Beacon Bits -- Spring Thaw

It's been one of the longest and coldest winters I can ever remember. From the first snow that fell the day before Thanksgiving to the Alberta Clipper on this last day of March, it seems perplexing that the spring holidays are already upon us and I just now realized that I never posted a blog during the month of February! No -- my fingers didn't freeze -- but I did do some nesting as I prepared for a wonderful trip to South Africa where it was still summer. 

Even though there was enough to do in Beacon during the long winter, the spring thaw heralds a renewed attitude about participating in community life. You can tell that everyone is ready to be more active as you walk along Main Street; you see more people lingering to chat while out and about running errands. While the true portend of spring in Beacon is the re-opening of Zora Dora, the chill in the air stirred my desire to soak up the sunlight and break out of town, so I opted to go to the open house held at Crown Maple at Madava Farms in Dover Plains. 

Traveling into the northeastern parts of Dutchess county is something that is easier to do when embarking from Beacon, a true gateway to the Hudson Valley. It was a long drive on a Sunday afternoon, but the time investment was profitable with very little traffic and rewarding sightings of blue sky and melting snow in the open fields and woods along the county roads dotted with horse farms. 

Driving through the gates and up the unpaved road was easy without the fresh snow and ice cover that I missed by only one day. At the end of the road, one approaches the large, modern building, also known as the sugar house, home to the producers of the best organic maple syrup stocked on the shelves of local grocers. 

The open house/festival included a tour and explanation about the sugaring process from tapping the trees to the vaporization and distillation of the sap into the syrup. Of note was the delay in the season this year, which usually begins in February when the below freezing nights turn into above freezing days; this year the season began on March 1st and might run through early April if the diurnal variations in temperature continue.

There were free samples of maple cotton candy and syrup coated popcorn and a chance to compare the amber, dark and very dark syrups in the tasting room. The color changes from light to dark with the length of the season. I learned that the more expensive golden color syrup is associated with its limited run. But I also realized that the dark syrup has a complex and intense flavor that may be preferable for cooking or baking.

Picnic tables are placed in the open floor plan of the factory-showroom where visitors can sit and enjoy the food offering from the cafe, all of which have a touch of Crown Maple syrup.

Other than this open house weekend, there are other special events and the 800-acre farm is open to visitors on most weekends (11am to 5pm) for guided tours, use of the trails, and even trout fishing on the property. It's well worth a look-see and the excursion is quite do-able within 1/2 day from Beacon and back.

Food for thought:  Spring is a season when the simple things can bring about a sense of awe. The lengthening days arouse nature to give birth in all of its ways. The season offers some of the best opportunities for getting close to the earth, the mountains, and the river throughout the valley. And in so doing, awe, a powerful emotion, is repeatedly evoked. Recent research suggests that awe slows down the subjective experience of time. Awe gives us the present moment. Awe creates a greater sense of satisfaction. Awe allows us to be patient and kind. Awe can influence our decisions. This enhanced well-being and sense of awe can be facilitated by exploring the natural and majestic environment in Beacon's backyard for the next few months as spring unfolds like the soon-to-be flowering bulbs and trees. Make this an awe-inspiring spring; do something awe-some!  It's guaranteed you will feel wonder-ful!

Awesome Maple Glaze

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/4 c. maple syrup

4 tbs. butter

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

2 tbs. heavy cream

Beacon Bits -- Anticipation

Now that the 12 days of Christmas are long over, we look forward to the 12 months of happenings and events on Main Street in Beacon. Here are a dozen reasons why.

1.   Weekly tastings of impeccable wine with Tim and Mei's knowledgeable advice about food-wine pairings at Artisan Wine Shop.

2.   Another taste of a great grass-fed burger at Poppy's, owned by one of the Food Network's Chopped winner, Paul Yeaple.

3.   A chance to get a seat for Sunday brunch at Beacon Bread Company.

4.   Monthly auctions for collectibles sponsored by the Hudson Valley Auctioneers.

5.   Valentine's Day chocolates at Alps, a longstanding,  family owned establishment.

6.   The relocation of Beacon Pantry to its bigger storefront and the new schedule of monthly cheese classes.

7.   The new rota of craft happenings at Nixie Sparrow.

8.   Gathering with friends at the new and improved location for The Hop.

9.   Shopping for spring clothes at Echo and other local clothes stores like Beacon Vintage.

10. Getting on track with healthy choices at Ellas Bellas, Beacon Natural Market, along with occasional treats at Beacon Bagels!

11. Diverse musical performances at Towne Crier Cafe and Howland Chamber Music.

12. Second Saturday's gallery openings with the highest caliber of artists, such as Daniel Berehulak's show, "Braving Ebola" sponsored by Fovea (now at Hudson Beach Glass), as well as local photographers' work at the Howland Cultural Center's show, "This is Beacon."

And what about the stirrings for continued renovation at the Beacon Theatre and the development and construction of the movie theater in the middle of town?

Food for thought:  Anticipation. Planning. Expectations. Unexpected surprises. It all happens in the future. But the future is never guaranteed, so we need to relish our future orientation while we never forget to take advantage of the here and now. Make it happen now. Make use of the resources and opportunities right at hand. There will be no regrets. Plant a few ideas in the moment and enjoy what is in store along the way.

Beacon Bits -- Botsford Briar Bed & Breakfast for a Weekend Get-a-way in Beacon

Long before The Inn at Beacon on Main Street was conceived; years before the Roundhouse opened its boutique accommodations on Fishkill Creek, and even before The Swann Inn opened its doors, the Botsford Briar Bed and Breakfast (BBB&B) was established as the pioneer B&B service in Beacon in 1994. Happy 20^th Anniversary!

Located on High Street, its purple turrets and iconic Victorian angles are visible from either Route 9D or as one treks uphill from the Beacon train station. Replete with 92 windows and charming stylized one-of-a-kind guest rooms, the Botsford Briar beckons to short-stay visitors, as well as long-term guests, who want to explore Beacon’s charms.

So BBB&B was the natural recommendation I made to a friend who reads my blog and decided to come for the solstice weekend to have a birthday getaway weekend not very far from upper Westchester in order to explore the shops and galleries on Main Street that she’s been reading about for several years.

My friend stayed for two nights and had several conversations with Shirley Botsford, co-owner and inn-keeper at BBB&B along with Charles Fincham, and learned that the B&B is in the throes of becoming a school for literary and visual arts (Botsford Briar Arts School) with offerings in writing mysteries, learning to sew/quilt/knit, meditation and new topics on the horizon. Shirley, author of Daddy’s Ties, and a local fine crafts artist who participates in gallery showings, has been a dedicated to hospitality and parlor pleasantries since she first hosted meetings in her home when Dia Beacon was first being proposed!

My friend shared some of her highlights of her weekend adventure in Beacon and noted the lovely meal at the Roundhouse after sitting in the lounge “between the fireplace and the falls”; the wanderings into Clay, Wood and Cotton, Hudson Beach Glass, Riverwinds, Beacon Barkery, Gwenno James, Vintage Beacon, After the Barn and other venues along the way. She lunched at the Yankee Clipper because she “likes diners”, had coffee at Beacon Bagels and took note of the other restaurants and boutiques. She liked the pop-ups and the craftiness and appeal of the bicycle menorah and Christmas tree at the Visitors Center. 

We had grabbed a quick and very confusing supper at Dim Sum Go-Go before attending the holiday performance of the family-friendly, slapstick production of Cheaper by the Dozen at the Beacon Theatre. We also went to Dia: Beacon after Sunday brunch when we could comfortably catch up and talk knitting. She was enthusiastic about her weekend ambling about town at a comfortable pace, but she did note that many shops “didn’t open according to the posted hours”, reminding me of the adage about the ‘early bird getting the worm’; and she was taken aback at an unfriendly response at a popular coffee shop when she asked about use of the restrooms before she had a chance to process what she might order.

I was concerned that she may have been disappointed about her visit to my town, and that she would not continue reading my blog, but she assured me that the weekend was a lovely gift to herself and that she was pleased with the sights and sounds reminiscent of Beacon Bits.

Food for thought:  There are many times we may not have an inkling of how our words and actions influence others. In friendship and in relationships with significant others, the ability to influence or persuade one another are an important attribute for a successful partnership. Influence and persuasion require trust. Trust builds rapport. And rapport opens us up into possibilities of learning and growing together. My insider’s view of Beacon allowed my friend to express curiosity and to take a risk. Her outsider’s view made me think about how Beaconites need to continue to grow skills in hospitality for those living outside (as well as inside) the community. We both gained a new perspective. And we both gained the gift of renewed and deepening friendship this holiday season.

Beacon Bits -- A Tale of Two Cities

Last weekend, I attended Yanerella's School of Dance's 56th annual dance recital in the Pete and Toshi Seeger's auditorium at Beacon High School on a Friday night. And on Saturday night, I braved the soaking rainstorm to head to the riverfront to Scenic Hudson's River Center at Long Dock Park to support the annual benefit auction for Common Ground Farm. Two nights and less than three miles apart, but the distinction between the events was quite palpable. Yet I found myself feeling 'at home' in both settings with both groups of unique Beaconites.

Friday's dance recital was marked by frenetic energy. The queue of attendees arrived almost two hours prior to the delayed start time, chatting and greeting friends and families -- aunts, sisters, fathers, cousins, neighbors.  Everything was abuzz as seats were located and the dances began. Dancers of all ages assembling backstage, sometimes accompanied by a dance mom, to change costumes for the next dance routine to be presented on stage: 25 in all -- "Dancing around the world" to Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride, Calabria, Arabian Nights, Back in the USSR, Invictus, Bollywood Dreams. And in between each dance, a flurry of activity for the entourage moving back and forth from the auditorium to the dressing rooms. Cheers and support were constant for all the efforts, talents and hours of practice each dancer brought to the stage. Tears streaming down the faces of grandmothers who watched their grand-daughters tap--flap, shuffle, heel, ball change--the third generation to still be dancing at the studio! Some moms were now sitting throughout the entire show because their daughters were old enough to switch out costumes and get back on stage without their supervision. Tulle, satin, sequins and glam. Photos of the current teachers in the catalog taken when they were 20-30 years younger, in their favorite costumes for one of their own recitals. Beacon's long-term residents--multicultural and multi-generational. Non-stop motion. Organized and planned, but with just enough chaos and crisis to make it exciting. A new dancer confused about the recital routine only brought one of her two costumes thinking one of her dances was scheduled for Friday night and one for Saturday afternoon. Her mom rushing home at intermission and sending her brother back in post haste with only minutes to spare for her to run as fast as she could to quickly slip it on so she could appear on stage, nonplussed, yet heart racing, in the center of her dance troop. Three hours long and just enough time for everyone to rest before it would start all over again the next day, this time, with the youngest dancers being able to stay throughout the entire show.

Saturday night's auction was clam and candlelit with music by the trio Tall Country bringing that 'down home' feeling to an otherwise elegant setting. Well presented items displayed for the silent auction set up in the loft and aptly described thoroughly in the catalog.  More items, with their tongue-in-cheek descriptions -- Let's Get It On, Pump Up the Jam, Bite Off More Than You Can Chew, Light Up Your Life, Be the Bagel. neatly waiting downstairs for the one and only Mark Roland as auctioneer. Gift certificates for dinners and gifts, hand blown glass, baskets of organic-gourmet edibles, glamping in the Adirondacks, kayak storage at Long Dock, planted rows of food to be grown and distributed to food pantries silently waiting for the highest bid for the lucky donor who would be supporting the mission of CGF food justice. Sophisticated humor throughout the evening. Beacon's newest residents (10 years or less) everywhere. Professionals, community leaders, movers and shakers. Abundant food donated by Beacon's best. Zero-to-Go for waste collection. Systematic accounting of bids for easy check out. An appreciative and satisfied group of supporters.

Food for thought:  Diversify. Expand your repertoire. Hang out with people who may be different from you or from your usual crowd. Go across your comfort zone. You may just meet your next door neighbor unexpectedly or make a new connection. The future of Beacon's community life will be enriched as we dance together in the fields of green planted for justice.

Looking for some options to mingle? Check out the Mount Beacon Incline Restoration Railway Society (you just missed the annual gala but keep an eye open for a new store front on Main Street focusing on its history and proposed plan to rebuild), the Beacon Sloop Club's monthly potluck meal on the first Friday, and Friends of the Howland Public Library meetings and events. They are all waiting for people like you to join and support their mission while making new friends.

Beacon Bits -- "Buy-In" Beacon

If you missed Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, don't panic; everyday can be "Buy-In Beacon" Day -- be it for the holidays or for all the other gift giving occasions throughout the year.

Here's my top ten reasons to shop in Beacon

10.  One of a kind handmade gifts (and a skein or two of yarn) at Clay Wood and Cotton  .........

(And for handmade, don't forget all the pop-up stores around town, and scheduled workshops to make your own gifts at Jessica Wickham's wood studio during the weekend of December 6th and 7th and blowing glass ornaments at Hudson Beacon Glass throughout the month of December and D-I-Y workshops at Nixie Sparrow.)

9.  Warm clothes and boots suited for cold weather and outdoor sports at Mountain Tops Outfitters........

8.  The best of the valley's arts and crafts at Riverwinds Gallery........

7.  The best wine and spirits selection with expert advice about food pairings at Artisan Wine Shop..........

6.  Thoughtful treats and toys for all the furry, four-legged friends in your life at Beacon Barkery........

5.  A unique book about hiking, kayaking or local history throughout the Hudson Valley or a monetary donation for all the wonderful 'free' programming in honor of that special someone on your shopping list who already has everything they need at Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries........

4.  Seasonal plants, festive bouquets or floral home decorations at La Bella Rosa........

3.  A wide selection of gourmet gadgets and kitchenware at Utensil........

2.  Whatever you find (or smell or taste) that you may not have been looking for but that you find intriguing at Heart and Soul........

1.  Something elegant, fashion forward, artistic and custom made for your home or to wear as your signature garment or accessory at Gwenno James........

I bemoaned the fact that another one of my favorites, an iconic hat store -- Jaqueline's --could not make the list this year because it just closed. However, there may be more to report about what this talented creator and purveyor of hats will be planning for the future.

Most important, in the midst of all this shopping, I'd be remiss not to mention Giving Tuesday. While there are a multitude of nonprofits worthy of your donation in Beacon (see my previous blog about becoming a friend of our local organizations), this year I'd like to draw attention to a program taking place at Beacon's two local prisons--Downstate Correctional Facility and Fishkill Correctional Facility--(as well as four other prisons) called Puppies Behind Bars (PBB.) Inmates are trained to train Labrador retrievers to become service dogs for the disabled, those who are blind or for veterans healing from physical and emotional wounds. In addition to the staff for the non-for-profit PBB and the inmates, volunteers from neighboring towns are trained to become puppy sitters who socialize the pups in the community. Read more about this 16 year old program to find out why it is so deserving of recognition as a highly effective, win-win proposition for the rehabilitation of inmates, for the ultimate recipients of the dogs when they are placed in homes, and for those who volunteer to help raise loving companions. Consider giving a donation--or learning about how to become a puppy sitter--it will truly be a gift that keeps giving.

Food for thought:  It's all in the giving. Generosity and altruism are gifts of and for the spirit. So when you are in search of the gifts with monetary value, feed yourself with pleasurable pursuits and worthy causes. You will be giving a gift to yourself as you support local business, meet and greet proprietor-friends, and revel in the assortment of beautiful opportunities that Beacon has to offer.

As you shop, remember to feed your body as well. Make time for a snack or meal at  

Beacon Bread Company, Tito Santana, Beacon Pantry, 

Homespun, Poppy's, Bank Square, Ella Bella's and Beacon Bagels.

And if you need a place to spend an overnight, call ahead for a room at Botsford Briar Bed & Breakfast!

Beacon Bits -- Handmade--It's a Good Thing!

If you like Pinterest and if you are a Martha Stewart fan, then you will just love Nixie Sparrow!! New to Beacon and located on the first floor in BEAHIVE, on the first floor of  291 Main Street in the beautifully restored 1907 telephone building, you will have a chance to soon experience the fun of personally creating items to get you in the holiday spirit during the Second Saturday festivities on December 13. Even if you don't know about the social media site and are not a handcrafts maven or Martha-wannabee, you will be introduced to something deep within yourself with the help of a Nixie Sparrow experience.

I 'found' Nixie Sparrow during a Sunday afternoon walk when old neighbors from Nyack were visiting and I was 'showing off' all of the wonderful venues since their last visit three years ago. When I walked in, it felt like the set of a carefully designed arts and crafts studio 

waiting to entice me into whatever was being offered for play and creativity. I spoke briefly with Sarah (Meghan wasn't present) about the focus of this "do-it-yourself" space with its 

scheduled workshops for adults that range from the arts, cooking, floristry and everything you can think of under the sun (e.g., pom pom rugs, stamped wrapping paper, home brewing, watercolor and homemade cards) or everything you may not even have imagined until you make it yourself.

The name "Nixie Sparrow" itself is a clue to what will happen during a visit to attend a workshop. Nixie is the name of a mythological water spirit. And a  sparrow represents creativity and community. The name itself gives the context for those invited artisans who will present their special interests and talents to a group of individuals gathered together for brief encounters of the creative kind. Sounds like a fun process of sharing time and space and it is practical as well, since the skills learned can be transferred into hobbies or future pursuits or gifts to give to self or others since there is always a product to take home with you. And with diverse offerings, you can always return to sample something new.

Food for thought:  The more high tech we become, the more we need to balance our activities so that we engage all areas of our brain. MRI research has shown that knitting, for example, integrates left and right hemispheres. Creative pursuits and making things by hand, not just knitting and crochet, are good for planning and sequencing as we imagine what our actions will produce before we see the results; this executive functioning and problem solving serves us well. The joy and pleasure of being in the moment in a meditative state as attention is sustained over time when something is learned, with just enough frustration to stimulate patience and the sense of success and self-efficacy, is just what the 'doctor' has ordered to decrease negative stress. The opportunities for 'hands-on' experiences are also important for sensory integration. Head, hearts and hands working together while engaged in the simple joys of life are irreplaceable. Let's welcome Nixie Sparrow to Beacon and support its place in growing community and in helping all of us in the pursuit of happiness and well-being; you'll never have to wait for another snow day at home to get into the creative state of mind!

Beacon Bits -- 'Ober' - Over (not really)

I celebrated my last pick up of the season for my Obercreek Farm CSA share by making a leek potato soup with the purple potatoes. To my surprise, and dismay, the soup did not take on a purple hue, as I had imagined. But it was not at all disappointing in its full and earthy flavor from the freshly picked veggies that are grown within 10 miles from home. It's my fourth year of CSA participation and this was the best year yet. I've signed up for next season and look forward to the 'bonus' Thanksgiving distribution. I have to keep reminding myself that I can continue to enjoy the bounty from Obercreek throughout the winter at the Beacon Farmer's Market and at their new store in New Hamburg where the farm is located. It will be great to see Sam and Tim and their crew without waiting for next spring.

Food for thought:  

As someone who has always functioned with the frontal lobes as a 'planner', CSA participation has reminded me that there is not always predictability in what I can expect. What has been sown may in fact not be reaped. Each time I showed up at the pick up, there were some elements that appeared abundantly, which indicated the peak of harvest for the vegetable crop that was at hand -- true for the tomatoes, zucchinis, peppers, but not so true for the celeriac, winter squash, onions, beets or bok choy. Part of the fun of being a CSA participant was putting together new combinations of ingredients and being able to create spontaneous recipes. It feels like a very European way to engage in the growing season; Jacques Pepin is my inspiration for culinary delights with the pick of the day, the find in the basket , the thrift of using everything that is at hand.  And so CSA membership is preparation for the medley of events that come at us in life when we least expect them, which allows us to be open and flexible, to seize the opportunity and to meet the challenge. And when we feel like we have to plan for success, we can always freeze that extra dish of ratatouille and serve it for brunch for guests when we choose to put it on the schedule.