Don’t Worry, See Happ
y
Parents going out of control to get their children into their preferred colleges? That sounds a teeny bit familiar, no? See your neighbors’ foibles—that loony quest for a fat envelope—reenacted on stage at the Hudson Stage Company’s The Pursuit of Happiness, which runs from April 17 to May 2 at the Woodward Hall Theatre at Pace University. The play, starring Denise Bessette (pictured), David McDonald, and Danton Stone, was written by playwright Richard Dresser (Rounding Third), a fellow Westchester resident—so he really knows college-admissions craziness firsthand. A Q&A follows the performance on April 26, so you can ask him which episodes in the play come from real life.
Juke It Out
It’s been more than 30 years since Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes released their first album, but the band is still having a party. They’ve packed up their horns and have taken them from the Jersey Shore to the shores of the Hudson, where they’ll rock out the Tarrytown Music Hall on April 17. In addition to “We’re Having a Party,” expect other classic hits like “The Fever” and “I Don’t Want to Go Home”—and, believe us, you won’t want to, either.
Out of This World
Let’s face it: Ol’ Mama Earth isn’t getting any younger. But she looks good for her age, right? Celebrate the planet and learn how to keep it healthy at one of these Earth Day celebrations:
Earth Day Westchester 2009 at Kensico Dam Plaza on April 19 is full of freebies. The first 500 families who enter will receive a reusable shopping bag, and the first 50 families also will get a composting machine. A free “Green Raffle” opens up the possibilities for even more swag, including 30-day unlimited Metrocards, a home-energy audit, and more (914-813-5427).
The Pelham Art Center marks the closing of its eco-friendly And For All This, Nature Is Not Spent exhibition with a lecture and discussion between Jo Anna Isaak, the exhibition’s curator, and Robert E. Hernan, an attorney with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, on April 25. At the same time, the kiddies can make art out of recycled materials (914-738-2525).
Roll up your sleeves for the Greenburgh Nature Center’s Earth Day Celebration on April 19. There, you’ll be put to work in the gardens, clearing the trails, cleaning up the grounds, and generally making the Earth a little more sparkling clean (914-723-3470).
On April 18, the Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk, Connecticut, will have kids grooving to garbage—sort of. In “From Trash to Tunes,” a performance by musician Dennis Waring, the musical instruments are created from homemade materials. Kids can then make their own crafts with recycled goodies (203-899-0606).
Science geeks may want to head over to the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk on April 17 for its Earth Day celebration, which lets kids experiment with solar- and hydrogen-powered model cars and learn about other alternative sources of energy. The day ends with a screening of the IMAX movie Grand Canyon Adventure (203-852-0700).