Home Grown

I was given a heads up that something really good was coming to town. No, not Santa. 

I had been told by two different people that I would be happy to know that an excellent pie shop called Noble Pies would be opening a store in Beacon. So I watched and waited. Yes, it was Advent.  A time for watchful waiting. 

And then I saw the "Open" sign in the window where the brown paper had been removed at 137 Main Street. I stopped with the ease of parking spots in front of the storefront one night after work around 7:15pm; I was totally smitten! Not just with the Chicken Pot Pie slice, which I purchased for supper and the Blueberry Scones for breakfast, but with the ambience and the backstory and the gift of speaking to Zachary, the owners' son, who was there for the afternoon shift until closing, which was later than usual because of me being the very chatty and last customer. He was so patient and gracious as I told my tale of The Pie Lady from Nyack, whom his family knew from the farmer's market trade. He convinced me that I'd be in for a nice surprise since their pies were of the same caliber and equivalent in the eyes of the buyers for the homemade pie market.

I told Zachary I haven't blogged about a new opening in a while. There have been so many comings and goings in Beacon along Main Street in the past five years. Some of them came just because Beacon became so trendy. And some of them left because tthey were priced out. But I certainly hope that Noble Pies is here to stay. It has the feel of the Beacon I moved to over 12 years ago when I wanted to blog about the hometown feeling and a sense of community in town. 

Zachary explained that his family business had been steadily expanding from its origins based in Warwick and that their success has not deterred the bakery from offering its best of fresh ingredients. The handmade pies and baked goods are just like those his mother and father made together through the years until it got beyond the scope of four hands alone. 

While I have my eyes on the savory pies for my after work supper -- Vegetable Pot Pie, Chicken Curry, Vegetable Curry, and Sausage/Sallion/Onion/Cheese Quiche, in addition to the Chicken Pot Pie that I'd give 5-stars -- I also saw the sweet slices of Mixed Berry, Will You Marry Me Cherry Pie, and Cream pies, all of which can be special ordered, which will be hard to resist. 

I don't have to re-tell the story of how Noble Pies got started and how it is continuing its tradition because that is all on their website. But I will tell you that this is a keeper for Main Street in Beacon. We should be ecstatic that it chose to expand its growing market beyond Warwick, Rye, and Tarrytown and arrive in time for a sense of homegrown appeal and a throwback to the days when you felt like you were entering someone's kitchen for a meal and good conversation. Welcome to Beacon, Noble Pies!!

Food for Thought:  A walk down Main Street should feel like we are an integral part of the Hudson Valley with all its bounty and history. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the US, the Semiquincentennial, in 2026, we will need lots of Apple Pie to celebrate. May Noble Pie be ready for the celebration! And may we all be reminded that tradition can prevail over trendiness. 

Two-for-One

While I missed Second Saturday and the opening of the Beacon Photography Group member show on January 14 because of a trip to the city for an opera (Fedora) at Lincoln Center, I was back in town for the first Howland Chamber Music Circle piano recital of the season on Sunday January 15, which featured Frederic Chiu. Driving over to the Howland Cultural Center is a lot easier (and quicker) than taking Metro North  to the city and just as satisfying when it comes to enjoying the arts. 

I arrived early enough to get a first row seat -- I love to watch the face of the pianist while they perform -- and to preview the photographs that were hung throughout the center. I was immediately struck by the warm reddish-brown background paint for the main floor exhibit space and my eyes easily followed the light up to the balcony with more eye catching photos and the wonderful natural light still visible through the large window. 

As I walked around clockwise and then counter-clockwise, up and down the stairs, I visually explored the various photos -- the size, the shape, the subject, the unique eye of each photographer -- and then found the listing of the exhibitors and the respective work and titles. I was struck by knowing that so many of the enthusiastic photographers are serious amateurs who may have found a passion for creating images as an encore career or as a dual career, as opposed to photo professionals. I wished I had attended the opening to put each of the faces behind the camera with the respective photos.

Viewing the photographs was like having an appetizer before the entree; I was here for the concert and my appetite for good things was whet. I felt like I was getting a two-for-one special with the art and the music but then I realized it was actually a trifecta since the setting in the landmark building that has a menu of offerings to those enjoying and making art in Beacon.

The piano recital was excellent and presented in a very unique fashion since it was billed as a "classical smackdown" between the teenaged Felix Mendelssohn and Frederic Chopin. The 90-minute recital was filled with various compositions - polonaise, sonata, nocture, mazurka, etude, rondeau - and the goal was to be in the moment and choose which piece in each of three rounds of pairings was preferred. I learned so much from the background information that Frederic Chiu presented and was surprised at some of my selections along the way. It was a playful way of focusing one's attention and truly listening and it was interesting to learn that Frederic Chiu actually posts the results from his concerts on one of his websites. 

Food for thought: Tuning the ear after tuning the eye was a tasteful treat in the hometown venue of the most palatable cultural center. Seems like there is no place like home. Go local.

The photo exhibit runs through February 26th and the next piano recital is Sunday January 29.

(Personal note: You may have noticed that I haven't been blogging as often as I once did after starting this blog almost 12 years ago. But I have been writing  a lot over the last 2-1/2 years and hope to say more about the memoir I've focused on in the coming year since the goal is to publish. I also see that I should be updating my photo on my blog profile, but I think that is a bit more daunting to consider. LOL.)