Susan Miele

Latest posts by Susan

What's Open in Coronavirus Shutdown: Parks, Gardens, Hikes You Can Do While Social Distancing

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 03/20/2020 - 12:00pm

Explore the ruins of Cornish Estate in Cold Spring. Photo by Meagan Newhart

Social distancing with kids is no easy task—boy do we relate! Whether your kids are young and whiny or older and rebellious, keeping them occupied and safe nowadays is a challenge.

We recognize the need to get out of the house for fresh air and a change of scenery. Fortunately, we can! Below we’ve compiled a list of destinations that remain open to the public in and around Westchester. We hope that these refuges not only provide a sense of normalcy in these trying times but also help you discover a new destination your family loves. Disclaimer: With everything changing from one day to the next, please check with any venue you plan to visit to confirm it remains open.

Be sure to bookmark our Coronavirus Parent Guide, chock-full of boredom busters, online learning tools, STEM activities, craft projects, podcasts, movie picks, and more. We’ve also been cataloging virtual events from all over the country on our Event Calendar and have rounded up our faves for the days ahead.

Read on for where to go—and be sure to practice safe social distancing! Most of these venues are FREE!

Life as a Mom in New York's Coronavirus Containment Zone

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 12:05pm

Resolve remains strong in New Rochelle where the Girl Scouts created this neighborly sign. Photo by the author

It's day 1 for my family in New York's first coronavirus "containment zone," a state-mandated two-week shutdown of schools and other public-gathering points within a 1-mile radius of the state's epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in New Rochelle. With so much uncertainty—who will get sick, how long will this really last, and will I have the supplies we need—it’s hard to know how to react to this shutdown with my family, which includes two teenagers, here in Westchester County.

As recently as a week ago, "prepare for sickness" topped my to-do list in terms of what to gather and stock up on. In early March, it still all seemed like an anxious person's panic and overkill. At that point—only a few days ago—most of the local discussion among parents and neighbors centered on whether or not COVID-19 was overhyped compared with the seasonal flu. I decided to take it seriously—not as a panicked person fearing for my life, but in the interest of emergency preparedness for the sake of my family.

(Find more information, including school closings and indoor activities and games, in our Coronavirus Guide for Parents.)

Things To Do in Westchester this Weekend: Purim, Sugarfest, Performances

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 11:00am

Celebrate Purim at Temple Shaaray Tefila of Westchester on Sunday. in Bedford Corners. Photo courtesy of the temple

Here in Westchester County, the singular topic of discussion this week has been the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on our community. Depending on where in the county you live, you might be hearing rumblings about it and are bracing for impact, or you might be reside in Governor Cuomo's newly named "containment zone," where schools and other public-gathering spots are ordered to close for two weeks.

For March 14-15, our weekend roundup is presented with all this in mind. We, too, are parents in Westchester feeling the strain, but we want to try to help families cope as best as possible. We're looking at ways to unwind (and hopefully, avoid germs), but our readers have diverse perspectives, so we're laying out the options for you to decide.

Note that some events planned for this weekend, including the White Plains St. Patrick's Day Parade, have been canceled. If you're looking for an outdoor activity, you can check out what nature centers and farms have to offer. We're in the tail-end of maple-sugaring season, with events like the Sugaring-Off Party, where you can learn how sap is collected and converted into syrup, including how early settlers used to do this. Another nature topic is Weasels in Winter, because why should groundhogs get all the attention?

Another great way to recharge your battery this weekend is to attend any of several exciting performances we've found, including A Capella Live at Tarrytown Music Hall.

For more options to choose from, read on and consult our Event Calendar. If staying in is on the schedule, try these at-home Boredom Busters to keep the kids busy, from science experiments to fun exercise games.

A Dozen Spring Break Mini-Camps for Westchester Kids

Submitted by Susan Miele on Sun, 03/08/2020 - 8:00am

The Multi-Sport Camp at A Game Camp provides fun activities run by A-Game Sports coaches for your kids to enjoy their days off in a safe environment!

If you're not heading out of town for spring break, you may be wondering how to keep the kids busy during their time off. Spring break camps offer a great way to keep them active, learning, and engaged (not to mention out of your hair) while they're out of school.

Westchester offers many specialized programs, so there's sure to be a camp to please most interests. We've rounded up a dozen choices, including those focusing on nature, arts, and sports.

Be sure to check out our Event Calendar for more fun things to do during the break. And if you're looking ahead to the end of the school year, don't miss our Summer Camps Guide for Westchester Kids!

New Pop In! Play Space & Cafe: Fun for Little Ones in Larchmont

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 03/06/2020 - 1:01pm

Pop In! Play Space & Cafe in Larchmont offers imaginative fun for kids.

Life in Larchmont continues to perk up for families, with yet another opening of a family destination. We recently told you about the arrival of D.I.Y. Slime, where kids can get their hands on STEM-y fun without messing up their own home. On its heels comes Pop In! Play Space & Cafe, a new indoor spot geared toward kids under 6 that offers stimulating stations, flexible pricing, and birthday parties.

We paid a visit to size things up for our readers. Spoiler alert: We give it a big thumbs-up!

Read on for the inside scoop about Pop In! Play Space & Cafe. To stay in the know about new businesses, camp listings, our top picks from our Event Calendar, and more, make sure you're signed up for our newsletters!

Things To Do in Westchester this Weekend: Laurie Berkner, St. Patrick's Parades, Purim

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 03/04/2020 - 1:00pm

Celebrate Purim at the Westchester Jewish Center on Sunday. Photo courtesy of the Westchester Jewish Center

With St. Patrick’s Day a week away, it’s not too early to don your green and kick up your heels. Among the numerous parades happening in Westchester and the Hudson Valley this weekend is one of the largest in the state: the Annual Northern Westchester-Putnam St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Maple sugaring is still in peak season, as are the events that celebrate it, one of our favorites being the annual Maple Sugaring Party. And while most of the Purim hullaballoo falls mid-week, there are a couple of fun celebrations this weekend, including the Purim Carnival. If you're looking for live entertainment, there are a couple of hot-ticket alerts, one of which is a FREE performance by the Paper Bag Players. Also FREE is the Ecology Club for Families with Special Needs, and there are plenty more freebies in store for the weekend.

Read on for further details and additional options—then head to our Event Calendar for yet more. Also refer to our March GoList for our top picks for the rest of the month, and our don't forget about our roundup of fun activities to finish out the winter!

Daniel Tiger, Baby Shark, and More Kids' Shows in and Near Westchester this Spring

Submitted by Susan Miele on Fri, 02/28/2020 - 11:23am

Treehouse Shakers presents The Boy Who Grew Flowers at Purchase College on Sunday, March 22. Photo courtesy of the theater

Westchester and the Hudson Valley will play host to a considerable number of family-friendly performances over the next couple months, from page-to-stage musicals to circus acts, from marionette theater to musical concerts. Several shows will feature popular kids' characters, including Daniel Tiger, Scooby-Doo, Baby Shark, Judy Moody, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar—and we know how excited kids can get to see these "friends" come to life onstage.

We think parents will enjoy many of these, too!

Read on and click through to get the scoop. Some shows sell out well in advance, and we don’t want you to miss out! Also, purchasing tickets early allows for choice seats that allow little ones the best view.

For more fun events, be sure to check our events calendar or sign up for our free newsletter!

Weekend Fun: "Drive-In" Movie, Cinderella, Very Hungry Caterpillar

Submitted by Susan Miele on Wed, 02/26/2020 - 1:10pm

See The Princess and the Frog on the big screen at Andrus on Hudson on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises

Seasonal fun abounds this weekend for Westchester and Hudson Valley families, with winter fun and the glimmer of spring on the horizon.

The maple-sugaring season is now in full swing, with numerous harvesting experiences (and a few pancakes) scheduled. Carpe diem! We like that some of these sugaring experiences are FREE. Theatrical highlights include a production of Cinderella told by marionettes and a page-to-stage production of the Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favorites. Numerous venues are making Leap Day special, including a nature program that focuses on animals that leap. In honor of Black History Month, try a multifaceted way to Celebrate Africa.

Beyond what you see here, there are many more fun and enriching activities to be found on our Event Calendar. Also refer to our hot-off-the-press March GoList for our top picks for the month!