I'm so sorry not to have posted the free Taekwon-do demo earlier! It was tonight. They have a great website: www.OneontaTKD.com.

There are a lot of events this weekend:

Ommegang Brewery: Belgium Comes to Cooperstown 2009, starting at noon on Fri, continuing all day Sat. Details: www.Ommegang.com

Voice! An annual juried art exhibition celebrating the creative voices of artists with developmental disabilities from across New York State opens Fri at UCCCA, 11 Ford Av Oneonta. Details: www.arcotsego.org

7-9pm Fri July 31 Voice 5th Anniversary Celebration Dance, Flame performs over 100 classic hits and they are changing the way the public views people with disabilities. Asa Allison Municipal Bldg. 4 Academy St. Oneonta, www.arcotsego.org

Fri 10:30-am-noon Explore: Your Backyard children's activity at the Rogers Environmental Education Center, state rt 80, Sherburne, call 674-4017.

2pm Fri: Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors at the Schoharie Free Library (lawn).

Oneonta Tigers vs Tri-City Fri 7:05pm Fri.

Friday's Glimmerglass State Park outdoor movie is 'Enchanted.' 8:30pm. Info: 547-8662.

Sat Aug 1: City of the Hills festival, Main St Oneonta: the work of 50 artists and fine crafters, live musical performances, artist demonstrations and art workshops for children and families. For info: 432-2070 www.uccca.com/index.htm Look for an OWL booth!

Also Sat, 2-4pm, Soccer Hall of Fame: Shannon MacMillan Soccer Clinic, $10, open to kids of all ages.

11am Sat: Dragonflies program at the Rogers Environmental Ed Center, info 674-4017.

And not to be missed on Sat is the 52nd Annual Youth Fishing Derby. Free fishing competition for children ages 5-15. Pre-registration is recommended and will take place at the Recreation Office during normal business hours throughout the month of July. Children will need their own fishing equipment and a clean bucket to bring fish in for weighing. Fishing demonstrations and clinics, as well as event day registration will be held from 3pm until 4pm. The competition will take place from 4pm-5pm with an award ceremony to follow. See you at Hodges Pond in Neahwa Park, Oneonta!

5pm Sat Semi-Pro Football: NY Stallions vs. N.J. Spartans, free admission, Fortin Park.

1-3pm Sat brings 'Dragonflies and Damselflies,' a program at the Landis Arboretum. Info: 518-875-6935.

Sun Aug 2nd is the Soccer Hall of Fame Induction, details: www.soccerhall.org

Sun 6pm, Tigers vs Tri-City. Look for 'Oneonta Tigers' on Facebook.

Looking ahead:

Mon Aug 3rd, 9:30-11:30am: On the Farm Workshop, Glen Brook Farm, info 432-0932.

Tues Aug 2nd, 7pm, Live Music at the Oneonta Teen Center, info 433-2009

Wed Aug 5th, 1-3pm Horseless Carriages Visit, Main St Oneonta. Pre-1915 autos on display. Info 432-0960.

Also next Wed, Felted animals workshop with Adrienne Martini at Glen Brook Farm, Info 432-0932.

Next Thurs Aug 6th: Just Throw Money free, live and in concert at Neahwa park!

Or choose the free Flute Fest at the Otesaga In Cooperstown at 7:30pm next Thurs (part of the Cooperstown Chamber Music Festival. www.cooperstownmusicfest.org

Art in August

The Fenimore Art Museum is bringing back the Art in August kids programs. Here is the best link I've found to more info: on Facebook of course.

Just in case you didn't know

(Well there were some board members who also didn't know): Oneonta World of Learning (OWL) can be found on Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter (yes Twitter) in addition to this blog. We also have our own website, which is 'in progress.' I blush to even bring up the website, but just trust that it will be very cool and very useful eventually: OneontaWorldOf Learning.org.

The weekend at long last

I'm exhausted as I write this, so please don't check my spelling and grammar too closely!

Thurs-Sat: St. Mary's Parish Festival at the Parish Center, Walnut Street, Oneonta--live music, refreshments and activities. 4-10pm Thurs and Fri, 10am-10pm Sat.

Also this weekend: Norwich Family Bluegrass Festival, details on WSKG events calendar http://bit.ly/q2BOr

Thurs 23 July 2009, Stop by the Morris Farmers' Market at the Village Park in Morris featuring fresh produce, baked goods, goat cheese and more, info: 263-2618. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Also Thurs: Country Blend performs at Neahwa Park, 7pm (will move to the large picnic shelter in the event of rain).

Thurs 6pm: Ice cream festival and birds of prey program at Otego's Harris Memorial Library, info: 988-6661.

Fri 10:30am-12pm July 24th: Explore: Your Background at the Rogers Environmental Education Center, Sherburne, state Route 80; for children ages 4 to 10. For info, RSVP: 674-4017.

Fri 9:30-11:30 On the Farm workshop, Glen Brook Farm, 142 Glen Drive, Oneonta. For info: 432-0932.

Fri 8:30pm Friday Fun Night outdoor movie: 'Bedtime Stories,' Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown. For info: 547-8662.

Fri 5-9:30pm Fair-on-the-Square, Courthouse Square, Main Street, Delhi; featuring live music, children's games and more. Free, open to the public. (While you are there, may I recommend a stop at the Tuna III for some awesome sushi? But never mind).

Sat July 25 8:30am-12:30pm Kopac Trail Hike, Rogers Environmental Education Center, state Route 80, Sherburne. For info: 674-4017.

Sat 9am-2pm is Grill Day at the Oneonta Farmer's Market, Main St Oneonta.

Sun 26 July 3-4:30pm 'Explore the Catskill Wild Side' plant identification and edible plant walk, Harmony Hill Retreat Center, East Meredith. Free; RSVP requested: 278-6609 or info@harmonyhillretreat.com

Looking ahead:

Mon 27 July 10am-2:30pm Egg tempera workshop with Jane Carr, Glen Brook Farm, 142 Glen Drive, Oneonta. For info: 432-0932.

Tues 28 July 10am-2:30pm 'The Fantastic Rod Puppet' workshop, Glen Brook Farm, 142 Glen Drive, Oneonta. For info: 432-0932.

Tues 10am-2pm Sidney Farmers' Market, Sidney Civic Center, 21 Liberty St, Sidney. For info: 865-6531.

The local libraries are doing a lot of events this summer: EventKeeper

A little rain can't get in the way

I went to a play date at Gilbert Lake State Park today. YES it was overcast and yes, it started to rain an hour and a half later BUT the kids had a truly wonderful time. My four year old asked to go to Gilbert Lake again tomorrow, in fact. When it did rain, it was so light that we just headed over to the playground.

Said @HanfordMills (on twitter): "...I used to postpone outings because it looked like rain, then realized I would never go anywhere if I did that."

Interestingly, one of the moms I was visiting with grew up in Alaska. As she put it, if you let the weather keep you home in Alaska, you really, truly, will never do anything.

My new motto: a 50% chance of rain is a 50% chance of sun (or at the least, no rain).