Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! I hope your family gives you some nice relaxing “me” time this weekend. Lots of fun activities are happening this weekend for young and old so enjoy!
Today, Friday, at the Harrison Library, check out Chloe's Sign and Play from 3-3:30pm. “Give your child the gift of language!
Sign & Play is a fun class where families can learn to communicate with their pre-verbal children using real signs from American Sign Language.
Based on the award-winning Baby Signing Time series, this class will give parents a window into the hearts and minds of their little ones. Through fun songs, stories and games, parents and children will learn many useful signs for everyday communication. Come sign with us!”
Also today, Yoga With Angela will take place from 4-5pm. “Bring your own mat and water to this lovely, mind and body relaxing YOGA experience with Harrison resident Angela Brandt (Registered and Certified Yoga Instructor). Opportunity to create self-esteem, physical coordination, breath relaxation and strength. Grades 2-5.”
On Saturday Meet and Read with Angie will take place from 11-12pm. “Meet and read with Angie, a beautiful therapy dog.”
Sunday Sing Along Sundays with Chloe will take place from 4-4:30pm. “Celebrate early childhood through music and movement! Children and parents are sure to love the captivating songs, live accordion music, and activities designed with specific cognitive milestones in mind. This class will feature a variety of child-sized instruments and props, and a wealth of both traditional and original songs to add to your singalong repertoire! Get ready for a fun, creative, and engaging experience!”
The Bruce Museum is a hidden gem located just up the road from us in nearby Greenwich, CT. After you’ve checked out the museum, head across the street to a super fun playground the kids are sure to love!
On Friday from 2:30-2:45pm, check out the Marine Tank Animal Feeding.
On Sunday from 11:30-12:15 head out on a Family Gallery Tour. “Designed for families with children ages 6-10. These tours, led by a Museum educator, provide an interactive, discussion-based exploration of the Museum's current exhibitions. Free with admission; no registration required.”
Midland School Fair
I love school fairs!! “Rye's Midland School will host its annual parade and fair on:
Saturday, May 13, 10am - 2pm. This year Midland will GO! to many new places and reach new heights of excitement! Make sure YOU are a part of it!
Join us on Saturday, May 13th from 10am - 2pm at Midland School located at 312 Midland Avenue. Rain or Shine! A select portion of the fair will open from 9am - 10am for the Rye RAISE Community. Don't miss the rock wall, dunk tank, inflatable zip line, bumper cars and prizes! There will also be great food, a DJ and a raffle! The event is kicked off by the annual parade through town led by Midland's 5th graders.”
Good news! The Westchester Children’s Museum is open for business and for you and the kids to enjoy! This “sunlit, colorful, vibrant learning space is filled with interactive exhibits that explore science, art, technology, design and the environment, with places to build, play, and create.” The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays 10-4. Current exhibits include:
MAKERSPACES
BUILD YOUR OWN ROLLER COASTER
KEVA PLANKS
WIND TUNNEL DESIGN CHALLENGE
TODDLER BEACH
SHADOW PUPPET THEATER
Science Lab will take place on Saturday from 11-11:30 and 1-1:30pm. “Drop in and put on a lab coat for our monthly STEM program! Sometimes messy, sometimes with special lab equipment, budding scientists will explore the world and how it works through hands-on science experiments. Best for children ages 7 and up.”
Art Gallery: Chris Brown Illustrations-Opening March 29, on view through June 25, 2017. Our gallery will be filled with fun, funny, and smart cartoons featuring the timely work of Westchester-based illustrator, Chris Brown. He is best known for his work featured in the Journal News, but has also illustrated books and magazines throughout the country.
Exciting news! Playland opens for the season tomorrow, Saturday May 13th from 12-7pm and will also be open on Sunday from 12-7pm. “There will be enterainment starting at 11am on the 13th. On Mother's Day, May 14th, Moms Ride Free!
$15 Rides Admission for everyone else. $15 May Days will take place on May 13, 14, 20, 21 & 26. All Rides Admission $15. Cannot be combined with any other discounts.”
The Stamford Nature Center is a wonderful place to stroll around and they have animals for the kids to see and a fun playground to play in.
Connecticut Waterways Exhibition will be on display from Feb 18-May 29. “Explore these themes through dramatic and poignant images captured by the Women Photographers of Connecticut, a diverse group of women photographers from across the state. This exhibition is being presented at a critical moment for our community, as the National Weather Service has recently reclassified the ongoing drought in Fairfield County as severe, with ground water, wells, rivers, and streams all below normal levels.”
On Sunday, Sunday Explorers will take place from 12-4. “Our popular Sunday drop-in programs return for the Spring season. Join us for a weekly hike on our nature trails or to meet and feed some of our Heckscher WILD! animals. Explore Heckscher Farm as we greet goats, plant in our organic vegetable garden, peak into our historic barns, and more! We will have some great self-guided crafts and additional animals and exhibits, too, in Overbrook Nature Center. Recommended for ages 5 & up. Schedule online.”
Clay Arts Center Saturday Drop in Class
Every Saturday from 2 - 4pm there’s a fun opportunity to stop by the Clay Arts Center in Port Chester and have fun experimenting with clay. There’s a fee of $25 adult and $20 children under 12. (includes materials and firing). This is a “one-time class for adults, children and families interested in experimenting with clay for the first time Plan a great afternoon with friends, family, or just for you while exploring your inner artist in this fun and messy introduction to clay! Projects take between 1.5- 2 hours. SPACE IS LIMITED. Tickets go on sale at the front desk at 10am the day of class. Call us at 914-937-2047 to register or drop in by 1:45. First Come First Served. Class maximum is 12 people.” No Class 5/27, 6/2
Mother's Day Storytime will take place on Saturday May 13th at 11am. “Hilarious, heartwarming new story about raising a happy, healthy mom is filled with charming role-reversal humor, creative ideas and lots of love! Activities to follow.”
Our closest Barnes & Noble is in White Plains, City Center but there are other nearby locations in Stamford, Palisades Center and Yonkers. And a newly opened location in Eastchester that has a restaurant too!
Stepping Stones museum is another amazing place for the kids. Located about 20 minutes north of Rye Brook, in Norwalk, CT, it’s perfect for the whole family! Check them out here, then head on over for a fun filled day of learning and hands-on activities the kids will adore!
Saturday is Accessibility Day. “FREE Admission for families of children with special needs. Enjoy the museum’s exhibits, mingle with other families and learn with your child in a safe and welcoming environment. Every second Saturday of the month – now all day long!”
This weekend there are way too many activities to list but the usual fun ones are on the calendar including Mutt-i-grees, Handprint Boutique making and Musical Jamboree.
On Sunday “we recognize that moms may want some time to themselves on Mother’s Day and that many special people play the role of mom in children’s lives, so this year for the first time we’re offering free admission to ANY caregiver who comes to Stepping Stones on Sunday, May 14. One free adult admission per family. Cannot be combined with other offers.”
There is always SO much going on at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT.
Check out the Coral Reef Exhibit! “A rainbow of colors dart and dash in our new 3,000-gallon Coral Reef exhibit, open now just past the Sea Turtles exhibit.
Meet more than 40 species of reef fish native to the Indo-Pacific, including brilliantly colored varieties of tangs, triggerfish, wrasses and more.
Displays explain why reef systems are so important to the ocean, yet why they’re also so fragile.
Plus, learn how global ocean currents can connect water in reefs on the other side of the planet to our local Long Island Sound – and thus, how our stewardship of the Sound also means good stewardship of all Earth's marine ecosystems.”
Click here to learn more about Maritime.
Bicycle Sunday
“Bicycle Sundays on the Bronx River Parkway, one of Westchester’s longest-running and popular recreational programs, and is scheduled for May 14, and 21; June 4, 11, 18 and 25; and Sept. 10, 17 and 24. The program is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During Bicycle Sundays, the parkway is open exclusively for bicyclists, joggers, walkers, foot scooters and strollers from Exit 22 at the Westchester County Center to Exit 4 at Scarsdale Road in Yonkers, a round-trip distance of 13 miles. The road is closed to automobiles in that stretch of parkway. Admission to the event is free. Parking is available at the County Center lot in White Plains for $7.”
Rules and Regulations can be found online.
Hudson River Museum
The Hudson River Museum, in Yonkers, boasts an amazing Planetarium, six galleries, and a mansion!
Saturdays & Sundays 12 - 5 pm there’s “a safe space for children to explore, play, and create with their families. The room hosts a large-scale dollhouse, blocks, puppet theater, and books. A Junior Docent is present to answer questions and suggest activities.”
And Saturday and Sundays from 1-4, kids can do fun art projects. This May “Print a Cyanotype image with sunlight and water.” Science Project making will take place on Saturdays from 1 - 4 pm this May. “See how lenses bend light and create patterns, and make an artwork from the patterns you see.”
On Mother's Day, Sunday May 14th from 12 - 5pm “make a keepsake for your Mom this Sunday. Join Junior Docents in the Family Studio and create a Sun Paper Art Card or give Mom a bouquet of flowers made from pipe cleaners and tissue paper. Looking for more ideas? Visit the Museum Shop where there are many things to choose, including Debbie Kuo's exclusive jewelry inspired by our exhibition Wyeth Wonderland.”
In addition, there are planetarium shows Saturdays and Sundays that the whole family can enjoy!
To learn more, click here.
Mommy’s Lil’ Sprouts will be taking place on Sunday, May 14th from 1-2pm at a cost of $5 for members and $8 for non-members. “Visit the Greenburgh Nature Center with your little ones to celebrate all things spring. We will gather in the Manor House to read a short story and meet some of our furry friends. Afterward, you’ll plant a variety of seeds to take home and nurture them as they grow. Recommended for ages 3 and up.”
Most Saturdays from 10-12 Michael’s offers a fun Kids Club® craft that kids can participate in while their parents shop. This Saturday’s project is making Kids Club® Mother’s Day Card. Just in time for Mother’s day! The cost is $2 per project and supplies are included. Sign up in store or online, or just drop in. Parent or guardian must remain on premises during the event.
Also from 1-3 Saturday, have fun making a Mother’s Day Fujifilm Instax Frame! They will take a pic of you and you buy the wood frame and the rest of the supplies are free.
Lakeshore also hosts a free craft workshop for kids most Saturdays from 11-3pm. This Saturday’s craft also sounds super fun, creating a Mom’s Favorite Recipes! Box. Appropriate for kids ages 3 & up. No reservation necessary. Free.”
“Relive every moment of Shrek’s daring quest in the ‘The Greatest Fairy Tale Never Told.’ See the Oscar-winning animated film, again, on the big screen. All tickets $8. May 13 at 11am.”
Westchester Broadway Theatre Production of Mamma Mia
One of my favorite musicals of all time, ABBA’s Mamma Mia comes to the dinner theatre from March 23 - June 25th. This will be the theatre’s 200th production.
“Based on the songs of the Swedish pop group ABBA, Mamma Mia , is set on the Greek island of Kalokairi. A 20 year old woman named Sophie wants to have a traditional wedding and hopes her father will walk her down the aisle, but there's one problem: she has no idea who her father is! With help from her mother’s journal, she narrows the possibilities down to three men, and hilarity ensues as they all claim her as their child! Featuring all the hits you know and love, like“Dancing Queen”, “Thank You for the Music”, and, of course, “Mamma Mia!”, this show will have you singing and dancing in the aisles!”
There are showtimes this weekend Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Prices include meals.
Buy tickets here.
Stone Barns is a great spot to visit with the family. “Experience what’s happening on the farm, meet our farmers and greet the season!
On a Saturday or Sunday visit to Stone Barns from April through November, participate in a variety of seasonal, hands-on activities and drop-in tours, all included with your one-day admission ticket.
Weekend tickets sell out. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance: Tickets become available for purchase 6 weeks in advance.
This season on the farm Because every day is different on the farm, exact programming changes each week, but a sample weekend day this spring, summer or fall will include activities like:
Meet the: Sheep 10:00 – 10:45 am
Farm Activity: Egg Collecting 10:45 am - 12:00 pm
Farm Activity: Lettuce Planting 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Blue Hill chef joins the Farm Activity 11:30am - 12:00 pm
Getting Grounded: Adult Walking Tour 11:30 am (45 minutes)
Hands-on Taste: Spring Rolls 1:00 - 1:45 pm
Making the Rounds: Greenhouse Tour 1:15 pm (20 minutes)
Meet the: Sheep 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Farm Activity: Prep the Field Beds 2:00
Meet the: Pigs 3:00 - 3:30 pm
Getting Grounded Tour: Adult Walking Tour 4:00 (45 minutes)
This is a sample schedule; a full schedule of the day's programs will be available to you upon entering the farm the day of your visit.”
Click Here for more information..
There are a lot of activities happening at the farm this weekend, including sheep shearing on Sunday, May 14th starting at 9 and going until 4pm. Check out all the fun activities taking place right here.
Other weekend ideas?
The movies are always a fun weekend option. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is still in theaters this weekend! Boss Baby and Beauty and The Beast are also still out!
The Pleasantville Farmer’s Market is back outside this Saturday, from 8:30-1. Come out and enjoy the fresh air and fresh produce and products.
Have you checked out Fun Fuzion in New Rochelle yet. Fun Fuzion is Westchester’s only indoor amusement park. There’s bowling, mini golf, billiards, lazer tag, and a fun house with games and rides. There’s also a movie theater next door! Definitely a spot worth visiting!
Legoland is a fun place to visit with the kids!
What about a baseball game? The Mets are on the road this weekend while the Yankees are home taking on the Astros .
Perhaps the Zoo? Nearby ones include the Bronx Zoo, The Central Park Zoo and the Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut.
Maybe take a stroll around the New York Botanical Gardens.
And Bowlmor bowling alley is a fun option in White Plains!
Remember, it’s always a good idea to call ahead, to ensure a scheduled activity is still running. Email me at ryebrook@hamlethub.com and let me know if we missed any super fun, family friendly events and/or if you would like to advertise with us!
Photo Credit: Kelly Schwark