Day Trips – Page 3 – Rockland NY Mom

Let’s Pick Some Apples! 2017

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Ashley Carmichael Posted in Ashley's Lists, Day Trips, Main Page, Out and about..., Things to Do! .

Fall is here, and so are the APPLES! I can’t wait to bake apple pie with the kids.
Here is a list of local orchards, be sure to call ahead to check hours, pricing,
activities and apple availability!

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Rockland County

Dr. Davies Farm 
Route 304 Congers, NY
845-268-7020
DrDaviesFarm.com
Facebook Page
They have over 4,000 trees and 15 different varieties of apples on 55 acres.
2 farms stands – on 9w and 304 in Congers, with a great array of home grown fruits and veggies.
Hayrides through the orchard on the weekend.
Tractors to climb and play on for some adorable photo opps.
Just a heads up this farm is CASH ONLY!
Hours: Everyday 10am-4pm

Orchards of Concklin
2 South Mountain Rd., Pomona (845) 354-0369
OrchardsofConcklin.com
Facebook Page
Pick your own on Sundays ONLY and Columbus day starting 9/17.
A farm market open each day with fresh veggies, fruits, home made pies, donuts, cider, cakes, cookies and so much more.
Hours: 10am – 5pm

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Bergen County

Demarest Farms 
244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
201-666-0472
DemarestFarms.com
https://www.facebook.com/demarestfarm/?fref=ts
Demarest farms is the only Pick Your Own orchard in Bergen county!
Free parking, wagon hayrides, 2 petting zoos, adventure playground, corn box, crooked house village, photo area, wooden playlet, and picnic area.
Farm market with delicious honey, fresh pressed apple cider, apple cider donuts, apple butter, and so much more!
$7 per person, plus $10 per bag of apples.
Hours: M- F 3 to 4:30PM, Sat and Sun 9AM to 4:30PM

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Orange County

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Apple Ridge Orchard
101 Jessup Rd., Warwick
845-987-7717
AppleRidgeOrchards.com
Facebook Page
Offering beautiful scenery, tractor pulled hay wagon rides, pet and feed friendly farm animals, a corn maze, observation hives and a market full of delicious honey, fresh pressed apple cider, apple cider donuts, homemade mixes, apple butter, fresh preserves, and other treats at our farm.
Hours: Thurs, Fri, Sat., Sun and all holidays open 9am -6pm.

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Mr Apples Orchard 
25 Orchard Street Box 98, High Falls
845-687-0005 or 845-687-9498
This is a friendly small town, non commercial orchard.
Proud to use low spray of the apples, and no herbicides in the soil.
Hours: Call ahead

Lawrence Farms 
306 Frozen Ridge Rd, Newburgh
845.562.4268
lawrencefarmsorchards.com
Facebook Page
Not only do they have apples available for U-Pick – they also have a large variety of vegetables and other fruits as well! Call ahead for availability!
On the weekends they offer horse-drawn carriage ride around the beautiful scenic farm, and chickens and goats to say hi too, and locally made ice cream and home made doughnuts
Hours: Everyday 9am-4pm

Maskers Orchard 
45 Ball Road Warwick, NY 10990
845-986-1058
Maskers.com
At Maskers Orchards you can drive right up into the orchard, and settle in for the day. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a family day under the shade of the apple trees!
-pony rides
-horse drawn wagon rides
-a family friendly haunted house
-face painting
-apple maze
-and music performances
-Snack barn with pizza, locally made ice cream, hot and cold beverages, farm-fresh cider, freshly made apple cider donuts and of course, freshly baked apple pie.
Hours: 9am-5pm – the country store as well!

Apple Dave’s Orchard 
82 Four Corners Rd., Warwick NY
845-986-1684
applewoodorchards.com
Facebook Page
Formerly Applewood Orchards, Apple Dave’s has over 11 varieties of apples.
-Wagon rides
-Music and puppet shows
– Farm store with cider, jams, jellies, herbs and fresh seasonal produce.
Hours: Everyday (starting beginning of September) 9am-5pm

Ochs Orchard
4 Ochs Lane Warwick, New York 10990
845-986-1591
Ochsorchard.net
Facebook Page
-Pick your own flower garden.
-Small Petting Zoo
-Gazebo makes the perfect setting for a fall picnic
-A Farm Market with seasonal veggies, jams, butter, jellies, eggs and of course apple cider.
Hours: Picking days change weekly – call ahead.

Pennings Orchard 
169 State Route 94 South, Warwick, NY
845-986-7080
Penningsorchard.com
Facebook Page
On certain weekends there are hayrides, live music, pony rides, kiddie maze, cow milking contest!
Be sure to call ahead for a schedule of events.
Looking for a date day with out the kiddos? Visit Pennings Pub and Grille, where you can enjoy local food, beer, wine and their home made hard cider at the beer garden while listening to live music!
Hours: Everyday 9am-5pm

Weed Orchards Winery
43 Mt Zion Rd, Marlboro, NY
845-236-2684
thewineryatweedorchards.com
Facebook Page
A Family owned Orchard and Winery
Pick Your Own Apples, and produce!
Check their website for a list of what’s available for picking before you go!
Another great spot for a day without the kids! Stop by to taste the homemade whines, homegrown hard ciders, and local craft beer.
Hours: Everyday 10am-5pm

Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery 
114 Little York Road, Warwick
845-258-4858
wvwinery.com
Facebook Page
** This establishment caters to a more adult crowd since they do serve alcohol **
Makes for a great day without the kids.
However, the orchard is gorgeous and their apples are delicious!
-tractor ride to and from the orchard
-An apple tasting bar and prepicked apples for purchase.
No outside food or beverages please.
Hours: Mon – Fri: 12pm to 5pm Saturday – Sunday: 11am to 5pm
Check their Facebook page on friday for the picking availability for the upcoming weekend.

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Dutchess County

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Barton Orchards
 63 Apple Tree Ln, Poughquag, NY 12570
845-227-2306
Bartonorchards.com
Facebook Page
Barton Orchards is a great spot for a Fall Family Day full of hayrides, corn maze, walking trails, peddle kart race track, trackless train, a live actor Haunted House, barnyard animals and a pumpkin field slide. As well as, the Midway Farm Market, bakery and snack shacks.
Hours: Everyday 9am-5pm

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Greig Farms
227 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook, NY
845-758-1234
GreigFarm.com
Facebook Page
This farm has been open to the public for 60 years.
– Pick your own fruits and vegetables – Call ahead for availability
– Goats to feed and a koi pond.
– Weekly farmers market on Saturdays from 10-6.
Hours: Everyday 8am-7pm

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Westchester County

Wilkens Fruit and Fir stand
1335 White Hill Road Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
(914) 245-5111
Wilkensfarm.com
Facebook Page
-tractor rides to and from the orchard
Farm market with donuts, pies, cookies, hotdogs, popcorn, cider, coffee and other snacks available! You can also call your bakery order in ahead of time!
Hours: U-Pick: 10am-4:30pm Markets: 10am-5pm

Harvest Moon Farm and Orchard
(formerly Outhouse Orchards)
130 Hardscrabble Rd. North Salem, NY 10560
914-485-1210
harvestmoonfarmandorchard.com
Facebook Page
-So much to do here! Hay rides around the farm, bounce houses, apple games, live music, pony rides, face painting, plenty of yummy food vendors.
Hours: Everyday 8am-6pm

Stuarts Farm
62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs, NY
914-245-2784
StuartsFarm.com
Hayrides on the weekends and Farm stand with fresh produce, pies and donuts.
Be sure to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the view.
(Tell Bob and Betsy we say Hello!)
Hours: Everyday 10am – 6pm

Girl AGain Visit – American Girl Fun- With a Mission

Posted on August 21, 2017 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Classes, Day Trips, Good Cause, Out and about..., Reviews .

Disclosure: This is an unsponsored post, just a super cool place we HAD to share.

Here at RNYM we scour areas close to us looking for fun for the children of Rockland County. Little (E) is growing at an alarming rate (don’t they all though?). She recently got really into the Bitty Baby Doll (Baby Natasha) that she received for Christmas 2 years ago. Since she didn’t show too much interest at the time (aside from sleeping with her), we never looked for any accessories for her. Lately she has been asking about getting her some clothing so that she doesn’t have to wearthe same pajamas every single day.

Enter Girl AGain. I don’t think that (E) is quite ready for the American Girl Store, I am sure that it won’t be long now, but she hasn’t been into the doll and accessories that long yet. I can’t wait to take her for the tea, and a day in the city, but not quite yet. I wanted to take her somewhere that she could pick something nice out though. Well, Girl AGain has been on our radar for a while, it has a mission that we ADORE and sells previously loved American Girl Dolls, clothes, and accessories. PLUS, its right in White Plains, a mere 25 minutes away from Rockland.

What is Girl AGAIN? Girl AGain is a store that is created by parent company Yes She Can Inc. Its goal is to employ Autistic Women. Here’s a small blurb from their website:

“Did you know that 80% of adults with autism are unemployed? We created our boutique specifically to help develop transferable job skills for young women with autism. Our trainees at Girl AGain sort, clean and prepare the merchandise, price it, and display it in our shop. Our trainees learn about marketing, merchandising, retailing, customer service, and inventory acquisition in addition to appropriate workplace behavior, research, collaboration and decision-making. We have staff who manage our accounting (Quick Books) and our website (WordPress).

Our customers learn about the abilities of people with autism. And hopefully, our youngest shoppers learn about acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities.”

So, since (E) had to miss camp for a Pulmonologist appointment, her grandmother and I decided to take her on a road trip afterwards as a treat.

Getting to Girl AGain is SIMPLE. It is a straight 25 minutes door to door, you can park right in the hotel (the underground entrance is RIGHT next to the store). Just press the button and let them know that you are there for Girl AGain. Walking into the store is magic- little (E)’s face lit up right away. We brought Baby Natasha with us to try things on and so that she could see as well. Although the space is small, there is SO much to look at. Tables and racks and nooks of special toys. The staff at the store was SUPER helpful, asking if there was anything special that we were looking for. Once they heard (E) was looking for Bitty Baby items they walked her right over to where they were and showed her the clothing.

(E) picked out a beach set, and a gardening set for Natasha, before heading over to the off-brand section where she added a backpack and a night gown to the collection.

Gran was looking for some clothing for the AG doll that she has at her house, and was able to find Samantha’s Pinafore (which is what she was looking for) as well as an Irish Step Dancing outfit that she is saving for (E) for Christmas since she dances for a local school. Gran also had questions about care for the dolls, and they had a wonderful guide all printed and ready that they handed her.

The ladies at the store were great, (E) was able to run her whole transaction like a big girl, and was handed her bag to go (she was SO excited). We had a fun little afternoon and she got some GREAT stuff to play with. Natasha left wearing her new night gown, and was changed into her beach clothes shortly after coming home.

The prices of the items are market value, in fact, the staff spends time checking the market value on sites like EBAY. There are some absolute STEALS there though, like (E)’s $5 flannel night gown or $2. What makes us even happier is spending the money for a good cause, not just spending it with a big company. This money, this experience makes a difference. These girls are special, and I mean I got to hear stories about their own dolls and learn about how they run the store, it was truly lovely and enjoyable.

Girl AGain isn’t just a store to visit to shop, they also run some fabulous events that are suitable for Birthday Parties, Girl Scout Troops, or simply a fun afternoon with friends. You can keep up to date with their class offerings by clicking HERE. We intend to post all classes (starting back up in September) on our calendar, and attend at least one now that (E) is old enough. Also, if you can’t get to the store to purchase items in person, you can always shop their online inventory HERE.

OH YEAH- if your little ones are finished playing with the AG dolls and you would like to donate them to the cause you can contact them HERE to send them what you have and make a donation.

**Side Note** Tons of people have been asking about where I found (E)’s outfit- the dress, belt and bow are from www.kennedygreydesigns.com and we get a discount RockMom15. The boots are payless. :o)

A Visit to Sparkle Up

Posted on August 8, 2017 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Birthdays, Day Trips, Day Trips, Out and about..., Party, Reviews, Services, Things to Do! .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Two months ago the person who had been cutting little (E)’s hair stopped returning my calls. We are VERY particular about her hair, she has a great head of fine hair, with a great little curl at the bottoms. No joke- I would kill for my kids hair. I reached out to friends who are WAAAAY more fashionable than I am. They recommended to me Sparkle Up in New City. I had heard of it, but had never been there myself. So we went. For one low price (E) received a great haircut, braids and painted nails. Deborah took us for a tour and little (E)’s heart leapt for joy. She loved it so much that we have made it our new haircut spot.

This past week was our second trip and this time was even more important for her hair to be amazing because she was going to be the flower girl in her uncle’s wedding. In fact, the day that we went was the rehearsal dinner, and I figured that since the cut came with a braid, I would have Deborah braid it and leave it for the rehearsal.

BEFORE

Our appointment was at 1:30 and we arrived a little early, Deborah was of course already there and ready for us. (E) and I said hi and they got straight to work. I explained the importance of the cut (not that I had to, its always great) and we got started. The cut was great and when done Deborah asked if we wanted a braid and we said yes please for the special occasion.

She said she knew just what to do. Well, she more than surpassed our expectations and did the cutest little up-do for (E) even topping it off with the perfect amount of glitter.

Next since we had some extra time Deborah asked if (E) wanted to dress up. Boy did she ever!!! Well, at first I was nervous because I had her big brother with us and I was afraid he was going to feel left out. In fact, on the way into Sparkle Up he said “ugh this place is for girls right”? I told him to wait and see. There’s actually a second dress up closet with “boys” items in it. For the brothers and cousins and friends that attend play dates and parties. When I said I was impressed Deborah mentioned that she does of course also cut boys hair, and sometimes they choose to have some color added (which I plan to let (E) do next time). Both kiddos picked something to dress in and walk the runway.

Once dressed (E) wanted to paint her nails, hot pink, with sparkles. She got to sit at the special little table choose her color and have them painted (happy girl).

All throughout the fun Deborah and I are chatting it up, and at one point she asked me what I was doing with my hair for the evening. I said probably blowing it straight, and she told me to sit in her chair. In under 10 minutes she had braided my hair back into a beautiful chignon and I no longer had to worry about my hair for the night. I felt so pretty.

I learned that Deborah doesn’t just do kids’ hair, she also does grown ups and does makeup applications, from dance recitals, to prom, to family portraits and weddings. She even does lessons for teens, tweens, and adults. She is also a great destination for kids birthday parties, and girl scout troops! There is so much to do there!!!

We really enjoyed our time at Sparkle Up and neither kid can wait to go back. (A) wants a cut with some spray color, and to try a few more boys costumes on, while (E) wants the works, again. Loved it so much in fact that we will be working with Deborah for some great events coming up this year!!! To book a haircut, play date, party, etc contact Deborah at 845-634-0140 or email her at Sparkleup@me.com she is really quick to respond to both. Of course, we always appreciate you mentioning you heard about them here <3.

Kids vs. Grown-Ups Imagination Build-Off Challenge: GIVEAWAY!

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Ashley Carmichael Posted in Contests, Day Trips, Main Page, Out and about..., RNYM's Picks, Things to Do! .

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester Hosts the Ultimate Imagination Build-Off Challenge from July 17-28

Kids go head-to-head against grown-ups in a test of creativity

Beat the summer heat while igniting your creativity at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester with the Kids vs. Grown-Ups Imagination Build-Off Challenge. LEGOLAND® Discovery Centers across the globe are inviting kids and adults to go head-to-head in the ultimate test of creativity. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester’s Model Builders will judge the build-off competitions every weekday from Monday, July 17 through Friday, July 28.

Who will reign supreme when it comes to creative creation: kids or grown-ups?

The Kids vs. Grown-Ups Imagination Build-Off Challenge will be held twice daily, at 3:30pm and 5:30pm, and consist of a five-minute challenge where kids and adults build a creation straight from their imagination – no limits, no boundaries, no rules – just pure creativity. Challenges will be officiated and judged by Model Builders including LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester’s Master Model Builder, Anthony Maddaloni.

All participants will be entered into a final Imagination Build-Off contest with the chance to win a one-hour private build session with Maddaloni and a Summer Pass ($35 value). The Summer Pass, good through Labor Day, allows the pass holder to build memories all summer long with unlimited visits and additional discounts in the café, LEGO® Store and on birthday parties.

“LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is designed to provide LEGO play experiences that power creativity and learning through shared LEGO fun for adults and children,” said Master Model Builder Anthony Maddaloni. “We are really excited to see the energy and imagination that comes from kids and adults alike.”

A number of studies suggest that creativity tends to take a sharp decline at around six years old. Although children are still using about 80 percent of their creative potential at age five, research reveals that creative output drops to a shocking two percent by the time they are twelve.

“Especially for adults, the stress of everyday life can impact our creativity levels,” said Maddaloni. “With an overall lack of time in the day, our imaginations are not being exercised – and, as a result, kids might just have the upper hand when it comes to creativity, but I guess we’ll find out for sure during the upcoming build challenges! Whatever your age, our goal here at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is to reignite your imagination and love of play.”

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is located at 39 Fitzgerald Street in Yonkers, NY.
They can be reached at 866-243-0770 or by visiting www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/westchester.
For the latest news and updates, follow @LDCWestchester on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

GIVEAWAY!

You know the drill: Head to our Facebook page!
React, Share and Comment with who would win in your family – Kids or Gown ups?
for a chance to win a 4 Pack of Tickets to LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester!

( tickets are good for 3 months from the time they are won)

GOOD LUCK!

We know you’ll like it here!- Annie-WBT Review

Posted on July 12, 2017 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Day Trips, Day Trips, Events, Food, Out and about..., Reviews, RNYM Savings!, RNYM's Picks, Things to Do!, Uncategorized .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post as we were invited to see Annie. All opinions expressed are my own.

WHY ISN’T DINNER THEATER MORE OF A THING?! That’s all I have been asking myself since we attended Annie at Westchester Broadway Theater last Thursday night. Our family of four is OBSESSED! So much so that RNYD has already picked out our second show that he wants to attend this August, and I had to take a picture of the upcoming shows because I can’t wait to go see more!!!

We took little (E) for her 4th Birthday last week, and “oh my goodness!” As a family we adore theater, we love Broadway, but sometimes with the expense of it, with young kids is such a gamble that we avoid it. When we do go its includes dinner the whole shebang. Will the kids sit through it, especially after the car/train ride? Will we find decent parking? Where can we eat that everyone will be happy? Will there be a crazy wait at the restaurant?

Westchester Broadway Theater handles ALL of that! For a reasonably priced ticket you get, a short drive, close parking, a delicious meal (including desert and salad), AND a spectacular performance. I feel like I could go on FOREVER, but I know you want me to get down to the nitty gritty- here goes…

Ten Reasons Dinner Theater Rocked and needs to be a thing:

Short easy drive from Rockland, Westchester, Northern Jersey
It literally took us 20 minutes to get there, no crazy traffic, just a straight shot to Elmsford.
Free parking right there.
Yep, a nice large parking lot where you walk straight into the theater.
Pretzel Encrusted Chicken

Seriously, the menu was awesome, but this sounded so neat I had to try it, so glad I did!! (A) had the Broiled Filet of Sole, and (E) had the chicken fingers)
CLEAN bathrooms
Important for me, but so much more for my 4 year old daughter, we must have gone 5 times, so this was a breath of fresh air.
Small personal theater

Cool for adults, and so much more for kids. No distractions, an intimate performance where you can see it all.
Comfortable seating

RNYD has had 5 back surgeries, this is important, as is leg space. Unlike many Broadway theaters WBT has comfy chairs, and room to breathe. Little (E) could even stand without bothering other theatergoers.
The talent on stage

You don’t even know you aren’t ON Broadway. The bios of the actors speaks for itself, but even without reading, you know from the first number, these guys are fabulous.
People still dress
I don’t know about you, but it irritates me that people wear denim to Broadway. When I first started going people wore their Christmas and Easter outfits. At WBT people were dressed for the occasion, it adds to the element.
Affordable for a family
Dinner and entertainment for a family of four (never mind the kind of caliber food and entertainment) is EXPENSIVE. WBT has made it possible to give your family the experience in an affordable way (especially if you mention RocklandNYMom.com for your discount).
The staff

My little princess wore her birthday tiara, EVERY staff member we encountered commented on its loveliness and then treated her like a queen when they learned why she was wearing it.

All in all it was really, truly the most fantastic birthday experience for (E) and for the whole family. (A) asked if we could go back for his birthday next year, and RNYD has picked out a concert event on 8/12 that he wants to attend. I have already spied a few upcoming shows I will be purchasing gift (and personal) tickets for. This is an experience not to miss. A great intro to the stage for kids, and a memorable experience for the whole family.

Recommendations:

Time: (A) is 7 and (E) is 4. We went to an evening show- both made it through because the show was AWESOME, they couldn’t keep their eyes off of the stage, the is ABSOLUTELY suitable for younger kids as some of the Hollywood scare is not in the play, but I recommend the daytime showings for most children. We didn’t get home until 11:30 and knew we had nothing planned for the following day.
Money: Who doesn’t love saving? Mention RocklandNYMom.com to receive a discount!!!
Dining: They don’t have cups with lids- if you have a kiddo you are worried may spill, bring your own to fill.

WBT Presents ANNIE! – GIVEAWAY!

Posted on July 6, 2017 by Ashley Carmichael Posted in Contests, Day Trips, Main Page, RNYM Savings!, Things to Do!, Uncategorized .

As I have mentioned before – I LOVE THE THEATER! I can not contain my excitement…tonight we will be celebrating E’s 4th birthday at opening night of ANNIE at the Westchester Broadway Theater! Stay tuned for our FULL REVIEW!

Westchester Broadway Theatre
Presents
ANNIE
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Martin Charnin
Book by Thomas Meehan
Directed and Choreographed by Mary Jane Houdina
Musical Direction by William Stanley

June 29 – September 10, 2017

Inspired by Little Orphan Annie, the 1924 comic strip by Harold Gray, Annie is a heart-warming story, filled with adventure and laughs that defines what family truly means. One of the longest running shows in Broadway history and the winner of seven Tony Awards, Annie, returns to the WBT stage from June 29 to September 10, 2017!

Annie, one of the world’s best-loved musicals, is set in 1933 in New York City during the Great Depression. Little Orphan Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, she escapes to the wondrous world of NYC where she finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy. Notable musical numbers include “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” and “Tomorrow.”

Peyton Fishman (Irvington) and Kaylin Hedges (Valley Cottage) star as Annie in alternating performances. Michael DeVries is Daddy Warbucks, the billionaire business man. You may remember him in Wicked and Hello, Dolly, on Broadway. Susann Fletcher is Miss Hannigan, the cold-hearted orphanage owner. She starred as Louise Seger in WBT’s production of Always…Patsy Cline. Warbucks’ secretary and love-interest, Grace, is portrayed by Celeste Hudson who was seen in Show Boat at WBT. Miss Hannigan’s con-artist brother, Rooster, is played by Adam Roberts, who appeared on Broadway in Pippin and Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark. The role of Lily, Rooster’s petty-thieving girlfriend, is played by Aubrey Sinn who starred as Maria in our production of The Sound of Music. John-Charles Kelly plays President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

A lively group of local girls play the orphans in Annie. Anika Bobra (Armonk), Tahlia Ellie (Short Hills, NJ), Haylie Christiano and Ruby Griffin (both of Valley Cottage), Maureen Henshaw (Carmel), Nora Kennedy (Tappan), Molly Lyons (Wappinger’s Falls), Sasha Murray (Chappaqua), Lucy Neureuther (Harrison), Ella Stanley (Bronx), Lauren Sun (Rye Brook) and Gabriella Uhl (Cornwall

Featuring: Robert Abdoo, Kelly Black, Laura Cable, Joseph Cullinane, Jesse Lynn Harte, Carl Hulden, Ryan Alexander Jacobs, Kelsey Self, Rochelle Smith, Roger Preston Smith, and Billy Clark Taylor.

Sunny, a 7 year old Terrier Mix, will play Sandy the dog. He was rescued from a kill shelter and appeared in the 2014 revival of ANNIE on Broadway, and in the national tour. He was the subject of a NBC special entitled ANNIE’S SEARCH FOR SANDY. Sunny follows in the line of great Sandy dogs rescued and trained by Bill Berloni.

Directed & Choreographed by Mary Jane Houdina; Musical Director is William Stanley; Assistant Director/Choreographer is Robert Abdoo. Rochelle Smith is the Dog Handler.

Steve Loftus is the Technical Director. Costume design by Suzy Benzinger, Costume coordinator is Heather Carey, Set design by Michael Bottari & Ron Case, Lighting Design is by Andrew Gmoser, Sound Design is by Mark Zuckerman, Wig & hair design by Shannon Harrington. The Production Stage Manager is Victor Lukas, ASM is Duane McDevitt and properties are by Grumpy Props. Lisa Tiso is the Associate Producer.

Reservations: *MENTION ROCKLANDNYMOM FOR AN EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT*
Call (914) 592-2222. Also at: www.BroadwayTheatre.com
Group Reservations: Discounts for Groups of 20 or More: Call (914) 592-2225.
Luxury Boxes: Call (914) 592-8730. For private parties of 6 to 22. Enjoy dining and theatre in an elegant private box. Additional features include an expanded dinner menu, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, private powder room, and Luxury Box reserved parking.

Show Times:
Wednesday & Thursday & some Friday Matinees: Lunch: 11:30 am & Show 1 pm.
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday Evenings: Dinner: 6:30 pm & Show: 8 pm.
Sunday Matinees: Lunch: 12 pm & Show: 1:30 pm
Sunday Evenings: Dinner: 5:30 pm & Show: 7 pm.

Ticket Prices: Dinner & Show range between $56.00 and $84.00 PLUS TAX depending on the performances chosen. Beverage Service & Gratuities are not included in the ticket price. Discounts are available for children, students, and senior citizens at selected performances. Also check the website for on-going Special Offers! More news at:www.BroadwayTheatre.com

WANT TO WIN 4 TICKETS to see ANNIE?
React to our post on Facebook and comment which broadway show is your all time favorite!

** Tickets NOT valid for Saturday performances or during the last 2 weeks of the show**

Upcoming productions on the WBT Mainstage
Annie – June 29 – September 10, 2017
Annie Get Your Gun – September 14 – November 26, 2017 & December 28, 2017 – January 28, 2018
The Christmas Voyager – November 30 – December 23, 2017

Halfway Acres Farm has our Whole Heart

Posted on June 29, 2017 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Day Trips, Day Trips, Health and Wellness, Out and about..., Reviews .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Three years ago we stumbled upon this unbelievable little slice of heaven in Campbell Hall NY, called Halfway Acres Farm. I couldn’t be gladder that we did. Ashley and I took the kids up there for some good clean fun in the sun, and we have been hooked ever since. Ashley made it back last year and I missed the window because the kids were sick, and I was so upset. That’s why this year when they posted on Facebook that berries were ready for picking, we ran right up.

Since we haven’t been there in two years I was worried that with the secret out it would be crowded, or the experience would have changed (SO NOT THE CASE). They have added more bushes, and some great fencing (which doesn’t take away from the view at all). I knew from Ashley that they had a few picnic tables you could take advantage of so we planned for it.We went up at noon and brought some sandwiches and drinks (please be sure to bring a bag to take care of your garbage). As we approached, Michael greeted us (he’s the nicest guy), and offered us their essential oil tic spray. You need to be prepared to check for tics, this is the great outdoors after all. The day was so beautiful, we took our time and enjoyed each others company and the scenery while we ate our lunch at the tables.

Once we cleaned up it was into the bushes for blueberries!!! The kids decided to have a contest to see who could pick the most berries, and we ran around in the fields for 2 hours. Michael had told us where the berries were ready for the picking, and there were SO MANY!!! There were a few other families picking, but you barely even knew that they were there, you felt like you had the whole farm to yourself.

After a sun kissed two hours Michael and (I) his daughter helped us check out by weighing our berries. Then the kids were given ice pops (one of their favorite parts) which they ate on one of the large rocks out front. The experience is just amazing, a great fun day with the family, but the best part is what you get to take home with you.

If you have never had fresh blueberries you MUST go and get some. What you have been eating from the food store is a sham. They are TASTELESS compared to what you can get at Halfway Acres. In fact, every year I swear off of store bought berries because its just not the same. These berries are like candy, little drops of heaven. So much so that two days later they are almost gone in our house, I am using the last of them to make my famous whole wheat blueberry muffins and begging Ashley who is going up this weekend to bring me home more.

The blueberry season is really short 2-3 weeks at its longest, so if you haven’t planned a trip yet and you have some free time I highly recommend it. These berries are good for so many things – shakes, just as fruit, muffins, crumbles, pies, jams- too many to name, and once you eat them, you are going to want to try them all :o)

Ok, ok, convinced? Here’s the address:

200 Purgatory Road, Campbell Hall, NY 10916

and hours:

Tuesday-Sunday from 8 AM – 8 PM (closed Mondays with the exception of July 4th they will be open for the holiday).

Make sure to let Michael and the family know that we sent you, we adore them!!

WAIT!!! I FORGOT TO TELL YOU ANOTHER AMAZING PERK- THE PHOTOS YOU CAN TAKE!! ITS ALSO A FANTASTIC PHOTO LOCATION!!!

GIVEAWAY!!! Day Out with Thomas: The Friendship Tour 2017

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Ashley Carmichael Posted in Contests, Day Trips, Out and about..., Things to Do!, Travel, Uncategorized .

All ABOARD!

RocklandNYMom loves the Delaware River Railroad. We have been lucky enough to experience the Easter Bunny Train (Read our review! ) and Dino Days + Mine Train ( Read our review). We can’t wait to have some fun at Day Out with Thomas: The Friendship Tour 2017!

Thomas the Tank Engine invites little engineers to join him for a day of friendship and family fun at Day Out with Thomas: The Friendship Tour 2017. Children everywhere can spend a day with their friend Thomas when the #1 Engine pulls into Phillipsburg on July 7,8,9,14,15,16 , 2017. Day Out with Thomas: The Friendship Tour 2017 is presented by Mattel.

Day Out with Thomas is a fun-filled event that provides children of all ages the opportunity to climb aboard and take a ride with Thomas as well as participate in Thomas & Friends™ themed activities. The tour, now in its 22^nd year, will make 42 stops across the U.S. and Canada, and is expected to welcome nearly one million passengers in 2017. For 2 back-to-back weekends little engineers and their families are invited to take a 25-minute ride BEHIND their favorite engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt, Controller of the Railway and enjoy a day of Thomas & Friends fun.

In celebration of this year’s theme, Day Out With Thomas: The Friendship Tour 2017 will feature an array of friendship-inspired activities. Attendees will be able to participate in events that encourage and celebrate friendship including photo opportunities, crafts, and a fun activity that invites kids to collect passport stamps throughout the day to receive a trio of Day Out With Thomas friendship bracelets. The 2017 tour theme is in line with this year’s Thomas & Friends global brand campaign, ‘Set Friendship in Motion’ – a campaign that ties together content, social integrations, and event activations across the entire Thomas & Friends franchise to highlight the importance of first friendships and the development of key friendship skills in toddlers.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

Day Out with Thomas are $21 plus tax for ages two and up.
July 7,8,9,14,15,16
Rides depart every 60 minutes, rain or shine.
Departure times 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm

www.ticketweb.com/dowt or 866.468.7630.
For more information and directions, contact the the Delaware River Railroad Excursions at 877-train-ride or 877trainride.com

** GIVEAWAY! **
Enter to win a family 4 pack on our Facebook page!

Give a way valid for the following dates and times – no exceptions.
July 7, 8, or 9th. Valid times are 1pm, 2pm, 3pm or 4pm

Support Local Farms: Pick Your Own Fruits and Veggies!

Posted on June 8, 2017 by Ashley Carmichael Posted in Ashley's Lists, Day Trips, Out and about..., Things to Do!, Uncategorized .

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Head out for some family time and support your local farmers.
Last year we picked sweet peas, strawberries and blueberries. This year we hope to pick to add peaches, green beans and cherries to our list!

– Ashley

We encourage you to call ahead or check the farms Facebook pages to double check picking times and availability.

Halfway Acres
200 Purgatory Road, Campbell Hall, NY 10916
Halfwayacres.com
https://www.facebook.com/halfwayacres/
June/July – Blueberries
The berry bushes are not sprayed or fertilized. Eat as many berries as you can right off the bush!
Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the day.
Read about our visit here last year: The Whole Experience

Be sure to say Hi Mike and Christine for us!

___________________________________________________________

1 Alstede Farms Lane Chester, NJ 07930
(908) 879-7189
alstedefarms.com
With so much to offer for PYO – here is there harvest schedule!
The farm is full of fun family activities perfect for a full day out! Pony rides, wagon rides, corn kingdom, bounce houses, food available for purchase, a farm store, hay pyramid, live music, goat walk, bunny run and more!
Open 9am-6pm everyday with Kids activities open – 12-4 mon-friday, 11am – 5pm on weekends/holidays
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Demarest Farms
244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
demarestfarms.com
scheduled to begin in early August 2017
Prepare yourself for a new experience in peach picking.
Demarest Farms features well-manicured trees, spectacular views, and tasty peach varieties – home to more than 12 varieties of pick-your-own peaches
$5 per person (Age 2 and over) – includes free parking, entrance to peach orchard, hay wagon ride, petting zoo, and picnic area with tables; plus $10 for a bag to hold the peaches that you pick!
(Peach Bag holds approximately 10 lbs.)
Sat-Sun 10:00AM-3:00PM
Stop by the farm store and garden center as well!

___________________________________________________________

Grieg Farm
Greigfarm.com
Pitcher Lane, Red Hook, New York 12571
June – Strawberries, and sweet peas
July – Blueberries and raspberries
August- blueberries and blackberries
They also have a daily farmers market from 9-5 that also serves breakfast and lunch!

___________________________________________________________

Fish kill Farms
fishkillfarms.com
https://www.facebook.com/fishkillfarms
(845) 897-4377
9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell JCT, NY
June – Strawberries
July/August – Blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.
They have veggies to pick as well!
Feel free to bring a picnic lunch and make a day of it!

___________________________________________________________

Ochs Orchard
ochsorchard.net
https://www.facebook.com/Ochs-Orchard-125404674145557/
(845) 986-1591
4 Ochs Lane Warwick, New York 10990
June – Cherries
July through August – Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches
Farm market open daily. Also a great spot for a picnic lunch!

___________________________________________________________

AppleRidge Orchards
appleridgeorchards.com
https://www.facebook.com/Apple-Ridge-Orchards
(845) 987-7717
101 Jessup Road, Warwick, NY 10990
July – Peaches
Offering hayrides, pet and feed animals, and corn maze.

___________________________________________________________

Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm
wilkensfarm.com
https://www.facebook.com/wilkensfarm/?ref=br_rs
(914) 245-5111
1335 White Hill Road Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
Mid August – Peaches
Try something from the yummy market full of fresh fruit/veggies and baked goods.

___________________________________________________________

Dressel Farms
dresselfarms.com
https://www.facebook.com/dresselfarms
271 State Route 208 New Paltz, NY 12561
Mid June – Strawberries
July – Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries
Open everyday from 8am-11:30am
Stop by the farm stand and grab some NY made ice cream while you are there!

___________________________________________________________

Lawrence Farm Orchards
lawrencefarmsorchards.com
https://www.facebook.com/Lawrencefarmsorchards/
845-562-426
306 Frozen Ridge Rd • Newburgh, NY 12550
June – Strawberries, peas, lettuce, greens
June/July – Strawberries, sweet cherries, sour cherries, peas and greens
July – Peaches, apricots, plums, currants, gooseberries
August – Peaches, plums, pears, raspberries, grapes, sweet corns, tomatoes, peppers, greens and beans.
As well as a farm stand, and pet and feed animals.

___________________________________________________________

Mead Orchards
Meadorchards.com
https://www.facebook.com/MeadOrchards/
845-756-5641
15 Scism Road, Tivoli NY
U-Pick Strawberries are done for this year
U-Pick Blueberries: June 25 – late August
(Weekends ONLY, 10am – 6pm)
U-Pick Cherries (Weekends only 10am – 6pm)
Sweet: Early July (start date unknown)
Tart: July 9 or 16 – 2 weeks
NO U-Pick Peaches this year due to weather

___________________________________________________________

Barton Orchards
BartonOrchards.com
https://www.facebook.com/bartonorchardspage/
845-227-2306
63 Apple Tree Ln Poughquag, Ny 12570
Pick your own Peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, Green beans, eggplant, cucumbers, squash
Stop by the Farm Market and fresh bakery!

TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO A LAND FAR, FAR AWAY… WITHOUT LEAVING WESTCHESTER!

Posted on March 30, 2017 by RocklandNYMom Posted in Day Trips, Out and about..., Things to Do! .

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO A LAND FAR, FAR AWAY… WITHOUT LEAVING WESTCHESTER!

Legoland® Discovery Center Westchester Opens New Attraction – Ninjago City Adventure

Get ready to put your ninja skills to the ultimate test in the all-new LEGO® Ninjago City Adventure opening on April 4 at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester. The $750,000, 2,300-square-foot interactive play area (larger than four average-sized NYC apartments!) is the center’s 5th interactive experience added since opening four years ago.

Modeled after the Temple of Airjitzu, the two-story play structure puts guests’ physical skills to the test as they fight to save Ninjago City. Together, adults and children will test their balance, agility, strength and endurance to become a Spinjitzu Master, all while experiencing more than 20 interactive features.

Guests can join Sensei Wu and practice ninja moves in the Dojo training room by tackling a horizontal climbing wall and testing hand-eye coordination on the color crush reflex reaction game. Moving on to the temple, ninjas-in-training engage in a number of obstacle course challenges inspired by their favorite Ninjago characters Kai, Jay, Cole, Lloyd, Zane and Nya. There are tons of interactive activities including navigating a vortex spinning barrel, mastering the art of Spinjitzu on the spiral slide of lights, harnessing the power of the water on wave decks, crawling through hover rings and lightning buzzer bars, taking on a crisscross maze and vertical rope climb, testing LEGO® building skills and more.

Some Ninjago City Stats:

· It’s taken approximately 7,000 hours to build Ninjago City Adventure

· More than 110,000 LEGO® bricks were used to create the three showcase models: Sensei Wu, Jay and Nya

· The three Ninjago models were built in Kladno, in the Czech Republic, by LEGO Production s.r.o. Built by LEGO® model builders

· There are over 20 interactives for kids, including a Ninjago model build table, climbing wall, reaction game, endless pit, spinning barrel, Pogo power and more

· There is a special Toddler Area that features a Spin Cup (spin like a Spinjitzu Master), Toddler Climber (develop your perceptions and quick Ninja reflexes) and Drum Panel (play with elemental sounds and power)

· Ninjago City Adventure was constructed by Soft Play from North Carolina, one of the largest manufacturers in the world

“We’re excited to provide our guests with an amazing, new interactive play area, LEGO® Ninjago City Adventure, which immerses guests into the world of the popular LEGO® Ninjago building sets,” said Chris Mines, General Manager, LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester. “This incredibly fun, tremendous play area is going to provide our guests with an entirely new world in which to create, explore and play for hours in a safe and structured environment.”

To celebrate the opening of Ninjago City Adventure, LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester will take $5 off a regular-priced admission ticket for any child who wears his or her martial arts uniform in the month of April.

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center is the ultimate indoor LEGO playground featuring more than 3 million LEGO® bricks, geared towards families with children aged 3-10. Its range of educational and interactive attractions include hands-on play areas, a 4D cinema, the Master Builder Academy, two LEGO® amusement rides, special party rooms and MINILAND — the venue’s signature re-creation of landmark locations and buildings throughout New York, made entirely out of more than 1 million LEGO® bricks. Advance tickets and annual passes to LEGOLAND® Discovery Center are available online.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is located at Ridge Hill, 39 Fitzgerald Street in Yonkers. They can be reached at 866-243-0770 or by visiting www.LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter.com/Westchester. For the latest news and updates, follow @LDCWestchester on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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