Best July Events for Grown-ups 2019

Posted OnJune 30, 2019

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Best July Events for Grown-ups 2019: From Andy Warhol to William Shakespeare, Caramoor Jazz to Sunset Sails on the Sound, July has it all!

Much Ado About Nothing, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Boscobel, Tues, 7/2-Sat, 8/31: 7:30pm: Scandal abounds in Shakespeare’s hilarious, biting comedy about lies, courtship, and the chaos created in pursuit of true love. The famous bantering lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, trade barbs while matching wits (and hearts) in this celebrated romantic romp. (1601 Route NY-9D, Garrison; www.hvsf.org)

Cymbeline, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Boscobel, Wed, 7/3-Sat, 7/27: 7:30pm:In this mad stepmom romp, Imogen swaps the skirt for the pants and makes for the magical wilds to find her banished love disguised as a boy. In this fantastical work where the improbable becomes probable as kind strangers, dastardly villains, ghosts, gods, and long-lost princes pave the high road to Happily Ever After. (1601 Route NY-9D, Garrison; www.hvsf.org)

Cyrano, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Boscobel, Thurs-Sun, 7/4-30: 7:30pm: The poet with panache, and legendary nose, plays anew as Longtime HVSF company member Jason O’Connell leads a five-person cast as his own Cyrano, the brilliant thinker, wordsmith, and swordsman. He’s a thorny romantic with an outsized reputation and a barely-contained love for his childhood sweetheart, Roxane. Can she sniff out the truth in this sophisticated suitor’s heart before it’s too late? (1601 Route NY-9D, Garrison; www.hvshakespeare.org)

Best Fireworks for Grown-ups! Pops, Patriots & Fireworks, Caramoor Venetian Theatre, Thurs, 7/4: 8pm: The Westchester Symphonic Winds perform a selection of works that pay tribute to America’s independence; Caramoor Schwab Vocal Rising Star alums Madison Leonard and Shea Owens perform a medley of Rodgers and Hammerstein songs and the concert concludes with a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Then the best fireworks display around! (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Andy Warhol, Shadows, Did Beacon, Thurs-Mon, 7/4-8: 11am-6pm: Originally commissioned by Dia and acquired in 1979 for a solo exhibition at 393 West Broadway in New York City, Shadows includes a total of 102 canvases; the final number of canvases on view in each installation is determined by the dimensions of an existing exhibition space. For the installation at Dia:Beacon, 72 canvases will be installed edge to edge, a foot above the floor. Read more about the Dia. (3 Beakman St., Beacon; www.diaart.org)

Colby Caillat, Ft. Gone West, Ridgefield Playhouse, Fri, 7/5: 8pm: Two-time Grammy Award Winner, Colbie Caillat (“Bubbly,” “Try,” “Fallin’ For You”), returns with her new band Gone West featuring multi-platinum singer/songwriter Jason Reeves, four-time Hawaii Music Award Winner Justin Kawika Young and ACM and CMT nominated artist Nelly Joy. They are touring with their debut EP, Tides. This show will feature Colbie’s solo material along with songs from her new collaboration with Gone West. (80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Public Sails on the Schooner Soundwaters, Fri-Sun, 7/5-28: check times: Board the 80’ Tall Schooner Soundwaters, the ship that Pete Seeger made famous, for a two-hour afternoon or sunset journey on the Long Island Sound. The Schooner Soundwaters, seats 40 and sails from Boccuzzi Park in Stamford. (Bocuzzi Park at Southfield, 166 Southfield Ave., Stamford CT; www.soundwaters.org)

Lasdon Park, Katonah, Friday, 7/5-8/2: 7pm: Gates open at 5pm for picnicking, strolling Lasdon’s 234 acres or checking out their new glass house conservatory. Just $10 will get you in to hear the Mclean Avenue Band do a pretty good “Hey, Soul Sister” on July 5; Singer/songwriter Dan Zlotnick who lit up the Pleasantville Music Festival last year will perform on July 12; Back to the Garden returns to Lasdon with their Woodstock era revue on July 19; Chamomile & Whiskey offer straight ahead Americana string music from the Blue Ridge Mountains on July 26; and violinist/singer/songwriter Deni Bonet brings her sold out Carnegie Hall show to conclude their summer series on August 2. (2610 Amawalk Road, Route 35, Katonah; www.lasdonpark.org)

Essex Steam Train Dinner Train, Fri-Sat, 7/5-27: 7pm & Sun, 7/7-28: 4pm: Book your ticket on the Essex Clipper for a 4-course meal served in beautifully restored 1920’s Pullman diners, pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive. This 2 ½ hour train ride takes you through the pristine Connecticut River Valley – designated one of the “last great places on Earth” by the Nature Conservancy. The train passes farms, waterfalls, and wetland habitats with blue heron and egrets. (1 Railroad Ave., Essex, CT; www.essexsteamtrain.com)

American Songbook! Laura Bennanti, Caramoor’s Venetian Theatre, Sat, 7/6: 8pm: Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti brings a sparkling evening of song to the Venetian Theater stage. A highly celebrated singer, dancer, and actress who took Broadway by storm at the age of 18, Benanti’s talents have led her to numerous roles on stage and screen, including recent revivals of She Loves Me and My Fair Lady on Broadway. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Grant Llewellyn (conductor) Jonathan Biss (piano) Caramoor’s Venetian Theatre, Sun, 7/7: 3pm: Jonathan Biss is in the fourth year of his Beethoven/5 commissioning project: the five Beethoven piano concertos each presented with a contemporary composer’s response. Including, Caroline Shaw’s Watermark, a response to Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto and a Caramoor co-commission. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Local! Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce Summer Concerts, Wed, 7/10-8/7: 7pm: The Chappaqua Millwood Chamber of Commerce presents 5 concerts at Events_bhef_gala_tramps_like_us The Gazebo on Recreation Field. Including: 7/10: Tramps Like Us (lauded by the NY Times & Rolling Stone, TLU is fronted by Chappaqua resident Mark Salore); 7/17: Rebecca Haviland & Whiskey Heart (Grammy winner and her roots rock band in the genre of The Wallflowers and Ryan Adams); 7/24; Arena Rock Tribute; 7/31; FDR Drive (Top 40 & Classic Hits); 8/7: The Haks (R&B, Motown, Southern Rock) (Recreation Field, Chappaqua: 200 S. Greeley Ave. Chappaqua-millwoodchamber)

Way Cool Event! Hudson Valley Hot-Air Balloon Festival, Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Fri-Sun, 7/12-14: check times: Watch the flight of the hot-air balloons take off over the Dutchess County FArigrounds. Or take a tethered balloon or helicopter ride yourself. There’s music from Stax of Soul and the Ronald Reagans’ Big 80s Show. Plus, craft beer and wine tastings, magic shows, puppet shows, birds of prey and evening Balloon Glows with the 50 piece band, aerophone. (Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6636 Route 9, Rhinebeck; www.dcrcoc.org/balloonfestival)

Chris Delia, Follow the Leader Tour, Tarrytown Music Hall, Fri, 7/12: 8pm: Recently chosen as one of four American comedians for the Netflix 2019 series Comedians of the World which will showcase 47 comics from 13 regions, Delia has three comedy specials on Netflix including his first Comedy Central special White Male, Black Comic. He also starred on NBC’s Undateable from 2014-16. (13 Main St., Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.org)

Hot ticket Alert! Pleasantville Music Festival, Sat, 7/13: 12pm: A full day of awesome comes to Parkway Field in Pleasantville as 18 bands play for 9 hours on 3 stages. There’s plenty of food trucks and fun activities to keep the kids happy at this family friendly event that will be headlined by multi-platinum hit-makers Everclear, Grammy winners Soul Asylum, Grammy and Academy Award-winner Aimee Mann. Plus Dean Friedman, Matthew Sweet and more. There’s free parking and roundtrip shuttle service from nearby Pace University. (861 Bedford Road
Pleasantville; www.pleasantvillemusicfestival.com)

Spirit of the Sound, Central Long island Lighthouse Cruise, Sat, 7/13: 10am: The Norwalk Aquarium’s Spirit of the Sound catamaran’s Lighthouse’s Cruises visits century old beacons from Sands Point to New Haven Ct. The Central Sound cruise takes in five lighthouses on it’s 5 hour tour. The Western Sound cruise visits 7 historic lighthouses on it’s seven hour tour. (10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT; www.maritimeaquarium.org)

Hot Baroque Ticket Alert! Venice Baroque Orchestra, Avi Avital (mandolin) Caramoor’s Venetian Theatre, Sat, 7/13: 8pm: The Venice Baroque Orchestra, recognized as one of the premier period instrument ensembles, and Israeli mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital bring the Baroque to life with this Mostly Vivaldi dazzling program. The New York Times has said of their collaboration “the chemistry between the ensemble and Mr. Avital was palpable.” Their recording, Vivaldi, won a 2015 ECHO Klassik Award. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Katonah Museum of Art Block Party, Sat, 7/13, 8/10 & 9/14 & Thurs, 7/25, 8/1, & 8/22: 8pm: Music returns to the KMA sculpture garden with a properly curated selection of bands and performers across many genres, plus cool summer drinks and food trucks. The lineup features Indie Rock from Will Moloney on July 13; Brazilian Jazz from Mark Morganelli & The Jazz All Stars on July 25; R&B from Sami Stevens Trio on August 1; Fan Favorites from Peter & the Four26 on August 10; Indie singer/songwriter Roxanne on August 22; and American Songbook from Mark Morganelli & The Jazz All Stars on September 14. TKTS $20-$25. (134 Jay St., Rt. 22; Katonah; www.katonahmuseum.org)

Colin Jost, Ridgefield Playhouse, Sun, 7/14: 7:30pm: Colin Jost, the award-winning, co-anchor of “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live! returns to the Playhouse after a sold-out show in 2016. Colin has been a writer for the show since 2005, and is currently one of SNL’s head writers. He has won four Writers Guild Awards, a Peabody Award and has been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards for his writing on SNL. Recently, Colin co-hosted the 2018 Emmy Awards, alongside “Weekend Update” co-anchor and fellow head writer, Michael Che. (80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Free! 1 Stop Pony at Wampus Brook Park, Armonk, Thursday, 7/18: 7:30pm: Armonk’s Summer Concerts at Wampus Brook Park kick off with a performance from 1 Stop Pony on Thursday, July 18: 7:30pm. Best known for their Neil Diamond Tributes, 1 Stop Pony will also perform songs from John Mellencamp, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Buffet and more. It’s also Armonk Sales Days and there will be sales and trunk shows all day throughout Armonk and a Car Show on Main Street before the concert.

The Wallflowers, Ridgefield Playhouse, Fri, 7/19:8pm: Back after a packed show in 2017! Led by Jakob Dylan (son of legend Bob Dylan), The Wallflowers enjoyed huge success as part of the mid-’90s roots-rock revival with hits like “6th Avenue Heartache” “Three Marlenas,” a gritty take on David Bowie’s “Heroes,” and “One Headlight,” a song for which they won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. (80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Hot ticket alert! Jazz Festival, ft. Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, Caramoor mulitple venues, Sat, 7/20: all day: Celebrating its 5th year in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, Caramoor’s Jazz Festival presents jazz performed by phenomenal talent amid lush gardens and distinctive venues on their 90 acres of grounds. Treat yourself and stay for a whole day of music leading up to the evening headliner — ten-time Grammy Award winner Eddie Palmieri, one of the finest pianists of the past 60 years. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Free Local! Lawn Chair Theatre, Much Ado About Nothing, Fri, 7/21: 6:30pm: The Lawn Chair Theatre brings it’s 2019 production of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing to Recreation Field next to Town Hall in Chappaqua. In the event of rain the performance will move indoors to ChappPac. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets to this free event. Donations suggested. (200 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua; www.lawnchairetheatre.org)

A Taste of Westchester, Peter Pratt’s Inn, Thurs, 7/25: 6pm: Luau on the Patio at this historic site that served as General Washington’s command post during the Revolutionary War. Chef Jon Pratt, will prepare his Hawaiian luau buffet including shoyu chicken (soy sauce marinade, ginger and garlic with long rice) and poke (raw ahi tuna fish and asian seasonings). Try poi-the traditional dish of the islands made from the underground plant stem or corm of the taro (kalo) plant. Experience Kalua pig which is a whole suckling pig cooked in the La Caja China (translated “the Chinese box”). (673 Croton Heights Road, Yorktown Heights,  914-962-4090, Register here.)

Hot Russian Pianist Alert! Daniel Trifanov (piano) Caramoor’s Venetian Theatre, Fri, 7/26: 8pm: Russian piano phenomenon Daniil Trifonov — “without question the most astounding pianist of our age” (The Times, London) — returns to Caramoor with a solo recital of Beethoven, Schumann, and Prokofiev..Trifonov recently won Gramophone’s Artist of the Year award in 2016 and and the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Solo Album for Transcendental — a double album of Liszt’s works. In 2019 he released a new album, Destination Rachmaninov: Departure. (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

TJ Miller, Ridgefield Playhouse, Fri, 7/26: 8pm: This actor and stand-up comedian has been making people laugh for more than 15 years, performing his absurdist, observational standup act worldwide. He is known for his roles in Ready Player One and the Deadpool films, as well as the HBO show “Silicon Valley.” And, he has voiced characters in more than a dozen animated films, including The Emoji Movie and Big Hero 6. (80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Hot ticket alert! Bela Flek & Abigail Washburn, Caramoor’s Venetian Theatre, Sat, 7/27: 8pm: Crowned “the king and queen of the banjo” by Paste Magazine, husband-and-wife Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn build upon the folk tradition to create a distinct style pulling inspiration from Chinese atonal music and the banjo’s rich American heritage to stretch “their sound beyond bluegrass, across continents, into everything from prog-rock to Eastern instrumentation” (NPR). PS Bela has won 16 Grammy Awards! (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Season Finale, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Venetian Theatre, Sun, 7/28: 4pm: Caramoor’s summer season comes to a close with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s led by their Principal Conductor Bernard Labadie and violinist Christian Tetzlaff. The program includes one of the most popular violin concertos in the repertoire, Mendelssohn’s E Minor, alongside his Hebrides concert overture and Beethoven’s First Symphony. Christian Tetzlaff is an “exceptional soloist … with soaring tone making every note sound with absolute clarity.” — Boston Classical Review (149 Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah; www.caramoor.org)

Local! Open Days Garden Conservancy, Bedford Hills & Pound Ridge, Sun, 7/28: 10am-4pm: Two private gardens open for public viewing. The Garden of Phyllis Warden in Bedford Hills features seven acres of gardens with three water gardens, a formal vegetable garden, fern, marsh and wildflower gardens and a formal croquet court. Plus, James & Ellen Best’s Gardens – an ecological restoration on five plus acres from native plant pioneer Sara Stein. (www.gardenconservancy.org)

A Taste of Westchester at Armonk’s new Taverna Meraki, Mon, 7/29: 5:30pm: Chef Michalakis Sarris’s lesson will include pita with lemon marinated olives, and melitzanosalata (roasted eggplant dip) along with a tutorial on the perfect Greek salad. A quick lesson on the best tzatziki sauce for our souvlaki of marinated, grilled chicken on warm pita with fries, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Learn the secret to ellinikes patates tiganites-Greek style fries with oregano, cheese and lemon. Dessert will be a surprise. (456 Main St., Armonk; Register here.)

A Taste of Westchester, Clock Tower Grill, Brewster, Lobster in the Courtyard, Wed, 7/31: 6pm: Chef Rich Parente will teach you how to create a seafood extravaganza. Enjoy a local beer while learning the techniques for an old fashioned shrimp boil and lobster bake– clams, mussels, corn on the cob and roasted potato salad. Enjoy a how-to on shortcakes and whipped cream utilizing summer’s seasonal fruit. Always expect the unexpected at CTG! Held outdoors weather permitting. (512 Clock Tower Drive, Brewster , 845-582-0574, Register here.)