I love fireworks!  a list … for you

July 4th Celebrations in and around NYC

New York

Brookhaven Star Spangled Blast in Farmingville, click here

Stars Over Montauk, go to Umbrella Beach, 9 - 10 pm

Fireworks in Astoria Park, but on June 30th, click here

4th Celebration at Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck , click here

White Plains High School fireworks, July 1, 6 - 9:30 pm

Nanuet Music Festival and Fireworks, July 1, 8 pm - Nyack/Piermont Area

Independence Day Celebration at West Point, July 3, 7 pm, Garrison

Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz, click here

Fire Island, Great South Bay off Davis Park - any shorline from Smith Point to Bay Shore

so many more in hudson valley… click here

Manhattan

Macy’s Fireworks Spectacular “American Harmony” - Hudson River, between 24th and 50th Street. Will begin at 9 pm and is set to last about a half hour. (consider going to the Jersey side to view the display - Hoboken and Weehawken definitely, Jersey City and North Bergen too or from Long Island City at Gantry Plaza State Park or Water Taxi Beach or Maspeth in Western Queens) To plan ahead, check out this info

New Jersey

Good list of New Jersey towns and their firework plans here

The Shore:

Atlantic City Borgata Hotel

Ocean City, around 9th Street

Wildwood at 10 pm, Pine Avenue on the Boardwalk

Asbury Park Boardwalk at dusk

Boston

Spectacular, to say the least! Click here

Pennsylvania

Central PA 4th Fest Star Spangled Spectacular, click here

Philadelphia Wawa Welcome America, click here

Massachusettes

Star Spangled Springfield, click here

Amherst Stars in the Sky, click here

Connecticut

New London Sailfest, fireworks July 10th, click here (close enough to the 4th!)

Brimfield Antique Show in Brimfiled, Mass

mark your calendars!

All right, this looks amazing as well.  You’re bound to find something to make you smile. An antique show thats been around since the 1950s and boasts everything from serious antiques to distressed window frames to wall art to chairs to instruments and globes. For some reason, I am fixated on chairs this Spring and just know I would find the perfect ones here.

Three dates:  May 11 - 16; July 13 - 18; September 7 - 12

3 hours from NYC, 1 hour from Boston 

map - the bigger picture

directions - how to get there?

apartment therapy article on how to make it a successful trip

Handmade for the Holiday in West Barnstable, MA

Yoo-hoo, knitters!  Check this out to get involved or get inspired by smart local efforts to help people in need:

This holiday season, Yummy Goods invites you to create hand-knit items for donation to local women and children in need. Handmade for the Holidays, in partnership with Harwichport-based nonprofit We Can, will collect hand-knit gloves, hats, scarves, mittens, blankets, quilts, and stuffed animals for delivery to Cape Cod residents who are going through difficult economic and emotional times. Handmade for the Holidays is also accepting donations of yarn, needles, and other knitting and crafting supplies to be used by local volunteer crafters.

The staff of WE CAN will ensure that the items go directly to needy women and families in time for the holiday season. All participants — and the general public — are invited to celebrate the conclusion of the project at a public open house at Yummy Goods on Friday, December 4, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Handmade for the Holidays especially requests the following items in adult AND child sizes:

• Scarves
• Hats
• Gloves
• Mittens
• Socks
• Blankets
• Quilts
• Softies (handmade stuffed animals)

This event is hosted by Yummy Goods owner, Melissa Averinos and local writer and business consultant, Beth Dunn.

Do you know of other local efforts such as this?

TOWN PROFILE: Village of Shelburne Falls in Massachusettes

Shelbourne Falls in Franklin County is about a 3 1/2 hour drive up I-91 from NYC. Depending on your start location, it is a great weekend getaway. There are cool glacial potholes, walkable bridge of flowers, viewable glassblowing studios and many other artisan shops, a quaint main street with restaurants and stores and access to all sorts of seasonal sports. And, its location in the Berkshire foothills and along the Mohawk Trail make for a beautiful and historic location.

Check out Ollies Downunder Bar and Grille, Kenburne Orchards B&B (second hand recommendation), and Deerfield Valley Canopy Tours, or Zoar Outdoors, or Berkshire East for zip lining and other outdoor activities. There is no shortage of ways to play outside whether its in the rivers in the summer, in the trees in the fall or on the slopes in the winter. Visit the High Ledges for an easy hike, with wonderful views or take a scenic drive on route 2 West.

Plan to visit over Columbus Day weekend and enjoy the hokey but fun Fall Festival in Ashfield, MA - 15 minutes form Shelburne.

Having just won a $9,000 grant from the Massachusetts Electric Company, the business district of Shelburne Falls will be working with Envinronmental Compliance services to reduce their carbon footprint and develop a sustainable business plan. Bravo.

Many thanks to Emily Crehan for her Shelburne Falls recommendation.

to plan your trip check out this website