Happening This Weekend in Beacon: 4/14/2017
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The Agent Who Brokered In A New Era Onto Main Street's West Side - Daniel Aubry's 20-Parcel Deal (Sponsored)
/Daniel Aubry first traveled the world as a professional photographer, visiting over 130 countries on assignment before he chose Beacon, NY, to put roots down in his companion profession as a real estate agent. Quietly located on Beacon's East End of town in an office to the right of the once-derelict Beacon Hotel (which has completed its first major round of renovations), Daniel has recently made a significant impact over on the West End of town, where he closed a deal early in 2017 that transferred 20 units owned by longtime property owners, the Piccone Family, to a new Hudson Valley-based family.
You may remember the Piccones from when they hung the banner above Mr. Bell's salon last year. When we wrote an article congratulating Mr. Bell on 25 years of business success, Lucy Malone told us: “Mr. Bell would come on the first of each month to pay the rent. I always asked him how he was. After we said hi, his answer for all the years I was there was 'Excellent.' That is how we started our conversation each month. It always made me smile. Mr. Bell is always smiling. Mr. Bell was an old Nabisco friend to Mr. [Frank] Piccone (his landlord’s father) and he spoke very highly of the Piccone men: Frank, Ron and Jamie, as he knew them all."
One Building To 20 Parcels Changing Hands
This real estate deal is a unique one, in that Daniel Aubry represented both the buyer and the seller. Early one evening during an event hosted by Scenic Hudson at Long Dock, Daniel planted the seed of the sale with the buyer, who already owned properties in New York and had recently sold one. Daniel, being highly conscientious of taxes associated with the sale of a property, suggested that this new family consider the Piccones' property - before it was even on the market. The building already had a positive cash flow coming in, otherwise known as a "cap rate," or an existing income-generating property that needed ongoing management.
The intent originated with the purchase of one building on Main Street, and resulted in 20 parcels being sold to the new owners, who also recently purchased the River Winds Gallery building (not the business, but the building that houses it) in a separate sale. The Daniel Aubry property sale consisted of business storefronts where Mountain Tops and Miss Vickie's Music are located, residential apartments and houses with Section 8 classification, as well as several empty lots. Sixteen of those parcels are on or are adjoining Main Street. Says Daniel: "The deal grew like Topsy. It is possibly one of the largest real estate deals involving simultaneous property ever done in Beacon.”
Dual Representation & A Business Lesson
This real estate deal is a unique one, in that Daniel Aubry represented both the buyer and the seller. How does one ensure fairness, you ask? "It was a very organic process," recalls Daniel. "Both parties need to feel that you are representing their best interest. For that, you need to be very clear what the needs and the expectations are of each part of the deal. Because the Piccones were a client before, they had some trust already."
Throughout his decades in business, first as a photographer, an industry he left "before it left me" (due to the disruption by the iPhone of the camera market), Daniel has learned to follow his instinct. How did he know that the two parties would work well and maintain trust in this situation? "Chemistry. There are people in life, I have learned, [who] you can’t do business with. Either they think they are too smart, or something else. There may be a chance to make money, but I’m at a stage in my life where my quality of life is more important to me than making money."
What May Be Next For Buildings On The West End Of Main Street
"These properties were purchased at time when Beacon was like Newburgh, down in the dumps - though Newburgh is now rising," explains Daniel. "The landlords did the best with what they had. They maintained from an infrastructure standpoint, but not a cosmetic standpoint." The Piccones had two full-time staff members to maintain the properties. Those two people have been hired by the new owners, who have also retained a property management company that specializes in Section 8 housing.
Some of the properties are close to the train station, and several are single-family homes. Where the most impact may be seen is on several vacant lots, where the new owners may do “in-fill development,” creating additional housing. "The new owners are wonderful people and have the best interest of Beacon at heart. I think it is good for Beacon. They tend to move very thoughtfully," says Daniel.
Editorial Note: This has been a sponsored article by Daniel Aubry Realty that A Little Beacon Blog's editorial team approved of to write and research, as part of our Sponsor Spotlight series. To see more of Daniel's listings, and to see what else he knows of that is not on the market yet, see www.danielaubry.com for listings and contact information.
New Burger Joint To Open In Old Burger Joint - Meyer’s Olde Dutch Replaces Poppy's
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The Poppy's sign has come down, but the space at 184 Main Street known for farm-to-table burgers will open soon under new ownership. fear not: Beacon will keep its burger joint!
Days after the ink dried on the closing papers for the one-story building that until last week was home to Poppy's Burgers and Fries and owned by its founder Paul Yeaple, a press release went out announcing that the building's new owner - Brian Arnoff, owner and chef at Kitchen Sink just across and down the street - would be opening a second restaurant on Main Street. Meyer’s Olde Dutch, "a casual, modern interpretation of the classic burger joint," is slated to open in May 2017 in the 184 Main Street location.
Making use of the bar that Poppy's had installed during its last round of renovations, Meyer's Olde Dutch will run a full-service bar, serving a large selection of New York craft beer, locally produced wine, and house-crafted cocktails. Kitchen Sink is known for its selection of New York-made wine. They are also known for locally sourced beef, cheese, and local produce, which will make its way into the new burger joint. Kitchen Sink, followed by Meyer's Olde Dutch, has taken farm-to-table to a new level: The Arnoff family owns a micro farm, Truckload Farm and Orchard in Hyde Park, which supplies some of the ingredients to Kitchen Sink. In addition to classic beef patties, Meyer's Olde Dutch will offer lamb, chicken and vegan options with plenty of toppings and house-made signature sauces, plus hand-cut fries, sweet potato fritters and salads.
The Ultimate Farm-To-Table Burger Joint
The burger joint that had planted a flag at this location wasn't just any burger joint. Poppy's owner, Beacon native Paul Yeaple, was a Beacon pioneer of the farm-to-table ethos. When speaking to Southwest Dutchess, Paul reflected: "When I started Poppy's eight years ago, there was no local food anywhere in Beacon. Now it's abundant. Maybe we can go to another town and help incubate a better food situation for them too." Paul certainly has left his mark for farm-to-table, as Meyer's Olde Dutch will be dressing the burgers with produce from their very own farms. That kind of farm-to-table match is rare. For more on Paul's thinking about why he closed Poppy's, see Brian PJ Cronin's article in the Highlands Current.
About Meyer's Olde Dutch
Meyer's Olde Dutch is named after Brian's great-grandfather Meyer, who once owned and operated Olde Dutch Grocery, across the river in Middletown, NY. With the new place, Brian says, “We look forward to bringing the same passion for food that we’ve provided across the street in our fine dining establishment, but in a more casual atmosphere.” The atmosphere at Kitchen Sink is already quite casual - a classy casual - with a seriously impressive menu that changes with the seasons and with what's been harvested, presented in a way that is a work of art. We can't wait to see what casual looks like at Meyer's Olde Dutch.
Arnoff's goal is to be open by Saturday, April 29, 2017, the day Beacon Barks parades down the street on the West End of town. Take-out is slated to be available from a side-door location down the alley between buildings. If you're excited about the side-door take-out as a new perk of the burger joint experience, just wait to hear what else Brian has in store. Anyone who has had the grilled cheese or mac and cheese from Kitchen Sink knows that there is something spectacular about those oozy, creamy dishes. After years of culinary training and apprenticing, including a stint in Italy where he "developed a deeper appreciation for seasonal ingredients and regional cooking," Brian opened a mac and cheese food truck. CapMac was one of the first food trucks on the DC mobile dining scene. Brian sold the truck three years later, before moving back to the Hudson Valley to literally and figuratively put down roots.
Pictured: Brian Arnoff, owner of Kitchen Sink, the new Meyer's Olde Dutch, and of the 184 Main Street building.
Calico Ball Now Accepting Ad Sponsorships for Dance Brochure
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The Calico Ball, started by the late, great, local legend Pete Seeger 28 years ago, is a dance residency for all third-grade students across the Beacon School District, led by the Vanaver Caravan dancers. Students learn about different cultures around the world and perform in a global dance festival. For the past eight years, BAEF (Beacon Arts and Education Foundation) has sponsored this event, providing joy, amazement and education to hundreds of children. Spaces are open now for business or individual sponsorships to advertise in the dance program. The deadline is May 26, 2017.
Art Programming in Public Schools Diminishing
In order for artistic enrichment to be provided in the Beacon City School District, funding from outside sources is required as state and federal funding have decreased. According to the BAEF website, "In recent years, the amount of state aid has decreased dramatically. Consequently, it has become increasingly difficult to fund innovative educational programs that provide a richness to the educational experience of students."
BAEF’s goal is to support programs and activities that would not otherwise be achievable through available public funds, as well as to encourage the educational development of BCSD students and staff. Their mission is to foster community involvement and partnerships in the public education process. The Calico Ball is paid for with funds that BAEF raises. That money comes from annual fundraisers like the brochure ads and donations from the PTO/PTAs, as well as a grant that Vanaver Caravan researched and applied for, according Anna Bergin, a co-chair of BAEF this year.
Since BAEF's inception in 2004, they have provided over $100,000 to bolster arts education programming in the BCSD. Financial support has paid for:
- new sound equipment in the high school auditorium
- a new kiln for the high school ceramics studio
- teaching artist residencies in the schools, including the I’m Tired Project at Rombout Middle School
- musical instruments
- arts supplies
Business and Individual Sponsorships In The 2017 Calico Ball Program
Businesses and individuals can buy an ad in the Calico Ball program by clicking on this form to find ad sizes and prices, and then making your ad purchase/donation directly through BeaconArts by clicking this link or by sending in a check, which is a fiscal sponsor for BAEF and this project. Support from the community helps the Calico Ball continue year after year, and contribute to the experience that is living in Beacon, NY. The ad deadline is May 26, 2017, so get on it!
Last Days To Donate Kids' Toys, Clothes, Books, Other Stuff to Ree-Play Sale Before Shopping It
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These are your last days to donate to the Ree-Play Sale, the biggest annual fundraiser produced by the Wee Play Community Project, set for April 21 to April 23, 2017. The nonprofit organization raises money for children's programs at the Beacon Library, BAEF (Beacon Arts and Education Foundation), and maintains the public parks you see and play in around Beacon, including Memorial Park, Riverfront Park, and Green Street Park.
The success of any great sale is rooted primarily in what it sells. And the Ree-Play Sale gets its gems from locals in the community who are no longer using toys, books, gear, bikes, even some furniture. This week is the final week that Ree-Play is accepting donations from your attic or children's rooms, so clean it out now, load up the car, and head over to the Settlement Camp on Wolcott during the time slots that the Ree-Play volunteers post to their public Facebook Group. Posted hours as of today are:
Spring break sorting/donation hours:
Monday
12:30-2:30
Tuesday
9-12
Wednesday
10-4
Thursday
9-11
Friday - last day for accepting donations
9-12
Saturday - none posted
Sunday - none posted/Easter
Any questions, including pickup requests, can be directed to Kristen Checkalski VanCott at cactus232@hotmail.com.
Hint: If you bring a lot, do them a favor and sort it when you get there, as in, place the toys in the toy section, boots in the boot section, and clothes in the boxes that are marked with age or size ranges. But if you need to drop-and-dash, you can do that too!
Here's another hint: You may want to bring your kids on this errand, as they will be able to run around the new used toys, gear and clothes, and beg you to walk in the woods, among the frisbee golfers. Currently, there is a little battery powered jeep just waiting for a lucky new owner, and that's the hardest item to keep curious children from who want to ride it everywhere.
Your Donation of Gently Used Stuff Helps Beacon
Some people save up all year for this sale, keeping their kid's retired clothes, shoes and toys in special boxes in the attic. If you consign, there maybe be some items you save from the consignment store and give instead to the Ree-Play sale as a donation. This fundraiser has raised tens of thousands of dollars for kids in Beacon, as we explored last year.
Shopping The Ree-Play Sale Helps Beacon Kids and Families
Your one and only chance to shop this big sale is from Friday, April 21st to Sunday, April 23rd from 9am-1pm daily at the University Settlement Camp Theater (Beacon Pool entrance/9D, Beacon). Credit cards are accepted. Clothing deals include a $15 fill-a-bag for the clothing tables. As is every year, a delicious bake sale will be held daily, with fresh baked goods from local parents (have you heard of the #BeaconDessertMafia? OMG). Half-Price Day is Sunday, with a special treat of Balloon Animals form 11am-1pm on Sunday, too!
While we haven't confirmed that these particular oatmeal chocolate chip squares - which sometimes have coconut - will be in the bake sale lineup, you can bet that something will be from this baker, Tessa Dean, a #beacondessertmafia contributor.
Happening This Weekend - 4/7/2017
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How Can Acupuncture Help Me?
The Inn and Spa at Beacon Opens This Weekend
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Think a wellness oasis right on Main Street is impossible? Think again! Opening their doors this Saturday is The Inn and Spa at Beacon, located at 151 Main Street. Leave your worries at the door and allow yourself to be pampered with a Hudson Birch Deep Tissue Massage or a Blue Eucalyptus Energizing Massage, to name just a few of the spa services available. The Inn & Spa at Beacon will serve as a retreat space from the hustle and bustle of your daily life, with many getaway packages to choose from. The basement will feature the full spa and the Water Spa, including hydrotherapy tub. The Water Spa will be opening soon but you can still take advantage of their other treatments such as facials, massages, scalp treatments, and more.
One of the massage rooms
Meet owner Roger Greenwald on Second Saturday (April 8), and explore the new, beautiful space he's created. Roger has a background in architecture and a love for 18th-century design. Roger has spent most of his career developing luxury residences in Washington D.C., where he's originally from. As an avid hiker, he would frequent the Hudson Valley to explore the numerous trails that make this area a hiker's dream. Upon retiring, Roger relocated to New York and settled in Philipstown almost four years ago.
While visiting Beacon, Roger spotted the empty lot on Main Street's western end and had a vision of building a space that provides an experience for all of the senses. He saw the exciting, ongoing renaissance Beacon was undergoing, and he wanted to be a part of that. After drawing up plans, gaining support from the neighbors, the mayor, and the chief building inspector, construction began.
This is Roger's first boutique hotel, but it's more than simply a room to check in. You come to The Inn and Spa at Beacon for an experience. In addition to a delicious spa treatment, visitors can enjoy regular events like morning yoga on the rooftop garden facing the mountains, or waltzes under the stars on Sunday nights (Roger is also a swing dancer). Read a book by the fireplace in the solarium, and enjoy the beautiful original art on display throughout the entire spa including local glass artist, Barbara Galazzo. Roger is a BeaconArts member and plans on contributing to the vision and mission of the community.
The rooftop will be a space for live music, lounging, and yoga classes (those will move indoors for the winter). It is a perfect multifunctional space with views of Mount Beacon, Main Street, the Hudson River, and the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge.
One of the views from the rooftop
Every Tuesday will be "Beacon Tuesdays," when The Inn and Spa at Beacon will offer Beacon residents selected one-hour spa treatments for $99. They will also offer Naturopathica skin care products, the exclusive brand for the spa, to members of the Beacon Community at a 10 percent discount.
While the building may appear small from the outside, its high ceilings and spacious rooms still bring about a sense of luxury and comfort. It is almost hard to believe that this is a brand-new building, as it blends into the city's aesthetic perfectly. The building has five floors including the spa basement, but the 12 guest rooms are located from the ground floor to the top (fourth) floor.
You can visit The Inn and Spa at Beacon this Saturday during their Open House from 5 to 7 pm, but their doors will be opening at 10 am. They will also be open on Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm. They are closed Monday but will be open again on Tuesday for their first Beacon Tuesday, so schedule your appointment today!
Happening This Weekend - 3/31/2017
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Beacon High School Presents The Who's Tommy - A Rock Opera
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Opening Friday, March 31, to send March out with a bang, The Beacon Players present TOMMY on Friday and Saturday nights at 7 pm, with a Sunday matinee at 2 pm. Once again, the students of different departments in the Beacon High School have worked together to put on a fantastical show (see more about their work on a past production of Peter Pan). "[When the show opens], our canvas will be full of bright lights, rocking music and an amazing journey you won't want to miss!"
"Pinball Wizard" will be performed in its full version, along with several other favorites from The Who's rock opera, which first opened in 1969, and tells the story of a deaf, dumb and blind boy and his relationship with his family.
The costume crew - comprised entirely of students - stitched three decades' worth of outfits. So it's not just the student performers who get experience in the school performance, but all of the departments creating the rest of the show that goes on around the stage - the costumes, the set, the lighting, the sound, and much more.
While practicing the musical number "See Me, Feel Me," the crew running the Beacon Players' Instagram account broke into song, which we will leave you with here, in our city at the base of Mt. Beacon.
Gazing at you, I get the heat.
Following you, I climb the mountain.
I get excitement at your feet.
Buy your tickets online here to make sure you have them in hand, or wait and buy before the show at the box office.
Cupcake Festival In Beacon For 2017 From K104.7 - May 6th
/RAIN UPDATE 5/5/2017 1:45pm: We are getting a lot of reader questions about rain plans. K104.7 is the producer of this event, so if we hear from them that there has been a change in plan, we will publish an article here to A Little Beacon Blog. As of this time, as far as we know, it's on! So bring your raincoats - or buy one on Main Street. We saw some at Lauren & Riley yesterday. Check our Shopping Guide of all Beacon shops to plot out which shops you want to hit up.
CUPCAKE FESTIVAL DETAILS
- WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 2017
- TIME: 1pm-5pm
- WHERE: East End of Main Street, Between Fishkill Ave. and at the Dummy Light
- JUDGING: Stage located across the street from The Chocolate Studio. Judging starts at 3pm
After years of being in Fishkill, next month the Cupcake Festival from K104.7 comes to Beacon's East End of town. On Saturday, May 6, from 1 to 5 pm, the tasty treats will take over between Rt. 52/Fishkill Avenue and the dummy light at East Main Street. The event has attracted 4,000 people to Fishkill in the past, and Beacon is getting ready for the influx of pastry-seeking visitors. Says Mayor Randy Casale about this new event in Beacon: "We believe it will bring a lot of people to our Main Street business district and because of its location, we believe it will help to promote the East End of our business district. That being said, we also know that when we have big events, it does cause some problems, such as [with] traffic patterns and parking, but overall, we believe this adds value to our community where our residents, tourists and businesses will benefit."
A business representative from the newly established East End Business District Association, Michele Williams, owner of Style Storehouse, says about the event: "The East End has been waiting a long time to host an event, and we couldn't more appreciative to The Mayor, The Beacon Chamber of Commerce, and K104 for thinking of us."
What To Expect
On this day of sugar, cupcake makers from all over the Hudson Valley will be on Main Street displaying their wares, mixed in with other vendors. Tables and booths in years past have included chair massages, homemade dog biscuits, hot dog stands, kids crafts, a bouncy house, alternative energy resellers, and all types of businesses and organizations hoping to connect with people.
Photo Credit: Digital Weddings
Photo Credit: Digital Weddings
Cupcake Wars - Judging of the Cupcakes
Mid-way through the festival, at 3 pm, judging for the Cupcake Wars will commence and cupcake designers will compete for the top prize of $1,000. Anyone can enter their cupcake here. The judging stage will be located across the street from The Chocolate Studio. You will be surrounded by heaven and goodness. Look for tables of cupcake enteries, decorated and dressed up to look and taste their best.
What kind of creations will come out of the day? In a pre-judging, on-air segment in the K104.7 studios, I'm going to get a sneak peak as cupcakes are judged during the 9 o'clock hour this Friday morning, March 31, 2017. Be sure to listen from your car, computer or app (or gosh - actual radio in your home!), and I'll bring fresh coffee to go with cupcake samples! Follow A Little Beacon Blog's Instagram and Twitter for studio photos.
Photo Credit: Digital Weddings
Photo Credit: Digital Weddings
Photo Credit: Digital Weddings
Vendor Opportunities
Vendors of all types can set up tables, even if you don't sell cupcakes. The vendor form can be found here. According to the Beacon Chamber of Commerce, there is a discount for Beacon businesses to have a table on the street: "We want all Beacon businesses to benefit from this event, so K104 is slashing the vendor fee in half for any Beacon business! You will receive your business name on the flyer and a 10 x 10 spot on the street." Vendor applications can be submitted here, and/or contact Sam Favata: sfavata@pamal.com.
UPDATE 5/1/17: Vendor spots are full.
You may see a table for A Little Beacon Blog, where we'll be back at it doing facepainting as a fundraiser for the elementary schools in Beacon. We already donated to the South Avenue kindergarten teacher team for their impressive use of craft supplies for so many children, and now are raising money for the other three kindergarten teams at Sargent, J.V. Forrestal, and Glenham schools. PS: We are looking for two volunteers to help face paint! If interested, please contact us.
How To Get To The Cupcake Festival in Beacon for 2017
Getting to the festival is easy. It is on the east end of Beacon's mile long Main Street. According the iPhone map, if coming from the Beacon Train Station, It is approximately 1.3 miles. If walking, it should take you 30mins to walk. And it's a great walk! Allow extra time to stop into shops on your way down, and get coffee or snacks on your way. A Little Beacon Blog has a full Shopping Guide that lists all of the shopping options in Beacon, so definitely check it out so that you know that to find in Beacon. For food in Beacon, see our Restaurant Guide for cafe and dining ideas. From outfitter stores to men's and women's clothing boutiques to home decor and flowers to bubbles and soap, you will find something special. Then, to see what else is going on in Beacon, see our Event Guide because there are other special events going on around you.
Want to stay hooked into what's going on in Beacon? Sign up to our e-newsletter list right here!
If driving from the train station or thereabouts, it's 7 minutes. You can find parking in a large free parking lot on that end of town, the address and pictures of which are here in A Little Beacon Blog's Free Parking Guide. This is in addition to several other parking lots, like DMV lot in the middle of Main Street There are also neighboring side streets that you can park at.
On your smartphone map, if you put in Beacon Station as the start point, and Howland Cultural Center as your destination end point, then you should get directions.
Sponsored by TEG Federal Credit Union, Poughkeepsie Galleria, Beacon's own Antalek & Moore, and the Family Dental Group, this should be a great day! Parking will get creative, but you can find all of Beacon's free municipal lots here in our Free Parking Lot Guide.
Photo Credit: Digital Weddings
Photo Credit: K104.7
Homeowners Courted With Financing For Energy Improvements From Energize NY/Beacon
/Beacon's Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC) is charged with advising the Planning Board and the City Council of Beacon, NY, on matters affecting the preservation, development and use of the natural and manmade features in the City. This week, the CAC is co-sponsoring an event from Energize Beacon, a program to help homeowners make intelligent decisions about home improvements that increase comfort and reduce energy waste, while saving money on utility and heating (fuel oil or propane) bills.
The event is Tuesday, March 28, at 6:30 pm at Scenic Hudson's River Center (aka the Red Barn) next to Long Dock Park, just south of the Metro-North train station. Energize Beacon is funded by a New York State grant and a broader program, Energize NY, which was created in 2011 and recently launched coverage in Beacon. Its purpose is to reduce the carbon footprint of homes and businesses and save people money at the same time. The Energize programs accomplish this by sending Independent Energy Coaches to homes for free assessments of ways to improve the homes' retention of heat and cool air during the appropriate seasons.
To qualify for financing, "savings [from recommended improvements] must outweigh the cost of the energy upgrade work proposed," says Alice Quinn, Energize NY's Residential Director for the Hudson Valley. "Homeowners get a free/reduced-cost comprehensive home energy assessment done by a BPI-certified contractor, who will run a blower door test and check your home for leaks and inefficiencies in your insulation, air sealing, mechanics (like boilers) and health and safety issues. The contractor will provide the homeowner with a report that outlines all of their findings from the assessment and how much it will cost."
From there, says Quinn, financing options may be available through On-Bill Recovery or a Smart Energy Loan. Windows seem to be the first changes to come to people's minds, according to Tom Bregman, a senior consultant with Energize NY, quoted in a Highlands Current article, but windows aren't usually the most efficient replacement - at least to qualify with this program. Quinn agrees: "Windows are tricky; they are expensive to replace and not the best 'bang for your buck' because the R-value of brand new, super 'efficient' windows is still so low that the savings you would get from insulating your attic, for example, is way higher than what you would get from replacing windows." Seems hard to imagine, especially if you live in one of Beacon's 95-year-old homes. (A familiar scene: sitting in front of a window that lets gusts of cold air blow down your neck as you try to relax on the couch.) It might be the right time to take advantage of the true assessments that Energize Beacon is offering, and really find out where your home could be efficiently improved.
If you're ready to make the move on financing, then Energize NY has a list of "home performance contractors" that you can choose from. "We at Energize took that a step further and vetted those who do Home Performance work in the region of the communities we work in and created a list called our Energize Comfort Corps," offers Quinn.
Easter Egg Hunt in Beacon Set for 2017 - 7,000 Chocolate Eggs
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Easter Weekend in Beacon, as in most places, means church mornings in pretty dresses. Here, we also have the Easter Egg Hunt in Memorial Park. This year, Beacon's Easter celebration in Memorial Park is slated for Saturday, April 15 from 11 am to 2 pm, with chocolates provided by Alps Sweet Shop, Beacon's local chocolatier.
Attendance at this event at Memorial Park has grown over the years. It's usually the first official community-planned outing after a long winter, where neighbors don't see neighbors too often (aside from snow-shoveling sessions) because they are huddled up inside. Entertainment has grown to include a bouncy-something (slide, house, etc.), with a traditional visit from the Easter Bunny, raffles for a bike and baskets, petting zoo, face painting, live music, Dutchess Dog House food truck, and the annual presentation of the Mayor's Egg.
If you are coming with children, prepare yourself for chocolate-chasing chaos. As the crowds have grown, so has the grassy area covered for this Easter egg hunt. While the surrounding activities are manageable, the mad dashes for chocolate have seen an increase in coordination. Perhaps this year, the announcers of the chocolate races might use a larger speaker system, instead of the megaphone the event has outgrown, to direct the waves of kids lined up in different age groups. Hopefully the recent rainfall has started to melt the giant mound of snow that currently sits in the Memorial Park parking lot, where a lot of collected snow was dumped after the March Blizzard of 2017.
Welcome to Spring!
10th Annual Beacon Barks Parade Is Happening for 2017!
/The Beacon Barks Parade went on hiatus last year as the Beacon Barkery, the co-founding institution behind the event, transitioned to new owners. Recently, dog and cat fans have been happy to see the familiar yellow flyers return to storefront windows around town for the event, which raises money for Safe Haven Animal Shelter & Wildlife Center, and raises awareness for homeless animals in our communities.
Slated for Saturday, April 29, from 11 am to 4 pm (with no rain date planned), people and dogs will gather once again along Main Street starting at the west end of Main Street near Mountain Tops to the parking lot at the DMV. Some will be in costume for the Costume Contest, while others will be participating in canine performances while music plays on the street. Rescue organizations will hosting pet adoptions during the day, so be prepared to fall in love with a dog or cat - of any age! Just find someone to love and rescue.
Sponsor Opportunities
As in years past, there are vendor and sponsor opportunities available, and anyone can be a vendor, not just pet-related businesses or organizations. There is no fee for nonprofits, or for storefronts located along the parade route, to have a vendor table. To date, event sponsors include Canine Sanctuary, Tonya’s Tasty Treats, the VCA, Beacon Barkery, and Safe Haven.
To be a vendor, stop into Beacon Bakery at 190 Main Street to pick up or drop off an application (download one here from Hudson Valley Pet Expo's website) and leave a $50 vendor fee. The application deadline is April 15 (so get your taxes done early so that you can do this without panic!). Vendors get space for a 10'x10' table. Tables aren't provided, but details on renting a table and chairs are in the application. You could always invest in a table and chairs at Home Depot.
Costume Contest and Marching in Parade
To enter the pet costume contest, you also will need to fill out an application, but there is no fee. Anyone can march in the parade, and marchers do not need to register.
Details for the parade can be found here at Hudson Valley Pet Expo.
New Art Gallery From The Raft Pops Up on Beacon's East End
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jack fuller's paintings are part of the raft's pop-up gallery at 1 east main.
photo credit: toni tan
One of Beacon's best qualities is the way its residents rush to shine a spotlight on one another. In this case, Toni Tan of TanDao Studio sent up a flare to A Little Beacon Blog, to make sure we knew about The Raft’s pop-up gallery. “I reached out to you on their behalf because they are fabulous,” Toni said in an email.
The Raft is a three-person art collective whose members' day jobs include architecture and fashion design. “Two of the artists are Beacon homeowners,” Toni says, and “all three are friends.” The group's members have been afloat in Beacon for a while: Beatrice and Jack met four years ago as neighbors in the Roundhouse's artist lofts. Jack brought Ben into the fold, and The Raft was launched.
the raft's pop-up gallery opened last weekend and continues this saturday and sunday. the show includes paintings, photography, and other media from three artists.
photo credit: toni tan
The former electric blanket factory at 1 East Main Street has been heating up once again in recent months: Visitors will find The Raft’s pop-up space next door to a swanky new bridal boutique from Lambs Hill. The gallery initially popped up last weekend, and continues this Saturday and Sunday (open from 1 pm to 7 pm) on the city’s East End, heading toward the mountain.
This weekend’s pop-up gallery will showcase photography, projections, and paper sculptures by Ben Boltin, and paintings from Jack Fuller and Beatrice Vann. The spark behind starting the collective will ring true to many artists, especially those who work hard to balance the day-to-day of “day jobs” with the impulses of creativity beyond the office. Beatrice explains: “It’s about finding the support you need to nurture and sustain a life in the arts - support from fellow artists whose work you admire and respect - and even envy a little.”
The group only plans to exhibit work this weekend - for now. Second Saturday and other ongoing events may be in the works, though. Keep your eyes on this space! We'll let you know as soon as we know.
What: The Raft Pop-Up Gallery
Where: 1 East Main Street, Beacon, NY
When: Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and 26, 1 pm to 7 pm
Happening This Weekend - 3/24/2017
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