Around Town


Compiled by Janice Llanes Fabry

<<This Weekend>>

Habla Español?

The whole family can stop by the Rye library on Saturday from 11-11:45 for a blast of culture, music, and stories in Spanish. Learn songs and rhymes with Marilyn Castillo and her amazing guitar.

The program in the Children’s Room continues on July 22 and 29.

With pix of Edith Read Sanctuary

Nature’s Gifts

Find out what is going on in nature this time of year on an ecology walk at the Read Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday at 1, while strolling the grounds of Westchester County’s 179-acre nature preserve is sure to inspire.

Rise and Shine

Stretch, breathe, and relax with an outdoor open level Vinyasa class that combines Ashtanga and Sivananda yoga at Wainwright House on Sunday from 9-10. Experienced yogi Melissa Miller will lead the class with breath awareness, sun salutations, and asanas.

Participants should bring their own mats. Register at wainwright.org. Minimum suggested donation is $15.

National Treasure

The Jay Heritage Center’s 1838 Greek Revival mansion is open to the public on Sundays all summer from 2-5. Founding Father John Jay grew up on this majestic, historic 23-acre oasis that boasts views of the Long Island Sound.

<<Arts & Entertainment>>

Summer Arias

The Rye Free Reading Room’s Metropolitan Opera presentations continue on Mondays from 12-3. Bring your own lunch and swoon over Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” on July 17, Wagner’s “Parsifal” on July 24, Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” on July 31, Verdi’s “Luisa Miller” on August 7, and Straus’ “Elektra” on August 14.

Magic and Merriment in our Midst

The Rye Arts Center and the Rye Free Reading Room have partnered with LawnChair Theatre to present local outdoor performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. On July 20, the production will be held on Rye’s Village Green; on July 21 in Rye Brook’s Crawford Mansion; on July 22 in Rye Brook’s Pine Ridge Park; on July 28 and 29 at Rye Town Park. All shows begin at 6:30.

Suggested donation is $20, for students and seniors $10. For further details, visit lawnchairtheatre.org.

<<Talks, Workshops, & Just for Fun>>

Podcasting 101

RyeTV is offering an introductory course for Rye teens and adults July 17 and 19 from 5:30-7:30 at the studio at Rye High School. The instructor is Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Laura Meoli, host of LoudaVision Podcast for creative people.

For more information, visit rtv@ryeny.gov.

Eat Well, Live Well

Join the Rye YMCA for free nutrition seminars from 11:30-12:30. On July 19, the experts will show you how to shop for, prepare, and cook healthy foods. On August 16, learn all about eating for your heart.

Contact elana@ryeymca.org with any questions.

The Backbone of Posture

Wainwright House presents “BodyReading: Global Postural Assessment” July 22 and 23 from 9-5. Certified yoga and Pilates instructor and licensed psychotherapist Laurice Nemetz will help participants understand postural patterns and skeletal relationships by using Anatomy Trains maps. Learn to identify strain patterns that underlie pain.

The fee is $375 for members and non-members, $425 after June 24. Register at wainwright.org. For more information, visit wellnessbridge.com.

Doing Chores for Mother Earth

Friends of Read Wildlife Sanctuary invite one and all to help with invasive plant removal, trail work, and beach cleanup on July 22 and August 12 at 10. Lend a hand while getting exercise and giving back.

(with pix of Wainwright garden)

Writing in the Great Outdoors

At Wainwright’s nature-inspired writing workshops, on July 22 and August 19 from 10-1, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the spectacular grounds of the holistic center. Inspired by nature and instructor Michelle Levy, participants will spend 20 minutes writing and have time to share afterwards.

Open to all levels, the program will address the principles of deep ecology and biomimicry. Prepare for an easy walk and sitting on the ground. The fee is $30 for members, $35 non-members, $40 at the door. 

Sunset Salutations

Join certified yoga teacher Hiromi Nomoto at Wainwright for a twilight yoga class on the lawn July 25 from 7-8. The open-level class with views of Milton Harbor will include breath work, movement, and meditation. Japanese translation is available.

Bring your own mat. Register at wainwright.org. Minimum suggested donation is $15.

A String of Purls

Discover the technique of color stranding at a knitting workshop at The Rye Arts Center on July 26 from 12:30-3:30. This introduction to Fair Isle Knitting will offer knitters, ages 18 and up, who are comfortable knitting and purling the opportunity to read charts, knit in the round, select color, and catch long floats.

Participants need to bring two colors of DK weight wool, 150 yards of each, six needles, and 16-inch circular stitch markers. The fee is $35. Register at ryeartscenter.org.

I Spy Nature

Sharpen your observation skills at a scavenger hunt at Edith Read Sanctuary on July 29 at 10. With checklists and maps, visitors may go at their own pace this self-guided hunt.

Poses to Purr By

Yoga instructor and animal lover Angela Brandt will lead the Rye library’s first- ever Kitty Yoga class on July 29 from 2-4. Unwind while cuddling kittens. Practice yoga while curious kittens from cat rescue FURRR 911 practice their people skills.

Bring your own mats. Pre-register at ryelibrary.org.

Sound Journey

Relax and restore at Wainwright’s sound bath July 30 from 2-3:30. Participants will be immersed in frequencies and complex overtones of vibrational instruments to stimulate the body’s self-healing and calm the nervous system.

The fee is $25 for members, $30 non-members, $35 at the door. Register at wainwright.org.

<<Family Ties>>

Sunshine and Stories

Bring the kids, from infants to preschoolers, to Rye Town Park from 9:30-10:15 every Tuesday from July 18 to August 22, courtesy of the Rye Free Reading Room. Families will enjoy sunshine, stories, and engaging activities by the seaside.

The park will charge a reduced parking fee of $2.

Music Making

Children entering kindergarten through fifth grade can make their own musical instruments at the Rye library July 20 from 6-7. Using recycled trash and craft supplies, artist B. Smith will lead the creative workshop and then a musical interlude.

Build a car on August 3 and build a pasta sculpture on August 17.

Space is limited. Pre-registration is required at ryelibrary.org.

Summer Night, Had Me a Blast

Calling all parents to enjoy a night off while the Rye YMCA provides the supervision and entertainment for the kids on July 21 and August 18 from 6-9. Themed storybook activities are “Rainbow Fish” in July and “Chicka Chicka Boom, Boom” in August.

Light snacks provided, but feed children dinner beforehand. For more information, email kellylewin@ryeymca.org.

Raising Hope

Join Stars of Hope at a Build a Better World workshop at the Rye library on July 27 from 6-7. This disaster relief and community arts program empowers children to transform communities impacted by natural and man-made disasters.

Families will paint inspirational messages and designs on a wooden star to be donated. Register at ryelibrary.org. For more information, visit starsofhopeusa.org.

Downward Dog Tales

The Rye Free Reading Room presents story time yoga on the Village Green every Saturday in August from 11-11:45. On August 5, Master Storytime Yoga teacher Elisha Simpson narrates folktales and interprets them through yoga, giving children a way to connect and discover their imagination.

Art From the Heart

Author and illustrator Terry Taylor will visit the Rye library August 10 from 6-7. Families with kids entering kindergarten to fifth grade will all enjoy the author’s story about kindness, “Meet Genna and Russ, the Generous Kids.” Participants will create two polymer clay hearts, one to keep and one for a child at a local hospital.

Signed books will be available after the workshop. Pre-register at ryelibrary.org.

<<Children’s Corner>>

In Style

Ages 6-12 can make their own T-shirts at a workshop at The Rye Arts Center July 18 from 3:30-5:30. Using found objects and plants, students can expose them under the sunlight to create cool blueprints or “cyanotypes.” They’ll go home with one-of-a-kind wearable art.

The fee is $50. All supplies included.

Storybook Inspirations

Kids entering kindergarten – grade 2 are invited to join the Ryebrary STEAMers at the Rye Free Reading Room’s STEAM lab on Fridays all summer long from 4-5. On July 21, “What Do You Sense in a Garden” by Anne Mottola will have kids discovering the textures, smells, and sights in a garden.

On July 28, Chris Tougas’ “Mechanimals,” a book about a farmer’s animals being swept up by a tornado, will be discussed. Participants will have the opportunity to make their own mechanimals to take home. On August 4, they will build a model car out of paper towel rolls after talking about “If I Built a Car” by Chris Van Dusen and on August 18, they will construct a bridge out of popsicle sticks along with “Iggy Peck, Architect” by Andrea Beaty.

Children do not have to pre-read the books. Register at ryelibrary.org.

Build and They Will Come

A STEAM workshop by ArchForKids is held at the Rye library every Friday for grades 3-5 from 4-5. On July 21, they’ll design and build a waterfront park; a dream house on July 28; a skyscraper on August 4; a village and community facades on August 11 and 18.

Pre-registration at ryelibrary.org is required for these events, sponsored by TD Bank.

Play iBall!

Rye Recreation is offering a 21^st Century Baseball Camp at Disbrow Park the week of August 7 and/or August 14 from 9-3. Campers will benefit from working with 21^st Century Sports training experts, who use tablets on the field to learn the game in a fun and unique way. Action photos of participants will be posted on Facebook for parents to see.

For fee and registration information, visit 21CSonline.com.