Sunday Errands: Brioche Buns, Olive Oil, a Sweet

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The best way to "run" errands is to walk them with a little one in tow and attach a cookie and a cupcake to the adventure. First stop is to Beacon Bread Company for brioche buns for weekday packed lunches. Next it's to the Scarborough Fare olive oil store to fill up this bottle with olive oil that tastes like "fresh cut grass and artichokes", to be used later in gazpacho and dipped in white bread from All You Knead and fresh Parmesan from a block from Beacon Pantry. Then it's off to Key Foods for rolls of fresh mozzarella and Applegate provolone cheese for a homemade pizza dough, the dough for which we will pick up from Pleasant Ridge on our way back home.

All on foot and a Radio Flyer bike!

What are your favorite errands on a Sunday?

City Wide Yard Sale Well Stocked as Ever!

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Rain fell the entire week leading up to this year's City Wide Yard Sale. But hours before starting, the clouds parted, stopped drizzling, and the yard sales were out!

This year we went on foot, stopping at a yard sale behind Beacon Barkery to find a pink raincoat and matching rubber boots for $5. Onward we forged to fuel up at Culture for their delicious lattes (for my friend...I'd already fueled up at home thanks to my aero press from Mountain Tops that I love).

We found more sales on Beacon and S.Walnut, that had these craft supplies, cute trade paperback books, windows with glass for projects, porch lights still in the box, so much.

Cars and pickup trucks drive by, usually with a man in the driver's seat scouting and a woman jumping out to scavenger before his truck can fully stop. Usually the yard sales offer lemonade and are dotted all over Beacon, from residential streets, to even a cat hospital in the woods! Some specialize in certain things like tools or baby gear, but all offer many things you forgot you needed.

It's one of my favorite weekends in June.

Did you go? What did you find?

Pink Radio Flyer Toddler Bike at Trendy Tots

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Will it be yours? The price is less than what you'd find it for at Target, and it's in a local shop! Unusual, I'm told, for this bike that is now sold in mass. This handle bar is super easy to steer the bike while your toddler is riding it, and it's a great trainer for knowing what to even do with pedals before you get to real training wheels.

Ella's Bellas is Back and Delicious!

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I knew these cookies from her days at Bank Square when we first moved here, and was so sad when the lemon bars and other treats went away. Little did I know then they would be opening up in a storefront all their own down the street on Main Street! If you're walking Main Street, headed towards the mountain, Ella's Bellas will be on you left, just before the antique shops and galleries begin. Stop in for a sea salt cookie (get a glass of milk), peanut butter cookie, lemon bar, other goodies, or a whole lunch! I was only in for a moment so did not read the menu, but saw fresh, yummy salads and soup. Yummmm.

If you've been there and tried things, please tell us your favorites in the comments below!

Gift List: Socks! Hip socks at Dream in Plastic

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Dream in Plastic has the best socks. Super cute, bold colors, perfect for accenting under a dark outfit or jeans. Target is also selling cute socks, and I shortcut my todo list and bought a pair there because most of my socks finally have holes so big in the heel, it can no longer be ignored.

Mistake. The Target socks made a hole in the heel after day 1! Dream in Plastic, however, is still cute and snuggly after last years stocking stuffer unwrapping.

So whether an elf is stuffing your stocking, or if maybe you are "helping", these socks are a must-stuff.

Beacon NY's Black Friday Shopping Weekend - 2011

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Thanksgiving weekend, you're going to need to strategically plot out where you're going to be shopping on Main Street, and where you're going to break for lunch. Several of the shops are having Black Friday Sales (Friday, November 26), and some of the restaurants too! If you know you're hitting up a store that is not listed here, please include it in the comments below and add it to the list! There is also a Beacon Shopping Facebook page, from which this info came, that you can "like" and get ongoing updates from Beacon shops as to when they are having events, etc. Huge props to Karen at Echo and Ms. Vickey who put that page together with this latest Black Friday info.


GIFTS & SHOPPING

BOUTIQUES
Echo Women's Boutique and Toystore is offering 20% off ALL items in store except the new lingerie section between the hours of 11-3
470 Main, Beacon, NY
845.440.0047
Mon– Sat: 10:00 am–7:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am–6:00 pm

Jacqueline is also offering 20% off all items from 11-3

Lauren and Riley will be offering 10% off all weekend
462 Main Street
Beacon, NY 12508
(845)831-3862 phone
(845)831-3808 fax
kimking@laurenrileyco.com


Clay Wood and Cotton will be starting their
extended holiday hours on Black Friday,
Open till 8pm Fridays and Saturdays for the season
149 Main Street  Beacon, NY 12508
(845) 481-0149



FUN & SPECIALTY STORES 
Dream in Plastic will be open 12-7pm
and offering 30% off selected items
177 Main Street  Beacon, NY 12508
(845) 632-3383

Notions-N-Potions will be open from 12-7pm
And offering a 10% discount
175 Main Street  Beacon, NY 12508-2705
(845) 765-2410

Paper Presence will be offering
20% off all items
between the hours of 10-2 on both Fri and Sat
30% off all items
Between the hours of 6-9 on both Fri and Sat
133 Main St.
Beacon, NY 12508-3201



ACTIVE & OUTFITTER SHOPS
Mountain Tops is having a 20% off sale,
and buy 3 get 1 free socks
144 Main Street
Beacon
(845) 831-1997

Peoples Bicycle
In spirit of Small Business Saturday, spend $25 at Peoples Bicycle and get a free t-shirt! Valid all weekend, starting Friday. Our $25 Roller Tuneup will get you ready to ride, as well as a free t-shirt!
8 S. Chestnut Street, Beacon NY 12508


SALONS

Moxie Salon & Beauty Hub is having 50% off our Clip-In Animal Print Hair Extensions!!! 10am-8pm

544 Main Street #1
Beacon, NY 12508

845.440.6653



CHRISTMAS SHOPS
Kringles Christmas Shop will be open from 10am - 9pm
and offering 20% off everything
163 Main Street  Beacon, NY 12508-2705
(845) 849-3030



ARTISAN SHOPS
Hudson Beach Glass will be starting their
"make your own ornaments"
162 Main Street  Beacon, NY 12508
(845) 440-0068

RiverWinds Gallery is offering a book signing Sunday, from 2-4, by Marika Blossfeldt, of her new cookbook. Based on recipes developed on her Estonian farm, Marika will be discussing how to cook delicious healthy meals.

172 Main St, Beacon 845-838-2880



FOOD
Poppy's Burgers and Fries deal of the day...
Buy 2 burgers, and get fries 1/2 price
184 Main Street  Beacon, NY 12508
(845) 765-2121

Homespun Foods will be open
From 11-4pm and offering 10% all
their imported and local cheeses
232 Main St  Beacon, NY 12508-2764
(845) 831-5096

Artisan Wine Shop will be hosting
A wine tasting from 4-7pm
180 Main Street  Beacon, NY 12508-2726
(845) 440-6923

Beacon Riverfest 2011: Gato Loco on Stage and Others

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Reporting in from Beacon Riverfest 2011, where the weather finally broke and the grass is dry to laying on and listening to Gato Loco Coconino! Except that there is no lounging during these crazy cats, with their funk and ska sound.

Bands that played earlier to our arrival were Rock Band Boot Camp (love that name!), Milton and Jack Grace Band. To follow Gato is Readnex Poetry Squad, and Tao Seeger Band.

Vendor tents in attendance are all of the delicious usual suspects: Poppy's (with their sloppy Joe and pulled pork), Crumb (with their signature lemonade, cookies, and sandwiches), a talapia stand, jumbo pretzels, Tas Cafe, WFUV, The Coffee Shop, and lots of others.

I have to find out how the Art Guitars did...

Fun!

NY Daily News Highlights Beacon as Day Trip to Escape City

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My partner at 'PRENEUR just sent me a picture of this article in the New York Daily News, which recommends Beacon as a scenic, easy destination to breath fresh mountain air in a cool artsy town. Destination? Dia:Beacon via the Metro North, with a stroll up Main Street to hit a few galleries.

So if you're going to do this, I recommend that you pack a picnic and enjoy it on the lawn of Dia (if you're allowed...I've done it, but not sure if it was acceptable or not). If you're driving, pick up your picnic at Homespun or Crumb. Each will give you a delicious selection of sandwiches, quiche, and soup. Homespun also offers a peppy selection of cheeses.

If you want to go simple but good deli sandwiches, stop at Suppa's Deli for friendly, fast service and drinks and chips. If you need picnic food, just up a few blocks is Key Foods which pretty much has everything you might need.

Then...after your walk through Dia:Beacon, come back to Main St and browse the shops! Pick up a trinket at Dreams in Plastic, shop a collection of Etsy designers at Clay Wood and Cotton, browse designers of jewelry and home goods at Global, get a cute yoga top from Mountain Tops, and this is just the beginning. There are more shops on thus end of town, and then more on the East end, near the mountain. Be sure to hit Echo (boutique and toy store), and her neighbor, a hat shop.

This is one day trip. Looks like you'll have more day trips up here to Beacon that will all be different!

Katie James to Vendor at Beacon Barks Parade!

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So just a little ps...I have a few businesses going on. I'm somewhat of a business-a-holic, or an entrepreneurista. The first businesses I officially created was Katie James, Inc. I design accessories and currently get them stitched in Alabama (and am on the lookout for someone to help me develop patterns for some new products). I jumped into an open vendor slot for the Beacon Barks Parade, and even if I don't sell a thing, I'm really looking forward to it. Ever since moving to Beacon from Manhattan, and having my lovely baby, I've been a little out of my old scene. So if you see a table with bright fabric accessories on it, that's me! Jewelry pouches, sexy sleep masks for travel, dog treat bags, coffee cozis, and makeup rolls.

My next business was to create a "digital division" of this design business, so that I could quit my day job. My day job was as a manager of a national nonprofit website. Very fun, and taught me everything I know about SEO (search engine optimization). I opened for business to design websites for people, help them think out the structure of their sites, and strategically guide their SEO (or implement it, which is the most fun). I've been doing that for 5 years now, and I'm finally giving it its own name: Studio Pixelated. Portfolio website is being created right now, but you get the idea. I've challenged myself to build the whole thing on a blogger blog, to see how bare bones I can go, since so many people need to do that these days.

Then, I co-created a membership organization for entrepreneurs called Collective-E, that helped entrepreneurs promote their brands using benefits we developed around PR, online presence, and business development. We're rebranding it and it's very exciting. We're making the website more organized, featuring members in different ways, and other big things.

And this blog is the newest project!! So fun to channel my love for our new home of Beacon into an outlet like this.

So you might see all of this at my table. If I have time to make any take-away sheets, but otherwise, it will be great to see you!

25% off on March 25 at echo's Spring Fling!

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Book your babysitter - echo is having a shopping party this Friday March 25th from 7-10pm. Everything is 25% off (not sure about the toy store part) to kickstart your spring wardrobes! Cocktails will be served. Fun! She has lots of good inventory in. I snagged a lose t-shirt combo, for fear it might not make it to the sale. Go check out their Facebook page!

Elisa's for Lunch on the Road

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Elisa's, on Rt. 52 and 84 was actually the catalyst for me starting this blog. I'd been meaning to do it for a few months but hadn't. When I stopped in there one snowy Sunday for milkshakes for my hubby and me, I learned about their pasta dishes - cooked to suit! Using vegetables from their organic garden that they had packed into the freezer. I was overcome with their enterprising spirit and pride for their cooking, that I started the blog right then when I got back in the car.
Confession: I have yet to try a pasta dish, but their window sign advertising "PASTA DISHES" always left me craving on when we drove by. You have to call a day ahead so that they can get the ingredients, especially if you want clams, shrimp, or other seafood. I get my pasta fix at Brothers and Eleven in Fishkill, so we'll see how this compares.
But. For now, I can tell you that in addition to milkshakes, they can make you a grilled cheese with onion rings, a burger, hot dog, and various other items (no cold cuts). You can eat at their tiny counter, outside on a picnic bench, or in your car in the parking lot. And if you're like me, you can do a little phone business while you eat and your baby naps. My business parter over at Collective-E and I were able to answer a few email questions for an interview (she typed, I chomped).