Our library is wild

While your library may have a Dog Days of Summer Reading Program ....

our library has the Canis Lupus Arctos Days of Summer Reading Program.

Just sayin'.

Learning how to park

I knew there had been an effort underway to get a dog park in our town -- I even dropped money in a dedicated collection jar at the Surley Cup on occasion -- but I wasn't aware that the park had actually gotten past the planning stages and into the oh-my-god-you-can-really-go-there-and-play stage.

Evidently it opened two years ago ... so ... yeah. I'm observant.

Anywhoo ... The pup and I went and checked it out yesterday.

What a great place!

Secure fencing. Separate areas for small and large dogs.

Lots of space. Lots of shade. 

Water, waste bags available ... 

There's even toys for dogs and lawn chairs for their humanoids.

I don't know what this is for ...

Crowd control? Humor?

And of course, best of all, there's always new friends at the dog park.

But it turns out dogs need to have a park use tag in addition to the standard license, both available at Kinderhook Town Hall, to lawfully use the park.

Which ... after being scofflaws for about an hour ... we tried to obtain. (Town clerk had stepped out when we arrived ... so we'll try again another time, but I was given the helpful advice to "look for her white Hummer in the parking lot" to be sure she was available.)

One final note: You might want to learn how to park in case you are the first to arrive.

Please to be ignoring the orange clown car.  

I haven't skated since I was 12

And I'm not too proud to admit I was none too graceful back then, either.

But pride does goest before a fall.

So ...

I Googled "How to ice skate" on my iPhone right after I laced up his skates.

An evening with (and under) the stars

Hollywood isn't that far away ...



But this is its final weekend of the season ...



Mwaa-aah-ahh-ahh.

Houston, we have a problem. No. Scratch that

After the bus had come for Ittybit, The Champ politely asked for cupcakes. "Batman cupcakes."

Which is why, at 8:15 in the morning, I was ransacking the kitchen for a box of cake mix.

Houston, we have a problem.

We have no boxed cake mix, which means I'll have to go out to the grocery store or say "No."

I hate saying no, but it's about a zillion degrees below zero outside and I don't want to do the car-seat dance. Isn't there another way?

"You make them fo me? Pease? Batman cupcakes? Pease?"

What do mean? From scratch?

Me? Seriously?

Blink. Blink. Blink.

So, at 8:18 a.m. I opened "The Joy of Cooking," found the cupcakes section and looked for an easy-looking recipe.

Located one that seemed manageable and immediately found myself improvising:

Yogurt Cupcakes (reduced fat)

In medium-sized bowl mix:

2 1/4 cups flour (whoops ... I used 2 1/2 cups).
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

In large bowl cream:

5 tablespoons unsalted butter (We have no butter. Threw some canola oil in the bottom of the bowl ... looks like three or four or five tablespoons maybe.)
1 cup sugar. (All we had is that brown raw sugar, so I used it.)
1 large egg, two large egg whites ... (Didn't bother with separating, The Champ was intent on helping. Let him crack two large eggs and then retrieved the shells from the mixing bowl.)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract. (Didn't have any, used a dash of lemon extract and a dash of almond extract.)

Add flour mixture to fat mixture in three parts.

(Thank GOD for KitchenAid. I'm already exausted.)

Add one cup yogurt (All we had was strawberry. Good enough.)

Spoon into cupcake silicones (with huge amount of spillage).

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 (or 23) minutes.

Voila. A baking experiment.

Not bad.

They were actually quite moist and tasty even if they were a little more muffin-like than cupcake-like.

I suppose I could have problem-solved the Batman thing with some chocolate frosting but The Champ had forgotten about that part of the request. Problem solved.

I think I'm getting the hang of this 'crafting' stuff

Or not.

Get a jump on The Creep this weekend

creepy , originally uploaded by toyfoto.

HALLOWEEN IS MY THING!

You guys know I’m all about the scary, right?

Well. … Kind of. ...

(Skip down the last entry for the event of the season my scare-dy-cat, watches-frightful-movies-from-the-kitchen-through-the safety-of-my-hands’-covered-face won’t be attending thankyouverymuch).

But still, I just love the costumes and the candy and the little boys and ghouls ringing my door bell to wrench the M&Ms and Almond Joys from my greedy, gluttonous fingers.

So I’m excited to return to the weekend report with a little SPIRIT OF THE SEASON …

WHY NOT GET LOST? at Kettle Farms in Hoosick Falls for a few hours this or any weekend through Nov. 8. Those who find their way out of the farms’ 22-acre, professionally designed corn maze can take part in other silly (if-not appropriately themed) seasonal events including contests, pumpkin picking, firing off a corn cannon or a pumpkin slingshot. For added excitement, take a flashlight tour of the maze, offered on Friday and Saturday nights in October until 10 p.m.

And if you haven’t decided what’s going on the family holiday card this year, check out the farm’s new overlook bridge, where you can get a bird’s eye view of the maze and have your picture taken.

Admission is $9 for adults (ages 12 and older), $7 for kids (4 to 11) and free for tots under three. Trick or Treaters can visit in costume on Halloween and receive $1 off admission to the maze. A masquerade parade and costume contest are planned.

Tammy’s Candy Kettle Restaurant will also offer a menu selection of fall favorites, including fresh apple cider, corn chowder and roasted sweet corn. There’s sadly no Web site (hint-to-the-HINT) but you can call Tammy at 686-0992 to get the low down.


KNICK AT NIGHT: Knickerbocker Mansion, 132 Knickerbocker Road, Schaghticoke, is giving evening tours of the mansion from 6 to 9 tonight and tomorrow night, with particular focus paid to ghosts of the mansion’s past. Souper Supper is also available. Tour is $5, $6 for soup, served throughout the evening. Visit www.knickmansion.com for more information.

TRICK OR TREAT, OWL: SMELL MY FEET, RABBIT: Grafton Lakes State Park is hosting a "trick or treat" evening nature walk tonight at dusk. Call 279-1155 if you dare (or don’t have a reservation). Free.

POPCORN AND SCREAMS: The Troy Public Library, 100 Second St., will show "Coraline," Saturday at 2 p.m. Moviegoers under seven years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Refreshments will be served. Free.

HAUNTED HOUSE: COARC, Greenport Rescue Squad and the Hudson Department of Youth host the ninth annual Operation Pumpkin haunted house at COARC’s Promenade Hill Center, 11 Warren St., Hudson on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. The event features a haunted alley, Dracula’s pub, a mad scientist’s laboratory, the dungeon, a spiders’ den and other breath-catching surprises.

The Pumpkin Patch offers more tame excitements for little ghosts and goblins. A costume contest for the cutest, funniest, scariest, prettiest and most original costumes will be held. Judging of the costumes begins at 6:15 p.m. Popcorn, cookies, candy and cider will be served.

Best of all … it’s free. Mmmmmmwaaaaahhhh ah ah! Call 672-4451 or visit www.coarc.org for more information.

MMWAHHHAAA AAA … MORE FRIGHTS TO COME ….

DO ZOMBIES RUN? Find out on Halloween when Troy Family YWCA hosts its Annual Monster Madness Dash - 5K on Saturday, Oct. 31 starting at 9 a.m. Costumes are highly encouraged. The course leads participants through Frear Park. A Kids Fun Run will step off at 9:45 a.m. Fees are $30, $20 for registrations postmarked by Oct. 29. The kids’ race is free. Proceeds benefit the Y’s annual youth campaign. Registration forms available for download at www.cdymca.org

GHOSTS HAVE CULTURE, TOO: St. Paul’s Church in Troy and the American Guild of Organists (Eastern NY Chapter) are hosting an afternoon of creepy music, scary stories and goulish marches for little goblins of all ages from noon to 2 p.m. on Halloween. Call 273-7351 to attend.

FRIGHT NIGHT: What better way to spend all-hallows eve eve but skulking around a funeral parlor? On Friday, Oct. 30, Wenk Funeral Home on Payne Avenue in Chatham will come alive with the undead in what is sure to be the scariest event of the season. Not for the squeamish, though, the haunted house is not recommended for children under 12. Admission is $5 and proceeds will. benefit the Chatham High Drama Club, Junior Class and the Northern Columbia County Rotary Club. For more information, visit nccrhauntedhouse

Simple pleasures

I’ve been in a shopping frenzy since mid July as I’ve run a thrice-weekly circuit between Home Depot and Target to procure items of questionable need as a response to the great Moving/Vacation/Going-to-Kindergarten Shop-o-rama Extravaganza!

I have bought a veritable dime store of ordinary things in the past six weeks: Storage containers, soap dishes, new caddies for a cluster of new cleaning products for under the kitchen sink; there were toothbrush holders and shower rods, curtains and hangers for bathrooms; and dish drainers, dish stackers and baskets for the kitchen cabinets.

Even in vacation the pesky purchasing persisted: I bought tubes and tubes of sun block, products for mosquito massacre and more toys and beach playthings than we had room in the car to return with.

Of course the school supplies put the non-dairy topping on the cake: Washable markers, Twistable crayons, hard-covered binders, oversized book bags and even a blanket for napping.

There is more – of everything – than any family of four could possibly need, so I’ll spare you the details. But as always, I just feel like an overdone chicken every time I spend money: Kind of crisp yet rubbery.

Isn't it strange how rarely things you are compelled to buy produce the satisfaction of simple pleasure? Things such as dropping a couple of bucks into a machine at the do-it-yourself car wash and vacuuming a car floor you haven’t seen for the detritus in three years just surprise you later with an unexpected satisfaction. You almost forget about the missing pocket change and the nine minutes of grunty-grubby work trying to snake that hose around to the backseat passanger side of your sedan until you slide into the vehicle at the end of the workday and are reminded by a clean carpet. You smile. It was the best two bucks you've spent in a long, long time.

A weekend of simple pleasures
There are few triggers in life that bring a person back to their childhood as weird as a pig roast. But there you have it … a succulent, whole pig turning on a spit does it to me every time.

When I was a kid my parents were close friends with some Irish folks –- not unlike ourselves -- but who raised pigs. Whenever one died as a result of an accident (usually the runt) they’d call all their friends and have a pig roast. It was quite a spectacle: I remember “The Third Man,” showing in the living room, William Kennedy holding court in the den, and a belly dancer, in full regalia, gyrating on the porch. Those days may be gone but pig roasts are still with us.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., the Tsatsawassa Protective Fire Company, serving Brainard, East Nassau and surrounding areas, will host its 21st annual pig roast at the firehouse grounds located off Routes 20 and 66. Refreshments, including hotdogs and hamburgers, start as 1 p.m. as firehouse staff roast the pig, which is served at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 5 to 12, and include food throughout the day. The event is the company’s major fundraiser for the year. A raffle for gift certificates from area merchants will also be held.

Tickets for the roast are still available, however you better get there early. For more information, call 766-3815.

Farm to table
If you’ve spent the summer pushing a wonky-wheeled cart through a super(air-cooled)market, why not get out this weekend and meet some of the people who actually make the food you eat? Farmer’s markets are pulling in their best produce now and every community seems to have one.

Troy Farmer’s Market in Riverfront Park is one of the best in the area, featuring more than 50 local farmers, bakers and artisans sell the freshest local vegetables, fruits, meats, breads, cheeses, baked goods and handmade goods, such as soaps, pottery and crafts. The even is held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.


Under the stars
Handy Boys Enterprise in Millerton has established “A Night Under The Stars,” an outdoor movie shown on a large, inflatable screen, at 8:45 p.m. every Saturday night at Eddie Collins Ball Field, between Millerton and Irondale along Route 22. Saturday’s feature film is Madagascar 2. It's an easy and cheap night out. Just bring yourselves, a picnic and a blanket and lawn chairs. The stars (both literal and figurative) will be provided free.

It's about art and restoration ... and loud prints

Well folks, before I launch into the weekend survey of fun things to do with the kids (and without them), I should mention that next week we are off to Vacationland and all that entails. ... Usually sitting around my mother-in-law's abode trying to fend off Maine's state bird and driving each other UP THE WALL with innane inquiries such as: What do you want for dinner? What will the kids eat? Is it raining out? Are you going to the beach? Would you like ice cream? Are you planning to get off that couch at all this week?

Ah, vacation. Same angst, different scenery. ... Suffice to say, posts here are likely to be sparse, if at all.

Of course the house will be protected by super security system 2000, which will be fine against would-criminals but will leave us up sh*t creek without the proverbial implements of navigation if the roof caves in.



___________


WHAT TIME IS IT?
4:30? ... Almost time for Troy Night Out! The collar city is more than just court houses and crosswalks; it is also filled with arts and culture. Come out to Troy on the last Friday of any given month from 5 to 9 p.m. and see what you’ve been missing.


___________


THOSE TWO GUYS!
Dave Cox and Pat Ferri are presenting Comedy for the New Depression, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1 at Performance Space for the 21st Century (PS21) in Chatham. If you haven't seen Those TWO Guys in person you might not understand that CRAZY should be their middle name. Family fun for the whole family in a space not to be missed. $25 for adults; $7 for children under 14.

___________


OLANA, BOBANA, FE, FI, FOFANA, OLAAAANA
The Wagon House Education Center at Olana's historic farm complex still has spots left for its summer week-long programs:

THE JOURNEY, an outdoor exploration and arts program, runs Aug. 3 through Aug. 7. The fee per week is $165 per child ($125 for members of The Olana Partnership) and is geared for children ages 6 to 12, who will work in small groups at the Frederic Church estate as they journey to one of the locales visited by Church in the 19th century. Children will encounter art, music, history, poetry and nature as they explore the world of the landmark Hudson River School painter.

An Ice Cream Social for program participants and their families takes place the Sunday evening preceding the session.

RIVER SCHOOL, a dramatic arts program, runs Aug. 17 through Aug. 21. The fee per week is $140 per child ($100 for members of The Olana Partnership) and is geared for students ages 7-14, who will create their own play from soup-to-nuts in a non-competitive live theater program. This week-long "full process" experience will include creating original scripts, sets and props. Themes will explore living on a farm in the 1800s and jumping into a Hudson River School painting. A final performance is open to the public Friday, Aug. 21 at 11 a.m. at the Wagon House Education Center.

Call 828-1872, extension 110 for more information on week-long art camps or register online.

ART IN THE BARN, is sure to delight tots (3 to 5 years of age) and their caretakers every Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Wagon House Education Center. The drop-in art studio is for youngsters who are just starting to dabble in their artistic genius. Using themes such as The Hudson River, architecture, art and nature and farm history for inspiration, center educators will help you and the kids get messy and explore different art including dance and storytelling. This program is free.


___________




UPCOMING:

AND THE PULIZER GOES TO ...

I have come to terms with the notion that the only Pulizer I will ever get will likely be a Lilly Pulizer - the colorful and flamboyantly printed designer clothes and accessories that redefined casual elegance, and has been a mainstay of the society set for the past 50 years.

Now, I may not have one fashionable bone in my body, but the dress that started Lilly on the road to a Jubilee celebration is something I can TOTALLY identify with because of its humble origins; it was made solely to hide juice stains. Slobs of the word unite!

Of course the pricetags -- between $150 and $500 for dresses -- make procurement on my part a matter of when I am able to stop uttering the phrase: "YOU JUST SPILLED JUICE ON ME AGAIN!" My guess? Five to 10 years at the earliest.

But that's beside the point, which is: Lilly Pulizer is celebrating 50 years in business with a series of events at The Pink Paddock Boutique in Saratoga Springs.

*On Aug. 7, a Lilly Pulitzer Traveling Retrospective of the designers vintage looks will take place at the Gideon Putnam Resort. Guests can shop the current collection while partaking in cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Print designer Rebecca Allred will be in attendence and will create hand-painted prints for customers who spend $400 or more.

*An all-day "shopping event" will take place Aug. 8 at the shop, located at 380 Broadway.

*On Sunday, Aug. 9, Lilly Pulizer and The Pink Paddock sponsor the Saratoga Polo Tournaments, which will feature contests, rides in a Lilly Pulitzer printed Jeep, and opportunites to hob nob with designer Allred.


Some of you who are past the "WHO GAVE JUNIOR THE PERMANENT MARKER?!" phase might like to check it out.

Random Question Thursday has MOVED ....

To Friday ...

And now I'm just going to ask a pointed question:

What are you doing this weekend?

As is usual, I'm not sure what's in store for for us this weekend but my hope is it will involve getting running water to actually STAY in the new sink and not SPURT into the old cabinet. I'm also guessing upcoming fun for us will have something to do with laundry ... lots and lots of laundry ... as well as trying to cut back on the number of boxes we are living out of by finding a permanent home for the stuff currently living in cardboard.

But that's just a guess. But one never knows, it might also include visiting one of the many events around the region:

GOING TO POT
Looking for something unique to do this weekend? Why not visit local potter Barbara Reeley as she opens her home studio to the public for a kiln firing and pottery sale. With the weathercasters calling for sun and clouds this weekend, she's decided it's the perfect weather to do Raku, a pottery firing process known for its unpredictability.

The firing and sale begins at 10 on Saturday morning and will end at 6 p.m. Her studio is located at 9346 NY 66. From Troy take route 66 East, go past Emma Willard School and through Wynantskill. At the juncture of routes 66 and 355 take a right on 66 and continue 1.2 miles. Her house (white on the left) is past Pandora Street. Look for a blue flag. If you get to Rosena Street you have gone too far. Call 283-1082 for more information.

DIRTY DUDS FOR A GOOD CAUSE
It's an event that may sound ho-hum, but it really keeps the community buzzing; the 13th Annual Dry Cleaning Day at Commodore Cleaners, 341 Fifth Ave., Troy. The Kiwanis Club of Troy will take over counter duties Saturday between 1 and 4 p.m. and during those hours Commodore will donate all proceeds from prepaid drop offs to the club, which funds community projects including summer camps for kids and other youth-related causes. Innundate them with your dirty laundry why don't you: everything from winter coats to work clothes. The kids will thank you.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND ACTION
Stride Family Day Clambake and Concert will take place Sunday from 12:30 to 6 p.m. at Butler Park in Averill Park. Sponsored by the Arlington House Restaurant as a fundraiser for Stride, tickets are $25 and include all food, beverages, and entertainment for the day. Recreational facilities available as well. Rain or Shine. Reservations required. Call the Stride Office at 598-1279 or email: info@stride.org

FUN IN THE SUN
Family Fun Day kicks off at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Brunswick Baptist Church, 385 Grange Road.
The annual event features pony rides, a petting zoo, climbing wall, games, hot dogs and more. Free.
Call 237-1932 for more information.

SING IT, SISTER!
Tuesday is Open Mic Night at the Nassau Free Library. Kids are invited to sing, dance, read poems or play an instrument all before a receptive audience. A karoake machine will add to your singing pleasure. Participation may also be in the form of cheering on the brave souls getting up to perform. And as an added bonus, anyone who participates will be allowed to choose a song for event facilitator Kristine Moxon to sing.

DINOSAUR, JUNIOR
If you dig on dinosaurs, though, you might want to stop by on Wednesday evening for "Jurassic Jiggle," songs, stories, pussle search and craft all about dinosaurs. The events are free, but registration is required to ensure there are supplies for all who attend. Both events begin at 6 p.m. Call the library at 766-2715 for information and registration.

UPCOMING:

FESTIVALS
Zion's United Church of Christ of Taborton, 741 Taborton Road in Sand Lake, is hosting it's annual Summer Festival and Craft Fair. Saturday, Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be a craft fair, auction, games, live music and more. A picnic is also planned, featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon, soda and ice cream. The auction will begin at 1 p.m. and there will be three seatings for a chicken barbecue at 4, 5, and 6 p.m. For information, call 674-8204.

The 24th Annual Run for the Roses at Grafton Lakes State Park gets underway at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9
The 5K race through park roads benefits the Grafton Community Library. A nature walk preceeds the event at 8 a.m. and 1 mile fun run for children is planned for 10 a.m. For more information, contact the Grafton Library at 279-0580 or visit www.nysparks.com

Where's the ripcord?

I'm getting off this crazy train ... only to board another. It's the weekend, folks, and after the past five days I'm a think I'm a gonna drowned my sorrows in piles of laundry and lukewarm cups of coffee. Maybe I'll start packing. Or maybe -- just maybe -- if the kids are more funky than feverish and I've lightened up from the sobering thoughts of late, I'll venture outside to check out one of the family-friendly things happening around the region:

ALL ABOARD …

You don’t want to miss GE Kid’s Day at the plaza
Children's entertainment including face painters, clowns, puppet shows, jugglers, music and pony rides, with special guests Choo Choo Soul from Playhouse Disney will be in attendance. The event, which takes place Sunday at the Empire State Plaza from noon to 5 p.m. is presented by the State Office of General Services. Free.

A day of family activities revolving around the Beatrix Potter classic "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" including playing in Mr. McGregor's garden and finding Peter's shoes takes place at the Washington County Fair Farm Museum Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. The museum is located on Old Schuyler Road in Greenwich. Call 692-2464 for information.

OTHER GOINGS ON …

A Celebration of the Quadricentennial of the Dutch settlement of the Hudson Valley will take place Saturday at Knickerbocker Mansion. The event includes a 400-year living history time line of the mansion and cemetery tours, sale of a first edition Will Moses poster, vendors and lecturers. A pancake breakfast will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. and an Authentic Dutch Colonial dinner will be served at 11 a.m. A re-enactment of the planting of the 1676 Witengamot Oak (with local dignitaries) commemorating a peace treaty between the Native Americans and European settlers will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday. Knickerbocker Mansion is located at 132 Knickerbocker Road, just off State Route 67 midway between Schaghticoke and Mechanicville.


The Uncle Sam Foundation will host the Uncle Sam Picnic Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Prospect Park in Troy. The goal is to raise money to commemorate the site of the first home in Troy of Samuel Wilson, who was the model for the nation's iconic Uncle Sam characterization. Tickets for the event are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets are available at the door. The price of admission includes food, soda, entertainment and entry in prize drawings. Musical entertainment includes the Pearl River Dixieland Jazz Band, Donnie Elvis, the Greg Baker Band and P.J. the D.J., along with master of ceremonies Rudd Young.

UPCOMING...

Kids cooking classes are heating up at Hawthorne Valley Farm in Harlemville. Children of all ages will head out from the farm to harvest fresh, organic vegetables and use their harvest as the main ingredients of the day’s cooking lesion. Events also include stores and a fiber arts activity.
Two sessions of classes are available: Session One, for grades 3 through 5, will meet July 15 through 31; Session Two, for grades 6 through 8, will meet August 5 through 19. Classes for both sessions meet Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for three weeks. Cost is $180 per session. Call 672-7500, extension 105 for more information or email caroline@hawthornevalleyfarm.org.

V-Ville Hoopla and Village Tag Sale will get underway July 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the village of Valatie. The event promises family fun including food, amusements, face painting, a rock climbing wall, kettle corn, and Music by the Reverberators (from 2 to 4 p.m.) not to mention great bargains in the fabulous tag sales all along Main Street.

What? You wanted fireworks?

Well ... I suppose you could find loud and colorful explosions somewhere this weekend.

OR ... you could come to our place ....



Could you read that bit at the bottom?

FREE suds and grub.

Just sayin ...

Rawrrr. ...

tiger, originally uploaded by toyfoto.

The Vidbel Circus.

There are two more shows left ...

Tonight.

5:45 and 7:45 p.m.

It's fun and it's for a good cause.

The Valatie Fire Department.

Sure ... Father's Day is coming, but after that we're joining the circus ...

Sometimes being the mother of a toddler can make a person feel like a circus performer. You’re always juggling, chasing after or taming someone or something.

But for aerialist Susan Vidbel, who grew up under the Big Top, the circus is where she relaxes. It’s her time to fly.

"When I’m in the ring it’s my vacation."

She credits her grandparents, Al and Joyce Vidbel, two Ringling Brothers’ veterans who started the Vidbel Old Tyme Circus in 1984, for the circus blood running through her veins.

Her grandparents met in 1927 when they both worked at The Greatest Show on Earth: he performed with the elephants and she worked with horses. They were married under the bright lights of the center ring with a full audience of spectators as their guests. And for the next 60 years they lived and raised their family in the circus – first Ringling Brothers’ and later their own: a two-pole tent that went up and down nightly, moving from town to town with their acts … elephants, horses, dogs, aerialists and clowns.

“It’s was one of about a dozen traveling circus left in the country when it closed seven years ago,” says Susan Vidbel, who decided to resurrect the show in 2008 after her grandfather suffered a stroke.

“It’s really what he wanted; to see the show up and running again. He got to see the show go back on the road before he died. I think he was holding out as long as he did to see it.”

Although the elephants are gone, the Vidbel Circus has most of the same acts it did in during its nearly 30-year history as well as new excitements such as a Russian Cube act and other feats of athleticism. Her own little girl has also gotten into the tumbling act.

“There are so many moments that make (this life) so worthwhile,” says Vidbel, who’s done her share of average jobs during the off season. “There is no other place I’ve ever worked that has fostered relationships in such a way. In this business you just become one family.”

Vidbel says the physical work necessary just to get the circus moved, erected and ready for showtime is intense. As the recession took hold this year, they found their ranks shrink as their ability to make payroll diminished. Performers on the road pitch work tirelessly in thankless jobs and then change their clothes and take their place under the spotlight.

“It’s really so inspirational. Some dates we’ve gone without sponsors and everyone helps out. Everyone pulls together. Sometimes there hasn’t been money to pay people and still they do it. … Most of the people we’ve worked with grew up with it or they worked with my grandparents. They just become part of an extended family and it keeps us all pushing.”

Sponsorship, however, is the life blood of a traveling circus and it is on the decline. The hosts – often organizations looking to raise money – book the show and do all the work to get it up and running, everything from acquiring permits to selling tickets and promotion. After the Valatie show, the circus has no other dates on the slate and Vidbel says they are headed back to New Jersey with optimism business will pick up.

“We try to keep it reasonable,” Vidbel says of the $10 ticket price. “Everyone should get a chance to see an Olde Tyme Circus, especially now that things are so expensive. If you have two or three kids you just can’t afford a major circus’ ticket prices. … We want a tent full of people enjoying the show; we just want to survive and get down the road.”

Vidbel's Olde Tyme Circus, sponsored by the Valatie Fire Department, will be at Callan Park in Valatie June 22 and 23 with shows at 5:45 and 7:45 p.m. each night. Tickets are $10 at the door.

**********************

Of course, while mom is juggling the kids, the carpool and a circus ... you shouldn't overlook dad, who is probably outside beating the lawnmower to death with a four iron. My guess is the poor old guy doesn't even remember Father's Day is on Sunday since he's so enraged with the single-stroke engine piece of #4!@ he's been pushing around the yard since he inherited it from his dad on the day of your birth. Dear old gramps is, no doubt, laughing his fool head off as he tools around on his electric ride-on replacement.

So why not do something special for your unsung hero of yard maintenance this weekend?

Go green and serene ...

SunDog Solar is hosting its first Summer Solstice Family Picnic & Energy Fair on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., at Crellin Park, Route 66 in Chatham. This is a BYOP (bring your own picnic) event in which locals can meet their neighbors and everyone can learn about renewable energy. Other events include live music by local and international musicians,and presentations by organizations devoted to sustainable, green and artistic living. The event is rain or shine and admission is free. In lieu of admission attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food donation (or cash donation) for the Regional Food Bank. For more information, call 392-4000 or visit sundogsolar.net

Pass the beer and brats ...

Treat dad to a Father's Day Picnic at the German-American Club of Albany Sunday.
The event takes place Sunday at the Schuetzenpark Biergarten on the grounds of the German-American Club of Albany, 32 Cherry St. Schuetzenpark is the only outdoor Biergarten remaining in Albany. Live music from the Schwarzennegger Connection will be featured. The park opens at 1 p.m. and the event runs until 7 p.m. Entry is $3 per adult, children under 12 are free. German food and drink are available for purchase as well as domestic food and drink. Children's activities include a parade. In the event of rain, the event will be moved indoors in our large banquet hall and barroom. Call 265-6102 for more information.

Or if you're dad's crust is more upwardly mobile ...

Why not haul dad on up to Lake George village on Sunday and drop by the Adirondack Winery and Tasting Room, 285 Canada St., Lake George (across from Shepard Park). The tasting is free and a limited edition father's day wines will be available. Dads unaccompanied by their spawn need only a photo to get in free. And remember spitting is acceptable at wine tastings. For more information, visit adirondackwinery.com

WAIT FOR IT ...

Not Your Father's movie (unless he was around 21 in 1969)

"Taking Woodstock," the Ang Lee film shot in part in our own backyard, is rumored to be having its world premier in Chatham's historic Crandell Theater. Of course the REAL opening is set for August in NYC, but upstaters might be able to see it first if they keep refreshing this link obsessively.

A comedy, Taking Woodstock, was inspired by the true story of Elliot Tiber and his family, who inadvertently played a pivotal role in making the famed Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the happening that it was.

Keep 'em hoppin'

OUT AND ABOUT THIS WEEKEND

LONG POND BEACH at Grafton Lakes State Parks open for the season this Saturday. If you're planning to get a jump-start on your tan, you might also practice your skills at sand castle building so you'll be able to recreate your masterpiece on Monday when park officials host a Sand Sculpture Contest beginning at noon. Sand sculptors will have about 2 1/2 hours before the judges make their decisions and present their awards at 3 p.m. All ages welcome. Call 279-1155 for more information, or visit nysparks.com.

GARAGE SAILING: The Town of Hillsdale, NY will hold a town wide community flea market on Saturday, May 23. The main event will be held in the hamlet’s town park located at the junction of Rtes. 22 and 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hillsdale residents will be holding tag sales on their property as well as the town’s businesses offering special events and sales. Proceeds will benefit the Hillsdale Hamlet Committee for beautification projects and future town events.

JUST CHUGGING ALONG: Have a Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine at Upper Hudson River Railroad, 3 Railroad Place, North Creek today from noon to 4 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. twenty-five- minute train rides depart on the hour. For $18 ($16 on Friday), kids ages 2 and up can ride the rail, meet Sir Topham Hatt and hear storytelling, live music, play with Legos and make arts and crafts. Call (866) 468-7630 for more information.

LIFE IS A JUGGLING ACT: So why not join the club? The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus is hosting a series of open Juggling Club sessions in the basement gym of John L. Edwards Elementary School, 360 State Street, in Hudson. The club will meet Monday nights starting May 25, from 6 tp 9 p.m. through June 22. These are informal practice sessions not formal lessons. A small fee will cover space rental. For more information, contact Stephanie@bindlestiff.org. Visit www.bindlestiff.org for more information. ... And once you get good at juggling ... you might want juggle on down Route 66 to Chatham and join the Chatham Unicycle Club. They meet on Sunday nights at 6 p.m. at Mary E. Dardess Elementary School, 50 Woodbridge Ave or at Crellin Park during nice weather. Check out hueydog for more information.

ONGOING AND UPCOMING

ACT OUT YOUR SUPERHERO: New York State Theater actor-director John McGuire will host "Books on Stage V" at the Troy Public Library, 100 Second St., Troy, starting this Wednesday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. - and continuing every Wednesday until June 24. Children in grades 4-8 will develop and perform their favorite comic book character in front of a live audience. Participation also includes free tickets to see "You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown" at NYSTI. The Books on Stage workshop is free but registration is required. Call 274-7071 to reserve a space. Visit the library's Web site for more information and other events for youth.

THE KING HAS LEFT THE WAX MUSEUM: The sixth annual Elvis Festival in Lake George will be held Thursday, May 28th through Sunday, May 31. The event's Italian dinner buffet, Friday night, and barbecue buffet, Saturday night, will provide Elvis fans an opportunity to meet the Elvis tribute artists up close. Starting at 6 p.m. nightly, the meals take place at the Painted Pony Saloon. Tickets for each dinner cost $22 each. The Great Pretenders: Elvis and Friends take place at 8:30 p.m. Friday evening in the main pavilion. "On Stage: 1969 Opening Night at the International" will be part of Saturday's grand finale featuring Dwight Icenhower, along with Ronny Craig and The Change of Habit Tribute Band at 8:30 p.m.

... Thankyouverymuch.

Somber and Celebratory

Well ... our weekend is spoken for. We'll be traveling to the Bay State to gather with friends and family to celebrate some significant and bittersweet events; the most somber of which is a memorial service for Jed's grandmother, "Peggy," who passed away on May 12.

She was a wonderful woman; the matriarch of the family even into her 90th decade.

She will be greatly missed.

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But I haven't forgotten about you ... There's some really hairy stuff for you all to do this weekend if you're so inclined to get out of the house. This week's theme seems to be ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL ... (feel free to groan if you like.)

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NEAR

Oh, the drama
Why not treat the princess of the house to a real-life performance of Disney's Beauty and the Beast? The RPI Young Actors Guild presents the classic Disney tale Saturday, May 16 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. at RPI Playhouse, 1851 15th Street, Troy. General Admission tickets $8 children 2-12; $10 adult. Call 276-6505 for information.

Leepers, Peepers and Creepers
Join state wildlife biologist Alvin Breisch Saturday on a 2-mile trek through the Albany Pine Bush Preserve over easy to moderate terrain to listen to, observe and identify amphibian residents of this rare ecosystem. Meet at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. $2 per person; $5 per family; free, children under 5. Registration is required, to register, click here or call 785-1800 for more information.

Coelophysis: A New York Dinosaur
I wonder if he ever said, "YO! I got yer velocirapter right here!" But you won't have to wonder if you head to the State Museum in Albany this weekend between 1 and 4 p.m. The museum offers educational fun for the whole family with games, crafts and other theme-based activities. Free. Call 474-5877 for more information.

AWWWW. so cuuuuuute.
Indian Ladder Farm, 342 Altamont Road, Altamont, is hosting "Baby Animal Days" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May 25th. For $5 per kid (human kind), tykes can oogle the chicks, ducklings, turkey poults, bunnies, piglets, lambs, goat kids and calves. ... I wonder if they have cygnets? Call 765-2956 for more information.

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FAR:

Who let the dogs out?
Second annual WalkingthedogWALK down Warren St in Hudson will shake a leg (hopefully over the hydrant) at 2 p.m. on Saturday on Warren Street in Hudson. The event is followed by the Bestminster Dog Show at Basilica Industria, 110 South Front Street. Dogs of all shapes, sizes and canine ethnicity join together to parade down Warren Street. The dog show will feature food, music, doggie goodies and lots of fun for the whole family. $20 for first dog and $10 each addition dog. For more information, call 755-1716 or visit www.wtdtheater.org

A Stitch in Time Saves Swine, or ...

What with all the pandemic pandemonium ping-ponging about, some of you might be thinking this weekend would be a swine fine time to stay indoors and away from crowds. ... Maybe even help the pork industry reclaim its former glory by vegging PORKING out in front of the TV and watching the lovely and talented Charlotte save the bacon of her sweet little friend, Wilber?

That sounds nice, doesn't it?

On the otherhand, if you're feeling a touch more adventurous, you might find getting outside this weekend will give your spring a healthy kick-start.


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BARNS ARE FOR PAINTING
Olana will host First Niagara’s Art in The Barn workshops every Saturday in May. Geared toward preschoolers and their caregivers, the classes are held in the Wagon House Education Center and use the grounds of the historic home overlooking the Hudson River as inspiration. Music, Story-telling and Movement class from 12 to 1; open art studio time from 1 to 4. Free. Visit Olana.org for more information.


HEALTH KICKS
On Sunday, May 3, let your kids lace up their running shoes and join in the Healthy Kids, Healthy Rensselaer 5k Run/Walk at Riverfront Park in Rensselaer. The day-long event (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) will feature food, activities and entertainment as well as two foot races. Registration is from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. in the park, located off Broadway between Third and Fifth. The race starts at 10 a.m. (walkers follow runners) and an award ceremony will follow at 11 a.m. Children from the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Rensselaer will participate in a one mile run after the award ceremony. This event is free and open to anyone under the age of 13.

Sponsored by the University at Albany School of Public Health Leaders of Tomorrow. All proceeds will benefit Boys and Girls Club of Southern Rensselaer to promote nutrition, physical activity and healthy lifestyles.


TO MARKET, TO MARKET
Also on Sunday, The Brunswick Grange will host a Tailgate Sale at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds, Route 67 and 40, from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. There will be 50 vendors selling several varieties of chickens, ducks, geese, plants and other related agricultural items. Come rain or shine. For additional information, call 279-9113.


UPCOMING
The Village Stage’s Little Stage presents “Little Red Ridinghood” at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. May 9 at The Arts Center of the Capital Region, 265 River St., Troy. Tickets are $5. Reservations are not necessary. Call 273-0552 for more information or visit ACCR online at artscenteronline.org

The Valley Falls Library will present a colonial re-enactment at 10 a.m. May 16 on the library grounds. Displays include weapons of the 1600-1700s, blacksmith with tools, a surgeon and his instruments and more.

DON’T FORGET MOM *POINTS TO SELF*
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a picnic and plant sale at Olana on Sunday, May 10 from noon to 2 p.m. Bring your favorite lunch and picnic blanket and spend the afternoon at the former home of Hudson River School painter Frederick Edwin Church. The best part is the site will kick in free art supplies so the kidlets can make their own landscape painting for mom.
Bob Hyland, co-owner of Loomis Creek Nursery, will also be on hand to chat about horticulture and the art of designing garden borders for sun and shade. Call 828-1872 for information.

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Now. ...

Please go wash your hands.

... and use SOAP.