LocalPutnam.com

The Hudson River Valley Ramble celebrates the history, culture and natural resources of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, as well as the amazing landscape, communities, and trails throughout the region. Continue Reading

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Bicycle enthusiasts across the Northeast are gearing up in preparation for the 13th Annual Tour de Putnam Cycling Festival, the race designed by cyclists for cyclists. Kickstands go up at 8 a.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park on Gipsy Trail Road in Kent, NY on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010.

In the Tour de Putnam, cyclists have the opportunity to choose a route length to suit their own riding ability. Clearly marked and color coded 15, 30, 50, 75 or 100 mile routes take riders through breathtaking Putnam County countryside whose scenic roads weave and wind and are bordered by history itself. Mountain bikers will have their own woodland loop awaiting them as well. 

The SAG supported event will open for registration at 7:30 with staggered starting times beginning at 8. Pre-registration is $25; same day registration is $30. For an on-line registration form visit: http://www.visitputnam.org/. Registration includes a t-shirt, picnic lunch and entertainment by a Dixieland band.

Ride Info:
- Full SAG support
- Clearly marked, color coded routes
- Easy to follow cue sheets
- Bike mechanics courtesy of Bikeway (845) 621-2800
- Route sweeps
- Medical support
- Complimentary massages
- Access from the Southeast Station, on Metro-North’s “Harlem Line”
call 1-800-METRO-INFO
- Free Shuttle service from the Southeast Station with (reservations only),
call 800-470-4854 or 845-225-0381

Times
Check in and same day registration 7:30 to 9:00 am.
Food and water stations are open from 8:30 – 3:00 pm

Ride Start time
- 100 miles, 8 to 9 am
- 75 miles,  8 to 9 am
- 50 miles,  8:30 to 9:30 am
- 30 miles,  8:30 to 9:30 am
- 15 miles,  9:00 to 10:00 am

- Mountain Bike loops   9:30 am

Fees
Pre-registration $25.00
Same day registration $30.00

Registration includes t-shirt, picnic lunch, and Dixieland band. No children under 12. No bike trailers or child seats.

Free shuttle service from the Southeast Metro-North Train Station will be available but entrants are reminded to make reservations for the shuttle by calling: (800) 470-4854 or (845) 225-0381.

So strap the bikes onto the car or load them onto a Metro-North train but don’t miss a fabulous ride through Putnam County – where the country begins.

Resource: Marty Collins, The Putnam County Times;  http://www.visitputnam.org/

Photo credit: Tony Mazzariello

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Barbeque and Music

The Garrison

Looking for a delicious and fun way to spend the summer evenings on the banks of the majestic Hudson River that is affordable for the entire family? Continue Reading

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Support Connection, Inc., an independent non-profit organization,  announces “Show Your Support Night” with the Hudson Valley Renegades at Dutchess Stadium, a fun family night that will raise awareness about breast and ovarian cancer and raise funds for Support Connection’s free, confidential breast and ovarian cancer support services. Continue Reading

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The Garrison Art Center celebrates its 4^thyear of CURRENT, a summer sculpture exhibition to benefit The Garrison Art Center Gillette Scholarship Fund at Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison, New York. On Friday June 11, from 6 to 8 pm, a private reception to honor the artists and to benefit The Garrison Art Center Gillette Scholarship Fund will be held in the Boscobel Rose Garden.  Guests will stroll the grounds with the artists while enjoying gourmet fare provided by Riverview Restaurant and fine wines by Cathryn’s Tuscan Grill.

CURRENT 2010 runs through October 11, 2010.  The exhibition features 9 regional artists and 25 sculptures sited on the majestic grounds of Boscobel House & Gardens and along the banks of the Hudson at Garrison Art Centeron Garrison’s Landing in Garrison, New York.   This year’s featured artists are Emil Alzamora, Leonda F. Finke, Kevin Forest, Mara Haseltine, David Hayes, Brett Hunter, Eric David Laxman, Judith Steinberg and Jay Wholley.

CURRENT 2010 is made possible by the generosity of Exhibition Benefactors, Lisa and Lloyd Zeiderman of Garrison, Jasmine Swann and John Wieker of New York City, and Angelina Fiordellisi and Matt Williams of Garrison.

Corporate sponsors Cathryn’s Tuscan Grill, Riverview Restaurant, D. Yannitelli Fine Wines and Spirits, and Grey Printing , all businesses in Cold Spring, New York, make it possible for 100% of the proceeds from party admission to benefit the need-based scholarship fund.   Admission is $35 per person.   Reservations are required, 845-424-3960.

For more information on Garrison Art Center programs and events, visit garrisonartcenter.org.

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Celebrate Shakespeare’s 446^th birthday on the banks of the Hudson River at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival.  Considered to be one of the best nights out at the most reasonable price, the Festival offers something for everyone from high comedy and romance to betrayal, battlefields; iambic pentameter and hip-hop rap.

This season will take the audience to the Trojan War where love turns to infidelity in the bedroom and on the battlefield.  A cast of celebrated Greek heroes bring intrinsic values of honor and love into question with Troilus and Cressida. From classic war time battlefields to the battle of the sexes, the question ‘who’s taming whom?’ will be answered with classic wit in the comedy, The Taming of the Shrew. And what would a season at HVSF be without an all out irreverent takes on Shakespeare, in this case The Bomb-itty of Errors, a comic hip-hop rapping romp through The Comedy of Errors?

The Bomb-itty of Errors, directed by Associate Artistic Director Christopher Edwards, opens the season on Saturday June 19 (previews begin Tuesday, June 15).  The Taming of the Shrew, directed by Kurt Rhoads opens on Saturday, June 26 (previews begin Friday, June 18).  Terrence O’Brien, Founding Artistic Director of the Festival, directs Troilus and Cressida which opens Saturday, July 3 (previews begin June 16).

Performances begin at 7pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (grounds open for picnicking at 5pm); 8pm Friday and Saturday (grounds open at 6pm); and 6pm on Sundays (grounds open at 4pm).

“I am very excited about this season. It’s a great mix of plays and a real exploration of men, their views on women and the world. It should offer some interesting dialogue with our audience. As I work on Troilus and Cressida I am struck by the fact that the play doesn’t really seem to fit into any true Shakespeare “categories”. It seems to defy what we’ve come to expect – taking on somewhat of an experimental form said Mr. O’Brien.  “I am also very happy to welcome Festival veterans Chris Edwards and Kurt Rhodes back this season as directors of our two other shows.

Watch the interview with the actor’s from last year’s Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival.  Don’t miss this year’s performance, it is sure to be terrific!!

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival has inspired and delighted audiences with its vigorously original interpretations of the great works of William Shakespeare for twenty-three seasons to much critical acclaim from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, The Poughkeepsie Journal, The Journal News and numerous other national and regional  publications.  Founding Artistic Director Terrence O’Brien has maintained a commitment to making the timeless plays accessible to all audiences, relieving the burden of heavy language and over-dramatization that so many equate with Shakespeare.  “We want the audience to feel the same way about the plays as we do,” explained O’Brien.  “The stories are timeless and we work to eliminate the affectation so often associated with Shakespeare.  Our productions are lively, fast-paced and reflect our own excitement.  You know it’s working,” he continued, “when you not only have people return season after season but every year they bring more new friends.”

The region’s only professional resident Shakespeare Company, HVSF, makes its home under an open-air tent theater perched high up on the banks of the Hudson River on the grounds of the historic 19^th Century Boscobel estate in Garrison, New York. Using the dramatic views of the Hudson Highlands and the sweeping vistas from the elegant lawns of Boscobel as near-perfect stage scenery, the critically acclaimed Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival presents unparalleled productions with the perfect marriage of theater and nature. Audience members are invited to arrive two hours early in order to enjoy a picnic meal – with one of the most spectacular al fresco views – on the grounds of the estate.

“Populism without pandering: That’s the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival’s style and I’ve never seen it go wrong.” –—Terry Teachout, the Wall Street Journal

TICKETS AND INFORMATION

Ticket prices for all performances are $29-$47.  Tickets are available through the HVSF Box Office, which opens May 3: 845-265-9575 and are now available online at hvshakespeare.org.  Discounts are available on most nights for groups, students, senior citizens and children 12 and under. The Festival offers several special packages, including a tour of the Boscobel mansion and Exhibition Gallery plus tickets.  In addition discounts at local hotels and restaurants are also available.  For packages and information visit the Festival website, http://www.hvshakespeare.org/ and are available through the box office.  On-line sales are currently available.

For more information about the 2010 Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, as well as information about their ongoing Education and Community Outreach Programs, contact the Festival at (845) 265-7858.

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On June 12, 2010, you will get the opportunity to discovered many beautiful gardens and wonderful and interesting people as you drive around Putnam County on the Secret Garden Tour.  The Tour is an unique fund-raising event for PARC, a non-profit organization whose mission is to create and provide lifelong opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve success.  Continue Reading

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Yorktown residents Art and Nadeje Halperin are organizing a concert to benefit relief efforts in Haiti at the Paramount Center for the Arts in Peekskill on Sunday January 31, 2010 at 8 pm.  Continue Reading

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The 6th Annual Regional Celebration Teatown’s Hudson River EagleFest will take place Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 9:00am-4:00pm at Croton Point Park.  Continue Reading

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