Bright Star Touring Theatre Comes To Beacon To Celebrate Black History - Free Performances

Photo Credit: Screenshot of the Bright Star Theatre’s website.

This just in from a flyer from the folders of Beacon’s elementary school kids:

The Bright Star Touring Theatre will be staging a free performance of “Black History Hall of Fame” on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at 5:45 pm. This 45-minute production will take you on a fast-paced adventure through the Black History Hall of Fame, led by Dr. Daisy and Professor Paisley. Young audience volunteers and incredibly talented performers bring this show to life in every way. The Bright Star Theatre Group suggests this performance is best for kids in kindergarten to fifth grade.

After that performance, Bright Star will perform “Struggle For Freedom” at 7 pm. This 45-minute production seeks to honor the American Civil Rights Movement. With excerpts of famous speeches, Civil Rights-era songs and a variety of characters, this moving production has been hailed as one of “the finest touring shows available for a young audience.” The Bright Star Theatre Group suggests this performance for second graders through adults, but that is only a suggestion.

Both performances take place at Beacon High School, and are free of charge to the Beacon community!

Learn more about the Bright Star Theatre here. They are based in NC and tour all over the country.

Photo Credit: Screenshot from the Bright Star Theatre

Accidental Discovery of Mega-Artist Tara McPherson at Dogwood Yields Bookmark For Cookbook

Meal planning for Sunday dinner, placeholding with this art bookmark acquired at Dogwood during random Sunday night dinner in the kids section (aka the tables near the stage where the kids can dance, and we can only hope that no one else is in there yet). The artist is recent Beacon transplant Tara McPherson. Her art company is called Cotton Candy Machine, and the painting on the bookmark is called “Bloom.” The cookbook pictured here is Magnolia Table, purchased at Cracker Barrel on Route 9 during a pancake lunch post-doctor appointment. Beef for this bulgogi will be sourced from Barb’s Butchery on Sunday… Barb’s also has eggs for Sunday morning (or an upcoming snow/ice storm, so best stock up!).

WHoa - Tara McPherson!

And then Marilyn, A Little Beacon Blog’s Managing Editor - texted me to confirm: “Tara McPherson lives in Beacon!!?” So I took to scrambling into the artist’s website to learn more about her. OMG. This is why I love Beacon. You just never know who you’re going to meet! Tara has illustrated posters for Metallica, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, has collectible figures, and is just really fierce.

Here’s a few pictures of her art, and her process for setting up her studio since moving to Beacon:

Happening This Weekend - 2/22/2019

Happy Weekend Everyone! It's only February, but winter has felt rough - and it's been one heck of a week of snow days. But good things are happening: Summer Snowflakes, aka "snowdrops" as well as lilacs have breached the ground in Beacon. Here's a shout-out to the easy alert systems sent by the City of Beacon and the school district, and your easy access to some of the best and cutest winter boots (Mountain Tops), salt and shovels (Brett's Hardware), and chocolate (Chocolate Shop, Alps, any grocery store in town). Consider this our effort to mentally prepare you for the blizzard that usually happens in April! :) Remember that time there was a State Of Emergency declared after the blizzard in March and the National Guard came? And now, onto this week's Things To Do! Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance.   13 the Musical Days: Thursday to Saturday, February 21-23, 2019 Time: 7 to 9:30 pm Location: Beacon High School Theatre, 101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY Information > A Secret History of American River People Day: Friday, February 22, 2019 Time: 7 to 9 pm Location: Scenic Hudson (Red Barn), Long Dock Park, Beacon, NY Information > The Magic Lantern Day: Saturday, February 23, 2019 Time: 2 pm (doors), 2:30 pm (show) Location: Gallery at Boscobel House & Garden, 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, NY Information > Beacon Screening and Q&A: "Wrestling Ghosts" Day: Saturday, February 23, 2019 Time: 5 to 7:30 pm Location: Story Screen, 445 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Hudson Valley Free Day at Dia:Beacon Day: Sunday, February 24, 2019 Time: 11 am to 4 pm Location: Dia:Beacon, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY Information > Peace Project With The Folding Cranes 2019 Day: Sunday, February 24, 2019 Time: Noon to 3 pm Location: Beacon of Light Wellness Center, 4 S. Chestnut St., Beacon NY If you missed the folding paper cranes for peace event in A Little Beacon Space, now is your chance to go again at Beacon of Light Wellness Center! This is great, because if you haven't been into that yoga studio, which is near Rite Aid, this is your opportunity to see it. Read more about the Peace Project in this article. 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 the block from Beacon Bread Company) Remember that Giveaway Alert we ran last week, about the free handbag that you get when you purchase Emmanuelle Khanh frames? Well, turns out this handbag is actually a glasses purse - you can fit your frames inside of it! Genius. And right now, it's free with purchase of Emmanuelle Khanh frames. We are actually going to buy one for our Christian Roth prescription sunglasses that need better case protection while swimming in the mama purse.  See this in action on our YouTube channel!     BOUTIQUES IN THE MIDDLE   L a M è r e Clothing + Goods 436 Main Street Oh, ladies. This new line of jewelry at La Mère is a Must.Have. Everything on this wooden tray is from the Beacon-based designer Tourmaline Home, who is based out of the old Nichols Hardware building. Did you always wonder what went on in there? Well, now you know. Lots of designing. Pillows too. And tiny coffee tables! Lots of it is in La Mère right now. Stop into her shop to check it out. PS: The photographer of these brown earrings may or may not have bought them immediately after photographing.   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the historic dummy light) Oh Lambs Hill, the styles just keep coming! A bride will feel like a member of an English high court. This Hayley Paige gown is made with Luxembourg material that shimmers with fully sequined embroidery. There's even a video about it that you can watch on Lambs Hill's Insta. Binnacle Books 321 Main Street SAVE THE DATE: Binnacle Books' Book Club is at a special time in March - the second week of March this time (normally the first Wednesday). The book will be Trevor Noah's Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood. Details > 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!       MVT 109 Day: Friday, February 22, 2019 Time: 6 to 7:15 pm Location: Namastesis, 1065 Main St., Suite H, Fishkill, NY Information > Turkish Marbling Master Class Day: Saturday, February 23, 2019 Time: 10 am to 3 pm Location: Garrison Art Center, 23 Garrisons Landing, Garrison, NY Information > (see other classes being held this weekend) Ballwork Bliss! The Yoga of Self-Massage Day: Sunday, February 24, 2019 Time: 1 to 3 pm Location: Beacon Yoga Center, 464 Main 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.   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 If a very hip and cool loft in a renovated factory building - with a view of a creek just before waterfalls - is your thing, then this penthouse in Beacon might be for you. Or your friend, so pass it on. Check out all of the pictures here. From Gate House Realty: “Gorgeous and luxurious penthouse loft in a 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, off-street parking.” PRICE: $1,100,000  BEDROOMS: 2  BATHROOMS: 2 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures > VIEW THIS LISTING VIEW ALL LISTINGS HEADLINE NEWS FROM OUR SPONSORS   Fred Antalek Tapped To Be 2019 Grand Marshal in Parade of Green You know this face - Fred Antalek has been tapped to be the Grand Marshal in this year's Parade of Green. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, March 9, 2019. Details > Katie James, Inc. Designs & Launches Local La Mère Website Local boutique La Mère has been very successful with reaching out into the community to get to know the ladies and their men, and create a loyal relationship with customers. One of the most unexpected bits of feedback from customers, when told, "You could also find it online," is their response: "But I want to support YOU and buy it here in the store!" Which is awesome! What we're discovering is, people don't realize that the shop also has its own website where you can instantly buy something you love - even in the middle of the night after you see one of April's outfit mashup videos! Go Shop! > Beacon Locals To Appear On Tin Shingle's Next TuneUp Digital marketers based in Beacon - Patti Devine and Devin Holmes - will be on Tin Shingle's next free, live Training TuneUp to teach us How and Why to Create Facebook Ads. Now, Tin Shingle is not the biggest fan of Facebook, but if you wanted to know how to create an ad, this class will teach you. Free on Wednesday at 3 pm from your computer. You just need to click the link and watch. Details > 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 gives an inside look at artists working 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. $275 Half Day $485 Full Day $850 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!

The Beacon Theater Opens! Movies Now Playing On Main Street - Take Our Tour Through Pictures

The new 2019 Beacon Theater marquee (Top left) harks back to a more glamorous time. Note the boarded-up doors In the Photo at Top right, after the decline of Beacon from its glory years of the 1930s, to the depression it endured in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The reinvigorated Beacon Theater is located at 445 Main Street.
Photo Credit: A Little Beacon Blog

View from the storefront window of La MÈre Clothing and Goods, located across the street from the theater. She published it on her Instagram. Someone is excited!

The wait is over for one of the most anticipated Main Street openings - the Beacon Theater at 445 Main Street is now open, the marquee lights are on, the popcorn is popping, and the movies are playing.

The building that houses the theater, down on Beacon’s east end near Joe’s Irish Pub and La Mère Clothing and Goods, has been home to many businesses. According to the book Historic Beacon (pick up a copy in neighboring Beacon Bath & Bubble!), Warren S. Dibble, who purchased the hotel across the street (see our article on its major renovation a few years ago) in 1877, built a roller rink in this spot in 1884. When roller skating didn’t catch on as he had hoped, he built the Dibble Opera House by 1886. In it, he built a 1,300-seat hall, and according to the book, made “a high-class of entertainment to an appreciative public.” After that, according to Historic Beacon, the Beacon Theater was later constructed on the site. A well-known jazz bar, the Wonder Bar, also opened on the second floor of the theater.

The theater avoided being bulldozed during Urban Renewal, when many of what would have been historic buildings were demolished in Beacon and other nearby areas.

During that time, before the theater closed for good, the walls were painted purple by a church group who rented the space, then it was occupied by a storage company, and finally by a theater company, before moving into the hands of four partners who combined talents to rebuild the Beacon Theater, and open it to the public for movies and popcorn - with real butter. (!!)

Tickets… Get Your Tickets…

Behind the operation and curation of movies shown at the Beacon Theater is Story Screen, Beacon’s original traveling, pop-up movie theater experience. Story Screen shows already-run films. Originally, they set up the projector in local establishments like Oak Vino and More Good. Tapped as a partner in this project, Story Screen now has a permanent home in the Beacon Theater.

Hankering to see an old favorite on the big screen? Send them a request! Maybe they will play it. I’m going to ask for Working Girl. A first-run showing of a locally produced documentary from Ana Sofia Joanes, Wrestling With Ghosts, is playing now, and has already sold out some screenings.

Movie tickets are $10 for adults, and $8 for kids, and sold on Fandango and at the Box Office [Updated 5/5/2019]. Movie times run all day 7 days a week (previously it was Thursday-Sunday, but is now 7 days). “As we get further along in our operation,” said Story Screen’s Brendan McAlpine, “we will also show first-run and indie films.”

[Update 5/5/2019: The first first-run movie the theater showed was Avengers: Endgame]. Movies currently in the lineup are already-run films, and include classics like Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Moonlight, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Good Burger, Wrestling with Ghosts, Heathers, Cruel Intentions and Wall-E.

Check out which movies are playing on which weekends, see the Story Screen website and click on the row of dates above the listings.

Let’s Go To The Movies!

My little assistants and I happened to come at just the right time in between shows during the theater’s soft opening last weekend, so we were able to buy a tub of popcorn and Skittles (extra sour in the green bag) and get a tour.

Let’s go inside and look around!

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The theater is modernized with “incredible” sound, said Jason Schuler of Drink More Good, who is one of the Beacon Theater partners spearheading the food and drink experience. Some design elements were chosen to honor the time period of the original theater. Note the light sconces on the wall of the theater. According to Jason, the original sconces (pictured on the purple wall in a photo toward the bottom) were too far gone to completely restore, so they sought out a light that complemented the decor. The direction of the screen remains the same. People in the theater decades ago sat in the same direction to watch what was on the stage. Today, the building has two movie theaters that have stadium seating, and a third theater will be available for private rentals for various types of events.

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Pictured below is the theater after it was painted purple, with gold detail, decades ago by the church. Who could blame them for using this irresistible hue - I have painted a few rooms purple in my house!

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Photo Credit: The picture of the theater on the left is a screenshot from a photo published on AfterTheFinalCurtain.com.

The Bathroom

Impressively designed bathrooms have become a big deal nationwide, and Beacon is proving no exception. You have the Japanese-inspired wallpaper for the ladies at Quinn’s, the super-comfortable setting in the Roundhouse and Melzingah Tap House, the Beacon Public Library recently renovated theirs, and the bathroom at Billy Joe’s in Newburgh is impressive. There are others, but those are the first that come to mind. Add to the collection this beautiful wallpaper and experience for the ladies (see below) at the Beacon Theater. The lit sign for “Ladies Lounge” that hangs above the bathroom door is an original piece to the theater.

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Pictured here is one of the Beacon Theater partners, Scott Brenner. He is also a partner in Drink More Good.

When Can We Eat?

An eatery is slated to open in the adjoining space. The partners are calling it The Wonder Bar, inspired by the original jazz bar that operated from the second floor of this theater starting in the 1930s and had a good run. Pictured to the right is the original brick wall, with freshly painted lettering. The eatery will be on the other side of that wall, and a take-out window will be open for people who want to order from a special movie menu, to bring food into the theater.

At the concession stand, you will find commercial candy, as well as real buttered popcorn and soda from Drink More Good. Spearheading this whole project is Brendan McAlpine of McAlpine Development (formerly known as High View Development Corp.), who also owns Hudson Valley Marshmallow on the other end of Main Street (see our write-up here), who bakes the marshmallows in More Good’s commissary kitchen (located behind More Good’s tea shop).

Movie munchie options are looking good - either eat a tub of popcorn, or a bag of marshmallows. Or regular candy. And finish off with some of the best, most natural root beer (or other soda flavors) around.

To learn more about all of the partners, click here for our feature story covering the start of this in 2017.

See you at the movies!

All photos are credited to A Little Beacon Blog. For permission to reprint, please contact us. If using in social media, please tag @alittlebeacon. If you are radio peeps getting leads for news clips for your listeners, please consider giving A Little Beacon Blog a shout-out as your source! We love helping local media thrive by crediting each other. Thanks!

The Beacon Theater Opens - Movie Showtimes Are Posted

UPDATE 2/22/2019: A followup story has been published with pictures. See it here!

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 on Friday, and different flicks are on the schedule.

With The Underground Beacon located across the street, holding regular group board-game opportunities, this end of town is shaping up to be a hub for great entertainment!

More pictures to come after we buy our first ticket... 

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…