Westchester Insider: Westchester County Legislator Kitley Covill 2nd District: July is Anti-Boredom Month!

 

Dear Neighbors and Friends,

In addition to being National Cell Phone Courtesy Month and National Watermelon Month, July has the additional distinction of being National Anti-Boredom Month. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways in (or near) District 2 to celebrate Anti-Boredom.  In no particular order, here are some of the many options to choose from:

1. Visit the Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden at 28 Deveau Rd. in North Salem. Check out the newest exhibit - "Voices I Remember" - which celebrates the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the 19th amendment (providing for women's suffrage). The exhibit is open during museum hours:  Wednesday - Saturday, 12-4 PM  https://www.hammondmuseum.org/voices-i-remember
    
2. "Restaurant Week" - organized by the Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce - will take place in Mount Kisco from Friday, July 23 through Sunday, Aug. 1. Participating businesses (including Mt. Kisco Seafood, Basilico, Frannie's Goodie Shop, and Village Social, for example) will offer specials for customers. Check out your favorite restaurants' websites for more details about special offers this week. 
    
3. On Saturday, July 24 come to the Katonah Art Walk and support the arts and local businesses. For the 2021 season, the Art Walk will be the 4th Saturday of every month from 4-8 PM, with its kickoff at The Katonah Museum of Art at 4 (free admission!) And don't forget to check out the deals during Katonah Sidewalk Sales Days (July 23rd and 24th). Come for shopping, live music, food and entertainment, and art - - the newest installation of "Art in Store" features gorgeous paintings by local artists on display for all at 192 Katonah Avenue. For more details and a handy map of the Art Walk, visit: https://www.katonahchamber.org/Katonah-Art-Stroll
    
4. Hit the trails in the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and then stay for the art. First visit the outdoor sculptures on display in our own little "Storm King." And now Ephemera, a photography and sculpture exhibit, will have its Opening Reception Friday, July 16, 6-8PM. Refreshments will be served courtesy of “Art in the Park.” The exhibit will be in the Main Gallery in the Benedict Farmhouse (Park Office) featuring photography and sculptures on sale by local artists  and will remain on display through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6.
    
5. Don't feel like cooking dinner in the July heat? Check out the Food Trucks: Fridays from 5-9PM in Pound Ridge: https://poundridgepartnership.org/food-truck-fridays/ and from 5-8PM in Bedford Hills Memorial Park. 
    
6. If you prefer a food bus to a food truck, there's always the Bus@Salinger's Orchard. Order ahead online, and enjoy your sandwich at a picnic table overlooking the orchard. This is a good way to make visiting friends from the city swoon with jealousy.  Open Thursday 2-8PM, Friday 12-6:30PM, Saturday and Sunday 10AM-5PM.  https://www.toasttab.com/thebusatsalingers/v3/?mode=fulfillment
    
7. Cycle Northern Westchester and Ridgefield, CT: On Sunday, July 18 at 8:25AM, The Appalachian Club hosts a Moderate-Advanced ride consisting of a 30-mile loop crossing through Goldens Bridge, Salem, Ridgefield, and Waccabuc. Traveling on mainly quiet and beautiful roads, you'll pass a number of lakes and ponds in the area, averaging 8-10mph but with 2,400ft of elevation gain and some quite steep hills it will feel much harder than 30 miles. Note: It's important you are comfortable riding up and down hills on gravel and dirt on the bike/tires you have as there are no bailout options. This ride is accessible by public transport or private car. Meet in Goldens Bridge and be ready to ride at 8:30am.  Details will be sent out to registrants before the ride. https://www.meetup.com/AMCYoungMembers/events/279131083/
    
8. Love to knit or want to learn? Indoors (and air conditioning) more your thing? Come to the Mt. Kisco Library on Thursday, July 29th at 4:30PM for Knit Night with Instructors from Pick Up Every Stitch. Or hit the Ruth Keeler Memorial Library in North Salem on Mondays at 11:00 for Social Knitting, an hour of chatting and knitting.
    
9. Summer days, drifting away? Then get on over to the John Jay Homestead on Saturday, July 24th to see Grease outdoors on the big screen. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and be sure to register in advance at http://johnjayhomestead.org/events-calendar/grease-saturday/
    
10. And no summer weekend would be complete without a trip to a Farmer's Market. Visit the Muscoot Farm Farmer's Market on Sundays from 9:30-2:30 https://www.muscootfarm.org/farmers-markiet/farmers-market-information.html

Of course, this is just a small sampling of all the ways to combat potential boredom in District 2 during the month of July. For more ideas, check out the websites for your town's Parks and Recreation Departments, libraries and Chambers of Commerce. Visit https://artswestchester.org/ to view the calendar of county-wide arts events and exhibits. Or just pour yourself a big glass of iced tea, plonk yourself on a lawn chair, and spend a lazy afternoon watching the grass grow. It's July, and one's person's "boredom" is another person's nirvana.

Happy Anti-Boredom to All!

Very truly yours,
Kitley S. Covill