Mixing A Face Mask At SallyeAnder - And Finding New Safe(r) Skin Routines

We went to SallyeAnder Thursday night to discover their new face mask line, and make our own as an activity. The face mask, just like everything else SallyeAnder creates, is made of all good or plant-based ingredients - we could have eaten the version we made, which included banana and olive oil!

Though you would not want to eat the face mask in the box that you would purchase - you would just be normal and apply it to your face two to three times per week to pull out the toxins and dirt, and leave your face feeling fresh. This combo was put together for this show ‘n’ tell event only, to illustrate how natural the ingredients are, and how simple the mask is at its core.

The one we mixed (and by “we,” I mean my daughter, who was in charge of our batch) had smushed banana, but we could have gone with straight-up avocado, or pumpkin.

While in the shop, I checked off my to-do list of converting to a super-natural, minimal-chemical life for deodorant (with cancer scares around me, I’m looking at things I can easily change). SallyeAnder has a Deodorant Stone, where its salt minerals kill bacteria that cause the odor. I also am trying their face balm, Krudd Balm, to replace my morning Oil of Olay moisturizer - I need to trust the ingredients!

SallyeAnder was started by Sallie’s dad, who was a pastry chef. Her brother had eczema, and to soothe his skin, Sallie’s dad devoted himself to making soap, and the brand was born. While Sallie was in law school, the family business began to struggle. “The business was like another sibling to us. We couldn’t just let it go.” So Sallie exited out of law school in order to run the family business. “Back when my dad started in the ‘80s, people were putting anything on. Natural ingredients were a hard sell. Today is much different. People want to know what they are putting on their skin.”

Sallie has been heading up the business ever since. Three children of her own later, she says that she is so glad that Beacon is their home for the business. Having a nationwide soap brand with their flagship store right here on the east end of Beacon - who also manufactures on the west end of town - is pretty handy. And by handy I mean AWESOME.

12 Hours Left! Parent and Community Input Wanted From Beacon City School District

The Beacon City School District has produced very fine students over several generations, and the district itself has seen the best of times and the worst of times. Its current administration has been hard at work to create a connection with the community, in order to easily get information to them, as well as get information from them.

With the start of the new year, Beacon Superintendent Matthew Landahl invited the Beacon education community (parents via the school newsletter, and readers of his school blog) to participate in a “thought exchange” about how to improve the school experience for the Beacon graduate.

Dr. Landahl wrote: “In November 2017, the Beacon Board of Education endorsed and launched a long-range planning process for the district that will result in a focused and aligned community vision of student success beyond school. Having engaged the community in the identification of the most critical attributes of success for a Beacon graduate, the district now seeks to improve the district’s ability to ensure that every child develops those same qualities.”

This is your chance to contribute any thoughts you’ve had over the course of ever: about what you wish the Beacon City School District provided, or about what you are thankful that they currently provide, and you want to voice your opinion that it should stay.

The ThoughtExchange survey takes 5 to 10 minutes and is very easy. You can put in a number of thoughts. There are word count limitations, so it keeps you brief. You can remain anonymous, and others can read the thoughts, and even rate them. You can skip the rating part if you wish, and just read others to expand your vision. Or you can just drop your thoughts and go!

You can start the survey here. You do not need to be a parent in the district, and can simply be a person living here. The district, teachers and administrators have been very open to suggestions, so use this opportunity to voice your ideas.

Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum to Offer 2nd “Free Pizza and Play Night” for Families of Federal Workers Affected by Government Shutdown

The first free Pizza and Play Night from The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum was appreciated by many. The museum has decided to host a second one. Local families of federal employees affected by the current government shutdown are invited to a second night of free pizza and play on Wednesday, January 16, from 5 to 8 pm. The first event, held on Thursday, January 10, was well-received. "Attendees at our event last week were very happy to see fellow employees, and meet others who are in the same situation,” said Lara Litchfield-Kimber, executive director of the museum. "We had some older children attend also. We had some STEM activities set up for them to do. Everyone had fun."

Those who participated in the museum’s first free night for federal employees are encouraged to attend again. New families are also welcome for a night of food and fellowship. A buffet dinner will be provided, including pizza generously donated by Chef Joel Trocino of Amici’s Restaurant, 35 Main St., Poughkeepsie.

Free admission to the event is for two adults (one of whom must be a federal employee) and their children living in same household. Couples, singles and seniors without children are also welcome to attend this event and join in for dinner, conversation and play. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. Tickets may be reserved online at http://bit.ly/MHCMFederalFreeNight or by calling the museum during business hours at (845) 471-0589.

The museum is located in the heart of the historic waterfront in Poughkeepsie, nestled between two city parks, just steps away from the Poughkeepsie Metro-North train station and fabulous restaurants.

40th Anniversary Celebration for Howland Cultural Center in May: Tickets & Sponsorship Opportunities

The Howland Cultural Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and you are invited to attend and participate. Ticket reservations and sponsorships are available now. The celebration is in honor of Florence Northcutt and the Howland Public Library for their many contributions to the cultural and social life of Beacon. The celebration will take place at the Roundhouse, 2 East Main St., Beacon, N.Y., on Wednesday, May 15, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Please call (845) 831-4988 or email information@howlandculturalcenter.org to learn about major sponsorship benefits.
Learn More >

The Howland Chamber Music Circle - The Musical Jewel Accessible To So Many In Beacon

Some cities have symphony halls. Beacon has a group of professional musicians who started meeting in someone’s living room, who now play regularly in the Howland Cultural Center on Main Street in Beacon, N.Y. The group is called the Howland Chamber Music Circle, and you have most likely attended one of their performances or kids instrument “petting zoos.”

“This is a great place to perform. It’s like being inside an instrument itself.”

— A Howland Chamber Music Circle Performer

For several Beaconites, listening to this amazing grade of music is an every Sunday afternoon kind of thing. We may not realize just what we have at our fingertips at the Howland Cultural Center, whose unique architecture has special acoustic advantages in which world renowned musicians come together to play. So we asked the Howland Chamber Music Circle to recall their history for our readers, so that we may better understand this group who is now popping up to perform in other locations throughout Beacon and the Hudson Valley. A board member of the Howland Chamber Music Circle, James Lichtenberg, researched and wrote this article for you:

The ‘Chamber’ of the Howland Chamber Music Circle Was A Living Room in the 1980’s

Gwen and Bill Stevens, Howland Chamber Music Circle (HCMC) co-founders.
Photo Credit: Howland Chamber Music Circle

The Howland Chamber Music Circle (HCMC), founded in Beacon, N.Y. in 1993, in the verdant valley of the Hudson River, began in the 1980s, appropriately enough, in a chamber… the living room of HCMC founders Gwen and Bill Stevens (sadly, they both passed away in 2018). Gwen was an accomplished musician, teaching piano at Vassar. Friends and neighbors would arrive to enjoy spontaneous performances by other artists whom Gwen invited to play on their two gorgeous Steinway grand pianos.

One of the more frequent attendees, Polly Gage, suggested to Gwen that they also promote house concerts for gifted young musicians. With the assistance of a friend and fellow pianist, Ed Loizides, and after contacting their respective alma maters, Yale and the Manhattan School of Music, they began the process of finding young talent, expertly aided by Robert Besen, then of the Concert Artists Guild. Besen was taken by Gwen’s enthusiasm and made it possible for her and an enthusiastic cadre of volunteers to learn the ropes of bringing exciting programs to a growing audience.

Howland Chamber Music Circle Outgrows The Living Room

Photo Credit: Howland Chamber Music Circle

As the number of attendees swelled, home venues grew inadequate. Gwen began to think about a venue somewhere in Southern Dutchess County to accommodate wider audiences. Among the considerations was a music barge in the Hudson River itself.

Then, in 1992, Gwen and Bill attended an exhibit of historic photos at the Howland Cultural Center, located at the far east end of Beacon’s Main Street. The Center’s building, a gothic jewel designed by Richard Morris Hunt, features walls of richly-carved wood beneath an open vaulted ceiling, and a space capable of seating 120 people. Not surprisingly, the two HCMC founders were struck by the potential of that space for chamber music.

First HCMC Concerts Start In Howland Cultural Center In 1993

Photo Credit: Howland Chamber Music Circle

The Howland Cultural Center agreed to produce a series of concerts under their auspices. The premier three-concert season in 1993-1994 featured the Meridian Brass Ensemble, the St. Lawrence String Quartet and a string duo of Ayako Yoshida and Semyon Fridman. As Besen remembers, “[If] a walk around the Howland Center (quite different from today) was…more than a little scary, the concert was well-attended. The venue was…magnificent…. Over the years I’ve booked 39 performances.”

“You can walk out of your house and hear world-class artists just a few blocks away.”

— One Beaconite

With the increasing abilities of the Stevens and their associates to secure talent, the growing annual programs became a staple of the Hudson Valley music calendar, with the unique venue a draw in its own right for both listeners and artists, who were only too happy to return to play in subsequent seasons. As one performer put it, “This is a great place to perform. It’s like being inside an instrument itself.” The sell-out audiences, standing and clapping for encores add, no doubt, to their pleasure. One Beaconite, also a musician, exclaimed, “You can walk out of your house and hear world-class artists just a few blocks away.”

Photo Credit: Howland Chamber Music Circle

With continuing success in the early years, it became evident that the “Circle” should be more formally established to ensure its future. In April 1999, it was incorporated as a not-for-profit membership corporation, independent of the Howland Center.

Twenty-five years later, its annual offerings have grown to include a 12-concert season, featuring four pianists and eight chamber music groups -- with Sunday afternoon performances (in the 2018/19 season) including the Juilliard and Brentano String Quartets, and pianists Jeremy Denk and Simone Dinnerstein. Along with its dozen formal concerts, the Circle also hosts a number of pop-up concerts in other Beacon venues, a Classics for Kids series, co-sponsored by the HCC, as well as music residencies in local high schools. To celebrate its founders on the group’s 25th anniversary, HCMC commissioned a beautiful string quartet by local composer Debra Kaye, performed in the spring of 2018 by the Voxare String Quartet.

The 2018/19 season also reflects the continuing aspirations of HCMC to take new paths and broaden its appeal, including this season’s “concertante” approach, adding soloists to the quartets, like the oboist James Austin Smith, who performed with the Telegraph Quartet, harpist Bridget Kibbey, who will join the Daedalus Quartet, as well as rising violinist Alexi Kenny, partnered with pianist Renana Gutman. In addition, there will be a break-out “living-room” performance by the So Percussion group, whom The New York Times called “exceptionally inventive with instruments galore!”

Established and applauded as it may now be, the Howland Chamber Music Circle is not content to rest on its laurels. Rather, it is dedicated to continuing the inspiration of its founders in finding ever new ways to bring broad and engaging programs of music to its supportive community in Beacon and beyond. The hills of the Hudson Valley are indeed alive with the sound of music.

Learn about and buy tickets to upcoming concerts, and learn about how to support the Howland Chamber Music Circle with donations.

Second Saturday! Beacon Gallery Openings for January 2019

Some of the Art Gallery Openings in Beacon, NY, for January 2019. Clockwise from top right: Beacon Fine Art Gallery at the Inn and Spa at Beacon; Monochrome photography show at the Howland Cultural Center; Amanda E. Gross at Catalyst Gallery; imPerfect Poetics of Place group show at Hudson Beach Glass; and Walter DE Maria’s 360° I Ching/64 Sculptures at Dia.

It’s the Second Saturday of the month, but it’s also the first Second Saturday of the year! Celebrate the calendar’s turn, maybe consider making an art-related resolution (or a revolution, maybe): Visit one new gallery every Second Saturday, or talk with one artist, or pick up just a card. For any and all art around town, we've got it covered in Beacon's most comprehensive Art Gallery Guide.

The Inn and Spa at Beacon gets a fresh look in its Beacon Fine Art Gallery, with a variety of artists showing new work. At the Howland Cultural Center, a show opens to celebrate monochrome - practice finding a new perspective on dreary gray winter days, hopefully?. Or you could whiplash yourself in the other direction, with supersaturated, vibrant works from Amanda E. Gross at Catalyst Gallery. Stop by Hudson Beach Glass’ upstairs gallery to re-connect with TheoGanz Studio owner Eleni Smolen, who curated The imPerfect Poetics of Place. At Dia, this weekend holds your last chance to see Walter De Maria’s vast 360° I Ching/64 Sculptures, and your first chance to see the reopening of the Dorothea Rockburne galleries. Clutter, RiverWinds, No.3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works, and bau have new openings, while Mother Gallery, BIRE, and Oak Vino are showcasing current shows just a bit longer. Check the Guide for details!

Happening This Weekend - 1/11/2019

Happy Sunshine!! TGIF, and we highly encourage you to have a dance party with yourself in your office or at home. Celebrate the weekend. It's the first Second Saturday of 2019, and the art galleries in Beacon have really good exhibitions to show you. In these cold winter months, do you know where it is the coziest? In an Beacon art gallery on an opening day/night, and the days after. Take yourself on a walking tour of Beacon's art galleries anytime with the help of A Little Beacon Blog's Guide. Second Saturday Art Gallery Sneak Preview Those who loved Theo Ganz Studio (it has since closed its storefront, replaced by the boutique Lauren + Riley) have a chance to see the curator's efforts, Eleni Smolen, at Hudson Beach Glass with The imPerfect Poetics of Place, in which a dozen artists explore diverse landscapes, from big sky to big city, via hologram, photographs, paint, sculpture and drawing. Participating artists include Joseph Ayers, Samantha Beste, Cathy Cook, Jill Enfield, Elana Goren, Kevin Kearns, Meelia Kelly, Flynn Larsen, Herman Roggeman, Ooloosie Saila, Emma Tapley, as well as “anonymous creatures.” More Sneak Peek Photos: VIEW SECOND SATURDAY GUIDE PS: We now have a new Sponsorship Package for the Art Gallery Guide, for galleries and those who want to support them. Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance.   Book Signing: Manos Sucias/Dirty Hands Day: Saturday, January 12, 2019 Time: 3 to 8 pm Location: No.3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works, 469 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Wing Wars 2019 East Day: Saturday, January 12 2019 Time: 5 to 9 pm Location: Ramada Inn, 542 U.S. 9, Fishkill, NY Information > Movies That Matter Beacon presents: Survivors Guide to Prison Day: Saturday, January 12, 2019 Time: 7 to 10 pm (7:30 pm film) Location: First Presbyterian Church of Beacon, McKinley Hall, 50 Liberty St., Beacon, NY Information > The Artichoke - Live Storytelling Comes To Beacon! Day: Saturday, January 12, 2019 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Howland Chamber Music Circle Presents Natasha Paremski Day: Sunday, January 13, 2019 Time: 4 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.   La Mère Clothing + Goods Pop-Up Shop Day: Saturday, January 12, 2019 Time: 11 am to 3 pm Location: The Blushery, 528 Main St., Beacon, NY         BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company) In your hand, this line of minimalist Japanese luxury eyewear is extremely light and precious - as precious as the metal used in the frames' design. 10 eyevan is the name of this collection (see all of the frames here) and they use solid Japanese titanium, plated with heavy metal gold and silver. Solid sterling silver is on the temple to balance the frame, and the nose pads are made from mother of pearl. Ultimate luxury. Go in to Luxe Optique to hold a pair yourself to see what we mean.     BOUTIQUES IN THE MIDDLE   L a M è r e Clothing + Goods 436 Main Street The first of several pop-up shops from L a M è r e starts this weekend! L a M è r e has partnered with The Blushery - the makeup and beauty lounge located down a few blocks on Main Street - to bring you a shopping experience at The Blushery (528 Main Street) from 11 am to 3 pm. Exclusive merchandise will be available, including shoes, purses, coats, and more. L a M è r e's regular shop will be open as usual, should you want more from the store. Sip, Shop and Beautify with these girls! BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the historic dummy light) Wedding Planning - or, dare we say Vow Renewals Planning - just went to a whole new level in Beacon at Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique. Go in and experience this boutique located in the renovated factory building at 1 East Main. Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! L a M è r e Clothing + Goods, Luxe Optique and Lambs Hill. Thank you to Barb's Butchery and BAJA 328 for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!   Visit A Little Beacon Blog's Restaurant Guide for all of the restaurants in Beacon, and see our Brunch Guide for your morning dining needs!       BPAC: Improv Comedy! Days: Starting Friday, January 11, 2019 Time: 7 to 9 pm Location: Beacon Performing Arts Center, 327B Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Yoga for Health, Healing, and Happiness in the New Year! Day: Saturday, January 12, 2019 Time: 12 pm to 1 pm (Satsang/Lecture); 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm (workshop) Location: Beacon of Light Wellness Center, 4 S. Chestnut St., Beacon, NY Information > Malas & Mantras Day: Sunday, January 13, 2019 Time: 1 to 3 pm Location: BeBhakti Yoga, 89 Dewindt St., Beacon, NY Information > Submission Guidelines for classes you'd like us to consider adding to these guides can be found here. For a full list of upcoming classes, classes during the week, and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.   Beginning This Week! Mythical Creatures in Clay Ages: 6 to 11 Days: Tuesdays starting January 15, 2019 Time: 4 to 5:30 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >   Fabulous Fibers Ages: 6 to 11 Days: Thursdays starting January 17, 2019 Time: 4 to 5:30 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide.    Submission Guidelines for classes you'd like us to consider adding to these guides can be found here. Time to freshen up your hair style - or beard! Find a salon in Beacon at A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide. REAL ESTATE LISTINGS 11 Creek Drive, Beacon, NY “Gorgeous and luxurious penthouse loft in recently converted brick factory building on the Fishkill Creek. Amenities include tasteful high-end lighting and custom closets throughout, washer/dryer, wine refrigerator, smart technology for lights and sound (Sonos-compatible), remote-controlled window blinds, high cathedral ceilings, elevator, and off-street parking.” Bonus points: Exposed brick and wall of windows facing Mount Beacon and Fishkill Creek. Bedrooms: 2  Bathrooms: 2  Price: $1,100,000 Real Estate Agent: Gatehouse Realty (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures > VIEW THIS LISTING VIEW ALL LISTINGS PARTNER SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS     The next Defensive Driving course presented by Susan Pagones from Antalek & Moore will be on Saturday, January 26. The cost is $35 and lunch will be included. Reserve your spot! Katie James, Inc. New Website Launch: Katie James, Inc. is proud to present the newest website design for the Telephone Building in Beacon, NY. You've seen the building from the outside, now go inside all of the rooms and see the renovation it underwent at the helm of its owner, Deborah Bigelow. See The Website > BeaconArts : Open Studios Sponsorship opportunities are available now for Beacon's Open Studios, one of the Hudson Valley's most anticipated interactive art experiences of the year. How to Sponsor >         A Little Beacon Space A Little Beacon Blog's Space is available for private rentals for your meetings, workshops, client parties, or pop-ups. Located in the heart of Beacon at 291 Main Street (inside of the Telephone Building), meeting here is easy, cozy, and inspiring. $55/hour Available to up to 4 people renting the space for 2-4 hours only. $225/Half-Day Available to a group of up to 25 people for up to 5 hours. $385/Full Day Available to a group of up to 25 people for up to 10 hours. $750 Pop-Up Shop Package Available for up to 5 vendors in one day or weekend. Book Your Retreat With A Little Beacon Space >. Tin Shingle Did you know that several of your favorite magazines have stopped printing monthly issues? It's true. Glamour Magazine, Seventeen, Redbook, and a few others are being jostled around. Tin Shingle tracks this news for those who want to get publicity in the media. Get The Latest > If you have kids, you may enjoy the monthly column, "Kid Friendly" from A Little Beacon Blog's publisher, Katie, in this week's edition of the Highlands Current. Pick up your copy today! Beacon Chamber of Commerce Joining Beacon's Chamber of Commerce shows your support for the business community. Learn More > MASTHEAD Producers of this newsletter include: Katie Hellmuth Martin, Publisher, Writer, Designer, Photographer Marilyn Perez, Managing Editor Catherine Sweet, Editor of the Second Saturday Guide Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get produced. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community in a meaningful way. Learn More > NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Until next week!

Cozy Night Walking - Book Clubbing at Binnacle Books

Night walking for fresh air! Binnacle Books looks so cozy at night. In honor of the latest Writerly Happenings article on the blog from Phoebe Zinman, happy book clubbing tonight!

Writerly Happenings: Live Storytelling, Book Releases & New Writing Opportunities!

Hi Hi Hi! It’s Phoebe here. It’s been so long, I know, did you miss me? We wanted to wait til after the holidays to round up the best of the local literary scene and now we have eaten all the brie and there are so many good writerly happenings afoot to attend! We will do them all! We are leaning in to 2019! Actually, we are so tired, we are mostly falling over, but the love of the written word sustains us, does it not? (Love of the written word, and brie - life sustainers.)

But first we need to discuss what to read right now. This is the transitional part, like when Mr. Rogers changes his shoes and cardigan. (Why, oh why, won’t he ever pick the red one?) 

So… I’m currently reading “The Mastery of Love” by Don Miguel Ruiz, which is threatening to turn me into the woman with too many rings on who can’t shut up about the amazingly transformational book she is reading. Also I just ate up the delicious entirety of the new memoir “She Wants It” by Jill Soloway, the creator of “Transparent,” and I highly recommend. Still working on “Warlight” by Michael Ondaatje.

I also asked around for recs. Kristen Holt-Browning, writer and editor and co-producer of Get Lit, just finished reading “Northwood” by Maryse Meijer, a sort of novella-in-poems. She says it's a dark, twisty, fairytale-ish story of desire and obsession and also a physically gorgeous object, with white text printed on black pages. Sounds fierce.

Extremely well-published and well-coifed writer Lily Burana is reading “Thick” by Kiese Laymon, and “How to Write an Autobiographical Novel” by Alexander Chee. She’s happily frolicking in the bumper crop of essay collections that have been published in the past few years.

Ok. I’m ready now. Let’s lean/fall/dive/plunge/bellyflop on in.

January 2019 Writerly Happenings 

This Weekend!

The Artichoke at the Howland. Saturday, January 12, 7:30 pm, is sold out online, but not sure if there will be additional tickets at the door. Mentioning here anyway because it is just so cool that this is coming to Beacon. It’s an evening of live storytelling by The Artichoke, hosted by Drew Prochaska and featuring Sandi Marx (seven-time Grand Slam Winner, The Moth), Jeff Simmermon (Grand Slam Winner, The Moth; This American Life), Drew Prochaska (Risk!; Story Collider), Richard Cardillo (Risk!; Stories from the Stage, Susan Kent (The Moth), Micaela Blei (Grand Slam Winner, The Moth), Vanessa Golenia (Risk!) and John Blesso. Can’t get in? Well there’s another chance to do something similar on Sunday the 20th, but you must read on.

Also on Second Saturday is a book release event for Traffic Street Press’ "Trafficking in Poetry" series. The book "Manos Sucias/Dirty Hands" is a collaboration between Paulette Myers-Rich, the visual artist Greg Slick and poet Seán Monagle. A limited number of copies are available for purchase at the book signing at No.3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works on Main Street from 3 to 8 pm. 

Get Lit is happening this Sunday, January 13, from 5 to 8 pm at Oak Vino. The featured speakers will be authors Jessie Chaffee and Brendan Kiely, and as always, anyone who wants to read is invited to sign up to do so at the beginning of the event - bring two or three pages of original writing to share. But also if you are new to writing, or sharing your writing, you answer the monthly prompt about what your New Year’s resolutions are, and then sign up for a one-minute slot. Literally, it’s just a hot minute.

Also In January!

On Sunday, January 20 at Dogwood at 5 pm, John Blesso will be hosting the first installment of “Adult Stories,” a new and developing monthly storytelling series that intends to be like The Moth, but edgier. He’s looking for people willing to share “funny stories, harrowing stories, sex stories, emotionally charged stories, and inebriation/bad-choice stories.” If you’re interested please send him pitches for stories between six and ten minutes long! He’s working with Donna Minkowitz and Drew Prochaska on this, if you miss The Artichoke, or just want more storytelling. All the stories!

What’s that about local memoir writer Donna Minkowitz? Funky Spunky Literature Night (Redux) is a game-show-like Community Memoir Write-a-Thon with prizes for the best sentences and scenes that audience members write about their own lives. She will be joined by professional storyteller Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi at Quinn’s on Wednesday, January 30, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. She’s also got an 8-Week Memoir-Writing Workshop coming up, focused on craft, particularly on using the five senses, lyricism, emotion, storytelling, and critical insight to create profound and relatable works of memoir. Wednesday nights from February 6 through March 27, 7 to 9 pm. To apply, please email minkowitz46@gmail.com with a one-page writing sample.

Poet and teacher extraordinaire Ruth Danon (to whom I’m a bit partial, not going to even pretend otherwise) is going to start writing improvisation classes the week of January 29. Currently she’s planning on Tuesdays, from 9:30 am to 12 pm and 7 to 9:30 pm, but the time can be flexible based on everyone’s schedules… The fee is $275 for eight weeks and includes a private conference (at least one) and a public reading. Contact ruthdanonpoetry@gmail.com for more information.

Beacon’s magnificent Binnacle Books is featuring “The Great Believers” by Rebecca Makkai for its next book club. I loved that book. So, so much sobbing. This month the book club will meet at the bookstore, but often is at Dennings Point Distillery.

And just downstream (or not, as our majestic and tidal Hudson River flows both ways) in Cold Spring, Split Rock books has a million events, or at least five, to get you through January and smarter on the other end.

The divine “Out Stealing Horses” by Per Petterson was the January book club choice at the Beacon Library, and we were sad to miss it, but the pick for February is “The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper” by Phaedra Patrick and it sounds charming. The Butterfield Library in Cold Spring has a writing workshop with Susan Wallach in January and almost always a box of free books to rummage.

As always, we want to big up independent bookstores that may be a bit farther afield:

Rough Draft in Kingston has happy hours, sip and writes and plenty of other happenings; the Golden Notebook in Woodstock has a terrific event lineup, as usual; and we are wanting to go check out Oblong Books which has somehow escaped our research until now. We’ll report back next month.

Now dear reader, go put on a cardigan and some fresh slippers and get to it. Write! Read! Make it happen!

So Spooky In Beacon Today!

Spooky Beacon! School was put on a two-hour delay today, which I have come to make peace with, and I’ve learned to never schedule meetings until after 11 am because you just never know what will happen in a Hudson Valley winter.

Photo Credit: David Martin. He’s also my husband, and wanted to freak himself out on Mount Beacon after seeing the sometimes-spooky Bird Box (a movie I think he wished he hadn’t seen). I won’t be watching. Onward!

Barb's Butchery - More Than Cuts Of Meat! (Sponsored)

A Little Beacon Blog is excited to welcome back Barb’s Butchery as a Restaurant Guide Sponsor! We met Barb when she opened Beacon’s first butcher shop in December 2014 and has since become a staple in the city. The shop butchers grass-finished beef, lamb, pork and poultry, all raised in the Hudson Valley.

Barb’s Butchery, located at 69 Spring St in Beacon, is open daily from 11 am to 6 pm. The grill is on during those hours so walk-ins are welcome for enjoying a tasty meal in-shop such as burgers, sandwiches (including brisket, and corned beef), tacos and so much more. You can see Barb’s full eat-in menu here. If you plan to visit, you can call in your order for faster service.

Not only can you get your stock of fresh, local, grass-fed meats, you can order fun treats for your party such as Meatballs topped with Mashed Potatoes , a Meat Party Cake, and Meaty Muffins…. yes, you just read all of that correctly. This is a meat-lovers dream!

Check out her monthly specials! Their front door is a stop on the Beacon Free Loop Bus route, so there’s no excuse to not pay a visit.

Barb’s Butchery
69 Spring Street
Beacon, NY 12508
(845) 831-8050

Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum Offers “Free Pizza & Play Night” for Families of Federal Workers Affected by Government Shutdown

The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum invites local singles, couples and seniors without children, and families of federal employees affected by the current government shutdown to a free night of pizza and play on Thursday, January 10, from 5 pm to 8 pm.

Free admission to the event is for two adults (one of whom must be a federal employee) and their children living in the same household. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. Tickets may be reserved online at http://bit.ly/MHCMFederalemployeefreenight or by calling the museum during business hours at (845) 471-0589. Pizza will be generously donated by Chef Joel Trocino of Amici’s Restaurant, 35 Main St., Poughkeepsie.

This event is best suited for families with young children (ages 0-7). All adults admitted must be accompanying children and attendees must show federal ID to enter. Parental supervision is required at all times. No drop-offs are permitted. Free parking is available at the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, with overflow parking at Waryas Park.

The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum is the ideal destination for families with young children. Recent awards include Hudson Valley Magazine’s “2017 Best Museum” and “2018 Best Birthday Parties,” Hudson Valley’s “2018 and 2017 Favorite Kid-Friendly Museum” and “#1 in the “2018 Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Hudson Valley” by Kids Out And About. With exhibits that focus on early literacy, art, STEM, and the local community, the museum provides an educationally rich environment through which children have the opportunity to develop foundational skills, to engage in purposeful play, and to develop interpersonal connections.

The museum is located in the heart of the historic waterfront in Poughkeepsie, nestled between two city parks, just steps away from the Poughkeepsie Metro-North train station and fabulous restaurants. The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 5 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm, and on select Monday holidays. Admission is $10 per person. Children under 1 year are free. Visit mhcm.org or call (845) 471-0589 for more information.

Reel Life Film Club Presents: "Pete Seeger: The Power of Song"

The Reel Life Film Club for tweens and teens returns to Beacon on Friday, January 11, at 6 pm. The Howland Public Library will be screening the film, Pete Seeger: The Power of Song, a documentary about the life and music of folk singer, activist, and local hero, Pete Seeger. 

Q&A with David Berns & Jeff Haynes

After the film, there will be a Q&A with Grammy Award winners David Bernz and Jeff Haynes. David worked with Pete Seeger for many years producing his CDs, including the 2010 Grammy Award-winning Tomorrow's Children with the Rivertown Kids and Friends. David is also the co-owner (with his son, Jake) of Jake’s Main Street Music. Jeff Haynes collaborated with Seeger on his last project, the spoken-word record The Storm King, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2013. David Gelber, creator of the docuseries Years of Living Dangerously, will moderate the discussion. 

What Is Reel Life Film Club?

Reel Life Film Club is an opportunity for middle-school students to view award-winning documentary films and talk about them with inspiring people. Now in its third year, the film series is a collaboration between the Beacon, Cold Spring and Garrison public libraries. A new film is shown each month, rotating among the three locations. 

All students in grades 6 and up are invited to the screening. Pizza will be served at the event and registration is encouraged to ensure there is enough pizza for everyone. To register to attend the January 11 screening of The Power of Song, email community@beaconlibrary.org.

Happening This Weekend - 1/4/2019

Welcome to the New Year! If everything is starting to feel the same and you're wondering where that New Year change is in your life, you might start with little baby steps, such as decluttering with bins and things found at Brett's Hardware, or clean(er) eating at Beacon Natural (see their freezer section - lots of easy options) or taking any kind of class found in A Little Beacon Blog's Adult Classes Guide. Adult Beginner Tap from Ballet Arts Studio was just added! Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance.   Restorative Sound Healing Day: Friday, January 4, 2019 Time: 7:30 to 9 pm Location: Firefly Yoga, 992 Main St., Fishkill, NY Information > Monochrome Photography Show - Opening Reception Day: Saturday, January 5, 2019 Time: 2:30 to 4:30 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > La Familia presents Swinging Blues Band Day: Saturday, January 5, 2019 Time: 7:30 to 11 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.       BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company) Cutie Alert! Luxe Optique has a range of affordable prices (and colors) for glasses for kids. If you're concerned about protecting eyes from the blue light coming from screens and devices, consider getting the blue-light protection added to your frames - it comes with the "transitions." You could even get it with purple tinting! Think about it.     BOUTIQUES IN THE MIDDLE     L a M è r e Clothing + Goods 436 Main Street The jewelry selection is getting good at L a M è r e - a very easy #treatyoself. Plus, April is getting more home decor goods in, and may have a box-opening reveal in her Instagram. Have you seen her recent video about "120 more days of winter"? AND, a Winter Tag Sale is going on. Time to snag some sweaters that were $88, and now are $68.   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) It's a real winter wonderland at Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique - have you seen this recent dramatic design element they are using inside of the store? Go inside and check it out. With its iconic and always-evolving look, Lambs Hill is helping to define the east end of town. Do take yourself down there, and visit the soap store and designer jewelry store next door! Plus, grab a cup of coffee at Trax. Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! L a M è r e Clothing + Goods, Luxe Optique and Lambs Hill. Thank you to Barb's Butchery and BAJA 328 for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!   Visit A Little Beacon Blog's Restaurant Guide for all of the restaurants in Beacon, and see our Brunch Guide for your morning dining needs!       Adult Beginning Tap at Ballet Arts Studio Day: Mondays Time: 7:30 to 8:30 pm Submission Guidelines for classes you'd like us to consider adding to these guides can be found here. For a full list of upcoming classes, classes during the week, and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.   Masterclass Grades: 9-12 Days: Sundays, January 6 to March 24, 2019 Time: 1:45 to 2:45 pm Location: Beacon Performing Arts Center, 327B Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide. Submission Guidelines for classes you'd like us to consider adding to these guides can be found here. Time to freshen up your hair style - or beard! Find a salon in Beacon at A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide. REAL ESTATE LISTINGS 8 Sunset Hill Road, Glenham, NY A cutie starter home or project home in Glenham - just look at the kitchen - all vintage! These pieces would be hard to part with. But check out the hallway - it's a project for sure, but what could you come up with? PRO TIP: Even if you don't see a "For Sale" sign in the yard here, know that it is currently for sale. Bonus points: Vintage look and feel. Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 1 Price: $199,900 Real Estate Agent: Gatehouse Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures > VIEW THIS LISTING VIEW ALL LISTINGS PARTNER SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS                 Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency New Year, New Website! Antalek & Moore launches a new website to make fulfilling your insurance needs even easier. Call them at (845) 831-4300 to talk Home, Life, Business, Event, Car, and other types of insurance. They make it easy, and work hard to lower your price. BeaconArts : Open Studios Beacon Open Studios are coming! One of Beacon's biggest outdoor events, announcing the arrival of spring. (Let's just skip winter, shall we?) Sponsorship Opportunities are going on now, if you want to sponsor their printed program, which gets distributed all over town and serves as a map to various artist studios. Learn More > Katie James, Inc. It's Website Design Time at Katie James, Inc.! Our latest client is our landlord, Deborah Bigelow, owner and renovator of the Telephone Building. We are working with her to bring the story of the building to more people. Because so much of web work is digital, one of our favorite parts of website designing is working directly with the client, in person, to map out their vision right on the table. More About This Moment >         A Little Beacon Space Do you need to teach a class or run a workshop? Join other companies who hold retreats in A Little Beacon Space, including edible Hudson Valley, Class Pass, Giving Data, and others. Enjoy a warm, intimate setting in the heart of Beacon. Book Your Retreat With A Little Beacon Space >. Tin Shingle Here's the trick to getting the word out about your business: You have to imagine where you want to be mentioned, and then you need to go for it. Tin Shingle trains you in just how to do that. One of our more enlightening tools: Tin Shingle's Editorial Calendars. These are the monthly themes at major magazines, like Martha Stewart Living, Entrepreneur, Inc., Money, and more. Membership gets you instant access to these themes, and a support group to be cheerleaders when you do make that leap and go for it. Details > Beacon Chamber of Commerce Looking to spotlight your new space to the community? Join the Beacon Chamber and throw a Ribbon Cutting or host a Member Meeting. Learn More > MASTHEAD Producers of this newsletter include: Katie Hellmuth Martin, Publisher, Writer, Designer, Photographer Marilyn Perez, Managing Editor Catherine Sweet, Editor of the Second Saturday Guide Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get produced. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community in a meaningful way. Learn More > NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Until next week!

Happening This Weekend - 12/28/2018

On behalf of the team at A Little Beacon Blog, we want to wish you a safe and happy New Year! Enjoy these quiet moments of the last of this year, because next year is ready for your new pursuits and directions! See you on the other side! - Katie, Marilyn, Catherine, Phoebe, and Izdihar Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. Cirque de la Lune at the Howland Days: Friday & Saturday, December 28 & 29, 2018 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > The Shannon Early Trio Day: Saturday, December 29, 2018 Time: 8:30 to 11:30 pm Location: Chill Wine Bar, 173 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Free admission to Dia:Beacon Day: Sunday, December 30, 2018 Time: 11 am to 4 pm Location: Dia:Beacon, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY Information > Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide. Holiday Artisan Market Days: All of December 2018 Time: See hours in Pop-Up Guide Location: The Lofts at Beacon, 18 Front St., Beacon, NY Check out the Pop-Up Guide for more upcoming pop-up events. BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company) Luxe Optique has stepped into bling for the New Year! Treading delicately, these frames are handmade in Paris, and are adorned in Swarovski crystals. A perfect way to ring in the New Year. And now, both sides of Luxe Optique are open! BOUTIQUES IN THE MIDDLE L a M è r e Clothing + Goods 436 Main Street You want to dress it up this year for the big night by spiking your casual denim look with a kitty roar and sequined body suit. Yeah, that's right! L a M è r e has brought the body suit back into your life, and this one is covered in sequins. You will wear this with the faux leopard jacket, and either kick it in faux leopard shoes, or in our favorite kitten slipper heel. BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) Glam it up! If you need a gown for an occasion, Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique could be your destination to find such a beauty. Exhibit A: this golden gown with the glimmering shell print. Go ahead and walk in - you will be amazed at the beautiful shopping experience and wide selection. Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! L a M è r e Clothing + Goods, Luxe Optique and Lambs Hill. Thank you to Barb's Butchery and BAJA 328 for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide! Visit A Little Beacon Blog's Restaurant Guide for all of the restaurants in Beacon, and see our Brunch Guide for your morning dining needs! Submission Guidelines for classes you'd like us to consider adding to these guides can be found here. For a full list of upcoming classes, classes during the week, and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide. For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide. Submission Guidelines for classes you'd like us to consider adding to these guides can be found here. Time to freshen up your hair style - or beard! Find a salon in Beacon at A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide. REAL ESTATE LISTINGS 137 Howland Avenue, Beacon, NY This lovely renovated Cape Cod is nested at the base of Mount Beacon, with direct mountain views (!!). Upstairs has three full bedrooms and a full bathroom. The master bedroom is on the first floor, with an en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet. Newly painted throughout. Hardwood floors throughout for a warm feel. Granite counters and GE appliances are in the kitchen, plus there's a $3K appliance credit. Bonus points: All new systems and a brand-new furnace. Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Price: $435,000 Real Estate Agent: Gatehouse Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures > VIEW THIS LISTING VIEW ALL LISTINGS PARTNER SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency This is the year you are going to lower your car insurance rates - and be a safer driver! Antalek & Moore has announced their first Defensive Driving Course of the year! Join Susan Antalek Pagones on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at the agency's main office (340 Main St., Beacon). DM them to reserve your spot, or call (845) 831-4300. BeaconArts Explore the defining art project that has come to define both Beacon and BeaconArts - Keys to Beacon. Join A Little Beacon Blog's writer Izdihar as she set out to find all of the pianos, and hear the keys played on each! Experience Keys to Beacon here > A Little Beacon Space Do you need to teach a class or run a workshop? Join other companies who hold retreats in A Little Beacon Space, including edible Hudson Valley, Class Pass, Giving Data, and others. Enjoy a warm, intimate setting in the heart of Beacon. Book Your Retreat With A Little Beacon Space > Katie James, Inc. Are you in Beacon or a neighboring town, and want to execute your vision for your website and newsletter together with a designer? If it's in Squarespace or MailChimp, we can help via our "Do It Together" sessions. Learn More Here > Beacon Chamber of Commerce Looking to spotlight your new space to the community? Join the Beacon Chamber and throw a celebratory ribbon-cutting, or host a member meeting. Learn More > Tin Shingle It's time to think big for the New Year! Yes, you can get magazine coverage for your brand, no matter how small or large it is! And you can step it up in your Instagram and other outreach efforts. Tin Shingle teaches how to do these things, and can be a support system for you. Details > MASTHEAD Producers of this newsletter include: Katie Hellmuth Martin, Publisher, Writer, Designer, Photographer Marilyn Perez, Managing Editor Catherine Sweet, Editor of the Second Saturday Guide Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get produced. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community in a meaningful way. Learn More > NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Until next week!