New Shingle In Town On The Telephone Building

Look who got a new shingle! Our building, Beacon’s own Telephone Building, which was built in 1907 and restored almost a century later. A Little Beacon Blog’s office and venue space is located inside on the first floor, sharing the building with other great business tenants.

Owner and master gilder Deborah Bigelow has completed her renovations to this building, a project that has taken her many years. Yet you’ll always see her outside tinkering on something with the building, such as securing the food compost bin or cleaning marks from the limestone.

We are honored to be a part of her journey as a tenant, and also as her branding partner with the designing of her first website to showcase the building. A Little Beacon Blog’s sister design agency, Katie James Inc., designed her website so that you can learn about all the building and the work Deborah and her team put into it over the years: www.telephonebuildingbeacon.com.

Happening This Weekend - 2/15/2019

The movie mystery is over at the Beacon Theater! We couldn't translate these letters that were posted on their Insta, so we went down there to take a look, and saw the popcorn and candy concession stand! Showtimes have been posted, and it looks like they are running movies in the afternoon and evening! There was already a screening of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure at 12:30 pm today. With The Underground Beacon located across the street, holding regular group board-game opportunities, this end of town is shaping up to offer great entertainment! Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance.   The Southern Dutchess Coalition 41st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration & Parade Day: Saturday, February 16, 2019 Time: See flier for schedule Location: Springfield Baptist Church, 8 Mattie Cooper Square, Beacon, NY Beginning with a breakfast before the parade, the day also includes a celebration dinner, essay contest winners/presentations. Keynote speaker will be Rev. Anthony Oliver. Information > Stony Kill's Winter on the Farm + Pancake Brunch Day: Saturday, February 16, 2019 Time: See below Location: Stony Kill Farm, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY 10 am to noon: All-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. On a farm. Need we say more? Ok, there is also: 11 am to 2 pm: Horse-drawn sleigh rides, barn tours, maple-tapping, demos, crafts Information > Concert: The Fred Zepplin Band Day: Saturday, February 16, 2019 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > OPERAtion Opera: The Met Chorus Artists Come To Beacon Day: Sunday, February 17, 2019 Time: 3 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY According to the Beacon Free Press, one performer, Sara Heaton, is a Beaconite who is a member of the Metropolitan Opera Chorus. She will perform with colleagues at this performance. The musical program is designed for children. The organizer of the event is Akiko Sasaki, a Beacon-based pianist and owner of Forte Piano Studio in Beacon. Information > Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide. Beacon Kaleidoscope Day: Sunday, February 17, 2019 Time: 9 sm to 5 pm Location: 201 Main St. (the Zora Dora location), Beacon, NY Sunday will be the last day for this winter pop-up. Look for 20% off all marked prices (except jewelry). This vendor occasionally pops up in the Beacon Flea, so mark your calendar for that spring/summer Sunday experience.       BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company) CHAMPAGNE ALERT! Luxe Optique is celebrating Valentine's Day Weekend with a party to show you a new collection of oversized frames with strong lines, bold colors, and iconic designs from designer Emmanuelle Khanh. It's a revival of their 1972 collection. GIVEAWAY ALERT! For every Emmanuelle Khanh purchase, Luxe Optique will be giving away an authentic EK vegan leather handbag that's perfect for a night out or to slip your favorite pair of glasses into. See a picture here.     BOUTIQUES IN THE MIDDLE   L a M è r e Clothing + Goods 436 Main Street Get your lovelies at L a M è r e! There's always new things to see in the shop. Right now: plenty of pink and hearts, like this "Crush On You Bralette." Favorites that will carry you into summer (and would make great gym flip-flops) are these heart flip-flops. Pink ones are in the shop, black ones are in the boutique and online. Visit the shop, or order online and enjoy free pickup! Or have it shipped to you (regular postage applies for actual shipping)!   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the historic dummy light) Love is always in the air at Lambs Hill. ❤️ Looking for something a little different? Tea-length wedding dresses, like this frock from Sincerity Bridal, give you the opportunity to show off your super-cute shoes. Special Note: Voting is open for Hudson Valley Magazine Best of 2019! Voting ends Wednesday, March 20 - you don’t have to be local! Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! L a M è r e Clothing + Goods, Luxe Optique, Binnacle Books 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!       Pop-Up Card Workshop Day: Saturday, February 16, 2019 Time: Noon to 1 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Learn To Recover Like A Rockstar Workshop Day: Saturday, February 16, 2019 Time: 9:30 am to 10:45 am Location: Orca Empire Fitness, 1545 Route 52, Fishkill, NY Information > Loving Through Touch - A Thai Massage Playtouch for Couples Day: Saturday, February 16, 2019 Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm Location: Namastesis, 1065 Main St., Suite H, Fishkill, 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.   Art & Zine Club Meetup Day: Friday, February 15, 2019 Time: 3:30 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Pokemon Day: Friday, February 15, 2019 Time: 4 to 7 pm Location: The Underground Beacon, 462 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Button Making Day: Saturday, February 16, 2019 Time: 11 am to noon Location: Howland Public Library, 313 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 33 East Street, Beacon, NY It's so nice when a home is move-in ready, and within walking distance to Barb's Butchery on the east end of town near the mountain, across the Fishkill Creek. Gate House has hit all the high notes on this one: “Beautiful and bright classic colonial home boasts four bedrooms and three full bathrooms. Enter home through the welcoming enclosed front porch with original Douglas fir floor. This home was completely renovated and a second floor added within the last five years… Brand-new kitchen with plenty of cabinets - a place for everything; gorgeous granite countertops, new stainless appliances with five-burner gas range, and a beautiful maple and walnut basketweave floor.” PRICE: $519,000  BEDROOMS: 4  BATHROOMS: 3 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures > VIEW THIS LISTING VIEW ALL LISTINGS PARTNER SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS     Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency Antalek & Moore is happy to answer any of your questions at any time about your homeowners insurance. Not sure about snow removal or liability insurance? Or maybe you're expanding your business and need additional coverage for something new? The team at Antalek & Moore is ready to do that work for you! Call them: (845) 831-4300. Or visit them on Main Street next to Beacon Natural Market. Katie James, Inc. It is such a pleasure to announce the new website design for L a M è r e Clothing + Goods! Working with storefront owners to grow their opportunities online is our passion. This website uses Shopify under the hood and at the counter as well, and the design was art-directed by the store owner herself, April Perri, a former big-time fashion designer in the big label world. April can now add new inventory to her shop via the Shopify app as she unpacks it from boxes. We try to tailor the management experience of a website for each business owner, tapping into their strengths. For April, she's always working from her phone, so we trained her in updating her website from the app. If you have a project that needs some work, reach out and contact us. Visit The New Website > Tin Shingle Tin Shingle helps businesses get the word out by giving them ideas on what media outlets to pitch. Check out their live, free webinars on Wednesdays at 3 pm EST. Check It Out > BeaconArts :: Open Studios A Little Beacon Blog just signed on as a proud sponsor of Beacon Open Studios! We are thrilled to support this project, which offers an inside look at artists in Beacon. Reserve Your Spot as a 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. $225 Half Day $385 Full Day $750 Pop-Up Shop Package See Pictures > Beacon Chamber of Commerce Business Directory Work with the Beacon Chamber of Commerce to throw a Ribbon-Cutting ceremony if you're new in town, or just opened. It's a great way to meet your neighbors and broadcast your business! 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!

Starting The Super-Fast Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Gift Guide Hunt

Starting the fastest Valentine’s Day Gift Guide we’ve ever produced: walking from one end of Main Street to the other. Theme: Paper.

And go!

Postbooks - Books To Be Mailed

Books meant to be mailed - better than a postcard, according to and available at Binnacle Books. We agree! In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, #putastamponit!

Binnacle Books is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog’s Shopping Guide, and helps make it possible for us to get the word out about everything local! Thank you for supporting businesses who support us! Click on the Guides + Calendars tabs above to get the Shopping Guide, and get the lowdown on all the shops in Beacon from one place.

A Little Beacon Blog Signs On As Sponsor For 2019 Beacon Open Studios

Beacon Open Studios was one of the first annual events I ever encountered in Beacon while out for a jog one day. It embodies one of the things that makes Beacon so easy to love - there is always something going on, and every day offers the chance to stumble across something magical.

That is why we are once again a proud sponsor of this year’s Beacon Open Studios. This is a chance for artists to open their homes or studios to the public, so that the public can see how the art gets made. In the past, this has been garages, sheds, apartments, offices, and other nontraditional venues of viewing art.

ARTISTS
Artists can register to participate by visiting the Beacon Open Studios website.

SPONSORS
Businesses and individuals can sponsor by clicking here and following the Donate button after you fill out the form. Just type in the sponsor dollar amount your are opting in for.

Sharon Lindenfeld - Copper Plate Printmaking at the Garrison Arts Center

Really enjoyed this read in the Highlands Current about the artist Sharon Lindenfeld’s process as a printmaker. She makes etchings on copper plates. Large ones. It’s very unusual for that medium to be so big, but according to the article, she “wanted people to feel surrounded by them.” She’ll sketch something into her notebook, and then do a process to enlarge it. She uses acetone to to transfer the lines onto the copper plate. There is more to the process when it comes to sending the copper plate through the press. Read all about it in Alison Rooney’s article. This was in last week’s newspaper, but the article is online now. Sharon is exhibiting now at the Garrison Arts Center.

Happening This Weekend - 2/8/2019

Alright people... if you've been smelling freshly buttered popcorn from down near the Beacon Theater, that is because these masterminds are about to make a big announcement about... what seems to be... the opening of Story Screen, the pop-up indie movie theater that is finding a permanent home in the Beacon Theater on the east end of town, toward the mountain. With legit stadium-style plush seating. Look for the announcement at A Little Beacon Blog if we catch it! If we're not quite up to the minute, it's because we're at an elementary school Valentine's Day dance, so read all about Story Screen's plans in an article we did a while back, and keep refreshing A Little Beacon Blog. Meanwhile... It's February's Second Saturday! Second Saturday Art Gallery Sneak Preview This Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide is sponsored by No. 3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works, Artist's Books, Photobooks, and Poetry from Independent Presses. Guide Written By: Catherine Sweet FEATURED Catalyst Gallery CelebrateWomxn845 presents CYCLES, an art show exploring often-complex relationships with menstruation. According to Twitter, there’s an emoji about to debut. Over the years, there has been a push to destigmatize many things that bodies do. According to CYCLES organizer Regina Williams, the impetus for this art exhibition began in a social post: “A few months ago a friend posted a personal account of the joy and pain that her journey into menopause brought her, within minutes at least a hundred people responded with their own complex relationships to menstruation.” A salon-style group art show was born. Events: There will be a Red Tent shindig on Sunday evening, as well as a reading of The Vagina Monologues on Saturday, February 16. Through Monday, February 18. Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance.   Spot Bald Eagles at Boscobel Day: Saturday, February 9, 2019 Time: 9 am to 4 pm Location: Boscobel, 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, NY Information > Beacon of Light One-Year Anniversary Party! Day: Saturday, February 9, 2019 Time: 1 to 9 pm Location: Beacon of Light Wellness Center, 4 S. Chestnut St., Beacon NY Information > Live Concert: Chaotica II Day: Saturday, February 9, 2019 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > The PEACE Project 2019 (Free Origami Folding) Day: Sunday, February 10, 2019 Time: 12 to 2 pm Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY A Little Beacon Blog has partnered with Kim Beller, founder of The PEACE project, an interactive art project to spread peace, equality, and love in the community and to the world. Her goal is to fold 1,000 origami peace cranes and distribute them around the community. All are welcome to this free, community event. No experience needed! Kim will guide you through the folding process and provide origami paper. Please bring a friend! Information > Floats for Felines! Fundraiser Day: Sunday, February 10, 2019 Time: 1 to 4 pm Location: Beacon Bath & Bubble, 458 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) These frames are for the men, after last week's bedazzling showcase of bling for the ladies. These straightline frames are new to Luxe Optique and are part of the Leisure Society collection. They are stunning on the shelf, and stand out despite their simplicity. Go in to see what we mean.     BOUTIQUES IN THE MIDDLE   L a M è r e Clothing + Goods 436 Main Street It's Pop-Up Mania at L a M è r e! This tabletop spread is an exclusive collection of V Day inspiration from L a M è r e owner April. Find these treats and more at her pop-up locations. Today, she was at Society of Lash at the Newburgh waterfront. The next pop-up is on Sunday at Heritage Food + Drink during their brunch, from 11 am to 3:30 pm, where they have bottomless mimosas and $1 oysters. The L a M è r e boutique on Main Street in Beacon will be OPEN as well! So many ways to adorn.   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) The sleeve. The drapery. This is one of the latest bridesmaids gowns from Haley Paige Creations available at Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique. Shown here with the dreamy cape attachment. Perfect for pictures, and a waltz. Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! L a M è r e Clothing + Goods, Luxe Optique, Binnacle Books 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!       Napkin Basket Weaving Day: Saturday, February 9, 2019 Time: 10 am to 1 pm Location: Garrison Arts Center, 23 Garrison Landing, Garrison, NY Information > (see other classes this weekend at Garrison Arts Center) KAGed Oils & Vintage presents Intro to Essential Oils Day: Sunday, February 10, 2019 Time: 3:30 to 6:30 pm Location: 28 W. Church St., Beacon, NY (this is a residental address) Information > Bullet Journals Day: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 Time: 6:30 to 7:30 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, classes during the week, and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.   Submission Guidelines for classes you'd like us to consider adding to these guides can be found here. Sensory Story Time Day: Mondays, February 11, 2019 Time: 3:30 to 4:15 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 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 48 Teller Avenue, Beacon, NY This house got a makeover! And from some conversations in our Instagram feature of it, people who knew it well approve. From the realtor: “Charming and bright traditional home just steps to Main Street's restaurants, shops and galleries. The first floor boasts an open-concept living room and dining room, opening onto new wraparound deck. Updated kitchen with radiant heat, plenty of cabinets, granite countertops and stainless appliances.” PRICE: $475,000  BEDROOMS: 3  BATHROOMS: 2 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures > VIEW THIS LISTING VIEW ALL LISTINGS PARTNER SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS     Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency February is Responsible Pet Owners Month. The agents at Antalek & Moore will be talking about this topic through the month on their blog, and interviewing some local experts on the topic. Tag them in favorite pictures of your fur baby and you might just see them featured! 🐶🐱 @antalekmoore Katie James, Inc. A Beacon retail shop is about to get a new website from Katie James, Inc.! Our couture branding experience is a perfect fit with L a M è r e Clothing + Goods. The website has been designed and built in Shopify, and you can shop it now! Loading more merch into the online shop as we speak... Go Shopping Online > Tin Shingle Tin Shingle helps businesses get the word out by giving them ideas on what media outlets to pitch. Check out their live, free webinars on Wednesdays at 3 pm EST. Check It Out > BeaconArts :: Open Studios A Little Beacon Blog just signed on as a proud sponsor of Beacon Open Studios! We are thrilled to support this project and share an inside look at artists in Beacon. Reserve Your Spot as a 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. $225 Half Day $385 Full Day $750 Pop-Up Shop Package See Pictures > Beacon Chamber of Commerce Business Directory The Beacon Chamber of Commerce is a great way to throw a ribbon-cutting ceremony if your business is new in town, or just opened a storefront. 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!

Dreary Rainy Days Are For...Paint! Literally The Best Is On Main Street At Knot Too Shabby

Dreary rainy days are for... Cheery, milky furniture paint! Right down Main Street at @knottooshabbyny. Y’all might not realize the importance and specialness of this store. Owner Caryn carries the @anniesloanhome line of paint, which is super special and rare in retail. Shipping of it can get pricey, but here it is, cans of so many colors, right inside of Knot Too Shabby. She’s having a workshop this weekend on how to paint with the paint. Which is pretty easy, though - that’s the point of it. It goes on everything! There are imitations of this paint, but nothing like the real thing. Only three spots left in the workshop. But there are rows of cans of paint - and the special brushes - that you can take home at any time. We stopped in yesterday because our sister design agency @katiejamesinc is helping make Knot Too Shabby’s website easier to use and much more mobile-friendly, so we got the workshop scoop!

The furniture is also for sale. Hand-painted and restored by Caryn herself.

Prepping February’s Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide!

Prepping for February’s Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide has started! Catherine Sweet takes the lead as the editor and writer of this guide, and we wait for every word she types up to describe the shows, exhibits or events.

We spotlight art galleries and art events at no cost for artists in this Guide. Photo Book Works reached out to us, wanting to help make it possible with a sponsorship. To that we say: Yes and THANK YOU!

Yes, more sponsorships of this Guide are possible. See the link at the top of the Art Gallery Guide for details and to start a sponsorship online. Tap on Guides, then Art Gallery Second Saturday Guide.

If you are a retail shop or restaurant who is interested in promoting your retail offerings on the day, you can do so as part of our Friday Feature Advertising Package! It’s really fun.

Looking forward to another month!

Building That Houses Homespun About To Change Hands - 232 Main Street

Photo Credit: Gate House Realty

Every now and then, sometimes on a Sunday and now in our Friday newsletter, we feature a listing from A Little Beacon Blog’s Real Estate Guide. This weekend’s feature is 232 Main Street, and upon looking at the photo, we immediately thought: “Hey! That’s our friend Homespun’s building!” Also in the building: the folks who live in the apartments upstairs (which look very cute and one seems to be available).

When a building goes up for sale, anything can happen. So we reached out to Homespun’s owner, Jessica Reisman, to inquire if she knew about any next steps. Essentially - is Homespun going anywhere? Will the deep-dish french toast and homemade soups still be within walking distance? “Homespun is definitely here to stay (almost 13 years old now!)” Jessica responded. “We are hoping that whoever buys the building will give us a good long lease!”

Well, that’s good news! Being that the listing is with Gate House Realty, an advertiser here at A Little Beacon Blog and the reason 232 Main Street is in our Real Estate Guide, we reached out to Charlotte for any inside scoop she could release. “There is an accepted offer, and the new buyer would like to see her stay, so hopefully Homespun will be around for a long time.” Anything can happen in real estate, so we’ll think good thoughts and wait until the end, or rather, the new beginning.

And keep it tuned to A Little Beacon Blog, refreshing often to see real estate opportunities like this if you have been looking for a great building to invest in, with popular businesses and tenants already there. There are more houses, apartments, and sometimes storefronts that get featured in our listings. This fixer-upper with the vintage kitchen is still available…

Free Community Event at A Little Beacon Space - Origami Peace Crane Project To Spread Peace, Love, and Equality

A Little Beacon Blog has partnered with Kim Beller, founder of The PEACE Project, an interactive art project to spread peace, equality, and love in the community and across the world.

“In December 2016 I began folding peace cranes with the community in Wilmington, NC, where I lived,” says Kim. “After completing the folding of 1,000 origami peace cranes, I strung the peace cranes and they were hosted by different businesses and restaurants in and around Wilmington to promote peace, love and equality. Previously, I organized the folding of 1,000 cranes with my daughter’s school, with a home for autistic children, and for my mom during her battle with cancer (her cranes hang in the Lower Cape Fear Hospice in Wilmington). This event in Beacon will be my fifth time folding 1,000 cranes for peace!”

One thousand peace cranes will be folded, and strung into strands of 100 each, and they will be hosted by different businesses and restaurants in the Hudson Valley to promote Peace - Equality - Love.

All are welcome to this free community event to fold origami peace cranes. No experience is needed - Kim will guide you through the folding process and provide origami paper. Please bring a friend!

The PEACE Project 2019
Day: Sunday, February 10, 2019
Time: 12 to 2 pm
Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY
Information >

Happening This Weekend - 2/1/2019

CORRECTION: Eaglefest will be Saturday, February 9, 2019

We made it to February! Reward yourself for making it through one of the hardest months of the year with a s'mores sandwich from Hudson Valley Marshmallow Co., (next door to BJ's Soul Food) who sources their special chocolate squares from Alps Chocolate just up the block, and makes their own flavored marshmallows in their kitchen in Beacon. If you don't like marshmallows - because we usually don't either - it doesn't matter. This little mallow is placed on a perfectly measured square of chocolate between two cookie crackers, then blow-torched to melted, squishy perfection. We've got the video. Yes, we are encouraging you to fatten up for a long winter of more snow, so get snuggly and get your own blow-torched s'more and keep on enjoying Main Street. Let's get to the Things To Do! Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance.   Spot Bald Eagles at Boscobel Day: Saturday, February 9, 2019 Time: 9 am to 4 pm Location: Boscobel, 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, NY Information > Hudson Valley Community Power Information Meeting Day: Saturday, February 2, 2019 Time: 1 to 2:30 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > The CineHub Birthday Party Day: Saturday, February 2, 2019 Time: 4 to 7 pm Location: The CineHub, 20 W. Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Live Concert: Kofi & Sankofa Day: Saturday, February 2, 2019 Time: 8 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) Ooh la la, you guys. Take your expectations of how your glasses can look to a whole new level. We're talking bling. We're talking rings at the corner of your eyes. You need to go into Luxe Optique to see it to believe it. These handmade frames were made in France by Francis Klein Paris, custom-designed for Luxe Optique, and the designer even takes custom design orders from you. There are several others. Tell us which ones you want!     BOUTIQUES IN THE MIDDLE   L a M è r e Clothing + Goods 436 Main Street One of the cutest Valentine's Day windows in Beacon! L a M è r e has outdone herself with a vintage typewriter and loads of love note hearts flying out of it. Makes for a cheerful look and feel on the east end of Main Street, near Ella's Bellas and across from Joe's Irish Pub. So when you're at the pub, brewing up romance, know that the love is flying off the page across the street. Lots of new merchandise has arrived, including jean jackets, and the cutest little strawberry jar and white heart coasters... A special welcome to our new Shopping Guide Sponsor Binnacle Books! Their Book Club meets the first Wednesday of the month, so save the date! Their next Book Club is in partnership with Dennings Point Distillery and will discuss "Educated" by Tara Westover.    BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the Dummy Light) Beauty transformations happen inside Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways. This time, a stylist makes up one of the Lambs Hill models for the shop's Dress of the Week, where owner Charlotte debuts their new line, Blush by Haley Paige. Shown here is the "Delta Gown," which you can see for yourself in this video, or make an appointment to see in person! Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! Binnacle Books,  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!       Valentine Papercutting Day: Saturday, February 2, 2019 Time: 10 am to 1 pm Location: Garrison Art Center, 23 Garrison's Landing, Garrison, NY Information > (see what other classes start this weekend at Garrison Art Center) Chaturanga, Updog, Downdog - A Lesson In Alignment Day: Saturday, February 2, 2019 Time: 1 to 2:45 pm Location: Firefly Yoga, 992 Main St., Fishkill, NY Information > The Ecstasy of Tantric Drawing Day: Sunday, February 3, 2019 Time: 12 to 3 pm Location: Beacon of Light Wellness Center, 4 S. Chestnut 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.     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, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide.   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 232 Main Street, Beacon, NY It's sort of incredible - the building that houses Homespun and the apartments above it is for sale. From the realtor: "Beautiful historic three-story brick building located on Beacon's booming Main Street. There are four one-bedroom apartments, one retail space downstairs with bistro-type tenant with an amazing back patio. This location is growing fast with two new condo construction projects going in next to and across the street. Building was gutted in the early 2000s. All apartments have separate utilities and central air paid by tenants. Apartment rents: $1,350, $1,350, $1,450, and one on the market for $1,600. Retail tenant (Homespun) has about four years left on lease. Rent changes with the season but averages about $2,450/month." PRICE: $1,250,000  APARTMENTS: 4  RETAIL: 1 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures > VIEW THIS LISTING VIEW ALL LISTINGS PARTNER SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS   Our friends at Antalek & Moore want to remind everyone not to wait for the temperature to warm up and melt the snow! Removal of snow in front of your home and/or business is crucial for the safety for those walking on the sidewalk. If someone slips and falls and gets injured, they could sue, so having insurance is important for that extra protection. If you are unable to shovel in front of your property, snow-melt salt or kitty litter will work just as well. BeaconArts : Open Studios Sponsorship Opportunities are available now for Beacon's Open Studios, one of the most anticipated interactive art experiences of the year. Reserve Your Spot as a Sponsor! > Tin Shingle Are you trying to get the word out about your business? Tin Shingle is in the business of training you to do just that. You need gumption, vision, and motivation. Tin Shingle can provide you with resources, videos, and a community of support. Connect >         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 the Telephone Building), meeting here is easy, cozy, and inspiring. $225 Half Day $385 Full Day $750 Pop-Up Shop Package Book Your Retreat With A Little Beacon Space > Katie James, Inc. Need bright and inspiring photos taken of your place of business? To be used on your website and other marketing materials? Katie James, Inc. can help. See Photo Samples > Beacon Chamber of Commerce Business Directory Is your business listed in the Beacon Chamber of Commerce's Member Business Directory? Here is a happy Member Testimonial: "A business from New York City rented my space for their work meeting, and they found out about it from the Chamber of Commerce Business Directory! Thanks, Chamber!" - Katie Hellmuth Martin, A Little Beacon Space 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!

The Little Marshmallow Cookie Sandwich Spot-Hitter At Hudson Valley Marshmallow Co.

During the lowest temperatures of the polar vortex, and during the darkest nights of evening snow-shoveling in preparation for the morning, visions of blow-torched marshmallow cookie sandwiches have kept the home fires warm until the next time we can experience the real deal - firing up the little delight to hit the sweet spot of a chocolate craving!

The marshmallow cubes at Hudson Valley Marshmallow Co. These are made here in Beacon.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The prep for the s’more, before it gets torched in the video below.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

And I don’t even normally like marshmallows (except for these, melted, it seems). Which is why it has taken me until now to finally visit Hudson Valley Marshmallow Company and actually experience one of their toasted marshmallow s’more bite sandwiches between two cookie crackers (your choice of chocolate chip, chocolate chocolate or cinnamon), smushed into your choice of a single square of dark or milk chocolate (made by Alps Chocolate, right down the street!), and blow-torched to perfection by the marshmallow-ista. (What would you call the barista of a marshmallow bar, anyway? We’ll call her a marshmallowista.) Check out this video of her torching the marshmallow, and the special smush it gets once melted.

”My torso is famous,” said the marshmallowista. That’s how many customer videos she’s been in while custom-torching marshmallow s’mores for people. The Violent Femmes played on the speakers in the background while we customers grappled with the tough choices among marshmallow combos, selecting first the flavor of the marshmallow, which is made here in Beacon in the commissary kitchen of More Good. (Yes, there is an entire outfit behind the tea room further up Main Street in the center of town, where brands like this are born and fly the coop into kitchens of their own someday.)

The s’more cookie crackers at Hudson Valley Marshmallow Co. These are baked right here in Beacon.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

If you like gingerbread and pumpkin spice, you will face a tough choice between the two. For me, the choice is clear: salted caramel marshmallow between two chocolate chocolate cookie crackers (you can always mix and match), and a square of milk chocolate. Fire it up!

There is a growing number of marshmallow roasting gifts in the store. You could of course buy bags of the small-batch marshmallows (see their clever bags of black coal at Christmas), and a personal marshmallow roaster, should you want to start roasting inside your kitchen.

Valentine’s Day is just an excuse to buy these things, as eating these little s’mores any day of the year would give the same satisfaction as eating a giant cookie or brownie. 

The choice is yours. A warning: BJ’s legendary three-layer cakes are right next door. Find this strip of storefront heaven on the west end of town, toward the DMV. Also be warned: Hudson Valley Marshmallow is only open Thursdays to Sundays. But they are open until 8 pm. So all you commuters and neighboring shop owners who close and come home at 6 pm have no excuse for not going!

The Nostalgia electric s’mores maker
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Antalek & Moore Hires Local Talent For Website Makeover (Sponsored)

Crucial to the success of a community is jobs. Some people have full-time jobs and work for other people. Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency in Beacon, NY, employs a staff of 10 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee. Other people create their own jobs based on their creative talent as small business owners and entrepreneurs. Antalek & Moore reached out to these entrepreneurs in the local market when they decided to kick off 2019 with a new online presence, featuring a cleaner, mobile-friendly website!

Hiring Local Design and Photography Talent

Says Susan about the website design process: “Two years ago, we changed how we market, using social media and a new website. We wanted to work with locals to create this for us.” Antalek & Moore entered the social media landscape with Kate Rabe of Marketing Inbound, who works with several organizations throughout the Hudson Valley.

For the website design, Kate referred Antalek & Moore to Katy Dwyer Design, who is known for working closely with clients. Katy and her team produced the design, and Kate shaped the content. “The goal was to re-vamp the website so it is more user-friendly, and not so stiff,” explains Susan.

“One of the most exciting aspects of the project is how we were able to use the photography of our longtime friend of the family, Scott Snell, who is a broadcast camera operator and drone photographer (learn more about him in his interview in the Highlands Current). He was responsible for the beautiful local artwork that now hangs on our walls.” Scott is known for sharing beautiful photography of Beacon with the public on social media.

New Website Features

Whether you’re looking to pay your bill, request a quote, or want to find out when Susan’s next Defensive Driving course is scheduled, the new design provides easier navigation for visitors. Since Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency serves as your local agent and liaison with whichever national insurance agency you elect to go with, you can pay that insurance company directly as well, if you’re used to paying that way.

If you are curious about updating your coverage for your home, car, or business - visit Antalek & Moore at www.antalek-moore.com.

Personally, I’m all bundled up with Antalek & Moore! Home, Car, Business. Easy.

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Antalek & Moore is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and this article was created with them as part of our Sponsor Spotlight program. It is with the support of businesses like theirs that A Little Beacon Blog can bring you coverage of news, local happenings and events. Thank you for supporting businesses who support us! If you would like to become a Sponsor or Community Partner, please click here for more information.

Fly Little Hearts, Fly!

A skill that I cherish in others is the ability to design a storefront window. The concept... the materials... the timing.

Have you seen this storefront window down on the east end of town, across from Joe’s Irish Pub? While romance may be brewing (ha! pun not intended!) inside the bar, hearts are flying off the page of the vintage typewriter in the La Mère Clothing and Goods shop window. There are plenty of Valentine’s Day outfits in there (oh let’s be honest... dress romantically every day, if it makes you happy), and rumor has it, everyone wants to buy the display furniture the proprietress April uses. Sometimes she’ll sell, sometimes not!

When we go inside the shop to snap a picture for La Mère’s weekly Friday Feature as a sponsor of the Shopping Guide, it’s becoming fun to hear about what display furniture sold right out from under the clothes or jewelry. 

Take a look at night as you drive or walk by if you haven’t yet, when the window is lit up. And of course, step inside and get a little something! Every purchase helps keep your favorite stores here.