Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

Mostly Free & Fun Things to Do this Weekend with Westchester Kids: Special Needs Expo, Spider-Man, Emergency Preparedness & More, Nov. 8 & 9

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 11/06/2014 - 9:00am

Three common themes dominate the Westchester events we’re highlighting this weekend: entertainment, classes and FREE.

For entertainment, there’s Family Concert: Washboard Slim and the Bluelights, featuring an eclectic array of musical styles (FREE); Spider-Man Double Feature—a staggering four hours of the beloved superhero (FREE); and Gone with the Wind—shown on the big screen, the way it’s supposed to be seen.

Opportunities to learn include Make and Bake Thanksgiving Treats, where kids can make their own apple treats (FREE); Being Prepared for Emergencies, which can help you feel confident in the face of an emergency; Special Needs Expo, where you can learn about numerous service providers in our area (FREE); and Kids' Classes: Learn to Sew, Knit or Crochet, which allows kids to sew their own creation in a single session.

But that’s not all! There are a lot of other options in our Event Calendar all week long, and if you check out our November Go List, you can plan ahead for more great happenings coming up!

SAT and ACT Prep: Free and Low-Cost Fall Workshops for Westchester Teens

Submitted by Susan Miele on Mon, 11/03/2014 - 8:00am

High-stakes testing is a controversial issue that has been fueled in recent years with an increased emphasis on standardized tests nationwide. Though some of these high-stakes tests are new, having been implemented in the last several years, the SAT and ACT tests conjure up memories from many a parents' own high-school days. The tests have changed over the years and if you now find yourself navigating the test-taking waters as a parent, you may find that you have just as many questions as your teen.

Fortunately, there are helpful resources here in Westchester. We've rounded up various workshops and events taking place this fall, designed to help prep your teen for the tests and answer any questions you may have about the process. Resources include proctored practice tests that simulate the real deal, test-taking strategies from the experts, advice as to whether to take the SAT or ACT and more. Best of all, many of them are FREE!

Mostly Free & Fun Things to Do this Weekend with Westchester Kids: Day of the Dead, Skull-tastic, Fairy Tea Party & More, Nov. 1 & 2

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 10/30/2014 - 9:00am

Halloween may be on Friday, but the spooky fun continues this weekend around Westchester! Extend the All Hallow’s Eve fun with The Legend Behind The 'Legend', Scared By The Sound, Horseman’s Hollow and Jay Ghoul's House of Curiosities.

On the heels of Halloween comes Dia de los Muertos, a Mexican tradition and two local celebrations: Day of the Dead in Yonkers and Day of the Dead Performance & Reception.

Though Skull-tastic and Eerie Expo might sound Halloween-y, the first is a study of animals from the inside out, and the latter is a great opportunity to meet best-selling authors.

Other weekend highlights are an eclectic assortment of fun. Check out Antics Dance: Illuminated Manuscript, a storytelling and multimedia hip-hop performance or Watch Mr. Wizard, an interactive science event. If fairies are more your thing, drop in for tea at the Fairy Tea Party--a must for those who love to wear wings.

Be sure to visit our Event Calendar for other great events happening every day in Westchester and the Hudson Valley!

Mostly Free & Fun Things to Do this Weekend with Westchester Kids: Halloween Happenings, Magic Garden, Picturing Stories & More, Oct. 25 & 26

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 10/23/2014 - 9:00am

Eek! It’s the final weekend before Halloween! Westchester cranks up the fun, so read on for some of our faves.

A don’t-miss event is the annual Tarrytown Annual Halloween Parade, whether you march in it or spectate. It draws a large crowd and culminates in a street party, with oodles of festivity in the air. Preschoolers will enjoy the abundant offerings at Harvest Moon Festival; FREE fun abounds at HarvestFest and Pumpkin-Carving Demo; a live Halloween-themed performance awaits at Grisly Kids: An All Hallows' Dance Review; a fun fall festival can be found at the Scarecrows and Pumpkins Parade; and for a Mexican twist on All Hallow’s Eve, take in Day of the Dead in Pelham. To turn the creepiness up a notch, check out our guide to Cemetery Tours.

Though it’s hard to pass up all the Halloween fun, there are a couple especially compelling events this weekend that don’t involve pumpkins or costumes: Picturing Stories and The Magic Garden.

Some of the recurring October events continue through next weekend, but Lasdon Park Halloween Haunted House & Train Show and Bear Mountain Oktoberfest wrap up this week. Last call!

With so much happening, we can’t fit it all in this roundup, so be sure to visit our Event Calendar for all the Halloween happenings and more through the end of the month!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: ImaginOcean, ARToberfest, Hands-on Film Festival and More Oct. 18-19

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 10/16/2014 - 9:00am

A lot is happening in the world of cinema this weekend in Westchester: the YoFi Fest - Yonkers Film Festival is a weekend-long cinematic sensation, which includes special activities just for kids. In the spirit of Halloween, you can introduce your kids to old-school movies at Cartoon Cereal Party: Halloween Edition and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

The Halloween fun is on the rise this weekend with the addition of Jay Ghoul's House of Curiosities, plus the continuation of The Legend Behind the 'Legend', Horseman's Hollow, Scared by the Sound and Lasdon Park Halloween Haunted House & Train Show (see also our guide to local haunted houses). Many of the ticketed events sell out early, so be sure to pounce on anything you’re dying to do!

The much-anticipated Westchester Children’s Museum is hosting Explore-a-Thon, a big FREE event on Saturday that will surely whet your appetite for when it officially opens in Rye. Also on Saturday are two appealing performances, both in different veins: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean and Oktoberfest of Music: A Night in Germany. For a different spin on Oktoberfest, try ARToberfest earlier in the day.

Sunday is a big day for fall festivals: There’s Sheldrake's Annual Fall Festival, Autumn Celebration, the Bronxville Children's Halloween Festival and Halloween Carnival and Ragamuffin Parade (see also our roundup of other ragamuffin parades happening in our area).

Believe it or not, that’s not all! Read on for our top weekend picks, visit our Event Calendar and check out our October Go List for our top picks for the rest of the month!

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Great Jack-o’-Lantern Blaze, Applefest, Family Campout and More, Oct. 4-5

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 10/02/2014 - 10:00am

With October comes the beginning of Halloween season, and all month long there are parties, festivals, parades and haunted houses throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley. We’ve populated our Event Calendarwith a ton of these festivities (as well as a variety of non-Halloween events for when you crave diversity), so take a peak and plan ahead. There’s a lot to take in!

The Rivertowns, with the strong association with Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” go all out for Halloween, with month-long events that start this weekend like The Great Jack O Lantern Blaze and The Legend Behind the 'Legend'. For the older kids there are plenty of haunted happenings including Horseman’s Hollow and Scared by the Sound.

The season of fall festivals continues with Harvest Fest, as well as Warwick Applefest, which returns for an all-day celebration of apples—and much more! If instead of apples you’re in a pumpkin kind of mood, try All Things Pumpkin. Or, while you’re soaking up the remaining days of warm weather, indulge in a Family Campout. Also consult our guide for scenic autumn drives to enjoy the splendor of the season.

Read on for our top weekend picks. Looking for more options? Be sure to check our Event Calendar for more fun happening this weekend and beyond.

Weekend Fun for Westchester Kids: Children's Book Festival, Arts Fest, Free Museum Day and More, Sept. 27-28

Submitted by Susan Miele on Thu, 09/25/2014 - 11:00am

This weekend, skip the NYC museums and theaters in favor of all the great opportunities there are to enjoy the arts in Westchester and the Hudson Valley--many of which are FREE. Choose from the New Rochelle Arts Fest, the Rhinebeck Arts Festival and Smithsonian Museum Day Live!. A bilingual production of The Brave Calf also takes place on Saturday, as part of Hispanic Day Celebration.

Looking for more festivals? The Chappaqua Children's Book Festival returns with a huge selection of titles, a host of author and illustrator appearances and a surprising assortment of fun activities for families. There’s also the Fall Harvest Festival, which includes a Bungee Trampoline, and Bear Mountain Oktoberfest continues, with a different live band each day. For festivals beyond this coming weekend, check out our roundup of fall fests so you can plan ahead!

Enjoy the remaining warm days with some nature-focused events--bring a camera to Nature Photoscavenger Hunt or bring your fairy-lover to the Legends & Lore of the Little People, which should get an A for utter cuteness. If you’re up for apple picking, we’ve compiled a list of area orchards to visit.

Read on for more info and click through for additional details. Be sure to browse our Event Calendar for more events happening this weekend and beyond.

Smithsonian Museum Day Live: FREE Admission to Museums in Westchester and Hudson Valley

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 09/19/2014 - 1:00am

If you’ve ever visited Washington, D.C., you’ve probably felt the pang of jealousy that entry to the Smithsonian Institution is free. Who wouldn’t want to see great art and rotating exhibits without opening their wallet? Well, now’s your big chance. Saturday, September 27, marks the 10th annual Museum Day Live! On this day, hundreds of museums nationwide offer free admission to visitors, orchestrated by Smithsonian Magazine. Of course there are many fantastic NYC museums participating in this event but we are happy to report that there are also several museums throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley that are also partaking--and we've got all the details! Read on to find out which museums are participating, how to get your FREE tickets and other fun perks.