February 2025 Guide: Winter in the Catskills

IN THIS ISSUE

CATSKILLS NEWS

WINTER ADVENTURES AND CRAFT BREWS: The Perfect Ulster County Pairing

RAISING A GLASS TO CHANGE: The New Chapter of Ze Wine Bar at Jägerberg by Michael Koegel

WINTER FUN IN NEW YORK’S SULLIVAN CATSKILLS

IT’S ALL—OR MOSTLY— DOWNHILL IN THE CATSKILLS by Greg

Madden

BELLEAYRE MOUNTAIN STATS

HUNTER MOUNTAIN STATS

PLATTEKILL MOUNTAIN STATS

WINDHAM MOUNTAIN CLUB STATS

CATSKILLS PAST What Were They Reading? Two Centuries of Area Newspapers by T.M. Bradshaw

Photo courtesy of Belleayre Mountain

Photo courtesy of Windham Mountain Club

Photo courtesy of Ulster County Tourism

FEBRUARY DELIGHTS FROM A GREENE COUNTY GARDEN by Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson

THE GREAT OUTDOORS by Jeff Senterman

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION 2025 PERFORMING ARTS SEASON

MOUNTAIN CINEMA INDEPENDENT FILM SERIES

DONATE TO THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION

issuu.com/catskillmtnregionguide

VOLUME 40, NUMBER 2 February 2025

PUBLISHERS

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

Belleayre Mountain, T.M. Bradshaw, John Fischer, Brad Gillespie, Hiker Trash Husbands, Hunter Mountain, Michael Koegel, Glenn Koehler, Mad Hare Imagery/shutterstock.com, Greg Madden, Maude Adams Theater Hub, Michael Neil O’Donnell, RuckSackNY, Jeff Senterman, Sullivan County Visitor’s Association, Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson, Ulster County Tourism, and Windham Mountain Club.

ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE

Candy McKee

Tyleane Benjamin, Hillary Morse & Ashley Olney

PRINTING

Catskill Mountain Printing Services

DISTRIBUTION

Catskill Mountain Foundation

EDITORIAL DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: February 6

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.

The liability of the publisher for any error for which it may be held legally responsible will not exceed the cost of space ordered or occupied by the error. The publisher assumes no liability for errors in key numbers. The publisher will not, in any event, be liable for loss of income or profits or any consequent damages.

The Catskill Mountain Region Guide office is located at 7971 Main Street, Hunter, NY 12442.

The magazine can be found on-line at www.catskillmtn.org by clicking on the “Magazine” button, or by going directly to issuu.com/catskillmtnregionguide

7,500 copies of the Catskill Mountain Region Guide are distributed each month. It is distributed free of charge at tourist information offices, restaurants, lodgings, retailers and other businesses throughout Greene, Delaware and Ulster counties, and at the Empire State Plaza Visitor Center in Albany.

Home delivery of the Guide magazine is available, at an additional fee, to annual members of the Catskill Mountain Foundation at the $100 membership level or higher.

©2000 Catskill Mountain Foundation, Inc.

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. The Catskill Mountain Region Guide is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. All photographic rights reside with the photographer.

CATSKILLS NEWS

Stamford, NY Resident Wins the 2024 Black Orchid Novella Award

The Black Orchid Novella Award is a literary award for excellence in the mystery genre presented by The Wolfe Pack, the official Nero Wolfe Society, along with Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, to celebrate the novella format popularized by Rex Stout. This year’s winner is Stamford, NY resident and Guide writer T. M. Bradshaw for her novella titled “Double Take.” It will be published in the July 2025 issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. She was recognized at the 2024 Black Orchid Banquet in New York City on December 7, 2024.

About the Wolfe Pack

The Wolfe Pack, founded in 1977, is a forum to discuss, explore, and enjoy the 72 Nero Wolfe books and novellas written by Rex Stout. The organization promotes fellowship and extends friendship to those who enjoy these great literary works of mystery through a series of events, book discussions, and a journal devoted to studying the genius detective, Nero Wolfe, and his intrepid assistant, Archie Goodwin. The organization has more than 700 members worldwide. For further information, please see nerowolfe.org.

The DRAW at MKAD Presents the 2025 Great Jell-O Jamboree

The Department of Regional Art Workers (The DRAW at MKAD) is excited to announce the return of the highly anticipated 2025 Great Jell-O Jamboree. This fundraiser for The DRAW will take place on Saturday, February 22, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Fuller Building, located at 45 Pine Grove Avenue in Midtown Kingston.

The Great Jell-O Jamboree is a vibrant celebration of creativity and community, all centered around the wiggly world of Jell-O. This year’s event promises to be even bigger and better, with a range of activities and experiences that will delight attendees of all ages.

Highlights of the event include:

Jell-O Sculpture Competition: Local artists will showcase their talent in a Jell-O sculpture competition, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with this unique medium.

Games of Fun and Chance: Enjoy a variety of games that add an element of excitement and surprise to the evening with prizes generously donated by local businesses.

Delicious Jell-O-Centric Food: Sample a colorful array of Jell-O-centric dishes that are as tasty as they are visually appealing.

Boozy Jell-O Cocktails: The cash bar will offer a selection of boozy Jell-O cocktails, adding a spirited twist to the festivities.

Live Music with Nova Darkstar and Their Invisible Band

And the best part? All proceeds from the Great Jell-O Jamboree will support The DRAW’s affordable, pay-whatyou-can art classes and intern wages for our Youth Workforce for ages 15-24. By attending this event, you are directly contributing to the growth and enrichment of our artistic community. Tickets are available now at mkad.art/ news/2025-great-jell-o-jamboree/.

Midtown Kingston Arts District believes in the power of creative arts to be an agent of change. We serve the people of Midtown Kingston as a hub for collaborative relationships with individuals, artists, businesses, organizations and government to create positive change together. Our mission is to provide access and support for the arts to advance, engage, unite, and enrich a vibrant community in Midtown Kingston. Learn more at mkad.art.

WINTER ADVENTURES AND CRAFT BREWS

The Perfect Ulster County Pairing

When winter’s chill settles over the Catskills, Ulster County transforms into a glittering wonderland brimming with outdoor adventures. Whether snowshoeing along scenic trails, skiing down plush, perfect powder, or pedaling fat bikes on snowy paths, Ulster County’s winter activities will get your heart pumping while you think, “What a time to be alive!”

How does one top off your ideal, invigorating day? By cozying up with a craft beer and some hearty comfort food, of course. We’ve created your guide to the best winter activities and the welcoming craft breweries waiting for you afterward.

Cross-Country Skiing and Burgers at Rough Cut Brewing

If cross-country calls you, Mohonk Preserve offers stunning views and welcoming trails for all skill levels. Overcliff-Undercliff loop is a good option for beginners or those looking for a leisurely trek. For a more strenuous roundtrip (7.3 miles), take the loop around Short and Long Woodland Drive back to Old Minnewaska Road, and end with stunning views of the Shawangunks and surrounding Catskill Mountains.

After your snowy excursion, a roaring woodstove and plenty of cold beer await at Rough Cut Brewing Company. Try their Ba-

con Sandwich—a cherrywood smoked lager (not a sandwich), or sip a Shawangunk Brown, their brown ale with a hint of smoke. IPA fans will enjoy a cold glass of Nelson the Belgian or 44/55, a double IPA named for the road they sit on. Known for their creative smash burgers, wings, and mac and cheese, you’ll enjoy sharing tales of the day’s trails at Rough Cut Brewing.

Downhill Thrills at Belleayre and Craft Brews in Phoenicia

The summit of East Coast skiing and snowboarding mountains is Belleayre Mountain. This paradise for skiers and snowboarders features the only gondola in the Catskills. With the most snowmaking capacity in the Catskills, there are more epic days to be enjoyed. Belleayre boasts a variety of trails from beginner-friendly slopes to adrenaline-pumping black diamonds. A new beginner area on the mountain’s summit makes it even more inclusive for all skiers. Belleayre provides an unforgettable winter experience for beginners, shredders, and everyone in between.

Once you’ve shredded your way through the snow, slide down Route 28 to Woodstock Brewing in Phoenicia. Founded by two friends with a passion for beer and tinkering, this brewery has grown from a half-barrel pilot system in a garage to a fifteen-bar-

Left: Cross Country Skiing at Mohonk Preserve. Right: Rough Cut Brewing. All photos courtesy of Ulster County Tourism

rel brewery. Their ever-changing tap list includes innovative ales, sours, and lagers as bold as Belleayre’s ski runs. This MUST stop for après-ski has a full cocktail bar, outdoor fire pits, and delicious pub food.

Fat Biking Fun and Two Stops in Highland

Try fat biking on one of Ulster County’s scenic, bike-friendly trails for a unique winter adventure. The Hudson Valley Rail Trail, OSI’s River-to-Ridge Trail, and the Ashokan Rail Trail are excellent options for exploring the snowy countryside on two wheels. If you don’t have a fat bike, Overlook Mountain Bikes, in Woodstock, offers rentals to ensure you’re ready for the ride.

After navigating snowy paths and rail trails, hit up Hudson Ale Works in Highland. This brewery has over ten taps pouring a variety of beer styles, all crafted in-house. Their menu includes classic comfort foods like beef chili nachos, wings and a 10-ounce Bavarian pretzel served with their beer cheese. Giant Jenga, indoor cornhole, and a full complement of board games promise continued fun after recounting your day’s snowy adventure. Or hit up Bad Seed Cider’s Taproom where 22 rotating taps of local, small-batch Hudson Valley craft beers and ciders await.

Snowshoeing High Peaks and Kingston’s Beer Scene

Snowshoeing is an excellent way to traverse Ulster County’s stunning terrain made even more beautiful by snowfall. Challenge yourself with a trek up one of the Catskills’ high peaks or explore the Hudson River Brickyard Trail to Sojourner Truth State Park in the historic city of Kingston. Whether you’re seeking solitude in

the mountains or a walk through town, snowshoeing is a profoundly peaceful and invigorating experience.

Once you are ready to end your snowshoeing adventure, Kingston’s craft beer scene awaits. West Kill Taproom, Kingston Standard Brewing Co., and Keegan Ales are all must-visit spots for beer enthusiasts. West Kill specializes in small-batch brews that reflect the region’s natural beauty and seasons. Buck Fever is an Amber lager armed with layers of toasty Malt, while Doodlebug is a crisp, refreshing, hardworking beer created to honor those determined, industrious, boot-strap tuggin’ people who settled the Catskills. Or pop into Kingston Standard, a pilot brewhouse developing small-batch beers like their Winter Saison or Rauchier, a smoked (yes, smoked) beer that generates plenty of conversation. Keegan Ales’ cozy taproom and classic brews make this spot a perennial favorite. Wherever you raise your glass, you’ll find the perfect pint to celebrate a day well spent in Kingston.

Crafting the Perfect Winter Getaway

Ulster County’s combination of outdoor adventures and craft beer culture makes it the perfect winter destination. Whether carving through the slopes at Belleayre, gliding along the trails at Mohonk Preserve, or pedaling through snow-draped landscapes, the county’s natural beauty will take your breath away. And with its thriving brewery scene, you’ll never have to look far for a warm welcome and a cold beer.

So grab your gear, lace up your boots, and get ready to explore. Winter in Ulster County is waiting with the perfect pint just around the corner. Go to VisitUlsterCountyNY.com to start planning your winter getaway today.

Left: Woodstock Brewing. Right: Keegan Ales. All photos courtesy of Ulster County Tourism

Raising a Glass to Change

The New Chapter of Ze Wine Bar at Jägerberg

By Michael Koegel

When Kim McGalliard opened Jägerberg Beer Hall and Alpine Tavern, located at the base of Hunter Mountain, she embraced the German cuisine that has long been part of the Catskills’ heritage. Bratwurst, schnitzel, sauerbraten, and flammkuchen became authentic and delicious mainstays of the restaurant. The lively bar scene downstairs welcomed skiers and snowboarders fresh off the slopes, as well as hikers and day-trippers, all of whom could choose from a vast selection of German and domestic beers and dine at the bar’s large communal tables. Upstairs, the dining room served the same menu but in a more subdued setting with cozy tables and a fireplace. It was an immediate hit.

Meanwhile, 20 minutes north in Windham, another ski town, Cordelia Schreiber Krazit was operating Ze Wine Bar, a popular gathering spot with a nearly cult-like following. Known for its warm and friendly vibe, extensive wine list, and delicious small plates, Ze Wine Bar was a happening spot. Family legend has it that Cordelia’s German immigrant father, Peter, was sent into town to buy milk by his wife, but instead, he ended up buy-

ing a building. (It’s unclear if he made it home with the milk.) So, Cordelia, Peter, and her Swedish mother, Jessika, decided to open an establishment inspired by the wine bars of Germany, or Weinstubbes, which served wine, coffee, and small bites. They named it Ze Wine Bar because, in accented German, that’s how you might say “The Wine Bar.” It was a tiny place, able to seat only about 35 people, set back off the road. Though it was a little difficult to spot, it glowed from the inside.

Cordelia, trained as a sommelier at Cornell University, believes that wine was always in her destiny. She even has a story about her baptism: she was given a baby cup from Tiffany’s which she used regularly, but which it turned out was intended for wine service. “My whole family knew right then,” she laughs. When Ze Wine Bar opened, Cordelia started a Tuesday evening wine school. “I thought, ‘I’ll try one and see how it goes,’” she says. It’s been a weekly feature ever since.

Over the years, Kim and Cordelia became friends, swapping restaurant war stories. Cordelia would help out at Jagerberg when Kim was short-staffed. “I couldn’t help but notice that everyone

Photo by RuckSackNY

was always smiling,” Cordelia remarked. “No one ever spoke ill of Kim—her entire staff loved her. It was a very pleasant atmosphere.” During this time, Cordelia’s father passed away, and her mother was beginning to feel overwhelmed by the intense work schedule. Cordelia, who says Ze Wine Bar would have never existed without her parents’ support, found herself at a bit of a crossroads.

When Kim decided to retire from the restaurant business about a year ago, her first call was to Cordelia. Though taking over someone else’s business was the furthest thing from Cordelia’s mind, the transition was seamless. Ze Wine Bar at Jägerberg officially opened on April 22, 2024; the menu retains all the modern takes on classic German dishes, prepared and served by the original Jagerberg staff, ensuring there’s been no dip in the quality of the food or service. Chef Christie Flanagan, who developed the original Jägerberg menu, and whom Cordelia calls “uncommonly talented,” as well as sous chef Jon Podkalicki, helm the kitchen as before. The uber-friendly and efficient wait staff has, thankfully, remained in place. The only alteration to the interior I noticed was the addition of a few cuckoo clocks, which was a fun surprise to hear during dinner.

The food is as hearty and delicious as ever. But the real difference is the wine. The original Jägerberg was mostly focused on beer, and while it had a decent wine list, it wasn’t nearly as extensive as it is now, thanks to Cordelia’s knowledge as a sommelier. For Ze Wine Bar’s loyal customers, the combination of the two establishments has worked out well. “My customers were always bemoaning the fact that we didn’t serve dinner at the wine bar,” Cordelia says, “and now we do!”

Cordelia’s Tuesday night wine school hasn’t missed a beat since transferring to Ze Wine Bar at Jägerberg. It still has the same fiercely loyal following. One reason is Cordelia herself, her passion and boundless enthusiasm transform these classes into a weeknight celebration. The sessions usually sell out, despite being able to accommodate about 45 people. Wine school guests are typically made up of 50% devout return customers and 50% newcomers, who hear about it through word of mouth; she doesn’t advertise.

If your idea of a wine school is based on an episode of Frasier, then you’ve pulled into the wrong parking lot. On the

December night that my husband Andrew and I attended (Wine School #384!), we knew virtually no one in attendance. In fact, it felt as though we might have been at a distant relative’s fancy wedding reception. But by the end of the evening, there were hugs all around, photos of grandkids and pets were swapped, and promises of reunions (at next Tuesday’s wine school) were being made. Cordelia knows how to throw a party.

Before the event, attendees receive notice of the evening’s theme, although some nights are theme-less. The theme for our evening was “Flannel PJ Party.” Guests arrived at 7 pm (most wearing some form of flannel) and gathered in the downstairs bar for a complimentary welcome drink, a one-night-only concoction fitting the evening’s motif, created by the evening’s regular bartender, Peter. That night’s drink was the “Flannel Pajama,” a creamy concoction featuring Amaretto and a Cookies and Cream liqueur.

Afterward, guests are ushered upstairs, where tables have been elegantly set with a plethora of crystal glassware, place settings, individual small bites, and six pre-portioned samples of wine. Each wine is served in 2.5-ounce portions, totaling about two glasses of wine over a three-hour period with food, so no one leaves incapacitated. If you’re looking to make a meal of it, you can also order food off their modified wine school menu. If nothing else, try one of their large homemade soft pretzels—they’re fresh, salty, and a perfect palette cleanser between wines.

Typically, the first glass of the evening is a sparkling wine. In keeping with the Flannel PJ theme, ours was Relax Rosé Bubbles, a Pinot Noir/Chardonnay sparkling rosé from Mosel, Germany. This was followed by two white wines and three reds: a Le Salse verdicchio di matelica; a Melon de Bourgogne from the Loire Valley; a Gamay Cru Beaujolais; a French Syrah/Grenache blend, and a Grenache/Cinsault/Syrah/Mourvèdre blend from Côtes de Provence, respectively. To a wine neophyte like me, the names meant little, but I imagine that over time I’d begin to understand the regional distinctions. But not to worry—there’s no quiz.

Cordelia is a knowledgeable and outgoing host who introduces each wine by ringing a fork against an upside-down crystal goblet to get our attention. By the end of the evening, she was really ringing that poor goblet. She shared the lineage of each wine,

Photo by RuckSackNY

Photo by RuckSackNY

explained how it fit into the evening’s theme, and paired it with food.

The evening was completely devoid of any pretension. I never heard anyone say anything like, “This has notes of apricot and chocolate with a distinctively plummy finish.” There was, however, one moment when Cordelia and Peter the bartender were trying to name all 16 grape varietals in a particular region of France (or something to that effect—it went over my head), but it felt more like a trivia game than wine snobbery. For the record, they could only name 15.

Amazingly, Cordelia has never served the same bottle of wine twice in any of the 384 wine classes (and counting). She discov-

ers each wine along with the class, having never tasted them in advance. She offers her insights, discoveries, and likes and dislikes along with the class, so no one feels lectured.

The level of discourse among the guests varied. There were no charter members of The American Wine Society in attendance, but each guest was enthusiastic and involved. Most people simply declared, “I liked Number 1 and Number 5 the best!” You can learn as little or as much about wine as you like at these events. Cordelia is an expert sommelier who’ll confidently answer any questions you have, but she mostly aims to take the stuffiness out of wine tasting—and she succeeds.

Cordelia’s services as sommelier are available during nonwine school events, So make sure to ask for wine recommendations the next time you’re in for dinner. Any chat with Cordelia about wine, or really anything else, will lift your spirits.

Ze Wine Bar at Jagerberg is at 7722 Main Street in Hunter, New York. Dinner is served Friday, Saturday and Monday evenings. Brunch is available 12-4 on Sundays. Reservations may be made online at jagerberghall.com or by calling 518 628 5188.

Wine school reservations may be made by texting Cordelia directly at 518 755 8630. At $34 per person, it’s one of the best night’s out you’ll have on the mountaintop.

Michael Koegel is a writer, director and producer. He owns Mama’s Boy Burgers in Tannersville.

Catskill Mountain Foundation

Piano Performance Museum

Featuring the Steven E. Greenstein Collection

Photo by RuckSackNY

WINTER FUN

WIN NEW YORK’S SULLIVAN CATSKILLS

hether you’re a winter warrior or a winterphobe, New York’s Sullivan Catskills is for you and offers a mix of cold-weather fun or indoor relaxation just 90 minutes from New York City.

Winter here can be exhilarating, relaxing, or both. A great way to embrace winter and chill out is by spending a few days at the newly opened Driftwood Ranch Resort. Located in White Lake, just a few miles from Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, this Montana-style horse and cattle ranch (currently in a soft-opening phase) offers you all the trapping of a Western lifestyle without the travel time. You can go horseback riding or hiking and watch daily life on the ranch unfold as cowboys care for livestock and train horses. You can even feed the longhorns. Cowboy owner Steve Dubrovsky tells us they love bagels! Accommodations include rustic, luxurious, and spacious suites with modern conveniences suitable for remote work.

Holiday Mountain Ski and Fun Park—now under new ownership of the Taylor family, long-time skiers, and local business owners—offers all-new trails, chairlifts, a learning center, and 12 snow tubing lanes. Long-term plans include 17 ski and snowboarding trails and a mountain of family adventure every season.

Ice fishing is a popular pastime when the lakes and ponds freeze over. Layer up in moisture-wicking clothing, including a

warm jacket, gloves, a hat, and insulated pants. Don’t forget your ice auger to drill holes and a set of tip-ups to drop your fishing line in the water. Most importantly, make sure the ice is at least four inches thick. Weather conditions permitting, don’t miss the popular King of the Ice contest on White Lake in February.

Put on a set of snowshoes to get your heart rate pumping on the trails. Trailkeeper.org can help you find trails that are suitable for various fitness levels. Another popular activity is eagle-watching on the shores of the Upper Delaware River. Up to 200 eagles winter here. The Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail is worth a tour in winter. The trail honors the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair held in Bethel and features 75+ handpainted dove sculptures. During your tour, you can stop in the quaint downtowns and at the craft breweries, wineries, distilleries, and cideries on the award-winning Good Taste Beverage Trail. There’s always Catskill-icious food. Some have live music, and one includes a trek up picturesque Beer Mountain.

If winter is a time for soul searching, introspection, and selfcare, or you just hate the cold, this area, long known as a haven for well-being, boasts wellness resorts, fitness centers, yoga and pilates studios, massage therapists, and naturalists.

Hemlock Neversink is a Foster Supply Hospitality project (Kenoza Hall, The DeBruce, and The Arnold House). The facility

sits on a 230-acre property, once called the New Age Health Spa. The reimagined 33-room facility beckons guests to experience Catskills restoration with an all-inclusive experience that includes access to 12 treatment rooms, a meadow-view gym, an indoor pool, hot tubs, saunas, a steam room, a sun deck, and a relaxation room. There are outdoor tennis courts and a goat sanctuary on the property to connect and engage with the animals. Outdoor trails are plentiful, and creative crafts and workshops promise rejuvenation and self-discovery. Mindful, healthy eating is at the core of Hemlock’s restaurant, Bittersweet. Says co-founder Kirsten Foster, “Our vision of wellness isn’t about achieving perfection. It’s about achieving happiness, having fun, and feeling restored.”

There are many options for health and wellness in the Sullivan Catskills—pamper yourself at Awana Spa at Resorts World Catskills or the Hemlock Spa at Kenoza Hall, or find wellbeing at The Chi Hive Studio in Narrowsburg, Mountaindale Yoga & Wellness, The Yoga Space, Somewhere in Time Retreat, Jurni Healing in Cochecton, or the Salt Cave at Crystal Connection.

There’s great family fun to cure your cabin fever at the Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark where it’s always a balmy 84 degrees inside to enjoy the water rides and waterslides. There’s also arcades, 3D gaming, and virtual reality. There are 324 suites and eight dining options. Villa Roma Resort and Conference Center— with a fine selection of rooms and suites— features an indoor pool, game room, sports complex, bowling alley, bounce houses,

and racquetball. Or try downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. There are nearly a dozen dining options and cocktail lounges. Roscoe Mountain House is planning a bevy of winter activities. Check their website, RoscoeMountainClub.com, for updates.

Interested in a romantic couple’s winter escape? Consider a boutique inn. Many are located near the hip towns of Narrowsburg, Callicoon, Livingston Manor, Roscoe, and Mountaindale including Kenoza Hall, The Boarding House at Seminary Hill Cidery, The Stickett Inn, Chatwal Lodge, and Callicoon Hills. Plan to spend the weekend or take advantage of a discounted mid-week visit. For details on a cozy winter getaway, visit SullivanCatskills.com.

It’s All—or Mostly— Downhill in the Catskills

By Greg Madden

Our Catskill Mountains have long been a hub for outdoor enthusiasts no matter the season. With our endless rolling hills, dense wooded forests littered with ponds, streams and kills, and picturesque snow dusted winter landscapes, our backyard has been a magnet for those needing some outdoor activity with skiing enthusiasts being at the top of the list for over a century.

For decades skiing in our Catskills has been part of our heritage, woven into our experience as a rich tapestry with cultural influences, exciting technological advancements, and an evolving array of styles, from traditional downhill skiing to adaptive skiing that makes the sport accessible to all.

Our skiing traditions trace their roots back in time to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, inspired by transplanted Scandinavian immigrants who found our terrain much to their liking, albeit on a smaller scale than their home lands.

These folks landed here and enthusiastically brought their skiing traditions to the Catskills. Early settlers in the region began using skis as a practical means of winter transportation to move about from here to there. Back in the day simple wooden skis, often handmade, allowed people to traverse snow-covered terrain more efficiently, whether for hunting, farming, or even visiting neighbors. Since then all aspects of the sport from clothing

to equipment have made many drastic changes and more are forthcoming as its participants look to battle and conquer varied terrains and temperature.

As we jump into the wayback machine, the recreational aspect of skiing began to take shape in this area during the 1920s and 1930s, coinciding with the popular rise of ski clubs and organized winter sports across the country. (*Writers sidenote*: my parents met each other in a Connecticut ski club after the second World War).

The advent and then arrival of special ski trains brought urbanites from New York City to the Catskills for winter activities. These excursions marked the beginning of skiing as a leisure activity in our region and throughout the northeastern United States. These ski trains started the party early each weekend and introduced city dwellers to the thrill of cruising down snowcovered hills and the serenity of cross-country gliding across well kept trails. Remember, the St. Bernards also had some “high test” attached to their necks to warm or soothe the injured or trapped skiers.

By the mid-20th century, downhill skiing became the most popular and prominent form of skiing in the Catskills. The establishment of ski resorts, such as Belleayre Mountain in 1949,

Photo courtesy of Windham Mountain Club

marked a turning point. Belleayre, developed by the New York State Conservation Department, was one of the first state-owned ski areas in the country. Its slopes catered to skiers of all skill levels, offering both beginner trails and challenging runs for experts.

Other ski areas, such as Hunter Mountain and Windham Mountain, soon followed, each contributing to the growth of downhill skiing in the region. Hunter Mountain, often dubbed the “Snowmaking Capital of the World,” pioneered artificial snowmaking technology in the 1950s. This innovation extended the ski season and ensured consistent conditions, attracting even more visitors to the Catskills.

While downhill skiing dominated the winter exercise spotlight, cross-country skiing quietly flourished in the Catskills. This style of skiing, which involves gliding across flat or gently rolling terrain, offers a slower-paced, immersive experience in nature. The Catskills’ vast network of trails, such as those found in the Catskill Forest Preserve, provides an ideal setting for cross-country skiing.

Cross-country skiing in the Catskills often appeals to those seeking solitude and a deeper connection with the natural world. Enthusiasts can explore snow-covered meadows, frozen streams, and dense forests while enjoying the physical and mental benefits of this endurance-based activity. If you haven’t tried it you may be shocked at the amount of work needed to move about the snowy pathways.

There are other ways to conquer our Catskills as well. Telemark skiing is a unique hybrid technique that combines elements of both Alpine and Nordic skiing, using the rear foot to keep balance while pushing on the front foot to create a carving turn on downhill skis with toe-only bindings. Telemark skiing with its free-heel technique, has a smaller but dedicated following in our Catskills. They are proud mountaineers.

This style of skiing blends elements of downhill and crosscountry skiing, allowing skiers to tackle both groomed trails and backcountry terrain. Named after the Telemark region of Norway, where it originated, telemark skiing offers a nostalgic connection to skiing’s roots while providing a unique physical challenge.

In the Catskills, telemark skiers can be found exploring the untouched powder of the backcountry or carving graceful turns on resort slopes. The sport’s blend of elegance and athleticism continues to captivate those who seek a more traditional skiing experience.

The 1980s saw the emergence of the “new kid on the slopes,” as snowboarding emerged as a global phenomenon, and the Catskills were quick to embrace this new winter sport. Resorts like Hunter Mountain and Windham Mountain opened their slopes to snowboarders, adding terrain parks and half pipes to cater to this growing demographic. It was a way to draw the younger demographic and keep families flocking to our mountains.

Photo courtesy of Hunter Mountain

Snowboarding brought a youthful energy and countercultural vibe to the Catskill ski scene, attracting a new generation of winter sports enthusiasts. The integration of snowboarding into Catskill resorts, however, was not without its challenges.

Early on, some ski areas resisted allowing snowboarders, citing concerns about safety and compatibility with traditional skiing. However, as snowboarding gained mainstream acceptance and popularity, these barriers fell, and the sport became a staple of the Catskills’ winter offerings. New ideas often take time to get a foothold or even an edge.

One of the most inspiring developments of skiing in the Catskills is the rise of adaptive skiing. This discipline enables individuals with physical, cognitive, or sensory disabilities to enjoy the thrill of skiing through specialized equipment and instruction. Organizations such as the Adaptive Sports Foundation at Windham Mountain have played a crucial role in making skiing inclusive for all.

The Adaptive Sports Foundation offers lessons and programs tailored to each participant’s needs, using equipment like sit-skis, outriggers, and tethers. By breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of empowerment, adaptive skiing has become an integral part of the Catskills’ skiing culture. After all, skiing welcomes everyone. Think of it, eyesight is not a skiing prerequisite.

Beyond skiing and snowboarding, the Catskills offer a wide range of other winter activities that complement the region’s snowy allure. Some are more challenging than gliding down the hill. Snowshoeing, for example, provides an alternative way to explore the wilderness, appealing to those who prefer a slower-paced activity. Ice climbing, sledding, and tubing also add to the diverse array of winter sports available in the region. The great outdoors

is not limited to the warmer summer months so bundle up and head out to earn your rosy cheeks.

The skiing industry has had a profound impact on our Catskills, shaping the region’s economy and culture. Ski resorts have created hundreds of jobs, attracted tourism, and boosted our local businesses, from restaurants and lodges to equipment rental shops and artisan markets (and massage therapy). The influx of new and returning visitors during the winter months has also spurred the development of infrastructure, including improved roadways and public transportation options to support those who come for the fun.

Culturally, skiing has fostered a sense of community and tradition in the Catskills. Annual events such as races, festivals, and après-ski gatherings bring folks together, celebrating the joys of our winter sports. The region’s ski culture is a blend of camaraderie, adventure, and appreciation for the natural beauty of the Catskills.

Looking ahead, skiing here in the Catskills faces challenges despite its rich history and vibrant culture. Climate change poses a significant threat, with rising temperatures and unpredictable snowfall patterns potentially shortening ski seasons. Resorts have responded by investing in additional snowmaking technology and diversifying their offerings to include year-round activities such as mountain biking and hiking. Many have learned that our mountains are the place to be year round.

Additionally, the skiing industry must continue to address issues of accessibility and affordability to ensure that the sport remains inclusive and appealing to future generations. Programs that introduce young people to skiing, as well as initiatives to reduce the cost of lift tickets and equipment rentals, are essential to sustaining the Catskills’ skiing tradition. Maybe it’s time to bring back the Ski Train?

The history of skiing in the Catskill Mountains is a testament to the enduring appeal of winter sports and the region’s ability to adapt and innovate. From its humble beginnings as a practical means of transportation to its current status as a multifaceted recreational hub, skiing in the Catskills reflects a dynamic interplay of tradition and progress. Whether carving turns on a downhill slope, gliding through a serene cross-country trail, or experiencing the thrill of snowboarding or adaptive skiing, the Catskills offer something for everyone.

Won’t you join us each winter to play in our snowy mountains and later enjoy a warm beverage in the base lodge or a sumptuous meal in our local establishments and eateries?

It is the best way to earn your rosy cheeks, afterall. Happy “snowy” trails to all.

Greg Madden is a freelance writer, public relations, branding and marketing specialist who practices ancient healing modalities like Tui-Na Medical Massage and BioPhoton LightTherapy. More at IlluminatingWellness.care.

BELLEAYRE MOUNTAIN

MOUNTAIN STATS:

Longest Run: 12,024’

Vertical Drop: 1,404’

Total Skiable Acres: 171

Snowmaking: 96%

Uphill Lift Capacity: 12,980 people/hour

TRAILS, PARKS & GLADES:

61 Trails, including Glades & Parks

22% Easiest Trails

58% More Difficult Trails

20% Most Difficult Trails

ELEVATIONS:

Belleayre Summit: 3,429’

Sunset Lodge (summit lodge): 3,325’

Overlook Lodge (mid mtn. lodge): 2,542’

Discovery Lodge (lower mtn. lodge): 2,025’

CROSS COUNTRY TRAILS:

9.2 km of trails. The cross country trails are free to use and are only open with natural snow. They are not patrolled or groomed.

WINTER HOURS OF OPERATION:

Lodges: 8:00am - 5:00pm | Lifts: 9:00am - 4:00pm

Make sure to visit the Snow Report at belleayre.com/mountain/conditions/ to see a full listing of open lifts, trails and any changes in operations.

It is recommended that tickets be purchased online in advance for a specific day(s) of planned skiing to ensure that you will have a ticket.

The availability of tickets, lessons, or rentals for purchase at the mountain is not guaranteed, and you may not be able to ski without a pre-purchased ticket.

Once you have an RFID-enabled SKI3 Card (one of our lift tickets), it can be reloaded for future visits online for convenient direct-to-lift access at any of our resorts; Belleayre, Gore, and Whiteface.

|

800-942-6904 (snow phone) | 845-254-5600 | belleayre.com

MOUNTAIN STATS:

Base Elevation: 1,600’ (above sea level)

Summit Elevation: 3,200’ (above sea level)

Vertical Drop: 1,600’

Skiable Acres: 320

Number of Lifts: 13

Number of Trails: 67

Terrain Parks: 4

PERCENTAGE OF TERRAIN:

Beginner: 25%

Intermediate: 30%

Advanced: 45%

WINTER HOURS OF OPERATION:

Weekdays 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (3:30 pm at Hunter North)

Weekends & Holidays 8:30 am to 4:00 pm (3:30 pm at Hunter North)

Ticket Sales window opens 30 mins prior to lift operations.

64 Klein Ave. | Hunter, NY 12442

800-HUNTERMTN | 800-486-8376 | huntermtn.com

PLATTEKILL MOUNTAIN

MOUNTAIN STATS:

Summit Elevation: 3,500’

Base Elevation: 2400’

Vertical: 1,100’

Number of Trails: 41

Number of Lifts: 4

Triple Chair, Double Chair, Two Carpet Lifts (Learning Center and Tubing Park)

Longest Trail: 2 miles

Average Snowfall: 175”

Snowmaking: 75%

Terrain Park: 1

PERCENTAGE OF TERRAIN:

Easier: 20%

Difficult: 40%

More Difficult: 20%

Most Difficult: 20%

HOURS OF OPERATION:

SKIING & SNOWBOARDING:

Friday-Sunday & Holidays (Holidays are February 15-23) 8:45 am-4:15 pm

SNOWTUBING:

Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays 10:30 am-5:30 pm (two-hour time slots)

MOUNTAIN STATS:

Top Elevation: 3,100’

Vertical Rise: 1,600’

Number of Trails: 54

Trail Length: 300’–12,500’

Number of Lifts: 11

1 high-speed 6 passenger, 3 high-speed quads, 1 triple, 1 double, 5 surface

Uphill capacity: 20,754 passengers per hour

Total Acres: 732

Trail Acreage: 285

Snowmaking Coverage: 97% of trails

Terrain Parks: 6

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Weekdays: 9:00am – 4:00pm

Weekends & Holidays: 8:00am – 4:00pm

19 Resort Dr. | Windham, NY 12496

518 734 4300 | windhammountain.com

WINDHAM MOUNTAIN CLUB

The Catskill Mountain Foundation, in

OPERA FAVORITES

Celebrating Glimmerglass Festival’s 50th Anniversary

The Glimmerglass Festival—a one-of-a-kind summer destination since 1975— blends innovative, world-class opera and musical theater with a relaxed atmosphere and a beautiful lakeside setting in Cooperstown, NY, less than two hours from Hunter.

Experience the amazing voices of Glimmerglass Festival artists in concert with Artistic & General Director Rob Ainsley in a thrilling program of opera favorites, musical theater showstoppers, and highlights from the upcoming 50th Anniversary season.

Catskills Past

what were they reading?

Two centuries of area newspapers

By T.M. Bradshaw

Acommon feature of area papers is the “look-back” column, a list of stories from a particular date from 100, 50, 25 years prior. We aren’t looking at a specific date here, but at what kind of items appeared in the newspapers over the years.

In 1825 the content of our area papers consisted of what is often referred to as hard news—politics, trials, disasters. It seems likely that such was the case in other parts of the country. After all, other than word of mouth reporting from on-site observers, newspapers were the only source of information.

Gathering that information in a time of slow and difficult travel depended on a system of exchanges. Because it was considered important to have an informed electorate, in 1792 Congress provided by law, “That every printer of newspapers may send one paper to each and every other printer of newspapers within the United States, free of postage, under such regulations as the Postmaster General shall provide.” Newspapers could also be sent to subscribers within a one hundred mile range for a penny and for one and a half cents above that distance. First class postage at the time was between six and twenty-five cents, depending on distance. Almost all of the stories in the 1825 papers were sourced by exchanges.

A lengthy editorial printed in the February 16, 1825, Delaware Gazette of Delhi provides an example of that type of exchange; it originated in the Connecticut Mirror. Congress was at that time considering changes to the newspaper exchange law, limiting exchanges to fifty. The editorial cited the benefits of the exchange system and provided examples of egregious abuse of postal regulations by congressmen.

What would become of the speeches of our members of Congress if they were not printed in a newspaper? Instead of being corrected in their spelling—rectified in their grammar … they would go to their constituents in the first writing of the speaker himself. In short, a member of Congress who should make a speech without the assistance of a newspaper would never be sent to Washington again. As to the objection which these gentlemen have to burdening the public mail, let them commence the reformation in the proper spot—let them send fewer of their everlasting documents home. One Western member, it is said, took advantage of his frank, and sent home his blue breeches to be mended, with a card [?] of gingerbread for his second child, but to have a newspaper go free would, in the estimation of such a man, be cheating the revenue.

The February 23, 1825 issue of the Delaware Gazette announced the election of John Quincy Adams as president, with a detailed description of the process from the National Intelligencer. None of the four candidates had a majority of electoral votes—Adams had 84, William Crawford 41, Andrew Jackson 99, and Henry Clay 37. The top three were then voted on by the House of Representatives with Adams receiving the majority of votes—thirteen of the twenty-four states.

John C. Calhoun had already been declared vice-president from the field of six running for that office, which included Clay and Jackson, each having been candidates in both races. The same issue included a gracious letter from Adams to Congress expressing his admiration for the talents and achievements of the other candidates. He stated his willingness to refuse the presidency and send the matter back to the people in another election, but for the fact that the constitution did not allow for that action.

Top: Illustration from the January 6, 1900 Hobart Independent Top right: Ad from the June 6, 1900 Delaware Gazette Bottom right: Ad from the January 26, 1900 Andes Recorder

Top: Ad from the August 20, 1925 Hancock Herald

Bottom: Ad from the August 20, 1925 Hancock Herald

Of course not all of a newspaper’s stories were of such historic importance. One in the February 16 issue of the Delaware Gazette came via exchange from the N. Y. Spectator. It described a man in Richmond, Virginia seeking to hire an assistant to participate in demonstrations of his newly discovered method of resuscitating drowned persons. He was in need of a new assistant “in consequence of having lost his servant by suffering him to remain too long in the water.”

There were also stories of scientific interest. One from the March 23, 1825 Gazette was titled “Fire Without Wood, And Light Without Candles.” It was from an exchange with the Ontario Freeman of Canandaigua, New York. It described spots on the farm belonging to a Mr. Allan Loomis “from whence emanated an exhalation, which on the application of a lighted torch, suddenly took fire, and continued to burn for some time.” Mr. Loomis sunk an 8-foot well at one of these spots, capped the top with planks and earth and inserted at the center of the planks a section of a hollow tree. This was joined to one and a half inch diameter “pump logs,” [wooden pipes] that carried the gas over 400 feet to the house. The final parts of the piping were a gun barrel and a perforated tin plate diffuser in the stove, from which the gas could be lit for cooking. The article noted that, “On extinguishing the flame and letting the air escape the room is shortly filled with an air unfit for respiration.” So many people wanted to see this marvel that the Loomis family took up the business of tavern keeping.

Free postage for newspaper exchanges ended in 1873, but the invention of the telegraph in 1844 meant that newspapers had an alternate means of receiving distant news, especially important national stories. The Associated Press was formed in 1846 as a means of sharing the expense of covering the Mexican-American War; over time many more than the original five newspapers shared its reporting.

Moving into mid-century, papers looked very different. There were many more ads and many of those included images. The ads were often in the form of testimonials praising the benefits of patent medicines. Multiple typefaces added visual interest. Much of the news was very local. Stories were often quite short, essentially just headlines. The May 22, 1860, Bloomville Mirror, which later moved to Stamford, had multiple stories barely longer than “The farmers of New Paltz, Ulster Co., it is said, are about engaging extensively in a new branch of agriculture—tobacco

raising.” The longer stories were often fiction. Small filler jokes and puns rounded out columns. A number of papers, the Catskill Recorder, the Stamford Mirror, and the Andes Recorder, among others, had poetry sections, many on the front page. Newspapers were extremely partisan, with editors often attacking the editors of nearby papers connected to a different party.

Issues of The Delaware County Dairyman, circa 1900, prove it true to its name. Most of the articles within it are instructive on agricultural matters concerned with dairy cows, and a number of the ads within are from New York City firms seeking Delaware County dairy products. The front page of the Hobart Independent of January 6, 1900, is filled with wide-ranging news. Headlines of the various stories include “Plague Strikes Manila,” “Chicago Canal Opened,” “Gov. Roosevelt’s Annual Message,” “Slavery in Guam Must Cease,” “Cuba’s Cabinet Sworn In,” “Young Woman Prevents a Wreck,” and “Saved by Breeches Buoy: Thrilling Rescue of the Schooner Hitchcock.” This last story of the rescue of the crew of a schooner off Long Island included an image of the apparatus used in the rescue when it was decided the sea was too rough to use surf boats to rescue the sailors from the grounded vessel.

No issues of the Catskill Mountain News from 1925 were found but the December 26, 1924, issue announced that a solar eclipse would occur on January 24, visible in Margaretville, with Fish’s Eddy in the area of totality. It was declared a notable event because the region had not experienced an eclipse within living memory. The same front page announced that part of a $15 million dollar bond voted on in the recent election would be used to increase the state park system in the Adirondacks and Catskills, with a third used for land acquisition. An article devoted to a list of proposed changes in state motor vehicle law also had front page space. Items under consideration were a possible gas tax, certificates of title for automobiles, a prohibition to park on an improved road except in an emergency, and a maximum age beyond which one couldn’t get a driver’s license.

A year later, the January 1, 1926, edition shows there was interest in one of the proposals that had not yet taken place. Representatives from the New York State Farm Bureau Federation were preparing to appear before the legislature to demand a gasoline tax so that the cost of improving roads would additionally be carried by drivers rather than exclusively by property owners.

In the same issue, an article describing work being done by engineers from the New York City Board of Water Supply to build sewers in Tannersville and Pine Hill declared of the project, “As an asset to Pine Hill in its summer business, … the value of modern sewerage is beyond estimate.”

All of the papers from the mid-1800s on had at least some folksy news of area people, items such as “Mr. and Mrs. Scott Sanford and children spent Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Howard Sanford in South Kortright.”

T. M. Bradshaw shares other thoughts on history at tmbradshawbooks.com.

Winter in the Catskills

Windham Fine Arts

5380 Main Street

Windham, NY 12496

windhamfinearts.com

518 734 6850

Windham Fine Arts is a contemporary art gallery located in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, at the base of Windham Mountain Club. WFA represents more than 60 artists showcasing a diverse collection of original paintings, photography and sculptures. The gallery offers 3,000 square feet of curated artwork exhibited in inspiring landscapes, abstracts, figuratives, Hudson River School style and more. Windham Fine Arts: 23 years in business, a gem of artistic inspiration. Custom-designed artwork by appointment. Open 12:00-5:00 pm.

Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts

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, as well as year-round short courses for adults and youth in ceramics, painting, and drawing.

ART GALLERY

ART INSTRUCTION

Cross-Country Skiing on Undercliff Road.

Photo Credit Glenn Koehler-Courtesy of Ulster County Tourism

ATTRACTION

Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum

7971 Main Street Hunter, NY 12442

catskillmtn.org

518 263 2063

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 U.S., 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 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

BOOKSTORE

Briars & Brambles Books

Route 296 & South Street Windham, NY 12496

briarsandbramblesbooks.com 518 750 8599

Your go-to Indie Bookstore in the heart of the Catskill Mountains. Briars & Brambles Books is a dream come true for owner & Windham resident, Jen Schwartz. Jen has combined her love of books with her vast experience in libraries to create an inviting, knowledgeable and professional atmosphere. The team understands that being a bookseller involves so much more than simply “selling books” and is committed to providing unparalleled personal attention.

CAR DEALERSHIP

Thorpe’s GMC

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 reputation 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.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Main Street

Community Center

5494 NY-23

Windham, NY 12496

mainstreetcenter.org

518 734 4168

The Main Street Community Center strives to build a caring, welcoming and inclusive environment to benefit 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 conference 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!

FARMS & FARM PRODUCTS

Pure Catskills purecatskills.com

A buy local campaign developed by the Watershed Agricultural Council to improve the economic viability of the community, sustain the working landscapes of the Catskills and preserve water quality in the NYC Watershed. Pure Catskills works to promote hundreds of farm, forest and local businesses throughout the Catskill Region. Search their website for local products, or pick up a copy of the Guide to Pure Catskills Products!

FISH & SEAFOOD

Shawn’s Fresh Fish

5150 Route 28

Mount Tremper, NY 12457

On Instagram: @ShawnsFreshFish 845 702 2120

Located at the Migliorelli Farm Stand. We carry a large selection of fresh fish and seafood. Also, try our fresh made soups, salads and locally smoked fish. Requests welcomed.

GARDEN & NURSERY

Garden of Stone

5444 State Route 23

Windham NY 12496

gardenofstone5444@gmail.com

Shop our eclectic selection of cast stone pieces for your garden and home. We hand-cast animal statuary, birdbaths, angels, gnomes and more. We offer fresh-cut flowers by the stem or bouquet and can help with your special event. Shop for houseplants and unusual items–vintage and new. Browsing is encouraged!

Photo courtesy of Windham Mountain Club

Gardens by Trista

176 Polen Hill Road

Gilboa, NY 12076

gardensbytrista.com

607 588 6762

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.

HARDWARE & LUMBER

Windham Hardware

5390 Main Street

Windham, NY 12496

518 734 4433

General hardware, housewares, plumbing, electrical supplies, window and screen repair, paint supplies, garden supplies, and keys made. Built as a Hardware store in 1887, Windham Hardware has been here for the residents of Windham, and those who come to visit, for over 120 years. Windham Hardware has been in the Lawrence family for 44 years, and we’re proud to be a part of this community.

LIVE PERFORMANCES LODGING

Catskill Mountain Foundation 2025 Performing Arts Season

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

Live performances in February start off with the Maude Adams Theater Hub’s 3rd Annual V-Season. This year a series of thoroughly staged play readings feature the classic romance Bell, Book and Candle, Neil Simon’s classic Barefoot in the Park, and a modern take on Sherlock Holmes, Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson, Apt. 2B. Shows are at the Doctorow Center for the Arts February 12-16. On Saturday, February 22, the Catskill Mountain Foundation will partner with the Glimmerglass Festival to present opera favorites celebrating The Glimmerglass Festival’s 50th Anniversary. The International Fortepiano Salon Online starts a new season on February 9, with guest artist Jean-Bernard Cerin, who will present portraits and performances of 18th-20th century composers from the African Diaspora. This Salon will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube on Sunday, February 9. And on Sunday, March 2 at the Orpheum, Cahoots Theatre will present The Vanishing Elephant, the story of a young boy who befriends an Asian Elephant.

845 338 0400 • 800 780 7234

Best Western Plus Uptown Kingston

Off NYS Thruway Exit 19

503 Washington Avenue Kingston, NY 12401 bwpkingston.com

A modern, full-service hotel located less than a mile from I-87. Situated within walking distance to the Stockade District and trendy uptown Kingston shops, restaurants and attractions. On-site amenities include First Capitol Bistro, a heated indoor saltwater pool, and complimentary WiFi & breakfast. Explore all of the outdoor activities that the Catskills and Hudson River are famous for, including the Ashokan Rail Trail, Mohonk Preserve, and more, from one convenient location. Hiking enthusiasts will love the Mohonk Preserve Hiking Experience. Ski nearby at Belleayre, Hunter or Windham.

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

Windham Manor is the premiere wedding and event venue in The Catskill Mountains. Our 45-acre property features The Manor House, a Victorian Estate with 12 beautiful guest suites. The property also boasts The Barn, a luxurious space which can hold 300+ guests for dinner, dancing, seminars, and other events, and two incredible outdoor ceremony spaces—The Lawn and The Enchanted Forest. Call us to set up a tour or schedule on our website!

MASSAGE & WELLNESS

Illuminating Wellness/ Mountain Top Massage

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 so that healing begins. This practice finds the root cause of any symptom-producing malady and neutralizes it, raising the body’s immune system, the key to your health. (biontology.com).

MOVIE

Catskill Mountain Foundation’s

Mountain 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 running 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, 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.

Perrine’s Bridge , Photo by John Fischer

Catskill Mountain Foundation

7971 Main Street

Hunter, NY 12442

catskillmtn.org

518 263 2000

Now in its 27th year, the Catskill Mountain Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization which offers a variety of programs and workshops centered on the arts. It owns and runs The Orpheum Performing Arts Center, The Doctorow Center for the Arts (which includes the Mountain Cinema, a performance space, and the Piano Performance Museum), Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts, a Natural Agriculture farm and the Guide Magazine. The Foundation has long term partnership programs with The Joyce Theater Foundation, Works & Process at the Guggenheim, the National Dance Institute and Catskill Mountain Shakespeare, and is also home to the Hunter International Music Festival, The Academy of Fortepiano Performance, the Orpheum Dance Program, and the Maude Adams Theater Hub.

Windham Foundation windhamfoundation.org

info@windhamfoundation.org

518 734 9636

Our mission is to enhance and enrich our community by providing charitable grants for historical preservation, the arts, education, recreation, and initiatives deemed to make Windham an extraordinary place to live, work, and visit. Established in 2004, the Windham Foundation is run by an all-volunteer Board. Donations are tax deductible.

Images of the Northern Catskills by Francis X. Driscoll 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.

PLUMBING & HEATING

Rice Plumbing and Heating

Accord:

riceplumbingandheating@gmail.com 845 626 5088

Boiceville: riceplumbingboiceville@gmail.com 845 657 7423

riceplumbingandheating.com

Whether you’re dealing with a leaky faucet, a clogged drain, or a plumbing emergency, we’ve got you covered. Our team of experienced and licensed plumbers, our commitment to quality craftsmanship, prompt service, and customer satisfaction sets us apart. Explore our website to discover our wide

range of services, from plumbing repairs and installations to maintenance and inspections. We take pride in using the latest industry techniques and high-quality materials to ensure reliable and long-lasting solutions for all your plumbing needs. We offer quick response times and strive to complete every job efficiently and effectively.

RADIO STATIONS

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, local, and noncommercial, broadcasting from the Catskill Mountains, 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

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 & Hunter, 97.5 in Durham & Greenville, 103.7 in Catskill & Hudson, 104.5 in Stamford & Delaware County, and streaming worldwide at rip979.com.

Apple Tree Realty

85 Main Street

Andes, NY 13731

call or text 607 434 6677

appletre@catskill.net

Apple Tree Realty was established at 85 Main Street in the historic Village of Andes in 1985. Apple Tree Realty is an independent “boutique” agency manned by an experienced, professional sales staff. The principal broker, Dorothy McArdle, has been in the real estate business in Delaware County for over 35 years. Apple Tree Realty is a member of the Otsego-Delaware Board of Realtors and the OtsegoDelaware Multiple Listing Service.

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!

Carol Shaw, Broker/Owner

Shaw Country Realty

5359 State Route 23

Windham, NY 12496

518 734 3500

I have been a real estate broker in the mountain top area for nearly four decades, representing buyers and sellers, as well as dealing with various types of properties. With our many years in the industry, Shaw Country Realty has built a strong network, deep understanding of the market trends, and a keen ability to match buyers with suitable properties and help sellers navigate successful transactions.

Win

Morrison Realty

63 John St. Kingston, NY 12401

Additional locations in

Catskill, Phoenicia, Saugerties, Windham & Woodstock winmorrisonrealty.com

845 339 9999 (Kingston)

At Win Morrison Realty we listen to your wants and needs while assisting you to make them a reality. We pride ourselves on being the largest and most respected real estate company in the Hudson Valley. Whether it is a weekend retreat, mansion, land, commercial property or business, our experienced agents will assist you every step of the way. We have seven offices located throughout the Hudson Valley and a team of over 100 real estate professionals. We are members of numerous MLS (Multiple Listing Services) to serve you, from New York City to the Adirondacks.

Windstar Realty Group

5316 State Route 23

Windham, NY 12496

518 734 6600

85 Main Street

Stamford, NY 12167

607 442 4000

windstarrealty.com

Windstar Realty Group is a full-service Real Estate Agency serving the Greene, Columbia, Schoharie, Otsego, and Delaware County areas of NY. The Catskill region offers the perfect balance of adventure and serenity—you owe it to yourself to choose the best team in the area to represent your real estate needs! Whether you are buying or selling a home, property, or business in the Upstate NY area, Windstar Realty Group is the agency for you! We have the most well-rounded team in the region.

REGIONAL INFORMATION

Catskill Center for Conservation & Development

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.

Catskill Visitor’s Center

5096 State Route 28

Mt. Tremper, NY 12457

catskillsvisitorscenter.org 845 688 3369

Your gateway to Catskills, where you can learn about the vast outdoor recreational opportunities in the area as well as discover the cultural and natural history of the Region. The center features educational exhibits along with maps, books, gear, and gifts, as well a friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Greene County Economic Development Corporation

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.

Sullivan County Tourism

SullivanCatskills.com

1 800 882 CATS

Looking for a unique getaway? Whether you’re a winter warrior or a winterphobe, New York’s Sullivan Catskills is for you and offers a mix of cold-weather fun or indoor relaxation just 90 minutes from New York City. Winter here can be exhilarating, relaxing, or both.

Ulster County Tourism

VisitUlsterCountyNY.com

When winter’s chill settles over the Catskills, Ulster County transforms into a glittering wonderland brimming with outdoor adventures. Whether snowshoeing along scenic trails, skiing down plush, perfect powder, or pedaling fat bikes on snowy paths, Ulster County’s winter activities will get your heart pumping while you think, “What a time to be alive!”

RESTAURANTS

A Slice of Italy

1316 Ulster Avenue

Kingston, NY 12401

asliceofitaly7115.com

845 336 7115

The finest Italian dishes, pizza, hot and cold subs, salads and more made with the freshest ingredients and served with five star customer service. Full bar featuring a range of red and white wines, bottled beers, beers on tap and liquor. We also cater, and pride ourselves on being able to deliver our quality restaurant dishes right to your door. Whatever the event, no matter how many or how few, we are there for you. Open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm, closed on Sundays.

Brandywine

11157 State Route 23

Windham, NY 12496

brandywinewindham.com

518 734 3838

For the past 35 years, this full-service 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 Caracciolo 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 know the formula to capture the rich flavor of your favorite Italian dishes.

Brave the Flames

6080 Main Street

Tannersville, NY 12485

bravetheflames.com

518 718 4095

Times have changed. Restaurants need to change with them. By bringing back proper technique in food preparation. By pricing freshly made food appropriately. Brave the Flames accomplishes this through counter service of comfort food made from scratch and priced comfortably for locals ad visitors. Open Wednesday - Sunday for dine-in, take-out, and online orders from 10:30am to 9pm, with Fish Fry Friday for $13.99. Tuesdays from 4pm to 9pm we offer our Twisted Taco menu only, which changes weekly.

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 is on the cutting edge of the sustainable food. Surrounded by farmers and local food makers, Chef Deanna creates beautiful dishes using her Sicilian heritage and her love of everything sweet and savory.

• An easier, more interactive reading experience

Deja Brew Bakery & Cafe

5980 Main Street

Tannersville, NY 12485

518 589 4102

On Facebook:

@ Deja Brew Tannersville

Deja Brew Specialty Coffees is a family-owned and operated café offering a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Known for their expertly brewed specialty coffees, the café also delights customers with an assortment of freshly made pastries, soups, empanadas, and gourmet sandwiches. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Sunday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Gracie’s Luncheonette

969 Main Street Leeds, NY 12451

graciesny.com

518 943 9363

Diner-style burgers, fried chicken sandwich, loaded fries and donuts are our signature menu items. All of our breads, pastries and desserts are made in house every day. We make all of our own condiments and even our own cheese. We buy whole beef from Josef Meiller’s farm in Pine Plains, NY and we grind our own special blend for our burgers and cut our own steaks. We also cure and smoke our own bacon, pastrami and other meats. All ingredients are all sourced as locally as possible. The potatoes for our French fries are even grown right in Catskill at Story’s Farm and hand-cut daily!

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 & familyrun, we love to share all the freshest foods our area has to offer! Catering is 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.

Pancho Villa’s

Mexican Restaurant

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.

Pantry on Main

6022 Main Street

Tannersville, NY 12485

pantryonmain.com

518 589 4027

Pantry on Main is a family-owned and operated specialty food business, a one-stop-shop for all your culinary needs. Whether it be your forever or vacation home, we have what you need to create a delicious meal. Open for breakfast and lunch with a menu that changes daily, The Pantry also offers a rotating menu of prepared foods to go as well as catering for all of your needs, whether it be a 250 person wedding or intimate dinner party we have got you covered!

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 Catskill Mountains. The restaurant supports local growers by changing the menu daily, using the freshest ingredients available.

Photo by Michael Neil O’Donnell

Belleayre Ski Shop

22 Galli Curci Road

Highmount NY 12441

belleayreskishop.com

845 254 5338

The Belleayre Ski Shop, sitting at the base of Belleayre Mountain, has been open since 1978. Current employees have 20+ years of experience in the ski industry. With a fully stocked Retail and Rental area, we can meet all your needs. Our full Retail Store has everything you need to experience a great day on the mountain. Expert staff members are here to assist you in getting the perfect fit. However you choose to spend the day, we have you covered. Season Pass Holders receive a 10% discount on Retail purchases. Our rental fleet features Elan skis and Dalbello boots. We also offer demos on all current season skis. If you are not looking to buy but want a better ski, we offer High-Performance rentals. Need ski/board rentals? Reserve your skis ahead of time, save time!

Camp Catskill

6006 Main Street

Tannersville, NY 12485

campcatskill.co

518 303 6050

Your destination for sustainable gear & gifts, 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. 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. We work with brands that care about their impact on the planet and its people, and we 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.

The Knitting Room

11111 State Route 23

Windham, NY 12496

theknittingroomny.com

518 768 1944

Co owned by long time friends May and Zairi, The Knitting Room is a yarn store specializing in locally produced and hand dyed yarn. Come touch gorgeous yarn and stay to knit or crochet over a cup of hot cocoa, latte or tea. We offer beginner and advanced classes, and help starting new projects. With gorgeous views of Windham Mountain and a great atmosphere, any afternoon spent at The Knitting Room is guaranteed good fun in fantastic company.

The Nest Egg

84 Main Street

Phoenicia, NY 12464

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 preserves, 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. SKI NY iskiny.com

SKIING & SNOWBOARDING

315 696 6550 / 518 796 3601

Ski Areas of New York, Inc. is dedicated to the continued growth of the New York snow sports industry by working on behalf of its membership through legislation, marketing, and education to enhance public awareness of snow sports in New York. SKI NY is also the sponsor of the Passport Program, which offers free skiing for your third, fourth and fifth graders with an adult purchase at select ski areas.

Windham Mountain Club

19 Resort Drive

Windham, NY 12496

windhammountain.com

1 800 754 9463

Windham Mountain Club is a premier multi-generational, four-season resort in the Northeast, located in the Great Northern Catskills, two and a half hours north of New York City. Boasting 285 skiable acres across 54 trails and serviced by 11 lifts (four of which are high speed), the mountain offers an award-winning Ski and Ride School, lodging, onmountain dining, a tubing park, and world-class alpine and freestyle competition teams.

MENLA | Dewa Spa

375 Pantherkill Road

Phoenicia, NY 12464

menla.org

A hidden oasis in the heart of the Catskill mountains, Menla features wellness and spiritual retreats, exclusive getaways, and the world-class Dewa Spa. Immerse yourself in the magic of pristine mountain forests. Explore hiking trails, encounter wildlife, and discover a rich tapestry of wellness experiences and activities. Dewa Spa’s unique architecture and Tibetan accents evoke peace and tranquillity. Eastern and Western treatments, such as Tibetan KuNye massage, herbal baths, Shirodhara, sounds baths, energy readings, and customized facials are a few of the lavish therapies found at our spa.

WINE & LIQUOR

Olivia’s Wine & Spirits

128 South Street

Windham, NY 12496

oliviaswineandspirits.com

518 750 8026

Wine connoisseur Robert Giordano has traveled the world learning about wine, and brings his vast knowledge and passion for wines from all over the world to Windham. Olivia’s Wine & Spirits offers a diverse selection of wines at a variety of competitive price points, as well as a variety of bourbons, whiskeys, and other liquors. Open every day.

Windham Wine & Liquors

5448 State Route 23

Windham, NY 12496

518 734 3474

Windham Wine & Liquors is the Mountaintop’s premier destination for the best offerings of wines and spirits since 2003. Our ever-expanding selection is sure to please every palate and price range. Let us help with your special event or gift. Visit us at the west end of town. Open every day of the year except Christmas Day.

Woodstock Wine & Liquor

63 Tinker St.

Woodstock, NY 12498

woodstockwineandliquor.com 845 679 2669

Located in the heart of Woodstock, WW&L is a family-owned, lovingly curated boutique shop with more than 1000 different wines, spirits, sakes and ciders to choose from. Customers discover a focus on local wines and spirits, naturally and sustainably produced wines from around the world, in an inviting, non-pretentious environment. Respecting tradition while celebrating innovation. Check out the free in-store tastings and order through woodstockwineandliquor. com for pickup or free local delivery.

WOODWORKING

By Francis X. Driscoll

WoodLab … From Tree to Table 5316 State Route 23

Windham, NY 12496

woodlabslabs.com 518 734 5700

Our one-of-a-kind tables incorporate the unique characteristics of Parota and Monkey Pod slabs, imported from Costa Rica. Coveted for their exotic beauty, these rare, large species wood slabs are hand-selected, allowing us to create family heirloom dining and office tables.

Scan for tickets

Maude Adams Theater Hub presents The Third Annual

V Season

A Rotation of Three Great Plays Over Five Fine Days

VSeason is back and it’s hotter than ever! This year a series of thoroughly staged play readings feature classic romance Bell, Book and Candle, Neil Simon’s classic Barefoot in the Park, and a modern take on Sherlock Holmes, Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson, Apt 2B.

Maude Adams Theater Hub (MATH) is thrilled to be producing V Season for the third year in a row. This series of three thoroughly staged play readings were chosen to make you laugh, cry, and contemplate the nature of human relationships. Come cozy up and escape the cold at the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971 Main Street, Hunter, NY, February 12-16. Showcasing local directors and actors, this production celebrates the season of love in all its forms. Ticket prices are $20 for an individual show, or $50 for the series. Join us on Valentine’s weekend where V-Season explores the boundaries of love in ways that surprise and delight!

MATH Creative Director Amy Scheibe said, “What began as a desire to include actors who struggle with memorization has blossomed into a miraculous event: in every aspect these performances resemble fully staged plays, except with floating scripts. We have all the bells and whistles, and audiences love the experience.”

Barefoot in the Park kicks off the weekend at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, February 12. Neil Simon’s classic tale of newlyweds in a walk-up NYC apartment revels in its 1960s authenticity, yet still manages to portray young love in all its fiery romantic tumult. Jacob Shipley, most recently seen in MATH’s Old Jews Telling Jokes returns to the Doctorow stage to play strait-laced Paul Bratter opposite newcomer Ashley Hill as his exuberant bride, Corie. Rounding out the star-studded cast are regional fav Katrina Lantz as Mrs. Banks, the hilarious Roger Dapiran as Victor Velasco, and MATH’s stalwart professional Gary Falk as the Telephone Man. A second performance will go up on Saturday, February 15 at 7:00 pm. Directed by Amy Scheibe.

Kate Hamill’s Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson, Apt 2B, a contemporary take on the classic sleuths, will be new to many of MATH’s followers, and they are in for a treat! Set in a post-covid era, the play follows Dr. Watson’s efforts to begin her life anew after the carnage of her professional life and ruins of her marriage. When she stumbles into the world of Sherlock (never Shirley) Holmes, a new and hilariously vibrant world greats her with a murder mystery to solve. The wildly versatile Molly Gaebe takes the reins as the beloved detective, and Cara Dantzig (director of the Holiday Spectacular and star of many MATH productions) proves a very willing foil. Rounding out the cast are Brian Flynn and Jessica Gibbons who provide endless amusement via multiple surprising and unexpected roles. Directed by Caitlin McColl.

MATH’s Valentine’s Day special this year is the 1950s romantic comedy Bell, Book and Candle by John Van Druten, one of the mid-20th century’s beloved playwrights. You may be familiar with this witchy tale as the basis of the television hit Bewitched. In this version, Gillian Holyrod, played by the alwaysdazzling Allegra Coons, is a lonely sorceress dreaming of love. She enlists the advice and support of her ditzy Aunt Queenie (newcomer Elizabeth Burdick), brother Nicky (Windham’s own Bill Solley), and Pyewacket, her “familiar” played by the super sweet Poppy Davis. In order to land her dream man—MATH’s delightful and highly versatile Brian Flynn—Gillian also casts a spell on a dusty writer, played by perennial favorite Michael McDonald. Directed by Patricia Charbonneau.

Be sure to get your tickets today at catskillmtn.org to secure your seats!

Maude Adams Theater Hub (MATH), a program of the Catskill Mountain Foundation, is a community-centric performing arts organization dedicated to finding, supporting, and creating opportunities for experiencing the joys of theater. Founded in 2022, MATH is located in Hunter, NY, and has helped develop over 20 performances since its creation.

February Delights from a Greene County Garden

By Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson

Flowers in the middle of February? Giving red roses to one’s sweetheart has become a tradition on February 14, Valentine’s Day. Since roses don’t bloom in February in any but our country’s most southern fringes, it’s a rather awkward tradition. The roses in florist shops this time of year have been grown in hot houses or shipped by air from South America. They’re expensive and, either way, consume large amounts of energy, mostly from fossil fuels.

So why do we do this? In ancient Rome, February 14 marked the pagan holiday of Lupercalia, a fertility festival when young men ran through naked through the streets carrying thongs made of wolf skin to lash at any young women they encountered. Women who wanted to get pregnant stood in their way, hoping to get lashed, because the ritual was supposed to increase their fertility.

In the year 496 CE, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 Saint Valentine’s Day in honor of a martyred Roman priest, the date’s pagan association with love play was still fresh in people’s minds. Moreover, February is when songbirds, long a symbol of romance, start serenading their mates and building

nests. As people looked forward to spring in a land significantly warmer than most of the U.S., it may have become a nice gesture to gather bouquets of early bloomers for one’s beloved.

Happily, we do have other options. Even in February, Greene County gardens can be full of beauty. Red-osier dogwood is a native plant whose stems turn a stunning purplish red after their leaves fall. The seedheads of grasses often persist through the winter with a lovely arching form. Some rhododendrons keep their leaves, deepened from green to a dark reddish bronze. Lavender, if harvested and dried in summer or fall before the flowers fade, will still show beautiful color through the winter.

Florists, too, are beginning to offer climate-friendly Valentine gifts. They are creative souls, many of whom now specialize in wreaths of dried, locally grown flowers, bouquets of early-blooming spring flowers, or pots of bulbs that will bloom indoors to brighten your sweetheart’s February.

Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson enjoys gardening in Catskill. She also writes a weekly Substack series, The Generous Garden, online at mtomlinson.substack.com.

February delights from the author’s garden

THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN THE CATSKILLS

By Jeff Senterman

Thanks to continuing impacts of climate change, it is hard to say what typical winter weather might be nowadays, but suffice to say the winter so far has been tough to prepare for and react to. We have had snow, cold temperatures, warmer temperatures, winds, rain, flooding, and then back to cold and snow here in the Catskills so far this winter.

Clearly, this has all led to a multitude of conditions on the trails for those looking to get out! The best advice I can think of going into February is to be prepared for anything in the mountains. Conditions can and do change quickly in the Catskills, and if you are on the trails in the winter months, you should be spending more time on planning as there is a lot less room for mistakes and errors because of the cold temperatures, higher winds, snow, ice, and limited daylight hours. For any trip into the frontcountry or the backcountry, be sure to check out the regularly updated trail conditions posted by the Catskills Visitor Center—they’ll help you know before you go!

February is a very important time in the political life of the Catskills and the Catskill Park. At the State Capital in Albany, this is the time of the year when budgets are being made and priorities are being assessed and discussed. Organizations like the

Catskill Center are working hard to advocate for the Catskills and through efforts like Catskill Park Day, use that opportunity to positively influence the Catskills through the budgeting process.

Think all the hiking trails of the Catskills are in the high peaks region? Think again! Thanks to Trailkeeper we have the top five winter hikes in Sullivan County, which is home to the southern Catskills and some real gems of trails.

Catskill Park Coalition Priorities for 2025 Your Voice Can Help Support the Catskills!

The Catskill Park Coalition represents dozens of organizations who work in and care for the Catskill Park and the surrounding Catskills region. Every year the Coalition prepares priorities for the upcoming NYS budget and advocates for equitable funding of the Catskill Park and Catskills communities. Many of the members of the Coalition partner with New York State, local governments, and other stakeholders to implement critical Catskill Park programs to conserve open space, steward our existing recreational resources, protect and improve water quality, promote responsible forest stewardship, build community resilience, and create new trails and public access.

Neversink Gorge Trails. Photo by Mad Hare Imagery/shutterstock.com

The Coalition knows that investments in the Catskill Park protect our natural resources, support important jobs for our region, and provide clean drinking water protection for millions of New Yorkers. The priorities for the Coalition in the upcoming NYS Budget affirm tourism opportunities, natural resource protections, clean water, public health protections, climate resilience, recreational access, job creation, and quality of life for residents of and visitors to the Catskill Park.

• Public Safety and Catskill Park Management. The NYSDEC must be adequately staffed, including new staff in the Division of Lands and Forests and annual Forest Ranger Academies.

• Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Fund the Environmental Protection Fund at $500 million. Within the EPF, maintain existing funding lines for the Catskills including: $12 million Forest Preserve line; $250,000 line for the Catskills Visitor Center; $200,000 line for Catskill Science Collaborative; $500,000 for the “Save the Hemlocks” initiative; and $400,000 in dedicated annual Catskills funding for Smart Growth Grants.

• Supporting Local Economies. Support Catskills communities by investing in projects with direct community benefits, improve cellular service, expand affordable housing in and around the Catskill Park, implement community benefits recommendations of CAG Final Report, implement Catskill Park Gateway Signage, support community trails, support Catskill Stewards Program, and implement VUMs for Kaaterskill Clove and the Formerly Trailless Peaks.

What can you do to help? Contact your local elected officials (the Governor, State Senators, and State Assemblymembers and let

them know that you support the priorities of the Catskill Park Coalition. It doesn’t matter where in New York you live, your elected officials need to know you support the Catskills! For more information visit catskillcenter.org/advocacy.

Catskill Park Trail Conditions

Local recreational opportunities are always changing in the Catskill Park, and by visiting the Catskills Visitor Center’s Trail Conditions page, you can stay on top of those changes. Staff at the Visitor Center are regularly posting updates related to the Catskill Park, Catskill trails, Catskill campgrounds and camping, Catskill boating, and more at catskillstrailconditions.com.

Top 5 Winter Hikes in the Southern Catskills

Have you explored the trails of the southern Catskills? Thanks to the Trailkeeper Network we have a list of the five best cross-country ski and snowshoe trails in the Sullivan County region. Take them as an excuse to avoid winter hibernation during the colder months and get out exploring the Catskills, either by foot, skis or snowshoes this winter. For more information on any of these trips, you can visit trailkeeper.org, an online outlet for hiking trails and public lands in Sullivan County.

When it comes to some great places to start, here are the top five cross-country ski and snowshoe trips from Trailkeeper: Willowemoc Forest’s Frick Pond Trail (voted NY’s 10 best winter hikes by I Love NY!)

Walnut Mountain Park (Liberty, NY)

Bashakill D&H towpath (Wurtsboro, NY)

Tusten Mountain Trail (Narrowsburg, NY), Neversink Unique Area

Shawangunk Region Trail (Rockhill, NY)

Frick Pond Trail in the Willowemoc Forest, one of the top five cross-country ski and snowshoe trips in Sullivan County, according to trailkeeper.org. Photo by Brad Gillespie

#RecreateResponsibly in the Catskills

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

Know Before you Go

Check the status of the place you want to visit for closures, fire restrictions, and weather.

Plan and Prepare

Reservations and permits may be required.

Make sure you have the gear you need and a back-up plan

Build an Inclusive Outdoors

Be an active part of making the outdoors safe and welcoming for all identities and abilities.

Respect Others

There is space for everyone and countless outdoor activities. Be kind to all who use the outdoors and nature differently.

Leave No Trace

Respect the land, water, wildlife, and Native communities. Follow the seven Leave No Trace principles. Learn more at LeaveNoTrace.org

Make It Better

We all have a responsibility to sustain the places we love. Volunteer, donate, and advocate for the outdoors.

Never tried a winter hike and need some guidance? A great place to start and for outdoor gear rentals, visit Morgan Outdoors on Main Street in Hurleyville, NY or call 845 693 4181.

Visit the Catskill Park’s Visitor Center

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. Through March 31, the CVC is open Friday through Monday from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Visitors can get their Catskill questions answered in person, get the beautiful and useful Catskill Map and Guide, browse tourism materials, and shop at the CVC’s gift 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, there are 1.5 miles of trails on the CVC’s grounds and the 80-foot tall Upper Esopus Fire Tower, offering unrivaled views of the surrounding mountains and Esopus Creek valley.

Visitors can explore the ever expanding resources available online for the CVC on the web at www.catskillsvisitorcenter.org, the CVC’s Facebook page at facebook.com/catskillsvisitorcenter, and the CVC on Instagram at @catskills.visitor.center.

Catskill Park Advisory Committee

The Catskill Park Advisory Committee (CPAC) was established to facilitate communication within the Park and consists of representatives from local governments and organizations chaired by the Catskill Center. Meetings are held quarterly and are open to the public. If you’d like to learn more, join the mailing list or attend

The MOUNTAIN CINEMA

THE BRUTALIST

When a visionary architect and his wife flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of modern United States, their lives are changed forever by a mysterious, wealthy client. OPENS 1/31

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD

Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, finds himself in the middle of an international incident and must discover the motive behind a nefarious global plan. OPENS 1/31

DOG MAN

Dog Man, half dog and half man, he is sworn to protect and serve as he doggedly pursues the feline supervillain Petey the Cat. OPENS 1/31

OSCAR® NOMINATED SHORTS

A perennial audience favorite, the Oscar®nominated short films return in three programs: Animation, Live Action and Documentary. 2/7-2/9, 2/14-2/16

PADDINGTON IN PERU

Paddington returns to Peru to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy. With the Brown family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey. OPENS 2/14

THE SEED OF THE SACRED FIG

Investigating judge Iman grapples with paranoia amid political unrest in Tehran. When his gun vanishes, he suspects his wife and daughters, imposing draconian measures that strain family ties as societal rules crumble. 2/21-2/23, 2/28-3/2

the next meeting, please email the Catskill Center at at cccd@ catskillcenter.org with CPAC in the subject asking to be added to the mailing list.

Catskills Hiking Guides with the Hiker Trash Husbands on YouTube and the Web

Looking to explore the trails of the Catskills (and beyond) before you hit the trail? My husband and I have a YouTube channel showcasing our hiking adventures in the Catskills and beyond! You can find The Hiker Trash Husbands on YouTube at youtube. com/thehikertrashhusbands. If you’re in the Catskills and have cable provided by MTC, you can catch our videos on CatskillsAir, MTC Channel 1.

For the two 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, while providing the general public with useful hiking information and guides. We love to showcase our own hiking adventures, along with other queer outdoors folks. You can learn more about our efforts, along with detailed hike descriptions and hiking guides, by visiting our website at hikertrashhusbands.com.

Give Back to the Catskills

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.

Most importantly, know that by being a supporter of the Catskill Center you are helping protect and preserve the Catskills that we all love. Remember, the future of the Catskills is in our hands!

To support the work of the Catskill Center, make a donation online 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.

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 Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce. Jeff graduated with a degree in Environmental Science from Lyndon State College in Vermont and worked for many years as an Environmental Planner in New England before coming back to the Catskills in the nonprofit sector.

Photo courtesy of the Hiker Trash Husbands,hikertrashhusbands.com

FORTEPIANO

Hosted by Patricia García Gil, Maria Rose & Yi-heng Yang

SPRING 2025 SERIES

Connecting fortepiano lovers from all around the world

Music and Ideas: Coming to the Table

Streaming LIVE on Facebook and YouTube

The International Fortepiano Salon’s Spring 2025 series will explore the relationship between music, ideas, culture, and historical keyboard music, exploring how historical pianos, its music and practitioners have been carriers of culture, politics and meaning. We will be discovering unknown music, celebrating new and underrepresented voices, and having thoughtful discussions which deepen the variety and richness of the classical musical community.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 AT 2:00PM

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: A PALACE OF LOVE AND POWER

Guest Artist: Jean-Bernard Cerin

Our February 9 Salon, held in conjunction with Black History Month, welcomes guest artist Jean-Bernard Cerin, associate professor at Cornell University and multi-faceted singer and scholar. Cerin will visit with us and present portraits and performances of 18th-20th century composers from the African Diaspora, including Ignatius Sancho, Juste Chanlatte, Eugene Descourtilz, Carmen Brouard, Joseph Bologne, and Chevalier de St. Georges, on early to modern pianos.

SUNDAY, MARCH 9 AT 2:00PM

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: SO YOU THINK YOU CAN PLAY THE HAMMERKLAVIER? DOMESTICITY AND THE KEYBOARD

SUNDAY, MAY 18 AT 2:00PM

ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTH: SILENCE AND TRANSFORMATION

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

This is just a sampling of all of the events in the Catskills this February. 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.

ONGOING

Delhi Winter Farmers Market

The Delhi Farmers Market has an amazing line up of dedicated farmers, bakers, makers and more. Each week they bring their best with a wide selection of goods. You will find a variety of your kitchen staples—fresh bread, farm fresh cheeses, vegetables, jams, poultry and more. To help ward off the cold, you will find crocheted apparel, distilled spirits, amaryllis bulbs, and homemade pie. If you’d like to add sparkle and shine to your winter, there are unique jewelers at the market.

Location: Delhi American Legion, 41 Page Avenue, Delhi

Hours: Every Wednesday, 10:00 am-2:00 pm More Info: facebook.com/DelhiFarmersMarket/

Phoenicia Winter Farmers Market

Phoenicia Farmers Market is a volunteer-led movement to increase access to locally-grown foods in the Town of Shandaken. We bring together local farms, artisanal makers, full-time residents, and seasonal visitors to a weekly market to shop, learn, gather, and compost. EBT/SNAP Benefits are accepted.

Location: Pine Hill Community Center, 287 Main Street, Pine Hill

Hours: Every Sunday, 11:00 am-2:00 pm More Info: phoeniciafarmersmarket.com

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/

Iyengar Yoga with Carolyn Christie

The Iyengar method of learning and practicing asanas engages the mind as well as body. With breath as conditioner, the mind as the seeker, Iyengar yoga practice gives strength mobility to the body, stability to the mind. Open to all; class is for all levels. Fee payable to instructor.

Location: Bushel Collective, 106 Main St, Delhi

Time: Saturdays, 10:00-11:30 am

More Info: bushelcollective.org

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. By reservation only, no walk-ins. Dates and times subject to change without notice.

Location: 5428 NY Route 23 (Main Street), Windham

Dates & Times: Check website for most up-todate schedule

More Info: MagicOnMainWindham.com

THROUGH FEBRUARY 2

Winter Hoot 2025

A winter weekend of exceptional roots music and down-home fun for all ages. Drop by for your favorite bands or activities or stay the whole weekend.

Location: The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge

More Info: ashokancenter.org

THROUGH FEBRUARY 9

Members’ Winter Group Show

Selections from our monthly members group exhibition.

Location: Longyear Gallery, 785 Main Street, Margaretville

Gallery Hours: Friday-Sunday and holiday Mondays from 12:00-5:00 pm

More Info: longyeargallery.org

FEBRUARY 1

Met HD: Aida

American soprano Angel Blue headlines as the Ethiopian princess torn between love and country in a new production of Verdi’s Aida by Michael Mayer that brings audiences inside the towering pyramids and gilded tombs of ancient Egypt with intricate projections and dazzling animations. Romanian-Hungarian mezzo-soprano

Judit Kutasi also stars as Aida’s rival, Amneris, alongside Polish tenor Piotr Beczała as the soldier Radamès—completing opera’s greatest love triangle. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium to conduct the January 25 performance, which will be transmitted live from the Metropolitan Opera stage to cinemas worldwide. Ticket holders are invited to a pre-opera talk by Leslie Gerber 30 minutes prior to curtain time in the theater.

Location: Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston Time: 12:30 pm

More Info: bardavon.org

ARThouse: Picasso: A Rebel in Paris

Paris plays a major role in Picasso’s evolution from impoverished immigrant to icon. This insightful doc moves continuously in and out of the Musée Picasso, the largest of his collections with 6,000 masterpieces and 200,000 pieces of archive material, and follows Picasso through the neighborhoods where he lived, from the early days in ateliers with no heating to the large middle-class apartments where his success began: it makes for a physical and intellectual journey to gain a deeper understanding of his work and spirit. (dir. Simona Risi, U.K., 2024, 90 min.)

Location: Orpheum Theatre, 198 Main Street, Saugerties Time: 2:00 pm

More Info: upstatefilms.org

Blind Pilot

Blind Pilot is an American indie folk band based in Portland, Oregon, United States. They have released four albums and one EP since 2008. Last year they released their first album in eight years, In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: bearsvilletheater.com

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION

TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH THE ARTS

THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS & SUPPORTERS!

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.

7971 Main Street, Village of Hunter 518 263 2001 • www.catskillmtn.org

The Helm Family Midnight Ramble with Special Guest Fancy Hagood

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. When Fancy Hagood was just 17 years old, he got in a car he barely knew how to drive and moved to Nashville, a city he’d never visited, with the dream of becoming an openly queer country artist. This drive, resilience, and indomitably joyful spirit color Hagood’s sophomore solo album, American Spirit, released last October.

Location: Levon Helm Studios, 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: levonhelm.com

Turntables on the Hudson Dance Party with Nickodemus and DJ Rekha

Get ready to dance to the funkiest grooves from around the planet with DJ Nickodemus and DJ Rekha for a Turntables on the Hudson party. TOTH is a legendary series of parties that started in NYC in 1998 and continue around the world going from city to city, river to river. Plus visuals by B.A. Miale. One of NYC’s hottest world beats DJs Nickodemus returns to The Local joined by DJ Rekha whose dynamic dub and hip-hop sets incorporate South Asian bhangra and other beats.

Location: The Local, 16 John Street, Saugerties Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: thelocalsaugerties.com

FEBRUARY 1-28

Synergism

Windham Fine Arts is proud to present Synergism, a compelling new body of work by Russian-born artist Ekaterina Khromin. This exhibition introduces the artist’s innovative approach to creating art, blending multiple mediums and disciplines to forge an artistic language. Ekaterina merges traditional techniques—drawing, sculpture, painting, and collage—into dynamic, textured works that vibrate with chromatic harmony. This process of transformation leads to a fresh, harmonious synthesis—what Ekaterina calls Synergism—where the sum of the parts is greater than the individual components. Join us at Windham Fine Arts for this exciting journey into the world of Synergism, where art becomes more than the sum of its parts.

Location: Windham Fine Arts, 5380 Main Street, Windham

More Info: director@windhamfinearts.com, 518 734 6850, or windhamfinearts.com

FEBRUARY 3

US Chef Ski Club Race #1

Club members, Chefs, Restaurateurs, Hospitality members and friends are eligible to participate in this Dual GS Race.

Location: Hunter Mountain, 64 Klein Avenue, Hunter

More information: huntermtn.com

Sonic Wave // Close Up: This is National Wake with Director Mirissa Neff

This is the wild rise and fall of a multiracial South African punk band, dubbed “the band that defied apartheid.” Music journalist Mirissa Neff’s debut feature is steeped in previously unseen footage of a 1970s anti-racist counterculture opposed to a regime that kept blacks and whites separate and unequal. Three young men — Ivan Kadey, a white guitarist from Johannesburg’s Jewish side, and Gary and Punka Khoza, black sibling musicians from Soweto — dared to launch National Wake. At a time and place where it was illegal for them to play or live together, they were filmed in astonishing Super 8 by Robin Muir and co-producer Nadine Kadey. Neff’s film eschews talking heads to become a dreamlike immersion into a utopian journey. (dir. Mirissa Neff, 2022, South Africa/USA, 66 minutes)

Location: Orpheum Theatre, 198 Main Street, Saugerties

Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: upstatefilms.org

FEBRUARY 6

Bob Marley Birthday Celebration with Mighty Mystic

Mighty Mystic is considered as one of the leaders in the U.S. Reggae scene and labeled by many as one of the more prolific artists to develop outside of Jamaica. He has gripped the scene with ferocious conviction and an uncanny ambition worthy to be mentioned among the greats. He has gone from being a fan of reggae music to being a contributor to the art.

Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker

Street, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: bearsvilletheater.com

FEBRUARY 7

First Fridays Athens

The Athens Cultural Center opens its doors to celebrate the rich tapestry of culture and creativity that defines our community. Best of all, it’s absolutely free to attend! Discover new exhibitions and connect with fellow art enthusiasts.

Location: Athens Cultural Center, 24 Second Street, Athens

Time: 5:00-7:00 pm

More Info: friendsofathens.org

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

“Dance,” by Ekaterina Khromin

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

Mdou Moctar Acoustic Show

Mahamadou Souleymane, known professionally as Mdou Moctar, is a Tuareg songwriter and musician based in Agadez, Niger, who performs modern rock music inspired by Tuareg guitar music.

Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: bearsvilletheater.com

The Martin Sexton Abbey Road Show

Martin Sexton puts his signature style on his rendition of this iconic Beatles album combining what Rolling Stone calls his “soul-marinated voice” with his inventive guitar prowess. We are all invited to Come Together to experience these brilliant songs celebrated in such a compelling reimagined way.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

Sister Sparrow

For over a decade, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds have been hailed for their explosive brand of modern soul, celebrated equally for their five studio albums and electrifying live performances. Arleigh Rose Kincheloe grew up in a musical family in the Catskill Mountains, co-founding Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds with her brother Jackson at just 18. The band made Brooklyn its homebase and soon earned a reputation as one of the hardest working outfits anywhere in the world. Playing upwards of 150 shows each year, the group sold out residencies, top festivals, and tours along top acts. “Sister Sparrow, Arleigh Kincheloe’s nom de disque, is a soul queen,” raved The Washington Post, while NPR noted, “one of the biggest voices in rock music.”

Location: Levon Helm Studios, 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: levonhelm.com

FEBRUARY 7-9

Fiddles in the Forest 2025 (Session 1)

This exciting specialized field trip program is open to string students and their teachers, mentors, and parents. Enjoy top-flight strings instruction plus singing, dancing, nature hikes, and some very special hands-on crafts.

Location: The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge

More Info: ashokancenter.org

NYS Pride Ski Weekend 2025

Join the Pride Center of the Capital Region, Big Gay Hudson Valley, and the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center for a weekend full of winter fun, community, and celebration!

Location: Belleayre Mountain, 181 Galli Curci Road, Highmount

More Info: belleayre.com

FEBRUARY 7-16

Grease

Here is Rydell High’s senior class of 1959: ducktailed, hot-rodding “Burger Palace Boys’ and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking “Pink Ladies” in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical. Head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new (good) girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their “Summer Nights” as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as “Greased Lightnin’,” “It’s Raining on Prom Night” and “Alone at the Drive-In Movie,” recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley that became the soundtrack of a generation.

Location: The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, 661 Route 308, Rhinebeck Days & Times: Friday & Saturday @ 8:00 pm; Sunday @ 3:00 pm

More Info: CenterforPerformingArts.org

FEBRUARY 8

Winter Makers Market

A celebration of craft, coffee, chocolate and community. A bright spot in a dark time of year; both an opportunity and reason for the community to get out on the town during the cold months and a bright spot for makers to sell their wares during what is usually the slowest time of year. Experience makers in Art Studio, hot drinks from our espresso bar, tasty chocolates made in our kitchen, and a sort of open house for all the folks who “drive by all the time” on Route 32.

Location: Greenville Arms 1889 Inn, 11135 State Route 32, Greenville

Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm

More information: greenvillearms.com

From Hudson to the Taconics: An Ecological and Cultural Field Guide to the Habitats of Columbia County, New York

Want to learn more about the habitats in neighboring Columbia County? Join Conrad Vispo and Claudia Knab-Vispo of the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program for a discussion of their latest book, From Hudson to the Taconics: an Ecological and Cultural Field Guide to the Habitats in Columbia County, NY Registration is required. Free for members, $10 for non-members.

Location: Mountain Top Arboretum, 4 Maude Adams Road, Tannersville Time: 10:00 am

More information: mtarboretum.org

New and Beginning Farmer Workshop

Are you a new or beginner farmer just starting out? Join us for a series of presentations from various organizations covering essential topics

such as raising poultry and livestock, agroforestry, silvopasture, soil health, gardening resources, climate resiliency in agriculture, soil and water conservation programs, and business planning. Lunch will be provided.

Location: Cornell Cooperative Extension, 6055 Route 23, Acra

Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm

More information: ccecolumbiagreene.org

Hearts & Crafts

Get ready for a day of love and creativity! Join Cornell Creative Arts Center on February 8th, 11 AM to 1 PM, for Hearts & Crafts! Kids can create heartwarming crafts while parents attend for FREE! $15 per crafter. Don’t miss this holiday crafting extravaganza!

Location: Cornell Creative Arts Center, 129 Cornell Street, Kingston

Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm

More information: ccecolumbiagreene.org

Après Ski Tea Dance

Celebrate après-ski—the beloved “after ski” unwind—at an afternoon tea dance on the mountain complete with drinks and bites available for purchase from Belleayre’s kitchen and bar.

Location: Belleayre Mountain, 181 Galli Curci Road, Highmount Time: 1:00-4:00 pm

More Info: belleayre.com

Fine Art Fundraiser

All funds raised from the Fine Art Auction will directly support the Main Street Community Center’s programs, ensuring access to educational, creative, and social opportunities for our mountaintop neighbors, including underserved individuals and familities. Your generosity helps us continue to foster connection, growth, and unity within our community.

Location: Main Street Center, 5494 County Route 23, Windham Time: 5:00 pm

More Info: mainstreetcenter.org

Tribute to Bob Marley ft. Ras T Asheber Posse and Special Guests

Come join us for a night of celebrating Bob Marley with live performances by Ras T Asheber Posse and special guests.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

Rock Academy presents Best of Season

Rock Academy presents our Best of Season show, featuring songs from our Pop Punk, Hall and Oates, 70s Sirens, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Earth, Wind and Fire vs Kool & The Gang shows. Best of Season is a fundraiser for Rock Academy’s scholarship program, which gives the gift of Rock to kids who could not otherwise afford it. It’s a great night for a great cause.

Location: Woodstock Playhouse, 103 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: woodstockplayhouse.org

Main Stage Concert: Echo Valley

A band that’s not to be missed! Since 2009, Echo Valley has been rocking stages with their unique blend of Bluegrass, Rock Americana, Folk, and Grassicana.

Location: Walton Theatre, 30 Gardiner Place, Walton

Time: 7:30 pm

More Info: musiconthedelaware.org

Paige Turner’s Wonderful World of Drag

Get ready to wish upon a drag star! Join NYC’s blonde bombshell Paige Turner on an enchanting journey through The Wonderful World of Drag!

Location: Old Dutch Church, 272 Wall Street, Kingston Time: 8:30 pm

More Info: biggayhudsonvalley.com

FEBRUARY 8 & 9

Classic Film Series: Fantasia

Fantasia is a groundbreaking animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by Walt Disney Productions in 1940. A unique blend of animation and classical music, each segment of the film is set to a classical music piece, often interpreted in a fantastical, abstract, or visually symbolic way. It was one of the first films to combine sound, animation, and music in such a groundbreaking way, making it a pioneer in animated filmmaking and sound technology.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale

Time: 4:00 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

FEBRUARY 8 & 22

Woodstock Farm Festival Winter Market Shop around and help support local farmers with Woodstock’s Farm Festival Winter Market! Location: Woodstock Community Center, 56 Rock City Rd (Located in Andy Lee Field), Woodstock

Hours: 10:00 am–1:00 pm

More Info: woodstockfarmfestival.org

FEBRUARY 9

Songwriters’ Circle

The Songwriter’s Circle is a musical collective welcoming songwriters of all levels and genres. Our mission is to cultivate creativity, offer constructive critique (if desired), workshop ideas, showcase new work, nurture a supportive environment, exchange resources, and promote collaboration. Please RSVP to Christina at livingarchive.catskills@gmail.com.

Location: Bushel Collective, 106 Main St, Delhi Time: 11:00 am-12:30 pm

More Info: bushelcollective.org

O+ Kingston Black History Month

Public Art Tour

Explore public art in Midtown Kingston that highlights artists amplifying BIPOC identity, stories, history, and expression.

Location: Radio Kingston, 693 Broadway, Kingston Time: 12:00 pm

More Info: radiokingston.org

International Fortepiano Salon: Black History Month: A Palace of Love and Power, with Guest Artist Jean-Berard Cerin

Our February 9 Salon, held in conjunction with Black History Month, welcomes guest artist Jean-Bernard Cerin, associate professor at Cornell University and multi-faceted singer and scholar. Cerin will visit with us and present portraits and performances of 18th-20th century composers from the African Diaspora, including Ignatius Sancho, Juste Chanlatte, Eugene Descourtilz, Carmen Brouard, Joseph Bologne, and Chevalier de St. Georges, on early to modern pianos.

Location: Streaming online on Facebook and YouTube Time: 2:00 pm

More Info: catskillmtn.org

Big Richard w/ The Shoats

Save room for Girl Dinner and get ready to lady rage with Big Richard and The Shoats—it’s gonna be one hell of a show!

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

FEBRUARY 10

Second Saturday Trunk Sale

Shopping for a Cause! Presented by Cultivate Catskill: Come for the selling, shopping, and socializing!

Location: Greene County Water Street Parking Lot, situated behind the Greene County office building Time: 9:00 am-1:00 pm

More information: cultivatecatskill.org

Community Spaces:

Balanced Growth, Moving Forward

An evening of moderated discussion exploring current issues, including the local retail economy, housing, state of public transportation and pedestrian safety, plus stories of successful community-driven change.

Location: Orpheum Theatre, 198 Main Street, Saugerties

Time: 6:30 pm

More Info: upstatefilms.org

FEBRUARY 11, 18 & 25

MAJOR MAYHEM KARAOKE with Sabrina

Get ready for a wild night of singing your heart out at MAJOR MAYHEM KARAOKE with Sabrina

- Every Tuesday at Colony!

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 6:30 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

FEBRUARY 12 & 15

V Season: Barefoot in the Park, by Neil Simon Paul and Corie Bratter are newlyweds in every sense of the word who learn very quickly how little they actually know each other. Then Mother arrives.

Location: Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971 Main Street, Hunter

Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: catskillmtn.org

FEBRUARY 13

Shakedown Citi - Celebrating The Music of The Grateful Dead

Come groove with us as we celebrate the iconic music of The Grateful Dead.

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

Classic Film Series: McCabe & Mrs. Miller

Charismatic gambler John McCabe (Warren Beatty) arrives in a small western town and the local residents are impressed by his confident demeanor and fast talk but crafty prostitute Constance Miller (Julie Christie) sees through McCabe’s words and realizes he isn’t as sharp as he seems. For a share in his profits, Mrs. Miller agrees to help plan and run McCabe’s new business but soon a powerful mining company threatens to destroy what they have built up.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

FEBRUARY 13 & 15

V Season: Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson, Apt. 2B, by Kate Hamill

A contemporary twist on the classic sleuthing duo.

Location: Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971 Main Street, Hunter

Time: February 13 @ 7:00 pm, February 15 @ 2:00 pm

More Info: catskillmtn.org

FEBRUARY 14

A Valentine’s Date with Garrison, Johnston & Schulich

Enjoy a Valentine’s date night in Woodstock by dining at one of our many world class restaurants followed by a lively jazz performance at the Kleinert/James Center for the Arts.

Location: Kleinert/James Center for the Arts, 36 Tinker Street, Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: woodstockguild.org

A Very Jazzy Valentine’s Day: Rachel Z “Sensual” Trio with Omar Hakim & Jonathan Toscano

Pianist Rachel Z’s new album Sensual pushes the boundaries of contemporary music blending elements of jazz, rock, folk, and beyond. Together, Rachel Z, Omar Hakim, and Jonathan Toscano create a musical synergy resulting in a collection of songs that are sensual, evocative, and deeply moving.

Location: The Local, 16 John Street, Saugerties Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: thelocalsaugerties.com

Strangehouse Presents: Cupid’s Cabaret!

A Valentine’s Burlesque and Cabaret Night featuring Classic Burlesque Acts, Pole Arts, Music & more!

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 9:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

FRIDAY NIGHT FEVER w/ DJ Tryst

Get ready to dance all night with DJ TRYST spinning the sickest beats!

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 10:30 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

FEBRUARY 14 & 16

V Season: Bell, Book and Candle, by John Van Druten

Completely enchanting—a wonderfully suave and impish fantasy set in the late 1950’s.

Location: Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971 Main Street, Hunter Time: February 14 @ 7:00 pm, February 16 @ 2:00 pm

More Info: catskillmtn.org

FEBRUARY 14-MARCH 16

Members’ Late Winter Group Show

Selections from our monthly members group exhibition.

Location: Longyear Gallery, 785 Main Street, Margaretville

Opening Reception: Saturday, February 15, 3-5 pm

Gallery Hours: Friday-Sunday and holiday Mondays from 12:00-5:00 pm

More Info: longyeargallery.org

FEBRUARY 15

Epic Promise Hunter Cup Series Race #2

The Hunter Cup Race Series was created to celebrate Hunter Mountain’s 25th season of operation.

Location: Hunter Mountain, 64 Klein Avenue, Hunter

More information: huntermtn.com

Hot Chocolate Fest

Enjoy everyone’s favorite hot beveragechoose from 8 delicious flavors in a lovely winter setting! Plus live music & circus arts, great food, guided hikes, blacksmithing, and more!

Location: The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge

Time: 10:00 am-2:00 pm

More Info: ashokancenter.org

6th Annual Sojourner Truth Life Walk

Re-live the life highlights of legendary abolitionist, Sojourner Truth while acknowledging parts of her life including her escape route to freedom.

Location: Dietz Stadium, 127 Front Street, Kingston

Time: 11:00 am-4:00 pm

More Info: blackhistorymonthkingston.org

Shrek

Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek whose precious solitude is suddenly shattered by an invasion of annoying fairy tale characters. They were all banished from their kingdom by the evil Lord Farquaad. Determined to save their home, not to mention his, Shrek cuts a deal with Farquaad and sets out to rescue Princess Fiona to be Farquaad’s bride. Rescuing the Princess may be small compared to her deep, dark secret.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale Time: 11:00 am

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

Carla Rhodes: From Comedy to Conservation

Join us for the first lecture as part of 2025’s Wild Side of Mountain Top photography project! We are thrilled to partner with conservation photographer Carla Rhodes on this year-long endeavor to capture the diverse wildlife we don’t often see at the Arboretum. After a life-changing encounter with endangered Greater Adjutant storks in Northeastern India, former comedic ventriloquist Carla Rhodes switched gears and dedicated her creative energy to conservation photography. With work published in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post and more, Carla’s non-traditional path to helping elevate wildlife through the art form of photography inspires viewers to chase their wildest dreams. Registration is required. Free for members, $10 for non-members.

Location: Mountain Top Arboretum, 4 Maude Adams Road, Tannersville Time: 1:00 pm

More information: mtarboretum.org

Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder: A Bohemian Valentine

Come wanderers, vagabonds, and adventurers … and come as your favorite bohemian! Think Monmartre in Paris, think Plaff’s Beer Cellar in Manhattan, think the early days of the Bohemian Grove in Sonoma County…. Artists, writers, and defiers of convention all. There will be an array of glorious Parisian flavors throughout the evening (for both vegivores and carnivores). There will be dancing. There will be sparks and

sparkles of romance. Wit and wonder. Along with really bad puns. And not a cherub in sight.

Location: Spillian, 50 Fleischmanns Heights Rd, Fleischmanns

Time: 5:00 pm

More information: spillian.com

The Nields in Concert

With their unparalleled ability to blend pop craftsmanship, folk sensibility, and the influences of ’60s classic rock and ’90s alternative, The Nields have created a distinctive musical style that defies categorization. Their songs, imbued with intelligence and occasional humor, offer poignant observations on life’s unexpected twists and turns. Apple Music describes their sound as “equal parts The Beatles, the Cranberries, and Joni Mitchell,” a testament to their unique fusion of melodic sensibilities.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale

Time: 7:30 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

Real Estate: MORE TOUR

Real Estate is an American indie rock band from Ridgewood, New Jersey, United States, formed in 2008. The band is currently based in Brooklyn, New York, and have released six studio albums: Real Estate (2009), Days (2011), Atlas (2014), In Mind (2017), The Main Thing (2020) and Daniel (2024).

Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: bearsvilletheater.com

FEBRUARY 16

Hunter Mountain Mini World Cup #2

The Mini World Cup is a kids racing event developed by the Rip Van Winkle Ski Council hosted by Hunter Mountain and other areas within the council.

Location: Hunter Mountain, 64 Klein Avenue, Hunter

More information: huntermtn.com

Dom Flemons

Dom Flemons performs a solo set at the Headwaters Arts Center as part of The American Songsters Tour. While here he will present a 75 minute set featuring material from his new album, Traveling Wildfire among others. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear an American master at work. This performance is FREE and reservations are not required.

Location: Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main St, Stamford Time: 4:00 pm

More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org

Yolanda Bush, Even Jagels & Wyatt Ambrose

A blend of blues, jazz, rock and R&B. This concert is FREE and open to the public!

Location: Walton Theatre, 30 Gardiner Pl, Walton Time: 6:00 pm

More Info: waltontheatre.org

Oh He Dead

Oh He Dead are DC-based rock n’ soul band.

Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: bearsvilletheater.com

FEBRUARY 20

Independent Film Series: Beautiful Darling, with director James Rasin

Beautiful Darling is a 2010 feature-length documentary film about Candy Darling, pioneering trans woman, actress and Andy Warhol superstar. Admission is FREE.

Location: Mountain Cinema, 7971 Main Street, Hunter

Time: 6:00 pm

More Info: catskillmtn.org

has been described as the “Architect of Rock and Roll,” and for good reason; his early work influenced several of his contemporaries, including Elvis, The Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix, who even served as the guitarist in his backing band for a time. Little Richard’s charismatic showmanship, frenetic piano playing, and unique, raspy vocal style made him a celebrated star and pioneer of the early rock and roll era. This documentary provides a comprehensive and engaging tribute to a key figure in the development of American music.

Location: Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston

Time: 7:30 pm

More Info: bardavon.org

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

For 60 years, South Africa’s five-time Grammy Award winners, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has warmed the hearts of audiences worldwide with uplifting vocal harmonies, signature dance moves and charming onstage banter. It was Paul Simon’s 1987 Graceland album that introduced them to the world. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has performed for millions of people, singing a message of peace, love and harmony. With their 2024 release, Soothe My Soul … Songs From Our South African Church, the group puts their own spin on gospel music.

Location: Levon Helm Studios, 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: levonhelm.com

FEBRUARY 21

Hayley Jane

Hayley Jane brings her high energy performance and good time rock vibes to Colony!

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

Melt: Plant the Garden Tour

Melt is a New York City based indie-soul band.

Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: bearsvilletheater.com

FEBRUARY 21-23

Fiddles in the Forest 2025 (Session 2)

This exciting specialized field trip program is open to string students (violin, viola, cello, bass) and their teachers, mentors, and parents. Enjoy top-flight strings instruction plus singing, dancing, nature hikes, and some very special hands-on crafts.

Location: The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge

More Info: ashokancenter.org

FEBRUARY 21, 22, 23 & 26

Nickel Boys

Elwood Curtis’s college dream shatters alongside a two-lane Florida highway. Bearing the brunt of an innocent misstep, he’s sentenced to the netherworld of Nickel Academy, a brutal reformatory sunk deep in the Jim Crow South. He encounters another ward, the seen-it-all Turner. The two Black teens strike up an alliance: Turner dispensing fundamental tips for survival, Elwood, clinging to his optimistic worldview. Backdropped by the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement, Elwood and Turner’s existence appear worlds away from Rev. Martin Luther King’s burnished oratory. Despite Nickel’s brutality, Elwood strives to hold onto his humanity, awakening a new vision for Turner.

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale

Time: February 21 @ 7:00 pm, February 22 & 23 @ 4:00 pm, February 26 @ 2:00 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

FEBRUARY 21-MARCH 2

The Mousetrap

As a snowstorm traps guests at a newly opened countryside inn, an unsettling message arrives: a murderer is on the loose, and the killer may be among them. Tensions rise as secrets unravel, alliances shift, and danger closes in. Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap keeps you guessing until the final, jaw-dropping twist.

Location: The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, 661 Route 308, Rhinebeck Days & Times: Friday & Saturday @ 8:00 pm; Sunday @ 3:00 pm

More Info: CenterforPerformingArts.org

FEBRUARY 22

CMS Rail Jam 3

A fun and competitive event series for aspiring boardriders and freestyle skiers of all ages. The events feature rails, boxes, and tubes, and are designed to be safe, fair, and skill-focused.

Location: Hunter Mountain, 64 Klein Avenue, Hunter

More information: huntermtn.com

Winter Tree Identification with Marc Wolf

In winter, without their leaves to distract us, tree species can be easy to identify if you know what to look for. In this workshop, we will learn

various native trees’ characteristics that help us to identify them in the leafless season. We will start in the Education Center, observing samples of twigs, buds and fruit. We’ll examine needles of different conifer species too (the evergreens.) Then we will head outside to look at the bark, branching and form unique to each species. Dress warmly, bring a notebook and camera. Registration is required. Free for members, $10 for non-members.

Location: Mountain Top Arboretum, 4 Maude Adams Road, Tannersville

Time: 1:00 pm

More information: mtarboretum.org

The Winter Wonder Games:

A Frosted Festival for Misfits

Come and join in on a most excellent winter fest, led by Spillian’s friend the magical Will Soter, who knows the Catskills with a rich and delightful intimacy. You’ll compete with fire and fire water, play in the snow, explore Spillian’s forests, feast on a dinner worthy of the forest king, and wind up the evening with bonfires and s’mores in Spillian’s meadow. Space is limited, so make your reservations early!

Location: Spillian, 50 Fleischmanns Heights Rd, Fleischmanns

Time: 1:00-9:00 pm

More information: spillian.com

Opera Favorites Celebrating

Glimmerglass Festival’s 50th Anniversary

The Glimmerglass Festival—a one-of-a-kind summer destination since 1975—blends innovative, world-class opera and musical theater with a relaxed atmosphere and a beautiful lakeside setting in Cooperstown, NY, less than two hours from Hunter. Experience the amazing voices of Glimmerglass Festival artists in concert with Artistic & General Director Rob Ainsley in a thrilling program of opera favorites, musical theater showstoppers, and highlights from the upcoming 50th Anniversary season. Presented in partnership with Glimmerglass Festival.

Location: Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971

Main Street, Hunter

Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: catskillmtn.org

Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads

A reggae party like no other!

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

The Weight Band

Featuring songs of The Band, plus songs from their current album, Shines Like Gold

Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock

Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: bearsvilletheater.com

Marco Benevento

Over the course of seven studio albums and countless shows around the world, keyboardist Marco Benevento has amassed a devoted fanbase, while drawing praise from tastemakers far and wide. Los Angeles Times has written, “it’s safe to say that no one sees the keyboard

Free Movie: Little Richard: I Am Everything Little Richard

quite like Marco Benevento’s genre-blind mashup of indie rock, jazz and skewed improvisation,” while NPR Music raves that Benevento combines “the thrust of rock, the questing of jazz and the experimental ecstasy of jam,” and Rolling Stone praises “the textures and colors available in his keyboards and arsenal of manipulated pedals and effects along with his deceptively rich, catchy melodies and straightahead grooves.”

Location: Levon Helm Studios, 160 Plochmann Lane, Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: levonhelm.com

Good Vibes Explosion! Krakauer and Tagg’s Square Peg Throwdown

Come for Mazel Tov Cocktail Party—an ounce of hip hop, a dash of polka, and some square dance. Good Vibes Explosion was conceived and created by clarinet wizard David Krakauer and multi-instrumentalist/producer Kathleen Tagg. The band’s influences are global, but the sound they create is uniquely their own. Familiar dance forms like Polka or Square Dance have never sounded like this with hand drumming, electronic beats, positive lyrics, and deep grooves.

Location: The Local, 16 John Street, Saugerties Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: thelocalsaugerties.com

Saturday Creature Features: The Fly (1958) Scientist Andre Delambre (Al (David) Hedison) is obsessed with creating a telportation machine that will greatly benefit all of humanity. That is, until a scientific smash up turn his and his family’s life into a living nightmare. The film’s mix of sci-fi and horror creates an unsettling atmosphere, making The Fly one of the era’s most memorable films in the genre. The Fly was a huge commercial success and has since become a key entry in the science fiction and horror canon. It inspired several sequels, most notably Return of the Fly (1959) and The Curse of the Fly (1965). The 1986 remake, directed by David Cronenberg, is also well-regarded for its own terrifying take on the story. Come see this chilling sci-fi classic with full theatre sound on the big screen!

Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale Time: 9:30 pm

More Info: rosendaletheatre.org

FEBRUARY 22, 23, 24 & 26

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, Return of the King

Experience all three films on one 12-hour marathon on February 22, with intermissions, in the sparkling Mark screening room. Or see each film on three nights (February 23, 24 & 26 @ 6:00 pm each night).

Location: Orpheum Theatre, 198 Main Street, Saugerties

Time: 11:00 am (Fellowship of the Ring); 3:00 pm (The Two Towers); 7:15 pm (Return of the King) More Info: upstatefilms.org

FEBRUARY 23

Maple Sugaring: How to Tap a Tree in Your Backyard

Come learn about how to identify and tap maple trees with Del Orloske & Ryan Trapani.

Location: The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge

Time: 2:00-4:00 pm

More Info: ashokancenter.org

Sunday Salon @ Thomas Cole National Historic Site: A Conversation With AD100 Designer Stephen Shadley

Discover how renowned AD100 designer Stephen Shadley seamlessly integrated the new Cole Center into the historic Thomas Cole site, drawing inspiration from Cole’s own architectural vision. Based in New York City, Shadley is celebrated for designing homes for Hollywood icons like Jennifer Aniston and Diane Keaton. As a member of the Board of Trustees for the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, he brings a unique perspective to this exciting discussion.

Location: Thomas Cole House, 218 Spring Street, Catskill

Time: 2:00-4:00 pm

More Info: thomascole.org

Korean Swing, Funk and Rock: Sangjaru

Direct from Korea! Sangjaru is one of South Korea’s most innovative young bands who have created a new sound by combining the dynamism of Korean folk and traditional music with the catchy rhythms of gypsy swing and improvisation. The ensemble includes Cho Sungyun (guitar); Gwon Hyochang on janggu (hourglass drum) and kkwaenggwari (small gong); and Nam Seonghun on ajaeng (bowed zither), who appear on stage in elaborate white fluffy headgear.

Location: The Local, 16 John Street, Saugerties Time: 5:00 pm

More Info: thelocalsaugerties.com

Father John Misty and Destroyer

Father John Misty and Destroyer promise an evening of captivating music. Father John Misty, known for his distinct blend of indie rock and folk, has garnered critical acclaim with hits like “Real Love Baby” and “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings.” His lyrical storytelling and charismatic stage presence have earned him a dedicated following and numerous accolades, including Grammy nominations. Destroyer, led by Dan Bejar, complements this lineup with their eclectic sound that merges art rock and indie pop.

Location: Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: bardavon.org

FEBRUARY 26

The Disco Biscuits: Bubble Tour

The Disco Biscuits are an American jam band from Philadelphia. The band incorporates elements from a variety of musical genres with a base of electronic and rock.

Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: bearsvilletheater.com

FEBRUARY 27

Gary’s Dream (album release show) w/Adam Lytle & Lea Thomas and John Thayer

The dreamy alternative shoegaze sounds of Gary’s Dream hit Colony for their album release party with Adam Lytle and Lea Thomas!

Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 7:00 pm

More Info: colonywoodstock.com

FEBRUARY 28

Skeleton Krewe Trio

A unique trio (Stephen Inglis, Barry Sless, and Rob Barraco) in which each member possesses decades of high-level Grateful Dead-esque experience.

Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: bearsvilletheater.com

Rebecca Martin: SHE Album Release Party

After getting her start as co-founder of the pioneering jazz-pop duo Once Blue, the New Yorkbased singer/songwriter Rebecca Martin went on to release a series of acclaimed solo albums animated by the quiet force of her captivating vocals, and collaborating along the way with her husband, the jazz bassist Larry Grenadier and luminaries Argentine pianist Guillermo Klein and legendary jazz drummer Paul Motian. In one of her boldest turns to date, Martin’s new album SHE (Sunnyside Records) marks her first body of work made entirely on her own.

Location: The Local, 16 John Street, Saugerties Time: 8:00 pm

More Info: thelocalsaugerties.com

FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 2

YESS 2025

The Youth Empowerment & Sustainability Summit (YESS) is a global climate solution and leadership summit for young people who are ready to change their lives and their communities by working towards climate resilience.

Location: The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge

Time: 2:00-4:00 pm

More Info: ashokancenter.org

Photo credit: Tara Gracer

PURCHASE TICKETS AT CATSKILLMTN.ORG

2025 PERFORMING ARTS SEASON

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11 AT 7:00PM

PRINCESS LOCKEROOO AND THE FABULOUS WAACK DANCERS WITH A DANCE BATTLE!

Presented in partnership with Works & Process at the Guggenheim.

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Get moving in the New Year with Princess Lockerooo, hailed by The New York Times as the “Queen of Waacking”. Direct from performing on Dancing With the Stars: Soul Train Night, and following a sold out performance with Works & Process at Lincoln Center, Princess Lockerooo will share the history of Waacking, teach a mini lesson, and her company The Fabulous Waack Dancers will perform culminating in a dance battle, all before headlining the Guggenheim Rotunda as part of the Works & Process Underground Uptown Dance Festival. In the 1970s, a dance form called waacking was born in the Black gay underground clubs of Los Angeles. Inspired by old Hollywood films and distinguishable by its rotational arm movements, posing and emphasis on expressiveness, waacking entered the mainstream becoming a global dance phenomenon associated with Toni Basil, performed on “Soul Train” by dancer and pioneer waacker Tyrone Proctor, Princess Lockerooo’s teacher. It eventually was picked up by celebrities and even featured on tour with Diana Ross.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18 AT 7:00PM

NELLA: A CONCERT INSPIRED BY ANDALUSIAN AND VENEZUELAN MUSICAL ROOTS

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Born in Venezuela, Nella rapidly rose to international fame thanks to her powerful voice and undeniable presence. Merging Venezuela’s folkloric roots, modern production element, and inspiration from Andalusia, Nella’s music echoes globally.

FEBRUARY

12-16

V-SEASON

Maude Adams Theater Hub Catskill Mountain Foundation

Doctorow Center for the Arts

FEBRUARY 12 & 15 AT 7:00PM

Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon

FEBRUARY 13 AT 7:00 PM & FEBRUARY 15 AT 2:00 PM

Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson, Apt. 2B by Kate Hamill

FEBRUARY 14 AT 7:00 PM & FEBRUARY 16 AT 2:00PM

Bell, Book and Candle by John Van Druten

V Season: What do a witch, two newlyweds, and a famous sleuth have in common? MATH’s 3rd Annual V Season: three plays that will transport you from your mid-winter blues and into small worlds of wonder.

Princess Lockerooo and The Fabulous Waack Dancers at Works & Process’s Underground Uptown Dance Festival at Lincoln Center on January 12, 2024. Photo: Lawrence Sumulong

Nella

INTERNATIONAL FORTEPIANO SALONS

ONLINE MUSIC AND IDEAS: COMING TO THE TABLE

Yi-heng Yang, Maria Rose & Patricia García-Gil Hosts

Streaming LIVE on Facebook and YouTube

The International Fortepiano Salon’s Spring 2025 series will explore the relationship between music, ideas, culture, and historical keyboard music, exploring how historical pianos, its music and practitioners have been carriers of culture, politics and meaning. We will be discovering unknown music, celebrating new and underrepresented voices, and having thoughtful discussions which deepen the variety and richness of the classical musical community.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9 AT 2:00PM BLACK HISTORY MONTH: A PALACE OF LOVE AND POWER

Guest Artist: Jean-Bernard Cerin

Our February 9 Salon, held in conjunction with Black History Month, welcomes guest artist Jean-Bernard Cerin, associate professor at Cornell University and multi-faceted singer and scholar. Cerin will visit with us and present portraits and performances of 18th-20th century composers from the African Diaspora, including Ignatius Sancho, Juste Chanlatte, Eugene Descourtilz, Carmen Brouard, Joseph Bologne, and Chevalier de St. Georges, on early to modern pianos.

SUNDAY, MARCH 9 AT 2:00PM

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: SO YOU THINK YOU CAN PLAY THE HAMMERKLAVIER? DOMESTICITY AND THE KEYBOARD

SUNDAY, MAY 18 AT 2:00PM

ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTH: SILENCE AND TRANSFORMATION

www.internationalfortepianosalon.com

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 AT 7:00PM

OPERA FAVORITES CELEBRATING GLIMMERGLASS FESTIVAL’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Presented in partnership with Glimmerglass Festival Doctorow Center for the Arts

The Glimmerglass Festival—a one-of-a-kind summer destination since 1975—blends innovative, world-class opera and musical theater with a relaxed atmosphere and a beautiful lakeside setting in Cooperstown, NY, less than two hours from Hunter. Experience the amazing voices of Glimmerglass Festival artists in concert with Artistic & General Director Rob Ainsley in a thrilling program of opera favorites, musical theater showstoppers, and highlights from the upcoming 50th Anniversary season.

SUNDAY, MARCH 2 AT 2:00PM

THE VANISHING ELEPHANT CAHOOTS THEATER

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Opu, a young boy in Bengal, dreams of one day becoming an elephant trainer. When he befriends Janu, an Asian Elephant, their friendship is the first step on an adventure so huge, it spans decades and continents. On their separate paths they face many challenges – fearsome encounters, stormy seas and strange new worlds. Years in the future, Opu, now an old man, hears that world famous magician Harry Houdini will vanish an elephant, live on stage in New York City. Could it really be Janu, Opu’s old friend, so far from home? He too must bravely make the long journey into the unknown to find out.

Cahoots Theater: The Vanishing Elephant.

Photo by Melissa Gordon

Jean-Bernard Cerin

SATURDAY, MARCH 8 AT 2:00PM

CONCERTS & CONVERSATIONS

MUSIC FROM AMERICA’S GILDED AGE ANTHONY BONAMICI, FORTEPIANIST

Piano Performance Museum

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Anthony Bonamici will perform a series of pieces by the American composer John Knowles Paine, who was the first music professor at Harvard University. In 1861, he was appointed Harvard’s first University organist and choirmaster. At the end of the episode “A Long Ladder” (S01E04) of the HBO television series The Gilded Age, in a scene set in New York in 1882, the Boston Symphony Orchestra is shown under the composer’s direction performing Paine’s Symphony No.2. Anthony will perform on the 1824 William Geib Square Piano, the 1829 Conrad Graf Concert Grand, and the 1842 John Broadwood Semi-Grand.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22 AT 7:00PM BALLET

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

For over five decades, Ballet Hispánico’s School of Dance has been a beacon of excellence in dance education, igniting the passion for movement in countless young artists. With a legacy spanning 54 years, the school stands as a testament to the transformative power of dance in shaping both individual lives and the broader artistic landscape. Through its dynamic curriculum meticulously crafted for the demands of today’s ever-evolving field, Ballet Hispánico’s School of Dance not only imparts technical prowess but also fosters creativity, resilience, and cultural appreciation.

Ballet Hispánico is honored to partner with the Catskill Mountain Foundation. The artists of the Junior Ensemble will be in residence for one week culminating in this exciting performance on the beautiful Orpheum stage, inspiring and entertaining audiences of all ages.

SATURDAY, MARCH 29 AT 7:00PM

PASSION FRUIT

DANCE COMPANY: DIMENSIONS

Presented in partnership with Works & Process at the Guggenheim and American Dance Festival

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

New York City-based Passion Fruit Dance Company brings their immersive street dance theater blend, putting into full effect the Orpheum’s recent technical upgrades. See the culmination of a technical residency for “Dimensions” prior to the work’s world premiere at American Dance Festival. Led by director and choreographer Tatiana Desardouin, don’t miss this multi-disciplinary experience featuring dance, live music, live painting, animation, body casting, and VJing, inspired by the photography of Lauriane Ogay.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5 AT 2:00PM

THE SCATTERING BY EMILY COATES

Presented in partnership with Works & Process at the Guggenheim

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Former member of the New York City Ballet, dancer and choreographer Emily Coates’s new performance project sources George Balanchine’s brief history beyond the metropolis to reflect on how the body and spirit of a choreographer scatters, living on in unexpected places, starting with his arrival in America in 1933. Coates, working with Ain Gordon (direction and dramaturgy), Derek Lucci (performer), Charles Burnham (musician-composer), and Melvin Chen (pianist), collages misplaced and overlooked archival traces and transmissions of Balanchine and related artists into a new whole. The poignancy of Coates’ time at the Orpheum is underscored by Catskill Mountain Foundation board member in memoriam Jacques d’Amboise, a dance icon and New York City Ballet principal dancer who worked closely with George Balanchine, called Hunter home for seven decades, and whose legacy continues with the National Dance Institute’s annual summer program on the mountain top. The Scattering will premiere at Works & Process at the Guggenheim in Fall 2025.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26 AT 7:00PM HEADLINERS AND ONE LINERS: SONGS & STORIES OF THE CATSKILLS RESORTS

Doctorow Center for the Arts

On May 21, 2005, the Catskill Mountain Foundation launched The Mountaintop Celebration of Song, a series of musical revues created for the CMF, with a production of Headliners and OneLiners: Songs & Stories of the Catskills Resorts. The show was performed for a rapturous, standing room only audience in the Red Barn. On April 26, 2025, almost twenty years to the date of its debut performance, the CMF is bringing Headliners back, this time at Evelyn Weiberg Hall in the Doctorow Center for the Arts, to be performed by its original creative team of Julia Mendelsohn, Mark Singer and Darcy Dunn, joined by two electrifying performers, Emma Green and Mychal Leverage. Headliners is a nostalgic tribute to the heyday of the Borscht Belt resorts of New York’s Catskill Mountains, and to the great entertainers that performed there. It revisits the days when singers like Judy Garland, Sammy

Ballet Hispánico

Davis Jr., and Dean Martin, and comedians like Jerry Lewis, Jackie Mason and Billy Crystal were regulars on the Catskills circuit. The show has the stories and the laughs—and the glorious music of Richard Rogers, Burt Bacharach, Cole Porter, Kurt Weill, Harold Arlen and many others—that made the Borscht Belt era such an extraordinary time and place. With original staging and musical arrangements by Julia Mendelsohn, a script by Mark Singer and a wonderful ensemble cast, it will be an entertaining, joyous evening of engaging theater and timeless schtick!

SATURDAY, MAY 3 AT 7:30PM PERICLES

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Catskill Mountain Shakespeare is excited to launch its second Catskills-wide Touring Production of Pericles in the spring of 2025! From March 24 to May 3, 2025, Catskill Mountain Shakespeare will tour to local middle schools, high schools, libraries, and other community venues throughout the Catskill Region. CMS is one of 40 recipients in the country of the prestigious Shakespeare in American Communities grant, a program of The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. Head to catskillmountainshakespeare.com for more information!

SATURDAY, MAY 10 AT 7:00PM AYODELE CASEL

RENOWNED TAP DANCER CASEL PERFORMS WITH POETS, DANCERS AND MUSICIANS

Presented in partnership with The Joyce Theater Foundation.

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Renowned tap dancer and choreographer Ayodele Casel, her team of collaborators, poets, dancers, musicians, and director Torya Beard will be in residence with Catskill Mountain Foundation and will present excerpts from works-in-process developed during their residency.

RESIDENCY: MAY 26-JUNE 8

ACADEMY OF FORTEPIANO

PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL

Doctorow Center for the Arts academyfortepiano.org

An annual event celebrating the works of famed early composers performed on historical keyboards from the Piano Performance Museum.

Directors: Audrey Axinn, Maria Rose

MAY 28-30

WORKSHOP ON MAINTAINING HISTORICAL PIANOS, HARPSICHORDS, AND CLAVICHORDS

Directors: Masayuki Maki and Richard Hester

SATURDAY, MAY 31 AT 7:00 PM

FACULTY AND GUEST ARTIST CONCERT

SATURDAY, JUNE 7 AT 7:00 PM

STUDENT CONCERT

SATURDAY, MAY 17 AT 2:00PM ORPHEUM DANCE PROGRAM COMMUNITY BALLET CLASS ANNUAL RECITAL

Victoria Rinaldi

Orpheum Dance Program Director

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

The Orpheum Dance Program Community Ballet Class is a year-round program of ballet instruction for children of all ages which includes an annual student dance recital and participation in two ballets each year–A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Nutcracker. All performances take place at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center in Tannersville. The recital showcases the work of all students of Director, Victoria Rinaldi and can also include alumnae who have joined acclaimed ballet companies or who are studying dance at major universities. Ms. Rinaldi is a former ballerina with the New York Metropolitan Opera ballet corps.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 16-17 SPRING

PRODUCTION

Maude Adams Theater Hub

Catskill Mountain Foundation

Doctorow Center for the Arts

SUNDAY, JUNE 29 AT 3:00PM OMNY TAIKO

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

OMNY Taiko Drummers return to the mountaintop to again share their eagerly anticipated performances with the greater Catskill Mountain community. OMNY Taiko’s mission is to foster a culture of community and support through the art of Japanese taiko drumming to impact and connect our global society. The sound of the taiko drum is as pure and as fundamental as the heartbeat and has the power to connect ourselves with those around us and with the universe at large. As such, we seek to develop and share with the audience our abilities as taiko players—rhythm, movement, teamwork, and spirit—and to promote taiko drumming through performances in the New York area and beyond.

Ayodele Casel. Photo by by Patrick Randak

JULY 12-13, 16-20, 24-27

ROMEO & JULIET

Outdoors & in the tent behind the Big Red Barn

JULY 20 & JULY 26-27

THE OLD FRIENDS, BY HORTON FOOTE

Doctorow Center for the Arts hortonbythestream.org

For more information: catskillmountainshakespeare.com

Catskill Mountain Shakespeare is proud to bring its Main Stage Production to the Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Red Barn. This professional, outdoor production will be accompanied by workshops, talkbacks, and outreach events to fully engage the community in the power of Shakespeare. Catskill Mountain Shakespeare endeavors to enrich the lives of residents in the rural Catskills by introducing Shakespeare, innovative theatrical productions, and affordable and artistic outreach programming to the community.

JULY 3-6

THE LITTLE MERMAID

Maude Adams Theater Hub Catskill Mountain Foundation Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Join MATH under the sea over the 4th of July weekend as they tell the beloved tale (pun intended) of a girl who yearns to see the world. Community actors of all ages come together to create magic through acting, puppetry, and plenty of whimsy and pluck.

SUNDAY, JULY 13 (TENTATIVE DATE)

STARS OF BALLET: DANCERS FROM THE NEW YORK CITY BALLET

Presented in partnership with Works & Process at the Guggenheim Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Star dancers from the New York City Ballet return to the mountaintop for a new annual tradition. The performance is under the Direction of New York City Ballet Principal Adrian Danchig-Waring.

SATURDAY, JULY 19 AT 7:00PM

NATIONAL DANCE INSTITUTE

MOUNTAINTOP SUMMER

RESIDENCY PERFORMANCE

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

National Dance Institute (NDI), founded by Jacques d’Amboise, brings its award-winning dance program to the Catskill Mountain Region, with a two-week residency for children in Grades 3 – 8. Under the Artistic Direction of NDI choreographer Dufftin Garcia, the children will participate in high energy dance classes and choreography workshops accompanied by live music, culminating in a performance onstage at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center.

The Old Friends is a play by Horton Foote about buried jealousies and loves that are rekindled when a hometown beauty returns to Harrison in 1965. The play is set in Harrison, the fictional town modeled after Horton Foote’s own hometown of Wharton, TX. Some say that going to a Horton Foote play is like catching up with family, friends and enemies at a family reunion.

JULY 31-AUGUST 10

HUNTER INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Doctorow Center for the Arts huntermusicfestival.com

A unique, immersive, ten-day music festival with solo and chamber music performances by renowned faculty and guest artists and talented students.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1 AT 7:00 PM

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7 AT 7:00 PM

WAEL FAROUK: TWO SOLO PIANO CONCERTS Virtuoso pianist Wael Farouk will perform the complete Scriabin Piano Sonatas over two concerts.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 AT 7:00 PM FACULTY CONCERT

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 AT 7:00 PM

GUEST ARTIST CONCERT: PARKER QUARTET

Praised by the Washington Post for “exceptional virtuosity (and) imaginative interpretation” Parker Quartet is Internationally recognized for their “fearless, yet probingly beautiful” (The Strad) performances, the Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet has distinguished itself as one of the preeminent ensembles of its generation, dedicated purely to the sound and depth of their music. They are renowned for their fresh and unique approach to the great classics while being passionate ambassadors for music of our time. Inspired performances and exceptional musicianship are hallmarks of the Quartet, having appeared at the world’s most illustrious venues since its founding in 2002.

SALONS AND YOUNG ARTIST CONCERTS DURING THE RESIDENCY: Details to come soon!

Parker Quartet. Photo by Beowulf Sheehan

Catskill Mountain Shakespeare

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2 AT 2:00 & 7:00PM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3 AT 2:00PM

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

Orpheum Dance Program

Victoria Rinaldi, Director

Featuring dancers from Joffrey Ballet School New York, Aquila Theatre and Orpheum Dance Program Student Dancers

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

This unique production, conceived by former Metropolitan Opera ballerina Victoria Rinaldi, in partnership with the Joffrey Ballet School New York and Aquila Theatre transports the audience to an enchanted wood to witness what hilarity unfolds, when fairies meddle with the love lives of mortals.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16 AT 2:00PM CONCERTS & CONVERSATIONS

LOUISE FARRENC: 18TH CENTURY RENOWNED FRENCH COMPOSER AND CHAMPION OF WOMEN’S EQUALITY

PATRICIA GARCIA GIL, FORTEPIANIST

Piano Performance Museum Doctorow Center for the Arts

Patricia Garcia Gil is a Postdoctoral Associate and Artist in Residence at Cornell Center for Historical Keyboards. Patricia will return to the Piano Performance Museum and perform a program of works by Louise Farrenc in commemoration of the composer’s 150 anniversary of her death in 1875. Patricia will perform on the 1829 Conrad Graf, the 1870 John Broadwood and the 1873 Erard. The music will be accompanied by readings poetry and other literary works.

RETREAT: SEPTEMBER 8-14

PERFORMANCE: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

THE SINGER SONGWRITER’S OASIS

LED BY GREG DAYTON AND MARLON SAUNDERS

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 AT 7:00PM THE MOSS ENSEMBLE: CONTINUING A LEGACY OF BRINGING HUMANITY AND MUSIC TOGETHER

Darcy Dunn - Mezzo-Soprano

Marshall Coid - Countertenor, Violin, Composer

Elizabeth Rodgers - Piano

Mary Wooten - Cello, Piano, Composer

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Please join this quartet of world-class performers for an evening of adventurous and beautiful music. This year’s concert marks Moss’s third appearance at the CMF and features new pieces by living composers, works from varied musical periods, and includes favorites from past concerts as well. As always, the ensemble will offer stories that help illuminate the music—all of which we hope will excite and move you. A wine and dessert reception will follow the concert.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 AT 3:00PM

ORPHEE MUSIQUE

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Created in France, the Orphée Musique Association offers practical training and performing opportunities to young musicians who are entering a professional career. Once a year, they hold a very special event both in Paris and in New York: “7 days 7 concerts”, during which a chosen artist will play seven days in a row, in seven different places; all different programs.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 AT 2:00PM

CONCERTS & CONVERSATIONS

STEPHANIE SCHMIDT AND ROBIN MORACE, FORTEPIANISTS

Piano Performance Museum

Doctorow Center for the Arts

While completing a piano performance M.M. in Lincoln, NE, Stephanie Schmidt discovered the artistic joys of performing on historical keyboards––and has continued to “look back” ever since. Though progressing towards a traditional piano D.M.A. at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, she spends a great deal of time practicing and performing on old and interesting pianos from the mid-1700s to the mid-1800s. Robin Morace holds degrees in performance and composition from SUNY Fredonia, where he studied piano with Fr. Sean Duggan, and is a recent graduate of the doctoral program at UNC Greensboro, where he studied modern piano and historical keyboard instruments with Andrew Willis.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 AT 7:00PM

RENNIE HARRIS PUREMOVEMENT: AMERICAN STREET DANCER (2025) BY RENNIE HARRIS

Presented in partnership with The Joyce Theater Foundation. Orpheum Performing Arts Center

American Street Dancer will explore and honor the contribution of Street dancers to the general field of dance, while simultaneously honing in on the most revered and featured movement and aesthetic of Street dance: “Foot-work.” American Street Dancer will feature styles from four different prominent American cities, including: New York City (Afro-Cuban/Salsa), Detroit, Michigan (Jitting), Chicago, Illinois (Chicago Footwork) and Philadelphia, PA (GQ).

Rennie Harris. Photo by Osamu Inouye

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8 AT 2:00PM

CONCERTS & CONVERSATIONS

19TH CENTURY WOMEN COMPOSERS FROM LATIN AMERICA

JULIAN JENSEN, FORTEPIANIST

Piano Performance Museum

Doctorow Center for the Arts

Julian Jensen will perform a program featuring mid to late 19th century music by women composers from Latin America. Julian began conducting and piano lessons at an early age. Since those days, he has toured the world as an accomplished performer and passionate music teacher with the purpose to use music to improve the community and the world.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 AT 7:00PM

WINDHAM FESTIVAL CHAMBER

ORCHESTRA: FAURE AND FRIENDS

ALEXANDER PLATT, MUSIC DIRECTOR

SPECIAL GUEST, ROBERT MANNO

Sponsored by the Mapleside Fund in honor of Dr. John Farber. Orpheum Performing Arts Center

Members of the choral ensemble ARS CHORALIS join the Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra for a beautiful and reflective evening, sharing music of some of the favorite composers of the family in whose memory the concert is sponsored. Music Director of the Maverick Concerts in nearby Woodstock, Alexander Platt is honored to follow in the footsteps of Robert Manno as Conductor. Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra was formed in 2000 by conductor Robert Manno and has performed at the Windham Civic Center, the Doctorow Center for the Arts and the Orpheum Performing Arts Center. The orchestra is comprised of the finest musicians from the New York area and includes current and former members of some of the world’s most esteemed orchestras and ensembles.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 AT 2:00 & 7:00PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 AT 2:00PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 AT 2:00 & 7:00PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 AT 2:00PM

THE NUTCRACKER

Orpheum Dance Program

Victoria Rinaldi, Director

Featuring dancers from Joffrey Ballet School New York, Ballet Hispánico Student Dancers, and Orpheum Dance Program Student Dancers

Orpheum Performing Arts Center

The CMF Nutcracker, now in its tenth 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. This year, Orpheum Dance Program Director, former Met Opera ballerina Victoria Rinaldi, will partner with the Joffrey Ballet School New York and Ballet Hispánico who will provide corps de ballet dancers and dancers for star roles.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 (RAIN/SNOW DATE: DECEMBER 20)

HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

Maude Adams Theater Hub Catskill Mountain Foundation Doctorow Center for the Arts

This December, the community gathers once more to sing, read, and share in the seasonal spirit for the 3rd Annual Holiday Spectacular. All are welcome to be a part of the performance, and tickets are free!

OUR VENUES

DOCTOROW CENTER FOR THE ARTS 7971 MAIN STREET HUNTER, NY 12442

ORPHEUM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 6050 MAIN STREET TANNERSVILLE, NY 12485

Alexander Platt

Your support matters and makes everything we do possible!

EACH YEAR, THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION

• Presents and hosts more than 20 performances and lectures

• Offers free or subsidized arts programs that are enjoyed by hundreds of local children.

• Hosts arts residencies bringing many artists to our community for extended stays.

• Operates the Catskill Mountain Foundation Gift Shop, featuring a curated selection of books and gifts from around the Region and the world.

• Publishes the monthly Guide magazine, distributed throughout the Catskill Region, and in Albany.

• 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.

• Shows more than 100 films on our three screens in Hunter.

YES! I would like to help the Catskill Mountain Foundation in its mission to bring the arts to the Mountaintop

Please accept my donation of: $

All donors are listed in our playbills and receive our weekly e-mail updates. Scan to make a donation online!

q Primary Address

Name 1:

Name 2 (if joint membership): Address: City:

q Secondary Address

q Check if this is a new address.

Please make your check payable to: Catskill Mountain Foundation PO Box 924 • Hunter, NY 12442

Become an “Angel of the Arts”: Make this a monthly gift I would like to donate $__________ monthly.

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You may be able to double your contribution if you work for or are retired from a company that has a matching gift program. To make your match, simply obtain a form from your company’s Matching Gift Coordinator and send it along with your contribution.

SUMMER 2025 WORKSHOPS & PROGRAMS SNEAK PEEK!

At Sugar Maples Center For Creative Arts, we’re excited to announce our upcoming season of workshops and events in the idyllic hamlet of Maplecrest, New York. Immerse yourself in our spacious, light-filled studios while cultivating your artistic skills in our welcoming and supportive community. Our beautiful campus awaits you.

Our commitment to humanism, the environment, and cultural stewardship remains steadfast. We believe that art is a powerful tool for fostering connection, and a deeper appreciation for our world. Our workshops are designed to inspire; tell your unique story through a variety of media.

We are looking forward to sharing with you a rich program of opportunities to study with internationally renowned faculty including:

Yael Braha is a dynamic, young ceramic artist of North African descent whose unique vessels blend graceful movement with surfaces that speak volumes about natural flow, and the ancient connection between form and abstract imagery. In 2021, she received the Multicultural Fellowship Award from the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA).

Basket-making grows from Cael Chappell’s love of global weaving traditions. Years before weaving his first basket, Cael founded Baskets of Africa, a fair-trade company committed to economic empowerment for basket weavers from over 20 countries. He currently serves as President of the Board for the National Basketry Organization.

Arthur González is an internationally exhibiting figurative sculptor with over fifty one-person shows in the last forty years, including eight in New York City. Gonzalez is an unprecedented four-time recipient of the National Endowment of the Arts Fellowship within a ten-year period.

One of our prized visiting faculty, Nathan Loda, returns in 2025 to teach his profound approach to realist painting. Inspired by the Hudson River School philosophy, Loda recently taught for the University of Georgia in Cortona, Italy.

Cyrus Highsmith wrote and illustrated the acclaimed primer, Inside Paragraphs: Typographic Fundamentals. He received the Gerrit Noordzij Prize for extraordinary contributions to the field of typography. Highsmith’s type foundry, Occupant Fonts, became a brand of Morisawa. Writing helps binds us together so no matter the paths our lives and forms of communication take.

This year, we host the indomitable and much cherished California author/sculptor, Vince Montague. His exquisite and hybrid memoir, Cracked Pot, a broken chronicle of grief and art, was recently published by Latah Books.

These are just a few of the many exciting workshops and programs we’re offering this summer. To learn more and register, please visit our website in January 2025 at www.catskillmtn.org/sugar-maples-center-for-creative-arts/

Cael Chappell

Arthur González

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