Compiled by Janice Llanes Fabry

 

This Weekend

Fathers and Feathers
Dads and kids, flock to the Rye Nature Center first thing on Saturday morning at 9:15. Have a fun-filled adventure with the resident animals. There is much to see and lots to learn. The fee is $10 for members, $15 non-members.

 

“Lightning in a Jar”  
The Rye Free Reading Room is pleased to invite kindergarteners on up, to meet beloved author and illustrator Patricia Polacco on Saturday at 2. The author of more than 50 award-winning picture books including “Thank You Mr. Falker”, “The Keeping Quilt”, “The Blessing Cup”, and “My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother”, Polacco’s presentations cover her learning disabilities, heroic teachers in her life, and the pain she suffered from teasing.

Copies of her books will be available for purchase and signing with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library. This event is presented in memory of Marcia Dalphin, Rye Free Reading Room librarian and director, 1920-1953.

 

Arts & Entertainment

Ahead of the Curve
From March 15 to May 22, the Rye Arts Center will feature the works of Eva Zeisel, an internationally recognized mid-century designer whose playful search for beauty resulted in abstract, curvaceous forms. Join Zeisel’s family and fans at an opening reception on March 15 from 3-5.

Curated by Jeff Taylor and Andrea Megyes, the solo retrospective will showcase Zeisel’s vases, tableware, and home furnishings. Her love for design spanned 80 years, yet the works remain modern and iconic.

Italian Renaissance
Examine the fertile period of art history, from the 14th to the mid-16th century, through lectures at the Rye Arts Center by Fiona Garland, M.A., Courtauld Institute of Art in London. There are two remaining in this four-part series: March 11 and March 18 from 10-11:30. Fee is $10 per lecture.

 

Community Portrait
A reception for “Rye — My Hometown & Beyond,” photography by Ceil Harrigan, will be held March 14 from 1-4 at the Rye Free Reading Room. All proceeds from the afternoon’s silent auction will benefit the library.

Now based in Rye and Chatham, Massachusetts, Harrigan calls imagery her life and loves to photograph people, pets, landscapes, and sports. She spent her professional career traveling the world for MCI and is never without her camera.

The show runs through March 28.

 

Life Is a Cabaret
Come to the cabaret at the Square House March 14 at 7:30. The Rye Historical Society will present an evening of traditional songs brought to America by immigrant forebears. This special program, presented in conjunction with the Society’s new exhibition, “Immigration In Rye”, will feature local singer and entertainer Margie McCabe accompanied on the piano by Madeline Tiktin. Among the selections for this special evening are “When New York was Irish”, “Sorrento”, “Mama”, and “Die Gedanken sind frei”.  

Tickets are $20 for members, $25 non-members. Wine and refreshments will be offered. Reservations are suggested; call 967-7588.

 

Our Rich History
The Rye Historical Society’s “Immigration in Rye” continues to show the impact mass migrations of the 19th and 20th centuries had on the community.

The exhibit chronicles the role immigration played in our rapid population growth through archival documents, photographs, and artifacts. For more information, call 967-7588 or visit www.ryehistory.org.

For a Good Cause

March Madness Gala
Dust off your collegiate gear and join the Rye YMCA for a festive evening at Manursing Island Club on March 14 from 7-11. Get ready for tournament games, food, beer and wine, music, raffles, and more. Tickets are $150. Donations to send a child to camp start at $275.

 

All for Youth
The Children’s Philanthropy Section of The Woman’s Club of Rye is hosting its second annual benefit March 20 from 7:30-11 at Serendipity Labs, 80 Theodore Fremd Avenue. Enjoy a festive evening of food, wine, and beer. There will also be live music performed by Gary Adamson. All proceeds will benefit children’s programs in Rye.

Tickets are $65 if purchased in advance, $75 at the door. For tickets go to www.womansclubofrye .eventbrite.com.  For additional information, contact Mary Kelly Kehoe at mckbree@aol.com.

Talks and Workshops

Claims, Coverage, and Benefits, Oh My
Paul Jeffery will be at the Rye Free Reading Room on March 10 at 10 to clear up the mysteries about signing up for Medicare, changing a plan or choosing options for more coverage. His talk will also cover Medicare supplement (Medigap), Medicare Advantage plans, and the differences between HMO, PPO, PFFS, SNP, and MSA.  

Jeffery is an insurance/retirement representative and an IRS Registered Tax Return Preparer. For more information, visit www.ryelibrary.org.

 

Well-Being Begins at Home
Does someone in your family suffer from Lyme disease, asthma, autism, or sleep difficulties? At Wainwright House on March 15 from 10-11:30, certified microbial consultant May Dooley will discuss common issues at home that could be linked with symptoms. She’ll review your home from stem to stern, and you’ll pick up plenty of tips for making it healthier.

The program fee is $15.

 
Light Touch of Tech
Join SPRYE for a tech workshop at Rye High School’s TV Studios on March 10 from 3-4. Rye Youth Council students will coach participants about the ins and outs of their latest electronic devices. Free.

 

Go With your Gut
Continuing the “Healthy You” series, Dr. Kurt Waples will talk about gut health at the Rye Free Reading Room on March 12 from 10-11:30. Did you know that 70 percent of your immune system lies in your gut?

The chiropractor, kinesiologist, and natural medicine practitioner will discuss the causes and, more importantly, the solutions to cleaning up your gut and getting rid of your discomfort.

 

iWizardry
“Using Your iPad – Step 2” will be held at the Rye Free Reading Room on March 12 from 10-12. Mike Negrelli, an IBM veteran of 37 years, will teach the class.

Learn all about: downloading from the App Store; camera and picture handling; reading books via iBooks and Kindle; accessing iTunes; podcasting; and viewing TV and movies. Attendees should bring their fully charged iPads to class.

 

Big Apple     
The Rye Free Reading Room will feature a talk on the history of New York City on March 12 at 7. Larchmont native Dr. Elizabeth L. Bradley will blend past and present in an engaging presentation that documents the famous people and places of New York.

Based on her book “New York”, Bradley will offer a humorous and historical peek into the City That Never Sleeps. Copies of “New York” will be available to purchase.

 

Revelations
Experience how time-tested wavelengths relate to the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies at Wainwright House on March 12 from 7-9. Within the Book of Revelations in the Bible, the Breastplate of Aaron is a tool that heals all nations and is incorporated here by Catherine Sweet. The cost is $44 for members, $48 non-members. Register at www.wainwright.org.

 

Beat a Different Drum
Improve your health with the rhythm and soul of Damon Jackson at Wainwright House on March 13 and April 10 from 7-9. A Community Drum Circle is a place for individuals to express themselves through the use of drums and percussion instruments. The perfect antidote to a stressful workplace, it reduces stress and boosts the immune system. The fee is $20 for members, $22 non-members.

 

Clear the Path to Joy
Remove the barriers to happiness, health, and success at Wainwright House at Dr. Henry Grayson’s two-day workshop March 14 from 10-5 and March 15 from 10-3. Learn easy and effective methods for identifying causes behind the physical and emotional symptoms preventing happiness. Powerful methods such as EFT tapping will be utilized. Fee is $200 for members, $220 non-members. Bring your lunch.

Bit of History
Rye resident Pamela McGuire will present “Hidden History: The Story of Slavery in Rye” for SPRYE at Wainwright House on March 18 from 3-4:30. Her talk will cover the late 17th century to the 1820s when slavery was outlawed in New York State. The program is free. Refreshments will be served.

 

The Red Fruit
The groundhog saw its shadow, so it’s not too early to start thinking about the garden. Start your own tomatoes at the Rye Nature Center on March 14 at 10. There are so many more varieties than the ones at the local nurseries and stores. The center will have a great variety of tomatoes and other vegetable seeds on hand. They might look funny and bruise easily, but they taste extraordinary. The fee is $7 for members, $10 non-members.

 

Talk to the Animals?
Interested in volunteering at the Rye Nature Center? Head over there on March 18 from 4-5:30 for animal care training. No experience necessary. Participants must be 14 or older. Pre-registration is required. Email jenicasinelli@ryenaturecenter.org.

 

Don’t Do Windows?
Learn the basic operation of Windows 8.1, the system used by most new computers today, at the Rye Free Reading Room on March 19 from 10 -12. The workshop will also cover minimizing problems by updating programs and updating virus protection.

If you have a Windows 8 laptop, bring it to class with the battery fully charged; otherwise, you can watch the demonstrations and use the handouts to help on your Desktop or Tower Windows 8 computer at home. 

For more information, go to www.ryelibrary.org or call 231-3161.

 

Diffusing Aromatherapy
Learn all about essential oils at the Rye Free Reading Room on March 19 at 7:30. Speaker Stephanie Webb became interested in essential oils through her desire to treat her children safely and naturally. She has been trained in their usage in a therapeutic health setting and continues to research and teach others on their healing potential. Webb is also trained in the Aromatouch Technique, which brings homeostasis to the body.

 

Don’t Miss

Sunday Afternoon Chamber Concert
For their first concert of the year, the Westchester Chamber Music Society is pleased to present the Orion String Quartet, one of the most sought-after ensembles in the United States. They have been heard on NPR’s Performance Today, have appeared on PBS’s Live From Lincoln Center, and A&E’s Breakfast With the Arts. This group, formed more than 25 years ago, honors the original intent of classical chamber music, having worked with such legends as Pablo Casals, Rudolf Serkin, Isaac Stern, and Pinchas Zukerman, while venturing into the 20th and 21st centuries with commissioned works from composers such as Chick Corea, Leon Kirchner, and Wynton Marsalis.

The concert will open with Haydn’s String Quartet in D Major, Op.76, No. 5, followed by Schumann’s String Quartet in F Major, Op. 41, No. 2. The finale will be the magnificent String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor (Death and the Maiden) by Franz Schubert.

The performance is Sunday, March 15 at 3 at Congregation Emanu-El of Rye, 2125 Westchester Avenue. Seating is open. Tickets, which can be purchased online at westchesterchambermusicsociety.com or at the door, are $40. Admission is free for students. All guests are welcome to attend an after-concert wine and cheese reception and meet and mingle with the artists.

 

Family Ties

Setting Sail
Back by popular demand, the second annual Cardboard Boat Regatta will be held at the Rye YMCA pool on March 13 at 6:30. Families are challenged to design and create a human-powered boat at home using only cardboard and duct tape. Then they bring their boats to be judged on artistic creativity prior to racing the length of the pool. Win a trophy!

Guidelines and rules available at the member services desk upon registration, which is required, or email Hillary@ryeymca.org. Free for Family members: $10 per boat for Youth and non-members.  

Children’s Corner

Strumming with Friends
On March 10, kids will be movin’ and groovin’ at the Rye Free Reading Room with Graham Clarke from 1-1:45. Kids will enjoy the popular children’s entertainer and his guitar friends Delores, Cinnamon, and Bluebell.
 

Mini March Madness
On March 14 from 7-10, the Rye YMCA is open to middle schoolers, who can play 3-on-3 basketball tournaments and enjoy the game room. Pizza will be served. For more information, email cindy@ryeymca.org.

 

Girls Night In
Calling all girls, ages 5-11, to come spend the evening with their friends at the Rye YMCA on March 13 from 6-9. Enjoy swimming, jewelry making, make up, nail painting games, and dinner. Family membership: $18/child; youth membership: $26/child; non-members: $35/child. Registration required.

 

Ice Capades
Nothing to do on teacher conference day? Students in grades 1-5 can join Rye Recreation at Playland Ice for a fun afternoon of skating March 12 from 1:30-3. Check-in with Playland staff by 1:15. Helmets and gloves are required. Skate rentals, if needed, snack, and supervision all provided. Fee: $20.

Register at www.ryeny.gov/recreation.cfm, click on March conference day specials.

 

Cupcake Crazy
Enjoy the sweetest fun of all at the Damiano Recreation Center with 350 Bakery on March 18 from 12:30-2:30. One of the Rec’s teacher conference day programs, it includes snacks, supplies, and a picnic to take home to the family. Fee: $40, residents only, limited enrollment. Register at www.ryeny.gov/recreation.cfm, click on March conference day specials.

 

Inspector Gadget
Gadgets Science Fun Club for children in grades 3-5 will take place on March 20 at the Rye Free Reading Room from 3:30-4:30. Future scientists and engineers are sure to enjoy this monthly program’s science, technology, engineering and math.

Space is limited. Visit www.ryelibrary.org to sign up. Go to Programs and Events, choose the event, and click on the register button. For more information, call 231-3162.

 

Recreation with Robotics
Tweens will learn how to build and program Lego robots of varying degrees of difficulty at the Rye Free Reading Room March 21 from 2-3:30. They will be provided with kits and pre-programmed sequences to help them see the possibilities for their own robot and learn how to modify the program using their own ideas. Once designed, the programs will be downloaded to an NXT Intelligent Lego Brick so that the robot can execute them.

Registration for this class is strictly limited and age-appropriate for tweens. Visit www.ryelibrary.org. and go to Programs and Events.

 

Let the Games Begin
After school gets out early on March 24, first through fifth graders can head to Rye Rec’s Damiano Center from 12:30-3. Bring lunch, drink, and snack. The game room will be open for air hockey, Ping-Pong, Guitar Hero, and other video games. Fee: $15. Register at www.ryeny.gov/recreation.cfm, click on March conference day specials.

 

Spring Back Into History
Children ages 7-11 are invited to spend spring break at the Square House Museum with three days of programs inspired by their “Immigration in Rye” exhibit from 10-12.

A family history workshop on March 31 teaches students how to create a family tree, journal, or scrapbook. Children should bring in photos, names of family members, stories, and other heirlooms. On April 1, they will watch and discuss “An American Tail”, the 1989 animated movie that follows a Russian family’s immigration to the U.S. On April 2, kids will taste foods from around the world. They’ll learn about their origins and the immigrants who brought them to America.

The fee for the program is $35 for all three days, $15 for one. For more information, call 967-7588 or visit www.ryehistory.org.

Save the Date

Mid-Century Madness     
The Rye Arts Center Spring benefit gala will be held at Shenorock Shore Club on April 18 at 7. This year’s honorees include four individuals who represent the beauty and power of the arts, as well as longstanding support of the Rye Arts Center: Kim Berns, Eileen Neiman, and Robin and Peter Jovanovich.

Gala Co-Chairs Fiona and Ozgen Dogan, Suzanna and Andrew Keith, Amy and Shaun Lawrence, and Anne and Don Pollard invite all to take part in a Mid-Century Madness night of light supper, cocktails, auction, and music. All proceeds will support the many valuable arts education and outreach initiatives of the RAC. 

For information regarding tickets, donations, and journal ads, contact Noah Opitz at 967-0700, ext. 33, or noahopitz@ ryeartscenter.org.

 

Classics in the Sanctuary
Rye Presbyterian Church will present chamber music March 22 at 2:30. Artistic Director Ronald Arron, who is playing the viola, has assembled world-renowned musicians: clarinetist Anthony McGill, cellist Edward Arron, and pianist Jeewon Park.

The program includes Mozart Trio in E-flat, Piazzolla Autumn and Spring, Arvo Pärt Spiegel im Spiegel, and Glinka Trio Pathétique. For more information, email ronarron@optonline.net or call 276-2061.

 

Jazzy Brunch  
In the final installment of its Winter Jazz Brunch series, Wainwright House presents critically acclaimed jazz guitarist and composer Peter Hand with his trio and a Corner Stone brunch on March 22 from 11:30-2.

Downbeat featured the musician in their editors’ picks last year: “Hand’s guitar solos are tasteful and restrained throughout, showcasing his fluid style with vibrant runs and compelling conversations with his band mates.”

Seats are $40 for members, $45 non-members, and $15 for children under 12. Reserve a seat at www.wainwright.org or call 967-6080.

 

Women’s Voices
Celebrate Women’s History Month with a special retreat at Wainwright House March 27 through March 29. Facilitator Holly Galgano has planned a soulful weekend. Explore the feminine voices that liberate, create, and heal. Harpist/singer Ani Williams, author/intuitive Gloria Amendola, and singer/percussionist Alessandra Belloni will be featured. Wainwright’s yoga and meditation teachers will also offer sessions.

Guests will stay in European-style retreat rooms, relax on the grounds of the oldest holistic center in America, and enjoy healthy and delicious meals. The cost is $365 for members, $395 non-members, and $295 commuters. For more information, visit www.wainwright.org.