Adirondack Family Time™

The Bikinis at Depot Theatre, Westport, NY What:  Created and Written by Ray Roderick and James Hindman, the musical “The Bikinis” joins together an all girl band from the 60s that are reunited over a vote to either save or sell the Sandy Shores Mobile Home (Beach Resort). Upbeat songs from the 60s through the 80s move the story from under the boardwalk through various events in the lives of the band members. Where : Depot Theatre, 6705 Main Street, Westport, New York 12993, 518-962-4449,  Ticket price:  $29/adult, $27/senior/student, group discounts are available.  When:   Westport NY: July 17,18,20,24,25 at 8 pm and July 19,23,26 at 5 pm. (WESTPORT) Rain or shine, a fun beach romp this year is at the Depot Theatre ’s production of “The Bikinis,” showing through July 26 th . This musical treat transports the audience to the sandy shore with over 25 songs performed by an all-girl 60s beach band reunited to perform at a Florida beach resort, 20 years after breaking up.

Each summer Regal Entertainment Group in Plattsburgh offers a summer second-run film series for families called "Summer Movie Express" . The fun, inexpensive events take place every Tuesday and Wednesday during July and August at the Regal Champlain Centre Stadium 8 Theatre, 60 Smithfield Blvd, Plattsburgh. There are two movies offered. All movies start at 10 am and are rated either G or PG  July 14 and 15: Paddington and Turbo July 21 and 22: Rio 2 and How to Train Your Dragon 2 July 28 and 29: Mr. Peabody and Book of Life August 4 and 5: Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb and Penguins of Madagascar August 11 and 12: Madagascar 3 and Dolphin Tale 2 August 18 and 19: Muppets, Most Wanted and Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day August 25 and 26: The Lego Movie and The Sponge Bob Movie: Sponge Out of Water © Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Activities™ guidebook series, Adirondack Family Time™guidebooks have easy Adiron

Tintypes at Pendragon highlights snapshots of history through song and dance.  What: The Tony nominated play, Tintypes , a musical conceived by Mary Kyte with Mel Marvin and Gary Pearl, is a turn-of-the-century musical revue that provides a series of vignettes into America’s immigrant experience at the onset of World War I. The cast of five actors documents the end of an era through a series of songs and a poignant understory. Where : Pendragon Theatre, 15 Brandy Brook Ave, Saranac Lake, 518-891-1854, www.pendragontheatre.org Advanced tickets price: $30/adult, $25/senior, $15/student with ID, $20/matinee At Door ticket price : $35/adult/senior, $25/student, $20/matinee When: Saranac Lake: July 2, 3,7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 at 8 pm with matinees at 2 pm on July 4,11,18. VIEW in Old Forge: July 6 at 8 pm. Tintypes: A fun play for all ages.  By, Diane Chase, AdirondackFamilyTime.com (Saranac Lake)  Tintypes , now playing at  Pendragon Theatre  until July 18,

Summit of Cobble Hill  By Diane Chase When I first moved to the area and didn’t have the time or inclination to just climb the 46 High Peaks, I decided to take a different route. That route has led me to explore beautiful trails, walks and swimming holes around the whole Adirondack Park. There are some places that have been worth a repeat visit and other places that were just okay.  My two-year-old hiked in Crocs while carrying "her" purse My route has lead me over hills and through fields exploring all the fun activities that take place in this Tri-Lakes and High Peaks region and beyond . One favorite hike is so conveniently located in the center of Lake Placid that I always suggest it to people of all ages and hiking abilities. Cobble Hill has an elevation of 2,345’ and a vertical ascent of only 462’. My ADK kids can easily finish it within an hour or I can take longer and explore the local flora and fauna. There are a few trail entrances, b

Depot Theatre Announces its 37th Season   Westport, N.Y. - Complete with classic songs from the 60’s, zany romantic comedy and toe-tapping honky tonk, the Depot Theatre is pleased to announce its dynamic 2015 main stage lineup.   “The Bikinis” opens the season on  July 10 . A non-stop celebration of classics like “It’s In His Kiss,” “Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” “Heat Wave,” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” punctuate the story of a girl band’s 20-year reunion, and will have audiences dancing in the aisles! The opening musical is followed by “New York Water!”. This quirky, off-kilter adult romantic comedy documents Albert and Linda’s relationship from their first fearful meeting in New York City through to the mid-west and on to the left coast as they search for meaning, happiness, and success.  Rounding out the season is the Northeast regional premiere of “Savin’ Up for Saturday Night: The Honky-Tonk Musical”, with an energetic combination of showstoppers, cat fights

Tupper Lake's Wild Center is asking people to look and leap while relishing in its latest adventure, The Wild Walk. Part interactive nature center and part nature playground, The Wild Walk is a Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse adventure that has us crawling, swinging and grasping with childlike awe for all that our wild surroundings provide. It allows us to sit quietly in nature in benches or swing chairs or jump feet first into a giant spider's web.   A tree house, hollowed tree have interactive elements demonstrating the Adirondack natural environment The Wild Center in Tupper Lake has always been a "go to" spot for my family. Whether we go to a solar workshop to increase our green footprint, watch the otters frolic in their own waterpark or just relax at the natural playground, The Pines, each visit is a different experience. With extended family soon to visit, we get to share the latest wild expansion that is taking down the museum walls and  "tra

Strawberry flowers Though we have had more rain than sun over the last few days, strawberries are starting to ripen and Pick-Your-Own fields are planning on opening to the public over the next couple of weeks.  Festivals are set to gesture in summer with all things strawberry. Rulf’s Orchard in Peru is holding their 4th annual Strawberry Festival on June 27 with a bounce house, vendors, strawberry shortcake eating contest and wagon rides to the U-Pick patch.  Raquette Lake is whipping up fresh strawberry shortcake while Crown Point will host its annual celebration of those delicious red berries.  According to Shannon Rulf their strawberry fields opened last Sunday for U-Pick. During the festival She expects more people to come to take part in all the activities, not come to pick huge quantities of berries so she is also offering a special quart-size price for people taking the Country Dream Farm free horse and wagon ride to the fields.  "This year we are

Father’s Day is just around the corner, June 21, and the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club wants to get all anglers under the age of 16 on the water with their father. This year the event coincides with the opening of Bass Season . The rules are simple. Participants are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship and respect for other people. The purpose of the free event is to get people outside, to enjoy the morning and have fun together.  I contacted members of the Fish and Game Club and started quite a discussion on the exact number of years that the annual Father’s Day Fishing Derby has been taking place. The general consensus is that this annual event has provided almost 30 years of fun competition for children. The Father's Day Fishing Derby will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Lake Colby and is open to all children fifteen years and under, who don’t require a fishing license. Registration is at the Lake Colby Beach prior to fishing that morning.  There are five

Usually I keep my art and my wine as separate events, but now there are plenty of opportunities for me to get my creative juices flowing paired with a glass of fine wine. In the Adirondacks and just outside the Blue Line there are various art organizations and dedicated businesses that encouraging all of us to dig deep for our inner artist and bring her/him along to an evening of "Paint and Sip." Combining painting a canvas among a group of friends with the commoraderie that comes with a few glasses of wine has no definitive history, but one southern artist,Wendy LoVoy, started offering an art instruction class  in 2004 which has now evolved into the Birmingham, Alabama home of Sips n Strokes, Inc.  Since that time other companies have franchised spreading the good fun across the nation.  One such company,  Painting with a Twist,  formed its earliest roots during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Formerly called Corks and Canvas , Painting with a Twist has built an emp

I wonder sometimes if I’m the only parent that thinks her children are hardheaded. My kids can be sassy and sweet then rapid fire my words back to me in one-line quips. I realize they get tired of “Safety Mom” and the other titles they so eloquently bestow upon me. The bottom line is as stubborn as they can something be, their heads are not truly hard. So to make sure children’s noggins stay safe numerous organizations in Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake have joined together to host their annual Bicycle Rodeos.  The Saranac Lake event takes place June 6 from 10 am – noon at the SL Civic Center, 22 Ampersand Ave while the Tupper Lake rodeo will be held June 13 from 10 am to 2 pm at LP Quinn School, Hosley Ave. The schedules of the two activities are similar with free bike obstacle course, bike raffle, free helmets, refreshments and bike repairs. Tupper Lake will also host Flutterbug the Clown, face painting, a bounce house and other games.  

There are people in the Adirondacks that live off-grid. There is a misconception that those people are living a radical life of self-imposed hardship. Though certainly there are people that want to live a rustic life, going solar doesn't have to mean giving up the amenities. I like my electricity and the gadgets it powers up. I'd go so far as say I love electricity and the ability to turn on lights, use this computer and watch a television show. I also love the idea that I have the opportunity to harness my energy from the very sun that is drying my clothes right now. The issue for me has always been money and the fact that our old house is a drafty bit of business. A kick-off program called " Solarize the Tri-Lakes" is being initiated tonight, June 4,  in Saranac Lake at the Saranac Lake High School. The 6:30- 8 pm event is free and open to the public. The concept is simple, to bring people together in hopes that a solar network can be created. Shared solar se

By Diane Chase There is something special about having alone time with my daughter. It gets even better now that she branches out beyond the princess -themed play to climb, fish, or catch something. This time we are explores searching for new lands. We may not discover unchartered territory in our Adirondack Coast tour but we will tread on the lands discovered over 400 years ago by Samuel de Champlain. The Champlain Memorial Lighthouse sits on the edge of what is now the Crown Point Public Campground. It overlooks Vermont and sits surrounded by land that witnessed battles and forts. Originally constructed in 1858, the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse is a statement to the States of New York and Vermont and the Province of Quebec who worked together to reconstruct this monument as a testament to explorer Samuel de Champlain.

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