Page 16 Thursday, July 11, 2013 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

Sintra, : 30 Minutes From , Yet Seems Like a World Away By FRED T. ROSSI along the Atlantic coast, this ex- and seeing just how many photos week when talking about Lisbon: Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times Summer Travel Series quisite area provides a perfect op- your digital camera will hold. A The weather in is perfect, portunity for hiking, visiting some day-trip to Sintra is a must when especially if you’re hiking. Low A mere thirty minutes from Lisbon of the most beautiful castles and visiting this part of Portugal—and humidity and summer daytime tem- lies the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park— palaces you’ll ever see, taking in if you can spare two days, do so. peratures typically in the low 80s Paul Lachenauer for The Westfield Leader and The Times the perfect day trip away from the some sweeping views of the Lisbon If it’s palaces and castles that you make it a pleasure to be outdoors RACE TO THE FINISH...Participants in the Cranford Canoe Club’s annual 4th Portuguese capital city. Situated suburbs and the vast ocean beyond want to see, where to start? In the without getting overheated or of July canoe race on the Rahway River attempt to out-stoke each other at the northeast corner of the 56-square- bugged by pesky insects. Hiking finish line. mile park is the National Palace, through this region will allow you distinctive and recognizable by its to experience beautiful and almost conical chimneys, and dating back magical-looking forests. Hopefully, Plays-In-The-Park to the times of Islamic domination you’ll come across Parc do Pena, over a thousand years ago. The area just below , a pretty and where this palace is located also rustic park containing a lake that’s To Present Spamalot provides several locales for a good home to several black swans. brunch or lunch before embarking From Pena Palace, you can see, EDISON — Plays-in-the-Park King Arthur, Jeff Babey as Patsy, on the rigorous part of your visit to poking out from the trees in the (PIP) will present the Tony Award Patrick Andrae as Sir Galahad, Sintra. You’ll get an idea of what hills slightly below, my favorite winning musical Monty Python’s Frank Andrews as Bedevere, David you’re in for when you glance up castle on my hike around Sintra: Spamalot as the second production Seamon as Sir Robin, Ali Gleason into the mountains beyond the Na- the Castle of the built in the of its 2013 Season. Performances as Lady of the Lake, and Christo- tional Palace and ask yourself, “How eighth and ninth centuries during will run from Wednesday, July 17, pher Abbott as the Historian. The on earth did they build those castles, the Arab occupation of the Iberian through Saturday, July 27, with no full cast of 20 comes from all parts all the way up there, hundreds of Peninsula. Looking like something show on Sunday, July 21. All shows of New Jersey. years ago and without and modern straight from a Hollywood movie begin at 8:30 p.m. and are staged at Tickets for Spamalot can only be technology ?” set, you will get a very good feel for the Stephen J. Capestro Amphithe- purchased on the night of the per- Depending on your ambition, you what things felt like 12 centuries ater at 1 Pine Drive in Roosevelt formance. The Box Office is open can either hike your way through ago as you explore this rugged and Park, Edison. from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on the evenings portions of Sintra or take one of the amazing place and take in the The musical comedy Spamalot is of all performances. Tickets cost $7 tourist jitneys that run through the sweeping views. In a nod to the “lovingly ripped off from” the film for adults, $5 for seniors (60+), and region or take the plunge and drive palace’s long history, one of the Monty Python and the Holy Grail, free for children ages 12 and under. Fred T. Rossi for The Westfield Leader and The Times yourself. Choosing the latter op- flags flying above its ramparts spells and follows the misadventures of Patrons must provide their own BACK IN TIME…The 1,200-year-old Castle of the Moors in Sintra, Portugal the legendary King Arthur and the seating, and the height of a chair looks like an old castle should look. tion may require maneuvering on out “Sintra” in Arabic. A word of very narrow streets, white-knuck- caution: The exterior walkways are Knights of the Round Table. Taking back cannot exceed 40 inches. Re- led driving on twisting roadways narrow, very high and don’t have place in Medieval England, King fer to the PIP website at with blind spots galore and oncom- safety rails or netting—meaning Arthur trumps around on his quest www.playsinthepark.com for more ing traffic that may not be as careful there is nothing between you and for the Holy Grail, meeting killer information about the Box Office as you’d expect and parking in some the bottom of the at-times very steep rabbits, feisty Frenchmen, and some and seating policies. very tight spots along the way. drop-off. beautiful women along the way. If a performance is cancelled due Whichever method you choose, If you have time to visit only one The Original Broadway produc- to bad weather, patrons may save first get yourself up to Pena Palace, spot in Sintra—and especially if tion of Spamalot opened in March their ticket stubs and use them to built in the 1840s. Replete with you’re traveling with kids—make 2005 at the Shubert Theatre, and attend any future summer perfor- watchtowers, cloisters, turrets and sure it’s , a cen- was nominated for 14 Tony Awards, mance at no additional charge. minarets and exterior walkways that tury-old estate whose landscaper winning the 2005 Tony Award for Ticket stubs are valid for exchange allow you to seemingly see forever, architect should be recognized for “Best Musical.” Spamalot also won up to one year after the rained-out this palace is a great example of setting the standard for the indus- a Grammy Award in 2006 for “Best performance. Moorish, German gothic and the try, in my opinion. While the main Musical Show Album.” Plays-in-the-Park is dedicated to local manueline architectural styles. building and the chapel are inter- “I encourage theater lovers of all providing theatre to all peoples. Pa- There’s also a snack bar and dining esting to walk through, it’s the ages to come out for what will prove trons requiring assistance due to a patio where you can sit take in the estate’s splendid grounds that are to be a spectacular production,” said disability are encouraged to con- view. worth a few hours of your time. Middlesex County Freeholder tact Jackie Neill, Recreation Super- There are two things you’ll find “This is the world’s greatest back- Stephen J. “Pete” Dalina. “Our visor at (732) 745-3936, prior to here that are not prevalent at home. yard,” I said to myself as I wan- Plays-in-the-Park program is one attending a performance so that any One is cork trees, with bark made dered through the multi-leveled and of our greatest recreational offer- special needs may be met. PIP of- of actual cork. And lots and lots of terraced property that retains much ings, and we are so pleased that fers an audio description perfor- thousands of our residents agree.” mance - Friday, July 19; an open Fred T. Rossi for The Westfield Leader and The Times eucalyptus trees, which give the of its natural weathering. There are WESTERN COAST… in Portugal is the westernmost edge of the entire area a refreshingly pleasant ponds, wells, inverted towers, a “Bring your family and friends to captioned performance - Monday, European continent. smell. And as we pointed out last waterfall lake, small stone build- our beautiful park and enjoy this July 22 and a performance with ings, fountains, grottos and garden fantastic production,” said sign language interpretation - pathways that will likely set off Middlesex County Freeholder Di- Wednesday, July 24. your imagination as you think of rector Ronald G. Rios. “This is truly Plays-in-the-Park represents a ways to re-create some of this family entertainment at its best!” unique, collaborative partnership beauty in your own, more modest Billy Geltzeiler of Westfield, will between community theater and backyard. An extensive tunnel sys- be featured in this production as local government since 1963. PIP tem—parts of which are completely Lancelot. Mallory Rome of West- is sponsored by the Middlesex dark while other routes are faintly field is also a member of the en- County Board of Chosen Freehold- lit—connects much of this wonder- semble. Additionally featured in this ers and the Middlesex County Parks ful property. production is Dan Cook playing and Recreation Department. At the western edge of Sintra, a short but at-times harrowing car ride away, you’ll find the Anything Goes Set to Sail at westernmost edge of continental Europe at Cabo da Roca—a wind- swept cape dominated by spectacu- David Brearley High School lar, and steep, rocky cliffs with a KENILWORTH – The Cole Por- songs. beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean ter musical Anything Goes will set Set upon a ship in 1934, the un- and the valleys and hills inland. sail from the David Brearley High likely characters include a sultry Again, there are no guardrails or School auditorium the first week- nightclub singer/evangelist Reno safety fencing along the several end in August. Community Actors Sweeney (Vanessa Sierra of Lin- FREE and open to the community hundred-foot high cliffs above the Student Theatre (C.A.S.T.) will pro- den), Moonface Martin, a criminal sea, so watch your step and don’t duce the musical under the direc- who is bad at his job (Matthew wander off the dirt path. tion of Cory Pinto of Kenilworth, Curtain of Kenilworth), an English- This region of Portugal that we’ve music director James Chwalyk of man Sir Evelyn Oakleigh (Hale Jae- looked at in this two-part series is Bloomfield and choreographer Ali- ger of Cranford) who has no sense only a sliver of a beautiful country, cia Dominguez of Roselle Park. of people skills, and a plethora of with Porto to the north and the They are excited to announce the other funny yet lovable characters. Algarve region to the south ye to be names of area students who are leads Billy Crocker, a handsome lead- visited. And we’ve put both of these in this musical comedy that fea- ing man, is played by Derek Keller spots on our travel wish-list. tures romance, drama and classic of Cranford and his love interest, Hope Harcourt, is Laura Salway of Westfield. The wise-cracking Bonnie is played by Juliette Keller of Edison. 5:00AM-10:30PM every Wednesday, 7/10 –8/14 The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. nightly in air-conditioned Conlin Hall in David Brearley High school Thursday, August 1 through Satur- day, August 3. All tickets are $10 WELCOME WEDNESDAYS! and may be purchased at the door or online at castinfo.org/tickets.html or by calling (908) 209-5929. Handicap accessible parking is adjacent to the school building.

No RSVP necessary! For the day’s schedule of group exercise/TRX® Deutscher Club to Host Authentic classes, water exercise classes, and open gym/swim/racquetball German Biergarten times, contact Leo Gonzalez at [email protected] or x271. CLARK - The Deutscher Club will host an authentic German Biergarten on Friday, July, 12, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Fred T. Rossi for The Westfield Leader and The Times at the Deutscher Club of Clark, SPIRAL VIEW…An inverted tower at Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal If you decide to become a Y member after any are among the eye-catching attractions of this beautiful property. 787 Featherbed Lane, Clark. The event is open to the pub- Welcome Wednesday visit … lic and will be held rain or Scotch Plains Cultural Arts Series Schedule shine. Admission is $2 per per- we will waive the $150 Joiner’s Fee ! son. SCOTCH PLAINS - The Town- Rock and Pop, 7:30 p.m.; July 25 – The vent will feature a ship of Scotch Plains’ Cultural Arts Southbound – Country, 7:30 p.m.; Mercedes Car Show, live mu- Committee announced its 2013 August 1– Exodus Supreme – sic and German and American Summer Concert Series. Reggae, 7:30 p.m.; August 6 – Na- food and beverages will be WESTFIELD AREA Y The series will take place over tional Night Out; August 15 – available. six Thursday nights beginning to- Mashwork Orange – Pop Covers, No outside food or bever- 220 Clark St., Westfield ∙ 908-233-2700 ∙ www.westfieldynj.org night, July 11, with two perfor- 7:30 p.m.; August 22 – Doo-Wop ages permitted. No bicycles, Strengthening the communities of Cranford, Garwood, Mountainside and Westfield since 1923. mances. The children’s group “Hot Concert, 7:30 p.m. skates, skateboards, scooters Financial assistance is available. Peas N Butter” will perform first at All performances will take place or glass containers permitted. 6:30 p.m. The British Invasion trib- at the Alan Augustine Village Green, No pets allowed at any time. Guests must provide a photo ID and sign our guest waiver. Parent/ ute band “Carnaby Street will fol- adjacent to the Municipal Building. For information call (732) guardian must sign the waiver for guests under the age of 18. low at 7:30 p.m. For more information, please call 574-8600 of visit Other performances will include: the Recreation Department at (908) www.deutscherclub.us. July 18 – Funktion 11 – Funk 322-6700 ext. 223.