Beacon Bits -- (Unoffical) Summer's End

Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end to summer, arrived in Beacon with temperatures in the 90's, clear skies and bright sunshine. It made me think about the "top 10 list" of things to do in Beacon to celebrate summer's farewell in the next few weeks. There is still time!

10.  Take time for a cold beer at The Hop in its expansive location at the site opened almost  a year ago;  the menu offers so much more than craft brew and unique architectural design.

9.    Start planning a fall wardrobe at Echo, with the help of all the "fashionistas", or get a jump start on holiday shopping for unique toys for the kids. (More to come soon about this women's boutique and children's store in a future featured blog.)

8.    Tune up the bicycle or purchase a new one at People's Bicycle; Jon and his crew are expert and will get you up and peddling for the fall season.

7.     Get ready to buy advanced tickets for the weekend Beacon Independent Film Festival ('aka' BIFF, 9/18-9/20) at the University Settlement on 9D. 

6.     Visit Beacon Natural Market to celebrate 10 years of organics and natural foods; lots of specials and activities happening from September 7th to 12th to thank the Beacon community for its support.

5.     Grab a seat at the outdoor aerie at Beacon Pantry and have a carefree meal and relax with a friend.

4.    Make a plan to get out an old instrument or take up a new one with music lessons available at Main Street Music. Ukulele anyone?

3.     Make more frequent visits to Zora Dora to indulge in delectable and uncanny fruit sorbet and milk-based pops; my pick of the day Mojito (lime and mint), with an eye on the Roasted Beet-Goat Cheese-Walnut and Cardamom-Ginger-Pistachio before season's end!

2.     Purchase some fresh field flowers at Flora Garden & Home; have a chat with Mary, and make a plan for weekly visits to purchase beautifully potted plants and gardening accessories to hold onto to summer's greenery in your own home.

1.     Anticipate the flurry of activity when everyone is in the street on the Spirit of Beacon day (Sunday, 9/27/15), as well as upcoming Second Saturdays -- including a visit to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church to hear Vassar College student Sarah Johnson's piano and organ recital on 9/12/15, with a reception to follow, from 4-6pm.

Food for thought: All of the top 10 activities and even 10 more may help with that tinge of melancholy that begins to set in with the waning daylight at this time of the year. Looking back at what didn't get done during the summer gets in the way of holding onto all that was accomplished, including being able to make a jump start on plans for next summer starting with all the to-do's that didn't get done or all the places that you didn't get to go. Seems like the turn of the season will be slow this year with the warm weather continuing and the hope of Indian summer to come, yet, all the while, the time for this summer will indeed run its course. But it is also good to feel that change is in the air and that letting go of all that was is the best way to (officially) begin again!

(For my own unfinished business, a visit to Saugerties to explore the eclectic shops, including The Perfect Blend; and a day trip to NYC for the on board Circle Line viewing of the 23rd annual tugboat race organized by the Working Harbor Committee, made this Labor Day weekend complete.)

The Perfect Blend -- Yarn and Tea Shop in Saugerties, NY

Early morning train to NYC

Tugboats gathering for the parade to the starting line for the race

Historic NYC harbor fire boat, John D. Harvey, pivotal during 9-11, celebrating at the end of the race

Beacon Bits -- New Beginnings

February 1st is the first day of spring (Imbolc) in the Celtic calendar, so it seems fitting to notice what is happening with the ongoing harbinger of Main Street renewal and expansion of businesses suitable for community life, such as--

 

o  those who are keeping resolutions to exercise and keep fit as seen through the windows of Crossfit Locomotive while anticipating the stirrings of a new venue, Oak Vino,  open in time for a Valentine's date;

Far cry from the 'virtual community' that once existed between the Yankee Clipper and Beacon Post Office

 

o  the expanded and pristine location of Roosevelt Vet on the Hudson where Dr. McArdle and her warm and friendly team are ready for whatever furry friends come their way;

Roosevelt Vet (left) with room for More Good (right) next to Towne Crier Cafe

 

o  the presence of David and Jacob Bernz at Main Street Music, where stringed instruments and lessons are ready for the plucking;

Main Street Music, located in an historic building known for its manufacture of horse-drawn carriages

 

o  the relocation to a new home (its third in Beacon) for People's Bicycle with a much deserved street presence and improved visibility for Beaconites who follow the sharrows;

People's Bicycle -- Coming Soon to a new location across from the Beacon Theatre

 

o  the sneak peak at an exciting mystery market (across from Max's on Main) for serious foodies;

 

 

 

o and the recent opening of Beacon Bread Company, a bakery and bistro that will make early birds ecstatic when they show up at 7am for freshly baked bread (every day but Tuesday), or an early breakfast plate, or a varied lunch menu for those who sleep in or take-out later in the day. Bread varieties include challah, brioche, baguette, oatmeal raisin walnut, caraway rye, Pain Aux Cereales. Heavenly!

No it's not Paris -- but the continental bakery had a recent visit from People's Bicycle for Sunday breakfast!

 

 

As you begin to explore the various venues, it will be a good time to 'make new friends, but keep the old' as Diane Keaton sang at the Golden Globes, welcoming the newcomers to Main Street as they rub shoulders with their neighbors who seem to have staying power. It's good to note that the newbies don't seem to need the fanfare of triangular flags draped in their windows to draw people inside. They know that if you build it for the community and by the community, Beacon will come flocking and knocking at their doors.

 

Food for thought:  February is a time of transition, albeit betwixt and between the darker days of winter and the early days of spring. It's a good time to remind oneself that you can't really have a new beginning without some ritualistic ending or closure followed by a period of movement towards something new. I was reminded of this when I met a new friend recently diagnosed with diabetes. Old habits die hard.  It's extremely challenging to learn new ways of eating. No sweetened iced tea. Breakfast first thing in the AM. Regular mealtimes. It's just as challenging as picking up a banjo for the first time, or using the unfamiliar equipment at a Gymboree for adults! We all need maps and landmarks to guide us towards the new habits that await us. Sometimes we even welcome the presence of an empathic guide who occasionally lapses into drill sergeant mode or whatever it takes to create a new lifestyle. It's worth it. Or at least it's a healthy response to Mary Oliver's poem in which she queries, 'what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?'

 

A Picture-is-Worth-a-Thousand Words Recipe

for a Low Glycemic Vegetable Soup to Start the New Year

(with garlic, onion, celery, yellow/orange/red peppers, zucchini, kale, fennel, sweet potato, string beans, chicken stock, red beans, stewed tomatoes, parsley, oregano, basil, salt, pepper)

 

 

For the non-diabetic -- serve with a simple and delicious whole grain bread from Beacon Bread Company.