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 4th 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.
