A Colonial Christmas
Tour the Square House by candlelight, December 15 from 7-9 p.m. Costumed docents will guide visitors through the tavern room, kitchen, and second floor rooms. You’ll be able to imagine founding fathers John Adams and George Washington sitting at a table discussing current events with curious residents, and Widow Haviland preparing a fine meal for her honored guests.
Warm up with mulled cider and tasty holiday cookies during this free event.
Operation Y Cares
Join the Rye Y in their disaster relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Sandy by donating the following items through December 16: sponges/rags, brooms, dustpans, cleaning/work gloves, clear contractor garbage bags (3 ml), shovels, rakes, bedding, towels, pots and pans, air mattresses, boxed plate sets, utensils, and new or gently used coats.
All donations will be delivered to victims by New York Cares, Belle Harbor, and Catholic Charities. For more information, call 967-6363.
Here Come the Holidays
Ages 5 and up are invited to listen to Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa stories and make a winter craft, Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the Rye library.
All I Want for Christmas Is…
Say hello to Santa and give him your list at the Rye Y, Friday from 5:30-7 p.m. Have your picture taken and make an ornament to take home. Refreshments will be served. Registration is not required.
Breakfast with Santa
Enjoy breakfast and have your picture taken with Santa, Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Rye Rec. Fee is $14 per person, $16 for non-residents. Registration is required as space is limited to 110 participants. Great for ages 2-7.
The program is sponsored by Corner Stone, Henri’s Upper Crust Bagel, TD Bank, and the Rye Seniors.
Vine Removal Project
Help free up some of the stresses that trees and shrubs deal with on a regular basis by removing problematic vines, Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at the Marshlands. Bring work gloves; hand tools will be provided.
A Pet Project
Learn to make a magnetic frame in which to put a pet photo, Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Rye library. Diane Seemer will lead participants in creating frames that make wonderful holiday gifts. To register, call 231-3172.
Abstract Drawing 101
Ages 12-17 are invited to join Katharine Dufault for a workshop focusing on drawing in an abstract style, Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at the Rye Arts Center. Learn to see beyond the literal and obvious, and search for deeper meaning and visuals beneath the surface. Dufault is the curator of the RAC exhibit “From Where I Stand”.
The fee is $20.
Family Building Project
Build screech owl boxes to hang in your backyard, Saturday from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Rye Nature Center. Cost is $12 for members, $20 non-members. For reservations, call 967-5150.
Blood Drive
Give the gift of life Sunday from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Resurrection Church. Refreshments will be served.
Holiday Scavenger Hunt
Children can search for wet things, red things, bumpy things, and everything in between, Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Marshlands.
Behind the Bin Laden Mission
The Rye library’s Current Events Book Group will discuss “No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden” by Mark Owen and Kevin Maure. The meeting is December 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Family Caregivers Group
The Rye Y and Wainwright House co-sponsor a support group for family caregivers. The next meeting takes place December 20 from 6-8 p.m. at Wainwright. This monthly meeting offers guidance, healing, and hope on how to make the most of the experience without losing yourself in the process.
Receive information on resources to help you in your role as a caregiver. Each meeting includes a guided relaxation meditation and stress-release exercises. Light refreshments will be served.
Cost is $10 for members, $15 non-members. For more information, call 967-6363.
Celebrate the Solstice
Restore your balance with nature at a drumming and fire ceremony, December 21 from 7-9 p.m. at Wainwright House. For reservations, call 967-6080.
Winter Tree Walk
Now that the leaves are down, the structure of trees can be seen more clearly. Examining their buds and other clues can reveal the identity of trees in winter. Bring winter twigs with buds from your own yards for identification, too.
Along with numerous other environmental benefits, trees help absorb water in the flood plain and serve as habitat for wildlife. Beall will discuss any birds seen during the walk. Multiple oaks and a large elm are among the trees included.
Trees were valued and studied by the Bird family. Alice Bird Erikson was a talented nature illustrator, who spent most of her life at the Bird Homestead. She produced beautiful color lithographs of trees found in the American landscape for a book entitled “Trees of the Countryside” by Margaret McKenny (Alfred A. Knopf, 1942). The book jacket recounts that, “Born to a family of scientists, [she] has grown up trained to observe and to appreciate the wonders of nature.” She was educated at Lowthorpe, a leading professional school for landscape architecture and horticulture in the early 20th century, and the first to train women.
The book review in The New York Times on September 13, 1942 shows the extent to which Erikson appreciated native ecosystems long before the native-plant movement of today. “The illustrator, who is also a naturalist, provides twenty-nine full-page, four-color lithographs, showing each tree in its natural setting. … Not only boys and girls but nature lovers of any age will enjoy these charming pictures which give so successfully the feeling of the countryside where each of the trees described is a native.”
Invaluable Insight
Explore your personality style and gain career direction at the next Lives in Transition meeting, January 3 from 7-9 p.m. at Rye Presbyterian Church.
Participants will take the Myers-Briggs Assessment, which is one of the most used personality tools. The results provide insight into how you interact with others and the world around you. Learn about the strengths and vulnerabilities of your personality type and identify occupations best suited for you.
To RSVP, email livesintransition@gmail.com.
Organize & Share with Pinterest
Learn how to start and maintain your own Pinterest — the online pin board that lets you organize and share things you love — January 10 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Rye library. Previous computer experience is required.
Twelve Very Different Views
The Rye Arts Center’s exhibit, “From Where I Stand”, presents an abstract vision of the world as seen through a colorful and diverse palette of works by 12 contemporary artists. Using a variety of media, each artist has created their own language of color, form, and line to create compositions based on abstract references to the real world.
The exhibit runs through January 5.
A Multi-Cultured Life on Canvas
An opening reception for “Life Story,” an exhibit of work by Eli Serfaty, will be held at the Rye library, January 12 from 1-4 p.m. The artist, born in Morocco and raised in Israel, is noted for his use of media inspired by ancient techniques, such as fresco and etching, and their application to modern themes.
The show will be up through the end of the month.
Gymnastics Open Workout
Ages 7 and up can work on all four Olympic events, plus Tumble Trac and Mini Trampoline instruction, December 20 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Rye Y. Gymnastics experience is required. Cost is $20.
Keep Them in Stitches
Kate Perri invites boys and girls, ages 7-9, to explore sewing at a workshop at the Rye Arts Center, December 22 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Students will learn simple stitching and make holiday ornaments to display.
Space is limited. The fee is $35, less for members. Visit ryeartscenter.com.
Game On!
Play Wii games on the library’s big screen December 21 from 3:15-5 p.m. Whether you’re a sports, action, or karaoke fan, the library has lots to choose from. Snacks will be provided.
In the Night Sky
Journey to the Rye Nature Center where the clear winter sky makes it the best time to see constellations, December 21 from 4-5 p.m. Learn to spot Aries, Lynx, Cassiopeia, Perseus, and many more.
Cost is $5 for members, $8 for non-members.
Daddy & Me Animal Show
Stop by the Rye Nature Center for an animal adventure, January 5 from 9:15-10 a.m. Cost is $10 for members, $15 non-members.
Marshlands Happenings
Experience the beauty of the Great-horned owls through a guided hike, January 6 at 5:30 p.m. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather.
Yoga for All
The Rye Y and Wainwright House offer yoga classes throughout December.
In the home stretch of preparing, shopping, and decorating, give yourself the chance to relax and reboot December 20.
Feeling extended and off-kilter? Practice standing poses December 27 and focus on being centered, grounded, and in alignment.
All sessions take place from 5:30-6:15 p.m. at Wainwright. Free for members.
Explore the Outdoors
Pre-school and elementary school students can take a nature break at the Rye Nature Center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., December 26, 27, 28, and 31. Learn about the habits of local wildlife as the days grow colder. Wear warm clothing and boots.
Per day cost is $60 for members, $70 non-members.
Mad Science
Grades K-4 can discover the physics behind crazy toys like Slinky, Yo-Yos, and gyroscopic tops, December 27 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Rye Rec. Participants will learn the difference between potential and kinetic energy in an exciting way. Cost is $55 for residents, $60 non-residents.
A free science show will follow this program at 1:30 p.m.
Tee Time
Children in grades K-8 can practice their swing and improve their game at Rye Rec’s Golf Camp, December 27 and 28 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Osborn gym.
Cost is $120 for residents, $145 non-residents.
Ready, Set, Get Fit!
Ages 12-17 can participate in cardiovascular workouts, fitness games, strength and swimming training, and special group classes with certified personal trainers and sports nutrition specialists, December 26-28 from 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Teens will work on personal goals such as getting better at sports, firming up, and learning more about health and fitness.
Cost is $130 for family/youth members, $190 non-members.
Basketball Camp
Ages 5-11 can review the fundamentals of basketball, December 26-28, and 31 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Participants will be grouped according to age and skill level.
Per day fee is $50 for family members, $60 youth members, and $95 non-members.
Tee Ball Time
Ages 5-7 can review basics skills including throwing, catching, base running, and batting, December 26-28, and 31 from 1-4 p.m.
Per-day cost is $50 for family members, $60 youth members, and $95 non-members.
Gymnastics Camp
Ages 5 and up can spend a half-day or full day learning gymnastics skills through drills, tumbling, and open workouts, December 26-28, and 31.
Per-day cost ranges from $50-$107.
Mix it Up
Ages 5-11 can take part in two hours of different exercise activities such as yoga, cheerleading, gymnastics, and free swim, December 26-28, and 31 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Per-day cost is $50 family members, $60 youth members, and $95 non-members.
Fun Club
Grades K-6 can participate in a variety of activities, including sports, games, swimming, arts & crafts, science projects, and field trips, December 26-28 and 31 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Per-day cost is $60 for members, $75 non-members.
For more information, visit ryeymca.org or call 967-6363.
School of the Holy Child
At Basketball Camp, participants will develop a strong foundation in basic skills. In a culture of overly pressured kids, this camp seeks to provide as much fun as possible.
What is non-Newtonian Oobleck? How do you measure blood pressure? How do airplanes fly? These are just a few of the topics covered in Science Camp. Each day will be filled with hands-on activities. An inquiry-based learning approach will be utilized to explore the world of science around us.
Both camps run from December 26-28 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost is $150. Great for children in grades 3-5. Register by December 19; visit holychildrye.org.
The Rye library has planned several activities to entertain children during the break.
Play a variety of classic board and card games for two or more players in the Children’s Room, December 27 from 2-4 p.m.
See two popular movies on a big screen. “Brave” (PG) will be shown December 26 at 2 p.m. and “Ice Age: Continental Drift” December 28 from 3:30-5 p.m. Manny, Diego, and Sid embark upon another adventure after their continent is set adrift. Using an iceberg as a ship, they encounter sea creatures and battle pirates while exploring a new world.
Ages 3½ and up can listen to preschool story time at 11 a.m. and attend drop-in crafts, December 29 at 11:30 a.m.
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