Summertime in Rye

It seemed like just yesterday that the end of school year parties signaled the unofficial beginning of summer along the sound shore.   And before we knew it, the season was in full swing.  

While some kids headed off to sleep-away camps,  others found their summer fun at area day camps and a wide variety of specialty camps ranging from performing arts at the Rye Arts Center to Archeology at the Jay Heritage Center to specialty sports camps and of course the beloved Rye Recreational Center.  

Summers in Rye offer special opportunities no matter what your interests.  There’s definitely something for everyone when the Rye Town park comes alive for summer with its offerings of evening performances ranging from Shakespeare in the park to rhythm and blues show bands to family movie night (this year’s movie was the super-classic E.T.)   For those wanting a more active part, the adult beach volleyball league was a big hit with dozens of games taking place simultaneously each Tuesday evening.  For the more romantic at heart, the outdoor Tango lessons lured many on Thursday evenings.

  

Of course, starting with the 4^th of July, fireworks are on tap at Rye Playland each Wednesday and Friday  The Independence Day show takes on a local, sound shore flair with several clubs sponsoring their own fireworks displays.    Many gather on boats and raft-off in Rye Harbor or out along the sound to watch the spectacle of lights taking place up and down both sides of the long island sound.  For some, the celebration starts in Rye Harbor earlier in the day with a flotilla of families anchored to watch a rock band perform on a floating dock in the middle of the harbor!   Now that’s some fun you can’t have inland.

Enjoy a summertime evening in “town”, and the living is easy, with friends dining outdoors at Aurora or Ruby’s, couples strolling  along the storefronts and families indulging in late evening outings for ice cream at Longfords.   In nearby Portchester, the nights can be livelier with options like the waterfront deck at Bar Taco, or the vibrant Lolita’s and Mario Batali’s Tarry Lodge to name a few spots.

Once August arrives, the summer starts to take on a meandering feel, dotted with some visits to see relatives and friends, and barbeques with friends.  Once the calm of late summer is broken by the advent of back to school advertising and the start of summer practices for fall sports we know it’s time to be catapulted once again into the rituals of fall.