Gotta Have Arts

By Miriam Longobardi

The only thing better than great live music is great live music outdoors on a sunny day, relaxing in your lawn chair with a cold beverage in your hand looking forward to nonstop tunes for the entire day.

At the Pleasantville Music Festival, after I stake out a strategic spot near the main stage with easy access to the Beer & Wine Garden, I ease into the day by soaking up sun while I peruse the line-up of bands on the various stages. There is the main stage where the more well-known bands perform. The Beer & Wine Garden also has a stage and between acts on the main stage there is always a band playing there to keep the party rolling. Follow your nose and ears toward the Village Stage, located behind the bleachers conveniently flanked by local food and merchandise vendors. That stage features ongoing regional and local acts, many recognizable to anyone familiar with the Westchester music scene as well as talented newcomers.

Each stage has its own line-up of performers and I plan my day accordingly. As you tent-hop your way past the Village Stage through the vendor area you will find bouncy castles, kiddie rides, and fun for younger guests, and the festival air abounds. The music featured is an upbeat mixture of rock, blues, pop, and reggae and is representative of major national acts as well as the aforementioned regional and local talent. Each artist is hand selected from hundreds of submissions and is guaranteed to please. The Pleasantville Music Festival is sponsored by 107.1, the Peak radio station as well as many other local sponsors. The Festival culminates with headliners performing on the main stage after sunset and into the evening and my well-placed chair is perfectly positioned to enjoy the finale.

The only thing that tops one day of music and fun is two days and that’s exactly what you’ll get from the Clearwater Music Festival at Croton Point with the added benefit of knowing you’re supporting a worthy cause. This event raises money for the Clearwater Environmental Organization, founded in 1969 by folk music legend and environmental activist Pete Seeger, who will be at the festival. Seeger’s organization features the majestic sloop The Clearwater which people may ride during the festival as well The Mystic Whaler, small boats and tall ships that will also be available, a great way to enjoy the beautiful waterfront during all the weekend’s festivities. The environmentally conscious theme of The Clearwater Music Festival carries over to the powering of the seven stages, all of which are either solar powered or use biodiesel fuel. There is an activist area where people can learn how to get more involved and what they can do to help protect our local environment as well as a Green Living Expo that teaches about products, services and technologies that can inform lifestyle and business choices.

This year’s festival features over 100 bands performing on seven stages, including stages for kids, a dance stage, and many large stages with all types of music being performed, including international acts. Family oriented, in addition to the music choices there is a plethora of roving jugglers and artists, face painters, a shady storytelling area, and even a musical petting zoo! The Arm-of-the-Sea Theater, a contemporary mask and puppet theater will be performing along the waterfront throughout the weekend. In addition to an expanded Artisan and Farm Market with food supplied by local vendors and locally sourced farm products, there are artisan and craft expositions, demonstrations and workshops. All these things while you’re surrounded by musical talents too numerous to list but be sure to visit the website below for an up-to-date list of artists scheduled to perform.

Among the milestones being celebrated at this year’s festival is Woody Guthrie’s 100th birthday and Arlo Guthrie and the Guthrie Family will be performing. Also celebrating milestones are The Preservation Hall Jazz Bands 50th Anniversary and the Walkabout Clearwater Chorus’ 25th Anniversary. And let’s not forget that Pete Seeger himself just turned ninety! You simply can’t miss out on all this celebrating in the company of legendary artists all the while supporting environmental education, advocacy and research to help protect and preserve our majestic Hudson River.

Cupcakes are ubiquitous. After a renaissance sparked by Magnolia Bakery in the city, these delectable confections have become one of the most coveted desserts. At times, it seems like cupcakes are poised to conquer the world. When viewed through the lens of C.J. Ehrlich and Philip J. Kaplan’s new play, “The Cupcake Conspiracy,” this observation does not seem like an exaggeration. One March eve, chuckling could be heard emanating from the theater at the Chappaqua Library. Guests at a benefit for the Friends of the Chappaqua Library were treated to a staged reading of “The Cupcake Conspiracy.” During the introduction, playwright and Chappaqua resident Cheryl Ehrlich described the piece as a work in progress.

At the opening of the first scene, evidence of mixed signals is center stage. Max, one half of a potential couple, thinks he is participating in a dating ritual as a result of an internet conversation. The other half, Natasha, leads him on in a manner none too subtle, while dropping hints that romance may not be her ultimate motive. While dining at a hotdog stand emblazoned with the slogan: “Death to America, hotdogs and knish,” the two begin a discussion about gifts. In a totally authentic Russian accent, Natasha proclaims: “The most unselfish gift is your own life.” This reference to suicide bombers, combined with comments like “…splicing information like you’re waterboarding me,” make it clear that terrorism is Natasha’s aim.

Notes of humor balance the serious nature of terrorism throughout the play. Suzie, expertly played by Denise Bessette, laments the sorry state of her relationship. Her line, “and even if you do fly coach in the bedroom, I could have tried to upgrade you to first class,” elicited much laughter. Although she had urged her lover to take more risks in order to renew the spark in their romance, when she perceived that he was partaking in terrorist activities, she changed her tune and told him that she had recommended that he “join a book club, not a sleeper cell.”

The audience gave the performance rave reviews. “It’s a delightful production, whimsical. Engaging characters and entertaining,” was Catharine Trongone’s take on the evening. Doc Davis, an actor himself, appreciated the high quality of the players. “They’re not amateurs. They have the expertise,” he noted. Toward the end, a glimmer of hope surfaces between Suzie and Max, a couple who had been seeing a separation counselor.

After being entrapped in a terrorist plot, they acquire a new perspective. “Being held hostage does wonders for a relationship.” Suzie relates. “Terrorism is easy but marriage is complicated,” she concludes. –Sarah Ellen Berman