical slavery. From an installation referencing the Department of Labor’s recent release of a list of goods potentially tainted by slave labor to original artwork, the exhibit speaks to the unfortunate continuum of international slavery.
During the opening reception, visitors will have an opportunity to meet and speak with the child curators, experience the exhibit, stroll through the larger museum (which features the exhibit Slavery: The Great and Foul Stain) and participate in activities centering on raising awareness about modern slavery (films, handicrafts, a lecture and more).
For further information, please call 914-965-4027 or visit our event information website, philipsemanorhall.blogspot.com. You may also visit the blog the students have created to describe a portion of the work process: www.slaveryiscruel.blogspot.com.

This exhibit was made possible by a partnership between Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site, a museum and historic house in downtown Yonkers, and the Adventure Center: Journeys of Wonder, Inc., an educational enrichment program. Philipse Manor Hall, the setting for the exhibit, was once owned by the Philipse Family, who were slave owners and slave traders in the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

Philipse Manor Hall, a high-style Georgian manor house, was the seat of a 52,000-acre estate and home to three generations of the Lords of Philipsburg Manor. Built between c. 1680 and 1755, it is the site around which the City of Yonkers grew and developed. Philipse Manor Hall is located at 29 Warburton Avenue, at Dock Street, in Yonkers, and parking is available on site. The historic site is one of six state historic sites and 13 parks administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation – Taconic Region: www.nysparks.com. 

Hudson River Mythbusters In Yonkers 12/19

Yonkers, NY - A panel of experts tackles observations about the Hudson River and shows what's real and what's fiction at Hudson River Mythbusters on Saturday, December 19 at 7:00 PM at Beczak Environmental Education Center, 35 Alexander Street, Yonkers, NY.

Hudson River Mythbusters is FREE and includes holiday refreshments. For more information, call (914) 377-1900 x 13. This event is funded by the New York Council for the Humanities.


The Half Moon was the first European boat to sail up the Hudson. 
The Palisades cliffs were formed by dynamite.

Truth isn’t as simple as it seems—that’s where the Hudson River Mythbusters come in. On the expert panel: Dr. Roger Panetta, Professor of History at Fordham University and author of many Hudson River books, most recently, Dutch New York: The Roots of Hudson Valley Culture; Kimberly Flook, Historic Site Manager of Philipse Manor Hall known for her presentation of Pirates of the Hudson; Margie Turrin, Science Educator with Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and coordinator of the annual Hudson River sampling and education event, “A Day in the Life of the Hudson River.” The Mythbusters Moderator is Daniel Wolff, author of How Lincoln Learned to Read and A Glimpse of the Lenape.

This light-hearted and entertaining event requires audience participation. People are invited to come with questions and encouraged to cast their vote for “Truth” or “Urban Legend” to statements like these:

- The dredging of upstate PCBs will solve that pollution problem.
- The Hudson River doesn't freeze very often because of global warming.
- The Hudson is once again clean enough to swim in.
- Slavery was a minor institution in the Hudson Valley and ended early.
- The Hudson River is a freshwater river.

Teachers have also been invited to submit favorite things students say about the Hudson—both ones that make them laugh as well as those that pose serious, complex questions that need an expert answer.

Hudson River MYTHBUSTERS is an end-of-year event that wraps up Beczak’s popular 2009 Hudson Quadricentennial Lectures, a series of ten presentations that ranged from The Palisades Revealed with Eric Nelsen, Historic Interpreter of the Palisades Interstate Park to Secrets of the Deep with Dr. Frank Nitsche of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

ABOUT BECZAK ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
Beczak Environmental Education Center is a non-profit organization that presents exhibits and programs for all ages to raise environmental awareness and to encourage informed stewardship of rivers.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation calls Beczak’s rehabilitated property an “environmental recovery success story.” Located on the banks of the Hudson in the City of Yonkers, at River Mile 18, this spacious interpretive center is an adaptive reuse of the former social club for Habirshaw Cable & Wire Co. It’s two-acre park features a welcoming riverfront lawn, an easily accessible tidal marsh and a beach used for river exploration and seining.

Beczak educators work with approximately 20,000 children and families each year through in-school river education programs, field trips at its riverfront center and after school environmental clubs. Public programs include River Explorers and Fish Tales for children, Saturdays by the Fire lectures and Urban H2O concerts, Lunchtime Learning for seniors, Summer Adventures camp, and professional development for educators.

Urban H20 presents River Songs, 10/25/09

River Songs is a local music festival celebrating the Hudson River. It features collaborative performances by Tribes Hill singer/songwriters Rick Nestler, Marc Black, Madhumita Chakrabartti, Iris Cohen, Andrew V. Craig, Eddie Denise, Phil Dollard, Joe Duraes, James Durst, Fred Gillen Jr., Great Blue, Joe Iadanza, Susan Kane, Judy Kass, Steve Kirkman, Eric Puente, Spuyten Duyvil, Pete Tamburrini, Matt Turk, Mel and Vinny, and The YaYas. They will be joined on stage by noted Hudson Valley storyteller Jonathan Kruk and Victorio Roland Mousaa.

Tickets for the concert, priced at $20 for adults and $14 for seniors and children up to age 16 can be purchased online at http://www.tribeshill.com.

After the event, ticket holders are invited to attend a complimentary artist's reception featuring delicious food from Kingsbridge's Garden Gourmet, draft beer from the award winning Captain Lawrence Brewery, and wines from Artisan Wines.

Beczak is located steps from the Yonkers Metro North Station and features ample free parking.

This event is the first step in a move towards a monthly local music series, so please attend if you can.

It is made possible, in part, by the Arts Alive program of the Westchester Arts Council, with funding from the decentralization grants program of the New York State Council on the Arts.

Sponsors include local businesses Jacari Supply Co., Inc. in Yonkers; David Allen Bath Shop & M. Fraitag Plumbing in Yonkers; Tamerlaine Realty Corp. in Yonkers, Robert Whitney Lone Pine Tree Service in Yonkers, NY, Michael Meyer Fine Art., Yonkers, NY and David Associates Real Estate Management in Briarwood, NY.

Tribes Hill and Beczak are not-for-profit organizations supporting local artists and environmental education respectively.

For more information about this event, please visit http://www.tribeshill.com

Children's Book Day- Sleepy Hollow

This isn't in Yonkers, but it sounds like a great event, so I thought it was important to get the word out. (courtesy of Hudsonvalley.org)

Children's Book Day

Washington Irving's Sunnyside Sunday, September 27, 2009

Washington Irving's Sunnyside is the storybook setting for one of HHV's most popular events, a day-long festival for young readers, families, and friends, who can meet more than sixty of their favorite authors and illustrators. Not all authors appear at the same time. 11am to 6pm Regular Admission | Free for Members GROUP 1 11:00-12:30 Tony Abbott Pam Allyn Nora Raleigh Baskin Judy Blundell Richard Brenner Elise Broach Nick Bruel Alyssa Satin Capucilli Jerry Craft Katie Davis Barbara Dee Bruce Degen David Johnson Alan Katz Leslie Kimmelman Peter Lerangis Gail Carson Levine Barbara McClintock Lloyd Moss Marc Tyler Nobleman James Preller Susanna Reich Pat Schories Todd Strasser Eric Velasquez Monica Wellington Howard Whitehouse Ed Young GROUP 2 12:30-2:00 Jules Feiffer Kate Feiffer David Gavril Jean Craighead George Dan Greenburg J.C. Greenburg Arthur Howard James Howe Susan Jeffers Chris Kubie Rafe Martin Jean Marzollo Wendy Mass Florence Minor Wendell Minor Gloria Pinkney Jerry Pinkney Roni Schotter Peter Sis Rebecca Stead Hudson Talbott Mark Teague Mara Van Fleet Matt Van Fleet GROUP 3 2:00-3:30 Howard Fine Charise Mericle Harper Chris Hart Colleen MacCullough Bernard Most Michael Rex Marisabina Russo

Open Mic at Jewels by Elan, Friday, Sept. 25

Open mic nights are the breeding ground of the entertainment field.

They are a great place for a beginner to cut their teeth, and for a veteran to work out new things. Come witness groundbreaking works of literature, poetry slam and visual art. Old hands and newbies alike gather in a great atmosphere of support and non-competitiveness.

If you'd like to participate, call (914) 375-7400 or email ellen@jewelsbyelan.com to secure your slot.

Jewels By Elan is located at 25 Warburton Ave almost at the corner at Main Street in beautiful downtown Yonkers.

Friday, September 25, 2009
Time: 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Location: Jewels By Elan
Street: 25 Warburton Ave, Yonkers
Cost: FREE

More info: http://www.jewelsbyelan.com

Fwd: African Dance at Untermeyer (Saturday July 25)

THE UNTERMYER

PERFORMING ARTS COUNCIL's

Hudson Overlook Melodies

continues this

Saturday, July 25th with

The Kotchegna Dance Company
of the Ivory Coast

Kotchegna, meaning "messenger" in the Ivorian language of Mahou, is a seasoned dance
company founded in the Western African nation of the Ivory Coast by master dancer and
choreographer Vado Diomande. Kotchegna has traveled across the United States and around the
world promoting Ivorian culture through chant, mime, dance, and music.
Audiences of all ages are captivated by Kotchegna's innovative choreography, spectacular stilt
dancing and pageantry, and pulsating rhythms. The New York Times raved about Kotchegna after
watching the company perform at Lincoln Center's annual Folk Parks

program, stating that "the bestaspect was the drumming: nonstop, high-speed,

feverishly intricate rhythms and cross-rhythms from
a team of drummers who knew countless ways to subdivide a beat and make it jump."

Admission Free

at Untermyer Park, 945 N. Broadway, Yonkers.

Looks like rain, call 914.375.3435 after 2 PM Saturday for rain site information.

www.untermyer.com

THE COMMUNITY NEEDS FREE ARTS NOW MORE THAN EVER!

Yonkers River Day is tomorrow!

YONKERS RIVER DAY 2009

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

HUDSON RIVER CELEBRATES ITS FLAGSHIPS
City of Yonkers to Greet Multi-Ship Flotilla

As part of the ongoing Quad Celebration (400th anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River, www.exploreny400.com) Yonkers, Westchester’s largest city, with 4.5 miles of riverfront, will debut River Day, Saturday June 6 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, a celebration welcoming replicas of the original seven Hudson River flagships – the Half Moon, Cleveland, Harvey, Clearwater, Mystic, Woody and Onrust, which will travel, together with hundreds of other watercraft, from lower Manhattan the entire length of the Hudson River with a viewing in Yonkers at approximately 12:00 noon.

This will be the premier event in the Hudson Valley to commemorate 400 years of history of the river, and its boats and ships. A celebration featuring the best of the Yonkers Waterfront will take place at the John F. Kennedy Marina including:

• A cannon salute
• Artwork on display along the Esplanade
• Family-friendly refreshments and entertainment
• The Yonkers Science Barge on-board demonstrations
• Beczak Environmental Education Center children’s flag making
• Philipse Manor Hall National Trails Day walk

“River Day is a glorious way to show off Yonkers’ heritage and ties to the Hudson,” says Jim Pinto, the head of Yonkers Waterfront Development, ”And it’s a great kick-off to a full slate of River-themed activity in conjunction with the Quad Celebration that Yonkers will feature throughout the year.”

It is also important to note that Metro-North offers reduced fare packages via its “A Day on the Hudson” offer. More information can be found at www.mta.info/mnr.

Acme Flea Circus This Weekend- Hastings on Hudson

Pardon the shameless commercial interruption, but my show, the Acme Miniature Flea Circus will be performing at the Hastings-on-Hudson Popcorn and Puppet Festival on Sunday May 31. Showtime is 3:20 pm

The Festival runs 3-5 pm at the MacEachron Waterfront Park, 1 River Street, Hastings-on-Hudson. The park is right next to the Hastings-on-Hudson Metro North Station., about 30 minutes from Grand Central, and about 3 stops from the downtown Yonkers line.

other performers include
The Sourdough Philosophy Circus ( Bread and Puppet Theater)
Soup
Puppet Junction
Cosmic Bicycle Theatre
The Himilayas Band

Tickets: $8 for adults, $5 kids, $30 for families of 5 or more.
(rain location: Hastings High School Gym)

For more info, including directions, visit: http://www.rivertownsguide.com/puppet.php or http://www.trainedfleas.com

Yonkers Arts Fest 2009 at Lohud.com

Yonkers Arts Fest 2009 has made the front cover of the LOHUD Weekend section in yesterday's Journal News

Photos of the Yonkers Philharmonic grace the cover of the magazine insert and there is an almost 2-page article on the Fest.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20090528/ENTERTAINMENT/905280308/

A mobile version of the article is available here.

http://bit.ly/yartfest


And just in case, a copy of the article is below.






The Journal News



Festival finale in Yonkers


Mary Shustack
mshustac@lohud.com
May 27, 2009 03:56 AM
img

It might be a student playing the piano, a sculptor demonstrating her technique or a dancer swirling around a stage.

No matter the medium, the arts scene seems to be thriving in Yonkers.

This weekend, the last official one of Yonkers ArtsFest 2009, will include a philharmonic performance, arts demonstrations and a lecture on painting, among other planned events.

"Yonkers ArtsFest is the first major undertaking for this new organization, Yonkers Arts," says Judith Schwartzstein, president of the nonprofit group. "Our mission is to supports art and arts organizations in the city of Yonkers."

Yonkers Arts, which Schwartzstein likens in ways to an arts council, decided it was time to spread the word about the city.


Since it's not a presenting organization, Schwartzstein adds, the group simply looked at all that was on offer - from cultural celebrations to dance performances, theater works to art exhibitions - and pulled them under an umbrella "so that we could help boost audience attendance and really promote all the wonderful arts organizations in the city."

So far, it's been a success. "It seems that everything has gone really well," Schwartzstein says.

That most every single event - except for a jazz performance held as a fundraiser for the arts academy at Lincoln High School - has been free has only added to the attraction.

"We really feel that our mission in supporting arts and arts organizations is to make the arts more accessible to more people," Schwartzstein says.


She points to the May 9 performance showcase, held at the Riverfront Library, where students and professionals offered everything from classical music, jazz and hip-hop to poetry and theatrical pieces.

It was designed, Schwartzstein says, to give the audience a glimpse into the city's offerings.

"People might say 'Wow. This is something I didn't know before,'" she says. "What we're trying to do is bring it together."

Organizations having their events highlighted through the festival are expecting a boost, too.

Those who attend Sunday afternoon's "Concerto Time at the Philharmonic" will indeed be sparked to explore the Yonkers Philharmonic. The 47-year-old orchestra, conducted by James Sadewhite, features both professional and avocational musicians, making it a true community group.


"I hope that it will attract even more people now," says Rosemarie Doerr, who (along with Marcia Klein) serves as president of the Fine Arts Orchestral Society of Yonkers, the group that sponsors the Yonkers Philharmonic. "They're trying to promote all the arts and of course, we are one of them."

Sunday's performance will feature the winners of the 31st annual Concerto Competition for high school students, a scholarship program in which the winners are awarded cash and the opportunity to perform with the orchestra.

"They're able now to play with the orchestra, which is a unique situation because there's not many orchestras around," Doerr says.

The afternoon will feature first-place winner Benjamin Boventer, a 17-year-old pianist from New Rochelle and student at The German School New York in White Plains, who will play the Grieg "Concerto in A minor."


The second-place winner is Matthew Crozier, 17-year-old trombonist from Harrison and student at Harrison High School. He will play "Concertino" by Ferdinand David.

Third-place winner Claire Allen-Solomon, a 16-year-old cellist from Pelham Manor and student at the Loyola School in New York, will perform the Haydn "Concerto in C Major."

Fourth-place winner Moriah Feiner Trenk, a 15-year-old pianist from Scarsdale and student at Scarsdale High School, will perform the Mendelssohn "Concerto in G minor."

Jenna Margiasso, a 17-year-old soprano from Pleasantville and student at Pleasantville High School, is the fifth-place winner. The soloist will sing three arias by Puccini, Copland and Handel.


Doerr says the scholarship-winner performances help the orchestra reach a wider audience. That's also the idea behind the group's summertime concerts, in local parks or other outdoor venues.

And falling under the ArtsFest umbrella, she adds, can only help visibility.

"Somebody might not be interested in sculpture or painting but is interested in live music - or vice versa," she says.

After all, helping develop an appreciation for the arts is at the core of the festival.

Stephen E. Force, the director of the Yonkers Public Library, says the exhibition at the Riverfront Library this month - a showcase of more than 30 Yonkers artists - has really drawn people in.


"It was such a nice exhibit and very well-received," Force says.

Instead of closing the exhibit today, as originally scheduled, Force says, it will now be moved to the library's fourth floor where it will continue through July.

And, he adds, the atrium space will be taken over by a new community art display - "Passport to Yonkers: Intergenerational Visual Arts Exhibit," which shows the work of Yonkers public-school students and senior citizens. It will open Wednesday and continue through June.

So while the ArtsFest may formally end, this exhibit is just one example of just how important the arts are becoming to Yonkers.

As Force says, "I think the calendar developed for the arts fest made people aware of just how much is going on in Yonkers."

Rod McDonald- Uptown Coffee House -June 7

Rod MacDonald, a well-known folk musician, will be playing at the Uptown Coffee House. on Sunday June 7 at 5 pm.

The Uptown Coffeehouse is an organization run entirely by volunteers dedicated to bringing live, traditional & contemporary folk music to the Bronx, New York., They have been in existence since 1987.

Throughout a 35-year performing career, Rod MacDonald has been entertaining audiences worldwide with his timeless ballads, modern folk songs, and his musical versatility. Possessing the heart of a troubadour, the soul of a poet and the voice of a virtuoso, he is as distinctive an entertainer as he is a songwriter. Known for his passionate interest in the events that shape our world's societies, Rod is a prolific and poignant communicator who is regarded as "one of the most politically and socially aware lyricists of our time." (All Music Guide).

Rod has released 9 solo albums, and has performed at many of the world's finest clubs and major international festivals in the U.S., Europe and Canada. The first American folksinger to tour the liberated Czech Republic, Rod performed frequently at the 3-4 day Straznice Festival for audiences of 10,000, where he debuted his passionate anthem "For The People", a tribute to the newly freed Czechs. He summered with the Oglala Sioux Indians on their South Dakota reservation where he met Frank Fool's Crow, ceremonial chief and medicine healer and to whom he dedicated his 2nd album, "White Buffalo" featuring the song of the same name. Said Rod, "he is a great inspiration to me, and to everyone who knows him."

Find out more about Rod's work at his website, listed below
www.rodmacdonald.net

Rod will be playing the Uptown Coffee House on Sunday June 7, 2009 at 5 pm Tickets are $15.
Read more about the Uptown Coffee House at http://www.uptowncoffeehouse.org/

Summer Programming at Philipse Manor Hall

Philipse Manor Hall, the county's oldest house/museum/park in the heart of downtown Yonkers, is having a number of really great learning events this summer.

To find out more about any of these programs, contact Museum Programs Coordinator Brittany Wheeler at (914) 965-4027 or Brittany.Wheeler@oprhp.state.ny.us
You can also find out more at their blog : www.philipsemanorhall.blogspot.com

The Cochran Portrait Collection: The Finds, The Fakes, & The Forgeries

Saturday, May 30^th, 3 p.m. at Philipse Manor Hall

Philipse Manor Hall Site Manager Kimberly Flook lectures on the nature and history of the Manor’s portrait collection, which includes presidents, statesmen, artists and more. How did they end up here? Who is responsible for the 'best' and the 'worst' of them? Enjoy the stories you'd never quite guess at by just observing the artwork. This event is free.

National trails day: Walk the Waterfront

Saturday, June 6^th, 10-12 (Registration 9:45 a.m.)

Lace up and learn with a walk along the Hudson River in downtown Yonkers. Visit a sculpture garden, downtown murals and get your dose of history in the waterfront district! Meet at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site to begin the walking tour. Don’t forget your camera, sunscreen, and good walking shoes!

This event is free. For more information call (914) 965-4027 or email Education Coordinator Lucille Sciacca at Lucille.Sciacca@oprhp.state.ny.us.

Lecture: Pirates, Smugglers and Explorers

Thursday, June 11^th at 7 p.m.

A lecture on the sea and the occupations it inspired! They'll lead you through stories of mariners, smugglers and inventors, all with a link to our local waterways.

This event is free. For more information call (914) 965-4027 or email Site Manager Kimberly Flook at Kimberly.Flook@oprhp.state.ny.us.

Create Your Own Exhibit: Pirates and Explorers

Sunday, June 28^th, 12-3 p.m.

Learn how to create an exhibit...by participating in the creation of one! Learn about how to build an exhibit with Philipse Manor Hall as your canvas! You'll learn about exhibits, create your own art, and then hang it yourself in the Community Gallery. The theme for this exhibit is "Pirates and Explorers" and is open to all ages. Your work will be hung in the gallery for two weeks.

This event is free with a suggested donation of $3/person. For more information, call (914) 965-4027 or email Museum Programs Coordinator Brittany Wheeler at Brittany.Wheeler@oprhp.state.ny.us.

Archaeology Days

Friday, July 10^th-Sunday, July 12^th

A three-day exploration of archaeological topics at Philipse Manor! Courses, workshops and lectures for adults and children will be offered during Archaeology Days; whether you're 5 or 95, a novice or a natural-born explorer! Visit www.philipsemanorhall.blogspot.com for a schedule as it becomes available.

Please contact Museum Programs Coordinator Brittany Wheeler for more information about the forthcoming Archaeology Days at (914) 965-4027 or Brittany.Wheeler@oprhp.state.ny.us.

2009 Yonkers Arts Fest Happening ... Now!

I just found out about the 2009 Yonkers Arts Fest by perusing the Lohud News...

Now considering that I run an arts blog about Yonkers, (and that my show on May 17 is part of it), that you'd think I'd have heard about this before-- but alas and alack.

Not sure if it's a failure on my part to find out stuff, or an advertising shortfall on the festival's part, or some mixture of the two. Anyway-- there's a new event going on called the 2009 Yonkers Arts Fest, with lot of events going on in the next few weeks. And they are all free, courtesy of the folks at http://www.yonkersarts.org
(actually, my understanding is that with my performance, you do have to pay admission to the Philipse Manor House-- a very reasonable $5.)

The calendar is below-- but check out their website for photos, maps, and additional info, including the sponsors of all of the events.


You can also download a PDF of all of the events here:
http://yonkersarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/calendar-of-events.pdf

Calendar of Events

Performances and Lectures

Fridays, May 1 and May 8

Tours of exhibit: Whitfield Lovell: All Things In Time
6-7 pm followed by a free star show at 7 pm at the Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Avenue
Information: (914) 563 4550 or www.hrm.org

Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2

Sarah Lawrence College Spring Dance Concerts
8 pm at the Bessie Schonberg Dance Theatre, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Saturday, May 2

The Yonkers Male Glee Club Spring Concert 2009
3 pm at the Yonkers Public Library, Grinton I. Will Branch, , 1500 Central Park Avenue

Sunday, May 3

Untermyer Performing Arts Council presents A Soul of Mexico: A Celebration of Cinco de Mayo
1 - 4 pm at Untermyer Park, 945 North Broadway
Information: (914) 375 3435 or www.untermyer.com

Sunday, May 3

Sarah Lawrence College Spring Dance Concerts
2 pm at the Bessie Schonberg Dance Theatre, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Sunday, May 3

Yonkers Male Glee Club
3 pm at Saunders High School, 183 Palmer Road

Sunday, May 3

SLC Jazz Festival
7 pm - midnight in The Blue Room, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Wednesday, May 6

Music Workshop (Student performers)
8 pm in the Marshall Field Music Building - Room 1, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2407

Wednesday, May 6 & May 13

Class Observations: Youth Theatre Interactions, Inc.
4 pm - 6 pm at 164 Ashburton Avenue-2nd floor
Information: www.youth-theatre.org

Thursday, May 7

Recital: Carina Zabrodsky, soprano with Martin Goldray, piano; Chet Biscardi, piano
7:30 pm in the Reisinger Concert Hall,
Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2407

Saturday, May 9

Public Art Walking Tour with the Artists

Boaz Vaadia Installation
City Hall Sculpture Park

• 10:30 am: Trains, Planes, and Automobiles with Haifa Bint-Kadi. (meet at the Corner of Nepperhan Ave. and Broadway)
• 11 am: City Hall Sculpture Garden with Luis Perelman (meet at City Hall, corner of Broadway and Nepperhan)
• 12noon: Gateway to the Hudson with Richard Haas (meet at corner of Riverdale and Main Streets)
• 1 pm: Muhheakantuck/River that Flows Two Ways and Yonkers Sculpture Meadow on the Hudson with Barbara Segal (meet at Metro North Viaduct Main and Buena Vista)
• 2 pm: First Lady of Jazz Ella Fitzgerald with Vinnie Bagwell (meet in front of sculpture on grounds of RR station)

Saturday, May 9

YONKERS ARTS FEST 2009 SHOWCASE
Performing Arts Showcase - Professional and Student Musicians, Dancers, Poets and Actors
7 pm in the Riverfront Public Library Auditorium

MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Westchester News 12 Anchor Brian Conybeare

• Lincoln High School Gospel and Concert Choirs
• Yonkers High School Drama Club, Scenes from Hamlet
• Megg Farrell Songs featuring Oliver Hensel-Brown and Jesse Brenneman
• Tamara Jaton, Violin solo with Courtney Manning, piano
• Bobby LaVell, Jazz solo
• Antony Yeager, Poetry
• Michael Ingram, Broadway melodies
• Axara, Hip Hop Dancers from The Loft
• Abby Welhouse, flute, Chelsea Wright, piano
• Treble in Paradise, Sarah Lawrence College Women’s Acappella Group
• Vocal Minority, Sarah Lawrence College Men’s Acappella Group
• Romel Brumley, Baritone
• Adazeke Lynn Beville, “Call to the Wilderness”
• Patrick Gallagher, Piano solo
• Bob Bisaccia and The Kenny Lee Quartet

Sunday, May 10

Groupo Folklorico
2 pm or 3:30 pm at Iglesia San Andres, 22 Post Street
Information: (914) 963 9523.

Sunday, May 10

“Bach to the Future”: Bach, Mozart, Whitacre, Purcell, Handel, Bizet and Verdi with the Sarah Lawrence College Chamber Choir and Women’s Ensemble; Patrick Romano, director
5 pm in the Reisinger Concert Hall,
Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Sunday, May 10

Recital: Works by Mozart, Bach, Chaminade, Kennan. Abigail Wellhouse, flute; Chelsea Wright, piano and harpsichord; Suna Chung, piano
8 pm in the Bessie Schönberg Dance Theatre, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2407

Tuesday, May 12

Cygnus Ensemble
1:30 pm in the Reisinger Concert Hall, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Tuesday, May 12

Sarah Lawrence College Orchestra; Jonathan Yates, conductor
8 pm in the Reisinger Concert Hall, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2412 or www.slc.edu/events

Thursday, May 14

Be the Change Evening of Jazz -Latin and Contemporary Jazz
7 pm at Lincoln High School Arts Academy, 375 Kneeland Avenue
Information: (914) 376 8400

Thursday, May 14

Recital: Shakira Croce, flute; Madison Davis, voice
7:30 pm in the Marshall Field Music Building, Sarah Lawrence College
Information: (914) 395 2407

Saturday, May 16*

Youth Theatre Interactions

Youth Theatre Interaction’s Outdoor Cultural Experience: Dance, Drama, Music and Vocals
4 pm at Andrus Park, Central Park Avenue & Arlington Street
Information: www.youth-theatre.org

Sunday, May 17

Youth Theatre Interactions’ Outdoor Cultural Experience: Dance, Drama, Music and Vocals
4 pm at Cerrato Park, Riverdale & Vark Avenues
Information: www.youth-theatre.org

Sunday, May 17

“Exploring With Henry Hudson” A theater performance by Adam Gertsacov
3 pm at Philipse Manor Hall, 29 Warburton Avenue
Information: www.philipsemanorfriends.org

http://www.henryhudson.info

Saturday, May 30

Lecture: The Cochran Collection of American Portraiture by Kimberly Flook Adams
3 pm at Philipse Manor Hall, 29 Warburton Avenue
Information: www.philipsemanorfriends.org

Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra

Sunday, May 31

Concerto Time at the Philharmonic Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra Featuring winners of the Concerto Competition for high school students
3 pm at Saunders High School, 183 Palmer Road
Information: (914) 476 3711 or (914) 631 6674 www.yonkersphilharmonic.org

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EXHIBITS

Windows on Main Street

May through June
Displays of artwork in storefronts and lobbies on Main Street and other streets in Downtown Yonkers

City Haul: Trash2Treasure

Through May
Curated by Barbara Segal; Sponsored by DPW at Yonkers City Hall

Saturday, May 9 – Thursday, May 28

Yonkers Artists Showcase - Artwork in all media by artists working or living in Yonkers
Curated by Luis Perelman at Yonkers Riverfront Library

Artrucks

Saturday, May 9

“Artrucks” will be on view in front of the Riverfront Library

Saturday, May 9

Closing reception - Blue Door Takes Off
12 noon - 5 pm at the Blue Door Gallery,
2 pm Artists Walk and Talk
13 Riverdale Avenue
Information: www.bluedoorgallery.org

Through Friday, May 15

Judith Oskner : “Town and Country”
Sarah Lawrence College Library Gallery
Information: (914) 395 2472

Saturday, May 16

Opening Reception - Show and Tell
Artists’ demonstrations of techniques each Saturday
Exhibit runs through Saturday, June 27
Blue Door Gallery, 13 Riverdale Avenue
Information: www.bluedoorgallery.org

Sunday, May 17

Evolution Arts
Yonkers Downtown Waterfront BID
1 - 4 pm at Plaza Park just south of RR station
Information: www.yonkersdowntown.com

Wednesday, June 3

Passport to Yonkers: Intergenerational Visual Arts Exhibit – Yonkers Public School Students Community Senior Citizens
6:30 pm at the Riverfront Library, One Larkin Center
Information: (914) 376 8265

City Haul: Trash2Treasure- 4/22/09

Yonkers City Hall to Host Sculpture Exhibit
"City Haul: Trash2Treasure"
An Exhibit of Non-Traditional Sculpture

Made with Recycled/ Repurposed/ Recovered Materials
Curated by Barbara Segal

click image to right to see some images------>

Opening Reception - Wednesday, April 22, 2-4pm

Yonkers City Hall
Third Floor, Dept. of Public Works
40 South Broadway
Yonkers, New York
Wednesday, April 22 -
Friday, May 29, 2009
week days: 9am - 4:30pm

Beginning Wednesday, April 22, visitors to Yonkers City Hall
at 40 South Broadway, will be treated to a visual change of
pace. A new exhibit, "City Haul: Trash2Treasure", an exhibit of
sculpture made with recycled/ repurposed/ recovered materials
will be on display from Wednesday, April 22 through Friday, May
29, 2009, 9- 4:30pm on weekdays. The exhibit is curated by Yonkers
Sculptor Barbara Segal, and features the works of Leandra
Abbott, Gloria Levine, Bruce Levy, Rubely Melo, Jeanne D. Shaw,
Cora Weis, and Peter Wilcox. The theme of the show is
especially appropriate during this month of Earth Day
celebrations. These artists have given new life to that which
all too often ends up in land fills, wood chippers, or littering
the environment. It is recycling at its best.

Henry Hudson at Phillipse Manor May 17 3 pm

DISCLAIMER: This show is performed by the author of the blog! Just so you know!

Exploring with Henry Hudson:
An Interactive Performance
Sunday, May 17th, 3 p.m.

Philipse Manor Hall proudly presents the interactive performance of Explorations with Henry Hudson in our grand Gothic Chamber. The story of English-born, Dutch-employed Hudson comes to life in this Quadricentennial year as author and performer Adam Gersacov portrays the seafarer and tells the story of his historic Third Voyage spent pursuing the Northwest Passage to China, when he instead stumbled into Manhattan!


This performance carries regular house admission fees: Children under 12 are free, students and seniors are $3 and adults are $5.

For more information, visit the websites listed below:
http://www.henryhudson.info
http://philipsemanorhall.blogspot.com