Millbrook Book Festival has Quad theme

Don't forget the Millbrook Book Festival, which takes place tonight and Saturday with panel discussions, book signings and even a parade. This year's theme? The 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's journey up the river that now bears his name. Speakers include author Frances Dunwell, who will discuss her book The Hudson: America's River at 7 p.m. tonight.

The free event will take place at several locations in the village today and Saturday. More information is in this Poughkeepsie Journal article.

Find MORE Quad events!

Where can you find more Quad activities in our region? Go to the HudsonHappenings Web site and enter "quadricentennial" in the search box on top, click "calendar" and then click "go" -- voila! Lots of choices of things to do (and also a place for you to enter your own Quad event into the database.)

Journey of Peace

Tomorrow (Saturday), a Plattsburgh State University professor will begin a 46-day walk from Montreal to Manhattan in honor of the Quad. Kevin Dann is calling it his Journey of Peace and wants to inspire people to tell stories about the peacemakers in the towns he visits along the way. The story, from WPTZ, is here.

Shad Fest becomes Springtide Festival

The Hudson River Maritime Museum's "Springtide Festival" takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday along the Rondout waterfront in Kingston. The event used to be called the Shad Festival, but was changed in 2008 when conservation groups noticed a decline in the numbers of shad and asked organizations not to serve shad or shad roe at their events. The Museum's spring festival instead focuses on the shad’s birth and spawning venue – the Hudson River.

This year, in honor of the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration and the 400th anniversary of Hudson’s 1609 voyage, HRMM has put together a display of 400 years of living and boating on the Hudson River. Boats that will be present at the museum’s waterfront dock and in the yard will include a Native American canoe, small steamboat, kayak, wooden sailboat, “perriauger”, the “Lark” (boat used to ferry visitors to the Rondout II Lighthouse), HRMM’s 1898 steam tug “Mathilda”, 24-foot sea skiff – even a ’57 Chevy boat.

There will also be numerous displays and exhibits, live entertainment, and Taste of the Rondout where local restaurateurs will serve "alfresco" samples of their regional cuisine in the museum's park-like waterfront yard. Hot dogs, veggie dogs and soft drinks will also be available for purchase.

More details and directions are at the Hudson River Maritime Museum Web site.

Flotilla's Westchester agenda

Before the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial flotilla arrives in the Mid-Hudson area next month, it will make a few stops south of here. Westchester County has planned a series of events for its River Day. Here are the details from the Westchester County Office of Tourism:

River Day Weekend, June 6th and 7th, is a celebration of Henry Hudson’s historic 1609 voyage and a weekend of fun, fairs, festivals and fireworks! On Saturday morning, June 6th, the flotilla makes its way up the Hudson from New York Harbor as part of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial. Cities and villages along Westchester’s Hudson River are celebrating with a series of events for the entire family.

Flagships such as Henry Hudson’s Half Moon replica, the Clearwater sloop, the Woodie Guthrie and Onrust will lead the flotilla, making stops along the way. The flotilla will be welcomed with cannon fire and church bells as it travels the Hudson. The Clearwater and Mystic Whaler will dock overnight at the Tarrytown Boat Club and the Woodie Guthrie, Shearwater and Riverkeeper’s teaching boat will dock at the Hudson Harbor bulkhead. Both the Clearwater and Riverkeeper vessel will be welcoming visitors aboard. The other ships will dock in Rockland County. The flotilla heads north on the Hudson promptly at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 7th.

“River Day Weekend will be a very exciting time in Westchester,” said Kim Sinistore, Director, Westchester County Office of Tourism, “Visitors and residents of all ages have the opportunity to be part of history. They can view the flotilla, attend arts festivals and street fairs, learn about the river and its environs, play games, write poetry, hear live music and enjoy fireworks. This is the perfect weekend for a getaway to Westchester - A Great Place to Play!”

Saturday events include the Sleepy Hollow Arts Festival and Field Day; the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse will be open for tours; activities and entertainment along the waterfront in Yonkers and Irvington; live music at the Tarrytown waterfront in the evening and fireworks at 9pm. On Sunday in Tarrytown, Lyndhurst is the location for Westchester’s legacy Quadricentennial event “Hudson River Fest”; the Annual Main Street Fair and the Historical Society’s Strawberry Festival; “A Taste of Ossining” in Ossining’s Engle Park; festivities and entertainment in Peekskill’s Riverfront Park; and the 2nd Annual Rivertowns Jazz and Blues Festival continues from Yonkers to Tarrytown, June 5th thru the 14th.

For additional River Day Weekend and Quadricentennial information, please visit www.westchestertourism.com and click on Quadricentennial

Bridge music

Beacon composer Joseph Bertolozzi is on the Mid-Hudson Bridge this morning to install listening kiosks that will feature music he makes using the span that links the east and west shores of the Hudson River as an "instrument". It's part of the local Quadricentennial celebrations. You can read about it in this Poughkeepsie Journal news story.

Paddle or bike the valley for the Quad

Two Quad-linked offerings this summer for outdoor recreation enthusiasts:

For bicyclists

Join cyclists from all over the country for the 5th annual 6-day, 200-mile, Great Hudson Valley Pedal Aug. 11-16, 2009 through the picturesque and historic Hudson Valley. Registration is now open. More details at www.ptny.org/hudsontour

For paddlers

The Great Champlain-Hudson Paddle is a 15 day, 195 mile kayaking and camping trip from Fort Edward to Manhattan along the Champlain Canal and the Hudson River from Aug. 3-17, 2009. A group of Thru-Paddlers will be camping out in state and local parks along the way and visiting heritage and cultural sites in the communities in which they will be staying. The event is designed for paddlers of varied skill levels and those new to paddling. For experienced, committed paddlers it's a chance to paddle 195 miles from Fort Edward to New York City. For new paddlers or less experienced paddlers it is a chance to get out on the water under the tutelage of knowledgeable local outfitters for a shorter period of time.
There are several ways for paddlers to join us; you may apply for a slot as a Thru-Paddler or Getaway Paddler, sign up with a local outfitter for a Day Paddle, or join us at a Festival and experience kayaking for the first time. Visit www.hudsongreenway.state.ny.us/ghrp for more info.