The significant drop in New York State’s COVID-19 cases has led to our region’s entering Phase 3 of the New York on PAUSE executive order on June 23. Phase 3 allows restaurants and other food-service businesses to reopen for dine-in service at 50-percent capacity. (Diners are required to be separated by at least six feet or by a barrier when that’s not possible. Gatherings of 25 people, up from 10, are also allowed under this phase.) So get ready to dine out again as you consider this list of Hudson Valley activities—with some necessary lifestyle adjustments, naturally.
ART
Hudson Halls Has “Something to Look Forward To”
Local artist Rodney Allen Greenblatt’s work is instantly recognizable: His fun, colorful shapes and whimsical, happy characters have been featured in video games, Downtown New York gallery walls, and even on the cover of Chronogram. “Something to Look Forward To,” a career-spanning retrospective of Greenblatt’s oeuvre, opens at Hudson Hall on June 27 and runs through August 23. Timed-entry tours will take place on Fridays from 1 to 5pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4pm. Tickets are $10. https://hudsonhall.org/
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Kingston Reading Program Addresses Racism
Organized by the Kingston City School District, Radio Kingston, and Rough Draft Bard & Books, the new Kingston Reads program allows Kingston residents of all ages to access, read, and discuss selected books that focus on social issues. The series starts on July 1 with Ijeoma Olu’s powerful bestseller, So You Want to Talk About Racism. Free copies of the book are available at Rough Draft (curbside pickup or free delivery are available; organizations can also purchase multiple copies from the shop); loaner copies are available from the YMCA of Kingston; and the audiobook is available for free from Libro.fm. Community discussions about the book will be held via Zoom on July 2, 16, and 30 from 5 to 6pm. More information can be found at the event’s Facebook page.
MUSIC
Maverick Concerts Continues with Virtual Concerts
What, you thought America’s oldest continuous summer chamber music series (since 1916!) was going to be beaten by the pandemic? Think again. The shows will go on, online, when, beginning this month, Maverick Concerts takes to the virtual airwaves to broadcast some of the festival’s most revered recordings of past concerts from across its rich history. The series commences on June 28 at 5pm with a 2014 (to the day) performance at the wooded Woodstock venue by the Shanghai Quartet with pianist Ran Dank rendering works by Haydn, Schumann, and Cage. A full season schedule (June 28-September 13) can be found at the Maverick website.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Youth-Led Woodstock Rally Planned
Newly formed in town that bears its name is Wake Up Woodstock—What’s Next, a youth-led group advocating for BIPOC rights, environmental and agricultural issues, and other forward-looking causes. On July 4 from 2 to 6pm, the organization, which recently engaged in a postering campaign effort around the town, will host a rally at Andy Lee Field in Woodstock on behalf of Black, indigenous, and people of color and the LGBTQ community featuring live music by Flash, Simi Stone, Shamsi Rue, Chogyi Lama, and others, as well as speakers, art, and social engagement at Andy Lee Field in Woodstock. Further information can be found at Wake Up Woodstock—What’s Next’s website.
MUSIC
Caramoor Announces Summer Music Series
Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah is home to the Caramoor Summer Music Festival, which was established in 1945. This season’s response to COVID-19, dubbed Summer 20/2.0 by the festival organizers, comprises livestreamed on-site performances, live, open-air performances for low-density audiences (Chris Thile and Rachael & Vilray are among the slated acts) on the center’s Friends Field, and the opening of the estate’s lush gardens and sound art installations for limited tours. From July 2 to August 6, Caramoor will host new, professionally produced video streams featuring Inon Barnatan, Conor Hanick, Sandbox Percussion, the Calidore String Quartet, musicians from chamber group the Knights, and other world-class artists, as well as the world premieres of new works by Christopher Cerrone and Anna Clyne. Tickets and information are at the Caramoor website.
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This article appears in June 2020.
