September
Fridays
Sept. 3: Andy Warhol exhibit Get a glimpse of intimate portraits taken by America’s premier pop artist at the Samuel Dorsky Museum’s exhibit “Andy Warhol: Private and Public in 151 Photographs” (www.newpaltz.edu/museum).
Sept. 10: Bye Bye Birdie Based on the mania surrounding Elvis Presley in the 1950s, this Tony-winning musical tells the story of fictional rocker Conrad Birdie and the teenage panic that ensues when he’s drafted into the army (www.machaydntheatre.org).
Sept. 17: Yankee Tavern This play, a comic thriller which explores conspiracy theories, is the latest from Steven Dietz (author of 1991’s Halcyon Days). It premieres tonight at the Shadowland Theatre in Ellenville (www.shadowlandtheatre.org).
Sept. 24: Thomas Cole Historic Site The Catskill landmark celebrates female painters and their contributions to 19th-century art at its “Remember the Ladies: Women of the Hudson River School” art exhibit (www.thomascole.org).
Hudson River Panorama This comprehensive exhibit — on view at the Albany Institute of History and Art — explores 400 years of the Valley’s history. The show features artwork, artifacts, and interactive displays (www.albanyinstitute.org).
Saturdays
Sept. 4: West Point Band The Military Academy’s musicians play Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture — complete with real cannon fire — at the campus’s Trophy Point outdoor amphitheater (www.usma.edu/band).
Sept. 11: New York Renaissance Faire Feast on a turkey leg, catch a jousting tournament, and play a life-sized game of chess at Tuxedo Park’s annual celebration of all things medieval (www.renfair.com/NY).
Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst More than 275 artisans display and sell jewelry, textiles, glassware, ceramics, and other handmade goods on the lawn of this historic site on the banks of the Hudson (www.artrider.com/lynds2010.html).
Sept. 18: Galerie BMG Award-winning photographer Rita Bernstein presents “Undertow,” a collection of haunting black-and-white photos brushed with silver emulsion and printed on handmade paper. The result: images that are raw with emotional power (www.galeriebmg.com).
Sept. 25: LarkFEST Upstate’s largest street festival is an all-day arts extravaganza, complete with five stages of live music, dance performances, arts and crafts vendors, family activities, and — of course — a dizzying variety of food (www.albany.com/news/larkfest.cfm).
Hudson Valley Garlic Festival This ever-popular Saugerties event attracts upwards of 40,000 visitors every year with its five stages of continuous entertainment, an entire street dedicated to arts and crafts vendors, and dozens of dishes showcasing this luscious leek (www.hvgf.org).
Sundays
Sept. 5: Onion Festival Try not to cry at this annual fête, held in Pine Island. Entertainment highlight: 18-time Grammy-winning polka musician (and Orange County native) Jimmy Sturr oom-pah-pahs along with the Janosik Polish Dance Ensemble (845-651-4266).
Sept. 12: Mountain Music/Harvest Festival Country and bluegrass tunes fill the air at Bethel Woods. The songfest is part of the arts center’s annual Harvest Festival, which takes place each Sunday through Oct. 10 and features a farmers market, corn and hay mazes, pony rides, arts and crafts workshops, a scarecrow contest, and an array of festival foods (www.bethelwoodscenter.org).
John Fogerty A Grammy winner, this singer-songwriter-guitarist belts out classics like “Proud Mary,” “Fortunate Son,” and other mega-hits from his days with Creedence Clearwater Revival at HITS-on-the-Hudson in Saugerties (www.hitsshows.com).
Sept. 19: Hudson River Valley Ramble Explore the region’s history and beauty during this unique and wide-ranging event, which spans three weekends. Participants can tour historic homes, attend fall festivals, take a hike, ride a bike or a boat — and enjoy dozens of other activities amid the fall foliage. » Click here for more on the Ramble
Sept. 26: The Complete History of America (Abridged) Catch this wacky comedy — which condenses 600 years of history into 6,000 seconds — at the Albany Civic Theater (www.albanycivictheater.org).
» Next: October weekends
October
Fridays
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze haunts the Valley on Oct. 29 |
Oct. 1: Mrs. Mannerly This hilarious comedy, playing at the Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, follows a demanding etiquette teacher and her students as they vie to be the first to earn a perfect score in her class. (www.penguinrep.org).
Oct. 8: Straight No Chaser Catch this all-male a capella group in Albany. Former Indiana University students, the group’s members have performed their tunes on the morning shows on CBS and Fox; their videos have had more than 20 million views on YouTube (www.palacealbany.com).
Oct. 15: Blood, Sweat, and Tears The Grammy-winning ’70s rockers, whose hits include “And When I Die” and “Spinning Wheel,” stop by the Tarrytown Music Hall as part of their fall world tour (www.tarrytownmusichall.org).
Oct. 22: Young Frankenstein In Mel Brooks’s parody of the horror-movie genre, Dr. Frankenstein and his crew attempt to finish his grandfather’s work and bring a corpse to life — with hilarious results. This production features the national touring company of the hit Broadway show (www.proctors.org).
Oct. 29: Citizen Soldier: New York’s National Guard in the American Century The New York State Museum’s exhibit focuses on those who have served our country in times of both war and peace (www.nysm.nysed.gov).
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze Get in the spooky spirit at Croton’s Van Cortlandt Manor, which features an outdoor display of more than 4,000 hand-carved, illuminated jack o’lanterns (www.hudsonvalley.org).
Saturdays
Oct. 2: Bernie Williams The former New York Yankees All-Star shows off his classically trained guitar skills at the Egg. Williams and his band play a mix of jazz, Latin, and rock infused-songs (www.theegg.org).
Oct. 9: Rhinebeck Antiques Fair Upwards of 200 dealers from throughout the Northeast display an array of treasures — ranging from folk art to 19th-century French furniture — at the 34th edition of this popular antiques show (www.rhinebeckantiquesfair.com).
Oct. 16: Westchester Craft Show More than 100 artisans display their crafts — everything from basketry, ceramics, and glass to wood furniture, jewelry, and leather items — in White Plains (www.craftsamericashows.com/WEST_main.htm).
Oct. 23: Classical concert Esteemed conductor Valery Gergiev leads the Mariinsky Orchestra of St. Petersburg in a concert featuring Mahler’s fifth symphony at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College (www.artscenter.org).
Oct. 30: Crafts on Stage Juried artisans from Maine to Virginia gather in Purchase to show off one-of-a-kind items, from handmade leather handbags and woven clothing to toys, games, and gifts (www.artscenter.org).
Sundays
Oct. 3: Woodstock Film Festival Check out the work of local and international filmmakers during this five-day fest, which includes screenings of more than 100 films, plus concerts, panel discussions — and parties with celebrities (www.woodstockfilmfestival.com).
Oct. 10: Westchester Philharmonic Legendary violinist (and current Westchester Phil conductor) Itzhak Perlman joins the orchestra in a performance of works by Beethoven, Berlioz, and Tchaikovsky (www.westchesterphil.org).
Oct. 17: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Dr. Jekyll confronts his own capacity for evil through his murderous alter-ego, Mr. Hyde, in a musical version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novel (www.broadwaytheatre.com).
Oct. 24: Joan Baez The legendary folk singer — whose hits include “Diamonds & Rust” and “Farewell Angelina” — graces the Bardavon stage. No stranger to the Valley, Baez has been performing for more than 50 years, including at the 1969 Woodstock Festival (www.bardavon.org).
Oct. 31: Phantom of the Opera Lon Chaney stars in this silent-film classic. The Alloy Orchestra, a three-man ensemble that uses unconventional instruments to create music, accompanies the screen action with an original (spooky) soundtrack (www.paramountcenter.org).
» Next: November weekends
November
Fridays
Nov. 5: Ralphie May The notorious stand-up comedian — who doesn’t shy away from taboo topics during his routines — has been featured on NBC’s Last Comic Standing (www.theegg.org).
Nov. 12: Leon Redbone This singer and guitarist has released more than 15 albums throughout his career. Redbone brings his blues/jazz rhythms — and trademark Panama hat — to Bethel Woods (www.bethelwoodscenter.org).
Nov. 19: Dailey and Vincent The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall hosts this veteran bluegrass duo, who took home seven awards at the 2008 International Bluegrass Music Awards (www.troymusichall.org).
Nov. 26: Miniature and Dollhouse Show A Rockland County tradition for 35 years, this exhibit of miniature dolls, furniture, toys, and other whimsical items is a great way to revisit your childhood (www.rocklandhistory.org).
Saturdays
Nov. 6: Storm King To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the outdoor sculpture park features “5 + 5: New Perspectives,” an exhibit of 12 new works by contemporary art giants Andy Goldsworthy, Mark di Suvero, and Chakaia Booker, among others (www.stormking.org).
Nov. 13: Mariachi Dance Mariachi Los Camperos, winners of the Silvestre Vargas award — the Mexican equivalent of a Grammy — perform traditional south-of-the-border folk music and dance at the Emelin Theater (www.emelin.org).
Nov. 20: Livingston Taylor Brother of “Sweet Baby James” Taylor, this folk singer/songwriter — known for his hits “I Will Be in Love with You” and “I’ll Come Running” — wows his fans at the Towne Crier Café (www.townecrier.com).
Hudson Valley Philharmonic The second concert of the orchestra’s season, entitled “Prodigies,” features guest conductor Elizabeth Schulze (current director of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra) and HVP String Competition winner, cellist Dahae Kim (www.bardavon.org).
Nov. 27: Michael Feinstein’s Holiday Show The Paramount Theatre once again hosts the Grammy-nominated pianist and singer for his holiday spectacular, complete with seasonal favorites and appearances by special guests (www.middletownparamount.com).
Sundays
Nov. 7: Suzanne Farrell Ballet One of the 20th century’s most celebrated ballerinas, Suzanne Farrell, now has her own company; they perform classical works choreographed by the likes of George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. Catch the show at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College (www.artscenter.org).
Nov. 14: Jesus Christ Superstar The 1971 musical based on the last week of Christ’s life is performed at Hudson High School. The production features a full orchestra and a cast of both professional and amateur actors and dancers (http://stephensanborn.tripod.com/thetwoofusproductions/index.html).
Nov. 21: Anthony Bourdain Chef, author, and host of the Travel Channel’s No Reservations, this food fanatic visits UPAC to discuss his life, books, travels, and hit TV show (www.bardavon.org).
Nov. 28: White Christmas Based on Irving Berlin’s classic 1954 holiday movie, this musical — which follows two talented performers as they travel to Vermont for a special show — features favorite songs like “Blue Skies” and (naturally) “White Christmas” (www.proctors.org).