hudson valley
Mercantile live. work. play.
� � � � � � � �� �� � � �
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 2
Page 3
Mercantile April-May 2013
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 4
Page 5
Mercantile April-May 2013
contents Bright Green Valley Calendar begins
6
Red Hook Welcomes Living Eden
9
Building a Future with Farmers by Lindsey Lusher Shute
10
Seasonal Palette Calendar begins
12
Art Along the Hudson Celebrates 10th Anniversary
17
Bronck House Celebrates 350: Windows on History by Jim Planck
21
Take the Kids Calendar begins
25
Live! On Stage Calendar begins
28
Sounds of the Season Calendar begins
30
Readings, Signings & Screenings Calendar begins
32
Long Days, Short Years by Brian PJ Cronin
35
Miscellaenous Calendar
36
hudson valley
Mercantile a publication of
P.O. Box 178 Red Hook, NY 12571 845-546-3051
Jim Gibbons: Publisher jgibbons@hvrising.com Heather Gibbons: Creative Director calendarhog@hvrising.com Contents ©2013 Rising Tide Communications, LLC No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher
Contributors:
Special Thanks:
Brian PJ Cronin
Art Along the Hudson
Kristen Cronin
Jennifer Barnhart
Lindsey Lusher Shute
Greene County Historical Society
Jim Planck
Bobbi Jo Forte
On the Cover: “Bash Bish Falls” watercolor by Nathan K. Milgrim. Born in New York City in 1931, Nathan grew up in Mount Vernon N.Y. and attended Syracuse University. After college, he joined the family-owned Providence Import Co. in New York City as a salesman of Japanese rugs and eventually began designing rugs. He helped the company become the nation’s leading importer of area rugs. Over time, he began concentrating solely on design and formed his own firm, N.K. Milgrim Inc. in the early 1970’s. He now lives in Kingston and frequently travels the world visiting old friends. Between trips, he spends most days painting with watercolors and studies techniques with Betsy Jacaruso. He is a member of Cross River Fine Art artists’ guild, and his work can be seen on their gallery wall at Betsy Jacaruso’s studio and gallery in Rhinebeck. To learn more, visit www.crossriverfineart.com/nathan_milgrim.htm
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 6
green valley Bright
World renowned expert and Time magazine “Hero of the Planet” Dr. Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, participates in ‘Race for Survival event at Millbrook School on May 4.
Address: Earth -- Celebrating the Earth Exhibition
Mid-Hudson Heritage Center, 317 Main St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Through April 26: “Address: Earth -- Celebrating the Earth,” an exhibition that commemorates the environment we live in and around, and expresses its beauty through many forms of media. Artists from the Hudson Valley and beyond will be contributing work to the show. Hours: Tues.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Information: 845.214.1113; http://midhudsonheritage.org/events
Hudson Valley Farmers’ Market
Greig Farm, 229 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook, NY 12571 Saturdays, year ‘round, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Sponsored by the Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest. Enjoy the ambiance of a century old dairy barn while perusing local vegetables, fruits, eggs, cheeses, meats, fish, flowers and more from local Hudson Valley Farms! Help us build a one stop market year round and support your local family farms. Information: http://www.greigfarm.com/hudson-valley-farmers-market.html
Exhibition: This Is Our Land
Moviehouse Gallery, 48 Main Street, Millerton, NY 12546 Through May 2: “This Is Our Land,” an art exhibition that depicts the wonders and scenic beauty of our natural environment, as interpreted by 15 contributing artists. The show is inspired by the recent film screenings of films that focused on environmental issues. Information: http://www.themoviehouse.net
Hudson Indoor Market
Christ Church, Union St., Hudson, NY 12534 Saturdays. April 20 & 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Featuring local farms and foods and many of your favorite Hudson Farmers’ Market vendors. Information: http://www.hudsonfarmersmarketny.com
Environmental Awareness & Sustainability Day
State University of New York at New Paltz, Old Main, the Quad & Coykendall Science Building Auditorium, New Paltz, NY Saturday, April 20, noon-4 p.m.: Activities for children and adults of all ages with games, interactive displays, speakers, a green living panel, music and a local green market. Featured presenter Andy Revkin, Dot Earth blogger for the New York Times shares his thoughts on climage change and communication at 2 p.m. Andy and student bands will play music on the quad following his talk. Information: http://www.facebook.com/SUNYenvironmentalawareness andsustainabilityday
Earth Day Celebration and Trail Day
Borden’s Pond Conservation Area, 1628 Route 203, Ghent, NY 12075 Sundays, April 21, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Join CLC and Valatie Boy Scout Troop #2114 for a trail work day at the Borden’s Pond Conservation Area. The projects will include clearing around the stone wall, improving the green trail, installing stone steps, and general clean-up. It’s not all work – watch for the return of spring birds, spring wildflowers, and ferns. Please dress to work in brushy conditions and bring work gloves and tools if you have them. Snacks and beverages will be provided. Information: http://clctrust.org
Final Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market Winter Market
Rhinebeck Town Hall, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Sundays, April 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: A diverse and unique selection of farm fresh products that showcase the very best of the Hudson Valley. Check website for complete list of vendors. Information: http://www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com
Page 7
Mercantile April-May 2013
Wednesday Wandering: KEEP Conservation Preserve
County Route 8, Germantown, NY 12526 Wednesday, April 24, 10 a.m.-noon: Join CLC for a guided walk through KEEP Conservation’s 143-acre preserve of streams, woods, and old farm fields with excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. Information: http://clctrust.org
Full Moon Frog Walk
Hand Hollow Conservation Area, 4079 County Route 9, New Lebanon, NY 12125 Friday, April 26, 7-9 p.m.: “Love is in the air.” Hear some of the region’s tuneful amphibians sing their mating songs. CLC staff will provide a brief lesson on frog call identification and information about amphibians common to the area. Information: http://clctrust.org
The Phantom Gardener Earth Day Celebration
The Phantom Gardener, Route 9, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Saturday & Sunday, April 20 & 21: Celebrate Earth Day with a wide range of workshops on both days, plus vendors, informational booths, kids activities, live music, yoga and many free workshops on such topics as: “Solutions to Your Landscaping Questions”; “Building a Stone Wall”; “Organic Veggie Growing”; “Birding”; “The Impact of Climate Change”; “Planting for Bees” and much more. Free seedlings, face painting, crafts and more. Information: http://thephantomgardener.com
Special Screening: Pandora’s Promise
Jim Ottoway Jr. Film Center, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 Friday, April 26, 5-7:30 p.m.: The recent reactor meltdowns in Japan have ignited passionate worldwide debate about energy and the future of nuclear power. Pandora’s Promise is a feature-length documentary by Oscar-nominated director Robert Stone, that explores how and why mankind’s most feared and controversial technological discovery is now passionately embraced by many of those who once led the charge against it. The film is anchored around the personal narratives of a growing number of leading former anti-nuclear activists and pioneering scientists who, in the face of considerable controversy, are directly challenging the anti-nuclear orthodoxy that is a founding tenet of the mainstream environmental movement. Operating as history, cultural meditation and contemporary exploration, Pandora’s Promise aims to inspire a serious and realistic debate over what is without question the most important question of our time: how do we continue to power modern civilization without destroying it? Information: 845.758.7071; http://www.bard.edu/cep
Last Millerton Winter Market of the Season
Gilmor Glass, 2 Main Street, Millerton, NY 12546 Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Seasonal local vegetables & herbs, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, eggs, cheese, wine, artisanal sourdough bread, gourmet baked goods, vegan Indian food, soaps, tinctures, salves, pickles, preserves, granola & granola bars, milk, yogurt, fresh trout, micro greens, yarn, & more! Information: http://www.millertonfarmersmarket.org
Final Red Hook Winter Market of the Season
Elmendorph Inn, North Broadway & Cherry St., Red Hook, NY 12571 Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Featuring local farms and foods: fruits, veggies, meats, milk, specialty foods, gifts. Live music and warm food & drink. Information: 845.758.5887; http://elmendorph.org
Spring Herbs: Wild Foraging and Spring Tonics
Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center, 327 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY 12075 Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Learn to transform herbs into practical, helpful products. Designed for the sprouting as well as the established herbalist. Taught by certified herbalist Margo Mullein. Margo Mullein is the founder and owner of Walking Root Herb Farm and Center for Indigenous Technologies. Fee: $55 Information: 518.672.7500 x 231; http://hawthornevalleyfarm.org
Annual Town of Red Hook Spring Clean Up
Meet at Red Hook Town Hall, South Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571 Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: Start the day by joining the Red Hook Tree Preservation Commission for their annual “Arbor-Earth Day Celebration” held at the Red Hook Town Hall Parking Lot. Clean Up starts at 12:30 p.m. -- meet at the Town Hall parking lot to get a roadside assignment and supplies. Work gloves and boots recommended. Rain date: April 28. Information: smccann@redhook.org; mckeonandny@yahoo.com
New Paltz Earth Day Fair
The Reformed Church of New Paltz, 92 Huguenot St., New Paltz, NY 12561 Sunday, April 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Riverkeeper hosts this festival featuring a sharing of ideas, community discussions, music, activities and delicious, local, healthful food. Learn about Riverkeeper’s important work on the Hudson River. Information: www.riverkeeper.org
National Climate Seminar: Spring 2013
Teleconference Wednesday, May 1, noon: Half-hour calls are organized and run by Bard CEP. Featuring top scientists, anaylsts, and political leaders in discussion on climate and clean energy solutions. During this week’s seminar, Manuel Pastor, Professor of American Studies & Ethnicity at USC, and James Boyce, Professor of Economics at UMASS, talk about “Co-benefits and Climate Justice.” Call in number is 1-712-432-3100, Code # 253385. Information: http://www.bard.edu/cep
The Incidental Steward: Reflections on Citizen Science
Cary Institute Auditorium, 2801 Sharon Tpke., Millbrook, NY 12545 Friday, May 3, 7 p.m.: Whether it’s pulling up water chestnuts in the Hudson River, measuring beds of submerged aquatic vegetation, or searching out vernal pools—citizens can play a vital role in scientific research. A special lecture on citizen science by author Akiko Busch and Cary Institute scientist Stuart Findlay. Tickets: Free Information: http://www.caryinstitute.org/events
Flood Management: New Strategies in a Changing Climate
Cary Institute Auditorium, 2801 Sharon Tpke., Millbrook, NY 12545 Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: As intense rain events become more common in the Hudson Valley, there is a growing need for improved flood management. Geared toward municipal decision makers and concerned citizens, this forum will provide insight into flood resilience strategies. Speakers will include a climatologist, a stream ecologist, and several experts tasked with flood response and infrastructure adaptation. Held in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess, Columbia, and Greene Counties. Registration required. Tickets: Free Information: http://www.caryinstitute.org/events continued on page 8 g
Mercantile April-May 2013 continued from page 7 i
Hudson Farmers’ Market
6th & Columbia St. Municipal Parking Lot, Hudson, NY 12534 Saturdays, starting May 4, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: This year is the 16th year of operation for the Hudson Farmers’ Market! Some highlights for the coming season include the return of the Book Tent featuring great cookbooks and their authors; the first Annual Strawberry Festival in early June; the Corn Roast in July/August -- and so much more. Information: http://www.hudsonfarmersmarketny.com
Plant Swap
Tivoli Free Library, Watts dePeyster Hall, 86 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583 Saturday, May 4, 9:30 a.m.: Bring all your extra plants - perennials, annual seedlings, shrubs, vines, houseplants, vegetable/herb seedlings and extra seeds to the Tivoli Free Library’s third annual plant swap! Have plants divided in containers, labeled with names and basic planting instructions. There will also be swapping of garden related items garden books, magazines, tools, hoses, garden art, containers and pots. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Swapping begins at 10 a.m. sharp! Information: 845.757.3771; http://www.tivolilibrary.org
Guided Bird Walk @ KEEP Preserve
County Route 8 @ Orr Rd., Germantown, NY 12526 Saturday, May 4, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Join KEEP Conservation founders Linda Atkins and Pearl Broder for a Spring guided bird walk on the land. Bring binoculars. Meet at the Preserve parking lot. Information: germantownlibraryevents@yahoo.com
Spring Celebration and Plant Sale
Stony Kill Ed Ctr, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Saturday, May 4, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Vegetable, herb & flower sale. All plants were grown in Stony Kill’s Greenhouse and proceeds allow them to continue with their mission of educating the public about the working farm they operate and the livestock cared for at Stony Kill. There will also be sheep shearing, demonstrations/displays, children’s activities, tours of the farm animals in the barn, a bake sale, food, live music, gift shop and much more! Please use the entrance by the stone pillars. Information: 845.831.1617; foundation@stonykill.org
Race for Survival
Millbrook School, 131 Millbrook School Rd., Millbrook, NY 12545 Saturday, May 4, 4-6:30 p.m.: Spend an afternoon with the world renowned expert and Time magazine “Hero of the Planet” Dr. Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Partnering with the Trevor Zoo at the Millbrook School, Keepsafe invited accomplished local and international artists as well as some talented students at Millbrook School to decorate wooden “KeepSafe” boxes that will be auctioned off as a fundraiser for three organizations: Cheetah Conservation Fund, International Crane Foundation, Coastal Wildlife Reuge Society, and Red Wolf Recovery Project. The evening begins with an auction preview, followed by a silent auction and a movie about the 75 year history of the Trevor Zoo and its leadership in wildlife conservation, “Across the Pond.” Information: http://www.keepsafeproject.com/artists.html
Backyard Biodynamics: Designing and Planting Your Home Garden
Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center, 327 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY 12075 Sunday, May 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.: An introduction to biodynamic practices in the setting of your own backyard. With a palate and appreciation for freshness and texture, Peggy O’Brien of Edible Views designs gardens that
Page 8
are ‘living’ produce markets. After a lunch break (visit the Farm Store cafe or bring your own) learn how to build a compost pile, and stir and apply a biodynamic preparation. Fee: $45 Information: 518.672.7500 x 231; http://hawthornevalleyfarm.org
Sunday Author Series: Mini Farming Guide to Composting
The Gallery, 199 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Sunday, May 5, 2 p.m.: Author Brett L. Markham will share his enthusiasm and expertise with his new guide to composting, “The Mini Farming Guide to Composting.” Learn to build a backyard composter and understand the science of how your food scraps become food for your garden. Information: 845.838.1600; http://www.bire.org
Scenic Hudson’s Naturalist Lecture Series: Close Encounters with Birds of Prey
Scenic Hudson’s River Center, Long Dock Rd., Beacon, NY 12508 Tuesday, May 7, 6:30-8 p.m.: Bill Streeter, executive director of the Delaware Valley Raptor Center, will share the podium with six live raptors and describe the unique features of each magnificent bird. Space is limited—arrive early to guarantee a seat. Information: 845.473.4440 x 273; http://www.scenichudson.org
2nd Annual Riverkeeper Sweep
Throughout the Hudson Valley Saturday, May 11: Riverkeeper’s annual day of service for the Hudson River. Riverkeeper expects as many as 1,000 volunteers to take part in the 2013 Riverkeeper Sweep. To find a site near you, review the map or list on their website (http://www.riverkeeper.org) and click on the links to register. In 2012 the Riverkeeper Sweep engaged 450 volunteers who cleaned up seven tons of shoreline trash and planted more than 100 trees in 30 Hudson River communities. Information: sweep@riverkeeper.org
Walk & Talk: Herbalist Sarah Elisabeth
Center for Environmental Innovation & Education, Dennings Point, Hudson Highlands State Park, 199 Dennings Ave., Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, May 11, 10-11:30 a.m.: Sarah Elisabeth, an herbalist in the Wise Woman Tradition, leads a tour of Denning’s Point, exploring wild edibles and healing herbs. Information: 845.838.1600; http://www.bire.org
Trash to Treasures: Art Made from Recycled Materials
Beacon Riverfront, Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: As part of River Keepers’ Annual Great River Sweep (an event initiated by Scenic Hudson in 1998 and taken up by Riverkeeper in 2012), Beacon Sloop Club will be participating by helping to clean up the Beacon Riverfront. As part of this effort they are sponsoring an art show “Trash to Treasures” emphasizing Beacon’s commitment to cleaning up the environment and the Green Initiative. Help celebrate this vision by participating. They will be giving a prize of $500 to the best of show. The art pieces will be on display in a gallery after the show. Information: 845.242.7822; davideb@aol.com
Plant a Tree with Your Mother Day
Black Creek Preserve, Winding Brook Rd., Esopus, NY 12429 Sunday, May 12, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Spend some quality outdoor time with Mom while helping to save Mother Earth. Bring gloves if you have them, sunscreen, bug spray and plenty of water. Scenic Hudson will provide tools, water for on-site washing and the trees. Information: 845.473.4440 x 273; http://www.scenichudson.org
Page 9
Mercantile April-May 2013
Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market
Municipal Parking Lot, E. Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Sundays, starting May 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Farm fresh products including fruits and vegetables, beef, pork, lamb, venison, buffalo, fish, chicken, turkey, duck, pheasant, rabbit, eggs from chicken, duck, turkey and pheasant, goat, cow and sheep’s milk cheeses, dairy, honey, juices, jams, flowers & plants, smoked products & more. Information: http://www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com
Spring Migratory Bird Walk with Audubon NY
Olana, Wagon House Ed Ctr, 5720 Route 9G, Hudson, NY 12534 Thursday, May 16, 7:30 a.m.: Join Audubon NY Education Coordinator Larry Federman on a bird walk during one of the most exciting times of the year to observe birds. Mid-May is the height of migration and the possibility of seeing many neotropical migrants as they return or pass through for the breeding season is high. Bring a pair of binoculars and sturdy walking shoes. Pre-registration required. Tickets: $5/person Information: shasbrook@olana.org; http://www.olana.org
Third Thursday @ CEIE: The Ripple Effect
Center for Environmental Innovation & Education, Dennings Point, Hudson Highlands State Park, 199 Dennings Ave., Beacon, NY 12508 Thursday, May 16, 7-8:30 p.m.: Journalist Alex Prud’homme discusses his new book, “The Ripple Effect: The Fate of Freshwater in the TwentyFirst Century,” which exposes the distressing realities of water scarcity, political corruption, inefficiencies, a crumbling water infrastructure and climate change -- all of which challenge our fresh water future. Information: 845.838.1600; http://www.bire.org
Annual Plant Swap/Sale
Shoving Leopard Farm, 845 River Road, Barrytown, NY 12571 Saturday, May 18, noon-4 p.m.: Bring your extra seedlings or springdivided perennials to swap for others, or donate a few dollars for each one you take home if you have nothing to swap. Label plants clearly, and BYO box or tray to carry things away. Refreshments provided. Rain date: Saturday, May 25. Information: http://www.superiorconcept.org/shovingleopard
red hook welcomes living eden the boutique will offer eco-chic clothing for women, men, and kids, fair trade home decor, cruelty-free cosmetics, green toys, upcycled gifts, natural products for baby, and more.
“Living Eden ~ a place for humane beings” is scheduled to open on May 11, 2013 (Apple Blossom Day) in Red Hook, NY. The new store is located at 29 West Market Street in a beautifully remodeled historic building. “The niche of the modern vintage-inspired boutique is to offer stylish and affordable USA made, fair trade, cruelty free, vegan, and other conscious products all in one beautiful store designed to inspire customers,” says Bobbi Jo Forte, Co-Founder and Marketing Director for Living Eden. She goes on to say that “Red Hook, Tivoli, and Rhinebeck are home to an abundance of natives and transplants who are passionate about environmental and social issues, and want to feel the satisfaction of picking up a product and seeing where it is made, and what good it is doing for people, animals, and the planet.” The boutique will offer eco-chic clothing for women, men, and kids, fair trade home decor, cruelty-free cosmetics, green toys, upcycled gifts, natural products for baby, and more. The adjacent “Market” will feature a selection of local farm market products such as jams, sauces, and syrup plus a variety of slavery-free chocolates, super foods, and vegan products. “This store is a dream come true—full of products I believe in—and it is an honor to share this more compassionate way of life with others who are equally inspired by conscious capitalism and social progress,” says cofounder Bonnie Schweppe.
The other draw of Living Eden will be workshops and classes hosted by artists, authors, fine crafts people, and other experts. “As social creatures we crave inspiration and knowledge so the workshops will provide a venue for learning fine crafts and trades, and will hopefully have a positive impact on Red Hook’s economy by bringing more foot traffic to the Village,” states Forte. LivingEden.com will offer an online store and blog featuring most of what the brick and mortar store offers. It will launch on May 11, 2013, as well. Additionally, the company will have a strong presence on Facebook and other social media platforms. Partners Bobbi Jo Forte and Bonnie Schweppe have been working on the Living Eden concept for more than a year. The two met when Schweppe was buying a barn for her new mini farm sanctuary and Forte was helping a stray dog. An instant friendship was formed. During their many animal rescue adventures, they discovered each other’s passion for living more compassionately—and the Living Eden concept was born. Friend and aspiring designer Kaitlin Forbes joined the team in February 2013. According to Red Hook Village Mayor Ed Blundell, Living Eden is a perfect fit for Red Hook’s new vibe. “Our village has been at the forefront of developing the vibrant setting that residents need and want. Our work to improve walkability and seek new, exciting businesses is coming to fruition with the news that Living Eden is getting ready to open shop shortly. Landlord Jack Dillon had done a remarkable restoration of his building, and now we are getting a creative retailer with a conscience—a real win for the Village. We welcome Living Eden, and encourage residents and visitors alike to shop local and support all of our locally-owned shops.” For general questions email Living Eden at info@livingeden.com, or call 845.475.2619. And be sure to check out the store in person in Red Hook Village, and online at LivingEden.com starting May 11.
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 10
The following is excerpted from Lindsey Lusher Shute’s talk, “Building a Future with Farmers,” that she gave on February 16, 2013, at the TEDxManhattan conference, “Changing the Way We Eat,” which examined how we think about food. Lindsey and her husband Benjamin own Hearty Roots, a communitysupported agriculture (CSA) farm here in the Hudson Valley. They personify the new generation of young farmers – highly-educated, innovative, vocal and actively involved in and passionate about the development of local food systems and the future of sustainable food production. They represent our best hope for the future of farming and our nation, for as the popular saying goes, “no farms, no food.”
building a future with farmers by Lindsey Lusher Shute My great-grandfather, Henry Clerkus Sheets, was the last farmer in our family. He farmed in the foothills of Southeast Ohio and produced dairy, salt pork, and tobacco. Henry worked hard and earned enough to own land, eat well and get three of his kids (my grandmother included) to college. Those kids became a teacher, a principal, a welder and a gas station owner. None of them stayed on the farm. The path my great grandfather was likely proud to put his children on is the same one that 99% of us find ourselves on today. For generations, farm families have been sending their kids away from the land–and all for good reasons: a dairy crisis; discriminatory federal policies that left families of color without a safety net; consolidation and vertical integration; skyrocketing land prices and plummeting incomes. Life has been difficult for many farm families and opportunities outside of the farm sector have grown. That’s why today there are 28 million fewer farmers than there were in 1920, when my great-grandfather was farming, and that’s in a country with 200 million more people. And because a least two generations of young people left the farm, farmers over 65 now outnumber farmers under 35 by a margin of 6 to 1. As a 34-year-old farmer, I and my husband Ben, along with thousands of young people across this country, are bucking the trend by starting a new farm operation. These young farmers and ranchers represent an incredible opportunity for food, agriculture and rural America. They are cultivating their crops by hand and with tractors that haven’t seen the outside of a barn in 50 years; they are putting cows and sheep and goats and chickens back on grass where they belong; they are creating jobs and opportunity in places that haven’t seen new industry in decades. They are demonstrating, as did generations before them, the more a farmer is able to care for the land, the more the land gives back. Not just to the farmer, but to everyone. At our farm, Hearty Roots Community Farm, we grow 25 acres of vegetables and produce eggs for the members of our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that feeds 900 households in the Hudson Valley and New York City. Our 25 acres is bringing in gross revenue of $425,000 per year, which is being spent mainly on creating jobs in our community. We employ nine other young people—some seasonal and some year round—who in turn spend their paychecks at stores in our town. Many of our supplies are purchased locally or regionally, and our contractors live down the road. The percent of our budget spent on fossil fuels is very small. Compare that to commodity corn, which is what was being grown on our land before we transitioned it to vegetables. Twenty-five acres of corn
View of Hearty Roots’ freshly plowed farm fields in Clermont. Photo by Lindsey Lusher Shute.
...the more a farmer is able to care for the land, the more the land gives back. not just to the farmer, but to everyone. produces about $25,000 in revenue; half of that is spent on inputs like fuel and GMO seed and machinery, and only about $750 goes to labor. That means our farm would need to grow over 5,000 acres of corn to produce the same number of jobs we offer producing 25 acres of vegetables. That is half the size of our town. The more growers we have caring for smaller parcels and maximizing the land’s potential, the more benefits our town will experience. As I said before: The more a farmer is able to care for the land, the more the land gives back. The challenge is putting more young people, more farmers in the position to do just that. What would our rural communities look like if we had 1 million more farms like Hearty Roots, like the Salad Garden of Missouri, the West Georgia Cooperative, Three Springs Farm in Oklahoma, Kilpatrick Farm of New York, Bucio Farm of California or Sauvie Island Organics outside of Portland? Just think of the social, economic and health benefits for the nation. But a million new farms like these aren’t going to just come along. It’s not 1920 when Grandpa Henry was farming. Land is crazy expensive (it took us 10 years to find a permanent home for our farm). Banks forgot how to loan to us, and there is now something called a student loan that zaps hundreds of dollars from a bank account each month (for decades), supply chains are in shambles, research on new organic systems is behind the curve, and Federal Policy is largely written to perpetuate what we already have. In 2010, I co-founded the National Young Farmers Coalition. We are a team of farmers and consumers that want at least a million new farms in this country, and know that big change is necessary to make that possible. We are working to create land agreements, policies and local networks that will create a permanent home for independent, diversified, family-scale farms in the United States. In our national survey of 1,000 young and beginning farmers, we found that capital was the number one challenge to starting a farm. Of course banks and investors need to be engaged to help solve this challenge, but history teaches us that getting capital to farmers can’t be left to private interests. It is much too important for the nation’s security. That’s why the federal government makes low interest loans to farmers through the Farm
Page 11
Mercantile April-May 2013
Service Agency – and Republican President Theodore Roosevelt helped to start the cooperative Farm Credit system in 1908. These institutions can do a lot more for young and beginning farmers. We were very proud to have worked with the Farm Service Agency to revise their rules to allow new farmer training programs, such as apprenticeships, to be considered as experience that would qualify them for a loan. And we helped the agency launch a new micro-lending program. But there is so much more that needs to happen. Right now, Congress only allows the Farm Service Agency to loan a farmer $300,000 to buy a farm, when that amount of money can hardly buy a house in most regions. Also, they have no permanent funding from the Farm Bill. So each year they are at the mercy of the Appropriations Committee, and farmers are left to wait for months on loan decisions. We need to give this agency more money and more stability, so that farmers can use it like a bank. If you want to go out and buy a house, you get pre-approved from a mortgage lender, then make an offer. If you want to buy a farm with help from the Farm Service Agency, you find the farm, hope that it’s under $300,000, and then beg the owner to slog through many months of bureaucracy while you both wait and hope that money will be available. This is no way to buy a farm, and no way for our most important farm lender to operate when 70% of all farm land is going to change hands in the next 20 years. They are more important than ever before. And speaking of land, it is the second biggest challenge to getting started farming. Land is selling at prices that are many times what a working farmer can possibly afford. Just like you all have affordable housing in this town, we need to work with the land trust community to create affordable farms in ours. And out in the Midwest, we need to trade the subsidies that grow mega farms for incentives to sell or rent ground to beginners.
But the National Young Farmers Coalition is not waiting on Congress. We are rebuilding local support networks of farmers on the ground. We have local chapters made up of farmers that are helping each other overcome day-to-day obstacles. Our Hudson Valley chapter gathers together to share meals, put plastic on hoop houses, and uses their combined purchasing power The farmers’ daughter. Photo by L. Shute to get a better price on animal feed. We are getting a lot done, but we can’t do it alone. Even if every farmer in the United States stood with us, we would only represent less than half of one percent of the population. I said before that we’re working in the same structural environment that led to the downfall of so many farms, but I didn’t point out the big difference between now and 20 years ago: you. You as consumers that buy our food. You as consumers that care deeply about the future of American agriculture. You as consumers that might still remember a family farm, even if you didn’t grow up on one. If we’re going to create a new path of opportunity for American farmers—one that helps them care for the land and helps us all experience the benefits that an independent farm can bring—then we need your help. You can help us rebuild American agriculture by helping everyone buy locally-grown food, encouraging your kids to farm, helping transition farmland to a new generation, and joining with us to tell Congress that if we invest in new farmers, the entire nation will win. I hope you will join us. To learn more, visit http://tedxmanhattan.org; http://www.heartyroots.com; http://www.youngfarmers.org
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 12
Seasonal
PA L E T T E du tch ess
Photograph by Linda Hubbard, whose solo show “As the Crow Flies” is on exhibit at Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center through May 30.
Albert Shahinian Fine Art
Upstairs Galleries, 22 East Market St., Ste 301, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Through April: “Spring Salon & Works on Paper,” a continuation of the gallery’s 15th Anniversary Exhibits featuring recent work by nearly 30 artists that have had primary associations with the gallery since 1998. Includes landscapes, works on paper and sculpture. Hours: Fri. & Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thurs. & Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment or chance. Open until 8 p.m. third Saturday of month Information: 845.876.7578; http://www.shahinianfineart.com
Artists’ Collective of Hyde Park
ACHP Gallery, 4338 Albany Post Rd., Hyde Park 12538 Through April 28: “Spring for Art” featuring the work of 25 artists, whose work includes painting, sculpture, photography, mosiacs, and stained glass. May 3-June 2: “Fiesta of Color,” 25 artists exhibit paintings, sculpture, photography, mosaics and stained glass. Opening Reception: Friday, May 3, 6-9 p.m. Hours: Thurs.-Sun., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Information: http://www.facebook.com/HydeParkArtists
Babycakes Cafe
1-3 Collegeview Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Through May 13: Work by renowned fiber artist Karen Madden. A pioneer in the field of fiber art, Madden creates stunning wall sculptures
from many different types of fiber. Most recently, her innovative work incorporating metal and stone into her fiber designs produces wall sculptures that have unique texture, depth, and visual interest. Hours: Tues.-Sun., check website for times Information: 845.485.8411; http://www.babycakescafe.com
Bard Hessel Museum of Art
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 Through May 26: “Less Like An Object More Like The Weather,” 14 second-year students present their individual curatorial projects simultaneously. John Cage characterized his longtime collaboration with Merce Cunningham by stating: “It’s less like an object and more like the weather. Because in an object, you can tell where the boundaries are. But in the weather, it’s impossible to say when something begins or ends.” The ethos of the students’ collaboration reflects Cage’s sentiment and prompts the viewer to experience the venture’s heterogeneity less as an object to be assimilated, and more as a movement towards a climate of engagement. Opening Receptions: Saturday, April 20, 1-4 p.m. Hours: Wed.-Sun., 1-5 p.m. Information: 845.758.7598; http://www.bard.edu/ccs
Barrett Art Center
55 Noxon St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Through April 20: “Kinetic,” 2D and 3D art depicting things that move, illusions of movement, and art that moves.
Page 13
Mercantile April-May 2013
Through April 24: “Student Show” featuring a selection of work from William Noonan and students from his Oil Painting Class. May 11-June 22: 2nd Annual “Half Your Age Show” featuring collaborative work by artists paired with a partner that is half their age (or twice their age). Opening Reception: Saturday, May 11, 5-7 p.m. Hours: Wed.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. & by appt. Information: 845.471.0407; http://www.barrettartcenter.org
Beacon Institute Gallery
199 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Through October 7: “Watershed: How Industry Has Changed the Water of the World,” photographs by Robin Dana. A vivid collection of images from the Hudson, Potomac and other watersheds around the world. Dana’s photographs reflect a unique serenity found in nature’s persistence in extreme conditions. Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., noon5 p.m.; open until 8 p.m. Second Saturdays. Information: 845.838.1600 x 19; http://bire.org
Betsy Jacaruso Studio & Gallery
The Courtyard, 43-2 East Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Through April 27: “Verdant Spring,” luminious landscape paintings by Betsy Jacaruso and new work by Cross River Artists in celebration of Spring. Open House: Saturday, April 20, 5-7 p.m. May 10-June 1: Art Along the Hudson annual juried exhibition held in conjunction with the 10th annual AAH season kick-off. Hours: Thurs.-Sat., noon-5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and by appt or chance. Open until 7 p.m. on Third Saturdays Arts Walk. Information: 845.516.4435; http://www.betsyjacarusostudio.com
bluecashew Kitchen Pharmacy
6423 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 April 20-May 15: “Flavor & Flow,” function and design of salt & pepper shakers designed by students in the Ceramics Program at the School of Fine & Performing Arts, SUNY New Paltz. Opening Reception: Saturday, April 20, 5-7 p.m. Information: 845.876.1117; http://bluecashew.com
CCS Bard Galleries
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 Through May 26: “Monogamy,” an exhibition featuring Gerard Byrne and Sarah Pierce, artists who taught at CCS Bard in the Fall of 2011. The show emphasizes a recurring trope in the work of both artists; the artist’s voice. Information: 845.758.7598; http://www.bard.edu/ccs
Cunneen Hackett Arts Center
12 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Through May 30: “As the Crow Flies,” a photographic exhibit by Linda T. Hubbard offering a compelling aerial perspective of the Hudson River from Bear Mountain to Kingston through photographs captured high above from a helicopter. Inspired by the majestic Hudson River and a daughter who is a trained helicopter pilot — Hubbard travels aloft with her camera in a tiny bubble helicopter with its doors removed, unencumbered, as if fulfilling a dream to fly with the birds. Opening Reception: Saturday, April 20, 5-7 p.m. Information: 845.876.1117; http://bluecashew.com
Dia:Beacon
Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman Street, Beacon, NY 12508 Permanent Collection: In addition to the permanent collection, Dia Art Foundation is currently exhibiting:
Ongoing: “24 Farben – fur Blinky (24 Colors – for Blinky), 1977,” Imi Knoebel’s cycle of 21 shaped paintings. Becher Gallery, ongoing: A collection of 17 photographs by Bernd and Hilla Becher will be reinstalled. Ongoing: Andy Warhol’s “Shadows” returns following a national tour that included the Arts Club Chicago and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculptural Garden. Dia acquired this series of 102 paintings in 1980. Presented as a singel monumental work, it demonstrates Warhol’s interest in shadows that engaged him throughout the 1970’s. Admission: $12; $10 seniors; $8 students; children under 12 free Hours: Thurs.-Mon., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Information: 845.440.0100; http://diaart.org/sites/main/beacon
EB’s Hudson Valley Finds
41 East Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 May 3-August: “Local Color,” featuring the work of 19 Hudson Valley artists in the categories of painting, photography, ceramics/glass/mixed media, jewelry and furniture. Hours: Mon., noon-6 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., noon-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m.; or by appointment Information: 845.876.3020; http://hudsonvalleyfinds.com
fovea
143 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Through July 7: “falling into place: self portraits,” a first person visual exploration into the day-to-day life of a person with a disability, photographer Patricia Lay-Dorsey. Hours: Fri.-Sun., noon-6 p.m. Information: http://foveaeditions.org
Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center
College Center, Main Building, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12604 Through June 30: “The Polaroid Years: Instant Photography and Experimentation,” a groundbreaking survey exhibition organized by the museum that will bring together Polaroid pictures by 39 artists and collectives from 1972 through the present. Among the many wellknown artists whose work will be featured are Ansel Adams, Chuck Close, Walker Evans, David Hockney, Robert Mapplethorpe, Andy Warhol and William Wegman. Hours: Tues., Wed., Fri. & Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m. Information: 845.437.5632; http://fllac.vassar.edu
The Mid-Hudson Heritage Center
317 Main St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Through April 26: “Address: Earth -- Celebrating the Earth,” an exhibition that commemorates the environment we live in and around, and expresses its beauty through many forms of media. Earth Day Closing Reception: Saturday, April 20, 5-7 p.m. with live music by pianist Chris Farrell, jazz band Jazzman, and the Harlem Valley Drummers, plus poetry by Jeanne Marie Beaumont. May 3-10: “MHHC Miniseries: Indie Clay,” a mini-exhibition of ceramic works by Dutchess Community College students. Reception: Friday, May 3, 5 p.m. May 17-June 15: “Change and Transformation: Asian Art and Heritage in the Hudson Valley,” Hudson Valley artists of Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and Korean descent present aspects of their cultures and traditions through a variety of media. Hours: Tues.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Information: 845.214.1113; http://midhudsonheritage.org/events continued on page 14 g
Mercantile April-May 2013 continued from page 13 i
Mill Street Loft Gallery 45
45 Pershing Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 April 20-May 7: Outreach Programs Exhibition. Opening Reception: Saturday, April 20, 5:30 p.m. May 11-June 21: “Art FUR All!” fundraising exhibition to benefit Dutchess County SPCA. Reception, Pet Adoption & Family Fun Day: Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Gallery Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 845.471.7477; http://www.millstreetloft.org
Montgomery Row
6423 Montgomery St., 2nd Flr., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Through April 30: “Apparitions & Mirages,” exhibit showcasing photographer Peter Hoffmann’s long-term interest in still life photographs. Reception: Saturday, April 20, 5-7 p.m. May 3-31: “It All Starts with ART,” artwork by Rhinebeck Central School District Students. Reception: Friday, May 3, 5-7 p.m. Hours: Mon.-Sun., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Information: 845.876.0543; suehartshorn@frontiernet.net
Red Hook CAN/Artist’s Collective Gallery
7516 North Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571 Through May 5: “Word Works,” an exhibition featuring art that uses book imagery and the printed word. Coincides with the Read Local Red Hook Literary Festival. Call for Entries: “Sculpture Expo 2013” a juried large-scale outdoor sculpture exhibit scheduled for June-November. Approximately 25 available sites throughout the Village of Red Hook. Prospectus/ Application available at website. Entry fee $20. Deadline to submit designs: April 25. Contact: Rita Gentile, sculpturecan2013@gmail.com Hours: Fri. & Sat., noon-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-4 p.m. and by appt Information: redhookcan@gmail.com; http://rhcan.com
RiverWinds Gallery
172 Main St., Beacon 12508 Through May 5: “Signs of Spring: Photographs by Lori Adams.” Adams’ work demonstrates a fascination with color and moment, purity of tones, elegance of natural growth and delicacy of light. Pattern fits foremost into the design of each image. The structure and composition is the foundation for playfulness, sensuality, complexity and mood of each idea that is expressed. Adams’ most recent personal fine art work explores the blend between strength and beauty, in both landscapes and studio close-ups of botanicals. May 11-June 2: “Vintage Photographs by Joe Diebboll.” Reception: Saturday, May 11, 5-8 p.m. Hours: Wed.-Mon., noon-6 p.m.; Second Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Information: 845.838.2880; http://riverwindsgallery.com
Page 14
beauty of nature and cause of man’s ruin. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; and by appt. Information: 845.464.3230; tlcskateshop@gmail.com
Theo Ganz Studio
149 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Through May 5: “Archives from Villa de Garcia to Beacon,” a solo exhibition of the work of Kirsten Kucer.. Hours: Fri.-Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; and by appointment Information: 917.318.2239; http://www.theoganzstudio.com
Tivoli Artists Co-op
60 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583 Through April 28: “The Anniversary Show” to commemorate its 20th year, 39 artists, both current and former members, present an exciting show featuring sculpture, paintings, printmaking, photography, mixed media and fine crafts. May 3-26: “Animal Fair” featuring work by Julia Aneshansky and Marc Sacerdote. Reception: Saturday, May 4, 6-8 p.m. Hours: Fri., 5-9 p.m.; Sat., 1-9 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m.; and by appt. Information: 845.757.2667; http://www.tivoliartistsco-op.com
Columbia 510 Warren St. Gallery
510 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through April 28: “Africa” new paintings by Jeannine Schoeffer. Hours: Fri. & Sat., noon-6 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. Information: 518.822.0510; http://510WarrenStGallery.com
Carrie Haddad Gallery
622 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through May 26: “Color Theory Paintings by Paul Schuchman” and “Urban,” a group photography exhibit featuring work by Kim McLean, Art Murphy, Elliott Kaufman, Laura Resen, Martin Rich, Peter Liepke and Harry Wilks. Reception: Saturday, April 20, 6-8 p.m. Hours: Daily, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Information: 518.828.1915; http://www.carriehaddadgallery.com
Columbia County Council on the Arts Gallery
209 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through May 17: “Well Put Together: The Art of Collage & Assemblage -- Spring Exhibition.” Juror is internationally-known mixed media artists, author and workshop instructor Lynne Perrella. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 518.671.6213; http://artscolumbia.org
Columbia-Greene Community College
6423 Montgomery St., Suite 10, 2nd Floor, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Through April 22: “Tranquility: A Group Art Exhibit.” Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; and by appt. Information: 845.838.2880; http://riverwindsgallery.com
4400 Route 23, Hudson, NY 12534 Kaaterskill & Blue Hill Galleries, through April 29: Hudson City Schools Art Show. Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., noon-5 p.m. Information: 518.828.4181; http://www.sunycgcc.edu
Short Walls Gallery
Davis Orton Gallery
RiverWinds Gallery @ Wells Fargo Advisors
Tastes Like Chicken Skate Shop, 380 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Through April: The first exhibition at Short Walls Gallery, located inside TLC Skate Shop, features work by renowned street artist and Beacon resident, Jesse Hazelip. Steeped in symbolism that goes farm beyond typical street art, Hazelip’s artillery-laden animals explore the
114 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through May 13: Stephen DiRado, “Celestial,” and Bob Avakian, “Between Night and Day.” May 17-June 23: Benjamin Dimmitt, “Primitive Florida”; Debi
Page 15
Mercantile April-May 2013
Milligan, “First Light, Last Light”; Keiko Sono, “110 Days of Winter.” Reception: Saturday, May 18, 6-8 p.m. Hours: Mon.-Sun., noon-5 p.m. Information: 518.697.; http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org
Galerie Gris
621 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through May 27: An exhibition of new paintings by Marina Adams. Reception: Saturday, April 20, 6-8 p.m. Hours: Mon.-Sun., noon-5 p.m. Information: 518.828.1677; http://grisnewyork.com/
Hudson Opera House
327 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through April 28: “Of Light and Dark: Five Artists in Contrast,” features the work of Dawn Breeze, Melora Kuhn, Kate Sterlin, Kahn & Selesnick and Doug Clow. Curate by Dale Stewart. Hours: Mon.-Sun., noon-5 p.m. Information: 518.822.1438; http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org
John Davis Gallery
362 ½ Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 April 25-May 19: Jake Berthot “Works on Paper: The Enamel Drawings.” Reception: Saturday, April 27, 6-8 p.m. Hours: Thurs.-Mon., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 518.828.5907; http://johndavisgallery.com
Joyce Goldstein Gallery
16 Main St., Chatham, NY Through May 18: “The Secret Language of Flowers,” photographs by Kelly Merchant inspired by a long-neglected 19th century fad known as the “secret language of flowers.” It was a lover’s language in which flowers became words. Messages could be passed between shy gentlemen and hopeful maidens once they knew the secret floral code. Each photograph contains a secret message which is only revealed by a key to the flower’s meaning. Information: 518.392.2250; http://www.joycegoldsteingallery.com
Limner Gallery
123 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through April 27: “Diametric Visions: Emerging Artists in Two Parts.” May 16-June 15: “Art Biologic.” Information: 518.828.2343; http://www.slowart.com
Old Chatham Country Store Cafe Gallery
639 Albany Turnpike Road, Old Chatham, NY 12136 Through April 30: Work by Matthew McKeeby May 1-29: Work by Lizbeth Shelley Information: 518.794.6227; http://www.galleriacecilia.com
Omi International Arts Center
Charles B. Beneson Visitors Center Gallery & Fields Sculpture Park, 1405 County Route 22, Ghent, NY 12075 Charles B. Beneson Visitor Center & Gallery: “Southern Exposure” by Larry Poons, considered to be one of the top painters working today. Architecture Omi, through May 2013: “Skyline Adrift: Cuban Art and Architecture,” a politically and aesthetic ground-breaking show of multi-disciplinary, site-specific installations by two Havana-based architects and two internationally established Cuban artists: Yilena Lourdes Feitó Echarri and Yoandy Rizo Fiallo, and Cuban visual artists Alexandre Arrechea and Armando Mariño Calzado.
Year ‘round, The Fields Sculpture Park, during daylight hours: More than 60 acres of rolling farmland, wetlands and wooded areas, The Fields Sculpture Park presents the works of internationally recognized contemporary and modern artists, offering the unique possibility to experience a wide range of large-scale works in a singular outdoor environment. Information: 518.392.4747; http://artomi.org
Roeliff Jansen Community Library
9091 Route 22, Copake, NY Through April 27: “People,” a juried small works show on the theme of people. Information: 518.325.4101; http://www.roejanlibrary.org
Upstairs Gallery @ American Glory BBQ
342 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through June 16: “Hudson After Dark,” work by Cecilia Sinclair. Cecelia is a Registered Nurse at the FASNY Firemans Home in Hudson and a self-taught artist who exchanges her stethoscope for paint brushes at the end of the day. Cecelia’s show captures the dramatic evening glow of Hudson’s City lights creating a rich romanticism in her works. Hours: Tues.-Thurs., 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Information: http://artscolumbia.org; http://www.americanglory.com
Greene GCCA Catkill Gallery
398 Main St., Catskill, NY 12414 Through May 4: “Outside the Lines,” exhibition of works by Greene County students. This annual youth art show offers pre-K to high school students an opportunity to gain professional gallery exhibition experience while providing visitors with a peek at the diversity and excellence of the county’s young creative talent. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 518.943.3400; http://www.greenearts.org
Kaaterskill Fine Art Gallery
7950 Main St., Hunter, NY 12485 Through May 5: “My Kaddish: Personal Visions -- Art & History Meet,” work by Francia. “The evolution of Francia’s work is indicative of the unfolding of a life. Her work has always reflected the thematic center of her world, as it has moved through major transitions, nature, motherhood, feminism, and, most recently, focusing on a deepening reverence and fascination with Judaic history and ritual...”--Sharon Vartsky, Curator of Education, The Queens Museum of Art, NYC Hours: Mon. & Thurs., noon-4 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; and by appt. Information: 518.263.2060; http://www.catskillmtn.org
Say What? Contemporary Art Gallery
6042 Main St., Tannersville, NY 12485 Through May 19: The mission of Say What? Contemporary Art Gallery is to pair visual expression with the written word. Each month artists will be invited to play upon a gallery-selected quote. This month’s quote is, “We live in a rainbow of chaos.” ~ Paul Cezanne Hours: Wed.-Sun., 1-6 p.m. Information: 518.589.7500; http://www.say-what-ny.com
Thomas Cole National Historic Site
218 Spring St., Catskill, NY 12414 April 28-November 3: “Albert Bierstadt in New York & New England.”
continued on page 16 g
Mercantile April-May 2013 continued from page 15 i
While Bierstadt is best known for his iconic images of the American West, this exhibition will offer a rare chance to see the artist’s faithful depictions of botanical and geological details in the unspoiled wilderness, mountains, and meadows in the White Mountains, Hudson Valley, and in New England and New York. Reception: Sunday, April 28, 2-5 p.m. Lecture with curator, Annette Blaugrund, at 2 p.m., followed by an open house from 3-5 p.m. Hours: May-November., Wed.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tickets: $10; $9 seniors; kids 12 and under, free; grounds, visitor center and gift shop, free and open to the public. Information: 518.943.7465; http://www.thomascole.org
Wo r k s h ops & Special Events Beacon Open Studios Weekend
Beacon, NY 12508 Friday, April 19, 6-9 p.m.: Kick-Off Party at Hudson Beach Glass. An arty-party that is free and open to all. Snacks and beverages provided. Saturday & Sunday, April 20 & 21, noon-6 p.m.: Artist studios open all over town. This year’s event features more than 70 artists throughout the city of Beacon. Painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelers, ceramicists, glass artists, multi-media and interdisciplinary artists and more will all be represented within the 4 square miles of Beacon NY. There will be something for every interest. Don’t miss this chance for an inside peek at the workings of Beacon’s creative community. Pick up a full color catalog and map at Hudson Beach Glass (162 Main St., Beacon). Information: beaconopenstudios.org
Slow Art Day
Omi International Arts Center, Charles B. Beneson Visitors Center Gallery & Fields Sculpture Park, 1405 County Route 22, Ghent, NY 12075 Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Family event. Slow Art Day is the global all-volunteer event with a simple mission: help more people discover the joy of looking at and loving art. One day each year people all over the world visit local museums and galleries to look at art slowly. Participants look at five works of art for 10 minutes each and then meet together over lunch to talk about their experience. That’s it. Simple by design, the goal is to focus on the art and the art of seeing. Free and open to the public. Information: 518.392.4747; http://artomi.org
100 Charcoal Portraits by Andres San Millan
FDR High School, 156 South Cross Rd., Staatsburg, NY 12580 Sunday, May 5, 1-4 p.m.: 100 Charcoal Portraits of 5th and 8th grade Hyde Park Public School students created by Cocoon Theatre artist Andres San Millan will be on display at FDR High School’s annual “K-12 Arts Festival.” Free and open to the public. Information: 845.876.6470; http://www.cocoontheatre.org
Art FUR All Exhibition, Pet Adoption & Family Fun Day
Mill Street Loft, 45 Pershing Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: An exhibition & family event with artists of all ages. Animal themed artwork of all sizes, media and levels included in this fundraising exhibition. Information: 845.471.7477; http://www.millstreetloft.org
Page 16
Second Saturday Beacon
Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, May 11, noon-9 p.m.: A city-wide celebration of the arts held on the second Saturday of every month when galleries and shops stay open until 9 p.m. Gallery openings, music are just some of the ongoing events. Information: http://beaconarts.org
Gallery Talks at Dia:Beacon
Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, May 11, 2 p.m.: Jonathan T. D. Neil on Richard Serra. Tickets: Free with museum admission Information: 845.440.0100; http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/beacon
Workshop: Etsy: Is It For You?
Germantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown, NY 12526 Saturday, May 11, 3:30-5 p.m.: Go on a guided tour of Etsy.com with photographer Jen Kiaba of local Etsy shop Jen Kiaba Photography (http://www.etsy.com/shop/jenkiabaphotography). Jen will discuss what you need to set up an Etsy shop, how to prepare for your first sales, where to go when you need help, and what it takes to keep your business running on Etsy. Don’t forget to bring questions about selling your work online. This class is designed for people who have little-to-no experience using the Etsy platform. Free, but class size is limited. Registration required. Information: 845.537.5800; germantownlibraryevents@yahoo.com
The Art of Collage with D. Jack Solomon
Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Saturdays, May 11, 18, 25; June 1, 8 & 15, 10 a.m.-noon: Collage, as a fine art medium, has been of interest to many artists since early in the 20th century. The Art of Collage will approach this process through thematic subject-based projects along with investigating different materials and techniques. Drawing skills are not a prerequisite. All levels of artistic development will benefit from this experience. Taught by artistic master and former instructor at Parsons, D. Jack Solomon. Registration required by May 8. Information: 518.822.1438; http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org
10th Annual Art Along the Hudson Kick-Off Event
Rhinebeck High School Auditorium, 7-8 Courtyard, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Wednesday, May 15, 5-9 p.m.: Help celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Art Along the Hudson at their annual kick-off event & exhibition. Keynote speaker, Liza Donnelly, New Yorker cartoonist. Information: http://www.artalongthehudson.com
Community Free Day
Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, May 18: Ten years after Dia:Beacon opened its doors, Dia Art Foundation will inaugurate an anniversary celebration encompassing a yearlong schedule of exhibitions, programs, and events, beginning with Community Free Day on May 18. Throughout the day, visitors will be offered free admission to Dia:Beacon’s 22 galleries dedicated to landmark works that artists including Dan Flavin, Donald Judd, Richard Serra, and Andy Warhol produced with Dia’s support. A new collection room dedicated to the works of Alighiero e Boetti will open that day. Other free events will include a public reading of On Kawara’s One Million Years and a multimedia program for children and families. Information: 845.440.0100; http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/beacon
Page 17
Mercantile April-May 2013
Art Along the Hudson
celebrates 10th anniversary red hook & rhinebeck host spring kick-off The Rhinebeck and Red Hook arts communities are hosting the 10th annual Art Along the Hudson (AAH) Spring Kick-off Media Event on Wednesday May 15, 2013. It’s an opportunity to showcase the expanding arts community in the northern area of Dutchess County. The purpose of this AAH event is to bring together business owners, elected officials, artists, arts patrons and the media with a focus on the many and varied cultural opportunities available and how they generate economic growth. The evening begins in the Rhinebeck High School auditorium at 5:30 p.m., with guest speakers celebrating the role the Arts have in our lives. We are very fortunate to have NYS Senator Terry Gipson and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro share a few words about the Arts and Economic Development in our region. Keynote speaker Liza Donnelly, local cartoonist with the New Yorker, will share her views concerning the Arts and Education. The celebration continues at the Juried Art Exhibit reception at the Betsy Jacaruso Studio & Gallery, 43-2 E Market Sreet (in the courtyard behind Bread Alone) in Rhinebeck, with refreshments donated by village restaurants and live music. The art exhibit was juried by Dennis Anderson, who served as the Director of Curatorial & Tour Services at the Empire State Plaza Art Collection in Albany for 22 years, and Mary-Kay Lombino, who is The Emily Hargroves Fisher ‘57 and Richard B. Fisher Curator at The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College. They selected artwork representing each of the AAH communities along the Hudson River corridor: Ossining, Peekskill, Garrison/Cold Spring, Beacon, Newburgh, Greater New Paltz Area, Poughkeepsie/Hyde Park, Rhinebeck/Red Hook, Kingston, Saugerties, and Woodstock. Art Along the Hudson, now expanded to 11 neighborhoods, is a unique year-round collaborative marketing effort to promote towns on or near the river as vibrant arts and cultural communities. It also promotes seven Hudson Valley Studio Tours offering art lovers great opportunities to meet the many artists living and working in the Hudson Valley. A new 2013 brochure will be available at the Kick-Off Event describing the art venues and studio tours. The Arts are now more than ever a significant economic factor in the revitalization of Main Streets. It is in large part the arts and cultural organizations that help fill restaurants and lodgings, and bring dollars and jobs to the Hudson Valley. From major metropolitan areas to small rural towns, the research shows to what degree the nonprofit arts and culture industry attracts audiences, spurs business development, supports jobs and generates government revenue. Locally, as well as nationally, the arts mean business. Join us to celebrate our vibrant cultural communities and a year of arts events that will stir the soul and engender prosperity. The Juried Art Exhibit will be on view from Thursday, May 9–Saturday, June 1, at Betsy Jacaruso Studio & Gallery, 43-2 E Market St (the courtyard behind Bread Alone) 845-516-4435. Gallery Hours: Thurs. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information on the exhibitions and offerings of the Art Along the Hudson Kick off evening contact: betsyjacaruso@gmail.com or visit www.artalongthehudson.com
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 18
Page 19
Mercantile April-May 2013
FARM-FRESH PRODUCE • BUTCHER SHOP • FISH MARKET VAST GOURMET GROCERY, CHEESE & COFFEE SELECTION DELECTABLE BAKED GOODS • SWEET SHOP • HOUSEPLANTS GIFT SHOP • FLOWER SHOP • GARDEN CENTER • NURSERY
www.adamsfarms.com POUGHKEEPSIE
K I N G S TO N
NEWBURGH
WA P P I N G E R
Route 44 845-454-4330
Route 9W 845-336-6300
Route 300 845-569-0303
Route 9 845-632-9955
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 20
bronck house
se 0 u o h k 5 bronelcebrates 3
Celebrates 350
C
commemorative magazine
m
ove ay-n
mber
2013
Special Publication produced by Rising Tide Communications, in collaboration with the Greene County Historical Society. Distributed from Rhinebeck to Hudson, and in Kingston, Catskill and Coxsackie, as well as at each major 350 event from MayNovember, the Bronck House Celebrates 350 Commemorative offers a unique and cost-effective opportunity for advertisers to reach thousands of residents and visitors while supporting the community!
Publication Date Advertising Deadline Friday, May 10 Monday, May 6 publishers of hudson valley
Mercantile www.hvmercantile.com
reserve your space today: advertising@hvrising.com • 845.546.3051
live. work. play.
Page 21
Mercantile April-May 2013
bronck house
Celebrates 350
Windows on history by Jim Planck, photographs by Jennifer Barnhart All who have ever lived in an old time house know full well how troublesome the upkeep can be. Windows that used to fit seamlessly into their sills now call to every draft and winter breeze to come visit, doors stick in their jambs on humid days, and foundations that once seemingly would have supported the Empire State Building now have shifted and sag, bulging where the rainwater swells the cracks. Imagine, however, not dealing with those problems at 100 or even 125 years old, but spread those years over the sweep of more than three centuries - a full 350 years - and that’s precisely the challenge the Greene County Historical Society faces every day in preserving its Bronck House Museum, the oldest standing stone house in upstate New York. To help them do that, and in recognition of the Bronck House’s 350th Anniversary, the Society is conducting Windows on History, a massive fundraising campaign to help correct the existing problems and prevent future ones. GCHS President Robert Hallock explains, “As we often say during the tour of the houses, this house is older than the United States, older than the English colony of New York, and dates back to the time the Dutch had a colonie of New Netherland here in the Hudson Valley.” “Over the years - what these windows have seen, or more appropriately, what the Bronck family members have seen from these windows! The Dutch losing control of their colonie; the English settlement of the colony; the French and Indian War; the American Revolution; the formation of Greene County; the War of 1812; the Civil War; World War I; and the Great Depression.” Then, in 1939,
Above, Bronck House; Left, Bronck House window showing need for repair.
...this house is older than the united states, older than the english colony of new york, and dates back to the time the dutch had a colonie of new netherland here in the hudson valley. the Bronck House was donated by the family to the Greene County Historical Society and residency at last ended. The Bronck House Museum’s history, and the heritage it represents, truly are of international cultural value, as the Museum regularly draws visitors from all over the world. In 2012, people from the Netherlands, Brazil, Japan, Australia, and Russia all visited the Museum. The Museum’s three sections - the 1663 stone house, the 1685 stone house, and the 1738 brick house - all need work. Wooden sills and frames have rotted, bricks have frozen and split, mortar has worn to dust - and all must be addressed, as together they form the strength and endurance of the structures. Please help Windows on History fulfill its mission by providing whatever donation is possible. Visit our website at www.gchistory. org to make an online donation, or mail a check to Greene County Historical Society, P.O. Box 44, Coxsackie, NY 12051. The Bronck Museum is a National Historic Landmark and a NYS Revolutionary War Heritage Trail site. Help preserve one of the Hudson Valley’s earliest structures in the year of its 350th Anniversary. Thank you.
❁
To learn more about the Bronck House and farm and the 350th anniversary year, visit the Greene County Historical Society website, http//www.gchistory.org. The kick-off of the Bronck House’s 350th Anniversary celebrations is May.
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 22
Page 23
Mercantile April-May 2013
June 30 - July 6 Ages 12-18
July 7 - 13 Ages 8-12
July 28 - August 4
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 24
The curtain is going up...on a summer filled with excitement and the magic of theater at Star 2 B Performing Arts
Two week workshop will culminate in a live FREE performance for family and friends. Children Ages 8-13 will learn: vocal technique*improvisation* audition skills*scene study & monologues*vocal coaching* stage combat*dance & theater movement*theater games* song presentation a cappella training*stage projection* relaxation techniques/yoga*theater make-up & costuming* solos/duets/trios/group singing*character development.
We are lucky to be at the
�������������������������� a Victorian era Theater as the setting for this wonderful workshop.
www.star2bperformingarts.com 914-804-3946*Star2bperformingarts@gmail.com
Page 25
Mercantile April-May 2013
take the kids Parents’ Choice Award -winning musician Aaron Nigel Smith makes a special appearance at the Hudson Children’s Book Festival. on May 4, at Hudson Junior/Senior High School in Hudson.
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clowns Perform
City of Hudson Youth Center, 18 South 3rd St., Hudson, NY 12534 Wednesday, April 24, 4:30 p.m.: Official Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clowns Joel Jeske (aka Sir Arthur Adventure, Dragon Seeker) and Rob Lok from The Greatest Show On Earth® will stop by the Hudson Department of Youth Clubhouse to perform for an audience of 200 children for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents DRAGONS - playing at the Times Union Center from May 2-5. This year’s show is centered on the four themes of heart, wisdom, courage, and strength. Information: bkennedy@mower.com
Spring Animal Tracking
Stony Kill Environmental Education Center, 79 Farmstead Lane (off Route 9D), Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Saturday, April 27, 12:30-2 p.m.: Join local naturalist Josh Roberts on a hike that will open your eyes to the lives of the wild creatures that live at Stony Kill and in the Hudson Valley. Closed shoes/boots are required as one may venture into muddy areas. Bring bug spray, a bottle of water and a notebook and pencil. Space is limited, registration required. Information: 845.831.1617; foundation@stonykill.org
Millinery Confections
Olana, 5720 Route 9G, Hudson, NY 12534 Saturday, April 27, 2-3 p.m.: Join historian Sue McLane, dressed in antique period clothing, as she describes the purposes of a variety of hats worn by ladies and gentlemen during the 19th Century. See a vintage display of original hats from 1850 to 1950. Learn about the proper way to wear a hat, which is becoming a lost art. Space is limited, please pre-register by preceding Thursday. Tickets: $5; $15 family of four Information: shasbrook@olana.org; http://www.olana.org
Stinkykids: The Musical!
The Beacon, 445 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508 Sat., April 27, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Sun., April 28, 3 p.m.: Britt loves making everyone happy. But this girl who never gets in trouble is in a sticky situation – literally: She woke up with an impossibly epic wad of gum stuck in her hair. All of Britt’s friends are depending on her
parents to take them to the new MegaJumper 3000 at Captain Happy’s Jumpy-Fun-Super-Bouncy Indoor Place, so she definitely doesn’t want to disappoint anyone. Britt must rely on her mischievous friends to go with her on an unexpected adventure across their neighborhood to solve the problem before her parents find out and possibly cancel the trip! Winner – Off Broadway Alliance Award, Best Family Show Tickets: $15 Information: http://www.thebeacontheatre.org
GCCA Sprouts Summer Arts Program
Greene County Council on the Arts, 398 Main St., Catskill, NY 12414 Registration begins May 1: Sprouts, the Greene County Council on the Arts’ free summer arts program for children ages 3 to 7, offers workshops throughout Greene County with locations and dates to be announced. There are programs in Art & Music or Theater & Dance Mon.-Fri. in July and August from 10-11:45 a.m. Classes are limited to 15 students each and are taught by professional artists. Information: 518.943.3400; http://www.greenearts.org
2nd Annual World Record on the Walkway
Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Saturday, May 4, 8 a.m.: Join friends, families, colleagues, communities and more for a fundraising event: the most people ever to perform in a Chorus Line! Help sing and dance the way to another world record in celebration of Parks and Trails’ New York I Love My Park Day! Renowned Hudson Valley choreographer, Livia Vanaver, co-founder of Vanaver Caravan dance troupe, will lead this fun dance for all ages and abilities. Tickets: $15 Information: http://walkway.org
continued on page 27g
Mercantile April-May 2013
68 Firehouse Lane Red Hook, NY 12571 845.876.1559 or 845.758.3601 Fax: 845.758.8002 Nutrena • Blue Seal • Purina Feeds
Fertilizers • Shavings • Feed • Fencing Pet Food & Supplies • Lime • Bedding Straw • Lawn & Garden Supplies
Page 26
Page 27
Mercantile April-May 2013
continued from page 25 i
5th Annual Hudson Children’s Book Festival
Hudson Junior/Senior High School, 215 Harry Howard Ave., Hudson, NY 12534 Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: The fifth annual festival will feature children’s and young adult authors and illustrators, hundreds of books to browse, author and illustrator presentations, arts & crafts, and workshops. Live music performances plus, there will be food and other treats available. Tickets: Free! Information: http://www.hudsonchildrensbookfestival.com
Maypole Celebration & Spring Fair
Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School, 330 County Route 21C, Ghent, NY 12075 Saturday, May 4, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Annual Maypole Celebration with flower crown making, singing around the Maypole, and the traditional Maypole dancing. Spring Fair follows with fun family games and activities including live music, delicious picnic food, crafts and games, puppet shows, handcrafted items from local vendors and more! Information: 518.672.7092 x 103; http://hawthornevalleyschool.org
Saturday on the Farm
Sprout Creek Farm, 34 Lauer Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 Saturday, May 4, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: Start the day by making homemade butter, and bread to enjoy hot out of the oven at the end of the day. While the bread is rising, explore wild habitats with a nature walk along Sprout Creek, focusing on the role the wild plants and animals play on the farm. From the creek, head to the garden to learn about the process of germination while planting seedlings in the greenhouse or direct seeding vegetable seeds in the garden beds. As always, the day includes a visit to the farm animals, focusing on all the new spring babies and Fernando, the new Minature Mediterranean Donkey. Appropriate for ages 6-11. Tickets: $50/child Information: http://www.sproutcreekfarm.com
Kids Create: Exploring Time & Making Simple Clocks
Time & Space Limited, 434 Columbia Street, Hudson, NY 12534 May 4-June 15, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon: Participants in this workshop will explore time and clocks through hands-on experiments, creative building and group problem-solving. Free, registration is required. Program size limited. Information: 518.822.8100; http://www.timeandspace.org
Hudson Valley Reptile Expo
Mid Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Sunday, May 5, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Everything under one roof for the reptile enthusiast. Mark Perpetua from Reptile Encounters will put on an educational show for the whole family at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m. & 3 p.m. Tickets: $10; $4 children 7-12; under 7, free with adult (cash only) Information: http://www.midhudsonciviccenter.org
Apple Blossom Day
Village of Red Hook, Red Hook, NY 12571 Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Annual spring festival hosted by the Red Hook Rotary Club and featuring live bands, petting zoo, face painting, food vendors, a performance by dance troupe Solas An Lae, and much more! Information: 845.750.2254
Young Proprietors Acting Workshop
Columbia-Greene Community College, 4400 Route 23, Hudson, NY 12534 Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: The Proprietors Theatre Company will host the Young Proprietors Acting Workshop for ages 13-18. Spend the day working with NYC professional actors! Kristi Funk Dana, Producing Artistic Director, and Emma Myers, Company Member, will guide students through acting techniques, character building through movement and voice/speech for the actor. Students will learn how to access their impulses, get specific with their acting choices and use their entire instrument. Tickets: $60 Information: http://www.proprietorstheatre.org
Dog on Fleas
Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, May 11, 1-2:30 p.m.: Local favorites Dog on Fleas perform gutsy, fun music for kids and their families. Tickets: $8 adults; kids free with adult Information: 845.831.4988; http://howlandculturalcenter.org
Reading for Children: Randall de Seve, “Peanut & Fifi Have a Ball”
Oblong Books & Music, Oblong Jr., 26 Main St., Millerton, NY 12546 Saturday, May 11, 3 p.m.: This book is perfect for every kid who has ever had trouble sharing a special toy. Peanut has a new ball and her big sister, Fifi, wants to play with it. Peanut doesn’t want to share, so Fifi tries to entice her with the many different imaginary games they could play with the ball--they could tell fortunes, or have a bakery, or let a seal balance the ball on its nose! Peanut is NOT convinced, until Fifi comes up with a spectacular imaginary adventure that Peanut can’t refuse: a trip to space! Information: 845.876.0500; http://www.oblongbooks.com
Mother’s Day Tea
Clermont State Historic Site, Germantown, NY 12526 Sunday, May 12, 1 p.m.: Enjoy a family-themed tour of Clermont’s gardens, and share a lovely tea with a mother you love. Reservations required. Tickets: $12/person Information: http://www.friendsofclermont.org
Hip Hop Theater
Bardavon 1869 Opera House, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Thursday, May 16, 7 p.m.: Following two weeks of intensive Hip Hop Theater training workshops lead by guest teaching artists from Playback at Pougkeepsie Middle School, 75 sixth graders will amaze with a fabulous culmination performance. Hip Hop Theater has been integral to the Bardavon’s Arts-in-Education Program since 2006. Each year, it offers students from underserved inner-city schools a powerful arts-based learning experience. Through this innovative, multi-faceted workshop, students study poetry, art, music and dance, drawing on their own creative abilities and gaining knowledge and skills in each discipline. They connect with the rhythms of their bodies and explore the art of the written and spoken word. They discover the satisfaction that striving for a shared goal can offer – and they realize they have a voice. Tickets: $6 all seats Information: 845.473.2072; http://www.bardavon.org
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 28
live! on stage
Audrey Rapoport and Greg Skura star in Tangent Arts’ produciton of ‘Sight Unseen’ at the Carpenter Shop Theater in Tivoli, May 2-19. Photo submitted.
Julius Caesar
Center for Performing Arts, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Through April 28; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.: Shakespeare’s enduring play about mobs, factions and power, this time set in Little Italy not too long ago. Caesar tries to become “il capo di tutti capi,” is “rubbed out,” and his “consiglieri” go to the mattresses. Tickets: $20/$18 Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org
Ballet Next
Frances Daly Fergusson Dance Theater, Kenyon Hall, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12604 Sat., April 20, 7 p.m.; Sun., April 21, 2 p.m.: Called by the dance blog The Ballet Bag “one of the most interesting independent dance companies to emerge recently,” Ballet Next “aims to make ballet more accessible, investing in new works and audience engagement.” Information: dancetix@vassar.edu; http://www.balletnext.com
Kathy Griffin
UPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401 Sunday, April 21, 7 p.m.: Two-time Emmy winner, NY Times bestselling author, four-time Grammy nominee, Broadway darling, Griffin is a multi-faceted performer with rapid fire wit, who has been making audiences laugh for years discussing Hollywood gossip and celebrity blunders. Tickets: $60; $75 Golden Circle Information: 845.473.2072; http://www.ticketmaster.com
2013 Faculty Dance Concert
Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Theater Two, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504
Fri. & Sat., April 26 & 27, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., April 28, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.: A dynamic evening of choreography by the extraordinary faculty of the Bard College Dance Program, performed by students in the program. Tickets: $15 Information: 845.758.7900; http://fishercenter.bard.edu
In the Heights
Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 12 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 April 26-28 & May 3-5; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.: Trinity Players present this groundbreaking Broadway sensation. Sometimes the biggest struggle deciding which traditions to take, which to leave behind, and where ‘home’ really is... Tickets: $18.95; $15.95, students, seniors, kids; Door: $19.95/$16.95 Info: http://www.trinityplayersny.org
Years of Sky: Winner Playwright Project 2013
Arts Center Theater, Columbia-Greene Community College, 4400 Route 23, Hudson, NY 12534 Saturday, April 27, 7:30 p.m.: Reading by Barbara Blatner, annual play competition winner. The play traces the story of a biracial teen couple who struggle through the complexities of dealing with the segregated South as time shifts from 1963 to 1968, when Robert Kennedy was shot, to 24 years later, when they meet in Dallas and try to sort through what has happened to them. Tickets: $6; $4 students and seniors Information: 518.828.4181; http://www.sunycgcc.edu
Rioult Dance: New York
Kaatsbaan Studio Theatre, 120 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583 Sat., April 27, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., April 28, 2:30 p.m.: The program will include The Violet Hour set to music by Joan Tower in collaboration with Pascal Rioult. There will be a “Curtain Talk” with Joan Tower prior
Page 29
Mercantile April-May 2013
to the performance at 6:45 p.m. at the Saturday performance. Tickets: $30; $10 children Information: 845.757.5106; http://www.kaatsbaan.org UPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401 Sunday, April 28, 7 p.m.: Part of the “Serious Laughs” series, Receiving critical acclaim as a stand-up, actor and author, Lewis Black has performed for audiences throughout Europe, New Zealand, Canada and The United States. Tickets: $55; $80 Golden Circle Information: 845.473.2072; http://www.ticketmaster.com
Fraser. The play follows the adventures of David McMillan, a character first introduced in Fraser’s Wolf Boy and developed further in his plays Unidentified Human Remains and The True Nature of Love and Poor Super Man. Alone, adrift and now entering his 50s, David has returned to Toronto to open a new restaurant. There he re-encounters Kane Sawatsky, with whom he once had a two-year relationship that did not end well. Kane is now married, and he and his wife Carolyn have two kids neither of whom has any idea that their father was once involved in a homosexual relationship. Tickets: $25; $20 seniors and students Information: http://www.stageworkshudson.org; http://kaliyuga.com/TrueLoveLies.htm
Sight Unseen
Cocktail Hour
Lewis Black: The Rant is Due!
Carpenter Shop Theater, 60 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583 May 2-19, Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.: A play by Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright Donald Margulies. Set in the art world, “Sight Unseen” centers on a famed artist and examines the cost of love, art and identity. Tickets: $20 Information: http://tangent-arts.org
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Center for Performing Arts, Rte 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 May 3-19, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.: Nominated for six Tony Awards, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is inspired by the real life chicken ranch in La Grange, Texas at a century old brothel. Tickets: $26; $24 seniors/kids Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org
True Love Lies
Stageworks/Hudson, 41-A Cross St., Hudson, NY 12534 May 9-19; Thurs., 7 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.: Stageworks/ Hudson presents the Kaliyuga Arts’ production of True Love Lies by Brad
The Beacon, 445 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508 May 10-19, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.: Winner of the Lucille Lortel Award as Best Off-Broadway Play. The time is the mid ’70s, the place a city in upstate New York. John, a playwright, returns to his family’s house, bringing with him a new play which he has written about them. His purpose is to obtain their permission to proceed with production, but his wealthy, very proper parents are cautious from the outset. Tickets: $18 Information: http://www.thebeacontheatre.org
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The Ghent Playhouse, 6 Town Hall Place, Ghent, NY 12075 May 17-June 2, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.: Can you spell “hilarious”? The 6 kids vying for the spelling bee trophy sure can! Who knew that the angst-filled, stress-driven, winner-take-all world of a junior high spelling competition could be this much fun? Tickets: $18; $15 Friends; $10 children 12 and under Information: http://ghentplayhouse.org
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 30
Sounds season of the
Superstar Liza Minnelli performs at the Bardavon’s Annual Gala in Poughkeepsie on May 17. Photo submitted.
Beautiful Girls
Beattie Powers Place, Prospect Ave. & Bridge St., Catskill, NY 12414 Sunday, April 21, 2 p.m.: “Beautiful Girls” -- Kathleen Devine, Florence Hayle and Lynne Kerr -- explore Stephen Sondheim songbook, including West Side Story, Gypsy, A Little Night Music and more. Tickets: $30 Info: http://www.beattiepowersplace.blogspot.com
So Percussion
Trinity Pawling School, Gardiner Theater, 700 Route 22, Pawling, NY 12564 Friday, April 26, 8 p.m.: The four men came together in 1999 while at the Yale School of Music. The group plays works from the standard percussion repertoire, but is becoming well-known for its use of unusual and exotic instruments. At its Carnegie Hall debut this past Spring, the critics were astounded and charmed, realizing that percussion ensembles can communicate all the extremes of emotional and musical possibilities. Hold onto your seats! Tickets: $30; $15 students; under 12, free Information: 845.855.3100; http://www.trinitypawling.org/
Symphony No. 2 by Gustav Mahler
Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Theater Two, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 Fri. & Sat., April 26 & 27, 8 p.m.: Mahler’s overwhelming Second Symphony projects a powerful narrative of life over death that resonates with philosophical issues the composer explored throughout his career. The monumental work builds in the final movement to a magnificent chorus that exalts the Resurrection. Performed by members of the American Symphony Orchestra, Bard College Conservatory Orchestra, and Longy Conservatory Orchestra. Conducted by Leon Botstein and featuring soprano, Heather Buck and mezzo-soprano Jamie Van Eyck. Tickets: $25-$40 Information: 845.758.7900; http://fishercenter.bard.edu
Sonando Fundraising Concert for Red Hook Public Library
Red Hook Firehouse, 42 Firehouse Lane, Red Hook, NY 12571 Saturday, April 27, 7 p.m.: The Friends of the Red Hook Public Library are thrilled to bring this high energy event back for a third year. Fueled by a fiery rhythm section and high octane horns, Sonando plays a wide variety of Latin styles from Plena and Son to Salsa to Merengue! Free munchies, a light menu and cash bar will be provided by CJ’s of Rhinebeck. Tickets: $20 advance; $25 door; $10 children under 14 Information: 845.757.3031; http://www.redhooklibrary.org
Piano: King of Instruments
Columbia-Greene Community College, 4400 Route 23, Hudson, NY 12534 Saturday, May 4, 7 p.m.: Concert featuring Vladimir Pleshakov. Hours: $10; $8 students & seniors Information: 518.828.4181; http://www.sunycgcc.edu
Hudson Valley Philharmonic V: American Premiere
Bardavon 1869 Opera House, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Saturday, May 4, 8 p.m.: Works by Debussy, Dorman, and Copland. Led by Music Director/Conductor Randall Craig Fleischer. Tickets: $31-$53; $20 students Information: 845.473.2072; http://www.bardavon.org
Folk Artist Rod MacDonald
Stageworks/Hudson, 41 Cross St., Hudson, NY 12534 Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 p.m.: Stageworks/Hudson presents folk artist Rod MacDonald in a special performance to celebrate Spring and to benefit the opening of Stageworks’ 2013 season. A co-founder of the Greenwich Village Folk Festival, Rod MacDonald is a singer/songwriter
Page 31
Mercantile April-May 2013
who was instrumental in the 1980s folk revival in Greenwich Village clubs, performing at the Speakeasy, The Bottom Line, Folk City and the Songwriter’s Exchange at the Cornelia Street Café for many years. MacDonald is a tenor with a clear voice and wide range who is noted for his lyrical musicality. Tickets: $25 Information: http://www.stageworkshudson.org
From 0 to 75 in 60 Minutes
Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534 Saturday, May 11, 8 p.m.: What do a Guarneri Quartet violinist and a Disney pianist have in common? Get the story firsthand and listen to them collaborate on a little Brahms, a little Grieg, and Lincoln’s West Hollywood Rumba (without an “h”). Featuring Arnold Steinhardt on violin and Lincoln Mayorga on piano. Tickets: $30 Information: http://claveracklanding.org
Bardavon Gala with Liza Minnelli
Bardavon 1869 Opera House, 35 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Friday, May 17, 8 p.m.: Minnelli, winner of four Tony Awards, an Oscar, a special “Legends” Grammy, two Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy, is one of the entertainment world’s consummate performers. In film, on stage and in television, Liza has won critical acclaim, a multitude of fans, and recognition from her peers in show business, giving new dimension and credibility to the word “superstar.” Tickets: $125-$225 Information: 845.473.2072; http://www.ticketmaster.com
Joint Chiefs
The Ancram Opera House, 1330 County Route 7, Ancram, NY 12502 Fri. & Sat., May 17 & 18, 8 p.m.: Local musical heroes the Joint Chiefs have won an enthusiastic following with their close harmonies and wide-
ranging repertoire. Playing guitar, bass, mandolin, button box accordion, and percussion, they bring their considerable talents to a list of great songs. Tickets: $15 advance; $20 door Information: http://www.ancramoperahouse.com
Beacon Rocks 100 Musicfest
Beacon Memorial Park, Route 52, Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, May 18, noon-9 p.m.: A centennial music fest featuring Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, Pete Seeger & The Rivertown Kids, Tabernacle of Christ Worship Band, The Beacon All-Stars, The Costellos, Stephen Clair, Talking Machine, Chowderhead, and Bosco and the Storm. Tickets: Free Information: 845.838.5000
Uel Wade Scholarship Concert
Spencertown Academy, 790 Route 203, Spencertown, NY 12165 Sunday, May 19, 3 p.m.: The 18th annual Uel Wade Music Scholarship competition performance in which local high school musicians compete for up to $10,000 in scholarship prizes to further their musical training. Tickets: $10 Information: 518.392.3692; http://www.spencertownacademy.org
Brentano String Quarter with Pianist Thomas Sauer
Howland Cultural Center, Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Sunday, May 19, 4 p.m.: One of America’s leading quartets, Brentano String Quartet plays the final concert in Howland’s anniversary season. Their program will include Beethoven Op. 18, No. 3 and Bartok’s Quartet No. 4, and will conclude with the Cesar Franck Quintet with pianist Thomas Sauer. Following the concert there will be a gala catered reception to celebrate the conclusion of this 20th season. Tickets: $30; $10 students Information: 845.297.9243; http://www.howlandmusic.org
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 32
readings, signings & screenings
Margaret Roach, A Way to Garden blogger and former editor of Martha Stewart Living magazine, discusses her latest book ‘Backyard Parables’ in Kinderhook on April 27. Photo submitted.
Hudson Valley History Reading Festival
Distinguished Authors Lecture Series: Margaret Roach
Romancing the Olive
Community Conversations: Victor S. Navasky & Peter Biskind
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Henry A. Wallace Center, 4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538 Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: In four sessions, beginning at 10:00 a.m., authors of recently published works on Hudson Valley history will present author talks followed by book signings. Copies of all of the authors’ books will be available for sale. See website for list of paraticipating authors. Presented by the FDR Presidential Library and the Friends of the Poughkeepsie Library District. Tickets: Free Information: 845.486.7745; http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu
Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, 26 Wing Rd., Millbrook, NY 12545 Saturday, April 20, 2:30-5 p.m.: The Garden Conservancy presents a lecture by Anglo-Irish actress Carol Drinkwater on “Romancing the Olive,” a journey of discovering the rich history and culture of the olive tree. The lecture will be followed by a book signing, wine reception and olive oil tasting courtesy of Pure Mountain Olive Oil in Rhinebeck. Tickets: $30; $20 members Garden Conservancy Information: 845.424.6500; http://www.gardenconservancy.org/events
Local Author Talk: June Kelley Pierce
Hyde Park Library Annex, 2 Main St., Hyde Park, NY 12538 Tuesday, April 23, 7 p.m.: Author June Kelley Pierce will discuss her new book, “Keeping Secrets.” Information: 845.229.7791 x 205; http://www.hydeparklibrary.org
Kinderhook Reformed Church, Broad St., Kinderhook, NY 12106 Saturday, April 27, 3 p.m.: Margaret Roach, the first gardening editor of Martha Stewart Living magazine, and author of the nationally acclaimed blog A Way to Garden, blends personal stories with the nuts-and-bolts gardening smarts that make her Hudson Valley garden a visual treat every day of the year. She will discuss her new book The Backyard Parables, focusing on “Nonstop Plants: A Garden for 365 Days.” Tickets: $7 lecture only; $40 lecture & cocktail reception Information: http://www.cchsny.org
Spencertown Academy Arts Ctr, 790 S.R. 203, Spencertown, NY 12165 Saturday, April 27, 4 p.m.: Author Navasky, a long time Hillsdale weekender, will discuss his career and his new book, The Art of Controversy: Political Cartoons and Their Enduring Power, a lavishly illustrated, witty, and original look at the awesome power of the political cartoon throughout history to enrage, provoke, and amuse. A reception and book signing will follow the talk. Spencertown resident Peter Biskind is a cultural critic and film historian. He was the editor-in-chief of American Film magazine from 1981 to 1986, and the executive editor of Premiere from 1986 to 1996. His writing has appeared in scores of national publications, including Rolling Stone, Paris Match, the Nation, The New York Times, the Times of London, and the Los Angeles Times, as well as film journals such as Sight and Sound and Film Quarterly. He is now a contributing editor for Vanity Fair. Tickets are $15 (reservations recommended). Information: 518.392.3693; http://www.spencertownacademy.org
Page 33
Mercantile April-May 2013
Author Event: Owen King
Oblong Books & Music, 6422 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Saturday, April 27, 7 p.m.: “Double Feature” is an epic debut novel about a young man coming to terms with his life in the process and aftermath of making his first film—from critically acclaimed short story writer Owen King. Information: 845.876.0500; http://www.oblongbooks.com
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
Upstate Films, 6415 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Sunday, April 28, 12:30 p.m.: The critically acclaimed film Half the Sky provides insight into the struggles women around the world commonly face that have been ignored for too long. Award-winning New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof, joined by celebrity advocates Gabrielle Union, America Ferrera, and Olivia Wilde travels to developing countries and exposes the shocking hardships women and girls of all ages endure. Intimate interviews and exciting footage reveal the extreme difficulties women face in the world today and the courageous efforts they exhibit as they fight to change the conditions in which they live. The film emphasizes the importance of empowerment and the necessary actions that must be taken to promote gender equality. Presented as part of Rhinebeck High School’s Power of One Project. Tickets: Call for info. Information: 866.345.6688; http://upstatefilms.org/special-events
Hudson Valley YA Society: Lauren Morrill, Lauren Oliver, Jess Rothenberg & Nova Ren Suma
Oblong Books & Music, 6422 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Sunday, April 28, 4 p.m.: Monthly HVYA Society event featuring YA authors Lauren Morill (Meanti to Be), Lauren Oliver (Requiem), Jess Rothenberg (The Catastrophic History of You and Me), Nova Ren Suma (17 & Gone). Information: 845.876.0500; http://www.oblongbooks.com
Screening of Film Hannah Arendt
Olin Hall, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 Monday, April 29, 7-10 p.m.: Followed by a discussion with the film’s writer Pam Katz, and the film’s star, Barbara Sukowa, who plays Hannah Arendt in the film. Information: 845.758.7878; http://www.bard.edu
Calling All Poets
Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Friday, May 3, 8 p.m.: Poetry open mic with hosts Jim Eve, Mike Jurkovic and Robert Milby. Featured poets: Matthew J. Spireng and Larry Carr. Tickets: $4 Information: 845.831.4988; http://howlandculturalcenter.org
Akiko Busch, “The Incidental Steward”
Oblong Books & Music, 6422 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Sunday, May 5, 4 p.m.: A search for a radio-tagged Indiana bat roosting in the woods behind her house in New York’s Hudson Valley led Akiko Busch to assorted other encounters with the natural world—local ecological monitoring projects, community-organized cleanup efforts, and data-driven citizen science research. Whether it is pulling up water chestnuts in the Hudson River, measuring beds of submerged aquatic vegetation, or searching out vernal pools, all are efforts that illuminate the role of ordinary citizens as stewards of place. In this elegantly written book, Busch highlights factors that distinguish twentyfirst-century citizen scientists from traditional amateur naturalists: a
greater sense of urgency, helpful new technologies, and the expanded possibilities of crowdsourcing. Musing on the expanding potential of citizen science, the author celebrates today’s renewed volunteerism and the opportunities it offers for regaining a deep sense of connection to place. Information: 845.876.0500; http://www.oblongbooks.com
Movies on the Mountain
Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Friday, May 10, 7:30 p.m.: The Beacon Historical Society and the Beacon Independent Film Festival present three silent films directed by D.W. Griffith and produced on Mt. Beacon in 1909-1910. The program will showcase movingmaking in Beacon at the turn of the centruy and offer a brief history of the silent film industry. Cary Brown provides piano accompaniment. Tickets: Free Information: moviesonthemountain@gmail.com
The Last Word: A Public Writing of the Last Words of the Handwritten Bible by Phillip Patterson
St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church, 5219 CR 7, Spencertown, NY 12165 Saturday, May 11, 6 p.m.: Before the writing, there will be a brief program featuring a discussion about the project, the collaboration between Phillip Patterson adn photographer Laura Glazer. There will be music and a gallery of photos from the project on display. $15 suggested donation benefits the Friends of St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church and the completion of the binding of the finished volumes of the handwritten bible. Information: http://serenityofknowing.com/events
Self Publishing Workshop
Germantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown, NY 12526 Wednesday, May 15, 6:30-8 p.m.: Self-published author, workshop leader and manuscript coach Dara Lurie will lead a 90-minute workshop for writers interested in self-publishing. Learn how to: develop the ‘who’ and ‘what’ of your marketing plan; find the key concepts and key words that speak to your audience; grasp the fundamentals of an effective internet and social media platform; identify your book promotion partners. Bring your questions! Project worksheets will be provided to all participants. This workshop is free, but space is limited and registration is required. Information: 845.537.5800; germantownlibraryevents@yahoo.com; http://90daystowriteyourebook.com; http://transformative-writing.com
Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist
Terrapin Restaurant, 6426 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Thursday, May 16, 6-8 p.m.: Oblong Books, in partnership with The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck and Terrapin Restaurant present a fun evening of cocktails with a literary twist with author, actor and irrepressible bon vivant - Tim Federle. A clever tribute to literature, Tequila Mockingbird is the cocktail book for the literary obsessed. Combining beloved classic novels with witty humor and delicious drink recipes, some of the charming recipes include Vermouth the Bell Tolls, Gin Eyre, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margarita, Bridget Jones’s Daiquiri, and more. Fundraiser for the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck. 20% of proceeds from book sales and cocktail sales go to support The Center. Information: 845.876.0500; http://www.oblongbooks.com
Writers Omi Reading & Spring Barbeque
Omi International Arts Center, 1405 County Rte. 22, Ghent, NY 12075 Saturday, May 18, 5 p.m.: Hear works in progress from this year’s Writers-in-Residence at Omi. Followed by barbeque dinner. Information: 518.392.4747; http://www.artomi.org
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 34
Spring Happenings April 20
April 26 - May 5
Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra presents
Trinity Players presents
Venice & Buenos Aires
IN THE HEIGHTS The groundbreaking Broadway sensation! Sometimes the biggest struggle is to decide which traditions to take, which to leave behind ... and where “HOME” really is ...
Join the NDSO and violoncellist Nancy Donaruma for Venice & Buenos Aires, the third performance in NDSO’s Exotic Pairings series. Ms. Donaruma has also played in the New Jersey Symphony, the New York City Opera and was principal cellist of the Kennedy Center opera and ballet orchestra. She currently is the artistic director of the Rhinebeck Chamber Music Society.
For information call 845-227-7855
www.trinityplayersny.org/upcoming.html
Through May 30 Linda T. Hubbard Exhibit Theatre Gallery 12 Vassar Street
As the Crow Flies
For information call 845-486-4571
www.cunneen-hackett.org
PLUS... Summer Camp with Star2B Performing Arts & Ongoing classes in Ballet,Tai Chi, Jazz, Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Journaling & More!!
Massage, Reiki & Reflexology Services Available
As the Crow Flies presents a compelling aerial perspective of the Hudson River from Bear Mountain to Kingston through photographs captured high above from a helicopter sans doors.
www.countryelegancephotos.com cunneen-hackett arts center is a funded member of DCAC
Page 35
Mercantile April-May 2013 the singer/songwriter neko case once wrote that growing your own food organically from heirloom seeds is the most punk rock thing you could possibly do in this country.
Long days short years by Brian PJ Cronin, photograph by Kristen Cronin I am sure the neighbors thought we were hiding a body. Longtime readers of this column, i.e. my mom (Hi, mom!) will remember that when we started writing this column four years ago, it was actually about gardening. Not a gardening advice column; unless by “advice column” you mean “cautionary tale as to what to avoid doing.” Eventually, we realized that if we wanted to successfully grow more than two peppers and a sprig of rosemary, we were going to have to build raised beds, a higher fence, and a gate. Then we found out we were going to be parents and knew our limited funds and energies were going to be directed elsewhere. I threw down a cover crop and abandoned the garden to the elements. Over time, the fence warped and sagged. The cover crop grew, bolted, and spread. It began to look less like a garden and more like a caged, mammoth tumbleweed. People who walked by it would avert their gaze. Children in the neighborhood dared each other to stick their hands through the fence. Birds that landed in the garden would quickly disappear within the tangle of thickets, only to be spit out hours later as gleaming white tiny bones. Every night I came home and expected to see the garden bathed in flashing sirens and police tape. But it wasn’t the fact that my lawn wanted to kill me that made me think about pulling the gardening tools out of the basement again; instead it was the very thing that caused us to abandon to garden in the first place. Cooper is almost two years old now and loves to run around outside, plucking ripe blueberries from the bushes around our yard and picking cherry tomatoes with us down at the CSA. When rain or snow keeps us inside, he wistfully stares out the window and pretends to pick apples from the air. Cooper needs a garden, and it was time to consider that even a broken down scraggly garden is better than no garden at all. The singer/songwriter Neko Case once wrote that growing your own food organically from heirloom seeds is the most punk rock thing you could possibly do in this country. You are taking “Do It Yourself ” to its logical extreme and giving the middle finger to every single hierarchy and corporation that has wormed its way into our everyday lives. But what would have happened if the Sex Pistols had decided not to play any gigs until they could afford decent instruments and figure out how to play them and master basic hygiene skills? We’d all still be listening to Leo Sayer, and Don Henley would be God Emperor of America. The tattered
fence was good enough. Leave the gates and raised beds for Quicksilver Messenger Service. It was time to stick it to The Man and pile into the van for one more tour of V.F.W. halls from coast to coast. Besides, what says “punk rock” more than an awkward suburban dad pushing 40 with New Balance sneakers and a secret fondness for the first four Indigo Girls albums (shhhh)? So we bought seeds, lawn leaf bags, compost, kid-sized gardening tools, snake repellant, chain mail, and a vial of holy water. We put Cooper to work watering piles of dirt while we cleared the brush with axe and saw and fire, glorious fire. And then I decided to show Cooper how to plant seeds so that the boy and I could share a father/son bonding moment. As stated previously, I am not an expert in matters of gardening. Nevertheless, I am quite certain that there are very few gardening experts who would advise you to, after meticulously planting several rows of seeds exactly 1/4” deep and spaced exactly 8” apart, run over all of the garden beds and kick the seeds every which way while shouting “DADDY DADDY BIRD BIRD BUGGA HUGGA HUGGA OVALTINE.” I suppose it’s possible that there is some obscure gardening method in which kicking and screaming and scattering is the recommended course of action. I am going to hold out hope that this is the case, for lack of any better options at this point. But it’s more likely that all we did is upgrade our garden from “The forest from the Evil Dead movies” to “Depressionera dust bowl.” Then again, who knows? Even after I turned my back on the garden two years ago, the perennial herb garden flourished without me doing a damn thing. Maybe it’s best not to worry and let the seeds fall where they may. If something sprouts, then Cooper and I will care for it. And if not, then we’ll stand in the empty garden and pretend to pick apples from the air. I have a feeling that Cooper won’t mind either way.
❂ Brian PJ and Kristen Cronin live in Beacon with their three cats, and their son Cooper James Cronin. Check out their blog A Rotisserie Chicken and 12 Padded Envelopes at hvmercantile.com, and view more of their photos at www.flickr.com/ teammoonshine and Instagram.com/kristencronin.
Mercantile April-May 2013
Page 36
miscell aneous Daffodil Tea
Wilderstein, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Saturday, April 20, 1 p.m.: Annual Daffodil Tea offers a glimpse of what tea time was like during the Victorian era. Enjoy a festive afternoon with fine tea and an assortment of homemade delectables. Also included is a tour of the Wilderstein mansion and the opportunity to stroll the estate while the landscape is in bloom. Tickets: $30; $20 children Information: 845.876.4818; http://www.wilderstein.org
Tousey Winery 2012 Riesling & Rose Release Party Tousey Tasting Room, 1774 Route 9, Germantown, NY 12526 Saturday, April 20, noon-5 p.m.: Sample the winery’s latest stars. Information: 518.567.5462; http://touseywinery.com
Soil & Stone with Professor Robert Titus
Vedder Research Library, Bronck Museum, 90 County Road 42, Coxsackie, NY 12051 Sunday, April 21, 2 p.m.: Noted local geologist, author, and Professor Robert Titus discusses the significance of geology to the settlement of the Bronck Farmstead. Refreshments to follow. Free and open to the public. Information: 518.731.1033; http:/www.vedderlibrary.org
Finding Financial Resources at Your Library
Adriance Memorial Library Charwat Meeting Room, 93 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Wednesday, April 24, 7 p.m.: This free seminar is offered as part of Money Smart Week -- a joint project of the American Library Association and the Federal Reserve Bank. The library district’s reference staff will demonstrate the following resources available to the public: the Finance section of the library (Reference & Circulating books), Magazines/Databases (specifically Business Insight: Essentials formerly Business & Company Resource Center), The Value Line Investment Survey, and sources for stock prices, both current and historical. Information: 845.485.3445 x 3702; http://www.poklib.org
Wine & Cheese Pairing Class
Hudson-Chatham Winery, 1900 State Route 66, Ghent, NY 12580 Friday, April 26: The Hudson-Chatham Winery is hosting a series of Wine & Cheese Tasting & Pairing classes with Peter Kindel, the cheesemaker at Hawthorne Valley Farm. Peter has fine-tuned his craft by making cheese around the world, and he also has training as a wine sommelier. There is so much to learn from Peter - and so much to enjoy in the wines and cheeses selected for these courses. The classes are on April 26, May 17, and May 31. They can be attended individually or as a series. For more information, contact the winery. Information: 518.392.9463; http://www.hudson-chathamwinery.com
Wine & Chocolate Tasting
Verdigris Tea & Chocolate Bar, 135 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Saturday, April 27, 5-7 p.m.: Come try delicious, inventive chocolates created by Sofi Award winner and artisanal chocolate maker, New York’s own Chocolate Moderne. We’ll have many flavors to choose. The chocolates will be paired with wines from Fairview Wines and Spirits for an evening of sumptuous decadence. Information: http://www.verdigristea.com
The Red Hook Public Library: Eight Sides to A Story
Elmendorph Inn, 7562 North Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571 Sunday, April 28, 3 p.m.: Historic preservationists Olivia and Chris Brazee uncover the history of the octagon house fad popularized by local phrenologist Orson Squire Fowler. Presentation followed by tour of Red Hook Library. Information: 845.758.1920; redhookhistory@gmail.com
Hudson River Valley Antique Auto Association Car Show
Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Route 9, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Fri., May 3, noon-5 p.m.; Sat., May 4, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., May 5, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.: Hundreds of vendors, countless hot rods and customs, antique and classic cars, swap meet, cars for sale, vendors, food and more. Tickets: $10; kids 12 and under, free Information: http://www.rhinebeckcarshow.com
Ramp Fest 2013
Basilica Hudson, 110 Front St., Hudson, NY 12534 Saturday, May 4, noon-4 p.m.: Celebrate the first forageable green, spring delicacy, wild onion of myth and mystery. Abundant in the Hudson Valley, the ramp will be at the center of original dishes created by chefs from upstate New York and the big city. Indulge in their pungent and therapeutic pleasure at the third annual Ramp Fest! Tickets: $30 advance; $35 door; $10 kids under 12 Information: http://www.rampfesthudson.com
Eleanor Roosevelt Knit-In
FDR Presidential Library & Museum, Route 9, Hyde Park, NY 12538 Sunday, May 5, 1-5 p.m.: Attendees are invited to bring their yarn and needles to knit or crochet 7” x 9” acrylic yarn blocks to be assembled into afghans and donated to the Troops, VA hospitals, battered women’s shelters and those in need. This is the 6th year of this event which is a fundraiser for the Town of Hyde Park Historical Society. Tickets: $20; $15 students Information: 845.229.2559; http://www.townofhydeparkny-historicalsociety.org
Marist Silver Needle Fashion Show
Mid Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Friday, May 10, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.: In its 27th year, this annual fashion show showcases the talents of Marist’s student designers. Tickets: $25-$100 Information: http://www.midhudsonciviccenter.org
Ghost Whisperer James Van Praagh
Mid Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Friday, May 17, 8 p.m.: Best-selling author and world-renowned medium. Tickets: $31.50-$76.50 Information: http://www.midhudsonciviccenter.org
4th Annual Hudson Valley Stroll for Epilepsy
Dutchess County Fairgrounds, Route 9, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Sunday, May 19, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Help raise funds for programs and services to people with epilepsy living in the Upper Hudson Valley. Fee: $25 advance; $30 day of; $10 students; kids 12 and under, free Information: http://epilepsyfoundation.org
Page 37
Mercantile April-May 2013
Germantown Look what’s happening in April! ����������������������������������������������������
�����������
���������
���������������� �����������������
������������������� ���������� ������ �������������������������������� �� ��
�� ��
�����������������������������������������������
�������������������������������������������������������������������������
�������������� ��������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������� ��������������������������� ���������������������� ����������������������������������� �� ���������������� ������ ������������������������������� ������ ������������������� ������
�������������������������������� ������������ ������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ��������������������������������� ����������������������������� ����
������������������������������������������������������������������������
������������ �������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������
�������������������� ��������������������
845.876.WOOD
www.williamslumber.com
Visit our bra nd new
KITCHEN & B ATHROOM SHOWROOM in Pleasant V alley!
2424 Route 44 , Ple
asant Valley, NY
12569
RHINEBECK PLEASANT VALLEY HUDSON HOPEWELL TANNERSVILLE RED HOOK HIGH FALLS HYDE PARK