Compiled by Janice Llanes Fabry
This Weekend
Outdoor Reflections
Join storyteller Jonathan Kruk for wonderful tales of turning leaves and giving thanks at the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday at 10.
Families with school-age children and up are welcome. Steve Kelman will provide musical accompaniment. Donations gratefully accepted.
Make Way for Clay
The Rye Arts Center invites children to a fall celebration Saturday from 2-3 for ages 6-8, and from 3-4 for ages 9-11. Create clay turkey sculptures with local artist Terry Taylor, author of “Clay Play.” He will show students how to transform simple balls and coils of polymer clay into one-of-a-kind turkeys. All supplies are included. Fee is $10 per workshop, with a discount for members.
Get on Your Feet
Dance over to Wainwright House for a 5-Rhythms dynamic dance/movement practice on Saturday from 2-3:30. The class will ignite the body’s creativity, connection, and community. Each rhythm provides a different energy field.
The workshop is for young and old, as well as for all ability levels. For details, call 967-6080 or visit wainwright.org.
To the Core!
The Rye library invites ages 5 and up and their grown-ups to decorate chocolate, caramel, or candy apples with flair, on Saturday from 2-3:30. Pre-registration is required at ryelibrary.org.
A Fireside Chat About FDR
Local historian and lecturer David L. Auerbach will discuss “Franklin Delano Roosevelt: The Invisible Core of Greatness” Sunday at 3 at the Rye home of League of Women Voters President Debbie Reisner.
Most historians and economists concede that FDR did not cure the Great Depression, yet they also agree he was the 20th century’s greatest leader. Auerbach, Senior Counsel to Pryor Cashman LLP, will explore this paradox through anecdotal reflection.
Seating is limited. RSVP to lwv.rye.ryebrook.portchester@ gmail.com. A donation of $50 per person is suggested.
First Thanksgiving
The Rye Historical Society and the Friends of Rye Nature Center will co-host a unique program celebrating the origins of Thanksgiving at the Square House Museum on Saturday from 2-4. Explore the tools, techniques, and foods commonly used by the early inhabitants of the area, and enjoy a sampling of Native American and colonial dishes.
The cost is $10 per family. Reservations are suggested. Call the Rye Historical Society at 967-7588.
Giving Thanks
Tellabration, an annual worldwide gathering featuring the sharing of stories of Thanksgiving and community, will be commemorated locally at the Rye library on Saturday at 7. Members of the Rye Storytellers’ Guild and others will entertain with tales for grown-ups.
Bring a friend and enjoy this evening of refreshments and stories. Listeners, as well as tellers, are always welcome.
Treading Holy Waters
Join Wainwright for a two-session Native American spirituality program Sunday from 1-3 and 3:30-5:30. In the first, Evan Pritchard, a professor of Native American Studies at Marist College, will discuss “The Water Element.” The second workshop will cover advanced teachings about the sacredness of water in the Algonquin culture.
For a Good Cause
Thankswimming
For the 11th year running, the Rye YMCA shows its support for the MAC Angels Foundation for families with ALS and LIVESTRONG for adult cancer survivors with a Thanksgiving Swim With Cause, the morning of November 28.
For session one, “We are ValSTRONG,” participants may register and check in at 7:15 for a 7:50-8:35 casual swim focused on fun and camaraderie. For session two, “Getter Done for Claire,” register and check in at 8:15 for a 9-9:45 masters swim focused on fitness and camaraderie.
To reserve a spot in the pool, contact Laura Tiedge at laura@ryeymca.org or Phil Gormley at phil@peacockapparel.net. The entry fee is $50.
Arts & Entertainment
Prominent Collection
As part of the Rye Arts Center’s “Eye on Art “series, art lovers are invited to tour Dia:Beacon December 3 from 11-1. In Beacon, on the banks of the Hudson River, Dia:Beacon is part of the Foundation’s constellation of sites that present their art collection from the 1960s to the present. The Rye Arts Center’s Margot Clark-Junkins will accompany participants on a tour led by an on-site docent.
The site itself, a 1929 factory building, has many key design elements that complement a contemporary art installation, such as 34,000-square feet of skylights. Two of the artists featured are Dan Flavin and Richard Serra.
After the one-hour tour, guests will have free time to explore and enjoy lunch in the Homespun Dia:Beacon café. The cost of the tour is $35.
Three Generations of Artists
Paintings by Henny Johanna and photographs by her daughter, Cheryl Selinka, will be on display at the Rye Free Reading Room from December 3-29. “Sentimental Journeys” includes original paintings of Johanna’s recent visit to her beloved homeland, the picturesque island of Foehr in the north sea of Germany, as well as daughter Selinka’s photographs of Foehr.
A reception to meet the artists will be held December 5 from 1 to 3. Johanna’s granddaughter, Heather LaRose, will provide musical accompaniment.
Textural Treasures
Works by Lusandre Chaudruc are on display at the Rye Free Reading Room through November 28. Chaudruc headed a textile design studio for 30 years.
Young at Art
The artworks of SPRYE members and volunteers at The Osborn are on display through January 6.
Visiting hours for the general public are 10-6. Call 925-8218 beforehand.
Talks, Workshops, & Just for Fun
Book Worms
The upcoming Rye Free Reading Room book group selections are:
“Heretic: Why Islam needs a Reformation Now” by Ayann Hirsi Ali for the Current Events Group meeting November 24 at 6:30; “Daughters of the Samurai” by Janice P. Nimura for the Thursday Afternoon Group meeting on December 3 at 1:15; and “Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas” by Stephanie Barron for the Friday Café meeting December 4 at 9:30. Call the library at 231-3161 for this meeting’s offsite location.
Copies of the books are available at the library’s circulation desk and everyone is welcome to join the discussions.
Stories to Warm the Heart
The Rye Storytellers’ Guild meets at the Rye Free Reading Room one Tuesday evening a month at 6 to share traditional and personal tales and trade tips on storytelling techniques. Join the group on December 1 for “Warm Tales for a Cold Winter’s Eve.”
Listeners, as well as tellers, are always welcome. To learn more, contact Angela at Booksamc@ aol.com.
United Nations Day
Join the Rye, Rye Brook, and Port Chester League of Women Voters at the annual League Day at the United Nations December 3 from 10-3. There will be briefings by UN experts on global healthcare and education.
A Delegates’ Dining Room lunch and UN tours will also be available. You can sign up for one or all three and pay accordingly. For more information, email lwv.rye.ryebrook.portchester@gmail.com.
Politics as Usual
Historian Joanne B. Freeman will explore “Dirty Nasty Politics in Early America” in a talk at the Jay Heritage Center December 3 at 7. She will describe the gritty realities of politics in the 1790s, during the nation’s first decade under its new Constitution.
A professor of History at Yale University, Freeman has written for the New York Times, Journal of the Early Republic, and the Yale Law Journal. She has done extensive work in the realm of public history, including lectures at the Smithsonian Museum and the National Gallery of Art.
Seating is limited. Reservations requested. Call 698-9275 or email jayheritagecenter@gmail.com.
Especially for Seniors
Navigating Life’s Transitions
On November 30, Wainwright House presents an interactive, educational discussion on elder care from 7-8:30. Barbara Newman Mannix will explain advanced directives documentation and future health care treatment preferences.
Suggested donation is $10. For further details, call 967-6080 or visit wainwright.org.
Tech Boost
Join SPRYE for a free technology workshop December 8 from 3-4 at Rye High School. Rye Youth Council students will provide one-on-one help to perfect your skills on various electronic devices.
Family Ties
Not a Turkey in the Bunch
Join Rye Recreation’s 39th Annual Turkey Run November 28. The Paws Walk starts at 9; the One-Mile Fun Run is off at 9:30; and the 3.2- and 5-mile races begin at 10. All races start and finish at the Recreation Center.
For more information and to register, call 967-2536 or visit ryeny.gov/recreation.cfm.
Santa Comes to Town
At the Rye YMCA’S first family Friday, December 4, from 6:30-7:30, drop by and say hi to Santa Claus. Don’t forget your cameras/phones for the holiday photo op!
Light refreshments and a craft activity will be offered. Registration is required. Visit ryeymca.org or call 967-6363.
Star of Wonder
Artist and crafts instructor Lavinia Wiggins will be at the Rye library December 4 from 3:30-4:30 to lead teens in making handcrafted Finnish star ornaments for the holiday season.
All materials will be supplied for the paper creations. Space is limited. For more information, call 231-3172. To sign up, visit ryelibrary.org.
Children’s Corner
Young Readers Unite
Tweens in grades 5 and 6 are welcome to join the Rye Free Reading Room’s “I Read a Latte” book club, whose next meeting will be held December 19 at 3. They will be discussing “Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy” by Karen Foxlee.
To register, visit ryelibrary.org, then stop by the library to pick up a copy of the book.
Book Smarts
Join the Rye Free Reading Room’s librarians for once-a-month snacks and chats about lively, thought-provoking books. Grades 1 and 2 will read “Balloons Over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet, to be discussed on November 28 from 3-4.
Grades 3 and 4 will read “The Case of the Vanishing Little Brown Bats: A Scientific Mystery” by Sandra Markle, to be discussed the same day from 4-5. Pre-registration is required at ryelibrary .org.
Pixar Presents
The Rye library has planned a Brown Bag movie for ages 5 and up November 27 from 1-2:40. They can bring their lunch and enjoy it while watching the Academy Award winning “WALL-E” (rated G). The library will provide snacks and a drink.
Fowl on the Prowl
Join Friends of Rye Nature naturalists as they explore the grounds of the Rye Nature Center November 28 at 1. Ages 4-7 will search for local turkeys in the forest. The fee is $5 for young members, $8 non-members.
Gizmos Glee
Grades K-2 will enjoy a STEM activity at the Rye library December 4 from 4-5. The session will give kids the opportunity to engage in hands-on, inquiry-based experiments. Space is limited. Sign up at ryelibrary.org.
Calling All Kids
Ages 5-11 can enjoy swimming, sports, and games with their friends at the Rye YMCA December 4 from 6-9. Dinner is included, too. Registration is required. Visit ryeymca.org or call 967-6363.
That night, same time, moms and dads who want a well-deserved night out, can drop off their young children, ages 3 months to 5 years, at the Rye Y, where supervision and entertainment will be provided. Kids can wear their favorite pajamas and participate in arts, fun activities, and snacks.
The fee for family members is $15 per child, youth members $20 per child.
Registration is required.
Save the Date
Holiday Birthday Bash
Celebrate New York’s favorite native Founding Father John Jay with a 270th birthday party at the Jay Heritage Center on December 12 from 2-5. Guests will also enjoy a holiday jamboree with a capella music by Princeton’s Tigressions and the Yale Spizzwinks. Enjoy winter refreshments and costumed tours of the 1838 Jay Mansion. Free for all.
Dickens of a Weekend
Spend a festive weekend at Wainwright House December 5 and 6 from 10-4. A choir, Irish dancers, and a marionette show will get everyone in the holiday spirit.
There will also be cooking demonstrations, caricature artists, souvenir photos, and a marketplace offering unique handcrafted gifts. For further details, visit wainwright.org.
Square House by Candlelight
Step back in time and experience a colonial Christmas at the Square House Museum on December 5 from 7-9. The historic Rye landmark will be decorated for the season and ready to receive guests as costumed docents guide them through the tavern room, kitchen and second floor rooms by candlelight, battery-operated of course.
On a Holiday High
The Little Garden Club of Rye ushers in the season with a holiday luncheon December 10 at noon at Apawamis Club. A lecture by India Hicks, author and creator of IndiaHicks.com, which encourages women to live extraordinary lives, starts at 10. A boutique with holiday merchandise and Katherine Hooker clothing will open at 10 as well.
Tickets are $150 per person for lunch, lecture, book, and boutique; $85 for lecture and boutique; $75 for lunch and boutique.
For more information regarding the event or ready-to-bloom paperwhite orders, contact Cheryl Adler at cherylmadler@yahoo. com.
Merry Marionettes
Families are in for a special treat when the Robert Rogers Puppet Company presents “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” December 12 at 1 at the Square House Museum. Based on the main character in a Hans Christian Anderson story from the late 1800s, the heartwarming tale of a child’s caring tin soldier will warm everyone’s hearts.
For over 30 years, international puppeteer Robert Rogers has created and performed a repertoire of original puppet plays, using humor, song, and surprise to address important social issues. His mission is to inspire creativity in young people, encourage them to maintain a sense of wonder, and develop an understanding of the world around them.
The cost is $10 per person. Reservations are recommended, as space is limited. Call the Rye Historical Society at 967-7588.
