Fabulous Fall Weekends
Fall is here, and the local arts scene is gearing up for another blockbuster season.
From classical concerts, art shows and theater productions to wine tastings and harvest festivals, our fall roundup lists a different (and fun) Valley event for every day of every weekend from now until Thanksgiving. So top off the gas tank and get going!
By Rita Ross
Friday Imagine a 1940s, swingtime, gospel-infused version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s classic The Mikado. You’ve got it in the Westchester Broadway Theater’s Hot Mikado, a fun, upbeat performance with lots of laughs and high-energy dance numbers. Through September 16. 1 Broadway Plaza, elmsford. Call for schedule and ticket information. 914-592-2222 or www.broadwaytheater.com
Saturday The Green Corn Festival explores the culture of the area’s American Indian residents. Renowned storyteller Kenneth Little Hawk is featured, along with music, dance, games, and open-hearth cooking demos. Sept. 2-4 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. philipsburg manor. Rte. 9, Sleepy Hollow. Call for ticket prices. 914-631-8200 or www.hudsonvalley.org
Saturday The Doansburg Chamber Ensemble consists of a group of a young musicians who, along with guest artists, play classical music at charming rural churches. Today’s concert features works by Mozart, including his Flute Concerto in D with flute soloist Christine Smith. Sept. 2-3. Sat. 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s in the Highlands Episcopal Church, Cold Spring. Sun. 4 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Rte. 6, brewster. $8, $7 seniors & students. 845-228-4167 or http://userweb.suscom.net/~doansburg
Saturday The Maverick Concerts are a tradition in the Woodstock area. America’s oldest continuous summer chamber music series closes out its season with a concert of works by Beethoven, Britten, and Shostakovich. 6 p.m. $20, $5 students, free for kids under 12 free. Maverick Concert Hall. Maverick Rd., woodstock. 845-679-8348 or visit www.maverickconcerts.org
Sunday Hear stirring music in an inspiring location. The U.S. Military Academy’s Concert Band, Jazz Knights and Hellcats finish up their summer Music Under the Stars series with an outdoor concert featuring the 1812 Overture with real cannon fire. It’s outdoors in the Trophy Point Amphitheater overlooking the Hudson River at west point. 8 p.m. 845-938-2617 or www.usma.edu/band
The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival ends its 20th anniversary season today with a final performance of Richard Sheridan’s The Rivals. This renowned troupe performs outdoors on the beautiful grounds of Boscobel Restoration. Call for schedule and tickets. Rte. 9D, garrison. 845-265-7858 or www.hvshakespeare.org
Friday Sample the best of New York State wineries at the Grand Reserve Tasting at the annual Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest. This elegant evening takes place at Greig Farm, a scenic working farm in red hook. Enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres from renowned chefs, sip vintage wines, enjoy live music and a fund-raising auction. $50, advance purchase required. 888-687-2517 or www.hudsonvalleywinefest.com
Bad Dates, a comedy about dating after divorce, is Penguin Rep Theater Company’s current offering. Playwright Theresa Rebeck is a screenwriter for the hit TV series Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Through Sept. 10. $30, $26 seniors, $15 students under 21. Bobbi Lewis Barn Theatre. 7 Crickettown Rd., stony point. 845-786-2873 or www.penguinrep.homestead.com
New works by three artists — paintings by Sarah Berney and Judith Lamb, and sculpture by Joe Wheaton — make up the exhibit Threesome, currently on view at Carrie Haddad Gallery. Through Sept. 17; call for hours. 622 Warren St., hudson. 518-828-1915 or www.carriehaddadgallery.com
Saturday The Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company has launched a collaborative art project, SPILL OUT!, that merges architectural design and modern dance. Performances take place at three different Capital District locales; see it today at the historic Gasholder Building, 1115 Fifth St., troy. Performances through Oct. 7. Call for tickets and additional information. 518-473-1061 or www.sinopolidances.org
Sunday Celebrate the cultural diversity of Rockland County at the Folklife Festival & Antiques Appraisal Fair, with crafts, music and performers. It’s held on the grounds of the Historical Society of Rockland County, where you can tour the 1832 Blauvelt House and watch blacksmithing and old-time cooking demos. There’s also a museum exhibit in which local artists display everything from pinatas to Balinese art and Latin costumes. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The festival is free, but there is a small fee for the antiques appraisal and museum. 20 Zukor Rd., new city. 845-634-9629 or www.rocklandhistory.org
With 20 gold and platinum albums to his credit, Bruce Cockburn is no musical slouch. A world-renowned guitar master, he’s also a fiery, literate ambassador for humanitarian causes worldwide. See him live at the Irvington Town Hall Theater. 7 p.m. $38.50. 85 Main St., irvington. 1-800-595-4TIX or www.themainstage.org
Friday The region’s only multi-day festival showcasing African, Latino, Hispanic and Caribbean culture and arts takes place at the One World Arts & Culture Fest at the Paramount Center for the Arts. Sept. 13-18. Call for schedule and ticket information. 1008 Brown St., peekskill. 914-739-2333 or www.paramountcenter.org
A cornucopia of crafts awaits at Crafts at Lyndhurst. More than 300 artisans — along with their one-of-a-kind jewelry and fashion pieces, accessories, furniture, photographs and other treasures — will be on hand. Music, food and fun for kids make it a popular event. Sept. 15-17. Fri. & Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $9, $8 seniors, $4 children, free for kids under 6. Rte. 9, tarrytown. 914-631-4481 or www.craftsatlyndhurst.com
Saturday Get in on the social event of the season by attending the Hetrick-Martin Institute Fall Fest. Previously held in the Hamptons, this swank fund-raiser invites guests to savor cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dancing, and a live auction at a lovely Kerhonkson home that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Proceeds from the evening benefit the institute, which supports social programs for at-risk lesbian, gay and other youth in the metro New York area. 3-7 p.m. Call for reservations and ticket information. 212-674-2600, ext. 277 or www.hmi.org
Celebrate all things Celtic at the 10th anniversary of the Irish 2000 Music & Arts Festival in Albany. Dubbed the largest single-day Irish festival in the world, the event features Chicago’s Trinity Irish Dance Company and more than 20 other performers (including Bad Haggis with piper Eric Rigler, Black 47, and the Albany Police Pipes and Drums). Also enjoy food, rides and games. $13 in advance, $18 at the gate, free for kids under 10; parking $3. Altamont Fairgrounds, albany. 1-888-414-3378 or www.irish2000fest.com
LARKfest is one of the biggest block parties in upstate New York. Three stages host musicians playing everything from rock to jazz; more than 100 vendors offer arts, crafts, and international foods; and the Kidfest area has entertainment just for the little ones. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Lark Street (from Washington Ave. south to Madison Ave.), albany. 518-434-3861 or www.larkstreet.org
The renowned Culinary Institute of America is the venue for the annual International Wine Showcase & Auction. Sip award-winning vintages, sample fare from the Hudson Valley’s finest restaurants, and bid on rare wines and other exotic treats; proceeds go to Greystone Programs, which serve the developmentally disabled. 12:30 p.m. $70. Rte. 9, hyde park. 845-452-5772, ext. 350 or www.greystoneprograms.org
Sunday Savor the noble heritage of Native American song, dance, drumming, food, and crafts at the Lower Hudson Valley Native American Heritage Celebration. Hosted by the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, this is the largest such festival in the state, with more than 1,000 artists, performers, and educators from across the country on hand. Sept. 16-17. Sat. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. FDR State Park, yorktown Heights. 718-686-9297 or www.redhawkcouncil.org
Enjoy a September Sunday while tasting fine regional cuisine from area restaurants and farm markets, and sipping the fruits of local wineries and brewers at A Taste of New Paltz. Visit the Business Expo, browse the craft displays, see what’s new in health and exercise, and keep the kids happy with games. New this year: a country-store area where you can buy goodies ranging from salsa to syrup. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., rain or shine. $3. Ulster County Fairgrounds. Libertyville Rd., new paltz. 845-255-0243 or www.newpaltzchamber.org
If your sweet tooth needs satisfying, come to the New York State Museum. Their current exhibit, simply entitled Chocolate, tells the story of everyone’s favorite flavor (Sept. 16-Jan. 7). Today’s special event, “Sundaes on Sunday,” provides everything you’ll need for a yummy ice cream treat. 1 p.m., call for fee. Museum hours are 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Empire State Plaza, albany. 518-474-5877 or www.nysm.nysed.gov
Friday The Good German completes the season at Shadowland Theater’s wonderfully intimate playhouse. Set during World War II, this dramatic, darkly comic production explores the contradictory emotions of loyalty and love that come to the surface when an aristocratic German professor finds that his wife is working for the Resistance. Sept. 8-24. $23, $22 on Sundays. 157 Canal St., ellenville. 845-647-5511 or www.shadowlandtheater.org
As always, the Jacob Burns Film Center has a variety of programs on tap, including Endurance: Humans at the Extreme (Sept. 20-Oct. 4), a series of films about survival under challenging circumstances. Other highlights include the Iranian Film Fest (Sept. 8-14) and a retrospective of films by Japanese director Kenji Mizoguchi (Sept. 29-Oct. 4). Call for complete schedule and ticket information. 364 Manville Rd., pleasantville. 914-747-5555 or www.burnsfilmcenter.org
Saturday Landscapes from three distinct places —New Mexico, southern Spain, and our own Hudson Valley — make up Lynne Friedman’s one-woman show, Following the Light, at the Greene County Council on the Arts’ Catskill Gallery. Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Sept. 30. 398 Main St., catskill. 518-943-3400 or www.greenearts.org
The area gears up for the annual Hudson River Valley Ramble. For the seventh year in a row, this two-weekend-long celebration features a variety of recreational and cultural events at venues all over the Valley, providing residents and visitors with hundreds of ways to explore our scenic region. Sept. 16-17 and 23-24. For complete details on all Ramble activities, check out our special event supplement (after page 100).
Sunday If you remember wearing bobby socks and Brylcreem (or even if you don’t), you won’t want to miss Grease, the musical that takes a nostalgic look at the innocent 1950s. Sept. 8-24. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. $22, $20 seniors & children. The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. Rte. 308, rhinebeck. 845-876-3080 or www.centerforperformingarts.org
Friday Creativity rules at Hudson ArtsWalk, a 10-day visual and performing arts festival in Hudson. Warren Street, the city’s main drag, is center-stage for an array of exhibits and events that celebrate Columbia County’s lively arts scene. At least 250 artists exhibit in studios and galleries, and there’s dance, music, video art, and children’s events, too. Sept. 29-Oct. 9. Call for more information. 518-671-6213 or www.artscolumbia.org
Explore both ancient and contemporary art at the Katonah Museum. Ancient Art of the Cyclades examines the sculptures found on these Aegean islands that have greatly influenced artists like Picasso and Brancusi; Wonder Women: Idols in Contemporary Art looks at “secular goddesses” from Gertrude Stein to Madonna. Both shows run from Oct. 1-Dec. 31. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m. $5, $3 seniors & students; free admission 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Rte. 22 at Jay St., katonah. 914-232-9555 or www.katonahmuseum.org
Saturday Celebrate the unique character of Constitution Island, a 280-acre treasure in the Hudson Highlands, during its Outdoor Day. There are activities including horse and buggy rides, animal exhibits, boat rides, and nature hikes. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $10, $9 seniors, free for kids under 6. 845-831-2331 or www.constitutionisland.org
Come to Cold Spring for the annual Harvest Festival. The daylong bash starts with a 5K and 10K walk/run. Stroll historic Main Street, which is filled with arts and crafts vendors, tasty eats, a farmers market, and activities for kids. Festivities conclude with a Big Band concert at the lovely park by the Hudson River. 10 a.m. 845-265-3200 or www.coldspringchamber.org
Step back into Colonial times to see how craftspeople and farmers plied their trades at the American Heritage Festival. There will be demonstrations by blacksmiths, spinners, and a sheepherder, as well as hayrides and a Revolutionary War encampment. A treat for the whole family. The Museum of the Hudson Highlands’ Kenridge Farm site. Rte. 9W, cornwall. $7. 845-534-5506or www.museumhudsonhighlands.org
Sunday Visit the Neuberger Museum of Art and catch two very different exhibits: Crossing the BLVD (a multimedia look at the lives of new immigrants living in New York City, through Jan. 7); and Transitional Objects: Contemporary Still Life (a group show of paintings, sculpture and installation art created since 1990, Sept. 17-Jan. 21). Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4p.m, Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $5, $3 seniors & students. Purchase College. 735 Anderson Hill Rd., purchase. 914-251-6100 or www.neuberger. org
Friday Contemporary Art from Byrdcliffe Artists is the fall offering at the Kleinart/James Arts Center, the exhibition space for members of the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild. The show runs from Sept. 24-Oct. 29. Fri.-Sun. 12-5 p.m. and by appointment. 34 Tinker St., woodstock. 845-679-2079 or www.woodstockguild.org
Known for its adventurous approach to contemporary choreography, the Lyon Opera Ballet makes its only local appearance at the Performing Arts Center, Purchase College (Oct. 6-7 at 8 p.m., $35-$55). Other highlights at the center include Zoppe Family Circus (Sept. 8-10), Rockapella (Oct. 14), and classical music performances by the Tokyo String Quartet (Nov. 5) and Anne-Sophie Mutter (Nov. 18). Call for complete schedule and ticket information. 735 Anderson Hill Rd., purchase. 914-251-6200 or www.artscenter.org
Saturday You don’t have to be Italian to have a great time at the annual Columbus Parade & Italian Festival. One of the biggest upstate celebrations of its kind, the festival recognizes the contributions and heritage of Italian-Americans. And of course there’s super food and lots of entertainment. 2-5 p.m. Washington Park, albany. 518-434-2032 or www.columbusdayalbanyny.com
Peek into the past at the Historical House Tour of Tappan sponsored by the Historical Society of Rockland County. The self-guided tour offers a chance to visit an assortment of notable Tappan dwellings and recall an idyllic time long before condos and McMansions. Call for details. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $40. 845-634-9629 or www.rocklandhistory.org
Sunday Pedal power: take the annual Fall Foliage Bike Tour at the Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville. Cyclists of all ages and abilities can ride distances ranging from 10 to 50 miles along scenic Hudson Valley roads. There’s even a special kids’ 10-mile Tyke Trail. It all wraps up with a luncheon party at the winery. The event benefits McQuade Children’s Services and Orange Pathways, two local charities that service families and kids. $25, $15 students, $10 under 12 if pre-registered by Sept. 30; $30, $15 kids on the day. 845-561-0436, ext. 157.
A dramatic destination in any season, a trip to Storm King Art Center is especially beautiful in the fall. Wander the rolling hills and discover large-scale works by some of the world’s best-known contemporary sculptors, including Alexander Calder, David Smith and Louise Nevelson. Through Nov. 15. Wed.-Sun. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through Oct. 31; park closes at 5 p.m. in November. Call for ticket prices. Old Pleasant Hill Rd., mountainville. 845-534-3115 or www.stormking.org
Friday Works by American photographer Lynn Davis are on view at the Nicole Fiacco Gallery. Entitled Parallel Passages, the exhibit examines similarities in subject matter between Davis’s photos and the paintings of Hudson River School artist Frederic Edwin Church. Sept. 23-Oct. 30. Thurs.-Sat. 12-6 p.m., Sun. 12-5 p.m. 506 Warren St., hudson. 518-828-5090 or www.modogallery.com
Catch the French film Strayed, one of six foreign movies that make up the Friday Night Film Series at Westchester Community College (Fridays from Sept. 8-Oct. 20). Other arts events at the college include a ballet rendition of Bizet’s Carmen (Sept. 30) and a show of sculptural assemblages by artist Randy Williams (through Oct. 7) Call for complete schedule and ticket information. 75 Grasslands Rd., valhalla. 914-606-6700.
Saturday Celebrate the river at the Hudson River Museum. Their “Waterscape” event features tours of a schooner from Manhattan’s South Street Seaport, miniature boat-building workshops, canoe and kayak demos, a documentary film screening, and live music (all free with museum admission). Fall exhibits at the museum highlight the works of 20th-century landscape painters Neil Welliver, and Sylvia Sleigh, whose 14-canvas panorama of the Hudson River at Fishkill is on view (both shows run from Sept. 30-Jan. 7). Wed.-Sun. 12-5 p.m. $5, $3 seniors and children. Warburton Ave., yonkers. 914-963-4550 or www.hrm.org
Need a dose of nostalgia? A Night of Golden Oldies brings back those classic years of pop music. Sing along with Johnny Maestro & the Brooklyn Bridge, Kenny Vance & The Planotones, and Playground at Tarrytown Music Hall. 7 p.m. $37.50-$32.50. Other performers at the hall this season include comedian Brian Regan (Oct. 7) and the Wailin’ Jennys (a Canadian trio known as “the Dixie Chicks of folk”). 13 Main St., tarrytown. Call for complete schedule. 914-631-3390 or www.tarrytownmusichall.org
Jazz trumpeter and composer Chris Botti and his band grace the stage at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (8 p.m., $45). Also on tap at the historic hall this season: songstress Melissa Manchester (Oct. 7) and folk legend Peter Yarrow (Nov. 19). Call for complete schedule and tickets. Second & State St., troy. 518-273-0038 or www.troymusichall.org
Sunday Never been to Dia:Beacon? Then now is a great time to go. Besides the monumental works by Warhol and Serra, you can view special shows of Agnes Martin’s paintings from the 1980s (through March 5) and Sol LeWitt’s drawings (opening Sept. 16), as well as new works by An-My Le (Sept. 16 through Sept. 2007). Summer hours: Thurs.-Mon. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 16. Winter hours: Fri.-Mon. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 17-April. $10, $7 seniors & students, free for children under 12. 3 Beekman St., beacon. 845-440-0100 or www.diabeacon.org
Friday You’ll find top-notch crafts at the Westchester Craft Show — some of the artisans at this prestigious juried event have pieces in the permanent collections of museums and major corporations. From silver teapots to glass, porcelain to jewelry, furniture and leather to wood and fabric art, there’s something for every taste. Fri. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $10, $9 seniors. Westchester County Center. Rte. 119, white plains. 914-995-4050 or www.craftsamericashows.com
Yearning for a walk in the woods, but have a little one in tow? Try the “Babes in the Woods” hike at Minnewaska State Park Preserve. This special trek is designed for parents with kids in backpacks or all-terrain strollers (10 a.m., call for meeting place). Other outdoor events at the preserve this fall include fun hikes for young children (Oct. 11) and birdwatchers (Oct. 3 & 17), as well as a Halloween Extravaganza for families at Sam’s Point (Oct. 23). Call for additional information. $7 parking fee. Rte. 44/55, new paltz. 845-255-0752.
Saturday Relive some of your all-time favorite films with the Albany Symphony. With the help of guest pianist Kevin Cole, the orchestra presents Hooray for Hollywood, a program of music from memorable flicks including Gone With the Wind, Star Wars, and Singin’ in the Rain (6:30 p.m. at the Palace Theater, Albany; call for tickets). This fall, the symphony also performs works by Italian composers (Sept. 28-29) and romantic pieces by Sibelius (Nov. 10) at Capital Region venues. Call for more information. 518-465-4755 or www.albanysymphony.com
Compositions by Mozart, Shostakovich, and Beethoven come to life when the Rhinebeck Chamber Music Society hosts a performance by the Cavani String Quartet (8 p.m.). Other musicians in the series include the Trio Solisti (Sept. 17 at 4 p.m.) and the Bard College Conservatory (Nov. 11 at 8 p.m.). $25, $5 students, children free. Church of the Messiah, Rte. 9, rhinebeck. 845-876-2870 or www.rhinebeckmusic.org
Thirty internationally acclaimed artists — including Damien Hirst and Anselm Kiefer — are part of Reverence, the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art’s current show. The works on view each convey a sense of devotion without the use of religious symbolism. Through Feb. 26. Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $5, $1 students. 1701 Main St., peekskill. 914-788-7166 or www.hvcca.com
Sunday Idiot’s Delight, Robert Sherwood’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy, tells the story of a group of international characters stranded in a hotel in the Italian Alps at the onset of World War II. The play is the season’s first offering at the New York State Theatre Institute (Oct. 6-14). Later in the month, Naava Piatka presents her one-woman show Better Don’t Talk, an uplifting story of her mother’s life in the theater in Lithuania during the 1940s (Oct. 22-31). Call for schedule and tickets. Schacht Fine Arts Center, Russell Sage College, troy. 518-274-3256 or www.nysti.org
Friday The Bard Music Festival’s extensive exploration of composer Franz Liszt and his world comes to a close this weekend. Events include a concert by the American Symphony Orchestra and as well as lectures and a pre-concert talk. Oct. 27-28. Call for schedule. Bard College, annandale-on-hudson. 845-758-7900 or www.bard.edu.bmf/2006
Less is More this fall at the Greene County Council on the Arts’ Mountaintop Gallery. See how a group of contemporary artists interpret this 20th-century mantra in their works (Sept. 30-Nov. 5). Call for hours. 5348 Main St., windham. 518-734-3104 or www.greenearts.org
Saturday Boy meets girl, boy wins girl, plant eats world in Little Shop of Horrors. This fun, wacky play — now at Proctors Theater — is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween (Oct. 27-29). The theater’s laundry list of fall shows includes Mamma Mia! (Oct. 17-22), Bo Diddley (Nov. 3), and the Moscow Symphony (Nov. 14). Call for complete schedule and ticket information. 432 State St., schenectady. 518-346-6204 or www.proctors.org
For 53 years, the Friends of Music Concerts have been bringing top-flight classical ensembles to Westchester. The St. Lawrence String Quartet with pianist Stephen Prutsman plays piano works by Dvorak, Franck, and Shostakovich (8 p.m.) The series opens with the Tokyo String Quartet (Sept. 30). $25, $12 students. Pleasantville H.S., 60 Romer Ave., pleasantville. 914-271-8598.
Sunday The College of New Rochelle’s Castle Gallery exhibit, 50 Years of Powwow, presents 50 photographs that illustrate the
