Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University to Open Gardens to Yoga
For the first time in its celebrated 240-year history, Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University will open its famed formal gardens to yoga enthusiasts for Yoga in the Gardens. Led by acclaimed instructor Jessica Anderson, who completed her certification at EvenFlow Yoga in Red Bank with Christian Valeriani, Yoga in the Gardens will be offered once a month, beginning this Sunday, August 10 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (additional dates: September 14 & October 12; in the event of inclement weather, yoga will be held indoors). Admission is $5 per person, and reservations are suggested; please call 908-527-0400 or email libertyhall@kean.edu. Participants are encouraged to bring a yoga mat, towel and bottle of water.
"Liberty Hall Museum's gardens provide a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere where all are welcome," stated Lacey Bongard, Coordinator of Museum Programs. "Yoga-lovers will have the opportunity to take in the breathtaking grounds and relax while exploring the benefits of doing yoga outside a studio with certified yoga instructor Jessica Anderson. Jessica came into yoga for the purposes of strengthening and relaxing her body, but was stunned to find that yoga not only helped build muscle tone and strength, but also transformed her heart, mind, spirit, relationships, and entire life, all for the better."
For those looking for a slightly more luxurious outing at the museum, limited reservations are available for Dining on the Titanic (Saturday, August 16; Noon - 3 p.m.). Inspired by the Kean family's own multiple voyages on the Olympic, the Titanic's sister ship, this elegant luncheon invites visitors to step back in time to the most celebrated of the ship's specialty restaurants, the Café Parisien. Guests will sample a menu inspired by the Titanic's sumptuous bill of fare, served on replica china from the ship, while taking in the serene vistas of Liberty Hall's formal gardens from the museum's glass-enclosed porch. Admission is $55.00 per person, and includes a guided tour of the ongoing exhibit, Bon Voyage! 200 Years of Luxury Travel. Reservations are required, as space is extremely limited; please call 908-527-0400 or email libertyhall@kean.edu.
Children will delight in A Child's View of History, Liberty Hall's popular educational tour for ages 7 - 12, running Tuesdays and Thursdays through August 28 (11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.). In this engaging and informative program, young people step back in time to see the museum through the eyes of its youngest former occupants: the children who resided at Liberty Hall over the past two centuries. Each room will feature a variety of artifacts young people are welcome to touch, and tours will also include outdoor games, activities and light refreshments. Admission is $8 per child, and $10 per adult; please call 908-527-0400 or email libertyhall@kean.edu to reserve.
The young - and young at heart - will also enjoy Liberty Hall's second Summer Family Fun Day, scheduled for Saturday, August 23 (Noon to 3 p.m.). Designed to give modern-day families an opportunity to experience activities and games they might have enjoyed together over a century ago, this unabashedly old-fashioned afternoon features Colonial- and Victorian-era lawn games, a croquet tournament, relay races, crafts and much more. Light refreshments will be served; admission is $12 per child, and $10 per adult. Reservations can be made by calling 908-527-0400 or emailing libertyhall@kean.edu.
Children can learn about farming through hands-on activities they can take home with them at this month's Junior Farmer's Club (Thursday, August 28; meets the fourth Thursday of every month). In this month's session, children will discover how to properly pick what you grow, how produce is delivered, and what bugs are good and bad for plants with Market Manager Susan Beddia. Two sessions will be offered: 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. for ages 2-5, and 3:30-4:30 p.m. for ages 6 & up. Admission is $3 per child, and reservations are required; please email farmersmarket@kean.edu for more information.
"Liberty Hall during the summertime is the perfect time to visit," said Bill Schroh, Liberty Hall's Director of Museum Operations. "There are so many events taking place this month, or you can spend the day outdoors. Tour our formal gardens, or bring the family and enjoy a nice picnic on our grounds for just $5 per person. And don't forget that our Farmer's Market takes place every Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. right in our own parking lot."
