Around Town

Don’t Miss

Dribble, Shoot, & Score

Get a jump on the Rye Y’s March Madness 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament (grades K-6), which is set for March 25 from 1-6 p.m. Registration starts February 20 at the Member Services Desk. Cost is $20 per child.

Save the Date

The Arts Are for Everyone

At this year’s Rye Arts Center’s fundraiser, they will honor longtime board member Barbara Elliot and the center’s instructors. The event will be held at Old Oaks Country Club March 31 at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, call 967-0700.        

For a Good Cause

Blood Drive

The Rye Y is hosting a blood drive for White Plains Hospital February 11 from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Donate to help save a life. Enjoy refreshments and freshly baked cookies afterwards.

Talks and Workshops

A Life in Music

CBS correspondent and Rye Free Reading Room trustee Anthony Mason will interview special guest Suzanne Vega after the library’s Annual Meeting of its members February 12. The brief business meeting, which will include the election of officers and trustees, begins at 3:30 p.m. Only members of the Rye Free Reading Room may vote, but everyone is invited to attend and enjoy the social hour and conversation about a life in music that follows.

Widely regarded as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation, Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s when she began to sing neo-folk songs of her own creation in Greenwich Village clubs. With her sultry voice, Vega has since seamlessly joined poetry and song in a variety of genres on albums and at sold-out concerts, including numerous dates on the Lilith Fair tours.
For more information, call 231-3161 or visit ryelibrary.org.

Computer Savvy

The Rye library’s next class on using computers is “Microsoft Word II: Using Tables” February 14 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Tables are a powerful feature of the Word program, enabling you to create columns of information and structure a document to include text and images. Prior experience with Word is required for this class. Seating is limited to 12. The first to arrive will be the first seated.

Work Search

The focus of Lives in Transition’s next workshop is “Fired at 50: How to Overcome the Greatest Executive Job Search Challenge”. The networking program will be held February 16 from 7-9 p.m. at Rye Presbyterian Church.

Today, 15% of unemployed Americans are over 50. Executive career coach Bob Sloane will discuss nine reasons for the strong job market age bias and how to overcome them, how to make your age an asset, and new ways to change your strategy to find your next job faster.

RSVP to livesintransition@ gmail.com.

Social Media 101

Become familiar with Facebook and learn what you can do on this social networking site at the Harrison Public Library February 16 at 10:30 a.m. On February 23 at 10:30 a.m., attend a class on the basics of Twitter. For more information, call 835-0324.

The Least Understood American War

Attend a lecture entitled “The War of 1812 in American Caricature”, by Dr. Allison Stagg, at the Jay Heritage Center February 19 from 4-6:30 p.m. The lecture will consider key events from the War of 1812 by exploring satirical visual imagery. Political cartoons were printed with immediacy to capitalize on sensational events and to mock prominent politicians and figures, while extolling pride in the American cause. Caricatures of this period, although printed in haste, show how people responded to the War.

Rarely are such prints considered in American history dialogue, yet such images are vital documents that provide viewers with the opinions of the everyday citizen in the early 1800s. In focusing on caricatures produced during this period, this lecture considers the “people’s story” of the War through a series of visually humorous images.

Seating is limited. To RSVP, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Chai Time

Enjoy Russian tea, learn about traditions, and watch a Russian dance group perform February 25 at 3 p.m. at the Harrison Public Library. Call 835-0324 for further details.

Fairy Tales May Not Come True

Meet author Haley Tanner at the Rye library February 28 at 7 p.m. and hear about her top-selling book “Vaclav & Lena”. The novel tells the story of two characters who, when they meet as children in an ESL class in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, seem destined for one another. Vaclav is precocious and verbal. Lena, struggling with English, takes comfort in the safety of his adoration, his noisy, loving home, and the care of Rasia, his big-hearted mother.

The young man imagines their story unfolding like a fairy tale, or the perfect illusion from his treasured Magician’s Almanac, but among the many truths to be discovered in this wondrous debut novel is that happily ever after is never a foregone conclusion. A Q & A will follow the reading.

Arts and Entertainment

In Concert: Adele and Glee

The Rye library invites teens to two concert films. “Adele: Live at the Royal Albert Hall”, showing February 10 from 3-4:45 p.m., was recorded live on September 22, 2011, at the height of an amazing year for the singing sensation. The film features the full 90-minute concert performance plus special behind-the-scenes footage shot throughout the day.

Watch “Glee: The Concert Movie” February 23 from 3-4:30 p.m. Audience members will have a front row seat at a thrilling concert performed by the phenomenally talented cast of TV’s “Glee” and see their favorite stars as they sing favorite songs and dance up a storm. Call 231-3161.

Marshlands Show

“A Different Point of View” exhibit opens February 12 at 2 p.m., with a reception for the artists and public. All paintings and drawings were inspired by the Conservancy landscape.

Showcase of Senior Art

Celebrate the artistic achievements of the members of The Art Studio at The Osborn who have been working under the guidance of teacher David Cuffari. The creative work of experienced and brand-new artists in oil, pastel, and watercolor is on display at the Rye library through February 28.

Waxworks

The Rye Arts Center is offering an exciting opportunity to expand your visual vocabulary — with wax — February 11 from 12-4 p.m. Gain a hands-on introduction to encaustic painting, an ancient technique using a mixture of melted beeswax, resin, and pigment which is layered, while wet, onto a porous panel to create works with luminous color and depth. Participants are encouraged to bring specific project ideas and are welcome to bring works in progress if the surface is sturdy.

Each participant will be provided with a 5*7 and 8*10 panel, wax, colors, brushes, and more. Fee is $140 and includes a materials kit. Jazz Brunch
Enjoy the sounds of the Bob Mover Trio at Wainwright House February 12 from 12-3 p.m. The event is catered by Corner Stone. Cost is $35 per person. Reservations are required; call 967-6080.

All the Kings Men

The Jay Heritage Center presents Columbia University’s premier all-male a cappella singing group, The Kingsmen, February 26 from 4-6:30 p.m. The group is inspired by the life of fellow King’s College alum (Class of 1764) John Jay. They will perform a selection of famous tunes from ballads to beatbox.

Founded in 1949, the group first achieved nationwide fame on “The Ed Sullivan Show”. Appearing in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, the group produced its own celebrities. In 1962, Arthur Garfunkel joined its ranks. In 1969, the group split away from the university to debut at Woodstock as the ’50s Doo Wop revival band, Sha Na Na, and went on to star in the popular ’70s program of the same name.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 students, seniors, and Columbia alumni. For tickets, call 698-9275.

Teen Times

Y Nights

Grades 9-12 can enjoy basketball, swimming (swim caps required), working out, video games, air hockey, ping-pong, and socializing with friends February 10 and 17 from 7-10 p.m. At middle school teen night the popular Velcro Wall is back February 11 from 7-10 p.m. Admission is free for members, $5 for Teen Access members.

Family Ties

Old-Fashioned Winter’s Afternoon

Come one, come all to this annual Rye Nature Center tradition February 12 from 12-3 p.m. Show your stuff at a log-sawing contest. Roast marshmallows and hone your skills with timeless crafts.

The Rye Historical Society will be on hand to provide winter fare from colonial times. Admission is free. Family Swim for Special Needs Children
A facilitator will assist with fun games, safety skills, and helpful tips in the water at the Rye Y Sundays from 9-9:45 a.m. The next meeting is February 12. Open to youth of all ages, an adult must accompany each child.

The program is free for Y members. No sign up is necessary.

Maple Sugar Demos

The Rye Nature Center invites you to tap the sap the old-fashioned way February 18 and 25 at 1 p.m. Learn how maple trees produce sap and get a peek at the sugaring process in the Sugar Shack. Free for members, $5 non-members. For reservations, call 967-5150.

To Your Health

Starry Night

Astrological life coach Joy Marie Yascone, who recently opened a holistic wellness practice at Wainwright House, will host a special evening at Le Pain Quotidien February 16 from 7-9 p.m. Join her to learn what your Sun Sign has in store for you this year while enjoying great food, wine, and conscious conversation. Tickets are $39; call 967-1460.

Ready, Set GO FIT

Registration for Rye Y’s “Ready, Set GO FIT” is ongoing. Late last winter, a group of 17 intrepid Rye YMCA members took on this challenge in an effort to meet their health and fitness goals. Twelve weeks later, all participants reached their goals.

The program includes a one-on-one counseling session to help participants establish their goals, and 12 meetings focused on group support, healthy lifestyle education and a short, effective group workout. Receive a copy of  “Food Rules” by Michael Pollan and a Ready, Set GO FIT! T-shirt.

Anyone who attends the first four meetings will receive a free personal training session. Meeting times are Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. March 6 through May 22.

Kids’ Corner

Rye Library

Two PG movies will be screened during the week: “Dolphin Tale” February 21 from 2-3:50 p.m., and “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” February 24 from 3:30-5 p.m.  

During a Book Swap on February 23 from 2-4 p.m., children may bring their own gently used books to trade. Also, all week long children can drop into the Children’s Room to play a variety of board and card games.

Be My Valentine

Children (ages 3-5) can create their own whimsical Valentine’s cards from colorful paper, pretty ribbons, and fancy stamps to give to Mom, Dad, and the whole family, February 10 at the Square House. There are two sessions from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-2:30 p.m.

The cost is $10 per child, $5 per additional child. Light refreshments will be served. Reservations are suggested; call 967-7588.

 I <3 You

The Rye library invites children ages 5 and up to Fun Club February 10 at 3:30 p.m. Listen to stories about Valentine’s Day and make a craft project.  

Carnival Night

Fourth graders can enjoy game booths, prizes, refreshments, and more at Rye Rec February 10 from 7-8:45 p.m. Fee is $25 for residents, $30 non-residents.

Cupcake-Decorating Challenge

The Rye library invites ages 4 and up to a morning of Valentine fun February 11 at 10 a.m. Participants will show their skills at decorating scrumptious cupcakes, vote on their favorites, and receive prizes for the winning creations. Register for this free program by calling 231-3162.

Dream, Dream, Dream…

Ages 10-12 can join Janice Matturro February 11 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. for a dreamy workshop at the Rye Arts Center. The dreamscape is a canvas where one’s imagination paints lively characters in colorful combinations. Dream Art is a creative, hands-on approach for children to learn how to bring their inner, creative vision to life. Participants will learn how to share their dreams and bring them alive through color and texture. Fee is $30.

Will You Be Mine?

Ages 3-8 can make Valentines using glitter, sparkles, and paint at the Rye Y February 13 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. This free program is for Family members only.

Discovery Workshop: Pointillism

Learn about the style of art known as pointillism and the artist, Georges Seurat, who created it, February 18 from 2-3 p.m. at the Rye Arts Center. Have fun making your own pointillism-inspired work. The program is geared for ages 8 and up. Cost is $20.

Winter Wonders

Looking for something fun and creative for your children to do while on winter break? The Square House will have a one-day craft program for ages 7-11 February 21 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Winter-themed projects such as making snow globes and creating a winter wonderland diorama are planned.
The cost is $15 per child. Bring a bagged lunch; snacks will be provided. For reservations, call 967-7588.

All the Wright Stuff

Grades K-4 can gain an introduction to the basics of aerodynamics and learn about the forces that affect flight with their own stunt flying place February 23 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Rye Rec. Cost is $55 for residents, $60 non-residents.

Vacation Activities

Rye Rec

Activities include: Sports Squirts (ages 3-5) February 21-23 from 12:30-1:30 p.m.; Multi Sport (grades K-6) February 21-23 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; American Red Cross CPR/AED (ages 15 and up) February 21 and 22 from 12-4 p.m.; and Guitar Building Workshop (ages 12 and up) February 21-23 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Fees range from $65-$399. Participants should bring lunch.

Rye Arts Center

Sessions run daily from February 20-24. Camps include: Ceramics Workshop (ages 5-7) 12-2:30 p.m. (ages 8-12) 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; Drawing & Painting (ages 6-8) 9 a.m.-12 p.m.; Manga Cartooning (ages 8 and up) 12:30-2:30 p.m.; and Digital Photography & Photoshop (ages 9 and up) 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Fees range from $165-$245 for the week. Members receive a discount.

Rye Nature Center

Pre-school and elementary students can take a nature break February 21-24 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring lunch and spend time tracking local wildlife. Sledding is encouraged; bring snow pants and boots. Per-day cost is $60 for members, $70 non-members.

The Great Outdoors

The Marshlands Conservancy offers a variety of reasons for you to get outside this month.  

Help clear vines at the Southern end of the meadow February 18 from 1-3 p.m. Bring work gloves.

Take a journey into the natural world as it prepares for nighttime February 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Test your survival skills. Families will receive a package with items in it, and then have to decide what they’ll need in the winter wilderness, February 19 at 2 p.m.

Call 835-4466 for additional information.