Weekend Picks—Pick Your Own

I didn't get around to selecting weekend picks. In the spirit of our local "U Pick" farms, please post your own suggestions for fun things to do in the area this weekend. I've included one to get you started.

Moonviewing Concert The Japanese Stroll Garden, lit by paper lanterns, is a magical setting for this ancient custom, Saturday, 6:30 pm. Hammond Museum

Behind the Camera

Catch the award winning film "Bill Cunningham New York" that tells the inside story of the famed New York Times photographer. For decades, Cunningham chronicled fashion trends and high society in his columns “On the Street” and “Evening Hours.” Now this documentary takes a look at his life and times. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:00 pm. Paramount Center for the Arts

Early Birders

Join the farm's birder for a morning bird walk through the pastures and hiking trails to identify species. Tuesday, 7:30 am. Hilltop Hanover Farm

Wednesday Night Music

Enjoy the sounds of Jon Cobert, a musician who is adept at the piano, organ, accordion, guitar, bass, drums, and singing. He'll be performing tunes from his new CD, "Here's your Canoe". Wednesday, 8:00 pm, at 12 Grapes Music and Wine Bar.

Weekend Picks

My picks for the best activities and things to do this weekend in Northern Westchester

Peekskill Celebration Come down to the Riverfront Green Park to enjoy dragon boat races, festival foods, music performances, Underground Railroad tours, petting animals, and the nighttime fireworks extravaganza. Friday and Saturday. Peekskill Celebration

Caramoor International Jazz Festival The three-day festival is packed with jazz legends and innovative voices on the international scene. Pianist Renee Rosnes and her own quartet kicks off the festival, followed by virtuoso bassist Christian McBride, guitarist Juan Carlos Formell, Jason Moran, Edmar Castaneda, and many others. Friday through Sunday. Caramoor International Jazz Festival

Guided Nature Hike Join a hike lead by a naturalist on the trails through the sanctuary. Saturday, 10:00 am. Westmoreland Sanctuary 

What Do You Do if Someone Wants to Eat You? Hide! Run! Fight back! Explore these methods and others that animals use to protect themselves from being a predator’s lunch. Saturday, 1:00  pm. Teatown Lake Reservation

Evening Howl Enjoy visiting the wolves during their favorite hour - dusk. Learn about the mythology, biology and ecology of wolf families and discover why summer is a magical time for packs in North America. Saturday, 7:00 pm. Wolf Conservation Center

River Day Take a boat-ride and celebrate our relationship to the river in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Hands-on activities include fishing, hearth cooking, and brick making. Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00 pm. Van Cortlandt Manor

Annual Small Press Celebration Enjoy listening to readers from Slapering Hol Press, Toadlilly, Westchester Review, and Inkwel. Sunday, 4:30 pm. Hudson Valley Writer's Center

Nature, by Black Light

What's out and about at night? Take a walk as darkness falls to black-light for splendid creatures of the night. Thursday, 8:00 pm, at Teatown Lake Reservation.

The Buzz on Beekeeping

What's the latest trend to hit Northern Westchester? According to an article in The New York Times, the area is abuzz with beekeepers. Beekeeping classes at Peter Pratt’s Inn in Yorktown Heights and at the John Jay Homestead in Katonah are finding a growing number of interested attendees. Classes have also been held at the Teatown Lake Reservation, Muscoot Farm, and other area spots (and are often featured in my Weekend Picks). The Times quotes Margaret von der Meden, who tends four hives at Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown Heights, as saying, “When I started 13 years ago, no one was doing it. Today, people are beekeeping all over the place.” Ms. Von der Meden belongs to Croton Bees, a beekeeping club with over 30 members, and has recently started producing a line of bee-based creams, Beehive Goods. If you'd like the pleasure of local honey without the trouble of beekeeping, Peter Pratt's Inn sells it own honey and several local brands are for sale at both Hilltop Hanover Farm and Table Local Market.

Image: The New York Times

Weekend Picks

My picks for the best activities and things to do this weekend in Northern Westchester

The Bob Meyer Project Enjoy the jazz of the The Bob Meyer Project. Friday, 7:30 pm. BeanRunner Cafe

Gabriel Kahane and Alisa Weilerstein Singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane and cellist Alisa Weilerstein team up for an evening off Kahane’s own compositions along with cello works by Bach. Friday at 8:00 pm. Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts

Treasure Beach Bring your beach finds and explore the treasures that we’ve collected to find out more about ocean life. Saturday, 10:00 am. Teatown Lake Reservation

Peter Muir Jazz pianist Peter Muir performs. Saturday, 2:00 pm. Croton Free Library

Pickling 101 Learn how to preserve summer’s bounty. Cucumbers and other in-season vegetables from the farm will be used to teach how to safely make and preserve delicious pickles. Saturday, 1:00 pm. Hilltop Hanover Farm

Captain Blood With exciting set pieces and an intense climactic battle at sea, Captain Blood features a young Errol Flynn as a gentleman pirate, a gorgeous Olivia de Havilland, and a passionate tale of derring-do. Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 pm. Jacob Burns Film Center

Peekskill Jazz & Blues Festival 2011 Check out the free performances by jazz and blues artists including Tommy Castro Band, The Curtis Brothers, Chris Massey's Nue Jazz Project, and Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble. Saturday, 3:00 to 10:00 pm. Peekskill Jazz and Blues Festival

Summer Concert Series The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra performs works by Bach and Mendelssohn on the lawn. Saturday, 6:00 pm. Lasdon Park

Turtle Walk Kids age 8 and up can join the search for Eastern Box Turtles. Help walk the meadow to locate turtles so that they may be identified, recorded, and released. Sunday, 2:00 pm. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Garden Tour Take a peak at two Cortlandt Manor resident’s private gardens. Sunday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program

Storyteller on the Roof

The film "Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness" is the tale of the writer who chronicled the Jewish experience in Eastern Europe and whose stories became the basis of the musical, Fiddler on the Roof. The filmmaker Joseph Dorman joins New York Times critic Janet Maslin for a post screening interview. Monday, 7:00 pm. Jacob Burns Film Center

Weekend Picks

The week was too busy and there's no air conditioning in my home office—so, my apologies for the lame picks post.

Mohegan Lake Film Festival Catch short films submitted by filmmakers throughout the world on one of Mohegan Lake's beautiful beaches. Friday, 7:00 pm. Mohegan Lake Film Festival

The Comedy of Errors Shakespeare's comedy will be performed by Curtain Call. Bring your picnic basket and blanket to dine on the lawn. Friday, 7:30pm. Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden,

Outdoor Flick

Catch a showing of Being John Malkovich, Spike Jonze’s surreal take on the human desire to experience “fifteen minutes of fame,” shown outdoors in the Katonah Museum of Art's sculpture garden. The film will be preceded by “Dr. Breakfast,” an animated short. Thursday, 8:00 pm.

Local and Yummy

"Since May, the market manager, Jennifer Gordon, had been handpicking a group of nearby farmers and producers; many come from just 10 or 15 minutes away and all use organic or sustainable practices.” 

—The New York Times article on the weekly farmer's market at the John Jay Homestead. Check out my roundup of area farmer's markets for details on this other places to get local produce.  
Image: The New York Times

Chekhov, Live from London

Beamed live via satellite in high definition from the National Theatre in London, this performance of Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" stars Olivier Award–winning Zoë Wanamaker (left) as the aristocratic Madame Ranevskaya. Monday, 7:00 pm, at the Jacob Burns Film Center.

Weekend Picks

My picks for the best activities and things to do this weekend in Northern Westchester

Flight of the Pollinator Bees, butterflies and birds are part of the summer brigade that performs the vital job of sustaining healthy plant populations. Join a naturalist to view the colorful landscape they create and learn about this ecological service. Saturday, 11:00 am. Teatown Lake Reservation

Volunteer Day: Bridges and Boardwalks Volunteers are needed to assist the sanctuary staff in the construction and maintenance of bog bridges and boardwalks. Saturday, 9:00 am. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Bird Watching Join Steve Robbins for a morning bird walk through the farm's pastures and hiking trails to identify species and discover how habitat, weather, and other environmental factors influence birds. Saturday, 7:30 am. Hilltop Hanover Farm

"Wind Serenade" Summer Concert The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra performs works by Gounod and Mozart on the lawn. Saturday, 6:00 pm. Lasdon Park and Arboretum

Ottis and the Hurricanes Mixing Delta Blues, New Orleans Funk, and a dash of Rock 'n Roll, Otis and the Hurricanes create their own unique sound. Saturday, 9:30 pm. 12 Grapes Music and Wine Bar

Tim Pan Band Playing their own blend of effortless, festive, tunes, the Tin Pan Band performs live. Saturday, 7:30 pm. Bean Runner Cafe

Mahler`s Vienna: Concert Al Fresco Introduce your family to Mahler and enjoy the sounds of the concert from the Picnic Lawns. Sunday, 4:30 pm. Caramoor

Insectmania! Meet a few of the six-legged ambassadors and go a little buggy! Sunday, 11:00 am. Teatown Lake Reservation

The Art of Beekeeping Ever wonder how many miles the bees fly to make one pound of honey? Find out the answer to this question and more with beekeeper Ralph Szur. Sunday, 1:00 pm. Muscoot Farm

Flower Looking and Berry Picking

Botanist Carol Levine leads the Bedford Audubon Society's tour of Lasdon Park and Arboretum, pointing out interesting flowers and tree specimens from all over the world. Then the group will head to nearby Amawalk Farm to pick sensational organic raspberries. Thursday, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

Wine and Dine

Music, wine, and food—what more could you want? 12 Grapes Music and Wine Bar and Dylan's Wine Cellar are joining forces to present a four-course dinner complimented by Spanish wines and a live performance by 5-time Grammy nominated musician Jon Cobert. Wednesday.

Weekend Picks

My picks for the best activities and things to do this weekend in Northern Westchester

Bird Banding Observe wild song birds being caught, banded, and released as part of a continent-wide science project managed by the US Geological Survey. Saturday, 7:00 to 9:00 am. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Northern Westchester Butterfly Count An annual rite of summer, the butterfly count is a way for all butterfly enthusiasts to help a monitoring effort. Saturday, 10:00 am. Teatown Lake Reservation

Pleasantville Music Festival The ninth annual festival features headliner Marc Cohn, Sonny Landreth, Augustana, Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea, Scars on 45, Geoff Hartwell, Patti Rothberg, Reignjah, If But When, Remember September, Milton, Lisa Brigantino and many more. Saturday, 12:00 to 8:30 pm. Pleasantville Music Festival

Lasdon Summer Concert The outdoor concert series continues with "Inspired by Nature," featuring music by Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. Saturday, 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Lasdon Park

William Tell Opera Gioachino Rossini's full opera is performed live. Saturday, 7:30 pm. Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts

Hands Dancing Across the Page Join hands with performance artist Marcy B. Freedman to create abstract drawings inspired by the rhythms of live music. Saturday, 6:30 pm. Katonah Museum of Art

Hummingbirds by Hand Learn about our area’s smallest summer bird, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and make a hand-held hummingbird feeder. Sunday, 10:00 am. Westmoreland Sanctuary

Tea Fusion Join the herb expert as she explains the many uses for herbs as teas and herbal infusions. Tasty samples will be served. Sunday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Muscoot Farm 

The Tristen Napoli Trio Enjoy the Jazz/Blues/Rock of the Tristen Napoli Trio. Sunday, 1:00 pm. Peekskill Coffee House

The Barber of Seville on Screen Filmed at the Teatro Regio di Parma in Italy, Rossini's charming comedy is sure to leave you singing "Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!" Sunday, 3:00 pm. Paramount Center for the Arts

Reader Tip: Dressed Up Coffee House

A reader emailed to recommend the display of retro dresses by Alana Felton on display at the Peekskill Coffee House. The nifty outfits can be purchased or custom ordered. Check out the designer's website for details and more fab pics. Alana's wares will be hanging up through July. Thanks, David!

Holiday Weekend Picks

My picks for the best music, fun, and fireworks this 4th of July weekend in Northern Westchester

American Roots Music Festival  Enjoy a day of American music with string band, folk, bluegrass, country, blues, gospel, and jazz. Saturday, 12:30 pm. Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts

Pops, Patriots and Fireworks The Orchestra of St. Luke's and violinist Charles Yang supply the music before the fireworks. Sunday, 8:00 pm. Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts

An All-American Celebration Concert The 22-piece orchestra the Big Band Sound provide the opening act for West Point's fireworks display across the river. Monday, 6:00. Boscobel Restoration

An Old-Fashioned 4th of July Celebrate America's holiday by playing old-fashioned games and making ice cream. Monday, 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Muscoot Farm

July 4th Jamboree Enjoy patriotic music by the American Colonials Fife & Drum Band, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, kids' Colonial games, a beekeeper, a blacksmith, music, food, and tours of the historic house. Monday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. John Jay Homestead

Fireworks and Music Along with the fireworks above the Hudson, there's a concert at the Riverfront Green Park. Monday, 7:00 pm. Peekskill

Independence Day 1851 Experience a traditional celebration with activities that include ice cream-making, period music, traditional country dancing, and the 19th century's version of baseball. Monday, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Sunnyside

Thursday Night Soul

Singer Songwriter Daphne Willis performs tunes from her latest CD, "Because I Can." Check out the video for a taste of the young artist. Thursday, 8:00 pm. 12 Grapes Music and Wine Bar