Happening This Weekend In Beacon! Dates, Shopping and Eateries for 10-28-2016
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Karen of Get Frosted Cupcakery Closes After 3 Years of Living Her Dream
/Karen Rokitowski's mom was sitting in the back of Get Frosted Cupcakery one Thursday afternoon, as she usually did, because Karen takes care of her aging mom on that day. Karen, the co-founder and owner of Get Frosted Cupcakery, was reflecting on the three years she has run Get Frosted on Beacon's Main Street. She turned to ask her mom a question: "Mom, did you ever think I was going to own a cupcakery?" Her mom simply nodded, and said: "Of course. You always wanted to do it when you were little."
The question is a fair one because prior to opening her first shop on Beacon's Main Street, Karen was a cosmetic chemist for 28 years in the corporate world, having worked for Elizabeth Arden, Avon, Chanel and Burt's Bees. She is directly responsible for the compositions of some beauty products many women use, as she holds three patents for her work: one for an Elizabeth Arden mascara, which uses her alcohol-modified wax to prevent it from drying out quickly and clumping up on lashes, and two patents for toothpaste and shampoo for Burt's Bees.
When Karen left the corporate world, she remembered how she did not know what she was going to do, and let herself be open to what "The Universe had in store" for her. She left North Carolina and returned to New York to reevaluate what she wanted. Karen has always found baking therapeutic: "It's like gardening. Like meditation." She never tires or gets bored of making each little cupcake, cake pop, or white-chocolate baguette.
One night, Karen and her sister were at a party and were analyzing the baked goods situation, and said to each other: "I think we can do better." Together, they looked around Beacon and couldn't find a cupcake to their standards. (Can anyone make a better cupcake than a chemist?) Karen credits her sister for pushing her to open Get Frosted, which they did together, and Karen bought out her sister's share a year later.
Catalyst For The Closure
When Karen opened, she told her accountant that she'd give it three years. Most of her business relied on foot traffic, which ebbed and flowed over time. Large orders for weddings and birthday parties increased, and both the foot traffic and large orders kept Karen in the black, having no debts at the three-year mark. At the beginning of October, her landlord presented her with a new lease. "They did increase my rent more than my business can absorb, especially with the price of eggs and butter rising." She adds, "The heating bill is astronomical here." As she was reflecting on the milestone third-year mark, debating whether to place her next big ingredients order, the decision became clear: "When the new lease came in, they made my decision for me."
"Did You Just Open?"
During our interview, the shop doorbell proudly rang its hopeful ring, and a customer walked in, looking for business donations for a local elementary school. While making her pitch, the fundraiser couldn't keep her eyes off the generously frosted cupcakes in the case, and took a moment to ask about the business, inquiring if Karen had just opened the store because she'd never seen it before - a common question for businesses on Main Street who rely on foot traffic. Karen calmly answered: "I've been here for three years."
Before continuing our interview, I asked Karen: "What's the key to being found on Main Street?" And we just laughed. Why is it so hard to stop into a store and find out what is in there? It's why A Little Beacon Blog has the "Come In!" series, exploring the interior of stores and sharing interviews with business owners, and illustrates why the series is so popular. Karen has two theories: "Main Street is so narrow, that people driving in their cars don't have time to stop and look around. But a lot of the complaints I get include 'I couldn't find a spot out front, so I decided not to stop.'"
Note to self: Walk everywhere. Smell the baking bread and sweets. Head into the shop.
What's Next?
Karen's already had an offer to be a baker for someone in Westchester, but isn't sure yet what direction she wants to take. "I'm going to wait and see what The Universe has in store for me." Could Karen work for someone else? "I don't know. I feel like I've done this, lived my dream. It's something I wanted to do since I was 12; I feel like I want to do something else. I just don't know what that is yet."
We wish Karen THE BEST on her next adventure, and thank her for bringing such sweetness to Beacon. Please open the door to ring that shop bell to give her a hug and buy your last cupcake.
Sponsor Disclaimer: Get Frosted Cupcakery was an advertiser in The Things To Do In Beacon Guides, so we had the pleasure of seeing her every week and getting to know her better when we came in to take photos of her cupcakes for our weekly newsletter and her photo gallery in our Restaurant Guide. This article is not part of her advertising.
The Hop Announces It Is Closed "Indefinitely" and "Until Further Notice"
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A screenshot from The Hop's home page, taken 10/24/16.
Just another Monday night, finishing up work, when the text comes in: "The Hop is closed?!" Which is a shocking text to receive, as we had just been there Friday night with family, and the leftovers are still in our fridge. Several tables had diners, the bar was full, and a private party enjoyed themselves in the next room. Sure enough, a check of their Facebook page and website confirmed the news.
The Hop isn't the only eatery in town that is going through a change: Get Frosted Cupcakery is closing on October 31st due to a rent increase, The Vault put a halt to their live music yet their delicious food is going strong and happy customers continue to post good reviews to their Facebook page, Draught is for sale for $150K (though it remains open), and The Beacon Barkery moved next door due to a rent increase. And let's not forget The Beacon Bite truck's closure this summer. In that case, they owned the lot, which subsequently went up for sale for $450,000 (and as of right now, according to Zillow, has a sale pending).
What is the case with The Hop? It was a New York Times darling (mentioned here and here), having been written about several times in many publications. It had full seating - indoors and out! - and parking to match. One couldn't really get in without reservations; in such cases, we were lucky to squeeze in at the bar for a meal. [Edit 10/26/16, post-publishing: The Hop and its building are now listed for sale in The New York Times),
[Edit 10/25/16, post-publishing]: With regard to the rent-increase issue that growing numbers of Beacon storefronts are facing, one of The Hop's partners owns the building at 554 Main Street. The building, its apartments and business have been listed for sale one day after announcing the closure.
[Edit 10/25/16, post-publishing]: Akin to "Saturday Night Live" and "The Daily Show" pipelines, talented employees who worked at The Hop years ago have spun out of The Hop and are now proprietors of their own establishments, including John-Anthony Gargiulo, who opened the Hudson Valley Brewery at 7 East Main Street, and Harrison Manning, who opened Harry's Hot Sandwiches at 449 Main Street, neither of whom have a role in the current Hop. Originally, when The Hop opened on Main Street in the location that is now Beacon Bath & Bubble, it had three owners: John Kelly, Chris Kavanagh and Matt Hutchins, and has two now: Kavanagh and Kelly. When he was a partner, Hutchins was the chef and was behind the original creative flavors that helped establish The Hop's strong culinary reputation.
According to The Hop's website, as of this publishing date of October 24, 2016: "The Hop is closed until further notice."
[Edit 10/26/16, post-publishing]: The Hop's Facebook Page has since been disabled, so links to it may not go anywhere.
Published to their Facebook page, just hours after publishing a cute promo for beer, a post used this language: "The Hop is now closed indefinitely. Thank you all for making it a success. Cheers!" It is unconfirmed whether this message went up after the message was posted on the website, so as to indicate a follow-up, with the words: "is now closed," as opposed to maybe being closed. Neither message indicates finality because of the word choices: "indefinitely" and "until further notice."
Speculation about the precise meaning of these words is happening because a closure is just so unbelievable. An anchor on the east end of town, The Hop is a helpful destination for fueling your afternoon or evening strolls to visit galleries or shops. It, along with several other restaurants on Main Street, have helped Beacon tremendously in terms of keeping people here for dinner or lunch, as opposed to traveling up or down the Hudson River to find another eatery with a great experience.
Confirmation is always required at the physical storefront. Still, the verbiage used indicates a notice to come in the future about it not being closed.
With Hudson Valley Restaurant Week just around the corner, from November 1 to 13, we'd better all explore and keep those seats warm. The Hop did seem to have a lot of people in seats at all times, but one never knows in business. There are so many factors that go into keeping a business open. If they are indeed closed with no change, then we wish them well on their new endeavors and thank all of the creators of The Hop for bringing it to Beacon for the time it was here, defining a strong atmosphere with excellent employees, and being one of the first on Main Street to food compost.
Related Article: "Beacon Restaurants Rally For Their Own To Hire Some Hop Employees"
If You See This In Time...Come By The Space To Jump Around! Drop 'N Give Me 20 is at 9:30 am Tuesday
/Before I signed the lease on the space, I literally asked Deborah, the building owner and landlord, would I have privacy in the office because sometimes I needed to do my morning exercises. She responded by offering to install blurry glass in the office door, but that didn't seem necessary once I learned that I could do my morning stretching routine behind a wall in the middle of the room.
In the winter, I don't run outside as much because my bones get too cold and stiff, so it's either off to All Sport (where I can sit in their sauna!) or do a little routine at my desk! And so I thought: "Wouldn't it be fun if others got this quick morning workout, too?" So Jane Savage, founder of Savage Health and a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and USPTA-certified tennis coach, who for many years taught cardio tennis for all ages, is going to lead us in a 30-minute workout on Tuesday from 9:30 am to 10 am. Tickets are $10 and there are only seven spots left. Get it online or at the door, and bring your sneakers! Mats will be provided for any floor work.
Come on in and jump around!
Well, That Was Awesome... Hunting for Vampires and Bonding with Kids During Parent/Child Yoga
/After we put down the mats and set up the boom box, the morning began with spooky and dramatic organ playing as we moved our arms and pointed fingers to warm up our bodies. Child fitness instructor and founder of FitKidz, Dayna Case (my sister-in-law), led a small audience of mothers and children through different yoga poses and activities to songs, like "Going on a Bear Hunt," except our version was "Going on a Vampire Hunt" with all sorts of creepy adventures as we got closer to finding the vampire. Don't worry - we escaped from him.
The first dual yoga I'd ever done was Alice Sipple/Dancing Tree Yoga's class at All Sport. It was called Family Yoga and it was awesome. Alice has since moved with her family to Egypt for a spell, so when Dayna asked me if she could run a Parent/Child Yoga class in A Little Beacon Space, I jumped on it.
Why It Was So Special
In a yoga class with pairs, you get to work with and touch your partner. You can put feet to feet and grab wrists and sway back and forth. You can look at each other eye-to-eye, and give each other a spooky face. You can stop in the moments of a busy day to just be with that other person, who in this case, is your child. No telling them to put their socks on, no telling them to stop throwing water. Just moving and swaying, curling and rolling.
When's The Next One?
I don't know! Dayna lives in Columbus, Ohio, so it could happen whenever she passes through Beacon, I suppose. Or if you lead classes like this and want to give a special pop-up experience, contact me with your idea.
Meanwhile, see what other events are popping up in this Little Beacon Space. You never know if it will be back, so best take advantage by coming when it's here!
Happening This Weekend In Beacon! Dates, Shopping and Eateries for 10-21-2016
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A Little Beacon Space Is Open!
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Hello!
Oh my gosh, y'all! I'm not even Southern, but I lived there for a bit and I know what that phrase means when spoken by someone very excited: A Little Beacon Space is open. What is A Little Beacon Space? It's the office headquarters of A Little Beacon Blog and Tin Shingle, but I couldn't just have an office and an overhead because what fun is that? It's an interactive extension of A Little Beacon Blog that can bring in the community for special events planned by us, or planned by you! This office is in the heart of Beacon's Main Street, one of the areas of Main Street that is currently defining itself, at 291 Main St. in The Telephone Building. With such a vibrant city, I wanted to be part of Main Street, one of the shop owners, feeling the pulse of the city.
Having a space like this at 291 Main Street was never on my radar as a goal. Yes, I did and do have secret Plan B-type dreams of opening an ice cream parlor, or buying a nail salon and making it awesome. Interestingly, each of my marketing plans for those Plan B dreams involved hosting special events in those spaces to help bring people in.
With a little help from many friends, team members and supporters, A Little Beacon Space is open inside of A Little Beacon Blog's Main Street headquarters. I'm so excited to share this wonderful Telephone Building with so many other people producing unique things with their unique skill sets. The excitement is contagious: Here's a picture of the folks at Home Depot, taking it upon themselves to build me a sandwich board after they heard how I wanted to construct it (meaning, my version would have flown away in the wind).
Booking A Little Beacon Space
Different people and groups can rent this space for a workshop, event, pop-up, photo shoot, and many other things I haven't mentioned here but would love to hear from you about. Many thanks to photographer Jackie Foley, who took professional pictures of different aspects of the space. She was our first customer when she booked the space for the day to conduct a portrait session.
We had the great fortune of being featured in the Highlands Current earlier when the local networking group, HV Women in Business, hosted a meetup.
Curated Pop-Up Events at A Little Beacon Space
Sometimes, we make up our own events and host them in the space. You can always find the schedule of all events here. This weekend includes two of them! Spooky Parent/Child Yoga, and Kitchen Cuts, which was included in the Calendar at the Highlands Current! P.S.: Huge congratulations to The Incline Railway for their award.
Come to parent/child yoga with us this Saturday from 9:30 am to 10:15 am. Only seven spots left!
Then stop in and say "hi" during the Kids' Hocus Pocus Parade, where we'll be giving little kids $16 haircuts and $1 face painting. Proceeds from the face painting go to the Beacon elementary schools, where we are working on a donation to the teachers for all of the art supplies they buy for our kids for day-to-day projects.
And then on Tuesday, pop in to do a quick 30-minute workout with us. Don't worry - you can come dressed for the day and get right back into your work clothes from your work-out clothes. Led by professional athlete Jane Savage of Savage Health, the idea is to get your blood flowing to inspire great ideas during your day.
Then in November, join us if you want to get your finances in order: Galia Gichon, one of my favorite people in finance who works with creative types, gives an interactive seminar on Personal Finance Planning for Creatives, Entrepreneurs & Artists. If you have some plans, no plans, or want a checkup, this seminar will make getting your house in order easier and more attainable.
Thank you so much for you support thus far. Only in Beacon could this business have been crafted this way. It's an inspiring city to grow a business in. See you soon!
Yes, The Kids' Halloween Parade Really Is This Sunday!
/The questions are flying around Facebook groups and my inbox: "Is the Kids' Parade really this Sunday?" Yes... as is maybe your school Halloween party this week, unless it's on the day of Halloween, or who knows! October turned super-busy last year, and this year has proven no different. Just take a look at how the 2015 Kids' Halloween Hocus Pocus Parade turned out!
Two parades pass through this weekend: The Dark Parade, which is a glow-in-the-dark event for adults on Saturday night, and the Kids' Hocus Pocus Parade on Sunday afternoon.
We dusted off last year's Pumpkins and Parades Guide that contains information on where to find parades, pumpkin carving events, and pumpkin patches and markets. This year, we added a "Watch For It" section to highlight special offerings from stores. Don't let the warm weather fool you - Halloween is coming, and you may need two costumes for all of the display opportunities. By the time trick-or-treating comes around, that well-planned costume may have a few worn patches. Take a look at our coverage of last year's Kids Halloween Parade to get a sense for the day.
PS: The location of this photo is Lawrence Farms, which is in this guide as a beautiful location of pumpkin picking.
For the past two years (that I know of), Dance Bag has had a $10 rack out on their sidewalk for an impressive selection of poofy dresses and other stage-worthy costumes, but they say they won't this year. If making your own costume is not an option right now, really impressive and affordable costumes have been known to be at TJ Maxx and at Cracker Barrel. By now, Cracker Barrel may have their costumes on clearance. So that's a bonus!
two Halloween Events at A Little Beacon Space!
We're about to send an official announcement about it (but all of these parade dates bumped our own article), but A Little Beacon Space is open! We're hosting two pop-up events this weekend: Parent/Child Yoga on Saturday with a Halloween theme (only seevn spots left!), and Kitchen Cuts for kids' haircuts and face painting on Sunday. Hope to see you!
Only seven spots left, so get your ticket!
Walk-ins welcome! If you book online in advance of the day, you get a discount.
Beacon's 5th Car Auto Show 2016 Rolls Into Town - Pictures of the City's Biggest Yet
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Cruising into its fourth year, the Beacon Auto Show rolled into town with 307 automobiles and trucks. Filing up both sides of Main Street from west to east, stopping at the diner, it was again put on by Beacon's Chamber of Commerce. This year, 2016, marks the largest year for the show, which so far, has only been growing. According to officials, cars were squeezed in anywhere they could fit, including several in the DMV Parking Lot. Live music and an awards show, with several trophies, were anchored at the gas station near the post office and the entrance to Beacon Flea. The day's weather was spectacular, unlike the previous year when we experienced a freak snow shower, sending people into cafes (like Homespun, pictured below) in search of hot chocolate.
Prevalent this year were the props outside and inside of the cars. Looks like we featured this car in the 2015 show! This time, it looks brighter and has plenty of accessories.
And the colors! Painter Jean Noack was overcome by the bright, glossy finishes surrounding her.
A produce truck, quite appropriate for these parts, and adorable!
The old Chevy Caprice, parked in front of the Beacon Natural Market. You could fit a lot of groceries in that vehicle.
Remember the third seat facing backwards in the Chevy Caprice? Complete with seat belts.
Fire breathers outside of the new location of Pizza and Stuff, Quinn's and BAJA 328.
Stingray... no other words needed.
The glass hood ornament in a row of Ford Mustangs. Looks like this Mustang was also featured in 2015, but this year has a flashier scene under the hood!
Halloween was a big theme this year for car decorations.
Beacon's Chamber of Commerce, selling t-shirts UNDER THEIR TENT.
The Beacon Flea was packed with different vendors, several of whom stayed past the usual closing hour of 3 pm because the crowd remained strong.
Black Rock Forest Consortium Opens ADA-Accessible Nature Trail
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Our region is famed for its breathtaking mountains and endless hiking trails, attracting nature-lovers from all over the country. The rocky terrain that draws avid hikers to the Hudson Highlands, however, can also be a barrier for people with mobility issues. To remedy that, the Black Rock Forest Consortium created a Visitor Access Pathway that is accessible to wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, and anyone else who has trouble navigating other trails.
Construction for Phase 1 of Black Rock Forest Consortium’s new Visitor Access Pathway has been completed and is ready for the public. For the past few years, the Consortium has worked to secure a total of $570,000 for this project, landing two grants from New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund for two phases of construction of the Forest's first accessible trail.
Per the grant requirements, the Consortium provides a one-to-one match of cash, staff and volunteer labor, as well as in-kind materials like native stone, putting the total project cost at well over $1 million. Phase One of the project has created a pedestrian-only trail of crushed stone, similar to a carriage road, extending from the Consortium's public parking lot on Reservoir Road for 1,500 feet through the woods to a scenic area with gorgeous views north to the Shawangunks and Catskills. This approximately quarter-mile trail will be completely accessible to those with mobility impairments. Families with strollers will also enjoy this new path.
About The Trail
The new pathway, opening on October 21, is 10 feet wide and in full compliance with ADA building standards and trail guidelines. At over a quarter-mile long, the pathway meanders through mature forests and past fern-covered cliffs, and it makes some of the region’s most rewarding views accessible to everyone.
“We are looking forward to welcoming many people to Black Rock Forest for the first time, where they will discover an intact, native ecosystem that is home to a great diversity of wildlife, including more than 160 bird species,” said the Consortium’s executive director, Bill Schuster.
In addition to the birds and rare species of flora and fauna, visitors will be able to see 50 miles up the Hudson Valley, north to the Catskill and Shawangunk mountains. “The Black Rock Forest Visitor Access Pathway will provide meaningful outdoor experiences for people in places where they have not had them before,” said Douglas Hovey, the executive director of Independent Living, Inc. “There are very few outdoor resources for people with disabilities; therefore, this addition at Black Rock Forest is significant for thousands of people living with disabilities in the Hudson Valley.”
Visitors will be able to sit along the pathway on ADA-accessible benches built from Black Rock Forest wood. A second building phase to expand the trail is planned for 2017-2018.
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony - Open to the Public
The Black Rock Forest Consortium, Independent Living, the New York State Parks Commissioner, and local government representatives are hosting an opening ceremony event on Friday, October 21, at 10 am for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and ecology stroll. RSVP to (845) 534-4517 or brfoffice@blackrockforest.org.
Parking Nearby
Parking for the Visitor Access Pathway will be at the main Black Rock Forest parking lot, which is off of Reservoir Road (off of 9W). The lot is to the right just before you reach the Black Rock Forest green metal entrance gate. This is also where the trailhead for the pathway is.
Happening This Weekend In Beacon! Dates, Shopping and Eateries for 10-14-2016
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Top Nabisco Pressman Starts Over at Age 54 To Open Salon - Mr. Bell's Story
/Alvin Bell moved to Beacon from Virginia when jobs were scarce in the South, and booming in Beacon. Twenty-seven years later, Beacon hemorrhaged jobs and Mr. Bell quickly experienced again what he had fled in the first place. Now with deeper roots in the Hudson Valley, Mr. Bell stayed and did not move to pursue healthy job markets in other areas. Instead, he created his own. And he's still here, 25 years later in a barber shop. Many of you have sat in his red leather swivel hair chair, but some of you may not yet have walked in for a cut, or even peeked your head in to look inside of Main Street Beauty Salon. Well you can here, and after our interview with Mr. Bell for this edition of our "Come In!" series, Mr. Bell extends his walk-in invitation to you. Even if it's to play checkers with him. But watch out, he's the "Checker Champ!"
Barbershop owner Alvin Bell moved to Beacon from Virginia decades ago "when jobs were scarce in the South," according to the Beacon Historical Society's "Heroes of Main Street" book of profiles of longtime business owners in Beacon. At the time, Beacon was flourishing as a factory town. When Mr. Bell moved here, he took a job of pressman at the Nabisco Company right away, working in the building that is now Dia: Beacon. Rising up to become Top Pressman, Mr. Bell was "responsible for everything that came off the press," he says, which meant that he spent a lot of time under the large ceilings and north-facing skylights to inspect the color and design of everything printed.
That is, until Beacon went through a change of a different kind, and the factories began to empty out, including Nabisco. After 27 years, his position was downsized. Mr. Bell was left without a job at age 54, too young to start drawing from Social Security. That's when the lightening bolt of entrepreneurship hit him, and his life changed forever. Mr. Bell, a spiritual man, credits Proverbs 3:5-6 for his guidance: "He will direct your path." (Note: This is Mr. Bell's quote of the wording.)
"Out of nowhere, God gave me a vision," he recalls. Mr. Bell's wife, Shirley Bell, was "doing hair" as he calls it, and Mr. Bell always had dreams of opening a salon. He got a license, and moved forward even through his family "looked at me like I was a little crazy." However, his wife Shirley was excited, and he opened the shop as Main Street Unisex Salon, which he changed to Barber and Unisex Shop years later just to stir things up. It is currently called Main Street Beauty Salon.
At first, mothers brought in their kids, and their client base built up. The Bells dove into community work by giving away clothes and food. A spiritual man, Mr. Bell says "The spirits showed me how to run the business." Call it intuition or a good business sense, the path that Mr. Bell followed was clear for him from days after he got laid off, continuing today, and hopefully for many tomorrows.
When asked what he credits his success to, Mr. Bell looked straight ahead and out his storefront window, past the barber chairs and magazines and to Main Street and replied: "Be loyal to your customers. And be polite."
Though not a boastful man, Mr. Bell has kept his years of press coverage and special involvements in a cardboard box in the back of the shop, or has hung pictures on the wall. Insider info for you: There is one bit of printed press on the wall that identifies Mr. Bell as "Albert Bell." Believe us when we tell you his name is Alvin. But it's framed, and he blows it off with the brush of his hand, appreciating the acknowledgment.
A singer and performer in his heart, Mr. Bell relives the days of performing numerous times with Pete Seeger and other band members. Mr. Bell held a solo performance at the Howland Cultural Center in 2009, performing 10 songs by himself, a memory he is quite proud of and can re-live for probably the whole day with you if you stayed to get a perm.
A blue banner hangs above the barber shop on Main Street next to BJ's, congratulating Mr. Bell for 25 years in business. When the banner went up, his building's landlord, Janelle Piccone Styles, wrote into A Little Beacon Blog to make sure we knew about him, as she was responsible for making and hanging the sign. When asked what she thought was the reason for his success, she replied: "I would say Mr. Bell's attitude! He is always smiling, always has a kind word. It's contagious."
As for Mr. Bell's parting words and advice for staying in business: "Show love."
Sit if you dare, in Mr. Mac's chair at this checker board, and take on the Checker Champ, Mr. Bell. Tell us when you do - we'd love to watch and learn from both sides!
American Center for Folk Music Celebrates Opening at Red Barn at Long Dock Park With Free Concert October 16, 2016
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The Hudson Valley music community will celebrate the opening of the American Center for Folk Music (ACFM) with a concert on Sunday, Oct. 16, at 4 p.m., at Long Dock Park on Beacon’s waterfront. The performance will feature folk legends John McCutcheon and Tom Chapin and W.C. Handy Award winner Joe Louis Walker.
Admission is free, but donations are suggested to benefit the ACFM, whose headquarters are located in Scenic Hudson’s River House, the restored red “barn” building in Long Dock Park.
The riverfront City of Beacon has long been a cornerstone of American folk music. Now that relationship is being formally cemented with the ACFM, established one year ago to honor folk legends and to sustain the folk music process as a vibrant part of American culture.
In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held at the Towne Crier Cafe, 379 Main St., Beacon.
The ACFM benefit concert has been coordinated with the Beacon Sloop Club’s annual Pumpkin Festival, which will be held the same day at nearby Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park, just north of the Long Dock concert site. Both events are within walking distance of the Metro-North railroad station. Arrive early to purchase pumpkins and pumpkin pies from the Sloop Club, and enjoy Festival activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The ACFM is part of BeaconArts, a collaborative of cultural organizations working together to support Beacon’s creative community. Use of Scenic Hudson's River Center is provided by Scenic Hudson, the leading environmental organization focused on the Hudson River Valley.
About the Performing artists
John McCutcheon: Pete Seeger said, “John McCutcheon is not only one of the best musicians in the USA, but also a great singer, songwriter and song leader.” No less a figure than Johnny Cash simply called him “the most impressive instrumentalist I’ve ever heard.” McCutcheon’s 30-plus recordings have garnered every imaginable honor, including five Grammy nominations. He is considered the most influential hammered dulcimer player in the country.
Tom Chapin: In a career that spans five decades, 24 albums and three Grammy awards, multitalented singer/songwriter/guitarist Tom Chapin, a Hudson Valley resident, has covered an incredible amount of creative ground. In addition to his work as a recording artist and concert performer, Chapin has acted on Broadway and worked extensively in films, television and radio.
Joe Louis Walker: Multiple Grammy and W.C. Handy Award winner Joe Louis Walker is one of the most heralded blues artists of our time. Walker has recorded with B.B. King, James Cotton, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Branford Marsalis and Ike Turner. Walker has become an international ambassador for the blues overseas, having played at countless festivals throughout Europe, South America, Australia, the Middle East and Asia. Walker is already being referred to within the blues world as a living legend. However, as Walker himself would say, “The best is yet to come!”
22nd Annual October Coat Drive Collecting Gently Used Coats Through Oct. 31
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Jordan Garrand and Bryn Morgan organizing some of last year's donations
With the fall chill in the air, many people are pulling out warm coats for the season and perhaps even buying new ones. Others in the community, however, don't have the resources to keep their families warm this winter, and they need help from friends, neighbors, and community members.
The Dutchess Outreach Susan DeKeukelaere Annual Coat Drive, sponsored by Guardian Self Storage, has been collecting and distributing thousands of gently used coats to people in need for the past two decades, and the need is ever-growing. Last year, the drive collected over 8,000 coats and still had to turn people away!
This year, make a huge difference in someone's life simply by donating an extra coat. Did your child outgrow last year's parka? Donate it! How about that ski jacket you don't need anymore? You'll appreciate the extra space in your closet, and you'll keep someone warm all winter. All clean coats in good condition are welcome, though the need is greatest for adult plus sizes and children's coats.
The drive is going on through October 31, and there several convenient collection places. The closest Guardian Self Storage to Beacon is located at 1078 Route 9 in Fishkill. You can also drop off donations at All Sport Health and Fitness, located at 17 Old Main St. in Fishkill, and at several local schools. For more information, contact Judy Motter at jmotter@guardianselfstorage.com.
Click HERE to view our Coat Drive Directory.
Happening This Weekend: Dates, Shopping and Eateries for 10/7/16
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The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.