Category Archives: festivals & events

Explore the Cosmos at Death Valley Dark Sky Festival, March 1-3

Join scientists and park rangers to learn about the cosmos and how Death Valley National Park has been used as an analog for the exploration of distant worlds during the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival March 1-3, 2024. (Photo courtesy: Xanterra Travel Collection) 

There’s no better place to explore the wonders of space than from one of the darkest locations in the United States. Join scientists and park rangers to learn about the cosmos and how Death Valley National Park has been used as an analog for the exploration of distant worlds during the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival March 1-3, 2024.  
 
Death Valley National Park is one of only eight (8) designated “gold tier” International Dark Sky Parks in the country where stargazers can see the Milky Way with the naked eye (something that’s not possible from most people’s homes due to light pollution). The National Park Service, alongside the Oasis at Death Valley, has taken measures to greatly minimize light pollution in the area so no special telescopes are needed (though they are recommended for an otherworldly experience).
 
Accommodations and restaurants are extremely limited in the park. Not only does The Oasis at Death Valley offer two properties with modern luxury and family-friendly accommodations, but it’s also ideally positioned with clear nights the norm, a lack of settled land, and the exterior lights of the resort dim by design. Ideal for stargazing, yes, but also for travelers in search of astronomical sights – constellations, planets, deep-sky objects, celestial events like lunar eclipses and meteor showers, and even actual galaxies like the increasingly hard-to-spot Milky Way.
 
The Death Valley Dark Sky Festival is a collaboration between Death Valley National Park, non-profit Death Valley Natural History AssociationNASA‘s Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Ames Research Center, SETI Institute and California Institute of Technology. All Death Valley Dark Sky Festival programs are free and open to the public. Some of the programs are specifically targeted for families with children. For a full list of programs and lodging options visit the park’s website at nps.gov/deva.
 
Located 120 miles northwest of Las Vegas and 295 miles northeast of Los Angeles, The Oasis at Death Valley is distant enough from the major cities in the Southwest to provide unobstructed views of the night’s sky, yet close enough for city dwellers to escape for the weekend. Guests can reserve a private stargazing party to create the ultimate night sky experience. In addition, Furnace Creek Stables on property offers a moonlight tour which is a unique way to stargaze.

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Priceline: The Costs of Traveling To Watch April’s Total Solar Eclipse

On April 8, 2024, North America will witness a spectacular celestial event — a total solar eclipse. Priceline is recommending booking travel arrangements well in advance in key locations in the path of totality to ensure the best experience. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

On April 8, 2024, North America will witness a spectacular celestial event — a total solar eclipse. This rare phenomenon occurs when the Moon completely obscures the Sun, casting a shadow over Earth and briefly turning day into twilight. 

To help you experience this awe-inspiring event, Priceline, an online travel agency, is providing information about traveling to key locations within the path of totality. Priceline gathered average hotel, flight, and rental car costs for the Eclipse weekend in various U.S. cities.

Priceline is recommending booking travel arrangements well in advance to ensure the best experience.

The Costs of Traveling To Watch The Total Solar Eclipse, According to Priceline:

Total Solar Eclipse Weekend (Saturday, April 6 – Tuesday, April 9)/ Booking Period: 11/19-1/19/2023

Airfare (Average Cost R/T)Hotel (Average Cost Per Night)Rental Car (Average Daily Rate) 
San Antonio, TX:$797$255$128
Austin, TX:$644$294$126
Dallas, TX:$408$216$116
Indianapolis, IN:$506$248$76
Cleveland, OH:$456$204$97
Buffalo, NY:$845$329$105
Shreveport, LA:$450$122$43

Insights from The Total Solar Eclipse 2024 Data, According to Priceline: 

  • Variability in Accommodation Costs: There’s a significant variation in hotel prices across different cities, with some like Buffalo ($329/night) and Austin ($294/night) on the higher end and others like Shreveport, LA ($122/night) more affordable. This indicates a diverse range of accommodation options for eclipse travelers.
    • Premium Pricing in Prime Viewing Locations: Cities like Buffalo, NY, and San Antonio, TX, which presumably offer prime viewing spots for the eclipse, have notably higher travel costs. This suggests a premium pricing trend in locations considered ideal for eclipse viewing.
    • Economic Opportunity for Varied Destinations: Cities like Dallas, TX, and Indianapolis, IN, with relatively lower costs, might emerge as popular alternatives for eclipse watchers, indicating an opportunity for these cities to attract tourists priced out of more expensive locations.
    • Surge in Road Travel to Eclipse Locations: The demand for rental cars, especially in cities with higher daily rates, suggests that many eclipse enthusiasts might be planning road trips,

Insights Comparing Travel Period 2024 To The Same Period in 2023, According to Priceline:  

  • Eclipse-Driven Demand Surge: The total solar eclipse is creating a significant spike in travel demand, evidenced by over 2000% more searches for flights to Indianapolis and 8000% more for Buffalo hotels compared to the same period in 2023.
    • Differential Pricing Trends: Cities like Austin are experiencing dramatic price fluctuations concerning the eclipse, with airfares more than doubling during the event but then decreasing by 30% afterward, indicating dynamic pricing strategies in response to event-driven demand.
    • Varied Travel Costs Across Cities: The eclipse impacts travel costs differently across cities, with some like San Antonio and Buffalo seeing high airfares and hotel rates, while others like Shreveport offer more budget-friendly options.
    • Rental Car Demand Peak: There’s a noticeable trend of increased rental car demand in eclipse viewing areas, with a 1500% increase in searches for rental cars in Cleveland, highlighting the preference for road travel to view the eclipse.

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Evening with Julian Fellowes at The Breakers, July 26; Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, Sept 16-18

The Preservation Society of Newport County is hosting a special evening with Julian Fellowes, the acclaimed writer, director, producer, novelist and actor who created “The Gilded Age” and “Downtown Abbey, at The Breakers (photo by Nick Briggs)

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Preservation Society of Newport County is proud to host a special evening with Julian Fellowes on July 26 at The Breakers. Oscar and Emmy winner Fellowes is the brilliant writer, director, producer, novelist and actor who created “The Gilded Age” and “Downton Abbey.”

This event will feature dinner and conversation with Lord Fellowes in the opulent setting of the Great Hall of The Breakers. The evening will begin with cocktails, followed by a sit-down dinner. Lord Fellowes will converse with an interviewer for roughly 30 minutes and will take questions before dessert is served. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit www.NewportMansions.org.

Lord Fellowes has also been named the 2022 recipient of the Antiquarian Award – the highest honor presented by the Preservation Society of Newport County – in recognition of the collective impact of his work. This award will be presented during the Preservation Society’s Annual Meeting on June 9 in the Rosecliff ballroom. Lord Fellowes will not be in attendance but has recorded remarks to be aired during the ceremony.

He will be presented in-person with the Antiquarian Award at The Breakers during the event on July 26.

“Lord Fellowes has made a lasting impact, not only on the Preservation Society, but on the city of Newport and the state of Rhode Island with ‘The Gilded Age,’ his new series on HBO,” Preservation Society CEO and Executive Director Trudy Coxe said. “We are honored to have this wonderful historical drama filmed in a number of our house museums, contributing to the authenticity of a series that beautifully showcases Newport and its Gilded Age legacy while also delivering an immense economic boost to the region. And we look forward to hosting Lord Fellowes for this special evening on July 26!”

The Gilded Age was a period of immense economic change, of huge fortunes made and lost, and of fierce rivalry between old money and new. Nowhere is that rivalry more apparent than on East 61st Street, where Marian Brook and her thoroughly old money aunts, Agnes van Rhijn and Ada Brook, live opposite the stupendously rich George and Bertha Russell. The Russells are both fiercely ambitious, he financially, she socially, and they are determined to reach the highest echelons of New York. Meanwhile in Brooklyn, Marian’s friend and confidant Peggy Scott forges her own path in the world of the Black elite. In this glittering world on the brink of the modern age, will the established rules of society prevail, or will the game change entirely? Filming for Season 2 of “The Gilded Age” is currently underway at various locations in Newport, including several Preservation Society mansions.

“I am tremendously honored, even overwhelmed, to be given the Antiquarian Award,” Julian Fellowes said. “I knew about Newport. I’ve read about Newport. But I hadn’t been there, hadn’t experienced it, until we started to make the program. I find it an extraordinary place. I’ve already called it a village of palaces, but that is what it is, grand, even awe-inspiring, but at the same time, beguiling.”

Julian Fellowes has had an extensive and distinguished career in film, television, publishing and the dramatic arts. He received an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2002 for “Gosford Park,” his first produced film, and he is the creator, sole writer and executive producer of the worldwide hit series “Downton Abbey,” which received 69 Emmy Award nominations, winning 15, over its six seasons. He also received a Golden Globe Award and special BAFTA Award for “Downton Abbey.” The “Downton Abbey” movie written and produced by Fellowes was released in 2019. Most recently, the feature film “Downton Abbey: A New Era” written and produced by Fellowes was released in Spring 2022.

His other work includes “Separate Lies” for which he received the National Board of Review Directorial Debut Award, “From Time to Time” which he wrote and directed which won Best Picture at the Chicago Children’s Film Festival and Best Picture at the Fiuggi Family Festival in Rome, “The Young Victoria,” “Vanity Fair,” his Emmy Award-winning “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” and the BAFTA nominated “The Prince and The Pauper;” and three novels – “Belgravia,” “Snobs,” and “Past Imperfect” – that were Sunday Times Best Sellers. He is responsible for the ‘book’ of the Broadway musicals, Mary Poppins and School of Rock – The Musical for which he received a Tony nomination. In January 2011, he was given a peerage and entered the House of Lords as the Lord Fellowes of West Stafford.

2022 Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival

In other news, The Preservation Society of Newport County announced J.P. Morgan Wealth Management as the presenting sponsor for the 2022 Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, to be held September 16-18.


Returning for its 17th year, the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival is one of most anticipated events of the summer. This world-class festival showcases unique wines, spirits and culinary events over three days in the spectacular setting of Rosecliff.

This year’s festival will build on the boutique vibe from the last two years, and will curate 24 wine and spirits seminars with an array of vintners, wineries, wine and culinary experts hosted in the Rosecliff salon and dining room, and on the terrace. Wine experts and luminaries will treat festival attendees to one-hour tasting journeys representing regions from all over the world.

An exciting addition to the festival experience this year is the Micro-Tasting Tent.  All seminar attendees will have exclusive access to this tent to taste and learn from unique world-class wine, spirits, and culinary vendors.

Special events will include a Vintner Dinner in the ballroom at Rosecliff on Friday night, September 16, and the “Newport After Dark” party will also return at a venue to be announced.

New this year, James Beard Award Winning Celebrity Chef Michael Solomonov will host the Sunday Brunch. Solomonov is an Israeli chef and restaurateur, known for his Philadelphia restaurant Zahav. He won the James Beard Foundation awards for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic in 2011, Cookbook of the Year in 2016, and Outstanding Chef in 2017.

The Festival Restaurant Program, presented by BankNewport, promises creative culinary and wine lunches and dinners hosted by Newport’s award-winning restaurants.

Proceeds from the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival benefit The Preservation Society of Newport County, a non-profit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes and decorative arts. Its 11 historic properties — seven of them National Historic Landmarks — span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.

The Preservation Society of Newport County, Rhode Island is a nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area’s historic architecture, landscapes, decorative arts and social history. Its 11 historic properties – seven of them National Historic Landmarks – span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.

For more information, visit NewportMansions.org.

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TD Five Boro Bike Tour is Back in NYC, Aug 22

Cyclists will again take over New York City’s roads and bridges, for the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, taking place August 22, 2021 © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The TD Five Boro Bike Tour is back! Bike New York and its city government partners announce that the popular ride will once again welcome bike lovers from across New York and around the country on its new date of Sunday, August 22, 2021.

“Preparations are underway for the 43rd edition of the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Ken Podziba, President and CEO of Bike New York. “We’re thrilled and so grateful that we can once again host our celebrated car-free ride this year—and what better time to announce it than during Bike Month.”

The event, which typically has drawn up to 32,000 riders annually and opens 40 miles of NYC’s busiest roadways for cyclists, returns to a city energized by cycling thanks to the 2020 bike boom and an increased demand for Open Streets across the five boroughs.

“New York City is proud to celebrate the cycling boom—and the return of iconic events that highlight great neighborhoods in all five boroughs—by welcoming the TD Five Boro Bike Tour this summer,” said New York City Senior Advisor for Recovery Lorraine Grillo. “We look forward to welcoming locals and tourists alike to enjoy a safe, exciting event this year.”

“Given the pivotal role that bikes have played in protecting the health, wellness, and safety of New Yorkers through the pandemic—especially for essential workers commuting to their jobs—it feels right that bikes will also play a part in powering New York City’s economic revitalization,” Podziba remarked. “The Tour has been a landmark event for NYC for decades, and it’s a true highlight for international tourism. We hope our ride will continue to support the city we call home as we all strive to come back strong from these hardships.”

“Now more than ever, New Yorkers need a safe and welcoming space to reconnect, to celebrate,” he added. “Bike New York is hard at work making the 2021 Tour into the joyful and safe day of community fun that cycling enthusiasts have treasured for nearly half a century.”

The TD Five Boro Bike Tour is a fundraising event for Bike New York, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to provide free bike education opportunities to New Yorkers. Proceeds from the ride fund public classes that reach over 25,000 children and adults each year, with special focus given to improving cycling access and resources to residents of neighborhoods historically overlooked in infrastructure improvements. In addition to free classes held at Community Bike Education Centers located in all five boroughs, Bike New York has introduced bike safety education programs into area middle schools, co-developed a job training and placement program for bike mechanics with Brooklyn’s One Community, and helped pilot a free bike rental system in Shirley Chisholm State Park. 

Though the organization’s 2020 education and events calendar was suspended in response to the pandemic, Bike New York introduced virtual programming to inform new bike boom cyclists and keep seasoned members of the city’s cycling community engaged and connected. The 2021 TD Five Boro Bike Tour will support the return of Bike New York’s in-person classes while sustaining their online offerings, which reached more than 30,000 viewers worldwide in 2020.

Details about the August 22 event, including registration information, total number of participants, and changes to the event format, will be released in the coming weeks. “With the safety and well-being of participants being our highest priority, we will continue working with our government partners to monitor the changing Covid-19 climate and will adapt the Tour to satisfy all requirements that may be in place at any given time until ride day,” Podziba confirmed.

Riders are advised to subscribe to Bike New York’s newsletter and social media for the latest updates about the 2021 TD Five Boro Bike Tour.

For info: https://www.bike.nyc/events/td-five-boro-bike-tour/

See:

32,000 Cyclists Take Over NYC Streets for 41st TD Five Boro Bike Tour

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Tauck Quadruples River Cruises Featuring Floriade Horticultural Expo for 2022

The Netherlands’ Once-Every-Decade Festival Drew 2,000,000 Visitors in 2012

Tauck Tours’ MS Andorinha. Ten years after Tauck saw exceptional bookings for its European river cruises featuring the Floriade International Horticultural Expo, the Connecticut-based company is preparing to capture even stronger anticipated demand for the 2022 iteration of the Netherlands’ once-every-decade festival. 

WILTON, CT – Ten years after Tauck saw exceptional bookings for its European river cruises featuring the Floriade International Horticultural Expo, the Connecticut-based company is preparing to capture even stronger anticipated demand for the 2022 iteration of the Netherlands’ once-every-decade festival.  Where Tauck offered just a single itinerary that visited Floriade in 2012, it will feature the festival next year on a total of four different river cruises.

According to Tauck CEO Dan Mahar, the basis for the company’s bullish enthusiasm is two-fold.  “Our excitement is rooted in both our past experience with Floriade, and in the really incredible plans we’ve seen for the 2022 expo,” said Mahar.  “Our guests’ interest in attending Floriade is such that we essentially – and rather quickly – sold out our entire inventory in 2012,” he explained.  Mahar also noted that the 2012 edition of Floriade drew more than 2,000,000 total visitors, or some four times the attendance at the 2010 performances of the Oberammergau Passion Play, another popular, once-every-decade cultural event featured on Tauck river cruises. 

Next year’s Floriade, explained Mahar, will be far more than a simple flower show.  The expo’s theme is “Growing Green Cities,” and it will showcase elements ranging from green architecture and environmentally-friendly food production to renewable energy and healthy living.  The expo will be situated on 148 acres of land in the city of Almere that was raised and reclaimed from the sea, and following the festival’s conclusion late next year, its various buildings and facilities will collectively function as an enduring, environmentally-friendly urban center.  “An apt comparison for the 2022 Floriade and its forward-looking emphasis on the cities of tomorrow would be Walt Disney’s vision for EPCOT,” said Mahar, noting how closely the EPCOT acronym (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) aligns with Floriade’s “Growing Green Cities” focus.

The Floriade expo will have more than enough to satisfy those with strong horticultural interests, including landscapes, gardens and greenhouses highlighting a vast collection of flowers, trees, shrubs, plants and crops from more than 40 countries.  The festival will also feature live entertainment, themed cultural programs and exhibits, a host of international pavilions, a range of restaurants, food trucks and specialty tastings, and a diverse campus connected by gondolas, trains, bridges and walkways.

EARLY ADMISSION AND A PRIVATE SMALL-GROUP TOUR

Tauck guests will enjoy a full day at Floriade, highlighted by early-access admission one hour before the expo opens to the general public, and a 90-minute, small-group guided tour of key attractions hosted by a Floriade expert.  Each guest will also receive a Tauck-issued, 25-euro Floriade credit card allowing them to enjoy lunch in their choice of dining venues, or purchase mementos of their visit if they prefer. 

Tauck has also secured docking privileges in nearby Huizen, a short ten-minute drive from the Floriade grounds.  For guests’ convenience and flexibility, private round-trip shuttles will be provided between the riverboat and the expo campus.  The visit to Floriade, including expo admission, shuttle transportation, and the Floriade credit card, is included in Tauck’s cruise pricing, as are all other shore excursions, all gratuities, all onboard wine and spirits, airport transfers, luggage handling and more.  The four Tauck river cruises featuring a visit to the Floriade expo include two 15-day itineraries, “Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat” and “The Rhine and Moselle,” along with two eight-day trips, “Belgium & Holland in Spring” and the new-for-2021 itinerary “Cruising the Dutch Waterways.” 

LESSONS FROM THE OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY

Information on Tauck’s four 2022 river cruises featuring Floriade has recently been posted on the company’s website, and can also be downloaded in an eight-page e-brochure.  As Tauck begins to ramp up its promotional efforts for Floriade, CEO Mahar is urging those interested to make their plans quickly.  “For most travelers, attending something like Floriade or the Oberammergau Passion Play is a true once-in-a-lifetime experience, and because they’re only available once every ten years, the opportunities to attend are really quite limited,” said Mahar.  “Understandably, that creates a real sense of urgency among our guests that prompts them to act fast.  With the Oberammergau Passion Play, we were 90% sold out before we started to actively promote it, and we’re fully expecting our Floriade trips to generate that same kind of response.”

Founded in 1925, Tauck Tours is a world leader in upscale guided travel, with more than 150 river cruises, small ship ocean cruises, land tours and safaris to 70+ countries and all seven continents.  In each of the last 23 years, Tauck has been honored in Travel + Leisure magazine’s annual “World’s Best Awards” celebrating the very best in luxury cruises, tours, hotels and more.

For more information, contact your local travel professional, call Tauck at 800 468 2825, or visit www.tauck.com.

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Gatsby-esque Jazz Age Lawn Party Returns to Governors Island, NYC, June 12-13; Limited Tickets Available

Jazz Age Lawn Party regulars Heidi Rosenau and Joe McGlynn dance to the 1920s music of Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra, at the event on Governors Island. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

New York City’s premier annual Jazz Age Lawn Party returns this summer, June 12-13 founded by Michael Arenella and featuring his Dreamland Orchestra and other entertainers, will have music, dancing, dance lessons and food. The first batch of tickets are now on sale.

Widely anticipated by flappers, sporting gents and tiny tots alike, the event has been revered year after year by a wide array of families, locals, and tourists. Jazz Age Lawn Party, now in its 15th year, is committed to hosting a fun and safe event with strict adherence to NYS COVID-19 protocols. This will include social distancing and wearing masks except when seated. Proof of a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination certificate may also be required. An updated protocol list will be announced prior to the event.

Governors Island becomes the backdrop for this cultural phenomenon. This trip through time begins with a breezy ride aboard a ferry boat with breathtaking views of Manhattan and Lady Liberty en route to NYC’s hidden gem, Governors Island. Once ashore, a sprawling green awaits, nestled under a canopy of century-old trees, caressed by fresh sea air, surrounded by historic architecture—a dream where the clock stops, nestled right in the heart of New York Harbor.

Originating as a small gathering of friends longing for the simpler charms of a bygone era, the event has evolved into an international destination. The vibrant optimism and inventiveness of Jazz Age culture and its living legacy continue to resonate with generation after generation, and particularly as New York City, the state and the nation emerge from coronavirus isolation.

Due to current COVID-19 capacity restrictions, the event is currently scheduled to operate at limited capacity. As such, tickets will be released in small batches, on a first come first serve basis. More tickets may be released as restrictions allow. Those who aren’t able to reserve in the first round will be automatically placed on a waiting list, and will be the first to be able to purchase as more are released.

Ticket holders from last year will be able to attend the festival with their unredeemed 2020 tickets, with no further action needed on their part. To purchase tickets, visit www.jazzagelawnparty2021.eventbrite.com.

PERFORMANCES, ACTIVITIES, & OFFERINGS

*MICHAEL ARENELLA AND HIS DREAMLAND ORCHESTRA is the world’s premier Jazz Age dance orchestra, specializing in the Hot-Jazz of the 1920s. Conductor, composer, musician, and crooner Michael Arenella presents a personally transcribed, one-of-a-kind songbook for your listening and dancing pleasure www.meganwilsonpr.com ©MW Public Relations LLC. 2019 1

*GELBER & MANNING BAND – feuding vaudevillian lovebirds quarrel, coo and make beautiful music together

*QUEEN ESTHER – paying tribute to jazz royalty of yore *PETER MINTUN – world’s greatest piano man

*VINTAGE PORTRAITS – You Ought To Be In Pictures, perched upon one of our Paper Moons

*1920s MOTORCAR EXHIBITION get up close and personal with flivvers and Tin Lizzies

* Refreshing summer cocktails including APEROL SPRITZ – the signature cocktail of the Jazz Age Lawn Party and well as retro cocktails featuring PROHIBITION DISTILLERY’s infamous Bootlegger 21 vodka and gin, as well as Q SODA.

*VINTAGE CLOTHING VENDORS AND ARTISANS – a veritable village of timeless treasures and inspired creations to take home

*DREAMLAND GENERAL STORE – for your comfort and convenience offers picnic blankets, parasols, hand fans, assorted sundries  

Refreshing summer cocktails will feature APEROL SPRITZ, the festival’s signature cocktail, as well as Prohibition Distillery, makers of Bootlegger 21, the official gin and vodka of Jazz Age Lawn Party, crafted in Roscoe, NY. Ice cold Radeberger Pilsner and soft drinks will also be on hand.

For more information on the festival, visit http://jazzagelawnparty.com/.

See photos:

Roaring 20s Returns with Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island

Gatsby-esque Jazz Age Lawn Party is Joyful Escape on Governors Island, New York City’s Island Retreat

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New Yorkers Sign Up for 10th Annual ‘I Love My Park’ Day; Events at 120 Sites Across NYS

Volunteer Events Taking Place at 120 State Parks, Historic Sites and Public Lands Across New York

Online Registration Now Open and Can Be Completed Here

Letchworth State Park, NY, the “Grand Canyon of the East.”. Registration is now open for the 10th annual I Love My Park Day, which will be held over the weekend of May 1 and May 2, 2021 at state parks, historic sites and public lands across New York. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Registration is now open for the 10th annual I Love My Park Day, which will be held over the weekend of May 1 and May 2, 2021 at state parks, historic sites and public lands across New York. The event, sponsored by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Parks & Trails New York and the Department of Environmental Conservation, is a statewide event to enhance parks, historic sites and public lands and raise awareness and visibility to the state outdoor recreation assets and their needs.

“More people than ever before are enjoying the beautiful and natural treasures New York State has to offer,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “I Love My Park Day is a great opportunity to give back to our incredible park system, and I encourage New Yorkers to sign up and volunteer at a participating park or historic site in their area to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy these amazing resources.”

Volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in cleanup events at 120 state parks, historic sites and public lands from Long Island to Western New York and covering all regions in between, including sites operated by the Department of Environmental Conservation and municipal parks. Registration for I Love My Park Day can be completed here.

Volunteers will celebrate New York’s public lands by cleaning up debris, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitats, removing invasive species and working on various site improvement projects. Due to COVID-19, registration will be capped at 50 people per site per day to create a safe and enjoyable experience for all volunteers. All projects will adhere to the proper requirements for social distancing and face coverings.

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “State parks provided a necessary escape for people to safely recreate and explore the outdoors during the height of the pandemic. This year, we look forward to celebrating the stewardship of I Love My Park Day by welcoming volunteers whose efforts continue to make our state park system the very best in the nation and incredibly vital to our local communities. I’d like to thank our partners at Parks & Trails New York for continuing to organize this event for ten years and expanding opportunities for the public to give back.”

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “I Love My Park Day is the largest single-day volunteer event in New York State, providing opportunities for environmental stewards to help clean up, restore, and enhance the State’s parks, historic sites, and public lands. During the State’s ongoing response to the pandemic, more New Yorkers than ever before are venturing outdoors in search of recreation and I encourage them to consider giving back to our environment by registering to participate in preserving and improving these very special places and remembering to take care of public lands all year long.”

Parks & Trails New York Executive Director Robin Dropkin said, “Parks and green space are always important but never has that been more apparent than during this pandemic year. New Yorkers turned to parks in droves for recreation, respite and a safe place to spend time with family and friends. Now they have a chance to give back to the places that have sustained them over the last 12 months. We’re so happy to be able to celebrate the tenth anniversary of I Love My Park Day.”

Parks & Trails New York is New York’s leading statewide advocate for parks and trails, dedicated since 1985 to improving our health, economy, and quality of life through the use and enjoyment of green space for all. With thousands of members and supporters across the state, PTNY is a leading voice in the protection of New York’s magnificent state park system and the creation and promotion of more than 1,500 miles of greenways, bike paths, river walks, and trails. More information can be found here.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by 78 million people annually. A recent study found that New York State Parks generates $5 billion in park and visitor spending, which supports nearly 54,000 jobs. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit here, connect with us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram 

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THRILLING BETHPAGE AIR SHOW RETURNS TO JONES BEACH STATE PARK THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND; PRE-PURCHASED TICKETS REQUIRED

US Air Force Thunderbirds display their precision flying at Bethpage Air Show, Jones Beach, Long Island, for Memorial Day weekend © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The enormously popular, immensely thrilling, intensely patriotic Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park will return this Memorial Day weekend after a one-year absence. The outdoor show, sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union, features a range of military and civilian aerial performers including the famed US Air Force Thunderbirds. This year’s show will be a ticketed event, with reduced capacity and social distancing measures in place to ensure a safe return of the patriotic Long Island beachfront tradition.

In addition to the headlining United States Air Force Thunderbirds, this year’s show features the United States Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog), United States Army Golden Knights U.S. Army parachute team, and United States Coast Guard Search and Rescue team, as well as many other world-class civilian performers. The Bethpage Air Show will take place Friday, May 28, (Practice show); Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30, 2021 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. each day.

Visitors must purchase a ticket in advance to park at Jones Beach during the show. Details on purchasing a ticket will be announced at a later date. Parking capacity will be reduced by 50 percent, and only those with a ticket will be allowed to enter. State Parks will have additional staff on hand to enforce all health and safety requirements, including face covering requirements and social distancing. State Park Police will be supplemented by assistance from New York State Police. Individuals with appointments at the Jones Beach Covid-19 testing or vaccine sites will not be impacted, and will be able to enter through dedicated traffic lanes.

“As we continue to see progress in our fight against COVID and cautiously reopen our state, we can look forward to enjoying more and more outdoor adventures this summer – including the annual Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “With safety measures in place, New Yorkers and visitors can get back to enjoying all that Jones Beach and Long Island State Parks have to offer, and this annual festival is a great way to get outdoors and support the regional Long Island economy.”

The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, one of the most popular events on Long Island, was canceled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Its return this year brings back a Memorial Day weekend tradition that celebrates the beginning of summer at Long Island’s beaches, and honors military families and those who serve our country.

“We are thrilled the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach in 2021 is back!” Bethpage Federal Credit Union CEO Wayne Grosse said. “After a challenging year, Bethpage is proud to work with State Parks to ensure air show fans of all ages can enjoy a beautiful day at the beach and honor our nation’s military this Memorial Day weekend. While this year’s show will look a little different with reduced capacity, we are glad New Yorker’s will still be able to enjoy the fun, high-energy Air Show that all the fans have come to expect.”  

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by 78 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit www.parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call 518-474-0456. Also, connect on FacebookInstagram and Twitter.

See photo gallery of Jones Beach Air Shows:

16TH ANNUAL BETHPAGE AIR SHOW AT JONES BEACH, LONG ISLAND, HONORS SPIRIT OF MEMORIAL DAY

PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS FROM 15TH ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY BETHPAGE AIR SHOW AT JONES BEACH, LONG ISLAND

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Belmond Unveils Calendar of ‘Festive Invitations’ Virtual Workshops, Events Celebrating Timeless Traditions

A treasured Thanksgiving past-time, Michelle Weaver, Executive Chef at Belmond Charleston Place, will share a special Southern tradition with her Grandma’s favorite ‘sweet potato biscuits’ recipe – filling the home with the nostalgic and comforting scent of freshly baked bread. The live bake-along will also include the sommelier’s perfect wine pairing for this year’s more intimate Thanksgiving occasion.

This holiday season, the luxury travel company Belmond is presenting ‘Festive Invitations,’ a calendar of virtual workshops and events celebrating timeless traditions that bring us together in a year like no other. From a fragrant winter wreath workshop to the ritual of baking Thanksgiving recipes passed down through generations or mastering the art of hand-crafted Christmas crackers to an uplifting musical season finale – join live via Belmond’s Instagram throughout November and December.

DECORATIONS TO DELIGHT – NOVEMBER 20 at 12PM EST / 5PM GMT

Celebrating a magical winter tradition, celebrity florist and a Belmond Good Living Experience Maker, Simon Lycett will share the steps to create a fragrant winter wreath. Materials for the workshop can be gathered and foraged such as scented pines and berries. The mindful process of creating art using nature’s ingredients is a reminder of the life-enhancing joy of connecting with nature, something the world needs now more than ever.

TREASURED HOMEBAKING – NOVEMBER 24 at 12PM EST / 5PM GMT

A treasured Thanksgiving past-time, Michelle Weaver, Executive Chef at Belmond Charleston Place, will share a special Southern tradition with her Grandma’s favorite ‘sweet potato biscuits’ recipe – filling the home with the nostalgic and comforting scent of freshly baked bread. The live bake-along will also include the sommelier’s perfect wine pairing for this year’s more intimate Thanksgiving occasion.

HANDMADE WITH LOVE – DECEMBER 17 at 1PM EST / 6PM GMT

A time-honored British tradition, the crackle and pop of a Christmas cracker is an uplifting festive ritual made for sharing and the anticipation of the gift within. Luxury event designer, Fiona Leahy will host a festive workshop to create the most elegant handcrafted crackers. As a beautiful table setting or gift to share, the crackers can be filled with specially selected and personalized gifts and handwritten messages with promises of brighter times ahead.

MUSICAL FINALE – DECEMBER 22 at 1PM EST / 6PM GMT

Ending the year with an invitation to sing-along with internationally acclaimed singer and pianist, Joe Stilgoe will perform songs from his Christmas album. A musical evening full of sparkle and cheer to stir the soul and lift spirits, we say goodbye to 2020 and look forward to the future.

For shopping and material lists to prepare for each session, visit www.belmond.com/care-package.

“While the season’s festivities may be a bit different this year, Belmond wishes to savor the moments that really matter and make promises for brighter tomorrows.”

Belmond Ltd., part of one of the world’s leading luxury groups, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, has been a pioneer of luxury travel for more than 40 years, building a passion for authentic escapes into a portfolio of one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the world’s most inspiring and enriching destinations.

Since the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, it has built a portfolio of 46 properties extending across 24 countries, encompassing three luxury safari lodges, two river cruises, seven luxury trains, including the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and the legendary ‘21’ restaurant in New York. From historic city landmarks like Belmond Cadogan Hotel and Belmond Copacabana Palace to hidden retreats at Belmond Cap Juluca and Belmond La Résidence d’Angkor, each property has its own timeless story to tell. See www.belmond.com.

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Gold Coast Film Festival Goes On With Virtual & Drive-In Films, Q&As With Filmmakers, Free Opening Night Virtual Gala

Actor Bruce Dern, in 2011, was honored as the first recipient of the Gold Coast International Film Festival’s Legend award. This year’s film festival features Dern starring with Lena Olin in The Artist’s Wife and features a Q&A with Director Tom Dolby © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

LONG ISLAND, NY – The 10th Annual Gold Coast International Film Festival, taking place on October 13-20, 2020, will host virtual screenings through a digital platform to engage with audiences within the community and beyond. This year’s lineup showcases more than 70 feature-length and short films with filmmaker Q&As, presented virtually and through a series of exciting drive-in events. The best way to experience the festival is to purchase an All-Access pass which lets you choose all the virtual films for one great price. Individual tickets are also available for both the virtual films and Drive-In events.

The hallmark of the Gold Coast International Film Festival, extraordinary opportunities to exchange questions and answers with the filmmakers, will still be a feature this year, even under the extraordinary conditions: exclusive pre-recorded filmmaker Q&As will be available for a select group of virtual films as part of the ticket purchase. The formidable lineup includes:

THE ARTIST’S WIFE – Once a promising painter herself, Claire (Lena Olin) gave up on her own career to stand by the side of her famed abstract artist husband Richard (Bruce Dern, GCIFF 2011 Legend Award Recipient) for over 20 years. When Richard is unexpectedly diagnosed with dementia, Claire takes up painting once again, and must decide whether to stay in the shadows or step into the spotlight. Q&A with Director Tom Dolby.

BEYOND MOVING – A captivating documentary about Siphe November, an exceptionally gifted ballet dancer from South Africa, that follows his journey, from being discovered, to his intensive training at Canada’s National Ballet School, to eventually stepping into the world of professional ballet. A magical ‘Billy Elliot’-like true story. Q&A with Director Vikram Dasgupta & Siphe November.

EXHIBITION ON SCREEN: MATISSE – Celebrate the giant of modern art in this intimate, behind-the-scenes documentary about one of the most successful exhibitions in the history of the Tate Modern. Also includes breathtaking, specially commissioned performances by Royal Ballet principal dancer Zenaida Yanowsky and jazz musician Courtney Pine. Acclaimed British actor Simon Russell Beale brings insight and emotion to the words of Henri Matisse himself, while actor Rupert Young narrates. Q&A with Director Phil Grabsky

THE DONUT KING – The unlikely fairy tale story of a Cambodian refugee arriving in America in 1975 and building a multi-million-dollar empire baking America’s favorite pastry, the donut. Winner of the SXSW Special Jury Award for Best Documentary. Q&A with Director Alice Gu.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY – FREE virtual event in honor of all essential workers!

All of our country’s biggest public health challenges—from COVID-19 to the opioid crisis to gun violence to behavioral health and lack of insurance—collide in emergency departments. This gripping documentary follows emergency nurses and their patients in seven unique settings across the U.S., shedding light on some of the biggest health care crises facing Americans today.

Q&A with Director Carolyn Jones, Glen Cove Hospital Executive Director, Kerri Anne Scanlon and Glen Cove Hospital Registered Nurse, Diane Paez.

THUNDER SOUL – A 10th anniversary screening of this remarkable, life affirming film, about a world-class powerhouse high school funk band, full to the brim with pure funk. Presented by Jamie Foxx. Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary.

Q&A with Director Mark Landsman

GCIFF will kick off the Festival with a free virtual fundraising gala celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Gold Coast Arts on October 13, at 7:30pm. The gala will highlight some of the most unforgettable moments featuring past honorees and award recipients as well as special performances by Broadway star Melissa Errico and award-winning violinist Colin Jacobson, just to name a few of the many surprises in store. It is free to see.

To RSVP for the 25th Anniversary Gala and for ways to help sponsor or support this important event, visit www.goldcoastarts.org/gala25.

For more information on ticket sales, film selection, and drive-in screenings, visit www.goldcoastfilmfestival.org

Gold Coast Arts is a 501(c)(3) multi-arts organization dedicated to promoting the arts through education, exhibition, performance, and outreach. For a quarter-century, it has brought the arts to tens of thousands of people throughout the Long Island region. Among the Center’s offerings are its School for the Arts, which holds year-round classes in visual and performing arts for students of all ages and abilities; a free public art gallery; a concert and lecture series; film screenings and discussions; the annual Gold Coast International Film Festival; and initiatives that focus on senior citizens and underserved communities. These initiatives include artist residencies, after-school programs, school assemblies, teacher-training workshops, and parent-child workshops. The Gold Coast Arts Center’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. The Gold Coast Arts Center is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts “Partners in Education” program and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.goldcoastarts.org.

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