HALLOWEEN THRILLS AND CHILLS AWAIT IN ULSTER COUNTY, NY
SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF THE LOVE KNOT SCULPTURE
25TH ANNUAL WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL
FALL IN NEW YORK’S SULLIVAN CATSKILLS: It’s Time to Go
NEW YORK STATE SHEEP & WOOL FESTIVAL
Maude Adams Theater Hub presents OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES
CATSKILLS PAST:
Maude Adams, A Shining Light by T.M.
Bradshaw
SIAM, WINDHAM’S
by
Madden
WINDHAM FARMS by Jonathan Ment
WINDHAM
by Michael Ryan
Photo courtesy of Greene County Tourism
A GREENE COUNTY GARDEN IN FALL by Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson
WOODSMEN’S EXPLORATION DAY AT HANFORD MILLS THE GREAT OUTDOORS by Jeff Senterman CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DONATE TO THE CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
VOLUME 39, NUMBER 10 October 2024
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
Steve Aaron, Renee Baumann, T.M. Bradshaw, Francis X. Driscoll, Hanford Mills Museum, Jonathan Keefe, Michael Koegel, Greg Madden, Maude Adams Theater Hub, Jonathan Ment, mervas/shutterstock.com, New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, Dion Ogust, Max Oppen, Dave Pillard, Platte Clove Community, Michael Ryan, Naomi Schmidt, Jen Schwartz, Jeff Senterman, Sullivan County Visitor’s Association, Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson, Ulster County Tourism, Windham Arts Alliance, Windham Chamber of Commerce, The Windham Local, and Woodstock Film Festival.
ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE
Candy McKee
Tyleane Benjamin, Hillary Morse & Ashley Olney
PRINTING
Catskill Mountain Printing Services
DISTRIBUTION
Catskill Mountain Foundation
EDITORIAL DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: October 7
The Catskill Mountain Region Guide is published 12 times a year by the Catskill Mountain Foundation, Inc., Main Street, PO Box 924, Hunter, NY 12442. If you have events or programs that you would like to have covered, please send them by e-mail to tafts@catskillmtn.org. Please be sure to furnish a contact name and include your telephone number and e-mail address. To receive submission guidelines send a request to tafts@catskillmtn.org.
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.
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.
Halloween Thrills and Chills
Await in Ulster County, NY
as the crisp fall air settles in and the leaves turn their vibrant hues, Ulster County comes alive with spooky and familyfriendly Halloween events. From haunted houses to community parades, find a ton of activities to satisfy all your Halloween cravings. For a roundup of the most exciting and eerie happenings in the area read on!
Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions
Get the thrill of a lifetime at Headless Horseman Haunted Attractions in Ulster Park. Opening Friday, September 13th this sprawling complex features ten haunted attractions, including an escape room, gift shops, a donut bakery, and food cafés. Rated the #1 Haunted Attraction in America and one of the “Top 13 Escape Rooms in America,” this destination promises thrills and chills for all who dare to enter. For more than 30 years Horror lives here! Reservations are required.
Haunted huguenot street 2024
Haunted: the curious case of edward carey
Head to Huguenot Street for their annual immersive, interactive, haunted experience. This year visitors will be taken back to 1813 as Blandina Elmendorf tries to understand the secrets of her family and what a father is willing to do for his child. Tours depart from the DuBois Fort Visitor Center on October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 27every hour on the hour beginning at 5 PM, with the last tour departing at 8 PM.
old dutch church
haunted history cemetery tours
Old Dutch Church Haunted History Cemetery Tours
On Saturdays in October, enjoy a tour of this cemetery dating back to1658. Telling the stories of the former residents of Kingston, their quirky lives and often haunting tales, these hour-
Headless Horseman Hayrides & Haunted House. Photo courtesy of Ulster County Tourism
long haunted history tours of the cemetery are entertaining and educational. Participants move through the cemetery, following lit candles, as they step back in time and come face-to-face with ghosts from long ago.
ulster corps 12th annual zombie escape
For those who like their Halloween with a side of exercise, the Ulster Corps’ 12th Annual Zombie Escape on October 26 offers a 5k timed trail run, a 2k walk, and a free 1k Fun Run for kids. Expect to encounter socially distanced zombies and other spooky surprises along the way.
saturday creature features at the rosendale theater: house of dark shadows (1970)
Based on a gothic soap opera originally airing on ABC from 1966 to 1971, Dark Shadows became a cult classic for its unique blend of supernatural elements, dark romance, and melodramatic storytelling. The Vampire Barnabas Collins and his broody, atmosphere lair await at this classic movie house with two shows on October 5.
Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions childrens day
This family-friendly event offers a fun, non-scary Halloween experience for kids. The renowned Headless Horseman complex in Ulster Park transforms into a whimsical wonderland perfect for young adventurers. Littles will enjoy a range of activities tailored to them, including pumpkin carving, interactive games, and craft stations where kids can create their own spooky decorations.
There are also special non-haunted attractions, such as a mini hayride and a bounce house.
mykingstonkids halloween fest & parade
Enjoy a space-themed galaxy on fun at this weekend-long fest with Halloween performances, costumes, music, and dancing. Enjoy carnival games, vendors, delicious food, trick-or-treating, laser tag, a gaming trailer, virtual reality, and more. Don’t miss the costume contest and Imagine Park—Hudson Valley’s largest inflatable theme park. Dress up in your best space gear for an unforgettable, cosmic adventure!
meet me in marlborough kids & adults trick-or-treat event
Celebrate Halloween in Marlboro on October 29 with the “Meet Me In Marlborough” event. From 2 to 4 p.m., families can enjoy trick-or-treating, a costume contest, music, crafts, and more in the charming hamlet of Marlboro. This free event is perfect for a community-oriented Halloween experience.
trick-or-treat on huguenot street
Finally, on October 31, enjoy a classic Halloween tradition with “Trick-Or-Treat on Huguenot Street” in New Paltz. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., families can gather to collect goodies from the residents of historic homes. This free event offers a delightful way to celebrate Halloween with the community.
Whether you’re in the mood for spine-tingling scares or festive family fun, there’s something for everyone this October. Start your spooky adventure here today.
Left: Meet Me in Marlborough. Center top: MyKingstonKids Halloween Fest & Parade. Center bottom: Haunted Huguenot Street. Right: Trick-or-Treat on Huguenot Street. All photos courtesy of Ulster County Tourism
SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF THE LOVE KNOT SCULPTURE
In 2011-2012, iconic sculptor and installation artist (and Saugerties resident) Ze’ev Willy Neumann made two wooden Love Knot sculptures for the towns of Saugerties and Woodstock. After 11 years outdoors, they are rotting away, having deteriorated to a point where they are no longer presentable. The Woodstock sculpture was featured on the cover of the September issue of the Catskill Mountain Region Guide
The sculptures were conceived with the idea of “Tying the Knot of Friendship between Saugerties and Woodstock.” They are designed so that each sculpture sends you to the other village, hence the name “Love KNOT.” The elements of these sculptures are Heart, Infinity, and Tear, i.e. love is forever, but there is no love without tears of joy or pain. The idea was to make these sculptures life size so that people could interact with them. Whenever children pass by it, they immediately climb on it. What could be a better affirmation than that?
Recently, the Saugerties Love Knot was sent to a foundry to dry, with the financial help of Bob Siracusano of Sawyer Motors. The cost to produce a mold and two fiberglass castings is $19,000. The original desire was to cast it in metal, which costs around $80,000. This fiberglass casting is a compromise that had to be made given the rapid deterioration of the sculptures.
We are appealing to YOU to help preserve these pieces that have become fixtures of our towns, popular beyond expectation, and a memory that people take away.
PLEASE HELP KEEP THIS ICON OF POSITIVITY STANDING!!
To donate: Please write a generous check to TOWN OF SAUGERTIES, with the Memo “Love Knot”.
Send to:
Town of Saugerties
Supervisor’s Office
4 High St.
Saugerties, NY 12477
Photo courtesy of Ulster County Tourism
WOODSTOCK FILM FESTIVAL 25TH ANNUAL
The 25th anniversary of the Woodstock Film Festival (WFF), taking place October 15-20, will feature 35 feature narrative and 30 documentary films as well as 128 short films at partner venues across the Hudson Valley: Woodstock Playhouse (Woodstock), Bearsville Theater (Bearsville), Tinker Street Cinema (Woodstock), Rosendale Theatre (Rosendale), Upstate Films Orpheum Theatre (Saugerties), the Woodstock Community Center (Woodstock), Kleinert James Art Center (Woodstock), The Colony (Woodstock), Fuller Building (Kingston) and Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center (Kingston), and the Broken Wing Barn at White Feather Farm (Saugerties). The 25th WFF will showcase a diverse collection of thought-provoking films, highlighting emerging talent and featuring innovative storytelling. This year’s program continues the festival’s tradition of celebrating independent cinema in a vibrant and artistic setting. WFF is an Oscar®-qualifying festival in the short film categories: Live Action Short Film, Animated Short Film, and Documentary Short Film. The centerpiece selection is Blitz directed by Steve McQueen, and Jesse Eisenberg’s A Real Pain is the closing night film. This year’s 25th Annual Festival features films across 38 countries, with 21 directors making their feature film debuts. The WFF is celebrating films from festivals worldwide, and 44 world, eight
North American, and eight U.S. premieres. Films from festivals worldwide include Cannes award-winning films such as Sean Baker’s Anora, All We Imagine As Light directed by Payal Kapadia, Armand directed by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel, Emilia Pérez directed by Jacques Audiard, The Seed Of The Sacred Fig directed by Mohammad Rasoulof, and The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent directed by Nebojsa Slijepcevic.
This year’s Honorary Maverick Award will be presented to acclaimed filmmaker Paul Schrader. The Maverick Award is presented to a leader and a visionary in the film and media arts who exhibits fierce and independent spirit, strong artistic vision, and the pursuit of positive change.
This year’s Honorary Trailblazer Award will be awarded to renowned producer and distributor Ira Deutchman. The Trailblazer Award is presented to a leader in the film and media arts industry who has carved innovative paths for all to follow, establishing independent vision, and creating strong and widespread appreciation to quality, substantive filmmaking. Filmmakers and activists Pamela Yates and Paco de Onís will receive the inaugural Art of Activism Award.
In keeping with its long-time support of many of today’s most talented and promising women working in the film indus-
2023 Woodstock Film Festival. Photo by Jonathan Keefe
try, the WFF in this year’s lineup will include 40% of the films that feature outstanding works directed by women filmmakers who elevate our program across the board.
The WFF is proud to participate once again in a cultural collaboration with the Leiden International Film Festival in the Netherlands. The program entails a reciprocal exchange of films, enhancing cultural awareness and international exposure for both Dutch and American independent cinema. This year the festival brings us Jippie No More by Margien Rogaar, Hardcore Never Dies by Jim Taihuttu, and Torch Song by Jeroen Houben, which is in association with KLM Airlines.
The festival will feature stimulating panels with distinguished filmmakers and industry mavericks including “State of the Industry and How to Break Into It,” co-presented by Chronogram, “The Future of Documentary” sponsored by Netflix, “The Women in the Driver Seat” co-presented by NYWIFT, “AI and the Creative Process,” and “Actors Dialogue: A Conversation with Amanda Seyfried and Jennifer Carpenter.”
As the Woodstock Film Festival commemorates 25 years of Fierce Independence, we are marking our next generation by celebrating the link between today’s trailblazing filmmakers and the pioneers whose passion, ingenuity, and pure love of filmmaking inspired them. “Independents Days” is a unique series of talks woven throughout the festival, shining a light on the process of creating brave, distinctive art. The series pairs a new generation of filmmakers with their predecessors with in-depth conversations between those filmmakers including conversations with Roger Ross Williams and Carla Gutiérrez (sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios), Honoree Paul Schrader and Ramin Bahrani, and Sheila Nevins and Smriti Mundhra.
True to Woodstock’s rich musical tradition, the Woodstock Film Festival is once again highlighting music in film with three exceptional live performances. Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene will be joining for a special acoustic performance following the screening of the documentary It’s All Gonna Break. After the
world premiere screening of A Life in Rhythm: The Ray Conniff Story, sponsored by BMI, local orchestral musicians will perform a short set of Ray Conniff’s classic arrangements, directed and conducted by composer David Kitay. Rising indie star musicians Flower Face and Al Olender will be performing following the screening of the music shorts block, a collection of films and music videos highlighting the love of music.
The lineup this year also features 93 outstanding short liveaction films and 35 animated films. The Woodstock Film Festival is an Academy Awards® qualifying festival in the categories of Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, and Documentary Short Film.
The short film Steve Makes Stuff directed by John Huba is about local Hudson Valley artist Steve Heller, whose work is characterized by its whimsical and imaginative nature, often incorporating elements such as vintage car parts and natural wood with distinctive grains and patterns. The film captures Heller’s creative process and his passion for transforming discarded items into functional art, reflecting his philosophy that anything can be made into something extraordinary. One of the animated short films not to be missed is Japanese director and animator Daisuke Nishio’s Magic Candies. Nishio is known for his broad spectrum and stellar filmography and for being one of the best directors for martial arts scenes and action genre films.
Established in 2000, the WFF is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that nurtures and supports emerging and established filmmakers, sharing their creative voices through an annual festival and year-round programming to promote culture, diversity, community, educational opportunities and economic growth.
The Woodstock Film Festival is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Secure your seats with festival passes. For more information and to purchase tickets and passes, visit WoodstockFilmFestival.org.
Panel: Women In Film: Then And Now. Karen Allen, Thelma Adams, Julie Goldman, 2022 Woodstock Film Festival. Photo by Dion Ogust
FALL IN NEW YORK’S SULLIVAN CATSKILLS
It’s Time to Go
October is a lovely time to break out your flannel and fleece and head to New York’s Sullivan Catskills, just 90 miles from Manhattan. The charming small towns have become hip, trendy getaways, and the countryside is ablaze in reds and golds, fall markets, light shows, and more.
Start an October visit in Narrowsburg, where on October 5, they’ll celebrate the area’s heritage with Logging Days from 11 am to 5 pm. The family-friendly riverfront event will feature a Lumberjack Contest with 12 different competitions. There will also be food vendors, music, a baking contest, beard & mustache contest, fun activities for the kids, and more. Three other fun family things to do on October include the Harvest Festival on Main Street from 3 to 7 pm featuring vendors, face painting, and live performers. And a Pumpkin Décor Workshop at Lavender Sky Farm in Bethel.
At nightfall, head to the indoor Event Gallery at Bethel Woods, where John Sebastian, frontman for the popular mid-‘60s band The Lovin’ Spoonful, will take the stage for an 8 pm performance.
On October 13, the river town of Callicoon will host the Callicoon Art Walk, a daylong showcase of the local arts scene in the picturesque hamlet. The event promises to feature local art, performances, and workshops in unconventional spaces, including storefronts and public spaces.
The 13th annual Big Eddy Film Festival, produced by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, will take place from October 17 to 20. The festival attracts filmmakers and film lovers with its unique creative upstate energy.
As Halloween approaches, Bethel Woods puts on its 4th annual Peace, Love & Pumpkins enchanting walk-through Halloween experience. From October 11-25, this nightly family-friendly event winds through the garden trails of the beautiful Bethel Woods historic grounds, highlighting hand-carved jack-o-lanterns and glowing-themed pumpkin art. During the almost three-week run, weekends offer special events, including Boos & Booze and Meet the Maker Guided Tour.
Outdoor lovers, stretch your legs and enjoy the fall foliage with a hike on the Tusten Mountain Trail or one of the numer-
ous other trails featured on Trailkeeper.org to guide your on-foot journey. Got pedal power? You can ride a bike on the O&W Rail Trail, with rentals available at Fortress Bikes in Hurleyville or Cinder Tracks in Mountaindale.
You can enjoy the foliage along the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway by car. Along the way, be sure to watch for the hand-painted sculptures that are part of the colorful Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail, a tribute to the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival held here in 1969. To help guide you to each dove location, download the trail map at SullivanCatskills.com or find each dove’s location on the free Sullivan Catskills Go app.
The fairways light up with color in October. Serious golfers won’t want to miss the Monster Golf Course at Resorts World Catskills. Other challenging and popular courses include Villa Roma, Roscoe Mountain Club, Tarry Brae, Lochmor, and the Sullivan County Golf and Country Club (Try Smok’d BBQ here after your round. You won’t be disappointed).
Hungry? October 28 through November 11 is Restaurant Week. It’s an excellent opportunity to sample the flavors of our inventive and James Beard-nominated restaurants. Enjoy farmfresh 3-course lunches and dinners from $29.95-$44.95 at Blue Fox Motel, Cellaio, Kenoza Hall, Lotus, Roscoe Mountain Club, Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery, Tavern on Main, The Arnold
House, The DeBruce, The Heron Restaurant, The Homestead Restaurant+Lounge, and Yasgur’s Café at the Museum at Bethel Woods.
The Good Taste Beverage Trail is a favorite for craft beer, wine, cider, and spirits lovers. Sample the award-winning flavors while you chat with the proprietors and learn their backstories. The newest member of the trail is Big Eddy Brewing in Narrowsburg. Want to learn more about how to taste and evaluate wine and its characteristics, terminology, and history? Check out the wine classes at Terra Space in Jeffersonville, led by A.J. Ojeda-Pons, a certified WSET (Wine Spirt and Education Trust) Sommelier.
If you want to spend a night or a weekend, the full-service resorts—Resorts World Catskills, Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark, and Villa Roma—cater to your every need. Vacation rentals are plentiful, as are the boutique inns, including Kenoza Hall, Callicoon Hills, The Bradstan at The Eldred Preserve; Chatwal Lodge at the Chapin Estate; For a more rustic visit try cabins at Antrim Streamside, glamping and vintage RVs at The Domes at Catskills, Boheme Retreats and over a dozen more.
To book an autumn visit and plan your itinerary, visit SullivanCatskills.com. You’ll also want to download the Sullivan Catskills Go App—a valuable tool to guide you to the fun.
Clockwise from top left: Narrowsburg celebrates its heritage with Logging Days on October 5; Big Eddy Brewing in Narrowsburg is the latest addition to the Good Taste Beverage Trail; The town of Callicoon holds its annual Art Walk on October 13
New York State Sheep & Wool Festival
The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival, held annually in Rhinebeck, NY, is one of the premier events in the world of fiber arts, drawing thousands of attendees from all corners of the country. Scheduled for October 19 and 20 this year, this twoday festival is a vibrant celebration of all things wool and sheeprelated, offering a unique experience for enthusiasts, crafters, and families alike.
Nestled in the scenic Hudson Valley, the Dutchess County Fairgrounds is home to the Sheep and Wool Festival. The venue is well-suited to accommodate the festival’s diverse activities. The event, which began in 1980, has grown from a small local gathering into a significant annual celebration that attracts a broad audience. With a focus on showcasing the craft of wool and the versatility of sheep products, the festival is a must-visit for anyone interested in knitting, weaving, spinning, or any aspect of fiber arts.
One of the primary attractions of the festival is its extensive market, featuring over 200 vendors. These artisans and producers offer a wide array of products, from high-quality yarns and fibers to handmade tools and accessories. Attendees can find everything from luxurious alpaca and merino yarns to unique hand-dyed skeins and eco-friendly fibers. For many, the chance to shop directly from small producers and craftspersons is a highlight of the event, providing an opportunity to find one-of-a-kind materials and support local businesses.
In addition to the market, the festival is renowned for its comprehensive range of educational workshops and demonstrations. These sessions cover a broad spectrum of topics, catering to both beginners and experienced crafters. Workshops may include hands-on lessons in spinning, dyeing, weaving, and felting, as well as more specialized techniques like brioche knitting or lacework. For those interested in the historical and practical aspects of sheep
farming, there are also talks and demonstrations on topics such as sheep shearing and wool processing.
The festival’s schedule includes a variety of demonstrations and exhibitions that highlight traditional and contemporary fiber arts. Visitors can watch live demonstrations of spinning and weaving, learn about the different breeds of sheep and their wool characteristics, and see the intricate processes involved in turning raw fleece into beautiful finished products. The festival often features guest speakers and experts who share their knowledge and passion for wool and fiber arts.
A particularly cherished aspect of the festival is its competitive events. The festival hosts several contests, including sheepto-shawl competitions, fleece judging, and various craft competitions. These contests not only showcase the skills of participants but also highlight the quality and diversity of wool and fiber arts. The sheep-to-shawl competition, in particular, is a crowd favorite, where teams of spinners and weavers work together to transform raw fleece into a finished shawl within a set time frame.
The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival is designed to be a family-friendly event, offering activities for attendees of all ages. Children can enjoy interactive exhibits and hands-on activities that introduce them to the world of fiber arts. There are often kid-friendly craft stations where they can try their hand at simple spinning or weaving projects. Additionally, there are usually farm animals on display, including sheep, goats, and alpacas, which provide an educational and entertaining experience for young visitors.
Food and entertainment are also integral parts of the festival. The fairgrounds host a variety of food vendors offering everything from hearty meals to sweet treats. Attendees can enjoy local
specialties and comfort foods while taking a break from shopping and workshops. The festival often features live music and performances that add to the lively and festive atmosphere.
Beyond the individual activities and attractions, the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival serves as a gathering place for the fiber arts community. It’s an opportunity for enthusiasts to connect with like-minded individuals, share their experiences, and build relationships with others who share their passion. The festival fosters a sense of community among crafters, producers, and artists, creating a space where knowledge is exchanged, inspiration is sparked, and collaborations are formed.
The festival also has a strong educational component, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable and ethical practices in fiber arts. Many of the vendors and workshop leaders emphasize the value of supporting local and sustainable agriculture, and there are often discussions on topics such as organic farming, natural dyeing, and responsible sourcing.
The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival is much more than just an event; it’s a celebration of the art, craft, and culture of wool. With its extensive market, engaging workshops, competitive events, and family-friendly activities, it offers a rich and immersive experience for all who attend. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter, a curious beginner, or simply someone who enjoys the charm of rural festivals, the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck is an event that promises to inspire, educate, and entertain. As the festival continues to grow and evolve, it remains a testament to the enduring appeal of fiber arts and the vibrant community that surrounds them.
For more information and advance discount tickets, please go to dutchessfair.com.
Maude Adams T heater Hub
Catskill Mountain Foundation presents
Maude Adams Theater Hub (MATH) is proud to present Old Jews Telling Jokes by Peter Gethers in Hunter, New York this October! Get ready for side splitting humor and a religiously good time as this intimate cast of local characters Schvitz and Kvetch their way through some of Judaism’ Greatest Hits!
Old Jews Telling Jokes is a surprisingly poignant and equally hilarious anthology of some of the best jokes and tales collected straight from the mouth of some of the east coast’s oldest and curmudgeon-y-est Jews. What began as a film project documenting the stories of native Jerseyans and New Yorkers over 65 quickly grew into, for a time, one of YouTube’s biggest channels. After that, Old Jews Telling Jokes became a cultural archive of some of the most painfully long winded and uniquely clever jokes, both Jewish and Goyim.
The restaging of this iconic play will be directed by Jake Shipley, a newly local Ashkenaz who has heard these exact jokes told since he was in diapers and a Kippah. Shipley is a new member of the Maude Adams Theater Hub lineup. Originally a comic and writer, this will be his directorial debut for staged theater.
“I’ve had the great fortune of being inducted into this community and discovering for myself, as so many directors have before me, the immense pool of talent that resides in these mountains,” says Shipley. “I can’t wait to share with you their wit and Chutzpah. Jewish or not.”
Old Jews Telling Jokes runs for two nights on Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5. Join us at 7:00 pm at Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971 Main Street, Hunter, NY 12442. Purchase tickets at catskillmtn.org
ABOUT MAUDE ADAMS THEATER HUB
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 joy of theater. Founded in 2022, MATH is located in Hunter, NY, and has helped develop over 20 performances since its creation.
ABOUT CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION
The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s (CMF) aim is to provide educational opportunities in the arts for youth and lifelong learners, to bring the experience of the arts to the Catskill community, and to support artists and art organizations in the development of their work through residencies. Since its founding in 1998, CMF has presented hundreds of music, dance, and theater performances; screened over 1,000 films to tens of thousands of audience members; provided studio arts classes to thousands of students of all ages; and served thousands of art-loving patrons in the Catskill Mountain Foundation Gift Shop.
Since 1998, CMF has raised, generated, and invested close to $16 million in facility development and an excess of $42 million in programming operations, for a total investment in the Catskill community of over $58 million. CMF believes that the arts can transform the lives of those touched by it and can transform the community. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Visit our website at catskillmtn.org.
Catskills Past
MAUDE ADAMS, A SHINING LIGHT
By T.M. Bradshaw
The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s theater program, the “Maude Adams Theater Hub” piqued my curiosity to learn more about Maude Adams. Because of the connection to the Catskills I had assumed Maude was a local sensation, but learned instead that her reputation was worldwide.
Born in Salt Lake City in 1872 when Utah was still a territory, Maude Ewing Adams Kiskadden made her theatrical debut at two months at the Salt Lake City Brigham Young Theater in The Lost Baby. Obviously, that appearance and another in her mother’s arms at nine months were not choices she made for herself, but she continued her involvement in theater—acting, set and lighting design, and teaching drama—throughout her lifetime. She made her Broadway debut at sixteen in The Paymaster
Ten more Broadway plays quickly followed, most under contract to producer Charles Frohman. Frohman had been try-
ing to convince author J. M. Barrie to adapt his book The Little Minister into a play, but Barrie was reluctant, unsure there was an actress suited to playing the female lead. Then, in 1896, Barrie saw Adams in Rosemary, That’s for Remembrance, the last of that initial series of Adams’s early Broadway work. He decided she was exactly right to play Lady Babbie. The Broadway production of The Little Minister set box office records, with most performances standing room only.
Adams starred in other Barrie plays, including Quality Street, The Pretty Sister of Jose, Peter Pan; or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, What Every Woman Knows, The Legend of Leonora, and A Kiss for Cinderella. Sarah Bernhardt sent flowers for the opening of Cinderella. The critic for the Evening World called Cinderella “a rather poor play” in his December 26, 1916, review, but said, “Miss Adams was as quaintly endearing as ever. Her wistful smile
Maude Adams as “L’Aiglon.” Copyright 1901 by Burr McIntosh
worked its old spell.” And apparently the general public felt much the same. An item in the April 22, 1917, Albany Argus noted that her performance had inspired numerous poems, quoting one by Thomas S. Jones, Jr. that had originally appeared in the New York Times.
To Maude Adams
There is one debt that I can never pay. Though all my words would speak their praise of you. Yet they can only fail in what they say— For you have made such perfect dreams come true.
You are like music, and the thoughts you bring Are of glad things that never can grow old. Joy and brave laughter, and the skies of Spring— And these still leave your loveliness untold.
For you are youth, and all that youth may be!
So shall I ever find you through the years. And always will you have these gifts for me— The joy and laughter that are won from tears. And as the Spring, your name shall testify Of winds and sunlight and the April sky!
Adams played the role of Napoleon’s son, the Duke of Reichstadt in L’Aiglon (The Eaglet), a play by Edmond Rostand, author of Cyrano de Bergerac. Rostand had written it for Sarah Bernhardt to perform at a Paris Exposition. Louis N. Parker then translated it into English and that version debuted at the Knickerbocker Theater. The October 23, 1900 New York Times review of the show stated:
Unless an inspired boy could have been found for the character of the young Duke of Reichstadt, (and inspired boys are rare in every epoch,) certainly no more fit selection could have been made.
… Miss Adams has many and rare artistic traits that have lately put her fairly in the front rank of the younger English-speaking actresses.
She looks the scion of the Bonaparte-Hapsburg union to the life. One never thinks of her as a woman from the beginning of the play to its last sad scene. In every pictorial and superficial attribute her portrayal is flawless. Not a gesture or a pose is out of place or awkward.
Left: Maude Adams as “L’Aiglon,” no. 1 / Burr McIntosh Studio. Photograph retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2013651552/>
Right: Maude Adams as Peter Pan by unknown photographer for the Otto Sarony Co. Photo courtesy Museum of the City of New York, Public Domain,
May Blayney and Maude Adams in “Chantecler” Bain News Service, Publisher. [No Date Recorded on Caption Card] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2014696647/>.
Adams played the lead in another play by Rostand, another male role, the eponymous Chantecler, the rooster who believed his crowing caused the sun to rise.
It was through L’Aiglon that another long term friendship and professional collaboration developed. The American artist John White Alexander painted a full length portrait of Adams in the title role of the Duke. He would go on to paint her as Peter Pan and as herself. Alexander’s wife, Elizabeth Alexander, created costumes for Adams, including Peter Pan’s, based on design ideas sketched by her husband. The round collar from that costume graced women’s blouses for decades, the Peter Pan collar. A February 26, 1911 New York Times article described in depth a new way to create stage sets devised by John Alexander, Adams, and J. Munroe Hewlett that used layers of painted gauze, black velvet, and special lighting. It was light, portable, and easy to change during a performance. The scenery for Chantecler utilized the new methods. Adams and the Alexanders were Catskills neighbors.
Adams worked on innovative lighting throughout her career. After receiving an honorary degree from Union College, she moved to Schenectady in 1921 to work with General Electric conducting lighting experiments. She developed a bulb used in color photography, but didn’t patent it. She is listed as the inventor, along with several other people, on three lighting patents from 1931.
Adams donated the oil paintings, “Miss Maude Adams as ‘L’Aiglon,’” (1900) “Miss Maude Adams as ‘Peter Pan,’” (1905) and “Portrait of Miss Maude Adams” (1911–12) to the Salt Lake Art Center in 1933. “L’Aiglon” is now in the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake City.
Theatrical producer Charles Frohman distributed to his patrons a 1902 calendar showing multiple images of Maude, including a reproduction of Alexander’s full-length portrait, “L’Aiglon.”
Frohman had a number of stars under contract. A March 9, 1904, item in the Delaware Gazette illustrates Maude’s rank within that firmament:
Salaries in Stageland.
Annie Russell has a salary of $500 a week and a small share in the profits.
Ethel Barrymore, who during her first years as a star acted for Mr. Frohman for only $80 a week, now has a salary of $300 and a small percentage.
Maude Adams has probably never cleared less than $50,000 a year since her first season in “The Little Minister.” By her contract with Charles Frohman she gets a fixed salary of $500 a week and about 50 percent of the profits. And any other manager would be glad to take the contract off Mr. Frohman’s hands.
Adams wrote an autobiographical essay in the third person, “The One I Knew Least of All,” that appeared as a multi-part series in 1926 and 1927 in the Ladies’ Home Journal detailing events in her career and her collaboration with the Alexanders. The title reflected her contention that she herself was the one she knew least, having lost herself among the many parts she played. Another of her articles appeared in the Ladies Home Journal in 1927, “‘Thumbs Up’ for Joy and Adventure.”
In 1937, she began teaching drama at Stephens College in Missouri. She taught using her own unpublished textbooks, The First Steps in Speaking Verse, The Spoken Word, and A Pamphlet on English Speech and English Verse. Copies of those and her other writings are in the Maude Adams Collection at the Library of Congress.
She had spent time secluded in a convent in France in 1901 and later found a similar refuge in New York City, the Cenacle Convent. Starting in 1915, she’d often spend time there, away from public clamor. She gifted the convent with her Ronkonkoma, Long Island estate in 1922 and her Catskills estate in 1949. She had purchased both in 1900 and had divided her time between them. When she died in 1953 she was buried on her former Long Island estate next to Louise Boynton, who had been her companion from 1905 until Boynton’s death in 1951.
One test of celebrity is if a person’s name alone triggers recognition outside of the context for which they are famous. The Delaware County Dairyman of January 12, 1906, ran a fairly lengthy front page article encouraging farmers to plant trees on land not suited for other crops. The intent was to keep up with the needs of the railroads without having to resort to clear-cutting forests. One paragraph in it starts “Maude Adams is credited by the daily press with a deeper insight into the needs of the future than the railroad presidents, for she is stated to have planted upon her Long Island property a hundred thousand locust trees which will make the very best and most lasting telegraph poles and railroad ties.” They expected their readers to know who she was without having to say, “the actress, Maude Adams.” That’s fame.
T. M. Bradshaw shares other thoughts on history at tmbradshawbooks.com.
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
All Souls’ Church, Stewarts Shops, Windham Foundation, and by private donations.
Scan for tickets!
The Catskill Mountain Foundation Presents
Siam, Windham’s lost Elephant
By Greg Madden
have enjoyed the Catskills for the past dozen years and in 2020 the Mountain Top became my permanent home. I have lived, worked and played to much delight in Hunter, Windham, Jewett, Elka Park and now Tannersville. Rental housing is a challenge here and therefore the USPS and their change of address form and I have become close friends.
When I found out that this month’s theme for my article was Windham, I wondered what would be of interest to you, our dedicated and loyal readers. I prayed for inspiration as I had nothing. Absolutely NOTHING!!
Well, enter local Windhamite Antonia Besculides and just like that my problem was solved, or so I thought, as the story idea kept growing in so many interesting directions. I had journeyed to Windham’s Main Street to the Tap House for something yummy to eat and to listen to my favorite local band Lizzie G and Oly. That night, Elizabeth and Olympia converted their line up into a trio by adding Tony to the mix, a talented eclectic guitar player with a funk vibe (my opinion).
As I ordered, Antonia, who I had seen at these gigs several times also was ordering and as we waited for our drinks and menu to arrive we chatted. Eventually, I asked her if she was from Windham and she told me she lived near Siam Road.
I had given a massage on Siam Road in the past and we discussed how odd a street name that was for a town in the Catskills. She agreed and then she told me why there was a road with that name. You see an elephant, cared for by the Vidbel family, named Siam went missing in the 1950’s and all of Windham went searching to find her.
After getting the green light to write this story from my editor, I met with Antonia again to get more information and to get her permission, this time at Higher Grounds for coffee. I wanted more information and to ask if I could tell our readership about our conversation of how I learned of the elusive Siam and how a community brought her home safely.
Antonia also wants to write a children’s book about the story of Siam which is in the formulation stages. When published expect to see Jen featuring it at Briars and Brambles Bookstore in Windham.
After a powerful Cafe Americano (or two) and a chat with Antonia and Nick, who owns Higher Grounds, and the ski and bike shop attached to it, I was off to find out more on this story. I stopped by to see Carol, a local realtor who I knew had more information. In fact Carol gave me so much information that another article will be written about the magic of the Vidbel family, their animals and the great charity work they do in the community and beyond. The next day I attended a Vidbel
Foundation function on Siam Road and watched as a bus full of children and their families from the Candlelighters (Childhood Cancer Family Alliance) experienced the delight of amazing animals in the country. Their eyes were as big as Siam. Soon we will bring you this beautiful story.
So refocusing on our story, Siam was no ordinary elephant. She towered above the other animals, her presence was commanding, yet her eyes held a gentle wisdom that belied her immense size. She had been with the circus for over a decade, and in that time, she had become a beloved figure in Windham. Children would line up just to catch a glimpse of her, and she had a special place in the hearts of those who worked with her. But Siam had a wanderlust and the Vidbels called her a runner.
The circus was based on Siam Road, a quaint street in Windham named after the very elephant who had become its most famous resident. The name seemed almost prophetic, as though the road had always been destined to host such a grand creature. Siam was a regular feature in the parades that wound through the town, her massive feet thudding rhythmically against the ground as she moved with a grace that seemed impossible for an animal of her size. People would cheer and wave as she passed, and she would often lift her trunk in response, almost as if she were acknowledging each and every one of them.
The peaceful grounds of the Vidbel Mountain Homestead in Windham. Siam the elephant once resided here, and the fifth generation of the Vidbel family still owns the property and offers farm education to families and children. Learn more at vidbelmountainhomestead.com, and stay tuned for a future Guide article!
But one crisp October morning in 1957, as the town was waking up,a strange sense of unease began to spread. The circus grounds, usually bustling with activity, were eerily quiet. Workers moved about with worried expressions, their usual cheerful banter replaced by hushed whispers. Siam was missing.
It is unheard of for an elephant to just disappear, especially one as large and as well-loved as Siam. The circus workers had last seen her in her enclosure the night before. But now, there was no sign of Siam. Her massive footprints seemed to vanish at the edge of the circus grounds, as if she had been spirited away by some unseen force.
The news spread like wildfire through Windham. Everyone had a theory about what had happened. Some speculated that Siam had been stolen, perhaps by a rival circus. Others whispered about the possibility of a curse, an ancient retribution for keeping such a majestic creature in captivity. There were even those who believed that Siam, with her wise eyes and gentle demeanor, had simply decided to leave, seeking out some unknown destination in the Catskill Mountains.
Search parties were organized, and soon the entire town was scouring the surrounding woods and hills for any sign of the missing elephant. The dense forest that bordered Windham was a maze of towering trees and thick underbrush, and it seemed almost impossible that something as large as an elephant could disappear into it without a trace. Yet, for days the searchers returned empty-handed, their hope dwindling with each passing hour.
Days passed, and still, there was no sign of Siam. Local media, Life Magazine and the New York Times covered this story like the Vanderbilt baby kidnapping. The circus grounds, usually so vibrant and full of life, now felt like a ghost town. The animals and performers went through their routines mechanically, their hearts heavy with worry. The big top, once a place of joy and wonder, now stood as a stark reminder of what had been lost.
But then, on the morning of the twelfth day, something miraculous happened. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a golden glow over the town, when a distant trumpet echoed through the still air. It was a sound that everyone in Windham knew well—the unmistakable call of an elephant. Hearts leapt with hope as people rushed out of their homes and towards the sound.
The trumpet came again, louder this time, and soon the town’s residents were sprinting towards the source. The sound led them to the edge of the forest, to a small clearing that had been hidden from view. And there, standing in the center of the clearing, was Siam.
The sight of her was almost too much to believe. She looked as regal as ever, her massive frame covered in a fine layer of dust, her eyes bright and alert. But there was something different about her, something that the townspeople couldn’t quite place. She seemed more at peace, as though she had found something out there in the wilderness that had changed everything. Those of us who live and visit the Catskills understand this.
The Vidbel’s patriarch was an elephant whisperer and coaxed her home where rum was added to her food and drink to warm her up.
The circus workers were overjoyed as they approached Siam, tears streaming down their faces. They couldn’t understand how she had survived out in the wild for three days, let alone how she had managed to find her way back. But none of that mattered now. Their beloved elephant had returned, and that was all that counted.
As they led her back to the circus, the townspeople followed, their cheers and laughter filling the air. It was as if a great weight had been lifted from Windham, and the joy that had been missing for the past three days came flooding back in an overwhelming wave. The big top, which had seemed so forlorn just hours before, now stood as a beacon of hope and happiness once again.
In the days that followed, the story of Siam’s disappearance and miraculous return became the stuff of legend.
People would talk about it in hushed tones, each telling a slightly different version of the tale. Some said that Siam had gone on a pilgrimage to some sacred place deep in the forest, while others believed that she had been guided by the spirits of the land. There were even those who claimed that Siam had encountered a group of wild elephants, and that they had imparted some ancient wisdom to her before he returned to the circus.
Whatever the truth was, one thing was certain: Siam was different. There was a calmness about her that hadn’t been there before, a quiet strength that made those around her feel at ease. She no longer seemed like just an elephant in a circus; she seemed like a guardian, a protector of something much larger than herself.
Siam’s disappearance and return became a defining moment for the town of Windham. It was a story that would be passed down through generations, a tale of mystery, magic, and the enduring bond between a town and its most beloved elephant. And even though the circus eventually moved on, leaving Siam Road and Windham behind, the memory of those three days when Siam was missing would live on forever in the hearts of those who had witnessed the miracle of her return.
In the years that followed, the legend of Siam grew, becoming a symbol of hope and resilience for the people of Windham. And though the circus may be gone, the spirit of Siam lives on, a reminder that sometimes, even the most unlikely of heroes can leave a lasting legacy.
That legacy lives on in the Vidbel Foundation and we will revisit that story in the months ahead.
Greg Madden (IlluminatingWellness.care) is certified in the ancient healing arts of energy medicine, Tui-Na Medical Massage Therapist, BioPhoton Light Therapy (Biontology.com) and is a freelance consultant specializing in feature writing, marketing, public relations, branding and broadcasting.
Plein Air Extravaganza Windham Arts Alliance
This past August, Windham Arts Alliance in collaboration with the Main Street Community Center, and the Mountaintop Arboretum, brought a two-day plein-air painting gathering to the Mountaintop. The artwork produced at these two events is on display at the Main Street Community Center in Windham until November 1, 2024. All are welcome. .
What is plein-air? Plein-air painting is the practice of leaving the studio and venturing outside to paint what the artist sees. It goes back to the French Impressionists’ desire to capture light and a transitory impression of the landscapes they were painting. The challenge is capturing the atmosphere, light, and color as the day progresses. The beauty is the stimulation of all your senses as you work. “Painting outdoors,” according to Laura Avello, “is such a great experience. All the senses provide something that enhances the day. The music of the birds, the breeze that brings the smell of the grass underfoot, and, of course, the light and colors it creates for us to capture.”
If you take 25 artists and bring them to the same place to paint or draw, what will happen? Amazingly, you will get 25 entirely different interpretations of what attracted their attention. What was important to each of them was as varied as their styles and personalities.
Windham Arts Alliance organized two Plein Air Extravaganzas this summer: one at the Mountaintop Arboretum and the other at the Windham Path. Everyone was welcome, from emerging artists to professionals. A demonstration and materials were provided at both venues by WAA. Laura Avello did a watercolor demo at the Arboretum and Mara Lehmann did an oil demo at the Path. Peter Segall participated in his first paint out, saying, “We captured the tones of a cloudy sky that added a peacefulness that made the experience especially enjoyable.” Peter Preston added, “I enjoy the challenge and the immediacy of painting outdoors, so being invited to a paint out in our Mountaintop backyard on a beautiful day was fabulous.” The paint out was very
successful because it provided an opportunity for new people to get involved with plein air. Happily, some children on the Windham Path who were exploring the area with their parents became interested in watching the artists. Sheila Trautman gave them some materials and they, too, joined the event, proudly showing off their work.
There was a feeling of excitement as the artists gathered. Marianne Tully was exuberant when she exclaimed, “I got out of the car and saw the beauty of the Thomas Cole, Blackhead, and Black Dome Mountains, and the sky. That was the scene I wanted to paint.” Mari Renwick said about the Windham Path, “You can’t ask for a better day than one where you gather with other artists and venture out into a beautiful environment to paint en plein air. The group was great and the stunning location of the Windham trail was breathtaking.”
At the Arboretum, there was a new and inspiring subject at every turn. While trying to select a view to paint, Sheila Trautman came across a sign with a quote from Thomas Cole (1836), the father of the first truly American art style: “If men were not blind and insensible to the beauty of nature, the great works neces-
sary for the purpose of commerce might be carried on without destroying it, and at times might even contribute to her charms by rendering her more accessible.”
Both the Mountaintop Arboretum and the Windham Path have preserved the beauty of the Catskills and, as Cole stated above, rendered it more accessible. The artists took the opportunity to interpret and preserve this beauty in their works of art. Together through the arts we can raise awareness of the fragility of our environment and the beauty that is worth saving. Nancy Campbell summed up the experience saying, “The plein air paint out on the Windham Path was a great way to experience the beauty of our Catskills and the comradery of the artists of the mountains—a thoroughly enjoyable day!”
The art produced at these two paint outs is on display at the Main Street Community Center located at 5494 State Route 23 (aka Main Street), Windham, NY (518 734 4168 or mainstreetcenter.org) until November 1, 2024.
Windham Arts Alliance wants to thank the Mountaintop Arboretum, The Town of Windham, and the Main Street Community Center for helping to make this extravaganza possible.
Clockwise from top left: Peter Preston painting on the Windham Path; Magnus, Lochlan, and Penny joining in the Paint-Out; Laura Avello painting on the Windham Path; Patti Ferrara painting at the Mountain top Arboretum
Windham Farms
By Jonathan Ment
There is in certain circles a demand for spacious modern farmhouses and mountain homes set on large lots in smaller subdivisions. That’s what developers Jim MacDonald and his son, Jack, are banking on for the piece of the mountain they’ve been cultivating at 281 Old Road in Windham, NY for close to a decade.
Years in the making, construction is currently underway on the first of as many as four new homes at the property they named “Windham Farms” after purchasing the parcel in 2016.
In an era of tiny homes and mansions squeezed onto inadequate lots, this sort of thoughtful development feels most welcome; and more in line with the original character of the historic town of Windham, NY
“Because there’s no formal zoning in the town right now, it was important for me in order to maintain this (feel) … to create covenants and restrictions on the deed that prohibit you from doing certain things to the property … creating any further subdivisions or operating certain types of commercial business,” explained Jim MacDonald during a conversation ahead of showing me the property first-hand aboard his all-terrain vehicle.
“You can’t buy a lot and further divide it to build two homes. I want to maintain control of what’s created. … That was important to me,” he said.
“We’re advertising it as a planned luxury home development with vision,” said Jim, adding “I wanted to maintain the character. … Modern farmhouses have become extremely popular, similar to the Hamptons and areas along the North Fork of Long Island and Shelter Island (where Jim and his family have spent many summers). “You would think they were there for 100 years but they’re new construction,” he said.
Improvements can be seen across the roughly 20-acre subdivision, from the landscaped entrance road and tree-lined driveways onto lots two and three, to paddock fencing around roadside meadows and along the entrance, a newly cleared home site and a pond on lot #1 near an existing home the MacDonalds have used but plan to raze. There are also upgrades you cannot see, including electric and communication infrastructures installed underground.
The Morton Building’s six-stall equestrian stall barn will most certainly remain, but close to a decade after purchasing the property, you could say the horses have left the gate on this project.
“We purchased the property in 2016 as an investment,” said Jim, adding “It was owned by the Detmar family and to this day, all of the surrounding acres are owned and maintained by the Detmar family whose ownership dates back to 1928,” said Mac-
Donald, adding “Bruce Detmar, who I purchased the property from, was a breeder and shower of Peruvian horses on his portion of the property. It was his … secondary … home but that was his passion.”
Cleanup and improvements were the order of the day while the MacDonalds sought approval for their subdivision, which once approved triggered the creation of Windham Farms Road built to town specifications and required with the sale of Lot #3, where a home is being built by Eric Vaughn/Vaughn Construction. (See more information at vaughnhomeconstruction.com.)
During the ride-through, Jim and I encountered a woman sitting beside a high window in the home currently going up on Lot #3. She identified herself as the designer, “taking advantage of the quiet” to focus on her vision for the 3,100-square-foot custom house. Jim, whose day-to-day work is in the large-scale commercial real estate sector, said this was his first foray into residential subdivision. Meanwhile Jack MacDonald, who graduated from Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD, formed his own landscaping and lawn maintenance business early on and then built that into a heavy equipment and excavation/site preparation firm, JDM Land Services, capable of handling many of the needs of the Windham Farms project. Aside from his business, Jack maintains a strong connection with the Town of Windham as an active member of the Windham Hose company.
“I know my way around large commercial projects … assembling large parcels and adding value—whether it’s an ambulatory surgical center or medical office building or warehouse distribution facility,” said Jim, adding, “(That’s) my career and this is a residential project that my son and I are creating.”
“On a personal level, the time was right and as business people you want to make sure the market conditions are also right,” said Jim. “The market seems to be right,” he continued. “There are some wonderful things happening with the mountain (Windham Mountain Club, formerly Ski Windham/Windham Mountain) which I think has the potential to fuel the market to a certain degree … I feel that’s going to be very positive for the town … confident that it’s going to be ok with a nice blend of mountain and locals and community and everyone is going to prosper.”
Walking through the aforementioned former stable on a September afternoon when the sun shone brightly the way it does, and views of a nearby mountain peak were hard to avoid, MacDonald said the structure could house horses again but he could also envision a repurpose of the structure for a car collector or as a man cave, or perhaps reimagined through the eyes of one planning a mixed use “barndominium”-type project.
“It lends itself to a conversion to whatever you want to do,” said Jim who restored the already solid structure, built for the previous owner in the 1990s.
“This is not about going out back or on the deck and staring back at the ski trails you just spent six hours on,” said MacDonald, although the slopes are visible from parts of Windham Farms.
“Not everybody wants a ski-on-ski-off home … Not everybody likes to listen to the sound of snow guns going off at their front door,” he said.
“This is not about that. … It’s kind of nice to have a yearround home on five acres, close to town where you can enjoy farming and have horses and other animals. You can quad on the property or enjoy hiking or mountain biking on miles of stateowned Catskill trails that surround the property,” or just fly fish for Rainbow Trout in the pond. “You’ve got really the best of both worlds at Windham Farms in that regard,” said MacDonald.
“Growing up, my dad was very much involved in the planning of our local community. I was born and raised on the south shore of Long Island. “That area has seen tremendous growth over three generations,” said MacDonald, adding, “You must do things right. If you don’t do it right and you don’t have zoning—if it’s not enforced—you have the potential of it running away with itself.” It’s important not to lose the character and charm of the town as things progress in a community.
Jim MacDonald and his son are already considering future projects, actively looking at other residential opportunities in the area, and already own a commercial property on State Route 23 in Windham.
Engineering and d0esign for Windham Farms has been managed by Darrin Elsom, a founding partner at Kaaterskill Associates (keaeng.com), a well-regarded firm known in the region for its architectural design, land surveying and evaluation and planning for land development.
The marketing agent for Windham’s Farms is Laurie Hanenberg of Hunter Windham Real Estate (hunterwindhamrealty. com).
“We encourage anyone with interest in a home in Windham to call and meet with us to learn about our vision and we’ll listen to yours,” said Jim MacDonald.
Jack (left) and Jim MacDonald, developers at Windham Farms.
Photo by Fran Driscoll, francisxdriscoll.com
Windham Foundation
By Michael Ryan
The Windham Foundation is widely recognized in the mountaintop community for its meaningful impact on the lives of Windham residents, both in obvious and subtle ways. This impact is driven by a strong inner commitment to positive action that has benefitted the community for over 20 years.
The Windham Foundation was formally established in 2004 as Windham was in the midst of a massive transformation, including a makeover of downtown and the installation of a wastewater treatment system. Since that time, the Windham Foundation has directed its resources to make Windham a better place to live, work and visit.
The Foundation is made up of local community members including its President, whose primary residence is Windham. They remain dedicated to preserving and enriching the Windham community.
Many of the people who are now the core members of the Foundation started coming to Windham when they were kids. Their families would come here on weekends, so in a way, they grew up here. They fell in love with Windham, and when they
had children of their own, they would bring them here. It was like an extension of their own childhoods.
The founders of the Windham Foundation emerged to give something back to the town. Over the years, they have remained steadfast as a group of kindred spirits dedicated to the Town of Windham.
Thomas Hoyt, the current Windham Town Supervisor, grew up in the Big Hollow area, out in the sticks beyond the Hamlet of Maplecrest. His grandfather, Cyrus, farmed land that is now a vital flood control dam, also serving as CD Lane Park, an 80-acre fishing and recreation spot.
Hoyt’s boyhood house and the house where he and his family reside today are a short shouting-distance apart, across the road from CD Lane Park. The place is near and dear to his soul.
In recent years, the Windham Foundation has been very active at the park, partnering with the Town to finance infrastructure improvements and add a bunch of fun equipment such as kayaks and playgrounds for kids and adults. The $147,870 contributed for the upgrades at CD Lane Park also helped ac-
CD Lane Park, which has recently received several upgrades thanks to a generous donation from the Windham Foundation
complish woodsy walking trails on the far side of the onsite lake and various familycentered activities.
Hoyt remembers back to when the Foundation and the Town initially started to get familiar with each other, breaking down boundaries, real or imagined, that separated generational townspeople. Hoyt recalls, “It was a strange notion, someone asking what they could do for the Town rather than the opposite, but it was an obvious no-brainer. I thought it would probably be good for the community, but I have to be honest, I had no idea how good it would actually be,” Hoyt says.
“When the Foundation puts their time and resources into something, it’s all about the community, whether it’s the park or the library or the fire department. They have invested in the community, and especially our youth, like the scholarship program they started for students at the school. Tracking forward to see how successful those students are, it is impressive to see how far they’ve gotten in life. The scholarships help take them to heights they didn’t even realize,” Hoyt states.
“All I can tell you is, when the Foundation has their annual fundraiser, they invite me to give them an update on the town. They want to know what we have on the horizon for projects. They will say things like ‘we love the flowers on Main Street’ and they appreciate what we’ve done with the new ambulance building. They contribute to projects that aren’t just a one-and-done kind of deal, like the new kitchen at the local VFW. It has real substance and will be there a long time. What can I tell you? The way the Foundation does their programs, it’s like sponsoring Girl Scout cookies, that same kind of old-fashioned good will,” Hoyt says.
As Windham continues to grow therein lies the opportunity for the Windham Foundation to help shape the future of the town. All donations are welcome at windhamfoundation.org/donate.
For more information about the Windham Foundation’s programs and impact, visit windhamfoundation.org.
Autumn Affair WINDHAM CELEBRATES 30th ANNUAL
To know Windham is to fall in love with Windham. This sentiment has been the Chamber’s inspiration, the driving force that created the first Autumn Affair fall festival.
This year we are celebrating our 30th anniversary! The ongoing success of this event underlies our belief that Windham is a special community to live, work, and play, especially during the fall foliage season.
The Chamber’s focus is to showcase Windham’s beautiful Main Street and to highlight the amazing small businesses that are truly the backbone of the community.
This two-day event will be held the weekend of October 12 and October 13, from 10 am to 5 pm. Main Street is filled with free family-friendly activities, arts and crafts for sale, delicious food and drink specials, and Centre Church stage featuring live music performances from 12-4 pm both days, adding to the joy and celebrations.
On the Windham Ashland School campus, you’ll find 60+ vendors, free kids’ activities, lawn games, demonstrations, and wildlife exhibits. WRIP Radio will host a live broadcast, with DJs Jay Fink and Joe Loverro Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Downtown you’ll find pony rides by Vidbel Mountain Homestead, wine and spirit tastings offered by Windham Wine & Liquors, and a Farmers Market offering organic produce, cakes pies, local honey, syrup, and tinctures.
Kids of all ages will love the spooky hay maze and pirate ship at the Catskill Mountain Country store. Hop on the hay wagon for rides up and down the village. Foodies are encouraged to enter the Baking Contest, proudly sponsored by Windham Manor and Albergo Allegria: visit our website at movingwindhamforward. com for entry information. There will be a cornhole tournament Saturday inside the Centre Church: sign up at the event. Windham Mountain Club will have sky rides and a BBQ with live music, and be sure to check out the WAJ Ski swap sale on Saturday, a great way to save on outdoor equipment while raising money for local students.
Windham Methodist Church will host their Annual Apple Bake Sale from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, featuring homemade goodies. If you have a dog, you must enter Coldwell Banker Village Green’s Smooch Your Pooch—doggie beauty photo contest— and win prizes!
Visit the Main Street Community Center and learn about their programs for all ages. Local businesses will be hosting in-store specials and sidewalk sales, galore—free family fun for everyone.
Come, and spend the weekend, enjoying the sights and sounds of fall in the Gem of The Catskills, in beautiful Windham, NY. More information can be found on Facebook and Instagram: search for Windham Chamber of Commerce (Windham, NY).
Photos courtesy of KathodeRay Media, Inc.
Visit Windham The Land in the Sky
Windham Fine Arts
5380 Main Street
Windham, NY 12496
windhamfinearts.com
518 734 6850
Windham Fine Arts (WFA) is a contemporary art gallery located in the heart of the Catskills at the base of Windham Mountain Club. Now in its 22nd year, WFA represents more than 60 local and internationally acclaimed artists showcasing a diverse collection of original paintings, photography, and sculpture. Mixed media, oils, watercolors, encaustic and other mediums are portrayed in inspiring landscapes, abstracts, figuratives, Hudson River School styles, and more. With over 3,000 square feet of curated artwork, the gallery stands out as a unique gem of artistic inspiration.
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. All classes are led by artists who are renowned and celebrated in their field. Join us for the Catskill Fibers and Artisanal Celebration, October 11-13.
ART GALLERY
ART WORKSHOPS
BOOKSTORE
Briars & Brambles Books
Route 296 & South Street
Windham, NY 12496
briarsandbramblesbooks.com
518 750 8599
Briars and Brambles Books is your go-to Indie Bookstore in the heart of the Catskill Mountains. Briars & Brambles Books is a dream come true for owner & part-time Windham resident, Jen Schwartz. Jen has combined her love of books with her experience as a long-time library volunteer and past library board president to create an inviting, knowledgeable and professional atmosphere. The Briars & Brambles team understands that being a bookseller involves so much more than simply “selling books” and is committed to providing unparalleled personal attention.
COMMUNITY CENTER
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.
EXCAVATION/STONE & MULCH
Blue Mountain Excavation
Blue Stone and Mulch
1128 State Route 23
Ashland, NY 12407 518 734 5173
“Changing The Shape of The Earth” is what Blue Mountain Excavation does. We take pride in the work we do in the community we live in. Our mountain top is not just a destination, it is where for many generations our families have worked hard to create a community our families are proud to call home. Some services we offer are septicsystems, driveways, excavation for foundations, various drainage solutions, ponds, Boulder Scapes, land clearing, and retaining walls. Our trained team and extensive inventory of equipment enable us to complete your project in an efficient, timely, and professional manner. During our winter months, we are here with you. We offer snowplowing, snow removal, and our winter mix of sand & salt. We also have firewood available with pick-up or delivery options.
Blue Stone and Mulch is our sister company, selling bulk stone, mulch, sand, and wall block. Our topsoil is screened here in our yard. We offer many delivery options.
For more information, please call 518 734 5173 or visit us at 11287 State Route 23, Ashland, NY 12407.
FARM
Catskill Mountain Foundation’s
Natural Agriculture Farm
At Sugar Maples
34 Big Hollow Road
Maplecrest, NY 12454
The CMF operates a 4.5-acre farm following the Natural Agriculture method taught by the Japanese organization Shumei, the principle of which is to grow vegetables the way they would grow in Nature. No agricultural chemicals of any sort are used, and no manure or other soil additives are permitted. During growing season, visitors can purchase vegetables grown at the farm at a farmstand that operates every Saturday.
GARDEN
The Garden of Stone
5444 State Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
518 734 4730
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!
Tackle Fall Projects with GNH Lumber and Home
As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, it’s time to get started on fall projects and winterize your home. Here are some steps to take to prepare your home for winter storms and improve your energy efficiency before the snow starts falling.
Get Ready for the Snow
When it comes to handling those winter storms, there’s no such thing as being too prepared. Here are some tips that will help you get your home ready to handle a winter storm:
• Have your gutters inspected for debris and cleaned if necessary.
• Disconnect and drain all outside hoses. If possible, shut off outside water valves.
• Insulate walls and attics, and caulk and weather-strip doors and windows.
• Have any roof leaks inspected and repaired.
• Have tree branches that could fall on your house or your neighbor’s house removed.
• Wrap water pipes in your basement or crawl spaces with insulation sleeves to slow heat transfer.
• Consider an insulated blanket for your hot water heater.
• If you have a fireplace, keep the flue closed when you’re not using it.
• Have a contractor check your roof to see if it would sustain the weight of a heavy snowfall. Also have them look for missing or damaged gutters and fascia boards and repair them.
• Make sure your furniture isn’t blocking your home’s heating vents.
• During cold spells, keep cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around pipes, particularly those in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes that run through unheated or unprotected spaces.
• If your house will be unattended during cold periods, consider draining the water system.
• Avoid ice dams by ventilating your attic, insulating the attic floor and having a water-repellent membrane installed under your roof covering.
Cut Energy Costs
When it comes to keeping the cold air outside and the warm air circulating inside, there are a few basics to keep in mind every year around this time:
• If your ceiling fan has a reverse switch, use it to run the fan’s blades in a clockwise direction after you turn on your heat. The fan will produce an updraft and push heated air back down into the room from the ceiling. This is especially helpful in rooms with high ceilings.
• If the gaps between siding and window or door frames are bigger than the width of a nickel, you need to reapply exterior caulk. Silicone caulk is best for exterior use because it won’t shrink and it’s impervious to the elements.
• Examine your windows in the fall and replace any that need to be replaced with modern, energy efficient windows.
As you go about the process of winterizing your home and property, don’t forget that the experts at GNH Lumber and Home are happy to answer your questions, offer guidance and provide time-saving tips!
ORGANIZATION
Greenville, NY 12083
518 966 5333
Online at GNHlumber.com
GNH Lumber and Home
5477 Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
518 734 3760 11513 NY-32
Renovating your home or building new? Ask our Team of Experts for inspiration, help, and on-site delivery. We offer: Lumber & Building Materials • Plumbing & Electrical Supplies • Cabinets, Countertops & Design Services • Tools, Paints, Stains & More! Discover why GNH has a reputation for highquality products and friendly customer service since 1937.
HARDWARE LODGING
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!
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.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
Windham Mountain Club 19 Resort Drive
Windham, NY 12496
windhammountainclub.com 800 754 9463
Your all-season escape into Upstate New York’s premier wintersport, culinary, and memory-making destination for generations to come. Windham Mountain Club is an exclusive outdoor wonderland for the discerning set, find world-class skiing, golfing, dining, outdoor pursuits, and memory-making for generations to come. Nestled in the town of Windham, New York, Windham Mountain Club is located just two and half hours from New York City. A restorative escape for more than 60 years, Windham Mountain Club has evolved to bring an elevated destination and exclusive year-round amenities and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
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.
WRIP 97.9FM
wripfm.com
Streaming at rip979.com
RIP 97.9 is the radio voice of the Mountaintop and Valley. Broadcasting 24/7 with the equivalent of 6,000 watts of power, we are the only radio station covering the entire region between the Hudson Valley and Oneonta. WRIP is independently owned and operated. WRIP is heard on these FM frequencies: 97.9 in Windham & Hunter, 97.5 in Durham & Greenville, 103.7 in Catskill & Hudson, 104.5 in Stamford & Delaware County, and streaming worldwide at rip979.com.
Brainard Ridge Realty
237 South Street
Windham, NY 12496
brainardridge.com 518 734 5333
Specializing in Windham Mountain and the surrounding area for over 35 years. Visit our web site at brainardridge.com for a variety of listings both on and off the mountain: Homes, Townhomes, Rentals and Land. Whatever your needs we are here for you. Call us today!
I have been a real estate broker listing and selling properties in the Greater Windham area for over 20 years! Windham is my home where I am raising my family of avid ski racers, golfers and outdoor lovers. I am very active in my community, serving as the Windham Chamber of Commerce President. I also serve on the Town Planning Board. I’m passionate about our town’s heritage and recreational opportunities. I am consistently a top producer because my philosophy is simple: treat others as you want to be treated.
Windham Mountain Club
Nestled in the heart of the Catskills and just a short drive from New York City, Windham Mountain Club (WMC) is a sanctuary for year-round adventurers of all ages that bring families closer in every season. Standing as the preeminent destination for thoughtfully elevated and intentionally uncrowded mountain living, this premiere, public-private mountain community seamlessly blends world-class skiing with exclusive luxury amenities.
Windham Mountain Club aims to provide the best skiing and riding experience in the Northeast and saw a historic $70 million investment in 2024 from luxury hospitality leaders Sandy Beall and Kemmons Wilson. Beall is best known as the Chairman and Co-Founder of Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain in Walland, TN.
Savvy skiers, diners, and outdoor enthusiasts will take note of improved snowmaking and grooming and six different restaurants across the mountain (with more concepts on the way).
This winter season is bound to be one for the books! We’re thrilled to bring back our beloved annual torchlight parade and New Year’s Eve fireworks. New this year, enjoy après-ski music every Friday and Saturday while indulging in great food and drink as you unwind from a day on the slopes. With something for everyone, Windham Mountain Club is the place to be this winter.
Experience the transformed Windham Mountain Club, a premium destination that goes beyond a mere visit–it offers a second home.
Gallagher & Company
6 Mitchell Hollow Road
Windham, NY 12496
gallagherandcompany.com
518 734 3300
Gallagher & Company is a national professional real estate services firm, specializing in commercial and industrial real estate with an emphasis on New York State properties and luxury resort homes. Our Windham, New York office specializes in Sales and Rentals of residential and vacation properties. Gallagher and Company also manages the Quads condominium development comprising 67 units, and the Crystal Pond Townhomes development, a 97 unit planned development, both located in Windham.
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 such as homes, land, and country homes, rentals, indicates a broad expertise in the local real estate market. 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. If you have any specific questions about real estate feel free to ask!
4802 State Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
516 650 5700
Windham Farms Development, LLC
Owner/Developer:
Jim MacDonald
Continuing to Adopt Broker-Friendly Practices
Licensed NY State Real Estate Broker
Exclusively Offered by:
Laurie Hanenberg, Licensed Real Estate Broker/Owner
Hunter Windham Real Estate
5338 Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
518 965 8439
Modern-style farm houses and mountain homes now available. Fully approved, shovel-ready home sites for sale. Will build-to-suit, turnkey construction. Three lots currently available: Lot #1 with main house, garage, and pond, 6.43 acres, available for redevelopment; Lot#2 with elevated woodland, stone walls, and views, 3.46 acres improved with driveway, septic and well; Lot #4 with open meadows, stone walls, views, ready to build your modern farmhouse on 4.33 acres. Call and meet with us to learn about our vision and we’ll listen to yours. Live-Work-Play in the historic town of Windham, NY.
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Brandywine
11157 State Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
brandywinewindham.com
518 734 3838
For the past 35 years, this fullservice Italian restaurant has offered great food and impeccable service. Share wonderful memories with your loved ones as we fill your table with delicious Italian cuisine. Born and raised in Southern Italy, owner Louis 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.
European Craft Store
6 Mill Street, P.O. Box 124
Windham, NY 12496
518 734 5749
European Craft Store is a unique gift shop, specializing in European hand-
made crafts at all price points, for every occasion. You’ll find chess sets, wooden boxes, hand-carved wooden statues, shadow boxes, Baltic amber jewelry, hand-painted ornaments, Polish pottery, leather slippers, sheepskin, hats, vests and baby booties. They also carry Polish food like pierogis, Polish sausage ( kielbasa), pickles, sauerkraut and sweets.
ROOFING
L & G Roofing & Construction
6 Mitchell Hollow Road
Windham, NY 12496
windhamroofs.com
518 734 4488
Trust is the key when hiring a roofing contractor. At L&G Roofing and Construction, we strive to be a roofing contractor who has built the trust of our entire community. Our reputation is our most important asset, and we are proud to be one of the highest rated contractors around. When it comes time for your next roof, be sure to call to see all that we have to offer.
Mountain Sheds
11111 State Route 23
Windham, NY 12496
518 588 9353
At Mountain Sheds, hand crafted quality Mennonite craftmanship is guaranteed to meet your highest standards. Each of our cabins, utility sheds, mini barns, garages, firewood sheds, chicken coops, and animal shelters are built, using only the highest quality. Our Adventure Play sets include a 20 Year Warranty. We can offer you a rent-to-own option, with no credit check. Stop in to see what we have in stock and discuss what we can do for you. Please call or text anytime 518 588 9353.
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 selction 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.
Windham Manor
Just a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the bustling heart of New York City and an hour from New York State’s capital of Albany, the town of Windham is ideally situated in the picturesque Northern Catskill Mountains, offering a serene escape while remaining conveniently accessible.
Where better to create a stunning space for weddings and events? In 2018, that’s exactly what Susan and Barry Smith set out to do. The year 2024 has seen The Smiths having created the premiere venue in The Catskills, an establishment that has hosted hundreds of incredible weddings, corporate retreats, birthdays, anniversaries, conferences, and celebrations of all kinds.
Windham Manor’s sprawling 45-acre property is truly a sight to behold. The House, a recently renovated Victorian mansion with 12 bedrooms, is the perfect place to be with family and friends before a big event. It’s also a great spot to have a rehearsal dinner, welcome reception, engagement party, shower, or weekend getaway. The House boasts twelve bedrooms, a chef’s kitchen, fire pit, on-site gym, wrap-around deck with views as far as the eye can see, and more!
The Smiths invest in nearly constant enhancements—the newest being The House’s exterior that recently underwent an upgrade. Trading in a sunny yellow exterior for elegant gray siding allows the stunning scenery to shine even brighter.
The Barn is the pride and joy of Windham Manor. Custom designed and built in 2019 with post and beam construction to hold 300+ guests, the space is truly breathtaking. Among its incredible features: high-set cathedral windows, a large stone fireplace, raw-edge wood bars, climate controls, a covered patio, and balconies both indoors and out, allowing a bird’s-eye view of both the festivities and the mountains.
The Lawn overlooks the mountains and a beautiful pond with a fountain, treating guests to fresh alpine air and idyllic scenery. The Enchanted Forest is, in a word, magical. A short path into the woods brings one to wooden benches ready to seat guests, a babbling brook, and pines as far as the eye can see—keeping the temperature for those gathered comfortable all year round.
‘All year round’ is something the town of Windham specializes in. With numerous options for shopping, dining, lodging, entertainment, and outdoor adventures, Windham is so much more than the winter sports for which it gets the most press. Along with skiing and riding in the colder months, the town of Windham is home to dozens of wonderful and unique restaurants of various cuisines. Numerous hiking, biking, and walking trails await nature enthusiasts, along with golf courses, swimming, kayaking, and more. Dotted with lovely gift shops, a delightful bookstore, cozy cafes, heavenly day spas, and the friendliest locals you’ll ever meet, there is plenty to do in and around the charming countryside. Susan and Barry Smith have created a symbiotic relationship between Windham Manor and the town of Windham and each and every locality benefits from the small influx of visitors streaming in before and after their celebrations, discovering everything Windham has to offer.
WINDHAM A Storied Destination
By Jen Schwartz
In the early 20th century, the Catskills began to become a popular tourist destination for urbanites looking to escape the summer heat. Accessible by car or train, people were attracted to the region’s fresh mountain air and cool water. Elite resorts like the Catskill Mountain House emerged premier destinations for travelers. Popular art and culture began to take notice of the Catskills, as well. Washington Irving penned the tale of Rip Van Winkle, forever weaving the region into American folklore and cementing its reputation as a landscape for dreams and an escape from everyday life. John Burroughs, the famed literary naturalist, drew attention to the region by writing memorably about its landscape and wildlife. The Hudson River School influenced the art world, with luminaries like Thomas Cole and Frederic Church immortalizing the picturesque landscapes of the Hudson Valley and Catskills on canvas. These cultural currents solidified the Catskills’ reputation as a sanctuary for escape, reverie, and profound communion with the natural world. In 2019 Lonely Planet selected the Catskills as a “must see” destination. Located in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, Windham is the perfect place to relax and recharge and explore this stunning region in any season.
AUTUMN: As the leaves put on a thrilling color show, the crisp autumn air brings with it a new collection of experiences you won’t want to miss. Get your fill of apple picking, bountiful farmer’s markets and relax by a bonfire with a locally crafted beer or cider. Hiking & biking hit their peak during the fall, with comfortable temperatures and colorful vistas happening all at once. Windham’s annual Autumn Affair, a three-day event, epitomizes “sweater weather” as vendors, local artisans & musicians transform the village into a vibrant street fair. The Windham Path, a 1.5 easy walking loop, features a covered bridge and while it is beautiful anytime of the year, it is simply spectacular and iconic in the fall.
WINTER: Whether you’re in the mood to ski, snowboard, snowshoe or simply cozy up by a fireplace, Windham has something for everyone. The Windham Mountain Club offers downhill skiing/boarding and resort amenities. Windham Mountain is also home to the Adaptive Sports Foundation, which provides recreation opportunities to thousands of children and adults with both cognitive and physical disabilities. Off the slopes, treat yourself
The bridge on the Windham Path. Photo by mervas/shutterstock.com
to a facial or massage at one of the local spas, recharge with apres-ski treats at a local restaurant and discover unique gifts for yourself, friends and family in our local stores.
SPRING: Melting snow and April showers mean waterfalls and creeks are at their most spectacular. The ties between the Catskills and fly fishing run deeper than just the abundance of protected creeks and rivers—they are historical, too. Among anglers, the Catskills is known as “the birthplace of American fly fishing.” The history and the continued conservation of the Catskills waterways has cemented these waters as a premier destination for fly fishing. But these beautiful creeks and rivers are just as appealing for taking a dip in a swimming hole or enjoying the beauty of a waterfall. As leaves are budding out on the hardwood trees, it’s the perfect time to catch breathtaking vistas on a hike. Cool mornings with warm afternoons make it fun to be outside for long stretches of time—the ideal time to plan a full day of biking, hiking, picnicking, fishing or golf.
SUMMER: Long days, clear skies, shady forests, mountain air and refreshing lakes are a welcome oasis from summer heat. Farmer’s markets are filled with fresh produce, flowers, crafts, food & music. The July 4th parade and fireworks in Windham is quintessential Americana—an annual tradition not to be missed—and the annual Gray Fox Blue Grass Music Festival in Oak Hill is a short & scenic drive from Windham. Summer in the Catskills never disappoints. Discover swimming holes, hike peaks, explore winding mountain roads, bike the paths and enjoy the journey.
CATSKILL FIBERS & ARTISANAL CELEBRATION
An exhibition/sale by regional fiber artists & makers
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
OCTOBER 11-13 10AM TO 4PM
Opening Reception: Friday, October 11, 3-6 pm
IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE SHOW WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE SPEAKERS SPACE, ART STUDIO AND FIBERS BUILDING ON CAMPUS
Turn the page to see a map of Windham. A digital version of the map, with clickable links to businesses, can be found at thewindhamlocal.com/map or by scanning the QR code at the top right of the map.
10 BIG HOLLOW ROAD
MAPLECREST, NY 12454
Brandywine Restaurant
Old School Italian with Contemporary Specialties
By Michael Koegel
Joe Caracciolo, the chef at Brandywine, hears his father’s voice in his head when he’s cooking … whether it’s making a sauce, following a recipe or pretty much anytime he’s working in the kitchen. His father is always there; guiding him, instructing him, and scolding him should Joe—God Forbid—be tempted to cut a corner. He hears his father say things like “Slice the veal at the proper angle” or “Short cuts lead to long delays!” Sometimes Joe replies out loud “Alright, Alright! I hear you!” Then he always does as he’s told, even though his father isn’t looking over his shoulder these days. Joe never cuts corners.
Joe’s father, Louis, emigrated from Calabria, Italy, opened a pizza parlor on Long Island with his brother, and and eventually opened Brandywine in 1984 after he and his wife fell in love with the area. The couple bought the building that houses Brandywine, and the living quarters beneath it—which was once a bar called Night Pasture—and set about renovating it. Louis spent his days cutting and sanding enormous salvaged structural beams that supported the gut renovation, from the scraps of those beams he built tables that are still used in the dining room. Little by little, he added dining rooms, expanded the kitchen, built an enormous bar, and built out the family’s home downstairs. At night he cooked in the restaurant.
Joe is the youngest of three siblings. He has two older sisters: Christy, who is an architectural lighting designer in the city, and Sara, who runs the business side of Brandywine. All three are partners in the restaurant. Joe was born into the business two years after Brandywine opened; living below the restaurant, hearing the commotion upstairs, smelling the aromas of Italian food, was the only life he knew growing up. “I was birthed into a pot of marinara,” he joked. At 5 years old Joe’s father put him to work slicing mushrooms.
“I had to stand on a milk crate and my father gave me a clam knife so I wouldn’t cut myself,” he said.
From there he worked in the cloakroom, then as a dishwasher, busboy, waiter, bartender, and eventually, chef. “I learned how to cook by watching my father, he was an intense teacher, I was scrutinized constantly.” Louis sent his son Joe back to his home in Calabria every summer so that he could spend time with family and learn about his culture and family traditions, the local agriculture and the food, which gave Joe an invaluable culinary education and perspective
For years father and son worked side by side. Joe always assumed he’d one day take the reins of the restaurant but that day came sooner than he thought when his father became ill
and received a heart transplant. Louis could no longer handle the intensity of running the kitchen, but he remained a strong presence. During that period Joe would run downstairs to the family’s home below the restaurant and seek his father’s guidance should a minor crisis occur or he forgot a nuance in a recipe. At that point he wasn’t confident that he could run the place without his father’s guidance and would often implore him “I’m not ready, stay here!”
If Joe had any insecurities as a chef back in those days, there are no signs of it now. Greeting me in his immaculate kitchen in his chef’s whites and toque, Joe proudly gave me a tour of the entire restaurant, pointing out all of the improvements he’s made, as well as the features that his father installed in years’ past; from the new walk-in refrigerator, to his outdoor kitchen garden where he grows zucchini, eggplant, and sage, and which boasts peach and apple trees and grape vines, a nod to his relative’s gardens in Calabria.
The restaurant itself is a series of rooms and warrens and cubbies, that are somehow intimate and spacious at the same time. When you first enter the lobby there are scores of things to look at, from the kitschy yet pitch-perfect grapevines hanging from the ceiling, to shelves lined with bric-a-brac and flourishes that have obviously been collected over the decades. You can tell everything on display has a story behind it. The spacious lounge area boasts a huge circular wooden bar and a juke box that’s loaded with Elvis Presley and Billy Joel.
The authentic vibe of the place is in compete harmony with the food. Joe refers to his cuisine as “Old School Italian with Contemporary Specialties,” and the menu is filled with seafood, chicken, veal, and pasta dishes in classic preparation, Rollatini, Milanese, Piccata, Carbonara—over 40 entrees in all, not including appetizers, soups, salads, and side dishes. On the weeknight we dined there the place was lively, with what you could tell were a mix of regulars and locals, and the servers were experienced, warm, and professional. Dana, our waitress, has been with the restaurant for over 13 years and sheepishly admitted that she sort of thinks of Joe as her son. She was ready with recommendations if we wanted, and you could tell she knew her way around the menu and the restaurant.
My husband Andrew and I had the Hot Antipasto for Two, which had Eggplant Rollatini, Stuffed Zucchini and a variety of other Italian specialties; the dish is normally is served with Clams Casino but we asked them to be omitted as neither of us eats shellfish. The first thing that each of us commented on was the quality of the marinara sauce. We were both blown away by its flavor and consistency. Many traditional marinara sauces feel cooked down to the point where there’s no real sense that there is a tomato in there at all. Brandywine’s marinara had all of the savory richness and flavor that one expects from a traditional Italian red sauce, but it also had chunks of tomatoes, so that the sauce tasted fresh and not reduced into oblivion. I actually caught myself dragging my finger across my empty plate to get the last drops.
Andrew also ordered one of the evening’s specials as an appetizer, the Caprese salad, which featured fresh sliced tomatoes and soft home-made mozzarella cheese. It’s the perfect summer salad, and here it was seasoned perfectly with a light and delicious oil and vinegar and roasted peppers.
I had the Veal Sorrentino for an entree, which is veal topped with prosciutto, eggplant and mozzarella cheese, served with a perfectly cooked side of spaghetti, and again with that delicious red sauce. Andrew chose the Shrimp Scampi. It was described as being served in a garlic and herb sauce, I immediately recognized the herb as tarragon, which was such a surprise. The tarragon was almost sweet as compared to the savory marinara sauce I had been enjoying. The experience was miles away and it was a such a surprising flavor that I kept snagging fork-fulls of Andrew’s pasta. Joe Caracciolo has got his sauces down.
Joe takes his role as chef seriously, “Think about it,” he says, “you’re making something that people are going to put inside their body, that’s an insane responsibility!” Then he added, “My father used to always say ‘How do you show love to a human being? You feed them.’”
You’re in good hands when Chef Joe is in the kitchen at Brandywine; you’re actually in the hands of both he and his father Louis every time you dine there.
Brandywine Restaurant is located at 11157 Route 23, Windham, NY, 12496. They are open every day except Mondays, weekdays from 4:00 pm and weekends from 1:00 pm, and close at 9:00 pm except for Saturdays and Sundays when they close at 9:30 pm. For reservations call 518 734 3838. Reservations are not available online: the old school tradition continues.
Wednesdays are pasta nights: five courses of pasta (menu changes monthly) for only $15.
Michael Koegel is a writer, director and producer. He owns Mama’s Boy Burgers in Tannersville, NY.
Fall in the Catskills
Tannersville Works
6041 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12485
tannersvilleworks.com
518 589 4017
Tannersville Works is the leading art destination in the Northern Catskills. Immerse yourself in a unique and inspiring creative experience at our stunning gallery, dedicated to bringing the best of contemporary art to our Catskills community. Our gift shop also features a thoughtful collection of new and vintage items including, fine art, beautiful housewares, apparel, hand-crafted candles, jewelry, bespoke gifts, and so much more! Matthew Izzo’s Fall Oil Painting Collection on Display Through October at Tannersville Works on Main Street!
ATTRACTIONS
Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum
7971 Main Street Hunter, NY 12442
catskillmtn.org
518 263 2063
The Catskill Mountain Foundation’s Piano Performance Museum is the home of the Steven E. Greenstein Piano Collection, a one-of-a-kind collection of historic pianos and musical artifacts. A destination unlike any other in the United States,
the Piano Performance Museum offers a unique glimpse into the development of pianos in Europe and America over the past four centuries. Open on Fridays and Saturdays 11:00 am to 3:00 pm by appointment. Email ppm@catskillmtn.org or call 518 263 2063 before your visit, to ensure that the museum will be open.
Hanford Mills Museum
51 County Highway 12 East Meredith, NY 13757
hanfordmills.org 607 278 5744
Experience a story of innovation, ingenuity and entrepreneurship at a historic working mill site. Hanford Mills Museum offers insights into the past and lessons about the relationships between people, the things they make, and the places they live. Join us for our final Exploration Day for 2024: Woodsmen’s Exploration Day on October 5. Hanford Mills Museum staff will highlight the importance of trees and forests as we showcase the talents of local woodcrafters and foresters. Museum staff will demonstrate how we process logs into finished products in our mill.
ART GALLERY
Photo by Jeff Langford
Photo
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 RESOURCE
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!
34 Big Hollow Road
Maplecrest, NY 12354
catskillmtn.org
Catskill Fibers & Artisanal Celebration
October 11-13, 2024
Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts
An exhibition/sale by regional fiber artists and makers. 10 am to 4 pm each day. Opening Reception on Friday, October 11, 3-6 pm.
New York State Sheep & Wool Festival
October 19-20, 2024
Dutchess County Fairgrounds
6636 U.S. 9 Rhinebeck, NY 12572
sheepandwool.com
The Northeast’s thriving sheep industry is showcased and celebrated each year in this famous festival that draws a multitude of visitors from across the country to the lovely village of Rhinebeck. Vendors can be found throughout the property, selling fiber and finished crafts. Your day will include fiber artists and crafts galore, workshops, frisbee dogs, and a petting zoo.
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!
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.
FLORIST
The Blumen Haus Florist Prattsville Plaza:
14520 Main Street
Prattsville, NY 12468 blumenhausflorist.org
Find Us on Facebook 518 248 4743
Blumen Haus Florist is a locally owned and operated floral boutique dedicated to creating stunning floral arrangements and providing exceptional service to our customers. We believe in the power of flowers to brighten any occasion and bring joy to people’s lives. What sets us apart is our commitment to quality and personal attention. We hand-select the freshest, most vibrant blooms from local growers and global markets to ensure that each arrangement is of the highest quality. Our experienced florists have an eye for detail and a passion for creating unique, eyecatching designs that will exceed your expectations.
FISH & SEAFOOD
GARDEN & NURSERY
Augustine Nursery
9W & Van Kleecks Lane Kingston, NY 12401
AugustineNursery.com
845 338 4936
Since its beginnings in 1974, Augustine Nursery has grown to become one of the leading residential and commercial landscape design firms and the “nursery of choice” among high-end landscape architects, independent contractors and discerning homeowners. We offer a stunning selection of larger scale, estate-grade trees, shrubs and plants. We also offer a full menu of nursery services, from planning and design to installation and dress finish for greenscapes and hardscapes.
Gardens by Trista Plant Centre
4865 CR 23C
Jewett, NY 12444
518 231 3876
Your new destination for premium plants in the Catskills. Located in Jewett, at the former Kerns Nursery lower greenhouses, we’re proud to carry on their legacy, offering top-notch plant selections and unparalleled service to our community. We invite you to visit us and explore our carefully curated autumn plant collections. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, Gardens by Trista Plant Centre promises to be your go-to spot for all things green and beautiful in the Catskills.
HARDWARE
Houst Hardware 4 Mill Hill Road
Woodstock, NY 12498
housthardware.com
845 679 2115
Shop local with Houst Hardware, independent and family owned for over 90 years. For all your projects, Houst Has IT. Benjamin Moore Paints, Equipment Rentals, Tools, Plumbing, Electrical, Organic and Heirloom Garden Seeds, Organic Soils and Fertilizers, Housewares, Weber grills, Seasonal products, Camping and Toys. Everything you need for work and play.
LIVE MUSIC
catskillmtn.org
Catskill Mountain Foundation 2024 Performing Arts Season
Doctorow Center for the Arts
7971 Main St., Hunter, NY 12442
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
6050 Main St.
Tannersville, NY 12485
Ticket line: 518 263 2063
Our 2024 Performing Arts season is filled with music, dance, theater and much more! We start October with two performances on October 4 and 5 of Old Jews Telling Jokes. A production of the Maude Adams Theater Hub, Old Jews Telling Jokes showcases five actors in a revue that pays tribute to and reinvents classic jokes of the past and present. On
October 6, catch the live stream on Facebook and YouTube of “A Unique Stein Piano Comes to Life.” In this International Fortepiano Salon, favorite Pierre Goy returns with fortepiano maker Matthieu Vion to introduce a newly completed Stein replica piano. Finally, on October 19 catch Home Again: A Carole King Tribute at the Orpheum. Home Again leaves no stone unturned, covering the entire repertoire of awardwinning singer/songwriter Carole King.
LODGING
Belleayre Lodge 15 Hostel Drive Pine Hill, NY 12465
belleayrelodge.com
845 254 4200 or belleayrerentals@gmail.com
Belleayre Lodge is located minutes from Belleayre Ski Center in the hamlet of Pine Hill. The eleven vintage modern cabins are warm and welcoming and range from studios with kitchenettes to two and three bedroom cabins with full kitchens. Guests enjoy outdoor amenities; fire pit, and salt water hot tub. The lodge room is open daily for pool, games, and relaxation.
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 con-
structed 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 many outdoor recreation opportunities. Unwind in our indoor saltwater pool. Enjoy complimentary hot breakfast and free WiFi.
Hotel Mountain Brook
57 Route 23C (Hill Street)
Tannersville, NY 12485
hotelmountainbrook.com
518 589 6740
Hotel Mountain Brook is a first-class
Adirondack style Lodge, featuring comfortable upscale accommodations with spectacular views of the Catskill Mountains and delicious, complimentary breakfasts. Whether you’re serenaded by the sounds
of songbirds on our terrace, enjoying a fireside game in our cozy den, or indulging in delicious s’mores by the fire, you’ll find your perfect retreat here.
Twin Gables Guest House
73 Tinker Street
Woodstock, NY 12498
twingableswoodstockny.com
845 679 9479
Newly renovated with guests in mind, Twin Gables Guest House is located in the heart of the village of Woodstock and ready to host your escape in the Catskills! The house at Twin Gables was built in the 1880s as a private home. It was established as a Boutique Hotel in 1926, when artists Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Daiber (of Brooklyn, NY) purchased the 19th-century home at the height of Woodstock’s first flowering as a center for creative people. Our #littlearthotel was created by artists, for artists almost 100 years ago and with its revival in 2022, it continues to serve the creative community and beyond. We hope you enjoy staying in this historic landmark of the Hudson Valley!
Fall trees on Cooper Lake, Woodstock. Photo by Naomi Schmidt
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 and healing begins immediately. This practice finds the root-cause of any symptomproducing malady and quickly neutralizes it and thus assists you in raising the body’s immune system, the key to your health. (biontology.com).
MOVIE THEATER
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 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.
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
Catskill Mountain Foundation
7971 Main Street
Hunter, NY 12442
catskillmtn.org
518 263 2000
Now in its 26th year, the Catskill Mountain Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization which offers a variety of programs and workshops centered on the arts. It also 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), the Sugar Maples studio arts school, a Natural Agriculture farm and the Catskill Mountain Region 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.
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.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Route 28, Phoenicia. Photo by Dave Pillard
PRINTING SERVICE
Catskill Mountain Printing Services
7971 Main Street
Hunter, NY 12442
518 263 2001
Your one-stop shop for fast, personal service for all of your printing needs. Graphic design services are available, and we can print green!
RADIO STATION
91.3FM MTC Cable Channel 20
WIOXRADIO.ORG on computers and smartphones
WIOX Community Radio—where public access meets public service to build public trust. WIOX programming is wildly diverse, live and local, and non-commercial, broadcasting from the Catskill Mountains region of upstate New York in the heart of the New York City Watershed. WIOX talk and music programs range from farming to brewing to cooking, forestry to healthcare, Rock to Pop, Bach and Goth, Blues, Folk, Country, Americana, Jazz and Salsa. WIOX: produced and supported—by you!
Coldwell Banker—
Timberland Properties
TimberlandProperties.com
CatskillPremier.com
Margaretville: 845 586 3321
Boiceville/Mt. Tremper: 845 657 4177
Delhi: 607 746 7400
Stamford: 607 652 2220
Sidney: 607 604 4394
Roscoe: 607 290 4130
Start your real estate career today! Unrivaled agent support & the best training in the region. Call or email to learn more: Debra G. Danner, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker/ Branch Manager: 518 937 0924 or Debra.Danner@Timberlandproperties.net.
Hudson-Athens Lighthouse
Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty
31 Mill Hill Road
Woodstock, NY 12498
fourseasonssir.com
845 684 0084
Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty is your premier partner for real estate in the Northeast, covering the vibrant and diverse New York market. Our expertise extends from the bustling streets of Albany to the serene landscapes of Vermont and New Hampshire. We are committed to providing an exceptional relocation experience, ensuring you find your perfect property. With unparalleled service and local knowledge, trust us to guide you through every step of your real estate journey.
REGIONAL INFORMATION
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.
Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce
Margaretville, NY 12455
centralcatskills.com • sceniccatskills.com
845 586 3300
The Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce works to advance the economic and community vitality of the many hamlets, villages and towns in our region and promote and foster events, programs and initiatives that will support its members. Collaboration and innovation will inspire community enhancement and quality of life opportunities for all who live, work and visit our communities.
Sullivan County Tourism
SullivanCatskills.com
1 800 882 CATS
Looking for a unique getaway?
Embark on an adventure to New York’s Sullivan Catskills. This renowned vacationland in Sullivan County is a haven of smalltown charm with a vibrant twist. Here, you can immerse your-
self in thrilling outdoor experiences, from rafting down the Delaware River to exploring the birthplace of dry fly fishing. And that’s just the beginning of the excitement that awaits you!
Ulster County Tourism
VisitUlsterCountyNY.com
Nestled snugly in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, Ulster County is the perfect destination for Fall. Natural beauty, plenty of cozy sweater weather activities and small-town charm await. So, grab your favorite sweater or jacket, put on your favorite boots (hiking, cowboy, or Chelsea - it doesn’t matter), and head out on your adventure.
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.
Angela’s Pizza
1923 Ulster Avenue
Lake Katrine, NY 12401
angelaspizzarestaurant.com
845 382 2211
Angela’s is more than just pizza!
Soups, salads, pastas, subs, wraps, Italian dinners, desserts & more. … But, yeah, our pizza is dang awesome, too! Try our specialty pies or build your own! Open every day 11:00 am to 10:00 pm. Eat in or take out, and delivery is available. Catering is also available: let us bring our delicious food to your next event! Angela’s mobile app— available on both Android and iOS devices—is designed just for you. Get instant access to online ordering, Angela’s Loyalty Program, coupons, dining & catering menus, wing flavors and much more! Download the app today!
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.
Gracie’s Luncheonette
969 Main Street
Leeds, NY 12451
graciestruckny.com 518 943 9363
Our diner-style burgers, fried chicken sandwich, loaded fries and donuts are our signature menu items. All of our breads, pastries and desserts are made fresh 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 as well as cut our own steaks. We also cure and smoke our own bacon, pastrami and other meats. All eggs, dairy, produce and other meats 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 locallysourced ingredients, a friendly tavern, and rustic country lodging. Family-owned & family-run, we love to share all the freshest foods our area has to offer! Catering is available. Indoor & outdoor dining.
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.
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.
RETAIL
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.
By Francis X. Driscoll
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.
Our story started in 1982 with owner Bill Kennedy selling gear out of mother Libby’s station wagon with help from dad Harry, and now we have grown into over 20,000 square feet of outdoor recreation, clothing, and footwear retail. From pickleball paddles to kayak paddles, workboots to water sandals, camping gear to housewares, Kenco has a little of almost everything. If you want to get outdoors, we have you covered. Located on the corner of Route 28 and Hurley Mountain Road. We want to be your favorite store.
The Nest Egg
84 Main Street
Phoenicia, NY 12464
thenesteggcountrystore.com
nesteggshop.com
845 688 5851
An old-fashioned country store in the heart of the Catskill Mountains. You’ll find lots of specialty and artisan crafted foods here, from local maple syrup, honey, 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 more. Our home-made delicious fudge is worth the trip! Owner Robin Kirk’s family has owned The Nest Egg since 1968.
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.
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.
MENLA | Dewa Spa
375 Pantherkill Road
Phoenicia, NY 12464
menla.org
Menla is a hidden oasis in the heart of the Catskill mountains. Featuring wellness and spiritual retreats as well as 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.
TREE CARE
518 378 0664
Powell’s Tree Care
Earlton, NY
PowellsTreeCare @gmail.com
PowellsTree.com
Powell’s Tree Care is your source for the best tree care in Greene County. We offer pruning, removals, viewscaping, woodscaping, storm and emergency clean-up, cabling, fertilization and stump grinding. Remember to always leave this type of work to professional arborists or tree experts. Ian Powell has two decades of experience, is on site at every job and takes pride in leaving the work site clean and mess free. We excel at tree care and tree care only.
WINE & SPIRITS
Town & Country Liquors
330 Route 12
Saugerties, NY 12477
townandcountryliquorstore.com
845 246 8931
Our selection of wines and spirits is among the best in the Hudson Valley. Our friendly helpful staff is here to assist you in finding the right beverage: we have a huge selection of wines and spirits from all over the world.
The African Children’s Choir is Coming to Elka Park!
The internationally acclaimed African Children’s Choir will be performing on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at the Platte Clove Community, 2255 Platte Clove Road in Elka Park.
The African Children’s Choir melts the hearts of audiences with their charming smiles, beautiful voices and lively African songs and dances. The “Just As I Am” tour combines traditional hymns with African cultural sounds and a stunning visual story of God’s faithfulness. Concerts are free and open to all. Your donations are warmly appreciated to support the education, care, relief, and development programs of the African Children’s Choir.
Music for Life (the parent organization for the African Children’s Choir) works in seven African countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa. MFL has educated over 52,000 children and impacted the lives of over
100,000 people through its relief and development programs during its history. By focusing on providing education, MFL’s purpose is to help Africa’s most vulnerable children today, so they can help Africa tomorrow.
The African Children’s Choir has had the privilege to perform before presidents, heads of state and most recently the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, for her diamond jubilee.
The Choir has also had the honor of singing alongside artist such as, Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey, Michael W. Smith, and other inspirational performers!
This performance is free, but reservations are requested. If you wish to attend, please RSVP to rsvpplatteclove@bruderhof.com.
A Greene County Garden in Fall
By Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson
Many gardeners prize hydrangea shrubs for their beauty and easy-going nature. Most originate in Asia, including the fussy blue mopheads that need regular adjustments to keep the soil acid. Two hydrangea species native to the eastern United States, though, make outstanding garden shrubs.
Most hydrangea lovers are familiar with the oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), a deciduous shrub native to woodland habitats in the southeastern United States. It also grows well in areas somewhat north of its native range, including the Hudson Valley, slowly reaching a mature size of 4-8 feet tall and wide. Its long-lasting white flowers appear in dramatic cone-shaped clusters and turn pink in the fall, while its leaves turn a striking bronzepurple. Numerous cultivars have been developed, some dwarfed to fit smaller garden spaces, some tinkered with to produce brighter flower and leaf colors. If one of your reasons for planting native shrubs is to attract butterflies and other pollinators, you may want to focus on the straight species rather than a cultivar or hybrid, for its higher quality nectar.
Another native hydrangea is sevenbark or smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens). It grows faster than oakleaf, to 10 feet tall and wide at maturity. Its native range is somewhat larger, favoring streambanks and wooded slopes from New York south to Florida and west to Louisiana and Iowa. The flowers are not as showy as its oakleaf cousin, resembling a lacecap hydrangea with a few large, sterile florets at the edges of the flower clusters. Cultivars
have been developed with showier flowers, but gardeners keen to attract the hydrangea sphinx moth, with its curvy green or golden-brown wing stripes. may want to stick with the species, a host plant for its caterpillars.
Other hydrangeas native to the U.S. include silverleaf (Hydrangea radiata) and ashy (Hydrangea cinerea) hydrangeas. Both are native to the southeast, the silverleaf to the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, and the ashy from South Carolina south to Alabama and east to Illinois. Their flowers are similar to those of the smooth hydrangea; both were considered to belong to that species until botanists distinguished subtle but key differences. The ashy hydrangea is a smallish shrub, 3-6 feet, while the silverleaf will reach 4-8 feet at maturity. For gardeners coping with a black walnut tree, it’s worth knowing that silverleaf hydrangea, unlike many plants, will grow under black walnut.
Most hydrangeas prefer moist soil, tolerating some drought when established, but the ashy hydrangea is more drought-tolerant than most. We don’t know for sure what to call my neighbor’s hydrangea, planted years ago by a previous owner. Based on its size and the shape of its leaves, it’s likely to be a cultivar or hybrid of smooth hydrangea. In any case, it’s lovely!
Margaret Donsbach Tomlinson enjoys gardening in Catskill. She also writes a weekly Substack series, The Generous Garden, online at mtomlinson.substack.com.
Hydrangea shrub
WOODSMEN’S EXPLORATION DAY AT HANFORD MILLS
Visit Hanford Mills on October 5 from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm for our Woodmen’s Exploration Day. Hanford Mills Museum staff will highlight the importance of trees and forests as we showcase the talents of local woodcrafters and foresters. Museum staff will demonstrate how we process logs into finished products in our mill.
A variety of exhibitors will be on-site during this Exploration Day. The SUNY Cobleskill Woodsmen Team will offer skilled lumber jacking demonstrations throughout the day. Otsego County Conservation Association (OCCA) will provide information on how they promote the appreciation and sustainable use of the region’s resources especially against invasive species. The Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club will highlight the “Leave No Trace Principles” and provide information about hiking opportunities in the region. In addition, Lucas Novko will be performing historic blacksmithing demonstrations.
As with some earlier Exploration Days, Intelligent Green Solutions will be visiting for the day, sharing information about both their roof mount and ground mount solar power solutions for homes and businesses. Blue Merle Apiaries will be sharing information on honeybee hives and hierarchy and will have honey and comb honey to sell. Union Grove Distillery will be offering tastings of their products that will also be for sale. Brookside
Maple & Farm will be there selling their products as well. They are a fourth-generation family farm that raises beef and produces maple syrup and maple products. The Food Dudes food truck will be vending lunch. Visitors are also welcome to bring their own lunch and snacks and enjoy all food at our picnic tables. Check our website, hanfordmills.org for updated details.
ABOUT HANFORD MILLS MUSEUM
Experience a story of innovation, ingenuity and entrepreneurship at a historic working mill site. Sheltered in a valley in the northwestern Catskills of New York, Hanford Mills Museum offers insights into the past and lessons about the relationships between people, the things they make, and the places they live. As one of only a handful of operating water-powered mills, the museum has earned a place on both the National and NYS Registers of Historic Places.
Hanford Mills is located at 51 County Highway 12 in East Meredith, at the intersection of Delaware County Routes 10 & 12, just 10 miles from Oneonta, and 15 miles from Delhi. For more information, visit hanfordmills.org or call 607 278 5744.
Cobleskill Woodsman’s Team
I THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN THE CATSKILLS
By Jeff Senterman
f the absence of my watch has left a tan line on my wrist by October, I consider the summer season a success. As this summer has come to a close, I take my watch off and find that is definitely the case. The tan line says to me that I’ve been outdoors enjoying and appreciating what our wonderful Catskills have to offer. Whether it’s a day hike, a camping trip, dips in a cool mountain stream, a locally brewed beer in the sun, or a tour of one of our amazing historic destinations, being in the Catskills is refreshing for the mind, body, and soul. Sometimes, I am still in disbelief that I get to work, live, and play in this dream land we call the Catskills.
Although the Catskills are flourishing, we still have work to do. Being on the front lines in our park, I see the results of increasing visitorship: congested roadways in areas like Kaaterskill Falls, busy parking lots and, as I pass through many groups of fellow hikers, natural resource degradation on trailless peaks (which my presence is also contributing to). With proper management, the increasing popularity of the Catskills can be better addressed in a way that is equitable and supportive of all the communities and individuals who wish to enjoy this special area and its public lands.
The Catskill Center is leading the work of addressing high use by running the Catskill Stewards Program at Kaaterskill Falls, Peekamoose Blue Hole, the Devil’s Path, Platte Clove, Thorn Preserve, and at Catskill Park Fire Towers, where we greet thousands of visitors each week. Also, by operating and managing the Catskills Visitor Center to introduce visitors to the Catskill Park. This is the same reason why the Catskill Center is in Albany advocating for more Catskill Park resources and why they Co-Chair the Catskill Park Coalition and the Forest Preserve Coalition. It is also why the Catskill Center is an Accredited Land Trust and it is why they host the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership. The Catskill Center sees the value in welcoming visitors to
the Catskills, providing them with the information to responsibly enjoy the mountains, connecting them with the communities of our region to foster economic development, and doing our part to protect the Catskills.
Over the years, from hiking on a trail to advocating in Albany, I have learned that there are multiple reasons the Catskills are worth fighting for, but it is most importantly because of their ability to nurture both the human life and wildlife within.
So this October, most importantly, we all must work to Leave No Trace when we visit the great outdoors. There are seven principles to the Leave No Trace message, but the overall message is the most important. When you visit an area, leave it as good, if not better, than when you arrived. That means staying on trail, not damaging natural features, bringing all of your trash out with you (including orange peels), and being aware of your impacts on the environment and your fellow hikers.
If we all do our part and make sure the forests, trails, swimming holes, and even our roadsides aren’t covered in litter, the Catskills will be better for it and ready to refresh generations to come!
Catskill Center Fall Benefit
Join the Catskill Center for their annual Fall Benefit tradition on Saturday, October 5 at the Catskills Visitor Center with hors d’oeuvres and small plates provided by Provisions. Benefit proceeds provide critical support to the Catskill Center’s work to protect and preserve our beloved Catskills.
Take part in an autumnal evening of Catskills revelry to honor Brett Barry with the Alf Evers Award for his service to the Catskills. The Featured Speaker will be landscape painter Christie Scheele and there will be a musical performance by Brother Jax. More information and tickets are available at catskillcenter.org/ fallbenefit.
Thomas Cole, Blackhead, and Black Dome Mountains. Photo
Max
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.
2024 Catskills Lark in the Park
The Annual Lark in the Park will offer exciting hiking, paddling, cycling, fishing, nature walks and lectures as well as cultural and educational events throughout the entire Catskill region. From Saturday, October 5 through Monday, October 14, you can enjoy dozens of outdoor activities during the Lark in the Park celebration!
Help mark the anniversary of the creation of the Catskill Park by hiking to a Catskill fire tower, paddling the Pepacton Reservoir, cycling on the Catskill Scenic Trail, learning about the region’s ecology, and much more. Lark in the Park group activities are typically free of charge—everyone is welcome! Learn more at catskillslark.org.
Lark in the Park was originally celebrated in 2004 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Catskill Park’s founding. It is now an annual celebration of the Catskill Park and the Catskill region led by the Catskill Center, Catskill Mountain Club, and the NYNJ Trail Conference.
Hiking Challenge Showcases the Catskills’ Hidden Treasures
Get out and enjoy the Catskills Adventure Challenge! This unique challenge offers outdoor enthusiasts a fresh and exciting opportunity to explore the Catskills. The Catskills Adventure Challenge is designed to offer both new and seasoned hikers a unique set of objectives that highlight the beauty and diversity of the Catskills, and invites participants to embark on eight carefully selected hikes that showcase the region’s breathtaking landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and rich history. To complete the challenge, participants must finish six of these eight hikes, providing flexibility and variety to suit all levels of experience and interest. Participation in the challenge is straightforward and rewarding. Guides with detailed information about each hike are available at the Catskills Visitor Center or via the official challenge website at catskillsadventurechallenge.com.
Upon completing the hikes, participants are asked to compile a log of their adventures, including details of the six trails completed. Submissions should be made via the convenient online form available on the official challenge website. All who complete the challenge will receive a special Catskills Adventure Challenge patch!
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. The CVC is open every day through the end of November from 9:30 am to 4 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,
#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.
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 catskillsvisitorcenter.org, the CVC’s Facebook page at facebook.com/catskillsvisitorcenter, and the CVC on Instagram at @catskills.visitor.center.
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 www. 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.
Catskill Park Advisory Committee
Consisting of representatives from local governments and organizations and chaired by the Catskill Center, the Catskill Park Advisory Committee (CPAC) was established to facilitate communication within the Park. Meetings are held quarterly and are open to the public. If you’d like to learn more, join the mailing list or attend the next meeting, please email the Catskill Center at at cccd@catskillcenter.org with CPAC in the subject asking to be added to the mailing list.
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.
To support the work of the Catskill Center, become a member online through their website at 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 and worked for many years as an Environmental Planner in New England before coming back to New York and the Catskills working in the nonprofit sector.
Castle Point. Photo by Steve Aaron/ courtesy of Ulster County Tourism
The MOUNTAIN CINEMA
GOOD ONE
During a weekend backpacking trip in the Catskills, 17-year-old Sam navigates the clash of egos between her father and his oldest friend. Starts 10/11
JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX
Failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while in Arkham State Hospital. Upon release, the pair embark on a doomed romantic misadventure. Starts 10/4
LEE
The story of American photographer Lee Miller, a fashion model who became an acclaimed war correspondent for Vogue magazine during World War II. Starts 10/25
SING SING
Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art. Starts 9/27
THE WILD ROBOT
After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island’s animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose. Starts 9/27
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
This is just a sampling of all of the events in the Catskills this October. 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
Birdsong Farmers Market
Birdsong Farmers Market is located on one of the most beautiful properties in Delaware County. Shop from farmers, herbalists, craftspeople, and producers and then wander the stunning property. The art gallery will be open if there is an exhibition on display.
Location: 38480 Highway 10, Delhi
Hours: Every Saturday, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Bovina Farmers Market
The best local agricultural and craft products from the community’s artisans and farmers. Fresh food, live music, and children’s activities make it an engaging weekly community event for all ages. Rain or shine.
Location: 50 Creamery Road, Bovina
Hours: Every Friday to Labor Day, 4:00-7:00 pm
Delhi Farmers Market
An amazing line up of dedicated farmers, bakers, producers, herbalists, craftspeople and more. You will find a variety of your kitchen staples—fresh bread, farm fresh cheeses, vegetables, jams, poultry and more.
Location: Courthouse square, Delhi
Hours: Every Wednesday, 9:00 am-2:00 pm
Woodstock Farm Festival
Woodstock’s other festival, celebrating local food, live music, and our rockin’ community
Location: Mountainview Lot, Rock City Road, Woodstock
Hours: Every Wednesday, 3:00-7:00 pm
Greater Hancock Farmers Market
The Greater Hancock Farmers’ Market & Craft Fair has an array of local vendors. There is often live music and a variety of attractions ranging from Chicken BBQ to car shows and more.
Location: Hancock Town Square, 20 E Main St, Hancock
Hours: Every Saturday through October 12, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
More Info: facebook.com/ HancockFarmersMarketNY
Kingston Farmers Market
The Kingston Farmers Market fosters a sense of community, where people come together to shop, talk and learn. A wide variety of produce, baked goods, alcohol, goodies and gift items.
Location: County Courthouse parking lot, 285 Wall St, Kingston
Hours: Every Saturday through November 23, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
More Info: kingstonfarmersmarket.org
Pakatakan Farmers Market
The Pakatakan Farmers’ Market is a great destination for breakfast or lunch, while getting your weekly shopping done! The array of food vendors, farmers, producers, herbalists, and craftspeople, make it the perfect place to shop for weekly groceries, enjoy a nice Saturday brunch, and also shop gifts for special occasions.
Location: 46676 NY-30, Halcottsville
Hours: Every Saturday through November, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
More Info: roundbarnmarket.org
Saugerties Farmers Market
All the best of local produce, including fruits and vegetables, pasture-raised meats, artisanal cheeses, eggs, maple syrup, honey, wines and spirits, baked goods, jams and jellies, prepared foods, and more.
Location: Cahill School Parking Lot 115 Main St., Saugerties
Hours: Every Saturday, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
More Info: saugertiesfarmersmarket
Phoenicia 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: Main Street, Phoenicia
Hours: Every Sunday through October 27, noon4:00 pm
More Info: phoeniciafarmersmarket.org
Stamford Farmers Market
Vendors sell local meat, produce, honey, pickles, jams, and much more.
Location: 87 Fisher Road, Stamford
Hours: Every Sunday through September 1, 1:00-4:00 pm
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/
Magic On Main—
An Intimate Parlor Experience
Join Magician Sean Doolan for a magic show in his private library located in a historic building on Main Street in Windham. Sean will weave his personal story of transitioning from a trial lawyer to a magician in interactive magical routines. In this parlor show, By reservation only, no walkins. Dates and times subject to change without notice, see website for updated calendar.
Location: 5428 NY Route 23 (Main Street), Windham
Dates & Times: Check website for most up-todate schedule
Tickets: $20/person
More Info: MagicOnMainWindham.com
THROUGH
ChipandGus
OCTOBER 6
The two loneliest men in upstate New York meet once a month in the grungy back room of a rundown Schenectady sports bar, to do the one thing they both love … play ping pong. In this fast-paced, blisteringly brilliant comedy, the most casual of acquaintances discover that their lives intertwine in ways they couldn’t possibly have known. Virtuoso verbal and physical comedy with tons of heart from writer/performers
John Ahlin and Christopher Patrick Mullen. Presented in collaboration with Fat Knight Theatre. Location: Bridge Street Theater, 44 West Bridge Street, Catskill
Outdoor yoga classes led by Pamela Martin and other local yoga teachers. Learn tips and tricks to avoid injury, and to help support the body during gardening and yard work. A stretch and strength class appropriate for multiple levels. Please bring a mat, water, sunscreen and bugspray. Wear comfortable clothing you can move in. In case of inclement weather, sessions will take place indoors in the Education Center. Location: Mountain Top Arboretum, 4 Maude Adams Road, Tannersville
Day & Time: Every Wednesday, 3:15-4:15 pm
More Info: mtarboretum.org
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
THROUGH OCTOBER 12
2024 Woodstock Monoprint Invitational
Exhibition Auction
In July over 60 artists came together to print over 400 prints. Come see the best prints from each of the artists at the Woodstock Monoprint Exhibition & Auction. All prints are 8×10” and start at $200.
Location: Robert H. Angeloch Gallery, Woodstock School of Art, 2470 Route 212, Woodstock Time: 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
More Info: woodstockschoolofart.org
THROUGH OCTOBER 14
Gail Freund: September Songs and Recent Paintings by Sheila McManus
September Songs by Gail Freund includes plein air paintings made in the Catskills during September of 2023 and a series of handkerchiefs recently done in the studio in July and August 2024. Recent work by Sheila McManus includes new paintings that are experiments in color and pattern.
Location: Longyear Gallery, 785 Main Street, Margaretville Gallery Hours: Friday-Sunday and holiday Mondays from 12:00-5:00 pm
More Info: longyeargallery.org
THROUGH OCTOBER 19
Plant Matter
A group exhibition curated by Gallery Manager Ursula Hudak featuring flora and biomaterial matter, with a secondary focus on invasive plants and the effects of climate change. Nearly 20 artists, both local and regional, will present works from all aspects of plant life and decay, from representational works to art made with plant pigments or constructed using found organic materials. The art for this show will span a wide range of media.
Location: Roxbury Arts Center, 5025 Vega Mountain Rd, Roxbury
More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org
THROUGH OCTOBER 27
Native Prospects: Indigeneity and Landscape
A juxtaposition of an Indigenous approach to the articulation of land with the American landscape paintings of Thomas Cole. The exhibition presents 19th-century paintings by Thomas Cole featuring Native figures, in context with Indigenous works of historic and cultural value, and artworks by contemporary Indigenous artists: Teresa Baker (Mandan/Hidatsa), Brandon Lazore (Onondaga, Snipe Clan), Truman T. Lowe (Ho-Chunk), Alan Michelson (Mohawk member of the Six Nations of the Grand River) and Kay WalkingStick (Cherokee).
Location: Thomas Cole National Historic Site, 218 Spring Street, Catskill
Days: Saturdays & Sundays
More Info: thomascole.org
Still Standing
The 2024 exhibit, STILL STANDING, showcases 12 structures preserved by past and present members of the Friends of Historic Kingston. We invite you to come celebrate our predecessors’ foresight in restoring these iconic structures and to reflect on your own essential role in protecting our city’s architectural heritage.
Location: Friends of Historic Kingston Gallery, 63 Main Street, Kingston
Dates & Times: Friday & Saturday, 11:00 am4:00 pm
More Info: fohk.org
Rocky Horror LIVE!
In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite scientist. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.” Come For Dinner And The Show!
Location: Forestburgh Playhouse, 39 Forestburgh Rd, Forestburgh Dates & Times: Every weekend in October. Doors open at 6:00 pm for dinner & drinks, dinner service ends at 7:30 and show starts at 8:00 pm.
More Info: fbplayhouse.org
THROUGH NOVEMBER 1
Plein Air Extravaganza
Participants in plein air workshops held in August display their work.
Location: Main Street Center, 5494 County Route 23, Windham
More Info: mainstreetcenter.org
THROUGH NOVEMBER 2
Nature Ruthlessly Recalled: Paintings by Susan Mayr
For most of her life Susan Mayr has been an urban dweller longing for mountains, forests, and trees. She has traveled regularly to Nova Scotia for months at a time to fill herself with its atmosphere and light. In this show, memory meets the moment as her work reveals itself in a place remembered.
Location: Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main Street, Stamford
More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org
THROUGH NOVEMBER 30
Outside the Box
Iroquois Museum’s Outside the Box presents the work of 10 Iroquois/Haudenosaunee individuals whose creative paths diverge from the
Left: Gail Freund; Right: Sheila McManus
Sheila Trautman, “Windham Path”
unexpected to break molds and make inroads into areas of expression where Indigenous representation is rare.
Artist Alan Michelson (Mohawk, Six Nations of the Grand River) presents a site-responsive exhibition throughout the historic artist’s home and landscape including the first complete American display of Prophetstown, 2012; the first New York display of Hanödaga:yas (Town Destroyer), 2018; and video and other mixed media installations.
Location: Thomas Cole National Historic Site, 218 Spring Street, Catskill
Days: Saturdays & Sundays
More Info: thomascole.org
THROUGH DECEMBER 28
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
OCTOBER 1-31
Autumnal Beauty: Golden Hour in the Catskills
Featuring artists Mara Lehmann, Kevin Cook and H.M. Saffer II in a breathtaking exhibition that captures the enchanting allure of the Catskills at its most magical hour. This show celebrates the vibrant transition of seasons and the warm, golden light of autumn. Applying her talents as a textile designer, Mara Lehmann explores the interplay of subdued colors, forceful tones, and shifting autumn lights. Her work captures the subtle elegance of the season, evoking a sense of peace and tranquility. H.M. Saffer’s paintings express the delicate brushwork of Sumi-e techniques with the richness of Western painting traditions. His vivid oils bring the golden hour to life, offering viewers a serene yet dynamic portrayal of the Catskills. Kevin Cook, an accomplished landscape painter, draws strong influence from the Hudson River School and 18th century romantism. Kevin’s work is a tribute to autumn’s glowing light in the Catskills.
Location: Windham Fine Arts, 5380 Main Street, Windham
More Info: director@windhamfinearts.com, 518 734 6850, or windhamfinearts.com
OCTOBER 1-NOVEMBER 18
Leland Powley-Nelson
Born and raised in Jefferson, NY, Leland Powley-Nelson is a largely self-taught artist, by close observation, interested in all variety things from poetry to Pokemon. He attended SUNY Delhi, exploring widely disparate liberal arts interests, and has for the past year spent time studying with The Alternative Art School. Currently Leland works as an intern at KIPNZ Gallery, and has been awarded a prestigious, 4 week residency at Byrdcliffe in Woodstock.
Location: West Kortright Center, 49 W Kortright Church Rd., East Meredith
Opening Reception: October 12, 5:00-7:00 pm
More Info: westkc.org
OCTOBER 2
The Cinelli Brothers w/ The Billy Walton Band
The Cinelli Brothers’ sound is an amalgam of Soul & Blues with a contemporary twist that honours the songwriting craftsmanship of their biggest influences—The Beatles, The Band, Little Feat, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and Steve Winwood.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
OCTOBER 3
Sonny Rock Pro Jam
Each Pro Jam features different musicians in the House Band—members have included players from Allman Brothers, Little Feat, Steely Dan, Levon Helm, Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Chicks and many more.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers
For over four decades the Wooten Brothers have been recognized as some of the most innovative musicians in existence and are collectively known as one of the most talented and dynamic band of brothers the world has ever known. Since they were young, they have been a musical tour-de-force redefining the limits of jazz, funk, soul, R&B, rock, and bluegrass.
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, connect with fellow art enthusiasts, and unwind with a refreshing drink in hand. Our First Fridays are the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the arts, share ideas, and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of the Athens Cultural Center.
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
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
Zali Win: “The Tragedy of Burma”
Zali Win is head of Transactional Commodity Finance-North America at Credit Agricole. Mr. Win was long time President of Rondout Esopus Land Trust and now serves as its SecretaryTreasurer, and is also board chair of Philander Chase Conservancy. Zali is also founding board chair of Parami University, a new online university directed towards students from Burma that is part of Open Society University Network. He has worked as a volunteer for non profit organizations for more than 25 years and currently advises a number of educational and humanitarian NGOs that serve individuals in Burma, Thailand and Indonesia.
Location: D&H Canal Historical Society, 1315 Rte 213, High Falls
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: canalmuseum.org
Hudson Valley Votes Rally & Concert
The goal of this concert and rally is to inspire, motivate, and educate voters in Upstate New York. Presenters for the night include Thomas Sadoski (host) and Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody. Musicians include: Natalie Merchant, Gail Ann Dorsey, Jack DeJohnette, Nels Cline, Amy Helm, The Resistance Revival Chorus, The Felice Brothers, and Lance Horne. Politicians and candidates who will speak include, NY Lt Governor Antonio Delgado, Congressman Pat Ryan (NY18), State Senator Michelle Hinchey (SD-41), State Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha (AD-103), candidate for Congress Josh Riley (NY-19), and additional special guests.
Location: Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston
Time: 7:30 pm
More Info: bardavon.org
Hiss Golden Messenger plays Bad Debt
Hiss Golden Messenger’s music contains elements from various musical genres, such as folk, country, dub, country soul, rhythm and blues, bluegrass, jazz, funk, swamp pop, gospel, blues, and rock. The band’s style was also described as “alternative country” and “country rock.” The band’s main influences include the Beatles, The Byrds, and Buffalo Springfield.
Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: bearsvilletheater.com
Kevin Cook, “Silence Shattered by Light”
Suzanne Vega: Old Songs, New Songs, and Other Songs
Widely regarded as one of the foremost songwriters of her generation, Suzanne Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk revival of the early 1980s. Since the release of her self-titled, critically acclaimed 1985 debut album, she has given sold-out concerts in many of the world’s best-known venues. Known for performances that convey deep emotion, Vega’s distinctive, “clear, unwavering voice” (Rolling Stone) has been described as “a cool, dry sandpaperbrushed near-whisper” by The Washington Post
Location: Old Dutch Church, 272 Wall Street, Kingston
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: bardavon.org
Tom Sandoval and the Most Extras
Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras is the ultimate party cover band fronted by actor, model, and restaurateur, Tom Sandoval. For 10 seasons, Tom has starred on the hit Bravo reality series, Vanderpump Rules. Since forming in 2021, TS&ME has toured all over the country bringing their eclectic group of fun, sing-a-long cover songs to excited fans.
Location: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: bethelwoodscenter.org
The Georgia Thunderbolts
Hailing from Rome, GA at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, The Georgia Thunderbolts rise up with a scorching signature style steeped in soulful southern swagger, blistering blues, and raw rock.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
Birdtalker
Birdtalker released their debut album One in 2018 which met critical acclaim, featuring their breakout single “Heavy,” which has now amassed over 90 million streams on Spotify alone. With their self-titled sophomore album in 2021 and subsequent releases, they have come into their own with their most confident and unrestrained songs to date. In 2024, Birdtalker will be releasing an EP and their 3rd full length record, touring the country to support the new music.
A revue that pays tribute to and reinvents classic jokes of the past and present. Think you’ve heard them all before? Not this way. If you’ve ever had a mother, visited a doctor, or walked into a bar with a priest, a rabbi and a frog—Old Jews Telling Jokes will give you a second opinion, and ask you where you got that.
Location: Doctorow Center for the Arts, 7971 Main Street, Hunter Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: catskillmtn.org or maudeadamstheaterhub.org
OCTOBER 4-5, 11-12, 20, 25 & 31
Haunted Castle Tours & Dinner
Back for its 2nd season after its terrifyingly successful debut last year, the legendary Castle on the Delaware beckons you to enter its haunted walls once more for a horrifying tour unlike any other!!! This time with twice the length, twice the rooms, twice the ghouls and twice the scares!! Monstrous creatures & ghostly spirits await as you explore the rooms where even a professional paranormal team was not immune to the Castle’s haunted history … many of which have never been open to the public until now. Enjoy a Halloween themed buffet dinner as you await for your ultimate doom in this Legendary Castle of Horrors!
Location: Castle on the Delaware, 139 Stockton Ave, Walton
More Info: castleonthedelaware.com
OCTOBER 4-6
New England Bladesmith’s Fall Blade Seminar
Learn history, design concepts, metallurgy, forging and finishing techniques, & heat treatment. Workshops for all levels, demonstrations by world renowned craftsmen and hands-on forging opportunities.
Location: The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge
More Info: ashokancenter.org
Northeast Blacksmiths Association’s Fall Hammer-In
Learn the art of forging hot steel using traditional blacksmithing tools and skills. Come for all or any part of this great weekend workshop, where you can receive instruction in our fully equipped Teaching Program, watch the forging demonstrations, browse the tool flea market and enjoy the company of fellow blacksmiths. Location: The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge
More Info: ashokancenter.org
OCTOBER 4-13
Always…Patsy Cline
Based on the true story of a pen-pal friendship set to the soundtrack of country’s most vibrant voice, Always…Patsy Cline is a true story about Cline’s friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk, and continued a correspondence with Cline until her untimely death in a plane crash. The show’s title was inspired by Cline’s letters to Seger, which were consistently
signed “Love ALWAYS… Patsy Cline.” Tales of Patsy’s life on the road are told with downhome country humor and brought to vibrant life through her music. Seger supplies a narrative while Cline floats in and out of the set singing tunes that made her famous— “Anytime”, “Walkin’ After Midnight”, “She’s Got You”, “Sweet Dreams”, and “Crazy” — to name a few.
Location: Phoenicia Playhouse, 10 Church St, Phoenicia
The Light In Our Eyes: Youth Visions of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse
ACC collaborates with the Hudson Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society (HALPS) to commemorate the 150th birthday of this iconic beacon, partnering with high schools in AthensCoxsackie, Catskill, and Hudson. Student artworks about the lighthouse, river life, and river lore will be exhibited, along with poetry and long-form writing created in the classroom. For the opening event, students will read texts, and an actor will perform a monologue on the life of Augustin Fresnel, the inventor of the lens used in lighthouses worldwide.
Location: Athens Cultural Center, 24 Second Street, Athens
First Friday Reception: October 4, 5-7pm Gallery Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 12:00-5:00 pm
More Info: athensculturalcenter.org
The Road to Jerusalem
By Nicky Glossman, directed by James Glossman. Seven interconnected stories surrounding the town of Jerusalem, Arizona in 1889 in this exciting world premiere. Together, these rugged and damaged characters explore the twisted series of hopes and hungers that manifested the harsh destiny in the American West—all in service of making a new world from the old. Location: Shadowland Stages, 157 Canal Street, Ellenville
Calling all paranormal fans! This is your chance to meet the Klinge Bros and investigate the famous and very haunted Shanley Hotel as seen on Ghost Lab. Times TBD.
Location: The Shanley Hotel, 56 Main St, Napanoch
More Info: klingebros.com
Cross Mountain Crusher
The Catskill Recreation Center, in cooperation with Overlook Mountain Bikes and the Catskill Brewery, welcomes you to the fifth annual Cross Mountain Crusher, a gravel/road ride for the serious cyclist. This event is designed for those who wish to challenge their physical abilities to the maximum while enjoying beautiful back country roads in the Catskill Mountains. There will be feed station support, and mechanical & vehicular support as needed. Many of the gravel roads are seasonal roads, so rough climbing and descending should be expected. Three distances 55 miles, 61 miles, or 37 miles.
Location: Catskill Recreation Center, 651 Co Rd 38, Margaretville
Time: 8:30 am-6:00 pm
More Info: catskillrecreationcenter.org
4th Annual Hurley Craft Fair
Hurley Church located on Main St in Hurley NY is holding their annual Craft Fair. Food will also be available for purchase during the event. Entrance fee is $3 per person.
Location: Hurley Reformed Church 11 Main St, Hurley
Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm
More Info: hurleyreformedchurch.org
Poetry Potluck with Mermer Blakeslee
Poetry Potluck is for poetry lovers. Please bring a poem or two (not food!) written by someone else, a poem you find moving or meaningful. Or come to listen. We will read our chosen poems out loud to each other. The themes will be tree, shrub, grass, flower, weather, water, wood, stone, dirt, sky, air, animal, matter, color, season, death, life… If the weather is cooperative, we’ll gather outdoors.
Location: Mountain Top Arboretum, 4 Maude Adams Road, Tannersville
Time: 10:00-11:30 am
More Info: mtarboretum.org
Still Life Photography with Peter Pioppo
This informal, hands-on course will cover the basics of photo composition, lighting, propping and styling as it applies to still life and tabletop photography. These skillsets are the basics for any type of successful image capture. All levels are welcome and encouraged to participate in this four hour class. Be it a smartphone, aim and shoot or a full size professional camera, the goal of this workshop is to make you see things differently, then give you the tools to be able to capture your vision. Through simple tricks and techniques you will be making an image rather than taking a picture.
Location: Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main Street, Stamford
Time: 10:00 am-2:00 pm
More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org
Woodsmen’s Exploration Day
Hanford Mills Museum staff will highlight the importance of trees and forests as we showcase the talents of local woodcrafters and foresters. Museum staff will demonstrate how we process logs into finished products in our mill. There will be lumberjack and blacksmithing demonstra-
tions, information about sustainable forestry, hiking, roofing and solar power, honeybees and more. Tastings, food products and vendors and more!
Location: Hanford Mills Museum, 51 Co. Rd. 12, East Meredith
Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm
More Info: hanfordmills.org
Scarecrow Fest
Our annual Fall Festival is right around the corner. Join us and bring the family for a day of fun! Part of the proceeds will go to support the Comeau Stewardship Advisory Committee (CSAC). We will have scarecrow making workshops, so you can create your own fall friend. There will also be food, exhibitors, free games, arts and crafts opportunities, and more. Would you like to paint a pumpkin that you can take home to carve? How about bidding on a unique carved pumpkin designed by one of our community’s professional artists? We’ll have creative scarecrows designed by artists as part of our silent auction as well. There’s so much to see and do. We look forward to seeing you!
Location: Comeau Property, Woodstock
Time: 12:00-4:00 pm
More Info: woodstocklandconservancy.org
Saturday Creature Features:
House of Dark Shadows (1970) Barnabas is back! And so are many other original “Dark Shadows” cast members in the first of two films made while the tv series was still running! Vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) awakens from his tomb and returns to his ancestral home, Collinwood where he attempts to reintegrate into his family while dealing with his vampiric nature and the ensuing chaos and tragedy that unfolds. The film is notable for its dark and atmospheric tone, which captured the essence of the tv series while making it accessible to a broader audience. House of Dark Shadows has gained a cult following over the years, particularly among fans of the original Dark Shadows series and horror enthusiasts alike. Directed by Dan Curtis who also created the original TV series.
Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale
Time: Shows at 4:00 & 9:30 pm
More Info: rosendaletheatre.org
Chosen Family Presents: Beverly Glenn Copeland
The diverse work of legendary singer, composer and transgender activist Beverly Glenn-Copeland has been gathering momentum in recent years thanks to the widespread discovery of his acclaimed masterpiece Keyboard Fantasies (1986); an ahead-of-it’s-time synth exploration
that combines the essence of new-age minimalism, early Detroit techno and the warmth of traditional songwriting.
Location: Opus 40, 356 George Sickle Rd, Saugerties
Time: 4:30 pm
More Info: opus40.org
Wine and Food of the Presidents:
2024 Annual Benefit Gala
Join us for an excellent dinner with curated wine pairings inspired by famous presidential dinners, a silent auction, and musical performances from Hamilton. Proceed benefit the D&H Canal Historical Society.
Our Fall Benefit raises funds to support our work to safeguard the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of the Catskills.
Location: Catskill Visitors Center, 5096 Route 28, Mount Tremper
Time: 5:30 pm
More Info: catskillcenter.org/fallbenefit
Micky & the Motorcars
Join us for an incredible night of live music to celebrate the Cowtown Scramble vintage baseball tournament hosted by the Bovina Dairymen. There will be BBQ for sale from Baby Smoker!
Location: Chico’s Barn, 124 Bob Hall Road, Bovina Center
Time: 6:00 pm
More Info: eventbrite.com/e/micky-the-motorcars-live-saturday-october-5-at-chicos-barnbovina-ny-tickets-928537228847
Luminary Cafe Cabaret
An enchanting evening of dance and music! Experience captivating performances by The Luminelles, Ayleza, The Laurens, Myrto, Arobi, Angelique, Ashley & Barushka, featuring Belly Dance and a touch of Indian dance. Accompanied by The Secret Garden Orkestar, these artists will dazzle with their grace, stunning costumes, and enchanting music. The evening starts with refreshments, followed by a mesmerizing Cabaret Show and an open dance session.
Location: Art Society of Kinsgton 97 Broadway, Kingston
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: barushkadance.com
Rock Academy presents Best of Season: A Fundraiser for the Scholarship Fund
Rock Academy presents Best of Season. Drawing songs from our 5 summer 2024 season shows: Queer Rock, The Cars, Little Richard, PJ Harvey and The Who, students age 8-18 will perform and breathe new life into classic material.
Location: Woodstock Playhouse, 103 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: woodstockplayhouse.org
Back to the Garden 1969
The musicians of Back to the Garden 1969 all are multi-instrumentalists, as well as unique lead vocalists who bring to life the music and spirit of the Woodstock era. By performing these well-loved favorites, they remind us of the astounding breadth and depth of the music of the Woodstock generation. The musical performances are a tribute to the artists who made Woodstock great.
Quinn is an Ahtna Athabascan and Iñupiaq songwriter, born, raised in Anchorage, Alaska. He was the winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk contest in 2019 and recently collaborated with Yo Yo Ma and drag queen vocalist Pattie Gonia on the single “Won’t Give Up”: an anthem which inspires listeners to address the climate disaster and honors the rapidly melting Exit glacier in Alaska. His recent release Write Your Name in Pink incorporates upbeat synth pop elements that serve as a counterpoint to some of the painful but compassionately handled personal stories in his songs.
Location: Old School Baptist Church, 36 Cartwright Road, Denver
Time: 7:30 pm
More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org
Mdou Moctar
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
John Sebastian & Jimmy Vivino
Over four decades the contributions of John Sebastian have become a permanent part of our American musical fabric. From his early days with The Lovin’ Spoonful to his hits from the 70s and 80s, John Sebastian is not only a master musician, writer and performer, he remains one of the best ambassadors American music has ever had.
Location: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: bethelwoodscenter.org
Cosmic Guilt w/ Toby Leaman (of Dr. Dog) and Critter Bonus
Philadelphia’s Cosmic Guilt is a psychedelic, folk supergroup of working musicians and leaders in their community. Their debut as a fully-realized band came after the pandemic lockdown, with a self-titled album arriving later in 2022. Sonically, Cosmic Guilt carries themes of existential dread through roaring folk rock and country elements, burying the bittersweet feelings in cathartic shared experience. Multi-layered guitar, pillowing vocal harmonies, and ripping pedal steel are all signatures of their music, produced to a technical but not exhaustive degree.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
The Helm Family Midnight Ramble
The Helm Family Midnight Ramble is a musical tribute to the founding songbook of Rock and Roll. Born inside the hallowed walls of Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY, the Midnight Ramble has preserved and furthered Levon Helm’s legacy for nearly two decades, playing the iconic music of The Band, and Levon Helm. The Helm Family Midnight Ramble crosses generational and musical lines, featuring an ever-evolving family of musicians. Amy Helm honors her father’s penultimate vision for both Levon Helm Studios and the Midnight Ramble - to create a community for musicians to share their art, and “keep it going.”
Brilliant, hilarious and often bizarre, the one and only Eddie Izzard is back in the U.S.! The Remix Tour Live promises to be an unforgettable night of thought provoking, intelligent and surreal stand-up comedy. As always with Eddie, expect the unexpected! Actor, comedian, multi-marathon runner and political activist Eddie Izzard’s boundary-pushing career spans 35 years of record-breaking comedy tours and critically acclaimed film, TV, and theatre performances. Location: Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: bardavon.org
OCTOBER
5 & 6
Handcrafted Octoberfest
An artfully reimagined Octoberfest returns to Rhinebeck, NY for its fifth anniversary. This Octoberfest offers much more than beerguzzling and polka-dancing (although both are welcomed!). Produced by Quail Hollow Events, the festival is centered around the concept of handmade, but also infused with harvest energy and Oktoberfest staples.
Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6636 U.S. 9, Rhinebeck
Each year on the first weekend in October, Creamery Field Vintage Base Ball Park, home of the Bovina Dairymen, hosts a premier event in the 19th century baseball community amid the backdrop of fall colors in the Catskill Mountain foothills. Teams from throughout the Northeast compete for the love of the game and in 2023, for the first time since its inception, the Cream of the Crop Award (an antique butter churn) was bestowed upon the team demonstrtating the most skill, sportsmanship and grit.
Location: Creamery Field Vintage Base Ball Park, Bovina Center
More Info: delcovintagebaseball.org
OCTOBER 5-6 & 12-13
Belleayre Annual Fall Festival
What better way to celebrate fall than the Belleayre Fall Festival? The weekend will be jam packed with fun-filled activities for the entire family! Sample tons of food & beverages, listen to live music, take in the sights with a fall foliage gondola ride, decorate a pumpkin, and more!
Experience the best of fall at Brews & Views, where you can sample craft beers and cider from local breweries while soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of live music, craft vendors, and delicious food—all against the stunning backdrop of the Catskill Mountains. Both parking and admission to the festival grounds are free, and you can also enjoy the Annual Fall Festival happening simultaneously.
Oktoberfest at Hunter Mountain returns! Surrounded by the glorious foliage of the Northern Catskills, Hunter Mountain transforms into a joyous Oktoberfest celebration for everyone. We welcome multiple bands, local vendors of goods and good eats, and, of course, you—to enjoy it all, and view it aboard our Scenic SkyRide.
Location: Hunter Mountain Resort, 34 Klein Avenue, Hunter More Info: huntermtn.com
OCTOBER 5-14
Catskills Lark in the Park
The Lark is a series of events celebrating the Park with a full range of offerings across the region. Since its inception, the Lark has brought together thousands of people that have participated in hundreds of events, all aimed at enjoying the recreational assets of the Catskill Park and Catskill Region.
More Info: catskillslark.org
OCTOBER 6
Nut Gathering Basket Class
October brings so many delights, one of which is the bounty of nuts carpeting much of the Northeastern landscape. One would be remiss to allow the squirrels all of these tasty morsels, and so a deep, handheld basket with which to gather up as many of those little treats is in order. Come learn how to weave this basket during this one day class and learn the ins-andouts of frame style basketry in the Appalachian tradition, while utilizing the ever forgiving basketry reed to weave with. While some basketry experience is helpful in weaving this basket, it is not essential.
Location: Kaaterskill Market, 355 Main Street, Catskill
Time: 10:00 am-5:30 pm More Info: cambiumlostarts.com
Mindful Birding with Molly Adams of the Feminist Bird Club
Are you interested in learning more about the birds that live in and migrate through the Catskills? Join Molly Adams, founder of the Feminist Bird Club and co-author of Birding for a Better World, for a mindful birding event where we will spend time enjoying birds outdoors on the Opus 40 grounds. No experience is necessary, and this event is for both new and life-long birders alike.
Location: Opus 40, 356 George Sickle Rd, Saugerties
Time: 10:30 am More Info: opus40.org
Harvest Festival featuring Paint & Sip
Highlighting local farms, artisans, and flavors, this annual farmers market features live music, food trucks, crafts, special offerings, and more.
Location: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel
Time: 11:00 am
More Info: bethelwoodscenter.org
Build a Bug Hotel
The area on top of Hoot Hill has been transformed from an overgrown meadow’s edge to a flourishing pollinator-friendly garden by Krista Speroni, her True Foods Hudson Valley team, and awesome community volunteers like you! All ages are invited to come help the Hilltop Garden continue to grow by supporting the installation of our first “bug hotel.” The structure was built and delivered by Krissie Nagy and Noah Landes of BK Bumpkin and resembles something between a rustic doll house and a quirky book shelf. Krista will lead us in the exciting next stage of foraging natural and recycled materials from the land to fill the “rooms” of the “hotel” with insect-friendly items. Come learn how we all can support a more vibrant ecosystem of pollinators. FREE, donations accepted.
Location: The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge
Time: 3:00-5:00 pm
More Info: ashokancenter.org
A Conversation with D&H Historian
Bill Merchant on Solaris
Bill Merchant will once again guide participants in a conversation about the many remains of the Rondout’s history that can be seen along the waterfront, as Solaris sails from the Maritime Museum to the Eddyville Dam and back.
Location: Hudson River Maritime Museum, 50 Rondout Landing, Kingston
Time: 4:00 pm
More Info: hrmm.org/all-boat-tours.html
Live Dead & Brothers: Family & Friends
Jamming the Music of Grateful Dead & The Allman Brothers Band
Prepare to embark on a mesmerizing journey through the golden era of psychedelic blues and the seeds of the ‘jam band’ scene as Live Dead and Brothers takes the stage. Comprised of actual and legacy members from the extended Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers families, this exceptional ensemble is set to revive the timeless magic of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Location: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: bethelwoodscenter.org
Elana Brody Album Release Sho w/ Francesca Hoffman
Orchestral folk singer-songwriter Elana Brody releases her debut album The Garden. A multiinstrumentalist and celebrated vocalist, Brody spins musical stories that break open hearts and move big emotions. Susan Rogers, engineer for Prince and David Byrne, stated “Elana is my favorite Genius. Anything she does will be ahead of its time.”
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
The Sheepdogs
Built on the solid, classic rock foundation of three-part harmonies and dual guitar leads, Canada’s Juno Award-winning Sheepdogs blend Southern rock, groove-based psychedelia, and bluesy barroom swagger into a modern rock & roll revival.
A funny, incendiary show about aging in a female body in an age of anxiety. In 70-minutes, Kate Valentine wields a rich arsenal of weapons: razor-sharp commentary, video, dance and music – and even commedia dell’arte character work. A Woman of a Certain Rage marks her joyous return to the stage – it’s also Valentine’s first full-length solo show. She sharply captures this moment as Gen X enters menopause and refuses to be quiet about it.
Location: The Mark, Orpheum Theatre, 156 Main Street, Saugerties Time: 8:00 pm
More information: upstatefilms.org
OCTOBER 9
Music Fan Series: Round Midnight
This outstanding musical drama film directed by Bertrand Tavernier is about an American jazz sax player down on his luck, struggling to make a comeback in 1950s Paris. The Oscar-winning soundtrack is by Herbie Hancock. The film is a fictional reframing of the memoir Dance of the Infidels written by French author Francis Paudras, who befriended jazz great Bud Powell during his Paris expatriate days and on whom the lead character was based. Following the screening, there will be a special in-person conversation with the late musician’s wife and manager, Maxine Gordon. Gordon will talk with local music authority Rick Lange of Rhino Records, then sign copies of Sophisticated Giant: The Life and Legacy of Dexter Gordon, her acclaimed 2018 biography. Maxine Gordon is an independent scholar with a lifetime career working with jazz musicians, as well as an oral historian and archivist in the fields of jazz and African American cultural history.
Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: rosendaletheatre.org
The Devil Makes Three
The Devil Makes Three is an Americana band that blends bluegrass, old time, country, folk, blues, jazz, and ragtime music.
Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: bearsvilletheater.com
OCTOBER 9-10
Classic Film Series:
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison light up the screen in one of the most celebrated love stories of all time! Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz blends ghostly intrigue with a touch of comedy and drama into an intelligent, charming, romantic fantasy. The story revolves around a young widow, Lucy Muir, who after the death of her husband moves into a quaint seaside cottage which turns out to be haunted by the ghost of its former owner Captain Daniel Gregg. Far from being frightened, Lucy finds herself drawn to the Captain’s charismatic and roguish personality. With its blend of romance, humor, and the supernatural, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir has become a beloved classic.
Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale
Time: Wednesday, October 9 @ 2:00 pm; Thursday, October 10 @ 7:00 pm
More Info: rosendaletheatre.org
OCTOBER 10
Yngwie Malmsteen: The 40th Anniversary Tour
Yngwie Johann Malmsteen is a world-renowned guitarist from Stockholm, Sweden. His career has spanned over 40 years with over 20 albums to his name. Drawing influence from classical composers, Yngwie is responsible for birthing the neo-classical genre to the world of rock.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
OCTOBER 11
Headwaters Hangouts
Headwaters Hangouts offers creators of all disciplines the opportunity to work on expression in new and different ways in a social setting. A workout for your creativity and an opportunity to meet other local creators, Headwaters Hangoutsare free and open to everyone.
Location: Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main St, Stamford
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org
Django (1966)
Franco Nero stars as “Django” the mysterious stranger in town who arrives dragging a coffin behind him! As he becomes embroiled in a violent conflict between two rival factions, Django reveals his true intentions and background. The film is noted for its innovative approach to the Western genre, including its portrayal of anti-heroes and its use of stark, dramatic imagery and dark humor. Django became highly influential and is remembered for its iconic character and memorable score. Directed by Sergio Corbucci.
Location: Rosendale Theatre, 408 Main Street, Rosendale
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: rosendaletheatre.org
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Bring a chair and a blanket and enjoy a free viewing of The Nightmare Before Christmas under the stars.
Location: 11 Market Street, Ellenville
Time: 7:30 pm
More Info: facebook.com/p/Movies-in-theMountains-100083332081288/
OCTOBER 11 & 12
Annual Hancock Harvest Festival Large Vendor Market, Tractor parade, Brooks BQQ Chicken, a scarecrow making contest, and live music!
Location: Hancock Town Square, 20 E Front St, Hancock Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm
More Info: hancockeducationfoundation.org
OCTOBER 11-12, 18-19 & 25-26
Night Market at Peace, Love & Pumpkins Craft and specialty food vendors. To visit the Night Market, guests must have a Peace, Love & Pumpkins ticket.
Location: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel
Time: 6:30-9:30 pm
More Info: bethelwoodscenter.org
OCTOBER 11-13
Footy Fest
The Footy Fest is a special, shared experience for the soccer community to spend time together in the mountains and play footy with new and familiar faces. It’s an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of your routine with a weekend filled with exciting matches, cozy fireside chats, and one lively pub after party. We hope you win, of course. But we don’t really care either way.
Location: American Legion Fields, 41 Page Avenue, Delhi
More Info: nycfooty.com/the-footy-fest
Catskill Fibers & Artisanal Celebration
An exhibition & sale by regional fiber artists and makers. Opening Reception on Friday, October 11, 3:00-6:00 pm.
Location: Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts, 34 Big Hollow Road, Maplecrest Times: 10:00 am-4:00 pm
More Info: catskillmtn.org
OCTOBER 11-14
Catskill Mountain Makers Camp
The Catskill Mountain Maker Camp is a gathering of curious, creative people who like to learn and share what they can do. It is a place where creators can show their work, learn new skills/ techniques, and meet like-minded makers. It encompasses a gathering of artisans, educators, and do-it-yourselfers, hobbyists, engineers, writers, artists, students and commercial exhibitors to show what they do and to share what they can offer the community.
Location: Blackthorne Resort, 348 Sunside Road, East Durham
More Info: catskillmountainmakerscamp.com
OCTOBER 11-27
Peace, Love & Pumpkins
A cornucopia of family-friendly Halloween fun. During this walk-thru experience, guests will wind through the garden trails of beautiful Bethel Woods, highlighting thousands of unique hand-carved jack-o-lanterns and glowing displays of themed pumpkin art. Delight in displays featuring Woodstock festival icons, dinosaurs, mermaids, witches and much more! Please note that there is timed ticketing on Fridays and Saturdays, and October 25 is reserved for Friday Night Fright, a haunted walk-thru experience. Location: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel Time: 6:30-10:00 pm
More Info: bethelwoodscenter.org
Bat Boy: The Musical
Based on a story in The Weekly World News, Bat Boy: The Musical is a comedy/horror musical about a half boy/half bat creature who is discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia.
Location: The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, 661 Route 308, Rhinebeck
Haunted Huguenot Street 2024: “Haunted: The Curious Case of Edward Cary.”
Join us at Historic Huguenot Street for Haunted: The Curious Case of Edward Cary. You will be led by Blandina Elmendorf who recently discovered her father Edward Cary had passed away at the Ulster County Poor House. As she tries to understand who her father was, you will be taken back to the year 1813 just days before Blandina’s baptism, and learn of the secrets of a family torn apart and what a father is willing to do for his child. This year’s Haunted Huguenot Street program will immerse visitors in an interactive theater experience which will last approximately one hour. Tours will depart from the DuBois Fort Visitor Center.
Location: Historic Huguenot Street, 81 Huguenot St New Paltz
Time: Tours start every hour on the hour beginning at 5:00 pm. Last tour departing at 8:00 pm. Tours on Sunday, October 27 run from 3:00-6:00 pm
More Info: huguenotstreet.org
OCTOBER 12
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
U-Pick Pumpkins & Lil’ Buckaroo Rodeo
Enjoy all day pumpkin picking, hiking sugar house tours, hay rides, and gold & gem panning. The market is full of maple products, cider, cider donuts, pie slices, and cookies. The Rodeo will host a Western-style stick horse racing (each participant receives a prize!) and Calf & Bull Roping with practice heads.
Location: Maplewood Farm & Orchard, 596 Miller Ave, Bovina Center
Time: 9:00 am-4:00 pm
More information: maplewoodfarmny.com
Saturday Tour: Hudson-Athens Lighthouse
Come experience what living on the lighthouse was like first hand during one of our Saturday Tours. Tours are guided with experienced and knowledgeable docents. There are interactive exhibits with videos on the history of the lighthouse and its inhabitants to enjoy. The tours are one and a half hours from shore to shore, with approximately one hour on the lighthouse for the tour.
Location: Depart from Athens Riverfront, Athens Hours: 10:00 am-12:00 pm More information: halps.org
Walton Fall Market
Enjoy live music, activities for kids, food trucks and 60+ vendors. The event will take place rain or shine! All vendors and eating areas will be under cover.
Dr. Michael Kudish is a well-known speaker in and around the Catskills and New York State. Mike is a professor emeritus from the Division of Forestry at Paul Smith’s College. He obtained his PhD from SUNY of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse, NY. His presentation, “What can the bogs teach us about history?” highlights his research on the numerous bogs in the Catskills. Join us and learn the wonder of bogs. It might just “boggle” your mind when it comes to this unusual subject.
Following the death of a beloved pet, four middle school students wrestle with loss, new friendships, and the challenges of fitting in in a post-Covid world. This delightful play for families, recommended for ages 8 and up, mixes realism with fantasy and includes several original death metal songs, performed to comic effect. Presented by Shout Out Saugerties’ Little Theatre of Wonder.
Location: Bridge Street Theater, 44 West Bridge Street, Catskill Time: 2:00 pm
More Info: bridgest.org
Danielle Nicole
Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, Danielle Nicole has spent her life making music and pleasing fans, domestically and abroad. Her stunning new album, The Love You Bleed on Forty Below Records, comprises twelve heartfelt tracks exploring themes of love, loss and perseverance.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
Rachael Yamagata: Unseen Hearts Tour
Rachael Yamagata has earned her place amongst our top songwriters and vocalists, paving the way for the whispered intimacy of Billie Eilish and intertwining her own gravel and quirk.
She will strip production bare on one track and build a story around orchestral arrangements in the next—whatever packs the greater punch. And she does it all with a tell-it-like-it-is honesty that can melt you in the moment and then become an anthem for life. Having earned wide critical acclaim and sold over 400,000 records, she has headlined world tours and made numerous television appearances.
The two-day event is a popular favorite bringing friends, neighbors and visitors together to celebrate the fall season amidst the beautiful and Great Northern Catskills. More than fifty vendors will line both sides of Main Street with local crafts, and food in addition to the many sidewalk sales and food specials that will be offered by Main Street businesses. Enjoy live music from noon to 4:00 pm. The talented Tom Prettys will take the stage on October 12. Stay tuned for the announcement of our special guest band for October 13. Grab the family and come enjoy the festivities!
Location: Main Street, Windham
Time: 10:00 am-5:00 pm
More Info: movingwindhamforward.com
Harvest Craft Workshop
Get ready for some festive fall fun on Huguenot Street! This year, Historic Huguenot Street’s popular “Halloween Craft Workshop” has transformed into the “Harvest Craft Workshop.” Celebrate the bounty of the season with TWO fun-filled days of crafts, tasty treats, and more! Each kid will get to make three seasonal crafts, earn prizes in a nature scavenger hunt, and enjoy free popcorn and apple cider. Elting Memorial Library will be hosting an autumn story time tent, and there will be even more fun surprises, dependent on weather conditions. Admission is $10 for all children Adult guardians are free of charge Pre-registration is required for this event.
Location: Historic Huguenot Street, 81 Huguenot St New Paltz
Time: Register for a time slot at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, or 3:00 pm
More Info: huguenotstreet.org
Maple Shade Hootenany
Come sip on local beverages, shop at the vendor market, play festive games, and simply chill. Bask in the beauty of fall colors while enjoying a drink near the pond or wandering through
the yellow barn. Beginning at noon, live music will fill the Main Stage and Acoustic tent. The rotating lineup of musicians will set the stage for a great afternoon in the crisp fall air. Make plans to enjoy the day with the Catskills community and embrace the beauty of fall.
Location: Maple Shade Farm, 2066 Co Rd 18, Delhi
Time: 10:00 am-5:00 pm
More Info: mapleshadehootenany.com
Jeff Tweedy (Solo Acoustic)
Jeffrey Scot Tweedy is an American musician, singer songwriter, author, and record producer best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Wilco.
Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock
Time: 7:30 pm
More Info: bearsvilletheater.com
OCTOBER 12-NOVEMBER 24
The Doll Show
A survey of artworks inspired by dolls, this exhibition includes works by contemporary artists in a variety of mediums including sculpture, painting, installation, film, and photography, alongside examples of historic dolls and dolls found in popular culture with works ranging from dolls presented as social commentary to whimsical, metaphorical, magical, beautiful, and even terrifying examples of dolls.
Opening Reception: Sunday, October 13, 3:005:00 pm
More Info: woodstockguild.org
OCTOBER 13
Woodstock Music & Art Fair
A day filled with music, art, and community in the heart of Bearsville, NY. This special event pays tribute to the legendary 1969 Woodstock Festival and celebrates the creative spirit that continues to inspire artists and dreamers today. Enjoy a diverse lineup of performances, including Woodstock icon Brian Mitchell, the Abby Hollander Band with their fresh bluegrass sound, and the soulful blues of Bennett Harris. From nostalgic Woodstock vibes to modern musical twists, this eclectic mix promises an unforgettable day of live music.
Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock
Time: 12:00-6:00 pm
More Info: bearsvilletheater.com
Free Guided Tour of the Five Locks Walk
Join our Historian Bill Merchant for a free guided tour of our National Historic Landmark Five Locks Walk as part of the Hudson River Valley Ramble. Meet at the Mid-Hudson Visitor Center at 2:00pm for hike with history. No advance registration needed.
Location: D&H Canal Historical Society, 1315 Rte 213, High Falls
Time: 2:00 pm
More Info: canalmuseum.org
Hudson Valley Dance Festival
Hudson Valley Dance Festival will again transform a charming 19th-century warehouse set upon the banks of the Hudson River into an elegant and distinctive performance space. With a lineup highlighting works nurtured in and inspired by the rich artistic culture of the Hudson Valley, the festival will present two performances.
Location: Historic Catskill Point, 1 Main Street, Catskill
Time: Performances at 2:00 & 5:00 pm
More Info: dradance.org
Fiddlers! 31
Enjoy dynamic performances by Down Hill Strugglers and several other old time music groups at this festival that has been celebrating this music for 31 years and counting!
Location: The Roxbury Arts Center 5025 Vega Mountain Road, Roxbury
Time: 3:00-6:00 pm
More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org
“Music of France,” a concert of French Baroque Chamber Music presented by Hudson Valley Baroque
The program will feature music from the artistic flowering in France in the kings’ royal courts and elsewhere during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The program will include music by François Couperin (1668–1733), Joseph Bodin de Boismortier (1689–1755), Jacques-Martin Hotteterre (1674–1763), and Philibert Delavigne (c.1700–1750).
Location: Historic Huguenot Street, 81 Huguenot St New Paltz
Time: 4:00 pm
More Info: huguenotstreet.org
Bradstan Cabaret Series: Comedy Night featuring Maureen Langan
Maureen has performed with entertainment legends like Robin Williams, Jay Leno, and more, with her on-screen appearances ranging from “America’s Got Talent,” to “Dry Bar Comedy,” to national commercials. She is an acclaimed standup comedian, broadcaster, and TEDx Talk speaker who has performed at clubs, festivals, and corporate events across the world. Join us for a night of laughter and fun as Maureen closes out The 2024 Bradstan Cabaret Series.
Location: The Eldred Preserve, 1040 State Rte 55, Eldred
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: theeldredpreserve.com
Peter Tosh Birthday w/ Roots Rock Reality Band in The Garden!
Putting together a special tribute show in honor of Peter Tosh’s birthday, the Roots Rock Reality band reunites again this fall for a show at the Colony Garden in Woodstock New York this October. This will be the 8th installment of tribute shows by Roots Rock Reality over the past 5 years, previously performing the Bob Marley albums Survival, Kaya, Babylon by Bus, Uprising, Rastaman Vibration in their entirety; as well as his final concert from September 1980; and a special mash-up set combining Bob Marley & Dennis Brown tunes under the moniker “King and Crown Prince” at Charlemont Reggae Festival in 2022. This show will likely be one of Peter Tosh’s live performances as opposed to an album.
Location: Garden Main Stage @ Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 6:00-9:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
Film: The Blair Witch Project
The legendary indie breakout of all breakouts gets a 25th anniversary screening. On October 21, 1994, three friends hiked into Maryland’s Black Hills Forest to shoot a documentary film on a local legend, The Blair Witch. They were never heard from again. One year later, their footage was found. Will be followed by a discussion with original cast members including filmmaker, writer, actor and Hudson Valley resident Joshua Leonard. (dir. Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez, U.S., 1999, 78 min.)
Kentucky musician and composer Ben Sollee, has been blurring boundaries with his musical style and career for nearly two decades – his latest album, Long Haul (2024) is no exception. Drawing on tonal influences from the American and global south, Sollee’s vocals and unique cello style thread through each track binding seemingly disparate chapters of his journey –the Long Haul.
Location: Ballroom @ Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
OCTOBER
15-20
25th Annual Woodstock Film Festival
Established in 2000, the Woodstock Film Festival (WFF) nurtures and supports emerging and established filmmakers, sharing their creative voices through an annual festival and yearround programming to promote culture, diversity, community, educational opportunities, and economic growth. The Woodstock Film Festival is an Academy Awards® qualifying festival in the categories of Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, and Documentary Short Film. T Location: Locations in Woodstock, Saugerties and Kingston
More Info: woodstockfilmfestival.org
OCTOBER 17-20
Burning of Kingston
The Burning of Kingston commemorates American Revolutionary War events of 1777, and the life and times of Kingston’s people. Programming highlights the human impact of war, the perseverance and resilience of a community, and offers an opportunity to understand the larger historical arc of the American Revolutionary War. This year’s four-day event will feature live re-enactments including street battles, tours, performance art, film screening, a grand ball, a visit with Martha Washington, presentations and discussions, and a commemorative 5k run from Uptown Kingston to Historic Hurley.
Location: Kingston
More Info: burningofkingston.com
OCTOBER 18
Fruition Chocolate Works’ 13th Anniversary and Open House
Join us to celebrate 13 years in business! There will be samples of our latest chocolate and confections, light refreshments, and behind-thescenes tours on the half hour. Our outdoor seating and garden will be open. Please carpool if possible as parking is available, but limited. Our retail store will be open for you to shop during the event.
Location: Fruition Chocolates, 3091 State Route 28, Shokan
Time: 3:00-7:00 pm
More Info: facebook.com/ events/520051303884769
Murder Mystery Mixer: Haunted High School Reunion
Do you dare put your detective skills to the test? Murder is on the menu for this interactive Haunted High School Reunion-themed cocktail experience in the Special Exhibit of the Museum at Bethel Woods. Brought to you by the Murder Café.
Location: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
More Info: bethelwoodscenter.org
Gong
The ever metamorphosing entity that is Gong launches, as ever, into unknown—and unknowing—territory with a new album and tour, destined to be talked about, discussed, and argued over, up and down the land. From its beginnings in a French commune in 1967, through the Virgin Records years, mismanagement, court cases, break-ups and rejoinings, deaths and rebirths, there has always been a continuous thread of beautiful, dangerous and extraordinary music.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
OCTOBER 18-NOVEMBER 17
Two Solo Shows: Ron Macklin & Doug Maguire Doug Maguire: “My work is about solitude and freedom. The landscape is a metaphor for breath, life and transformation. The paintings must breathe and change also. For me, freedom from material constraints is best expressed
Capital District Arts Initiative. Photo by Elyse Mertz
through the mutability of nature.” Ron Macklin: Ron’s paintings strive to provide joy, mystery and a sensitivity to places, people and objects. He wants to honor his subjects for their accomplishments and service by removing distractions and painting in a celebratory light. Subjects may be organic or man-made, commonplace or grandiose, newly-minted or weathered over many years. He usually paints familiar surroundings and that means rural subjects in the Catskill mountains and urban NYC scenes.
Location: Longyear Gallery, 785 Main Street, Margaretville
Opening Reception: Saturday, October 19, 5 pm
Gallery Hours: Friday-Sunday and holiday Mondays from 12:00-5:00 pm
More Info: longyeargallery.org
OCTOBER 18-19
Max Creek
Max Creek is an American rock band formed in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1971. A significant presence in the New England music scene, Max Creek is known as a pioneering “jam band.” For over fifty years they have regularly performed at various iconic venues and music festivals, showcasing their live performances.
Nestled between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains, the charming Village of Catskill transforms into a comedy mecca for three days in October. Our theaters, lounges, cafes, and bars become stages for non-stop laughter as we host the Catskills Comedy Festival. Join us for a comedic extravaganza featuring stand-up, sketch, improv, film, and more; a diverse lineup with dozens of comedians from all walks of life; free youth workshops: learn how humor can build confidence and resolve conflicts; comedy panels, parties, and plenty of snacks.
Location: Locations throughout Catskill More Info: tccfest.org
OCTOBER 19
Felting with Anne Gohorel
Dive into the enchanting world of felting with renowned local fiber artist Anne Gohorel! In this hands-on workshop, Anne will guide you
through the magical process of turning simple wool into beautiful, textured pieces of art. In this introduction to felting you’ll learn fundamental techniques of working with flat woolens to create your own decorative piece—somewhat like painting with wool!
Location: Headwaters Arts Center, 66 Main Street, Stamford
Time: 10:00 am-1:00 pm
More Info: roxburyartsgroup.org
Autumn Seasonal Walk with Ethnoecologist Justin Wexler
The forests, meadows and wetlands of Greene County are a cycling kaleidoscope of seasonal change. In autumn, our many nut-bearing trees and shrubs begin to drop huge harvests of nuts, and many bird species are on their migration south for the winter. Join ethnobiologist, Justin Wexler, on a Autumn Walk at Brandow Point and learn about the the natural world through the lens of Northeastern native languages, history, and folklore. Dress appropriately for outside temperatures on the day of the walk and wear appropriate footwear for a 1-2 mile walk on potentially muddy trails over a hilly terrain. The walk is limited to 20 participants. Cost is $10 (plus a $2.51 registration fee).
Location: The Willows at Brandow Point, 480 Route 385, Athens
Time: 1:00-3:00 pm
More Info: greenelandtrust.org
Home Again: A Carole King Tribute
HOME AGAIN leaves no stone unturned, covering the entire repertoire of the multi-award winning singer/songwriter Carole King. Included on the list are songs Carole wrote & recorded on her own as well as songs she wrote that were recorded by other musicians. She made her mark with Tapestry in 1971, but was already a well-established songwriter for over a decade starting with her first hit in 1960 “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” recorded by the Shirelles.
Location: Orpheum Performing Arts Center, 6050 Main Street, Tannersville
Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: catskillmtn.org
Debashish Bhattacharya Trio
We are thrilled to present a unique and soulful musical performance by The Debashish Bhattacharya Trio, comprised of Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya, the foremost slide guitarist of our time, his daughter Anandi Bhattacharya, a brilliant vocalist, and his brother Subhasis Bhattacharya, considered to be among the greatest percussionists of his generation. Together, they will be performing a mesmerizing blend of strings, voice, and tabla that is sure to leave you spellbound.
Location: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: bethelwoodscenter.org
Rob Stoner (former Bob Dylan bandleader) Rob Stoner is a singer and multi-instrumentalist who was musical director for three Dylan tours and is featured on many hit recordings including
“Desire” and “American Pie.” He’s featured in the Bob Dylan Rolling Thunder Revue Netflix film, directed by Martin Scorsese. Rob has worked with Link Wray, Chuck Berry, Joni Mitchell, Ringo Starr and many others during his sixty year career.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
OCTOBER 19 & 20
New York State Sheep & Wool Festival
The New York State Sheep and Wool Festival is much more than just an event; it’s a celebration of the art, craft, and culture of wool. With its extensive market, engaging workshops, competitive events, and family-friendly activities, it offers a rich and immersive experience for all who attend.
Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6636 Route 9, Rhinebeck
“The Burning of Kingston” Travel back to October 1777 and meet historic women that survived the Burning of Kingston. Theatre on the Road and the Old Dutch Church offer this annual one-hour tour that is accessible and appropriate for all ages. October 19th tours are part of the Burning of Kingston ceremonies conducted in Kingston’s historic Stockade District and will be free. Pre-registration is not required.
This show features Woodstock School of Art instructors exhibiting in a wide range of media.
Location: Robert H. Angeloch Gallery, Woodstock School of Art, 2470 Route 212, Woodstock Opening Reception: Saturday, October 19
More Info: woodstockschoolofart.org
OCTOBER 20
Phoenicia Vendors Market
PFG Vendor’s Market is a vibrant indoor/outdoor marketplace featuring a diverse selection of local vendors. Explore a wide mix of fresh foods, baked goods, crafts from artisanal makers, antiques, and freshly roasted coffee, among other delights.
Location: 5419 State Route 28, Mt. Tremper
Time: 10:00 am-3:00 pm
More Info: phoeniciafga.org/pfg-vendors-market
Fall Family Fun Fest
Fresh apple cider pressing, pumpkin painting, blacksmithing, broommaking, hayrides, live music, seasonal food, guided hikes, and fun for all ages.
Location: The Ashokan Center 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge Time: 12:00-4:00 pm
More Info: ashokancenter.org
Shea-Kim Duo
The award-winning Shea-Kim Duo was formed in 2014 by husband and wife Brendan Shea and Yerin Kim. Since then, they have competed internationally and toured the world, performing in Belgium, Italy, Canada, South Korea, and the United States. Their awards include the Ackerman Chamber Music Award and Gold Medal at the Manhattan International Music Competition. Their performances have been broadcast on Klara Continuo in Belgium, PBC in Seoul, and WUFT Classic in the USA. Their debut performance in Seoul, South Korea was recorded live and published by Ark Studio in 2016. Their second album, The Sound and the Fury, was released in November 2021 by Blue Griffin Records.
Location: First Presbyterian Church & Stamford United Methodist Church, 96 Main St, Stamford Time: 3:00 pm
More Info: friendsmusic.org
Kate McDonnell Live
Contemporary singer-songwriter and guitarist performing songs from her new release Trapeze. This concert is free and open to the public!
Dirty Mae, the indie folk sensation born and bred in NYC, weaves a musical tapestry blending bluegrass, blues, rock, Latin, and Americana roots. Within three years, they outgrew Harlem, headlining iconic venues like Lucille’s at BB Kings and (le) poisson rouge. The trio, co-founded by Cassie Fireman, Robin Frost, and Ben Curtis, infuses their performances with theatrical flair, making each show an engaging experience.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
OCTOBER 21
Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers are an American rock band based in Athens, Georgia.
Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: bearsvilletheater.com
OCTOBER 22
African Children’s Choir
The African Children’s Choir melts the hearts of audiences with their charming smiles, beautiful voices and lively African songs and dances. The “Just As I Am” tour combines traditional hymns with African cultural sounds and a stunning visual story of God’s faithfulness. Concerts are free and open to all. Your donations are warmly appreciated to support the programs of the African Children’s Choir. If you wish to attend, RSVP to rsvpplatteclove@bruderhof.com.
Location: Platte Clove Community, 2255 Platte Clove Road, Elka Park
Time: 7:00 pm
RSVP: rsvpplatteclove@bruderhof.com
OCTOBER 22-23
WILD ABANDON: Photo Safari, Masterclass Workshop and Halloween Party at an Abandoned Zoo
Wild Abandon is a 2-day event offering a variety of unique experiences and educational opportunities for anyone who is creatively inclined and interested in gaining exclusive access to the abandoned Catskill Game Farm, formerly the largest private zoo in America. Whether you’re a professional photographer, urban explorer, cosplay model, or just interested in strolling the grounds, we have space for you. Parts of the agenda are geared towards experienced artists, while others are open to anyone and everyone who’s interested in appreciating the beauty of the zoo’s modern ruins. Refer to the daily schedule to curate a photo adventure that’s right for you!
Location: Old Catskill Game Farm, 400 Game Farm Road, Catskill More Info: wild-abandon.com
Todd Rundgren: ME/WE
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will be accompanied by a full band that features his longtime bassist Kasim Sulton and drummer Prairie Prince. The group is rounded out by sax player Bobby Strickland, keyboardist Gil Assayas, and guitarist Bruce McDaniel.
Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
OCTOBER 24
Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision (Close Up with studio designer John Storyk and recording engineer Eddie Kramer) 54 years before designer John Storyk designed The Mark screening room at Upstate Films’ Orpheum Theater, he was a recent architectural school grad and was enlisted by Jimi Hendrix to work on Electric Lady Studios. It was the first such commercial enterprise owned by a record-
ing artist. This new doc explores the stop-start year spent designing and building it, making for a rich oral history containing tantalizing asides. Electric Lady Studios proposed that a studio have the ambience and aesthetics of a club, a place where you could entertain as well as work — an idea that Hendrix welcomed and ran with. Electric Lady was the corrective to the institutional blankness of commercial studios. “Jimi’s spirit is still there,” says Eddie Kramer, the recording engineer who was a key partner in Hendrix’s sonic innovation and his studio venture, and a central figure in the film. (dir. John McDermott, 2024, USA, 90 min.)
Location: The Mark, Orpheum Theatre, 156 Main Street, Saugerties
Time: 7:00 pm
More information: upstatefilms.org
FREE Film: The Phantom of the Opera (1925) with live organ accompaniment
This 1925 silent adaptation of the now-famous tale of The Phantom Of The Opera serves as a showcase of the many talents of actor and makeup artist Lon Chaney Sr. Known as “The Man of a Thousand Faces,” Chaney was renowned as one of the most versatile and powerful performers of the silent era. His revolutionary makeup techniques allowed him to transform into a variety of grotesque and horrifying characters, none more memorable than the Phantom, whose famous “unmasking” scene was said to have made theater patrons faint upon its release in 1925. Nearly 100 years later, the film still holds audiences in its thrall, and created a number of techniques that still populate the horror genre today.
Location: Ulster Performing Arts Center, 601 Broadway, Kingston Time: 7:30 pm
More Info: bardavon.org
The Stephen Clair Transmissions Album Release Show w/ Leah Valentine
Released on October 11, Transmissions will be Clair’s 11th studio album. And yeah, not only did they spend two years getting thigh slaps, tympani, 80s synth arpeggios, and ever-present electric guitar sounds just right, they then mixed and mastered the album. After that, another year went by and they mixed and mastered the album a second time. This 9-song excursion wildly goes to all of Clair’s favorite places, from two-chord Patti Smith-style rock drama to The Cars’ era synth melodies, to the Hold Steady vibes, undoubtedly furthering the Deer Tick, Wilco, and Spoon comparisons yet again.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
OCTOBER 25
Mondo Cozmo w/ special guest Jane Leo Mondo Cozmo’s music has been described as “chorus-heavy folk-rock.”
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
The Jayhawks
The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene in the mid1980s.
Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
Ronald James Gallo III is an American musician, singer, songwriter and artist. He began a solo career in 2014, after fronting various bands including Philadelphia-based band Toy Soldiers and since then has released five albums.
“Haunted High Falls”, Siren Theater’s immersive theatrical experience
Back from the dead and hungry for your attention, Siren Theatre and the D&H Canal Historical Society welcome you to the second year of Haunted High Falls: Tales from the Canal, a hairraising, immersive theatre experience. Come explore the 1797 DePuy Tavern and sections of the former D&H Canal. Wake the dead and discover the terrible secret of those who lived, toiled and perished there. Inspired by true tales of hauntings and horror from High Falls and surrounding towns, this is a night you will never forget. Reservations required.
Location: D&H Canal Historical Society, 1315 Rte 213, High Falls
Time: 7:30 pm
More Info: canalmuseum.org
OCTOBER 26
14th Annual UlsterCorps Zombie Escape
Enjoy spectacular fall foliage and beautiful trails at Fifth Lake Hudson Valley, while passing zombies and other spooky surprises hiding in the woods, tunnels and caves. 5k timed trail run, 2k walk and a free 1k Fun Run for kids. Rain Date: Sunday, October 27.
Location: Fifth Lake Hudson Valley (formerly Williams Lake), Williams Lake Road, Rosendale Time: 9:00 am
More Info: zombies.ulstercorps.org
Introduction to Forest Farming with Catskill Forest Association
Small forest landowners often have limited options when it comes to managing their woodlot or generating income to pay for forest management activities. Forest farming is an agroforestry practice that can provide landowners with options where traditional forestry practices like timber harvesting are not feasible. Come learn about the ways you can use forest farming to connect to your land in a meaningful way, reap ecological benefits from your forest, and actively manage your land with non-timber forest products like mushrooms, maple syrup, ginseng, and other forest botanicals.
Location: Mountain Top Arboretum, 4 Maude Adams Road, Tannersville
Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm
More Info: mtarboretum.org
Trick or Treat in Marlboro
Collect treats while meeting & greeting local businesses and community organizations. Dance Performances, Costume Contest, Prizes, Music, Ice Cream Sundaes, Baked Goods, Food, Kids Crafts, Halloween Games, Hay Maze, Photo-Op Area, Petting Zoo and and Much More!
Location: Hamlet of Marlboro
Time: 2:00-4:00 pm
More Info: meetmeinmarlborough.com
MyKingstonKids Halloween Fest and Parade
Prepare for an out-of-this-world adventure at the MyKingstonKids Halloween Fest with a Space Theme! Blast off into a galaxy of spooky fun where children can explore alien worlds, encounter extraterrestrial creatures, and embark on interstellar quests. Dress up in your best space gear and join us for a day of cosmic delights, featuring thrilling space-themed workshops, interactive activities, and a galaxy of treats! Don’t miss our stellar costume contest, where the most creative space explorers will be crowned champions. It’s a Halloween celebration that’s truly ‘out of this world’ and promises to be an unforgettable experience for kids and families alike.
Location: YMCA of Kingston, 507 Broadway, Kingston
Time: 2:00-7:00 pm
More Info: mykingstonkids.com
American Big Band Experience
Dan Gabel’s Orchestra, renowned for its rich, authentic sound, will transport you to a bygone era in a breathtaking performance featuring an all-star ensemble of musicians. Award-winning vocalist Kimberly Hawkey returns to the Walton
Theatre stage to pay tribute to the legendary voices of Helen Forrest, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, and more. Her stunning vocals, combined with the orchestra’s powerful harmonies, create a truly magical experience. Sway to the timeless rhythms of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie, Harry James, and other iconic bandleaders. The American Big Band Experience is a celebration of the Great American Songbook, filled with elegance, romance, and pure musical joy.
The work of theatre-maker and mentalist Vinny DePonto uses a combination of psychological tricks, visual art, and immersive storytelling. His Off-Broadway show Charlatan was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for “Unique Theatrical Experience.” He is also a member of the Bessie-Award winning theatre group Third Rail Projects. His solo work has been presented by Ars Nova, American Conservatory Theater, American Repertory Theater at Harvard, Arena Stages, and the Geffen Playhouse. In addition to his live performances, DePonto’s consulting work was featured in the most recent production of Angels in America and Mother Play on Broadway, in Lincoln Center’s Ghost Light, and in hit television shows on the Discovery Channel, NBC, and Netflix.
Location: Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, 200 Hurd Rd., Bethel Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: bethelwoodscenter.org
I Get Wild plays Talking Heads w/ special guest Molly Tigre
I Get Wild is a Brooklyn-based ensemble that honors the legacy of Talking Heads. With their renditions of iconic New Wave anthems, they channel the essence of the original songs while infusing their own character and style. As one of the premier tribute bands in Brooklyn, I Get Wild’s performances are a testament to their love and appreciation of Talking Heads music. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just looking for a fresh take on classic tunes, I Get Wild’s electrifying live shows are guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. Check them out and see for yourself why they are known for their wild, energetic performances.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
Bendigo Fletcher
Shapeshifting on an axis between folk, alternative, country, and soul, Bendigo Fletcher’s lofty melodies soar above earthy instrumentation on their 2022 Wingding EP. Charmed with psychedelic flourishes, yet tightly rooted in tried-andtrue songcraft, the Louisville quintet continues to instantly transfix across the EP’s four tracks.
Innovative feats of magic are fused with the world of weed as magician and cannabis connoisseur Ben Zabin takes audiences on a journey of Dank Debauchery. Direct from a residency in Las Vegas, Smokus Pocus delivers a spectacle packed with tokes, jokes, & tricks in sold-out theaters across North America. Jars of bud appear, lighters come to life, and bongs bend reality in an unforgettable performance designed to enthrall both the stoned and sober.
Location: Woodstock Playhouse, 103 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: woodstockplayhouse.org
OCTOBER 26 & 27
The Dresden Dolls Formed in 2000, The Dresden Dolls are Amanda Palmer (lead vocals and piano; additional: keyboards, harmonica, ukulele) and Brian Viglione (drums and backing vocals; additional: guitar, bass guitar). The two describe their style as “Brechtian punk cabaret”, a phrase invented by Palmer because she was “terrified” that the press would invent a name that “would involve the word gothic”. The Dresden Dolls aesthetic exemplifies dark cabaret.
Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock
Time: 8:00 pm
More Info: bearsvillecenter.com
Walktoberfest 2024
With a crisp in the air and beautiful fall foliage hanging off the trees, the sixth Annual Walktoberfest Farmers and Makers Market brings a curated selection of the Hudson Valley’s finest 190 producers—farms, distilleries, breweries, wineries, restaurants, artists, artisans, and more—to the Hudson Valley Rail Trail and west approach to Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. Samples of wine, beer, and spirits from more than 30+ local purveyors (21+ only) is included with general admission. Children under 12 and Walkway Over the Hudson Members receive free admission.
Location: Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park 87 Haviland Road, Highland Time: 12:00-5:00 pm
More Info: walkway.org/walktoberfest
OCTOBER 26-NOVEMBER 10
Particle Point Collisions
James Holl book launch and art exhibition. “Holl is a master colorist– there are no false notes in these paintings. The works have a lyricism to them that one can easily imagine are traces of light flying across their surfaces: they have a feeling of truth.”
Location: Athens Cultural Center, 24 Second Street, Athens
Book signing: October 27, time TBD Gallery Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 12:00-5:00 pm
More Info: athensculturalcenter.org
OCTOBER 27
Boo at the Zoo
Join us for: trick or treat around the zoo with our costumed characters; MAZE; pumpkin patch; witches cauldron bonfire; petting and feeding areas throughout the zoo. Family & kid friendly.
Location: Bailiwick Animal Park, 118 Castle Road, Catskill
Time: 1:00-6:00 pm
More Info: bailiwickranch.com
Honky Tonk Last Sunday with Hudson Valley Flyers
The Hudson Valley Flyers perform honky-tonk from the classic country recording era. The band brings the vintage sounds of steel guitar and fiddle with hot leads and cool blues.
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
OCTOBER 31
The Rocky Horror Halloween Extravaganza
A live celebration of the cult classic.
Location: Bearsville Center, 277-297 Tinker Street, Woodstock Time: 8:00 pm
The ReLaTiVeS Punk Rock Halloween Costume Party
This is the Halloween party you definitely do not wanna miss this year! Leave your costume on and come to Colony after the parade! There will be live punk and new wave music and prizes for best costumes!
Location: Colony, 22 Rock City Rd., Woodstock Time: 7:00 pm
More Info: colonywoodstock.com
FALL 2024 WEEKLY COURSES
To register for weekly classes please call Hillary Morse at 518-263-2010 or register online at catskillmtn.org
CERAMICS OPEN STUDIO
Saturdays 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Sundays 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Wednesdays 8:00am - 8:00pm
October 9 – December 11 (10 weeks)
Course Fee: $250
Lab Fee: $50 [includes 25 lbs. clay and firing]
Registration Fee: $40
Sugar Maples Center for the Creative Arts offers the best equipped studio in the Mountain Top region. If you’re a potter/sculptor working with clay, come enjoy working at your own pace on your ideas/visions. There will be bisque firings, cone 6 oxidation firings, and participation in one cone 10 soda firing at the conclusion of the course. This unique opportunity is for makers who have a knowledge of the ceramics processes with which they need to continue to develop their ‘voice.’ Additional clay is available for purchase.
WHEEL THROWING
INTRODUCTION:
YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE
Sundays 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
October 13 - December 15 (10 weeks)
Course Fee: $250
Lab Fee: $50 [includes 25 lbs. clay and firing]
Registration Fee: $40
This exciting course is for folks who want to learn how to make pots on the potter’s wheel. Students will be taught the A to Z about preparing clay and using tools that are unique to this fascinating process of creating functional pottery. Glazing and firing techniques will be covered. There will be demonstrations, heaps of individual attention, and lots of discussions about ceramics’ rich history. Join us here in the most beautiful ceramics studio in the Catskill region!
WHEEL THROWING INTERMEDIATE:
MAKING
GREAT POTS
Sundays 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
October 13 - December 15 (10 weeks)
Course Fee: $250
Lab Fee: $50 [includes 25 lbs. clay and firing]
Registration Fee: $40
Is it time to extend your knowledge of and skills in making pots? This NEW weekly course is intended for makers who can throw basic forms like cylinders, bowls, plates, etc. and would like to extend their skills on the potter’s wheel. This course is also perfect for the artist who would like to refresh their relationship to pottery-making. A variety of forms, types of lids, handles, spouts, and other elements will be covered. This fun class will also help students understand and apply engobes, slips, and glazes. Loading kilns and learning about firing will be shared. Additional clay available for purchase.
HAND BUILDING WITH CLAY
SECTION 1
Monday 6:00 pm - 9:00pm
October 14 – December 16 (10 weeks)
Course Fee: $250
Lab Fee: $50 [includes 25 lbs. clay and firing]
Registration Fee: $40
SECTION 2
Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
October 19 – December 14 (9 weeks)
Course Fee: $225
Lab Fee: $50 [includes 25 lbs. clay and firing]
Registration Fee: $40
This dynamic and enjoyable course is intended for anyone who has the desire to build with clay those ‘things’ that their minds eye can imagine! Come join us in our sunny and well-equipped studio at the foot of Thomas Cole Mountain and put your hands to work. Basic techniques such as coil building, slab construction, scoring, and pinch forming will be taught. You don’t have to have any experience to delve into this exciting world of creating sculptures, vessels, or any other form that crosses your mind. Applying engobes, underglazes, and glazes with be presented through demonstrations, exercises, with time to practice!
2D STUDIO: DRAWING
Sundays 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
October 13 - December 15 (10 weeks)
Course Fee: $250
Lab Fee: $15
Registration Fee: $40
Are you interested in learning/continuing to draw, but don’t know where to start or would like to polish up your skills? If so, this Drawing class is perfect for you! This 10-week course is designed for artists of all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting your artistic journey, you’ll find inspiration and guidance in a supportive learning environment. Explore fundamental techniques, from capturing light and shadow to mastering perspective and composition. Expand your artistic vocabulary and develop your unique style. With a focus on individual growth, this class nurtures creativity and builds confidence.
2D STUDIO: PAINTING
Sundays 1.30 pm - 4:30 pm
October 13 – December 15 (10 weeks)
Course Fee: $250
Lab Fee: $20 [includes paint and a canvas]
Registration Fee: $40
This transformative 10-week painting course is designed to nurture your creativity and elevate your skills. Whether you’re a seasoned artist seeking new challenges or a beginner eager to explore the fundamentals, this supportive environment is your launchpad. Expand your artistic horizons, refine your techniques, skills and discover your unique style under the guidance of experienced instructors. Explore various styles, experiment with different mediums, and create personal works of art. Join us for a transformative journey of self-expression and artistic growth. No prior experience is necessary.
2024 PERFORMING ARTS SEASON
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 AT 7:30PM LAYERHYTHM
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Kick off the New Year with a play-based jam session of freestyle live music, dance, and audience interaction that will get you off your feet.
Presented in partnership with Works & Process at the Guggenheim. LayeRhythm will go straight from Catskill Mountain Foundation to the Works & Process Underground Uptown Dance Festival at Lincoln Center.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 AT 4:00PM
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 AT 7:30PM THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Maude Adams Theater Hub Catskill Mountain Foundation
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
The Greatest Love Story Ever Told? Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, live on stage, returns to the Orpheum for two nights only. Great night for a date night! Costumes Encouraged!
FEBRUARY 14-18 V-SEASON
Maude Adams Theater Hub
Catskill Mountain Foundation
Doctorow Center for the Arts
FEBRUARY 14 & 16 AT 7:00PM
The Women by Clare Boothe Luce
FEBRUARY 15 & 17 AT 7:00PM
God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza
FEBRUARY 17 & 18 AT 2:00PM
The Gin Game by Donald L. Coburn
V Season is Back! An amazing weekend of three plays that amuse, inspire, and maybe even move you to tears. Grab a friend and join MATH for this annual series of staged readings.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18 AT 2:00PM
INTERNATIONAL FORTEPIANO SALON
“Dancing the Minuet to the Fortepiano”
Yi-heng Yang, Maria Rose & Patricia García-Gil Hosts
Streaming LIVE on Facebook and YouTube
The Baroque minuet contained all of the musical attributes that maintain its status as the most popular dance form—whether to be danced or not—throughout the 18th century: a pleasing character, a simple texture, and regular, clearly delineated phrases. When playing minuets on the fortepiano, how do you make them dance? By asking a choreographer of course! Join choreographer Julia Bengtsson and fortepianist Patricia Garcia Gil in an exploration of the inherent connection between dance and music.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24 AT 3:00PM ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO LIVE
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Get ready for the ultimate playdate— 65 million years in the making—as Erth’s DINOSAUR ZOO
LIVE guides your family on a breathtaking tour that begins in pre-historic Australia. You’ll observe, meet and interact with an eye-popping collection of amazingly life-like dinosaurs and other creatures presented in a theatrical performance that will thrill and entertain kids while stimulating their imaginations in ways that will forever connect them to their world.
SATURDAY, MARCH 2 AT 7:00PM
DANÚ: “TRADITIONAL MUSIC FROM IRELAND”
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Hailing from historic County Waterford, Danú is one of the leading traditional Irish ensembles of today. Their standing room only concerts throughout Ireland are true events featuring high-energy performances and a glorious mix of ancient Irish music and new repertoire.
LayeRhythm January 6
Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo February 24
Ladies of Hip Hop March 30 SOLD OUT!
SATURDAY, MARCH 9 AT 7:00PM 360 ALLSTARS
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
A phenomenal physical performance exploring all forms of rotation and boasting a stellar international cast of World Champion and World Record-holding athletes and artists, 360 ALLSTARS is a spectacular fusion of the extraordinary artistry that emerges from street culture.
“BMX, basketball, breakdancing, beatboxing, acrobatics, drumming and more! The most thrilling stage show ever.”
—Weekend Notes ★★★★★
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 AT 2:00PM INTERNATIONAL FORTEPIANO SALON
Yi-heng Yang, Maria Rose & Patricia García-Gil Hosts
Hilda Huang Guest
Streaming LIVE on Facebook and YouTube
Hilda Huang is a modern performer of historical music who brings together traditions of performance on piano and harpsichord. Her work has earned international acclaim with the distinction of first prize at the Leipzig International Bach competition and appearances at the Leipzig and Montréal Bach Festivals.
SATURDAY, MARCH 30 AT 7:00PM LADIES OF HIP HOP: THE BLACK DANCING BODIES–SPEAKMYMIND
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Part of an ongoing performance and documentary effort focused on Black women in street and club dance culture, in this session of Black Dancing Bodies each member of the collective responds to the question, “If I could speak my mind, what would I say?” In this world premiere, experience new writings, music, and movement spanning dance styles from African, to waacking, vogue, Hip-hop, and house; all curated under the direction of Michele Byrd-McPhee.
SpeakMyMind was commissioned by Works & Process, developed in Works & Process LaunchPAD residencies at Bethany Arts Community (2022, 2023, and 2024) and Catskill Mountain Foundation (2022), and Office Hours Residency at The Kennedy Center (2023) with performances at the Guggenheim Museum, Jacob’s Pillow, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the National Gallery of Art, SummerStage, Dancers Responding to AIDS Hudson Valley Dance Festival, and New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
SpeakMyMind is a 2023 New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project grantee, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Foundation and Mellon Foundation.
FRIDAY, APRIL 5 AT 7:00PM
SATURDAY, APRIL 6 AT 7:00PM
STUPID F*ING BIRD
By Aaron Posner
Directed by Caitlin McColl
Maude Adams Theater Hub
Catskill Mountain Foundation
Doctorow Center for the Arts
In this irreverent, contemporary, and very funny remix of Chekhov’s The Seagull, Aaron Posner stages a timeless battle between young and old, past and present, in search of the true meaning of it all. STUPID F*ING BIRD will tickle, tantalize, and incite you to consider how art, love, and revolution fuel your own pursuit of happiness.
SATURDAY, APRIL 13 AT 2:00PM APRIL IN PARIS
Joanne Polk piano
Jeffrey Langford lecture
Doctorow Center for the Arts
Come join husband and wife team musicologist Dr. Jeffrey Langford and pianist Dr. Joanne Polk as they take a romantic conversation and musical stroll through Paris. Enjoy performances of songs with the word “Paris” in the title, including “I Love Paris” by Cole Porter and “April in Paris” by Vernon Duke. These songs were transcribed for Dr. Polk by composer David Shenton, who will attend the concert and will be part of the Q&A after the concert. Other composers featured will include Claude Debussy and Cécile Chaminade.
SATURDAY, APRIL 27 AT 7:30PM THE TEMPEST
Doctorow Center for the Arts
The Tempest will use physicality, clowning, and cinematic theatricality to create magic, spectacle, and community dialogue. Join Catskill Mountain Shakespeare at the Catskill Mountain Foundation on April 27 to experience it yourself!
This touring production is presented thanks to the generous support from Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. From April 8-28, 2024, Catskill Mountain Shakespeare will tour to local middle schools, high schools, libraries and other community venues throughout the greater Catskill region.
SATURDAY, MAY 4 AT 7:00PM
TRAILBLAZING WOMEN OF COUNTRY: FROM PATSY TO LORETTA TO DOLLY
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
With their chart-topping hits and record-breaking sales, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton wove threads of contemporary womanhood throughout the tapestry of country music, resulting in unprecedented commercial success and earning each a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Trailblazing Women of Country will feature soloists Miko Marks, one of CMT’s 2022 Next Women of Country; and Nashville based singer Kristina Train, supported by a 5-member all-female band.
360 ALLSTARS March 9
Photo: Darren Thomas
SATURDAY, MAY 11 AT 7:00PM
CAMILLE A. BROWN & DANCERS: I AM
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Camille A. Brown is a three time Tony Award nominated director and choreographer whose work taps into both ancestral and contemporary stories to capture deeply personal experiences and cultural narratives of African American identity. Through the medium of dance, she has been successful in stage, TV, and film. She was the first black director in the history of the Metropolitan Opera MainStage, and has directed and choreographed numerous productions. TV & Film work includes the Academy Award nominated Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and the Emmy award winning Jesus Christ Superstar
SATURDAY, MAY 18 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 fully-staged ballets each year. The recital showcases the work of all students and can also include alumni who have joined acclaimed ballet companies or who are studying dance at major universities.
SATURDAY, MAY 18 AT 8:00PM JOSH FROMER COMEDY NIGHT
Maude Adams Theater Hub
Catskill Mountain Foundation
Doctorow Center for the Arts
Comedy Night is back, and it’s cleaner than ever! Josh Fromer brings opener Amanda Gail and headliner Greg Stone to the Catskills for an evening of hilarious stories and keenly-crafted jokes.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22 AT 1:00PM WOVEN CURRENTS
Yi-heng Yang piano
Judd Weisberg Woven Currents projected prints and live drawing on stage
Doctorow Center for the Arts, Cinema I
A multi-media collaboration between artist Judd Weisberg and pianist Yi-heng Yang. Weisberg has created a series of prints capturing the magical junctions where two streams merge, and Yi-heng Yang has composed music drawn from the musical pitches of the currents as they meet. This performance includes projected images from the Woven Currents print series and live drawing by Weisberg projected on the movie screen accompanied by Yi-heng Yang performing composed and improvised works on piano.
ACADEMY OF FORTEPIANO PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL
Doctorow Center for the Arts academyfortepiano.org/academy2024
Academy of Fortepiano Performance students will participate in master classes and workshops supported by plentiful access to pianos from the 18th & 19th century or their modern replicas.
MAY 25 – JUNE 2
ACADEMY OF FORTEPIANO PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP FOR SOLO FORTEPIANO
Guest artists: Elizaveta Miller and Jiayan Sun
SATURDAY, MAY 25 AT 7:00 PM
FACULTY AND GUEST ARTIST CONCERT: WHEN THE PIANO WAS YOUNG
Audrey Axinn, Maria Rose, Andrew Willis and guest artist Elizaveta Miller
SUNDAY, MAY 26 AT 2:00 PM MASTERCLASS With Elizaveta Miller
TUESDAY, MAY 28 AT 2:00 PM
LECTURE/CONCERT: “TOCCATAS AND FANTASIES” With Julian Jenson
THURSDAY, MAY 30 AT 2:00 PM
LECTURE/CONCERT: “HISTORICAL IMPROVISATION” With Nicola Canzano
FRIDAY, MAY 31 AT 2:00 PM RECITAL AND MASTERCLASS With Jiayan Sun
SATURDAY, JUNE 1 AT 7:00 PM STUDENT CONCERT
Featuring students from the Academy of Fortepiano Performance
JUNE 2 – JUNE 8
CHAMBER MUSIC WORKSHOP FOR FORTEPIANO AND STRINGS
Guest faculty: Cynthia Roberts
FRIDAY, JUNE 7 AT 7:00 PM STUDENT CONCERT
Featuring students from the Chamber Music Workshop
FRIDAY, JULY 5 AT 6:00PM
SATURDAY, JULY 6 AT 1:00 & 6:00PM CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Maude Adams Theater Hub Catskill Mountain Foundation
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
This summer MATH has the golden ticket for Broadway’s latest version of the timeless classic, Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Led by the directing talents of Liz Piccoli, the assembled cast and creatives are turning the Orpheum stage into a Candyland for your 4th of July weekend entertainment. Get your tickets early, and tell all your friends!
FRIDAY, JULY 12 AT 5:30 PM
CATSKILL MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION BENEFIT DINNER
The Big Red Barn
Help us celebrate our 26th year of bringing arts to the mountaintop at our Annual Benefit. Join us for a cocktail reception, dinner, dessert and presentation, followed by a private premiere of Catskill Mountain Shakespeare’s summer production, Julius Caesar
RUNNING JULY 13-JULY 28
JULIUS CAESAR
Outdoors & in the tent behind the Big Red Barn
catskillmountainshakespeare.com
As Julius Caesar’s appetite for power grows ravenous, a group of rebel politicians join forces to save Rome the only way they see how. Their daring bloodshed is just the beginning of this saga of bloodlust, treachery, and brutality, all in the name of a better world. Contemporary dance, visual art and fashion combine with dynamic storytelling to create a visceral theatrical experience. Julius Caesar offers a meditation on power in our contemporary world and immerses us, the audience, into its heart.*
*NOTE: This performance contains instances of intimacy, violence, and mature content matter. The recommended age for audiences is 12 and up.
SUNDAY, JULY 14 AT 3:00PM
STARS OF BALLET
with New York City Ballet Principal Adrian Danchig-Waring
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Following last year’s sold-out Jacques d’Amboise tribute, Adrian Danchig-Waring returns with a star studded cast, including dancers from New York City Ballet, in a program of classics and contemporary favorites.
SATURDAY, JULY 20 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. The program culminates in a performance onstage at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center featuring the dancers and live music set against a backdrop of colorful banners created over the many years of the collaboration between NDI and the Catskill Mountain Foundation. This is a high-energy event that draws large crowds every year!
SUNDAY, JULY 21 AT 2:00 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JULY 27 & 28 AT 2:00 PM
GALA BENEFIT FILM SCREENING: SATURDAY, JULY 27 AT 5:30 PM
TEXAS TOWN
By Horton Foote Doctorow Center for the Arts hortonbythestream.org
Texas Town, filled with pathos, hints at some of life’s biggest questions. The play explores life in the small fictional town of Harrison, Texas after the peak of the cotton industry and just before oil had hit the state in a big way.
Horton by the Stream celebrates its 30th summer season this year. The winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Academy Award, Horton Foote is America’s storyteller. Dubbed “the most prolific playwright nobody knows”, Horton Foote seems at times to be an insider secret in the theater world.
This year not only will the company present this early rarely done play, but it will also present a 30th Anniversary Benefit screening of Horton Foote: The Road to Home, a documentary film about the life and work of Horton Foote. A reception will feature special guests, wine, and cheese.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 AT 2:00 & 7:00PM SUNDAY, AUGUST 4 AT 2:00PM
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
The magic continues this summer with CMF’s spectacular production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
This unique production, conceived by former Metropolitan Opera ballerina Victoria Rinaldi, transports the audience to an enchanted wood to witness what hilarity unfolds, when fairies meddle with the love lives of mortals. All ends well with a triple wedding and gala ballet. Now in its fifth year, this beloved production of the Orpheum Dance Program is continuing last year’s successful collaborations with Aquila Theatre and Joffrey Ballet School New York. Students from the Orpheum Dance Program’s Community Dance Class, alongside other local children, will be given the opportunity to appear on stage with professional actors and dancers in a fresh, new program filled with new scenes and updated choreography in a production that will enchant audiences young and old.
Adrian Danchig-Waring and Anthony Roth Costanzo performing “Desire” by Lar Lubovitch (World Premiere), December 5, 2023.
Photo: Works & Process /Erick Munari
AUGUST 1-10, 2024
HUNTER INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Doctorow Center for the Arts huntermusicfestival.com
Offering a beautiful escape into the mountains and an intensive summer music program all in one package, Hunter International Music Festival is a unique, ten-day music festival experience focusing on both solo and chamber music training.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4 AT 7:00 PM MUSIC SALON AT HIMF Red Barn
TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6 & 7 AT 7:00 PM YOUNG ARTISTS CONCERT SERIES
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8 AT 7:00 PM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 AT 4:00 PM STUDENT CHAMBER MUSIC PERFORMANCES
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 AT 7:00 PM FACULTY CONCERT: AROUND THE WORLD, AN EVENING OF MUSICAL INTEGRATION
The program will include: Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No. 2 in G minor; Fauré’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15; and Dvořák’s Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 81
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 AT 7:00 PM GUEST ARTIST CONCERT: THE LYSANDER TRIO
The Lysander Piano Trio has been praised by The Strad for its “incredible ensemble, passionate playing, articulate and imaginative ideas and wide palette of colors.” The group has developed a reputation for exciting programming, finding creative ways to connect well-known masterworks with pieces by lesser-known and underrepresented composers, discovering common threads across cultures and times.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 AT 6:00PM
OMNY TAIKO
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Second Performance!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 AT 2:00PM
Windham Civic & Performing Arts Centre
5379 Route 23, Windham
OMNY Taiko Drummers returns to the mountaintop to again present their eagerly anticipated performance at the Orpheum. 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 has the power to connect ourselves with those around us and with the universe at large.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 AT 7:00PM
PRE-CONCERT TALK AT 6:45PM WINDHAM FESTIVAL CHAMBER
ORCHESTRA
Music of Tchaikovsky, Scott Joplin & Robert Manno
Robert Manno, conductor
Melissa Wimbish, soprano
Andrew Garland, baritone
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra welcomes Melissa Wimbish, soprano and Andrew Garland, baritone for a program that will include:
Manno: Portrait of Millay for Soprano & String Orchestra on Five Sonnets by Edna St. Vincent Millay (Premiere)
Manno: Fern Hill (Dylan Thomas) for Baritone & Chamber Orchestra (Premiere of Orchestra Version)
Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence for String Orchestra
Scott Joplin: Three Rags for Chamber Orchestra (arr. Skoryk/Manno)
Windham Festival Chamber Orchestra was formed in 2000 by conductor Robert Manno. 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, AUGUST 24 AT 7:00PM THE MOSS ENSEMBLE
Darcy Dunn, mezzo-soprano
Marshall Coid, countertenor & violin
Elizabeth Rodgers, piano
Mary Wooten, cello
Doctorow Center for the Arts
The Moss Ensemble returns to the CMF for an evening of beautiful music that stirs our hearts and, we hope, yours. Featuring works by Beethoven, Monteverdi, Ravel, Faure, Vitali, Debussy and Griffiths, as well as pieces by our own Marshall Coid and Mary Wooten. Please join us!
Lysander Trio Photo by Jiyang Chen
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 AT 2:00PM
STEVEN E. GREENSTEIN
MEMORIAL CONCERT
Doctorow Center for the Arts
Steven E. Greenstein was the collector and curator of the vintage piano collection on public display at the Doctorow Center for the Arts. This memorial concert will feature performances by the faculty and students of the Academy of Fortepiano Performance, Joanne Polk and Jeffrey Langford, and jazz pianist Jamie Saft on pianos from the collection.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 AT 7:00PM
MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY:
BAYE & ASA’S CORTEGE 2023
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Taking advantage of the Orpheum’s new technical upgrades, the world-renowned Martha Graham Dance Company will spend the week in a Works & Process LaunchPAD tech-residency putting the finishing touches on a new commission by Baye & Asa. See the culmination of this process and join in on this first look before the company’s performance at Works & Process at the Guggenheim and the work’s premiere at New York City Center.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 AT 2:00PM INTERNATIONAL FORTEPIANO SALON
“Shuann Chai and Shunske Sato: Recording Beethoven’s 10 Sonatas for Fortepiano and Violin”
Yi-heng Yang, Maria Rose, & Patricia García-Gil Hosts Streaming LIVE on Facebook and YouTube
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 & 5 AT 7:00 PM OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES
Maude Adams Theater Hub Catskill Mountain Foundation Doctorow Center for the Arts
A revue that pays tribute to and reinvents classic jokes of the past and present. Think you’ve heard them all before? Not this way. If you’ve ever had a mother, visited a doctor, or walked into a bar with a priest, a rabbi and a frog - OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES will give you a second opinion, and ask you where you got that.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 AT 2:00PM INTERNATIONAL FORTEPIANO SALON
With Guest Pierre Goy Yi-heng Yang, Maria Rose, & Patricia García-Gil Hosts Streaming LIVE on Facebook and YouTube
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 AT 7:00PM
HOME AGAIN: CAROLE KING TRIBUTE
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
HOME AGAIN covers the entire repertoire of the multi-award winning singer/songwriter Carole King. Included on the list are songs she wrote & recorded on her own as well as songs she wrote that were recorded by others.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 AT 7:00PM
CALEB TEICHER & SWING OUT DANCERS
A VERY SW!NG OUT HOLIDAY
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
‘Tis the season to swing! In a special holiday revival of the hit show, SW!NG OUT, acclaimed director/choreographer Caleb Teicher and their collaborators (Evita Arce, LaTasha Barnes, Nathan Bugh, and Eyal Vilner) invite you to revel in the joy of social dance and festive cheer! In A Very SW!NG OUT Holiday, Lindy Hop champions bring their talents to the Orpheum’s stage to kick off the holiday season.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 AT 7:00PM
SOME ENCHANTED EVENING
BENNY BENACK III
STELLA KATHERINE COLE
JABU GRAYBEAL
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Led by Emmy-nominated crooner Benny Benack III and singer and social media sensation Stella Katherine Cole, Some Enchanted Evening leads audiences on a jazz-inspired journey through Broadway’s greatest hits from the Golden Age of yesterday to the freshest hits of today. From Hammerstein to Hamilton and everything in between, this musical mashup also showcases Jabu Graybeal, a one-of-a-kind talent and tap-dancing star.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30 AT 7:00PM
TWELFTH NIGHT ENSEMBLE
YI-HENG YANG, FORTEPIANO
AQUILA THEATRE
Doctorow Center for the Arts
Fortepianist Yi-heng Yang, Twelfth Night Ensemble, and Aquila Theatre are collaborating on a special performance featuring the double concerti of Mozart with spoken word dramatizations of the life of Mozart.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 AT 2:00 & 7:00PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 AT 2:00PM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 AT 2:00 & 7:00PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 AT 2:00PM
THE NUTCRACKER
Orpheum Performing Arts Center
Now in its ninth year, the CMF Nutcracker 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.
FRIDAY, 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!
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
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