EL HORIZONTE SE REBALSA/ THE HORIZON OVERFLOWS: Camila
Rodrigo at the Zadock Pratt Museum
RAIL TRAILS IN THE CATSKILLS
by Eliza Schwartz
THIRD ANNUAL DRAW-A-THON IN KINGSTON
CATSKILLS PAST: Diamonds in the Mountains
by T.M. Bradshaw
SEARCHING FOR STRYKERS IN GILBOA
SUMMER IN THE CATSKILLS
THE RITAMARY LEGACY AT SUGAR MAPLES
by Bruce DehnertCATSKILL KIDS: Frogs!
by E. Merwin
CATSKILL KIDS PUZZLES
A GREENE COUNTY GARDEN IN AUGUST: Rabbits
by Margaret Donsbach TomlinsonMAUDE ADAMS THEATER HUB PRESENTS DEDICATION
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
by Jeff SentermanENJOYING YOUR CATSKILL ADVENTURE
by Paul MiskoPUBLISHERS
Peter Finn, Chairman, Catskill Mountain Foundation
Sarah Finn, President, Catskill Mountain Foundation
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION
Sarah Taft
ADVERTISING SALES
Barbara Cobb
Hillary Morse
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
T.M. Bradshaw, Kevin Collison, Bruce Dehnert, Zina Deretsky, Fran Driscoll, encierro/shutterstock.com, Bahram Foroughi, Jeffrey Langford, Mike Lawrie Photography, Greg Madden, E. Merwin, Julie Carter Merwin, Paul Misko, Eliza Schwartz, Jen Schwartz, Jeff Senterman, and Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson. Additional contributions by Catskill Center, D.R.A.W., Gilboa Museum, Hanford Mills Museum, Maude Adams Theater Hub, Ulster County Tourism, and Zadock Pratt Museum.
BEACH READING IN THE MOUNTAINS by Jen
SchwartzHANFORD MILLS MUSEUM
CELEBRATES AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE ON AUGUST 12
SOCIAL WELLNESS by Greg
SUPPORT THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SUGAR MAPLES 2023
SUMMER COURSES
MaddenSUGAR MAPLES POTTERY FESTIVAL CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION
25TH ANNIVERSARY PERFORMING
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EDITORIAL DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: August 7
The Catskill Mountain Region Guide is published 12 times a year by the Catskill Mountain Foundation, Inc., Main Street, PO Box 924, Hunter, NY 12442. If you have events or programs that you would like to have covered, please send them by e-mail to tafts@ catskillmtn.org. Please be sure to furnish a contact name and include your telephone number and e-mail address. To receive submission guidelines send a request to tafts@catskillmtn.org.
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7971 MAIN STREET, P.O. BOX 924 HUNTER, NY 12442
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The Zadock Pratt Museum is thrilled to announce El Horizonte Se Rebalsa / The Horizon Overflows, a solo exhibition of new works by Lima-based contemporary artist Camila Rodrigo. Rodrigo’s exhibition seeks to generate discussions on our future under climate crisis. Through photography, she creates an installation that juxtaposes huacas (ancient Peruvian sacred sites) with mycelium—the organic network of the Fungi kingdom. Within this combination, Rodrigo highlights the diversity of knowledge and potential strategies needed to thrive in our ever-shifting world.
The centerpiece of this exhibition is a monumental mural print of El Salitre, an ancient monolithic structure built thousands of years ago by the Incas (the last of the Indigenous pre-Columbian civilizations of the Andes) along the Pacific coast of modern-day Peru. El Salitre is wheat-pasted directly onto the walls of the Prattsville Bank gallery of the Zadock Pratt Museum up to the height of flood damage caused by Hurricane Irene (2011). Through this symbolic gesture, Rodrigo references the catastrophic damage the region experienced from the storm— highlighting both the destructive and sacred relationship we all share with the water that sustains us. Interrupting the mural print of El Salitre are images of yet another enigmatic archeological site in Peru, Sayhuite. In the case of these monoliths, water becomes a focal point of our ancestors’ worship and reverence. The Catskill Mountains are also home to sacred monoliths—although we know less about them, they demarcate a similar sacred relationship to water and the watershed region that transforms, shapes, and sustains a broad swath of our New York community. Water is life: this is a wisdom that remains with us from ancient times to the present. From the global south to the global north, water provides for all life on earth and must be protected and revered for the resiliency of our future.
Breaking the order of the black and white documentation of these sacred huacas are brightly colored images of abstract organic shapes and lines that display sections of mycelium, the under-
ground mushroom networks of interconnecting organic matter and nutrients. Through mycelium, trees can communicate and find pathways to support one another, bridging an important gap and turning individual organisms into one collective sustaining body. Mycelium becomes an active subject of continuous transformation and adaptation—setting an example for the present to make way for communal growth and a thriving future.
Camila Rodrigo’s exhibit El Horizonte Se Rebalsa / The Horizon Overflows is the first in an ongoing exhibition series that seeks to bridge past, present, and futures through a contemporary and international art lens. The series continues Zadock Pratt’s legacy as a champion of arts, education, community, and meaningful ideas. El Horizonte Se Rebalsa / The Horizon Overflows is organized by artist and curator Joseph Imhauser.
The Zadock Pratt Museum (Prattsville, NY) is located in the western Catskills mountaintop region—an area with a storied history of emerging times and ideas including the birthplace of color photography and the site of the world’s oldest fossils. With the life and legacy of Zadock Pratt at its core, the museum is dedicated to excavating local history, community, and culture through special and permanent exhibits, conservation, education, archives, and public programming.
Built in 1828 and redesigned in 1856, the building is the 19th century Greek Revival home of Congressman, banker, soldier, tannery owner, and town founder Zadock Pratt. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986.
Support for the Zadock Pratt Museum and this exhibition has been provided by Bank of Greene County; public funds from the Greene County Legislature through the Cultural Fund; the Nicholas J. Juried Foundation; the A. Lindsay & Olive B. O’Connor Foundation; The Town of Prattsville; and private donors.
By Eliza Schwartz
Reconnect with nature this summer by exploring the various rail trails in the Catskill Region. What was once known the “most scenic rail line in the east” became a series of different hiking trails leading to gorgeous views of the Catskills. The hiking trails, otherwise known as rail trails, were once a complex rail line. Connecting Rondout (which is now a part of Kingston) to the Delaware and Hudson Canal which would then connect to the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad. As highways became common use, railroad traffic declined rapidly, rendering the Catskill Mountain Railroad and the Catskill and Tannersville railway useless and therefore abandoned. In an effort to remember a vital part of history, these railroads have been converted into rail trails, allowing people to immerse themselves in both nature and history with these 6 plus trails.
One adventure is through the Andes Rail Trail. A 2-mile trail, round trip, that is home to impressive views of the mountains, creeks, ceaseless fields, woodlands and remnants of the railroad. This trail begins in the town of Andes, specifically at the Andes train depot and ends at the Bullet Hole Creek seamlessly connecting to another, more challenging, hike, the Bullet Hole Spur. The Andes trail is made up of grass and dirt, and is accessible for people of any age. The hike is mostly flat, it is a relaxing way to get outside and enjoy quality time with family or friends.
The Ashokan Rail Trail (ART) is a more strenuous trail. Starting from either or three trailheads, Woodstock Dike Trailhead, Ashokan Station Trailhead, or Boiceville Bridge Trailhead, the trail is 11.5 miles roundtrip, a roughly 4 and a half hour excursion. However, the length is the only daunting aspect. The trail is spectacular, running alongside the Ashokan Reservoir, and sits on the Ulster and Delaware Railroad. The trail’s surface consists of finely crushed stone, spanning 12ft in width - this surface is constructed specifically so that bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles can take part of the trail. This trail has rave reviews, encouraging many others to take part of the trail and experience the incredible views.
The 26-mile Catskill Scenic Trail illustrates the true beauty of the Catskills. Filled with an abundance of opportunities including fishing, running, hiking, biking and even horseback riding the trail winds through fields, mountains and rivers emphasizing the versatility of the Catskills. The trail is created on the remnants of the Ulster and Delaware Railroad and its cinder, crushed stone, dirt, and gravel surface spans across the mostly flat surfaces. Beginning at Bloomville or Roxbury the trail spans two counties: Delaware and Schohaire. While the trail is mostly remote, it goes through the more populated area of Stamford. The trail is highly recommended by others, while the length of it is quite intimidat-
ing the level of it is not. The Catskill Scenic Rail Trail is a fantastic way to experience all parts of the Catskills and remains one of the most desired trails to hike.
A less extreme rail trail is the Hunter Branch Rail Trail. The trail is a mere 1.5 miles and is built on the ruins of the Stony Clove and Catskill Mountain Railroad. Accessible at Ski Bowl Road or at Hunter, the trail includes a 90 ft truss bridge that previously crossed a tributary. This specific trail is only a segment of a more complex series of trails, the Hunter Rail Trails. The trail’s varying surfaces including boardwalk, crushed stone, dirt and grass allows for many different people to take advantage of the trail. As people cross the physical bridge along the trail, the Hunter Branch Rail Trail acts as a bridge between communities, bringing business to the town of Hunter.
As the Hunter Rail Trails continue to expand and hopefully connect Kaaterskill Falls to Dolan’s Lake in Hunter, a series of trails are continuously being built. A trail that is a part of the Hunter Rail Trail is the Kaaterskill Rail Trail. Located at Palenville or at Haines fall the trail is a 2 mile hike consisting of concrete, dirt, grass and gravel. Built on the remnants of the Ulster and Delaware Train Station the trail connects the Mountain Top Historical Society and amenities at the NYS North South Lake campgrounds. Built in 2017 the trail has been positively
received due to its enticing views of Kaaterskill Falls. The trail attracts many different types of people, it is a great way to spend time with family and friends, go horseback riding, explore nature, and become involved in the community.
Another notable rail trail is the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Found at Denniston road or at Rockwell lane, the 21.3 mile trail is popular for its varying opportunities. These opportunities include walking, biking and even horseback riding. While the length is quite intimidating, this trail is not as challenging, and available to all different levels of hikers. Traversing through the towns of Gardiner, New Paltz, Rosendale, and Ulster the trail is open from sunrise to sunset. Consisting of asphalt, cinder, dirt and gravel the trail’s surface is accessible to all. As the trail weaves through different lakes, and historical cement-mining factories it weaves through smaller towns, presenting chances to take a break at local cafes, and support local businesses.
While six trails have been highlighted, there are still an abundance of trails and even trails that are continuing to be built. Each trail presents their own set of challenges, yet the views and experience make the trek worthwhile. If you have some free time and want to go outside, go explore the Catskills original highline and see if you can find even more rail trails.
2023 CONCERTS & CONVERSATIONS SERIES
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4 @ 7:30 PM
Faculty members from the Hunter International Music Festival perform an evening of duos featuring cello, piano, and violin. The program includes:
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for Piano and Cello No.2 in G Minor, Op.5 No.2
Julian Langford, cello and Ruiqi Fang, piano
Claude Debussy: Petite Suite L. 65 Misha Namirovsky and Xun Pan, pianos
Robert Schumann: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3, WoO2
Patrick Nim, violin and Misha Namirovsky, piano
Franz Schubert: Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major, D. 574 “Grand Duo”
Yibin Li, violin and Xun Pan, piano
Zoltán Kodály: Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7 Patrick Yim, violin and Julian Langford, cello
7971 Main Street, Hunter, NY 12442
Tickets Purchased Ahead: $25 adults/$20 seniors/$7 students
At the Door: $30 adults/$25 seniors/$7 students
Tickets available at catskillmtn.org or 518 263 2063
On Saturday, August 12 from 10 am to 10 pm, D.R.A.W. will host the Third Annual Draw-A-Thon. At this 12-hour art-making extravaganza, based on the renowned 24-hour event started in 2008 by Antenna in New Orleans, visitors can come and go throughout the day during which all the surfaces in D.R.A.W.’s studio can be drawn on by folks of all ages, abilities, skill levels and interests. This year’s event will spill out into the road, where the street will be closed to traffic and the DRAW-a-thon will turn into an art block party. From 11 am to 2 pm, there will be a Steamroller Print Event, in which an actual steamroller will press the giant linocut blocks made by over 20 local artists.
“We are taking this year’s DRAW-a-thon, which has grown exponentially each year, to the next level by taking it to the street and, of course, adding a steamroller!” enthuses PUGG Youth Workforce Coordinator Beth Humphrey. “Our student workforce has been working very hard on this event!”
Teaching artists and youth leaders will be creating artistic experiences for everyone throughout the day. Make a cabinet of curiosity drawings, pet portraits, and meet the Draw-Zilla Drawa-Tron, a friendly prehistoric robot monster, who will be taking drawing requests. Keep an eye out for jumbo Draw-a-thon pencils around town!
No pre-registration needed. All materials will be provided. The first 100 people will receive an emergency drawing kit. The event is family friendly all day and will shift to an adult focused event from 7-10pm. Rain date will be Sunday, August 13.
For more information visit drawkingston.org. Follow PUGG and DRAW on Instagram for fun updates!
The D.R.A.W. is the art education project of the Kingston Midtown Arts District (MAD). Located at Energy Square on Cedar St, the D.R.A.W. is a growing community of artists, educators, entrepreneurs and students who believe in the ability of the arts to act as an agent of change. We believe a strong art education significantly enhances the character, quality of life, and economy of our neighborhoods. The D.R.A.W.’s programming is built on a spiraling inter-generational framework where expertise, interaction and experience generate ongoing community learning. To learn more about The D.R.A.W., please visit drawkingston.org.
MAD uses the creative arts to engage, unite, and enrich a vibrant, inclusive community for Midtown Kingston. MAD believes in the power of the arts to be an agent of change by serving the people of Midtown Kingston as a hub to educate, celebrate, and facilitate collaborations and relationships with individuals, artists, businesses, organizations and government in the community. To become a volunteer or to learn more about MAD, please visit madkingston.org.
PUGG is a paid, after-school work-study program providing job training in art/non-profit management, arts education, leadership, and entrepreneurship for Kingston High School students and recent alumni. To learn more about PUGGs, please visit pugg. space.
One of the iconic sounds of summer is the crack of the bat against a ball on a blue-sky afternoon. It’s a pastime that has endured for over 200 years, starting with loosely organized pickup games with rules that varied somewhat by locale. A 1791 Pittsfield, MA law forbade the game within window-breaking distance of the town’s meeting house, confirming the early popularity of the game.
In the 19th century the sport developed through a progression of organized amateur teams, semi-pro teams, and finally, fully professional teams. A number of teams proliferated throughout the Catskill area, some identified in newspaper references with team names, others only by the town, village, or area they represented: the Stamford Athletics, Windham Resolutes, Schenevus Monitors, Roxbury Nine, Middleburg Leather Chasers, Elk Creek Nine, Treadwell Athletics, Walton RifRafs, Oneonta Stars, Hobart, Hamden, and Cobleskill. These teams played against each other and against visiting teams from farther outside the immediate vicinity, such as the Binghamton Electrics and teams
By T.M. Bradshawfrom Hudson, Kingston, and Albany. They also played against the Cuban Giants, a professional African-American team that was formed in 1885 at a resort in Babylon, NY, and the Cuban XGiants, a team started by players who had left the Cuban Giants. The team that formed in Griffin Corners is of particular note: the Mountain Athletic Club, also called the Mountain Tourists. The Fleischmann family began summering in the Catskills in 1883, over time building a compound of five cottages, perhaps more accurately called mansions, in Griffin Corners. Julius and Max Fleischmann, sons of Charles Louis Fleischmann, co-founder of the company in Ohio that eventually became Fleischmann’s Yeast, were sports enthusiasts. In 1895 Charles Fleischmann purchased and had cleared four acres in Griffin Corners for a ball field so that Julius and Max, then 24 and 18, and both already deeply involved in the running of the family business, could enjoy one of their many athletic interests. The Mountain Tourists fielded a lineup consisting of amateurs, minor leaguers, and some professional athletes from around Cincinnati, as well as Julius and Max.
That field required a large outlay of cash and effort to be leveled and have the boulders dynamited out. Still, because of the surrounding terrain, it was said that any hit carried the likelihood of becoming a home run.
Julius became president of Fleischmann’s Yeast in 1897 when his father died. He was also the youngest mayor of Cincinnati, elected in 1900 at the age of 28, serving until 1905.
Several references to the field the Fleischmanns carved out of Catskill rock appeared in the New York Times. A small mention on April 25, 1901, bearing the heading “Rain Causes Damage in the Catskills” noted “The Fleischmann baseball field was damaged to the extent of $1,000.” And a paragraph within a June 14, 1903 article covering events at various Catskills’ towns, referred to Julius’s imminent return to his summer domicile as well as park improvements.
“Mayor Julius Fleischmann of Cincinnati is not expected at his Summer home here until early July. He maintains a salaried baseball team at Fleischmann’s known as the Mountain Athletic Club, who report June 15 for practice.The athletic grounds here owned by him have been enlarged during the Winter, and 5,000 persons can now witness the sporting events.”
The Fleischmann family treated the players like sports royalty, a management style less common at the time than it is now. They were paid well, fed well, enjoyed trips on Fleischmann yachts, and carriage rides to the ball field. In 1900, Julius brought the team to Cincinnati by rail, traveling in a luxury Pullman car, to play an exhibition game against the Cincinnati Reds to benefit Harry Weldon, sports editor for the Cincinnati Enquirer. Max Fleischmann played right field that day and the M. A. C. won 4 to 3, pitcher “Black Jack” Keenan holding the Reds to just five hits.
A photo from the early days of the M. A. C. that has recently returned to the area shows some players who were on what is likely the 1897 team. The photo
originally belonged to former Fleischmanns postmaster John Kelly and thanks to the generosity of his descendants is now at Fleischmanns’ Skene Library. Vintage base ball enthusiast Collin Miller expended a great deal of effort attempting to confirm whether Honus Wagner, who some say played for the M. A. C., is in the photo. Miller has lots of evidence to the contrary.
The Fleischmann brothers involvement in baseball was not limited to the Catskills team. In 1900, Max Fleischmann became vice president of the Reds; Julius then bought a controlling interest in the team in 1902. In 1903, the brothers acquired a syndicate stake in the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1912 they attempted but failed to make another such investment in the Chicago Cubs. They sold their interest in the Reds in 1915 to pursue other interests.
The western portion of Griffin Corners that included the ball field had come to be known as “Fleischmanns,” a hamlet with its own post office. The eastern end was still Griffin Corners, with Bridge Street dividing the two. When the village was incorporated in 1913, it was under the name Fleischmanns and included both hamlets.
In May of 1914, Julius sold the park and athletic grounds to the newly-incorporated village for a dollar, with certain restrictions: That it was always to be used as a park and athletic grounds, that it always be kept in good condition, that it never be sold or sublet, and always be of free access to the public. The park included a bicycle track and bandstand in addition to the ball field. The M. A. C. played its last game shortly before 1910.
But wait, that’s not exactly correct—that’s when the original team played their last game. In 2007, local businessman Todd Pascarella and former mayor Dave Morell revived the ball club. Other vintage ball clubs dot the Catskills, such as the Delhi Polecats and the Bovina Dairymen, all members of the Delaware County Vintage Base Ball Association and the Vintage Base Ball
Association, which has over 200 teams nationwide. These amateur teams play by the rules of the sport from different eras, using the equipment of the 1800s—wooden bats, accurate reproductions of uniforms, and depending on which year’s rules are being used for a particular game, no gloves. One very definitely modern change, lightyears ahead of MLB, is that women are welcome to play.
History repeats, both good and bad. In 2009, $10,000 of grant money revitalized the M. A. C. infield. And far worse than the heavy rains that did $1,000 worth of damage to the field in 1901, Hurricane Irene ravaged many towns in the Catskills in September 2011, leaving everything flooded and in a shambles, including the Fleischmanns’ ball park. But once the major issues affecting residents’ lives were addressed—homes, roads, bridges— some people started thinking about vintage base ball again in 2017. One such person was Collin Miller, who had been third baseman for the M. A. C. Federal disaster relief funds enabled the village to purchase a backstop, a pitcher’s plate and home base, all installed by community members.
Miller is now team captain, playing at various infield positions, and maintains a website and blog about them. A manual scoreboard and “Wall of Fame” honoring the founders and early players was hand-painted by second basewoman, Chrissy “Showtime” Skubish. And the field has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
A schedule of area games throughout the summer is available on the Delaware County Vintage Base Ball Association website at delcovintagebaseball.org. The current season ends with a twoday, 12-team event in Bovina called the Cowtown Scramble on September 30 and October 1. Play ball!
The Gilboa Museum & Nicholas J. Juried History Center is proud to announce “Searching for Strykers,” An Art Project by Clover Archer which will be on view through October 9.
In her creative practice Clover Archer explores the incomplete nature of historical records, the fragility of personal legacy, and the unique set of characteristics that define the individuality of each of us. Working in a variety of media (drawing, installation, video, text, performance, photography), Archer considers archival breadcrumbs that contribute to an understanding of ordinary lives lived.
At the invitation of the Gilboa Historical Society, Archer is creatively exploring the history of the Stryker family, who first settled in the area in the early 1800s. Working with family members Janine Stryker Laine Susz of Rochester and Susan Stryker Morkaut of Gilboa, Archer conducted genealogical research to discover evidence left behind by those on the branches of the Stryker family tree in the Gilboa, West Conesville (Strykersville), and Conesville regions.
The presentation at the Museum includes family tree charts, graphite drawings, a generational timeline, and ephemera from personal Stryker collections. This project is a reflection on the impossibility of creating a cohesive ancestral narrative, the fragmentary nature of personal histories, and the complexities inherent in attempting to understand the present through the past when so much of the past is lost to time.
Clover Archer is a mixed-media conceptual artist living and working in Lexington, VA. She holds her MFA from New York University. Archer is the Director of Staniar Gallery at Washington and Lee University where she also teaches in the art department. She is the recipient of a Professional Fellowship from the Virginia
Museum of Fine Arts and has twice been a residency fellow at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. In 2019, Archer had an artist’s residency at the Prattsville Art Center, leading to her research into the region.
Archer’s creative practice involves taking on multiple roles beyond her studio, such as detective, archivist, writer, historian, graphic designer, and office manager. She established the Institute for Clew Studies (ICS) to bring together these various components of her artistic pursuits. The mission of ICS reflects the mission of her overarching art practice: to rescue, interrogate, and re-imagine microhistories and ordinary experiences—the small moments and specific minutia of everyday lives that occupy the vast amount of time and space between milestone moments often considered “important” or “memorable.”
Archer calls these granular histories “Clews:” the infinite everyday layers of our lives that are too numerous for documentation, thus lost to time. Our contemporary word “clue” is derived from the middle English word “clew,” meaning a ball of yarn. In Greek mythology, a “clew” leads out of a labyrinth, hence our contemporary meaning: something that leads to a solution. With the labyrinth as a metaphor for life, Archer considers granular histories to be what brings us through the maze of our lives.
The Gilboa Museum & Nicholas J. Juried History Center is located at 122 Stryker Road in Gilboa. It is open every weekend through October 9 from 12-4:30 pm. For more information, please visit gilboafossils.org or call 607 652 2665
The exhibit is made possible with support from the Conesville Historical Society, NBT-Grand Gorge, Ethel M. & Orville A. Slutzky Family Foundation, and the Zadock Pratt Museum.
Woodstock-New Paltz
Art & Crafts Fair
September 2-4, 2023
Ulster County Fairgrounds
249 Libertyville Road New Paltz, NY 12561 quailhollow.com
A Hudson Valley favorite, The Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair returns for its 42nd anniversary year and 81st show this Labor Day weekend at the Ulster County Fairgrounds. Visitors will delight in hundreds of juried artists and craftspeople in over 10 media categories, alongside ongoing demonstrations, live musical performances, smallbatch artisanal and prepared-on-site foods, local wine, beer, and spirits, and a children’s craft tent. Times are 10 am to 5:30 pm September 2 & 3; 10 am to 4 pm September 4. Rain or shine. Buses welcome.
Studio Tour
August 12-13, 2023
saugertiesarttour.org
This year’s tour features 37 studios that are getting ready for visitors, you will see completed work and works in progress in a wide array of mediums and styles. Whatever your interest, the tour has something for you—painters working in oils, acrylics, watercolors and inks, as well as with digital tools; collage makers and printmakers; photographers; and, sculptors working in polished steel or industrial debris and found objects, or ceramic artists whose work ranges from figurative to functional with a bit of funk thrown in for good measure. Any and all materials can be transformed into artfully created pieces, such as handcrafted furniture and home accessories made with high quality hardwoods,
as well as weaving, spinning, and hand sewn fashion accessories. Free tour maps for this self-guided tour are available at many Saugerties locations including the artists studios. Visit the tour’s website to see short videos about the artists participating in this year’s tour.
34 Big Hollow Road Maplecrest, NY 12454 sugarmaples.org
A program of the Catskill Mountain Foundation, Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts offers short term adult workshop programming in ceramics, painting, drawing, fiber arts and weekly classes in ceramics and fiber arts during the summer season. Weekly classes in painting, drawing and ceramics continue during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. All classes are led by artists who are renowned and celebrated in their field. The summer Art Explorers program provides opportunities for local youth to explore their creativity through art exploration.
7971 Main Street Hunter, NY 12442
catskillmtn.org
518 263 2063
The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum is the home of the Steven E. Greenstein Piano Collection, a one-of-a-kind collection of historic pianos and musical artifacts. A destination unlike any other in the United States, the Piano Performance Museum offers a unique glimpse into the development of pianos in Europe and America over the past four centuries. Open on Fridays and Saturdays 11am to 3pm by appointment. Email ppm@catskillmtn.org or call 518 263 2063 before your visit, to ensure that the museum will be open.
Delaware & Ulster Rail Road
43510 State Highway 28
Arkville, NY 12406
durr.org
800 225 4132
Hop aboard! Riding through the Catskill Mountains on a vintage train is a fun way to take in the magnificent views of Delaware County. The Delaware & Ulster Railroad (DURR) offers scenic rides that take you on a leisurely 2-hour excursion from Arkville to Roxbury and back, passing rural hamlets, farmland and world-famous trout streams on the way, framed by panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains. Summertime brings an opportunity to enjoy the ride in an open-air car, while in colder weather, passengers are comfortably seated onboard one of the lounge or observation cars. In the fall, foliage rides are a great way to enjoy the colorful splendor over the mountains. The tracks have all been recently repaired and reconstructed, and we’re happy to open for the 2023 season! Tickets may be purchased online.
Gilboa Museum
122 Stryker Road
Gilboa, NY 12076
gilboafossils.org
607 437 7132
The Gilboa Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the heritage of Gilboa and the cultural treasure of the Devonian Period Gilboa Fossils. The Museum features videos about the fossils along with historical displays about the area and the town of Gilboa. We are excited to announce the opening of the Juried History Center at the Gilboa Museum. Funded by a generous grant from Nicholas Juried, this history center will enable us to preserve and present the amazing history of the region. The Gilboa Museum also has several new, permanent displays, including logging saws, antique farming and barn tools, artifacts from the original town of Gilboa and large Devonian tree size fossils. The museum is open every weekend from 12:00pm to 4:30pm through Columbus Day Weekend in October.
Hanford Mills Museum
51 Co Rd 12
East Meredith, NY 13757
hanfordmills.org
Saturdays & Sundays 9 am to 2 pm and rustic afternoon tea on Thursdays 2 pm to 6 pm. For more information, give us a jingle or visit us on Instagram!
607 278 5744
Experience a story of innovation, ingenuity and entrepreneurship at a historic working mill site. Hanford Mills Museum offers insights into the past and lessons about the relationships between people, the things they make, and the places they live. Join us as we celebrate our 50th anniversary season! Visit www.hanfordmills.org for more information about visiting the museum and our 2023 Exploration Days, including Agriculture on August 12 and Metal at the Mill on September 23.
Shandaken Bake
6036 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12485
On Instagram: shandakenbake
518 589 4171
Home of the Chubby Squirrel! Serving seductively delicious pastries, pies, tarts, cakes and tea snacks. Open
Catskill Charters
Boarding from Hop-O-Nose Marina & Creekside Restaurant & Bar
160 West Main Street
Catskill, NY 12414
catskillcharters.com
518 965 1933
Catskill Charters is more than just boat rentals and charters. We specialize in providing the ultimate experience on the water in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. You and your guests can spend time enjoying all the Hudson River has to offer. Historic light houses, swimming or fishing at local nearby islands, beautiful sunsets, and waterfront restaurants are just a few of the experiences our guests enjoy on our boats. Private yacht charters, pontoon boat and kayak rental, boat parties, overnight yacht stays.
Route 296 & South Street
Windham, NY 12496
briarsandbramblesbooks.com
518 750 8599
Briars and Brambles Books
is your go-to Indie Bookstore in the heart of the Catskill Mountains. Briars & Brambles
Books is a dream come true for owner & part-time Windham resident, Jen Schwartz. Jen has combined her love of books with her experience as a long-time library volunteer and past library board president to create an inviting, knowledgeable and professional atmosphere. Jen’s handpicked team includes: a rare-book aficionado, a former teacher with her own line of children’s decor, and a college student with remarkable curiosity. The Briars & Brambles team understands that being a bookseller involves so much more than simply “selling books” and is committed to providing unparalleled personal attention.
5964 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12485
thorpesgmcinc.com
518 589 7142
Thorpe’s unmatched service and diverse GMC inventory have set them apart as the preferred dealer in Tannersville. With a full-service team of sales and service professionals, visit them today to discover why they have the best reputa-
tion in the area. They offer one of the largest GMC inventories in New York, and their trained sales staff will help you every step of the way.
Chamber of Commerce
Margaretville, NY 12455
centralcatskills.com
ScenicCatskills.com
845 586 3300
The Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce works to advance the economic and community vitality of the many hamlets, villages and towns in our region and promote and foster events, programs and initiatives that will support its members. Collaboration and innovation will inspire community enhancement and quality of life opportunities for all who live, work and visit our communities.
Main Street
Community Center
5494 NY-23
Windham, NY 12496
mainstreetcenter.org
518 734 4168
A caring, welcoming and inclusive environment for the benefit of all of the communities on the Mountain Top. Centrally located in Windham, the building contains multiple rooms, including two bathrooms (one is handicap accessible), a large sitting area, a confer-
ence room, individual workspaces with computer monitors and a large screen TV, free WIFI, access to printers, and a studio for creative activities. The Artist’s Hideaway provides individual lockers for artists to safely store their supplies. There is plenty of on site parking. The Center has an ever increasing offering of classes, programs, and events for people of all ages.
Phoenix Web Collective
7947 Main Street
Hunter, NY 12442
phoenixwebcollective.com
518 628 5101
Mutual aid resource on the mountain!
Local artist shop, makers’ space, and our free mart, where you can get gently used and vintage clothing, home goods, food, toys, books, music, movies, jewelry, electronics, and more for free or pay-what-you-can. We also host small events and workshops. All are welcome!
Dutchess County Fair
August 22-27
Dutchess County Fairgrounds
6636 Route 9
Rhinebeck, NY 12572 dutchessfair.com
The Dutchess County Fair is held annually in Rhinebeck, usually during the last full week in August. Currently, the fair hosts approximately half a mil-
lion people per year, and is the second largest county Fair in New York State. Rides, vendors, food, entertainment, agriculture, horticulture, turn-of-the-century treasures, a working blacksmith shop and gas powered engine show, and so much more! Daily fair hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm. Main carnival area opens and rides run daily starting at 11 am.
Tannersville Works
6041 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12485
tannersvilleworks.com
518 589 4017
Escape to The Catskills for productive and inspiring work days! Our coworking space is perfect for remote workers, visitors, and entrepreneurs looking for a professional place to work while enjoying the natural beauty of the mountains. Conveniently located in the center of Tannersville with easy access to local parks, shops, and restaurants. Every coworker gets a dedicated desk, comfortable seating, high-speed internet, and access to printers and private calling rooms. Daily, weekly, and monthly rates available.
Bloomville, NY 13739
savvybeastpet.com
607 538 9019
SavvyBeast in the Catskill Mountains offers healthy dog treats and supplements. Using locally sourced meats, our treats are packed with wholesome nutrients. We prioritize your furry friend’s well-being by providing high-quality, grain-free Jerky Treats, Dehydrated Liver, Dehydrated Heart, DogStars and Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil. Supporting local farmers, we deliver the taste of the Catskills to your pup while promoting optimal health and vitality. Treat your dog to SavvyBeast’s delectable offerings and watch them thrive.
At Sugar Maples
34 Big Hollow Road
Maplecrest, NY 12454
The CMF operates a 4.5-acre farm following the Natural Agriculture method taught by the Japanese organization Shumei, the principle of which is to grow vegetables the way they would grow in Nature. This means that no agricultural chemicals of any sort are used, and no manure
or other soil additives used in organic farming are permitted. The farm includes a beautiful new Visitors Center, along with two 3,000-square-foot greenhouses. During growing season, visitors can purchase vegetables grown at the farm at a farmstand that operates every Saturday.
purecatskills.com
Pure Catskills is a regional, buy local campaign developed by the Watershed Agricultural Council to improve the economic viability of the local community, sustain the working landscapes of the Catskills and preserve water quality in the NYC Watershed Region. Pure Catskills works to promote hundreds of farm, forest and local businesses throughout Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie, Sullivan and Ulster Counties in New York State. Search their website for local products, or pick up a copy of the Guide to Pure Catskills Products!
Shawn’s Fresh Fish
5150 Route 28
Mount Tremper, NY 12457
On Instagram: @ShawnsFreshFish
845 702 2120
Located at the Migliorelli Farm Stand. We started our business in the spring of 2016. We carry a large selection of fresh fish and seafood. Also, try our fresh made soups, salads and locally smoked fish. Requests welcomed.
5477 Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
518 734 3760
11513 NY-32
Greenville, NY 12083
518 966 5333
Online at GNHlumber.com
Renovating your home or building new? Ask our Team of Experts for inspiration, help, and on-site delivery.
• Lumber & Building Materials
• Plumbing & Electrical Supplies
• Cabinets, Countertops & Design Services
• Tools, Paints, Stains & More!
Discover why GNH has a reputation for high-quality products and friendly customer service since 1937. We’ll see you soon!
Houst Hardware
4 Mill Hill Road
Woodstock, NY 12498
housthardware.com
845 679 2115
Shop local with Houst Hardware, independent and family owned for 89 years. For all your projects, Houst Has IT. Benjamin Moore
Paints, Equipment Rentals, Tools, Plumbing, Electrical, Organic and Heirloom Garden Seeds, Organic Soils and Fertilizers, Housewares, Weber grills, Seasonal products, Camping and Toys. Everything you need for work and play.
5354 Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
besthottubs.com
518 734 9100
Best Hot Tubs Windham store serves the Hunter/Windham, NY and entire Mountain Top area, including the nearby ski resorts at Hunter, Windham and Belleayre and beyond. You will find the right hot tub for your lifestyle and all the accessories you need to make your summer and winter spa experience perfect. Come see the new Bullfrog A series, Aspen Spas and Strong Spas. Best Hot Tubs repairs hot tubs and we offer weekly hot tub maintenance. All you have to do is relax!
76 Main Street
Phoenicia, NY 12464
845 688 3333
Amidst the restaurants and shops crowded along Main Street in Phoenicia, a dessert oasis awaits you inside the Ice Cream Station. The name of the place says it all: a bounty of traditional and unique ice-cream flavors is ready to be scooped into a dish, cone, milkshake, or whatever else strikes your fancy. Open from May through late October, The Ice Cream Station offers hard and soft ice cream, shakes, cones, sundaes, malts, candy, and homemade fudge. The Ice Cream Station is owned by the Kirk Family, who also operate The Nest Egg just up the road.
18 Molly White Drive
Coxsackie, NY 12051
farrandslandscape.com
518 650 1347
Farrand’s Landscape is a family-owned company that opened in June of 2022. Founded on the principles of quality work and excellent customer service, we’ve quickly grown into one of the premier outdoor service companies in the upper Hudson Valley. We offer a wide range of services including grounds maintenance and landscape and hardscape installation. Whether you need weekly mowing to take back your weekends, or are in need of an entire outdoor makeover, our team is here to help. We use state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that all of our projects are completed on time and on budget. In addiiton to providing residential services, we also offer commercial services for businesses, schools, and municipalities. Our team has the experience and expertise needed to handle any size landscape project and property maintenance work.
Gardens by Trista
176 Polen Hill Road
Gilboa, NY 12076
gardensbytrista.com
607 588 6762
Gardens by Trista is a full service landscape company focused on providing each client with the individualized landscape or garden of their dreams. We know each property and client holds their own unique essence which we
use to transform the land and its elements into their personalized landscape. We strive to fulfill the needs of each and every customer, whether it be a complete design/build for new construction or help with an existing garden that needs a rejuvenation. We also have an extensive garden maintenance division to help keep your landscape and garden in pristine condition.
Doctorow Center for the Arts
7971 Main St., Hunter, NY 12442
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
6050 Main St.
Tannersville, NY 12485
catskillmtn.org
Ticket line: 518 263 2063
2023 marks our 25th Season of bringing the arts to the mountaintop, and we’re celebrating with our largest season yet! Join us for over 70 performances of classical, pop, and jazz music, theater, dance, and events for families in our two stunning venues in Hunter and Tannersville. Performances in August include an evening of duo pieces by Beethoven, Debussy, Schumann, Schubert and Kodaly with the faculty of the Hunter International Music Festival on August 4, the Maude Adams Theater Hub’s production of Cabaret August 3 through August 5, the Orpheum Dance Program’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream August 11 through August 13, and Common Ground on the Mountain: a night of folk, rock, and bluegrass music featuring Professor Louie and the Crowmatix, Greg Dayton, and Walt Michael & Company.
Maverick Concerts
120 Maverick Road
Woodstock, NY 12498
maverickconcerts.org
Maverick Concerts, the oldest continuous summer chamber music festival in America, is set amid the serene woodland just outside Woodstock, NY. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the charming rustic hall is the ideal venue for an intimate encounter with chamber music. Maverick presents concerts by internationally renowned classical, jazz, and contemporary music ensembles from July through early September. Concerts are on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Maverick Family Saturdays, short interactive events designed for kids of all ages, are free and open to everyone on Saturday mornings.
Emerson Resort & Spa
5340 Route 28
Mt. Tremper, NY 12457
emersonresort.com
845 688 2828
Emerson Resort & Spa is a hidden treasure surrounded by the splendor of the Catskill Mountains. Open spaces and oversized windows expose stunning views and bring the beauty of the outside in. Enjoy spacious accommodations in the contemporary Inn or Adirondack-style Lodge, nature-inspired spa treatments, mouth-watering meals at Woodnotes Grille or Spa Bites, The Shops at Emerson and the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope.
Greenville Arms
11135 State Route 32
Greenville, NY 12083
greenvillearms.com
518 966 5219
Originally built in 1889, our historically registered Inn is situated on six acres of gardens, lawns, and woodlands. The Queen Anne Revival-style main house, renovated Carriage House, and recently constructed Cottage building are host to 16 guest rooms open year-round to guests. Every guest room is uniquely decorated with a blend of antiques and modern amenities. A hot, cooked-to-order breakfast is included with each room.
Hampton Inn
1307 Ulster Avenue
Kingston, NY 12401
Kingston.hamptoninn.com
845 382 2600
Additional location in New Paltz:
4 S. Putt Corners Road
New Paltz, NY 12561
Newpaltz.hamptoninn.com
845 255 4200
Our hotel is near I-87, with several restaurants within walking distance. Historic Downtown Waterfront and Uptown Kingston are both just four miles away with many local shops and dining options. Spend some family time at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, seven miles away. An hour drive or less from 3 popular ski mountains. Unwind in our indoor saltwater pool. Enjoy complimentary hot breakfast and free WiFi.
Windham Manor
1161 Co Rd 10 Windham, NY 12496 windhammanor.com
518 944 1448
Our 45-acre property features a twelve-bedroom Victorian mansion, a luxury reception barn, and breathtaking mountain views. The Main House, which can accommodate up to 24 overnight guests, offers 12 private bedrooms, an on-site gym, a full spa, a large kitchen, ADA accommodations, and sprawling communal areas. It’s the perfect space for any small reception and is also ideal for a weekend getaway; a wellness retreat; or a corporate offsite event. Just a few steps west of The Main House, The Barn at Windham Manor can hold up to 300 guests for dinner and dancing. With beautiful tall ceilings, tons of natural light, and no detail spared, the space offers the perfect mix of classic mountain charm and unique modern luxury. We also offer various outdoor wedding ceremony locations throughout the property—one more beautiful than the next!
illuminatingwellness.care
518 718 4228
Transformative therapeutic massage practice combines elements of many of the healing arts such as Acupressure,
Reflexology, Reiki, Chiropractic adjustment and many forms of Asian and Thai massage. BioPhoton Light Therapy –Biontology is a European healing process that detoxes, neutralizes and resets the body and healing begins immediately. This practice finds the root-cause of any symptom-producing malady and quickly neutralizes it and thus assists you in raising the body’s immune system, the key to your health. (biontology.com).
Cinema
7971 Main Street
Hunter, NY 12442
catskillmtn.org
518 263 4702
Hollywood, foreign & independent films just a mile west of Hunter Mountain and a short drive from Windham. Shows run Friday through Sunday. Also available for rental.
Sunflower Market
75 Mill Hill Road
Woodstock, NY 12498
24 Garden Street
Rhinebeck, NY, 12572
sunflowernatural.com
845 679 5361 (Woodstock) • 845 876 2555 (Rhinebeck)
Sunflower is dedicated to providing products you can feel good about sharing with people you love. Prioritizing working with local farms, families, and business, we know where our food comes from. Sunflower is devoted to providing clean and sustainably sourced food, 100% organic produce and a selection of carefully curated items that fit all dietary needs.
Catskill Mountain Foundation
7971 Main Street
Hunter, NY 12442
catskillmtn.org
518 263 2000
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023, the Catskill Mountain Foundation is the premier presenting arts organiza-
tion on the mountaintop. It operates two performing arts spaces: the Doctorow Center for the Arts in Hunter and the Orpheum Performing Arts Center in Tannersville. More than 75 performances are presented yearly, everything from classical music to dance to family performances. to pop and rock. The Doctorow Center for the Arts is also home to the Mountain Cinema, a three-screen movie house that shows Hollywood, Foreign and Independent films yearround, as well as the Piano Performance Museum, a oneof-a-kind collection of historic pianos and musical artifacts tracing the history of the piano in Europe and America over the past four centuries.
Windham Foundation
windhamfoundation.com
info@windhamfoundation.com
518 734 9636
Windham is a special place for all of us. Our mission is to preserve and enrich Windham and the people who live, work, and visit here.
We are a 501c3 grants-based organization, funding programs in education, recreation, the arts, and community initiatives. Established in 2004, the Windham Foundation is run by an all-volunteer Board. Donations are tax deductible.
9W & Van Kleecks Lane
Kingston, NY 12401
AugustineNursery.com
845 338 4936
We’ve been creating landscapes of distinction throughout the Hudson Valley since 1974. We started small in our hometown of Kingston. Today, Augustine Nursery has grown to become one of the leading residential and commercial landscape design firms and the “nursery of choice” among high-end landscape architects, independent contractors and discerning homeowners. We offer a stunning selection of larger scale, estate-grade trees, shrubs and plants. There are hundreds of varieties, ranging from the most popular to the new and emerging. We also offer a full menu of nursery services, from planning and design to installation and dress finish for greenscapes and hardscapes.
181 Galli Curci RdPO Box 313
Highmount, NY 12441
belleayre.com
845 254 5600
It’s time to soak in all the warm weather adventures that await here at Belleayre! Belleayre Beach is officially open full time for the season for
all water themed activities—swimming, boating, stand-up paddle boards, and so much more. If you prefer keeping your feet on dry land, the mountain is open as we speak for hiking and mountain biking. Our disc golf course got a couple small tweaks this summer, and all 18 holes are ready for play! Scenic Gondola Rides are now openthrough October 15: take in the views of the surrounding mountains with a ride on the Catskill Thunder Gondola! Plenty of action is happening at the mountain all summer long. Join us every Friday night through September 1 with our free Music on the Belle music series presented by the Clubhouse at the Shandaken Inn – each week featuring a new band. This fall we’ll see the return of the crowd favorite Fall Festival and Brews & Views.
catskillscenictrail.org
The Catskill Scenic Trail is a 26-mile recreational path that meanders along some the most glorious countryside in Upstate New York. It lies on top of the former rail bed of the Ulster & Delaware Railroad, and with its wide path, gentle grade and durable surface, the trail has become an ideal recreational destination as it traces a leisurely path through stunning Catskill Mountain terrain. The trail is enjoyed year-round by thousands of folks for biking, hiking, crosscountry skiing and horseback riding.
wellnessrxllc.com
518 589 9500
Wellness RX LLC
53 Main Street
Phoenicia, NY 12464
pharmacyforthepublicgood.com
5980 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12485
Pharmacy for the Public Good is excited to announce its first nonprofit community pharmacy in Phoenicia. Stop in and meet the team and browse our wide selection of traditional and natural medicine! Follow our journey at pharmacyforthepublicgood.org. Also visit our pharmacy Wellness Rx in Tannersville, and online at wellnessrxllc.com.
Photography: Images of the Northern Catskills
Work available for purchase at: Tannersville Antiques & Artisans: 518 589 5600
Rustic Mountain Antiques: 518 589 1202
Smitty’s Nursery: 518 734 3489
francisxdriscoll.com • 518 821 1339
A frequent contributor to the Guide magazine, Francis X. Driscoll is an award-winning nature photographer whose
work involves total immersion in a setting so that he might capture that rare glimpse. His primary subject is the Catskill Forest Preserve. He shares his craft with others by leading hikes, conducting workshops and giving private instruction.
7971 Main Street
Hunter, NY 12442
518 263 2001
Your one-stop shop for fast,
personal service for all of your printing needs. Graphic design services are available, and we can print green!
WIOX 91.3FM
MTC Cable Channel 20
WIOXRADIO.ORG on computers and smartphones
WIOX Community Radio – where public access meets public service to build public trust. WIOX programming is wildly diverse, live and local, and non-commercial, broadcasting from the Catskill Mountains region of upstate New York in the heart of the New York City Watershed. WIOX talk and music programs range from farming to brewing to cooking, forestry to healthcare, Rock to Pop, Bach and Goth, Blues,
Folk, Country, Americana, Jazz and Salsa. WIOX: produced and supported—by you!
WRIP 97.9FM
wripfm.com
Streaming at rip979.com
RIP 97.9 is the radio voice of the Mountaintop and Valley. Broadcasting 24/7 with the equivalent of 6,000 Watts of power, we are the only radio station covering the entire region between the Hudson Valley and Oneonta. WRIP is independently owned and operated. WRIP is heard on these FM frequencies: 97.9 in Windham and Hunter, 97.5 in Durham and Greenville, 103.7 in Catskill and Hudson, 104.5 in Stamford and Delaware County, and streaming worldwide at rip979.com.
Brainard Ridge Realty
237 South Street Windham, NY 12496
brainardridge.com
518 734 5333
Specializing in Windham Mountain and the surrounding area for over 35 years. Visit our web site at brainardridge.com for a variety of listings both on and off the mountain: Homes, Townhomes, Rentals and Land. Whatever your needs we are here for you. Call us today!
Coldwell Banker— Timberland Properties
TimberlandProperties.com
CatskillPremier.com
Margaretville: 845 586 3321
Boiceville/Mt. Tremper: 845 657 4177
Delhi: 607 746 7400 • Stamford: 607 652 2220
Sidney: 607 604 4394 • Roscoe: 607 290 4130
Start your real estate career today! Unrivaled agent support & the best training in the region. Call or email to learn more: Debra G. Danner, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker/Branch Manager: 518 937 0924 or Debra.Danner@ Timberlandproperties.net.
Gordon Hunter Mountain Realty
6528 Route 23A
Hunter, NY 12442
gordonrealty.com
518 589 9000
Gordon Hunter Mountain Realty is dedicated to serving you when you’re looking for property in Upstate New York and Northern Catskill Mountains. Our professional staff specializes in properties near Hunter Mountain and Windham
Mountain ski resorts, including Hunter, Tannersville, Jewett, Lexington, Prattsville, Windham, and Ashland. We know the Catskill Mountains and look forward to showing you all that is available to see, do and live in our wonderful world.
Property Management
5359 State Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
516 909 1021
windhamnyproperties.com
With unparalleled industry knowledge, experience, and local expertise, I’m the Windham, NY Real Estate and property management expert you’ve been looking for. Whether you’re buying or selling, I can help you get the best deal. I feel that having the right real estate agent means having an agent who is committed to helping you buy or sell your home with the highest level of expertise in your local market. This means also to help you in understanding each step of the buying or selling process. Because I’m a member of the Columbia-GreeneNorthern Dutchess Multiple Listing Service (MLS) I can show you any listing that is posted on my website. This commitment level, a long with my 35 years experience as a carpenter and contractor in residential construction has helped me build a remarkable track record of delivering results.
Shaw Country Realty
5359 State Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
518 734 3500
With offices in Windham and Hunter, Shaw Country Realty has been your Mountain Top experts since 1985. Let Shaw Country Realty sell your property or find your weekend escape:
land, townhouses, condos, homes, commercial property and seasonal rentals. If you are looking to sell your home, please let us know. We can accommodate your needs and walk you right through the process. Local Counts! We use a wide network of local attorneys, banks, contractors, and other services. Why is local better? The personal touch from people know know the mountaintop area and its uniqueness. Keeping it personal and friendly is the Shaw way!
Catskill
5096 State Route 28
Mt. Tremper, NY 12457
catskillsvisitorscenter.org
845 688 3369
The Catskill Visitor’s Center is your gateway to Catskills, where you can learn about the vast outdoor recreational opportunities in the area as well as discover the rich cultural and natural history of the Region.
Angela’s Pizza
1923 Ulster Avenue
Lake Katrine, NY 12401
angelaspizzarestaurant.com
845 382 2211
Angela’s is more than just pizza! Soups, salads, pastas, subs, wraps, Italian dinners, desserts & more. … But, yeah, our pizza is dang awesome, too! Try our specialty pies or build your own! Open every day 11:00 am
to 10:00 pm. Eat in or take out, and delivery is available. Catering is also available: let us bring our delicious food to your next event! Angela’s mobile app—available on both Android and iOS devices—is designed just for you. Get instant access to online ordering, Angela’s Loyalty Program, coupons, dining & catering menus, wing flavors and much more! Download the app today!
Bear Cantina
In the Bearsville Center: 295A Tinker St. Woodstock, NY 12498 thebearcantinawoodstock.org
845 684 7223
Contemporary Mexican made fresh! All of your favorites are here: burritos, tacos, quesadillas, fajitas, chimichangas and more, with several meat, fish, chicken and vegan options, and a kids menu. Enjoy streamside dining with both indoor & outdoor seating. View our full menu and place your order on the Clover app. Open Monday-Thursday 3-9 pm; FridaySaturday 12-10 pm; Sunday 12-9 pm.
746 Main St. Margaretville, NY 12455 binnekill.com
845 586 4884
A warm, friendly tavern featuring “Mountain Comfort Food”. The dining room provides riverside views and a large copper fireplace. The kitchen
expertly cooks modern tavern classics like Lamb Meatloaf, Pork Schnitzel, burgers, homemade soups, daily seafood specials and much more. The Tavern serves an extensive list of inventive hand-crafted cocktails, local beers on tap and a well curated wine list. Open for dinner Thursday-Sunday from 4 to 8 pm, and lunch Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 pm. Reservations recommended.
Brandywine
11157 State Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
brandywinewindham.com
518 734 3838
For the past 35 years, this fullservice Italian restaurant has offered great food and impeccable service. Share wonderful memories with your loved ones as we fill your table with delicious Italian cuisine. Born and raised in Southern Italy, owner Louis Carac- ciolo mastered the art of Italian cookery, and passed it on to his son Joseph, who has continued that art and tradition as chef in the restaurant. We guarantee that we know the formula to capture the rich flavor of your favorite Italian dishes.
Chef Deanna
1645 County Highway 6
Bovina Center, NY 13740
chefdeanna.com
Weddings and special event catering, with delivery available for larger events! Chef Deanna has been on the cutting edge of the sustainable food industry for over 15 years. Surrounded by farmers and local food makers, Chef Deanna creates beautiful dishes using her Sicilian heritage and her love of everything sweet and savory.
Dixon Roadside
261 Tinker Street
Woodstock, NY 12498
dixonroadside.com
845 684 5890
A loving nod to a roadside eatery, where you can find uncomplicated foods to eat right on the spot or take with you in the car. The comforting food, welcoming service and midcentury modern architecture all reflect Dixon Roadside’s love letter to an earlier time. Dixon Roadside offers comfort food classics with an occasional modern and fresh twist, sourced from local Hudson Valley and Catskills’ farms and small businesses. Dixon Roadside also offers monthly culinary events and classes. See what’s coming up at dixonroadside.com.
45 Mill Hill Rd.
Woodstock, NY 12498
earlyterrible.com
845 684 7226
Established in 2019, Early Terrible is an authentic, approachable, wine bar with a full menu, in the heart of Woodstock.
Please join us in our magical lounge and enjoy the property and gardens. Offering a wide variety of specialty cocktails, wines, beers, and more, alongside a selection of shared plates and off-the-grill bratwurst, burgers, cheesesteak or fish.
Hunter Mountain Brewery
7267 Route 23A
Hunter, NY 12442
HMBCatskills.com
518 263 3300
Over 15 home brewed beers on tap including seasonal ales, IPA’s, porters, stouts, lagers and more. Available for in house and take out in our 64 oz growlers or canned four packs. Weekly specials include taco Tuesdays, sushi Thursdays, and prime rib Fridays. Stop in for the best views and brews on the mountain top. Hours of operation: Tuesday through Thursday 3 to 9 pm, Friday-Sunday 12 to 8:30 pm. Closed on Mondays.
Jessie’s Harvest House
5819 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12485
jessiesharvesthouse.com
518 589 5445
Jessie’s Harvest House Restaurant and Lodge is a welcoming & cozy place to gather, featuring a delicious menu of American-style cuisine and elevated comfort foods, with locally-sourced ingredients, a friendly tavern, and rustic country lodging. Family-owned & family-run, we love to share all the freshest foods our area has to offer! Catering is available. Indoor & outdoor dining.
La Cabaña Mexican Restaurant & Bar
966 Main St.
Fleischmanns, NY 12442
lacabanarestaurantny.com
845 254 4966
Family owned and operated since 1993, La Cabaña is rich in tradition and authenticity. Our dinners are individually prepared with the freshest ingredients available. You’ll find all of your favorites on the menu, from enchiladas, burritos, tacos, chimichangas and flautas to chile relleños, carne asada, nachos and quesadillas to traditional desserts such as flan, fried ice cream and churros. Vegetarian options are available.
Mama’s Boy Burgers
6067 Main Street (at the traffic light)
Tannersville, NY 12485
Mamasboyburgers.com
518 589 6667
Established in 2015, Mama’s Boy Burgers was voted the “Best Burger Shack” in the Hudson Valley by Hudson Valley Magazine. We are all about fresh and local ingredients. Our burgers are made from local, black Angus beef from a farm 6 miles away. Our seasonal produce comes from Story Farms, our ice cream is made in the Hudson Valley. We also offer vegetarian and vegan options. Eat In, Take Out or Order Online.
55 Allen Lane (inside the clubhouse at Colonial Country Club)
Tannersville, NY 12414
notchcatskills.com
The Notch offers a unique and flavorful dining experience by bringing modern Asian flavors, with classic street food dishes and elevated interpretations, to the mountaintop. We have curated a menu of tantalizing asian cuisine, complemented by an eclectic drink selection, making us the perfect spot for your afternoon in the Catskills.
By Francis X. Driscoll
6037 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12485
panchovillamex.com
518 589 5134
The Best Mexican Food this side of the Border! Pancho Villa’s is owned and operated by the Oscar and Patricia Azcue family. They have been proudly serving authentic Mexican food on Main Street in Tannersville since 1992. Rooted in tradition, their passion is sharing great food and good company. All of the traditional Mexican favorites are served here, from enchiladas and burritos to chimichangas and flautas...plus great margaritas and daiquiris! Open every day except Tuesday.
Peekamoose
Restaurant & Tap Room
8373 State Route 28
Big Indian, NY 12410
peekamooserestaurant.com
845 254 6500
Devin and Marybeth Mills
hail from some of New York City’s finest restaurants, including the famed Gramercy Tavern. Seeking to move closer to the farms supplying their menu, they have beautifully restored this country farmhouse set among the bucolic Catskill Mountains. The restaurant supports local growers by changing their menu daily, to represent the freshest ingredients available.
Phoenicia Diner
5681 NY-28
Phoenicia, NY 12464
phoeniciadiner.com
845 688 9957
Built in 1962 and moved to the Catskills in the early 80s, the Phoenicia Diner has a long history of serving customers who are drawn to the Catskill’s natural beauty. The diner offers residents, weekenders and visitors fresh food sourced from Catskills and Hudson Valley farms when available. Our menu is carefully crafted to offer traditional diner favorites, sometimes with a modern twist, using seasonal and local fresh ingredients. Our distinctive space offers indoor and heated outdoor seating, and is available for private events all year long.
Tabla 6033 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12485
tablacatskills.com
518 589 4008
Upscale Mediterranean-style taverna serving small plates and drinks, highlighting local produce when available. On the menu are tapas-style dishes such as crispy octopus, harissa-marinated carrots, and garlic shrimp. Main dishes include a spice-rubbed rotisserie chicken, a grilled whole branzino, and steaks. There’s pizza on the menu as well: everything from a classic margherita to a kale pesto. Pair your meal with a cocktail from the extensive drink menu, which includes classic cocktails such as martinis and negronis, signature cocktails, and low and no ABV offerings. We are a restaurant invested in our local community, and to that end we have implemented a Living Wage fee.
Tito Bandito’s
Taco & Tequila Bar
302 Main Street
Pine Hill, NY 12465
titobanditos.com
845 254 3113
Tito Bandito’s is the spot to enjoy modern Mexican cuisine and hand-crafted cocktails. Our menu features traditional and inventive tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and much more. The bar serves local and Mexican beer on tap, specialty margaritas, and an extensive tequila list. Indoor and outdoor seating. Fun and casual. Take-out.
Woodnotes Grille at Emerson Resort & Spa
5340 Route 28
Mt. Tremper, NY 12457
emersonresort.com
845 688 2828, option 6
Contemporary cuisine, locally sourced and classically crafted, prepared with fresh ingredients and unforgettable flavors that hone in on the local spirit. Enjoy our Spa Bites menu with a variety of cheese and veggie boards, flatbreads, housemade soups, sandwiches, freshly prepared açai and smoothie bowls, seasonal specialty cocktails and more!
Camp Catskill
6006 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12485
campcatskill.co
518 303 6050
Your destination for sustainable gear & gifts in the Great Northern Catskills, including clothing, footwear, backpacks, and hiking gear. Our mission is to help you feel good about what you buy, what you wear, and the gear you use (and reuse) in the wild. It’s our belief that having the right gear lets you spend more time outside in nature, which in turn connects you directly to the importance of preserving the natural wonders of our world. That’s why we work with brands that care about their impact on the planet and its people,
and why we’ve committed to donate 1% of our revenue to environmental nonprofits here in the Catskills.
Catskill Mountain
Foundation Gift Shop
6042 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12485
518 589 7500
Operated by the Catskill Mountain Foundation and located next door to the Orpheum Performing Arts Center, our shop features a curated selection of home decor items and gifts from around the Region and around the world. Open Friday through Sunday and holiday Mondays from 11 am to 6 pm.
Catskills Candle Studio
5977 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12485
catskillscandlestudio.com
518 203 3181
Catskills Candle Studio is proudly located in New York’s beautiful Great Northern Catskill Mountains.
We are inspired by the natural beauty and fresh air of the Catskills that surrounds us, along with a simple and clean design aesthetic to create unexpected modern and fresh scents that will stimulate your palate. We proudly opened our new studio on Main Street in Tannersville in September 2022 and are offering candle pouring classes that are open to the public and private events.
Moose Crossing
1 Reservoir Rd.
Shokan, NY 12481
rustic-cabin.com
845 657 9792
Casual, rustic and country Adirondack-style furniture, home furnishings, home decor, accessories, gifts and collectibles. Hand-crafted, Made-In-America sold wood furniture and furnishings for your home, lodge or cabin. Jewelry, blankets, pillows, rugs and clothing in Native American, Western and country motifs and styles. The best selection of nature-inspired items hand crafted from artisanal craftsmen located locally and from around the country.
The Nest Egg
84 Main Street
Phoenicia, NY 12464
thenesteggcountrystore.com
nesteggshop.com
845 688 5851
An old-fashioned country store in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, offering relaxed shopping and mountain hospitality. You’ll find lots of specialty and artisan crafted foods here, from local maple syrup, honey, jams, jellies and preservers, to nostalgic candies and gourmet chocolate, to gourmet peanut butter, and more! Your source for mountain clothing and souvenirs, including Minnetonka Moccasins, t-shirts & sweatshirts, local area books and hiking maps, candles, soaps, incense, jewelry, toys, puzzles, games and souvenirs. Our home-
made delicious fudge is worth the trip! Owner Robin Kirk’s family has owned The Nest Egg since 1968.
45 Main Street
Hobart, NY 13788
thesheepsnest.com
607 434 6918
The Sheep’s Nest is boutique style gift shop carrying embellishments for you and your home. It is housed in an English Cottage that we built after visiting the English countryside. We carry an array of unique items to decorate your home as well as wonderful gifts. Candles, bath and body products, jewelry, scarves, beautiful gift cards, yarn (some from our own Shetland Sheep), and so much more. Woolen creations and other artwork is also featured from time to time.
The Shops at Emerson
5340 Route 28
Mt. Tremper, NY 12457
emersonresort.com
845 688 2828
Housed in a lovingly restored 19th century dairy barn, The Shops at Emerson is a unique shopping experience. Walk across hand-laid brick floors surrounded by original wood beams as you stroll from store to store. You’ll find a distinct selection of modern farmhouse décor and furnishings, women’s and men’s contemporary clothing, hand-crafted artisan kaleidoscopes, nostalgic toys, local food products,
Catskills souvenirs and more. The Shops at Emerson is also home to the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope and the Kaleidoshow, a visual and sound experience for all ages. Friendly faces are available to answer product questions as well as queries about the Catskills.
43355 Route 28
Arkville, NY 12406
catskillcenter.org
845 586 2611
Since 1969, the Catskill Center has led the effort to protect the more than 700,000 acres of the Catskill Park and Catskill Forest Preserve. Their mission is to protect and foster the environmental, cultural,and economic well-being of the Catskill Region.
518 378 0664
Earlton, NY
PowellsTreeCare
@gmail.com
PowellsTree.com
We offer pruning, removals, viewscaping, woodscaping, storm and emergency clean-up, cabling, fertilization and stump grinding. Remember to always leave this type of work to professional arborists or tree experts. Ian Powell has two decades of experience, is on site at every job and takes pride in leaving the work site clean and mess free. We excel at tree care and tree care only.
7261 Route 23A
Hunter, NY 12442
518 263 4184
411 Main Street Catskill, NY 12414
greenecountyedc.com
518 719 3290
Your gateway to establishing your business in Greene County. Their team connects entrepreneurs, developers, and corporate leadership with resources, municipalities, and investment incentives for job-creating businesses.
5340 Route 28 Mt. Tremper, NY 12457
emersonresort.com
845 688 2828
Emerson Spa provides a serene experience that combines our natural surroundings with the deep relaxation effects of stone therapy and custom design treatments to suit each guest. Call for a reservation.
We’re always expanding our selection of traditional, organic, biodynamic, and natural wines, plus bartender-selected spirits including single village mezcals and small batch bourbons. From Barefoot Chardonnay to Cru Beaujolais, from Fireball to Fred #5, we are a wine & spirits shop for anyone at any budget. Local spirits too.
330 Route 12
Saugerties, NY 12477
townandcountryliquorstore.com
845 246 8931
Our selection of wines and spirits is among the best in the Hudson Valley. Our friendly helpful staff is here to assist you in finding the right beverage: we have a huge selection of wines and spirits from all over the world.
“…and don’t let anybody choose your path for you.”
Accolades find uneasy perch with Ritamary Montano-Vining, who has shepherded two generations of the Catskill Region’s children in the Art Explorers Program at Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts in Maplecrest, NY. The unique Art Center is nestled against the Batavia Kill as it meanders downhill from several of the highest summits the Catskills have to offer. Poetically, one of those mountains is named after the famous painter, Thomas Cole, and from its fertile meadows along the valley floor Ritamary has ignited young creative spirits for 20 summers. Just as the Batavia Kill winds its way to the powerful Hudson River and onward to the vast Atlantic, so too have her students navigated their own journeys towards accomplishing immeasurably interesting lives here in the mountains and beyond.
In the summer of 2003, Ellie Cashman, the first Director of Sugar Maples, enlisted Ritamary to help establish a youth arts program at the Center. Any worries about whether the program would fly quickly dissipated when in its first year Ritamary introduced a unique curriculum: a potpourri of creative adventuring, interacting with Nature, unbridled movement, all in a spirit of exploration. The weekly sessions were an instant hit with parents and children who sensed that they were part of something special. The sheer joyfulness with which Ritamary teaches is now legendary stuff and has been the driving force of SMCCA’s children’s program, now in its 20th year.
Ritamary’s joy in creating art goes back to her early childhood. When she was three years old, her mother would drive her to Woodstock [Montano-Vining was originally from Saugerties] for art lessons with Jean Worlsen. Meeting at noted artist Harvey Feif’s studio, Ritamary recalls the feeling with warmth her own parents’ support for her creative longings, when most every other adult in her life encouraged careers in medicine or other pursuits. “This didn’t necessarily make me a better artist. It made me a stronger person who could stand-up for myself.” It was this stalwart strength of purpose that longtime mountaintop arts advocate Phyllis Parrish, and the Catskill Mountain Foundation, recognized through their significant support for the Art Explorers Program. Their “meeting of minds” knew that Ritamary’s approach would sculpt more than artists, it held the potential for making happy and productive lives. Ritamary’s philosophy is that
she doesn’t “teach,” rather she “builds” relationships with people, an approach that fits with the Catskill Mountain Foundation. Musing on a recent spring afternoon, Ritamary offered that “one of the simplest lessons in life that leads to a child’s happiness is their knowing they have someone in their corner.” It’s virtually impossible not to be convinced by Montano-Vining when her smile becomes laser focused, adding “every single child deserves to be encouraged.” It is also important to this longtime teacher that children be guided through that inevitably gnarly conversation about their spending time complaining about a situation. “It is so important that parents and teachers show children how to do something about a problem they are having. That’s where making art comes in because fundamentally art is about problem solving.” There is a long tradition of self-reliance in Catskill culture, and childhood is where this quality of taking charge of one’s challenges begins. The hand-in-hand approach is purposefully reflected in the Art Explorers regimen. Every day on Big Hollow Road, children are taught how to think for themselves yet be cognizant of their fellow Explorers and what obstacles they may be facing.
Combining art, nature, and physical activity, Ritamary has for many years believed that when those three ingredients are mixed into a day’s experience, children stay engaged enough so that time melts away under the gaze of Thomas Cole Mountain. In Ritamary’s Catskills, boredom isn’t part of the equation. “No
—Ritamary
two children learn the same way. I want to keep kids engaged on their own terms, that’s why I bring science, or music, or mathematics, history, and physical activity into my beloved art. And vice versa. I know this works for a lifetime. I’ve seen it. When kids go through our program they go out into life and accomplish crazy wonderful things.” Starting with the moment a child joins the program, Ritamary keeps a “library” on each child. Never far from her mind, the child’s library gets jam-packed with simple observations about what inspires and what unique approach will serve them best. For Montano-Vining, teaching is like performance art where so many elements are at play that a summer’s classroom becomes a sun-kissed cornucopia of excitement and that childhood experience of what it means to be ‘yourself.’
During the recent pandemic Ritamary didn’t pause for a minute. Immediately she developed an online curriculum for her Art Explorers, one that she knew would help her mountaintop children navigate the challenges they were experiencing. Arranging free access for families, she committed to making sure that any child who wanted to participate would have that opportunity. Organizing shoe boxes from her family’s Montano Shoe company, Ritamary filled each with materials with art making supplies and distributed these “kits” to all comers. Each week, Monday through Friday, children logged on to a hastily devised Art Explorer platform, taking lessons in papier-maché sculpting, and going to work on their dreams. During the arduous weeks of isolation came Show-and-Tells, there was problem solving and much
needed conversations, conversations in this weird new world of who knows what comes next. Montano-Vining remembers it as being difficult because families were unsure of what steps were necessary to take in order that loved ones stayed safe. The young artists, paying no heed to what was to them an abstract awfulness, expressed themselves in what were yesterday’s ‘normal’ ways. For Ritamary there was no turning away and her students’ efforts were eventually presented at an exhibition at the colorful Pancho Villa’s restaurant in Tannersville, NY, appropriately named “The Painted Village.”
“Kids today are living in a time when the internet can be so easily mistaken for ‘experience.’ But it’s more proxy than it is a truly visceral thing. When you open up a discussion you sense experience and connect.” Ritamary Monanto-Vining mentions something called a “Stoop Story,” one that conjures warm summer evenings when young people gather around what will become their own folk tales on the front steps of family homes. There they hash-out ideas, problems, rumors, and shared experience. Gathering steam Montano-Vining explains “I’m the furthest person from having this ‘living thing’ figured-out. Being polar opposites at things is actually beautiful and yet completely unappreciated. People don’t have to agree but they can come together to make something quite beautiful. Children need to know this.” Making art keeps children going. It keeps them thinking and moving and full of passion and yet “I can’t put my finger on it” the indomitable Ritamary Montano-Vining says through her knowing smile.
From spring until they hunker down to hibernate, their croaks, twangs, trills and rib-bits serenade the Catskills. According to the Department of Conversation, there are 14 species of frogs that call upstate New York home. From the biggest bull frog with its deep bass boom box to the tiniest Spring Peeper, each species has its own unique song.
Although music to the ears of herpetologists* and every fan of frogs, plenty of folks complain that these intruders are keeping them up at night. But once again, we have to step back and be fair. For over two hundred years, we’ve been intruding on them—damaging and destroying the habitats that they’ve been helping to preserve since long before we arrived on the scene. After all, frogs and their ancestors are among our most ancient neighbors.
*Herpetologist= from the Greek word herepton, which means creeping animal, a scientist (trained or wannabe) who studies amphibians and reptiles
For tens of millions of years, the creature called Tiktaalic had been upping its game—doing push-ups on its front fins and pumping up the ones in the rear. But what was driving this evolutionary workout routine? According to *paleontologist, Neil Shubin, the ancient waters of the *Cambrian Period were teeming with predators—the most common danger for Tiktaalic was twice its size with “a head as big as a basketball.” Over time, creatures had to “get big, get armor, or get out of the water.” (Tattersall, 2010)
For the skeptical or plain curious, here’s a link with some “hard” evidence. Scroll down to watch “Fish with Feet?” In this short video, Dr. Shubin shows off the 375 million year old fossilized bones of Tiktaalik
Frogs have been hip hopping on earth for over 370 million years—that’s a whopping 140 million years before the first dinosaurs showed up in the Triassic Period. But the ancestry of both beasts, large and small, can be traced back to this charming explorer, Tiktaalik, the first fish to walk on land.
Luckily for frogs and dinosaurs—well, for all creatures with four limbs, including us, Tiktaalic made that one small step onto land that was one giant leap for all tetrapods*.
*Cambrian= geologic period on Earth from 541 m.y.a. to 485.4 m.y.a when new life forms burst into existence
*paleontologist= scientist who studies fossils to understand life on earth *tetrapod= all four-legged animals—including some that might surprise you like the whale and the snake whose ancestors long ago had limbs!
Although 375 million years is nothing to croak at, according to *Haudenosaunee belief, this ancient inhabitant of the earth had its four-fingered hand in creation. Before the earth existed, there was only an island floating in the sky where the Sky People lived. At its center was a sacred tree. When this tree was uprooted, it created a hole and through that hole fell the Sky Woman. As she de-
scended toward the tumbling waters below, animals came to her rescue. Seabirds spread their wings to catch her as the animals below held a council on the back of a great turtle. “It was decided to prepare the earth on which she would live in future.” (First People of America, n.d.).
Determined to help the beautiful Sky Woman, several devoted creatures dove into the water to get mud from the bottom of the primal sea. One after another the animals tried and failed. Some say it was Muskrat and others Little Toad who succeeded in bringing back the mud that the animals spread on the back of Big Turtle, creating a home for Sky Woman. “In some traditions, Sky Woman turned into the moon… and in still others, it was Sky Woman herself
who created the sun, moon and stars.” (The Woman Who Fell From the Sky - a Seneca Legend., n.d.)
*Haudenosaunee= the confederacy of 6 tribes whose ancestral lands spread from Canada to current New York state, including the Catskills, who still preserve the world’s oldest democracy founded on a deep reverence for earth and all its creatures.
“One day in summer Frog was not feeling well. Toad said, ‘Frog, you are looking quite green.’ ‘But I always look green,’ said Frog.
‘I am a frog.’
Always restless, frogs (and toads!) have often leapt into the human imagination, including that of one popular author raised just beyond the Catskills in Schenectady, New York. Often bullied and alone, Arnold Lobel, escaped into his notebooks, drawing animals and dreaming up stories to entertain himself and win over other kids. When not conjuring up his own creations, Arnold spent his time in the local library where he particularly enjoyed picture books that to him revealed “everything that is good about feeling well and having positive thoughts about being alive.” (Arnold Lobel, 2016)
From his beginning as an author in the second grade, Arnold Lobel went on to create Frog and Toad Are Friends, a series of four beloved books that tell the simple tales of two amphibians who still delight kids today as they begin to explore their own creative power as readers.
Arnold Lobel. (2016, April 30). Biography of Arnold Lobel. https://arnoldlobel.wordpress.com/2016/04/30/biography-of-arnold-lobel-2/ First People of America; Native Americans. (n.d.). https://www.firstpeople.us/ Frogs and Toads of New York State Conservationist Center. (n.d.). www.dce.ny.gov. Retrieved July 8, 2023, from https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/frogs.pdf.
Kim, M. (2023, May 17). Fossil reveals transitional link from fins to feet. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ health-science/fossil-reveals-transitional-link-from-fins-to-feet/2014/01/13/b02100c6-7a3a-11e3-8963-b4b654bcc9b2_story.html
Tattersall, I. (2010). Paleontology: A Brief History of Life. Templeton Foundation Press.
The Woman who Fell from the Sky - A Seneca Legend. (n.d.). https://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/TheWomanWhoFellFromtheSky-Seneca.html
E. Merwin is an award-winning author of fantasy, fables and verifiable ghost stories—with Northman’s Daughter winning the Next Generation Book Award, 1st prize for regional fiction. As of 2023, Nightmarish New York is her most recent of ten spooky titles written for Bearport Publishing and its popular series for young readers. Visit: www.emerwin.com
by J. Carter Merwin
We bet every time you count, you’ll come up with a different number as these frogs tend to appear and then dive under a leaf when you’re not looking!
Wordsearch: Catskill Serenade
Catskill Mountain Foundation presents
SATURDAY, AUGUST 19 @ 8:00 PM
PROFESSOR LOUIE & THE CROWMATIX
GREG DAYTON | WALT MICHAEL & COMPANY
Professor Louie & The Crowmatix repertoire is steeped in rock ‘n’ roll, blues, Gospel and American Roots music and features a compelling collection of original and traditional tunes.
Greg Dayton is a singer/songwriter with influences spanning electric and acoustic blues, funk, and rock.
Considered to be a virtuoso of tremendous influence in the revival of the hammered dulcimer, Walt Michael’s wide repertoire ranges from old-time Southern Appalachian, to Celtic, to breathtaking original compositions.
ORPHEUM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 6050 Main Street, Tannersville, NY 12485
Tickets Purchased Ahead: $30 adults/$25 seniors/$7 students
At the Door: $35 adults/$30 seniors/$7 students
Scan me to purchase tickets
Catskill Mountain Foundation is supported in part by New York State Council on the Arts, Greene County Cultural Fund administered by the Greene County Legislature, Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation, Royce Family Foundation, Samuel and Esther Doctorow Fund, Orville and Ethel Slutzky Family Foundation, Platte Clove Bruderhof Community, Bank of Greene County Charitable Foundation, Greene County Youth Bureau, Marshall & Sterling Insurance, All Souls’ Church, Stewart’s Shops, Windham Foundation, A. Lindsay and Olive B. O’Connor Foundation, and by private donations.
Purchase tickets at catskillmtn.org or 518 263 2063
Rabbits can both charm and infuriate Greene County gardeners. Like groundhogs and deer, they will eat food plants and flowers alike, sometimes destroying a whole season’s planting of a particular variety. And yet a young rabbit ambling through the morning mists, nibbling on some clover here and—yes, some lettuce there—is also an enchanting reminder that our built environment is still home to many wild creatures.
The rabbits we are most likely to see in the Hudson Valley are Eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus). Abundant in the grassy meadows of the Midwest, they multiplied and spread here after New England’s forests were mostly cut down. Our native species, the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis), is still found in scattered areas from Maine to southern New York State, but it’s rare now and being considered for protection as an endangered species. It’s hard to distinguish the two species. One subtle difference is that the New England cottontail sports some black hairs between the ears and on their inside edges, but genetic testing is a more reliable way to tell these rabbits apart.
All kinds of rabbits have many more taste buds than humans, an average of about 17,000 compared to our 2,000-8,000. Maybe that’s why they especially relish greens, enjoying clover, grasses,
and most of the leafy crops in our gardens: lettuce, kale, bean plants, turnip greens, carrot tops, even the prickly leaves of zucchini. They are masters at getting inside a fenced area if they find just one gap small enough to squeeze through. Fortunately, there a few garden plants they won’t normally eat, including herbs with their intense flavors, as well as garlic and onions, and plants in the mustard family. Planting strong-smelling herbs next to other leafy vegetables may trick the rabbits into avoiding both herbs and vegetables. Another tactic might be planting spaces near the garden with clover, which rabbits especially enjoy, to lure them away from the vegetables.
But the only foolproof way to keep rabbits out of the vegetable garden is a good wire-mesh fence. It’s helpful to bury the first foot or so, bending the bottom of the mesh into an L shape that projects away from the garden in order to keep out diggers like chipmunks and groundhogs as well as rabbits. If the fence is a good five or six feet tall, rabbits can’t jump over it, and deer, who can, will usually browse elsewhere rather than trouble themselves to jump. Good fences, they say, make good neighbors. Those fluffy white tails and long ears will charm us more if their owner is not ravaging our vegetable beds.
Summer in the Catskills is one of the most magical times of the year here, and August is about as summer as it gets! Whether you are enjoying a hike, tackling some single track on your mountain bike, exploring our towns and villages, or taking a swim in one of our legal swimming holes, the Catskills are an awesome summer destination. In August, a lush green carpet of trees, ferns and other plants are laid out across the mountains and ready for you to enjoy. Plus the warmer temperatures make just about any outdoor activities in the mountains perfect! Hot summer days with cool evenings make this the perfect time to be in the Catskills.
When on the trails and visiting popular locations, Catskill Stewards (catskillcenter.org/catskillstewardsprogram), managed by the Catskill Center will greet you, while volunteers from the Catskill Center’s Fire Tower Project (catskillfiretowers.org) will welcome you to the Catskill Park’s six fire towers and their amazing vistas.
August is also the time of fresh farm produce. So be sure to stop at a farm stand, enjoy the Catskills, be sure to take advantage of all that the region has to offer, and shop local!
The Blue Hole is a day-use area and is part of the Rondout Creek, which flows through the Peekamoose Valley to the Rondout Reservoir. The reservoir provides almost half of the drinking water for
more than 9 million people in the New York City metropolitan area.
A permit is required for all visitors to the Peekamoose Blue Hole and the entire nearby Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor along the Rondout Creek, including campers, picknickers, hikers, and anglers everyday between May 15 and September 15 of each year.
Permits are $10, and must be acquired at least 24 hours in advance, but no more than a week in advance. Only advance registrations will be accepted. No walk-in registrations are available. Permits must list the names of all members of the visiting party when making the registration. Names can be changed up to one day in advance. Each permit will be linked to a vehicle, and the permit must be displayed on/in the vehicle. Permits can be acquired from Reserve America at newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/.
For more information on the Peekamoose Blue Hole and Riparian Corridor permits, please call the Catskills Visitor Center at 845 688 3369.
Catskill Center’s Thorn Preserve in Woodstock, provides an expanse of grassland habitat that supports a fantastic collection of butterflies. An incredible 32 butterfly species have been
documented on the Preserve, and one butterfly that thrives here is the Baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton). During the annual North American Butterfly Association (NABA) Count conducted on June 28, 2020 at Thorn Preserve, citizen scientists estimated there were 3,500 Baltimore checkerspot adults flying that one day.
Like other butterflies, a Baltimore checkerspot undergoes complete metamorphosis and has three distinct life stages. The adult Baltimore checkerspot butterfly has four black wings with white and orange markings. The wingspan is less than 2.5 inches. Adult Baltimore checkerspots feed on nectar from flowering plants that bloom during their flight period, such as milkweeds, dogbane, mountain mint species, wild rose, and wild blackberry.
From June to July, adult Baltimore checkerspots mate, and the females lay clusters of 100 to 700 eggs on the underside of a single leaf. Then the adults die. When the eggs hatch, each black-headed caterpillar has alternating bands of black and yellow on its body, with spines protruding from the alternating bands. Checkerspot caterpillars feed voraciously on English plantain and beardtongue plants through the summer. They remain on the plants until the first freeze and then seek shelter in the dead grass and leaf litter to overwinter, which is different from most other native butterflies and moths. The checkerspot caterpillars that survive become active again in late spring when they pupate in a white chrysalis with bright orange-yellow and black markings. Within two weeks, the checkerspot emerges as an adult butterfly, and the cycle repeats.
Interestingly, the Baltimore checkerspot, a native species that primarily depended on a native plant, turtlehead (Chelone glabra), as its host plant, has adapted to feed on non-native plants— English plantain and common plantain. Since plantain is abundant in the meadows of the Thorn Preserve, and because the Catskill Center schedules its yearly
mowing after the caterpillars move into the leaf litter, we hope to continue to support a burgeoning population of Baltimore checkerspots. If you’d like to see a profusion of checkerspots, take a walk along the Thorn Preserve trails in late June. Hopefully you’ll be treated to the annual flight of this striking butterfly.
Learn more about the Catskill Center’s Thorn Preserve at catskillcenter.org/thorn-preserve and visit the Preserve, which is located at 55 John Joy Road in Woodstock.
Get ready for a summer hiking challenge and help preserve the Catskills as the Catskill Center celebrates its annual “Hike for the Catskills.” The four-week challenge involves setting a campaign goal and then hitting the trails.
“From practically unlimited vistas from our highest mountain peaks, to the immersive forest solitude in our remote creek valleys, the Catskills have a plethora of beautiful areas to explore and enjoy. With ‘Hike for the Catskills,’ it is our sincere hope that folks take the time to enjoy our mountains and trails in a respectful way,” said Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center. “‘Hike for the Catskills’ is the perfect way to blend outdoor recreation, exploration of our amazing forever wild Catskill Park, and raising funds for the Catskill Center to do the important work of protecting our beautiful Catskills.”
“Hike for the Catskills” is an opportunity to explore natural beauty and help us protect critical Catskills habitats, keep our land and waters wild, and advocate for our communities and the Catskill Park. We aim to raise $15,000 with this event.
The Catskill Center has provided some suggested hikes, including ones for all abilities, from level paths to ones around 3,500 feet. Some of the paths are accessible to individuals who use wheelchairs, including those at our Catskills Visitor Center.
Since 1969, the Catskill Center has led the effort to protect the more than 700,000 acres of the Catskill Park and Catskill Forest Preserve. Our mission is to protect and foster the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of the Catskill region.
Find out more and register at hikeforthecatskills.com.
Located at 5096 Route 28 in Mount Tremper, the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center (CVC) is the official visitor center for the Catskill Park. A program of the Catskill Center, staff are available at the CVC with information, maps and all the advice needed to plan a Catskill adventure. The CVC is open every day in the summer months from 9:30 am to 4 pm. Visitors can get their Catskill questions answered in person, receive tourism literature, and make purchases at the CVC’s shop that includes hiking maps, regional books, and much more. CVC staff are also available to answer questions about the Catskills and the Catskill Park via email at info@catskillcenter.org or phone at 845 688 3369 during normal business hours.
In addition to tourism services, there are 1.5 miles of trails on the CVC’s grounds, including the 0.5 mile long accessible Interpretive Loop Trail, which are open to the public daily. The 80-foot tall Upper Esopus Fire Tower is also open daily to visitors, offering unrivaled views of the surrounding mountains and Esopus Creek valley. Picnic tables are available on site for those who wish to enjoy a picnic lunch.
Visitors can explore the ever expanding resources available online for the CVC on the web at catskillsvisitorcenter.org, the CVC’s Facebook page at facebook.com/catskillsvisitorcenter, and the CVC on Instagram at @catskills.visitor.center.
For years, my husband and I have been trying to find ways to better communicate the love that we have for the outdoors and for hiking, to our friends and family who don’t necessarily get out as much as we do. One of the ways we discovered how to do that was to start a YouTube channel about our hiking adventures. Thus was born the idea for The Hiker Trash Husbands, which you can now find on YouTube with lots of hikes in the Catskills at youtube.com/thehikertrashhusbands.
For both of us, The Hiker Trash Husbands is not only a way to show friends and family our hiking adventures, but an effort to provide positive LGBTQ+ representation in the hiking world. We’re looking forward to showcasing our own hiking adventures, along with finding other queer outdoors folks to highlight as we build this effort out. You can learn more by visiting our website at hikertrashhusbands.com.
If you’re in the Catskills and have cable provided by MTC, you can catch our videos on CatskillsAir, MTC Channel 1.
Consisting of representatives from local governments and organizations and chaired by the Catskill Center, the Catskill Park Advisory Committee (CPAC) was established to facilitate communication within the Park and provide a forum for communities, user groups and stakeholders of the Catskill Park and the Catskill Watershed to discuss issues of regional importance. The purpose of the Committee is to provide assistance, advice and guidance to the DEC, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and other land managers in the management of the New York State Forest Preserve, the Catskill Park and the Catskill Watershed.
Meetings are held quarterly and are open to the public. If you’d like to learn more, join the mailing list or attend the next meeting, please contact the Catskill Center at 845 586 2611 or email them at cccd@catskillcenter.org with CPAC in the subject asking to be added to the mailing list. Please note that for the time being CPAC meetings will be held virtually. You must be on the mailing list to receive the email to register for the virtual meeting.
Local recreational opportunities are always changing, and by visiting the Catskills Visitor Center’s Trail Conditions page you can now see updates related to the Catskill Park, Catskill trails, Catskill campgrounds and camping, Catskill boating, skiing, and more at catskillsvisitorcenter.org.
The natural beauty, the majesty of the mountains, the protection of the Catskill Forest Preserve, the region’s natural and cultural resources, all need your help! By supporting the work of the Catskill Center, you support: stewardship of our Catskill Park and its vast natural resources; the Center’s collaborative spirit as we convene, create partnerships and facilitate discussions that benefit the region; and the Center’s work to support education, arts and culture throughout the Catskills.
To support the work of the Catskill Center, become a member online through their website at www.catskillcenter.org/ donate or donate by mail: Checks made out to the “Catskill Center” can be mailed to Catskill Center, PO Box 504, Arkville, NY 12406.
Time in nature, and outdoor recreation has proven to be essential for all.
Especially during uncertain times, all of us, from seasoned outdoor enthusiasts, to families heading out to their local park for the first time, can turn to community and simple reminders about how to safely & responsibly recreate outdoors while caring for one another.
The Recreate Responsibly guidelines came together to offer a starting point for getting outside to keep yourself and others safe while working to maintain access to our beloved natural spaces.
Read on to learn the primary tips on how to responsibly recreate outdoors. Each edition of the guidelines have been developed by bringing together topline issues and experts to distill key concepts that when implemented, build a community of care in the outdoors.
Learn more at recreateresponsibly.org
Check the status of the place you want to visit for closures, fire restrictions, and weather.
Reservations and permits may be required. Make sure you have the gear you need and a back-up plan
Jeff Senterman is the Executive Director of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development in Arkville, NY, a member of the Board of Directors for the American Hiking Society, the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce. Jeff graduated with a degree in Environmental Science from Lyndon State College and worked for many years as an Environmental Planner in New England before coming back to New York and the Catskills in the nonprofit sector. To learn more about the work of the Catskill Center in the Catskills, visit catskillcenter.org.
Be an active part of making the outdoors safe and welcoming for all identities and abilities.
There is space for everyone and countless outdoor activities. Be kind to all who use the outdoors and nature differently.
Respect the land, water, wildlife, and Native communities. Follow the seven Leave No Trace principles. Learn more at LeaveNoTrace.org
We all have a responsibility to sustain the places we love. Volunteer, donate, and advocate for the outdoors.
The Catskill hiking season is in high gear, and though most outdoor adventures go as planned, with all participants arriving back home without a scratch, not all go smoothly. As we all have learned, life sometimes has other plans, and often without warning. The best solution is to be prepared with a few essential items, which can make all the difference when the unexpected happens. The weekly newsletter put out by the NYDEC recounts many instances of hikers getting lost or hurt on the trail, most of which could have been avoided or minimized if the hiker had done some better planning and packing.
In this article I will share my opinions on the best way to have a safe hike and be left with fond memories, instead of a horror story. Included will be a list of emergency items to carry in your daypack, and a few hiking tips which might save you some grief.
I guess the first step is to see the wisdom in doing some preparation. On any busy hiking day I see a large proportion of hikers headed up the mountain with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, a water bottle, and a cell phone. I get the feeling that they are certain that the smart phone can handle all emergencies. This is largely true when down in “civilization,” but on the mountain tops, it has limited use.
I have actually heard people say that they don’t need to carry any emergency gear, because “Nothing has ever happened to me.” Some faulty reasoning to be sure. Eventually something will happen. Perhaps you’ll miss the correct trail turn-off or lose the trail completely. Maybe an unexpected storm quickly overtakes
you, or the hike took longer than you thought and you are now hiking down the mountain in the dark. Perhaps you, or someone in your group gets hurt and must move slowly, again forcing you to descend in the dark. The worst case is that you might have to spend the night on the mountain, alone, or to attend to an injured hiker. So, what should you pack?
This first list would include some items which would make up the bare minimum that each adult should carry.
• A GOOD flashlight or headlamp. Please don’t rely on your cell phone as your flashlight. A headlamp allows your hands to be free.
• A large plastic garbage bag to rest on, along with a mylar sheet (space blanket) to wrap yourself in which will keep you warm and dry.
• A lighter or matches along with some firestarter material.
• A sweater and hat. Polyester Fleece is the lightest, and warmest.
• A compass and map or GPS unit or cell phone with map app.
• A whistle
• A rain jacket or poncho
• A pocketknife or better yet, a multi-tool
• A plastic bag with tissues
• Some first aid items including sunscreen and bug spray
• A couple of energy bars (these are in addition to your lunch and drink)
Other things you might consider are a metal cup, a bandana, a second source of light, a length of rope, and extra shirt. As you gain experience, you will likely adjust what you carry. When you get your daypack set up, leave everything in it. This way you can just grab it and go when a hike opportunity pops up, and you won’t have to waste time hunting around the house for what you need, which will cause you to forget things. You can just put in your lunch and drink, and head out.
Most of the time, the hike goes off without a hitch, but you should face the reality that the time may come when you must spend the night on the mountain, with only the items you have on you.
Imagine the worst-case scenario. As evening approaches, it will get dark, very dark. A cold damp breeze will develop. You will hear critters moving about in the woods and your imagination may turn that harmless weasel into a hungry bear. How much more tolerable your unplanned overnight will be if you carried a few items in a fanny pack or daypack. The weight of these combined items is three or four pounds, well worth the small effort compared to the benefit they will supply if called upon.
This pack-full of prophylactic provisions is necessary for all adults to carry, but what about the children?
When I was young, us kids would often debate to see who got to carry some equipment. It was an honor to take on some responsibility, a sign of growing up. In the last couple of decades, I’ve noticed that even the older kids usually carry nothing, and instead let mom and dad carry all the gear. If we do the math … we should realize that the ones most likely to wander off and get lost are the kids. Since we know that is the case, the first step is to make sure your kids wear some bright colors, so they are easier to keep track of. Wearing camouflage may be cool but is not so cool when searching in the forest for a camo clad kid. The second step is to have each kid in your group carry a few items. Cargo shorts/ pants or a small fanny pack will do. Here is a list of a few items each kid should have.
• A whistle
• A large plastic bag and space blanket
• A flashlight
• A couple energy bars
• Perhaps a hoodie tied around their waist.
• Small water bottle
Think about the difference between your kid lost in the woods overnight with NOTHING, and the one who has at least these few things. As the child gets older and more responsible, you can add the fire-starting supplies and a pocketknife, and eventually more equipment as time goes by.
Here are a few tips I have gleaned from my hiking experiences.
• Make sure you understand where you plan to hike. Check out a map and look up the trail online to make sure of distance and difficulty. Many mountains have more than one trail to the summit, so be careful to take the correct one.
• Let someone know where you are going, and the latest time you should be back. If they don’t hear from you by that time, and cannot contact you, they should contact 833-NYS-RANGERS or 911.
• Avoid pure cotton clothing such as blue jeans and flannel shirts and use nylon or poly which dry faster. A proper pair of hiking pants are a worthwhile investment.
• Check the weather forecast the morning of hike. Weather changes rapidly. If the weather gets bad, turn back and return another day.
• Keep the hiking group together, and keep an especially close eye on the kids. Don’t let them get far ahead and out of sight.
• If you bring your dog, please keep it under control. Understand that your dog’s antics may not be as amusing to others as they are to you.
There are lots of great trails to hike, critters to see, and views to enjoy in the Catskills. A bit of preparation will allow you to have great stories to share, instead of disturbing accounts of adventures gone awry.
The Catskill 4000 Club occasionally offers Outdoor Skills hikes, if you are interested in attending one, send an email to climbapeak@gmail.com.
Paul Misko is a Catskill historian with a focus on the Shandaken area, and John Burroughs. He gives presentations on history and leads hikes with the Catskill 4000 Club. He can be contacted at climbapeak@gmail.com. His blog is at catskillforestadventures.blogspot.com
The term “Beach Read” describes a genre of books with quick, engaging plots making them fun to pick up and hard to put down. The books are meant to be easily tossed into a bag and toted around making them likely to become well-worn. Many “beach reads” feature the words, “beach, summer, shore” in the title and a cover which easily conveys exactly what they are and often, where they take place … some quaint seaside town or tropical island. This then begs the question: can you read a beach read while you are on vacation in the mountains? Of course you can. The following book descriptions and reviews are from Edelweiss, a subscription database for publishers and book buyers. Each has quick engaging plots that are set in the Catskills and are ideal for “Beach Reading in the Mountains.”
Summer at Willow Lake (The Lakeshore Chronicles #1) by Susan Wiggs: The Lakeshore Chronicles have captivated thousands of readers with unforgettable characters, warm humor, and engaging stories. Olivia, Connor and the families and friends of Willow Lake make these emotional romances must-reads.
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland: A family reunion for the ages when two clans convene for the summer at their beloved getaway in the Catskills—perfect for fans of Dirty Dancing and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman: This “tale of delicious revenge” (USA Today) is also “a punchy little comedy of manners …. Think Jane Austen in the Catskills” (Chicago Tribune).
Subtle Bodies by Norman Rush: A sophisticated romp through the tribulations and joys of marriage and friendship, a group of college friends reunites two decades after graduation.
Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews: “Dark comedy meets twisty thriller …. Couldn’t be more fun.”—People magazine.
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena: A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway … but when the storm hits, no one is getting away.
That Weekend by Kara Thomas: Three Best Friends, A Lake House, A Secret Trip—What could go wrong?
Kaaterskill Falls by Allegra Goodman: It is 1976. And the tiny upstate New York town of Kaaterskill Falls is bustling with summer people in dark coats, fedoras, and long, modest dresses. “The brushstrokes seemingly casual yet sure, always the exact—and unlikely—equivalent of a shadow or reflected gleam.”—Anna Shapiro, New York Newsday
Each of these books captures the mystery and mystique of the Catskills, regardless of the era in which they are set. We can’t think of a better way than to spend the summer reading these “mountain beach reads” and then setting off to discover the locales in which they take place.
Intrigued by any of these titles or want some more recommendations for a great beach read? Visit Briars & Brambles Books at the corner of Route 296 and South Street in Windham—Jen or another member of her knowledgeable staff will help you pick out your next page-turner.
Discover this extraordinary collection in performance, music education, and cultural exploration
The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum reopens to the public on Fridays and Saturdays, from 11am to 3pm. The docent tour is approximately 30 minutes. Masks are required. Visitors will be asked not to touch the pianos or other artifacts on display in the museum. CMF staff have established healthful guidelines for your visit to the museum to provide as safe an environment as possible for visitors and staff. We welcome you and look forward to showing you our extraordinary collection of historical pianos from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
Doctorow Center for the Arts
7971 Main Street, Route 23A, Hunter, New York • www.catskillmtn.org
Hours: Fridays & Saturdays 11am-3pm.
Please email ppm@catskillmtn.org or call 518 263 2063 to confirm hours of operation
The CMF Piano Performance Museum is funded in part by the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation
Join Hanford Mills Museum for our Agriculture Exploration
Day on Saturday, August 12 as we celebrate the agricultural heritage of the local area. During this Exploration Day, visitors can see demonstrations of the steel attrition mill grinding corn. This machine is the same one that the Hanfords purchased and operated starting in 1912, and the steel mill along with the cup and elevator system will all be powered by our 1926 Fitz overshot waterwheel. You can also try your hand at corn grinding with our hand operated corn grinding machines.
The Learning Lab at Hanford Mills, which reopened in June, will offer a variety of hands-on activities and books for kids and families. Also, Intelligent Green Solutions will be on-site to talk about solar power for homes and businesses. Food will not be sold on site, but visitors are welcome to bring their lunch and enjoy it at our picnic tables.
Hanford Mills Museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays 10 am until 5 pm through October 15. Guided tours of our water powered sawmill, gristmill, and woodworking machines are offered each day at 10:30 am, 12 pm, 1:30 pm and 3 pm. You can
reserve your tour ahead of time by visiting hanfordmills.org or calling 607 278 5744.
Check back on our website hanfordmills.org and our social media channels for details about the Exploration Days and other events at Hanford Mills Museum in 2023.
Hanford Mills Museum operates an authentic water- and steampowered historic site, which includes a sawmill, gristmill, and woodworking shop. The mission of Hanford Mills Museum is to inspire audiences of all ages to explore connections among energy, technology, natural resources, and entrepreneurship in rural communities with a focus on sustainable choices. The museum is listed on the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places.
Hanford Mills is located at 51 County Highway 12 in East Meredith, at the intersection of Delaware County Routes 10 & 12, just 10 miles from Oneonta, and 15 miles from Delhi. For more information, visit hanfordmills.org or call 607 278 5744.
July was Social Wellness Awareness Month. Which got me thinking and you might also ask, as I did, what is Social Wellness, and how does it impact our Catskills? New experiences beget new terms, so we invite you to read on, please!!
Without question, the last few years have been incredibly challenging and complicated by government directives and lockdowns and many types of restrictions of a personal nature. Mandates for all to wear this and stand here were limiting to our social expression and personal freedoms and they separated us from the herd, more importantly, from our own herd.
To many of us, it doesn’t seem so difficult to experience social wellness, but those who became entrenched deeply in worry and fear during this virus outbreak had a very difficult go of it, so why not reach out to them and include them in ways to have them re-enter society gently with caring, loving support.
Many folks of all ages found that their lives and socialization had been placed on pause and it is now time to get together and experience their social wellness. Our corner of paradise here in the mountains is the perfect location for them to join together for fun and increase their formula for social wellness success right away.
Collectively, we have just experienced an overwhelming case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Having a shared experience and having anyone to discuss these challenging times with are of the utmost importance. Social wellness promotes social support
By Greg Maddennetworks, which play a crucial role in providing emotional support, reducing stress, and improving overall mental well-being.
Recently, our healthcare and governmental leaders have flashed the all clear sign that the pandemic is over and visitors of all ages are flocking to and filling up our fantastic rentals, hotels and airbnb’s. They are looking for healthy venues to gather again socially and our Catskills offer them plenty of opportunity to stretch out and enjoy human companionship again.
“Human beings are social creatures by nature,” said Dr. John T. Cacioppo, Psychologist, The University of Chicago. “Our wellbeing is intricately tied to the quality of our social connections. Research consistently shows that individuals with strong social networks experience better physical and mental health outcomes, including reduced stress levels, increased happiness, and improved overall well-being.”
So, how is your social wellness quotient and how do we adjust it and just exactly what is it? Newsflash: there is no SWQ (social wellness quotient), at least not yet. Perhaps soon.
There is however a “WQ” or Wellness Quotient that measures nutrition, stress, environment, activity and adequate rest. There could be other factors like proper nutrition and hydration and belonging which brings us back to social wellness that needs a healthy formula leading to a quotient so you can rate how you are doing, but we digress.
2023/24 FIRST SESSION
STARTS SEPTEMBER 11
CLASS SCHEDULE POSTS SEPTEMBER 1
PRE-BALLET: Ages 3-5 basic technique games set to music
BALLET I: Ages 5 and up, beginner ballet
BALLET IIa: Ages 7 and up, some dance training required
BALLET IIb: Intermediate, pre-pointe, beginning pointe
BALLET III: Advanced
CONTEMPORARY: Ages 11 and up
ODP students are welcomed into the casts of The Nutcracker and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The Program gives a yearly performance in the spring. There are no fees for participation in the performances
• Class size is limited so register early
• Classes are $10 a class paid in 8 week sessions
This thing called “social wellness” is crucial for individuals to lead full and exciting lives and experience a sense of belonging and connectedness. That being said, many find solace in solitude from time to time. It refers to your state of well-being in relation to your interactions and relationships with others. It involves maintaining healthy and satisfying relationships, having a dependable and trustworthy support system, and actively participating in and contributing to one’s community. #BelongingMatters
Adjusting now into the post-COVID-19 pandemic period, social wellness has become increasingly important for so many of us for several reasons. The loners amongst us found this time period to be easier for them as they didn’t feel coerced to engage with others on a regular basis, while many found these times to be beyond challenging.
The pandemic forced us to physically distance ourselves, leading to mandated isolation and a reduction in social skills. Now, as restrictions ease and our focus returns to more interactive experiences, it allows individuals to rebuild and strengthen their connections with friends, family, and their community. This historic timeout in our lives has taken a toll on our collective mental and emotional health, with immediate increased rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
Many individuals faced significant disruptions and challenges during the pandemic, such as job losses, financial strain, and major changes in their daily routines. Building networks for your social wellness helps foster resilience by providing a support system to navigate through difficulties and adapt to new circumstances. The pandemic illuminated many topics and emphasized the importance of human connection and a sense of belonging.
“The quality and quantity of our social connections have a profound influence on our health and longevity,” states Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Psychologist from Brigham Young University. “Studies consistently show that individuals with strong social ties have a lower risk of premature death, comparable to wellestablished risk factors such as smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure. Social wellness is a powerful predictor of overall health.”
Lately, there is a vast expansion, or explosion even, to return boomerang style to this form of sociability, reminiscent of the gold rush of years past. This time however, the focused rush and its value is more personal than monetary, as the end game payoff is internal satisfaction of spirit, mind and body.
Strengthening and prioritizing social wellness enables individuals to feel included, valued, and part of a community, which enhances overall well-being and helps combat feelings of loneliness and isolation. Social wellness is essential for the collective recovery of societies post-pandemic. It encourages people to come together, support one another, and work towards building stronger communities that are more resilient, compassionate, and inclusive.
The task ahead is to reintroduce ourselves personally and professionally to others, build our own mental health support network, adapt to our changing environment and relocate our sense
of belonging and recover from the shared trauma we all experienced. As adults, we are coping at best, but what of the children. This is a very important time to include the kids now as they are still learning their own social skills and need guidance. So get out and stretch your limbs and be free to move about the Catskills.
For decades, the Catskill Mountains have been a playground for thousands each year, looking to seek a higher form of wellness and a balance to their life, whether they are from the northeast or beyond our horizons. This year, the Region is swelling with those choosing to leave behind the isolation of the pandemic and reconnecting to their social wellness by the carloads.
Seemingly the recreation we offer residents and visitors throughout the calendar year here in the mountains, lakes and streams are the perfect settings for gatherings and reconnecting our human spirits with each other. So go for a swim, take a bike ride, hike our magnificent peaks, jump on a chairlift and enjoy breathtaking views or prepare the skis and snowboards for next season. Get your group and head out for a meal or an ice cream cone before or after shopping our unique shops presented throughout the region.
Dr. Emma Seppälä, Stanford University states, “Social connection is not only essential for our individual well-being but also crucial for creating thriving communities. Research shows that when individuals have strong social ties and actively participate in their communities, they experience a greater sense of purpose, increased happiness, and overall life satisfaction.”
Recreating in our Catskills is the perfect wellness prescription according to Ed Ullmann, the Chief Pharmacist at Wellness Rx Pharmacy in Tannersville and the visionary healthcare professional who created Phoenicia’s Pharmacy for the Public Good, America’s first nonprofit community pharmacy, He prescribes the following: “Corral your friends or family, secure lodging or campsites for your group, select mutually enjoyable activities that allow participation of many and relax and enjoy the experience.”
I’m biased here, but remember, it’s always better in the Catskills and we’ve already had social wellness approval here for decades. Reach out to others and enjoy our region !!
Greg Madden is the Development Manager at Wellness Rx Pharmacy where he also practices ancient healing modalities like Tui-Na Medical Massage and BioPhoton Light Therapy.
More at IlluminatingWellness.care.
WellnessRx, Pharmacy for the Public Good is America’s first nonprofit Community Pharmacy and Wellness Center in Tannersville, NY (WellnessRxLLC.com) and in April in Phoenicia, NY (PharmacyforthePublicGood.org), both located on Main Street.
DOCTOROW CENTER FOR THE ARTS
7971 Main Street Village of Hunter
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
PLEASE visit catskillmtn.org or call 518 263 4702 in advance. Shows open on Friday & run through Sunday.
Ticket Prices: $11 / $9 seniors & children under 11
View each week’s schedule and view trailers for our films online at www.catskillmtn.org
• We strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance. Please visit www.catskillmtn.org and click on the film you’d like to see to choose your showing and reserve your seat!
www.catskillmtn.org • 518 263 4702
• Presents and hosts more than 20 performances and lectures.
• Offers free or subsidized arts programs that are enjoyed by hundreds of local children.
• Operates the Catskill Mountain Foundation Gift Shop, featuring a curated selection of books and gifts from around the Region and the world.
• Is the home of the Piano Performance Museum, a rare collection of historic playable pianos.
• Runs a dozen studio arts programs, with students from around the U.S.
• Hosts arts residencies bringing many artists to our community for extended stays.
• Publishes the monthly Guide magazine, distributed throughout the Catskill Region, at New York State Thruway rest stops and in Albany.
• Shows more than 100 films on our three screens in Hunter. q
You may be able to double your contribution if you work for or are retired from a company that has a matching
program. To make your match, simply obtain a form from your company’s Matching Gift Coordinator and send it along with your contribution.
This is just a sampling of all of the events in the Catskills this August. To request that your event be included in future calendars, please email tafts@catskillmtn.org
Please call ahead or visit the website for each event to confirm details, including any admission costs.
Delhi Farmers Market
Stop by for your fresh produce and products straight from the farm!
Location: Courthouse Square, Delhi
Hours: Every Wednesday, 9am-2pm
Online Meditation with Bushel
Bushel is hosting online meditation sessions that include guided meditation, group interaction, and support. New sitters and seasoned sitters are welcome. Meditation sessions are free and open to all, but donations are welcome to support this program.
Location: Join via Zoom
Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30-7:00 am
More Info & Zoom Link: bushelcollective.org/meditation-calendar/
Bluegrass Camp 2023
Kimber Ludiker hosts a week of bluegrass instruction and jamming for guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bass, vocals and songwriting. Jam with inspirational teachers hand-picked to cultivate a magical musical environment.
Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge
More Info: ashokancenter.org
Roots Rock Revival
Roots Rock Revival is a four night, five day allinclusive exploratory adventure featuring master classes, jam sessions & live performances.
Location: Full Moon Resort, 12 Valley View Road, Big Indian More Info: rootsrockrevival.com
SELF: Portraits + Places
The premise for this exhibition is the notion of “self” as reflected in the work of three artists— Brenda Goodman, Julie Heffernan, and Elisa Jensen.
Location: Kleinert/James Center for the Arts, 36 Tinker Street, Woodstock
More Info: woodstockguild.org
Helane Levine-Keating & Gary Mayer
Featured Solo Artists
Two Solo Shows at Longyear Gallery: Helane Levine-Keating—Silence and Flux; and Gary Mayer—A Divided Eye. Plus Members’ Group Show.
Location: Longyear Gallery, 785 Main Street, Margaretville
Gallery Hours: Friday-Sunday, 12:00-5:00 pm
More Info: longyeargallery.org
Always … Patsy Cline, Created & originally directed by Ted Swindley
This heartfelt review tells the true story of the country music legend’s unlikely friendship with a fan, Louise Seger, cemented by years of letter-writing. Accompanied by the beloved hits “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Crazy,” and many more, the housewife and the star share the letters and homespun stories of laughter and tears that brought them together.
Location: Shadowland Stages, 157 Canal Street
Ellenville
More Info: shadowlandstages.org
THROUGH AUGUST 13
Hello, Dolly!
The winner of ten Tony Awards including Best Musical when it debuted on Broadway in 1963, with Grammy and Academy Awards to follow, Hello, Dolly! is one of the most beloved and long enduring musicals in the history of Musical Theatre.
Location: Woodstock Playhouse, 103 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock
Time: Fridays & Saturdays @ 7:30 pm; Sundays @ 2:00 pm
More Info: woodstockplayhouse.org
THROUGH AUGUST 31
Twilight Music in the Park
Free live music featuring musicians from the Hudson Valley Folk Guild and beyond.
Location: Walkway Over the Hudson Ulster Welcome Center, 87 Haviland Rd., Highland
Time: Every Thursday, 6:00 pm
More Info: walkway.org
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2
Woodstock School of Art Instructors Exhibition Works by School faculty.
Location: Woodstock School of Art 2470 NY212, Woodstock
Time: Monday-Saturday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm
More Info: woodstockschoolofart.org
In the Palm of Your Hand: A Group Exhibition of Itty-Bitty Works of Art
In the Palm of Your Hand features six artists who push the boundaries of what can be done with imagination and exquisite attention to detail, resulting in irresistible itty-bitty pieces of art.
Location: Women’s Studio Workshop, 722 Binnewater Lane, Rosendale
More Info: wsworkshop.org
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15
Yoga for Gardening with Pamela Martin
Join us for outdoor yoga classes led by Pamela Martin and other local yoga teachers. Learn tips and tricks to avoid injury, and to help support the body during gardening and yard work. A stretch and strength class appropriate for multiple levels. Please bring a mat, water, sunscreen and bug spray. Wear comfortable clothing you can move in. In case of inclement weather, sessions will take place indoors in the Education Center.
Location: Mountain Top Arboretum, 4 Maude Adams Road, Tannersville
Time: 3:15 pm
More Info: mtarboretum.org
THROUGH OCTOBER 2
Shinglekill Falls Market Mondays
Live music, food vendors, craft beverages, fresh produce, breads, eggs, and lots of locally made goods!
Location: Shinglekill Falls, 500 Mountain Avenue, Purling
Times: 4:00-7:00 pm
More Info: On Facebook: Shinglekill Falls Farmers Market
THROUGH OCTOBER 11
Farmers & Makers Market at Tuthilltown Distillery
With an ever-evolving collection of farmers, growers, makers and crafters each week, you’ll want to visit again and again.
Location: Tuthilltown Distillery, 14 Grist Mill Lane, Gardiner
Time: Wednesdays, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
More Info: tuthilltownmarket.com
Woodstock Farm Festival
A celebration of local farmers, producers and artisans.
Location: Mountainview Parking Lot, Rock City Road, Woodstock
Time: Wednesdays, 3:00-7:00 pm
More Info: woodstockfarmfestival.org
THROUGH NOVEMBER 18
Kingston Farmers Market
Weekly farmers market hosting local food vendors, music, and workshops.
Location: Ulster County Courthouse, 285 Wall St., Kingston
Time: Every Saturday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
More Info: kingstonfarmersmarket.org
AUGUST 1
HITS on the Hudson Tuesday II
The HITS Saugerties Series welcomes equestrians for nine weeks of events. The majestic Catskill Mountains provide a sweeping backdrop to this exciting series, that has made its home at HITS-on-the-Hudson since 2004.
Location: HITS-on-the-Hudson 454 Washington Ave. Extension, Saugerties
More Info: hitsshows.com
Magic On Main—
An Intimate Parlor Experience
Join Magician Sean Doolan for a magic show in his private library located in a historic building on Main Street in Windham. Sean will weave his personal story of transitioning from a trial lawyer to a magician in interactive magical routines. In this parlor show, By reservation only, no walkins. Dates and times subject to change without notice, see website for updated calendar.
Location: 5428 NY Route 23 (Main Street), Windham
Times: Shows at 1:00, 3:00, 5:00 & 7:00 pm
Tickets: $20/person
More Info: MagicOnMainWindham.com
Catskill Mountain Foundation is supported in part by New York State Council on the Arts, the Greene County Cultural Fund administered by the Greene County Legislature, The Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation, The Royce Family Foundation, The Samuel and Esther Doctorow Fund, The Orville and Ethel Slutzky Family Foundation, Platte Clove Bruderhof Community, Bank of Greene County Charitable Foundation, The Greene County Youth Bureau, Marshall & Sterling Insurance, All Souls’ Church, Stewarts Shops, Windham Foundation, and by private donations.
Lecture: “History of Twilight Park,” by Joanne Ainsworth
This lecture will discuss the history of Twilight Park, a private community in Haines Falls. There is a suggested donation of $10.
Location: Bronck Museum, 90 County Rt. 42, Coxsackie
Time: 1:00, 3:00 & 5:00 pm
More Info: gchistory.org
Full Moon Sound Bath with Isabelle Delgrance & Stephan Martel
With each month comes a new full moon which represents a new stage in our own personal journey. During the session instruments are played with intuition and the nurturing intention to support clearing and to offer a space for self healing. The power of vibration rebalances the whole system on a physiological level as well as recalibrates the nervous system, bringing a sense of attunement within oneself. Pre-registration required for each event.
Location: West Kortright Centre, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith
Time: 5:30 pm
More Info: westkc.org
Indigo De Souza
ndigo De Souza is an American-Brazilian singersongwriter from Asheville, NC. Her third album, All of This Will End, was released in April 2023.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 1-6
Ulster County Fair
Animals, rides, live entertainment, agricultural exhibits, cotton candy, kettle corn, and so much more at the annual County Fair!
Location: Ulster County Fairgrounds, 249 Libertyville Rd, New Paltz
More Info: ulstercountyfair.com
AUGUST 1-31
Hike for the Catskills
This month-long event is meant for everyone! From complete beginners to expert-level hikers, all are welcome to register. Choose your own hiking goal based on your experience and availability. The Catskill Center will host a variety of hiking events throughout the month, including a kickoff event on August 5 with two guided hikes and an after-party at West Kill Brewing. We will close out the month-long event with a thank-you celebration and awards ceremony with gifts and prizes at our Catskills Visitor Center.
More Info: catskillcenter.org
Inaugural Exhibition at 107 Henry Street: A Sense Of Place: The New Hudson River Valley School
The Hudson Valley has lured generations of African American artists from New York City, looking for the kind of space that inspired the Hudson River School of painters. Most notably among them are exhibited here today David Hammons, sculptors Martin Puryear and Colin Chase, Deborah Priestly and abstract painter Peter Bradley.
Location: TRANSART, 107 Henry Street, Kingston
More Info: transartinc.org
AUGUST 2
Alex Jornov Band
Featuring Alexandra Jornov, vocals; Mark Ormerod and Matt Corsaro, guitar; Chris Macchia, bass; and Chris Ragucci, drums.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 2-6
New York Horse & Pony Show VI
The HITS Saugerties Series welcomes equestrians for nine weeks of events. The majestic Catskill Mountains provide a sweeping backdrop to this exciting series, that has made its home at HITS-on-the-Hudson since 2004.
Location: HITS-on-the-Hudson 454 Washington Ave. Extension, Saugerties
More Info: hitsshows.com
Bluegrass Open House 2023
Enjoy the Bluegrass Camper & Staff Concert, then pick a few tunes at the jam. This is an open community night on the last night of Ashokan’s Bluegrass Camp.
Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge
Time: Optional dinner @ 6:00 pm, concert @ 7:30 pm
More Info: ashokancenter.org
Bossa Blue in the Beer Garden
Bossa Blue delivers an upbeat cool and groovy vibe blending bossa nova, samba, rock and soul over a mix of upbeat originals and reimagined classic rock and pop standards.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
demanding editor-in-chief of a high-end magazine hires a determined millennial fact-checker to work on a groundbreaking essay written by a famous author. The deadline is tight, the essay is dense, and everyone must make a good-faith effort to tell the story honestly.
Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale
Time: Thursday-Saturday @ 7:30, Saturday matinee @ 2:00 pm
More Info: rosendaletheatre.org
AUGUST 3-31
Africans in America and Antiquity – A Season
Long Exhibit by TransArt
The exhibition chronicles the history and culture of people of African descent in the Mid-Hudson Valley of New York State, showcasing recent triumphs and enduring struggles.
Location: Matthewis Persen House Museum 74 John Street, Kingston More Info: transartinc.org
AUGUST 4
Lara Hope & The Ark-Tones
Experience the Northeast’s premier Roots Rock n’ Roll band on “the Rock” while Stockade Tavern is on site crafting cocktails.
It Takes Two: An Evening of Duos
Featuring cello, piano and violin
Faculty and guest artists of the Hunter International Music Festival perform duo pieces by Beethoven, Debussy, Schumann, Schubert and Kodaly.
Location: Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971 Main Street, Hunter
Time: 7:30 pm
More Info: catskillmtn.org
FANCY: Queens of Country Party
Join us in Rainbowland where you’ll dance with somebody, hand in hand to the music of Shania Twain, Kacey Musgraves, Miley Cyrus, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, The Chicks, Loretta Lynn, and more.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 4-6
Phoenicia Festival of the Arts
A 3-day event celebrating The Arts with live performances, a Night Market, Art Markets, Psychics, Community Yoga and Tai Chi, Children’s Arts & Crafts, Improv, Poetry, and much more!
Location: Main Street, Phoenicia
The Zēlos Quartet
The Zēlos Quartet is dedicated to performing a wide array of repertoire ranging from underrepresented contemporary works to transcriptions from the baroque, classical, and romantic eras. Committed to performing on saxophones that fit the acoustical specifications of its inventor, the Zēlos Quartet looks to show the wide range of sounds and colors of the saxophone.
Location: Old School Baptist Church, Route 36 & Cartwright Road, Denver
Time: 7:30 pm
More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org
Durand Jones
Durand Jones is a singer and saxophonist from Hillaryville, LA. Best known as the frontman of soul outfit Durand Jones & The Indications, he released his first solo album in May 2023.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 3-5
Cabaret
Maude Adams Theater Hub
The Kander and Ebb classic set in 1929 Berlin, during the rise of National Socialism and the heyday of dark speakeasy-style clubs where entertainment and decadence entwined.
Location: Outdoors & under the tent at the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Red Barn, 7950 Main Street, Hunter
Time: 7:30 pm each night
More Info: maudeadamstheaterhub.org
Live Theatre: The Lifespan of a Fact
A critically acclaimed 2018 Broadway play, The Lifespan of a Fact is a fast-paced story exploding in blistering comedy and timely relevance. Facts become blurry when they’re twisted for effect in the high-stakes world of publishing. The
Location: Opus 40 Sculpture Park & Museum 356 George Sickle Road, Saugerties
Time: 6:00 pm
More Info: opus40.org
Music on the Belle:
Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra
Free live music series. BBQ, frozen drinks, food trucks, gondola rides, climbing wall, lawn games. Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra is a Grammy Award winning polka music band.
Location: Belleayre Mountain, 181 Galli Curci, Road, Highmount
Time: 6:00-9:00 pm
More Info: belleayre.com
First Fridays Catskill
Stroll Main Street, Catskill on the 1st Friday of every month. Local shops are open late, most until 8 pm, offering specials like sips & snacks, pop-ups, music, discounts, and FUN!
Location: Main Street & Bridge Street, Catskill
More Info: firstfridayscatskill.com
Walton First Fridays
Local shops in Walton stay open late with deals and events for the community to enjoy!
Location: Walton
More Info: instagram.com/waltonfirstfridays
“We’ll Meet Again”:
A Victory Days WWII Bond Rally
Featuring Heritage Music Gathering All Stars, Bob Hope, USO Memorabilia, Tribute to Wartime Nurses, BBQ, Ice Cream Social, Samples of WWII Homefront/Battlefield Rations. Event is FREE. Period attire is encouraged.
Location: Windham Civic & Performing Arts
Center, 5379 Route 23, Windham
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: communityofwindhamfoundation.org
More Info: vargagallery.com
AUGUST 4-20
Toliver & Wakeman
Kyle Bass’s intimate new play dramatizes the Civil War experiences of two actual historical characters from two very different backgrounds. Toliver Holmes was a young black man born into slavery in Virginia who escaped to New York, changed his name to avoid capture, and mustered into the Union Army’s 26th Regiment of Colored Troops (NY), later settling in Delhi, NY. Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, a young white woman born in Bainbridge, NY, disguised herself as a man and mustered into the Union Army—the 153rd New York State Volunteers—using the alias Lyons Wakeman. A world premiere.
Location: Franklin Stage Company, 25 Institute Street, Franklin
Time: Thursday-Saturday @ 7:30 pm; Saturday Matinee @ 3:00 pm; Sunday @ 5:00 pm
More Info: franklinstagecompany.org
AUGUST 5
Fairy Garden Day: Fairy House Construction
Made Simple with Maureen Garcia
In this outdoor workshop, we will forage and gather nature supplies throughout the Arboretum. Utilizing our finds, we will construct oneof-a-kind fairy house structures throughout the Arboretum’s magical fairy garden! Techniques and tricks of the tiny trade will be shared and demonstrated.
Location: Mountain Top Arboretum, 4 Maude Adams Road, Tannersville
Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm
More Info: mtarboretum.org
Maverick Family Saturdays: Priscila Navarro, piano
Peruvian pianist Priscila Navarro performs solo recitals, chamber works, and a large selection of concerti with orchestras throughout the
world. Her talent has been widely recognized and she has been awarded the first prize at several international competitions. These short interactive events, long a Maverick tradition, are designed for enjoyment by children in grades K-6. Admission is free.
Location: Maverick Concerts 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Time: 11:00 am
More Info: maverickconcerts.org
1658 Stockade National Historic District
Walking Tours
Offered on the first Saturday of the month, departing at 11 a.m. from the FHK Gallery, on the corner of Wall and Main Streets.
Location: Friends of Historic Kingston Gallery 63 Main Street, Kingston
Time: 11:00 am
More Info: fohk.org
Hudson Valley Craft Beverage Festival
Brooklyn Cider at Twin Star Orchards brings over 20 producers of cider, wine, beer, spirits and mead for you to enjoy a two hour session of tastings. Vendors and live music.
Location: Twin Star Orchards 155 N Ohioville Rd, New Paltz
Time: 12:00-6:00 pm
More Info: twinstarorchards.com
Positive Jam Festival
Music, food, drinks and arts-lifestyle vendors. An all-day event for the family celebrating 20 years of The Hold Steady.
Location: Arrowood Farms 236 Lower Whitfield Road, Accord
Time: 12:00-9:30 pm
More Info: arrowoodfarms.com
Cruise Night
50’s & 60’s Music, Nostalgic Awards, 50/50 Raffle, Free T-Shirt for Cruise Car Entrants.
Location: Angelo Canna Town Park, Joseph D Spencer Ln, Cairo
Time: 4:00 pm
More Info: townofcairo.com
On the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and Lincoln’s Gettysburg
Address we celebrate the music that defined our nation from 1776 thru 1976. The tribute concert includes selections from the American Revolution, the Civil War, WWI, WWII, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Location: Windham Civic & Performing Arts
Center, 5379 Route 23, Windham
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: communityofwindhamfoundation.org
Priscila Navarro piano recital
Peruvian pianist Priscila Navarro performs solo recitals, chamber works, and a large selection of concerti with orchestras throughout the world. Her talent has been widely recognized and she has been awarded the first prize at several international competitions. This recital will feature works by Isaac Albeniz, Tania Leon, and Jimmy
Lopez Bellido.
Location: Maverick Concerts 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: maverickconcerts.org
Vocal Recital
María Antúnez, soprano; Martin Nusspaumer, tenor and Volodymyr Vynnytsky, piano. The concert will include opera arias, as well as Spanish and Ukrainian songs.
Location: Grazhda, 78 Ukraine Rd., Jewett
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: grazhdamusicandart.org
will be auctioned off Saturday, August 26 to benefit the Zadock Pratt Museum. The sales price of each artwork will be shared 50/50 with the individual artist who contributed it.
Location: Zadock Pratt Museum, 14540 Route 23, Prattsville
More Info: zadockprattmuseum.org
AUGUST 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 & 26-27
Rock Junket Rock n’ Roll Walking Tours
Rock Junket’s popular 2 1/2-hour music-focused walking tour of Woodstock, NY is better than ever with exciting new additions!
Location: Tours begin @ Bearsville Theater, 59 Times: Saturdays @ 2:00 pm, Sundays @ 11:00 am
More Info & Tickets: bearsvilletheater.com
AUGUST 6
Balourdet Quartet
Donna the Buffalo
Donna The Buffalo is not just a band, rather one might say that Donna The Buffalo has become a lifestyle for its members and audiences. Since 1989, the roots rockers have played thousands of shows and countless festivals including Bonnaroo, Newport Folk Festival, Telluride, Austin City Limits Festival, Merle Fest, and Philadelphia Folk Festival.
Location: Levon Helm Studios 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: levonhelm.com
Fantastic Negrito
Part love story, part historical excavation, Fantastic Negrito’s extraordinary new album, White Jesus Black Problems, is an exhilarating ode to the power of family and the enduring resilience of our shared humanity. Inspired by the illegal, interracial romance of his seventh generation grandparents—a white indentured servant and an enslaved Black man—in 1750s Virginia, the collection is bold and thought provoking. While each track here could stand easily on its own, as could the companion film Negrito shot to accompany the music, stepping back to absorb the collection in its full audio and visual context yields a far more transcendent and immersive sensory experience.
Location: Bearsville Theater, 59 Tinker Street, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info & Tickets: bearsvilletheater.com
AUGUST 5-6, 12-13
Views of Prattsville Outdoor Art Event
The Zadock Pratt Museum invites artists working in all media to participate in VIEWS OF PRATTSVILLE outdoor event on the sidewalks and in the hills and valleys of Prattsville, NY every weekend through August 13 (midweek participation can be accommodated). Artists are invited to grab their easels, sketchbooks, and cameras and head for Main Street to create their artistic “Views” of Prattsville. All artworks
The Balourdet Quartet is currently in residence at the New England Conservatory’s Professional String Quartet Program. The quartet received the Grand Prize at the 2021 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, as well as prizes in international competitions including the Banff, Paolo Borciani, and Carl Nielsen competitions. They were also awarded the Gold Medal at the 2020 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the 2021 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition.
Location: Honest Brook Music Festival, Honest Brook Road just off Route 28 between Delhi and Meridale
Time: 3:00 pm
More Info: hbmf.org
Verona Quartet
Acclaimed as an “outstanding ensemble…cohesive yet full of temperament” (The New York Times), the Verona Quartet has firmly established itself amongst the most distinguished ensembles on the chamber music scene today. This concert will feature works by Mozart, Grazyna Bacewicz, and Verdi.
Location: Maverick Concerts 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Time: 4:00 pm
More Info: maverickconcerts.org
The Ladles & Sami Stevens
The Ladles have three part female harmony perfected—but their sound is more than that… With sophisticated arrangements, they create a dreamy otherworldly atmosphere that draws audiences in and demands attention.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 7-11
Family Camp 2023
Don’t let the summertime fly by without some quality JOY with your kids or grandkids. Ashokan Family Camp is a laid-back, cross-generational escape into nature, music, arts, crafts, and interactive fun & games! From babies to teens and parents to grandparents, you’ll leave with hearts full of music and family memories to last a lifetime.
Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge
More Info: ashokancenter.org
Standup Comedy: Eddie Pepitone + JT Habersaat
Eddie Pepitone is a force of nature on stage, switching between social rage and self-doubt. His shows are an energetic combo of calm and chaos, blue-collar angst and sardonic enlightenment. Deemed the ‘Godfather of Punk Rock Comedy’ by ‘Chicago Now’, and called ‘Austin, Texas’ Favorite Standup Wild Man’ by the Austin Chronicle, JT Habersaat has headlined the Altercation Punk Comedy Tour for well over a decade.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
Matisyahu + G. Love & Special Sauce
AUGUST 9
Jack DeJohnette’s Tribute to Miles Davis & More
A once in a lifetime concert event (and 81st birthday party) with drummer and 2012 NEA Jazz Master Jack DeJohnette, celebrated for his work with Miles Davis Bitches Brew Band, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Bobby McFerrin, Bill Evans, and as a band leader and composer, brings together an all-star lineup in tribute to Miles Davis, featuring Don Byron (eclectic composer and clarinetist), Will Calhoun (Grammy winning drummer for Living Colour), George Colligan (renowned composer and pianist), Matthew Garrison (renowned bassist and co-founder ShapeShifter+), Wallace Roney Jr. (acclaimed trumpeter), Luisito Quintero (master timbalero and percussionist) and Vernon Reid (Grammy winning guitarist & founder of Living Colour).
Location: Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston
Time: 7:30 pm
More Info: bardavon.org
AUGUST 9-13
Hudson Valley Jazz Festival
Featuring many of The Hudson Valley’s great jazz artists & guests.
Location: Held at different locations throughout the Hudson Valley
More Info: hudsonvalleyjazzfest.org
AUGUST 10
Summer Retro Series Presents:
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (1966)— Extended Cut
Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef in an epic struggle over $200,000 in gold in what is often considered the greatest Spaghetti Western ever made! Sergio Leone’s masterful direction with music by Ennio Morricone broke every rule in the American western book and forever changed how a western should be made.
Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: rosendaletheatre.org
When Matisyahu first started touring to packed clubs more than eleven years ago, it was prior to the release of Live at Stubbs, the now Gold record, and prior to that record’s single “King without a Crown” reaching #1 on the alternative rock radio charts. His performances were a raw expression of his spirituality at that time and were supported by musicians who played a foundation of roots reggae augmented by the energy of a rock trio.
Location: Bearsville Theater, 59 Tinker Street, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info & Tickets: bearsvilletheater.com
AUGUST 11
Music on the Belle: Soul Purpose
Free live music series. BBQ, frozen drinks, food trucks, gondola rides, climbing wall, lawn games. Soul Purpose performs classic & contemporary soul, funk & swing.
Location: Belleayre Mountain, 181 Galli Curci, Road, Highmount
Time: 6:00-9:00 pm
More Info: belleayre.com
Rock Academy presents the Rock Academy Showband featuring June Millington June Millington is a force of nature and best known as one of the founders and guitarist in legendary rock band, Fanny. This will be the last show of the Showband’s summer tour and is sure to be a night to remember.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
Calexico: Feast of Wire 20th Anniversary Tour
In early 2003, Calexico released their seminal album Feast of Wire, the album that truly marked the duo’s critical and commercial breakthrough. Beginning in June, the band will play a series of headline shows across the year performing the landmark Feast of Wire in full as well as a slew of beloved songs from the band’s full repertoire. In addition to the headline dates, the band will play a handful of festivals as well across Europe.
Location: Levon Helm Studios 160 Plochmann
Lane, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: levonhelm.com
Belew, Levin, Mastelotto & Friends
John Lennon, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, Mr Mister, XTC, Talking Heads, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, NIN, David Sylvian, Laurie Anderson and of course, King Crimson. The list goes on and on and on. It’s fair to say that collectively, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto have helped create the history of modern rock music. This line up appearing (in conjunction w/ their week long summer camp at Full Moon Resort) only here at the Bearsville Theater. An essential summer destination for the discerning Proglodyte.
Location: Bearsville Theater, 59 Tinker Street, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info & Tickets: bearsvilletheater.com
AUGUST 11-13
Saugerties Summer Celebration Channel II
The HITS Saugerties Series welcomes equestrians for nine weeks of events. The majestic Catskill Mountains provide a sweeping backdrop to this exciting series, that has made its home at HITS-on-the-Hudson since 2004.
Location: HITS-on-the-Hudson 454 Washington Ave. Extension, Saugerties
More Info: hitsshows.com
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
This unique production, conceived by former Metropolitan Opera ballerina Victoria Rinaldi, transports the audience to an enchanted wood to witness what hilarity unfolds, when fairies meddle with the love lives of morals. A production of the Orpheum Dance Program, in collaboration with Aquila Theatre and Joffrey Ballet School New York.
Location: Orpheum Performing Arts Center, 6050 Main Street, Tannersville
Time: Friday & Saturday @ 7:30 pm, Sunday @ 2:00 pm
More Info: catskillmtn.org
AUGUST 11-13, 15 & 27
Dying to Know Film Festival
Dying To Know Film Festival is one of Bevival’s social-impact initiatives, with the goal of improving our understanding of the death and dying process.
Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale
Full Lineup & More Info: rosendaletheatre.org
AUGUST 11-SEPTEMBER 10
Million Dollar Quartet
On December 4, 1956, a twist of fate brought together Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley at Sun Records in Memphis. What followed would be the one of the greatest jam sessions ever. Million Dollar
Quartet captures the contagious spirit, freewheeling excitement, and thrilling sounds of the once-in-a-life-time event where four of music’s best talents came together, featuring all of their greatest hits.
Location: Shadowland Stages, 157 Canal Street
Ellenville
More Info: shadowlandstages.org
2nd Saturday Trunk Sales
It’s good to re-use all things- clothes, home goods, antiques, good craftswork, plants, all sorts of good finds. Cars $10, trucks $15. Location: Parking lot next to Lumberyard, 48 Bridge Street, Catskill
Maverick Family Saturdays: Dali Quartet
The Dalí Quartet is acclaimed for bringing Latin American quartet repertoire to an equal standing alongside the Classical and Romantic canon.
The award-winning Dalí Quartet tours Classical Roots, Latin Soul programming to enthusiastic audiences across the U.S., Canada and South America. These short interactive events, long a Maverick tradition, are designed for enjoyment by children in grades K-6. Admission is free.
16th Annual “Tour of the Catskills”
Pro-Am Bicycle Road Race
One of America’s premier cycling events, this Pro-Am bicycle road race draws over 250 racers from throughout the world! The addition of the famed ‘Devil’s Kitchen Climb’ in 2012 established the event as one of America’s toughest cycling events.
Location: Main Street, Tannersville
More Info: tourofthecatskills.com
Andes Community Day
The hamlet of Andes will be filled with local music, food, fun and games to celebrate the traditions of a Catskills community in the summertime. Start the day with the parade down Main Street, which starts at 10:30 am. The day includes live music, games, a kids activity center at The Andes Hotel. There will be vendors, specialty food and drinks, a car show, arts and crafts and much more. The restaurants and shops of Andes will be open and the evening will end with fireworks at The Andes Hotel at dusk.
Location: Main Street, Andes
Exploration Day at Hanford Mills
Join us to celebrate the agricultural heritage of the local area. Visitors will be able to see demonstrations of the steel attrition mill grinding corn. You can also try your hand at corn grinding machines!
Location: Hanford Mills Museum, 51 County Highway 12, East Meredith
Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
More Info: hanfordmills.org
Blueberry Festival
Blueberry themed festival including Vendors, Food, Music & Blueberry Contests.
Location: Canal Street & Liberty Square, Ellenville
More Info: ewcoc.com
Belleayre Car Show and Cruise
Enjoy classic cars, food trucks, scenic gondola rides, a 50/50 raffle, and trophies. Rain or shine.
Location: Belleayre Mountain, 181 Galli Curci, Road, Highmount
Time: 10:00 am-2:00 pm
More Info: belleayre.com
Location: Maverick Concerts 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Time: 11:00 am
More Info: maverickconcerts.org
Vintage Base Ball: Fleischmanns MAC v. Saugerties VBBC
The teams of the Delaware County Vintage Base Ball Association are dedicated to producing historically-accurate and competitive nineteenth century base ball in a family friendly environment throughout Delaware County and the surrounding areas. All games are free and we welcome everyone to join us.
Location: Historic M.A.C. Grounds @ Fleischmanns Park, Wagner Avenue, Fleischmanns
Time: 1:00 pm
More Info: delcovintagebaseball.org
Medicine Singers ft. Yonatan Gat & Lee Ranaldo — Laraaji & Mamady Kouyate
An epic lineup with a two part concert curated by Yonatan Gat. Ambient legend Laraaji and West African guitar master Mamady Kouyate (Bembeya Jazz/Mandingo Ambassadors) will kick off with the event on the indoor stage followed by an outdoor concert by the Medicine Singers, Lee Ranaldo and Yonatan Gat. The Medicine Singers embody decades of musical genres influenced by Native American music. Their live show with legendary guitarist Yonatan Gat and Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth bridges multiple dimensions of sound and evokes a bodily experience that transcends mere observation.
Location: West Kortright Centre, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith
Time: 4:00 pm
More Info: westkc.org
Digging Deeper: Habitat Gardens in the Catskills with Marc Wolf
Marc Wolf, Director of Horticulture & Environmental Stewardship, will lead a tour of the Arboretum’s timber frame Education Center, built from twenty-one different species of native trees from the Arboretum’s forest. We will then step outside to explore the Center’s landscape design by Jamie Purinton, which uses plants native to the Catskills to create wetland, woodland edge, and high-elevation bedrock outcrop habitats. Of special note will be the series of
six interconnected rain gardens, an especially important element for the Arboretum’s site at the top of the Catskill Watershed. Among other features, easily accessible to tour are the Bird Cove, planted with shrubs and perennials native to the northeast US, and the Spiral Labyrinth.
Location: Mountain Top Arboretum, 4 Maude Adams Road, Tannersville
Time: 4:00 pm
More Info: mtarboretum.org
Southern Week Shindig
Dine, dance, or just enjoy a great evening of Cajun, Créole, Zydeco, and Old Time string band music under Ashokan’s outdoor pavilion! Learn dance basics and then join in the square dance, Cajun, and Zydeco party.
Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge
Time: 4:30 pm
More Info: ashokancenter.org
Music at the Grazhda: Cello & Piano Concert Natalia Khoma, cello and Volodymyr Vynnytsky, piano will perform works by J. Haydn, R. Schumann, and Skoryk.
Location: Grazhda, 78 Ukraine Rd., Jewett
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: grazhdamusicandart.org
Jazz at the Maverick: Arturo O’Farrill Quartet Arturo O’Farrill is a jazz musician, the son of Latin jazz musician, arranger and bandleader Chico O’Farrill, and pianist, composer, and director for the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. He is best known for his contributions to contemporary Latin jazz (more specifically Afro-Cuban jazz), having received Grammy Awards and nominations, though he has trained in other forms such as free jazz and experimented briefly with hip hop.
Location: Maverick Concerts 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: maverickconcerts.org
The Helm Family Midnight Ramble is a musical tribute to the founding songbook of Rock and Roll. Born inside the hallowed walls of Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY, the Midnight Ramble has preserved and furthered Levon Helm’s legacy for nearly two decades, playing the iconic music of The Band, and Levon Helm. The Helm Family Midnight Ramble crosses generational and musical lines, featuring an everevolving family of musicians. Amy Helm honors her father’s vision to create a community for musicians to share their art, and “keep it going.”
Location: Levon Helm Studios 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: levonhelm.com
The Righteous Babes: Gracie and Rachel, Holly Miranda, Jocelyn Mackenzie
The Righteous Babes are a supergroup of powerhouse female artists, banded together under Ani DiFranco’s legacy label, Righteous Babe Records. Currently the band is comprised of three independent groups; Gracie and Rachel, chamber-pop piano-violin duo; Holly Miranda, sultry folk rock guitarist; and Jocelyn Mackenzie, percussionist, electric ukulele player, and former member of Pearl and the Beard. The artists perform one another’s original songs in fresh, unique arrangements that highlight technical prowess and deliver a stage show that is acrobatic and heart-pounding. Their distinctive vocal blend and powerful musicianship shine.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 12-13
Saugerties Artists Studio Tour
This year’s tour features 37 studios featuring completed work and works in progress in a wide array of mediums and styles, by artists who are eager to embrace the opportunity to once again open their studios for art loverse. This year many new-to-the-area artists have joined ranks with this ever-expanding Saugerties artists’ community. On the tour’s website, short videos introduce visitors to many of the artists in an up-close, personal way, telling their stories in their own words and offering demonstrations of how they do what they do best. There is no charge to attend the opening reception and the open studio tour is a free event.
Location: Throughout Saugerties
Time: 10:00 am-7:00 pm
More Info: saugertiesarttour.org
AUGUST 13
Saugerties Antique Auto Club Car-TruckMotorcycle Show
66th Annual Saugerties Antique Auto Club Car Show with cars from any year on display with over 40 trophies to award. Live music and vendors will be available on site.
Location: Cantine Veterans Memorial Complex Washington Avenue Ext, Saugerties
Time: 10:00 am-3:00 pm
Windham Rotary Foundation Cancer Patient Aid Car Show
The Windham Rotary Foundation, Inc., is once again hosting the 11th Annual “Cancer Patient Aid’ car show to support cancer patients (men, women & children) in Greene County. Open to all years, makes, models & motorcycles. Trophies awarded! $500 Best in Show “Classic”. $15 min. donation per vehicle entered. Spectators FREE!
Location: Ashland Town Park, Gravel Bank Road, Ashland
Time: 10:00 am-3:00 pm
Neave Trio
Since forming in 2010, Neave Trio has earned enormous praise for its engaging, cutting -edge performances. The group’s 2019 album Her Voice, was named one of the best recordings of the year by both The New York Times and BBC Radio 3. Neave has performed at many esteemed concert series and at festivals worldwide.
Location: Honest Brook Music Festival, Honest Brook Road just off Route 28 between Delhi and Meridale
Time: 3:00 pm
More Info: hbmf.org
Hudson Valley Chamber Musicians
The program will feature pieces written by female composers Florence Price and Hedwige Chrétien. Also in the program is the five-movement composition, Miniatures, written by William Grant Still, who is known as the Dean of AfricanAmerican Composers. Also in the program are pieces by Adrien Barthe and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale
Time: 3:00 pm
More Info: rosendaletheatre.org
Dali Quartet
The Dalí Quartet is acclaimed for bringing Latin American quartet repertoire to an equal standing alongside the Classical and Romantic canon. Tours of its Classical Roots, Latin Soul programming have reached enthusiastic audiences across the U.S., Canada and South America. This concert will feature works by Juan Cristomo Arriaga, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Efrain Amaya, and Alberto Ginastera.
Location: Maverick Concerts 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Time: 4:00 pm
More Info: maverickconcerts.org
Johnny Nicholas and Katie Shore
Johnny Nicholas feels the music, from blues to rock and everything in between. His credentials? Impeccable. Conviction? Immeasurable. And chops? If an instrument’s got strings, keys, or reeds he can play the hell out of it. He’s also a consummate songwriter and a great singer blessed with a warm, toasty growl of a voice that can roll from rumble to croon and back again with seductive ease.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 13-19
Southern Week 2023
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason host a fun and friendly full-week of Southern traditional music from the Bayou to the Blue Ridge Mountains and beyond. Have fun learning and playing together!
Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge
More Info: ashokancenter.org
AUGUST 14-19
Delaware County Fair
The Delaware County Fair is the largest agricultural fair in the region and has something for everyone. Over 80,000 people flock to the six day spectacular to enjoy local events, shows, contests, rides, cuisine and more.
Location: Fair Street, Walton
More Info: delawarecountyfair.org
AUGUST 15
ALO: Silver Saturdays Summer Tour
ALO call their music “jam-pop,” and the description is apt. Meticulously crafted, hooky and accessible compositions laced with improvisational departures in which they function as a single organism at once voice and consciousness. They’re always exploring, but never wandering. There is always intention, momentum, and a patience and confidence that can only be wrought from a quarter century of collaboration and water under the bridge.
Location: Levon Helm Studios 160 Plochmann
Lane, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: levonhelm.com
New Moon: Yoga Nidra Meditation w. Sound Bath with Isabelle Delgrance & Stephan Martel ”Yoga Nidra” is an ancient practice intended to induce full-body relaxation and a deep meditative state of consciousness. It is a systematic method which holistically addresses our physiological, neurological, and subconscious needs. For our New Moon series It will be supported by sound for deeper integration. Isabelle Berger Delgrange and Stephan Martel create a safe and nurturing space, using the power of vibration to rebalance the body on both a physiological and emotional level. Pre-registration required.
Location: West Kortright Centre, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith
Time: 5:30 pm
More Info: westkc.org
Brian Mitchell
Multitalented musician Brian Mitchell is well known in music industry circles and beyond for working with some of music’s most respected artists including Levon Helm & The Midnight Ramble, Bob Dylan, BB King, Dolly Parton, Little Feat, Rosanne Cash, Allen Toussaint, and Buster Poindexter as well as recording and performing his own original music.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 17
Jonah Smith + Jason Ewald, Andy Stack and Ben Zwerin
Jonah Smith is a critically acclaimed American singer-songwriter. His music ranges from soul to folk and Americana and he moves effortlessly on stage between keyboards and guitar. Smith’s vocals bring to mind Steve Winwood and even Ray Charles but his songs are crafted stories with lineage traced back to his love of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 17-20
Mazzstock
“New York’s Biggest Small Music Festival”... 3 days of music, camping, live art, yoga, food, and craft vendors in the hills of Marlboro.
Location: Mazzstock Field, 35 Hampton Road, Marlboro
More Info: mazzstock.com
AUGUST 18
Music on the Belle: The Trapps
Free live music series. BBQ, frozen drinks, food trucks, gondola rides, climbing wall, lawn games. The Trapps perform soul, swing/jump, Big Band & funk.
Location: Belleayre Mountain, 181 Galli Curci, Road, Highmount
Time: 6:00-9:00 pm
More Info: belleayre.com
school rock ‘n’ roll, and boogie-woogie.
Location: Levon Helm Studios 160 Plochmann
Lane, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: levonhelm.com
Wet
Letter Blue is Wet’s third album, guided as always by the New York three-piece’s magnetic singer-songwriter Kelly Zutrau. But this is also Wet’s most collaborative release, with co-writing and co-production from Toro y Moi’s Chaz Bear, as well as Frank Ocean’s go-to keyboardist Buddy Ross. Notably, founding guitarist Marty Sulkow has rejoined the group, alongside their nimble producer Joe Valle. Altogether, they’ve helped to create Wet’s most natural-feeling and playful songs to date.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 18-20
Sunflower & Sangria Festival
Meadowbrook Farm Catskills is hosting a Sunflower & Sangria Festival with over 125,000 Sunflower’s to pick your perfect blooms. Try a flight of Sangria as well as local craft beer. Admission will include 2 sunflowers and a hayride. It also gives you access to the sunflower field, photo ops, as well as local food & craft vendors.
Location: Meadowbrook Farm Catskills, 513 Rte 67, Leeds
Time: 11:00 am-7:00 pm
More Info: meadowbrookfarmcatskill.com
AUGUST 19
Woodland Exploration
Jazz at the Maverick:
Nilson Matta, Brazilian Voyage
Nilson Matta is well known as the world-class bassist of Trio da Paz and as a multi-Grammy Award-winning collaborator with Yo-Yo Ma, Paquito D’Rivera, and Herbie Mann, but his solo career as a composer and bandleader is equally noteworthy. His music brings together lush harmonies, contemporary Brazilian rhythms, and expert improvisation across a variety of moods, making “Brazilian Voyage” an apt title for the group. In every performance, Matta’s expert knowledge of the traditions and modern explorations of Brazilian jazz reveals an evolution in which he continues to play a major role.
Location: Maverick Concerts 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: maverickconcerts.org
Common Ground on the Mountain
A night of folk, rock, and bluegrass music featuring Professor Louie & The Crowmatix, Greg Dayton, and Walt Michael & Company.
Location: Orpheum Performing Arts Center, 6050 Main Street, Tannersville
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: catskillmtn.org
Buffalo Nichols
Since his earliest infatuations with guitar, Buffalo Nichols has asked himself the same question: How can I bring the blues of the past into the future? After cutting his teeth between a Baptist church and bars in Milwaukee, it was a globetrotting trip through West Africa and Europe during a creative down period that began to reveal the answer. “Part of my intent, making myself more comfortable with this release, is putting more Black stories into the genres of folk and blues,” guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist Carl “Buffalo” Nichols explains.
Location: Roxbury Arts Center 5025 Vega Mountain Road, Roxbury
Time: 7:30 pm
More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org
Town Mountain: Lines In The Levee Tour Raw, soulful, and with plenty of swagger, Town Mountain has earned raves for their hard-driving sound, their in-house songwriting and the honky-tonk edge that permeates their exhilarating live performances, whether in a packed club or at a sold-out festival. The hearty base of Town Mountain’s music is the first and second generation of bluegrass spiced with country, old
Have you ever wondered what to do with your woodlands? Are you interested in learning about keeping your forest healthy, constructing trails, managing for wildlife, timber harvests or growing forest crops? Join us for a woods-walk at the Siuslaw Model Forest on Saturday August 19th to learn about the Master Forest Owners Program and how YOU can get a FREE site visit at your woodlands. See what a visit will look like in real time and ask questions along the trail.
Location: Agroforestry Resource Center, 6055
Route 23, Acra
Time: 10:00 am
More Info: ccecolumbiagreene.org
Maverick Family Saturdays:
Jason Vance Storyteller and One Man Band
At the root of all Jason’s shows and classes is an invitation to play. With his background in Early Childhood Education, it’s a treat for the youngest ones to hear him bring stories to life. These short interactive events, long a Maverick tradition, are designed for enjoyment by children in grades K-6. Admission is free.
Location: Maverick Concerts 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Time: 11:00 am
More Info: maverickconcerts.org
Mipso
Since making their acclaimed debut with 2013’s Dark Holler Pop, North Carolina-bred fourpiece Mipso have captivated audiences with their finely layered vocal harmonies, graceful fluency in the timeless musical traditions of their home state, and a near-telepathic musical connection that makes their live show especially kinetic. On their self-titled sixth album and Rounder Records debut, they share their most sonically adventurous and lyrically rich work to date, each moment charged with the tension between textural effervescence and an underlying despair about the modern world.
Location: Levon Helm Studios 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: levonhelm.com
Vocal Ensemble “Zozulka” Trio
Maria Sonevytsky, Willa Roberts and Eva Salina will sing old and traditional Ukrainian folk songs.
Location: Grazhda, 78 Ukraine Rd., Jewett
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: grazhdamusicandart.org
Third Saturdays Free Film Series: Koyaanisqatsi (1983)
Godfrey Reggio’s directorial debut in 1982 was a film with no set plot, whose evoking imagery and alluring music remain relevant to this day. It
celebrates the wonders of nature and explores its relationship with humanity. It compels viewers to reflect on society’s connection to earth. “Koyaanisqatsi” means “life out of balance” and that’s what the film urges its audience to ponder on - an ever changing world.
Location: Athens Riverfront Park, Water Street, Athens
Time: At dusk
More Info: athensculturalcenter.org
Catalyst Quartet with Gabriel Cabezas, cello Hailed by The New York Times at its Carnegie Hall debut as “invariably energetic and finely burnished… playing with earthy vigor,” the Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet believes in the unity that can be achieved through music and imagine their programs and projects with this in mind, redefining and reimagining the classical music experience. Cellist Gabriel Cabezas is a prolific and sought-after soloist and collaborator, as comfortable interpreting new works as he is with the pillar scores of the cello repertoire. This chamber music concert will feature works by Bach, Jorge Amado, and Schubert.
Location: Maverick Concerts 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Time: 4:00 pm
More Info: maverickconcerts.org
Marc Delgado with Wild Weeds
attention to detail while keeping the classic rock n’ roll vibe of Tom Petty alive –– for old and new fans alike.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 25
Taste the Garden: Sponsor & Donor Gratitude Reception 2023
Join us for an extra-special Hoot kickoff reception for close friends and supporters of the Ashokan Center. Celebrate with an array of locally-sourced, organic hors d’oeuvres alongside delicious wine selections. Plus abundant garden tours and and a private live concert from Jay Ungar & Molly Mason and surprise special guests.
Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge
More Info: ashokancenter.org
Saturday Creature Features Presents: Them! (1954)
1950s atomic mayhem is the flavor this month as giant ants invade Los Angeles and threaten the world! Warner Brothers’ highest grossing film for 1954, Them! would kick off the 1950s giant bug invasion craze and remains a fan favorite to the present day.
Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale
Time: 9:30 pm
More Info: rosendaletheatre.org
AUGUST 19-20
German Alps Fest
An all-star lineup includes German American entertainment from Munich, Germany starring the fabulous Bayrichen Hiatamaden, 18-time Grammy winner, Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra with special guest Chris Caffery of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, The Adlers, The SPITZBUAM of NY, Schuhplattler dancers and local favorite DJ Frankieoke.
Location: Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Center, 2267 Route 145, East Durham
More Info: catskillsirishartsweek.com
AUGUST 20
28th Annual Kingston Artists Soapbox Derby
A fun and unique parade of non-motorized, wild, and whacky sculptures rolling down lower Broadway into the Historic Rondout District of Kingston.
Location: Reher Center 101 Broadway, Kingston
Time: 1:00 pm
More Info: kingstonartistsoapboxderby.com
National Theatre Live Presents: Best of Enemies
David Harewood (Homeland) and Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) play feuding political rivals in James Graham’s (Sherwood) multiple awardwinning new drama.
Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale
Time: 2:00 pm
More Info: rosendaletheatre.org
Marc Delgado is a singer/songwriter, poet & storyteller from Woodstock, NY. Part folkie, poet, raconteur & stand-up comic, Delgado tells stories & shares his experience from dark to light & all the shadows in between. With two live solo records under his belt, Delgado keeps moving forward finding his truest self on the stage. He is currently at work on a new studio album & his book, The Black Socks: A book of stories & poems & other stuff that may or may not have actually happened… is due out this fall.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 22-27
Dutchess County Fair
The Dutchess County Fair is held annually in Rhinebeck, usually during the last full week in August. Currently, the fair hosts approximately half a million people per year, and is the second largest county Fair in New York State. Rides, vendors, food, entertainment, agriculture, horticulture, turnof-the-century treasures, a working blacksmith shop and gas powered engine show, and so much more! Daily fair hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm. Main carnival area opens and rides run daily starting at 11 am.
Location: 6636 Route 9, Rhinebeck
More Info: dutchessfair.com
AUGUST 24
Mopar Cams
Mopar Cams bring their brand of rockabilly to Stamford! This three-man wrecking machine is hellbent on delivering only the finest in rockabilly, and these rabble-rousers will have you on your feet and clapping your hands!
Location: Veteran’s Memorial Park Main Street, Stamford
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org
A Tribute to Tom Petty with The Tom Prettys
The Tom Prettys is an all-female tribute band that covers the iconic music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. From the dozens of top-charting hits, each song is replicated with
Music on the Belle: Eugene Tyler Band
Free live music series. BBQ, frozen drinks, food trucks, gondola rides, climbing wall, lawn games. The Eugene Tyler Band perform modern bluegrass music.
Location: Belleayre Mountain, 181 Galli Curci, Road, Highmount
Time: 6:00-9:00 pm
More Info: belleayre.com
Top Ten Rock: The Music and Stories of Ten Classic Songs
Top Ten Rock is a fascinating new show that explores the undeniable impact of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The show features a renowned historian, a multimedia display, and live performances that will rock the house. We’ll cover the music and stories of ten classic songs by The Beatles, The Stones, Aretha Franklin, Dylan, Springsteen, Elvis, The Beach Boys, Nirvana and more. Top Ten Rock is an opportunity to learn something new while listening to something familiar!
Location: Woodstock Playhouse, 103 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: woodstockplayhouse.org
An Evening With Joe Bob Briggs: How Rednecks Saved Hollywood
Spend a fast-and-furious two hours with America’s drive-in movie critic as he uses over 200 clips and stills to review the history of rednecks in America as told through the classics of both grindhouse and mainstream movies.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 25-27
Summer Hoot
Three days of live music, nature, and community. Hear great roots music, see your friends and neighbors, join a jam or singalong, go for a guided hike, and sample great local handmade crafts, food, beer, and cider. SLIDING SCALE DAY PASSES available for the whole community. Kids under 18 always free.
Location: The Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd., Olivebridge
More Info: ashokancenter.org
AUGUST 26
Cornhole For A Cause
Presented by MVP Health Care to raise funds to advance In Flight’s mission to empower people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who strive for independence. Cornhole for a Cause will support programs that address the barriers of independent living. The day also features food trucks, live music from Guilty Pleasure, raffles, a face painter, and more! Cornhole is pay-to-play, but it is free for the community and spectators to come to enjoy the day!
Location: Dutchman’s Landing Park, 10 Main Street, Catskill
More Info: inflightinc.org
Vintage Base Ball:
Bovina Dairymen v. Saugerties VBBC
The teams of the Delaware County Vintage Base Ball Association are dedicated to producing historically-accurate and competitive nineteenth century base ball in a family friendly environment throughout Delaware County and the surrounding areas. All games are free.
Location: Cantine Memorial Park, Saugerties
Time: 2:00 pm
More Info: delcovintagebaseball.org
Two of Earth’s Earliest Fossil Forests: Gilboa and Cairo with Dr. Chuck Ver Straeten
Join us for a walk and talk about the rocks and fossils of the Catskills. Earth’s oldest forests were scattered across these lands then, with primitive plants and animals. For 100 years, Earth’s oldest known fossil forest was at Gilboa. Discovered in 2009, the older Cairo Fossil Forest stole Gilboa’s claim to fame. The Cairo Forest provides new views of these forests—root impressions of large trees, showing where each tree stood 385,000,000 years ago.
Location: Mountain Top Arboretum, 4 Maude Adams Road, Tannersville
Time: 4:00 pm
More Info: mtarboretum.org
Arm-of-the-Sea Theater presents A Riparian
Rhapsody: How the Forest Sings to the Stream
This puppet extravaganza dives into Catskill ecology to reveal the intricate interactions between Forest and Stream and lyrically makes the case for protecting streamside buffer zones. Featuring stunning visuals, live music, (and a singing Bear!). Free outdoor performance.
Location: West Kortright Centre, 49 West Kortright Church Road, East Meredith
Time: 2:00 pm
More Info: westkc.org
Hobart Sausage & Brew Festival
Fresh farm-to-table sausages and locally grown vegetables served up with a variety of local brews have made this annual festival a beloved and highly anticipated tradition for our Catskill community and our warmly welcomed out-of-town visitors. This year’s celebration includes music and dancing all night long with the fabulous Leatherstocking Jazz Orchestra, the Fisher Cats rock ‘n roll, award-winning blues vocalist Alana Wyld, and DJ Kelly as master of ceremonies. Children’s games, hayrides, raffles, vendors and more, all nestled between the Catskill Scenic Trail and the Delaware River. Stop by for dinner after enjoying Family Farm Day or spending an afternoon browsing the shops of the Hobart Book Village. Sponsored by Hobart Rotary. Proceeds support community service programs. Admission free!
Location: 101 Maple Avenue, Hobart
Time: Dinner 3:00-7:00 pm, Music & Brews until 9:00 pm
More Info: hobartrotary.com
Annual Chamber Orchestra Concert with Simone Dinnerstein, Caroga Arts Ensemble, Alexander Platt
Pianist Simone Dinnerstein joins the Caroga Arts Ensemble, Alexander Platt, conductor, for a program that will include works by Mozart, Mahler, Schoenberg and Bach.
Location: Maverick Concerts 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Time: 6:00 pm
More Info: maverickconcerts.org
Gimme Gimme Disco:
A Dance Party Inspired by ABBA
We are a DJ based dance party playing all your favorite ABBA hits, plus plenty of other disco hits from the 70s & 80’s like The Bee Gees, Donna Summer, & Cher.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock
Time: 8:30 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
AUGUST 27
Fenimore Chamber Orchestra
The Juilliard Jazz Ensemble is made up of students at the Juilliard School in New York.
Location: Old Rexmere Grounds: Churchhill
Historic Park District, Stamford
Time: 3:00 pm
More Info: friendsmusic.org
Borromeo String Quartet
Each visionary performance of the awardwinning Borromeo String Quartet strengthens and deepens its reputation as one of the most important ensembles of our time. Admired and sought after for both its fresh interpretations of the classical music canon and its championing of works by 20th and 21st century composers, the ensemble has been hailed for its “edgeof-the-seat performances. The quartet will play works by Bartok and Beethoven.
Location: Maverick Concerts 120 Maverick Road, Woodstock
Time: 4:00 pm
More Info: maverickconcerts.org
AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 3
HITS-on-the-Hudson VII
The HITS Saugerties Series welcomes equestrians for nine weeks of events. The majestic Catskill Mountains provide a sweeping backdrop to this exciting series, that has made its home at HITS-on-the-Hudson since 2004.
Location: HITS-on-the-Hudson 454 Washington Ave. Extension, Saugerties
More Info: hitsshows.com
AUGUST 31
Summer Retro Series Presents:
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Robert Mitchum is outstanding in this film noir classic as a murderous, phony preacher who preys upon an innocent family in his search for $10,000 in stolen bank money. Shelley Winters and silent screen star Lillian Gish are equally outstanding in support and each will leave you deeply affected.
Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: rosendaletheatre.org
The Thalea String Quartet brings their signature vibrancy and emotional commitment to dynamic performances that reflect the past, present, and the future of the string quartet repertoire while celebrating diverse musical traditions from around the world. Fueled by the belief that chamber music is a powerful force for building community and human connection, the Thalea String Quartet has performed around the world.
Location: Old School Baptist Church, Route 36 & Cartwright Road, Denver
Time: 7:30 pm
More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org
AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 10
I Am Barbie by Walton Beacham
It’s Barbie’s 60th Birthday (she still looks FABULOUS), and she spends it reminiscing about her countless careers, her relationship with Ken and with other characters from her life including GI Joe, She-Ra, and her creators, Ruth Handler and Jack Ryan. A hilarious and surprisingly touching look at what it’s like being a Barbie Girl in a notso-Barbie world.
Location: Bridge Street Theatre, 44 West Bridge Street, Catskill
More Info: bridgest.org
Instructor: Chandra DeBuse
Dates: August 4 – 8
Course Fee: $500
Lab Fee: $60
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced (a little experience will be helpful)
Exploring surface techniques on hand-built pottery will be the focus of this workshop. After using templates with soft clay slabs to construct pottery forms like plates and cups, we will dive into different techniques for surface decoration at the greenware stage. We will combine texture, carving, underglaze inlay, brushwork, and resist techniques to create layered, colorful surfaces. We will discuss how function, form and surface work together to create well-designed pottery forms. Bring your sketchbook and get ready to embark on a playful discovery of form and surface techniques.
Instructor: Hiroe Hanazono
Dates: August 11 – 15 (5 Days)
Course Fee: $500
Lab Fee: $75
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
During this five-day workshop, students will learn methods for designing and fabricating models and molds. Students will begin by designing an object on paper, then learn how to create their prototype using a variety of materials such as plaster, clay, and wood. These prototypes will then be used to create either single or multipiece molds. Demonstrations will also cover
the slip-casting process. Students will have the opportunity to make casts of their projects, however because this is only a five-day workshop, students will take their bisque home.
Instructor: Jon Puzzuoli
Dates: August 12 – 15
Course Fee: $400
Lab Fee: $75
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Create dramatic effects on your pottery with crystalline glazes and learn to throw beautiful bottles during this four-day workshop. We will start by prepping and glazing your premade bisqueware. While the pieces are firing, we will dive into the glaze chemistry and kiln programming that crystalline glazes require. Post-firing techniques will be taught. During the second day of the workshop there will be throwing demos of wide bellied bottles that are most flattering to crystal growth. We will have plenty of time for hands-on throwing and trimming. On the third day of the workshop, we will glaze another batch of work and get it into the kiln.
Instructor: Susan Beecher
Dates: August 18 - 20
Course Fee: $400
Lab Fee: $50
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
This hands-on workshop will focus on making beautiful pouring vessels while improving your throwing skills and demonstrating new altering techniques. We will work on such pots as: Batter Bowls, Pitchers, Gravy Boats, Soy Bottles & Teapots. Then we will move on to various surface enhancement techniques such as slip brush work, sgrafitto & wax resist. All levels of skill are welcome, but some wheel experience is necessary. Ages 15 to adult.
Instructors: Steve Cook and Bruce Dehnert
Dates: August 25 – 29
Course Fee: $500
Lab Fee: $100
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
If you love to fire. If you love lots of different effects. Or if you’re short on atmospheric firing experience, this intensive workshop is your ticket. You will participate in different types of firing,
achieving results in a short time. We’ll fire soda, wood, gas reduction, raku, and pit! Emphasis is placed on glaze/surface preparation and firing techniques through demonstrations, lectures, and hands-on participation. You bring the bisque-ware, and we deliver the heat.
Instructors: Steve Cook and Bruce Dehnert
Dates: September 1-5
Course Fee: $500
Lab Fee: $100
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
If you love to fire. If you love lots of different effects. Or if you’re short on atmospheric firing experience, this intensive workshop is your ticket. You will participate in different types of firing, achieving results in a short time. We’ll fire soda, wood, gas reduction, raku, and pit! Emphasis is placed on glaze/surface preparation and firing techniques through demonstrations, lectures, and hands-on participation. You bring the bisque-ware, and we deliver the heat.
Instructor: John Gill
Dates: September 8 – 12 (5 Days)
Course Fee: $600
Lab Fee: $75
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced John Gill is widely known for his unique approaches to constructing colorful planular vessels that enjoy both contemporary and historical associations. Gill’s expressive hard angulars challenge gravity with cantilever and colliding with surfaces that feature dynamic painting. There is undeniably magic in his hands and a plausible logic guided by the idea that working with function opens up possibilities. Join us in this workshop that could change your trajectories in thinking and creating. Gill has been in the field for a long time working with many people, absorbing stories, and working intuitively in response. Gill likes to put together forms in simple yet activated relationships. He comes to materials with simple tools and ideas, solving problems in the moment.
Instructor: Mara Lehmann
Dates: August 25 – 27
Course Fee: $300
Lab Fee: $40
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced This workshop is meant for intermediate to experienced level painters who have already taken beginning courses. We will be focusing on the use of values as a method of achieving spatial distance and feeling of atmosphere in our landscapes. Also, the emphasizing of focal points using contrasting patterns of light and shadow to add drama. There will be demonstrations, discussions, and lots of individual attention. Portions of this intensive workshop will be held outdoors in the stunning Catskills.
Instructor: Karen Margolis
Dates: August 4 – 7
Course Fee: $400
Lab Fee: $50
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
This workshop explores sculpture from inside out, how to communicate through form, materials, and process. Students investigate their inner drives to create assemblages as extensions of individual feelings. The workshop introduces alternative approaches to working with principles of sculpture, using various methods of material penetration, adhesion/attachment, and treatment of surfaces to express line, form, space, texture, mass, and volume. Combining personal and found objects with alternative techniques and tools, students explore conveying meaning within form, focusing on how objects articulate content based on arrangement and deconstruction.
Instructor: Gabe Brown
September 8 – 10
Course Fee: $300
Lab Fee: $30
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced Methods and Materials is designed for those interested in not only the basic understanding of paining techniques and applications, but advanced knowledge of practical uses. Ideal for beginners as well as those wanting to perfect their craft with a better understanding of how to apply specific methods to individual studio practice. You will learn how to mix a variety of painting mediums, applications of ground on various substrates, paint mixing techniques, presentation, and preparation of artwork for transportation. Primarily focusing on oil, this workshop will also include water media such as acrylic, ink, and watercolor.
Instructor: Patricia Miranda
Dates: August 18 - 21
Course Fee: $400
Lab Fee: $50
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
This workshop will explore the history of color through the creation of natural dyes and pigments. Participants will create color from natural materials combined with water-based binders, from gum arabic to distemper to egg tempera. We will explore the language and meaning-making potential of color, and how material carries content through history, context, and aesthetic properties. Conceptual and practical considerations of the environmental impact on materials will offer a guide to maintaining a sustainable and safe painting practice. Participants will come away with a set of handmade watercolor paints, a color swatch book, and exploratory paintings created using their handmade paints on paper.
Instructor: Tina Harp
Dates: August 25 - 27
Course Fee: $300
Lab Fee: $85
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
Rug Hooking is a traditional art form. Beginning with a complete kit, students will learn how to hook a simple 8 x 10 picture using hand-dyed strips of wool. Learn how color and texture function in this intriguing craft technique. Because this tool is portable, students will be able to continue working on projects outside class hours, and the next morning will be spent going over how the colors create textures, how to fix a mistake as well as lots of show and tell. Demonstrations and lots of individual attention are guaranteed.
Instructor: Lynn Loflin
September 1 - 3
Course Fee: $300
Lab Fee: $35
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
This 3-day workshop focuses on the repurposing of felted wool, clothing, and other textiles. Participants will learn traditional skills and techniques in embroidery, dry felting, mending, patchwork, sashiko, fabric collage, and sewing, telling a more personal story. We will reimagine existing clothing, making a vest or jacket from a felted wool sweater. Other projects that can be made over the 3 days are gloves, belts, sashiko/ boro denim repair, shoulder bags, pouches, and hats. There will be demonstrations, heaps of individual attention, and the rich history of felted clothing in our region. Come join our reimagining of what wearable art can be.
Instructor: Tina Harp
Dates: August 23 – October 11
Course Fee: $250
Lab Fee: $45
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced
This continued weaving course is designed for students who have some basic knowledge of weaving. This class will build upon the existing skills of the student and learn more advanced techniques. Learning how to create more complex patterns, expanding the use of color and texture and how to trouble shoot common problems that arise. During this 8-week course, students work at their own skill level. Studio time is available for weaving off the loom which creates time for a couple of finished pieces.
An exhibition/sale by regional fiber artists & makers
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6-8, 10AM TO 4PM
Opening Reception: Friday, October 6, 3-6 pm
Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts
34 Big Hollow Road, Maplecrest, NY 12454
Celebrating The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s 25th Year of Bringing Art To The Mountains
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2nd, 11AM-5PM
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd, 11AM-4PM
34 BIG HOLLOW RD, MAPLECREST, NY
Susan Beecher | Susan Bogen | Bruce Dehnert | Maureen Garcia
Flo Gillen | ALEX GRECO | Harry & Meredith Kunhardt
Harry Levenstein | MARY MAGLIERI | Bob McAllister | Tess Pelham
Sally Rothchild | Taylor Sijan | Nancy Waterhouse
Teresa CurtisS (weaving)
THESE LOCAL POTTERS PRODUCE EXQUISITE HAND-MADE POTTERY EACH WITH THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL STYLE FOR YOU TO ENJOY IN YOUR HOME OR AS A UNIQUE GIFT
In case of rain exhibits will be in the Ceramic Studio
34 BIG HOLLOW RD, MAPLECREST, NY (LOCATED IN THE LARGE FIELD)
Unless otherwise noted, ticket prices are as follows:
Purchased in Advance: $25 regular; $20 senior; $7 student/child
Purchased at the door: $30 regular; $25 senior; $7 student/child
Cabaret
Maude Adams Theater Hub
Thursday-Saturday, August 3-5 @ 7:30 pm
Outdoors & Under the Tent at the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Red Barn, Main Street, Hunter
Note: alternate ticket prices apply.
The Kander and Ebb classic set in 1929 Berlin, during the rise of National Socialism and the heyday of dark speakeasy-style clubs where entertainment and decadence entwined.
It Takes Two: An Evening of Duos featuring cello, piano and violin Hunter International Music Festival Faculty Concert
Friday, August 4 @ 7:30 pm
Doctorow Center for the Arts
Faculty and guest artists of the Hunter International Music Festival perform duo pieces by Beethoven, Debussy, Schumann, Schubert and Kodaly.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Orpheum Dance Program
In collaboration with Aquila Theatre and Joffrey Ballet School New York
Friday, August 11 @ 7:30 pm
Saturday, August 12 @ 7:30 pm
Sunday, August 13 @ 2:00 pm
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
This unique production, conceived by former Metropolitan Opera ballerina Victoria Rinaldi, transports the audience to an enchanted wood to witness what hilarity unfolds, when fairies meddle with the love lives of mortals.
Common Ground On The Mountain: Professor Louie & The Crowmatix, Greg Dayton, Walt Michael & Company
Saturday, August 19 @ 8:00 pm
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Note: alternate ticket prices apply. A night of folk, rock, and bluegrass music featuring Professor Louie & The Crowmatix, Greg Dayton, and Walt Michael & Company.
VIRTUAL!
International Fortepiano Salon #16
Sunday, September 10 @ 2:00 pm
“...a STATE of love”
A Partnership Project with The Joyce Theater Foundation
Saturday, September 16 @ 7:30 pm
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
This new production is a staged moment, centering on a transparent excavation where the words and scripted text, serve as blueprint and balm.
Olivier Tarpaga Dance
“Once the dust settles, flowers bloom”
A Partnership Project with The Joyce Theater Foundation
Saturday, September 23 @ 7:30 pm
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
An original evening-length contemporary dance theater and live music work exploring conflicts between feminism and jihadism in Burkina Faso and the Sahel region, specifically the fragility of women’s autonomy in the face of invasive religious extremism.
Dedication
Maude Adams Theater Hub
Thursday-Saturday, September 28-30
Doctorow Center for the Arts
Note: alternate ticket prices apply.
New York pianist, Roger Peltzman’s one-person show, Dedication, recounts his family’s tragic history fleeing the Nazis in war-torn Europe using drama, humor, powerful images and musical performances of everything from blues to Chopin.
We are THRILLED to celebrate our 25th Anniversary of bringing Arts to the Mountaintop with our most impressive season yet!
Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE
A Partnership Project with The Joyce Theater Foundation
Sunday, October 8 @ 2:00 pm
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE offers a captivating program, reflecting Brown’s meditations on social justice, cultural legacy, and community.
No Strings Marionettes: The Hobbit
Wednesday, October 18 @ 3:45 pm
Thursday, October 19 @ 3:45 pm
Doctorow Center for the Arts
In this adaptation of Tolkien’s stirring adventure fantasy, puppeteers adeptly animate marionettes, life-size body puppets and amazing puppet hybrids.
Apollo’s Fire: The Road to Dublin
Saturday, October 21 @ 7:30 pm
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Haunting ballads and legends give way to driving reels, as Celtic fiddlers set sparks flying. Irish singer Fiona Gillespie joins the merry instrumentalists on fiddles, flute, cello, hammered dulcimer, plucked instruments, and harpsichord.
The Rocky Horror Show
Maude Adams Theater Hub
Friday-Sunday, October 27-29
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Note: alternate ticket prices apply. Local talent comes together to bring this raucous, sexy & hilarious cult classic show to life.
VIRTUAL!
International Fortepiano Salon #17: With Guest Dunya Verwey of the Geelvinck Museum, The Netherlands Saturday, October 28 @ 2:00 pm
Darcy Dunn, mezzo-soprano
Julia Mendelsohn, pianist
Mark Singer, baritone
Saturday, November 11 @ 8:00 pm
Doctorow Center for the Arts
Once upon a time, a musical trio called The Funny Valentines took the stage in the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Red Barn for the CMF’s first ever musical performance. This November marks the 25th anniversary of that performance, and The Valentines are back with a program of musical favorites both old and new.
International Fortepiano Salon #18
Sunday, November 19 @ 2:00 pm
Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra
Robert Manno, Conductor
Simone Dinnerstein, piano
Saturday, November 25 @ 7:30 pm
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
This Thanksgiving, the Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Robert Manno, returns with a holiday program featuring acclaimed piano soloist Simone Dinnerstein.
The Nutcracker Ballet
Orpheum Dance Program
Victoria Rinaldi, Director
SIX PERFORMANCES
Saturday, December 2
@ 2:00 & 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 3 @ 2:00 pm
Saturday, December 9 @ 2:00 & 7:30 pm
Sunday, December 10 @ 2:00 pm
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
The CMF Nutcracker, now in its eighth year, has become a holiday favorite of residents of the surrounding Catskills and Hudson Valley. Featuring ballet stars of the future, this spectacular production has become one of the finest Nutcrackers in upstate New York.
The Hot Sardines: “Holiday Stomp”
Saturday, December 16 @ 7:30 pm
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Note: alternate ticket prices apply. These mischief-makers of hot jazz have been described as “potent and assured” (The New York Times) and “simply phenomenal” (The Times, London).
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Augustine Nursery AugustineNursery.com
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Bear Cantina thebearcantinawoodstock.org
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Belleayre Mountain belleayre.com
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Best Hot Tubs besthottubs.com
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Binnekill Tavern binnekill.com
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Brainard Ridge Realty brainardridge.com
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Brandywine brandywinewindham.com
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Briars & Brambles Books briarsandbramblesbooks.com
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Camp Catskill campcatskill.co
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Catskill Center catskillcenter.org
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Catskill Charters catskillcharters.com
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Catskills Candle Studio catskillscandlestudio.com
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Catskills Visitors Center catskillsvisitorcenter.com
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Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce ScenicCatskills.com
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Chef Deanna chefdeanna.com
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CMF Gift Shop 518 589 7500
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CMF Piano Performance Museum catskillmtn.org
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CMF Presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream catskillmtn.org
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CMF Presents Common Ground on the Mountain catskillmtn.org
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CMF Presents It Takes Two: An Evening of Duos catskillmtn.org
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Coldwell Banker— Timberland Properties timberlandproperties.com
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Delaware & Ulster Rail Road durr.org
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Dixon Roadside dixonroadside.com
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Dutchess County Fair dutchessfair.com
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Early Terrible earlyterrible.com
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Elevated 518 263 4184
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The Emerson Resort & Spa emersonresort.com
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Francis X. Driscoll Photography francisxdriscoll.com
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Gilboa Museum gilboafossils.org
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GNH Lumber & Showroom GNHLumber.com
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Gordon Hunter Mountain Realty gordonrealty.com
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Greene County EDC greenecountyedc.com
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Hampton Inn
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Hanford Mills Museum hanfordmills.org
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Maude Adams Theater Hub presents Cabaret maudeadamstheaterhub.org
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Orpheum Dance Program
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Shaw Country Realty, John S. Pumilia, Associate Broker windhamnyproperties.com
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Shaw Country Realty
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Shawn’s Fresh Fish
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The Sheep’s Nest thesheepsnest.com
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Sunflower Market
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Tannersville Works tannersvilleworks.com
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Thorpe’s GMC thorpesgmcinc.com
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Town & Country Liquor Store townandcountryliquorstore.com
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Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair
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