The Summer Scene at Hudson Park

by | Jun 14, 2012

Hudson Park is rapidly becoming a vital summer destination, with a lively art-inspired scene drawing guests from all over the region.

The beach, of course, draws crowds all summer long; the park and playground offer shaded recreation; and the new “Tiki Bar” (introduced last summer) keeps the crowds coming long after the sun has gone down.

But it’s the growing arts scene along the waterfront that makes Hudson Park so exciting. The Emil Paolucci Summer Sounds Concert Series brings an eclectic menu of musical styles to the refurbished band shell every Wednesday night at 7:30 pm beginning July 11. The “Fabulous Sixties Rock Show” will kick off the summer concert season with a tribute to the “swingin’ Sixties”; other featured groups include the Latin sounds of 3D Ritmo De Vida, jazz from the Andrew Swift Five, music from the Big Band era by Virgil Scott, and a special concert by New Rochelle Opera. For a complete schedule visit the New Rochelle Council on the Arts website at newrochellearts.org or download this flyer.

Nearby — just before entering Hudson Park — Wildcliff Manor will be the site of a sculpture garden open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm. Eric Woodlin’s Incoming Tide Entertainment will also present a full season of arts, music, family events, and workshops at the Wildcliff site, starting with a Fine Arts and Crafts Festival on June 16 (rain date June 17) from 10 am to 4 pm. Artists and craftsmen will be exhibiting and selling their work — jewelry, ceramics, metal work, wood, and eclectic gift items — throughout the day, accompanied by live music, including a performance by the Westchester Harp Ensemble. There will also be yoga demonstrations, pop-up pastel workshops, and, at 2:30, a chance to meet the sculptors whose work is on exhibit. Two more Arts and Crafts Fairs will be held July 14 and August 11.

For a full listing of summer events at Wildcliff go to incomingtideentertainment.com. For information as to how to participate as a vendor contact crafts@incomingtideentertainment.com or call 914-740-5437.

Beach Bar Lights Up Hudson Park

by | Aug 15, 2011

A cool drink in hand, thatched roof overhead, breeze blowing off the waves, live music to lift the mood, and the serene expanse of the water lapping almost to (and sometimes over) your toes. You don’t need to visit the Caribbean to enjoy this experience, just come to New Rochelle’s Hudson Park.

Since it opened about a month ago, the Beach Bar at Hudson Park has been a smashing success. Last week we held a belated ribbon-cutting ceremony, which you can read about on Patch. Frankly, we didn’t need to bother, because even without our shining a spotlight on it, the Beach Bar has attracted hundreds of residents, who have discovered (or rediscovered) the pleasures of our shoreline.

And don’t forget that Hudson Park continues to be a terrific beach destination for both adults and children. I’ve taken the kids several times this summer, and they’ve had a wonderful time. Day passes are available, but an Omnicard from Parks & Recreation is a better deal.

New Rochelle’s waterfront has been an underutilized resource for decades. Upgrading the Beach Bar is a good example of how improvements can be made even during this difficult economic climate. The operators of the Beach Bar invested nearly a quarter of a million dollars in the facility, and it shows.

Summer’s not over yet, and there should still be a few good beach days left before Labor Day, so if you haven’t already, make sure you visit.

Summer Sounds Concert Series Begins at Hudson Park

by | Jun 29, 2011

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts will present eight summer concerts at the Hudson Park Bandshell, starting Wednesday July 6. Whether you love jazz, rock, bluegrass, or opera, the Emil Paolucci Summer Sounds Concert Series is for you (and your family), with a free concert every Wednesday night in July and August.

The Pony Tails — a trio of singers recreating the ebullient “girl group” sound of the 1960s — kick off the concert series next Wednesday at 7:30 pm.

For more information and full schedule of events, see this poster from NRCA.