BOAT PARADE – 3 p.m. Get out for the annual ‘We Love Our Lake’ decorated boat parade. This years theme ‘Lets Celebrate – It’s The 4th Of July.’ All boats welcome from human powered to motor powered and all in between. Participants are reminded to practice social distancing. Parade assembles at 3 Mile Point and proceeds on West Side of the Lake to Lakefront Park, Cooperstown. 518-542-6630 or visit otsegolakeassociation.org for info.
MUSEUMS OPEN – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Farmers’ Museum & Fenimore Art Museum plan opening for holiday weekend featuring safety precautions, limited admission. Farmers’ Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, St. Rt. 80, Cooperstown. 607-547-1450 or visit www.farmersmuseum.org/reopen2020/
Fenimore Art Museum Assistant Curator James Matson Photoshopped a mask onto “Picking Flowers” (1840) by Samuel Miller.
COOPERSTOWN – These days, even art plays it safe in the face of COVID-19.
To enforce mask wearing when The Fenimore Art Museum opens on Friday, July 3, Assistant Curator James Matson Photoshopped masks over several pieces from the museum’s collection, including “Laura Hall” (1808) by James Brown, and “Picking Flowers” (1840) by Samuel Miller.
“We took the artwork and utilized it for our signage,” said Todd Kenyon, communications director.
Following the announcement of the opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday, June 28, The Farmers’ Museum, Fenimore Art Museum and Hyde Hall announced they would start their seasons: Hyde Hall on Wednesday, July 1; The Farmers’ and Fenimore on Friday, July 3.
“It’s been a long winter,” said Kenyon. “Everyone wants to come back, but they want to do it safely.”
Though the Fenimore postponed headlining exhibits “Keith Haring: Radiant Vision,” “Manzanar: The Wartime Photographs of Ansel Adams”, and “The World of Jan Brett” until 2020, the museum has lowered its prices to $10 for adults. “We’re hoping reduced pricing balances it out,” said Kenyon.
In the Clark Gallery, “Prismatic Beauty: American People and American Art” is on display, and
“Blue Gardens: Photographs by Gross and Daley” and
“Elegant Line/Powerful Shape: Elements of Native American Art” are also opening. Though tickets can be purchased at the door, the museum is limited to 150 visitors at a time, with strict limitations on how many can be in each gallery. “In the Clark and Thaw galleries, there can be 30 people at a time,” said Kenyon. “But smaller galleries, like the Cooper Room, have a maximum of six people.”
There is also one-way signage throughout the museum.
At The Farmers’ Museum, the entirety of the Historic Village has been closed, with only the main barn and the children’s barnyard open. “We will have interpreters in front of the Blacksmith’s shop, Pharmacy, Bump Tavern and Lippitt Homestead,” he said. “You just can’t go inside.”
With these limitations, Kenyon said, prices have been reduced to $5 for adults, $3 for kids 6-12, and under 6 free. “Even without these buildings open, we have a beautiful setting for people to come in,” he said.
Additionally, some virtual programming, including performances from the Glimmerglobe Theatre, will continue throughout the summer on the museums’ website and Facebook page.
At Hyde Hall, Executive Director Jonathan Maney used the closure to finish a series of renovations to the house, including restoring the maple stair hall in the West Wing, replacing the plaster in the third-floor billiards room, slipcovers for the high-back sofas and the ongoing restoration of the water closet, the first flush toilet west of the Hudson.
“Hyde Hall has more to offer than ever before,” said Maney. “Explore history with us and see fascinating things that you cannot find anywhere else. We are excited to share this beautiful New York treasure!”
Tickets are available by reservation only, with a maximum of six guests per tour, and masks must be worn throughout the tour.
“This is what we do,” said Kenyon. “But we want to do it safely.”
VIRTUAL THEATER – Enjoy past productions recorded live from the Glimmerglobe theater. Showing ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ performed 2019. The Fenimore Art Museum. www.facebook.com/fenimoreartmuseum/
Macbeth (Mike Henrici) and his lady (Danielle Henrici) perform at the Fenimore’s Lucy B. Hamilton Amphitheater in summers past. (AllOTSEGO.com photo)
COOPERSTOWN – Fenimore Art Museum’s Glimmer Globe Theatre and The Farmers’ Museum’s Templeton Players in Cooperstown are planning e a full schedule of virtual performing arts in place of the regular 2020 summer season.
Due to the restrictions on public gatherings necessary to protect public health, this season’s productions of “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare and “A Moon for the Misbegotten” by Eugene O’Neill have been rescheduled to 2021.
The planned exhibit of Keith Haring works at the Fenimore Art Museum has been postponed until 2021.
COOPERSTOWN – Exhibits of Keith Haring and Ansel Adams artworks have been postponed until 2021, according to a release from the Fenimore Art Museum.
“Keith Haring: Radiant Vision,” “Manzanar: The Wartime Photographs of Ansel Adams” and “The World of Jan Brett” were all postponed, as were the Glimmerglobe Theatre’s productions of “The Tempest: and “A Moon for the Misbegotten.”
“These exhibitions represented the core of our 2020 season,” said the Fenimore. “They are now expected to draw large numbers to the area next spring and summer.”
DIGITAL EARTH FEST – 7 – 8 p.m. Celebrate our Earth from home, in dinner hour program to learn how to reduce food waste and your grocery bill through composting, planning, using odd parts of food & leftovers. Visit occainfo.org/calendar/
5K RUN/WALK – 1 p.m. Support local non-profit SADD ‘Strides For Safety’ providing educational programs for students. Participate in virtual 5k run/walk. Sign up, then run or walk the 5k anytime between April 17-20 along route of your choice (just abide by social distancing and stay safe). Post of picture of you completing your run with hashtags #saddstridesfor safety and #clarksportscenterevents. Runners are encouraged to wear past SADD run t-shirts or to show off school colors. Entrance fee, $10/person. Invite friends and family from everywhere for this virtual event. Register at saddstridesforsafety.itsyourrace.com//event.aspx?id=8944
COOPERSTOWN – Virtual tours, crafting videos and updates on the baby farm animals are all part of the Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers’ Museum’s “Digital April” series on Facebook, Instagram, and the museums’ websites.
At Fenimore, discover virtual walk-throughs and objects from new exhibitions including “Blue Gardens: Photographs by Gross and Daley,” “Prismatic Beauty: American People and American Art” and “Elegant Line/Powerful Shape: Elements of Native American Art.” Short videos will objects from the museum’s collections of folk art, fine art, and Native American art, and kids can even create crafts at home with instruction from members of the museum’s education staff.
COOPERSTOWN – The Fenimore Art Museum and The Farmers’ Museum will not open April 1, according to Todd Kenyon, director of marketing for the museums.
At the Fenimore, the exhibits “The World of Jan Brett,” “Blue Gardens: Photographs by Gross and Daley,” “Prismatic Beauty: American People and American Art,” “Elegant Line/Powerful Shape: Elements of Native American Art,” and “Hamilton’s Final Act: Enemies and Allies” were scheduled to open the 2020 season, but both museums will remain closed, with all scheduled activities cancelled, until further notice.
ST. PATRICKS DINNER – 4 – 7 p.m. Enjoy Corned Beef & Cabbage dinner, performance by Irish Step Dancers hosted by The Knights of Columbus. Take-out encouraged. Free, Donations accepted. St. Mary’s Parish Center, 31 Elm St., Cooperstown. 607-437-4626 or e-mail andreaskruger68@gmail.com
BENEFIT LUNCH – Noon – 2 p.m. Support Cooperstown Food Pantry at Empty Bowls Luncheon. Pick a unique bowl by a local potter to enjoy lunch of soup by local chef. Suggested donation $15. Parish Hall, Christ Church, 69 Fair St., Cooperstown. 607-547-2627 or visit cooperstownfoodpantry.org
HELICOPTER – 5:30 p.m. Army Reserve & NY Army National Guard collaborate with Cooperstown Graduate Program for military exercise featuring UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters landing at Bassett. Public is welcome to observe, tour once the aircraft are shut down. Please follow direction of military personnel to ensure a safe distance from the aircraft while it is in operation. Landing will be near Bassett Helipad, across from Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown.
HEART WALK – 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Support American Heart Association at 4th annual indoor Heat Walk & Health Fair featuring vendors, fitness classes, fun for the whole family. Cost, $30/person. FoxCare Center, 1 FoxCare Dr., Oneonta. 607-431-5009 or visit www.facebook.com/FoxCareCenter/
FILM SERIES – 6:30 p.m. Cabin Fever film series concludes with showing of ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ (2018) directed by Morgan Neville. Film begins at 7. Free, donations accepted. Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown. 607-547-1400 or visit www.fenimoreartmuseum.org
