Hudson Valley Mercantile by Rising Tide Communications

Mercantile ��

live. work. play.

December 2011

Mercantile Holiday 2011

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adams fairacre farms

ADAMS

for the

H O L I D AY S

POUGHKEEPSIE

KINGSTON

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

w w w . a d a m s f a r m s . c o m

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Mercantile Holiday 2011

Contents content s

Holiday Sights Calendar begins

12526 Happenings Calendar

Seasonal Palette Calendar begins

Holiday Happenings Calendar begins

Live! On Stage Calendar begins

Sounds of the Season Calendar begins

Take the Kids Calendar begins

Handcrafted Holiday Calendar begins

Under the Radar by Brian PJ Cronin

Readings, Signings & Screenings Calendar begins

Bright Green Valley Calendar begins

Long Days, Short Years by Brian PJ Cronin

Photography Made Easy: Photographing Holiday Lights by Joel Weisbrod

hudson valley

Mercantile

Contributors: Brian PJ Cronin Kristen Cronin

a publication of

P.O. Box 178 Red Hook, NY 12571 845-546-3051

Joel Weisbrod

Special Thanks: Jim Gibbons: Publisher jgibbons@hvrising.com Heather Gibbons: Creative Director calendarhog@hvrising.com Contents ©2011 Rising Tide Communications, LLC No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher

Linda T. Hubbard

On the Cover: Photograph of male cardinal from Linda T. Hubbard’s ‘Winter Birds’ series. Linda loves to capture the beauty, peace and serenity of nature. Besides being co-owner of RiverWinds Gallery in Beacon, Linda is President of the Beacon Arts Community Association (BACA), is on the Dutchess County Tourism Advisory Board and the Mill Street Loft Board, and chairs Art Along the Hudson. She is Past President of the Hudson Valley Artisans Guild. Linda is also a member of the Dutchess County Arts Council, the Mid-Hudson Photo Club, and the Dutchess Professional Photographers Association. See more of her work at www.RiverWindsGallery.com

Mercantile Holiday 2011

Boscobel

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Historic Sights

Route 9D, Garrison, NY 10524 Last Friday of the Month, all day: Costumed House Tours. Boscobel’s docents dress in various period costumes to guide visitors through mansion. Fridays, Dec. 9, 16, 7 p.m.; Saturdays, Dec. 10, 17, 6 p.m.: The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival presents Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol.” Performed live in the grand entry hall at Boscobel House, this fastpaced production is a lively reading of excerpts from Dickens’ tale that opens up a fresh view of this familiar holiday material. Holiday feast with the actors follows performance. Tickets: $75 Sunday, December 11, 2:30 p.m.: Children’s Tea with Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus. Mrs. Claus will delight children with storybook readings, and Santa will invite children to his knee to whisper their Christmas wishes. Sandwiches and sweets. Ages 5-12 accompanied by an adult. Tickets: $25 Through December, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Holiday House Tours. Friendly, knowledgeable docent guides direct and entertain visitors with stories of early 19-century yuletide traditions and at-home entertaining during the Federal period. Tickets: $16; $13, seniors; $8, kids 6-14; under 6, free; family of four, $40 Information: 845-265.3638; http://www.boscobel.org

Clermont State Historic Site

County Route 6, oﬀ Route 9G, Germantown, NY 12526 Sunday, December 11, 3-6 p.m.: Candlelight Tours. Crackling ﬁre lit at 3 p.m. Tickets: $7; $2 children under 12. Saturday, December 17, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Christmas at Clermont Open House. Enjoy the mansion’s spectacular rooms lavishly decorated for the holidays. Hot mulled cider is served to all guests in the museum’s visitor center and gift shop. Clermont’s Open House is a fun way to see the 250year-old mansion all dressed up for the holidays! Families or groups may enjoy the mansion easily, as you wander from room to room at your own pace, with volunteer docents present to answer your questions. Free.

Dining Room at Mills Mansion, Staatsburgh State Historic Site. Photo submitted.

Sat. & Sun., through January 8, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., closed 12/25 & 1/1: Tours of the mansion in its holiday splendor. Tickets: $5; $4 seniors; free kids 12 and under Information: 518.537.4240; www.friendsofclermont.org

Elmendorph Inn

7562 Route 9, Red Hook, NY 12571 Sunday, December 11, 1-4 p.m.: Ye Olde Dutch Christmas Open House with Dutch decorations throughout the Inn, holiday music by local talent, hot cider, cocoa, cookies and fresh bee hive oven bread. Information: 845-758-0277; http://www.elmendorph.org

Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum

4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538 Henry A. Wallace Center, Springwood Home of FDR & FDR Presidential Library, Saturday, December 10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum and the Home of FDR National Historic Site will host a series of free holiday events. The Roosevelt Library and the Home of FDR (Springwood) will be open to visitors free of charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be holiday decorations, music, refreshments and special activities -- including the annual Children’s Reading Festival -- beginning at noon in the Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center. Holiday Open House at Val-Kill will run from 4-7 p.m., with a shuttle running from the Wallace Center. Parking at the sites is limited and attendees are encouraged to carpool when possible. FREE Springwood Home of FDR, through December 31 (closed 12/25), 9 a.m.4 p.m.: Special holiday tours of FDR’s home. Tickets: $14, includes the FDR Presidential Library & Museum; free, kids 15 and under Information: 845.486.7745; www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu

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Mercantile Holiday 2011 tea sandwiches, dessert and a children’s craft project. Reserve by 12/20. Tickets: $15; $12/child. Information: 845.831.8172; http://www.mountgulian.org

Olana State Historic Site

Route 9G, Hudson, NY 12534 Fri.-Sun., through January 2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., house closes at 4 p.m.; closed Christmas Day and New Years Day: Tour the home of artist Frederic Church and family, hear excerpts of letters from family members about plans for the holidays, gifts and even the Christmas letter to Santa Claus from young Frederic Joseph Church on behalf of himself and his younger siblings. Tickets: $9; $8 students and seniors, free for children under 12. Information: 518.828.0135; http://olana.org Sun., December 11, 10-11:30 a.m. & noon-1:30 p.m.: Victorian Wreathmaking workshop with Mary K. Hughes, Olana Flower Garden Caretaker. Exquisite natural materials will be provided. Tickets: $10; $5 members Information: 518.828.1872; shasbrook@olana.org; http://olana.org

Staatsburgh State Historic Site

Old Post Road, Route 9S, Staatsburg, NY 12580 Through Dec. 31, Thurs.-Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; special evening hours on Fri., Dec. 16, 6-8 p.m. (closed 12/25): Enjoy the sumptuously decorated historic mansion, house tours, an award-winning gift shop and majestic Hudson River setting! Tickets: $5; $4, seniors and students; 12 & under free. Sundays, Dec. 11 & 18, 1-4 p.m.:: “Holiday Whodunit,” a one-hour mystery adventure for families. Calling all detectives! Especially children ages 6-11. Go back 100 years in time to 1911. Ruth Livingston Mills wants to give a prize to her most important servant – but she can’t decide who the most important one is! She needs your help! Come interview the servants and the guests (our costumed interpreters) and help Ruth decide. All participating children will be entered into a drawing for prizes! Lavish table setting at Frederick Church’s Olana. Photo submitted. Tickets: Free to children 12 and under; $8 adults; $6 students & seniors. No reservations required. Information: 845.889.8851; www.staatsburgh.org John Kane House 126 East Main St., Pawling, NY 12564 Fri. & Sat., Dec. 9 & 10, 5-8 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 11, 1-4 p.m.: Decorated Val-Kill by the Pawling Garden Club in mid-18th century style. Candlelight tours, Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538 entertainment and refreshments. Tickets: Admission by donation. Through December 31, Thurs.-Mon., 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.: Special holiday Information: 845.855.5355 tour of Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site. Tickets: $8; kids 15 and under, free Information: 845.486.7745; http://www.nps.gov/elro Locust Grove 2683 South Rd. (Rt. 9), Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Saturdays in December (10, 17) & the week after Christmas, Dec. 26Vanderbilt Mansion 31: View Locust Grove’s historic mansion, decorated in seasonal splendor. Visitors Center, Route 9, Hyde Park, NY 12583 This holiday season, the classic theme is “The Nutcracker.” In each room, Through December 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Christmas Day: Enjoy Christmas trees decorated in seasonal splendor will showcase the passages tours of the mansion lavishly decorated for a “Gilded Age” holiday season. from this tale. Tour the mansion with our guides available to share Tickets: $8 information on the showcased museum collections and decorations. Information: 845.229.7770; www.nps.gov/vama Tickets: $10/adult; $6/child under 12. Sundays, December 11 & 18, noon-4 p.m.: “A Holiday Hunt for Kids” Wilderstein featuring “The Nutcracker.” Collect the clues to the tale as you travel 330 Morton Road, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 through the mansion’s decorated rooms. Then, return to the Museum December 10 & 11, 17 & 18, 26 & 27, 1-4 p.m.: Florists and designers Pavilion for a holiday storytelling performance by Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi. transform the Wilderstein mansion into a magical holiday spectacular. Tickets: $10/adult; $8/child, includes hunt, storytelling performance, Tour the mansion at your own pace, with guides in each room to share cookies & cider. Information: 845.454.4500 x 17; www.lgny.org information and answer questions. Tickets: $10; $9 students/seniors; under 12, free Mount Gulian Historic Site Saturday, December 10, 1 p.m.: “Yuletide High Tea.” Afternoon affair with 145 Sterling Street, Beacon, NY 12508 fine tea, finger sandwiches, homemade cakes and cookies. Mansion tour Sunday, December 11 & 18, 3-7 p.m.: “Special Candlelight Tour and included. Reservations are necessary. Vignette” featuring historic holiday decor. Live holiday music. On 12/11, Tickets: $30; $20 per child. violin duets of holiday music with Julie Berman and Linda Kleinhenz; Information: 845.876.4818; www.wilderstein.org and 12/18, a cappella by The Evergreen Chorus, local chapter of the Sweet Adelines International. Tickets: $5; children & members free Wednesday, Dec. 29, noon-2 p.m.: “Children’s Victorian Holiday Tea.” Tea,

Mercantile Holiday 2011

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GERMANT WN Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting Saturday, December 10 10 am - 9 pm • art��

holiday gift fair*

Sponsored by Friends of Germantown Library ��

4:30 pm • outside art��

holiday music

by Ron Moore, Acoustic Guitar 5:30 pm

tree lighting & christmas music by Germantown Central School Womens’ Chorale 6 pm

santa arrives!

Children may visit with Santa at Floral Innovations 6:30 pm • central house

storytelling by Linda Sharpe

7 pm • central house

12526.biz after hours

in the heart of germantown check for updates @ germantownny.org ��

Mercantile Holiday 2011

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Mercantile Holiday 2011

Seasons Greetings f�� Fingar Insurance visit us during our special holiday hours Festive Season New Year Mondays December 19th - 23rd: 12 PM - 5 PM Saturday December 23rd: 10 AM - 3 PM Sunday December 25th: Closed Monday December 26th: 12 PM - 5 PM

Friday December 30th: 12 - 7

Saturday December 31st: 12 - 5 Sunday January 1st: 12 - 5

12526 Mercantile Holiday 2011

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H a p p e n i n g s

Clermont State Historic Site

County Route 6, oﬀ Route 9G, Germantown, NY 12526 Sunday, December 11, 3-6 p.m.: Candlelight Tours. Crackling ﬁre lit at 3 p.m. Tickets: $7; $2 children under 12. Saturday, December 17, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Christmas at Clermont Open House. Enjoy the mansion’s spectacular rooms lavishly decorated for the holidays. Hot mulled cider is served to all guests in the museum’s visitor center and gift shop. Free. Sat. & Sun., through January 8, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., closed 12/25 & 1/1: Tours of the mansion in its holiday splendor. Tickets: $5; $4 seniors; free kids 12 and under Information: 518.537.4240; www.friendsofclermont.org

Friends of the Germantown Library Holiday Gift Fair

ARTspace, 212 Main Street, Germantown, NY 12534 Sat. & Sun., Dec. 10 & 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., plus open late on Saturday for the Germantown Holiday Festival: Gift fair featuring homemade crafts, cookies and other holiday foods. Also, new and gently used ornaments, books, stocking stuffers, small toys, holiday decor, gift wrap, fresh and artificial wreaths and more. A silent auction of gifts donated by local businesses will also be held. Purchases are tax free. Kicks off the membership drive for and benefits the newly formed Friends of the Germantown Library organization. From 10:30-noon & 1-2:30 p.m. on both days, Adrienne Westmore will share tips and techniques as she assembles and decorates her award-winning Victorian gingerbread house, which will be raffled off at the end of the Fair. Information: http://germantownlibrary.org

Germantown Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting

Germantown Center, Germantown, NY 12526 Saturday, December 10, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.: Holiday Gift Fair (also on Sunday, 12/11), live music by Ron Moore on acoustic guitar, and the Germantown

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Historic Hotel

�� 220 Main Street • Germantown, NY 12526 Front Desk: 518.537.7722 • Reservations: 561.945.3062 centralhousehotelinn@gmail.com • ﬁnd us on facebook

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Central School Women’s Chorale, tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.; Santa, storytelling at Central House and more. Information: http://germantownny.org

Fine Art Equine Photographer Juliet Harrison

Germantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown, NY 12526 Sunday, December 11, 1 p.m.: Fine Art equine photographer Juliet Harrison talks about her work and its evolution. She will showslides featuring some of her extraordinary work and answer audience questions. Her books, White Horses, Track Life in Saratoga Springs, and Dressage will be available for purchase. Or, place an order for her latest book, Equiscape: A Modernist Nude featuring 59 black-and-white and color plates from her ongoing series of abstracted equine images. Information: 518.537.5800; http://germantownlibrary.org; http://JulietRHarrisionPhotography.com

Christmas Cantata

Reformed Church of Germantown, 20 Church Avenue, Germantown, NY 12526 Sunday, December 11, 4 p.m.: Holiday concert featuring the Christmas Cantata, a 100-minute long contemporary oratorio featuring 17 arias and choruses, interspersed by recitatives. Information: 518.537.6687

Terra Tuesdays

Germantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown, NY 12526 Tuesdays, January 17, 24 & 31, 3:30 p.m.: Join Mud Creek Environmental Educator Chelsea Benson for some outdoor winter fun. 1/17, “Tracks & Traces,” 1/24, “Coping with the Cold,” 1/31, “Snowshoe HIke,” explore the winter landscape on snowshoes! Hike around Palatine Park in search of animal tracks and traces. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend. Snowshoes will be available. Information: 518.537.5800; http://www.germantownlibrary.org

Mercantile Holiday 2011

seasonal

PALETTE

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‘First Snow’ pastel on paper by Kari Feuer, at the ArtPOP Gallery’s PaperWorks Holiday Show in the Village of Red Hook through the end of December.

Art POP! Gallery

7505 North Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571 Through December 31: “PaperWorks Holiday Show,” featuring media on paper works in sculpture, paintings, drawings, photographs, greeting cards and more. Great holiday gifts -- all work priced between $5-$100. Hours: Thurs., 1-5 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 1-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-4 p.m. Information: redhookcan@gmail.com; rhcan.blogspot.com

Barrett Art Center

485 Main St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Through December 17: “3rd Annual National Cup Show,” focuses on interpretations of a utilitarian object both function and sculptural that has been part of daily life for centuries. December 17-January 15: Annual Members Exhibit & Art Sale. Opening Reception & Potluck Chili Dinner: Saturday, December 17, 4-7 p.m. Hours: Call for hours Information: 845.471.0407; http://www.barrettartcenter.org

Beacon Institute Gallery

199 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Through March 4: “Ted Spiegel: The Hudson’s Seasons & Spans.” An accomplished photojournalist, Ted Spiegel has covered assignments across the globe, but like the 19th-century artists of the famed Hudson River School, he’s made the Hudson River Valley the focus of much of his life’s work. Hours: Sat. & Sun., noon-6 p.m., or by appointment Information: 845.838.1600; http://bire.org

CCS Bard Hessel Museum of Art

Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 Through December 16: “If you lived here, you’d be home by now,” an exhibition co-curated by artist Josiah McElheny, Tom Eccles, and Lynne Cooke focusing on the theme of “the domestic” and the idea of diﬀerences in viewing, experiencing, and evaluating contemporary art in a public vs. domestic environment. The exhibition will include works by artists such as Carl Andre, Cindy Sherman, Gerhard Richter, and Agnes Martin drawn from the extensive Marieluise Hessel Collection of contemporary art, as well as new projects by Josiah McElheny and borrowed works by artists such as John Chamberlain. Hours: Wed.-Sun., 1-5 p.m. Information: 845.758.7598; ccs@bard.edu; http://www.bard.edu/ccs

Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center

12 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Through December 31: Chine Colle Prints by Emma Crawford (9 Vassar St. Gallery); Work by Randi Chalfant (12 Vassar St. Gallery). Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 845.486.4571; http://www.cunneen-hackett.org

Darkside Records and Gallery

782 Main St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 Through December 18: “Tea and Strumpets,” new work from NY fashion artist Kathleen Marie. A vivid collection of paintings and photography inspired by Victorian ethics, haute fashion imagery and french symbolist poetry. Information: 845.452.8010

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Mercantile Holiday 2011

the return of

Bob Kirwood’s Famous Beneﬁt Dinner for Autism

Monday, January 16, 2012 @the local restaurant and Bar rhinebeck, nY

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Think Thanks.

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Mercantile Holiday 2011

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Dia:Beacon

Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman Street, Beacon, NY 12508 Permanent Collection: In addition to the permanent collection, Dia Art Foundation is currently exhibiting: Through February 13, 2012: “Franz Erhard Walther: Work as Action.” Through September 4, 2012: “Circa 1971: Early Video & Film from the EAI Archive.” Circa 1971 presents a selection of video and film works by key figures in early video art from the collection of Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), a nonprofit organization that fosters the creation, exhibition, distribution, and preservation of moving-image art. December 17-December 31, 2012: Jean-Luc Moulène, “Opus + One,” the first comprehensive exhibition in North America devoted to the work of this Paris-based artist. The installation will comprise objects and images created over the past two decades and will be accompanied by a new project at the Dan Flavin Art Institute in Bridgehampton, NY, as well as a major publication. Ongoing: “24 Farben – fur Blinky (24 Colors – for Blinky), 1977,” Imi Knoebel’s cycle of 21 shaped paintings. Ongoing: “Beacon Point,” George Trakas’ project for Beacon Point. Tickets: $10; $7 seniors and students; children under 12 free Hours: Thurs.-Mon., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Information: 845.440.0100; www.diaart.org

vegetable still life, sculpture; plus, ceramics and glass including bowls, mugs, cups, platters and vases for sale. Hours: Tues.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed or Holiday recess 12/23-1/2 Information: 845.471.7477; http://www.millstreetloft.org

Mill Street Loft Gallery 45

45 Pershing Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 December 9-January 14: “Holiday Small Works Art Exhibition and Crafts Show,” including unique smaller works in a variety of media including paintings, drawings, printmaking, photographs, sculpture, ceramics, glass, hand-made textiles, jewelry and more. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed 12/24-1/2. Information: 845.471.7477; http://www.millstreetloft.org

Rhinebeck Savings Bank

1476 Route 9D, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Through December 30: BACA @ the Bank presents “Hudson River Scapes” paintings by Ed Vermehren. Ed’s motivation stems from a dichotomy found in his personal life between nature and industry. His paintings use vivid colors to depict the brighter side of life. Hours: Call for hours. Information: 845.831.0300; http://beaconarts.org

fovea

143 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Through February 11, 2012: “Gays in the Military: How America Thanked Me,” visual and audio testimonials collected by photographer Vince Cianni of more than 100 US servicemembers and veterans whose lives were aﬀected by the ban on homosexuality over the last six decades. Hours: Fri.-Sun., noon-6 p.m. Information: http://www.foveaexhibitions.org

James W. Palmer Gallery

College Center, Main Building, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12604 Through January 6: “Process + Content,” paintings by Hudson Valleybased contemporary artist Donise English. The artist states, “All of the paintings are made with multiple layers of information that are visual and ideological responses to the previous layers and by accumulating or obscuring, emphasize the pictorial space and the shapes, lines and colors that inhabit it.” Hours: Daily, 11 a.m.-6 p.m Information: http://palmergallery.vassar.edu

Locust Grove

2683 South Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Through January 15: “River, Marshes, Fields and Mountains,” a solo exhibition of paintings by Barbara Masterson. Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 845.454.4500; http://www.lgny.org

Marion Royael Gallery

460 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Through December: “Daytrip,” work by James Gwynne, David Coalburn, Brian Edwards and April Aguayo. Hours: noon-7 p.m., Thurs.-Sun. & by appt. Information: 541.301.0032; http://www.marionroyaelgallery.com

Mill Street Loft ARTS at the River Center

Long Dock Park, Red Flynn Road, Beacon, NY 12508 Through January 8: “American Bounty Exhibit & Ceramic and Glass Sale.” Artwork on a fall harvest theme -- autumn landscapes, fruit &

Female cardinal from Linda Hubbard’s ‘Winter Birds’ series.

RiverWinds Gallery

172 Main St., Beacon 12508 Through December 31: “Buone Feste: Holiday Group Show.” Annual holiday show featuring one-of-a-kind gifts for those special people on your list -- original handmade gifts by local artists. New artists for the holiday season: Marika Bossfeldt, Beth Weintraub, and others, plus some of your favorite featured artists: Janine Lambers, Hiro Ichikawa, Kari Feuer, Jennifer Konig and Ed Vermehren. Hours: Wed. - Mon., noon - 6 p.m.; Second Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Information: 845.838.2880; http://riverwindsgallery.com

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Mercantile Holiday 2011

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Betsy Jacaruso Studio & Gallery weekly classes in watercolor, drawing and gouche now located in the Rhinebeck Courtyard (next to the back entrance of Bread Alone)

www.betsyjacarusostudio.com

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Mercantile Holiday 2011

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Paintings by Dutchess Day School students on display at a special children’s art fundraiser at Montgomery Row, ‘Bark Art,” December 9-11.

RiverWinds Gallery @ Wells Fargo Advisors

6423 Montgomery St., Suite 10, 2nd Floor, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Through January 23: “Reﬂections: A Group Art Show.” Artists have long been drawn to featuring reﬂections as the focus of their work. this show has an exciting mix of industrial, pastoral and still life images -both modern and traditional. 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

Rotunda Gallery

Adriance Memorial Library, 93 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Through January 10: Thirty-ﬁve watercolors by local artist Diane-Ellen McCarron. Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sun., 2-5 p.m. Information: 845.485.3445; http://poklib.org

Tivoli Artists Co-op

60 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583 Through December 24: “Holiday and Small Works Show.” Aﬀordable art and ﬁne handcrafted items. Paintings, sculpture, wood worked items, knitting, crochet, glass, painted textiles, pottery and more. Hours: Fri., 5-9 p.m.; Sat., 1-9 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m. Information: 845.757.2667; http://www.tivoliartistsco-op.com

Twisted Soul

47 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Through January 18: “The Study,” an art exhibition featuring new paintings by Dutchess County resident Don Rothman. The majority of the works are beautiful representational landscape paintings of Hudson Valley scenes, along with still life paintings. Information: 845.471.7477; http://millstreetloft.org

Ulster Savings Bank

7296 South Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571 Through January: Photographs by current and former students of the Center for Spectrum Services (formerly The Children’s Annex), a private, not-for-proﬁt program designed for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Information: 845.758.4020; http://centerforspectrumservices.org

Columbia. Carrie Haddad Gallery

622 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 December 15-January 22: “Winter Exhibit,” brings together the narrative paintings of Ashley Cooper, portraits by Tracy Helgeson, contemporary landscapes by Tony Thomson, abstract paintings by Jenny Nelson, and outsider-art-inspired work by Judith Hoyt. Reception: Saturday, December 17, 6-8 p.m. Hours: Thurs.-Mon., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 518.828.1915; http://www.carriehaddadgallery.com

Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Gallery 1 South Front Street, Hudson, NY 12534 Through January 13: “The Works of Gerald Cooley.” Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 518-671-6213; http://artscolumbia.org

Columbia County Council on the Arts

CCCA Gallery 209 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through January 6: “Holiday Small Works Show,” for those who wish to “give the gift of art this holiday season.” All works by CCCA members, all 12” x 12” or smaller, and all priced at $250 and under. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 518-671-6213; http://artscolumbia.org

Columbia Greene Community College

4400 Route 23, Hudson, NY 12534 Blue Hill Gallery, through December 20: Work by non-credit students of Regine Petrosky. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Kaaterskill Gallery, through December 23: Work by Daniel Marcus. Hours: Wed.-Sat., 5-7 p.m., and by appt. Information: 518.828.4181; http://www.sunycgcc.edu

David Dew Bruner Design

610 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through December: Work by New York City ceramist Robert Pesce, including several series: Contour, Vortex and Lilianna, blending Moorish design, industrial forms, and natural shapes. Hours: Sat. & Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and by appt. Information: daviddewbruner@msn.com

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Mercantile Holiday 2011 continued from page 15 i

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Davis Orton Gallery

The Transcendent Body + Other Geometries: The Artists’ Statement Picture Show #2

J. Damiani Gallery

Bark Art: A Children’s Art Fundraiser

114 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through December 18: “Photobooks!! 2011.” The exhibit features 20 photobooks selected from an international photobook competition. All photobooks and prints will be for sale during the exhibition. Information: 518.697.0266; http://www.davisortongallery.com 237 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through December 31: “Piccolo Doni,” small art pieces perfect for gift giving. Photography, giclee on canvas and polaroid emulsion meticulously framed and specially priced. Information: 518.828.5490; http://jdamianigallery.com

John Davis Gallery

362 ½ Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 January 5-29: Work by Dionisio Cortes. “This current show is composed of two distinctive bodies of work: ‘the sky series’ which revisits a series of sky paintings that was executed after the 9/11 events, and ‘the pattern series’, that further develops my ongoing conversation between pattern, form and space. Reception: Saturday, January 7, 6-8 p.m. Hours: Thurs.-Mon., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Information: 518.828.5907; http://johndavisgallery.com

Limner Gallery

123 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through December 31: “New Works by Crosby, Slowinski, Heinrich, Parker and Robinson.” Hours: Wed.-Sat., noon-5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Information: 518.828.2343; http://www.slowart.com

464 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Friday, December 9, 8 p.m.: A pop-up video art and ﬁlm screening curated by Mollie McKinley for The Artist’s Statement Picture Show. Featuring works by emerging and mid-career artists from New York, Chicago and Toronto. Information: http://aspsvideo.tumblr.com

Montgomery Row Second Level, 6423 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 December 9-11: The paintings of Dutchess Day School students will be on exhibit. Opening reception on Friday, December 9, 5-9 p.m., featuring a reading from “Maggie’s Second Chance” by award-winning children’s author, Nancy Furstinger. The book is based on the true story of Texas fourth graders who created an animal shelter in their town. The book signing and reading will take place at Pause Dog Boutique on the ﬁrst ﬂoor of Montgomery Row. Sales from the students’ art work will help abandoned animals receive medical care and shelter, and will help educate the public about these animals’ plight. Information: 845.876.0543; suehartshorn@frontiernet.net

Second Saturday Beacon

Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, December 10 & January 14, 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

Fine Art Equine Photographer Juliet Harrison

Charles B. Beneson Visitors Center Gallery & Fields Sculpture Park, 1405 County Route 22, Ghent, NY 12075 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

Spencertown Academy Arts Center

Reception for Jean-Luc Moulène Exhibit

Omi International Arts Center

790 Route 203, Spencertown, NY 12165 Through December 18, Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: “Handmade Holiday.” This year’s holiday show is bigger and better than ever with a dazzling array of hundreds of one-of-a-kind gifts, from funky to fabulous, handcrafted by local artists. Get in the holiday spirit with a cup of mulled cider and seasonal treats while you enjoy stress-free shopping. Information: 518.392.3693; http://www.spencertownacademy.org

Workshops & Special Events Make Your Own Ornament

Hudson Beach Glass, 162 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Daily throughout December, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.: Work with master glassblower, John Gilvey, to make your own ornament. You choose the colors and textures, then add your breath to it permanently. Each ornament takes only 15 minutes to make. Cooling process takes overnight. Fee: $30/ornament; ages 6 and up Information: 845.440.0068; http://hudsonbeachglass.com

Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, December 17, 2-4 p.m.: Public reception for Jean-Luc Moulène exhibit, “Opus + One.” Tickets: Free with museum admission Information: 845.440.0100; http://www.diaart.org

Winter Solstice Laser Light Art Installation

Creekside Park & Roundhouse, 2 E. Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Thursday, December 22, 6 p.m.: On the darkest night of the year, the Winter Solstice, holographic and laser artist Linda Law plays the role of the Greenwoman to call back the sun and celebrate the mythological and symbolic roots of this important moment in time. A traditional Native American ﬁre starting ceremony will take place in the park next to the waterfall. The event culminates in the lighting of lasers installed in the Roundhouse complex to create a laser sculpture that will play on the water rapids below the waterfall. Lasers will remain lit until January 1st, 2012. Information: http://beaconarts.org

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Mercantile Holiday 2011

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Mercantile Holiday 2011

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Holiday Happenings Saturday December 10

��

Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center presents

Gallery #9

��

Chine Colle prints by Emma Crawford Gallery # 12

Gallery artist Randi Chalﬁn

One of a kind handmade jewelry. handbags, ornaments, cards and knitwear. vintage pieces and more. You’ll be sure to ﬁnd the perfect something for that special someone on your holiday gift list For information call 845-486-4571

SAVE THE DATE

January 20 - 21

December 9 - 18

From Stage to Screen proudly presents

4th Wall Productions presents

��

a Musical Review with Choreography

an original musical by John Fogarty

It is almost the “most wonderful time of the year”, and what better way to enjoy the holiday season than taking the whole family to a Christmas show? The Christmas Wish is a fun and heart-warming musical story of one girl’s determination to save Christmas with the help of her brother and a few other unusual guests.

This play was written to showcase the talents of many students. There’s a cheerleader, a romantic, a karate kid, a comic, a pretty but vain girl, an acrobat, a couple of characters that are quiet and shy, a leader, a drama queen, and even dumb Dora. Everyone gets the opportunity to sing and dance to old favorites such as Another Op’nin Another Show, Amore, Do Re Me and the Tarantella.

For information call 845-486-4571 or visit www.4thwallproductions.net

For information call 845-486-4571 or visit

www.fromstagetoscreen.net

cunneen-hackett arts center is a funded member of DCAC

9 & 12 Vassar Street • Poughkeepsie, NY • 845-486-4571

cunneen-hackett.org

Page 19

Mercantile Holiday 2011

Rhinebeck Dance Centre Returns to RHINEBECK ! to

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Red Hook

7345 S. Broadway

SHOWBIZ DANCE STUDIO Kingston  1086 Morton Blvd. Photo K. Cassens

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Page 20

Holiday Happenings

Holiday windows inspired by the Beacon Arts Community Association’s annual storefront decorating contest this year themed “Reinvent, Recycle, Rejoice!” L to R, ﬁrst place winner, Blackbird Attic; second place winners, The Roundhouse @ Beacon Falls business oﬃces; third place winners, Gourmetibles. Photos by Linda Hubbard.

ReImagine, ReCycle and ReJoice Storefront Decoration Contest

Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508 Throughout December: The Beacon Arts Community Association (BACA), the Beacon Chamber of Commerce, the Tioronda Garden Club, Zero To Go, School of Jellyﬁsh and the City of Beacon are partnering with Beacon businesses to celebrate the season by encouraging festive and inviting storefronts. This year’s theme is recycling, and a special prize will be awarded to the window with the best/most creative use of re-purposed items. Information: 845.863.9964; http://beaconarts.org

Santa Comes to the Walkway

Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Through December 18, Sat. & Sun., noon-2:30 p.m.: Santa will be out on the walkway, about mid-way across. Bring you family, your wish list and your camera! Information: http://www.walkway.org

Lighting of the BACA Upcycled Bicycle Christmas Tree Cross & Main Sts., Beacon, NY 12508 Friday, December 9, 4 p.m.: Reception follows at School of Jellyﬁsh. Information: http://beaconarts.org

Candlelight Night House Tours

Village of Kinderhook, Broad St., Kinderhook 12106 Friday, December 9, 6-8:30 p.m.: Join in the festivities of the holiday season while strolling through the Village of Kinderhook decorated for the Holidays. Music, food and fun for the whole family Sponsored by the Kinderhook Business and Professional Association. Information: 518.758.9265; http://www.cchsny.org

Holiday Gingerbread House Making

Millbrook Firehouse, Front Street, Millbrook, NY 12545 Friday, December 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Bring the entire family to decorate a gingerbread house for the holidays. House and frosting provided -- bring your own cany and trim accents. Free refreshments. Preregistration required by December 1st. Fee: $13 residents; $15, non-residents Information: 845.677.8278

Red Hook Winterfest

Village of Red Hook, NY 12571 Friday, December 9, 5-7 p.m.: Food from local vendors, holiday characters, hot chocolate, ornament decorating, music, hayrides and Santa! Information: 845.758.0824

Adams’ Winter Fest

Adams Fairacre Farms, 765 Dutchess Turnpike, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 Saturday, December 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Free horse-drawn wagon rides, photos with Santa, cider, coﬀee and hot chocolate. Arts & crafts projects, balloons and more. Kids’ ornament workshop. Warm s’mores. Pinecone birdfeeder workshop. Plus, costumed characters & cookie decorating. Information: http://adamsfarms.com/location/poughkeepsie

Dessert Wines Paired with Holiday Goodies

Hudson-Chatham Winery, 1900 State Route 66, Ghent, NY 12075 Saturday, December 10, noon-5 p.m.: Pairings of the winery’s awardwinning dessert wines with desserts and holiday goodies, including savory specialities. Information: http://www.hudson-chathamwinery.com

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Mercantile Holiday 2011

Gift Wrapping Get Together

Adams’ Winter Fest

Tivoli Winterfest

Winterfest in the Village of Chatham

Tivoli Free Library, Watts dePeyster Hall, 86 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583 Saturday, December 10, noon-2 p.m.: Come to the library to wrap your holiday gifts with friends. Then, stick around for Winterfest! Information: 845.757.3771; http://tivolilibrary.org

1 Tivoli Commons, Tivoli, NY 12583 Saturday, December 10, 3-5 p.m.: Horse and carriage rides, holiday music, bon ﬁre, a visit from Santa, refreshments, an art exhibit and sale, lighting of Village tree, and a spectacular ﬁreworks display. Information: 845.757.2021; http://www.tivoliny.org

Beacon Second Saturday Holiday Open House & Tree Lighting

Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, December 10, 5-9 p.m.: Galleries and shops are open late and will host holiday artist receptions, concerts and more. BACA will light up its recycled bicycle Christmas tree on the West end of Main. Celebrate and join in the sing-along. Reception follows at School of Jellyﬁsh. Information: http://www.beaconarts.org

Copake Holiday Light Parade

Main Street & Copake Community Park, Copake, NY 12516 Saturday, December 10, 5:30 p.m.: Parade featuring ﬂoats, music, lighted trucks, school band and Santa. After the parade Santa will be at the park, where there will also be refreshments and music around a bonﬁre. Information: 914.625.3494

Valatie Winter Walk

Main Street, Valatie, NY 12184 Saturday, December 10, 6-9 p.m.: Annual holiday festival with storytelling, musicians, carolers, refreshments, Santa Claus and much more. Information: http://www.valatievillage.com

Germantown Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting

Germantown Center, Germantown, NY 12526 Saturday, December 10, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.: Holiday Gift Fair (also on Sunday, 12/11), live music by Ron Moore on acoustic guitar, and the Germantown Central School Women’s Chorale, tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.; Santa, storytelling at Central House and more. Information: http://germantownny.org

Wreath Making Workshop

Phantom Gardener, 6837 Route 9, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Saturday, December 10, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Make your own wreath for the holidays. Bring your own gloves & clippers. Pre-register. Cost: $25, includes materials Information: http://thephantomgardener.com

Victorian Wreath Making at Olana

County Route 9G, Hudson, NY 12523 Sunday, December 11, 10 a.m. or noon: Olana’s flower garden caretaker Mary Hughes will teach the art of creating Victorian wreaths at a hands-on workshop for adults. Exquisite natural materials will be provided. Mary holds degrees in horticulture and floriculture and has a floral design certificate. Participants may choose either the morning or afternoon session. Space is limited; register by preceding Friday. Tickets: $10 Information: 518.828.1872; http://olana.org

Adams Fairacre Farms, 160 Old Post Rd., Wappinger, NY 12590 Sunday, December 11, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Costumed characters, petting zoo, singing quartets, holiday cookie decorating for kids ($2), popcorn, cotton candy & donuts. Information: http://adamsfarms.com/location/wappinger

Main Street & Hudson Ave., Chatham, NY 12037 Sunday, December 11, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: You are invited to take a stroll throughout the village: enjoy the wonderfully decorated windows, take a ride in an old-time horse drawn cart, sample goodies at many businesses, join in with the carolers, see a free movie, participate in the parade of stars, give Santa your list, and, of course, ﬁnish your holiday shopping! New this year: parade of stars at 12:30 p.m., followed by complimentary ﬁlm screening (appropriate for children) at Crandall Theatre. Snow date 12/18. Information: http://www.chathambusinessalliance.org

Menorah Lighting

Rhinebeck Savings Bank Parking Lot, E. Market Street, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Fri., Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m. & Sat., Dec. 24, 6:30 p.m.: Sponsored by the Rhinebeck Jewish Center. All lightings will be followed by music, hot latkes and cider. Information: http://rhinebeckjewishcenter.com

Menorah Lighting

In Front of Thor Building on Franklin Avenue, Millbrook, NY 12545 Sunday, December 25, 6:30 p.m.: Sponsored by the Rhinebeck Jewish Center. All lightings will be followed by music, hot latkes and cider. Information: http://rhinebeckjewishcenter.com

Menorah Lighting

Red Hook Chamber of Commerce Info Booth, Route 9, Village of Red Hook, NY 12571 Sunday, December 25, 6:30 p.m.: Sponsored by the Rhinebeck Jewish Center. All lightings will be followed by music, hot latkes and cider. Information: http://rhinebeckjewishcenter.com

Bubbly Endings and Beginnings

Hudson-Chatham Winery, 1900 State Route 66, Ghent, NY 12075 Fri. & Sat., Dec. 30 & 31, noon-5 p.m.: To toast the outgoing year and usher in the New Year – and to thank everyone who has supported the winery – all our visitors receive a complimentary sparkling wine cocktail featuring Hudson-Chatham Blanc de Blanc. Four diﬀerent cocktails to choose from! Information: http://www.hudson-chathamwinery.com

32nd Annual New Year’s Day Auction

Copake Auction, 266 County Route 7A, Copake, NY 12516 Sunday, January 1, noon: This premiere auction features Estate fresh 18th and 19th century furniture, artwork, folk art, period accessories, china, glass, stoneware, primitives and more. Tickets: $10/seat Information: 518.329.1142; http://www.copakeauction.com

Mercantile Holiday 2011

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live! on stage

Solas An Lae Dance Company ‘A Midwinter Night’s Dream’ at Bard’s Fisher Center December 17, photo by Tami Wilkenson.

Theater Series: Senior Projects in Directing Weekend Two

Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Resnick Theater Studio, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 Thurs.-Sun., December 8-11, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.: Two performances of four senior project plays presented over two weekends. Weekend Two features “Gum” by Karen Hartman; and “Promenade” by Maria Irene Fornes.Tickets: Free, reservations required. Information: 845.758.7900; http://ﬁshercenter.bard.edu

Catskill Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker

UPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401 Fri. & Sat., Dec. 9 & 10, 8 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 11, 2 p.m.: Join Clara and the Nutcracker Prince on a magical adventure to the Land of Sweets, where they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and are invited to watch the festivities. Clara watches in awe as dancers display delicious treats. Catkill Ballet Theatre, Ulster County’s 2010 Cultural Business of the Year Award Winner, performs this classical ballet in its entirety. Tickets: $27; $20 students/seniors Information: 800.745.3000; http://www.bardavon.org

A Christmas Carol

Valatie Community Theatre, 3031 Main Street, Valatie, NY 12184 Fri., Dec. 9, 8 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., Dec. 10 & 11, 2 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 16, 8 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 17, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 18, 2 p.m. : Charles Dickens’ classic gets the full Broadway treatment. Tickets: $18; $15 seniors; $12 students (with I.D.); kids under 12, $5 Information: 518.758.1309; http://www.valatietheatre.org

A Christmas Carol

The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 December 9-17, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.: A perennial favorite returns with a twist on Charles Dickens’ classic tale featuring Scrooge, the Cratchits, Tiny Tim, an unusual ghost, and your favorite holiday carols. Tickets: $18 Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

The Christmas Wish

Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 12 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Dec. 9-18, Fri. & Sat., 7 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.: A fun and heart-warming musical story of one girl’s determination to save Christmas with the help of her brother and a few other unusual guests. Presented by 4th Wall Productions. Tickets: $10 Information: 845.486.4571; http://4thwallproductions.net

Menagerie a ‘trois! Our Annual Panto!

The Ghent Playhouse, 6 Town Hall Place, Ghent, NY 12075 Fri. & Sat., Dec. 9 & 10, 8 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 11, 2 p.m.: This year’s Panto - West Side Story meets the 3 pigs and the 3 bears. Go prepared to laugh your socks oﬀ. By Judy Staber and the Loons. Directed by Tom Detwiler. Tickets: $18; $10 children under 12 Information: 518.392.6264; http://ghentplayhouse.org

New Paltz Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker

Bardavon, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Sat., Dec. 10, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 11, 3 p.m.: The New Paltz Ballet Theatre returns for a 14th season to present this holiday classic

Page 23

Mercantile Holiday 2011 returns in this original play written by M. San Millan for students ages 7-12, exploring the silent movie genre. Fun for the entire family. Tickets: $5 Information: 845.876.6470

Solas An Lae: A Midwinter Night’s Dream

Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504 Saturday, December 17, 8 p.m.: Presented by Deirdre Lowry and Patrick Brown, Solas An Lae Dance Company is joined by student dancers from the Solas An Lae School of American Irish Dance in a timeless story of dreams and imagination that lights up the stage in this magical holiday dance production. Tickets: $5 Information: 845.876.6470

The First Night of Funny

Mid-Hudson Civic Center, 14 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Saturday, December 31, 8 p.m.: A hilarious night showcasing four professional comedians with four unique and hilarious perspectives on the world. Tickets: $20 advance; $30 door Information: 845.454.5800; http://www.midhudsonciviccenter.org

A Christmas Carol

World-renowned dancers from the New York City Ballet: Ask la Cour & Teresa Reichlen perform in The Nutcracker at the Bardavon on December 10 & 11.

featuring principal dancers from the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Peter and Lisa Naumann, co-directors of the NPBT, have brought many ﬁne regional artists together to create this beautiful production. Tickets: $28; $25 students/seniors Information: 800.745.3000; http://www.bardavon.org

Larry the Cable Guy

Mid-Hudson Civic Center, 14 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Saturday, December 10, 4 p.m. & 8 p.m.: With his signature catchphrase, “Git-R-Done,” Larry has become one of the most recognizable comedic talents in the country. Tickets: $43-$58 Information: 845.454.5800; http://www.midhudsonciviccenter.org

Lettuce Rejoice

Stageworks Hudson, 41 Cross Street, Hudson, NY 12523 Saturday, December 10, 8 p.m.: Featuring Hedda Lettuce with pianist Paul Leschen. Ticket includes one glass of wine before the show. Tickets: $25 Information: 518.822.9667; http://www.stageworkshudson.org

Mrs. Fezziewiggs’ Christmas Revue

Howland Cultural Center, 474 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Friday, December 16, 8-10 p.m.: Presented by Broadway to Beacon. Tickets: $10 Information: http://howlandculturalcenter.org

Black & White Holiday

Cocoon Theatre, 6384 Mill St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Saturday, December 17, 3 p.m.: Cocoon’s “Silent Movie Workshop”

Space 360, 360 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534 Wed.-Fri., Dec. 21-23, 8 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 24, 3 p.m.: Now a tradition for six years with Walking the Dog Theater, the performance of this timeless story continues its evolution. Let Dickens’ classic inspire the spirit of the Holiday Season! Tickets: $20; $12 students; free, WTD members Information: 800.838.3006; http://www.wtdtheater.org

American Buﬀalo

The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 January 6-8, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.: David Mamet’s story of a pair of two-bit criminals’ efforts to steal a coin collection revolutionized American theater by creating a poetry of street speech other playwrights have imitated but never matched. With this astonishing debut play, later a film featuring Dustin Hoffman and a famed Broadway production starring Al Pacino, Mamet staked a claim to be America’s Anton Chekov: its leading chronicler of the struggle to escape from hopelessly stranded lives. Directed by Tracy Carney for The Woodstock Players with Lou Trapani as Teach, Carey Harrison as Donny, and Alex Bennett as Bobby. Due to the graphic nature of the language this performance is not suited for young audiences. Tickets: $20; $18 seniors Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

Annie

The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 January 13-29, Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.: CENTERstage Productions brings the Tony Award-winning family favorite Annie to the stage under the direction of AnnChris Warren. Based on the Harold Gray comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charmin and a book by Thomas Meehan, Annie features a bright score that has become part of the American musical heritage. With favorites like “Hard Knock Life” and “Tomorrow,” that spunky little redhead reminds us to never give up hope. Tickets: $26; $22 seniors Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

Mercantile Holiday 2011

Page 24

sounds of the season

Hope Machine featured Fred Gillen, Jr. in concert December 30 at The Beacon Theatre.

Adam Levy Solo Show

Open Space Gallery, 510 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Friday, December 9, 8 p.m.: Local 845 presents solo songwriter and storyteller Adam Levy -- “a world class guitarist and a heartbreaking songwriter, with a Masters degree in subtlety. Prepare to swoon.” Tickets: $12 door; $9 advance Information: http://local845.com

Hudson Valley Choral Society Winter Concert

St. James Church, Hudson Avenue, Chatham, NY 12037 Saturday, December 10, 7:30 p.m.:Vivaldi Magniﬁcat and songs from 16th through the 20th Century. Carol sing and reception following concert. Tickets: $10; $8 seniors; free, students 18 and under Information: 518.799.6137; hmmail@berk.com

Rhinebeck Choral Club Winter Concert

Rhinebeck Reformed Church, 6368 Mill Street, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Saturday, December 10, 7:30 p.m.: The Rhinebeck Choral Club presents its best-received and most fun-to-sing winter holiday music from the past 10 years. There will be rousing fanfares and gentle lullabies, celebrations of Christmas and Hanukah, an American spiritual, a French carol, a contemporary Israeli song, a crackling sleighride through the Russian countryside, a sing-along, and much more! Tickets: $10; $8 students Information: 845.532.1204; http://www.rhinebeckchoralclub.org

Jenny Lin Beneﬁt Concert

Hudson Opera House, Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534 Saturday, December 10, 8 p.m.: HOH presents a beneﬁt performance

with pianist Jenny Lin, one of the most respected young pianists today, admired for her adventurous programming and charismatic stage presence. Lin will perform a work by Federico Mompou: Selections from his Musica Callada (Silent Music) with ﬁlm screening and ‘Get Happy’: Broadway Song Arrangements from Marc-Andre Hamelin, Uri Caine, Stephen Hough, Stephen Prutsman, Christopher O’Riley and Earl Wild. Reception sponsored by Otto’s Market follows. Tickets: $25 Information: 518.822.1640; http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org

Rhinebeck Choral Club Winter Concert

New Beginnings Church, 35 De Garmo Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Sunday, December 11, 3 p.m.: The Rhinebeck Choral Club presents winter holiday music from the past 10 years. See 12/10 listing for complete description. Tickets: $10; $8 students Information: 845.532.1204; http://www.rhinebeckchoralclub.org

Hudson Valley Choral Society Winter Concert

Christ Church, Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534 Sunday, December 11, 3:30 p.m.:Vivaldi Magniﬁcat and songs from 16th through the 20th Century. Carol sing and reception following concert. Tickets: $10; $8 seniors; free, students 18 and under Information: 518.799.6137; hmmail@berk.com

Christmas Cantata

Page 25

Mercantile Holiday 2011

Festival of Lessons and Carols

First Presbyterian Church, 50 Liberty St., Beacon, NY 12508 Sunday, December 11, 5-8 p.m.: An evening of Christmas carols and words of hope to usher in the holiday spirit. Beneﬁts the church’s music program. Reception at Chill Wine Bar follows with entertainment and silent auction. Donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries and cleaning supplies beneﬁt ARCS. Tickets: $20 Information: 845.831.6209; http://www.beaconpresbychurch.com

Five Acts

The soundBarn, 330 Maple Lane, Valatie, NY 12184 Sunday, December 11, 8 p.m.: An evening of experimental music featuring Valerie Kuehne, Paul Pinto, Jeﬀrey Young, Century Plants and soundBarn from NYC and the Capital Region. Tickets: $12 door; $9 advance Information: http://www.soundbarn.blogspot.com

Pawling Concert Series: Waverly Consort

Trinity Pawling School, All Saints Chapel, 700 Route 22, Pawling, NY 12564 Friday, December 16, 8 p.m.: Each holiday season the Waverly Consort’s 14-member ensemble of singers and players present “The Christmas Story” -- a program combining solemn and festive music, processions and smile gestures to dramatize the Biblical narrative as conveyed by music manuscropts and illuminated miniatures of the Middle Ages. Tickets: $30; $15 students Information: 845.855.3100; http://trinitypawling.org

Highlights from the Footlights: A Holiday Beneﬁt

The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Sunday, December 18, 3 p.m.: A Grand Holiday Party with all the best songs, all the best performers, and all for the Love of The Center. Hurricane Irene tried her best to stop The Center and Highlights from the Footlights but they’re back to celebrate -- this time with a holiday twist! Wine and hors d’oeuvres, a party with the cast after the show, and even some songs to be sung by all ‘round the piano. Tickets: $50 Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

Hot Songs for Cold Nights: Aviva & Dan

Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508 Sunday, December 18, 7-10 p.m.: Aviva & Dan is an electrifying duo performing an eclectic musical mix combining rich & lustrous operatic vocals & ﬂamenco guitar, creating a unique repertoire that spans the medieval to modern, classical to tango. Tickets: $12 Information: http://www.avivaanddan.com; http://www.howlandculturalcenter.org

6th Annual Classical Christmas Concert

St. John’s Reformed Church, 126 Old Post Rd. North, Red Hook, NY 12571 Saturday, December 17, 7 p.m.: Professional musicians celebrate the season of giving to benefit the local community through the Red Hook Area Council of Churches. Harps, flutes, violin and piano join with singers to make a joyful noise. Admission is free. Good will offering will be taken. Information: 845.758.1184

Acoustic Medicine Variety Show

Elmendorph Inn, 7562 Route 9, Red Hook, NY 12571 Saturday, December 17, 7-10 p.m.: Featuring original live music. Tickets: $10, includes 2 beverages and snacks Information: 845-758-0277; http://www.elmendorph.org

Community Sing: Handel’s Messiah

St. James Church, Corner Rtes 203 & 66, Chatham, NY 12037 Saturday, December 17, 7 p.m.: Celebrate the season by singing the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah (plus the Halleluia Chorus, of course) with family, friends and neighbors. The Columbia Festival Orchestra conducted by Gwen Gould provides live musical accompaniment. Listeners welcome. Tickets: $8 advance; $10 at the door, free for students. Light refreshments served. Information: 518.828.7513; http://columbiafestivalorchestra.org

Duncan Sheik

Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534 Saturday, December 17, 9 p.m.: Duncan Sheik has had a cult following since his days at Brown University. He made Broadway history when “Spring Awakening,” his musical about adolescent sexuality, opened to rave reviews on Broadway. Tickets: $18 Information: 518.828.4800; http://helsinkihudson.com; http://duncansheik.com

The Hudson Valley Philharmonic. Photo submitted.

Hudson Valley Philharmonic III: Winter Suite

Bardavon, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Sunday, December 18, 3 p.m.: The 52nd Anniversary Season of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic continues with “Winter Suite” featuring the dynamic HVP String Competition winner Yoshihiko Nakano performing one of the greatest works for viola and orchestra: Bartok’s Viola Concerto, op. posth op BB128. HVP Music Director Randall Craig Fleischer conducts. Tickets: $26-$48; student rush tickes one hour prior to concert for $20 Information: 845.473.2072; http://www.bardavon.org

Celebration Through the Centuries

The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Thurs. & Fri., Dec. 22 & 23, 8 p.m.: Guitar virtuoso David Temple returns this Holiday Season with music from around the globe spanning ﬁve centuries. Experience works of the Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic and Modern periods. Ranging in feeling from peaceful meditation to exuberant joy these selections are the perfect way to celebrate the true meaning of the Holidays! Tickets: $18 Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org continued on page 26 g

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Cathedral to Carol: A Holiday Celebration

The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Thurs. & Fri., Dec. 29 & 30, 8 p.m.: George Conrad and accompanist Joel Flowers perform their ﬁrst holiday concert at The Center! Delight in a combination of well-known carols and more classical pieces. Selections will include “Gesu Bambino,” “Pieta Signore,” “Mille Cherubini In Coro(Dormi, Dormi),” and well-loved carols “O Holy Night,” “Adeste Fideles,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and “Ave Maria.” Revel in the diversity of this duo in their holiday debut! Tickets: $18 Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

Hope Machine’s Year End Hootenanny

The Beacon Theatre, 445 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Friday, December 30, 8 p.m.: Fred Gillen Jr., Steve Kirkman, Eric Puente, & Special Guests! Hope Machine was born at a Woody Guthrie Foundation & Archives event in 2003. They’ve evolved into a rabblerousing, foot-stomping, Americanaband, writing and performing songs about what’s wrong in the world and how to change it. From Irving Plaza in New York City to rallies and peace events all over the country, they’ve spread their message of hope. This will be their seventh annual year-end hootenanny, where they invite friends to come play with the band for the night to ring in the new year, in a true celebration of community.Tickets: $10 advance; $15 door Information: 845.226.8099; http://thebeacontreatre.org

Kimberly Kahan, Lyric Soprano

Rhinebeck Reformed Church, Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Sunday, January 8, 4 p.m.: Lyric soprano Kimberly Kahan enjoys an accomplished career with opera companies and orchestras throughout

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Hamell on Trial performs at Howland Cultural Center on January 14th. Publicity photo.

the country. She has earned great acclaim for her musical and dramatic interpretations for such signature roles as Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, as well as title rolls in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah and Strauss’ Arabella. For this concert she will persent something very special: Hector Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 for soprano with eight cellos, plus works by Schubert, Verdi, Bachelet and Strauss. Tickets: $25; $5 students Information: http://rhinebeckmusic.org

Hamell On Trial

Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, January 14, 8 p.m.: Righteous Babe Records’ awardwinning artist Hamell on Trial presents “The Evolution Revolution,” Hamell’s mix of acoustic punk, comedy and commentary. Tickets: $12 Information: 845.831.4988; http://howlandculturalcenter.org

Jeremy Denk

Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Sunday, January 15, 4 p.m.: Pianist Jeremy Denk has steadily built a reputation as one of today’s most compelling and persuasive artists, with an unusually broad repertoire. He has recently gained considerable prominence and glowing reviews for his last-minute substitution for ailing colleagues at Carnegie Hall and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. When asked to return to the Howland Center, he oﬀered to play two concerts focused on the Mozart Sonatas. Tickets: $30; $10 students Information: 845.297.9243; http://howlandmusic.org

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take the kids

Erika Miklósa as the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop

Mid Hudson Children’s Museum Pavilion, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Fri., Dec. 9, 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 10, 10 a.m.: Decorate your very own gingerbread house. Houses made by a local baker and come fresh and fully assembled. Icing and candies are provided. Reservations required. Fee: $28; $22 members. Take home kits available for $30 each. Information: 845.471.0589; http://www.mhcm.org

Winter Wonderland

James & Betty Hall Theater, Dutchess Community College, 53 Pendell Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Saturday, December 10, 11 a.m.: Join Flying Ship Productions’ modern-day Alice as she searches for the real meaning of the winter holiday season. Alice journeys to the beloved Wonderland, and meets all the diverse and zany characters. Through her adventures, she awakens with a new sense of charity and acceptance. Follow Alice as she discovers that the strange and unusual characters she encounters enrich her life, and that embracing diﬀerences truly is the holiday spirit. Tickets: Free Information: http://www.sunydutchess.edu/studentlife/ studentactivities/famfest.html

Fairy Tale Writing Workshop for Kids with YA Author Robin Palmer

Germantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown, NY 12526 Saturday, December 10, 2-4 p.m.: For many of us, some of our earliest memories include being read fairy tales at bedtime. And while many of us might not have experience living in a castle in a faraway land,

crossing paths with witches and fairy godmothers, or coming across big bad wolves, the structure of fairy tales -- a character on a heroic journey -- is just as relevant in books, movies and TV shows today. In this workshop, each participant will write their own modern-day version of a classic fairy tale and then share it with the group. Palmer’s first YA book “Cindy Ella,” was the first in a series of modern retellings of fairy tales set in a fictional Los Angeles high school. This was followed by “Geek Charming” (recently premiered on the Disney Channel starring Sarah Hyland and Matt Prokop), “Little Miss Red” and the upcoming “Wicked Jealous.” In addition, she also has a middle grade series called “Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker,” about a twelve-year-old girl whose new stepsister is literally the most popular girl in the world because she’s a Hollywood superstar. Free and open to the public. Information: 518.537.5800; http://www.germantownlibrary.org

Children’s Reading Festival & Open House

Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, 4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538 Sunday, December 11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Annual festival featuring children’s book authors who read from and sign copies of their books. Photos with Santa and holiday card making. Information: 845.486.7770; http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu

No Strings Marionettes

Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Sunday, December 11, 1 p.m. & 4 p.m.: Handsome & Gretel at 1 p.m.; Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, 4 p.m. Tickets: $10; children free when accompanied by adult. Information: http://howlandculturalcenter.org continued on page 28 g

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marionettes, holiday music and guaranteed smiles. Tickets: $7 children; $9 adults & seniors Information: 845.876.3080; www.centerforperformingarts.org

Family Free Night

Mid Hudson Children’s Museum Pavilion, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Saturday, December 17, 5-8 p.m.: Free museum admission. Starlab Planetarium show, “Winter Solstice” at 6 and 7 p.m. Enter an inﬂatable planetarium and explore the night time sky during the winter solstice. Fee for planetarium show, $4 per person for ages 3 and older. Information: 845.471.0589; http://www.mhcm.org

Santa’s Workshop

Family Event: Peter Yarrow, “The Night Before Christmas”

Oblong Books, 6422 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Sunday, December 11, 4 p.m.: Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary fame) reads from and signs copies of his latest book, “The Night Before Christmas.” RSVP required for this free event. Information: 845.876.0500; http://www.oblongbooks.com

Holiday Whodunit

Staatsburgh State Historic Site, 75 Mills Mansion Dr., Staatsburg, NY 12580 Sundays, December 11 & 18, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: One-hour mystery adventure for families. Children ages 6 to 11 solve a ‘history-mystery’ by exploring the historic mansion and interacting with costumed interpreters. Fun for the whole family. Tickets: $8; free, chiildren 12 and under Information: 845.889.8851; http://staatsburgh.org

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Party

Tivoli Free Library, Watts dePeyster Hall, 86 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583 Tuesday, December 13, 5:30-7 p.m.: In honor of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever,” the sixth book in Greg Heﬄey’s journey releasing, join us for snacks and a screening of the movie version of the ﬁrst book in the series. Free and open to the public. Information: 845.757.3771; http://tivolilibrary.org

The Puppet People’s “A Christmas Carol”

The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, Route 308, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Saturday, December 17, 11 a.m.: Warm your hearts with Dickens’ classic. Watch Mean Ol’ Scrooge as he discovers Christmas is not HUMBUG! The Puppet People’s spectacular show features beautiful

Mid Hudson Children’s Museum Pavilion, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Wednesday, December 21, 5-7 p.m.: Enjoy tasty treats and hot cocoa with Santa then help him decorate a toy in his workshop! Children get to take their decorated toy home. Don’t forget your camera to capture all of the special moments! For ages: 3 and up. Space is limited. Fee: $10/child, $5/adult; $8/$4 members Information: 845.471.0589; http://www.mhcm.org

Met Opera: Magic Flute

Time & Space, 434 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534 Thurs., Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Dec. 30, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 7, 3:30 p.m.: The Magic Flute is the Met’s abridged English-language version of Mozart’s Die Zauberﬂöte, a sublime fairy tale that moves freely between earthy comedy and noble mysticism. Mozart wrote the original opera, in German, for a theater located just outside Vienna with the clear intention of appealing to audiences from all walks of life. The story is told in a Singspiel (“song-play”) format characterized by separate musical numbers connected by dialogue and busy action, an excellent structure for navigating the diverse moods, which range from solemn to lighthearted, of the story and score. The composer and the librettist were both Freemasons-the fraternal order whose membership is held together by shared moral and metaphysical ideals-and Masonic imagery is used throughout the work. The story, however, is as universal as any fairy tale. Tickets: $12.50 Information: 518.822.8448; http://timeandspace.org

Met Opera: Hansel & Gretel

Time & Space, 434 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534 Fri., Dec. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Thurs., Dec. 29, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 7, 7 p.m.: The Met’s wickedly funny production returns as this season’s English-language holiday presentation for families. Aleksandra Kurzak is Gretel, with Kate Lindsey and Alice Coote alternating as Hansel. Robert Brubaker is the Witch who plots to bake them into gingerbread. The program run time is 1 hour, 53 mins. There is one interview between acts 2 and 3, but no intermission (runs like a ﬁlm). Tickets: $12.50 Information: 518.822.8448; http://timeandspace.org

Light Up the Winter Workshop

Mid Hudson Children’s Museum Pavilion, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Wednesday, December 28, 11 a.m.: Celebrate the winter season with crafts from all over the world. Create a clay menorah for Hanukah, a sun weaving for the winter solstice and more. Fee: $5/child, does not include museum admission Information: 845.471.0589; http://www.mhcm.org

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A scene from Act II of Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” with Christine Schäfer as Gretel and Alice Coote as Hansel. Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

Holiday Open Barn

Stonykill Environmental Education Center, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Wednesday, December 28, 7-9 p.m.: Tour the barn and visit the farm animals; there will be live music, refreshments, crafts and a story for the children, and exhibits and demonstrations of crafts of yesteryear. Fee: $5 per family suggested donation Information: 845.831.1617; http://www.stonykill.org

Children’s Farming and Your Future

Stonykill Environmental Education Center, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Friday, December 30, 1-3 p.m.: Visit the farm animals and learn about where your food comes from; how to make your own butter; the importance of recycling, planting trees, taking care of animals that help us, like bees and bats; and composting. All particpants will make their own bat house to take home. There is no fee to participate, but must be pre-registered. Information: 845.831.1617; foundation@stonykill.org

Annual New Year’s Eve at Noon Celebration

Mid Hudson Children’s Museum Pavilion, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Saturday, December 31, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Let your children ‘pop’ in the New Year at 12:00 too -- noon that is! Enjoy music, arts and crafts and snacks including an edible New Year’s hat and yummy punch. Special bubble wrap countdown to “pop!” in the New Year. Reservations required. Fee: $15/person; $10 members Information: 845.471.0589; http://www.mhcm.org

Winterfest

Clarence Fahnestock State Park, 1498 Route 301, Carmel, NY 10512 Sunday, January 8, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Be part of the National Winter Trails Day. Activities include snowshoeing, nature walks, crafts and a live animal presentation. Fee: $2; $1 kids Information: 845.225.7207; http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/133/details.aspx

Terra Tuesdays

Germantown Library, 31 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown, NY 12526 Tuesdays, January 17, 24 & 31, 3:30 p.m.: Join Mud Creek Environmental Educator Chelsea Benson for some outdoor winter fun. 1/17, “Tracks & Traces,” become a wildlife detective as you search for signs of animal life and learn about the natural history of local animals and their habitats. Make your own animal tracks to take home. 1/24, “Coping with the Cold,” learn how plants and animals adapt to cold temperatures, lack of food and limited water availability in winter. Experiment with snow as an insulator. 1/31, “Snowshoe HIke,” explore the winter landscape on snowshoes! Hike around Palatine Park in search of animal tracks and traces. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend. Snowshoes will be available. Information: 518.537.5800; http://www.germantownlibrary.org

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handcrafted

Buone Feste: Holiday Group Show

RiverWinds Gallery, 172 Main St., Beacon 12508 Through December 31: “Buone Feste: Holiday Group Show.” Annual holiday show featuring one-of-a-kind gifts for those special people on your list -- original handmade gifts by local artists. We have brought in new artists for the holiday season – Marika Bossfeldt, Beth Weintraub, and others, plus we brought back some of your favorite featured artists: Janine Lambers, Hiro Ichikawa, Kari Feuer, Jennifer Konig and Ed Vermehren. Hours: Wed. - Mon., noon - 6 p.m.; Second Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Information: 845.838.2880; http://riverwindsgallery.com

Handmade Holidays Crafts Exhibit & Sale

GCCA Catskill Gallery, 398 Main St., Catskill, NY 12414 Through Jan. 7, 2012, Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Finely made wearables, toys, cards, ceramics, prints, cards and other ﬁne crafts in the Greene County Council on the Arts Artful Hand Gallery Gift Shop. All merchandise under $100. Information: 518.943.3400; http://www.greenearts.org

Handmade Holiday

Spencertown Academy Arts Center, 790 Route 203, Spencertown, NY 12165 Through December 18, Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: This year’s holiday show is bigger and better than ever with a dazzling array of hundreds of one-of-a-kind gifts, from funky to fabulous, handcrafted by local artists. Get in the holiday spirit with a cup of mulled cider and seasonal treats while you enjoy stress-free shopping. Information: 518.392.3693; http://www.spencertownacademy.org

Holiday Small Works Show

CCCA Gallery, 209 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534 Through January 6: Holiday show for those who wish to “give the gift of art this holiday season.” All works by CCCA members, all 12” x 12” or smaller, and all priced at $250 and under. Information: info@artscolumbia.org; http://artscolumbia.org

Make Your Own Ornament

Hudson Beach Glass, 162 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Daily throughout December, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-6

p.m.: Work with master glassblower, John Gilvey, to make your own ornament. You choose the colors and textures, then add your breath to it permanently. Each ornament takes only 15 minutes to make. Cooling process takes overnight. Fee: $30/ornament; ages 6 and up Information: 845.440.0068; http://hudsonbeachglass.com

PaperWorks Holiday Show

Art POP! Gallery, 7505 North Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571 Through December 31: “PaperWorks Holiday Show,” featuring media on paper works in sculpture, paintings, drawings, photographs, greeting cards and more. A great place to shop for your holiday gifts -- all work priced between $5-$100. Hours: Thurs., 1-5 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 1-7 p.m.; Sun., noon-4 p.m. Information: redhookcan@gmail.com; rhcan.blogspot.com

Piccolo Doni

J. Damiani Gallery, 237 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Through December 31: “Piccolo Doni,” small art pieces perfect for gift giving. Photography, giclee on canvas and polaroid emulsion meticulously framed and specially priced. Information: 518.828.5490; http://jdamianigallery.com

Tivoli Artists Co-op 25th Annual Holiday Show

60 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583 Through December 24: A wonderful Holiday show of arts and artisan handcrafts. Works small and large in oil and watercolor, paintings by Marie Cole, Mary Untalan, Tarryl Gabel, Susan Miiller, Ann Moring and Julia Aneshansley, photographs by Greg Martin, sculpture by Kurt Holsapple, crocheted hats and scarves by Janet Jappen, and mittens from Frana Baruch. Plus, hand turned wooden bowls, pottery, artist made jewelry in silver, brass & bronze, cards, prints and ornaments. Hours: Fri., 5-9 p.m.; Sat., 1-9 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m. Information: 845.757.2667; tivoliartistsco-op.com

Holiday Gift Show & Sale by Hudson Valley Artists and Artisans

Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Thurs. & Fri., Dec. 8 & 9, 15 & 16 and 22 & 23, 1-5 p.m.: Shop local for unique artist-made gifts and aﬀordable art. Information: http://howlandculturalcenter.org

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holiday.

Columbia County Historical Society Annual Holiday Boutique

Pop Up Holiday Boutique

James Vanderpoel House, 16 Broad St., Kinderhook 12106 December 9-11 & 16-18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Fine handcrafted goods, family programs and more. Information: 518.758.9265; educator@cchsny.org; http://www.cchsny.org

Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, 9 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Saturday, December 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.:One-of-a-kind handmade jewelry, handbags, ornaments, cards, knitwear, vintage pieces and more. Information: http://cunneen-hackett.org

Hudson Valley Etsy Holiday Craft Show

Holiday Boutique and Book Sale

Starr Library Lower Level, 68 W. Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Fri., Dec. 9, noon-5 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Friends of Starr Library host this holiday boutique and book sale featuring holiday treasures for the house, tree and table; plus, gift-worthy books. Information: 845.876.4030; starr.rhinebeck.lib.ny.us

Holiday Small Works Art Exhibition and Crafts Show Mill Street Loft Gallery 45, 45 Pershing Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 December 9-January 14: “Holiday Small Works Art Exhibition and Crafts Show,” including unique smaller works in a variety of media including paintings, drawings, printmaking, photographs, sculpture, ceramics, glass, hand-made textiles, jewelry and more. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed 12/24-1/2. Information: 845.471.7477; http://www.millstreetloft.org

Friends of the Germantown Library Holiday Gift Fair

Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508 Saturday, December 10, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.: Holiday craft fair featuring the Hudson Valley Etsy Team. Locally made ceramics, jewelry, knitwear, glass, baby clothes and ﬁne art. Information: http://howlandculturalcenter.org

Pamela Dalton’s 22nd Annual Holiday Open House & Sale

At the artist’s home, Route 21C, Harlemville, NY 12075 Sunday, December 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Visit the home and studio of scherenschnitte (paper cutting) artist Pamela Dalton whose cut paper illustrations in Katherine Paterson’s “Brother Sun, Sister Moon,” led to its recent designation as a 2011 Best Illustrated Children’s Book by the New York Times Book Review. The Holiday Open House will include guest artists in scherenschnitte, tinware, wood engravings, historic santas & sundries. Information: 518.672.4841; http://pameladaltonpapercutting.com

The Red Hook Emporium Third Saturday

ARTspace, 212 Main Street, Germantown, NY 12534 7392 South Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571 Sat. & Sun., Dec. 10 & 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., plus open late on Saturday, December 17, 4-6 p.m.: The Red Hook Emporium is Saturday for the Germantown Holiday Festival: Gift fair featuring teaming up with other local galleries for this monthly event. Each homemade crafts, cookies and other holiday foods. Also, new and month there will be wine tastings by Tousey Winery and a distinguished gently used ornaments, books, stocking stuffers, small toys, holiday local artist will be showcased. Centrally located in the village of Red decor, gift wrap, fresh and artificial wreaths and more. A silent auction Hook with plenty of off-street parking, The Red Hook Emporium will of gifts donated by local businesses will also be held. Purchases are tax have an assortment of items, from antiques, original artwork, handmade free. Kicks off the membership drive for and benefits the newly formed furniture and crafts, to candles and aroma therapy -- new offerings every Friends of the Germantown Library organization. From 10:30-noon week! Perfect for “buy local” holiday shopping. & 1-2:30 p.m. on both days, Adrienne Westmore will share tips and Hours: Thurs.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; and special holiday hours tba. techniques as she assembles and decorates her award-winning Victorian Information: 845.758.0202 gingerbread house, which will be raffled off at the end photos L to R: “Tuesday” an oil by Stacie Flint at Mill Street Loft; ‘Summer Cricket’ new work by Paola Bari of the Fair. Information: http://germantownlibrary.org

at Riverwinds; sterling silver necklace by jewelry artist Caiming Cheung at Riverwinds; ‘Christmas’ and ‘Tea Party’ paper cuttings by artist Pamela Dalton; photograph by Jennifer Konig at Riverwinds.

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under the radar by Brian PJ Cronin, photo by Kristen Cronin

The most accurate weather forecaster in the Hudson Valley isn’t on TV. He’s on Facebook.

The inspiration to become a weatherman came to Alex Marra in a flash…literally. “I was 6 or 7 years old,” he tells us at the end of an unseasonably warm late November day on the shores of Beacon’s Long Dock Park. “I was watching a thunderstorm from the window and I saw lightning hit a tree. From that point on I was amazed by weather.” Soon, he was watching The Weather Channel instead of cartoons and writing his own weather reports. But Alex’s budding interest ran into two obstacles. First, no one was covering the Mid-Hudson Valley specifically (forecasts would talk about New York City and Albany but not the gap in between) and secondly, none of his friends shared his interest. “I figured, if I could come up with something where I could talk about the weather every day and people who were interested could listen, then that would benefit everyone.” He looked out across the Hudson River as the sun set below the Newburgh skyline. The temperature began dropping and the wind started whipping up the Valley from the south. I ask Alex if he would prefer to go inside, but he cuts me off. “I’m a meteorologist,” he says, laughing. “I’m not allowed to be cold.” Last December Alex found a way to address the lack of accurate local weather reporting and provide an outlet for his growing expertise. He created a Facebook page called Hudson Valley Weather and began forecasting the weather for the Mid-Hudson Valley to anyone who would listen. Now, when he’s not working 50 to 75 hours a week as a retail manager, he’s pouring over computer models, examining past patterns and putting his forecasts online. He began with about 100 “fans” of the page. A year later, he has more than 7,000.

How did Alex build up a devoted following so quickly? Easy: He’s almost always right. Alex successfully predicted that Hurricane Irene would flood the Catskills and that this Winter’s first blizzard would come right before Halloween…three weeks before they happened. Considering most weather services can’t predict the weather five days out, Alex’s forecasting sounds less like science and more like magic. But Alex doesn’t have access to any information that other forecasters don’t. All the computer models that meteorologists use are available for free online. “That’s what’s interesting,” he says. “You turn on the major networks, and they’re all giving the same forecast. And then the National Weather Service is saying something different, and AccuWeather is saying something different, and The Weather Channel is saying something different, and I’ve got my own forecast. But behind the scenes, we’re all looking at the same things. Some people pick the right models and some people don’t.” Alex’s forecasting goes far beyond just picking one of the computer models and repeating it verbatim (which is exactly what the weather app on your smartphone is doing). “You look at seven different computer models and say, ‘Let’s start cancelling out the ones that don’t make sense given history and trends. There’s so many different things to take into consideration. Look at last winter. Every few days we were having a Nor’easter. So when a model then shows you a storm cutting inland or going out to sea, as a forecaster the first thing you ask yourself is: ‘The last ten storms haven’t done that. Why would this one?’ I think that helps me a little too, that human element. Things that, living here in the Hudson Valley, you know about.” Alex has lived in the Hudson Valley his whole life, and it’s his familiarity with the local geography and microclimates that gives him

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Alex successfully predicted that Hurrican Irene would flood the Catskills and that this Winter’s first blizzard would come right before Halloween...three weeks before they happened. Considering most weather services can’t predict the weather five days out, Alex’s forecasting sounds less like science and more like magic. the edge over meteorologists forecasting from hundreds of miles away. He knows how the Catskills will rip some thunderstorms apart, and intensify others. He knows they can funnel winds through to Greene County, causing tornadoes. He knows how the Hudson River affects the forecast for those living alongside it. “Look at this Halloween storm we had. Places close to the river, Kingston, Poughkeepsie, got six inches of snow. You wander into the middle of Dutchess County and they were recording 26, 27 inches. A few hundred feet can make a huge difference, but you turn on the news to watch their forecast, and they just have a big circle over the whole Valley that says ‘12 inches.’” His familiarity with the Espous Creek and other volatile waterways of the Catskills drove him to warn residents about Hurricane Irene long before anyone was sounding the alarm. “Knowing that 12 inches of rain are about to drop on the highest peaks in the Catskills, and it all has to go somewhere, that was motivation for me to say, ‘If you live alongside these creeks, you should leave now.’ Those are the times you don’t like being right. But by the time you heard about it on the radio, these creeks were already out of their banks.” For people used to getting their forecasts from teams of meteorologists standing in front of Doppler radar maps, the idea of getting your weather via Facebook status updates may seem shockingly low-tech. But Alex believes being an amateur meteorologist who does this in his spare time instead of a full time professional actually gives him an advantage. With no sponsors or ratings to worry about, he has nothing to lose. “Mainstream weather has to worry about credibility and ratings and I think that impacts their decisions in the way they deliver the forecast”

he says. “I can go out on a limb and call it like I see it, and if it’s wrong, it’s wrong. I’m not worried about less people watching my channel on television or liking me as a meteorologist. I don’t deliver a forecast with that in mind, whereas I think they do. They can’t say we’re going to have a major snowstorm three weeks out because if it doesn’t happen, then people stop watching and their ratings go down.” It’s this combination of local knowledge and unflagging passion that has helped Alex’s page draw such a huge following. But he’s the first to admit that there are still some in the Hudson Valley who are even better at predicting the weather than he is. As we head back to our cars, he points out a skein of geese in a “V” formation passing overhead, heading down the Hudson into the twilight. “There go the most accurate forecasters of all,” he says. “Even with all the warm weather we’ve been having, they still know it’s time to fly south.”

Brian PJ and Kristen Cronin live in Beacon with their four cats, and new 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.

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readings, signings & screenings Holiday Book Sale

Morton Memorial Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff, NY 12574 Throughout December: Fill up a designated bag of books for only $5! Benefits the library. Information: 845.876.2903; mortonrhinecliff@gmail.com

and having sex. As they spend more time together, sharing snippets of their lives, they begin to reveal the things that hold them back as much as push them forward and develop a connection that will resonate throughout their lives. Tickets: $7; $5 students Information: 518.822.8100; http://www.timeandspace.org

Tasty Tunes Weekly Open Mic

Author Reading: “A Carpenter’s Gift”

Taste Budds Cafe, 40 West Market St., Red Hook, NY 12571 Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Free weekly music and spoken word open mic. Sign-up at 6 p.m. Information: 860.823.8605

Book Signing with Sarah Falkner

Spotty Dog Books & Ale, 440 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534 Friday, December 9, 8 p.m.: Sarah Falkner, author of “Animal Sanctuary,” reads from and signs copies of her book. Plus, liver performance from Ryder Cooley. Information: 518.671.6006; http://www.thespottydog.com

Celebrate at the Morton

Morton Memorial Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliﬀ, NY 12574 Friday, December 9, 8 p.m.: The Rhinebeck Readers Theatre and Friends of Morton present a holiday evening of readings and sing-a-long. Information: 845.876.2903; mortonrhinecliﬀ@gmail.com

Movie: The Weekend

Time and Space Limited, 434 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534 Fri., Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 10, 5:45 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., Dec. 1517, 7:30 p.m.: A delicate and daring drama directed by Andrew Haigh and featuring breakout performances by Tom Cullen and Chris New, “Weekend” follows Russell (Cullen) who, after randomly picking up an artist Glen (New) at a nightclub on a Friday night, unexpectedly spends most of the next 48 hours with him in bedrooms and bars, telling stories

Still from ‘Willie Wonka’ -- see it on the big screen at the Bardavon on December 16.

Mercantile Holiday 2011

Chatham Public Library, Chatham, NY 12037 Saturday, December 10, 11 a.m.: Local author, David Rubel, reads from his new book, “A Carpenter’s Gift.” After the reading, participants will make a tree ornament. Information: 518.392.3666; http://chatham.lib.ny.us

Met Opera: Faust

Time and Space Limited, 434 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534 Sat., Dec. 10, Sun., Dec. 18, Sun., Jan. 8, 1 p.m.: With Jonas Kaufmann in the title role, René Pape as the devil, and Marina Poplavskaya as Marguerite, Gounod ‘s classic retelling of the Faust legend couldn’t be better served. Tony Award-winning director Des McAnuﬀ updates the story to the ﬁrst half of the 20th century with a production that won praise in London last season. Tickets: $25; $15, students Information: 518.822.8100; http://www.timeandspace.org

Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style with Jeﬀrey Banks

Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534 Saturday, December 10, 2 p.m.: The authoritative fashion history of the roots, growth, and offshoots of the quintessentially American preppy style. Co-authored by Jeffrey Banks and Doria de La Chapelle and foreword by Lilly Pulitzer, Preppy offers the first definitive and in-depth volume on preppy fashion, exploring its evolution from its pragmatic origins and presence on elite Eastern campuses in America to its profound influence internationally and metamorphosis on the runway. Information: 518.822.1640; http://www.hudsonoperahouse.org

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Mercantile Holiday 2011 and edited a number of books; Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York City, and the past president of the National Lawyers Guild, wrote The Trial of Donald Rumsfeld: A Prosecution by Book and is the co-author of The Pinochet Papers, Against War with Iraq: An Anti-War Primer and Guantanamo: What the World Should Know. Tickets: Call for information Information: 845.876.2515; http://upstateﬁlms.org

Met Opera: Rodelinda

Time and Space Limited, 434 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534 Sun., Dec. 11, Sat., Dec. 17, 12:30 p.m.: Sensational in the 2004 Met premiere of Stephen Wadsworth’s much-heralded production, Renée Fleming reprises the title role. She’s joined by Stephanie Blythe and countertenor Andreas Scholl, and Baroque specialist Harry Bicket conducts. Tickets: $25; $15, students Information: 518.822.8100; http://www.timeandspace.org

Movie: L’Amour Fou

Time and Space Limited, 434 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534 Thur.-Sat., Dec. 15-17, 5:30 p.m.; Sun., Dec. 18, 5:45 p.m.; Thurs. & Fri., Dec. 22 & 23, 7:30 p.m.: In 1958, the young French-Algerian couturier Yves Saint Laurent met and fell in love with the industrialist and patron Pierre Bergé, forging a relationship that would endure 50 years of extraordinary success, emotional turbulence and lingering devotion. In 2008, following the death of Saint Laurent, Bergé decided to auction oﬀ the art collection that was the result of their decades-spanning union. With a Proustian ﬂair for memory and sensation that dovetails remarkably with Saint Laurent’s lifelong romantic sensibility, “L’Amour Fou” documents Bergés personal coming to terms with the death of his lifelong partner through the objects they shared in life. Tickets: $7; $5 students Information: 518.822.8100; http://www.timeandspace.org Marina Poplavskaya as Marguerite and Jonas Kaufmann as the title character in Gounod’s “Faust.” Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

Eric P. Schmitt, “Counterstrike”

Merritt Bookstore, 57 Front St., Millbrook, NY 12545 Saturday, December 10, 4 p.m.: In “Counterstrike,” Eric Schmitt and Thom Shanker of The New York Times tell the story of how a group of analysts within the military, at spy agencies, and in law enforcement has fashioned an innovative and effective new strategy to fight terrorism, unbeknownst to most Americans and in sharp contrast to the cowboy slogans that characterized the U.S. government’s public posture. Adapting themes from classic Cold War deterrence theory, these strategists have expanded the field of battle in order to disrupt jihadist networks in ever more creative ways. Information: http://www.merrittbooks.com

Film & Discussion, The Man Nobody Knew: In Search of My Father, CIA Spymaster William Colby

Upstate Films, 6415 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Sunday, December 11, call for time: In the course of Carl Colby’s The Man Nobody Knew.., the son uncovers the secret world of his father, provides a probing history of the CIA, a personal memoir of his family living in the shadows, and an inquiry into how deadly covert operations jibe with the tenets of a free and open society. A fascinating mix of archival footage, never-before-seen photos, and interviews with the “who’s who” of American intelligence, as well as with Pulitzer Prize journalists Bob Woodward, Seymour Hersh and Tim Weiner. Discussion with: Michael Steven Smith, an attorney in New York City and a board member of the Center for Constitutional Rights, has authored

Willie Wonka

Bardavon, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Friday, December 16, 7:30 p.m.: The original musical film adaptation of the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, directed by Mel Stuart, and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. The film tells the story of Charlie Bucket as he receives a golden ticket and visits Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory with four other children from around the world. The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. Tickets: $5 Information: 800.745.3000; http://www.bardavon.org

The Met Live in HD: Gounod’s Faust

UPAC, 601 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401 Saturday, December 17, 1 p.m.: With Jonas Kaufmann in the title role, René Pape as the devil, and Marina Poplavskaya as Marguerite, Gounod’s classic retelling of the Faust legend couldn’t be better served. Tony Awardwinning director Des McAnuﬀ updates the story to the ﬁrst half of the 20th century with a production that won praise in London last season. Tickets: $23; $16 children 12 and under Information: 800.745.3000; http://www.bardavon.org

Annie Leibovitz Discusses Pilgrimage

Oblong Books, 6422 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Saturday, January 7, 4 p.m.: A special afternoon with photographer Annie Leibovitz. She will discuss her new book, “Pilgrimage.” Information: 845.876.0500; http://www.oblongbooks.com

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green valley Still from the ﬁlm ‘Journey of the Universe’ screening at the Carey Institute in February.

Millerton Winter Market

The Hudson Indoor Farmers Market

Beacon Farmers Market

December Winter Ecology Walk

Gilmor Glass, 2 Main Street, Millerton, NY 12546 Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through the end of December, then monthly Jan.-April: Local producers oﬀer everything from artisanal breads, locally-grown fruits and veggies, gourmet baked goods, wool & sheep skins, maple syrup, pickles, grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and eggs, and so much more. Sponsored by the North East Community Center. Information: http://www.neccmillerton.org

Sloop Clubhouse at the Beacon Train Station, Beacon, NY 12508 Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Fresh Produce, Meats, Fresh Flowers, Bread, Cheese, Wine, Gifts, Pottery, Baked Goods, Honey, Maple Syrup, Prepared Foods, Live Music. Information: 845.597.5028; www.thebeaconfarmersmarket.com

Soup-a-thon at Wild Hive Farm

Bakery & Cafe, 372 Clinton Corners Rd., Clinton Corners, NY 12514 Saturday, December 10, 5:30-9:30 p.m.: Bottomless-bowl soup-athon features nine fabulous Wild Hive soups served with salad and fresh baked bread. Live acoustic music. Cost: $16.95 all you can eat Information: 845.266.5863; http://wildhivefarmbakery.com

Moonrise Hike

Mud Creek Environmental Learning Center, 1024 Route 66, Ghent, NY 12075 Friday, December 9, 6 p.m.: The nearly full moon will be rising at the start of this hike on Mud Creek’s trails. December’s full moon is aptly named the Cold Moon and the Long Night Moon. Moon gaze and listen to the sounds of nocturnal critters. Hot cocoa and tea provided afterwards. Information: 518.828.4386; http://www.ccswcd.org

Christ Church, 431 Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534 Saturdays, December 10 & 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Indoor Market will be oﬀering winter vegetables, as well as micro greens, eggs, breads, wine, beer, pies, prepared foods, nuts, humus, pasture-raised meats, mushrooms, sauces, apples, cider, doughnuts, teas, herbs, ﬂowers, and many items suitable for holiday gifts. Information: http://www.hudsonfarmersmarketny.org

Location tba, one week prior to walk Saturday, December 17, 1-3:30 p.m.: Co-sponsored with the Farmscape Ecology Program, join ecologists Conrad and Claudia Vispo for walks at diﬀerent natural areas throughout Columbia County to explore the winter ecology and land use history of our region. Destinations will be determined a week before the walk, depending on weather and trail conditions. Repeats January 21. Information: 518.672.7994; http://clctrust.org/events

Red Hook Winter Market

Elmendorph Inn, North Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571 Saturdays, Dec. 17 & 31, Jan. 14 & 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Featuring many local farms and foods, fruits, veggies, meats, milk, speciality foods, gifts and more. Information: 845.399.4582

Winter Market

Rhinebeck Town Hall, E. Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Sundays, Dec. 18, Jan. 8 & 22, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Many of the Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market vendors participate in this indoor winter market oﬀering an opportunity to buy locally grown and produced food year-round. Information: http://www.rhinebeckfarmersmarket.com

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Mercantile Holiday 2011

Scenic Hudson’s Naturalist Lecture Series: The Genesis of Our River from Ice Age to Invasion

Scenic Hudson’s River Center at Long Dock Park, Long Dock Rd., Beacon, NY 12508 Tuesday, December 20, 6:30-8 p.m.: Kicking oﬀ this new series of presentations on the Hudson Valley’s natural history and wildlife, NYSDEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program Naturalist Tom Lake will explore the geological forces that shaped the region, beginning at the height of the last Ice Age 20,000 years ago. He’ll also discuss how humans—ﬁrst the Native Americans and then Europeans—interacted with and impacted the evolving landscape. Information: 845.473.4440 x 273; http://scenichudson.org

Solstice Celebration at Sprout Creek

Sprout Creek Farm, 34 Lauer Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 Wednesday, December 21, 5-7 p.m.: A beautiful evening that celebrates the beginning of the season of light. Bonﬁre, food and drink, meet new and old friends. The market will be open late. Information: 845.485.8438; http:///www.sproutcreekfarm.org

Come ﬁnd out! If there is enough snow, snowshoes will be available for the hike. In order to reserve snowshoes, please register. Information: 518.828.4386; http://www.ccswcd.org

Global Climate Change: A Primer

Carey Institute for Ecosystem Studies, Auditorium, 2801 Sharon Tpke. (Route 44), Millbrook, NY 12545 Friday, January 20, 7 p.m.: Orrin H. Pilkey, professor emeritus at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, will discuss his new book, Global Climate Change: A Primer. “Global change is upon us,” begins the book’s preface. “Of this there can be no doubt among those who observe the Earth.” Written with his son Keith Pilkey, the book strives to turn the tide that has turned climate science into partisan politics. Each of the book’s chapters concludes with rebuttals to common arguments by climate change deniers. The book is beautifully illustrated with batiks of important climate sites by South Carolina artist Mary Edna Fraser. Information: http://www.ecostudies.org/events.html

SAVE THE DATE: Farm Film Fest IV

Crandall Theatre, 46-48 Main Street, Chatham, NY 12037 Sunday, February 5, 1 p.m.: Short ﬁlms of all genres about farming and agriculture. Sponsored by The Chatham Agricultural Partnership, The Chatham Film Club, and The Columbia Land Conservancy. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation for the local food pantry. Free. Information: http://clctrust.org/events

SAVE THE DATE: Journey of the Universe: An Epic Story of Transformation

Coping with the Cold Hike

Mud Creek Environmental Learning Center, 1024 Route 66, Ghent, NY 12075 Saturday, January 7, 2 p.m.: Surviving the winter can be a struggle for many animals. Join Mud Creek educators to learn how critters cope with the winter’s cold. How do animals stay warm and ﬁnd food? What is the diﬀerence between hibernation and torpor? Do frogs really freeze?

Carey Institute for Ecosystem Studies, Auditorium, 2801 Sharon Tpke. (Route 44), Millbrook, NY 12545 Friday, February 10, 7 p.m.: From the Big Bang to the epic impact humans have on the planet today, this documentary ﬁlm is designed to inspire a new and closer relationship with Earth in a period of growing environmental and social crisis. A collaboration between acclaimed author and philosopher Brian Thomas Swimme and Yale University historian of religions Mary Evelyn Tucker. Following the screening, Tucker will be available for Q&A. Information: http://www.ecostudies.org/events.html

When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels. - anonymous

Wishing you spontaneous jJy this holiday season!

Mercantile hudson valley

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Mercantile Holiday 2011

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He’s cute even with a drooly chin and runny nose!

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Long days short years

by Brian PJ Cronin, photos by Kristen Cronin

here are two things everyone tells you about daycare. The first is that leaving your precious angelic bundle of joy in the hands of strangers is akin to ripping your still beating heart out of your chest and chucking it across the street. The second is that once your baby starts daycare they turn into the monkey from the movie Outbreak, ferrying back and forth various upper respiratory and lower intestinal diseases between every child in the county and your face. First things first: Dropping your baby off at daycare is actually not that hard, sorry. Oh, it’s hard at first. Hard because it feels like you’re doing something you shouldn’t. For three months you’ve been literally attached to this child. Then one day you hand him off to someone you just met and walk away. By the time you get to the parking lot, your brain is screaming THE BABY THE BABY DEAR GOD WHERE’S THE BABY and keeps screaming this every three and a half minutes until you come back after work. But your baby does not care. Cooper cared once, the first time he got sick (more on that later.) After that, daycare became a magical wonderland for him. Here was a place filled with well-rested people to take care of him, other babies to babble at, and jumperoos, oh yes, jumperoos. As soon as I pass him off, he’s forgotten I’m there. Once they put him in his favorite jumperoo by the window, he’s forgotten that I ever existed. I’ll wave to him as I leave, call his name, tell him I love him. Cooper, shrieking gleefully and flailing his limbs like a spastic muppet as he bounces up and down, is oblivious to it all. He is, however, happy to see us when we return to pick him up, and his smile of recognition is the highlight of our day. Of course, he also smiles and laughs whenever he sees our cats, or a tree, or a window, or the sky. Last week Kristen made him laugh for five minutes straight by waving an empty water bottle in front of his face once. So maybe we shouldn’t get too excited. As far as the second thing; Yes, you are now going to be sick forever. People will tell you this is good, because it strengthens your child’s budding immune system. If that’s true, then Cooper’s immune system must

Cooper has happily adapted to the never-ending plagues du jour, and now giggles with delight at every unholy outburst of fluids no matter the orifice they pour out of.

now be capable of smashing cinder blocks into rubble. It took him less than a week to bring home a nasty cold that made him sound like a horse eating a bagpipe stuffed with cats. It also made for our only unpleasant drop-off experience the next morning, when he cried and glared at me as if to say “Why can’t I breathe and how can I blame this on you?” Then he saw a window, started laughing, and I ran like hell. Our doctor has advised that unless Cooper catches something truly serious, it’s better for him to simply ride it out without medication. Fortunately this advice does not apply to me, who has caught every single thing he’s brought home and therefore has been on a steady rotation of Theraflu, Robotussin, Tylenol Cold & Flu and Bombay Sapphire & Tonic. There has only been one day in the past three months when I was not coming down with or recovering from something, and on that day my body was so shocked at being perfectly healthy that I threw up from surprise. Cooper has happily adapted to the never-ending plagues du jour, and now giggles with delight at every unholy outburst of fluids no matter the orifice they pour out of. So I view it as something we can bond over. I cough hello to him and he smiles and sneezes in my face. I curl up in a ball and read him Dr. Seuss through gritted teeth and stabbing gas pains; he celebrates the end of the book by exploding his diaper. And as he snuggles up for a nap I sing to him with a voice clogged with noxious phlegm, content in the knowledge that he’ll grow up thinking Tom Waits used to serenade him to sleep.



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Mercantile Holiday 2011

PHOTOGRAPHY MADE EASY

PHOTOGRAPHING by Joel Weisbrod

holiday lights

i f you have a point and shoot digital camera you can simply point

it, shoot, and enjoy a picture. While this will undoubtedly work, there are better ways to capture and enhance the look of these photographs. Here are some simple tips to help you jump from “just okay” to “great” holiday lighting pictures. The flash on your camera works to “even out” the lighting of the entire scene and often hides the true color and beauty of using available light. If you cannot turn off the flash, use a black sock and cover it up so you can take advantage of the holiday lights and the glow they create.

Trees with Lights If you have an indoor tree with lights, follow these simple steps to improve the final photos. 1. Since trees are vertical objects (taller than they are wide) it is best to turn your camera sideways so the shape of the camera and photo are the same as the tree. 2. Turn off all other sources of light in the room and during the day, close all window shades/blinds. This will let the tree lights cast a glow around the tree and surrounding objects. 3. If you have a tripod, use it. If not, steady your camera by leaning on a door frame or other strong and steady object. 4. Point & Shoot Cameras: Turn off the flash and try the “Night” scene mode if your camera has it. 5. SLR Cameras: Set your camera to shutter priority mode (S or Tv). Adjust the shutter speed so that the meter shows slightly underexposed (1 Stop) and shoot without flash. If you have an outdoor tree or other decorations with lights, the same settings and rules above apply as long as you are shooting at night. Wait until it is really dark and use a tripod! This will help you capture the “aura” of the tree and the holiday. Play around with the camera settings and find the best settings for your particular lighting and creativity.

Candles For the same reasons as mentioned previously, turning off or covering your flash is important here as well. Here are some suggestions to improve your candle photos: 1. Turn your camera so the long side of the camera is facing the same way as the long side of your candle display (vertical for a single candle, horizontal for a Chanukah Menorah or group of candles). 2. Do not turn off the room lights but rather lower the lighting so that the flame of the candles is brighter than any other light or background reflection. 3. If you have a tripod, use it. If not, steady your camera by leaning on a door frame or other strong and steady object. 4. Set your camera for “Center-Weighted” metering. For point & shoot cameras, this is usually on the function menu and on SLR cameras it is either a button on the camera or on the menu. 5. Point & Shoot Cameras: Turn off the flash and try the “Fireworks” scene mode if your camera has it. 6. SLR Cameras: Set your camera to shutter priority mode (S or Tv). Adjust the shutter speed so that the meter shows correct exposure and shoot without flash. This will help you capture the “aura” and “glow” created by the candles. Play around with the camera settings and find the best settings for your particular lighting and creativity. Most of all, remember to have fun and getting great holiday pictures will be easy!

 Joel Weisbrod is a published author of a book on digital photography and the owner of jwArtWorks Photography in Rhinebeck. In addition to portrait, commercial, event, and other photography, Joel teaches Photography for Red Hook Central Schools AdultEducation as well as private one-on-one photography classes. He can be reached by email at mercantile@jwArtWorks.com.

Mercantile Holiday 2011

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