The Spirit of Beacon 2023 banner has risen again onto the roof of Key Food for the second year in a row. A monumentous task last year where Spirit of Beacon committee members Junior Dabashi, Katie Hellmuth and neighbors climbed the roof of Key Food to figure out how to securely and safely hang the banner, after learning that Beacon had banned all banners from hanging across Main Street during this current administration.
Banners promoting event dates have been crucial for fundraising efforts and benefits, as groups use the banners to promote sponsors with logos. Not having a banner takes away that top-tier promise. As is what Beacon businesses do in Beacon, the locally owned franchise Key Food by the Said and Dabashi families, who was a top sponsor of the Spirit of Beacon Day last year and this year, offered their roof to hang the banner.
People also rely on banners to know about big dates and festivals. Not having it has made local organizations have to think of other ways to get the word out. This year, the following local businesses sponsored at the top level for the Spirit of Beacon Day, and are on the prominent placement of the roof:
Also hanging on display is the Spirit of Beacon program banner of the day. This provides the breakdown of what is happening at the 4 main locations for the Spirit of Beacon Day. This is where most of the community who shops at Key Food on a daily basis will see who is performing, like the new group The Dummy Lights, the rapper TonyE who is known by many Beaconites and is returning to Beacon from New York City just for this day, as well as other local bands. Read about the full musical lineup here.
For the first time in its 46 year history, there will be a free bus shuttling people up from the MTA Train Station to Main Street for the Spirit of Beacon Day. The draw is that there is free parking at the train station, but it’s a lengthy walk. Dutchess County has offered to dedicate one free bus on that day, according to the Spirit of Beacon Committee.
“City Administrator Chris White suggested it during one of our planning meetings early on, and I reached out to Dutchess County at his suggestion. I didn’t think they would say yes, but learned that Amanda was very enthusiastic about it. Amanda made sure to include Forrestal Heights as a designated pickup point, to help people near there as well,” said Katie Hellmuth, Chair of the Spirit of Beacon Day Committee. “Police Chief Sands Frost was on the planning call to figure out the route, and while it was looking like the bus was too wide to make it work at most intersections, we figured out a plan.”
Amanda Sammon, Assistant Director of Public Transit for Dutchess County, along with the support of Michael Grattini, Director of Public Transit, with the encouragement of Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White, spearheaded the move to designate the free shuttle bus for Spirit of Beacon Day attendees who are parking for free in the MTA Train parking lot, as well as those living in the Forrestal Heights community and surrounding area. The drop-off point for attendees will be Main Street and Fishkill Avenue, but up a little further near the Salvation Army parking lot, so as not to crowd that intersection.
This bus will not impact or replace other bus routes that go on Sunday.
How The Free Bus Will Work For Spirit Of Beacon Day
SERVICE SCHEDULE Service will run from 11am-4:30pm, with a break between 1-2pm, when the parade runs. The Spirit of Beacon Day ends at 4pm, but the Committee wanted to add the half hour to help get people back to the train station parking lot, if that’s where they are going, said Katie.
The route loop will take 20-25 minutes to complete
The Shuttle Bus will begin at the Beacon Train Station at 11am. It will continue driving the route on the map shown above until 1pm, at which point the driver will park at the Beacon Train Station and take a lunch break.
This route should take approximately 20 to 25 minutes to perform the entire loop, so riders will not have to wait too long if they miss it the first time.
At 2pm, the Shuttle Bus will leave the Beacon Train Station and continue performing the same loops until 4:30pm. The Shuttle Bus will only load/unload passengers at the three agreed upon stops:
Beacon MTA Train Station
The intersection of Route 52/Fishkill Avenue and Main Street (with the actual stop at the Salvation Army driveway)
Forrestal Heights
More Free Parking In Beacon Municipal Lots
The DMV parking lot on Main Street is open to the public for parking, as the Beacon Farmer’s Market has graciously agreed to close for the Spirit of Beacon Day. The Henry Street Lot will also be open for free parking, as the Beacon Flea has also graciously agreed to close. According to both of their contracts, this notice to close for the Spirit of Beacon Day to open up parking has been in their contracts over the number of years they have occupied the lots.
The DMV parking lot is in the middle of Main Street before the road closure for vendor tables on Main Street. It is one of the most convenient lots.
The Henry Street parking lot is one block over from Main Street, and can be gotten to by taking side streets.
Hudson Valley Goldsmith has closed their Beacon location. You can find them in their New Paltz location.
As planned, David Reeves Bespoke has reached the end of his pop-up location in Beacon. He remains world-wide and in NYC. David and his family do live in Beacon, so you may still see them in the streets!
Thank you to Hudson Valley Goldsmith and David Reeves Bespoke for their sustaining sponsorships. Your support of local media and hyper local niches makes a difference in this world.
Spirit of Beacon Musical Announcements
Lots of Spirit of Beacon Day
updates now that it is one week away (Sunday, September 24, 2023). The Spirit of Beacon Day Committee has announced the musical lineup for the day. The rap artist TonyE is returning from NYC to perform in Beacon for us once again. The second stage at Cross Street will be its last, as the new building is scheduled to go up there soon. Get the line up here!
Parade Registrations Required
The Spirit of Beacon Day Committee has put out a special alert to all who are planning on marching or rolling in the Parade: you must register. "Even if you’ve rolled in this parade X times before," the Committee announced, "we need you to register! This is so that we can send you emails about the day. How to lineup. Where to lineup. And we chalk your place in line on the sidewalk on Wolcott Avenue. Please register now!"
I Run Beacon 5K
A Little Beacon Blog is a proud Media Sponsor of the I Run Beacon 5K this year. Registration are still open to run or walk the day. I Am Beacon just wants to see you out. This run is on the same day as the Spirit of Beacon Day. The two events compliment each other, and don't interfere. Register To Run Here >
Hudson River Craft Beer Festival
Day: Saturday, September 16, 2023 Time: 12:30pm-5:30pm Location: Pete And Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park, 2 Red Flynn Drive Beacon, NY
Over 80+ different breweries, cideries, and seltzers Information >
Mid Hudson Animal Aid Announces CATOBERFEST 11
Day: Sunday, September 17, 2023 Time: 3pm-7pm Location: Hudson Valley Brewery, Beacon, NY
Music, Food, Craft Beer, Face Painting, and Prizes; Proceeds to Help Care for and Find Loving Homes for the Hudson Valley’s Abandoned and Special Needs Cats. Supporters who cannot attend the benefit are invited to make a tax-deductible donation at midhudsonanimalaid.org Information >
Howland Chamber Music Circle Presents: The Juilliard String Quartet Day: Sunday, September 17 Time: 4-6:00pm (followed by reception) Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Admission $10-35, with optional "Pay-What-You-Wish" admission closer to the date. Inquiries with Concert Manager, Carl Gutowski at info@howlandmusic.org or 845-765-3012 Information >
Spirit of Beacon Day Day: Sunday, September 24, 2023 Time: 8am Location: Memorial Park, 2 Cahill Drive, Beacon, NY
Beacon's highly anticipated event, The Spirit of Beacon Day, takes place on Sunday, September 24th from 11am-4pm. This event was established in 1977 in response to racial tensions between Beacon's youth and the community. As a result, various community leaders from our local churches, library, police, City Council, and others came together to figure out what to do. A solution proposed was a community day. Said one of the original backbones of the Spirit of Beacon Day, Nan Whittingham, about the origin in the Beacon Evening News in 1986: "Everyone was in agreement that we, the community, should get to know one another better. It was agreed we should learn to know each other's likes and dislikes regarding conversation, feelings, entertainment, education and food." Come to enjoy a variety of different foods from professionals, churches and organizations, as well as get to know services available at vendor tables. Music performances at 2 stages will be going all day at the Main Stage at Veterans Place, and the secondary stage at Cross Street. The big parade kicks off at 1pm and goes down Main Street. Information >
Beacon Farmers Market! Every Sunday from 10am-3pm at 223 Main Street!
Beacon Flea Market! Every Fair Weather Sunday from 8am-3pm at Henry Street (next to the Post Office).
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY Website >
Have you tried the Pork Belly or mixed mushroom Bao Buns from Ciao Chow yet?! If not, this is your sign to GO! Follow HV Food Hall's foodies:
Miz Hattie's BBQ: Southern Style BBQ, from North Carolina. Order ahead via their Toast-app menu! El Nica: Nicaraguan Food Roosevelt Bar: Cocktail Bar Shmuck's Sweet Stuff: Local Ice Cream, Hot Waffles, and Other Sweet Stuff Hudson Shawarma: Falafels, shawarma, baklava, and platters Ciao Chow - Hand made pasta and fried rice Dulce Cielo Mexico: Authentic Mexican street food with vegetarian and vegan options. Elixxr Wellness: Wellness cafe offering drinks with adaptogens Tara Fusion Cuisine: Fusion cuisine of Bangladeshi, Indian, Sri Lankan and Middle Eastern food Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor, thank you!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Carnitas sliders &a seasonal plum margarita? Say NO MORE! Lots of goods over at Baja and new specials always popping up on the menu! Be sure to stop in and enjoy the last few weeks of sitting out by the garage doors! Don't forget... TACO TUESDAY 🌮 is every Tuesday at Baja! $2 chicken, beef & carnita tacos plus $3 coronas!
Oh & Happy Hour is every Tuesday-Friday from 4-6pm :) PPS: Check out Baja's specials! > Check out their specialty drinks > BAJA 328 is a Sponsor, thank you!
BEACON BOI
Long Dock Park - down by the river
Can you ever go wrong with hotdogs from the cutest food cart at the most beautiful park!? It's here for you. Beacon Boi! Hot diggity dogs and "cold ass drinks." Look for this hot dog stand on Main Street during the Spirit of Beacon Day! Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 12pm-Dark Location: Find the Beacon Boi cart down at Long Dock Park. Walk to the kayak locker, then take a right down that path to the strip of picnic tables. Beacon Boi is a Sponsor, thank you!
CARTERS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 424 Main St.
Happy Hour at Carter’s! From 2-5pm, you can get discounted access to the white wine mussels, crispy zucchini sticks, loaded Jersey Shore fries, chicken cheese quesadilla, caesar salad, or chips and salsa. Get there for late lunch at least! Happy Hour is from Monday-Friday. PS: The kitchen is now open until 11:30pm on Friday and Saturday nights, with the bar open until 12:30am! Head on in and sit at the bar or in the lounge. Good people, good food, good vibes. PPS! Brunch on Sunday's from 11am-3pm! Follow Carter's on Instagram > Carters Restaurant & Lounge is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE 181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Do you switch up your eyewear for the cooler months? We do! What a great excuse for a new fashion piece! Luxe Optique has you covered. All different styles and colors. Something for everyone! Sunglasses, eyeglasses, reading glasses, or 'just because' glasses. Stop in and start the season in style! PS: Eye doctor appointments available here! > BEACON HOURS
Monday from 10AM–5PM
Tuesday-Saturday from 10AM–6PM
Sunday CLOSED Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
HUDSON VALLEY GOLDSMITH
Hudson Valley Goldsmith is sadly leaving Beacon! But you can still find them in New Paltz and shop them online > We are so grateful for their support and have loved having them in the Beacon community. Sending them our best!
DAVID REEVES BESPOKE NYC POP UP
Reeves pop up is sadly over! You can always visit them online or take the train from Beacon to NYC for a visit! Grateful for their sponsorship!
Yanarella Dance Studio 312 Main St., Beacon, NY
Fall classes have dropped at Yanarella for registration! Ballet, Tap, Combination Classes, Contemporary, 'Dance With Me', and more. Save your spot and sign up now. Classes start at just $12/class!
Located on Main Street in Historic Beacon, their studio has been guiding and instructing students since 1957- over 60 years ago!
PS: Catch Yanarella in the Spirit of Beacon Parade 2023!
Yanarella is a Sponsor, thank you!
Beacon has a growing number of beauty salons and professional pampering to take advantage of - you can even book a transforming appointment at a lash bar! Be it a totally new hair style, or a facial, you have options in Beacon. Plus, one of the most enjoyable gifts you can give to someone is a gift certificate. So we have included links to where you can buy a gift certificate from any of these fine services that offers one. Check out ALBB's Beauty Guide here >
Special Message For Businesses: If you want to advertise in this Guide with a picture, logo and promotions, please click here.
MAPLE STREET STUDIO
95 Maple Street, Beacon, NY
(347) 678-1897
Just incase you missed it... Maple Street Studio in Beacon is accepting new students! Offering Classical Guitar, Flamenco Guitar, and Jazz Guitar Lessons for students of all ages. Students will be taught and led through the fascinating journey of learning to play the guitar by New York City guitarist, Dan Garcia. Dan Garcia’s love of Spanish guitar began right at home in his birthplace of Madrid, Spain. He maintains a thriving performance career and is also an entrepreneur and creator of the first bilingual how-to Flamenco Guitar App, and Learn Guitar App. He is a professor of classical guitar and music production at Manhattan College and a self-published author of guitar technique books. Dan founded Maple Street Studio in 2020 with the goal of providing an inspiring and unparalleled space for artists and students at all levels. Dan is focused on creating a space filled with sound quality, productivity as well as with indoor and outdoor space. The ultimate goal was "to create a safe space with state-of-the-art equipment where artists instantly feel inspired." Maple Street Studio sets itself apart by offering a creative environment, state of the art equipment and instruments, but most of all, nearly three decades of teaching experience and creativity of Dan Garcia who always focuses on musical individuality of each artist that enters the studio. Find Maple Street Studio Here > Maple Street Studio is a Sponsor. Thank you!
BEACON DENTAL
1020 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY
(845) 838-3666
Beacon Dental is happy to announce that they now accept Medicare health insurance! Call them for a free cleaning & check-up and refer your family & friends! At Beacon Dental, they are dedicated to providing you and your family with quality dental care tailored to your individual needs. They welcome patients aged 4 and older and provide a full range of dental services to help you achieve and maintain excellent oral health throughout your life. When you visit their dentists and team, you can be certain that your health, comfort and smile are always their highest priorities. Explore all services > Beacon Dental is a Sponsor. Thank you!
"WAIT, WHAT IS THAT?" PODCAST
The sister podcast from ALBB and Tin Single, "Wait, What Is That?" co-hosts Brandon Lillard and Katie Hellmuth explore the Barbie Movie. Neither of them knew what the other was going to say about the movie, and there was a plot-twist to their take-aways! Kate came full with pink highlighter and Vogue magazine with interview with the producer and actor, Margot Robbie, to border the discussion. Watch this on Instagram until they drop the podcast to every podcast platform near you. Watch Here >
TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle specializes in getting the word out, and that includes podcasts. We make one, and can produce one for you. Got ideas? Bring them to Tin Shingle and let us produce for you. Learn More > Tin Shingle is a Sponsor. Thank you!
KATIE JAMES, INC.
From the reporting and design team that produces A Little Beacon Blog, the local online newspaper covering Beacon, NY, as well as the media training team that is behind Tin Shingle, an education and empowerment zone for small businesses, Katie James, Inc. is the uniquely positioned design studio that knows how to align with businesses and artists of all kinds with different needs, to get them the online tools they need to keep selling to their customers and clients. Learn More > Katie James Inc. is a sponsor. Thank you!
A Little Beacon Blog is a Media Sponsor of the Spirit of Beacon Day 2023. We are pleased to announce the musical lineup for the day, to help you plan which end of Main Street you want to be at, to hear which music when. We have reprinted in full their 2023 Musical Lineup in full:
Two musical stages are returning for this year’s Spirit of Beacon Day: The Main Stage at Veterans Place (next to Post Office and Towne Crier), and the garden at Cross Street. This year will mark the final year (most likely) for the Cross Street garden, as the building that has been slated there for years is finally going into construction. The landowners have graciously allowed the Spirit of Beacon Day to have one more concert there before the shovels go in. So…come to move your body as a final send-off to that location!
Music will begin from 11am-1pm at both stages. At 1pm, the music will pause as the parade comes through Main Street. Music at both stages will pick up again from 2-4pm. Thank you to Goldee Green for being our Musical Spirit Coordinator for Veterans Place, and to Stephen Claire of Beacon Music Factory for curating the stage at Cross Street.
Musical Lineup at Veterans Place Stage
Beginning at 11am:
Beacon Players Drama Club School of Rock Band GG & The Shades
Musical Lineup at Cross Street Stage
Beginning at 11am:
Mystery Band The Dummy Lights
Spirit of Beacon Volunteer Award Announcement at Pohill Park:
Beginning at 12:30pm:
The Spirit of Beacon Volunteer Awards will be announced at Pohill Park, with the help and amplification of K104, who is returning this year to announce parade participants (thank you, Woodman and the K104 team!). This year, the Spirit of Beacon Committee is awarding the following people for their unwavering support and commitment to the City of Beacon:
Susan Antalek: For her decades of support both financial and volunteer for community of Beacon. Gwenno James: For her commitment in various volunteer roles, and chairing and keeping alive the Spirit of Beacon Day during the pandemic. Karen James: For her dedication to volunteering to various events and causes around the City of Beacon over the years. Carman Johnson: For her ever-present volunteering and supportive efforts to whatever is needed to help the community of Beacon succeed.
Musical Lineup at Veterans Place Stage
Beginning at 1pm:
Beacon Players Drama Club School of Rock Band GG & The Shades
Musical Lineup at Veterans Place
Beginning at 2pm:
Bosco and the Storm Beacon Rising Choir TonyE
Musical Lineup at Cross Street Stage
Beginning at 2pm:
Beacon Music Factory Students Watson Entropy Machine Beacon Youth Jazz Orchestra (rumor has it this group is morphing into an Afrobeat direction…this is your chance to follow them)
SOON IS NOW is an afternoon of art and live performance about climate change and the ecological in Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park, a former industrial site and brownfield transformed by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architects, the Scenic Hudson Land Trust, and others, into a sustainable park on the Hudson River in Beacon, NY. This site is on the unceded land of the Wappinger, in a region with a vital history of environmentalism rooted in Scenic Hudson’s fight to save Storm King Mountain from industry and Pete Seeger’s fight for an unpolluted Hudson River.
Twinkle Burke, What We Give Back, by Madeline Sayet, photo by Lucas Millard
Audience walking to the next performance, photo by Flynn Larsen
Part reverence for the River, part cry for what is lost to climate chaos, part response to the pollution and rejuvenation of the park's ecosystem, SOON IS NOW places art in conversation with the landscape and brings audiences into an immersive experience with original works.
Edwin Torres, Water’s Way: A Poet’s Choir for the Hudson River with E.J. McDonald, LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs, Tamalyn Miller, Kristin Prevallet, Urayoán Noel, Jayden Featherstone. photo by Flynn Larsen
The Resistance Revival Chorus will be performing a special concert at 5pm including a new song about climate change.
The Resistance Revival Chorus, photo by Ginny Suss
On SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd at 2pm the day starts at the River Center (the red barn) in Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park with a visual arts exhibition. Meet activists including Beacon Climate Action Now, Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills and Fareground, and learn what you can do. Sign up for an 80 minute tour of performances throughout the park that start at 2:30, 3pm and 3:30pm, first come, first served. Even if you don't get on a tour you will be able to experience performance, visual art in the River Center and the concert by The Resistance Revival Chorus at 5pm. Poppy's Farm 2 Trailer food truck will be at the event selling tacos. Parking at Long Dock Park is limited. Park at the Metro North Beacon Train Station where all parking spots are free on the weekends, a short walk to the event. Free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills and HV Climate Solutions Week. Part of Climate Change Theatre Action's 2023 season. Funded by Arts Mid-Hudson, the Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts administered by Beacon Arts, and many local businesses and individuals.
Tom King, photo by Lucas Millard
Jaanika Peerna, Glacier Elegy, photo by Flynn Larsen
Liz Zito, Eric Magnus, Andrew Brehm, The Oysters, by Miranda Rose Hall, photo by Lucas Millard
Eve Morgenstern, Director/Founder/Producer is a photographer and filmmaker. She has been awarded artist residencies at The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Workspace and MacDowell, and grants for her work from The New York State Council on the Arts, Chicken and Egg Pictures, The George Gund Foundation, The Park Foundation and Arts Mid-Hudson. Her environmental film Cheshire, Ohio has screened in festivals in the US, Canada and Asia and is distributed by Bullfrog Films and ovid.tv . Her photographic project Facades of Crises had its solo Museum premiere at Bildmuseet in Umeå, Sweden. Eve is also co-chair of her Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills chapter. She lives in Beacon, NY with her daughter Chloe and her beloved mutt Amber. “This started as an experiment to produce plays from Climate Change Theatre Action, a project that uses storytelling and live performance to foster dialogue about our global climate crisis. The project grew to include visual art and original live performance created in dialogue with the site. The idea to curate works throughout Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park as a tour for audiences is intentional and meaningful as this site was once a brownfield, remediated and revisioned into a beautiful climate resilient public park on the Hudson River.”
CREDITS SOON IS NOW:
Eve Morgenstern, Founder, Director
Connie Hall, Producer
Brian Mendes, Producer
ALBB is a Media Sponsor of this event, and is proud to partner to help get the word out.
The Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management will hold its next Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, Sept. 30th from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Dutchess County of Public Works Facility, located at 626 Dutchess Turnpike in the Town of Poughkeepsie; residents can access the event by taking Route 44 East to Burnett Boulevard. The collection is open to Dutchess County residents only.
This popular event is first-come, first-served, and residents should expect to experience wait times when they arrive at the location on Sept. 30th. Registration is limited to the first 400 households; pre-registration is required for this event, and there is a $10 registration fee; registration often reaches capacity quickly, so residents are encouraged to register promptly. Beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 30th, residents can register online or by calling (845) 463-6020. The registration fee can be paid online using a credit card or paid by check. Checks should be made payable to “Dutchess County Commissioner of Finance” and mailed to or dropped off to the Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management at 96 Sand Dock Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
This will be the final of Dutchess County’s three 2023 Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Events, which provide residents with a safe and responsible way to discard a diverse range of household items that cannot be disposed of through regular recycling or garbage bins. Acceptable items include television sets, computer monitors, telephones, pesticides, pool chemicals, and more. A complete list of acceptable items to bring to this disposal day is included below. Hazardous waste in containers larger than 10 gallons will not be accepted.
More information about the Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management’s Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Events is available online.
Lead based paints (NO latex or oil based!), photo chemicals, non-latex driveway sealer, pool chemicals, creosote, kerosene, flammable liquids, metal polish, turpentine, strippers, thinners, gasoline/oil mixture, brake fluid, antifreeze, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, adhesives, resins, solvents, fluorescent tubes (tape together or put in box to prevent breakage), propane tanks, mercury containing devices, computer monitors, CPU’s, fax machines, printers, TV’s, stereos, telephones, lithium & sealed lead acid batteries (no automotive!).
Do Not Bring:
latex or oil based paints, stains, varnishes, ammunition or explosives, asbestos products, latex driveway sealer &, building or construction debris, tires, furniture, medical waste, pharmaceuticals, air conditioners, radioactive materials, scrap metal, metal drums or empty containers, motor oil, car batteries, alkaline or rechargeable batteries.
With this poem, ALBB is opening to poetry submissions from others on any subject matter. Submit via our Contact Us page.
Double Red Light Broken
Second Day of Middle School
A gaggle of kids swarmed on their bikes around the opposing double line of cars going to and from drop-off. Eyes on the road! Both hands on wheel. Because these kids own the road and swerve into and over a crosswalk or a grasswalk at whim. Will we ever get the 5 minutes to school? All these kids peddling everywhere, calling to each other, covered in a world of their soft padded headphones.
Drop-off reached. Pull into the first lane!! I can’t - there are cones in that lane. I have to stay in the second lane. Noooooo!!! Pull over!! Let us out!! I can’t - the teachers say pull all the way forward. They say don’t lane cross or pass cars. They say be patient. Noooooo!!!!! Let us out!! Pick us up at 3:40!! 3:40? Side eye. Yeah. I mean 2:40. Wink and a smile. Empty. Exhale.
Driving back the 5 minutes to the next child who is still in bed. The car radio on. Songs suggest lost love too early in the morning. The DJ reads the morning headlines. A reprieve from the music.
Driving away, finally noticing the faces in the oncoming cars, still aching to reach drop-off on time. Laughing faces. Straight faces. Survival faces. We’re all just piles of mush in our morning cars. In the 8am hour of the day. Grateful to be here. But in the same loop. Seeing the same tree. The same stop light. Stopped. No turn on red. Inching forward. Someone turns right. The next end of summer love song comes on. We move up a car length.
How did that happen? Red light remains. The same house with the same fence that got built last spring. The same ditch. The same red white and blue painted stairs with the initials. Bless that person of the initials who is probably dead. Inching forward again. Why are we moving? It’s a red light. No turn on red. Headlines on the radio begin and end. Music starts. The day won’t begin until email is opened. Don’t check email. You’re driving. Stay out of reality a little longer.
The cars move forward again. The light is still red. No turn on red. Honking begins. Pulling us out of that morning trance that asks: “Where am I? Why am I still here?” Passing the track now. Am going to run across the track later. After drop-off. The entire city is my track. And I can’t get off it. The cars move forward. Why? The light is still red!
Oh. The light is broken. Cars are turning up ahead. Out of order. In the intersection. Where the child on the bike was hit 3 springs ago. “I thought she already passed me,” said the driver who hit her. Was she blind? Red light remains. Honking picks up. I’m 5th in line so it’s not my fault. The light is really broken. It’s been red the whole time.
We must strike out. Into the green light of the crossing cars. Morning trance of self-pity gone. Survival mode now.
Next kid drop-off is on the bike. 1st grader likes to ride his red bicycle. And so we we ride. My tires are flat. Both of them. I ride on rims. Hello crossing guard! Nice to see you! How’s your day? Better now that I’ve seen you!
We make it to school no problem. He parks his red bike. Takes off his helmet. Straightens his backpack. A mom in a pink short terrycloth bathrobe walks the entire length of the drop-off with a cup of coffee. This is not a costume. This is just how she came.
On the morning of the 1st day of school (Tuesday), at around 7:00am, the traffic light at Matteawan and Verplanck broke. This is the intersection for the High School and Middle School drop-off near the track known as Hammond Track, where cars are coming and going to go to work and/or drop off kids at school.
Additionally, kids are on bikes who go through the intersection. Kids also walk. Or coast in groups across the crosswalk. It’s a high-volume intersection for cars, pedestrians and bikers alike.
By Wednesday morning, it wasn’t clear at first for some that the traffic light had stopped working. It was not blinking at that point. Just a solid red for those on Matteawan, and green for those on Verplanck. There is a No Turn On Red sign on Matteawan when turning right onto Verplanck (when the schools are behind you), so the long line of cars on Matteawan who had finished their drop-offs is an expected one. But on the first days of school with this light broken, the line was extra long and not moving. Turning right became more of a risk, as drivers were turning out into cars who had the green.
After some time on Wednesday, later in the morning for Middle School drop-off, a Beacon Police officer had arrived to direct traffic. An officer also assisted in the afternoon for when school let out. Traffic direction from the Beacon Police had been inconsistent but present during drop-off hours, as they may have been called to other emergencies.
So far, the traffic light has been broken from Tuesday - Sunday. In Beacon’s City Code, there is a requirement that a traffic light be at that intersection. It reads: “Traffic control signals shall be installed and operated at the intersection of those streets described in Schedule I below.” The intersection of Matteawan and Verplanck are listed. But the Code does not indicate who is to make what phone call to get the traffic light fixed. When the Dummy Light was hit by a city employee during milling of Main Street before it got paved, the Highway Department restored that light. It is not confirmed if the Highway Department or a different member of the City is responsible for making arrangements to have this traffic light fixed.
The crossing signals at Verplanck and Matteawan are also out, along with the traffic light. They have been out from Monday (9/5/2023) - Sunday (9/10/2023) so far.
After the traffic light was switched to a cautionary blinking red light on the Matteawan side, and a blinking yellow light on the Verplanck side, cars did proceed with less confusion. But some cars still passed through the intersection with uncertainty.
The crosswalk signs are also broken. Pedestrians and bikers have to cross when they see no cars. Being that the track is a destination for the community and students alike, not to mention all of the baseball fields and the turf field behind the high school, people are always crossing this crosswalk on foot, on bike or in car.
We are in September! The schedules are back for kids and their caregivers alike. It is super hot, and many of your favorite establishments have air conditioning! Including the new Krispy Krunchy Chicken that opened on Main Street from JB Foods etc. next to Key Food. This fried chicken is a perfect snack or meal for those after-school schedules or anyone who is hungry. Includes options of drumsticks or wings. Read all about it here.
See below for updates from Spirit of Beacon Day (coming Sunday, September 24th!) and the I Am Beacon 5K (kicks off before the Spirit of Beacon Day!). You've got a big month ahead of you. Stay hydrated.
THE EVENTS + RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE Book an Event Promotion Advertising spot here.
You can sponsor this Event Guide with your event, for extra promotion of it!
If you'd like to guarantee to see your entertainment event listed here, click here for more info >
Edited and Written By Teslie Andrade Daley and Katie Hellmuth.
Beacon Music Factory Presents: In The Pines Music Festival Day: Saturday, September 9, 2023 Time: Gates open at 2pm.
Music 3pm-9:30pm Tickets: On sale at the Gate Location: 724 Wolcott Avenue, University Settlement Camp, Beacon, NY (on Wolcott Avenue)
The music event you didn't know you were waiting for! A music festival of sorts in Beacon's Settlement Camp. Produced by the Beacon Music Factory. This will include the following bands. As well as food vendors and beer. Also, catch some of these bands at the Spirit of Beacon Day's Cross Street Stage! But experience them this weekend:
LIZ KELLY & THE BETTER HALF • NOGA
HARRISON MANNING • BARNABY!
M ROOSEVELT • WATSON
• MARIGOLD • COSMOKAZE
EARS WITH EYES • THE LOUSIN BROTHERS
STEPHEN CLAIR & HIS EFFIN GREAT BAND Information >
Classics for Kids Presents Instrument Petting Zoo and Concert Day: Sunday, September 10, 2023 Time: 11am-12pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Children FREE - Adults $15. At the Instrument Petting Zoo you’ll see various string and wind instruments performed by local musicians. Children will then have an opportunity to play the instruments themselves! Instruments are generously provided by Music and Arts, Milton, NY. Music & Arts is on a mission to connect people of all ages and walks of life with the power of music. This is a co-production with the Howland Cultural Center. Information >
HOOT Free Music Festival Day: Sunday, September 10, 2023 Time: 12pm Location: Hudson Highlands State Park,3011 Route 9D, Cold Spring, NY 10516
The Pete Seeger-inspired event is free, the music is lively, and the scenery along the Hudson River can't be beat!! So bring a picnic basket, and come have a Hoot on a lazy Summer afternoon! Information >
I Run Beacon 5K Day: Sunday, September 24, 2023 Time: 8am Location: Memorial Park, 2 Cahill Drive, Beacon, NY
I Am Beacon is committed to their mission of offering college scholarships to Beacon seniors. With that, they are excited to announce the 12th Annual | I Run Beacon 5K Run/Walk 2023
You can join them September 24, 2023, as they put on the I Run Beacon 5K Run/Walk. This is the same day as the Spirit of Beacon Day, and is a great wake up to the day to people who want to support both events.
Whether you are an avid runner, beginner, or first timer this race is perfect for everyone. Information >
Spirit of Beacon Day Day: Sunday, September 24, 2023 Time: 8am Location: Memorial Park, 2 Cahill Drive, Beacon, NY
Beacon's highly anticipated event, The Spirit of Beacon Day, takes place on Sunday, September 24th from 11am-4pm. This event was established in 1977 in response to racial tensions between Beacon's youth and the community. As a result, various community leaders from our local churches, library, police, City Council, and others came together to figure out what to do. A solution proposed was a community day. Said one of the original backbones of the Spirit of Beacon Day, Nan Whittingham, about the origin in the Beacon Evening News in 1986: "Everyone was in agreement that we, the community, should get to know one another better. It was agreed we should learn to know each other's likes and dislikes regarding conversation, feelings, entertainment, education and food."
Come to enjoy a variety of different foods from professionals, churches and organizations, as well as get to know services available at vendor tables. Music performances at 2 stages will be going all day at the Main Stage at Veterans Place, and the secondary stage at Cross Street. The big parade kicks off at 1pm and goes down Main Street. Information >
Beacon Farmers Market! Every Sunday from 10am-3pm at 223 Main Street!
Beacon Flea Market! Every Fair Weather Sunday from 8am-3pm at Henry Street (next to the Post Office).
Miz Hattie's BBQ: Southern Style BBQ, from North Carolina. Order ahead via their Toast-app menu! El Nica: Nicaraguan Food Roosevelt Bar: Cocktail Bar Shmuck's Sweet Stuff: Local Ice Cream, Hot Waffles, and Other Sweet Stuff Hudson Shawarma: Falafels, shawarma, baklava, and platters Ciao Chow - Hand made pasta and fried rice Dulce Cielo Mexico: Authentic Mexican street food with vegetarian and vegan options. Elixxr Wellness: Wellness cafe offering drinks with adaptogens Tara Fusion Cuisine: Fusion cuisine of Bangladeshi, Indian, Sri Lankan and Middle Eastern food Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor, thank you!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Delicious tacos (over 13 falvors), a good appetizer, and refreshing drinks? Alllll available at Baja! Menu is always changing to ensure fresh seasonal ingredients. AND TACO TUESDAY 🌮 is every Tuesday at Baja! $2 chicken, beef & carnita tacos plus $3 coronas!
Oh & Happy Hour is every Tuesday-Friday from 4-6pm :) PPS: Check out Baja's specials! > Check out their specialty drinks > BAJA 328 is a Sponsor, thank you!
BEACON BOI
Long Dock Park - down by the river
Hot diggity DOG! Head on down to Long Dock Park for Beacon Boi's food cart! Hot dogs and "cold ass drinks." Look for this hot dog stand on Main Street during the Spirit of Beacon Day! Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 12pm-Dark Location: Find the Beacon Boi cart down at Long Dock Park. Walk to the kayak locker, then take a right down that path to the strip of picnic tables. Beacon Boi is a Sponsor, thank you!
CARTERS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 424 Main St.
Lots of places are closed on Tuesday, but do you know who is OPEN for Lunch and Dinner on Tuesdays? Carter’s Restaurant! Where you can order this delicious burger which comes topped with strips of crisped bacon (delicious without the bacon too) and cheddar cheese, loaded with fresh tomato , lettuce and onion on the side. With a pickle and their signature fries OBV! This lunch is coupled with a mocktail of purées of mango and strawberry. Looks very refreshing and extremely delicious. PS: The kitchen is now open until 11:30pm on Friday and Saturday nights, with the bar open until 12:30am! Head on in and sit at the bar or in the lounge. Good people, good food, good vibes. PPS! Brunch on Sunday's from 11am-3pm! Follow Carter's on Instagram > Carters Restaurant & Lounge is a Sponsor, thank you!
DAVID REEVES BESPOKE NYC POP UP
494 Main St.
(917) 783-2270
Having a bespoke tailor in town is a treat! Especially one who offers English Bespoke Tailoring - that is completely made and customized to you. David Reeves Bespoke is from NYC and here popping up in Beacon! Definitely don't want to miss out on this opportunity! Check out their offerings here > Appointments can be booked HERE or via cellphone 917-783-2270. Check out Reeves NYC on Instagram > Reeves NYC is a Sponsor, thank you!
HUDSON VALLEY GOLDSMITH
226 Main St Retail 2
(845) 255-5872
We love a simple & sweet fashion statement like these dainty, minimal and sexy rings! Especially when you pair them together. Both rings are solid 14K gold & natural diamonds! HV Goldsmith specializes in sustainability and has something for everyone. If this is your jam but you want minor tweaks, HV Goldsmith can make it happen! See here for CUSTOM details >
OPEN:
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11-5
Sunday 10-4 Shop Jewelry > Hudson Valley Goldsmith is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE 181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Looking to get new & interesting eyewear? Look no further! Luxe Optique has you covered! Stop in to freshen up your fall wardrobe with a new pair of glasses! Whehter that be sunglasses, eyeglasses, reading glasses, or 'just because' glasses. Stop in and start the season in style! PS: Eye doctor appointments available here! > BEACON HOURS
Monday from 10AM–5PM
Tuesday-Saturday from 10AM–6PM
Sunday CLOSED Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
Yanarella Dance Studio 312 Main St., Beacon, NY
Fall classes have dropped at Yanarella for registration! Ballet, Tap, Combination Classes, Contemporary, 'Dance With Me', and more. Save your spot and sign up now. Classes start at just $12/class!
Located on Main Street in Historic Beacon, their studio has been guiding and instructing students since 1957- over 60 years ago!
PS: Catch Yanarella in the Spirit of Beacon Parade 2023!
Yanarella is a Sponsor, thank you!
Beacon has a growing number of beauty salons and professional pampering to take advantage of - you can even book a transforming appointment at a lash bar! Be it a totally new hair style, or a facial, you have options in Beacon. Plus, one of the most enjoyable gifts you can give to someone is a gift certificate. So we have included links to where you can buy a gift certificate from any of these fine services that offers one. Check out ALBB's Beauty Guide here >
Special Message For Businesses: If you want to advertise in this Guide with a picture, logo and promotions, please click here.
MAPLE STREET STUDIO
95 Maple Street, Beacon, NY
(347) 678-1897
First off, WELCOME Maple Street Studio to ALBB's Business Directory! Second, Maple Street Studio in Beacon is accepting new students! Offering Classical Guitar, Flamenco Guitar, and Jazz Guitar Lessons for students of all ages. Students will be taught and led through the fascinating journey of learning to play the guitar by New York City guitarist, Dan Garcia. Dan Garcia’s love of Spanish guitar began right at home in his birthplace of Madrid, Spain. He maintains a thriving performance career and is also an entrepreneur and creator of the first bilingual how-to Flamenco Guitar App, and Learn Guitar App. He is a professor of classical guitar and music production at Manhattan College and a self-published author of guitar technique books. Dan founded Maple Street Studio in 2020 with the goal of providing an inspiring and unparalleled space for artists and students at all levels. Dan is focused on creating a space filled with sound quality, productivity as well as with indoor and outdoor space. The ultimate goal was "to create a safe space with state-of-the-art equipment where artists instantly feel inspired." Maple Street Studio sets itself apart by offering a creative environment, state of the art equipment and instruments, but most of all, nearly three decades of teaching experience and creativity of Dan Garcia who always focuses on musical individuality of each artist that enters the studio. Find Maple Street Studio Here > Maple Street Studio is a Sponsor. Thank you!
BEACON DENTAL
1020 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY
(845) 838-3666
Beacon Dental is happy to announce that they now accept Medicare health insurance! Call them for a free cleaning & check-up and refer your family & friends! At Beacon Dental, they are dedicated to providing you and your family with quality dental care tailored to your individual needs. They welcome patients aged 4 and older and provide a full range of dental services to help you achieve and maintain excellent oral health throughout your life. When you visit their dentists and team, you can be certain that your health, comfort and smile are always their highest priorities. Explore all services > Beacon Dental is a Sponsor. Thank you!
"WAIT, WHAT IS THAT?" PODCAST
The sister podcast from ALBB and Tin Single, "Wait, What Is That?" co-hosts Brandon Lillard and Katie Hellmuth explore the Barbie Movie. Neither of them knew what the other was going to say about the movie, and there was a plot-twist to their take-aways! Kate came full with pink highlighter and Vogue magazine with interview with the producer and actor, Margot Robbie, to border the discussion. Watch this on Instagram until they drop the podcast to every podcast platform near you. Watch Here >
TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle specializes in getting the word out, and that includes podcasts. We make one, and can produce one for you. Got ideas? Bring them to Tin Shingle and let us produce for you. Learn More > Tin Shingle is a Sponsor. Thank you!
KATIE JAMES, INC.
From the reporting and design team that produces A Little Beacon Blog, the local online newspaper covering Beacon, NY, as well as the media training team that is behind Tin Shingle, an education and empowerment zone for small businesses, Katie James, Inc. is the uniquely positioned design studio that knows how to align with businesses and artists of all kinds with different needs, to get them the online tools they need to keep selling to their customers and clients. Learn More > Katie James Inc. is a sponsor. Thank you!
You’ve been watching…and waiting…to see what would replace the Beacon Craft Beer Shoppe next to Key Food (ALBB first wrote about opening that here). And then you were rewarded…with fried chicken from the same owner. Coming from JB Foods Etc., this chicken is double-breaded and fried in house. You can watch them dip the chicken! Hardly any food is frozen, and the chicken easily pulls apart in your hands (we tried it, it’s good).
The rooster mural inside of JB’s Krispy Krunchy Chicken.
Light tasting but double-breaded, this Louisiana-style fried chicken is halal (according to WebMD: “Halal food must be prepared with minimal suffering to the animal and the pronouncement of God’s name during the slaughter, as the animal is being sacrificed to Him”) and is available in several different varieties, including fried chicken tenders, fried chicken thighs, legs, wings, hot wings, wedges, and chicken sandwiches. Sauces include Original, Home Style Ranch (so good), Honey 🍯 Mustard (can’t wait to try), Sweet and Sour, and Sweet BBQ. Chicken sandwiches are also available.
An easy snack, customers of Key Food have already been seen enjoying a Krispy Box of some assortment of tender wings (white meat), dark meat drumsticks or wings while they wait for their taxis to take them back home after grocery shopping.
Watermelon from Key Food as an off-menu side for Krispy Krunchy Chicken in Beacon, NY
For take-home, the location proves convenient, as a quick watermelon-grab from Key Food can be done as a make-your-own side, or make your own entire salad with blue cheese crumbles from the produce department of Key Food.
Krispy Kruchy Chicken provides sides, including mashed potatoes with gravy, and a jambalaya. Both have a slight kick of spice, but are mild for anyone to enjoy. A perfect takeaway lunch-n-go, or take home for dinner. As for gluten-free, that option is not available yet.
The chicken choices: fried chicken tenders, fried chicken thighs, legs, wings, hot wings, wedges, and chicken sandwiches.
Open 7 days a week, from 11am-7pm. Good for lunch or dinner. For a set of 3 kids, Krunch Boxes for 3 kids can cost $24 (without drinks).
PRO-TIP: As a parent, do order for yourself. You may start picking from the bones of your kids, and they won’t be happy. So indulge in yourself and order your own Krispy Box.
At the heart of this plan, is to pull mail carriers (the people who deliver your mail to your mailbox at your house or apartment) from their local Post Offices, and have them go to a large facility that several other municipalities (communities) will also report to now. This facility will most likely be far from the zip code where the mail is being delivered to. For Beacon, this means that all mail carriers are going to Newburgh each morning to pick up the mail, then drive to Beacon, then drive back to Newburgh to park their trucks and do it all again the next day.
When this news first hit Beacon, people feared that Beacon’s Post Office might close. They were reassured by Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White, who was reassured by a local post master, that Beacon’s Post Office would indeed not be closed because it was such a high-volume location.
However, the clerks who work the desk at Beacon’s Post Office have since taken jobs elsewhere - as enforced by the USPS - reducing the Beacon Post Office to 1.5 clerk workers. One regular clerk for Beacon was recently in a bad accident, according to the clerk’s Union president Diana Cline, so the clerks Beaconites are seeing now are new to the community.
These clerks are PTF aka “Part Time Flexible Career” staff, says Diana. “Now, Jackie is still there until Saturday, but then she gets excessed to Peekskill,” Diana told ALBB. “Beacon has been borrowing PTF’s. Not sure how many hours Saturday. I heard PTF from Germantown and Gardener will be there. Neither knows the office or PO Box customer names." If someone in their home office calls out Saturday, they would have to be there instead of home hours rule.”
When ALBB checked in at Beacon’s Post Office this week to confirm the union’s speculation, we met one new worker, who was young white man, who said he’d most likely be there indefinitely most likely after next week. The next day, a different man was working the desk, who was an older Indian man. Right before closing, two older white women who were enjoying the air conditioning of the building while holding their purse dog, were upset when the employee promptly shut the service metal window at 5pm. While the women had been talking casually for several minutes, they shouted at the older employee after he closed the window: “Can’t you look one more time?!?” When he finished closing the window, they proceeded to call him an “asshole” twice.
The women may not be familiar with union rules, whereby at 5pm, the Post Office closes. And the metal window shuts, and no one is an asshole for following their worker rules.
Tonight’s “Open House” To The Newburgh Mail Facility Was Hard To Get To - What Does That Mean For Regular Mail?
Starting next week, the Beacon mail carriers will drive to Newburgh indefinitely. As for the PO Box mail, Diana warned: “The PO Box mail won’t get there until the window is already open, so clerks have to wait on customers and put mail away at the same time.”
It’s Not The Post Office Employees Fault - It’s Federal - It’s Louis DeJoy’s Design
The most important thing to keep in mind during these Post Office changes is that it is not the employees fault for things to be hard. The employees are being shipped to different locations and are bound by tight union rules. If one thinks that the mail is slow, there is a reason. By design, the mail is slow. One should not take it out on the employee. Take it up with Louis DeJoy who is designing this atmosphere to kill the mail, and compete against “frenemies” like Amazon (his words) for package delivery (listen to him say “frenemies” it in that forum).
Zero letter/package carriers will report from the Beacon building. Only 1.5 clerks will be working there, and they may be rotating and different. No business would make this decision for a thriving retail business on Main Street. Unless they were trying to torture and kill their business in a slow death.
The truck parking lot behind the Beacon Post Office will hold….we aren’t sure. Since all of the little rickety mail trucks will be going back and forth over the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge at least twice per day.
PS: Tonight - the power went out in Newburgh because of the severe thunderstorm watch that was also noted in the traffic app. Not only was there an accident on the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge, there was a thunderstorm on the other end in Newburgh.
Before you complain to your Beacon mail carrier about anything you are unsatisfied with about the mail, consider instead taking it up with federal carrier unions, Loius DeJoy, and Joe Biden for allowing DeJoy to still hold the Post Master General position.
Yes, this was a bias article. Sorry not sorry. Will get back to neutral fact reporting in the next one. But for now, this Post Office mail issue is so difficult to report on, namely because it is so absurd, that we have to state issues the way they are stated.
Pictured below are ALBB flashbacks of traffic in Beacon before even getting to the bridge for tonight’s 6pm “Open House.” ALBB didn’t go, and instead, wrote this article. Hopefully pictures of the rare opportunity to go into the Newburgh mail facility will be sent in.
Hello Labor Day Weekend! A few days closer to school starting on Tuesday. Are you prepared for Spirit of Beacon Day with your T-SHIRT and HAT? Get it now online, because the big day is on Sunday, September 24, 2023 from 11-4pm.
SPIRIT OF BEACON UPDATE: Parade Registration: We know you are late bloomers with remembering to sign up. Parade Registration has been extended. Even if you have marched all 46 years of this tradition, you need to register and get into our system for updates. Register Here > Table Vendors: Right now, we really want After School Clubs to register to get a table. Newspaper Club. Kaleidoscope Club. Drama Club. All the clubs. Table registration is free for you. You can fundraiser at your table, or just have a Donation jar out if that's all you can muster. Register Here > Sponsor Signup: THANK YOU to those Beacon Businesses who have leveled up so far with sponsorship! Deadline has been extended to this week only, as we need to design the flyer and new t-shirts and send them to the printer. Some sponsors include Carter's Restaurant, The Roundhouse, Verplanck Auto, Remark Printing, Rabe & Co, Last Outpost, and others. Sponsor Here > Volunteers: We need you! To distribute flyers, yard signs, and be with us on the day to help shepherd cars for the parade. Register Here >
THE EVENTS + RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE Book an Event Promotion Advertising spot here.
You can sponsor this Event Guide with your event, for extra promotion of it!
If you'd like to guarantee to see your entertainment event listed here, click here for more info >
Edited and Written By Teslie Andrade Daley and Katie Hellmuth.
32nd Annual Balloon Festival Days: Friday, September 1, 2023 - Sunday, September 3, 2023 Time:Scheduled takeoffs are: Friday - 5:30pm, Saturday - 6:30am & 5:30pm and Sunday - 6:30am & 5:30pm Location: Tymor Park, Union Vale, NY Information >
The Hudson Valley Wine and Music Festival
Day: Saturday, September 2, 2023 Time: 12pm-7pm (gates open at 11am) Location: Waterfront Trails Park, 1 Washingston St, Newburgh, NY Information >
Annual Chefs Farm Fresh Dinner On Bannerman's Island Day: Saturday, September 2, 2023 Time: 2pm-6pm Location: Bannerman Castle, Pollepel Island, Beacon, NY 12508 Information >
New Paltz Woodstock Show Days: Saturday, September 2, 2023 - Monday, September 4, 2023 Time: 10am-4pm Location: Ulster County Fair Grounds, New Paltz, NY
Artisan made crafts & decor, food trucks, demonstrations, live music & more! Information >
SAVE THE DATE!
Carter’s Restaurant & Lounge - Discover the Unseen Potential of Owning an Invisible Franchise Day: Thursday, September 7, 2023 Time: 7-9pm Location: Carter’s Restaurant & Lounge, 424 Main St, Beacon, NY
Hidden business opportunities, lucrative possibilities with no cap, exclusive insights from experts, hors d’oeuvres and drinks!
Don't forget about the Beacon Farmers Market! Every Sunday from 10am-3pm at 223 Main Street!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY Website >
You need Miz Hatties BBQ in your life! Mac & cheese PLUS a burger? Yes, please! Inside the HV Food Hall! Follow HV Food Hall's foodies:
Miz Hattie's BBQ: Southern Style BBQ, from North Carolina. Order ahead via their Toast-app menu! El Nica: Nicaraguan Food Roosevelt Bar: Cocktail Bar Shmuck's Sweet Stuff: Local Ice Cream, Hot Waffles, and Other Sweet Stuff Hudson Shawarma: Falafels, shawarma, baklava, and platters Ciao Chow - Hand made pasta and fried rice Dulce Cielo Mexico: Authentic Mexican street food with vegetarian and vegan options. Elixxr Wellness: Wellness cafe offering drinks with adaptogens Tara Fusion Cuisine: Fusion cuisine of Bangladeshi, Indian, Sri Lankan and Middle Eastern food Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor, thank you!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
TACO TUESDAY 🌮 is every Tuesday at Baja! $2 chicken, beef & carnita tacos plus $3 coronas! You can obviously stop in this weekend for this goodness if you can't wait! But stop in on Tuesday also for the good deal!
Oh & Happy Hour is every Tuesday-Friday from 4-6pm :) PPS: Check out Baja's specials! > Check out their specialty drinks > BAJA 328 is a Sponsor, thank you!
BEACON BOI
Long Dock Park - down by the river
Hot diggity DOG! Head on down to Long Dock Park for Beacon Boi's food cart! Hot dogs and "cold ass drinks." Look for this hot dog stand on Main Street during the Spirit of Beacon Day! Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 12pm-Dark Location: Find the Beacon Boi cart down at Long Dock Park. Walk to the kayak locker, then take a right down that path to the strip of picnic tables. Beacon Boi is a Sponsor, thank you!
CARTERS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 424 Main St.
The Hot Honey Wings from Carters are something you do NOT wanna miss out on! The honey glaze on a plump, juicy chicken chicken wing... SO GOOD. Finish with an IPA, and you have a perfect end to your day. Stop in this weekend. Dine in the early evening sun through their open front windows, or in the back outdoor garden. PS: The kitchen is now open until 11:30pm on Friday and Saturday nights, with the bar open until 12:30am! Head on in and sit at the bar or in the lounge. Good people, good food, good vibes. PPS! Brunch on Sunday's from 11am-3pm! Follow Carter's on Instagram > Carters Restaurant & Lounge is a Sponsor, thank you!
DAVID REEVES BESPOKE NYC POP UP
494 Main St.
(917) 783-2270
Having a bespoke tailor in town is uncommon in Beacon, but fitting for Beacon (no pun intended), with its history of the hat factory, the factory that made the bomber jackets, and other fashion-based industry. David Reeves Bespoke is also in NYC, so don't wait to take advantage of this Beacon outpost. Check out their offerings here > Appointments can be booked HERE or via cellphone 917-783-2270. Check out Reeves NYC on Instagram > Reeves NYC is a Sponsor, thank you!
HUDSON VALLEY GOLDSMITH
226 Main St Retail 2
(845) 255-5872
GOLD BUYING EVENT 2023 is happening now until tomorrow - September 2nd! Let Hudson Valley Goldsmith help you by paying cash for your unwanted, broken or outdated gold, silver and platinum jewelry, diamonds, rolex watches and gold & silver coins. They're negotiated a higher rate with their refiner because they'll be buying so much this week only, so now is a great time to sell! Please make an appointment (ideal if you have a lot of stuff) or stop by to meet with David or Jon and they can give free estimates and pay cash or check on the spot . Recycle old jewelry into new pieces that can be worn more, or put it towards a new purchase of our unique designs. See here for CUSTOM details >
OPEN:
Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11-5
Sunday 10-4 Shop Jewelry > Hudson Valley Goldsmith is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE 181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Sweater weather is right around the corner! You need the new eyewear to go with your sweaters. Especially ones that look good like this! A heavy, dark but thin frame that accents your face. Stop in and start the season in style! PS: Eye doctor appointments available here! > BEACON HOURS
Monday from 10AM–5PM
Tuesday-Saturday from 10AM–6PM
Sunday CLOSED Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
Yanarella Dance Studio 312 Main St., Beacon, NY
Fall classes have dropped at Yanarella for registration! Ballet, Tap, Combination Classes, Contemporary, 'Dance With Me', and more. Save your spot and sign up now. Classes start at just $12/class!
Located on Main Street in Historic Beacon, their studio has been guiding and instructing students since 1957- over 60 years ago!
PS: Catch Yanarella in the Spirit of Beacon Parade 2023!
Yanarella is a Sponsor, thank you!
Beacon has a growing number of beauty salons and professional pampering to take advantage of - you can even book a transforming appointment at a lash bar! Be it a totally new hair style, or a facial, you have options in Beacon. Plus, one of the most enjoyable gifts you can give to someone is a gift certificate. So we have included links to where you can buy a gift certificate from any of these fine services that offers one. Check out ALBB's Beauty Guide here >
Special Message For Businesses: If you want to advertise in this Guide with a picture, logo and promotions, please click here.
BEACON DENTAL
1020 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY
(845) 838-3666
Beacon Dental is happy to announce that they now accept Medicare health insurance! Call them for a free cleaning & check-up and refer your family & friends! At Beacon Dental, they are dedicated to providing you and your family with quality dental care tailored to your individual needs. They welcome patients aged 4 and older and provide a full range of dental services to help you achieve and maintain excellent oral health throughout your life. When you visit their dentists and team, you can be certain that your health, comfort and smile are always their highest priorities. Explore all services > Beacon Dental is a Sponsor. Thank you!
"WAIT, WHAT IS THAT?" PODCAST
The sister podcast from ALBB and Tin Single, "Wait, What Is That?" co-hosts Brandon Lillard and Katie Hellmuth explore the Barbie Movie. Neither of them knew what the other was going to say about the movie, and there was a plot-twist to their take-aways! Kate came full with pink highlighter and Vogue magazine with interview with the producer and actor, Margot Robbie, to border the discussion. Watch this on Instagram until they drop the podcast to every podcast platform near you. Watch Here >
TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle specializes in getting the word out, and that includes podcasts. We make one, and can produce one for you. Got ideas? Bring them to Tin Shingle and let us produce for you. Learn More > Tin Shingle is a Sponsor. Thank you!
KATIE JAMES, INC.
From the reporting and design team that produces A Little Beacon Blog, the local online newspaper covering Beacon, NY, as well as the media training team that is behind Tin Shingle, an education and empowerment zone for small businesses, Katie James, Inc. is the uniquely positioned design studio that knows how to align with businesses and artists of all kinds with different needs, to get them the online tools they need to keep selling to their customers and clients. Learn More > Katie James Inc. is a sponsor. Thank you!
News broke that Dogwood was closing - was sold - but its co-creator George Mansfield - would not be there anymore. Reported in the Highlands Current, George said: “It breaks my heart, but for the last few years, many forces conspired against a business like this. It was a difficult decision, but I can’t subsidize it anymore.” Dogwood was originally co-founded in 2012 with Tom Schmitz and George Mansfield.
The Dogwood was purchased by Beacon-local Brendan McAlpine, who George reportedly approached 2 months ago about about selling. Brendan, after much anti-development resistance years ago (from the same people who are now talking about how to create lots of 200 square foot micro apartments everywhere), revitalized the Beacon Theater (see pictures here), turning it into the Story Screen movie theater with partners at the time (since moved on but the movie theater remains open), and brought apartments and offices to it. Brendan also brought back the Wonderbar (get that history here), the Bird & Bottle Inn in Garrison, and a farm distillery in northern Dutchess County. Brendan and his family were also rooted in the re-creation of the Roundhouse.
Brendan indicated that he may keep the vibe, but is leaving his options open. He told the newspaper: “Typically I walk into a new place and something jumps out right away,” he said. “At Wonderbar, it was Art Deco, brass, dark. Dogwood is trickier because it’s not a raw space or a place with a distinct look and feel, like Bird & Bottle. I’ll have to sit there alone for a few mornings.” He told the newspaper he would “most likely” keep the name, and may keep the “picture of a dog in a military uniform, the booths adorned with porcelain tiles by Beacon-based ModCraft, the Ron English posters that line the short hallway to the men’s room and the colored glass panels donated by Hudson Beach Glass that depict a dog bone.”
Being an artist himself, George’s signature look is all over Dogwood. On some of the tables, the decor was shellacked onto the tables in the form of sales receipts found in the building before George occupied it. According to the Highlands Current article, who gained insight from the Beacon Historical Society, the building was an ice-house in 1872, and was much taller in the 1850s. In 1884, it began its history as a bar/restaurant location.
Original Dogwood’s Last Day September 17 With A Big Concert
George made an announcement about his closure in his own words to his Instagram and Facebook:
As you may know, we have made the difficult decision to sell Dogwood. And it is with a heavy heart that we will close our doors finally on Sept 17th. Until then though we are determined to focus on all the wonderful memories created together under the Dogwood roof.
We never set out to simply open a bar. We wanted a space in which people could gather to find community and a true sense of place. Where strangers became friends, where love was found and celebrated, a place of comfort and solace. If these walls could talk they would speak of a beautiful, diverse, motley community and all their tales of joy and woe. They would speak of music, love , laughter and occasional tears.
As a community, we built Dogwood together. No one person can be given credit for the magic we created. It was a mosaic. It was a beautiful quilt sewn together over many years by many hands. It was a special place during a special time. We are blessed to have shared it together.
As special as Dogwood is to many it has also been home to many memorable bars of the past. Angelo’s, Papa Joe’s, Zep’s, Gallagher’s, Annie Cabe’s, to name a few, have occupied these walls. We are part of this continuum and have been honored to have continued a long tradition of maintaining a communal and cultural hub in Beacon. I am confident the new owners will continue this legacy.
I want to thank you all for your love, patronage and support. Without you it would just be a business and it has become far more important than that. It has become an integral part of this community fabric. You are a part of the Dogwood family and the memories created there together will forever be a part of each of us.
We hope to see you in these waning days to laugh and cry together, to celebrate our past and close this chapter with joy. There is still time for more memories.
With love and gratitude always,
George
The History Of Dogwood’s Location
Ever-important to Beaconites is the history of the buildings. What was there before? Whose house are you living in? George paid homage to the restaurants before his: He explained: “Angelo’s, Papa Joe’s, Zep’s, Gallagher’s, Annie Cabe’s, to name a few, have occupied these walls. We are part of this continuum and have been honored to have continued a long tradition of maintaining a communal and cultural hub in Beacon. I am confident the new owners will continue this legacy.”
Personally, I have many memories in Dogwood, especially the one where I casually met the artist Tera McPherson, who that night, was just another mom like me with her sons and husband, but is a powerhouse artist who I have since had the pleasure of assisting her in her website needs and buying some stickers.
30 Musical Acts Will Play September 17th
George says that 30 bands will preform on their Last Day. Those who are volunteering to do so, and some who have formed a band just to perform on this night.
A legacy is how people respond to you after you are gone. Clearly, George will be missed at what was the original Dogwood.
He is also not running for City Council again, after serving 8 terms. His body in his seat is historic. His institutional memory about Beacon and about the historical timeline of Beacaon’s City Council will go with him.
Find him at Quinn’s, where he has taken part ownership, as well as on the streets of Beacon, where he is always working on something.
The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. (BVAC) has been awarded $47,000 from Dutchess County’s Municipal Investment Grant (MIG) Program, as was announced today. Said Said Nick Scarchilli, Chief of Operations: "BVAC will use the investment to locate, treat and transport lost and/or injured hikers along the Hudson Highlands and Mount Beacon trails, as well as at large-scale public events, which will help to expedite response times for emergency medical calls.”
Photo Credit: Deborah Cortes, EMT-B, for Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
BVAC will purchase a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) and accessories for mountain rescue operations and large-scale community events. Deborah Cortes, EMT-B and head of Public Relations for BVAC told A Little Beacon Blog: “It is the intention that we will purchase the unit as soon as possible. The UTV is a resourceful unit to assist in the extraction of injured hikers off of Mount Beacon by allowing our crews to safety navigate through the rough terrain of the mountain. Future plans include continuing to respond to mountain calls, standbys, and training personnel for efficient operations.”
BVAC has had to make rescues on Mount Beacon before, like the one pictured here in 2019. Deborah Cortes, EMT-B for BVAC remembers the scene like this: “This rescue started in the dark hours of the evening, ending in the early morning hours. We do go up in the daytime and continue to train but, we need better. ESPECIALLY when we go up the mountains this late at night lasting hours long.”
At that time, BVAC described the situation as this: “At around 20:40 p.m last night The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Mobile Life Ambulance was dispatched to a call on Mt. Beacon for a lost and injured hiker experiencing shortness of breath. The BVAC ATV rode up with 2 BVAC EMT's, Mobile life paramedic and NYS Park Police as far as possible near the fire tower. 1 crew member remained with the polaris while the rest of the crew departed on foot to meet up with lost & injured. The hikers were safely brought down to an awaiting ambulance on the bottom of the mountain where the injured was reassessed. All equipment was back in service shortly before midnight. ** BVAC EMT's & Mobile Life Medic were in touch with the hikers via cell phone the whole time while attempting to make contact closely monitoring the injured hikers condition.”
Antony Tseng, Program Director with BVAC, recalls these situations where the UTV was needed:
We have deployed the UTV for a search of a patient at University Settlement where there was no access road for vehicles.
During one of the ice storms, where we could not climb up a sloped driveway, we were able to use the UTV gain access to the patient.
We used the UTV to support the marathon on the Walkway Over The Hudson (Poughkeepsie) in 2015.
We helped bring up tools to the Mt. Beacon Fire Tower with the UTV when it was being restored before its grand reopening in 2013.
BVAC is its own entity. The City of Beacon only started funding it in recent years, after the City Of Beacon hired a for-profit ambulance service to service the city. During that time, BVAC advocated very vocally to Beacon’s City Council and City Administrator Chris White for funding after years of volunteering to serve the city and making their own investments through fundraisers.
Donate to the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps. at any time by clicking here. According to their website: “BVAC is the only volunteer ambulance service operating in Dutchess County. Seven BVAC employees and 35 volunteers respond to approximately 247 calls per month. BVAC depends on fundraisers and contributions of any size at any time. BVAC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible.”
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A podcast from A Little Beacon Blog. Your hosts: Katie Hellmuth martin & Brandon Lillard.
The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
es CATOBERFEST 11
cle Presents: The Juilliard String Quartet
Instrument Petting Zoo and Concert
