That was the week that was. Some of us are feeling jazzed, a lot of us are feeling the blues. Music has always been a great way to bring people together, and this weekend offers jazz and blues, classics and classical. Need to know more? You can hear the Stories Behind the Songs at the Carnegie Concerts Series with Joe D’Urso. Not your cup of tea? Escape with a play, a fiesta or even a Victorian tea. Still stressed? There’s a Sunday lecture on how better breathing can power you through all of this. If all else fails, go for a guided night hike along the Palisades.  This Rx for your Wknd is brought to you by The Arts Council of Rockland.

Friday

• Escape behind the looking glass with Alice in Wonderland. Nyack HS Drama Club, Fri & Sat at 7:30p at Nyack High School, 360 Christian Herald Rd.

• Elmwood Community Playhouse stages the timely comedy-drama, An American Daughter. The play centers on Dr. Hughes, the perfect Presidential nominee for U.S. Surgeon General, who must face the cost of one woman who dares to have it all. Fri & Sat at 8p, Sun at 2p at Elmwood Community Playhouse, 10 Park St, Nyack.

• Be transported to Dixieland & New Orleans for an Evening of Jazz featuring trombonist Tom Artin. Visit Rockland County Jazz & Blues Society for tickets. 8p at Union Arts Center, 2 Union St, Sparkill.

• Andrea Brachmen Quartet performs at Maureen’s Jazz Cellar at 8p and 9:30p. 2 N Broadway, Nyack.

• Activism Through Art Talk with Sana Musasama, a humanitarian who teaches employable skills to women oppressed by female genital mutilation, girl soldiers, and the sex trade traffic. 7p at Rockland Center For the Arts, 27 S Greenbush Rd, W Nyack.

• Whodunit? Alfred Hitchcock Presents 2 One Acts where macabre murder mysteries are performed live on stage. Fri & Sat at 8-10p at the Nyack Village Theatre, 94 Main St, Nyack.

Saturday

• Trash talk with Senator David Carlucci: Join Keep Rockland Beautiful and Rockland’s NYS senator at Dr. Davies Farm for a Route 304 “adopt the road” cleanup at 9a. Volunteers will walk from the intersection of Route 304 and Ridge Road to the intersection of Route 304 and Route 9W.  Refreshments and coffee will be available.

• Attend a Fall Victorian Tea. Seatings 12:30 & 3:30p at Bricktown Inn Bed & Breakfast, 112 Hudson Ave, Haverstraw.

• Celebrate Fall Fiesta with a night of food, drinks, dancing, auctions and prizes while ArtWorks raises funds for art in Nyack Public Schools. 8p at Casa del Sol, 104 Main St, Nyack.

• Sweet Georgia Brown, an inductee of the Blues Hall of Fame, performs R&B and Blues at 8:30p at Sixty 5 On Main, Nyack.

• The Historical Society of Nyack hosts Van Houten’s Landing Historic Neighborhood exhibit. Weekly on Sat from 1-4p at 50 Piermont Ave, Nyack.

Sunday

• How Your Out Breath Can Power You Up Mountains: It’s been a long week — a breath of fresh air outdoors might be just what you need to clear your head! Join Betsy Thomason, author of Just Breathe Out, gives an interactive presentation on using your breathe to create a new, healthier you. Thomason is a registered respiratory therapist, teacher and outdoorswoman. Free, registration req’d at 845-351-5907. 1p, Sterling Forest Visitor Center, 116 Old Forge Road, Tuxedo, NY.

• Classical pianist Jason Stoll performs Chopin, Gershwin, Mozart and Schumann for the Young Masters Recital Series. 1:30p at Valley Cottage Library 110, Rt 303.

• Carnegie Concerts Series presents Joe D’Urso with Stories Behind the Songs. 2p at Nyack Library, 59 S Broadway.

• Singer and pianist Mitch Kahn explores music from the 30’s through the 80’s with 20th century’s Great American Popular Songbook. 2p at Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library, 10 W Ramapo Rd, Garnerville.
• Listen to the powerful stories and experiences of victims and perpetrators of violent crimes at Practices in Restorative Justice: A New Paradigm for Crime and Punishment at the Nyack Community Center (58 Depew Ave.) at 7p.

Next Week

Monday

Beaver Moon Hike at Alpine Picnic Area & Boat Basin: It’s a guided BYOF night hike (where F=flashlight), covering two miles in about 90 minutes. It’s rated EASY, so meetup at 7p at the entrance to Alpine Picnic Area & Boat Basin (PIP Exit 2). More info at 201-615-9226.

Tuesday

• Take a historical Armchair Walking Tour along King’s Highway, Rockland’s first highway running from Tappan to Congers. 2p at Valley Cottage Library, 110 Rt 303, Valley Cottage.

• The Book And Pub Club, a book club geared toward 21 to 30-somethings, meets up to discuss Dietland by Sarai Walker. 7p at O’Donohue’s Tavern, 66 Main St, Nyack .

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